Dear Parish Family,
When you take the time to really pray about and contemplate the reality of Easter, it is truly remarkable and miraculous. Jesus had died nailed to the cross, pierced with the lance, in the tomb for three days and now on the morning of the third day the tomb is empty! Early in the morning of that first Easter there is confusion for Mary Magdalene and the other disciples. But then they saw and they believed; they saw the burial cloth in an empty tomb. They saw the stone removed from the tomb. They believed that God had done what Jesus said he would; raised Him up on the last day. Easter and the resurrection of Jesus in the beginning of the restoration of creation to its original plan of God. God’s plan never included sin and death, both of which are a result of sin. Jesus makes all things new: the possibility for those who believe in Him and accept the truth of the Gospel to be returned by Baptism to the original state of justice and innocence destroyed by Original Sin. The proclamation of Jesus Christ risen is truly the Good News that we still proclaim!
As we proclaim at Mass of Jesus: “By dying you destroyed our death and by rising you restored our life.”
Have a Happy and blessed Easter.
Fr. Dan

Resurrexit Sicut Dixit: 

He is Risen as He said He would

Dear Parish Family,

The Sacred Triduum (Holy, Thursday and Easter) is the most sacred and holy point of our Church year.  They are really three continuous celebrations that begin with the sign of the Cross at the beginning of Mass on Holy Thursday and end with the final Alleluia on Easter. On Holy Thursday we commemorate the Institution of the Holy Eucharist, through which Jesus continues to be truly present to us until the end of time and the institution of the Sacramental Priesthood.  On Good Friday, we solemnly remember Jesus’ Passion and death and on Easter we proclaim loudly and clearly that Jesus is Risen. Easter is the vindication of all that Jesus said and did and our assurance that truly He is the Son of God and that if we truly believe in Him and accept the truth of His Gospel we too shall inherit Eternal Life in His (and our) Father’s Kingdom. What great love our God has for us, giving up His only Son in atonement for our sins.  What an honor He has given to us that we may be restored to original grace and justice.

Jesus Christ is truly Risen and we are offered forgiveness, salvation and Eternal Life.

God Bless and Happy Easter.  Fr. Dan

Confirmation Masses are Saturday, April 17th at 1:00 and 4:30.  Due to limited seating, these Masses will be livestreamed.  See link under events.
To accommodate our parishioners for that weekend, we added a 12:15 PM Mass on Sunday, April 18th.

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, New York

Case No. 20-30663

 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT on June 19, 2020, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, New York, (“Diocese“) filed for protection under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code“).

 The Bankruptcy Court has established April 15, 2021 at 11:59p.m. (prevailing Eastern time) as the deadline to file proofs of claim against the Diocese (the “Bar Date“).

 If you have a claim against the Diocese including, without limitation, a claim related to sexual abuse committed by any person connected with the Diocese, you must file a claim on or before the Bar Date with Stretto, the appointed Claims Agent.

 Please visit https://case.stretto.com/dioceseofsyracuse or call (855) 329-4244 for more information on how to file your proof of claim.

 IF YOU DO NOT TIMELY FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM, YOU MAY FORFEIT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE ON ANY PLAN OF REORGANIZATION AND TO SHARE IN ANY FUTURE DISTRIBUTIONS TO CREDITORS IN CONNECTION WITH THE DIOCESE’S CHAPTER 11 CASE.

click here for link

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Days of Abstinence:  No meat can be eaten on Ash Wednesday and all of the Fridays during Lent.  This applies to all Catholics 14 and older.

Days to Fast:  Only one full meal is permitted on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for Catholics between 18 and 59.  Two smaller meals are permitted, but the small meals should not equal a second full meal.  Drinking coffee, tea and water between meals is allowed.  Snacks between meals are not allowed.

One is not bound to fast if health or the ability to work is affected.

Dear St. Francis Parish Family,

As I was thinking and praying about his Lent; I was struck when I remembered that last year Lent came to an abrupt end.  After the Second Sunday of Lent everything stopped;  we had no public Mass, we had no Stations of the Cross or Benediction, we were not even able to give out Psalms or celebrate the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter) with a congregation; even the rites for the RCIA were put on hold.  This year, although things will be different; we will have Lent.  We already celebrated Ash Wednesday, Stations will be, but without walking around the Church with Benediction after; there will be a “Light is on For Your Confession” on March 29, Palms will be given out (at least as of today) we do have a RCIA candidate who will go through the various rites at weekend Mass, and we will, praise God, be able to celebrate the Sacred Triduum.  Although many things are different, the essence of Lent remains the same.

Lent is that time for us to examine ourselves under the light of God’s grace and renew our relationship with God and His people. The traditional Lenten practices are still very helpful.

Prayer:  time to reconnect with God.  Perhaps you and your family could make a conscious effort to pray together before meals, come to the Stations together, attend one week day Mass as a family; to paraphrase Pope Francis:  put down the phone or table, turn off the television and open a Bible.

Fasting:  a great way to remind ourselves that everything we have, are and hope to be are directly or indirectly gifts form our God; to rekindle our spiritual hunger for God and the things of God.

Almsgiving:  reminds us that we are called to be compassionate and generous to those who have less than we, and are in need for the basics of life. It can also help us to understand that the Church is more than our parish or Diocese; we belong the a Universal Church, that is the meaning of the word “Catholic”.

God Bless you; and may we all have a prayerful, spiritually fulfilling Lent so that we can celebrate the glory of Easter with our hearts, minds and souls renewed.

Fr. Dan

click here for the link

Lenten Regulations for Fasting and Abstinence

Days of Abstinence:  No meat can be eaten on Ash Wednesday and all of the Fridays during Lent.  This applies to all Catholics 14 and older.

Days to Fast:  Only one full meal is permitted on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for Catholics between 18 and 59.  Two smaller meals are permitted, but the small meals should not equal a second full meal.  Drinking coffee, tea and water between meals is allowed.  Snacks between meals are not allowed.

One is not bound to fast if health or the ability to work is affected.

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In keeping with the various health and safety precautions in place for the celebration of the sacraments during the COVID-19 pandemic, the distribution of Ashes will take place in the Diocese of Syracuse this year by way of the Roman custom, which entails sprinkling them on the crown of the head.

Catechesis: Why are ashes being distributed “differently” during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
The purpose of the “different” manner of distributing ashes this year is to ensure the health and safety of all who wish to receive them on Ash Wednesday. The measures being taken are similar to the precautions currently in place for the reception of Holy Communion and the conferral of the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Anointing of the Sick. Ultimately, they are meant to limit contact and the potential exchange of droplets/aerosols.
Since blessed ashes are typically traced in the form of a cross on the foreheads of those who receive them in the United States, the manner in which they will be distributed this year may seem “different” to some. However, in many parts of the world, including Italy, blessed ashes are typically sprinkled on the heads of those who receive them. In fact, this is how our Holy Father, Pope Francis, receives his ashes! The Roman Missal instruction for the distribution of ashes actually says: “The Priest places ashes on the head of all those present.” Moreover, in the first reading proclaimed at Mass the Lord says, “Return to me with your whole heart…Rend your hearts, not your garments and return” (Joel 2: 12-13). Therefore, a “different” reception of ashes for some is an occasion for all to begin and maintain Lent as a season not of outward appearances, but of renewal in matters of the heart – faith, hope, and love – through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving done before the Father who sees in secret and repays (Matt 6:1-6, 16-18).

Ash Wednesday Mass / Service Times at St. Francis:

Ashes will be distributed at both Masses and the noon Service.

6:45am– Mass

Noon– Service only

6:00pm– Mass

Please sign up on the online signup sheet under events

I am writing this so that any confusion may be cleared up. As many of you know, as a language teacher I find it very important to use words correctly, and to paraphrase St. Pope John- Paul II: we must call things what they actually are. There is a euphemism that is used in our culture; “reproductive rights”. While that sound perfectly plausible, many of the concepts to which it refers are directly opposed to our Catholic Moral teaching. One of which is abortion. Included in this week’s bulletin as a hand out and posted on our social media platforms you will find the excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church as what the Catholic Church teaches about abortion.

click here for the hand out