What are you waiting for? An Advent Virtual Retreat
See below for a recorded copy of this retreat.
What are you waiting for…?
In this time of pandemic…
During these days of division within our nation…
When feeling isolated…
Emmanuel…
God with us…
Our Hope…
Our Peace…
God’s love is remembered…
Jesus’ birth is celebrated…
The homeless child radiates hope…
We are reborn…
Will you know him when he comes…?
Will you allow yourself to bask in his love…?
Can you rest in him…?
He lives in you…
+
Come and join us for a short time of retreat. We will consider the scripture, reflect on our lives, and share in some sacred time together. You can do all this from the comfort of your home. You can be alone or with others. You need not worry about how you are dressed or how you look. Take the time to relax in the Spirit of God’s goodness. Breath in the Spirit of Christmas. Behold. Consider. Contemplate. Long to be transformed in Christ.
Presenter: Fr. Tom Gallagher, O.F.M.
Music by: Meredith Augustin
Friday, December 4th, 6:30 to 9:00 PM
+
This is a FREE event, but registration is required:
Click HERE to register on Eventbrite.
The Ugnayan Filipino Ministry First Sunday Mass
The UGNAYAN Filipino Ministry is having its December First Sunday Mass this month in the Upper Church, 2:00 PM. This is in lieu of our First Friday Mass which has been moved to accommodate members of our community who are working from home.
Please wear your masks, observe proper social distancing and sit on designated areas.
Thank you.
Immaculate Conception Schedule
For the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2020 the schedule is as follows:
Monday, December 7: Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM (in person and on livestream)
Tuesday, December 8: Masses at 7:30 AM, 12:00 PM (in person and on livestream) and 5:00 PM
Thanksgiving Blessing
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis of Assisi Church,
+
BLESSING FOR THANKSGIVING DAY
Leader: Gracious God, in the beginning your Word summoned the light and by a pillar of fire you led your people through the dark night from slavery to freedom. Then, when the times had at last grown full and our eyes accustomed to our chosen darkness you sent your Son as Light of the World.
We pray you, bless these candles. May the radiance of their light reflect for us the brilliance of your light. May we see each other in their light as you see us, in love, in kindness, in goodness. We ask this in the power of your Spirit and the name of Jesus our Lord.
ALL: AMEN
Leader: Gracious God, when your people’s journey became overwhelming and they had lost their way, you led them to new life and fed them with manna. Then, when they had grown accustomed to their hunger and their deafness, you spoke your Word, Jesus, into their hearts and fed them with the Bread of Life. We pray you, bless this bread. May the bread that is broken at our tables this Thanksgiving Day feed our hunger for communion, for peace, for wonder at your constant presence among us. We ask this in the power of your Spirit and the name of Jesus our Lord.
ALL: AMEN
Leader: Gracious God, in the beginning your Word separated the waters and called forth from the earth the grapes that provide the wine to cheer our hearts. Then, when our covenant with you had been forgotten, you sent your Beloved to offer a new covenant in the cup, his life, that was poured out for us. We pray you bless this wine. May the wine we share at our tables bring us closer together in your love and with one another. May it be for us the wine of compassion, of healing, of reconciliation. We ask this in the power of your Spirit and the name of Jesus our Lord.
ALL: AMEN
Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule
The friars and staff would like to wish all of our parishioners and visitors a very happy and safe Thanksgiving this year.
Our Holiday schedule is as follows:
Thanksgiving day:
Mass at 12:00 PM
There are no confessions Thanksgiving Day
Friday after Thanksgiving:
Mass at 12:00 PM
There are no confessions on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day.
World AIDS Day Commemoration
Join us for prayer on World Aids Day,
Tuesday, December 1, 5:30PM.
(in person and on livestream)
On this day, we remember all who have died from HIV and AIDS and those who continue to be affected. We also take this day to raise awareness and recommit to a faithful and dedicated response.
Come and worship with us.
All are welcome!
Advent Wreath-making workshop
Join Father Michael Reyes as he walks us through the steps to make your very own advent wreath.
On Saturday, November 28th at 2:30pm
We will be posting a list of supplies very soon, so you can be well-prepared. In addition, the live video will stay up on our website and Facebook. If you aren’t available that day, stop back another time to join in the fun.
HISTORY OF ADVENT WREATHS
The word “Advent” is from the Latin word “adventus”, meaning arrival or coming. The Advent season is a four-week journey to the Christmas event and is a time of quiet growth, eager preparation and joyful anticipation. The Advent wreath itself is an enduring celebration of hope. In olden days, when snowy roads became impassable, farmers would bring their wooden wheels inside and hang them up to keep them from warping. Some people even decorated them with greens or lights as a prayer of hope that the dark winter would soon become a brilliant spring.
MEANING IN ADVENT WREATHS
Our modern Advent wreath is still a symbol of hope, rich with Christian meaning:
- CIRCLE – We use a circle wreath that has no beginning and no end to remind us of God’s unending presence – God was, is and always will be. As a symbol of eternity, we are also reminded that there is no end to God’s love for us and no darkness that God’s light cannot penetrate.
- EVERGREENS – the wreath circle is covered with branches from an evergreen tree that remind us that all life comes from God and that even in the cold grips of winter, life survives in unexpected places.
- CANDLES – adorn the wreath and represent the light of Christ, who said “I am the Light of the World” and came to bring God’s light to all of us.
- COLORS – The traditional colors for Advent candles are purple or blue, which represent both penitence and the kingship of Christ. A pink/rose candle for the third week of Advent to represent joy (Gaudete Sunday). The optional large white candle in the middle is the Christ Candle and represents purity.
Below are three different options for wreaths for you to choose from. Fr. Michael Reyes will demonstrate all three:
Advent: Hope and Healing – Small Scripture Sharing Groups
Advent: Hope and Healing… Small Scripture Sharing Groups
Advent begins a new liturgical year full of possibilities to deepen our spiritual outlook and intimacy with God. The season encourages us to awaken new hope in God’s plan and promises. Advent can be a season of healing through profound appreciation that the Christ Child longs to be born once again in us. The Savior arrives to free, heal, and deliver us. His coming is personal.
We invite you to journey with the Friars throughout this Advent season by delving deeper into the prophetic texts from the Sunday’s in Advent. This year, we have several schedule options via zoom, to aid in making prayerful introspection a priority in your life this Advent and beyond.
Schedule options for 2020 Advent Small Groups:
- Tuesday Evenings, beginning Dec. 1st | 7:00-8:00 p.m.
(to meet the demand there will be two, Tuesday evening groups) - Wednesday Midday, beginning Dec. 2nd | 12:30–1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday Evenings, beginning Dec. 2nd | 7:00-8:00 p.m.
(This group is now full. Please chose another option) - Saturday Mornings, beginning Nov. 28th | 9:30-10:30 a.m.
(Due to lack of demand for this time, this option has been moved to a second Tuesday evening group)
All Sessions are conducted via zoom. Once your registration is confirmed, you will receive an email with a personalized link to the zoom session.
We ask that links not be shared.
To register for a group, please fill out the form below. Registration cut-off date: November 30th.
Recent News & Events
-
Welcome Fr. Brian! July 24,2024
-
주보 July 23,2024
-
Farewell celebration for Fr. Joe July 17,2024
-
Lector Workshop "The Art of Storytelling" July 15,2024
Archives
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017