Fr. Tony is the 4th child of 8 children & the younger of a set of twins to Columba L. Ekanem, a late Chief Inspector of Education and Brigid C. Ekanem, a school teacher.  He was born on April 15 in Pennsylvania, U.S.A when his father was studying here.

His desire to become a Missionary priest after his Junior Seminary training was        obvious when he decided to forgo his admission to the University of Calabar to study Medicine and  continue his formation program in the National Missionary Seminary. He applied for admission into the Missionary Seminary of St Paul for priestly formation. His spiritual and human formation began in 1980 which was followed by his philosophy studies in Iperu – Remo. In 1984, he moved to Abuja to continue his Theology moderated by the Pontifical Urban University of Rome. Fr. Tony was ordained a priest in Gwagwalada in Abuja, Nigeria, July 1, 1989.

Fr Tony was appointed a Seminary Bursar after his ordination in Abuja. During his free time, he was involved in pastoral work in the nearby parishes. In October 1990, his first mission took him as far as Sierra – Leone in Makeni Diocese, where he taught in a Secondary School and served as an associate pastor in St Theresa’s Catholic Church Yonibana. In October 1992, he came to the United States Mission and began his Orientation Program in Washington, DC under the Supervision of the Josephites in Baltimore. Later he was assigned as an associate pastor to St. Peter the Apostle Church in Houston. Two years later, he was appointed a pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Port Arthur, TX in the Beaumont Diocese. After 3 years at Sacred Heart Church, he was transferred to St Martin de Porres Church in Barrett Station, TX, served as pastor for 10 years. Fr Tony also took a chaplain course on Clinical Pastoral Education for four years at   Herman Memorial and Methodist Hospital at Medical Center in Houston and obtained his doctorate degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling last year, 2017 from Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana.

In 2004, he was appointed as an Assistant Local Superior to the United Stated Mission and later in September 2007, he was elected to the Missionary Society of St Paul General Council, Abuja, Nigeria. He served as a Counselor in charge of Mission and priest welfare for the duration of six years. Fr Tony was appointed as the pastor of St Philip Neri Church in Houston, TX on November 15, 2013. In early January, 2015 he left that position and was assisting at nearby parishes within the Archdiocese until he was assigned to the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in June 2015.

Collection: The collection for last Sunday, June 24, 2018 was $3,684.00

Food Collection: This Sunday we will once again be collecting nutritious food for the needy in our community. Once again thank you for your generosity.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Over the next four weeks, the Gospel readings from Mark that we will hear feture Jesus and his disciples continually on the move. They are on a mission, and it is important that they travel to spread the Good News. It is also important, as we see today that people of faith have an opportunity to encounter Jesus. It’s the time of the year now when many of us will be traveling ourselves. How reassuring it is to know that no matter how far from home we are, Jesus is still with us.

First Reading: Wisdom 1:13-15: By the envy of the devil, death entered the world.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 30: “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.”

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15: Your abundance should supply the needs of the poor.

Gospel: Mark 5:21-43:   Little girl, I say to you, arise!    

              

Registration for next year’s Religious Education Program will begin on June 11th and run until August 10th -new parents to the program need to bring their child's birth certificate and a copy of the baptismal certificate. There will be a fee of $25.00 per child at the time of registration for both returning parents and new parents to the program which is non-refundable.

Registration Fees are as follows:

Registration for one child is $100.00

Registration for two children  is $ 175.00

Registration for three or four children is $ 200.00

If your child will be receiving one of the following Sacraments the fees are as follows:

Holy Communion fee is $80.00 per child .

Confirmation fee is $100.00 per child.

 7:30am For the Parishioners

9:00 am Efren Garcia Aguilar                                           Wife and Children

11:00 am  Rachel Garcia                                                  Family

12:05 pm In Thanksgiving                                             Francisco & Claudia Dougan

12:05 pm Grace Carrera                                               Family           

12:05 pm Margret Mary & Anthony Felicissimo             Anthony Felicissimo

12:05 pm Bridgette & Mike Talty                                    Mary Davitt

12:05pm In Thanksgiving                                               Francisco & Claudia Dougan

7:00 pm Sacred Heart of Jesus

5:00 pm Joseph & Rose Kunny                                     Family

7:30pm  Legion of Mary

 7:30am For the Parishioners

9:00 am Mildred Oviedo                                                     Paula Oviedo

11:00 am  Herminio Afonso                                          Eduardo & Esther Rodrigues

Fourth of July:  This Wednesday is the 4th Of July

The office will be closed –July Fourth, is a federal   holiday in the United States commemorating the  adoption of the Declaration of Independence on   July 4, 1776. .