St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church

Steeped in a rich and vibrant history of service and growth, St. Francis of Assisi has been serving the needs of Catholics for almost 125 years and welcomes young and old from all walks of life into our faith and social community. St. Francis prides itself on being a family-friendly church. We believe that all members of our church community are important to the celebration of the Eucharist.

We invite you to learn more about the parish by exploring this website. Please visit the “Our Parish” section to learn more about the church and its rich traditions. You can also learn how to exercise your stewardship of time and talent in one of the wonderful parish ministries by visiting the “Parish Ministries” section. Some of the many ways that you can become involved include: being an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or Lector, singing in our choir, serving the needy through the Ministry to the Poor, or by joining our Senior Associates group. For the youngest members of our parish family, opportunities to get involved include serving Mass as altar servers and Children's Ministry, a group which coordinates a variety of activities including weekly Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Christmas Nativity Program, and May Crowning.

We invite you to join our parish community by filling out the online registration form. Someone from our Newcomers Group will contact you shortly thereafter. As one family we come together to know, love, and serve the Lord as instruments of his peace.

Also,

Thanks for visiting and please check out our Facebook page or subscribe to our weekly
Parish E-bulletin.

Reverend Michael J. Schneller
Pastor

Uptown Canticle by Father Michael
Sunday, July 5, 2020

The Eagles, an American rock band, sing these words in their recording The Best of My Love: But every morning/I wake up and worry/What's gonna happen today…
 
On Saturday, June 28, I never imagined that I would wake and in the afternoon, I would discover that thieves burglarized our historic church. After the police detective left and I secured the church, they came back during the night to take more of what they left behind. They removed the hinges from the side front door to gain entry.
 
In the afternoon, the thieves broke through the vent in the sacristy door. Unfortunately, we neglected to lock the safe and they stole all the sacred vessels as well as other items in the sacristy and sanctuary. Naturally, we all feel violated and hurt by such a blatant disrespect to our place of worship.
 
I want to thank so many of our parishioners and family and friends on Facebook for offering their prayers for the return of the objects and the conversion of these perpetrators. If you want to join in the investigation and visit any local pawnshops, coin shops, and antiques dealers, we have inventory photos of many of the objects they stole.
 
On Monday afternoon, two of our young parishioners in the neighborhood dropped off these touching words of comfort to help ease my worry and anxiety.

The chalice and paten I was able to use for Sunday and daily masses belonged to Fr. Des Crotty. We saved it because it was stored in the chapel in the parish office. Another chalice we will use is on loan from Fr. Peter Finney, III. He served here two summers during his priestly formation. Archbishop Ayomnd granted him a leave of absence from active ministry. So we will be able to remember him at mass during his year of discernment.
 
This is just another of the too many sad events we watch on the evening news what people are worried about. As I look out over our weekly assembly, I pray for whatever is in your hearts that you wake up and worry over each day. In our parish and many others, people bring their burdens to church. In that sense, then, as in an average assembly of worshippers everybody has problems.
 
In the Gospel of Matthew for this weekend, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” These words from Jesus are immensely powerful. We cannot discount how important they are for all us who hear them. Do we believe them?
 
Our faith is not just about consolation. For those of us who seek and find the arms of Jesus, we know his consolation. In addition, we face a world out there badly in need of some good news, something to hope for, and something to help with the pain of living. Some folks will turn to therapy, Prozac, and 12-step programs and we should advise others to do so. However, others will move deeper into addiction, numbness, bitterness, or despair. Jesus offers to take up all these burdens and to make possible what seems impossible. That is his offer, and he is most serious.

We can do this by pointing to the cross of Jesus. We can share our experiences. Folks will look to us to show how Jesus makes a difference in our lives. How are each of us showing evidence of this? The burden is easy and light because Jesus shares the burden of carrying it with us who are yoked to him. We do not shoulder the yoke or carry the burden alone. All we need to do is come to Jesus to grow in our knowledge of him, and through him grow in our knowledge of the Father.

As Governor Edwards announced on Monday, June 22 we will continue to be in Phase 2 of Reopening our State for the next three weeks. We encourage you to continue to make a reservation to celebrate the paradox of the Paschal Mystery with us this weekend. I want to commend those attending for following the guideline to wear a mask except when receiving Holy Communion and to thank you for assisting in sanitizing the pews for the next mass. What a blessing for our parish to have the families of our second graders celebrating their First Eucharist at each of the weekend masses. We are hoping that as we move pass the pandemic, our parish will be able to celebrate a class communion in the future. 

In making a reservation for mass, Mass RSVP please observe the guidelines in this bulletin and on our
parish website. If you are not a registered parishioner, use this occasion to be among the members of the flock of St. Francis of Assisi. You can register on our website https://www.stfrancisuptown.com/join
 
For those parishioners we cannot accommodate in the church or who are fearful to gather with us, Archbishop Aymond has given permission to distribute Holy Communion after mass outdoors. He strongly suggested that we not give Holy Communion to people in vehicles. He recommends that we do so outside where people can form a communion line and observe social distancing. Therefore, this weekend after each mass, weather permitting, I will be available to distribute Holy Communion in the front lawn of the rectory. I suggest that as you approach me to receive the Body of Christ you pray the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father.
 
Please remember that Archbishop Aymond has dispensed the people of the Archdiocese from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. If someone is vulnerable and not feeling well, we ask that you not celebrate Mass in church with other people. Baptisms, Weddings and funerals is limited to 100 worshipers. 
 
We will continue to live stream the 9:30 am Mass on Sunday from church. We have returned to celebrating daily mass in church. Monday, Wednesday through Friday mass is at 8:30 am and Tuesday at 6:00 pm. No reservation is necessary for daily mass. We will no longer live stream daily mass.
 
As we enter the hurricane season, let us implore the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor to hasten to help us and our patron St. Francis of Assisi to make us instruments of the Lord’s peace.