Start Date: January 19th

As we approach the Feast Day of our patroness, St. Angela Merici, our parish family is coming together for a special nine-day journey of prayer. Beginning January 19th and concluding on January 27th, we will pray the St. Angela Merici Novena.

Who was St. Angela Merici?

Born in 1474 in Lombardy, Angela’s life was defined by her resilience and her deep trust in God’s plan. After losing her parents and her sister at a young age, she sought comfort in prayer and was eventually called to serve the Church as a consecrated virgin.

St. Angela saw a great need in her hometown: young girls had no access to education. Driven by a vision from God, she opened her home to teach them the Faith. This humble beginning grew into the Company of St. Ursula in 1535—the first women’s religious order to teach outside the confines of a convent.

Why Pray the Novena?

A novena is a period of nine days of prayer, following the example of the Apostles as they waited for the Holy Spirit. By praying this novena together, we:

• Seek Intercession: We ask St. Angela to pray for our parish, our families, and our personal intentions.
• Find Inspiration: We reflect on her courage to educate others and her dedication to strengthening Catholic family life.
• Build Community: Even if we pray from our own homes, we are united in spirit as one parish family.

How to Participate

The novena begins this Monday, January 19th.

Reflect & Pray: “Angela’s foundation was not formally recognized as a religious order until after she died. The Ursulines became the first women’s religious order to teach outside the convent.”

Just as St. Angela’s small acts of faith changed the world, our small moments of daily prayer can transform our hearts. We invite everyone—from our students to our long-time parishioners—to join us in this beautiful tradition.

St. Angela Merici, pray for us!