From the Desk of Father Nathan

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people who are all close to my heart!

Lots of love, blessings, and prayers to you all.

Feasts of the Holy Archangels

Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Raphael

September 29

The month of September is one of the most important days in our church. Some of us may know something about it and very many of us may not know anything about it.

On September 29th the Church honors the Holy Archangels. Although there are believed to be seven archangels (based on Tobit 12:15 and Rev. 8:2), only three are mentioned by name in the Catholic Bible. St. Gabriel, St. Michael, and St. Raphael. Only one of them, St. Michael, is specifically called an archangel in Scripture.

What is an Archangel

According to Catholic tradition, the archangels are an order of angels within a hierarchy of angelic hosts. In all, there are nine ranks, or choirs, of angelic beings. As derived in part from the teaching of St. Paul the Apostle and later developed by Church theologians, these nine choirs of angels are in 7 Thrones, 8 Cherubim, 9 Seraphim.

Both angels and archangels are angelic beings that have direct dealings with humans as recorded in the Catholic Bible. The archangels are seen to be the highest of all God’s messenger angels and they are given the most important missions.

St Michael the Archangel

Of the seven, St. Michael is regarded as the highest ranking. St. Michael the Archangel….Michael means, “Who is like God?” Of the three angles mentions by name in the Catholic Bible, St. Michael the Archangel is mentioned the most. He is found in the Old Testament in Daniel 10:13-21, 10:21, 12:1 and in the New Testament in Rev. 12:7-9 and Jude 1:9. St. Michael is most known for doing battle against Lucifer (who could have been a seraph) and casting him and the other fallen angels out of heaven. Because of this feat, he is known as the leader or prince of the angels. St. Michael is the champion of God’s people and protector of the Church. He is also regarded as the angel who brings the souls of men to their judgment before God, thus being the angel of judgment.

St. Gabriel the Archangel

St. Gabriel the Archangel. Gabriel means “Power of God”. St. Gabriel the Archangel is mentioned the most in the Bible after St. Michael. He is found in the Old Testament in Daniel 8:15-26 and 9:21-27, and in the New Testament in Luke 1:11-38. St. Gabriel is most known for his messenger role in the Annunciation. He is the angel who appeared to Zachariah and the Blessed Virgin Mary announcing the birth of St. John the Baptist and the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, respectively. He is also believed by some to be the angel who appeared to St. Joseph and the shepherds at Christ’s nativity, as well as the angel who comforted Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Because of this, he is known as the herald angel and the angel of mercy and consolation. St.

Raphael the Archangel

Raphael the Archangel. Raphael means “God has healed” St. Raphael the Archangel is only mentioned once in the Catholic Bible, in Tobit Chapter 12. In this passage, he was a companion, protector, and healer. He is also believed to be the angel who stirred the water in the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, giving it its healing properties, and mentioned in the New Testament. He, therefore, is regarded as a healing angel and a companion angel.

This year we will Begin a New Tradition of Celebrating our Parish patron of St Gabriel

The reason, why I am describing all of these is to inform you that we have the patronage of St. Gabriel the Archangel. I have heard that we don’t do anything for that week or at least on that day. Hence hereafter we will create a tradition to celebrate our parish feast. There will be an announcement about what we are going to do. Let us come to gather as a community.

God bless you all.

With lots of love and blessing.

Ever wanting to be faithful to your service.

—Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan