Most of you know that I was elected to leadership in my religious community, the Sisters of Divine Providence.  That means that I am moving to another part of town, to 603 SW 24^th St., in the zip code that is the poorest in San Antonio.  I would like to think of this as moving, not leaving!  I anticipate many changes and challenges in my way of living and in my way of being.  And I look forward to new areas of ministry in the care of my Sisters, in collaboration with our sponsored ministries, Our Lady of the Lake University, Providence Catholic School as well as Moye Retreat Center.  I will be working more closely with other religious women in the diocese, in the U.S. and in places throughout the world where religious are following the initial call of Providence as their charism.  For me, the ministry is about continuing the leadership among persons who actively live the Prayer of St. Francis.

My new ministry was announced on February 3 and since then I have been working to make transitions in both locations, in the parish and in the congregation.  Many of you have experienced my deep desire for continuity, my sense of urgency, and my continued efforts at building the kinds of relationships that will continue all that makes St. Francis the vibrant parish community that it is.

I have learned so much about you and from you.  In my 14 years of ministry here, I have discovered over and over again the leadership and generosity of so many who contribute their gifts in working together for the common good of the parish.  Our listening sessions for the synodal process identified so many needs in the parish and I trust that having heard each other speak, in accompanying each other,  you have come to new understandings of what it means to be “the people of God” responding to needs in service.  Many of us have grown in our capacity to understand the complexity of issues facing our parishioners and the church of San Antonio.  And more of us are accepting the challenge to ACT to make change, to make a difference in the lives of all of our neighbors.

So, how do you say good-by to people you love?  You don’t.  You simply say thanks for the wonderful experiences and memories, thanks for the privilege of sharing your life—the joys and sorrows, and thanks for the profound and meaningful lessons you have taught me by the kind of persons you are.

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Stellar VBS 2023

VBS registration for participants 4years through entering 8th grade. Cost is $45 per child. If you are registering more than 4 children please contact Miriam for your family rate at mflores@sfasat.org. (Volunteers have a separate form.)

 

Teen volunteers must be at least entering 9th grade to volunteer. Younger teens should register for VBS. If there is a need for additional volunteers they will be selected from the 8th graders who are registered for VBS. Volunteers are charged $15 to cover the cost of their T-shirt and snacks for the week.

We invite all men of the parish to join us for an extraordinary weekend of spiritual renewal and brotherhood June 22-25, 2023 at Omega Retreat Center. The retreat begins with check-in at St. Francis of Assisi at 5 pm on Thursday and ends on Sunday with a return reception in Henke Hall following the 11:15 am Mass. This retreat will provide you with the opportunity to focus on your faith and its application to your daily life. You will build purpose in your prayer life, increase your presence at the liturgy, and cultivate friendships among members of our Church community.
A completed registration form and payment secure your place on the retreat; the total cost is $200. Food and lodging are included in the cost. For more information, please contact Kevin McCormick at 210.789.7981.

We are forming a new group called Catechism, Coffee & Discussion (CCD). This group will listen to and discuss The Catechism in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz. We will be meeting at 10 am on Saturday mornings starting on January 28 in the St. Anthony Room on the first floor of the San Damiano Building.

Can’t make it every week? Come when you can; you are always welcome!

Didn’t have time to listen to the podcast episode? We listen together and then discuss.

Have questions about our faith? Learn about the richness of Catholicism with us!

Want to meet new people? Enjoy fellowship over a cup of coffee!

It’s been said that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the second most important book in our faith after the Bible. The Catechism contains the essential and fundamental content of the Catholic faith in a complete and summary way. It presents what Catholics throughout the world believe in common. It presents these truths in a way that facilitates their understanding. The Catechism presents Catholic doctrine within the context of the Church’s history and tradition. Frequent references to Sacred Scripture, the writings of the Church Fathers, the lives and writings of the saints, conciliar and papal documents and liturgical texts enrich the Catechism in a way that is both inviting and challenging. You can find FAQs about the Catechism at https://www.usccb.org/committees/subcommittee-catechism/faq-about-catechism.

We hope you will join our St. Francis Catechism, Coffee & Discussion group to grow in our understanding of our faith with us! If you have any questions, please contact Larry Perry or Mollie Wendel.

Since its inception in 1980, the San Antonio Food Bank has been a major force in the fight against hunger in the San Antonio community. As a member of the Feeding America national coalition of food banks, the San Antonio Food Bank serves as a regional hub for food distribution to 200 partner food pantries scattered throughout Bexar and 15 surrounding counties in Southwest Texas. To provide such a large degree of food assistance, the Food Bank requires the help of more than 100 volunteers each day to sort, package, and distribute the donated food items. Many of these volunteers participate as organized church groups who regularly assist the work of the Food Bank.

ACTS Core of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is currently reviewing ways to better advance the Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service missions of the ACTS movement within the St. Francis community. As part of the Service mission, ACTS Core is organizing groups of St. Francis volunteers to assist in the vital work provided by the San Antonio Food Bank.

Please email acts@sfasat.org if you are interested in participating.

Date	Time	Job
May 16	8:30 am – 11:30 am	Food Bank Curbside Pickup
May 22	9:00 am – 12:00 pm	St. Stephen’s CARE Center

SAFB Community Kitchen:
This program prepares breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks for schools and partner agencies. Volunteers will receive a briefing on the day’s meals to be prepared and assist with portion control and proper storage to be delivered to schools. Volunteers will also assist with general kitchen cleanup duties as requested by the Executive Chef.

Warehouse Sorting and Packing:
Groups and individuals work together to sort and/or pack produce, non-perishable foods, and household items, preparing them for distribution. Duties may include checking for expiration dates, opened packages and spoilage, labeling cans, and packing bags of food or household items. Other duties may include general cleaning of the area, breaking down boxes, etc.

Curbside Pickup:
This program loads carts of food into family vehicles. Duties include product sorting and building of carts, distribution of product builds into vehicles as families arrive, cleanup throughout the duration of shift.

Haven for Hope Community Kitchen:

Volunteers assist with the preparation and serving of breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals for residents of Haven for Hope. Other kitchen duties include, but are not limited to: all aspects of kitchen clean up; dishwashing, sweeping, and mopping. Volunteers will also greet the residents as they arrive for their meals. Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age. An adult must accompany all volunteers between 15 and 17 years of age. Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to allow time for security check-in. A state-issued Photo ID is required for all volunteers.

St. Stephen’s CARE Center:

A food pantry and clothing closet located on 2127 S Zarzamora St. Operated under the auspices of Catholic Charities. Clients browse through pantry shelves to pick the items of food that they need for their families. Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age. An adult must accompany all volunteers between 15 and 17 years of age.

Our inaugural curbside pickup team

St. Francis of Assisi’s Casino Night is on Saturday, June 3 in Henke Hall! Casino Night, sponsored by the Men’s Club, is one of St. Francis’ biggest events of the year. It supports our sister parishes, Mobile Loaves & Fishes, and our youth.

To become a sponsor for Casino Night, please click the button below. Your sponsorship helps make this event possible while bringing recognition to you or your business.

Sign Up Here

The Men’s Club is also accepting gift card donations to be awarded as grab bag prizes at Casino Night 2023. Please drop off your gift cards at the parish office in an envelope marked “Casino Night gift cards.” If it is after business hours, you can drop your envelope through the mail slot to the right of the front door of the parish office. If you have any questions, please contact the Men’s Club.

The live auction is always a popular part of Casino Night. If you would like to donate items or an event or activity for the live auction or volunteer at Casino Night, please contact Michael Scholl at 210-347-4109.

Through our baptism, we, disciples of Christ, understand that our vocation is to follow and imitate HIM, who calls us by name. As Christ’s beloved disciples, we are trusted to share HIS love and words with the world. Everything we have is trusted to us to share, so the world knows we are Christians by our love and service.

We, disciples, are invited to be food for others, as Jesus is in the Eucharist. By sharing our Time, Talent, and Treasure, we witness the spiritual nourishment of the Eucharist.

This year’s Archbishop’s Appeal for Ministries invitations to participate will arrive in the mail in a few weeks. Please, check your mail and look for this letter from the Archdiocese. Discern in prayer with your family your participation in this year’s appeal. Our parish goal is full participation. Any gift, any amount will make a difference in somebody’s life.

Gifts can be given online at www.archsa.org/archbishops-appeal. Please make sure to indicate that you are giving from St. Francis of Assisi San Antonio.

May our participation in the Holy Eucharist continue to send us forth to serve those near and far.

A través de nuestro bautismo, nosotros, discípulos de Cristo, entendemos que nuestra vocación es seguir e imitar a EL, quien nos llama por nuestro nombre. Como discípulos de Cristo, se nos confía compartir SU palabra y amor con el mundo. Se nos invita a compartir y servir, dando así testimonio de que somos cristianos.

Nosotros, discípulos, estamos invitados a ser alimento para los demás, como lo es Jesús en la Eucaristía. Al compartir nuestro Tiempo, Talento y Tesoro, somos testigos del alimento espiritual que es la Eucaristía. “El recibir la Eucaristía, nos lanza a servir,” es el tema de la Campaña del Arzobispo para los Ministerios.

La invitación para participa en la Campaña del Arzobispo para Ministros de este año llegarán por correo pronto a su casa. Por favor, este atento y busque esta carta de la Arquidiócesis. Discierna en oración y en familia su participación. Nuestra meta parroquial para esta campaña sigue siendo la completa participación de todos los miembros de nuestra parroquia.

 

Our St. Francis of Assisi app is available to download for Apple and Android smartphones. Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, quick access to online giving, Mass and Reconciliation reminders, easy access to our weekly bulletin, as well as additional features like prayers, saint of the day, and much more. Download our app today at www.myparishapp.com, text App to 55321, or search your phone’s app store for myParish.

For an app download guide, please click here.

We hope for our app to be a tool for fostering stronger parish life at St. Francis and better engaging the New Evangelization.

St. Francis of Assisi depends on the parishioner support and generosity of the weekend offertory contributions. Your continued financial support is needed for the financial obligations of the Church. You can continue to support the Church by mailing in your contributions, by making an online contribution, or by clicking the “Giving” button in our parish app. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

 

If you have not set up online giving with us, you can also use this alternative online giving link from the Archdiocese of San Antonio. All proceeds will come to our parish. Please be sure to select St. Francis of Assisi – SA – San Antonio.