I will be away for the next few weeks and I am very pleased to report that Patrick Mahan, our parishioner who has commenced his final year of preparation for the Diaconate, has accepted my invitation to provide reflections for the Bulletin during my absence. The Diaconate Program requires the active participation of the candidates family. Accordingly, please keep Patrick and his wife Maria in your prayers at this time. - Fr. Des.
In the Gospel of Mark today the Apostles are traveling with Jesus Christ, listening to Him preach, and witnessing signs and wonders. But their priorities are out of balance; they are grumbling about position and who is the best. When Jesus Christ began openly speaking of His own arrest, death, and resurrection, the Apostles would reassess their priorities. Worrying about position would not be important to the Apostles anymore. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would be the catalyst for their lives to be spent unselfishly helping others. Their priorities and lives were re-balanced with Jesus Christ and following His example of loving others first.
Throughout our lives, we too have had to reassess our priorities. Covid this past year has
rebalanced our priorities. With all the sacrifice and suffering Covid-19 has brought over the last eighteen months, has it not reminded us of what is important in our lives—our families, friends, and faith. Many sacrifices were made for the love of others.
Jesus Christ wants us to live a life of love for others as He did. “God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” By loving one another, our lives are in balance; our priorities are straight; and we live a life of following Jesus Christ’s example.
Amen.
Patrick Mahan
MASS SCHEDULE
• Saturday at 5:15pm in the church.
PLEASE NOTE:
Social Distancing will be observed. Masks are still required, as is sanitizing prior to receiving Communion. Limited seating! As contact tracing is no longer required, all the doors of the church will be open for entering and exiting the church.
• Sunday: 7:30am – Mass on patio in the courtyard of the Parish Center Terrace.
PLEASE NOTE: Social Distancing will be observed. Masks required. Limited seating.
• Sunday: 9:30am Mass in the CHURCH!
PLEASE NOTE:
Social Distancing will be observed.
Masks are still required, as is sanitizing prior to
receiving Communion.
Limited seating!
As contact tracing is no longer required, all the doors of the church
will be open
for entering and exiting the church.
• WEEKDAY MASS THIS WEEK - 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.
New Outreach Donations August 2021
Checks for $3000.00 each were forwarded to the following local organizations:
Catholic Relief Services (Haiti)
Diocese of Sacramento (California Fire Fund)
Diocese of Sacramento (Afghan Refugee Assistance)
Checks for $2,000 each were forwarded to the following local organizations:
Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services
River City Food Bank
Yolo County Foodbank, Woodland
Stanford Settlement, Sacramento North Area
Loaves and Fishes Sacramento
Checks for $1,000 each were forwarded to the following local organization:
Mustard Seed School (c/o Loaves and Fishes)
Your generosity has enabled St. Francis to donate $20,000.00 to organizations serving the
Poor, Hungry, Deprived and Homeless Populations in the Sacramento Region.
“Whoever Sows Bountifully will also Reap Bountifully. For God Loves a Cheerful Giver.”
- Second Corinthians 9:6-8.
For those interested in contributing to disaster relief:
Daily, the news captures the dramatic evacuation of Afghani refugees from the Kabul airport. To date, more than 80,000 men, women and children have been airlifted out of Afghanistan. A final destination for many will be the United States. Refugee resettlement agencies across the country, including Sacramento, are gearing up to meet this massive need.
Agencies in the Sacramento area which provide refugee resettlement services are:
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) - https://www.sacramentofoodbank.org (916) 456-1980.
The Diocese of Sacramento has a long tradition of resettling refugees through its Catholic Social Service agency. That ministry continues with SFBFS offering Refugee Resettlement Services through a collaboration with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services Office. Because of the influx of families from Afghanistan, SFBFS has an immediate need for cash donations to help with temporary housing, clothing and culturally appropriate food. Donations can be payable to Catholic Charities - Refugee Resettlement Fund, and sent to Diocese of Sacramento, 2110 Broadway, Sacramento CA 95818
Opening Doors, Inc. – https://openingdoorsinc.org (916) 492-2591.
Immediately most helpful are cash donations to assist with temporary and permanent housing and gift cards for food, Door Dash and other food delivery services.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) - https://www.rescue.org/united-states/sacramento-ca (916) 482-0120.
IRC’s newly established Soft Landing Fund will help arriving Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) families from Afghanistan start their new life in Northern California. IRC Northern California is raising $300,000 for this fund. One hundred percent of donations will be disbursed to cover emergency temporary housing as well as rental and utility assistance. Donations can be made at https://help.rescue.org/donate/Softlandingfund
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.” - EPHESIANS 2:10
(NEW) Would you like to open the Word of God by reflecting
on the Sunday Gospel readings with other women in the parish?
Please join us at 9:30 AM on Saturday, September 25th for our next meeting of Women in Conversation Sacred Sharing. Our 90 minute gathering combines song, prayer, Scripture reading, and small group discussion, safely via Zoom. If you are interested, please send your RSVP by Thursday, September 23rd to st.franciswomeninc@gmail.com to receive a link to join our gathering. We’d love to see you!
CHILDREN’S FAITH FORMATION CLASSES BEGIN ON OCTOBER 10…
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Due to the continuing challenges presented by the corona virus, the 2021/2022 Faith Formation Program for children attending public schools in grades 1 through 8 will be done remotely.
The in-person program during the 9:30 Mass for children of nursery, preschool, and Kindergarten age is still suspended because of the pandemic.
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
BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY
The Bereavement Ministry of St. Francis of Assisi is offering a Grief Support Group on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month via ZOOM from 6:30-8:00pm.
To participate contact a facilitator no later than 2 days before a meeting.
Julie Garcia Swiecicki 1 916 359-2672 juliagds@att.net
Theresa Arciniega 1 916 359-7732 tarciniega333@gmail.com
Kent Meyer 1 916 206-1414 kentonmeyers@stfrancisparish.com
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.
