This year many things are different about how we celebrate Christmas.  Family gatherings are smaller if we can gather at all.  People Still need to greet one another wearing a mask and keeping social distancing.  Even in Church our numbers are limited, sign up for Masses are required, the use of hand sanitizers and practicing social distancing in our pews; even the way we receive the Eucharist is very different. Yet, the message of Christmas does not change:  our God is with us, choosing to become like us in all things but sin.  Born of the Virgin Mary, the Lord Jesus entered human history to save us and set us free from the age old tyranny of sin and death. In the words of John’s Gospel 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son into the world, not to judge or condemn, but to set it free.”  With great faith, hope and love we proclaim:  Merry Christmas!

12/21/20 Letter

Letter 12/14/20

To keep everyone up to date and safe, this is the latest. Father Dan was exposed to a person with the virus. Father was tested and his test came back positive this Sunday. Also, another member of the parish was also tested this past week and came back positive although we don’t believe they were ever together.

To be safe we are closing the church this week – December 7th thru December 11th. There will be no Masses. We will have Mass on the weekend with a substitute Priest as Father is in quarantine until at least the 14th. Deacon John and members of the staff are being tested again or already have.

As you all know, as a precaution, that is why clergy never leave the altar and are never together more than several minutes. During Mass everyone on the altar is separated. At Communion that is why as we are sure you notice a large amount of sanitizer is used and the Blessed Sacrament is literally dropped in your hands to eliminate any contact. The Church again is being sanitized to ensure everyone’s safety.

Please remember – stay at least six feet apart if you are near someone for 10 minutes or more, wear your mask when in close contact to anyone for a length of time and where required. Additionally, watch for any symptoms you may get and if you believe you have them contact your physician.

Thank you for your patience as we all suffer through this difficult time we are enduring.

God Bless you and stay smart and safe…….

Dear St. Francis Parish family,
Advent is much more than a time of frenetic activity between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is a season all to itself that all too often gets overlooked. The word Advent comes from the Latin noun Adventus, which means approach or arrival. Who is approaching or whose arrival are we awaiting? Christmas, the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a commemoration of Jesus’ first coming in time as John tells us: “For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son into the world not to judge or condemn, but to set free” (John 3:16): this event has already taken place in time. Our faith also proclaims that Christ will come again at the end of time to judge the living and the dead (cfr. Matthew 25). Surely we can prepare for this final coming of Christ, but what about the time between the Incarnation and the Final Judgment? Advent is an invitation to stop, quiet down, pray and reflect about the coming of Jesus Christ into our lives, here now: today. So, how can I use this Advent to prepare my life, not for Christmas, but for Christ? Where do I need to make room to let Him enter? These four weeks of Advent are a gift of time to look at our lives and reflect on how well I have welcomed Jesus Christ into my life as the Lord of my life. When I pray: “Come, Lord Jesus”, do I really mean it? Take time this Advent to pray, read scripture, attend the Sacraments ( especially Eucharist and Penance) and truly make time and space for Jesus Christ in your life. Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay.
God Bless, Fr. Dan