July 16, 2017 • The Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time St. Francis of Assisi Parish WEEKEND MASSES Saturday Vigil 5:15pm Sunday 7:30am, 9:30am, Noon WEEKDAY MASSES (in St. Clare Chapel) 12:10pm RECONCILIATION Saturday 4:00-5:00pm or by appointment CHURCH HOURS M-Th 9:00am-3:00pm Fri 9:00am-1:30pm For informaon about interpreted Mass, please contact the Department of Evangelizaon and Catechesis (916-733-0123) www.srancisparish.com | facebook.com/SFAPSacramento This Weekend: Online Children’s Faith Formaon Registraon! (pg 3) Parish Library Open Sunday (pg. 5) Next Week: Every Wednesday: Taize Prayer, 6:00-7:00pm in the church (pg 2) The Library will not be staffed on Thurs July 13 & 20 (pg 5) Next Weekend: Diocesan Missionary Coopera- ve Appeal (Fr. Henry Simaro) (pg 2) Participate! Substute Volunteer Receponists (pg 3) Bullen Stuffing Friday! (pg 6) Catechists, helpers and com- panions for Faith Formaon programs (pg 3) Leaders for Childrens’ Liturgy of the Word (pg 3) Office Hours Starng July 3 the Parish Center Office hours will be 9:00am to 1:00pm Monday thru Friday. From the Pastor’s Desk: Patience in our Spiritual Quest Honoring our Franciscan Tradition Love with your whole heart God and Jesus, his son, crucified for our sins, and never let his memory escape your mind; make yourself mediate continually on the mysteries of the cross and the anguish of the mother standing beneath the cross. Pray and be always vigilant. - St. Clare of Assisi (Letter To Ermentrude) Over the next few weeks, the Gospel Readings will consist of the 13th chapter of St. Mahew’s Gospel, a lengthy teaching discourse. Throughout these weeks Jesus will offer several parables to illustrate for his listeners, and us, what he means by the Kingdom of Heaven. He begins with the Parable of the Sower which provides a wonderful metaphor for growth in the spiritual life. The method of planng the seeds appears haphazard to us - ancient peoples had not yet discovered the importance of lling the soil or, indeed, the ne- cessity to rotate crops. Seeds grow best in good soil. Seeds that miss the soil, or are thrown on rocky ground, or are sowed among plants, will not thrive or grow. Jesus explains his use of parables, which are stories on two levels: firstly, they are very good stories in themselves, secondly, they have a deeper spiritual message which will become evident to those who seek to discern God’s ways. The hearer must engage in some degree of reflecon in order to comprehend the meaning or message of a parable. The key to understanding parables is found in the Parable of the Sower. Those who are willing to engage themselves in the effort to understand will be rewarded by the discovery of the message and will bear fruit. Through the parables the Lord is reminding us that we must be paent in our spiritual quest. The sower cannot deny the me the whole process takes. God, who sows the seed of the word in our hearts, knows what it means to plant God’s word in different situaons. It takes me. If we allow the seed to struggle to grow in us, we will grow too. Eventually the word of God and our own word might become one. That would be a harvest indeed. Peace and all Good in the name of St. Francis and St. Clare, Fr. Des.
Transcript
July 16, 2017 • The Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time
Catechists, helpers and com-panions for Faith Formation programs (pg 3)
Leaders for Childrens’ Liturgy of the Word (pg 3)
Office Hours Starting July 3 the Parish Center Office hours will be 9:00am to 1:00pm Monday thru Friday.
From the Pastor’s Desk: Patience in our Spiritual Quest
Honoring our Franciscan Tradition
Love with your whole heart God and Jesus, his son, crucified for our sins, and never let his memory escape your mind; make yourself mediate continually on the mysteries of the cross and the anguish of the mother standing beneath the
cross. Pray and be always vigilant. - St. Clare of Assisi (Letter To Ermentrude)
Over the next few weeks, the Gospel Readings will consist of the 13th chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel, a lengthy teaching discourse. Throughout these weeks Jesus will offer several parables to illustrate for his listeners, and us, what he means by the Kingdom of Heaven. He begins with the Parable of the Sower which provides a wonderful metaphor for growth in the spiritual life. The method of planting the seeds appears haphazard to us - ancient peoples had not yet discovered the importance of tilling the soil or, indeed, the ne-cessity to rotate crops. Seeds grow best in good soil. Seeds that miss the soil, or are thrown on rocky ground, or are sowed among plants, will not thrive or grow.
Jesus explains his use of parables, which are stories on two levels: firstly, they are very good stories in themselves, secondly, they have a deeper spiritual message which will become evident to those who seek to discern God’s ways. The hearer must engage in some degree of reflection in order to comprehend the meaning or message of a parable. The key to understanding parables is found in the Parable of the Sower. Those who are willing to engage themselves in the effort to understand will be rewarded by the discovery of the message and will bear fruit.
Through the parables the Lord is reminding us that we must be patient in our spiritual quest. The sower cannot deny the time the whole process takes. God, who sows the seed of the word in our hearts, knows what it means to plant God’s word in different situations. It takes time. If we allow the seed to struggle to grow in us, we will grow too. Eventually the word of God and our own word might become one. That would be a harvest indeed.
Peace and all Good in the name of St. Francis and St. Clare, Fr. Des.
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The parish would to thank everyone who was able to participate in the Hospitality Brunch hosted by our LGBT Ministry.
Our attendees represented our diverse parish and, like always, there was an abundance of delicious food and conversation.
A big thank you to Sister Clare Graham, SSS, who spoke on “Love” and clearly demonstrated in her talk how much she loves our St. Francis Parish.
We hope to hold additional Hospitality Brunches in the future to foster a greater understanding of the contributions made by each of us in this diverse parish. Our next brunch will focus on our Senior Parishioners.
Thank you again everyone for your continued support of St. Francis Parish.
Step Ministry Summer “Wish List”
Our ministry to the homeless could use a few items for our guests. Items can be “individual use” size, and can be delivered to Richard Hernandez at the Parish Center weekdays 9am-1pm, or dropped off in the basket at the front of the church after each mass during July.
Donation Suggestions:Sunscreen, chapstick, toothbrushes, toothpaste, small deodor-ant, small hand wipes, sunglasses, baseball caps, sleeping bags, backpacks, tennis shoes, clothing of all types (including under-wear and socks). Thank you for your generosity.
Whether you’ve never been or have been away for a while, we invite you to Taize prayer every Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the church. A mix of chanting, spoken prayer, and sacred silence, Taize offers a mid-week opportunity to take a
break from the busy-ness of life and spend an hour in quiet prayer and worship. Parking issues from the spring have been resolved and plenty of free, off-street parking is available in the church parking lot. All are welcome!
Taize Prayer on Wednesdays Supporting Mercy at Work in the Missions
Every summer, each parish in our Diocese is visited for one week-end by a missionary from a Catho-lic organization or diocese from around the world. Next weekend it is our turn to host one of the 50 mission organizations designated for the 2017 Missionary Coopera-tive Appeal.
At all the Masses on July 22/23, Fr. Henry Simaro, a priest from the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret in Kenya, will share with us his mission story, the joys and chal-lenges of sharing the gospel of
Jesus Christ and the love of God with people who live a world away.
The goal of Fr. Simaro’s visit is to raise our awareness of the missionary activity of the Church. It is also our opportunity to support that vital work. Saint John Paul II in his Encyclical Letter “On the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Mission-ary Mandate, ”Redemptoris Missio, stressed the necessity of missionary cooperation: “…Local churches, although rooted in their own people and their own culture, must always maintain an effective sense of the universality of the faith…”
Special envelopes are in the pews for your convenience. Donations made by check should be made payable to St. Francis of Assisi Parish. At the end of the summer, all funds collected in the parishes at these missionary visits will be pooled together and equally divided among the 50 mission organizations visiting the Diocese of Sacramento this year.
Please be as generous as you can. Our generosity will make a positive difference in the lives of people we may never meet, but who are our sisters and brothers in Christ.
Next Weekend!
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The Parish is looking for one or two or additional people who could be available as a substitute Volunteer Receptionist. These are 4-hour shifts (9am-1pm), as needed and based on your availability. A Job Description for this volunteer position is available on the parish web site at www.stfrancisparish.com/receptionist.pdf. Training will be available. If this ministry is appealing to you, please contact [email protected].
Welcoming our Volunteer Receptionists
The parish would like to both thank and welcome Ron Hill, Teresa Moraga, Paula Buchignani, Linda Hill, and Allenya (Lanie) Knapik as Volunteer Receptionists.
Starting July 3 the Parish Center Office will be open 9am to 1pm during the week.
2017-2018 Faith Formation Journeys Begin Here! Where will your faith journey lead you this year?
Director of Faith Formation [email protected] www.stfrancisparish.com/faith_formation.htm
Reserve your space - register online starting Sunday July 16.
Volunteer Receptionists Openings
FOR ADULTS:• Those seeking to become Catholic through Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist• Those who are already baptized Catholic and have received Eucharist and now want to receive ConfirmationRegister at http://stfrancisparish.com/rcia.htm
FOR TEENS:• High school students seeking to grow in faith and have fun with other teensMore information at http://stfrancisparish.com/teen_group.htm
FOR CHILDREN:• Attending public schools in 1st through 8th grades• In preschool and kindergarten• Preparing for First Eucharist (2nd grade), Reconciliation (2nd, 3rd, & 4th grades), and Confirmation (7th grade)• In 3rd grade or above seeking BaptismRegister at http://stfrancisparish.com/forms/FaithFormation/
Classes for children begin 11:00am Sunday Sept 24
Catechists, helpers, and companions are needed for all ages. If you feel called to this ministry of guiding the faith journeys of children or adults, let us know by emailing [email protected] Training and support provided.
Children’s Liturgy of The Word Leaders needed, too!To lead the children, up to 4th grade, in their own Liturgy of the Word during the 9:30 Mass.
How beautiful it is to see when young people are “street preachers”, joyfully
bringing Jesus to every street and every corner of the earth!
@ Pontifex Pope Francis 07/02/17
Thank you for your generosity!
Your Financial Support
Weekly Readings Sunday: Is 55:10-11; Ps 65:10-14; Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23 [1-9]Monday: Ex 1:8-14, 22; Ps 124:1b-8; Mt 10:34 — 11:1Tuesday: Ex 2:1-15a; Ps 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34; Mt 11:20-24Wednesday: Ex 3:1-6, 9-12; Ps 103:1b-4, 6-7; Mt 11:25-27Thursday: Ex 3:13-20; Ps 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27; Mt 11:28-30Friday: Ex 11:10 — 12:14; Ps 116:12-13, 15, 16bc, 17-18; Mt 12:1-8Saturday: Ex 12:37-42; Ps 136:1, 23-24, 10-15; Jn 20:1-2, 11-18Sunday: Wis 12:13, 16-19; Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16; Rom 8:26-27; Mt 13:24-43 [24-30]
For Those Who Are Ill or in PainLilly Regina, Rick Tomolillo, Vera Roughton, Rita Prassa, Joel Rivera, Hudson McCauley, Julie McCauley, Fred James, Brett Neely, Jr.
For Those Who Have Been Called to Eternal LifeFrank S. Hernandez
Mass Intentions for this WeekJuly 15 Sat. 5:15pm Robert Kowalski (†)July 16 Sun. 7:30am FMUJuly 16 Sun. 9:30am Pro Populo
Prayer Requests
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;to be understood, as to understand;to be loved, as to love;for it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.While this prayer has always been attributed to St. Francis,
the author is actually unknown. The prayer does wonderfully represent the spirit of St. Francis and Franciscan Orders.
REguLAR gIVINg(Offertory - Includes direct deposit and credit card donations)
Total July 1-5, 2017: $ 9,559 Online, June 26-July 2: $ 1,949
(online is included in Total)
Year-to-date (7/1/17 - 07/05/17, all sources) $ 8,220 Last year 17,253 $ Change $ 9,033 % Change -52.4%
DESIgNATED DONATIONS (7/1/17 - 07/5/17) (Includes direct deposit and online donations) Building Fund Donations $ 1,287 Last year 2,690 $ Change -$ 1,403 % Change - 52.2%
Step Ministry Donations to date $ 426 Last year 410 $ Change -$ 16 % Change -3.9%
First Sunday (Wellspring) $505
Image of St. Francis by Eugene Burnand Public Domain
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PREVIEWS OF COMINg ATTRACTIONS !!!Join us on four Tuesdays in August at 6:30 p.m.
in Brunsman Hall for
THE GOLDEN DREAMFOUR JOURNEYS TO JUSTICE
Adult Faith Ministry Presents ...
13th Annual
Tuesday August 29 THE GOLDEN DREAM (NR) is a Mexican drama portraying the journey of three teenage Guatemalans seeking a new life in Los Angeles.
Tuesday August 22 LOVING (PG-13) is a historical film which
tells the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, the plaintiffs in the U.S. Supreme Court decision which invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage
Tuesday August 8NORTH COUNTRY (R) is a dramatization of the first major successful sexual harass-ment case in the United States in 1984.
Tuesday August 1THE SOLOIST (PG-13) is an extraordinary and inspiring true story of how a chance meeting of a reporter and a homeless man can change a life.
St. Francis Elementary School has openings in the following grades for the 2017-2018 school year:
TK 8:00am-1:30pm, K 8:00am-2:30pm and
8th grade, 8:00am-3:15pmPlease visit our website at
stfranciselem.org and click on the admissions link to apply or email [email protected] for
more information.Enrollment Priority: St. Francis Elementary School gives enrollment priority to siblings of current students, registered parishioners from St. Francis Parish, students transferring from other Catholic schools, and Catholic families who are registered in other parishes.
Thank you, again, for your interest in our school community. We look forward to working with you and your family!
Lord, Jesus, You welcomed all people who came to you. Grant us the joy of celebrating the mystery of your
love with these newest members of our community.
We joyfully welcome our newest members!
www.stfrancisparish.com
Starting Aug. 3, the library will be open Thursdays from 11:00am-1:00pm, as well as the 1st and 3rd Sundays from 8:30am-11:30am.
The Parish Library is Open this Sunday from 8:30-11:30! Not staffed the next two Thursdays (July 13 & 20)
Children’s Liturgy of the Word During the Liturgy of the Word at our 9:30 am Mass, chil-dren K-4th grade are escorted from the church to the Parish Center Chapel by an adult catechist. No registration required. Parents may accompany their children.
Church Tours: 4th Sundays following the Noon Mass.
Communion Visitation To request a visit for you or a loved one, please email: [email protected]. Please include your phone number in your email.
Contemplative Prayer Mondays 6:00 pm in the Parish Center Chapel. Tuesdays after 12:10 pm Mass in St. Clare Chapel.Franciscan Crown Rosary Ministry First Saturday of each month, 9-11am, in the Parish Center, we pray the Franciscan Crown Rosary, followed by conversation, fellowship, and brunch at a local restaurant. More info, contact [email protected]
gospel Series Sundays 11:00 -11:45 am in the Parish Center. Reflection and meditation on the gospel. More info: Mary (536-9753).
Healing Prayer Email your prayer petitions to [email protected], or call the parish office (443-8084).
High School Youth Ministry 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Parish Center. Light dinner provided. Bring a friend! [email protected].
Hospitality Sundays after 9:30 am Mass. Join us for coffee and donuts in Brunsman Hall.
Library Hours: Thursdays, 12:30- 2:30 pm (11-1 starting 8/03), and1st and 3rd Sundays, 8:30 - 11:30 am in the Parish Center. LgBT Ministry All are invited to find community and support in their faith journey through worshipping with us and participating in parish activities. Contact [email protected].
Little Lambs Nursery Program Child care for children ages 1-3 during 9:30 am Mass. To register, go to our Children’s Faith Formation link on our parish website: www.stfrancisparish.com/children_formation.htm or email [email protected].
Taizé Prayer: Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 pm, in the church.
T’ai Chi Chih Saturdays: 9:05 am in St. Clare Chapel or, weather permitting, in the park across from the church. Wednesdays: 6:00 pm in the church (during Taizé Prayer).
School Prayer Service: Mondays at 8:10 am in the church (when school is in session). All are welcome.
Thomas Merton Circle: More info: John (482-6976).
Young Adults (20’s-30’s) Come try out our young adults groups called Christian Life Communities (CLC). Our CLCs are a place for growth, companionship, and transformation. More info: Patrice at [email protected].
All Are Welcome
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FranciscansForJustice.org | FACEBOOK: Franciscans for Justice
This is part one of two. Abridged from an article written by Sr. Joan Chittister, National Catholic Reporter, June 5, 2017. Part two next week.
There’s a pall hanging over the country these days. And it’s everywhere. It colors every news article, of course.
But, it’s not only the news that’s been tainted by the non-majority election of a president and the appointment of an “alt-right” cabinet. It’s on the comedy shows, too...
Worse, the depression infects our spiritual DNA, as well: What is truth anymore? What is fact now? When is the “news” really news? How can we determine the true from the false, the real from the fake, an authentic report from an adulter-ated facsimile? What happens to a democracy that cannot trust the integrity of its leaders, the objectivity of its media?... So, should we just give in and let this runaway world run its course?
These are questions we never had to ask before. In today’s political climate, they underlie the depression of the society...
It may be time to look at our own attitudes to discover what we ourselves are doing to cement this kind of social chaos and what we might need to do to reverse it.
Four attitudes, in particular, I think, chart the American jour-ney away from the ideals of the founders and the common good to our present flirtation with pathological individualism.
Our attitudes toward politics, toward politicians, toward the purpose of government and toward moral memory as a di-mension of political life will determine our common future.
... From where I stand, it is a moment that calls us all to the kind of public protest it will take to make America, America again. The ecological community, the social welfare commu-nity, the educational community and the political system need us as never before in our lifetime. Join something and make your voice heard.
As Dorothy Day is credited with saying, “No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do.”
And so, rise up, resist, and get on with it.
from Bro. Mark
Can you help stuff our weekly bulletins?We are looking for one or two volunteers to spend about 60-90 minutes each Friday morning inserting song sheets into our bulletins. If you can help, please call the parish office, or email at [email protected]
Giannetti & BoomsORTHODONTICS
916.452.3584www.sacortho.com
2650 21st St., Ste. 8 2101 Stone Blvd., Ste. 130Sacramento West Sacramento
Mercy McMahon TerraceAssisted Living At It’s Best
3865 J Street Sacramento916-733-6510RCFE #340312763
Please place this form in the collection basket or
• Mail to: 1066 26th St., Sacramento CA 95816 • Fax to: 916-443-7356 or • Register online: www.stfrancisparish.com/membership.htm
Mass you attend:
[ ] 5:15pm [ ] 7:30am [ ] 9:30am [ ] Noon
Parish Information
Register as a Member of Our Parish Update Contact Information
St. Francis Parish Center Offices: 1066 26th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 • Phone: 916.443.8084 Fax: 916.443.7356 • Website: www.stfrancisparish.com • Email: [email protected] • Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9aM-1pM
St. Francis Elementary School: 2500 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 • Phone: 916.442.5494 Website: www.stfranciselem.org • Office Hours: Mon–Thur, 8aM–4pM and Fri, 8aM-2pM (during the School Year)
