Celebrating Our Saints

08-09-2026Weekly ReflectionFr. Abraham Orapankal, Pastor

Dear OLP Family,

Every day this week, we celebrate the feast of a saint – some better known than others. I thought it worthwhile to reflect briefly on each of them:

Tomorrow/Monday is the feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon (died 258). He was martyred four days after Pope Sixtus II and four deacons were killed. Deacon Lawrence cared for the temporal welfare of the Roman church. He gave a radical witness to service to the poor, joyful generosity and strong faith.

Here at OLP, we are blessed to have the ministry of Deacon John Raychel. We wish him a very happy feast tomorrow, and assure him of our prayers for his good health.

Tuesday is the feast of St. Clare of Assisi (died 1253): An early follower of St. Francis, Clare founded The Order of Poor Ladies, which eventually became known as the Poor Clares. But do we know that she is the patron saint of televisions and computer screens? How so? Late in her life, she fell too ill to attend church, and one day the images and sounds of the entire Mass appeared in full on the wall of her room. This story must be why Pope Pius XII, who in 1957 named her the patroness of this new invention –television-that, in his words, “is a wonderful instrument… which can be the source of very great wealth, but also of deep troubles.”

Wednesday is the feast of St. Jane Frances De Chantal. (died 1641)She is relevant as a pioneering French noblewoman, wife, mother, widow, and co-founder of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. She is recognized as the patron saint of mothers, widows, and people facing internal trials.

Thursday is the feast of two saint-martyrs: 1) St. Pontian (died in 235) was the Pope but was arrested and exiled by emperor Maximinus. He resigned his papacy (the first Pope to do so) to make the election of a new Pope possible. 2) St. Hippolytus (died 235) might have been remembered as a heretic and a schismatic if not for the strange workings of God’s providence. He felt the Pope was not adequate enough in his defense of the apostolic faith, so he broke away from the Church’s communion and established himself as the Pope. He was the first “anti-pope.” He too was arrested for being a Christian and was sentenced to a “living death” in the mines of Sardinia. It is in their captivity that Saints Pontian and Hippolytus reconciled with one another. Both died of torture and deprivation.

Friday is the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe (died 1941). He was a Polish Franciscan Friar who volunteered to die in the place of a stranger in the German death camp of Auschwitz, located in the German-occupied Poland during World War II. He was active in promoting the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Due to Kolbe’s efforts to promote consecration and entrustment to Mary, he is known as the ‘Apostle of Consecration to Mary.’

Saturday is the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is usually a holy day of obligation but because it is falling on a Saturday this year, it is not a day of obligation for us. Please note that even though we have no Saturday morning Mass, there will be an 8AM Mass this Saturday, August 15, to celebrate our faith that Mary “was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” All are welcome.

Your brother in Christ.