Greetings!

Welcome to Saint Anthony Parish!

I am delighted to have you visit our website to learn more about our parish family and community here at Saint Anthony’s in Florence, SC. We are committed to inviting and supporting every parishioner in their journey to become a disciple of Christ, to building God’s Kingdom through prayer, service and outreach to others in faith.

Since 1871, Saint Anthony Parish has provided a welcoming and prayerful environment for daily and Sunday Mass, various liturgical and diocesan celebrations, celebrations through reception of the Sacraments, as well as many ministry opportunities and community events.

We strive to bring to life the words of our mission:  “As a community of faith, we the members of Saint Anthony Parish are committed to follow Jesus Christ through prayer and the sacraments, the study of His Word, the teachings of His Church, Evangelization, and through reaching out in service to our fellow human beings, parishioners and non-parishioners, with love, respect, and support.”

We continue to move forward with new technology to improve communication and convenience for our parish families, and have recently offered a new Online Giving program to make it easy to make regular and special offerings to Saint Anthony’s —even from your cell phone!

I pray that you may feel welcomed, find warmth, encouragement and spiritual growth in our parish and I look forward to getting to know you personally in the weeks and months ahead.  Working together, we seek to build a strong parish community where all are included and inspired by the Gospel to live God’s mission with faith, hope and love. May God bless you and your family. Welcome home!

Reverend JohnBosco Duraisamy, Pastor

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Bulletin Message – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – "Go and Do Likewise"Dear Parishioners,In today’s Gospel, we meet a man who tests Jesus—a lawyer, not in the modern sense, but an expert in the Old Testament Law. He had no difficulty accepting God, for he had studied the Scriptures deeply and believed he understood all about God. His struggle, however, lay not in theology but in human relationships. He was trying to separate love for God from love for neighbor.For many Jews of the time, a “neighbor” was simply a fellow Jew. But Jesus radically shifts the focus. He reframes the question: instead of asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus challenges us to ask, “To whom can I be a neighbor?”To answer, Jesus tells the story of a man journeying down the notoriously dangerous road to Jericho—aptly called the “Way of Blood.” Along this road, the man is attacked, stripped, beaten, and left half-dead. In this wounded traveler, Jesus invites us to see all the people around us who are suffering:Some are physically hurting through illness or pain.Some are crushed in their self-worth, feeling defeated or ashamed.Some are wounded in their emotions, lonely, grieving, or broken-hearted.Some are spiritually wounded—doubting, discouraged, or disconnected from God.Some are economically burdened—living on the edge of survival.As the victim lay helpless, three people walked by. But only one made a difference—the Samaritan. What made the Samaritan a true neighbor? Jesus shows us through four C’s:Compassion – More than pity, it is a deep, inward stirring of love. “He was moved with compassion.”Contact – He got close. Love doesn’t look for excuses; it seeks opportunities. He touched the man, lifted him, and got involved.Care – He acted. He poured oil and wine on the wounds, bandaged them, and brought the man to safety. Love is not just a discussion. As Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.”Cost – The Samaritan gave his time, energy, and money. True ministry requires sacrifice. “A ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.”Dear friends, this story reveals the heart of the Gospel. Jesus is not contrasting belief vs. unbelief. He is distinguishing between those who have a living relationship with God and those who merely practice religion. The priest and Levite—religious leaders—walked away. But love does not cross the street to avoid pain. It crosses the street to heal it.As St. John reminds us: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother or sister, he is a liar.” For how can we love the God we cannot see if we do not love the people we do see?Let us go and do likewise. Let us be true neighbors—not just in word, but in action.Fr. Johnbosco Duraisamy Pastor See MoreSee Less
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EN: In a world that often feels divided, the story of the Good Samaritan reminds us of the power of compassion and mercy given to us by Christ. Let's choose kindness, stretch out a hand, and be a neighbor to those in need!#gospelreflectionc#Luke##goodsamaritanr#gospelo#compassions#mercymercy⁣ES: En un mundo que a menudo se siente dividido, la historia del Buen Samaritano nos recuerda el poder de la compasión y la misericordia que Cristo nos dio. ¡Optemos por la bondad, extendamos la mano y seamos prójimos de los necesitados!#reflexiónevangelicae#Lucasl#BuenSamaritanoi#Evangeliog#compasióna#misericordiaordia See MoreSee Less
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