Calendar

Thomas Gallaudet
b. June 3, 1822
d. August 27, 1902

Often called the "Apostle to the Deaf," Gallaudet founded St. Ann's Church for Deaf Mutes, the first church of its kind, in New York City in 1852.

Henry Winter Syle
b. November 9, 1846
d. January 6, 1890

A student of Gallaudet, Syle became the first deaf person to be ordained an Episcopal priest.

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From today's Gospel according to Saint Mark: [Jesus] has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.

Collect:

O loving God, who willest that everyone should come to thee and be saved: We bless thy holy Name for thy servants Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle, whose labors with and for those who are deaf we commemorate today, and we pray that thou wouldest continually move thy Church to respond in love to the needs of all people; through Jesus Christ, who opened the ears of the deaf, and who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and for ever. Amen.

Bishop of Hippo; Doctor of the Church
b. November 13, 354
d. August 28, 430

To say that Saint Augustine is a "leader" or "father" of the church seems an understatement. Few figures have been more influencial on the development of Christian theology. Among his many writings are his Confessions and The City of God.

Augustine's influence extends right into the Saint Thomas pulpit to this very day, where our priests regularly rely on his wisdom and clarity, and even on the lessons to be learned from his own life. Among so many examples in the trove are these:

To Be Transformed, Present Your Body by Fr Austin (2008)
The Love of Money by Fr Mead (2006)
All in the Family by Fr Mead (2005)
Patience Wins the Day by Fr Mead (2005)
Enter by the Strait Gate by Fr Mead (2004)

Please note: beginning Tuesday, September 7, 2010, a 5-week class on the Confessions of Saint Augustine. Father Austin will offer a guided reading of the text, emphasizing core questions of Christian belief.

Collect:

O Lord God, who art the light of the minds that know thee, the life of the souls that love thee, and the strength of the hearts that serve thee: Help us, following the example of thy servant Augustine of Hippo, so to know thee that we may truly love thee, and so to love thee that we may fully serve thee, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Bishop of Lindisfarne
d. August 31, 651 

Aidan's strength was his earnest simplicity. He shared the gospel face to face, one person at a time, traveling from village to village on foot, giving all that he had to anyone in need along the way.

Collect:

O loving God, who didst call thy servant Aidan from the peace of a cloister to re-establish the Christian mission in northern England, and didst endow him with gentleness, simplicity, and strength: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, following his example, may use what thou hast given us for the relief of human need, and may persevere in commending the saving Gospel of our Redeemer Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.