In the history of the church, there have been several saints named Amelia. The founding pastor, Msgr. John L. McHugh, determined that our patron would be the Saint Amelia who died in Temsche, Belgium, in 772.

Amelia was born in 741, in the Ardennes region of Europe near present-day Luxembourg. She and her brother Rodien were raised in a deeply religious home by devout parents, and were known for their sterling character and dedication to Christ.

In here teenage years, Amelia was preparing to become a religious sister tin the Benedictine Abbey at Munsterbilsen, when her beauty and virtue caught the attention of Pepin, king of the Franks, and his son Charles, later known as Charlemagne. Charles pursued her for several years, and at one point, broke her arm in a struggle. The arm was miraculously healed, and Charles finally resigned himself to Amelia’s religious vocation. Amelia journeyed to Temsche, on the river Schelde, about 15 miles southwest of Antwerp, where she founded a church dedicated to Mary.

Many miracles are attributed to her, both before and after her death in 772. She is often depicted holding the bible, or venerating the crucifix, sometimes with a fish at here feet, owing the legend that she crossed the Schelde on the back of a fish. She is, officially, a patron of farmers and fishermen, and is often invoked by young people struggling to remain faithful to Christ. She is also asked for help by people seeking healing of injuries to the arms and shoulders. Her feast day is July 10.