Tony’s Tidbits

One hundred years ago, St. Anthony's was a seminary for young men seeking to become priests. These young men did more than just study, pray and work, though. This photo, taken January 17, 1925, shows the friars enjoying the skating rink they created on the frozen Rib River behind St. Anthony's. Living the simple life of a Franciscan friar meant making the most of the simple pleasures nature provides.

The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! - Num. 6:24-26 All of us here at St. Anthony’s wish you and yours a happy New Year and many blessings in 2025!

Everyone here at St. Anthony's sends our best wishes to all our friends and their families for a blessed Christmas season! We are so blessed by the gifts of your friendship, your presence and your support for our ministry!

Just a heads up that St Anthony's will be closed to the public from Saturday, December 21st through Sunday, December 29th so our staff and volunteers can spend time with their families during the holidays.

On this Thanksgiving Day, we thank God for all who help us do what we do here at St. Anthony's - the staff, the groundskeepers and Beautification team, the housekeepers, kitchen crew, painters and fix-it folks, retreat presenters, reflection writers, hosts, office support, donors, and those who hold us in prayer every day. We are also grateful for all those who visit St. Anthony's each year because without them, we would not be here. We wish God's blessings on all of you, Deo Gratias!

We don't want you to be disappointed like these turkeys were if you find the doors locked Thanksgiving weekend. St. Anthony's will be closed from Thursday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 1 so our staff and volunteers can enjoy the holiday weekend with their friends and families.

On November 1, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints, and on November 2, the Feast of All Souls. As we celebrate, we especially remember our patron saints, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Clare of Assisi. We also remember all those who have died who once served, supported and loved St. Anthony's, including our Capuchin brothers, former staff members, volunteers and donors. All you holy men and women, pray for us!

The Peace Light is a perpetual flame originating from the site of Jesus’ birth and spread around the world with a message of peace and friendship. The sharing of the Peace Light with others began in 1986 in Austria. The Peace Light first came to the U.S.A. in 2000. On Monday, we held a prayer service welcoming the Peace Light to St. Anthony Spirituality Center where it will be kept in the main chapel. Our world, and our communities, are still greatly in need of peace. St. Anthony’s is proud and humbled to join this opportunity of promoting Peace and Friendship.

Today is the feast day of one of our patrons, St. Francis of Assisi. Francis’s devotion to the human Jesus and his desire to follow Jesus’ example of poverty and charity, as well as Francis' personal charisma, drew thousands of followers. He is known as the father of all Franciscans, having founded the Order of Friars Minor for men, the Poor Clares for women and the Third Order for lay people (which now also includes religious brothers and sisters). He is also known as the patron saint of ecology, for his love and reverence for all of creation, affectionately addressing all creatures, plants and even the elements as brother and sister. We wish a happy and blessed feast day to all our Franciscan brothers and sisters! Peace and all good!