New members are invited to join this dedicated group of volunteers who create handmade scarves, mittens and hats for our Breadline guests as well as for sale to the public in our lobby shop.

Members meet twice a month at St. Francis, or you can work from home.

If you’re unable to knit something, you can always donate yarn!

Just bring your donation to the reception desk and the knitters will use whatever you bring – preferably dark colors.

For more information, contact Edward Trochimczuk, Director of Volunteers, at etrochimczuk@stfrancisnyc.org.

The cathedral is a treasure in a diocese and in our tradition. It is not simply a “big church,” as some say; some parish churches are larger. What makes a cathedral is the presence of the chair, called a cathedra (Latin for seat) reserved for the bishop. There are many instances in our country of a local church (diocese) outgrowing a cathedral. In Baltimore and St. Louis, theformer cathedrals are historic treasures in the heart of the old city, but new and larger structures now function as the seat of the bishop. When a bishop dies or retires, itis said that “the seat is vacant,” and when the new bishop is installed, the central ritual is the moment when the decree of the Holy Fatheris read and the new bishop is escorted to the cathedra. No one but the bishop sits in the cathedra during a ritual, but in Los Angeles the cathedra in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is accessible, and no one seems to mind when a visitor tries the cathedra out for the bishop’s point of view.

-Rev. James Field

This Sunday we return to Ordinary Time in the church year. We are back to wearing green vestments; green the color of hope. In today’s second reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians, we read: “…although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” These are both discouraging and encouraging words. Unfortunately, as we get older our “outer self” isn’t what it used to be and while it might not be “wasting away”, it needs more attention. The good news is that our “inner self” is being “renewed.” Hopefully, we grow in wisdom and knowledge and our desire to understand God and our desire to be attentive to and faithful to God increases. We look at life differently and come to understand more clearly what is important and what isn’t.

It took St. Paul years to understand this relationship that we have been given by God and how we are renewed. As Jesus says, “…whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” The six Franciscan (OFM) Provinces (geographic areas in the USA) voted to become one Province in the USA at our Extraordinary Chapter a few weeks ago. Nothing will change at this point in time, but the six administrations now have the job of setting up one administration for the USA and this will take time. Thank you for your prayers.

Come, celebrate the Feast of St. Anthony with us this Wednesday!

Check the schedule! St. Anthony Bread, St. Anthony oil, and St. Anthony candles will be available throughout the day. We thank
God for this great Friar friend!

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