Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo J. Colacicco will serve as principal celebrant and homilist during a special Jubilee Mass the day before a three-day celebration of the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua at the St. Anthony Shrine, at Graymoor in Garrison. During this Jubilee Year of Hope, the shrine has been named a holy pilgrimage site.
The bishop’s Mass is set for Thursday, June 12, at 4 p.m. The multi-lingual St. Anthony celebration is scheduled for Friday, June 13, Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15. The St. Anthony Shrine at Graymoor is located at 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison.
“The schedule attempts to respond to the almost universal appeal of Saint Anthony of Padua. His ready help in time of need (e.g. when we ask his help for finding lost objects) is the tip of the iceberg. Father Paul Watson, Graymoor’s founder, called him our ‘elder brother,’” Father Jim Gardiner, a priest assigned to the Shrine, told The Good Newsroom in a June 6 email.
“I think what the bishop (Colacicco) is doing answers the big question: ‘What can I do for the Holy Year?’ Coming together as a vicariate to celebrate the Eucharist together is a great symbol of the Church,” Father Gardiner added.
“This beautiful (Mass) celebration will be held outdoors at the St. Anthony Shrine,” said Jillian Lubarsky, spokeswoman at the Shrine. (In the event of rain, the Mass will be celebrated indoors at Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel.) She noted the bishop’s Mass is designed to introduce the special weekend. Of the bishop’s Mass and the three-day celebration, Lubarsky said, “Come experience these sacred moments with us.”
The weekend of events is planned as follows:
Friday, June 13 (The Feast of St. Anthony)
11 a.m.: Mass and Exposition (English, Italian, and Spanish)
12 p.m.: Picnic/lunch for sale
3 p.m.: Novena and Benediction
11 a.m.: English Mass
12 pm: Creole and French Mass
4 p.m.: English and Spanish Mass with Pastor Esteban Sanchez (Church of the Assumption, Peekskill)
11 a.m.: English and Italian Mass
1 p.m.: Creole and French Mass with Father Jean Ridley Julien
4 p.m.: Novena and Benediction
Informational material for the event says in part: “The Jubilee Year of Hope is off to a great start at Graymoor. We have many incredible opportunities for you to grow in grace. The (event) is part of the Jubilee Year of Hope, as Graymoor has been designated a sacred pilgrimage site by the Archdiocese of New York.
“Friday, June 13, marks the beginning of St. Anthony’s Weekend, which continues through Sunday, June 15. The friars (Franciscan Friars of the Atonement) look forward to welcoming all for a celebration of this beloved saint with prayer, fellowship, and festivities at Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel.” For more information, visit www.atonementfriars.org.