Though the mission was in use until the late 1800s
by World War II the building was out of use and in disrepair
Renovations in the 1950s opened the building to visitors again
“They could see the simple wooden pews that still filled the church and
and then wander through the Spanish-style garden with its large gray fountain
rose bushes and lemon trees that glowed in the California sun.”
Today the mission is an active Catholic parish
and the grounds include a museum with mission-period and Native American items
It contains a music book written by Padre Juan Sancho
Joan Steele told the King City Rustler in 2022
“It’s important to tell history and tell it authentically
both the good and bad things that happened at the mission.”
The local Salinan Tribe is also part of the site’s archeological initiative—one that relies on the mostly unchanged nature of the mission and the grounds
local artist Max Randolph installed a 12-foot-tall sculpture of an oak tree in the mission’s courtyard
The tree not only honors the donors who are keeping the mission running
but the three divisions of the Salinan Tribe—the Salinan Tribe of Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties
and the Xolon Salinan Tribe—each of which are inscribed on the sculpture.
The mission also hosts several events throughout the year
offers visitors rose bushes to plant in their own gardens
and the annual Mission Days celebration featuring docents in period costumes
And for those who want to spend even more time in this remote locale
the mission also offers accommodations in their restored cloister.
The mission’s remote location and small number of parishioners means that it relies on volunteers and donors to keep its programs active. And, of course, visitors. “It's the mission that everyone forgets,” one volunteer told the Monterey Herald in 2010
“It’s one of only two missions out of the 21 that’s still in its native habitat.”
Generally open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m
This 16th-century hilltop chapel is one of the oldest churches in Old Goa
The people of Padua pledged to construct this church if the city was spared from destruction during World War I
The monument honors the mountaineers who were part of Europe’s best anti-Nazi forces
The first permanent memorial to a unique secret weapon of World War II
A gem in the small Missouri town where Winston Churchill coined the term "Iron Curtain" and effectively began the Cold War
An unusual abandoned church damaged in World War II sits in a small village outside Moscow
An effigy of a trapped paratrooper dangles from a Normandy church to commemorate one remarkable D-Day event
An isolated 17th-century chapel on a remarkable site once dedicated to Celtic sun worship
The 120-year-old San Antonio de Padua Church and Franciscan Convent in Iquique
just two weeks before marking its 30th anniversary as a national historical monument
Photo: courtesy San Antonio de Padua Church and Franciscan Convent
Just two weeks before marking its 30th anniversary as a national historical monument
the 120-year-old San Antonio de Padua Church and Franciscan Convent was destroyed by fire
leaving the local community seeking answers—and solace in faith
As for the cause of the fire, officials are still searching for answers, and the state prosecutor has opened an investigation. There is much public speculation about the events leading up to the incident; reports indicate that a small electrical fire had erupted the day before, leading to a power outage. The circumstances surrounding the subsequent flames are still unclear, but officials believe a malfunction in the electrical system may have contributed to the fire.
Reliquaries of Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Francis of Assisi were lost in the fire, which consumed the wooden building in just seven minutes
“San Antonio de Padua was a place where acts of solidarity turned into support for those in need,” says José Barraza Llerena, the regional director of the National Service of Cultural Heritage in Tarapacá. “It was deeply intertwined with the neighbourhood, where generations celebrated communions, baptisms, weddings and funerals.” He notes that the church offered guided tours on Chile’s annual Heritage Day, which were always popular.
Religion holds a strong presence in the region of Tarapacá. Its capital, Iquique, like many cities along Chile’s dusty northern coast, is historically home to miners and their families—a legacy of the saltpetre industry that founded the city and the copper mines that continue to sustain it. Its grid of streets, which clings onto the Pacific coast, brims with wooden Catholic churches.
These churches play a vital role in the region’s cultural heritage. Due to the scarcity of native trees in the arid, mountainous landscape, churches and houses in the region were historically made of imported Oregon pine. Tarapacá overall is rich in cultural heritage, including millennia-old geoglyphs—some of which were recently damaged by off-road vehicles in Alto Barranco, just southof Iquique.
Amid the grief, the parish experienced a small stroke of luck: detailed archaeological and architectural resources had been collected over the years for a planned restoration in development since 2018 and nearing the final stages of financing when the fire broke out. The archival material and funds sourced thus far will be invaluable for the parish and local government in their rebuilding efforts.
“As a community, we want the reconstruction to happen as quickly as possible,” Valenzuela says. “But we are not hopeful in terms of a quick process.” Thankfully, a parish hall located in a separate building still stands, providing a place of worship while the long road to reconstruction begins. Reflecting on how the parish finds solace during this difficult time, Valenzuela says: “With ever-increasing strength, we are seeking God.”
news1 December 2015Monks’ marriage of poverty and richesHow Italian Renaissance mendicant orders struggled to reconcile their ideals and their wealth
which has had a presence in the city since 1217
is planning a two-venue Terra Sancta Museum
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© Giovanni Pinton – Archive « Messaggero di sant’Antonio »
This door will lead us to an experience of our Lord’s Easter
Below is the calendar of the religious celebrations held in our Basilica
the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass at 9.00pm and the 10.00am Easter Sunday Mass will be streamed live via web and social media on our various online platforms (see footnote below)
The Community of the Friars of the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua
wishes a blessed and holy Easter to all of the Saint’s devotees
10.45am Blessing of Palms in the square facing the Basilica
Exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the end of the celebration
7.30pm Vesper songs and Eucharistic blessing
7.00am Office of Readings and Morning Lauds
6.00pm* “in Cœna Domini” Holy Mass with procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Chapel of Repose
The Basilica will remain open for prayer until midnight
6.00pm Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion
9.00pm* Solemn Easter Vigil Mass
Holy Masses: 6.30 - 8.00 - 9.00 - 10.00 - 11.00 - 12.15 - 16.00 - 17.00 - 18.00
10.00am Holy Mass for the great family of St
Anthony and members of the Messenger of Saint Anthony
11.00am* and 6.00pm Solemn Holy Mass
* The Solemn Holy Masses marked with an asterisk are sung by the St
Tel. + 39 049 8225652 - infobasilica@santantonio.org
7 Yucatecan wonders that every visitor has to see
You’ve probably heard about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—a collection of architectural marvels of the ancient world that amazed their time: the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Colossus of Rhodes, to name a few. More recently, in 2007, a list of the New Seven Wonders of the World was created, featuring the Pyramid of Kukulcán in Chichén Itzá
I want to share my personal picks—my wonders—where the order doesn’t signify importance. Each one
Arriving at the city and seeing both structures must have been awe-inspiring—it still is.
Stretching out from Yucatán’s northern coast, a vast concrete tongue extends into the sea: the fiscal dock of Progreso de Castro
This pier’s size allows it to host massive ships like cargo vessels and cruise liners
built by a Danish company between 1939 and 1941 and measuring a "mere" two kilometers (1.24 mi)
Later expansions stretched it to 8.1 kilometers (5 mi)
To put its size into perspective: Isla Mujeres is nearly seven kilometers (4 mi) long—meaning that this piece of Caribbean paradise could fit on the pier
Founded by the Franciscan order, the convent in Izamal sits atop an ancient Maya structure from the pre-Hispanic city of Itzmal
but its dimensions are huge: its atrium is the second largest in the world (only surpassed by St
Hidden at the back lies a secret: the camarín (a private room) of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception
The sunsets from here are nothing short of spectacular.
These weren’t crafted by human hands but by nature itself—and they are equally awe-inspiring:
The ancient Greeks described dawn as the “rosy-fingered sunrise,” referencing the pink hues of the sky and clouds
While Yucatán is famous for its colorful sunsets
here you can witness “rosy clouds” any time of day—perched in salt flats
floating gracefully in the waters of the estuary
This pink tide in Ría Lagartos comes from the flocks of Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber)
which gather in this natural reserve between spring and summer to feed and breed
Now it’s your turn: What are your personal wonders of Yucatán
for use in Yucatán Today.First published in Yucatán Today print and digital magazine no
I like to travel through books and in the real world
No te pierdas nuestros mejores artículos y la edición digital cada mes antes que nadie
we accompany the traveler so that they can experience the authentic essence of Yucatán
Photo courtesy of Saint Anthony’s Feast
Saint Anthony’s Feast
a celebration of Saint Anthony and Saint Lucy
and North Margin Streets in Boston’s North End
All entertainment is free and open to the public
as not all vendors accept credit card payments
Boston’s North End became home to scores of immigrants from southern Italy
this Boston neighborhood’s roots to Italy have only strengthened
that draws visitors from all over the Northeast: Saint Anthony’s Feast
(a local nonprofit started by a group of men from the small Italian mountain town of Montefalcione) has honored Saint Anthony of Padua with a massive festival during the weekend of the last Sunday of August
The feast—New England’s largest and dubbed the “feast of all feasts” by National Geographic—pays homage to Saint Anthony (the patron saint of lost items
and fishermen) and Saint Lucy (patron saint of the blind) with religious services culminating in a Catholic mass at Saint Leonard of Port Maurice Church
Food takes center stage at the festival, with nearly 100 street vendors serving up delicious Italian American delicacies
some a staple of the feast for nearly two decades
and the staples—delicious pizzas and pastas
Don’t forget to finish your meal with a cannoli or gelato
the North End has a great selection of al fresco dining options
like Saint Anthony’s Beer Garden and Ducali and Filippo Ristorante
and performers will fill the streets with live music and entertainment
Check out the weekend’s full schedule here
To Do Today: Saint Anthony’s Feast in the North End
Please note that attendees under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian for the duration of their attendance at St
Pioneering Research from Boston University
Monthly donors sustain our global apostolate.Pledge your support today
Mass Propers for Monday of the Third Week of Easter:
Entrance Antiphon: The Good Shepherd has risen
who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God
Jn 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you
Not as the world gives do I give it to you
Jn 12:24: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies
it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies
putting off our old self with all its ways
for through the healing paschal remedies you have confirmed us to his nature
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!
Today the Roman Martyrology commemorates St
convert from Judaism and a professed Priest of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
Born in 1145 at Jerusalem and died by being stabbed to death in 1220 at Licata
Caterina Cittadini is also commemorated today
She was an Italian Roman Catholic religious from Bergamo who established the Ursuline Sisters of Saint Jerome Emiliani
The order was dedicated to the education of girls in Bergamo and in the surrounding areas and has since expanded outside of the Italian nation
leaving you an example that you should follow His steps" (Epistle)
The Christian slave might complain that his membership in the Church had not alleviated the harsh conditions of his life
Peter points to the example of Christ who was in all things to be the model of the Christian
neither was guile found in His mouth," but nevertheless he was subjected to persecution and injustice
But the Christian is expected to be a follower of Christ
but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly." If then Christians feel that they have not achieved the liberty and the equality they long for
they are to remember that Christ had come not to right all the wrongs and injustices in the world
but to give an "example that you should follow His steps."
Men often complain against God when they suffer what they consider undeserved misfortunes
They think that God ought to interfere and punish injustice and wickedness here and now
They are like the apostles James and John; they want to call down fire from heaven and destroy those who appear to them to act improperly
Christ made it clear that all injustice will be rectified eventually
but that for the present He wishes to allow the cockle to grow among the wheat
When the proper time comes God will deal with injustice in His own way
But it is not only the slave who is to be subject to authority
and to recognize that mistreatment patiently borne is a service acceptable to God and meritorious for man
Obedience to legitimate authority does not depend on the worthiness of the official exercising authority
Christ Himself had commanded His disciples to obey the officials of the Jewish Church
even though they might not be personally worthy of the office they held
He was obedient first of all to His parents
"He went down with them and came to Nazareth
He observed the ritual and the laws of the Jewish Church
He obeyed the laws of the Roman authorities and paid the tribute they demanded
He set off on a Genoese ship on 1 April 1219 and stopped first in Messina before heading off to Civitavecchia before he ended up in Rome to meet with the pope
The friar preached in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran while in Rome where he met both Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Dominic
He foretold that Francis would receive the stigmata while Francis foretold his premature death.st angelus of jerusalem snip From there he was a guest of the Basilians in Palermo where he was for about a month
before preaching in Agrigento for over a month before settling in Licata
He had healed seven lepers and the ailing Archbishop of Palermo Bernardo de Castanea while in Palermo
He settled on the Sicilian island though his fame as a wonderworker caused crowds to flock to him
He also had success in converting some Jews though most Jews in Palermo came to despise him for this since he himself was once Jewish
He wanted to convert a Knight named Berenger
Catholic tradition states that Berenger was living in incest and that Angelo convinced the knight’s companion to leave him
Berenger became enraged and arranged to have him attacked and murdered
in front of the Church of Saints Filippo and Giacomo in Licata
He didn’t die from the attack until four days after the attack and during that time
he prayed for his assassin and asked the civil authorities to pardon him
setting an example for all those that he preached to
He was buried at Saints Filippo and Giacomo Church
His sepulchre at Licata quickly became a site of Pilgrimage
Symbols and Representation: Carmelite with a knife in his head; Carmelite with a sword in his breast
and three crowns; Carmelite with an angel bringing him three crowns; Carmelite with lilies and roses falling from his mouth
The sisters left the orphanage in 1823 to live with their cousins Giovanni and Antonio Cittadini
Caterina became a teacher at a girl‘s public school in Somasca in 1824
The sisters felt a call to the religious life; their spiritual director recommended that they should stay in Somasca
and become the basis of a new congregation
In 1826 the sisters rented a house in Somasca
and in October opened a boarding school for girls
and instituted the oratory style of education for her girls
The sisters established another “Cittadini” private school in 1832
Giuditta directed these new school until her sudden death in 1840
followed quickly by her spiritual director from the orphanage
The rapid succession of tragedy ruined Caterina’s health
but was cured through the intercession of Saint Jerome Emilani
Caterina quit her public teaching position in 1845 to manage the schools
and guide the three companions who help her
To help organize the work and lives of her companions
she wrote the beginnings of a new rule similar to that of religious orders
In 1850 she obtained permission to build a private oratory to keep the Blessed Sacrament at her boarding school
In 1851 she applied for approval of her new religious family
and told her to write the rules of the new order; her first attempt
based on the Constitution of the Ursulines of Milano was rejected
A second attempt was accepted on 17 September 1854 under the title Orsoline Gerolimiane (Ursuline Sisters of Somasca)
the bishop of Bergamo gave his approval; the order achieved papal recognition on 8 July 1927
and to care for the abandoned; today they work in Italy
Catholics honor the memory of the Franciscan priest St
Although he is popularly invoked today by those who have trouble finding lost objects
he was known in his own day as the “Hammer of Heretics” due to the powerful witness of his life and preaching
The saint known to the Church as Anthony of Padua was not born in the Italian city of Padua
the son of an army officer named Martin and a virtuous woman named Mary
They had Ferdinand educated by a group of priests
and the young man made his own decision to enter religious life at age 15
Ferdinand initially lived in a monastery of the Augustinian order outside of Lisbon
But he disliked the distraction of constant visits from his friends
and moved to a more remote house of the same order
he concentrated on reading the Bible and the Church Fathers
while living a life of asceticism and heartfelt devotion to God
Ferdinand learned the news about five Franciscan friars who had recently died for their faith in Morocco
When their bodies were brought to Portugal for veneration
Ferdinand developed a passionate desire to imitate their commitment to the Gospel
When a group of Franciscans visited his monastery
Ferdinand told them he wanted to adopt their poor and humble way of life
Some of the Augustinian monks criticized and mocked Ferdinand's interest in the Franciscans
But prayer confirmed his desire to follow the example of St
He eventually obtained permission to leave the Augustinians and join a small Franciscan monastery in 1221
Anthony wanted to imitate the Franciscan martyrs who had died trying to convert the Muslims of Morocco
He traveled on a ship to Africa for this purpose
but became seriously ill and could not carry out his intention
The ship that was supposed to take him to Spain for treatment was blown off course
Francis was holding a major meeting for the members of his order
Anthony resolved to stay in Italy in order to be closer to St
He deliberately concealed his deep knowledge of theology and Scripture
and offered to serve in the kitchen among the brothers
no one realized that the future “Hammer of Heretics” was anything other than a kitchen assistant and obedient Franciscan priest
Anthony was forced to deliver an improvised speech before an assembly of Dominicans and Franciscans
Francis himself soon learned what kind of man the dishwashing priest really was
In 1224 he gave Anthony permission to teach theology in the Franciscan order – “provided
the spirit of prayer and devotion may not be extinguished.”
Anthony taught theology in several French and Italian cities
while strictly following his Franciscan vows and preaching regularly to the people
he dedicated himself entirely to the work of preaching as a missionary in France
teaching an authentic love for God to many people – whether peasants or princes – who had fallen away from Catholic faith and morality
Known for his bold preaching and austere lifestyle
Anthony also had a reputation as a worker of miracles
which often came about in the course of his disputes with heretics
and accepted food only after it had placed itself in adoration before the Eucharist that Anthony brought in his hands
which Anthony ate without any harm after making the sign of the Cross over it
who rose out of the sea to hear his preaching when heretical residents of a city refused to listen
Following the example of his patron – the earlier St
who had lived as a hermit – he retreated to a remote location
When his worsening health forced him to be carried back to the Franciscan monastery in Padua
crowds of people converged on the group in hopes of paying their homage to the holy priest
The commotion surrounding his transport forced his attendants to stop short of their destination
Anthony prayed the Church's seven traditional penitential psalms
combined with the many miracles he had worked during his lifetime
moved Pope Gregory IX – who knew the saint personally – to canonize him one year after his death
is honored on earth by many miracles daily seen at his tomb
of which we are certified by authentic writings,” proclaimed the 13th-century Pope
CNA is a service of EWTN News, Inc.
The celebration of masses at the San Antonio de Padua Parish in San Francisco Del Monte and the Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Quezon City was suspended starting Thursday
2024 after the churches were damaged by floodwaters on Wednesday
Some photos posted by the San Antonio de Padua parish on its social media page showed floodwaters reached the top of the altar table and lectern of the church while wooden pews are in disarray
and other items were placed on the altar table
The parish office will also be temporarily closed
Several areas in Quezon City were flooded due to the heavy rains brought about by the Carina-enhanced habagat
Some residents along Araneta Avenue said the flood brought by the heavy rain is probably the worst flood they have experienced
The power in the area was also cut off as some houses were submerged
some residents evacuated with their pets while others walked through the waist-level flood while carrying their belongings
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Holy Masses according to the weekend schedule
The Holy Masses will follow the weekend schedule
24 December: 11:00pm / 25 December: 11:00am
6:00pm / 31 December: 6:00pm / 1 January: 6:00pm / 6 January: 11:00am
*THE CELEBRATIONS MAY BE FOLLOWED LIVE HERE
Weekday and Pre-holiday Masses at 6:00pm; weekend Masses at 11.00am and 6:00pm; ‘during the Night’ Mass of 24 December
The Province of San Antonio de Padua in the Philippines hosted the East Asian Conference - Common Integration Program (EAC-CIP) from August 4 to 31
themed “Synodal & Inter-Cultural Living: Celebrating the Spirit of the 8th Centenary of the Stigmatization of St
Francis of Assisi,” brought together 32 young friars preparing for their solemn profession from across East Asia and from Oceania (who will later continue their formation in the Province of San Antonio de Padua)
The participants are from the Province of San Antonio de Padua (Philippines), Province of San Pedro Bautista (Philippines)
Province of Korean Holy Martyrs (South Korea)
The gathering emphasized the values of synodality and inter-cultural living
reflecting the Franciscan spirit of fraternity and shared mission
They participated in activities such as common prayer
they managed to communicate well and build connections through their shared vocation
The program featured sessions on topics such as Theology and Spirituality of the Stigmata of St
Francis, The Suffering of Stigmatized People and a Collaborative Franciscan Response, Inculturation
and Mission, Synodality and Mission, Mental Health and Theology of Self-Care in Religious Life, Contemporary Challenges in Religious Formation
and Theology and Spirituality of Lay Brotherhood
Cultural nights were a key part of the program
where each entity had the opportunity to share its unique traditions and customs
These evenings helped the young friars gain a better appreciation and insight into the different cultures within their community
They also experienced an immersion in the community of San Vicente Ferrer Parish in Sambag 2
engaging with and staying among the local people to understand their everyday realities
they visited historical and significant sites in Cebu and Bacolod
enriching their understanding of the local heritage
The final week of the program was dedicated to a hermitage experience
which echoes the contemplative tradition of St
The East Asian Conference - Common Integration Program wrapped up with the young friars feeling more connected and prepared to embrace their mission in a synodal and culturally diverse environment
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The Province of San Antonio de Padua – Philippines held the latest phase of its Provincial Parish Pastoral Assembly from February 18-20 at the Inter-Franciscan Spirituality Center
This gathering brought together friars in parish ministry and lay collaborators to deepen their commitment to synodality
and responsible stewardship in parish pastoral work
this assembly provided a space for reflection and concrete planning
focusing on the evolving challenges and opportunities in parish ministry
on Synodal Mission: Synodality and Its Implication to Parish Pastoral Ministry
He underscored the Church’s call to journey together
On the second day, Br. Jovito Malinao, OFM, presented the OFM document “Sent to Evangelize in Fraternity and Minority in the Parish”
highlighting the Franciscan call to serve with humility
This was followed by a session with Minister Provincial Br
on Financial Transparency and Stewardship of Resources
stressing the need for accountability and the responsible management of parish funds and resources
exploring practical ways to integrate these principles into their respective parishes
The assembly concluded with the presentation of a final statement
outlining a roadmap for the future of Franciscan parish ministry
This document will guide efforts to ensure that Franciscan parishes continue fostering synodality
This phase of the Provincial Parish Pastoral Assembly marks a significant step in strengthening the Franciscan approach to parish ministry
reaffirming a commitment to a Church that listens
Anthony of Padua will visit the Archdiocese of Atlanta (Georgia) from Friday December 6 to Sunday 15
accompanied by Friars Mario Conte and Fabio Turrisendo
two Franciscan friars from the Pontifical Basilica of St
Anthony’s Facial Skin and his Floating Rib
The Relic of the Floating Rib has special significance for the friars of Padua because it has been venerated by both Sister Lucia of Fatima and Pope Francis
Click here to download the program for MASSES AND VENERATION
From the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua
the prayer for Pope Francis in these days is uniting the community of friars with so many faithful and pilgrims who
entrust the Holy Father to the Lord through the intercession of St
addressing our heartfelt prayer to the Lord that the Church may have its Pastor back in health
We are also united with the initiative of the Italian Bishops’ Conference
which urges us to pray the Rosary to manifest our closeness to the Pope by entrusting him to the protection of Mary
“Healer of the Sick.” We are thus trying to become an important “link” of that one “chain of prayer” which Cardinal Zuppi is exhorting us to do
in order to become a single “praying embrace.”
affection for Pope Francis nourishes in our hearts the hope that he will be supported and consoled in this part of his journey
but also illuminated by his own witness of strong faith and living hope
for Pope Francis is himself an example for us all in this regard
Father Antonio RaminaRector of the Pontifical Basilica of St
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2022 – The Embassy of the United States in Mexico and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the return of a Saint Anthony of Padua statue from the 19th century that was located in the Museum of Fine Arts of San Angelo (SAMFA) in Texas
Through a formal request process initiated by Mexican authorities
FBI personnel contacted the museum who worked cooperatively and responsibly to reach a mutual resolution and effectuate the transfer of this important object to Mexico through the FBI
Thanks to the collaboration between the FBI offices in Dallas and our legal attaché in Mexico City and the Department of Justice of the United States with the Ministry of Culture
the National Institute of Anthropology and History
the Ministry of Foreign Exteriors and SAMFA
the statue of San Antonio de Padua will be transferred to Jiutepec
“These collaborative efforts with Mexican authorities demonstrate the commitment of the United States to return items of historical and cultural patrimony to the people of Mexico
while protecting them for future generations through initiatives such as the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation
through which we have allocated more than 1.4 million dollars since 2015 to preserve and protect the historical heritage of Mexico in emblematic sites such as Palenque
As we approach the celebration of 200 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States
we reaffirm our commitment to continue working with the authorities of the Government of Mexico to preserve and protect historical heritage that reflects a part of the greatness of Mexico and its people
The restitution of this piece is the result of close collaboration between the United States and Mexico
as part of our ongoing efforts to recover and return cultural property
These efforts were made within the framework of the United States-Mexico Cooperation Treaty for the Recovery and Return of Stolen Archaeological
The world’s ancient and historical monuments
artifacts and archaeological sites enrich and inform current societies
and help us connect with our cultural origins
The United States government is committed to combating theft and trafficking of cultural heritage
as well as preserving and protecting it wherever it is found
FBI Dallas appreciates the cooperation of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts in assisting in the safe return of the Saint Anthony of Padua sculpture to the Government of Mexico
The FBI has developed significant relationships with our foreign partners who are committed to the protection of cultural property
We will continue to work with those partners to keep the public informed and up-to-date on arts and cultural property theft crimes to create greater awareness of stolen artifacts,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J
On the sculpture of Saint Anthony of Padua
the figure of Saint Anthony of Padua has brown glass eyes
wears a blue tunic with a heavy turn-down collar
decorated with a very fine soffit (a technique of covering the figure with gold leaf
painting on gold and then scratch the paint to create designs)
He holds a black book with red pages in his left hand
and his right hand reaches out to the side
She wears black sandals as she stands on a square base with sloping corners
The piece measures approximately 110 x 60 x 50 cm
This particular sculpture represents Saint Anthony of Padua
a Doctor of the Church from the 13th century
identified by his attributes: a book and Franciscan robes
This sculpture is likely missing the attributes of the figure of the Child Jesus
who would have likely balanced on his book
which he would have held in his right hand
An immigrant visa is a document issued by a U.S
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Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security makes the final decision as to whether or not to admit you as an LPR
you generally have the right to live and work in the United States permanently
Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security will mail your permanent resident card (often called a “green card”) to your new address in the United States
usually within three months of your entry into the United States
Please see 9 FAM 502.1-3 for a list of classification symbols and a brief description of each
Getting an immigrant visa usually means that you will be able to live and work in the United States for as long as you want
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A nonimmigrant visa is sometimes informally called a “tourist visa” but can be issued for reasons other than tourism
Please see our nonimmigrant visa page for more information
There are three basic methods for obtaining an immigrant visa: 1.through a family relationship with a U.S
citizen or legal permanent resident 2.through employment 3.through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (the visa lottery) Most applicants in Mexico obtain their immigrant visas via family relationships
The first step in obtaining a family-based immigrant visa is for your relative (the petitioner) to file a Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) by mail with U.S
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security
Once your relative has filed a petition for you
you may check its status by accessing the USCIS Case Status Search Page
You may obtain an immigrant visa through employment rather than through a family member
More information on obtaining an immigrant visa through employment rather than through a family member is available on USCIS’s Green Card through a Job page
Please see the Fiscal Year 2016 Diversity Visa Entry Instructions
Note that the registration period for 2015 has closed
You may check this page for the Fiscal Year 2016 Diversity Visa Entry instructions in approximately September 2014
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Minister General Br Massimo Fusarelli established the Custody of Saint Anthony of Padua as a new Province of San Antonio de Padua in the southern Philippines
this historic event was graced by the presence of Definitor General Br John Wong
as well as Minister Provincials from Northern Philippines
During the inauguration mass of the first Provincial Chapter at the Franciscan Retirement Center in Minglanilla
and Fr. Christopher B. Villanueva
OFM as Councilors to complete the new Provincial Definitory
the friars reviewed and recommitted themselves to their approved mission
and chapter resolutions from the 2022 Custodial Chapter
The event was especially significant because it was the first visit of a Minister General of the Order to the entity and Br
Massimo’s first act of establishment of a Province in the world
Anthony of Padua existed as an autonomous entity for sixteen years
with special focus on the service of dialogue
it consists of sixty-seven solemnly professed brothers
There are nineteen communities across Visayas and Mindanao
including mission communities among Muslims
The new Province is also preparing to begin a new mission community in Thailand
In the Photos:19/4 Liturgy of welcome for Br
John at the Custodial House in Cebu City19/4 Dialogue with Custodial Council19/4 Visit to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica Minore del Santo Niño19/4 Courtesy visit to Archbishop of Cebu
DD20/4 Meetings and celebration with Poor Clare Sisters from monasteries in the Visayas and Mindanao
and with the members of Cebu Inter-Franciscan Family21/4 Visit to San Vicente Ferrer Parish with Outreach Program
and Novena Mass for the 47th Anniversary of the Parish
The first Provincial Parish Pastoral Assembly of the Province of San Antonio de Padua was held on November 12–14
at the Franciscan Retirement Community in Tungkop
Friars serving in the parish pastoral ministry gathered to reflect on the theme: “Sent to Evangelize in Fraternity and Minority in the Parish.”
He undertook a series of synodal conversations with the parishes under the Province’s care to prepare for the assembly
which informed the content and direction of the assembly
This groundwork ensured that the assembly addressed real challenges and opportunities within the pastoral ministry
the assembly process mirrored a synodal conversation
emphasizing a solemn and prayerful approach to underline the seriousness of the meeting and invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Adding depth to the assembly was a talk by Fr
His presentation highlighted updates on Church documents concerning parish ministry and offered insights into the practical experiences of synodality within the parish context
His inputs provided a solid foundation for the friars' discussions
encouraging them to view their ministry through the lens of ecclesial communion and mission
The friars’ conversations were marked by mutual respect
Their meaningful discussions culminated in a well-crafted post-assembly statement that reflects their commitment to evangelize through fraternity and minority
This statement will serve as a guiding document for their continued mission in the parish ministry
The success of this assembly not only strengthened the friars’ collective resolve to serve but also affirmed their role in fostering synodal and inclusive pastoral care
embodying the Franciscan charism in their respective parishes
San Antonio de Padua Communications Office
– Mission San Antonio de Padua celebrated Mission Days Saturday
Mission Days celebrate the history of the mission located in southern Monterey County near Jolon
The mission was established in 1771 by Father Junipero Serra
Because of its remote location and proximity to Fort Hunter-Liggett
Mission San Antonio remains among the most pristine of the missions
Re-enactors dressed in period clothing and demonstrated life at the mission in the 19th century
Volunteers also prepared authentic dinners with tacos
rice and beans which they sold to attendees for $15 a plate
A large display showed the history of the Salinan Indian people who populated the area and helped build the mission
Docents and historians from Missions San Juan Bautista
and San Juan Capistrano also participated in the event
Eric Gorham of Madrone Landscapes in Atascadero talked about the garden in the center of the mission
which he helped renovate with indigenous plants and flowers
The garden includes ancient vines the Padres introduced to produce wine
although they are not yet blooming this spring
One volunteer prepared “poppy bombs.” They were small balls of dirt and poppy seeds that visitors could take home and plant in their gardens
and other wildflowers bloomed Saturday near the mission to enhance the beauty of the event
Larry Wise of San Juan Capistrano talked about the continuing efforts to raise money to restore and retain the mission
The next event at Mission San Antonio de Padua is The Fiesta on Sunday
The Mission Fiesta Mass will celebrate the patron saint
People are encouraged to bring their own picnic meals
The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases
The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com
Vineyard Professional Real Estate, LLC is a Paso Robles luxury real estate agency
Owner and operator Jenny Heizen is PRWCA Wine Industry 2024 Person of the Year
Friars of the Philippine Provinces of San Pedro Bautista and San Antonio de Padua under five years of their perpetual profession of the vows gathered in Luzon from July 23-August 1 for this year’s Accompaniment Program
The Annual Program is a venue for the young friars to listen to one another’s joys and struggles and foster dialogue and mutual care
this program is a concrete translation of our missionary vision of a stronger collaboration of both provinces
the brothers are also updated on liturgical principles which can serve as a guide in their ministries
This year’s program is made more meaningful because of the onslaught of typhoon Carina which caused massive flooding in Manila
As a concrete gesture of solidarity and care
the brothers participated in a relief operation in the parish of San Pedro Bautista in Quezon City
Minister Provincial of San Pedro Bautista Province
presided over the closing mass at the Shrine of Saint Anthony in Sampaloc
It is fitting for the colorful city of Guanajuato to be the birthplace of painter Diego Rivera
whose former home there is now a museum dedicated to his art
Convento de San Antonio de Padua dates back to the 1500s
San Cristóbal de las Casas attracts visitors throughout the year with festivals and processions
Mitla is one of the most important archeological sites in Mexico
The pink spires of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel church can be seen from across San Miguel de Allende
The past and present converge in these historical centers
Mexico is a diverse country
It has an abundance of distinctive areas to explore
from the jungles of Veracruz to the mountains of Puebla to the beaches along the Pacific coast
The Indigenous and Spanish influences on art
architecture and monuments are always present
there are thriving cities that preserve and highlight Mexico's spirited cultural and historical heritage
with many officially named as Pueblos Mágicos
literature and performing and visual arts featuring thousands of participants from around the world
If a performance is scheduled at the palatial Teatro Juárez theater
or sign up for a tour of the opulent space
and visitors enjoy strolling down the cobblestone streets and taking in the sights from a horse-drawn carriage.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter
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and travelers can also "witness ceremonies in the Indigenous municipalities of Zinacantán
Chamula and Tenejapa." San Cristóbal de las Casas stays lively throughout the year with concerts
processions and festivals in its main plazas
Día de los Muertos and Festival de la Primavera y la Paz
"The 14 different designs are thought to symbolize the sky and earth
a feathered serpent and other important beings
in sophisticated stylized forms." Local artisans sell their wares near the ruins
a market filled with handmade crafts from local artisans
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Print San Antonio de Padua
Explore all of California’s 21 famed missions >>
This was a busy mission in the old days — as many as 1,200 neophytes at one time
tending as many as 8,000 head of cattle and 10,000 sheep
the 86-acre mission site (owned by the Diocese of Monterey) has been surrounded by the rural landscape of sprawling Ft
as long as every adult in the vehicle has photo ID
A priest from the San Miguel mission celebrates Mass every Sunday
includes a retreat center with 30 double rooms ($60 per person per night) and a family suite
phones or Wi-Fi.) In August the mission began a seismic retrofit and restoration that’s expected to last 13 months
The mission is about 26 miles off the northbound 101
And mind the speed limit; military police do give tickets
Info: End of Mission Road, Jolon; (831) 385-4478, www.missionsanantonio.net
In 1957 The Times wrote about the friars who built Mission San Antonio de Padua
In 1993, The Times reported on a three-day, six-mission trip that included San Antonio
Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>
Born and raised in California, Christopher Reynolds has written about travel, the outdoors, arts and culture for the Los Angeles Times since 1990.
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From the San Luis Obispo County Visitor’s Guide
–The Mission San Antonio de Padua is a Central Coast treasure; its remote vista a charm that fuels the imagination and encourages visitors to step back to 18th century mission life
The mission is located about 45 minutes northwest of San Miguel
The long winding drive set approximately 26 miles back from scenic Highway 101
is full of stunning views and wide-open spaces
Located on eighty pristine acres on what was once the Milpitas unit of the sprawling Hearst Ranch
the humble mission and church are barely changed in 200 years
Founded by Padre Junipero Serra in 1771 it was moved from its original location in 1773 to a place farther up Los Robles Valley because of the unstable water source
At the end of 1773 the mission had established workshops
a small church and dwellings at the new site constructed of adobe brick
a museum is located in the front section of the quadrangle of the main building
The museum offers access to the original grape vats and wine cellar; the mission kitchen and Padre’s bedroom take you back to life in the early 1800s
Once through the museum you’ll enter Padre’s Garden
The garden and original well has some of the original grape stock from Mallorca
Spain and considered some of the first planted on the West Coast
which began construction in 1809 features 18th century works of art and resonates with the pungent scent of incense and notes of Gregorian chants to calm the senses
planted when Serra founded the mission site
Close by are foundations of the old storage and workrooms of an unrestored wing of the mission and into what was formerly the mission orchard
only a single olive tree remains of a once thriving orchard of apple
foundations of the Married Indian housing wing which housed 1,300 Salinans in the early 1800s at the height of the mission era can be found onsite as well as the filter house
The mission even has its own famous resident
arriving in June 2007 as a little black kitten he is know a visitor favorite and even has his own wine – Rosario’s Red – available at Marin’s Vineyard
The Mission San Antonio Padua located at the end of Mission Road
A tour through the museum is self explanatory
with a donation of $5.00 per adult and $3.00 per child requested
The grounds outside offer a realistic example of life in the mission days
There are picnic grounds with tables under the shade trees to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the secluded area
It is beautiful and the only Mission to still be in the rural country like it was when it was built
No city has encroached on it's boundries
It has many improvements done in 1700's & 1800's to improve the mission that no other mission did until then
Rosario will greet you like a lost friend
The mission has been doing improvements to meet eathquake standards and can use donations to help them
This is worthwhile fund raising to keep Mission for everyone
The Mission is a nice place and has been kept mostly period correct
As the new National Shrine of San Antonio de Padua of the Philippines was inaugurated this week
Pope Francis sent his greetings to the faithful hoping it will continue to be ‘a centre of constant missionary outreach’.
As San Pablo Diocese welcomed its first national shrine in the heritage town of Pila
the Holy Father said he was praying that devotees may all be renewed in the love of Christ”
the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
presided over the Mass for the declaration of the National Shrine of San Antonio de Padua on April 23.
“May the shrine truly be a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey and the centre of constant missionary outreach,” said the message of Pope Francis
read out during the Mass by Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines
The CBCP had approved the petition to elevate the church’s status during its plenary assembly last January
Anthony’s Church was declared a diocesan shrine in 2002.
Anthony of Padua is one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church with novenas celebrations organized in numerous parishes across the world ahead of and on his June 13 feast
bread is blessed and distributed among the faithful on this day
One of the best-known disciples of the great St
and baptized Fernando Martins de Bulhoes. His parents apparently belonged to one of the prominent families of the city
knowledge of scripture and love for the poor and the sick
the Franciscan priest and friar was one of the most quickly canonized saints in church history
He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church and is regarded as the patron saint of lost things. (Source: CBCPNews)
Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here
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and it is your will that they be gathered together as one family in yourself
Fill our hearts with the fire of your love and with the desire to ensure justice and peace for all
My wife and I were standing in the courtyard of Mission San Juan Bautista
Rome seemed to be the center of the universe
and I found myself wishing that we were in Rome observing the year with a pilgrimage to the major basilicas
so we opted for a night in Monterey instead
In front of the mission church was a sculpture of St
depicted with the features of the region’s native Ohlone tribe
noticed a friend’s recent post about Mission San Antonio de Padua
It was a plea for donations to help keep the mission open
The isolated parish was down to about 35 families and received few visitors
we had only been to a handful of the missions
despite their relative proximity to our home in Fresno
(even the farthest ones certainly are closer than Rome)
we resolved to visit them all before the Year of Faith was over
I was pleased to learn that four of the missions are home to minor basilicas
We live within a four-hour drive of most of the missions
so we were able to visit all 21 in a series of seven trips between April and November
accomplishing our goal with a few weeks to spare
Pope Benedict held out the promise of a plenary indulgence to all who made a pilgrimage during the Year of Faith
The founding padres traveled up and down El Camino Reál mostly on foot
We traveled the Camino in a Subaru and stayed in some pretty nice rooms
By 1765 both the Spanish and the Catholic Church had been a presence in the New World for more than two centuries
Both were firmly established in New Spain (Mexico)
Spain had made claim to Alta California as well
but had explored only a fraction of its coastline and had yet to settle the territory
After decades of exploration by Russian fur traders
Catherine the Great ordered that colonies be established along the Pacific coast as far south as San Francisco Bay
When word of the Russia’s plan reached Madrid
As the desire to colonize Alta California grew
Spanish love for the Society of Jesus withered
Conflicts between the order and the Spanish government led to the expulsion of the Jesuits from all Spanish territories in 1767
This included a string of Jesuit-founded missions in Baja California
It was this series of events that led to the appointment of Junípero Serra
he went on to found nine missions in Alta California
Over the four decades following Father Serra’s death
a dozen more missions were established resulting in a chain of 21 missions spanning 650 miles
It would be hard to overstate the impact of the missions on California’s history
They were at the center of the three-pronged Spanish approach to colonizing the region
presidios (military bases) were established
which provided protection to the missions that sprang up nearby
The mission padres would reach out to the local Native American population
At that point they were considered neophytes
baptized but not yet ready to function as Catholics or as citizens of the Spanish empire
A complete conversion required learning the Spanish language and a trade
They were instructed in farming and raising livestock
Once the mission infrastructure was in place
the Spanish were able to establish secular towns (pueblos)
These grew into the first cities of California
the mission era in California was surprisingly brief
The missions survived in their original role for only a decade or so after the chain was complete
Mexico became an independent republic just months after Mission Solano
the Mexican government secularized the missions
Mexican rule over the territory was itself short-lived
California was ceded to the United States in 1848 and became a state two years later
an act of Congress returned mission lands to the Catholic Church
after more than 25 years of disuse and neglect
the California missions are a collection of restorations and recreations of the original churches
Some are breathtaking restorations that capture the feel of the 18th and 19th century
a few are only pale reflections of the original churches
rendered in 20th-century construction methods and materials
one-third-scale replica chapel in Santa Cruz to the sprawling 2,000-acre park and museum that is Mission La Purísima Concepción
the missions are conveniently spaced along the California coast
Since Father Serra’s goal was to have a chain of missions that were only a couple of days’ walk from each other
most are now 30 to 90 minutes apart by car
This makes it possible to visit two or three missions in a day
it does not hurt that they are situated among some of the most beautiful vistas in California
Since most of the missions are set in or near popular tourist destinations
a pilgrim does not need to forgo much in the way of food
More than half the missions are at the center of the cities that bear their names: San Francisco
A few are tucked away in quiet rural settings
The aptly named Mission Soledad sits in an isolated
Our intention was to make a meaningful Year of Faith pilgrimage
but staying on schedule and finding places to stay or eat often provided distractions
schedule complications made for less-than-ideal visits
Visiting Mission Buenaventura on a Saturday afternoon in June seemed like a good idea
We had not planned on three back-to-back quinceañeras
We only had about five minutes to sneak into the chapel between services
People I spoke to along the way often asked which was my favorite mission
The town and mission are at the edge of the Salinas Valley (and sit directly on the San Andreas fault)
The Mission itself has a beautifully tended courtyard that features an extensive collection of roses (a common feature among the missions)
Adjacent to the mission is a California state park that replicates the town square as it may have looked in the early 19th century
My favorite mission church is San Antonio de Padua
pristine natural surroundings and rustic brick facade make you feel as if you have traveled back in time
there were dozens of volunteers working on the restoration of a garden wall
The courtyard was filled not only with fountains and flowers but also with music and conversation
Mission San Antonio is home to a Franciscan retreat center
The group in attendance that weekend had a variety of instruments set up in a meeting room
Those who were not rehearsing were out in the courtyard visiting with tourists as they passed by
We were impressed by the strong sense of community we found in California’s most remote mission
I also find myself encouraging people to visit Mission Santa Inés
It is nicknamed “the hidden gem” of the missions
In the heart of the Danish-themed village of Solvang
the mission is blocked from visitors’ view by the back wall of its courtyard
Beyond the village itself lies some of California’s most beautiful wine country
Santa Inés has all the elements one would expect to find in a California mission: arched adobe walkways
But I was most impressed with a modern addition to the church
The gravel pathway of the Calvario is lined with pepper trees and follows the bluffs adjacent to the mission grounds
It is a splendid blend of natural beauty and religious imagery
an ideal feature for visitors on pilgrimage
to appreciate fully what motivated the early missionaries
As someone who can practice my faith with little sacrifice and can evangelize from a laptop while wearing my pajamas if I so choose
it is humbling to reflect on the sacrifice required to build and maintain the missions
But in reading about the lives of the neophytes
I came to realize that the relationship between local populations and the padres was complicated
Although Native Americans were not forced out of their villages
they were forced to remain in the settlement once the mission was established
the first autopsy in California was performed on a padre who had been poisoned by neophytes at Mission Santa Cruz in retaliation for his cruelty
There are also examples of cooperative relationships between local communities and the missionaries
Mission San Luis Rey was so popular with local tribes that the mission was unable to meet the demand for housing
alternating between mission and village life
many of the missions are home to active parishes
We were able to attend Mass at five of them
it was a pleasure to hear and receive the word of God in such beautiful
The congregations we joined ranged from poor to affluent
And as we traveled to these places that were established
thrived and were abandoned in the 18th and 19th centuries
and then were restored or rebuilt in the 20th
I was reminded that they continue to serve people today
millions of visitors who would never dream of setting foot in a Catholic church tour of the California missions
we were standing next to two women who were staring
Through our visits I came to realize that these places are still active parts of the church—not just former missions
They were founded to stake Christ’s claim on the New World and live on to remind us of his presence in the world today
A gallery of photos from Mr. Whitney's pilgrimage is available here
Kirk Whitney, a retired teacher and school administrator, writes about life, faith and family at CatholicMom.com and about food on the blog La Surly Table
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The seven-foot bronze statue was created by Portuguese sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida and presented to the city during the 1968 HemisFair
(Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-NewsThe statue of Saint Anthony of Padua along the River Walk
(Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-NewsJenny Browne
is an associate professor at Trinity University.Courtesy Lane PittardSt
Anthony’s Lost and Found: A Poetry Exchange will commemorate the San Antonio Tricentennial anniversary by engaging students of all ages with a toolkit of poetic exercises and resources.Courtesy photoA statue of Saint Antonio De Padua stands near San Fernando Cathedral
with an engraved base noting that the city was named for the Saint
The statue was presented to the city by the Order of the Alhambra in August 1955
Another statue of Saint Anthony is on the River Walk
presented during HemisFair.Terry Scott Bertling /San Antonio Express-NewsThe base of the statue of Saint Anthony near San Fernando Cathedral notes that the statue was a gift to the city by the Order of the Alhambra in 1955Terry Scott Bertling /San Antonio Express-NewsI don’t remember when I first stumbled upon that life size statue of St
Anthony de Padua tucked down below Rivercenter Mall
and I hadn’t lived in San Antonio for long
I got lost all the time when I moved here for good in the mid 90s
Getting lost remains one of my favorite ways to get to know a place
I do remember feeling a bit dense that I hadn’t yet explicitly connected San Antonio to St
and poets tend to be a little obsessed with what is contained inside the names of people
In suggesting that the poet is “the Namer or Language-Maker” Ralph Waldo Emerson also suggests a belief in the power of language to make the unknown known
The famously reclusive Emily Dickinson would agree
but also playfully resists the recognition that comes with being named
evoke larger question of identity beyond the names we are given
I believe that names help us better understand who we are
where we come from and where we might be going
While the City of San Antonio was officially founded in the spring of 1718
it was actually given its name some years earlier when Spanish explorers came upon what we now call the San Antonio River
I like to imagine they might have been a little lost too
and of course the people who already lived here had their own name for the place
The Man Who Gives Bad Directions In Downtown San Antonio
The first time I realized that I had said keep going
through three lights not two I tried to catch
the couple with out of state plates but they were
already turning left from the middle lane without
toward where the sky widens with the white silence
I’m not a bad man but I met my wife trying to talk
In the decades since I first bumped into our eventual namesake down on the Riverwalk
I’ve remained curious about the historical figure of St
I learned he was the patron saint of lost objects
A Catholic friend repeated the childhood prayer she learned for when she misplaced a shoe
or couldn’t seem to locate the dog: Tony Tony
I once heard that single women sometimes buried a stature of him upside down in the ground in order to identify a mate
I found my future husband just a month or so after I arrived
a little farther downriver at the La Tuna Icehouse
Anthony was also rumored to be good with words
so good that when he preached beside a river
the fish stuck their heads up out of the water and hovered there
Others said that when his body was exhumed
And maybe its sacrilege to say that my fascination with St
Anthony has always been less about conviction and more about feeling
or maybe the two aren’t that different in the end
What I really mean is that I’ve never much cared whether anything I heard about St
Anthony was factually true or not because it all felt so emotionally true
which is the kind of truth we look for in poetry
poetry has always been a sort of nondenominational prayer
a creative practice tuned to praising the everyday as well as to asking the big
Take the way Joy Harjo’s Eagle Poem begins:
What we can do is read a poem and discover a line or phrase born from another human life that illuminates something in our own
- an abbreviation for Saint Anthony Guide -- on the outside of envelopes so that their letters will not be lost in the mail
Anthony will carry their message where it needs to go
This too feels kin to a poetic leap of faith
the trust that one’s words will find the listener that needs them out there somewhere
When I was named the 2016-18 City of San Antonio poet laureate and learned that one of my responsibilities would be to create a city-wide poetry initiative
Over the past year I have been working closely with the Department of Culture & Creative Development to create St
Anthony’s Lost and Found: A Poetry Exchange
This project will commemorate the San Antonio Tricentennial anniversary by engaging students of all ages with a toolkit of poetic exercises and resources based on the historic
geographic and emotional significance of our city being named for the patron saint of lost things
One last story about him makes me think so
the saint’s association with loss comes from an incident in his own life when he misplaced an important book in which he’d written his own reflections
Finding the language to tell the truths about our lives
dreams and fears remains an important way to name and re-name of the world as we experience it
What have you lost? What might you find in writing it down? Saint Anthony’s Lost & Found: A Poetry Exchange will conduct a free workshop for educators on June 13, 2017, the feast day of St. Anthony de Padua, from 9-2 p.m. at the San Antonio Public Library, 600 Soledad St. To register, or for more information, go to: www.getcreativesanantonio.com.
Jenny Browne has three published collections of her poetry and is an associate professor of English at Trinity University. She recently was named the Texas state poet laureate.
COMING SUNDAY: Gates stored on historic Herrera Ranch in southwest Bexar County may be from the Alamo or local missions.
Vitals: Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $10. End of Mission Road, Jolon (inside Fort Hunter-Liggett). (831) 385-4478, www.missionsanantonio.net
Christine Delsol is a former San Francisco Chronicle Travel editor and is a frequent contributor to Travel and the Mexico Mix column on SFGate. She also co-writes the Central Coasting column on SFGate.
Christine is the author of “Pauline Frommer’s Cancun & the Yucatan” and co-author of “Frommer’s Mexico” and “Frommer’s Cancun & the Yucatan.” Her work also appears in Alaska Airlines Magazine and other publications, as well as on Zagat.com, Away.com and AARP.org.
curator Rigoberto Luna brings together a contemporary re-examination of the Tejano/a regional family tree
This exhibition asks about the origins of Texas (or Tejas)
examining the Spanish-Indigenous Americas and the revolving
evolving growth from the bloodshed of colonization and its aftermath
a local reality exemplified by Mission San Antonio de Valero
Centro de Artes’ gallery is located in downtown San Antonio
Enter the deep blue and magenta-colored building and you find a haven for those seeking corresponding stories
and reasons for the walking experience across the heart of San Antonio (or
the Franciscan patron saint of castaways and lost things
feature 40 artists working in varying media
Installation view of “Soy de Tejas,” courtesy of the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture
The show strikes a good balance between intimacy
It is curated into open passageways that connect wall spaces and intimate corners of approximately one to three works per artist
which draws contemplation on their respective approaches
Both floors have a single large wall partition in the middle that designates a bilateral directionality from one end of the gallery to the other
you can get a panoramic view of many of the groupings of artworks
and while it might lack contrast and guidance
this has an effect of inviting a slower and more willful experience on the part of the viewers
The exhibition is not arranged into themes
and there are no wall texts to guide the viewer from one section to another; the show is instead designed for the viewer to wander and explore the works
as well as the memories and feelings they elicit
The wide variety of artworks throughout the show are categorized by media in this review
to examine a sense of the patterns that emerge from this survey of Latinx artists from Texas
Kingdom come-turned-horror, with the floods of hurricane seasons along the Gulf, where roads have become waterways is shown in Patrick McGrath Muñiz’s Diasporamus (2021). Muñiz paints in the rounded figurations of Diego Rivera
He depicts folks and a menagerie of animals on a tin boat
and the composition is speckled with repurposed seafaring corporate symbols from Shell to Starbucks
paintings take up a prominent place in the show among a forest of other media
with the pair altogether blissfully engulfed in celestial flames
The negotiation between environment and faith is the subject matter of Marianna T
Olague’s Virgen por el Gateway South (2021)
A yard shrine of La Virgen de Guadalupe encased in bars and Christmas lights stands against the backdrop of a yellow brick house
with flickers of dry weeds across a red brick and concrete-tiled yard — these various inert objects are interrupted by a fresh bushel of cut flowers
Less earthly and more surreal is the work of Jaylen Pigford
negotiating Blackness Mexicanness in El Negrito (2022)
Enchilada Plate To-Go (2020) by Eva Marengo Sanchez is a sumptuous chiaroscuro still life of enchiladas in Styrofoam containers sitting in a white plastic bag
this daily bread sits next to a container of sopa and salsa roja and verde in plastic 1 oz cups
all on top of a vermillion tablecloth patterned with blossoming fruits and roses
Funny thing happens when “eating” is made inert in video. Foods are turned tableaus in documentary collages of vegetables shot on low-res video in Dinner as I remember (2016) by Francis Almendárez
Videos are omnipotent presences throughout the show
filling the halls with disparate intersecting sounds about identity in rhythm and cadence
“Wash us of our sins,” implies Natalia Rocafuerte’s Pocha Dreams (2022)
with running streams of bright 90s stationary kitsch projecting rotting fruits describing “pocha,” a derogatory term for Mexican Americans who speak in a mix of English and Spanish
A journey of reconciliation is one that Vick Quezada performs in their See Unseed (2020)
a walking journey between three Spanish missions in El Paso
and through the city’s breadth of natural and arid suburban landscapes which is shot in saturated color
they reflect on the confluence of the Aztec worldview with science
this reconciliation is recognized in the personal and familial
Her video is a construction of two-channel sisterhood through two-second clips of found footage
and first-person journeys on camera phones
Mixed media works unpack the concepts of survival, sin, and forgiveness in the material realities of Tejas. Forgiveness does not come easily; in the work of Josué Ramírez
an aggressive signaling of red and yellow cardboard people and homes are constructed from predatory “We Buy Houses” signs found in low income neighborhoods
There’s also pride and ownership in the logic of castaways in Cande Aguilar’s Mannerist hodge podge of graffiti on wood panels, or Gil Rocha’s assemblages of found objects
Raul de Lara’s broad shovel refuses work in another ironic twist
with its wooden handle curled into a knot in Cansado (Tired Tool Series) (2022)
A strategy against the sin of self-hate, again, is to take ownership of the pain and then reclaim it. José Villalobos’s QueerRider: Maricon (2022) is a gaudy saddle with the derogatory gay slur “maricon” written proudly across the rear
Ruben Luna offers a balm to the community in El Baile de Rico y Lola (2023)
where love is expressed by a pair of Tejano/a dancers (in honor of his parents) with crayons clasped onto the heels of their shoes as they sketch a series of starlike marks on the floor
Deliver us from evil. Violette Bule’s strength testing bell installation is a chance to Slam the Dreamers (2015-19)
with DACA rewards at every level (more deportations = more money for private penitentiaries)
Making the costs of the showing of brute strength visible is Juegos Fronteras: Merry Go Round Port of Entry (2013) by Angel Cabrales
in which playground equipment is made inaccessible by the violence of fences and surveillance equipment
Stephanie Concepcion Ramirez’s cocoon of tarp protects from social violations in vibraciones de temblores (2022)
visibly obscuring an oblique tale about wayward sons
Tina Medina and Melissa Gamez-Herrera investigate memories and realities through the intimacies of family and domestic portraits
In Medina’s They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds (2022)
archival photographs are shredded and then rethreaded into U.S
expressing the hybridity of the Latinx diaspora
In Gamez-Herrera’s photographs taken between the border towns of Acuña and Piedras Negras
awash in both artificial and natural light
These photos show the U.S.-Mexico border from the perspectives of people living along the geographical divide
Their lives are ordinary – far from the violence as depicted in mass media.
Courtesy of the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture
the viewer can navigate back from symbolism to reality through drawings by Fernando Andrade
whose transitional dream-like graphite figures are swimming in acrylic in Isolation (2021) and Numb (2021)
Drawing takes a more physical form in Christopher Nájera Estrada’s a dios le pido (2020)
where a melting pair of hands in shimmery graphite are hanging in prayer upon a rosary
Ashley Elaine Thomas uses graphite to flatten
collapsing a long perspective out the Window View on John Street (2020): a moth spreads its wings toward the full moon
surrounded by dreamy Gulf Coast oil refinery pipes dotted with incandescent lights
next to the soft circle of light around a nightstand lamp
Installation view of “Soy de Tejas”
Sara Cardona breaks architecture in her assemblage of printed structural imagery
accented with neon paper binder rings and post-its
Disrupting architecture takes a three-dimensional form in a nonsensical
12-feet-square architectural column by Sarah Zapata
Towards an omnious time II (2022) has colorful tufts of felt mapped out across it in repeating patterns and shaggy patches
Imagery from roadside subculture, recalling long drives along Texas highways, makes an appearance in Juan de Dios Mora’s print ¡Ya Basta Con La Rabia
bristling with semi-automatic bullet teeth
Bella Maria Varela remakes landscape with her sublime bald eagle Tu Hija (2018)
where we find a Frederic Edwin Church-like scene across a fleece cobija
The blanket is cut and draped with pink neon sequined fabric and matching fishnet stockings filled with found objects
as a kitsch derealization of manifest destiny
stormy shorescapes with figures overlooking still to high waters in Gentilezas y Rudezas (2020) bring us back to feeling both the gifts and punishments of nature
reflecting the wide experiences of life itself
Chris Marin grounds this range of emotions in real objects with Falling Out the Sky (2021) where fabric and polyester fillings could be found stitching together desperation, with rows of pillows confessing, “It’s hard to live in the moment unless life’s hard.” This journey is expressed through a turn to abstraction in Gabriel Martinez’s untitled (2019)
where quilt-scaped canvases of found fabric join surreal patterns that resemble the ups and downs of life along the Gulf
and each rosary bead captures a memory and a feeling of place
This survey should be a call to Texas art institutions about the representation of our culture and history. Up until this point, the pulse of art in Texas has been gauged by Big Medium’s Texas Biennial
the Mexic-Arte Museum’s annual Emerging Latinx Artists (ELA) exhibition
According to estimates released in 2022 by the US Census Bureau
is more geographically specific than Mexican American
and is very much a core part of Texas history
it is marginalized as “ethnic,” and in the wider Texan context
What is the value of art institutions that don’t reflect back the history of a majority of the people they are meant to serve and educate
We could find ourselves instead in the jowls of downtown
a short ways from a mission renamed the Alamo
Soy de Tejas tells us the story of Texas as we feel it
hybrid reality between the Indigenous and the diasporic
Soy de Texas is curated by Rigoberto Luna. It is on view at Centro de Artes in San Antonio through July 2
This overview of Soy de Tejas makes me wish that I was in San Anto to see it
so many notable exhibitions have come and gone without documentation over the years
Perhaps it is time to correct this oversight
that’s one of the key components of doing an exhibition at Centro de Artes
All of the shows selected in their open call get one
I was fortunate enough to get one of the 2021 Texas Biennial Curators
It’s a limited run and won’t be out until later this year
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
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HAA Cultural Events Calendar
his name stemming from the fact that he died on his way to Padua
his real name was Fernando Martins de Bulhões and he came from a wealthy family
Saint Anthony chose to enter the church at the age of 15 and lived his life as a priest and friar
Catholics call on Saint Anthony when they want to find something that has been lost, but he is also one of the famous saints associated with love, relationships, and marriage. This is why one of the main events during the Santo António Festival is a wedding ceremony held for several couples at once at Lisbon’s Sé Cathedral
The Church of Saint Anthony is in front of the Lisbon Cathedral | © Miss Quarrel / Wikimedia Commons
It’s perhaps not an ideal setting if you’re claustrophobic or agoraphobic The grills and picnic tables appear during the day, so if you’re afraid of crowds, head out early to snack on sardines and caldo verde (kale soup)
and to hear some traditional music while sitting comfortably
there won’t be anywhere to sit and you’ll be pushing your way through the crowded streets
The smoky scent of grilled sardines fills Lisbon‘s air and there’s no wondering why; every few steps will place you in front of yet another grill cooking a batch of fish
You can order a platter if you’re with a group of friends and find a place to sit
but the traditional way to eat a sardine is on a slice of rustic country bread
The way to eat sardines during the festival | © Nina Santos
The smell of sardines isn’t the only scent filling the air (although, it is the most overpowering). If you’re anywhere near the Church of Saint Anthony, you’ll also catch an earthy trace of fresh basil, coming from the tables filled with potted plants awaiting to be purchased by singles and couples for their significant other. Basil is considered a symbol of luck
and in this case it is hoped to bring romantic luck
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Flowers and basil near the figure of Saint Anthony | © Nina Santos
Lisbon neighborhoods compete during the main parade The procession down Avenida da Liberdade is filled with colorful floats and even more colorful costumes
as groups of dancers and musicians make their way through the streets representing their neighborhoods
one neighborhood is chosen as the winner of the “Popular Marches.”
As their name suggests, the Popular Saints’ Festivals are Catholic celebrations
but they also coincide with ancient celebrations of the Summer Solstice
Make sure you visit the bathroom before hitting the streets Although the city provides portable toilets, the amount of wine and beer consumed ensures that these toilets are always occupied, especially once the night gets into full swing. Don’t rely on popping into a restaurant or bar to use their bathroom either
because the party is in the streets and most venues are closed or block their entrances to the public
which begins during the afternoon of June 12
continues into the night and until sunrise
as most of its residents have retreated to catch a few hours of sleep
Nina is a Portuguese-American writer living in Lisbon
She spends all of her time exploring and sharing the amazing things that Portugal has to offer
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Gonzalez Convention Center.Courtesy photoSt
A special Mass was held at the chapel to rededicate the building
The chapel is behind Assumption Seminary's main building near the headquarters of the Archdiocese of San Antonio
Construction workers move the restored statue of Saint Anthony at San Fernando Cathedral after it was damaged by a vandal who went on a destructive rampage in 2004.John Davenport / San Antonio Express-NewsAn iron sculpture on the River Walk titled "Padre Damian Massanet's Table" by Rolando Briseno symbolizes the first Mass celebrated in San Antonio on June 13
according to an inscription on a marker at the site
Domingo de Teran and Padre Damian Massanet led a Spanish expedition that reached the stream the Indians called Yanaguana — “place of restful waters” and named the “Rio de San Antonio” for the saint
The sculpture is on a small island on the River Walk
And for the embodiment of such forward thinking with a passion for tradition
look no further than the man for whom the city is named — Saint Anthony of Padua
“We began as an act of faith — faith that this patron would help us through good times and through bad — and that there is this heavenly power looking over the city,” said Fr. David Garcia
archdiocesan director of the Old Spanish Missions
let alone invoking it over misplaced keys or other lost or stolen items
“It was both his preaching as well as his simple lifestyle that really struck people,” Garcia said
A subsequent meeting with friars in Coimbra drew him deeper into the mendicant evangelical life
as he joined that new Franciscan order and adopted the name Anthony
Anthony would become a renown preacher and follower of Francis of Assisi, revered as much for his passionate delivery as for his erudite knowledge of scripture. Pope Gregory IX
referred to him as “Ark of the Testament.”
the second-fastest canonized saint after St
The river and subsequent Spanish mission built near it would become the heart of a settlement that has since flourished into what is now the seventh largest city in the nation
Hence it’s only fitting that a life-size statue of Saint Anthony overlook the banks of the River Walk
the Christ child standing in its arms as if blessing those very waters so connected to San Antonio’s past
“San Antonio of Texas is a symbol of human resourcefulness and man’s belief in taming what was considered to be untamable,” said Portugal ambassador Vasco Vieira Garin in a 1968 address at HemisFair
a presentation that officially opened the Portuguese pavilion and gave the city that very statue from Portugal
“despite the kind of society prevailing in the 13th century.”
hate and unprecedented rivalry between men and nations
He lauded Anthony as “a legend in his own time,” one with a unifying approach to faith and family whose preaching had a profound impact on people from creeds other than Catholic
“This was a town that was founded by both church and state working together,” Garcia said
You could even say Anthony has embodied the city’s military lineage
which includes its historic Air Force presence and ever-present population of active and retired military
Garin recalled Anthony was the patron of various regiments in Portugal and especially Brazil
the latter of which had his name added to a regiment
He noted how Anthony’s name rose through the ranks of captain
A fitting tribute to a man who’s name as a city fits with another San Antonio sobriquet — Military City
“Who knows if the memory of patron Saint Anthony did not inspire those heroic men at the Alamo
who wrote one of the greatest pages in the American history,” Garin said
Something's lost and can't be found,” legend has it that a novice friar once took Anthony’s handwritten book of psalms and left the order
Anthony is likewise referred to as the patron saint of miracles, which may well explain his canonization less than a year after his death. Anthony was also declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946
a title given for an individual’s outstanding contribution to theology or doctrine
Garcia said it’s good to have Saint Anthony statues and other commemoratives around the city
another statue of the saint stands in front of San Fernando Cathedral downtown
And while he said he knows San Antonians don’t live everyday in Anthony’s shadow
they do welcome all into their city’s tradition of faith
“(The) city is proud to say this is our name and this is our heritage,” Garcia said
René GuzmanFeatures WriterRené Guzman writes about all things San Antonio, from past and present to pop culture and puro cultura. He can be reached at rguzman@express-news.net.
Before joining the Express-News in 1998, the San Antonio native co-owned a college humor magazine called Bitter, for which he wrote, designed and edited, as well as distributed at various campuses and businesses citywide. His features writing has appeared in the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Times-Union.
"As he was running, he stopped for a moment and threw the rock at the statue, right at the head, and the head came off," Rodgers said. "Miraculously, the head's intact; it survived the fall." The head is being kept inside the cathedral.
Rodgers said the statue, which stands about 15 feet tall, was donated in August of 1955 and was placed in front of the Bexar County Courthouse until last June, when a statue of Lady Justice replaced the religious icon. On June 11, the statue of St. Anthony was moved to Main Plaza. Rodgers said the statue belongs to the City of San Antonio, and he said officials have been notified of the incident.
and he's the namesake of the city," Rodgers said
and it's hard to even begin to imagine a motive."
Brian O'Neill
curiously corralled his three tourists in front of the statue Sunday afternoon
after someone covered the decapitated statue in a black plastic bag
"I see people stopped here all the time," he said
I noticed it should be about a foot taller
so I came by to see what was going on."
Rodgers said the statue hasn't been defaced before
police arrested a man who went on a tear and toppled seven statutes inside the cathedral