Meetings are held on the first Friday of every month at 10:30 a.m. in the Quiet Room after First Friday Adoration. For more information concerning Spirituality, email Bill Tighe at spirituality
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Let us, here at St. Francis, love God, love others and take up the mantle of discipleship. The message of Jesus changes everything and He relies on us to spread that GOOD NEWS near and far. The essence of evangelization is to tell everybody: Jesus loves us!
News & Upcoming Events
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ! Pope John Paul II said, in commenting on today’s Gospel passage, “Life changes when the heart has been ‘conquered’ by Christ” (JPII, Angelus, 24 February 2002).
We all love Christ, that’s why we are here at Mass. But we are also here because we feel a need for our lives to change – we know we have not reached the spiritual maturity and peace of heart that we were created for, Union with Christ. Our hearts need to be more fully conquered by Christ. But Christ is too respectful to conquer our hearts against our will.
Today, The Father is inviting us to let ourselves be conquered anew by Jesus Christ. How?
· By spending more time in heartfelt prayer, and Adoration,
· by delving into the marvelous teachings of the Catholic Church,
· by immersing ourselves in the Living Word of the Gospels and Holy Scripture,
· by accompanying Christ himself, truly present in the Eucharist,
· by serving Christ in our needy neighbors, and community,
· and most of all by doing His Will each day with faith, hope, and love, no matter the cost.
Most of us have given up something for Lent. That’s good – it reminds us that we must govern our natural inclinations if we want to root sin out of our lives and become spiritually mature.
We may also need to take up something for Lent.
· We still have most of Lent ahead of us. Let’s take up something that will help us transform our hearts to Jesus. Let us take up our cross in self-denial, sacrificial love, and follow Jesus.
· Commit to participating in more Church Lenten activities, with family, friends, newcomers,
Christ is going to give himself to us again today in the sacrifice of the Mass, the Holy Eucharist! Let’s not leave without giving him something in return– a promise to become better Catholics.
May Christ be with you and your Families!
On this First Sunday of Lent, let us reflect upon how we can renew our commitment to Christ.
This renewal involves surrendering past burdens, repenting of sin, and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, minds, and souls.
Lent is a time when Christ and his Church invite us to pay special attention to God’s Word, to the truth that Christ came to reveal to us – so that we don’t forget what’s most important.
There are many ways to do this.
- It could be spending more time each day in prayer and reflecting on the Scriptures.
- Taking time to turn off the noise around us and read a Lenten spiritual book, or a book on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, or a favorite saint.
- Taking a weekend during Lent to go on a retreat– to go somewhere away from our normal surroundings and rediscover God’s forgiveness and wisdom.
- Participate in Parish activities during Lent, Adoration, Daily Mass, Rosary, Stations of the Cross.
Today, Jesus will renew His commitment to us by coming once again, body, blood, soul, and divinity, in the sacrifice of the Mass, and by offering Himself to us as the true bread from heaven in Holy Communion.
When He does, let’s renew our commitment to Him.
- Let’s not leave this Church today without deciding how we can best respond to whatever inspiration God has placed in our hearts during this Lent.
- Jesus doesn’t want this Lent to be “just another Lent.” He has something he wants to do for each one of us, something that will help us grow in our knowledge of the truth and in our ability to live accordingly.
- Let’s give him the chance.
May Christ be with you and your Families!
Greetings, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ! As we reflect on Matthew’s Gospel 5:17-37,
Jesus looks to the heart, not just to appearances; he knows our deepest motivations and desires.
But do we really know them ourselves?
- In the Gospels, the Phariseesbelieved they had a very good, healthy relationship with God.
- But in fact, they were not. They ended up rejectingGod, and His Beloved Son, Jesus.
- They were key instigators in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
How can we avoid being like the Pharisees?
How can we take a true X-ray and examination of our hearts?
Later in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 15:18), Jesus gives us the secret.
- He explains that “But the things that proceed out of the mouthcome from the heart, and those defile the man.”
- If we want to know the true condition of our hearts, of our friendship with Christ, all we have to do is reflect seriously on our words and the quality of our conversations.
- When we speak, are we usually buildingothers up or tearing them down?
- Do we engage in crude and degradinghumor?
- Do we join in gossipsessions and unnecessarily spread criticisms or even lies?
- Do we use our words to encourage, enlighten, or are we nagging, nitpicking, and belittling?
- The fullerour hearts are with God and the experience of His love, the more our words will reflect His Goodness, His Mercy, and His Wisdom.
As we celebrate Mass, in which Jesus will give us, yet again, undeniable evidence of his unconditional love for each one of us, let’s ask God for something.
- Let us pray and ask Him to help us recognizethe true state of our hearts.
- And, if we see that our hearts are hardened, let’s exchangethem with His.
- He has already given us everything; surely, He won’t hold back his Sacred Heart,if we ask Him.
May Christ be with you and your Families!
Greetings, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ! As we reflect on the Gospel of Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus said, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
Consider how your spiritual light shines before others. How can we do more good deeds and glorify our heavenly Father?
St. Francis of Assisi brought “light” to a 13th-century world shadowed by materialism and conflict by embracing poverty, humility, and the “Prayer of St. Francis,” which pledges to sow love, faith, and joy. As a beacon of faith, he is often quoted as saying, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle,” emphasizing the individual’s capacity to bring hope to dark situations. Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a Special Franciscan Jubilee Year to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the passing of St. Francis of Assisi. How can we be the light of Christ in our community?
This week, let’s renew our spiritual hearts by being salt and light for the people closest to us:
- the people we livewith in our homes, neighborhoods
- the people we encounterat the office, stores, and on the road
- The people who sit next to usat church, school, etc.
In other words, let’s “not turn our back on our own.”
Treating all people with the simple kindness they deserve, because they are created in God’s image, just like us, is a simple way to advance in our life-mission, which is the only path to the happiness and holiness each of us desires for ourselves and for those we love.
During Mass, let us pray to our Lord to give us the spiritual strength we need through His Word and through the Holy Eucharist, to be faithful to his will for us, just as he was faithful unto death – to the Father’s will for him.
May Christ be with you and your Families!
Christ’s love is central to our faith, and the Church reminds us of His Love at every Mass when we pray: “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.”
- When we receive Holy Communion, we are receivingthe Lamb of God, partaking of the saving Lamb, just as the Jews of the Old Covenant partook of the Passover Lamb.
- When we receive the Lamb of God with a lively faith, He strengthensus to follow His example.
Every day of our lives, this fallen world is filled with struggles and hardships, big and little, that can become instruments of salvation.
By offering himself on the cross, Jesus reconciled sinners to God.
By offering up our trespasses through confession, seeking forgiveness draws us closer to Christ.
When we offer our daily sufferings to God in prayer, they become channels of grace for the conversion and sanctification of the world.
Pope Benedict XVI invited all Catholics to renew the ancient devotion of offering up our sufferings, “offering up our crosses” in union with Christ’s Passion, transforming daily hardships into participation in His redemptive work, especially in the Eucharist, where we unite our sacrifices with His infinite merits for the Church’s salvation and spiritual growth, finding true meaning in suffering.
Many people in the world don’t pray, don’t believe, don’t confess their sins, and are continuing in their rebellion against God. Let us not judge them, but pray for them, and walk with them in their journey towards Christ and the Church.
We can be a bridge between them and God by offering our sufferings through prayer and by being Lambs with the Lamb of God.
Today, when we receive the Eucharist, the Lamb of God, let’s do so from the depths of our hearts, filled with gratitude for his love and with a deep yearning to love God and our neighbor in return.
May Christ be with you and your Families!
Today, as we reflect on the Gospel of Matthew 4:12-23, we see that Jesus doesn’t work alone. Like the disciples, He also calls us to work with him.
- We respond to that call by following his commandments and obeying the teachings of his Church.
- We respond by keeping our prayer life in shape and by embracing the sacraments.
- We respond by seeking opportunities to draw others closer to Christ through our courageous yet respectful wordsand our tireless example of humility, faith, and selfless concern for our neighbor.
- We respondby listening for the small inspirations the Holy Spirit sends us each day – inspirations that almost always lead us out of our comfort zones for the sake of our neighbor.
Jesus calls, and we must respond, leaving behind the boat that we love and the nets that we depend on.
It is not always easy to respond to Christ’s call.
Life is already hard. When he asks more of us, our first reaction is usually to hesitate, or even to rebel.
That’s when we must remember why Jesus keeps calling us.
- It’s because He loves us.
- It’s because he wants us to be with him.
- It’s because he knows that only hecan fill our hearts with the meaning and purpose we yearn for.
- Jesus does not call us for selfishreasons – he can’t be
- He calls us for our sake, and when we respond, he always stays right there at our side.
He will remind us of this during today’s Mass.
It’s only because he has called us to be his followers that we will have this remarkable opportunity to receive God himself at Holy Communion.
When we do, let us thank him for not giving up on us, for continuing to call us – and let us promise him that we will listen with extra attention.
May Christ be with you and your Families!
Today, we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus! As we reflect on the Gospel and Christ’s Baptism, they speaks to us today and remind us of the realities that come from our own Baptism. Jesus wants to be part of our lives, to stay close to us – that’s what his baptism reminds us of.
When we let him do that, incredible things happen, just like at baptism in the Jordan River.
First, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove.
- The Holy Spirit is God’s active presence in our lives.
- The Holy Spirit guides us to make the right decisions and gives us the strength to follow through.
- The Holy Spirit inspires us and gives us knowledge, ideas, and insights that we could never have on our own.
But something else also happened at Christ’s baptism: God the Father spoke from heaven to earth.
- All of us long to hear God’s voice in our hearts.
- When we let Christ come close to us, we do.
But that’s not always an easy thing for us.
- We tend to be a lot like John the Baptist – we feel more comfortable keeping Jesus at a distance, on a pedestal.
- We are afraid to let him into the nitty-gritty of our lives.
- We are ashamed of what he might see; we don’t know how he will react.
There is no need to be afraid. Jesus is our Savior. He already knows us, through and through.
He only wants to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit, to help us hear God’s voice more clearly.
Today, when he renews his commitment to us in the Eucharist, let’s hand over our fears and let him into the secret chambers of our hearts – we really need him there, and nothing would please him more.
May Christ be with you and your Families!
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, which commemorates the visit of the Magi to worship the baby Jesus, as told in the Gospel of Matthew. According to Matthew’s Gospel, the Magi followed the star, the sign God had given them in the heavens, and they discovered Jesus, the newborn King. The feast of the Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Jesus, the Son of God, to the world.
Helping Those Who Lose Sight of God
God is always guiding us along the journey of life, but that doesn’t mean the trip is easy.
The Wise Men left their homelands far behind to follow the star, but right when they seemed to be arriving at their destination, the star disappeared.
- That’s why St Matthew tells us they were so overjoyed when they saw the star again after meeting with King Herod.
- At some point in their journey, for some reason, they had lost sight of the star.
- If they had turned back at that point, they would never have found what they longed for.
We are often in the same situation.
- We know God is faithful, and we want to trust him, but we lose sight of God.
- That’s when we must exercise our faith in God – to keep following Christ, to keep obeying the commandments and Church teaching, no matter how hard it may be.
Each of us knows someone who has lost sight of God.
- Maybe they are having difficulty accepting one of the Church’s teachings.
- Maybe they are facing suffering and loss.
- Maybe they are stuck in sin and are drifting further away from the light.
- Whatever their specific situation, they need to be reminded that God is faithful and that only by following Him can their life journey be successful.
Today God has reminded us that we can count on him. This week, it is our turn to remind someone else. During this Mass, let’s ask God to reveal who it is. And when we receive him in Holy Communion, let’s promise to remind them this week that God can be trusted, that it’s worth it to follow Christ. May Christ be with you and your Families!
In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “It is impossible to give a brief explanation of the wealth of this Gospel passage. One must read and meditate on it personally, identifying oneself with that woman who, one day, like so many other days, went to draw water from the well and found Jesus there” … (Angelus, 2/24/2008).
- Through meditating on this passage you can open your heart so that the Holy Spirit can refill it with God’s love: “like the Samaritan woman, let us open our hearts to listen trustingly to God’s Word to encounter Jesus who reveals his love to us and tells us: “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.” (Jn 4: 26), “the savior of the world.” (Jn 4: 42)
Hopefully each one of us has experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, and God’s unconditional love for us. But we need to experience God more. How?
God sent us the Holy Spirit. St Paul tells us, “…the love of God has been poured out into our hearts.”
- We have a reservoir of divine strength and courage in our hearts, established at our baptism, and enlarged at our confirmation.
- We need to bring water from that reservoir and drench every part of our lives with it: our relationships, our hopes, our fears, our dreams, our difficulties, our sins, our weakness.
We can do that through prayer. If prayer is not the highest priority of our daily schedule, the reservoir stagnates. Daily, intimate, heart-to-heart conversations with Jesus Christ allow his grace to flow freely in and through us.
- This is what the Samaritan womandiscovered when she met Jesus at the well.
- Jesus is waiting for usat the well of prayer, just as he was waiting for her – thirsting to fill our hearts with his love, peace, courage, and truth – the kind that only he can give.
Today, let’s renew our decision to meet him there, every day, starting this week, no matter what, at the well of prayer. May Christ be with you and your Families!
Grieving with Great Hope is a bereavement program developed through Good Mourning Ministries to help us find that path.
Grieving with Great Hope is a six-week grief support workshop series that offers a prayerful, practical, and personal approach for anyone mourning the loss of a loved one. If you have lost a spouse, a child, a parent, another family member, or a friend recently, you are encouraged to attend. The presentations are on DVD, with breaks for small-group discussion, faith sharing, and fellowship. This program is also available on FORMED.
THE NEXT SESSION: TBA Sessions will be on Wednesdays at SFA from 1:00 p.m. for about 2 hours. A workbook is also provided, so please pre-register by contacting Tom Sintes at jesuswept@stfrancisyulee.org.
The “Jesus Wept” Honoring Your Grief” program was offered for the first time on May 20th, 2022. It was so well received and considered to be such a wonderful blessing, that it has evolved into the “Jesus Wept Consolation Ministry at St. Francis.”
For over a year now this ministry has been evolving under the wings of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, the comforter, and the Father who supports and welcomes us all, especially those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
After much prayer and guidance from the Diocese of St. Augustine and our Pastor, Father Slawek, we are now a full-fledged support group for our brothers and sisters in the frightening stages of grief, including comfort with anticipatory grief. A strong faith team guides and presents each program.
The Jesus Wept Ministry (our short endearing name for it) welcomes anyone who has lost a loved one such as those losses that occur before birth and all through childhood and onward. Our children are always our children, no matter their age. Loss of a spouse, loss of a sibling or a precious friend, loss of a parent-all are losses that often find us in need of the support of those who have walked this path as well as the need to be consoled through faith. Jesus Wept can do that.
The Jesus Wept Consolation Ministry at St. Francis is Christ-Centered and has at its heart the hope of the Resurrection. For information contact Tom Sintes at jesuswept@stfrancisyulee.org.
Our First "First Friday" Devotion
“At the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, we meet the merciful love of God that passes through the Heart of Jesus Christ.” – Pope John Paul II
On Friday, May 6th, 2022 we were blessed with the First Friday Adoration at St. Francis of Assisi. Those attending gazed upon the Lord, and the Lord gazed upon each of them. St. Therese of Lisieux said that “Frequently only silence can express prayer.” In the dusk of the day, with the lights lowered, one could feel that reverent silence among all of us. The altar was ablaze with light so that our focus was upon Our Savior so silent and so attentive to the words of our hearts.
As we celebrate the risen Christ, we also celebrate that he has not left us, orphans. He is with us in the great sacrament of the Eucharist. Partaking of the Eucharist is our joy. And another joy is adoration. On May 6th we begin the evening first Friday Communion and Adoration. This means that we can take part in the beautiful tradition of the First Friday Devotions as well as keeping with the Lord in adoration.
The well-known Sacred Heart devotions are part of our Catholic history. These devotions take place every First Friday of the month in Catholic churches around the world. The Devotions of the Nine First Fridays were requested by Our Lord Himself through St Margaret Alocoque, a nun living in France in the 17th century. The particular intention is to offer reparation for the innumerable offenses committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The requirement for fulfilling the devotion is to receive Holy Communion on each of the nine First Fridays. The Lord promised that those who did would die in the favor of the Lord and not die without the sacraments. You can research all the promises as there are twelve, the greatest being the last coming at the hour of our death.
Our Saint Francis deacons will be offering officiating at the first Fridays. We begin to build another important tradition of worship together in our own style.
Come, sing, pray, be still, and know that he is God.
Diocese of St. Augustine Updates on Eucharistic Missionaries
Closing Months for the Year of Mission—and Beyond:
Walk with One resources: For a treasure-trove of resources to support the ongoing call for each of us to accompany one person on a life-changing journey closer to Jesus in the Eucharist.
Check out this Art of Accompaniment page for more information.
Olivia Kiernan is the daughter of St. Francis parishioners Tom and Denise Kiernan. Olivia is a missionary with Focus, and is sharing her Catholic faith with others on the college campus.
Hi, my name is Olivia Kiernan, and I am a FOCUS missionary! FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, is the largest collegiate apostolate spanning across the United States and internationally. The Lord has called me to serve college students at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas! I feel so blessed to be a part of this incredible team and encounter students on campus together!
I was raised Catholic but didn’t begin actively practicing my faith until college. At Creighton University, I was invited to a Bible study that introduced me to the beauty of the Catholic faith and helped me understand what it means to be Catholic and live life with Christ. Thanks to local missionaries, Jesuits on campus, and numerous friends, I was encouraged to develop a relationship with the Lord through prayer and frequenting the sacraments. I also attended a Summer Projects in Charleston, South Carolina which further strengthened my faith and gave me a taste of life as a missionary. As I went through my senior year, I knew I wanted to continue growing in my relationship with the Lord and walking alongside others. During the application and interview process with FOCUS, the Lord drew me closer to Him and gave me the opportunity to say “yes” to mission as a missionary.
As a missionary, I hope to live out the fullness of the Catholic faith and share it with others so that all might know Him and His abundance! We do this through facilitating Bible studies, leading students in group mentorship or discipleship, and encountering Christ together through fellowship, the sacraments, and the teachings of the Church!
Olivia Kiernan
Missionary — Wichita State University
Happy February! I hope your year is off to a great start and you are staying warm!
This spring semester began with our Seek conference, and I am so excited to share my experience with you! This is included later in the newsletter but if you want to listen to any of the inspiring talks or homilies from SEEK26, you can do so through the free SeekReplay app or by going to Seekreplay.com, which is also linked in this newsletter.
Please know of my prayers for you!
Olivia
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AT ST. FRANCIS
Ted Benning, a second year student at the Ignatius House for Spiritual Direction in Atlanta is a new parishioner at St. Francis. He is now accredited by the Diocese of St. Augustine and by Father Slawek to offer spiritual direction to parishioners.
Spiritual direction is a method of one-on-one conversation with a spiritual companion (Spiritual Director) where our sacred experiences may be listened to. The Spiritual Director may be able to offer observations about your relationship with God, or how the Holy Spirit is working in your life. They help another grow in their relationship with God by listening, offering and then getting out of the way.
Contact Ted at 678-878-9023 or trbiii.benning@gmail.com
HOW WE PRAY FOR EACH OTHER AS A PARISH
Like any family, we care for and support each other when the difficulties of life arise, especially in prayer. St. Francis parish has a long history of doing this in a very meaningful way. We reach out to the power that is ours when we pray together in the following ways. We are all welcome to use and participate in these resources when they are needed.
BOOK OF INTENTIONS: Write your petitions in this book located in the narthex. The intentions written in the book are prayed for collectively at each Sunday Mass.
ROSARY AND DIVINE CHAPLET: Prayed by a group of parishioners in our Adoration Chapel, each weekday that Mass is celebrated, for the intentions in the Book of Intentions. The Rosary also recited each Sunday morning before the 8:00 am Mass.
CALL-IN ROSARY: A live interactive daily telephone ministry. Access it from wherever you are from 12 noon -12:30 pm. TELEPHONE: 1-508-924-3039
Each decade has its own intention:
+ First- Everyone affected by the Coronavirus and their families.
+ Second- All unborn children.
+ Third- all souls who have perished.
+ Fourth- all who are suffering and do not believe in God.
+ Fifth- Personal intentions and members of our parish community (all those listed in the weekly SF bulletin.)
Prayer Share is co-led by Angela Sukotsky, Stephen Lukacs, and Sandy Pineault. We meet monthly on the first Thursday from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the Chapel.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH PRAYER WATCH
For those who do not know, St. Francis of Assisi has a shelter for those in need of prayer, called PRAYER WATCH which is co-led by Bill Tighe, Mary Gustafson, and Sandy Pineault. Prayer Watch is for prayer requests and Prayers said by a growing number of parishioners. Currently, there are 100+ prayer warriors. We do not meet; however, we pray for all those on Prayer Watch. We pray for each other, our families, and our friends who need God’s help, lifting them up with our love and intense prayer. Sometimes we pray for our nation, the needs of the world, and those who are so desperately in need of them.
If you have a prayer request (especially an urgent one) e-mail prayerwatch@stfrancisyulee.org. Prayers by a growing number of parishioners will cover your needs. Currently, there are 100 prayer warriors. There is no set time to pray for these intentions. You may pray at any time. Have you considered signing up as a prayer partner? Praying with so many of our parishioners and others makes our prayer stronger and more acceptable to God. To be part of this expanded beloved ministry, BECOME A PRAYER PARTNER by sending your e-mail address to Prayer Watch, and you will be added to our list and receive intention requests via email.
You need only say, “Yes,” and, in whatever form of prayer you like, raise up those who request prayers. Once in the prayer partner group, you will receive the requests from Spirituality as they come through. That is all. No answering e-mails, only pray. No need to respond to Spirituality….just pray, as long or as hard as you wish. Even just one raising up an intention to God is taking part.
One of these days, even you may be in need of prayer…
The more we pray together the more powerful our prayer!
No matter where any of us roam, or the difficulty before us -reach out, your parish is here for you.
Caring for the Caregiver.
A note of hope, love and inspiration to remind you that the Lord cares for you.
May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you in abundance,
–Deb and Kelly
Ponder
“Love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
Luke 6:35-38
Reflect
Jesus’ instructions to his disciples, in this Scripture passage, at first glance, is hard. Love enemies? Stop judging? Be merciful? Really? Surely our Lord was not a caregiver! For if he really knows what I’m going through, he would not say to love and forgive!
Or would he?
Love is not a mere feeling or emotion: love is willing the best and highest for another. Love is a choice, an act of the will. We certainly see this aspect of love in caregiving: the conscious decision to extend care and compassion even when it’s difficult. That’s love. To care even when the other is unkind. To return repeatedly to the bedside of our care recipient. To minister over and over to someone who does not understand or appreciate our actions. That’s love.
And we do it because not only is it the right thing to do, but also because we want the best for someone else. We respect their dignity, we see their worth. And so, we are caregivers.
And so, we love as Jesus would.
This kind of love and mercy the Lord is asking is not really something we can do on our own. It is only through a relationship with the Lord that we can show mercy and forgiveness in the way that he instructs. It is in our relationship with God that we find the strength and courage to love. It is in our relationship with God that we find the wherewithal to be merciful. It is in our relationship with God that we find the courage to forgive.
Putting love and mercy into practice takes creative imagining and effort, and the Holy Spirit moving in us, and through us. The behaviors Jesus proposes move us from ambitious standards of “do unto others as you would have them do to you” to the even higher standard of imitating God: “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”. We are empowered to act in this way with mercy, love and forgiveness because of the extravagant good measure in which God continually acts towards us. We return to caregiving again and again, because God is with us. Through the promise of Christ something wonderfully new is offered to us – and the more we yield to it, the more it empowers and frees us.
Pray
Oh, Lord, you do hold up a high standard, to love others. To forgive those who have hurt me. To wish good for those who are unkind. You tell me I am to show and extend this kind of love and forgiveness.
Well, I can’t. I just can’t.
On my own, I can’t.
I need you. I need your Spirit to move in me where I fall short. To fill in my gaps. I need you. I hold onto your promise that you are with me. That as I try, even if it’s trying time and time again, you honor my efforts. You recognize my heartfelt attempt to imitate you. To live up to and embrace my calling as your child, your beloved child.
I praise you for your goodness, mercy and love.
Amen.
“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to thee, when my heart is faint.
Lead thou me to the rock that is higher than I; for thou art my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in thy tent for ever!
Oh to be safe under the shelter of thy wings!”
Psalm 61:1-4
Respond
Live It Out Challenge
“Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
There’s a beautiful promise at the end of Jesus’ sermon. It’s a promise and a reminder. A promise of all the good God has for us, the “gifts that will be given to you”. It is also a reminder to place our trust in God. We well know that in this life there are difficulties and suffering. They are, after all, a part of our life as caregivers. But, Jesus reminds us, our trust must be in God, acknowledging that God supplies our ‘daily bread’ as well as ‘every good and gracious gift’. And, God is not stingy, no, his gifts are a ‘good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing’. What a delightful image! God has gifts overflowing for you!
Living it out challenge
Count your gifts. When we focus on what we lack (and let’s face it we all do that sometimes!) we feel discouraged and discontented. In contrast gratitude involves thanking God for everything his has given you. This acknowledgement shifts your focus from scarcity to abundance.
Recognize your gifts. Celebrate your blessings. And here’s the hard part, recognize the gifts that others are, see their value and acknowledge their achievements. So, go ahead, grab a pen and start counting.
Friday is National Caregiver Day!
And We’re Celebrating You!
National Caregiver Day could also be called “Thank a Caregiver” day and we hope this installment of Nourishment for Your Soul Newsletter is overflowing with our gratitude and support for all you do! Like you, we’re caregivers and we know the days are not always easy. We thank you for all you do for your family. For the community. Your love and care is invaluable; you provide dignity and worth to your loved one. Day in and day out. You courageously stepped forward, extending love and compassion. Thank you.
Of course, the special kindness and patience of caregivers should be celebrated every day!
Your value to us is not only on National Caregivers Day, but each and every day, as you devote you days to care for your loved one. You have skills and resiliency in even the most difficult situations. You are patient and kind. Yours are the hands that extend healing and hope. You demonstrate Christ’s hope to this world.
You make a difference, today and everyday.
Nourish for Caregivers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Our mission is to support and empower caregivers through the gift of faith.
Set aside an hour just for you!
Offered TWICE this week:
Every Tuesday Morning: 11AM ET, 10AM CT, 9AM MT, 8AM PT
Monthly: 2nd Thursday Evening: 8PM ET, 7PM CT, 6PM MT, 5PM PT
The nourishment you need during your caregiving days!
Just click the button below to join us on Zoom a few minutes before our start time.
The Caregiver’s Companion
This guided prayer journal was created to help you find sacred moments and blessings in your caregiving journey. Every chapter includes prayers, reflections, journaling activities, and advice on how to live out what you have learned. This resource helps you discern what issues you struggle with daily and how you can address and care for your own specific needs.
Available on Amazon and many other booksellers. Or, through our publisher, Ave Maria Press you can get it at a discount. Click on image above or use QR code, and enter CAREGIVER15 at checkout for 22% off discount.
A Breath Prayer shared by Sandy Pineault
This morning, the Lord put on my heart something that was illuminating for my soul and prayer, and that perhaps will help you.
I had forgotten the great importance of breath in prayer. All these things I had once known and put aside… Jesus often breathed on a sick person seeking healing. Using His breath and touch to heal.
In my prayer this morning, I started to watch my breath, and in doing so, it chased the distractions from my mind. Now, I am sharing this with
you. I think God sent it to me to help both of us reach out to Him. To remind us that He is very much in our hearts in our journey. That with His Grace, all things are possible.
To begin: Go into a quiet place and close the door. If someone else is home, let them know you need not to be disturbed, this is your time with the Lord.
Lie on the floor or on your bed. Put a pillow under your knees if that makes you comfortable. Make sure you feel that you are held by God. Cover yourself with a blanket or quilt. Be warm. Perhaps you have a quilt that has a warm memory, use that. I use one that my mother made for me.
Put your cell phone on mute. Take off your Smart Watch if you have one. Make the room as dark as possible. If you have one, put on a dark eye mask.
Where you are will be your chapel. No music, no candles, only you and your God. For now, you will let my voice guide you; soon, you will not need this anymore.
Now- starting with some quieting of your body, like uncrossing your legs, smoothing your forehead into a sort of smile, and unclenching your jaw. Relax your arms beside you and open the palms of your hands to God. Feel every part of your body that is carrying your weight and notice yourself sinking into the bed or floor. If you fall asleep, praise God.
Start to watch your breath…do not change it, watch it gently like one watching raindrops fall. Then start breathing through your nose and out your mouth. Gently let your tongue touch the area behind your front teeth.
As you breathe in, start to pray Yah, and then on the outbreath Weh. Yahweh. The ancient Name of God. You can add your favorite Name of God and know that His Strength will strengthen you. Such as Yahweh Shalom: Prince of Peace, or Jes-us, I love You.
As you progress, you will hold the out-breath longer and will go deeper into your prayer and rest. You will be opening your heart to God and letting yourself listen to Him and surrender.
The Names of God will bless and quiet you. At the end of this reading, we will add some more Names of God.
Watch your body gently and see where you are trying to hold on to your own power and not God’s. Let it go to Him who loves you. Offer any tension or fear to Him.
Imagine that an angel is with you and that angel has taken your head and shoulders onto his lap. Jesus has sent the angel to minister unto your body and soul. Melt in rest into the angel’s lap.
Watch your breath as if you were outside yourself. Quietly, humbly, trusting, trusting. Stay quietly after your breathing session. Jesus says to your heart, “rest, my child, I have You, I have it all…
You will increasingly feel more relaxed after every Breath Prayer, allow yourself to go slowly afterward and do not rush body and soul. Be Blessed and quieted, He is the Mighty One, the Holy One.
Amen
AUDIO:
WHY SPIRITUAL BREATHING? We need time to pray each day if we want to grow Spiritually in Christ. Our souls need prayer like our bodies need oxygen. To be filled more with Christ’s love, we need to take in what Pope Francis called “the deep breath of prayer.” The above attached “Breath Prayer” by Sandy Pineault is a beautiful way of taking in “the deep breath of prayer”
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL
2023 is the Year of Parish Revival where every parish in the country will experience profound renewal while participating in grassroots efforts inspired by the four pillars of the Revival. Parishes will be equipped with simple, proven tools to invite their community into the following:
Reinvigorate Worship – Renewing the emphasis on the celebration of the liturgy.
Personal Encounters – Host monthly Encounter Nights, featuring Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Confession.
Robust Formation – Implementing the “Jesus and the Eucharist” small group initiative.
Send Missionaries – Bring lapsed brothers and sisters home with the “Invite One Back” campaign and recommit to serving the poor in the community in a new way.
Our Parish Eucharistic Revival will be kicked off at St. Francis in November. During the month of November, the St. Thomas Aquinas prayer “Preparation for Mass” will be recited before Sunday Mass. It is found on page 327 in the Sunday Missile or downloaded HERE
Let us all PRAY the National Eucharistic Prayer each evening at 7:00 pm from October 21st, 2023 to November 21st, 2023. Together we will pray for the success of Eucharistic Revival in ourselves, our families, our parish, Diocese and nation. YOU ARE INVITED to start this revival together as a parish family at an open gathering on Wednesday, NOVEMBER 7th, 2023 at 6:30 pm at St. Francis. Come and let us begin to see the WONDER OF THE LORD ALWAYS AMONG US.
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who promised to stay with us always, until the end of the age. Reawaken our wonder at His Presence in the most Holy Eucharist. May our hearts burn within us as He opens the Scriptures and breaks the bread. Give us the eyes of faith to recognize His presence in our brothers and sisters, especially in the face of the poor and suffering. Nourished by the Eucharist, send us forth to walk faithfully as missionary disciples, proclaiming the Gospel to every heart and extending Your kingdom to every land. We ask You this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Dear Parishioners,
As we continue this year of Eucharistic Revival, we would like to invite you to grow closer to Jesus alongside fellow parishioners through the Jesus and The Eucharist Study. This study was specifically designed for this Year of Parish Revival, and we will be joining many other parishes throughout the United States who are participating in this small group study as we journey together through this three-year National Eucharistic Revival.
Each session is full of rich theological content, powerful testimonies and unique and timely messages from individual bishops across the country. This is a great opportunity to dive more deeply into the richness of our sacred year together.
Please join us on either Tuesday, January 2th, at 9:30 a.m. (after Mass), or Thursday, January 4th, at 10:30 a.m. (after Adoration) for this seven-week study. Note: it is not necessary to attend all sessions, as each one is separate.
Questions? spirituality@stfrancisyulee.org
Recently I interviewed a Missionary of Charity in the Bronx, who told me about a time she was working outside the convent garden and noticed a man on the top of a nearby high rise. He was leaning over the edge with one foot.
It was a serious scene. Quickly, there were police and a net was placed underneath him.
Moved with fear and compassion, she ran inside, calling “Sisters. We must pray. A man is thinking about jumping from the roof!”
Every sister in that house hurried to the sidewalk. One of them, Sister Claire, had a moment of inspiration, “We must get Jesus!” With the permission of the convant superior, the Eucharist was brought out to the sidewalk and quickly passed along to a priest who had joined the prayers.
Something incredible happened. Father ran towards the troubled man as the sister continued praying on the ground. At the top, he got the man’s attention. Softly, gently, but with conviction, he said, “You are loved. Jesus is here. Do not be afraid. Jesus is here.”
His words thankfully penetrated the man’s awareness. He slowly moved from the edge and made his way towards father. Then he collapsed and sobbed into his arms.
We may never know what occurred in that man’s heart that day, or what he personally experienced from the Sacramental presence of Jesus, but we do know things by their fruits. Something changed for this man when he met Jesus. Something happened when Father brought Jesus to a soul in trouble.
Let your God love you.
Be silent.
Be still.
Alone,
Empty,
Before your God.
Say nothing.
Ask nothing.
Be still.
Let your God look upon you.
That is all
God knows.
God understands.
God loves you
With an enormous love
And only wants
To look upon you
With that love.
Quiet
Still
Be.
Let your God –
Love you.
The priest is a mediator between God and man.
“ The priest’s mission is to be a mediator, a bridge that connects, and thereby to bring human beings to God, to His redemption, to His true light, to His true life”
Pope Benedict XVI
The following article is a beautiful tribute to Priests as fathers. We are sure blessed at St Francis of Assisi to have Fr. Slawek as a Father! May God bless him and may the Spirit always support him with wisdom, strength, and courage.
https://theologyofhome.com/blogs/in-place-in-person/why-we-call-them-fathers
Blessings,
Roberta
“ When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain, Jesus’ touch can call us back to life again.”
What a beautiful hymn!
Blessings,
Roberta Nataloni
“ Bless the Lord my soul!
Lord God, how great you are,
Clothed in majesty and glory,
Wrapped in light as in a robe!
You stretch out the heavens like a tent.”
Eclipse brings Americans together, provokes thought on higher subjects https://aleteia.org/2024/04/09/eclipse-brings-americans-together-provokes-thought-on-higher-subjects/
The Love that moves the sun and the other stars.”
Dante Alighieri, Paradiso
Roberta Nataloni
We just completed Holy Week, but the grace and beauty of it still lingers in our hearts. It is a week of profound sadness, but also of a very profound Joy: we know that death was conquered, death does not terrify us any longer.
“We are Easter people, and Allelujah is our song!” St John Paul II
https://aleteia.org/2024/04/01/profound-young-saint-can-help-you-honor-the-eucharist-in-april/
“Unite our hearts to your Immaculate Heart so that they may find their true and lasting home in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ever guide us along the pilgrimage of life to our eternal home with Him.” Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
Have a blessed day,
Roberta Nataloni
Eucharistic Revival Gathering – November 7th, 2023
BLESSED are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
BLESSED are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
BLESSED are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
BLESSED are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
BLESSED are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
BLESSED are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
BLESSED are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
BLESSED are you when men revile and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
