Author: Michael Antaya

Today the church honors St. Pio of Pietrelcina commonly known as “Padre Pio.” He is known by many of the faithful for bearing the stigmata, or the wounds of Christ. He was also known to have the gift of reading souls as well as the ability to bilocate. Padre Pio has proven to be a powerful intercessor. St. Pio, pray for us.

Today the church celebrates the feast of Saint Matthew the Evangelist. Tradition tells us that Matthew was a tax collector for the Romans. In the first century, tax collectors were regarded as sinners and they were known for cheating their own people for their own self gain. In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that he came to the world, not for the righteous but rather for the sinner. “Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what that means. ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9: 12-13

Proceeds from the dinner are earmarked for the restoration of the shrine. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 12. You can request tickets by calling the shrine at 508-678-1510 or emailing us at St.Anne.Shrine.Liturgy@gmail.com.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. For by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This feast commemorates three historical events of the early Christian Church. First, it recalls the finding of the Cross by St. Helena. Second, the dedication of the three churches built by Emperor Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary. Third, the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem in AD 629 by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, after it had fallen into the hands of the Persian Emperor Chosroes II in the AD 614 Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem.

Today Saint Anne Shrine remembers in prayer the longtime pastor Reverend John R. Folster, S.T.L. Father Folster’s ministry at Saint Anne’s began in 1978 when the then parish of Saint Anne was transitioning over from Dominican administration to Diocesan Administration. Father Folster was no stranger to the parish, since he had grown up at Saint Anne’s and attended the parish school. In addition to his parochial duties he was also the chaplain to the Fall River Fire Department. Many remember him racing to the scene of many fires and emergencies in his fleet of Fire Department rescue vehicles. In 1994 after 17 years at St. Anne the then Bishop Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap transferred Father Folster to be pastor at Saint Louis de France parish in Swansea. Father Folster’s ministry at in Swansea was short lived, as he was soon diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Father Folster died on September 12, 1995 he was 64 years old. Requiescat in pace +