Father Hathaway’s Column — July 19, 2026
SUMMER ON THE CHURCH CALENDAR
Summer tends to be a slower-paced time of year in many respects. But there is no slow down in our Catholic Church calendar, also known as the Liturgical Year. We continue to mark feast days honoring specific saints, seeking their heavenly intercession. Studying their lives and writings gives us examples of how ordinary flesh-and-blood people faced the same temptations, grief, fears, trials and tribulations we all encounter. We can learn from their experiences.
Many saints on the Church calendar are familiar to us. For example, this week we have Saint Mary Magdalene ( July 22), Saint Bridget ( July 23) and Saint James the Apostle ( July 25). Occasionally, the Saint of the Day is more obscure. For example, on Monday, July 20, the Church celebrates the optional memorial of Saint Apollinaris, who was reportedly ordained by Saint Peter himself as the first bishop of Ravenna, Italy. Apollinaris was known for his ability to heal in the name of Christ. He was frequently exiled, tortured and imprisoned for the faith. He was brutally martyred in 45 AD.
Another lesser-known saint celebrated this week is Saint Sharbel Makhluf ( July 24). Born in 1828 in a small mountain town in Lebanon, he became a monk of the Maronite Rite and was ordained a priest in 1859. He was especially devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and possessed the gift of performing miracles even during his lifetime. He spent the last 23 years of his life as a hermit and became known as the “Hermit of Lebanon.”
COMING UP ON THE BASILICA CALENDAR
Tuesdays, July 21 and 28 at 7 p.m. Father Searby continues his talks on “The Founding: A Philosophy of Family Culture.”
First Friday, August 7, Eucharistic Adoration. 9 p.m. Friday until 8:20 a.m. Saturday, August 8.
Please find more details on these events elsewhere in this week’s bulletin, Flocknotes and on our parish website at www.stmaryoldtown.org
HELPING EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN VENEZUELA
At the request of Bishop Burbidge, we have a special collection at Masses this weekend – the 5 p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturday, July 18, and all Sunday Masses on July 19 – for emergency humanitarian relief for the devastation wrought by the earthquakes in Venezuela. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is working through Caritas Venezuela and the local Catholic Church in Venezuela to deliver emergency shelter, food, safe water, medical care and other critical relief to those affected. The CRS is also accepting direct donations through their website at https://www.crs.org/donate/venezuela-earthquake. God bless you for your generosity in helping our brothers and sisters n need.