DECEMBER 25, 2016 The Nativity of the Lord The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi 11401 Leesville Road, Raleigh, NC 27613 919-847-8205 www.stfrancisraleigh.org Monday—Friday, December 26 –30 9:00am in the Chapel Saturday, December 31 Mary, Mother of God Vigil 5:30pm in the Church Sunday, January 1 All Masses in the Church 7:30am 9:30am 11:30am 5:30pm Holiday Mass Merry Christmas See page 3 Welcoming the Refugee: A Christmas Story Merry Christmas
Transcript
DECEMBER 25, 2016
The Nativity of the Lord
The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi 11401 Leesville Road, Raleigh, NC 27613 919-847-8205 www.stfrancisraleigh.org
Monday—Friday, December 26 –30 9:00am in the Chapel Saturday, December 31 Mary, Mother of God Vigil 5:30pm in the Church
Sunday, January 1 All Masses in the Church 7:30am 9:30am 11:30am 5:30pm
Holiday Mass
Merry Christmas
See page 3
Welcoming the Refugee: A Christmas Story
Merry Christmas
Through Baptism may
they walk always as a
Child of the light:
Gabriel Anthony Morcos Son of Tony Morcos and Mindy Hamlin
Our vibrant ministries and liturgies are, thanks to all of you, helping us to live our mission each day.
Inspired by our patron Francis of Assisi, we seek to proclaim the reign of God by growing in Holiness through our experience of Christ in word, sacrament and one another, offering Hope to those who hunger for human dignity, and extending Hospitality to all.
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Please do not leave unsolicited
items such as clothing, food, electronics, or any other items in our buildings or on our campus. Thank you!
There is a deep beauty to these days of Christmas, with its images of a harried young couple searching for a space for their child to be born, a star shining over a humble stable in a field outside of Bethlehem, and the birth of a child
that was witnessed only by some shepherds in the cold of night. It was a birth that happened in the dark, and that was missed by most. The Gospel of John speaks about the birth of this child as “the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5). It’s an image of Christ as light shining into a dark world. The world he was born into was dark: his people ruled harshly by the empire of Rome and longing for some kind of savior. In our own time, we know our own darkness: war; poverty; econom-ic insecurity; a sense of a nation divided; and our own deep longing for God. The words from John’s gospel remind us that darkness is part of our world, and yet promise us as well that this child who is born in Bethle-hem is not overcome by it, and is a light that shines for all people. Not always easy to see, or even believe – yet we come as people of faith to hear the words, remember the story, and in our own way, live it out in the world we have been given. A special welcome this Christmas to those who are here for the first time, or who visit us from other faith commu-nities. And on behalf of the friars, a thank you to the people of St. Francis for your presence here among us. Blessings to all in the new year!
Strengthening Our Community The Youth Ministry recently received some crosses. A plan quickly came together! The Eucharistic Ministers from the Abbotswood, Magnolia Glen, The Meadow, The Homebound and Springmoor came to talk to the kids about their ministry...
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The parish offices will be closed on: Monday, December 26 Tuesday, December 27 Friday, December 30 Monday, January 2
Kathleen Owen, Coordinator of Care and Wellness
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Trevor Thompson, Director of Justice and Peace
I t's easy to overlook the ex-tremely vulnerable position that Mary and Joseph are in when we tell our Christmas
story. This young couple had walked some 90 arduous miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to register for a census. To a town too full to house them. With a ba-by who didn't exactly have his paperwork in order.
Unlike the Roman Caesar Augustus in his palace on the Palatine Hill in Rome, this king arrives unprotected, vulnerable, quietly, poor, among the animals and cold desert night. And this couple's hardships were far from over once Jesus was born. King Herod, worried that Jesus threat-ened his crown, had all of Bethle-hem's children 2 years old and younger slaughtered. Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt, by foot and on a donkey, where they lived in exile for years.
What does it feel like to give birth in a stable, forced out of your home under threat of death, travel across nations through un-welcome terrain, only to arrive at your destination feeling helpless, unprotected and vulnerable? This is our Christmas story, the story of
Welcoming the Refugee: A Christmas Story
M ental Health is an issue that affects 18% of adult Americans. In 2016, there were 43.6 million American adults with any mental illness (ami),
while only 4% of Americans have serious mental illnesses (smi). To put these numbers in perspec-tive, in 2016, there will be an estimated 1,685,210 new cancer cases diagnosed and 595,690 cancer deaths in the US. Heart disease will kill 370,000 Americans this year.
Our faith teaches us to acknowledge our needs and to ask God’s help to live better lives. Until we can openly and honestly acknowledge that mental illness is a disease, that this disease affects us right here in North Raleigh, and that the people who live with mental illness deserve our compas-sion and care, we will continue to marginalize and isolate nearly one fifth of our community.
You’re invited to join us for a four part series called Walking in Mercy – Living with Mental Illness. Together we can learn about the challenges and opportunities for those living with mental illness.
Mental Health 101 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 7:00pm
Access to Mental Health Care Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 7:00pm
Practical Resources Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 7:00pm
The Church and Mental Health Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 7:00pm
Location: Clare Fellowship Hall
Mental Health
Mary and Joseph, the story of Jesus, the story of God becoming vulnerable for our sake.
This is also the story of so many, many in our world. We are invit-ing you to experience this Christ-mas story more intimately through our sponsorship of a refugee family in 2017. We are currently working with an or-ganization called U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) to be trained and availa-ble to be able to journey with a family seeking asylum in our country. It is our hope to welcome a family to our community in early 2017. There are already parish-ioners being trained, and there are many more who want to do what they can to help with pray-ers and material donations. We will be in touch with more infor-mation in the coming weeks.
For now, please email us at [email protected] if you are interesting in this minis-try. As if this family were the holy family knocking on our door, we will welcome them in their vulner-ability, recognizing their dignity and their hunger for some stability, security, and freedom. This is indeed our Christmas sto-ry. Merry Christmas!
R oy Petitfils is a Licensed counselor at Pax Renewal Center in Lafayette, LA. Roy studied ministry and spirituality at The Pontifical University of St. Thomas
Aquinas and holds a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from University of Louisiana. Roy has worked with youth and young adults for more than 20 years as minister, a teacher, school administra-tor, school counselor and now as a counselor in private practice. He specializes in counseling teens and young adults. Roy regularly consults with churches, publishers, and organizations helping them more effectively reach and minister to youth and young adults. He is an expert at raising and understanding teenagers. Roy has published four books, including his most recent What Teens Want You to Know (But Don’t Tell You). Roy’s blue collar roots, natural humor, contagious enthusiasm, and diverse personal and professional background have made him an inter-nationally sought after presenter and trainer. Roy lives with his wife Mindi of 13 years and their two sons Max and Benjamin in Youngsville, Louisiana. To find out more, visit Roy’s website, roypetitfils.com.
Formation
ROY PETITFILS Licensed Counselor, Author, National Presenter For All Middle and High School Youth: “The Struggle Is Real: Dealing with Anxiety & Depression” Sunday, January 22, 2017 6:30pm dinner in Clare Fellowship Hall 7:00-8:15pm presentation in Church For Parents of Children and Youth: “What Your Kids Want You to Know (But Won’t Tell You)” Monday, January 23, 2017 TWO TIMES: 10:00-11:15am in Church (hospitality at 9:30am in Clare Fellowship Hall) 7:00-8:15pm in Church (hospitality at 6:30pm in Clare Fellowship Hall) To RSVP visit stfrancisraleigh.org/formation.
Save the date!
Kathleen Owen, Coordinator of Care and Wellness
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Pastoral Ministries
T hrough the years, my whole relationship to gifts has changed. When I was young, I was all about what gifts I should ask for and seeing how long I could stretch out the gift-giving season. Then, my approach changed to figuring out the best gifts for those I love. I’m now at the stage where the gifts I wish others to have are not really in my power to offer – things
like peace of heart, respect for all, and good health. That got me thinking about the significance of the ‘original’ Christmas gifts.
The Wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Some say there is enormous significance that these gifts, fit for a king, were given to a child of questionable lineage. Others say that the gold was given to help the young family get the things they would need in a strange new land. The frankincense is the fragrance of God and of prayer, and the myrrh would help to anoint the family in hopes of good health for the journey ahead.
So that brings me back to the gifts I wish for each of us and all of us:
Connection - to our thriving parish, to each other, and to the Gospel that is the foundation for us all. Sometimes in the rush to get in and out of the parking lot, or after another appeal to help yet one more ministry, we forget to acknowledge the many gifts we’ve received- the gift of life, the gift of faith, and the gift of plenty, just to name a few. In accepting these many gifts from God, there’s also a responsibility to not just be comfortable, complacent, or casual about Jesus’ call to “love one another, as I have loved you.” Acknowledging our gifts should come with the response to share these gifts with everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable. May you take advantage of the opportunity to walk with someone who is vulnerable or at another stage of life, or in a different path of life. Sharing the journey offers understanding and community, and the peace of sharing God’s mercy with another person, not the other person.
Fragrance – that in all you do, you can feel that God is with you; when good things happen and when the bad things happen. May you have the gift of seeing God’s hand in everything. Not that He causes the bad things, but that He will use whatever happens for goodness. May you see His work in those around you. And when you can’t see or feel God’s fragrant presence, I wish for you the gift of prayer - that you humbly pray for Him to help you feel the love surrounding you.
Healing – that whatever storms you may face, that God heals you. If there are relationships that need mending, that you find the grace to take the first step. If there are things you need to change about yourself or your life, that you find the courage to live into your better self. That you feel the comfort of His love and protection and you live with the certainty that those He has claimed as his own will live with Him forever.
The Gifts
Growing in excellence
since 1991
Assisi Preschool The Franciscan School
Elementary: K-5
Middle School: 6-8
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From all of us at the preschool, we wish you all a very Mer-ry Christmas and joyous New Year!
If you are interested in more information about our school, please visit our website at www.preschoolatstfrancis.com or call 919-847-8205x262 and speak with Jennifer Ste-phens.
T he faculty and staff at the Franciscan School extend wishes of peace and joy to you and your family as we celebrate Christmas and a new year. God gave us the most wonderful gift
when he gave us His Son. God chose our Blessed Mother Mary to give birth to our Lord, which she agreed to without hesitation. By doing so, Mary teaches us that by saying “yes” to when we are called by God, we spread the gifts that each of us have to those around us.
At the Franciscan School, we are part of a community committed to saying “yes” to our callings. We are grateful to the wonderful students, families, faculty, and staff who have been given to us as gifts. The leadership, talents, love, and caring nature that are evident in our school re-mind us of how thankful we are for our Franciscan School community and how important we all are to the school. The gifts of ourselves to each other at the Franciscan School help make our school such a special place.
We invite you to come and see for yourself! We will hold our Winter Open House on Sunday, January 29 from 12:45 until 2:00pm. We would love for you to join us!
To our St. Francis family and to those who are visiting St. Francis, we hope you can see that we are a welcoming school community that helps our children learn through service, academic challenge, and through the gifts we all share with each other. Whether we are helping feed the poor through our Community Garden, collecting food through our annual Advent Passage Home Food Drive, or simply helping each other through kind deeds and monthly community service, we are committed to saying “yes” just as Mary did to God.
For more information about The Franciscan School, please contact Lura Tysiac at 919.847.8205x469.
CAMP FRANCIS: Registration will be available in January. We have lots of really cool opportuni-ties in athletics, technologies, arts, and various enrichment areas! We have several new oppor-tunities this summer for all age groups. Kids can join us for half day or full day. All camps have min and max number of students so camp avail-ability is based on enrollment. For more infor-mation, our brochure, and all other summer camp offerings on campus this summer: http://www.stfrancisraleigh.org/camp-francis/
High School Basketball: The Parish High School basketball league registration will begin in January. This parish league is open to both parishioners and non-parishioners of the com-munity. The boys league is for grades 9-12 and the girls is for grades 8-12. For more information and registration, please see: http://www.stfrancisraleigh.org/high-school-basketball-leagues-2/
Donation Drive: The St Francis Youth Basket-ball league will be supporting the materials drive for Migrant Ministry from Jan 4 – Feb 4. Plan to clean your closets during the holidays and gath-er these much needed items. Collections bins will be located in the Assisi Community Center during this drive.
Assisi Community Center Memberships: Effective Jan 1, 2017, all open play nights in the Assisi Community Center will require a member-ship to participate. Memberships are open to anyone and can be purchased online or at the Assisi Community Center. Entry into the gym will always require you to produce a driver’s license, hold a current membership, and obtain ministry leader approval. Each open play night in the gym hosts a different ministry group. Please see the parish website for details and contacts for each night: www.stfrancisraleigh.org.
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Giving – it is associated with Christmas everywhere.
I remember when I spent the first Christ-mas with my husband’s family - talk about a “gift-giving shock.” Now, the background here is that my family did exchange presents, but everyone received practical items you needed. Besides a few toys, children also
received the pair of socks and the new pants needed for school. Everything was wrapped under the tree, but it was wrapped in newspaper or recycled paper, maybe it had a bow, maybe it didn’t. The wrapping didn’t really matter.
Fast forward a few years to the first Christmas with my husband’s family. Jeff taught me through the shopping experience that his family focused on “fun” gifts - something the person would not buy for themselves. A pair of socks wouldn’t work. This was a totally different mindset from my family, but I adjusted and loved shopping and hunting down the perfect gifts. Feeling quite merry, I wrapped them up with my heavily creased and recycled paper and put on the stick on bows.
When we arrive for the family gathering, I thought I was going to faint. It was Norman Rockwell picture perfect. The gifts under the tree were the most beautiful packages I had ever seen in my life. The wrapping paper was all coordinated, the bows glistened and sparkled. They were all hand crafted and assembled. Each gift each had a “tie-on” ornament on top of the package. Oh, how I wanted to crawl into a hole! Maybe I could go up the chimney with Santa. I was so embarrassed with my simple packages. From that Christmas, I learned the important marriage lesson of compromise. I learned you need both. It is just as important to focus on the what to give as the how to give it. It’s important to give what a person needs as well as it’s important to present the gift with grace and love.
Today, we are given the most amazing gift that we need. We are given Baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manager. Think about God’s Christmas gift to us, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. We
St. Francis Brown Bag Ministry has open dates to fill. We prepare and deliver lunches to a senior citizen apart-ment complex in Durham on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Satur-days of the month. This is a wonderful opportunity for fami-lies, scout troops, Y guides, youth groups, and sports teams to serve the community together. More information at stfrancisraleigh.org/bbm. Contact: Tricia Downs and Nanette Kirsch, [email protected].
Assisi Cafe: We are always looking for volunteers to work behind the counter. We have three shift teams that rotate volunteering on a regular basis; a weekday morning team, a Sunday morning team, and a Saturday conces-sions team. Serve some coffee, chit-chat, socialize. Training will be supplied and St Francis staff are always available for questions. Interested parties check out the website for more information at http://stfrancisraleigh.org/cl-volunteer/.
Pen Pal Ministry: Do you like to write? Share a minis-try of mercy from your own home? We are always looking for new pen pals for our men on death row. Contact: Jill Balogh, [email protected].
The Visitation Ministry is looking for volunteers. We visit folks in need of a smile who are in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, in the hospital, or at home. If you have 2 or 3 hours a month and a great smile, Contact: Kathleen Owen, 919-847-8205x241.
Drivers/Volunteers Needed: We have some parishioners who can no longer drive who would love to come to mass. Any mass. One lives out by PNC Arena and one lives in Morrisville. If you would be open to driving them to mass once each month, Contact: Stephanie Smith, 919-302-0080.
Our Caregivers Ministry is assisting several parish-ioners who have multiple appointments each week due to illness and we could use some help! Would you consider driving someone to the doctor’s office or to the grocery store? Contact: Carol Derrenbacher, 919-696-6096.
Parking Ministers needed for the Sunday 11:30am mass. Contact: Steve Burdett, 919-669-8099.
Volunteer Opportunities
AA Meeting: The Daily Reprieve Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets Mon. thru Fri. at 7:00am in the LaVer-na Center (log cabin across from the Chapel). Enter through the garage. Al-Anon Meetings: Sun. 7:00pm, Anthony Hall Rm 403. Always Our Children: A safe, welcoming, confidential place for GLBT persons and family/friends of GLBT persons to discuss issues of personal concern. Visit www.stfrancisraleigh.org for more information. Adult Open Play Nights: Assisi Community Center Gym. Visit http://stfrancisraleigh.org/adult-open-play to contact the ministry leaders for each of our adult open play nights. Alzheimer’s/Dementia Caregivers Support Group: The first Wednesday of the month, 1:00 - 3:00pm in the Padua Room of the Assisi Community Center and the third Wednesday of the month, 7:00 - 9:00pm in Anthony Hall Room 405. Carol Gault, [email protected] Centering Prayer: Thursdays, 9:35am or 7:30pm in St. Mary of the Angels Chapel.
Community Center Classes: Regular exercise classes and parent/child classes run on a weekly basis. www.stfrancisraleigh.org/programs-and-classes. Community Garden: Saturday mornings,10:00am. Call Pat or Paul Kelly at 919-413-8833, email [email protected], or just drop by.
Divorce Care: Tuesdays, 7:00 - 9:00pm in the Padua Rm. of the Assisi Community Center. Confidential, co-ed healing from separation and divorce. Contact Bill Morgan at [email protected]. Exercise Programs: http://bit.ly/14T9JXR. Men’s Ministry: Breakfast, Monday, January 9, 7:00am, Padua Room of the Assisi Community Center. Visit www.bit.ly/SFAMensMinistry for details. Peace Pole Prayer: Join us after the 9:30am Mass on Sundays to pray for peace in the world and our country. We meet in front of Clare Hall for a few minutes of pray-er. Prayer Shawl Ministry: Thursday, Jan. 12, Clare Hall Room 202, 12:00noon-2:00pm. Contact Cindy Cardello, 919-846-8825 or Donna Quirk, 919-847-2084.
Rosary Ministry: Mondays, 7:30 - 8:30pm, St. Mary of the Angels Chapel.
50+ Adults Group: Monthly potluck luncheons through-out the year and monthly game days September through May in Clare Fellowship Hall. Contact Gene Schulz, 919-562-0477. Third Option: A marriage skills-building small group, http://bit.ly/sfathirdoption. Young Adults Community: (20’s and 30’s) Weekly Bible study every Wed.,7:00pm, Anthony Hall Rm. 403.
Formation Returning Catholics 847-8205 Rite of Christian Initiation-Adults Gabriele Monetti [email protected] Christian Initiation of Children Gabriele Monetti [email protected] Intergeneration. Fam. FF (FIRE) Gabriele Monetti [email protected]
Family Life AAMEN Ministry Leon Cooke 740-7515 Baptism Preparation Bill & Regina McCrorie 847-6757 Family & Marriage Enrichment Steve & Cecy Becker 870-0694 Marriage Preparation Team Theresa & Mark Baumgartner 848-3383 Men’s Ministry Steve Becker 870-0694 Young Adults Melissa Misko [email protected] Community Life 50+ Adults Group Gene Schulz 562-0477 50+ Adult Monthly Potluck Pam Schwartz [email protected] Assisi Café Orders Michelle Cash 847-8205x379 Assisi Café Sundays Jamie Johnson 847-8205x379 Assisi Café Volunteers Ashley Watson 847-8205x444 Adult Summer Basketball Mary Arleth 847-8205x358 Adult Gym Nights Mary Arleth 847-8205x358 Community Center Programs Ashley Watson 847-8205x444 FrancisFest Tricia Henry 847-8205x375 School Basketball Mary Arleth 847-8205x358 Youth Basketball Mary Arleth 847-8205x358 Youth Volleyball Mary Arleth 847-8205x358 Youth Soccer and TBall http://www.parishathleticsnc.org Summer Camps Ashley Watson 847-8205x444 Parish Community Events Tricia Henry 847-8205x375 Knights of Columbus Grand Knight [email protected] Boy Scouts John Martin [email protected] Cub Scouts (pack352nc.org) Chris Triplett [email protected] Girl Scouts Jamie Johnson 847-8205x379 Liturgy Altar Servers & Thurifers Bob Kaczynski [email protected] Marie Kaczynski [email protected] Assisi Scripture Study Barbara Efird [email protected] Liturgical Ministry Mailbox [email protected] Children’s Liturgy of the Word Jackie Kelly 896-6297 Church Keeping Beverly Saunders 846-5795 Cross Bearers Joseph Randazzo [email protected] Deaf Ministry Jean Cooke-Byrne 412-8365 Environment & Art Theresa Baumgartner 848-3383 Eucharistic Ministers Dennis Kelleher [email protected] Funeral Ministers Lisa Gianturco 845-9718 Lectors Mike Wrzesien 624-1592 Shawn Bayle Master of Ceremonies Michael & Julie Ducatte 622-8883 [email protected] Music Ministry Joyce Petzka [email protected] Parking Ministry Steve Burdett 845-2714 Ushers John Cuomo 931-4308 Troy Chaput 665-7194 Wedding Directors Judy Ferraro 395-3005 Administration Collection Counters Rob Neppel 847-8205x243 Columbarium & Mem. Plaques Tresa Pickup 847-8205x249 Volunteer Receptionists Toni Hammes 847-8205x265 Webmaster Diogenes Ruiz 847-8205x271 Campus Beautification Spring/Fall Jim Anderson 847-8205x263
Other Organizations Marriage Encounter Charlie Abbott ncmarriagediscovery.org Angela Abbott 556-7401 Secular Franciscan Order Stan Driscoll OFS http://ofscentralnc.org
First Contact New Parishioner Contact: Toni Hammes 847-8205x265 Volunteer—Get Involved Tresa Pickup 847-8205x249 The Way of Francis Ben Whitehouse [email protected]
Care and Wellness Resurrection Ministries Consolation & Care Celesta Carlson 818-4122 Emmaus Ministers Kathleen Owen 847-8205x241
Eucharistic Ministries EMs to Abbotswood Gerry & Karen Collins [email protected] EMs to the Homebound Pat Spencer 704-608-1678 EMs to the Magnolia Glen Erica Schaab Emerson 617-7765 EMs to the Meadows Andrea McVerry [email protected] EMs to Rex Hospital Edward Gilmartin [email protected] EMs to Springmoor Janice Horner 484-949-1417
Ministries to the Infirm, Sick, and Hospitalized Transportation to Mass Stephanie Smith 302-0080 Cancer Companions Lisa Cilento [email protected] Caregivers Carol Derrenbacher 919-696-6096 Caregivers Line 534-4843 Medical Facility Visitation Sharon Holland [email protected]
Ministries of Care & Presence Alzheimer’s/Dementia Caregivers Carol Gault [email protected] Linda Tucker 900-8280 Caring Casseroles Donna Mariani 326-3768 Divorce Care William Morgan [email protected] Feed the Need Donna Mariani 326-3768 Life After Loss Cindy Nackashi 247-3632 Job Connections Mary Horner 610-755-5392 Project Rachel [email protected] 852-1021 Stephen Ministry Kathleen Owen 847-8205x241 Special Needs Ministry Heather Lisk [email protected] Karen Ondejko [email protected]
Ministries of Prayer & Faith Sharing Centering Prayer Alice Stanford 781-5860 Prayer Line Susan Stamey [email protected] Prayer Shawl Ministry Cindy Cardello 846-8825 Donna Quirk 847-2084 Rosary Ministry Barbi Tapernek [email protected] 744-7234
Justice and Peace Education and Advocacy Ministries Advocacy Task Force Trevor Thompson 847-8205x270 JustFaith Trevor Thompson 847-8205x270 Justice Theater Project Deb Royals-Mizerk 272-1551
Service Ministries AIDS Care Team Tom Zimmerman 870-1379 Blood Drive Tom & Elaine Dupree 577-6901 Brown Bag Ministry Nanette Kirsch [email protected] Tricia Downs [email protected] Catholic Parish Outreach (873-0245) Sue Hand 846-7954 Community Garden Pat & Paul Kelly 413-8833 Curbside Care Andrew Rinderer 559-2733 Duke Children's Hospitality Danielle Howe [email protected] Gabriel Project Kip Moffett [email protected] Gay & Lesbian Ministry Jane Paris 847-7431 Chris O’Neill 210-5319 Gay & Lesbian Parent Support Kathryn Cox 618-2178 Habitat for Humanity Diane & Bob Steinbeiser 846-8026 Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (250-0043) Suzanne Szymendera 845-4885 Migrant Ministry Bruce Cartier [email protected] Passage Home (834-0666) Peg Cavender 985-5950 Prison Pen Pal Jill Balogh [email protected] R.A.R.E. Tom Zimmerman [email protected] Ronald McDonald House Julie & Jason Huckaby 624-5065 Sister Parish - Guatemala Carie Gunnell [email protected] St. Francis Feeds Becky Cawley [email protected] St. Francis Inn, Philadelphia John Budway 305-205-5104 St. Vincent de Paul Voice Mailbox 534-4842 Support Circles Ellen Ferrone 381-5509 Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network Ron Smith 455-7786
FRANCISCAN FRIARS 226 Fr. Steve Kluge, O.F.M., Associate Pastor 224 Fr. Steve Patti, O.F.M., Pastor 249 Tresa Pickup, Assistant to the Pastor
FORMATION MINISTRIES 496 Sarah Bowser, Coordinator Children’s Formation 264 Martina Dumberger, Administrative Specialist 239 Dawn Eagan, Coordinator Middle School Formation 238 Jennifer Fiduccia, Director of Family Formation 289 Terri Layer, Admin. Specialist-Family Life 244 Jason Lillis, Coordinator of Family Life 223 Alex Mancuso, Coordinator of High School Formation 269 Jennifer McCourt, Administrative Specialist 489 Tara Moore, Play and Pray (Specialist for Childcare Ministry) 237 Patti Panizza, Administrative Specialist 488 Mary Lacy Simmons, Coor. of Liturgy and Weekend Experience 230 Jim Wahl, Director of Liturgy and Music
CATHOLIC EDUCATION MINISTRIES The Franciscan School 651 Colette Dziadul Assistant Principal 6-8 255 Marie Leone, Receptionist (Main Number) 254 Michele Northington, Assistant Principal, K-5 253 Donna Sincock, Bookkeeper, Franciscan School 251 Joanne Sullivan, School Nurse 469 Lura Tysiac, Coordinator of Marketing and Admissions 314 Laureen Wacenske, Guidance 301 Mike Watson, Principal
OUR PRESCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL Cathy Ashton, Niamh Crotty, Patrick Dougherty, Daniel Elliott, Gail Hemedinger, Heather Lisk, Shane McGroarty, Trey Morris, Steve Patti, O.F.M. Denise Rinderer
OUR FINANCE COUNCIL Delynn Alexander, Betty Camp, Rebecca Daumen, Steve Dilger Julio de la Rosa, Ron Doggett, Tim Hrehor, Steven Joseph, Bill Laxton, Robert Longley, Mike Keleher, Marc Kielty, Tom Mense, Robert Neppel, David Nerz, Steve Patti O.F.M. Bob Randolph, John Smith
OUR SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL Jim Carr (co-chair), Patty Carr (co-chair), Mike Keleher, Robert Neppel, Michele Northington, Steve Patti, O.F.M, Phil Strand, Lisa Tomaino
OUR PASTORAL COUNCIL Stephen Andrews, Jim Carr, Patty Carr, Julio De La Rosa, Julia Earnhardt, Thomas Graham, Gail Hemedinger, Alberto Lopez, Steve Patti, O.F.M., Chris Rosaferra, Mary Zahn
St. Francis Preschool 240 Cathy Ashton, Director 262 Jennifer Stephens, Marketing Specialist 262 Shelley Freeman, Administrative Specialist Cardinal Gibbons High School 919-834-1625
PASTORAL MINISTRIES 268 Jackie Adamo, Admin. Specialist-Care and Wellness 267 Becky Cawley, Justice and Peace Specialist 241 Kathleen Owen, Coordinator of Care and Wellness 270 Trevor Thompson, Director of Justice and Peace
FINANCE AND PLANNING 236 Trish Adamkowski, Coordinator of Human Resources 228 Alison Hathaway, Coordinator of Finance for the Schools 229 Esperanza Neri, Coordinator of Finance for the Parish 243 Rob Neppel, Director of Finance and Planning
PARISH OPERATIONS 263 Jim Anderson, Facilities Manager 234 David Crout, Database/Web Specialist 375 Tricia Henry, Coordinator of Community Life 227 Marc Kielty, Director of Parish Operation 271 Diogenes Ruiz, Coordinator of Communications 245 Trina Sugrue, Admin. Specialist-Safe Environment STEWARDSHIP AND ADVANCEMENT 265 Toni Hammes, Admin. Spec. Stewardship and Advancement Staff email address: [email protected]
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Inspired by our patron Francis of Assisi, we seek to proclaim the reign of God by growing in Holiness through our experience of Christ in word, sacrament and one another, offering Hope to those who hunger for human dignity, and extending Hospitality to all.
This Week and Next...
December 31 - January 8 Used Cell Phone Drive Used Cell Phone Drive - Our Knights of Columbus Council (kofc9709.org) is conducting a 2-weekend used cell phone drive to benefit InterAct of Wake County (http://www.interactofwake.org). They provide assistance to victims and survivors of domestic violence and rape/sexual assault. We will have collection boxes for used cell phones and accessories in the Stewardship center on Dec. 31/Jan.1 and Jan. 7/8. Please, NO broken or unusable phones or accessories. Series on Mental Health begins January10. See page 3.
January 10 at 7:00pm Mental Health 101
February 7 at 7:00pm Access to Mental Health Care
March 7 at 7:00pm Practical Resources
April 4 at 7:00pm The Church and Mental Health
Location: Clare Fellowship Hall
January 6-31 Secrets of the Cathedral, an exhibit telling the story of the world's greatest cathedrals opens at the City of Raleigh Museum on January 6, 2017 and runs through January 31, 2017. The exhibit answers the question “What makes a Church a Cathedral?” and shows how cathedrals have a continuing influence on architecture, art, music and culture. It is free and open to the public. Visitors can learn how early builders crafted these monuments to become the stunning societal focal points they continue to be today. The City of Raleigh Museum located at 220 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh is open Tuesdays - Saturdays 9:00am-4:00pm/Sundays 1:00-4:00pm.
January 14 Fellowship with our Muslim Neighbors As a way to continue our efforts to grow in understanding and in bonds of friend-ship with the Muslim community, please join us for fellowship with the Islamic Association in Raleigh. Save the Date: We invite you for a tour, a lunch get-together with other Muslims in the com-munity, and a Q&A with the Imam (religious leader) of the mosque Mu-hammed Abu Taleb on Saturday Janu-ary 14, 2017 from 11am to 2:30pm. This is event is free, but we ask that you register at www.stfrancisraleigh.org/interfaith Love My Life Youth Rally January 21, begins at 9:30am. This annual event is an opportunity for Catholic teens to come together to cel-ebrate life, connect with others from across the Diocese, and learn more about living and promoting the pro-life culture. Youth and their parents will have the opportunity to participate in the March for Life after the youth rally and Mass. The Rally will feature a dy-namic speaker, music, great free food, and will draw our youth to live out a culture of loving, protecting, and cele-brating all human life! For more infor-mation, please visit http://dioceseofraleigh.org/lml or contact
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[email protected]. Permission slips must be completed and turned in to the St. Francis Faith Formation office, attention: Jennifer McCourt no later than January 6. To register, visit http://www.stfrancisraleigh.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Love-My-Life-Rally-2017-Registration-Package.pdf
Jan 26 - March 2 Assisi Adult Scripture Study will hold its next study in the early 2017: Panorama of the New Testament. In this study we are invited to enter the biblical story of the New Testament be-ginning with the gospels and working our way through the final book, Revela-tion. We will discover God's plan of sal-vation running throughout the story and characters, both familiar and unfamiliar. The study will be held January 26 through March 2 from 7:00 - 8:30pm in Siena Room 751. The cost of the mate-rials, $20 is due at registration. Register before January 10 online at: stfrancisraleigh.org/adultfaithformation. Please register, class is limited to 20 participants. The materials are provided by Little Rock Scripture Study.
December 25, 2016 Diocesan Priest Retirement T he St. Francis Community appreciates the contributions of our
parishioners. As a new year approaches, please remember all 2016 contributions must be received by December 31 for processing. Any contributions after this date will be credited in 2017.
Special Collections
January 29 Basketball Free Throw Competi-tion The Knights of Columbus All Saints Council 9709 at St Francis invites all boys and girls between the ages of 9-14 to participate in our annual Basketball Free Throw Competition in the Assisi Community Center on Jan 29 at 4:00pm. Each contestant will get 15 free throws with practice shots, a certificate for each participant, and a certificate for each winner as well as a medal in each age group. The winners will compete for the state finals. There is no fee to participate. Please contact John Buico at [email protected] or cell phone 732-778-9373 and in-clude child's name, age, gender, home address, and a parent/guardian e-mail.
January 31 DivorceCare series starts on Tuesday, January 31 at 7:00pm in Padua. To register, visit http://www.stfrancisraleigh.org/divorce-care/.
need the presence of Jesus. We need his time with us. He came to us wrapped as child filled with love.
This season challenges us to discover the gifts we bring and how we bring them. Think about how we are wrapped. Do we give our very presence and our time? Do we have our minds open to see God’s gifts in ourselves? Do we share those gifts with others in need?
I get overwhelmed and rejoice when I think about the gifts of everyone that walks through our doors of the Community Center. When I think about the countless parents that give their time and talents to children in the athletic leagues, I smile. When I think about the instructors who give their gift of physical wellness every week in exercise class or the Café volunteers that give their time each week to serve our community, I rejoice. When the Scout leaders that give their gifts of teaching to our young children or the Scouts themselves as they work their service projects rooted in their gifts of time, I celebrate. These gifts are filling a need and they are gifts wrapped in love. They are the gifts of presence and time.
Today, I ask you: Are you giving what is needed, wrapped with love? Are you giving the greatest gift of yourself, your presence, your time? Recognize the gifts you have within you and give them to those in need. Come in the door. We’ll help you find those gifts you have to offer. You have the gifts within you. We’ll wrap you up with sparkle and glitter to present your gifts with grace and love.
For more information: http://stfrancisraleigh.wordpress.com/community-life/volunteer/.
Continued from page 7 Tis the Season of Gift Giving
The kids were so gracious to dec-orate the crosses, give them to the ministers to distribute across our parish and some of the kids and their families even joined in the communion service at Magnolia Glen! Here is a sampling of the artistry, the compassion, the hap-piness and the true meaning of Christmas!
