St. Mary of Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Parish
648 JAY ST., UTICA, NY 13501 – 315-735-1482
(1556-1612) Today’s saint was born Eufranio Desiderio at Leonessa, a small town in central Italy. He was particularly religious even as a child, gathering companions and inducing them to pray with him. Eufranio was educated by his uncle, who had planned a suitable marriage for him, but in his 16th year he fell sick of […]
(Died 316 AD) All sources on the life of St. Blaise agree that he was bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and most of the accounts place his martyrdom in the reign of Licinius (about 316). The particulars concerning his life and martyrdom that are found in the Acts are purely legendary and have no claim […]
(1522-1590) Today’s saint was born Alessandra Lucrezia Romola de’ Ricci in Florence to patrician parents, Pier Francesco de’ Ricci, and his wife, Caterina Bonza, who died soon after. Alessandra received her early education in a school run by a monastery of Benedictine nuns in the Monticelli quarter of the city, where her aunt, Luisa de’ […]
(453-523) Bridgid was born in Fochard, province of Ulster Ireland. It is said that when she was just an infant her father had a vision of men clothed in white garments pouring a sacred unguent on her head, thus prefiguring her future sanctity. Even as a youngster she dedicated herself to God, bestowed everything at […]
(1815-1888) John was born in Castelnuovo d’Asti and educated by his mother. Even as a child he felt the calling to be a teacher and would entertain his friends with games alternated with work, prayer, and religious education. He became a priest in 1841, and as his apostolate was begun among poor young people with […]
(Died 228 AD) St. Martina of Rome was a wealthy daughter of a Christian Roman consul. On her parent’s death, she gave away her riches to the poor and devoted herself to prayer. She so openly testified to her Christian faith that she could not escape the persecutions under Emperor Alexander Severus. Arrested and commanded to return to […]
On June 4, 2019, Pope Francis appointed Douglas Lucia to be the 11th bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. He succeeds Bishop Robert Cunningham, who retired. The new bishop shepherds more than 220,000 Catholics who reside in seven counties of the diocese covering 5,479 square miles. It’s been quite a journey for a […]
(Died 170 AD) St. Constantius was martyred under the Emperor Antoninus. He was tortured by officials and then took refuge in the house of a certain Anastasius, in the place called Monticellus. Both men were subsequently arrested, together with their colleague Carpophorus. They managed to convert their oppressors and were released. Other officials questioned St. […]
(1225-1274) Thomas was born, the youngest of eight siblings, in Roccasecca, Italy to count Landolfo of Aquino and countess Theodora of Teano. Before his birth, a holy hermit told Theodora that her son would enter the Order of Friars Preachers, become a great learner and achieve unequaled sanctity. He began to live up to that […]
(1474-1540) Angela has the double distinction of founding the first teaching congregation of women in the church and what is now called a “secular institute” of religious women. She began her religious life as a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, and lived a life of great austerity, wishing, like St. Francis, to own nothing, […]