THURSDAY, APRIL 2ND – HOLY THURSDAY
FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD – GOOD FRIDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION
SATURDAY, APRIL 4TH – HOLY SATURDAY – THE GREAT EASTER VIGIL
SUNDAY, APRIL 5TH – EASTER
IN THE DIOCESES OF THE UNITED STATES, CATHOLICS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 59 ARE OBLIGED TO FAST ON ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026 AND GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2026.
FASTING
FASTING PERMITS ONE FULL MEAL AND TWO SMALLER MEALS, WHICH TOGETHER SHOULD NOT EQUAL A FULL MEAL. FOOD AND DRINK BETWEEN MEALS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON FAST DAY, EXCEPT FOR WATER AND MEDICINES.
ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT
CATHOLICS AGED 14 AND OLDER ARE TO ABSTAIN FROM MEAT ON ASH WEDNESDAY, ALL FRIDAYS OF LENT, AND GOOD FRIDAY.
ABSTINENCE MEANS REFRAINING FROM EATING MEAT SUCH AS BEEF, VEAL, PORK, OR POULTRY. EGGS AND DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE PERMITTED. FISH AND SHELLFISH MAY BE CONSUMED,; HOWEVER, THE PENITENTIAL CHARACTER OF ABSTINENCE SHOULD ALWAYS BE KEPT IN MIND.
WEDNESDAY – 7 P.M-8 P.M. – IN THE CHURCH
MARCH 25, 2026
APRIL 1, 2026
MARCH 20TH – LED BY HISPANIC MINISTRY (BILINGUAL)
MARCH 27TH – LED BY RESPECT FOR LIFE
ALL SERVICES BEGIN AT 7 P.M.
THURSDAY, MARCH 19TH – OUR LADY OF FATIMA, SAN CLEMENTE
TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH – ST. TIMOTHY, LAGUNA NIGUEL
THURSDAY, MARCH 26TH – ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA, LAGUNA BEACH
Daily Mass is celebrated:
Monday through Saturday at 8 a.m.
The Sunday Mass schedule is:
Saturday at 5 p.m. in English
Sunday at 7:30 a.m. in English
Sunday at 9 a.m. in English
Sunday at 11 a.m. in English
Sunday at 1 p.m. in Spanish
Please contact the parish office at
949-494-9701 to schedule.
We commit ourselves to: being a welcoming sanctuary and a place of prayer and worship.
Saint Anthony's daily calendar🙏
Our greetings from the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua.
Peace and all good❤
𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒚.
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✝️ THE PRIEST KISSES SOMETHING BEFORE MASS… AND MOST PEOPLE MISS IT 😳🤔
__________________________
It happens quietly.
No announcement.
No explanation.
No attention drawn to it.
The priest approaches the altar…
bows…
And then,
👉 he kisses it.
Most people are still settling down.
Still distracted.
Still unaware.
But that small gesture carries a depth many never notice.
✝️ IT IS NOT JUST A TABLE
To understand the kiss, you must understand the altar.
The altar is not furniture.
It is:
- The place of sacrifice
- The table of the Lord
- The sign of Christ Himself
In Catholic theology, the altar represents Christ.
Not symbolically in a weak sense…
But sacramentally, deeply, intentionally.
So when the priest approaches the altar…
He is not approaching an object.
He is approaching a mystery.
✝️ THE KISS IS AN ACT OF LOVE
Why a kiss?
Because a kiss is not functional.
It is relational.
It expresses:
👉 Reverence
👉 Love
👉 Communion
The priest does not begin Mass like a speaker starting a lecture.
He begins like someone entering into relationship.
The kiss says:
“I recognize who is here.”
“I honor what this place is.”
“I love the One I am about to serve.”
✝️ THE ALTAR HOLDS A SECRET
In many altars, something is hidden inside.
Relics.
The remains of saints.
From the earliest centuries, Christians celebrated the Eucharist over the tombs of martyrs.
Why?
Because the sacrifice of Christ and the witness of the saints are united.
So when the priest kisses the altar…
He is also honoring:
- Those who died for the faith
- Those who now live in glory
- The communion between heaven and earth
✝️ A MOMENT OF ALIGNMENT
Before any word is spoken…
Before the readings…
Before the Eucharistic Prayer…
The priest aligns himself.
Not with the congregation first.
But with:
👉 Christ
👉 The sacrifice
👉 The Church in heaven and on earth
That kiss is a silent declaration:
👉 “This is not about me.”
✝️ WHY MOST PEOPLE MISS IT
Because it is quiet.
And we are not.
We arrive distracted.
We settle slowly.
We think the Mass begins when we start paying attention.
But the liturgy does not wait for our awareness.
It begins with meaning… whether we notice or not.
✝️ WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT TIME
Next time you are at Mass:
Watch that moment.
When the priest reaches the altar…
Pause.
Interiorly unite yourself with that gesture.
Say within your heart:
👉 “Lord, I honor You.”
👉 “Lord, I am here.”
Because that kiss is not only his.
It invites yours, spiritually.
✝️ THE FINAL MESSAGE
The Mass does not begin with noise.
It begins with reverence.
With a kiss.
With a quiet act of love that most people overlook…
But heaven does not.
So the question is no longer:
“Why does the priest kiss the altar?”
The question is:
👉 “Have I learned to recognize the moments where love is hidden in silence?”
Because in the liturgy…
The smallest gestures often carry the greatest mysteries.
#CatholicsOnlineClass ✝️
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BE IN THE KNOW | Three important reasons why Eucharistic Adoration is so powerful
Did you know that Eucharistic Adoration is not just a devotion—it is a profound encounter that can truly transform your heart and your entire life.
The Church teaches that in the Eucharist, Christ is really, truly, and substantially present—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1374). It is no wonder that the saints, who spent long hours before the Blessed Sacrament, experienced deep and lasting transformation.
Here are three timeless reasons why Adoration changes everything:
1️⃣ It Deepens Our Intimacy with Jesus
Eucharistic Adoration is a personal, heart-to-heart encounter with Christ Himself. As the Church affirms, “Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love” (CCC 1380).
Saint Teresa of Calcutta beautifully said:
“The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth…”
In the quiet of Adoration, words are not always necessary. Simply being present—gazing upon Him and allowing Him to gaze upon you—draws you into deeper communion. It is prayer at its most intimate.
2️⃣ It Brings Peace, Strength, and Protection from Sin
In a restless and noisy world, Adoration becomes a place of healing and grace. The Church teaches that the Eucharist strengthens charity and “wipes away venial sins” (CCC 1394), helping us resist future sin.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori called it:
“the greatest of devotions… the one most dear to God and most helpful to us.”
Time before the Blessed Sacrament brings a peace “not as the world gives” (cf. John 14:27), and strengthens the soul to persevere in holiness—even amid temptation and struggle.
3️⃣ It Transforms Us and Fuels Our Mission
Adoration does not end in the chapel—it changes how we live. As we remain with Christ, He conforms us more deeply to Himself.
Saint Peter Julian Eymard taught that Eucharistic Adoration is a powerful means of growing in holiness, while Saint John Paul II emphasized that it is an “inexhaustible source of holiness” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 25).
From this encounter flows mission: renewed love for the Mass, deeper charity, and a stronger desire to bring Christ to others. We become what we adore.
Jesus is truly waiting for you.
He remains in the tabernacle, inviting you into His presence (cf. CCC 1379–1380). Why not visit Him this week? Even a few quiet moments—or a simple Holy Hour—can bring graces beyond imagining.
As Pope Pius X said:
“Devotion to the Eucharist is the most noble… and the most profitable for salvation.”
Have you experienced the power of Adoration? Say Amen or share your favorite saint quote—and invite someone who might need this gentle reminder.
Source: TotusTuus
Follow for more Fr. AC Perez, SchP
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