The phrase Laudato Si, or Praise Be To You, is repeated throughout St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures. Pope Francis uses it to describe our right relation to Creation and he urges each of us to address the climate crisis right now.

Tip of the Week:

Fir Thee Well – Mulchfest runs December 26 – January 7.

Bring your Christmas tree and the Parks Dept will turn it into valuable wood chips that will be used to nourish trees throughout the city. On Chipping Weekend you’ll receive your own bag of chips to use as you please. For a list of locations and to learn how to properly lay the chips, go to: https://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/festivals/mulchfest

“It is important that the different parts of a city be well integrated and that those who live there have a sense of the whole, rather than being confined to one neighborhood and failing to see the larger city as space which they share with others.” Pope Francis (LS151)

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at St. Francis or to share your own tip of the week, email: stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

Getting Started:

“How do you pronounce ‘Laudato Si’?”

Lau rhymes with now – Dot – Oh – See

The phrase Laudato Si, or Praise Be To You, is repeated throughout St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures. Pope Francis uses it to describe our right relation to Creation and he urges each of us to address the climate crisis right now.

Tip of the Week:

For a good introduction to Laudato Si, watch the documentary The Letter: A Message for our Earth (2022), 81 mins. It’s free to watch. Go to www.theletterfilm.org. If you’d rather read the Pope’s encyclical, hard copies are available at booksellers and a free downloadable pdf is available online here.

“Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” Pope Francis (LS1)

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at St. Francis or to share your own tip of the week, email stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

The Christmas trees, the wreaths and the poinsettias will again adorn our sanctuary this Christmas.  We offer them to honor the birth of Christ and to glorify God.

It is also a way to remember your loved ones and share the beauty of the season with the whole community.  We invite you to memorialize members of your family, friends or other loved ones with a donation for our Christmas decorations. Donations and the names of those received by December 20th will posted on our parish website for Christmas.

Dear Fellow Parishioners here at St. Francis of Assisi,

I am happy and excited to be a part of the new environmental ministry here at St. Francis. The Laudato Si Circle, as we are called, is a group of individuals who feel called to take action to address the climate crisis. Guided by principles outlined by Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home” and further in his 2023 exhortation “Laudate Deum“, we believe that small actions taken every day can create change in ourselves, our church, our city, and our world.

We acknowledge that the topic is overwhelming and difficult to face but we find that by doing it together, we find hope and even joy. We are not experts or scientists. We are at different levels of awareness and each of us has room to learn and grow. Everyone’s unique talent is appreciated and needed. We welcome all ages, faiths, and affiliations. We meet in person on the last Thursday of every month from 6:30-8:00PM in the 1st Floor Conference Room. We just had our first meeting which we used to get organized and now we invite you to join us.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, December 28th at 6:30 and we’ll be brainstorming ideas for what we’d like to accomplish in the new year. In the meantime, keep an eye on the bulletin for our tip of the week. Keep the faith. Change is possible.

Beth Dzuricky

With the beginning of this new church year, we are happy to announce that we are embarking upon a new, parish-wide ministry that will provide new ways for us to minister to others, ourselves and the world to help to bring about a healthier environment for us and everyone.

This Laudato Si Circle at St. Francis ministry comes from the Encyclical written by Pope Francis in 2015. In this letter to everyone in the world, Pope Francis calls on all of us to become better stewards of the environment. The ways in which we can make a difference range from small things we can do every day to large movements within our parish, our city and the world at large.

In the coming weeks there will be more information available about how we can do this individually and collectively. There will be meetings we can attend to learn more as well as to encourage others to join us! We will also have weekly tips on how we can contribute to healing the world through simple everyday activities and practices.

If you would like more information about our ministry, you can email us at: stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

We need your help!

On the weekend of November 11th and 12th, Fr. Joe launched our Thankgiving Giving campaign to raise $100,000 to help the Church of St. Francis of Assisi’s.  Donations are falling short of covering our budget despite cuts the staff has made to reduce costs.  Fr. Joe is asking everyone to pitch in and help to keep our Church and ministries strong for today and into the future.  If you have already contributed, thank you!  If you haven’t had a chance to yet, you can give now by clicking the button below.  Together we can overcome this budget gap and keep our beloved church on 31st street going strong.  Below is Fr. Joe’s letter about the campaign.

Dear Members of the St. Francis Community,

Renew is a group for retired men and women. Members come from NY, NJ and even PA. After joining, members can participate in any of the many day trips throughout the five boroughs and surrounding suburbs. In addition, the committee also plans luncheons, religious and cultural activities and a monthly Book Club meeting.

If you are interested in joining, please contact the RENEW office at St. Francis Church, extension 389 and leave your name and telephone number.

Peace & All Good,

Catherine Aherne

Community is a vital part of what it means to be Church. Jesus calls us to be his sisters and brothers and in Him we constitute a new family.  Members of our St. Francis of Assisi family came together to celebrate our annual Friendsgiving on Sunday, November 12th.  It was a traditional pot luck dinner where people brought side dishes or desserts to share.  For those who don’t like to cook or didn’t have the time, contributions could be made toward the hams and turkeys, stuffing and mashed potatoes that the church provided.  We had over 60 people in attendance sharing good times and good food together.

Each year our Friendsgiving grows and we look forward to more members joining us next year.

Thank you to the Converge@St. Francis Ministry team members for their hard work in hosting this event!

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Photos generously donated by Mischa Limited: @mischa_crewpublic

Dear Members of the St. Francis Community,

The parable of the talents in today’s Gospel provides us with a lesson about the importance of stewardship and faithfulness in our lives. So, what does this parable teach us about our own lives? First and foremost, it reminds us that God has entrusted us with unique talents, resources, and opportunities. It’s not about the quantity but, the faithfulness with which we use what we’ve been given. We are called to use our gifts to make a positive impact on the world, to further God’s kingdom, and to bless others.

Last weekend I offered you an opportunity to use your resources to help our Church financially. I promise you that your gift will make a difference for both our Church and its ministries. I promise you that I will use these funds to make a positive impact on our Church, to further God’s kingdom, and to bring blessings to others. Thank you! “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Peace & All Good,

Fr. Joe, ofm

I’m running away with your money.

My legs are acting weirdly. For weeks I have been experimenting on sneakers until I found a pair that hugs my feet and cushions my knees.
In 2021, our community raised $10,000.  You moved me to run again to benefit the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on November 5, an arduous 26.2 miles.

We are most grateful for your support and prayers. I’ll ask you to double your prayers to accomplish what we did in 2021.
Clad with a great pair of running shoes, let’s do it. Celebrate, Bless our Race.

I am ready!
Your St. Francis Runner,
James Austria

To track me running go to: liveresults.nyrr.org then search for James Austria – # 29627

I want to thank Jimmy for supporting the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and raising money for our ministries and I would like to thank all of you who sponsor Jimmy’s race.  I also want to wish Jimmy and all of our parishioners who will be running the marathon this year a great race!  Good Luck!

-Fr. Joe Juracek, OFM