St Anthony of Padua is one of the Catholic Church's most popular saint. He is a saint of lost and stolen articles and was a powerful Franciscan preacher and teacher.
St Anthony’s life is what every Christian’s life is meant to be, a steady courage to face ups and downs of life, the call to love and forgive.
St Anthony is loved throughout the world and is responsive to all people and all needs. He was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal and given the name of Fernando at Baptism. His Parents were Martin and Mary Bulhom. Anton was canonized by Pope Gregrory lX on May 30, 1232.
In Goa, the Franciscan missionaries first introduced St Anthony to the Bardez taluka during their evangelisation and later the Saint’s popularity then spread to other parts of Goa.
The Statue of St Anthony at the Siolim church is the only one to depict the Saint holding a Silver Cross and a rope from which a serpent dangles.
This year due to Covid and curfew many were not able to attend the novenas at the church or Chapel but many heard novena mass through CCTV and other channels.
It was nice to hear the sermon by Fr Hermogenes Fernandes wherein he sung the meaningful song sung by our late Goan singers.
Today, on the feast day, we can participate in the feast mass which many channels will telecast live. Happy feast to all, St Anthony pray for us.
