October events at the Cathedral Basilica

Father Thomas Willis, Rector of Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine, has cordially invited Historic City News readers to attend the following liturgies scheduled for this month.

Father Willis told Historic City News that October is traditionally seen as the “Month of the Rosary” for Catholics. “Some pray the rosary on their own in the course of the day — some two, three or more times in the same day,” Willis said. “The rosary is prayed often by our community of faith before Masses in the Cathedral.”

Saturday, October 6 – Blessing of Pets and Animals
6:15 p.m. Cathedral’s West Courtyard

The Cathedral Parish of St Augustine will host a traditional Blessing of Pets and Animals on Saturday, October 6 at 6:15 in the west courtyard of the Cathedral (located in downtown St Augustine). Generally held on or near the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, whose “Canticle of the Sun” praised God for all the wonders of creation, including all those of the animal kingdom. The blessing will be offered by Father Jeffrey Johnston.

Thursday, October 11 – Feast of Our Lady of La Leche
Mass celebrated by Bishop Estevez at 9:00 a.m.

The Most Rev. Felipe J. Estévez, Bishop of St Augustine, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the 9:00 a.m. Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine for the first-ever Feast of Our Lady of La Leche. This celebration of this feast was recently granted as a local celebration in the 17-county Diocese of St Augustine by the Vatican.

Devotion to Nuestra Señora de La Leche y Buen Parte (Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery) spread in the colonies of Spain from the early 1600’s. The only shrine in the United States devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary under this title is in St Augustine.

Thursday, October 11 – Solemn Opening of the Year of Faith
Vespers at 7:00 p.m. in the Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine

Pope Benedict XVI has proclaimed the observance of a Year of Faith commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council in 1962. The Diocese of St Augustine will celebrate the beginning of this Year of Faith with Solemn Vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine on Thursday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m.

The Most Rev. Felipe Estévez, Bishop of St Augustine, will preside. The homilist will be Fr. D. Terrence Morgan, Pastor of St Anastasia Parish in St Augustine Beach.

For further information, call (904) 824-2806.