Dear Members of the St. Francis Community,

In the heart of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, I have found a place of worship, a second home, a sanctuary of grace, laughter, and fellowship. Through joyous and challenging times, this sacred space remains invaluable to me.

Over the years, I’ve worked closely with pastors, witnessing their unique contributions. Some have passed, while others have gracefully retired, each contributing to the church’s growth with their vision that has impacted

countless lives. Some friars have touched my life, and I hold fond memories of them because of their amiability, support, kindness, and humor.

I work in the Development Office. In this office, we safeguard vital data that underpins the church and its benefactors. More than a repository of information, this role serves as a bridge connecting us to many good people. As a compassionate listener, I’ve heard heartfelt stories from those who sometimes feel grateful for a simple conversation and an empathic ear.

I find fulfillment in the meticulous care with which I execute my work and the intricate dance of human connection. This dance weaves threads of support and understanding, making our community a tapestry of shared stories and faith.

Yours in fellowship,

-Rebeca Peraza

Here is a little video look back at our FrancisFest 2023 – the Church of St. Francis of Assisi’s Octoberfest celebration for the feast of St. Francis.

Video compliments of Keith Kemp, CONVERGE @St. Francis team member.

Thank you to the whole CONVERGE ministry team for all the hard work they put in to host this event for the whole parish and to everyone who came to join in the fun!

Join us as we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1st.

An anticipatory Mass will be celebrated on October 31st at 5:30 PM and
Feast Day Masses will be celebrated at 7:30 AM, 12:00 PM and 5:30 PM.

Join us also for the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Soul’s Day) on November 2nd.

Masses will be celebrated at 7:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:30 PM and
A special liturgy will be celebrated at 7:00 PM – CLICK HERE for details about this liturgy.

ALL MASSES WILL BE IN THE UPPER CHURCH BOTH DAYS.

Dear Sisters & Brothers at St. Francis of Assisi Community-

“Without Community it is difficult to find Jesus.”
– Pope Francis

Converge@St. Francis is a ministry dedicated to strengthening spiritual and community life at our beloved parish – the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. Our primary mission is to strengthen the bonds of community among existing members of our parish and to welcome new people into parish life through spiritual, education and social events. We hope that as people converge at our events and projects, the spirit of belonging, love and faith is felt among and between everyone present.
Converge@St. Francis hopes to foster belongingness and a sense of connection to and within the church and this great City.

Loida Diaz de Jesus
One of the Core Team Members of Converge

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is blessed to welcome new members and visitors on a regular basis. But some new people, and in fact, even some seasoned members of the community, might not know that our church is wheelchair accessible. So we would like to bring everyone’s attention how to enter the building if the stairs are a challenge.

The elevator that takes people to the upper or lower church is located in the hallway on the left side of the church when you are facing the altar.  To arrive at this elevator from the street with no stairs, one needs to enter from our 32nd street entrance (where the kneeling statue of St. Francis is located). There is also an accessible electrically opened door at that entrance for people who need help with the door

From the 32nd street entrance you follow the hallway past the stairs along the right.  The door to the elevator is facing the exit door at the end of that hallway.  This elevator will bring you up the the main church or down to the lower church.  So both Sunday Mass and weekday Masses in the lower church and the confessionals are all accessible.

The elevator can also be reached from 31st street by following the alley between the church and the school to the door to the hallway.  This is convenient for people who need the elevator but can manage the 4-5 stairs that lead up from the sidewalk from this direction.

From the upper church the restrooms and the Clare room are all accessible.

The church closes daily at 6 PM.  If you are attending a class or ministry meeting after 6 PM simply notify the group leader or instructor that you need elevator access and arrangements will be made.  If you are attending the daily Mass in the lower church and need the elevator and the upper church to access the restroom after the upper church is closed, simply notify a security guard, or the presider, and we will assist you.

The San Damiano Hall is at street level and is accessible for all events.

Older buildings in New York that were built well before these considerations were common can present challenges.  For example, our old school building has no elevator and in not accessible to people in wheelchairs and it has many stairs which can make it challenging for anyone who has difficulty with stairs.  We try out best to first utilize spaces that are accessible to all.

We hope this information is helpful to people who need the elevator and for all members to be able to direct visitors and members who may not be aware of the elevator.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey and provide feedback. It is important for us to know a little bit more about you in order to better serve you.

–-Fr. Joe, The Friars and Staff

Dear Sisters & Brothers at St. Francis of Assisi Community-

As we make our way through the various members of the community here in the parish and hear their “voices” in this bulletin space, it’s my turn this week! I’m writing to let you know, if you haven’t heard yet, the news that our group of Franciscans known as The Most Holy Name of Jesus Province, is, this week, formally becoming a part of a new, coast-to-coast province of OFM Franciscans in the United States.

This unification, coming together, merger of the six provinces in the United States into one, new one has been in the works for several years now. As you can imagine to bring six organizations, religious communities together has been a lot of work! We’re grateful for the very talented friars and the many lay staff and consultants who have dedicated countless hours to re-imagine how our religious community can best serve in the many places where we minister across the country as well as, hopefully, “thinking outside the box” to determine how we are called to live together and minister in new ways and new places in the coming years.

This week Fr. Julian and myself will travel with other members of our friary to Kansas City, Missouri for this Chapter of Unity – the establishment of the new canonical entity or province and the ending of the existing provinces. It’s an exciting time and, also, one filled with many questions, which will be answered in the months and years to come. Our new province will have the name, Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, and will have its main headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

Some of the functions of the new province will be based here in New York City, such as the main fundraising office, the national vocation office and the treasurer’s office. Other offices will be in some other locations that will meet other concerns and needs.

For us here in the parish, not a lot will change but we will be seeing some new friar faces as some new members join our community and they may be able to assist with the ministries in the parish.

We will continue to rely on your prayers of support and encouragement as we go forward!

Peace & All Good,

-Fr. Barry

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi will observe a holiday schedule on:

Monday, October 9, 2023
Mass – 12:00 PM only
There will be no confessions.

The church offices will be closed for the day, including the St. Francis Adult Education Center.

Dear Friends of St. Francis of Assisi Church –

I’m the Minister of St. Benedict the Moor Fraternity, one of over 600 fraternities in the Secular Franciscan Order in the U.S., with many more worldwide. My Fraternity was founded here, at our Church, in 1965, and has been blessed by the many volunteer opportunities our community offers. Never heard of the Secular Franciscan Order? Not a problem! Here’s a capsule history. In the early 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi established three orders. The first was the Order of Friars Minor and the second was the Order of St. Clare. St. Francis also saw the need to establish a third order, the Secular Franciscan Order, for people who wished to live Franciscan lives in the secular realm.

My fraternity has thirty professed members, women and men who observe the Gospel by following the example of Saints Francis, Clare, and Benedict himself. The formation process leading to Profession takes three years and is divided into three phases: orientation, inquiry, and candidacy. In our Church, members of St. Benedict the Moor Fraternity volunteer are ministers of hospitality, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, and other volunteers. Some of the most important contributions of Secular Franciscans, however, are perhaps the most discrete – they preach not with words, but by example, in their workplaces, with their families, and among friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

St. Benedict the Moor’s parents were taken as slaves from Africa to Sicily, where they became devout Catholics. Benedict was born in 1526 and became a Franciscan at age twenty-one. His spiritual erudition far outweighed his lack of a formal education, and Benedict became Master of Novices and then Guardian of his Friary in Palermo. He died in 1589, having spent his entire life in Sicily. His life of servant leadership is an inspiration for us all. I hope by now you have seen the new statue of St. Benedict the Moor, which was donated by my Fraternity. Carved from lindenwood and finished with oil paints by artists in northern Italy, the statue was dedicated at Sunday Mass on January 15th, 2023, on the eve of Martin Luther King Day.

One of our Church’s most beloved artworks is the Great Mosaic, which includes five Secular Franciscans: St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Louis of France, St. Frances of Rome, Christopher Columbus, and Dante Alighieri, poet laureate of the Franciscan Order. Interesting company! Can you find them?

Paul Francis Beelitz, Minister, St. Benedict the Moor Fraternity (SFO)
Volunteer Lector, Eucharistic Minister,
and Livestream Studio Operator
stbenedictmoorfraternity@gmail.com