The Women of St. Francis
The Woman’s Activities Ministry, The Women of St. Francis, is a welcoming group of women who are involved in most of the activities of the Parish and lend support to the other ministries. All women are welcome. If you are interested in joining this group (and all women of the parish are invited), contact Mary Flanagan at womensactivities
The Men of St. Francis
The Men of St. Francis meet on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. They support the YUM food pantry by making monthly runs to pick up food at Feeding Northeast Florida and delivering it to the food pantry. They also deliver food contributions from our parish on a weekly basis and organize St. Francis’s participation in the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. There are no meetings in July or August. For More Information on this ministry, email Tony Velucci at mensactivities
Volunteer Spotlight – Living with Dementia
What do you do when you are a brilliant board-certified internist and oncologist, and you are diagnosed with dementia? Ask Brenda Nicholson, MD…she can tell you from personal experience. Dr. Nicholson, a previous Director of the Breast Cancer Program at Vanderbilt University and physician with Tennessee Cancer Specialists, was diagnosed in 2014 with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease at age 49. Rather than sitting around feeling sorry for herself, Dr. Nicholson has become a champion for Dementia research and advocacy, working with Alzheimer’s Tennessee, the NIH, the NIA and UCLA. She has been a speaker at the Annual Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Management Symposium, served as a member of the Stakeholders Group at the National Institute of Health (NIH) National Research Summit on Dementia, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Stakeholder Engagement Team for the National Institute on Aging (NIA) IMPACT Collaboratory. She currently serves on the Study Advisory Committee of the UCLA D-Care Study involving 2150 patients with dementia. Her diagnosis has empowered her to share personal insights and experiences with research groups, advocacy groups, advocacy and governmental agencies, and more. Since she and her husband moved to Amelia Island in 2020, she has been an invaluable volunteer for the Nassau County Council on Aging (NCCOA) . She currently serves on the Advisory Panel of NCCOA’s Club day wellness program for adults needing assistance. She also provides in-depth training and education on dementia to Council on Aging family caregivers, Club families and volunteers, and has initiated a project to create a Resource Book for caregivers.
Because of Dr. Nicholson, Nassau County now has its first and only Memory Café. The Memory Café promotes social support, connection, health and well-being for persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders and/or mild cognitive impairment in a welcoming environment. The Café is a safe space to share experiences, focus on strengths and learn how to live well with disease. Members learn how to adjust to life changes, combat stigma and isolation, develop a safe social peer group, and live their best life. NCCOA’s Memory Café meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 2-3 pm at our Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center, 1901 Island Walk Way.
I’ve attached a list of tips for living with cognitive impairment. Attached also is a list of resources for adults and caregivers available through the Nassau County Council on Aging. For more information about caregiving support groups, contact Emily Kunzelmann at 904-775-5472 or by email ekunzelmann@nassaucountycoa.org
HANDOUTS: FOR CAREGIVERS and LIVING WELL (downloadable)
If you missed the meeting, you missed two very interesting & important presentations! The first was by Dr. Arthur Bert, (retired, Anesthesiologist-in-Chief Rhode Island Hospital/ Hasbro Children’s Hospital & Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI. Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology, Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University.) After retiring to Fernandina, he joined the Nassau County Medical Reserve Corps. As a member, he is very involved with Nassau County’s The Lifesavers Initiative, which empowers everyday citizens to be life savers by providing Hands-Only CPR, AED, and NARCON administration training. The training will be on May 25th from 10:30 am – 12:00 noon and on May 29th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Click HERE for information.
Upcoming Events — Nassau County Medical Reserve Corps (nassaucountyflmrc.com)
The second presentation was given by Denise Kiernan on the administration and use of the EpiPen, also a life-saving tool. Many schools & daycare centers have these pens to use in emergencies. It would be a good idea for St. Francis to couple also. Here’s the link for information on how to use an EpiPen:
howtouseepipenautoinjector.pdf
Items needed are snacks/coffee, ground or K-cups, sunscreen, and individually wrapped hard candy. There is also a great need for feminine hygiene products for the women military members. Please do not drop off donations in the Narthex. You can give them directly to Jo-Ann at the 9:30 a.m. Mass or feel free to contact her at dadpimentel@comcast.net to make drop-off arrangements. Thank you for your support!
It is in giving that we receive!
Our parish has a variety of opportunities for those wishing to share their time, talents, and treasures with those less fortunate. Volunteering with one of our charity ministries is a way to be grateful for our blessings and improve the community in which we are so fortunate to live.
If you are interested, please contact Barbara Strang at charities@stfrancisyulee.org
The first ever SFA Not So Newlywed Game was held Friday evening, September 15th thanks to Walt and Vivian
Paskowski who did a great job as the emcees, to Ken Risberg who provided audio support, to Bob Bell, and Mike and Mary Flanagan, who helped with a host of tasks including set up.
Ands of course, thanks to our game contestants and studio audience. In all, about 35 parishioners attended. The Huddaks—Gene and Sandy— won the first game, and after a tie, David and Genny Barker won the second. The game followed the same format as the 1960’s game show including a “sound-proof booth” – the quiet room.
Given its success and popularity, we’ll look at doing another one sometime afer the holidays in January 2024.
MOSF Firepit
Many thanks to Tony Vellucci, Ish Hernandez, Walt Paskowski, Gene Hudak, Mike Flanagan, and Don Kirk for their efforts in building a firepit. Construction went smoothly until they discovered an underground plastic pipe right where the pit was going to be, prompting a move of about three feet to the side. Of course, they then needed to build up the area that had just been cleared away before construction could continue. All this under the watchful eye of Jean Stanley who gave the firepit the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. There’s nothing like sitting around the campfire with a beer and a stogie telling or listening to a good story.
Have You Noticed the Beautiful Planters as You Enter the Church?
They were donated by the Men of St. Francis as part of their effort to enhance the beauty of the entrance to our church. They purchased the two flower planters and arranged for a landscaper to install the pots and watering system and plant the arrangements. Each arrangement consists of Apostle Iris, Gold Dust and Mystic Spires Salvia flowers. Many Thanks to the Men of St. Francis for this beautiful addition to our entranceway!
The Men of St. Francis take on most of the behind the scenes operations of the parish. They undertake setting up the hall for various activities and ensuring the Hall is ready for Masses. Until our Church is built, the Parish Hall is used for our Masses and all our events. There is A LOT of unseen activity that goes into the support of all that SFA offers.
The Mission of Men of St. Francis (MSF) is to provide a means for men of the parish who desire a greater involvement in our Church community in a social and fraternal atmosphere. In support of our mission, our objectives are:
a. To perpetuate the spirit of “giving back” to our church, to the community and to our parish family.
b. To foster and grow our MSF as a place for fellowship, friendship, spiritual growth, service and recreation among Catholic men of our parish, now and into the future.
c. To establish physical, spiritual and monetary support to individuals, organizations and groups identified by the MSF members that is in keeping with our mission and ideals.
d. Sponsor and assist with Parish social functions to promote a sense of community within the Parish.
e. To set a positive example to our Parish and community by supporting our belief in the doctrines of the Catholic Church.
f. To serve the religious, social, and civic dimensions of the community through support of our youth, other parish ministries, and the needs of the parish and local community in general.
Men’s Retreats
Men’s Tune-Up 2020
Doug's Flag
