OUR LADY OF FATIMA

St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima with a video presentation and Mass on Friday, October 13. The documentary will be shown in the parish hall at 6:00 p.m., followed by Mass in the chapel at 7:00 p.m.

STUDENTS MARCH AGAINST DRUGS

Staff and students of St. Mary School and St. Patrick School on St. Croix will stage marches against drugs as part of Red Ribbon Week, the nation's oldest and largest anti­ drug campaign.

St. Mary School students will march through Christians ted on Tuesday, October 24, at 9:30 a.m., and St. Patrick School students will march through Frederiksted on Friday, October 27, at 9:00 a.m.

THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER     *OCTOBER 2006 *   4

THE TRANSITUS OF ST. FRANCIS

All over the world, Franciscans celebrate the transitus or "passing over" of St. Francis of Assisi on the anniversary of his death, October 3, and a Mass on his feast day, October 4. "Transitus" is a Latin word meaning "to pass through," but the service is as much a celebration of the saint's life as a commemoration of his death.

On St. Thomas, the Lady Clare of Assisi Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans celebrates the Transitus with a prayer service at Holy Family Church on Tuesday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m.

On St. Croix, the Our Lady of the Angels Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans will bring the Transitus to the charismatic prayer meeting at St. Ann Church on Tuesday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m. The Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church on Wednesday, October 4, at 7:00 p.m.

CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS

Deacon Denis Griffith will teach a seven-session Catholic Apologetics course at St. Ann Church on St. Croix on Thursdays beginning October 12 at 7:00 p.m. The course is entitled "End Times:

What Catholics Believe about the Second Coming," and will discuss the resurrection of the body, heaven and hell, purgatory and indulgences. The accompanying textbook costs $10.00.

ST. FRANCIS BLESSING OF PETS

The feast day of St. Francis of Assisi is October 4, and in honor of his renowned love for animals, parishes and schools on three islands will celebrate with a traditional blessing of pets.

On St. John, Fr. Charles Crespo, Pastor, blessed animals at Our Lady ofMt. Carmel Church on September 30.

On St. Thomas, Fr. John Mark, Parochial Vicar at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral, will bless pets at Ss. Peter and Paul School on Wednesday, October 4, at 8:30 a.m. Students from the lower grades will read original poems and sing songs at the prayer service.

On St. Croix, Fr. Cecil Corneille, Pastor, will bless animals outside the Youth Center at St. Joseph Church on Wednesday, October 4, at 5:00 p.m.

Also on St. Croix, all creatures great and small may be blessed at a block party between Holy Cross Church and St. Mary School on Saturday, October 7, at 10:00 a.m. The festivities will include games, food, live music and donkey rides. Participants may have their photographs taken with their pets and imprinted on t-shirts.

MONTH OF THE ROSARY

Spanish-speaking Catholics on St. Thomas will gather in numerous homes five nights a week in October to celebrate the Month of the Rosary. Fr. John Mark, Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry, Deacon Jose Vazquez and lay leaders from Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral will lead evenings of prayers beginning October 2.

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE

The St. Patrick Church Prayer Group will host the sixth annual Women's Conference at the Light of Christ Retreat Center on St. Croix on October 20-22. Sr. Patricia Simmons of Grenada and Vertilee Daniel of St. Croix will present "Women of Courage and Perseverance." A registration fee of $40 covers all meals and conference materials.

DINNER TO HONOR BISHOP THOMAS

The Prayers, Hymns and Praise Steel Orchestra of Holy Family Church on St. Thomas will present "An Evening of Elegance" honoring Bishop Elliott Thomas and all Catholic parishioners who tum 80 years old in 2006. These parishioners so far include Joseph Hippolyte of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John and Paul Berry, Helen Burke, Josefina Donastorg, Berecia Reid and Evelyn Simon of Holy Family Church on St. Thomas.

The dinner will be held at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort on Sunday, October 15, at 6:00 p.m. The orchestra will perform. Tickets are available from members of the orchestra for $60.