Dear Friends,

Greetings in our Lord Jesus Christ!

As we prepare to enter 2026, during which we will celebrate 100 years of Carmel in San Antonio, I am happy to highlight and share all that you helped us accomplish over the last year. Together we:

Hosted the San Antonio Philharmonic who brought J. S. Bach’s Easter Orotorio to life in our sacred space.
Celebrated the 100th anniversary of St. Thérèse’s canonization.
Took the first steps to partnering with Camino San Antonio and becoming a leg of the Camino’s pilgrim’s path.
Completed the repair of the Basilica Bell Tower system.
Welcomed over 22,000 pilgrims during the visit of the Major Relics of St. Thérèse.
Created & Introduced the Sts. Louis & Zélie Chapel, a permanent shrine for the canonized parents of St. Thérèse.

Your support for these special projects was essential to their success and for all your participation, time, talent, and treasure you have my deepest thanks.

In the midst of these extraordinary events, the day-to-day work of your Shrine continued:

Celebrating Daily & Sunday Masses with an average of 4,900 faithful a month.
Hosting public and private tours for over 1,100 pilgrims.
Offering 15 Carmelite Spirituality Workshops, Legion of St. Thérèse Study Groups, & Little Flower Lectures to nearly 800 attendees exploring the beauty of Carmel.
Providing formation to 292 families and accompanying 129 children and adults into the fullness of the faith.
Sharing the Carmelite charism online and in print with over 36,000 followers and subscribers across the United States and the world.

These operations are an essential part of our ministry and apostolic mission to make our Lord Jesus Christ known and loved as St. Thérèse knows and loves him. The expense of maintaining these ministries cannot be met through Sunday contributions alone. Your generosity and support is vital to sustaining and improving our programs and ministries. This year I recall these words of St. Thérèse:

“When we do not give up praying, confidence works miracles.”

It was our continual prayer and efforts together which allowed us to accomplish so much this past year. Now I ask you to prayerfully consider making a gift to our 2025 Appeal.

Your help is key to the continuation of our ministries and empowering us to share the gospel message with those who desire to encounter the love of Christ and the beauty of Carmel. This year’s appeal goal is $150,000.

If 300 donors like you make a gift of $500 or more, we can reach, or even exceed, our goal. Your contribution to our ministries and operations will help us carry on and improve our apostolic work!

Will you consider making a $500 gift to our 2025 Appeal?

May God’s blessing be with you and all your loved ones,

Fr. Gregory Ross, OCD

Learn more at littleflowerbasilica.org/appeal

Spirit of St. Thérèse 2025 Appeal

By Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower

Spirit of St. Thérèse 2025 Appeal

“When we do not give up praying, confidence works miracles.” - St. Thérèse

Team Members