From the Desk of Father Nathan

St Gabriel Catholic Church | Pompano Beach
God Bless You All

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people who are all close to my heart!
Lots of love, blessings, and prayers to you all.

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

The Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul, or the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, is a liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome of these apostles – Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which will be observed on the 29th of June. The celebration is of ancient origin, the date selected being the anniversary of either of their deaths or of the translation of their relics.

Pillars of the church

Sts. Peter and Paul are pillars of the Church. They met for the first time in Antioch. Under the Emperor Nero’s Rome, they both died as martyrs, but not in the same year or on the same day. Simon Peter, or Simon the Rock, was unshakable.

That is not to say that he was without flaws: his great ideas often came to nothing. He wanted to walk on the water, but almost drowned; he was the last to abandon Jesus and the first to deny Him. What was unshakable in Him was his faith, which doesn’t come from flesh and blood, but from the Heavenly Father.

Hence, when he was given “the key to paradise”- the attribute of his authority and those of his successors who are destined to maintain the Church on the path of truth and unity. But St. Paul’s freedom was necessary to preserve the Holy Spirit in the Church, which continues to transform the world. Without individuality, faith can become too rigid and uniform. Yet, without St. Peter’s vigilance there would be no unity. So, this double patronage is necessary and cannot be relinquished.

The Roman Martyrdom (the official lists of solemnities, feasts, and other liturgical celebrations of the saint and martyrs) assigned June 29th as the feast day without thereby declaring that to be the day of their deaths.

St. Augustine of Hippo (late 4 th century) says in his Sermon 295:

“One day is assigned for the celebration of the martyrdom of the two apostles. But those two were one. Although their martyrdom occurred on different days, they were one”.

Thus, it is clear that the celebration if of ancient origin.

God bless you all.

With lots of love and blessing.

Ever at your service.

—Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan

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Past Messages from Father Nathan

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 14, 2025

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 14, 2025

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – September 14th. This feast is celebrated every year on September 14th and recalls three historical events: The finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the emperor Constantine, The dedication of churches built by Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulcher and Mount Calvary, The restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by the emperor Heraclius II.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 31, 2025

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 31, 2025

Nativity of our Blessed Mother – September 8th. A traditional Indian Celebration will be held on September 6th (Saturday) at 6:00 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at St. Gabriel following the traditional way of honoring our Blessed Mother, taking her on a decorated chariot…

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 17, 2025

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 17, 2025

Thank You for My Birthday Celebration. Last week, before my birthday, my little niece, with all the innocence and concern of a child, went to her mother and said, “I feel bad for Uncle Father Nathan. Uncle is all alone.  There is no one to celebrate his birthday with him.” She said it because I am far away from my family home, and in her

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