Please Support our Church at Lent and Easter
The sacred season of Lent began with the reception of ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday. Throughout these forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we will gather every Friday to pray the Stations of the Cross, walking spiritually with Christ on His journey to Calvary.
In Holy Week, we receive blessed palms on Palm Sunday, April 13, recalling Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Our journey through the Passion leads us to the most solemn and joyful moment of the liturgical year: the Easter Vigil, where we welcome catechumens and candidates into full communion with the Catholic Church.
At the heart of the Easter celebration stands the Paschal Candle, a radiant symbol of the Risen Christ — the triumph of light over darkness. This candle, lit from the Easter fire, remains present throughout the liturgical year at Sunday Mass, baptisms, funerals, and other sacred moments, reminding us of Christ’s enduring presence.
Your support keeps the Church of St. Francis thriving as a beacon of light and a welcoming community. Let us share the spirit of Easter joy!
Since its founding, our beloved Church of St. Francis of Assisi has remained steadfast in its mission: to proclaim the Good News of the Resurrection, to spread the love and mercy of Christ, and to walk in the footsteps of our holy father, St. Francis. In this spirit, we continue to be a church for all people — a place where the doors remain open to welcome everyone, regardless of background, gender, ethnicity, or financial means. Here, all who seek hope and renewal find a home.
Within these sacred walls, countless souls have encountered Christ through the Sacraments, rejoiced in times of joy, and found comfort in moments of sorrow. And the grace of two vital ministries, our Spiritual Direction Ministry and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, provide profound encounters with God’s love. Others find inspiration and renewal through the beauty of our Masses, sacred music, and faith formation programs where people gather to share their faith with open hearts.
These past winter months have been particularly challenging for us financially. As you know, maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all who seek solace and community at St. Francis of Assisi Church comes with significant costs. Despite our best efforts to conserve resources, our electricity, heat, and water bills remain exceptionally high.
As Easter approaches — a season of renewal and hope — I invite you to support our mission of faith, service, and unity through this year’s Easter Appeal. Your generosity directly sustains our church, enriches our vibrant liturgies, and strengthens our essential pastoral programs.
As the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote, “The greatest grace of a gift, perhaps, is that it anticipates and admits of no return.”
Your selfless generosity is a true reflection of the love and sacrifice we celebrate this Easter.
On behalf of the Franciscan Friars, our parish staff, and all who worship at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, we wish you a joyful and blessed Easter 2025!