Dear Community and Friends of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi,

May the Lord give you peace.

I ask your prayers this weekend for 3 young friars, James Bernard, Steven Kuehn, and Aaron Richardson, who were ordained priests on Saturday. They professed their Solemn Vows here at St. Francis last year. We are blessed to have these young friars ministering in our Province. I ask for your prayers for them and thanksgiving to God for them. The ordination is in Silver
Spring, MD, at St. Camillus Church.

The Gospel this weekend affirms Jesus as the gate of the sheepfold. He is the way. He is the shepherd who knows his sheep. The scriptures are replete with images of the shepherd. From the very beginning of Genesis, we learn that Abel, the brother of Cain, was a shepherd. Moses was tending the flocks when he saw the burning bush; David was a shepherd in the field when the prophet came to anoint him, king. In the prophets, we hear of kings and priests who shepherded the people badly. In Ezekiel, we hear that God, as God, will shepherd them, nurturing them, binding up their wounds, leading them to places of rest and water. The bad shepherds placed heavy burdens on the sheep and used them for themselves. They grew fat on the lamb’s meat, kept warm while the sheep were exposed to the elements, and were not attentive to their needs.

Jesus the Good Shepherd, the gate of the sheepfold, fulfills Ezekiel’s prophecy. He came to lead the sheep, God’s community, into freedom. His ministry was healing, nurturing, seeking out the lost, and creating a new vision of God’s loving-kindness. As we have celebrated Easter together, we remember the mission of Jesus. We hold fast to His Word and presence. We continue to be fed at his table and as members of his body. Our mission is to continue to do what he has done. In John’s Gospel, chapter 21, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?”. Peter affirms his love for Jesus. Three times he is asked, and three times he affirms. After each of his affirmations, Jesus charges him to be the shepherd who tends and feeds his lamb, his sheep.

Like Peter, we affirm our love for Jesus, accept the commission to shepherd one another, and seek out the lost and broken. We create a safe space for all who are called.

Thank you for your hospitality, your care for all who come to our doors, and your living the Gospel in your own unique way. We are blessed and enriched by the wonders of God present in our midst.

Blessings,

Fr. Tom, ofm

During Holy Week, and especially during the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter) we remember the salvation the Lord gained for us through his passion and resurrection.

Here is a look back at the some of the moments of our celebrations of these saving events here at St. Francis.  Photos and videos are included:

Palm Sunday:

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The Sacred Triduum

Holy Thursday:

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Good Friday:

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The Great Vigil of Easter:

During the Easter Vigil our elect, Victoria, Olivia, Merve and Claire were baptized and received Confirmation along with our Candidates for Full Communion and Confirmation: Arnie, Ruth and Mitch.  Our community rejoices with those who are now full members of the Catholic Church. Their commitment and their new witness to Christ strengthens and renews our spirit during this Easter season. Congratulations!

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Dear Community and Friends of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi,

May the Lord give you peace.

Happy Easter! Our celebration of the Lord’s resurrection continues!

As you gaze around the church, you will see the Stations of the Cross, and below the traditional Stations, we have the Easter Stations. Each one reflects the experience of the Lord’s resurrection. We pray these stations together each Friday at the noon and 5:30 PM masses. You can join with the Livestream at noon if you like. It is also possible to pray these stations privately. We are all invited to prayerful reflection on the mystery of God’s incredible love for us in Jesus. You will also find banners at the 32nd street entrance to the church noting a
phrase from the Gospel for each of the Sundays of Easter.

We are invited to reflect on the disciples’ journey to and from Emmaus this Sunday. This beautiful text from the Lucan gospel invites us to consider our own journey. Many people are disappointed in their experience of church, as Cleopas and his companion were disappointed in the seeming failure of Jesus’ mission. They had hoped that he was the one who would fulfill the promise of God for them. They debate and struggle with their disillusionment. Jesus comes to meet them in their struggle. They are so preoccupied with their thoughts that they do not recognize him. He asks them to tell him about their struggles. When he has heard them, he retells the story for them. He tells them of God’s faithfulness and the hope in God that has been a constant theme of the scriptures. Still, they do not recognize the love of God in their midst. Finally, they recognize him in the shared meal, in the breaking of the bread. Enlightened, they return to Jerusalem.

Many people are disillusioned in their experience of Church. Many have walked away. We are blessed that Jesus comes to meet us even as we have thrown our hands up in despair. He walks among us. In our realization of the failures of discipleship, he lives. The Spirit given to us calls us to newness of life. Cleopas and companion return to Jerusalem transformed. They are not the same as they were when they left. So, it is with our sisters and brothers who are journeying away. They call us to transformation and renewal of life. The hope of return is always there, but not a return to former ways of knowing and being. Their journey and encounter are liberating. Jesus expanded the imagination and the understanding of God’s presence for the disciples. This Easter celebration is our opportunity to remember our encounters with God’s presence and to be set free from limited ways of knowing, a faith that constrains, and the infantilization of just following the rules.

Finally, I get regular letters from the Cardinal’s Stewardship Appeal. We are well short of our $71,000 goal. Please do what you can do. I do not ask that you pledge beyond your means. While there is a financial goal, there is also a participatory goal. We would like to have a greater number of donors, even giving small amounts, to reach that goal.

Thank you for sharing your journey in discipleship with the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

Peace,

Fr. Tom, ofm

Dear Community and Friends of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi,

May the Lord give you peace.

Happy Easter! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Easter is fifty days! We have just begun our celebration. Blessings and thanks to all who were able to join us for the Sacred Triduum.

Special thanks to:

the musicians under Meredith’s direction.

They were outstanding. The music brought us into the depth of the experiences of each day.

Our countless volunteers under Ed’s direction:

Lectors proclaimed the Word with grace and dignity.
Hospitality ministers graciously greeted and assisted participants (and took up the collection).
Altar servers provided graceful assistance for the liturgies.
Good Friday Cross bearers engaged us in the mystery of the cross.
Ministers of the Eucharist, like the early disciples, distributed the gifts.
Ministers of the Live-stream connection for many people.
Our sacristans made sure that we were prepared for each celebration.
Our foot washers and assistants.

Our RCIA team, under Joe’s direction:

Nurtured the journey of our newly baptized members and members received into the church.
Worked throughout the year to support all seeking Communion with us.
Allowing themselves to be transformed in the journey.
Assisted in decorating the Church on Holy Saturday afternoon.

Our maintenance crew!

Set up the pool and all the major pieces needed for each celebration.
Made the Church and Hall welcoming spaces for us.

Finally, my brothers, the friars, for their presence and affirmation of the Franciscan vision of God’s great love for us.

All of you who came to watch and pray.

You are the great gift of God for the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. It was amazing to see so many people. Everyone was engaged and actively participating. We had visitors from around the world and from around the city. All giving praise to God.

Alleluia! This was just the beginning. We are on our way to Pentecost opening our hearts to the wonders of the Holy Spirit already given yet being fanned into flame anew as we give thanks for the gift of God in Jesus. In love, he gave himself for us. In love, he was raised for us. In love, he breathed the Holy Spirit upon us forever! Alleluia! Let us celebrate with lives of praise.

Blessings of Easter,
Fr. Tom, ofm