After Jesus commenced his public ministry, he settled in the town of Capernaum, located on the west shore of what was known as the Sea of Galilee, more properly this sea should be referred to as a lake. Most of Jesus' ministry in Galilee was around the shores of the lake. The lake is normally calm, yet it is also subject to sudden windstorms which sweep down quite suddenly from the surrounding hills. This is what happens in today's Gospel: the rapid change of weather causes the waves to break into the boat so that it starts to fill with water, thereby placing the boat and its occupants in mortal danger. In the midst of this chaos, Jesus is fast asleep on the small bench at the back of the boat. The disciples wake him with an accusation, "Master do you not care that we are perishing?". Jesus awakes, calms the wind and rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith. The question forming in the minds of the disciple about Jesus' identity will not be truly understood until after they witness the events of his Resurrection Appearances.
Today's Gospel is especially relevant to us during the pandemic. We believe that Jesus accompanies us on our faith journey. Sometimes, when we see disorder, illness and chaos in our world, we might be tempted to think that God has abandoned us, a product of our fear and anxiety. To journey with Jesus throughout our lives is to journey with him through the storms of life, not around them. What kept the disciples going is what keeps us going: a strenuous belief is that Jesus is Lord of all chaos, a stubborn belief that there is no storm that will not be stilled, by the peace of his presence.
Saturday June 19th marks the first official recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. This holiday is the late acknowledgement of the terrible stain on US history of the brutal seizure of African peoples and their subsequent enslavement. We cannot change the events of history but we can ensure that we learn from them. Our task now is help eradicate the terrible sin of Racism from our land and world.
This Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day. We wish all fathers, and those who play a fathers role, blessed and enjoyable celebrations. We will incorporate a blessing for fathers and prayers for all fathers living and deceased in our prayers at masses today.
“Quiet! Be Still, Have Faith.” Mark 4:39 40
Fr. Des.
(update!) 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 - 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.
Gun Violence in America: A Preventable Epidemic
Please join Pathways for Justice Ministry for a presentation Monday, June 28,
from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. on gun violence prevention by Dr. Bill Durston, co-founded of Americans Against Gun Violence, https://aagunv.org/. He is a retired emergency room physician and has treated innumerable gunshot victims over his 35 years of experience in the ER. It is the position of Americans Against Gun Violence “that we have not only the ability, but a moral responsibility to reduce rates of firearm related deaths….” Prior to becoming a physician Dr. Durston was an expert marksman in the United States Marine Corps, serving in combat in Viet Nam.
The presentation will allow plenty of time for questions.
To register for the Zoom presentation, email us at pathwaysforjustice@stfrancisparish.com
(NEW-JUNE 26) WOMEN IN CONVERSATION SACRED SHARING
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 9:30AM Saturday, June 26th 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, June 24th to st.franciswomeninc@gmail.com to receive a link to join our gathering.
We’d love to see you!
Summer Water Supply Drive
This is the third seasonal donation drive...
(Advent winter clothing and Lenten canned food drive)....
A chance to help!
Your Parish Pastoral Council is leading a bottled water supply drive to benefit the clients of Loaves and Fishes (https://sacloaves.org/), which has longtime ties to our parish. During the hot summer months, Loaves and Fishes has a great need for water donations that they share with those they serve.
Can you please donate a case or two of bottled water?
If so, you have two options:
1) bring the water to the Mass and leave it in the designated area near doors
OR
2) you may leave the water/cases in your car and they can be
loaded directly into a volunteers' car after Mass.
Volunteers will be wearing badges.
Collection will be after all three weekend Masses (Sat. 5:15 p.m. and
Sun at 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.) the last two weekends of June:
June 19th and 20th
June 26th and 27th
Thank you!
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.
