September 5, 2025
We are in the midst of our Annual Educational Conference, and the committee selected its theme, Ever Ancient, Ever New for the month of September. On Sunday, Sept. 7th, the Church will celebrate the canonization of two young saints, Blessed Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. Both provide incredible witness to young men that sanctity is possible through charity, chastity and concern for the poor.
The Most Holy Name of Mary (9/12) reminds us to be careful on how we use the name of the Blessed Mother. Are there any expressions today that demean her? Fr. Benedict Alfred’s Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary will draw you closer to her. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (9/14) is an ancient feast day, dating back to the 4th century when St. Helena discovered the Cross of Christ during the excavation of the Holy Sepulcher. It has been venerated ever since on this date when the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher was dedicated. The Papacy has a nearly 2,000-year tradition and Pope Leo XIV, the 267th and newest Holy Father, was born September 14, 1955. We suggest Matthew Bunson’s Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope.
Please join us for the ZOOM CMA Prayer Group, Sat. Sept. 13 at 2:00 PM. Come pray with us!
The art for this month is The Calling of St. Matthew, painted by Caravaggio in 1600. You can read more about this famous painting here.
St. Matthew (9/21) was a Jewish tax collector for the Romans, despised by his own people. Christ chose him with the simple words, “Come follow Me” and he left everything, even bringing fellow tax collectors to Jesus. He is the author of one of the Gospels, which was addressed to his fellow Jews, written about 50 A.D. and we suggest you read this Gospel in its entirety, perhaps using a study guide such as the one from Ascension or Ignatius Press.
Lastly, St. Jerome (9/30) lived from 340 to 420 A.D. and was a convert to Christianity. He mastered the ancient languages and spent 15 years translating the Old Testament from Greek and Hebrew to Latin in addition to writing many commentaries and letters that have survived the centuries. Not a stranger to controversy, he was known for his bad temper, yet he became a saint!
For anyone contemplating a pilgrimage to Italy, we suggest Teresa Tomeo’s Italy’s Shrines and Wonders. We also also suggest two books by Brant Pitre, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper and Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary.
| FIRE COMMITTEE: |
| Chair: Kathleen M. Raviele, MD Vice-Chair: Marie-Alberte Boursiquot, MD Chaplain: Fr. Christopher Kubat, MD Christina Chan, MD Donna C. Dobrowolsky, MD Richard Florentine, MD | Jennifer Johnson, MD Elizabeth Howard, MD. Chris Moon, MD Maria Martinez Ramos, MD Félix Ángel Rodríguez, MD Deacon Bruno Schettini, MD |
