Jesus Teaches Us to Pray

Join us at the Basilica Shrine for nine consecutive Mondays as we pray the Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and reflect with the Vincentians of the Eastern Province on how Jesus teaches us to pray through His words and sacrifice. It is through His example that we dedicate ourselves to faith, forgiveness, unity, gratitude, obedience to God’s will, and veneration of His glory. Let us strive to emulate Mary, the first and perfect disciple, as we embrace Christ’s teaching.

Dates: Nine Mondays from July 1 to August 26.

Novena/Mass times: 9 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 6:30 p.m. (Novena/Benediction at 2 p.m.)

Confession times: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 6 p.m.

Watch online: Each 12:05 p.m. service will be livestreamed via YouTube.

General information: View the full Basilica Shrine schedule here.

Plenary Indulgence: Individuals who attend the Summer Novena and fulfill the ordinary requirements of the Church may receive an apostolic blessing and plenary indulgence on the ninth day, August 26.

Schedule: Dates, Presenters and Topics

July 1

Homilist: Fr. Michael Callaghan, CM

Topic: The Lord’s Prayer

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/eAENhfz-EL4

 

July 8

Homilist: Fr. John Kettelberger, CM

Topic: The Prayer of Gratitude

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/cxrxCzh_NJ4

 

July 15

Homilist: Fr. Charles Krieg, CM

Topic: A Prayer for Unity

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/XOkHafl1Lmg

 

July 22

Homilist: Fr. Tim Lyons, CM

Topic: Feast of St. Mary Magdalene: For All Future Believers

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/M-t9D_SFHRU

 

July 29

Homilist: Fr. Tom McKenna, CM

Topic: Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus: That Our Faith May Not Fail

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/rvEws8MymXw

 

August 5

Homilist: Deacon James Mahoney

Topic: A Prayer to Do God’s Will

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/7mvPJKJMNFI

 

August 12

Celebrant: Most Reverend Efren V. Esmilla, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Homilist: Fr. Joseph Ita-Sam, CM

Topic: For One Another

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/7PCWStjbtn8

 

August 19

Homilist: Fr. Sylvester Peterka, CM

Topic: To Forgive as We Are Forgiven

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/fiXZCPoFQJw

 

August 26

Homilist: Fr. Francis Sacks, CM

Topic: Apostolic Blessing, Plenary Indulgence: To the Honor and Glory of God

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/-hXk19xNkh4

Homilist Bios

Fr. Michael Callaghan, CM, has served as professor of English at St. John’s University in Queens, New York, and currently serves as chaplain to the Daughters of Charity in Albany, New York.

Fr. John Kettelberger, CM, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in his 46 years of priesthood has served 22 years as a pastor and 16 years as a college campus minister.

Fr. Charles Krieg, CM, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is assigned to pastoral ministry at St. Vincent’s Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Fr. Timothy V. Lyons, CM, was raised in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Immaculate Conception Parish. He serves as pastor of the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

Fr. Tom McKenna, CM, has served a half century in Vincentian ministries devoted to teaching and preaching the Good News with an approach anchored in the practical and lived examples of the worldwide Vincentian Family. He has authored numerous articles and a book on Vincentian spirituality.

Deacon James Mahoney is a permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia assigned to St. Athanasius Parish in West Oak Lane. He also serves as associate director of the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

Fr. Joseph Ita-Sam, CM was ordained on July 13, 2018. He is a Vincentian from the Nigeria Provence and has served at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in East Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for six years. He holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, and has authored the book, Confronting Situations.

Fr. Sylvester Peterka, CM, has been a Vincentian priest for more than 48 years who loves the Lord and God’s Holy Word. He tells people, “I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about a somebody, who can save anybody.”

Fr. Francis Sacks, CM was born in Coplay, Pennsylvania, and serves as associate director of the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, as well as chaplain to the Vincentians’ St. Catherine’s Infirmary in Philadelphia.