The Church of St. Francis of Assisi will observe Columbus Day on Monday, October 8th with Masses at 8:30 and 11:30 AM.
There will be no confessions, and the church offices will be closed for the day, including the St. Francis Adult Education Center.
“Being church means being God’s people, in accordance with the great plan of his fatherly love. This means that we are to be God’s leaven in the midst of humanity. It means proclaiming and bringing God’s salvation into our world, which often goes astray and needs to be encouraged, given hope and strengthened on the way. The church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.”
In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul says: “Have no anxiety at all.” I wonder what was happening in the Christian community at Philippi for him to write this. Certainly, this admonition is valid even now. He encourages the people to remember what they have been taught and what they believe and hold fast to it: “Keep on doing what you have heard and seen… then the God of peace will be with you.”I thank you for your generous response to the recent disasters. You gave generously in the donation boxes in church and through the mail. Over $8,000 was sent to Catholic Relief Services, which has a great reputation for “being there” for the people. We have also started a fund to help our Franciscan Friar, Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez, O.F.M., in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Any donation put into the donation boxes in church or sent here will be matched by Holy Name Province for Archbishop Gonzalez.
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.
