Antonine Feastday

January 17 is the Feastday of Saint Anthony the Great, the patron saint of the Antonine Order of religious women and men. Every year for this feast, the Antonine communities celebrate throughout the world by getting together for worship and fellowship. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated for the intentions of all the order's members and benefactors. During liturgy, a spiritual renewal of vows takes place where each member renews her personal commitment to God through the Antonine constitution.
Here in North Jackson, we celebrated on Saturday January 15, in unity with the majority of the members and the general council of our order who were celebrating at the Mother House in Roumieh, Lebanon. As usual, we started our day with the prayer of the Divine Office followed by a profound reflection on "Seeking the Face of God" by Father Nadim Helou, pastor of Saint George Maronite Church in Uniontown, PA. After adoration, confessions, and the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, we were joined for lunch by Chorbishop Michael Kail, Pastor of Saint Maron Church in Youngstown, OH and by Monsignor Anthony Spinosa, Rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson, OH.

Traditional Text for the Spiritual Renewal of Our Vows:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the presence of the Holy Trinity, the blessed Mother of God, Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint Anthony the Great, and all the angels and saints, I renew my vows of obedience, chastity and poverty and I promise to keep them according to the constitution of our congregation, by God’s grace, the protection of the Blessed Virgin, Saint Joseph and our father Saint Anthony the Great. Amen.