This is an exciting year! His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has decreed that, from January 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027, “the Year of St. Francis will be celebrated, during which all the Christian faithful are invited to follow the example of the Saint of Assisi, becoming models of holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace…The grace of this special year is extended to all the faithful without distinction who, with their spirits removed from sin, visit in the form of a pilgrimage any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis in any part of the world” (OFM, ofm.org).

I am very excited about this year of St. Francis! I have to confess, I have a Franciscan heart. I love the Franciscan way of radically living out simplicity that challenges the way the world lives and gives.

As we enter Lent, know that I will focus each bulletin article on a line of the Prayer of St. Francis. Each of us, with God’s help, can bring peace, love, pardon, faith, hope, light and joy to a world of hatred, injury, doubt, despair, darkness and sadness. Our world hungers for what you can offer with the grace of God in your lives.

Please check out the important dates of Lenten activities in this bulletin. Because we are celebrating the year of St. Francis, I’ve invited Franciscan Friar, Fr. Joe Tuscan, to give a one-night mission titled: “St. Francis of Assisi: A Witness of Hope and Healing for the Church and the World.” This will take place on March 26 at 7:15 p.m. after the evening Mass.

Special Shout Out. In the spirit of St. Francis, our youth group along with our confirmation candidates served the poor at the Peter Maurin Center last weekend. Special thanks to Abby Gresser who led this endeavor. Here’s a picture of some of them serving those most in need. Thank you!

Serve the Lord with gladness,
Fr. Jeremy

PS Don’t forget about Ash Wednesday this week. We offer Mass at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Come prepare your hearts for an awesome time of spiritual renewal!