Pictures from the Encuentro Catolica on March 28-29

Encuentro Catolica is an annual joyous two day celebration of our faith held at the DC Armory. There were opportunities for prayer, for entertainment, for presentations by dynamic speakers, for Reconciliation, and for Mass. While most of the program was in Spanish, simultaneous translation into English was available. The program was attended over the two days by 12,000 Catholics from all over the U.S. and is planned and sponsored by Saint Anthony of Padua parish led by the group Encuentro Catolica. Congratulations to Encuentro and to their spiritual director, Fr. Andrew Heintz!

In prayer/ en oracion

The Masters of Ceremony/Maestros de Ceremonia

Fr. Diaz & Fr. Hoyos

Padre Chucho

Cardinal McCarrick Celebrating Mass

Teofilo


Jorge

A Stage of Flags/Banderas-escenario

Alfareros

Felix-orando

Tony Melendez

Fr. Hoyos blessing Tony Melendez.

Parish Youth Participate in Special Youth Stations of the Cross

Thanks to Deacon Mendoza, Deacon Doyle, Maria Calacan, and Javier Bustamante!

Squires and Roses Enjoy the Circus

Thanks Fr. Acho and Maria Calacan for a fun time!

Church Clean-up -- Saturday, March 21st

Signing in to...

clean the floors...

the statues...

the windows...

iron the carpet (to get up the wax)...

and even clean the pews!

Admiring a job well done!

A well-earned lunch for the workers.

Stations of the Cross Fridays & Soup Kitchen

If you haven't had a chance to really focus yet on Lent, come to the Stations of the Cross (bilingual) on Friday evening at 7:00 pm followed by the parish Lenten Soup Kitchen hosted by the Knights of Columbus. (There are also Stations of the Cross earlier on Friday at 8:45 am with the School and at 11:30 am.)

For an opportunity to help the parish, come to the Church clean-up this Saturday, March 21 starting at 9:30 am. Lunch is provided -- provided you work to get the church ready for the celebration of Easter.

Wearin' o' the Green at Saint Anthony of Padua

On Saturday evening, March 15th there was a gathering of the clans of Saint Anthony of Padua parish organized by the Knights of Columbus in a magically transformed Hofbauer Hall to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day and raise money for Mary's House. There was Irish music and dancing, Filippino music and dancing, tango dancing with beautiful ladies tall and small, Zumba-ers, music and movement from Ghana, humor by the new comedy team of McGee and Schloss, and Irish food for dining. Like Brigadoon, if you missed it this year, you'll just have to wait until it appears again next March! Thanks to all who made this such a wonderful event -- a chance to meet other parishioners, enjoy the marvelous diversity of the parish, and just have fun. Erin go braugh!

As early March's hints of spring remind us of the reflective and restorative effect a garden can have, plan on visiting the Saint Anthony of Padua Peace Garden (funded by the TKF Foundation) as spring renews the flowers and trees.

Journal entry from the TKF bench at Gwynns Falls Trail