God knows even the hairs on our heads - we need not be afraid of anything.

Jesus exhorts: Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid.  Do not be afraid. He calls us to proclaim his words from the housetops. We know that we are never left alone, and through God’s care and the help of the Holy Spirit we can testify to him by whose death and resurrection we are saved. Courage is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah the prophet praises the Lord in the midst of terror and persecution, trusting in God’s power to save. In his letter to the Romans St. Paul teaches that death came through Adam’s sin, but Jesus brings the grace of God as a gift. In the Gospel passage today, Jesus encourages the Twelve to not be afraid, even under persecution, trusting the Father who counts even the hairs on their heads.

Processional:  Praise to the Lord

Gloria: recited

Offertory: O God Our Help in Ages Past

Communion: Abba! Father

Recessional: Now Thank We All Our God

Dear Lord, Thank you for hearing our petitions please grant them according to your heavenly will, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Thanks again to Lew Gephardt and Bill Lyons for completing the porch at the OR. It’s beautiful - just crying for a couple of rockers!

Thanks to Steve Smith for helping again this Wednesday with the garage project. This week Habitat for Humanity will come for the freezers and refrigerator and we can design the rest of the garage project.

Fr. Mario will be joining our Staff Meeting this Tuesday via Zoom from Colombia. Met with Msr. Jaime Berona last Tuesday in Gainesville.

Msr. Barona will be serving SFA from July 1st until when Fr. Mario joins us in September.

You are going to really enjoy Msr. Berona, he has been ordained for over 40 years and he is very youthful and fit.  Msr. has a fun sense of humor and he is a real ‘people person.’ He really enjoys the people he serves, and he will really enjoy it here with us at St. Francis. Msr. Barona’s first weekend will be July 4th and 5th. 

We have begun the process of restoring Deacon Bill’s memorial near the walkway. The statue is being prepared for repainting. The wooden housing will be restored also. 

Two new Eagle Scout projects are being created and proposed. One will continue the work on the walkway and bridge.  The other will begin the maintenance of St. Clare’s Garden. This will involve the removal of the stone cover, leveling, replacement of ground screening, remapping, and replacement of stone cover. Big project. The Scouts will do the labor, our Perpetual Care Committee will complete the tasks specific to their ministry.

Thanks for all the petitions for our Fathers. Over 300 petitions for our fathers both living and deceased.  All our Masses this weekend are offered for our Fathers. This includes all our wonderful priests!

Thanks Mary Smith for your work on the parish Facebook page and gathering so many Fathers’s Day petitions for us, and for all our parishioners that continued to drop off their petitions throughout the week at all the Masses.

Masses Monday, Wednesday - Friday 9AM. 

Eucharistic Adoration Monday, Wednesday, and Friday directly after Mass with Benediction at 12 noon .

Fr. Jim is off Tuesday.

The office is taking petitions for Masses both during the week and weekend Masses.  Here are the petitions for next week’s Masses.

Monday: People of SFA

Wednesday: Fr. Mario Lopez

Thursday: Jerry and Madeline Rousseau

Friday: Msr. Jaime Barona

This week we are acknowledging the retirement of Marianne Engleman our Music Director.  Marianne is stepping drown after decades of service to the Church as a musical director as well as serving as assistant to the late Bishop Bernard Schmitt, in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, WV, are among in her administrative leadership roles for the Church.  We are going to miss Marianne’s beautiful voice and all around  leadership. Marianne has been a faithful leader in our parish Liturgy Commission.

 Good news: Marianne will be continuing as co-facilitator of our RCIA ministry. Thank you Marianne for sharing your special gifts and expertise with St. Francis.

Bill will be taking over for Marianne and we congratulate him and look forward to working with him as Music Director at SFA.  

Deacon Larry Casey - Archdeacon Larry offered his resignation as deacon at SFA effective immediately.  His resignation was accepted by Deacon Dennis Dorner, Chancellor of the Archdiocese.  Larry wants to spend as much time with Rita as he can.  Making sure Dr. Appointments are met and being the great husband that he is.

At first this sounds very scary, but rest assure, Larry still retains his sacred faculties, and he will serve one weekend Mass and one weekday Mass and Benediction.  Thankfully, Larry will be leading us in prayer long into the future.  

First Communion Retreat June 27 from 9 - 12, led by Deacon Larry

First Communion: July 12 11 AM Mass with Bishop Schlesinger III

I believe you are up to date.

+God bless,

DJP