The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is the Feast that we celebrate this Sunday after Christmas. We can easily over-romanticize their life together, forgetting that Jesus’ birth too place in a stable and his parents had to flee to Egypt to escape the threat of Herod who was searching for the child ”to destroy him.” We need to think about not only the physical discomforts that this family had to endure, but also – when you think of the emotional challenge of these days – their ability to think quickly and take the appropriate action. They offer us much inspiration whenever we may ask ourselves what we need to do and how to go about doing it. We might wish that an angel would appear to us and tell us what to do, but God endows us with much to help us know what to do when we need help. I hope that you had a Blessed and Merry Christmas! I’m sure there were large family gatherings as well as simple, quiet observances of the day. This season seems to provide us with many opportunities to get together and enjoy one another’s company; however, everyone is different in the way that they  celebrate this Christmas season. Many are blessed to have extended families to spend time. The Christmas-Epiphany season continues until the Baptism of the Lord on January 12th.

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

While you are St. Francis, stop by the lobby of the Parish House and take in all the Christmas items on sale. Most items come from countries that have Fair Trade policies. The craftsmanship in many of the items from Peru or Kenya or India is amazing. Some of the small nativities have details so small that you wonder how anyone could make these ornaments. The ornaments from Kenya are made from straw. There are different styles of nativity sets on display, but they are selling quickly since we have a limited supply.

The Christmas Market is open every day. Don’t miss out on this opportunity.

Below is a table comparing November 2018 collections to our current November 2019 collections.

As you can see our collections have gone down and we are not making our budget.

We need everyone to do their part to keep St. Francis on firm financial ground.  The best way to use this is to make your offering using our online giving system.

You can sign up for online giving HERE.

We ask all of our members and visitors to offer the equivalent of ONE HOUR of their weekly salary per week to support the mission of the church.  This comes to a tithe of 2.5%

Most people would not consider themselves to be racist. A person might admit to being prejudiced but certainly not racist. As Christians, we know it is our duty to love others. St. Paul reminds us that we live by the Spirit and the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” We must be honest with ourselves. Each of us should examine our conscience and ask if these fruits are really present in our attitudes about race. Or, rather, do our attitudes reflect mistrust, impatience, anger, distress, discomfort or rancor?

When we begin to separate people in our thoughts for unjust reasons, when we start to see some people as “them” and others as “us”, we fail love. Yet love is at the heart of the Christian life… This command of love can never be “live and let others be.” The command of love requires us to make room for others in our hearts. It means that we are indeed our brother’s keeper.

(to be continued)

The Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent begins: “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.” Joseph is the hero of this section of Matthew’s Gospel. We do not know much about Joseph except for a few references to him in the Gospels, but what we read is amazing. This is not only a compassionate man, but a brave man who is willing take this pregnant woman as his wife. Everything in the culture of those times said: “She should be stoned. Stay away from that woman.” Joseph has a dream and is given an assurance that what his heart is telling him is what he will do. Although we may not have an angel appear in our dreams, many times we should listen to our hearts. They can draw us closer to others that we may not understand. Joseph is strong example for us to consider when we want to understand another person or situation.

I hope you attended the Carols with the Choir last Sunday. It was inspiring, moving, spirit filled. Congratulations to Meredith, the choir, our cantors, organists, and musicians for drawing us closer into the Advent/ Christmas spirit. We are blessed to have such talent here at St. Francis.

Check the schedule for our Christmas Masses!

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

… Experiencing racism is not limited to African or Native Americans. Many different groups have encountered “in varying degrees the evil of discrimination, racial prejudice, and oppression that endangers the very fabric of American society.”

… We would be remiss not to highlight the experience of Hispanics in our country. Since the Mexican-American War, Hispanics from various countries have experienced discrimination in housing, employment, healthcare, and education. Hispanics have been referred to by countless derogatory names, have encountered negative assumptions made about them because of their ethnicity, have suffered discrimination in applying for college, for housing, and in registering to vote…

Today, many Hispanics are often assumed to be in this country illegally. These attitudes of cultural superiority, indifference and racism need to be confronted; they are unworthy of any follower of Christ. After all, a large part of our nation consists of immigrants and their descendants.

(to be continued)

The second reading for this Third Sunday of Advent says: “Be patient, brothers and sisters.” If this isn’t enough, it is repeated again. Then the example of the farmer is given, showing how he has to be patient as his crops grow. This doesn’t happen overnight. Our own maturing in the Lord doesn’t take place overnight either. Answers to our prayers don’t happen overnight either, at least most of the time. In today’s society, people are more impatient than ever. I hear it all the time in the confessional. We can get fast food, fast service through such companies as Amazon, quick relief by taking certain pills and yet there is so much
of life that takes time: becoming mature, being pregnant, getting job experience, getting an education. When life moves so fast, we miss out on significant events or we do not know how to relax and enjoy the ordinary. I love the custom in many countries of taking a siesta at midday. We have much to learn.

One of our church’s favorite events is this Sunday afternoon at 3 PM – Carols with the Choir. We have many talented musicians here at St. Francis and you will have the opportunity to hear them as well as join them in song. This is a relaxing and inspiration hour to help you enter more deeply in the spirit of the season. A free will offering will be accepted for our music program.

Have you stopped at our Christmas Market in the lobby of the Parish House? There are many beautiful items on sale from Fair Trade countries.

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

Our Commemorative Book is available for sale at the reception desk in the Parish House for $20 or you can purchase a copy online HERE for $25.00 (which includes shipping).

Get your copy of this limited-edition keepsake now!

To understand how racism works today, we must recognize that generations of African Americans were disadvantaged by slavery, wage theft, “Jim Crow” laws, and by the systematic denial of access to numerous wealth-building opportunities for others. This has left many African Americans without hope, discouraged, disheartened, and feeling unloved. While it is true that some individuals and families have thrived, significant numbers of African Americans were born into economic and social disparity. The poverty experienced by many of these communities has its root in racist policies that continue to impede the ability of people to find affordable housing, meaningful work, adequate education, and social mobility. The generational effects of slavery, segregation, and the systematic use of violence— including the lynching of more than 4,000 black men, women and children across 800 different counties throughout the United States between 1877 and 1950—are realities that must be fully recognized and addressed in any process that hopes to combat racism.

(to be continued)

This is the Second Sunday of Advent and we hear John the Baptist proclaim the message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John’s message was meant to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John had to deal with many obstacles that stood in the way of people accepting that the “kingdom of heaven was at hand.” Yet many went to be baptized by him. The “closeness” of the kingdom is a message for us and it is meant to help us remove any obstacles that prevent us from allowing it to enter into our lives. Advent is a time to realize the closeness of God to us. What prevents us from realizing this?

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is not celebrated on Sunday, December 8, this year, but has been transferred to Monday, December 9. However, it is not a holy day of obligation. It is a special day, and attending Mass is the best way to observe it.

Have you seen the Christmas ornaments and nativity sets in the lobby of the Parish House? Many are from Peru, India and Kenya and are products of Fair Trade Communities. The craftsmanship is amazing on the ornaments and small nativities. Pleas stop by.