Franciscan - St. Francis of Assisi Parish

Lord, have mercy

by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | Aug 5, 2026

In today’s Gospel a Canaanite woman makes the prayer or plea that we use each week at mass: “Lord, have mercy!” or “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!” This non-Jewish woman comes seeking healing for her daughter: “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” What is surprising, even shocking, is Jesus’ response. First he says nothing and then he says to his disciples: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Since Jesus is both fully...

Feast of St. Bonaventure

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Jul 14, 2023

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Bonaventure (July 15). In many ways St. Bonaventure is a Saint for the times in which we live - when divisions are ripe and the unity of a nation is being sorely tested. In the years while St. Francis was alive, the Franciscan Order experienced rapid growth – which only accelerated after St. Francis’ death and canonization – each friar and local fraternity trying to discern what it meant to follow Christ in the “tradition” of Francis of Assisi. They came to several...

Peace

by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | May 9, 2023

Today’s Gospel reading continues this past Sunday’s Gospel. John 14 is Jesus’ Farewell Discourse. He tells his disciples that he is going away but that he will always be with them to guide them. The disciples have sorrow and perhaps even despair as they hear of Jesus’ departure so he begins and ends his discourse with a call to faith and trust as he offers them his gift of peace: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (14:1) “Peace I leave with...