• Dear Friend of the Shrine, On behalf of all the Friars at the Shrine of St. Anthony and throughout our Province, I wish you God's peace during this time of the Coronavirus pandemic. We thank God that none of the Friars here at the Shrine have been sick and we pray that you and your loved ones are safe and well. During the stay-at-home orders of the pandemic, when the Shrine can’t hold public liturgies, the Friars continue to pray with you, streaming Mass daily at 8:30 am. on YouTube and Facebook. We are sharing video reflections regularly and we pray for the needs that you share by letter, email, and social media posts. Please go to our website to submit prayer intentions. We may be in self-isolation, but we don’t have to feel that way. Here in Ellicott City, Maryland, our own Little Portion Farm continues to plant crops for this season which will feed the skyrocketing number of people in need of food in Baltimore City. All over the country, our Friars have increased their service at soup kitchens, food pantries, and emergency service centers.

     

  Over the past ten years, the Shrine of St. Anthony has grown into a national destination. Open 365 days per year, the Shrine hosted over 58,000 pilgrims in 2019. The site has become a thriving center of prayer, faith, and action welcoming pilgrims who seek peace in their busy lives. Even now, during the pandemic, pilgrims come to pray our outdoor Stations of the Cross, pray the Rosary at our Grotto, walk our trails, or just to escape the anxiety of our time in the peace they find here.

   

  Yet our doors are closed. We cannot celebrate public Mass. We cannot hear confessions. We cannot accept visitors. We cannot even open our gift shop. However, keeping the buildings and grounds safe and welcoming must continue. Maintaining our presence online, through websites, YouTube, and social media platforms must continue. Planning for our future must continue. These are all more vital now than ever. Yet all of these have costs, right now, which we struggle to afford. This pandemic has suspended public operations here at the Shrine and has forced us into survival mode. We are doing everything we can to help those in need and stay viable throughout this crisis so we can resume normal operations when it is over.   Jesus promised that He would be with us always. We trust that He will provide for all of us in our time of need. Throughout our history, the Franciscans have always depended on friends and companions to journey with us, supporting our life of Gospel ministry.

     

  As we move through the darkness of this prolonged shutdown, we appeal to your generosity. Please consider a gift to help the Shrine meet its financial needs today—and help us continue meeting your spiritual needs tomorrow.   We are not sure when we will be able to meet again in person, but we know that one day we will. We will receive you here with open arms. We will once again lift our voices in song, praising God for His mercy. So that the Shrine may stay strong until then, please support the Shrine today. Yours in Christ,

   

  Father Michael Heine, OFM Conv. Vicar Provincial, Our Lady of the Angels Province