St. Anthony of Padua
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​Mass Daily Reading

December 14th, 2025
Third Sunday of Advent
“Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.  You too must be patient.  Make you hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not complain, brothers and sister, about one another, that you may not be judged.  Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.  Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.”  
James 5:7-10

Welcome to / Bienvenidos a:
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
   833 W. Main St.,
   Mountain City, TN  37683  
       Pastor:
                   Father Jesus Guerrero
      email: 
        [email protected] 
       Deacon:
​                   Joe Herman
      email:
       [email protected]
​    MASS SCHEDULE:
         Sunday 11am - English
                         1pm - Spanish
        Daily Mass
   Wednesday 7:30 pm - Dec 17 - No Mass
       Thursday 8 am - Dec 18 - English - Communion Service
   Call the Office for Mass Intentions
     423-299-0077 option 4​​
        Sunday
         11am - English
               † Patricia Lambert Ellis
                  given by Susanne Dixon
           1pm - Spanish
               People of the Parish
         Wednesday Dec 17
      7:30 pm - Spanish - No Mass
         Thursday Dec 18
           8 am - English - Communion Service
    Father Jesus will hear confessions
​           Sunday: 12:00 noon  
    Wednesday Dec 17:  No Mass
        Christmas Day
         11am - English
           1pm - Spanish
   Church Office:
​        Church:  423-299-0077
   Office Secretary: María Isabel Nuñez
                                      option 4
   Office Manager:  María Connell         
                                     option 5
   Office Hours:
   Monday through Friday
      9:00 to Noon​​
​Church email: 
[email protected]
​Emergency numbers: 
​Father Jesus Guerrero 423-299-0077
                                      option 2

The Third Week of Advent Represents: 
​                      Joy Candle
Candle Color:    Pink
Candle Name: The Shepherd's Candle
This third candle is pink and symbolizes rejoicing. During the third week of Advent, we are filled with joy for the near arrival of Jesus on Christmas day. This Sunday is often called "Gaudete Sunday" as we reflect on the joy the shepherd's felt at the birth of Jesus. How is Jesus inviting you to experience greater joy this Advent? 

“Dear Jesus, help us focus on you during this busy season. May we stay aware of the joy you bring into our lives. We want to find you in the everyday moments and come with hearts of gratitude to your manger on Christmas. Amen.”

FROM FATHER JESÚS:  
Dcn. Bob Hunt did a terrific job at the Advent Retreat! Thanks to everyone who attended!
We also had an outstanding Our Lady of Guadalupe Queen of the Americas celebration last Thursday evening. Thanks to everyone who was part of this beautiful celebration. 
This Week (Tuesday, December 16) the Ministries in Spanish begin the Christmas Novena (Las Posadas) in preparation for Christmas. Everyone is welcome! 
I will be taking few days off this coming week, from Monday, December 15 through Friday, December 19 as I need some personal time to recharge and get ready for all the activity and liturgical celebration of the season.
We will be starting to decorate the Church for Christmas on Tuesday, December 23rd at 5:00pm your help is appreciated. 
Lots of activities taking place at our parish!
 
Tuvimos una bonita celebración de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Reina de las Américas, el jueves pasado por la noche. Gracias a todos los que participaron en esta hermosa celebración. 
Esta semana (martes 16 de diciembre) los ministerios en español comienzan las Posadas en preparación para la Navidad. ¡Todos están invitados! 
Me tomaré unos días libres la próxima semana, del lunes 15 al viernes 19 de diciembre, ya que necesito tiempo personal para recargar energías y prepararme para toda la actividad y las celebraciones litúrgicas de esta temporada. 
Comenzaremos a decorar la iglesia para Navidad el martes 23 de diciembre a las 5:00 p. m. Se agradece su ayuda. 
¡Hay muchas actividades en nuestra parroquia!

ORDINATION OF BISHOP MARK BECKMAN
July 26, 2024
Most Reverend Mark Beckman was ordained as the fourth bishop for the Diocese of Knoxville on Friday July 26, 2024.

​He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Nashville on July 13, 1990 by Bishop James D. Niedergeses at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. The assignments after ordination include Associate Pastor, Holy Rosary Parish, Nashville, TN (1990-1991), Part-time Teacher, Father Ryan High School, Nashville, TN (1990-1996), Associate Principal for Pastoral Affairs, Father Ryan High School, Nashville, TN (1991-1996), Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Springfield, TN and St. Michael Mission, Cedar Hill, TN (1996-2002), Pastor, St. Matthew Parish, Franklin, TN (2002-2015). Since 2015, Bishop Beckman served as Pastor of St. Henry Parish in Nashville, TN (2015-2024).

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​REGISTRATION FORMS
New parish membership!  The forms may be found in the Narthex on the wall to be filled out and put in the return folder there.  Do you know someone who would like to join our parish?  Take a form and help them fill it out and get it back to us.
NEW CATHOLICS
We welcome new members to our church as we join in a prayerful journey of faith together.  O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults).
Contact Michael Johnson 828-381-0660 for more information
COMMUNION
Receiving Holy Communion is the celebration of unity in faith with the conviction that the “bread” is truly the body and blood of Christ.   It is appropriate that only those who are actively practicing Catholics should receive.
MARRIAGE
Diocesan norms specify four months of preparation including an Engaged Encounter. Contact Parish Office before you set a date.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
​​Classes will be held on WEDNESDAYS.  Children in the K-1st & 3rd-5th grade classes will meet from 6pm-7pm and children in the Sacramental Prep class will meet from 6pm-7:30pm.​
​If you have any questions, contact Bridgette Berger at 
​   (414) 350-2299 (call or text).
​Please follow our Facebook page, St. Anthony of Padua Religious Education Program, for updates:
https://www.facebook.com/stanthonyofpaduareligiouseducation​
VOLUNTEERS  
All church volunteers in any capacity must become certified by completing the online Safe Haven curriculum at:
https://Knoxville.cmgconnect.org
Thank you for your willingness to volunteer for our parish ministries.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ROUND TABLE
​All Catholic Gentlemen over 18 years of age are welcome.

PERMANENT DEACON   
​Joe Herman serves as Deacon at St. Anthony of Padua in Mountain City, TN 
​We are so honored that he is our church leader along with Fr. Jesus

• ​​Holy Hour ​​​​ ​​​​

Every Third Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm.​​
Whenever available, Deacon Joe will have Eucharistic Adoration between 6 and 7 pm on Thursdays. When he is not able to be there, we will continue to meet for quiet prayer before the Tabernacle during that time. All are encouraged to come to adore Our Lord.

• ​​​Holy Rosary 

The rosary will be prayed before Mass at 10:30 am. Please respect those who are participating and enter the church quietly.  Silent time to follow pre-Mass​.

• Please pray for people of the parish who need our prayers:

​​especially for, Jessica Anne Crowe-Maltese, Susanne and Ronald Dixon, Marcia Orr, Sherry Kopper, Luis Goitz, Kristen Simon, Omar de Jesus Linares, Maria Elena Esquivel, Joanne Stollenmaier, Carole Rossi, Ron Carbone, Rhoderick Dyson, Froy Romo, Kim Carbone, Darleen Farrell, Ben Antonacci, Jim and Carol Alderson and those who silently need prayers.
​​
​​MUSIC MINISTER —  Marie-Jo Thum
                                       Richard Thum
​                                       Cantor
​                            New choir members welcome.
WOMEN’S GROUP
All Women are invited.
​ST. ANTHONY BREAD (S.A.B)
Emergency Phone Number:
     423-299-0077 option 6
We have wonderful volunteers but desperately need more volunteers.
      We are open twice a month: 
      •   The 1st Thursday every month
             9:30 am - 2 pm
​      •   Also, the 3rd Thursday
​             9:30 am - 2 pm
Food donations are always welcomed. Bring on Sundays.
We have an emergency food pantry to help the less fortunate in Johnson County. We prefer that the calls be made during normal daily work hours to handle the emergency food request.
GROCERY BAGS
Grocery bags need to be taken to the SAB building, please.  All grocery bags left at the church will be taken to our re-cycling bin.​​

​​MINISTRY TO SICK and HOMEBOUND
Call parish office at (423) 299-0077 option 2
​
WEEKDAY SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Go on-line to view or hear the daily readings. 
Please visit   
www.usccb.org/bible/readings
or go to our new on-line MyParish App.​

ON-LINE CONTRIBUTIONS:
Giving is a blessing that changes lives for the better!
IMPORTANT ON-LINE GIVING INFORMATION:
If you have your donation withdrawn automatically from your bank account, please go into your account via the link below and verify your bank information is current. It has come to our attention that it needs to be updated yearly.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS: 
December 14th, 2025
Collection for Retirement Fund for Religious priests, brothers, and sisters dedicated their lives to serving you.

​​On-Line Contributions at
abundant.co/stanthonyofpaduacath/give​

Dec 12 - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe Apparition:
On December 9, 1531 a poor Aztec Indian named Juan Diego was walking near a hill at Tepeyac just northwest of Mexico City when our blessed Mother Mary appeared. Mary told him to tell the bishop to build a chapel where he was standing. Juan Diego obeyed her direction but the Spanish bishop, Fray Juan de Zumarraga, asked him for a sign verifying his claim.
Juan Diego returned to the same spot, on December 12, and found dark pink Castilian roses blooming. These roses did not grow naturally in Mexico and were native to the archbishop’s home in Spain, and they were blooming when it was very cold!
Juan Diego gathered up the roses in his mantle also known as tilma. He went and he opened his tilma to pour out the roses for the bishop, revealing then on the fabric the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. All were amazed at what they saw and believed Juan Diego’s story.
Replicas of Juan Diego’s mantle made with the same type of cactus fiber materials last generally only 20-40 years before disintegrating. But after almost 500 years Juan Diego’s tilma is still well preserved with the image of our Lady.

• Dr. Philip S. Callahan research biologist at the University of Florida, in his book “The Tilma Under Infra-Red Radiation” published in Jan 1, 1981 indicates that:  . . . “there is absolutely no protective coating of varnish . . . Despite this . . . the robe and mantle are as bright and colored as if the paint was newly laid.”

12 Dic - Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
La Aparición de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe:
El 9 de diciembre de 1531, un indio azteca pobre llamado Juan Diego caminaba cerca de una colina en el Tepeyac, al noroeste de la ciudad de México, cuando apareció nuestra Santísima Madre. María instruyó a Juan Diego a que le dijera al obispo que construyera una capilla donde él estaba. Juan Diego obedeció sus instrucciones, pero el obispo, el español Fray Juan de Zumarraga, le pidió un signo que acreditara su afirmación.
Juan Diego regresó al mismo lugar, el 12 de diciembre, y encontró floreciendo rosas de Castilla de color rosa intenso. Esas rosas no crecían naturalmente en México, y además estaban floreciendo cuando hacía mucho frío, sin embargo, eran nativas de España la tierra del arzobispo.
Juan Diego recogió las rosas en su tilma. Fue y abrió su tilma para derramar las rosas en el suelo para el obispo, y la tela mostró la imagen de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Todos se asombraron de lo que vieron y creyeron la historia de Juan Diego.
Las réplicas del manto de Juan Diego hechas con el mismo tipo de materiales de fibra de maguey (agave - cactus) duran generalmente de 20 a 40 años antes de desintegrarse. Pero después de casi 500 años, la tilma de Juan Diego se conserva en perfecto estado con la imagen de la Virgen.

• El biólogo investigador Dr. Philip S. Callahan de la Universidad de Florida, en su libro “The Tilma Under Infra-Red Radiation” publicado el 1 de enero de 1981 indica que:   . . .  “No hay absolutamente ninguna capa protectora de barniz  . . . A pesar de esto . . . la túnica y el manto son tan brillantes y coloreados como si estuvieran recién pintados".

• PARKING

Overflow Parking is available at the Johnson County Health Department on Sundays during Mass.

• Gift Shop

The Gift Shop is open.

• Coffee fellowship ​

Snacks after the 11:00 am Mass on Sundays. Any small type of item homemade or store bought would be appreciated.

• Attention: 

Only authorized persons are allowed to adjust the thermostats in the Church.  See Tony.  Thank you!

• Attention: 

Those having a festivity here must clean up and leave it the way you found it. 

• Notice: Per the Diocese rules

​Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult when using the bathrooms.​​
​​​​​

• Holy Days of Obligation

                    2025                    

• All Sundays
•  Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

                    Jan 1

• Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

                    May 29

• Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

                    Aug 15

•  Solemnity of All Saints

                    Nov 1​

•  Feast of the Immaculate Conception

                   Dec 8

•  The Birth of Our Lord, Christmas​

​                        Dec 25

​Everyone is encouraged to check our website for events or parish information. Official church website:

website email:
[email protected]

ORDINATIONS

PERMANENT DEACON   
​Joe Herman was ordained Permanent Deacon on June 11th 2022 by Bishop Richard Stika at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, TN 
He will serve as Deacon at St. Anthony of Padua in Mountain City, TN  We are so honored that he is going to be our church leader along with Fr. Jesus       
​Congratulations to Joe, his family and St. Anthony's community.​

ORDINATION TO THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD
With praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church joyfully celebrates the Ordination to the Holy Priesthood on Saturday 8 June, 2024 of Father Daniel Joseph Herman through the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the imposition of hands by His Excellency THE MOST REVEREND SHELTON J. FABRE Archbishop of Louisville
Fr. Daniel Herman celebrated his First Holy Mass on Sunday 9 June 2024 ​at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.

Happy People

​You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.
Vernon Linwood Howard

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

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