In the Gospel today, Jesus returns to the place where he had been raised and formed. Jesus had left Nazareth to begin his public ministry. By the time he returned he had gained a reputation as a preacher and healer. When he went to the synagogue, as was his custom on the sabbath, he was invited to read and to preach. He chose a passage from Isaiah which gives a summary of the program of his mission: to announce good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed and to proclaim a year of favor -- which was a time when all debts were cancelled and all property returned to the rightful owners (this is based on Leviticus 25:8-55). Jesus points to himself as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy; on that day the text became true in the hearing of his townspeople. At first their reaction is approval of his words, but then they remember his origins and reject him. Jesus reminds them that no prophet is accepted in his own homeland. They become enraged and seek to kill him, but he manages to evade and escape them.
We all need a place to belong to and call home. It is a place where we are accepted for who we are, but also a place where we are encouraged to become the person that we could be. Perhaps the last people to recognize change on a personal and spiritual level are those who know and love us, they are so used to old ways and find it hard to accept real change. Jesus had to leave home to become the person God the Father wanted him to be. After the experience of that day he came to accept that he could not rely on the people of his native place, so he had to foster a new community who would recognize the validity of his Life and Mission. That’s where we come in: we should be people who recognize the gifts and talents of everyone in our Faith Community and resolve to foster and harness such gifts for the growth of the Kingdom. In this type of community, everyone should feel welcome and all should have the freedom to grow.
The pandemic continues to pose challenges. The Omicron Variant appears not to present a danger to life, compared to previous variants for those who are vaccinated. However, the variant continues to proliferate at a high rate, particularly among children and young people. Despite understandable “Pandemic Fatigue”, the deliberative approach of ongoing vigilance and observance of preventative and health preserving measures continues to provide the maximum benefit to most people. Caution provides safety not just for ourselves, but serves to give active expression to the Christian Imperative: to truly care for one another. The Gospel Vision presented by Jesus today continues to assure us that the Lord is with his people at all times, never more so than in times of trial.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” Luke 4:18.
- Fr. Des.
MASS SCHEDULE
PLEASE NOTE FOR ALL CHURCH MASSES:
Masks are still required. Social Distancing will be observed, 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.
• Saturday at 5:15pm in the CHURCH • Sunday at 7:30am in the CHURCH • Sunday at 9:30am in the CHURCH
The 9:30am Mass will be livestreamed as usual (https://bit.ly/37XEfK3).
• WEEKDAY MASS THIS WEEK - Monday, Wednesday and Friday -
Daily Mass at 12:10 will be in the church.
Please note that for all weekday masses social distancing will be observed,
masks are required, sanitizing prior to receiving Communion will be offered,
and seating is limited.
This event takes place on Saturday morning, February 5th from 9:30 to 11:00, safely via Zoom.
After we gather together, a brief small group “ice breaker” conversation will take place. Then we’ll come back together for prayer and our storyteller. A second longer small group conversation will follow. We will also have a door prize drawing (each gift will be mailed to the winner's address) before our closing prayer.
If you are interested, please send your RSVP by Thursday, February 3rd to st.franciswomeninc@gmail.com to receive a link to be a part of our gathering.
We’d love to see you!
News from the Gala Committee
Homecoming 2022, our 14th Annual St. Francis Parish Gala, has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Sacramento’s Hilton Hotel Arden West. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend our yearly celebration of community.
The Gala’s auctions and raffle are among the parish’s primary fundraisers of the year. If you have donations of new or gently used items please contact Clayton Whitehead. You can reach him at gala@stfrancisparish.com or (916) 208-6992.
Home is where the heart is, and St. Francis Parish is our HOME.
Watch for details in the months ahead.
We look forward to seeing you in August!
Your Financial Support
The Finance Council is providing a regular look at contributions.
Month of November 2021
Stewardship $ 34,725
Building Fund $ 2,191
Assistance to the Needy $ 1,935
Thank you for your generosity!
Please contact the Finance Council with any questions.
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.
Confession will continue to be offered from 3:00-4:00pm on Saturdays.
If you wish to receive reconcilliation feel free to approach Fr. Des before or after mass on Weekdays or Sundays. Additionally, you can phone the parish office for an appointment. Call 916-443-8084,when the phone is answered press 115 which will connect you to the pastor's extension, and leave a message if he is not available.
All parish meetings 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.
