St.Francis of Assisi Parish |
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Welcome New Parishioners We are so happy to have you
at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. We recently changed
our registration process. All you need do is either
fill out the back of the Welcome flier in each of the
pews or directly call the Parish Office at
978-355-2228.
If when you call our office manager, it directs you to
voice mail, leave your name and a telephone number
and he will call you back.
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Did you know that Priscilla McGlynn is our
Parish Outreach Coordinator? One of her
responsibilities is sending cards to parishioners
experiencing illness, hospitalization or loss.
Please call Priscilla at
508.822.3128 to let her know who may need a
card (please include their address) so they know
that they are in our thoughts & prayers.
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We have exciting news to share!
We have some exciting news regarding the Emergency
Fund! It was started about ten years ago as a
way our parish could have a few dollars to be able
to help when someone knocked on the rectory
door. More and more families have needed assistance
over these past ten years. Through the grace of
God, the fund’s balance has grown along with the
scope of assistance. We are blessed with parishioners
who give to the fund on a regular basis. In
addition, we have applied for and have been
granted a couple of grants. Just this year, we applied
and received a grant of $5,000 from the
Barre/Fidelity Charitable Fund.
The funds name
has been changed to “St. Francis of Assisi
Charitable Needs & Resources Fund”. The
mission of our fund is to Help Families and Individuals
in need by assessing the needs for Food, Fuel &
Utilities. The one-time assistance will be
assessed individually to the circumstances of each
family. In addition to helping with the immediate
financial needs we will provide clients with
recommendation of other resources in the area for legal
assistance, housing, and counseling. If you need
assistance or know someone who needs assistance
please contact Paula Wood at
978-355-2228 Ext. 6
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Have you ever wondered why we have PARISHES?
I came across an article by Fr. Caleb La Rue, Chancellor
of the Diocese of Lincoln Nebraska, dated Oct. 14,
2022, which answers this question. Fr. LaRue states”
Ultimately, we belong to a parish because the Church
wants to make sure Her members have a community in which
and through they can encounter Christ.”
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The Universal Church is broken up into DIOCESES with a
BISHOP as the head to care for our immortal souls. Then
we are broken into PARISHES with a PASTOR who has the
responsibility to care and lead us to Christ. However,
Fr. La Rue goes on to say a very IMPORTANT part of
a parish is “parishioners supporting parishioners.” “We
are not called to Christ in isolation but through a
community” We at St. Francis of Assisi have a great
opportunity to build up our parish community this
weekend by taking part in the SPRING OPEN HOUSE.
Come one and all to meet and greet fellow parishioners.
Parents bring your little ones! Teens, we challenge
you to come! LET US BUILD STRONG BONDS FOR OUR PARISH OF
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI.
Submitted by Judy McCaffery |
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Learn the five tools for a better marriage by
signing up and attending a Worldwide Marriage
Encounter Experience You will be glad you did!
You can find one by looking up
WWME.org.
Some of the dates to sign up are: April 11-May
23, 2024 (virtual 3RE) June 7-June 9, 2024 in
Upton,, MA June 21-June 23, 2024 in Huntington, NY
August 2-4, 2024 in Portland, CT Worldwide Marriage Encounter
sponsors a variety of in-person and virtual
marriage experiences, some on weekends and some on seven
weekdays. Couples explore their relationship with
each other, God, & the Church. Registration is
limited; there is a $100 application fee. For
more information or to apply, call Joe & Ginny
Vatelle at 978-870-5646
or
https://wwmema.org/
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MONTHLY GUILD MEETING
Wednesday, May 8th · 6:30PM · St. Joseph's
Hall Agenda: Craft Fair & Visitation House All Members
of the Parish are Welcome Contact Mary Ann Jordan
via email at
mjordan92557@gmail.com for more information.
The Women’s Guild of St. Francis
Parish will once again be sponsoring
THE 120 CLUB
Tickets are available
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Because of the generosity of 47 parishioners, we
have surpassed our goal of $25,000! Our parish has
donated $28,593 towards the Diocesan mission of
charity, education and ministry! By your support we
are able to be God's helping hands, serving
thousands of families and individuals throughout
Worcester County. Thank You!
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The Artisans @ St.
Francis of Assisi The Raffle Quilt
and Christmas Fair Crafters will be meeting at
St. Joseph’s Hall the 1st
Thursday and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 10
AM- 12 PM. Sewers will be working on quilt
blocks and crafters will be working on items for the Christmas Craft Table. Knitters and Crocheters
you are invited to bring your projects and join in
this fellowship! Our next
get-together will be May 1st . Can’t attend a day time meeting but
want to contribute? Please email Beth Cunningham at
elizabethcunningham68@gmail.com.
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The St. Francis of Assisi Women’s Guild is
sponsoring a Baby Bottle Drive for Visitation House
Visitation House is a non-profit organization that
empowers both mothers and babies. Women are able to find
support and a welcoming home during their pregnancy.
Women are given the skills to be able to find
employment, housing and the skills to be mothers for
their little ones. You can help Visitation House
in three ways.
1. Take a baby bottle, and over
the 40 days of Lent save your dollars and coins in
the bottle and return to the parish. We will see that
your donation goes to Visitation House. 2.
Take one of the Envelopes and mail them a check or
return it to the parish and we will forward it to
Visitation House. 3. Make an on-line donation which
can be a one time gift or a monthly donation.
Simply visit their website at
www.Visitationhouse.org
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Tilling the Ground with
Prayer A Three O’Clock Challenge
In
1935, our Lord revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska that
the most holy hour of the day is 3pm, the hour of Mercy,
and that prayer during this time releases profound and
powerful graces, as it was the moment Jesus offered
Himself to the Father in expiation of our sins.
The celebration of the Eucharist allows us to join
Christ in that offering to His Father and commune with
Him. Unfortunately, many no longer respond to Our Lord’s
invitation to remember his passion, death, and
resurrection in the Eucharistic Celebration.
Jesus describes such a heart as barren ground; no longer
fertile, as the seeds of his grace struggle to penetrate
deep and take root so that they may bring about the
transformation necessary to prepare for eternal life.
In an effort to till that ground and allow grace and
inspiration to flourish once again, our parish is
launching, “Tilling the
Ground with Prayer,” |
Continued
where parishioners will be
invited to join in prayer during the holiest hour of the
day between 3pm and 4pm for loved ones who have fallen
away.
Fr. Jamie will pass hour cards with a
simple prayer and explain this effort to help our loved
ones come back home to God.
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The Three O'clock Hour Challenge Back in
September Fr. Jamie introduced us to the fact that the 3
0'clock hour is said to be the holiest hour of the day.
He passed out cards with the 3 O'clock prayer and
challenged us to sign-up to pray the 3 O'clock Prayer
and offer the sacrifice of being silent for 3 minutes
for the intention: for all who have left the practice of
the Faith .... At the time we had 34 people sign up
to take this challenge If you didn't have a chance to
sign-up, we have brought back the sign-up sheets in the
back of each of our churches. You can pick-up a copy
of the prayer too! For all who have signed up - Keep
Persevering! You are not alone. If you find that you
miss a day a two, or those 3 minutes seem like forever.
Keep Going! Our prayers are tilling the hearts of our
loved ones.
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* UPDATE * Tilling the Ground with Prayer At the
end of August of 2023 our parish launched the
Tilling the Ground with Prayer Campaign. Fr. Jamie
introduced us to the 3 O’clock Challenge. We were
asked to sign up to pray a very short prayer that
was given to St. Faustina from Jesus sometime during
what is called the Holiest Hour of the Day; 3-4
O’clock, be that in the afternoon or in the middle of
night. We honor Jesus’s suffering and sacrifice for
us by pausing for prayer. This week you will find
Divine Mercy Prayer Cards in the pews for you to
take. On the back of the card is the “Divine Mercy
Chaplet”. You may want to add the Chaplet to your
routine. If not, that’s okay – remember our goal is
for us to unite our prayers as a parish for our
loved ones who have fallen away.
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The Divine Mercy Prayer was written by Saint
Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s. It reads: “Eternal
Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and
Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus
Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the
whole world.” The prayer calls upon God to show
mercy to all people, regardless of their sins or
shortcomings. It also acknowledges that Jesus’ death
was an act of atonement for all humanity’s sins. The
words of this prayer are meant to remind us that
God’s mercy is infinite and available to all who
seek it. |
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Daily mass . Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 9AM . St.
Thomas A Becket Daily Masses are canceled when school is
delayed/canceled due to weather |
Please remember St.
Francis of Assisi Parish has an Emergency Fund* to help
those in need. If you as a parishioner, or if you
know of anyone in the Barre/Oakham area that may need
assistance please call Paula Wood at 978-355-2228 Ext. 6 All
inquiries are strictly confidential. |
BEREAVEMENT
COMMITTEE The Women’s Guild
Bereavement Committee will be re-organizing so that once
again we will be able to offer lunches for families at a
time of loss. These lunches take a lot planning and
co-ordination, so a lot of help is needed!
The lunch
menu consists of a selection of four filled sandwiches,
fruit cup, relish tray, chips baked goods and coffee for
a cost of $5.00 per plate.
We will be looking for
donations of fillings, of egg salad, tuna salad, ham
salad or turkey salad, baked goods, and kitchen help on
the day of the event.
If you are able to help in any
of these areas, please sign up with your name, phone
number and indicate the areas where you could help. Sign
up sheets are in the back of the church. Thank you!
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Photo's of St. Joesph & St.Thomas Becket courtesy of
https://statues.vanderkrogt.net
Church of
St.Thomas-a-Becket and St. Joseph Chapel Are Wheelchair
Accessible
Diocese of Worcester ©Copyright St.Francis
of Assisi Parish 2013-2024. All rights reserved. 398
Vernon Ave., P.O. Box 186 South Barre, MA 01074 fax
(978) 355-0042 • Office phone
(978) 355-2228 |
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