R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has risen in our midst.
God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes
and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip,
“Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little.”
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted.”
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves
that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

Our Italian festival 2024 celebrates a special theme, and the bulletin as part of that theme is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish. I invite you now to walk with me through this special bulletin and reflect on the miracle of Our Lord when He fed 5,000 men with only 5 barley loaves and two fish that a boy in the crowd had …

Our festival theme this year is the Table, la Tavola, that you read about on page 3. “La Tavola” – the table – captures the table of the home – so important to Italian American families gathering around good food and drink. At the center of the table is the theme La Tavola, and it depicts the Mass, the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, for our nourishment now, and for Life Eternal. This table multiplies our blessings from the Lord Himself as we celebrate Mass and celebrate The Table in our Home.

Page 5 shows a Holy Hour with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 o’clock every Friday at the Basilica as St. Faustina was directed by Our Lord to do. Page 5 also points to First Friday and First Saturday devotions following the noon Mass, honoring the hearts of Jesus and Mary at their invitation. Grace abounds and multiplies.

Page 6 is Faith Formation for our children grades K-8 and their parents as we hand on the Holy Faith to them. Grace abounds and multiplies.

Page 7 invites adults in your family or friends to come into the Catholic Church. Page 7 goes on to invite persons in a marriage not yet recognized by the Catholic Church to come before the Altar of Christ if there are grounds for an annulment. Grace abounds and multiplies.

Page 8 invites you to unlock the mystery of the Bible here at Saint Anthony’s in two sessions – remember: ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Grace abounds and multiplies.

Page 9 is a walk through the Mass, a special series at the Basilica in the evening to help us more fully understand the Mass. Grace abounds and multiplies.

Page 10 is a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio on August 7^th (a Wednesday). It promises to be a beautiful and prayerful day praying for vocations. Grace abounds and multiplies. And on August 15^th, the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima comes to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica. Grace abounds and multiplies.

Page 14 is an invitation to spend a Holy Hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Grace abounds and multiplies.

Page 15 is an invitation to become a Knight of Columbus, join the Choir, and for youths to become an altar server.

Page 16 includes an invitation to visit the sick with the Visitation of Mary.

Page 17 includes an invitation to join either a Women’s Group like Mothers of the Crucifix or a Men’s Group such as the Vestibule Club. Be a friend of Saint Martha helping to keep the Basilica bright and shiny.

Page 18 includes another women’s group, the Saint Monica Guild. A call for volunteers on Saturday mornings to help with the Saint Anthony Brier Hill Pizza – a great pizza! And page 18 also includes the monthly spaghetti dinners at the Basilica, as well as the Spring and Autumn spaghetti dinners at Saint Anthony’s, and the August 6^th outreach to the poor by St. Vincent de Paul. Grace abounds and multiplies.

Page 19 includes the Deacon Joe Nohra Bocce on September 15^th and the Catholic Education Assistance Fund raffle on August 29^th to assist the parish expenses for our children to attend Catholic Schools. Grace abounds and multiplies.

Let’s go back to five loaves and two fishes that the boy had in a crowd of 5,000. Yes, grace certainly abounds and multiplies when we step forward in our Christian, Catholic life.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God,
twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits,
and fresh grain in the ear.
Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.”
But his servant objected,
“How can I set this before a hundred people?”
Elisha insisted, “Give it to the people to eat.”
“For thus says the LORD,
‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.'”
And when they had eaten, there was some left over,
as the LORD had said.

R. (cf. 16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.