“So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love…”
If you walk into the church and look to the left and to the right on the back wall of windows you will notice two new stained-glass windows that were recently installed. These are two of Fr. Bline’s last purchases for the parish. They are the saints St. John Marie Vianney and St. Jane Frances de Chantal. The installation of the windows is timely because both of their feast days occur in August. We celebrate St. John Vianney on August 4, who is the patron saint of parish priests. We celebrate St. Jane Frances de Chantal on August 12, who is the patron saint of forgotten people, widows, and parents who are separated from their children.
In light of this, I want to invite you all to the Parish Festival on August 15 this year for a time of faith, food and fun! This year’s theme is “Always Home.” I think the theme connects beautifully to the patron saint of forgotten people. I desire this festival to be a time of welcoming people back to our family of faith. I want people who still fear coming back to church to know that they are still welcome and that they are not forgotten! You are always welcome because this place is always your home!
While we wished Fr. John Mulhollan farewell last weekend, this weekend we welcome our new weekend Mass help, Fr. Michael Denk, from Holy Family Parish, Stow. He is a great friend and I actually served with him at St. Gabriel Parish, Concord for two years. He has a great passion for helping people encounter the Lord through prayer. Welcome Fr. Michael!
Please pray for our Youth Group this weekend who will join forces with our Men’s Group to help reach out to our neighbors in need. Since they were unable to do an Appalachian Mission Trip this year, our youth group has decided to bring that same love and enthusiasm to our neighbors. Thanks Shirley Clark for organizing this!
Lastly, I want to thank you for your patience with our change in the weekly Mass schedule. Please note that we will be praying the Rosary for Vocations at 6:30pm on Tuesdays and 9:00am on Saturdays. Please join us!
May God’s peace and joy be with you,
Fr. Jeremy
Ps. Pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Robert Stein, pastor of St. Peter and Paul in Doylestown. We thank God for the years he served here at St. Francis. St. John Vianney, patron of priests, pray for us.
