A large turn-out of families enjoyed participating in reading the Christmas story, complete with life-sized Fontanini statues representing all the characters in the story of Jesus’ birth.

After stories and songs, our evening concluded with hot cocoa, cookies, and a Children’s Holiday Shop at the Carmelite Gift Shop.

Visit our National Shrine Museum website to see a slideshow of the event.

If you missed this marvelous event, we hope you can join us next December. To be notified of our upcoming events, please subscribe to our Campus Newsletter.

On December 21^st the Carmelite Gift Shop will be open late for your shopping convenience.

The National Shrine Museum of St. Therese will also be open that night until 7 p.m. - be sure to stop by and see our beautiful life-size Fontanini nativity scene!

This Nov 26, we want to celebrate Small Business Saturday with you! It's a special holiday created so communities can show love for small businesses like ours. And it wouldn't be a celebration without customers like you joining us!

So mark your calendars for Nov 26, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and get ready to Shop Small with us. Stop by the Carmelite Gift Shop between the hours of 10 AM - 4 PM.

And please don't forget to share your favorite Small Business Saturday moments on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with #ShopSmall.

To show our appreciation, we are offering a gift with an in-store purchase of $15 or more, while supplies last.

Thanks for your support. See you Saturday, Nov 26!

Feast Day:

October 1

Patronage:

African Missions, AIDS sufferers, Bodily Ills, and Tuberculosis

About St. Therese of Lisieux:

St. Therese was born January 2, 1873 in Alencon, France. She was the youngest of five daughters, all of whom entered religious life. Therese entered Carmel at age 15 and professed her vows two years later.

During her time at the convent, St. Therese never did anything remarkable. She performed simple and mundane tasks. It was her writings that were simply amazing. She was instructed to write down her childhood memories, which became the first part of her autobiography, Story of a Soul, which was published a year after her death.

It was through her story that we have come to know and adore her “little way” of spiritual childhood. It is through doing small things and daily duties with great love that we show the love of God.

St. Therese died of tuberculosis at age 24 after nine years of religious life. Many intercessions are attributed to St. Therese. Because of her deep and profound writing she was declared a Doctor of the Church.

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Feast Day:

September 23

About Padre Pio:

Padre Pio was born as Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina, Italy in 1887 to a shepherding family. Padre Pio entered the Capuchin Franciscan Friars as a novitiate at age 16 and ordained a priest at age 20.

After a short stay at home for health issues, Padre Pio was sent to the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo, he stayed there for the remainder of his life.

One September 20, 1918, while he was praying before a crucifix, Padre Pio received stigmata, or the wounds of Christ, which is why he is often depicted with his hands covered. He was the first priest to be blessed with this.

Word about him spread, especially by American WW II soldiers. He became the center of pilgrimages for the devout and the curious.

Padre Pio would sit in the confessional for hours hearing people’s confessions. He was able to read the consciences of those who held back their sins. Pio was also said to be blessed with the capabilities to bilocate, levitate, and heal the sick with touch and prayer.

Padre Pio founded a hospital and prayer groups that are still in existence today. Many miracles and cures have been associated to St. Pio’s intercession.

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Feast day:

September 15

Patronage:

Universal

About Our Lady of Sorrows:

Celebration of Our Lady of Sorrows began in 1244 by the founders of the Servite Order. This helped guide their meditation and devotion the sorrows of Mary.

Our Lady of Sorrow is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the suffering she endured. There are seven sorrows that we honor:

1. Prophecy of Simeon
   
2. The Flight into Egypt
3. The loss of the Child Jesus for three days
4. Mary watches as Jesus is laid in the tomb.
5. Mary receives the Body of Jesus down from the Cross
6. Mary watched the Crucifixion and death of Jesus
7. Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary

Through her compassion for her Son’s sufferings, she shows her motherly love and unity with His suffering. Our Lady of Sorrow is usually depicted in black with her heart pierced by seven swords, one for each chief sorrow.

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Feast Day:

September 5

Patronage:

World Youth Day and  Missionaries of Charity

About St. Teresa of Calcutta:

Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Macedonia. She became a postulant with the Loretto sisters in Ireland at age 18, from there she was sent to India where she would make her final profession.

While she taught at a school in Calcutta, she felt a “call within a call” to leave the convent and serve the poor. She said, “ I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. It was an order. To fail would have been to break the faith.”

Mother Teresa took off her shoes, changed into a sari, and began teaching children in the slums and caring for the dying.

Mother Teresa’s ministry attracted many young women. A new congregation formed. In 1950 Pope Pius XII approved the Order of the Missionaries of Charity.

Mother Teresa expanded her missions to every continent. In 1979, she received the Nobel Peace prize. Despite worsening health, Mother Teresa pursued and grew her congregation and missionary outreach to 123 countries.

In July 1997, she returned to her Motherhouse and died in September. She was beatified on 2003 and we are happy to announce her canonization on September 4 ^th!

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Feast Day:

August 28

Patronage:

Brewers, Theologians, City of Carthage, Printers

About St. Augustine:

Born to St. Monica in 354 in North Africa, St. Augustine was raised in the faith but left for the Manichean religion. Augustine traveled to Carthage to study rhetoric and philosophy, while there he had a son.

In 383 Augustine traveled to Italy, but ended up in Milan and met St. Ambrose. In Milan he read about the life of St. Anthony of the desert, this led to his conversion.

Augustine converted back to Christianity, gave up teaching, and devoted his life to God. He returned back to North Africa after spending time praying and writing in Italy.

He sold all his personal belongings and created a monastic foundation. He was ordained a priest and his popularity as a preacher spread.

St. Augustine wrote many books, became a Doctor of the Church, and is one of the most distinguish theologians in the Catholic Church.

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Feast Day:

August 27^th

Patronage

Wives and Abuse victims

About St. Monica:

St. Monica was born 331 AD in Tagaste. Monica was a practicing Christian but was married to a pagan man named Patricius at a young age. Monica’s prayer habits annoyed him, but he always held her in respect. She would pray often for his conversion.

Monica had three children, one of them being St. Augustine. Patircius refused to let their children be baptized. He agreed to it when Augustine fell ill, only to retract permission after he recovered.

While her other two children joined the religious life, Augustine was difficult and lazy. To try and change his ways, Monica sent him to Carthage to study rhetoric when Patricius died. Augustine returned home a Manichaean, which caused Monica to have him leave. She had a vision which told her to make amends with her son.

She set out to find him and was reunited. She befriended St. Ambrose who encouraged Augustine to be baptized and become Christian.

It is through her faith and love that she was able to bring her son back to the Church.

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Feast Day:

August 14

Patronage:

Drug Addiction, Families, Journalists, Prisoners, Pro-Life Movement

About St. Maximilian Kolbe

St. Maximilian Kolbe was born in Russian-occupied Poland in 1894. He entered the Franciscan junior seminary at age 13 and became a novice in the Conventual Franciscan Order at age 16.

During his studies, St. Maximilian and six friends founded the Immaculata Movement, which spreads devotion to Our Lady and the Miraculous Medal. He also started a magazine for the movement.

Soon, his work outgrew the friaries. He founded a new monastery where he continued to publish more magazines, papers, and even started a radio show. His outreach eventually spread to India and Japan before returning home due to poor health.

During the Nazi invasion, he and several brothers were arrested and quickly released. Maximilian was arrested a second time and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Here, he was assigned to a work group with other priest. Throughout his time in Auschwitz, he kept his faith and calm demeanor.

Near the end of July, a group of ten men were chosen to be executed. Out of the chosen a young husband and father, Francis Gajowniczek, cried out in despair. Maximillian offered to take his place. He endured weeks of starvation, dehydration, and neglect. He was given a carbonic acid injection with led to his death on August 14, 1941.

St. Maximillian Kolbe is adored by many. 

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