On the Second Sunday of Lent each year, we hear an account of the Lord’s Transfiguration as recounted by the Evangelists. This year we read the account of the evangelist St. Mark. In the Transfiguration, we see an anticipation of the Glory of the Resurrection. In each of the accounts of the Transfiguration, Jesus instructs the disciples to keep secret what they had seen until after the Son of Man has Risen from the Dead. The events of the Transfiguration are only explicable when the disciples witness Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection. We hear the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration early in Lent, but we have the benefit of hindsight. In our hearing of it, we anticipate the Resurrection, as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ Passion and death. The account concludes with the Father’s command “to listen to him”. This should prompt the question within us as to whether we are trying to discern the path of the Lord. We are bombarded by sound in our lives, but do we truly make time to listen for God, or indeed to one another.
The death toll from the pandemic in the United States is now in excess of 500,000 and in California alone there have been in excess of 50,000 deaths. These are truly devastating figures, yet through our Faith we are always People of Hope. St. Paul illustrates the source of this hope in the Second Reading. He reminds us that God showed his great love for us by allowing his only Son to die for us. “If God is for us, who can be against us” asserts St.Paul. If that is so, how can we imagine that he would ever refuse anything to his people. In the Letter to the Romans 8:35, St.Paul further asserts that “no trial or tribulation shall ever separate us from the love of God as manifested through Christ Jesus Our Lord”. The psalm today reminds us that we “Walk before the Lord, in the Land of the Living”. This knowledge together with the good news concerning the greater distribution of vaccines, should prompt us to continue with the necessary disease prevention and precautionary measures. The Christian Vision of Respect for the Gift of Life, not just our Own Life, but the Life of others, should spur us on to achieve victory over this terrible virus. We can fight fatigue with the assurance that our God walks beside us in all of life’s difficulties.
“If God is for us, who can be Against us” Romans 8:31.
Fr. Des.
(UPDATE!) MASS SCHEDULE - this weekend (Sunday, March 07, 2021)
• 7:30am – Mass on patio in the courtyard of the Parish Center Terrace.
PLEASE NOTE: Social Distancing will be observed. Masks required. Limited seating.
• 9:30am Mass in the CHURCH!
PLEASE NOTE:
Social Distancing will be observed.
Masks required!
Limited seating!
Entrance is through the breezeway only.
• WEEKDAY MASS - Monday, Wednesday and Friday - at 12:10 outside, on patio in the courtyard of the Parish Center Terrace. Communion will be provided during Masses. PLEASE NOTE: Social Distancing will be observed. Masks required. Limited seating.
As we did for Advent, we provide the following links to little reflection books for the days of Lent. Because the pandemic is still with us, we can’t make booklets available from the parish so we offer this alternative for you to purchase a booklet on your own.
In the book of Revelation, Jesus declared "Behold, I make all things new".
Through the Annual Catholic Appeal, the whole Catholic Community
places our trust in the words of Jesus. We extend our hand to those who need help...
If you have already received a contribution envelope, please mail it directly back
to the Diocese. We will receive credit for our portion of your donation!
Wednesdays at 7:00pm and Fridays at 3:00pm during Lent
via YouTube, at https://bit.ly/37XEfK3.
A special version of Stations of the Cross. Join us on YouTube.
Please join Pathways for Justice Ministry as we break open
“Fratelli Tutti: Brothers and Sisters All”
Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, this newest encyclical by Pope Francis invites everyone to become a Good Samaritan and encourages us to “seek out others and embrace the world as it is, without fear of pain or a sense of inadequacy, because there we will discover all the goodness that God has planted in human hearts.” The encyclical envisions opening our hearts to new politics, sacrificial love, and dialogue toward a consensus for truth, forgiveness and peace.
Participants will read and discuss two chapters a week, meeting by Zoom on four consecutive Monday evenings, March 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 7 pm to 8 pm. To register, email us at: pathwaysforjustice@stfrancisparish.com
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in.
- Matthew 25:35
LENTEN FOOD DRIVE
A chance to help!
Your Parish Pastoral Council, in conjunction with St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School, is leading a Lenten Food Drive to benefit the Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center, which has longtime ties to our parish.
Does your cupboard have an item or two of non-perishable food (pasta, dried/canned beans, canned fish/meats, peanut butter, and other hearty fare) to spare? Could you pick up an extra item or two when you shop? We can help feed our north Sacramento neighbors whose lives have been disrupted by poverty and the pandemic.
Collection will be after weekday and Sunday Masses starting the week of March 9.
Last collection will be Sunday, March 21.
With great pleasure we invite you to register for and attend our 13th Annual St. Francis Parish Gala – this year being held virtually in collaboration with St. Francis Elementary School in celebration of 125 years of academic excellence and service to our community.
Registration is simple, easy and best of all FREE. Just follow the link below to get started and watch for the validation e-mail. You will need to enter credit card information, but nothing will be charged until you purchase tickets for the Cash Raffle, contribute to our Wish List or are the high bidder in one of our Live or Silent Auction packages.
Virtual raffle tickets are already available with proceeds being split between the parish and school. This year’s Cash Raffle will award three winners $100, $250 and the grand prize of $500.
Auctions items and a parish Wish List (called Fund-A-Need in past years) will be added to the site over the coming weeks. The Silent Auction will open for bidding at noon on Wednesday, March 24.
The Live Auction will be streamed on Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m. live from the Golden 1 Center. “Good Morning Sacramento” host and St. Francis alumnae Julissa Ortiz will serve as our Mistress of Ceremonies. This is the night when raffle winners will be announced along with a host of other surprises. Attending is free, but you must pre-register using the above link.
If you have any questions please contact Gala Chair Clayton Whitehead at stfrancisgala2021@gmail.com or call/text (916) 208-6992.
Remember: Auction is a verb – bid high and bid often! Thank you for your support and participation!
Bishop Soto has asked that parish churches remain open for those wishing to offer private prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. St. Francis Church will be open from 9:00am-3:00pm weekdays for private prayer. Entrance to the church is by the side door in the breezeway. Please check this page for updates.
Individual confession will be offered by appointment only.
Please call Fr. Des directly at (916) 443-8084 (ext 115).
All parish meetings, St. Francis School classes, and parish Faith Formation
programs remain cancelled or on Zoom until further notice. And the Parish Office is closed to the public for the time being.
Please continue to check our website as we will be posting new information as
it becomes available.
Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Loving God, grant that your healing grace may flow to all those who are suffering or ill, and that your strength and love may be with all those close to these brothers and sisters, for those who are providing care for them, and for all those who offer prayer on their behalf. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PARISH NEWS
COMMUNION TO THE HOMEBOUND
The St. Francis Communion Visitation Ministry is currently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please join us in praying the Act of Spiritual Communion during the Eucharist online. In addition, the Ministry is sending prayer cards to anyone who requests them. The cards include the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the new oil painting in the south transept of our church, and the Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe for Protection from Coronavirus, as provided by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The prayer card is available in English or Spanish. To receive it, please email your mailing address to the Ministry at sfcommunionvisitation@gmail.com.
(VIRTUAL) FRANCISCAN CROWN ROSARY
On the first Saturday of each month, 9-10am, we pray the Franciscan Crown Rosary, followed by conversation and fellowship. Please sign up by emailing Louis at louisvasquez123@hotmail.com. A Zoom invitation will be emailed to you.
Honoring our Franciscan tradition, St. Francis Parish is a Catholic Christian Community building the reign of God in the spirit and path of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. We value vibrant liturgy and personal prayer as a way to worship God and celebrate life.
We are an inclusive community respecting the dignity of all persons and supporting the journey of each person. We respond to the command of Jesus to love by welcoming all, evangelizing, supporting spiritual growth, and being Eucharist to each other.
Challenged by the Holy Spirit, we reach beyond ourselves to care for our neighbors, the poor, the marginalized, and those alienated by our Catholic Church. We aspire to be witnesses and prophets advocating for justice in the world and in the church.
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1066 26th Street Sacramento, CA 95816
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