Fr. René shares a New Year's message inviting us to offer a Hail Mary in thanksgiving for all the joys and even for the challenges of 2022, and ask Her to intercede with Her Son - as She did at the Wedding at Cana - for all those who feel that the wine of life's joys is running low. Fr. René also advises that we follow Mary's simple way as we make resolutions for the new year. Fr. René will return to St. Austin's on January 28 - 29 to make the Annual Paulist Appeal.
Merry Christmas from the Paulist Fathers
The Paulist Fathers share their greetings for Christmas 2022 with this message from Fr. René Constanza, president of the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle.
The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ
In this Christmas gift from the Paulists, Fr. Rich Andre chants a setting of the proclamation by Paulist Fr. Ricky Manalo. The piece was recorded at St. Austin's on Christmas Eve in 2020.
About the Paulists
The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle is a community of Catholic priests who share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through mission preaching, media, campus ministries, parishes, downtown centers, the arts and more.
Led by the Holy Spirit, the Paulists focus on evangelization (reaching out),
reconciliation (bringing peace), and ecumenical and interfaith relations (seeking unity).
Every day, across the Internet and airwaves, in bookstores and campus centers and in communities and churches, they navigate between the spiritual and the secular to meet every person at any point on the journey of faith.
Learn more about this community in the video linked at the button.
Almighty and ever faithful God, you spoke your Word to the world in your Son, Jesus Christ, and commissioned St. Paul to bring your word to all nations and to the ends of the earth. Your Spirit led Servant of God Isaac Hecker to proclaim your word in North America using tools of the modern age.
We ask you to call new missionaries in the line of St. Paul and Father Hecker.
May they burn with passion to give the Gospel a voice so that all may know the mystery of your love. May they follow the Lord Jesus with the zeal of St. Paul and Father Hecker as they carry on the mission of the Paulist Community.
In the power of your Holy Spirit, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Charisms for Our Time & Place
Reaching Out, Bringing Peace, & Seeking Unity
Our community's mission is to bring God's transforming love to our time and place. The charisms of the Paulists who've served as our pastors since 1908 not only inspire our actions but also inform our spirituality. We incorporate that Paulist focus into our worship and prayer, our efforts in education, and in our ministries of service. We're committed to these truths ~
Evangelizing extends to the whole human experience - we invite seekers to the love of Jesus Christ.
Promoting justice and healing makes compassion tangible - we extend a forgiving embrace to all.
Building bridges with other Christian churches, the Jewish people and members of other world religions brings peace - we work toward respect for all.
Servant of God Isaac Thomas Hecker (Dec. 18, 1819 – Dec. 22, 1888) was the New York City-born son of German immigrants who spent his early life working in his family’s bakery and flour business.
As a young man, he began a spiritual journey that eventually led to him to the Catholic Church. He became a priest and a faithful son of the Church who was not afraid of questioning, challenging and experimenting.
In 1858, together with his associates, Fr. Hecker founded the Paulist Fathers with the mission of helping the American people understand the Catholic Church and helping the Church understand the democratic spirit of America.
Fr. Hecker was a brilliant missionary preacher, author, publisher and pastor. It is our prayer that, one day, he also will be known as a saint. The cause for Fr. Hecker’s beatification and canonization was formally opened in 2008 at which time he received the title “Servant of God.”
To learn more about Hecker's fascinating faith journey, you can learn more here: