March, 2018 - Saint Francis of Assisi

The Pastor’s Corner – March 25, 2018

Today is Palm Sunday of the Passion of Our Lord. It is called this because we commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of Mass, and later, we hear a proclamation of the Gospel of the Passion of Our Lord. This year we hear the Passion from Mark’s Gospel. One of the profound statements in the Gospel comes from a centurion who is there when Jesus “breathed his last.” He says “Truly this man was the Son of God.” We hear this from a centurion who was part of these last moments of Jesus. A nonbeliever and a person connected with the Roman army makes this statement of belief. These days are meant to help us have a stronger faith.

You are invited to take time to come to our Holy Week Services. They are the core of our life of faith. Look over the schedule for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated throughout the week with additional confessors available. Please note that confessions conclude on Good Friday with no confessions on Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday or Easter Monday.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

March 25, 2018

Click here for the weekly bulletin for Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018

Game Night with the Young Adult Ministry

Join other members of the Young Adult ministry for night to get together, connect with friends, meet some other Young Adult members of our parish and have some fun.

Monday, March 19, 6:30 PM
Francis Room

This event is open to all St. Francis of Assisi members in their 20’s or 30’s.

We will have some snacks, but feel free to B.Y.O.B or something to share.

And definitely feel free to Bring Your own Game, but we will have some too.

Tea with Jesus: Lenten Scripture Sharing

Your unconditionally loving LGBT+Ministry warmly invites you to high tea, scripture share and deep discussion, about Lenten Gospels beginning Sunday, February 18 @ 4 p.m. and continuing throughout the Lenten Season. We welcome all members of the Young Adult Ministry to join us.

After our tea, we’ll then attend the 5 p.m. mass together.

SUNDAYS
February 18 —4 to 5 p.m..
February 25—4 to 5 p.m.
March – 4 to 5 p.m.
March 11—4 to 5 p.m.
March 18 —4 to 5 p.m.

Come reflect with Jesus, tea, cookies, and your LGBT and LGBT Ally brothers and sisters.

All are welcome.

The Pastor’s Corner – Mar. 18, 2018

There is a beautiful section from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah that we hear in today’s first reading. The Lord says: “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah… I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God and they shall be my people… I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.”

God takes the initiative again and moves close to the chosen people with this promise. God asks us to receive this promise, to be grateful for it and live as those blessed by God. We see in today’s Gospel how Jesus will live this out to the point of giving his life for us. These readings are filled with much for your thought this week. Use some of your quiet time to allow them to touch your heart.

This week we begin the 13 Tuesdays in preparation for the Feast of St. Anthony on June 13th. This is a long Franciscan tradition and an opportunity to thank this saint for the many, many favors that he has granted to people over the years. I’m sure that you have your own stories of how he has been your friend over the years.

On Friday is our Communal Reconciliation Service at 7 PM. This is the perfect time before Holy Week to pause and pray with our sisters and brothers for forgiveness and for peace and for taking so many things for granted. There will be a number of confessors available for those who would like to go to confession during the service.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M

March 18, 2018

Click here for the weekly bulletin for Sunday, March 18, 2018

Evangelii Gaudium: Chapter 4, The Social Dimension of Evangelization

“Economy, as the very word indicates, should be the art of achieving a fitting management of our common home, which is the world as a whole. Each meaningful economic decision made in one part of the world has repercussions everywhere else; consequently, no government can act without regard for shared responsibility. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find local solutions for enormous global problems which overwhelm local politics with difficulties to resolve. If we really want to achieve a healthy world economy, what is needed at this juncture of history is a more efficient way of interacting which, with due regard for the sovereignty of each nation, ensures the economic well-being of all countries, not just a few.”

The Pastor’s Corner, March 11, 2018

The Gospel on the Fourth Sunday of Lent from St. John says: “…the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light.” This statement is so true; we encounter it every day. We need to focus, though, not on the darkness, but that we live in the “light” who is Jesus Christ. This is our identity. It is a challenge each day to let this “light” shine forth in the places and situations where we encounter “darkness.” No one can take this “light” from us, but we can hide it “under a bushel basket” as it says elsewhere in the Gospels. This Lenten season allows us to be grateful that we have received this “light” through the sacraments, through prayer and our meditating on the Scriptures. Experiences of “darkness” can influence our ability to let the light of Christ shine forth and can even absorb us in this darkness. We need this season of Lent more than ever.

Next Saturday, March 17, is the Feast of St. Patrick, the Patron of the Archdiocese of New York. We offer a Blessed and Happy Feastday to our Irish Sisters and Brothers! We all know that our city will be spirit filled that day!

We celebrate the Second Scrutiny at the 5 PM Sunday Mass. Our sisters and brothers who have been journeying through the RCIA will soon be one with us at the Eucharistic Table. Please keep them in your prayers.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

March 11, 2018

Click here for the weekly bulletin for Sunday, March 11, 2018.

Make a Lenten change: sign up for online giving

The three disciplines of Lent are Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.

In the Christian tradition, giving alms always included our financial support for the Church in addition to our offerings to care for those in need.

During this Lent, please consider making your support of the Church a more serious part of your budget.

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi needs your help. Our collections still fall short of our budgetary needs.

We ask everyone to commit ONE HOUR of their weekly salary for the support of the Church. That’s a 2.5% tithe. Please do your part to keep our parish going strong.

You can make your donations weekly or monthly. You can use a credit card, debit card or your bank account. You can change your donation schedule at any time and you can print out your own summaries for tax purposes.

Sign up today HERE.

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