Vigil Masses on Monday, August 14,
at 4:30 and 5:30 PM

Masses on Tuesday, August 15,
at 7:00, 7:45, 8:30, 11:30 AM;
12:15, 1:15, 4:30 and 5:30 PM

The roots of the feast:

The roots of this week’s feast of the Assumption can be traced back at least to the fifth century, when it is noted in the Armenian lectionary. Celebrated in Jerusalem, the feast in honor of the Theotokos, the Mother of God, became the principal feast of Mary throughout the Christian world. The place of celebration was at the tomb of Mary in Gethsemane and was therefore known as the “Dormition of Mary.” In some cultures this feast is celebrated today with a resting statue of Mary, much like a wake service of modern times.

The liturgy of this feast provides images of “the place of your rest” in Psalm 132, and reverence for the Ark of the Covenant that held the signs of the Promise. Like that Ark, Mary is for us the ark of the Savior, the one who bore the Son of God. When the doctrine of the Assumption was defined in 1950 the Gospel reading for the feast was changed to include the verses of Mary’s song, the Magnificat.

The scripture readings for both the vigil Mass and the Mass of the day speak to us of life after death as well as the path to be followed in order to reach it. The key to this promised immortality is found as we take to heart the words of the vigil’s Gospel, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”   —James Field

On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly declared: “By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory” (Munificentissimus Deus, 44)

We invite you a Triduum of Prayer dedicated to Parents and Grandparents in honor of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary, and grandparents of Jesus.

Special prayers will be said after the
11:30 AM and 4:30 PM Masses on
Monday, July 24,
Tuesday, July 25, and
Wednesday, July 26.

Envelopes will be available on which you may write the names of parents and grandparents whom you would like to have remembered on these days.

St. Francis of Assisi will observe the Independence Day Holiday on

Monday, July 3, as well as Tuesday, July 4.

Our summer holiday schedule will be in effect both days with just one Mass at 11:00 AM.

There will be no confession; the church offce and the St. Francis Adult Education Center will be closed both days.

Our regular schedule will resume on Wednesday, July 5.

We wish everyone a happy and safe Independence holiday weekend!

This is the first declaration in our parish mission statement. It is how our community at St. Francis thinks and acts.

We are again celebrating this radical welcome to all at our United in Love Celebration. This is a Weekend of Prayer for and with our LGBT Brothers and Sisters.

The high-point of the weekend will be a festive Mass at 5:15 on Saturday, June 24, 2017.

This is an opportunity for our whole parish community to remember that the Lord invited all people to follow him, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic background, gender or sexual orientation.

It is also an opportunity for all of us to invite to Mass any of our friends who many not feel welcome at the table of the Lord for whatever reason, but especially if they are gay or lesbian. Take the opportunity to bear witness to the unconditional love of God by reaching out and inviting back a brother or sister who hasn’t been home in a while.

Click here for more information about our LGBT ministry