Our united parish is blessed to have many patron saints praying for us as we work together to live out the Gospel message. Each of these individuals has guided a segment of our parish community for many years, and now that we are united together as one parish, there is so much we all can learn about these powerful witnesses to the faith. Their example helps bring us closer to Jesus as his disciples on Earth.

Our Lady of Loreto

 
Our Lady of Loreto is one of many titles associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary, the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne, was chosen by God to be the mother of His Son, and this was announced to her by the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation. Our Blessed Mother, together with Saint Joseph, welcomed Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem and truly became the Holy Family, a family blessed by God.
 
Loreto is the name of a town in Italy where it is believed, according to tradition, that angels picked up Mary’s childhood home from Nazareth and after making a few stops, brought it to Loreto in the thirteenth century. Another legend is that a family, whose last name was “Angeli”, arranged to have the house moved from the Holy Land for protection during the Crusades. This small house is believed to be the place where Mary was born, where the angel Gabriel came to her, and where she later lived with Jesus and Joseph.
 
The Basilica della Santa Casa, the Basilica of the Holy House, was built around Mary’s house and is now a shrine where pilgrims from around the world visit and honor our Blessed Mother. There is also a statue of Madonna and Child made from Cedar of Lebanon within the house. In 2019, Pope Francis added this feast to the universal Roman Calendar and it is celebrated each year in churches around the world. Our Lady of Loreto is the patroness of aviation.

The Catholic Church celebrates Our Lady of Loreto on December 10.

  Prayer to Our Lady of Loreto

Lord, look kindly upon your people as we joyfully acclaim Our Lady of Loreto as our mother and patron. By her intercession grant that we may remain faithful to our Christian vocation and one day enjoy in heaven the blessed vision of your glory through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady of Loreto, pray for us!