Sene 21 — June 28

The First Church for Our Lady Mary

Today we remember a very happy beginning. Two of Jesus' helpers, Paul and Silas, built the very first church named for our Lady Mary, the mother of Jesus. A church is a special house where people gather to pray and to thank God together.

They built it in a city called Philippi, a place where everyone could come to sing and pray and thank God. They named it in honor of Mary, because she loved God with all her heart.

Sene 21 is a day to remember our Lady Mary, so it is a fitting day to think of the very first church that carried her name.

It was a joyful beginning: a special house where people could gather to pray and to thank God, named in honor of Mary.

Saint Timothy of Memphis, the Brave Soldier

Saint Timothy lived in a place called Memphis. He was a brave soldier who loved Jesus very much.

One day a king told everyone they must bow down to idols, which are pretend gods made of wood or stone that cannot see or hear or help anyone. But Timothy would not bow. He loved the one true God.

Timothy stayed faithful to the very end, and he became a martyr, one who keeps loving God no matter what happens. He was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to God.

There is no God except Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.— Saint Timothy

Saint Cedron, the Chief Bishop of Alexandria

Saint Cedron (he is also called Kardonos) lived in the great city of Alexandria. He was the fourth patriarch of that city. A patriarch is a chief bishop, the leader who cares for all the churches in a big land.

Saint Mark himself baptized Cedron. Then Cedron lovingly led and cared for God's people for about eleven years.

After all those years of serving God, Cedron died in peace, and God welcomed him home.