AMAZONSMILE
Amazon.com runs a charitable program called AmazonSmile that allows you to shop on Amazon.com as you normally do, but will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to whichever non-profit you select… and you can choose Canton Catholic Community!
 
AmazonSmile is a way for you to support St. Gerard and St. John parishes every time you shop with Amazon. You will find the same  Amazon you know and love, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the price of eligible purchases to the Canton Catholic Community! 
 
HERE'S HOW TO SHOP AMAZONSMILE:

1. Visit smile.amazon.com
2. Sign in with your Amazon.com credentials
3. Search & select the charity: Our Community is listed under Canton Catholic Community (please note: all donations will be split between the two parishes.)
4. Start shopping!
5. Add a bookmark for smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.
 
If you have questions or need help, please contact Nancy Cunniff at:
ncunniff@cantoncatholic.org

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​St. Gerard Majella Was Founded in 1960
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The Roman Catholic Parish of St. Gerard Majella, founded in 1960, is a suburban, archdiocesan parish located in the Ponkapoag section of Canton, MA. The parish is a socially, culturally, and educationally diverse faith community.

Our Mission
St. Gerard Majella's Parish Community was founded in 1960 to bring more effectively the loving message of Jesus Christ to the growing population of this part of Canton.  Its primary manifestation is in the engaging of its members in vibrant, life-enhancing worship of God and all that entails for those who believe in the long standing, sacred tradition of Roman Catholicism.
 
St. Gerard Majella Parish is a believing, hoping, loving community whose goal is to articulate and practice the teachings of Jesus. The parish embraces all who search for a comfortable, welcoming religious environment including those who live beyond its boundaries and choose to become part of this Community.

St. Gerard Majella
St. Gerard Majella is the patron of expectant mothers. He was born in 1726 in Muro, Italy to a family of seven. Majella grew up in a poverty with a great respect for the poor. As he was just 12 when his father passed away, he was forced to grow up fast. Shortly after his father's death, his mother sent him away to live with his uncle and learn to become a tailor, like his father. After a few years of working as a sewing apprentice, Majella took on a job with the local Bishop of Lacedonia as a servant.

Once Majella began earning money as a journeyman at the age of 21, he split his earnings with his mother, the poor of Muro and the rest in offerings for the poor souls. As the days passed, Majella began to grow pale and thin, often fasting and in prayer at a nearby Cathedral.

He applied to the Capuchin monastery at Muro twice, but was turned down both times. Majella was told his health was not well enough for such a strenuous life. However, Majella did not give up. In 1749, at the age of 23, he joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and just three years later became a professed lay brother.

Majella lived with the three vows of Poverty, Chasity and Obedience. He stayed close with the poor and worked very many different jobs. He served as sacristan, gardener, porter, infirmarian, and tailor. However, because of his great piety, extraordinary wisdom, and his gift of reading consciences, he was permitted to counsel communities of religious women. Majella was often called on by the poor and the sick. Wherever his presence was demanded he graciously presented himself. He was there to "do the Will of God."

This humble servant of God also had faculties associated with certain mystics including, levitation, bi-location and the ability to read souls. His charity, obedience, and selfless service as well as his ceaseless mortificationfor Christ, made him the perfect model of lay brothers.

Throughout his years of life, several reported miracles are tied to Majella including, restoring a boy's life after he fell from a high cliff; blessing a poor farmer's crops, ridding it of mice; blessing a poor family's supply of wheat, causing it to last until the next harvest; and he multiplied bread for the poor on several occasions.

Along with his miracles effected through prayers for woman in labor, Majella's last recorded miracle is one that many credit toward his becoming the patron of expectant mothers. Shortly before his death, Majella encountered a young girl. He had dropped his handkerchief and she set out to return it, only to be told to keep it. Majella told her she "may need it someday." Years after Majella's passing, the young girl became married and with child. She unexpectedly went into labor and was on the verge of losing her baby. She called for Majella's handkerchief to be applied to her. Almost immediately, her pain abated and she proceeded to give birth to a healthy child, something very rare during that time.

His prayers are sought for the children, unborn children, women in childbirth, mothers, expectant mothers, motherhood, falsely accused people, good confessions, lay brothers and Muro Lucano, Italy.

Even as Majella became ill with tuberculosis, he only desired to live in God's will. His one last request was that a small placard be placed on his door stating, "Here the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills." Majella was told the Will of God wanted him to get better, and almost at once he became well. However, this only lasted for a month and quickly he became very ill once again. St. Gerard Majella died of disease on October 16, 1755 at the age of 29, living in the religious life for six years.

Due to the numerous miracles performed through Majella's prayers, proceedings for his canonization began shortly after his death. In 1893, Majella was beatified by Pope Leo XIII and on December 11, 1904, Pope Pius X canonized the man of God.

Prayer to St. Gerard Majella: "O Great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted Child of the Mother of God: enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love. O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the Patron and Protector of expectant mothers. Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the lustral waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

St. John the Evangelist Was Founded in 1960

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