Reflection on Sunday's Gospel (05/15/22) - The Fifth Sunday of Easter
During the Easter season, many things have been recounted in our Sunday Gospels: the discovery of the empty tomb, the first witnesses to the Resurrection, and the Resurrection Appearances to the Disciples. Today’s gospel gives meaning to all these events and indeed to Christian Discipleship. Jesus gives us the imperative of Christian Love to our Faith. It is to be our sole distinguishing mark. We need to stop and think about how we can incorporate this imperative into our lives. The Risen Jesus invites us to transcend our human limitations and become agents of forgiveness and reconciliation. We are asked to overcome feelings of rancor and resentment and to do what St. Paul urges us to in the Letter to the Colossians -- “Over all these Clothes, put on Love”. We are never told that the journey will be easy. Love overcomes all obstacles, and Easter Love demonstrated by the Lord is unmatched. As the Father loves Jesus, so Jesus loves us. It is in sowing the seeds of love in this troubled world that we prepare the way for the “new Heaven and the new Earth.” (Book of Revelation, 2nd. Reading today).
Bishop Mueggenborg who gave the recent diocesan priests retreat, studied in Rome and spoke about his experiences volunteering with the religious congregation founded by the now St. Teresa of Kolkutta - The Missionaries of Charity. These recollections served to remind the priests that St. Teresa was someone who took the Christian Imperative to Love to Heart. St. Teresa established her congregation specifically to bring the Love of Christ to the distressed and the abandoned. I remember the then Mother Teresa giving an TV interview in the 1980's to explain why her congregation were opening religious houses in major western cities, including in the United States. She stated that while the people her congregation ministered to in the developing world experienced very real material poverty, the poor in the western world were more deprived, as they experienced a real lack of love. St. Teresa stated that when she encountered or looked at a person in abject circumstances, she saw the face of Christ. This belief or attitude provides much to challenge our Christian lives of discipleship.
Please keep the people of Ukraine and the need for a just and lasting peace in your prayers at this time.
"Over all these Clothes put on Love." - Colossians 3:14
- Fr. Des.
MASS SCHEDULE
PLEASE NOTE FOR ALL CHURCH MASSES:
For the safety of all we will continue with our mask policy. Social Distancing will be observed. Hand sanitizing will be offered prior to receiving Communion. Limited seating!
• 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.
SAVE THE DATE
June 5th
Farewell Fr. Des
Mass and Reception
Sunday June 5th at the 9:30 am Mass followed by a reception in the parking lot.
This will be an opportunity for the children of our School and members of the Parish to bid a fond farewell to our Pastor of the last 6 years.
Farewell Committee Team
Ivan Hrga, Emer McKenna, Beth White, JD Warrick and Bob Reid
PRAY.
Rejoice and Be Glad:
Daily Reflections for Easter 2022
We have SOLD OUT of all of our copies of this booklet.
As we have done before, we also offer this alternative for you to
purchase a booklet on your own:
Rejoice and Be Glad (PB: $1.99/Kindle: $.99)
Daily Reflections for Easter to Pentecost 2022
https://smile.amazon.com/Rejoice-Be-Glad-Reflections-Pentecost/dp/0814664903/
Little Book for the Easter Season (PB: $2.00/e-book: $0.99)
https://littlebooks.org/seasonal-books/easter-season
2022 Parish Pastoral Council Elections (Updated)
Election will be held May 28 & 29th at all Masses.
The Parish Pastoral Council is an elected body of parishioners each bringing different gifts to the table to help support our parish. The Parish Pastoral Council assists the pastor in serving the parish community by exploring the needs of the parish and responding appropriately. This is accomplished through prayer, listening and dialogue. The council currently has five positions up for election this year. If you are interested in sharing your heart, ideas, knowledge and insights with our community please consider running.
(UPDATE:) All applications must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m. on Monday May 23, 2022 by email. A head shot of each person applying must be included. Email to ParishCouncil@stfrancisparish.com.
You must be 16 years older and a registered parishioner for at least one year in order to be eligible to apply.
HOW TO VOTE:
The Election will be held the weekend of May 28/29 after each mass.
You must be at least 16 years old and a registered parishioner for at least one year in order to be eligible to vote.
ELECTION RESULTS:
Results of the election will be certified at the June Parish Pastoral Council meeting and posted on the parish website/Facebook page. The newly elected members will take their seat at the July Parish Pastoral Council meeting.
On June 1 this year, I will have completed 35 years of ministry in a variety of capacities in the Diocese of Sacramento. It has been a time filled with blessed opportunities to serve God's People and a lot of joy. Reflecting on this upcoming anniversary, and my 75th birthday last year, have led me to the conclusion that it is time for me to retire. It is certainly with mixed emotions that I make this decision. My seven years at St. Francis, working with you and Fr. Des, have been a joy, even with the challenges presented by the pandemic. My last day will be June 30.
As I look forward to a new chapter in my life,
St. Francis will always hold a special place in my heart.
Rite of Christian Initiation for
Adults and Children:
If you are looking for a spiritual home or are baptized Catholic but have not yet received Eucharist or Confirmation, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), and RCIA Adapted for Children may be for you. A new group is forming soon.
If interested, complete a registration form online at
http://bit.ly/SacPrepForm
The generosity of the St. Francis Parish Community and the St. Francis Elementary School shone through during this Lenten season! Thank you to all parishioners, students, and parents who donated food and who helped carry the donations to the curbside for pickup!
The Central Downtown Food Basket is extremely grateful for the all the goods, including personal items, that were donated. If you’d like to contribute directly to CDFB,
please use this url: https://www.cdfb.org/support
Mathew 25:35: ... for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me...
St. Francis Homecoming Gala 2022
Make your reservation for our 2022 GALA ... $65.00 early bird discount through 6/30/22,
then $75.00 starting July 1.
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: Saturday 4:30-5:00pm or after 12:10pm Mass Mon., Wed.,and Fri.
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.
