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The Sign of Peace – part 2

The Sign of Peace – part 2

Sarah Garone, November 2018, originally appearing on the Busted Halo website A few weeks ago, I showed up to Mass with a heavy heart.  Though I try not to follow the news too closely (for the sake of my mental health), I couldn’t help but notice the acrimonious Supreme Court nomination proceedings in the headlines and the outrage on social media.  So many people around me seemed entrenched in an ugly us-versus-them political battle, and I felt pulled into the drama, too.  Is our country...

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Sharing a Sign of Peace

Sharing a Sign of Peace

It is the year 1935 and Waxahachie, Texas is a small, segregated town amid a depression.  One evening the local sheriff, Royce Spalding, leaves the family dinner table to investigate trouble at the rail yards.  He dies after being accidentally shot by a young black boy, Wylie.  Local white vigilantes tie Wylie to a truck and drag his body through town, for all the community to see, before hanging him from a tree. The sheriff's widow, Edna Spalding, is left to raise her children alone and...

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Chaos and Cleaning House

Chaos and Cleaning House

Recently I was given to a fit of “spring cleaning” in my office. As with most house cleanings, the day was marked by occasions of, “Oh my gosh, I wondered where that was,” “Where did I get that?”, “Why in the world did I keep that?” and a host of other ongoing revelations. Seven large garbage bags of …of…. stuff was collected and sent off for recycling or disposal. There was a point in which my office had the appearance of the primordial swirl of chaos – papers, books, boxes, bags, and all...

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Last Words, First Things

Last Words, First Things

If you knew this was your last week, your last day on earth, what would you tell the people you love? Would it be advice? Your hopes for them? Would it be the dreams you have? Perhaps, the gratitude and love in your heart?  What would be your last words to the ones you love? Beyond the fact we’d really not like to think about it, even if we were ready to do so, this is something difficult, daunting, and delicate. In many of the weekday gospels of Eastertide as well as this Sunday’s gospel we...

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St. Francis House Receives Major Grant

St. Francis House Receives Major Grant

April 25, 2022:  As we all know, finances have been constrained throughout the parish and community due in no small part to Covid-19. As such, the need for the assistance provided by our Outreach Ministry, St. Francis House, continues to grow. In January, a parishioner forwarded information on a grant opportunity to help with COVID-19 relief. The Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William County was chosen by the Prince William County government to administer the $10,000,000 of federal...

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Holy Week 2022

Holy Week 2022

Holy Week Schedule – 2022  Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – normal weekend schedule (4/10)Monday through Wednesday - Daily Mass each day at 8:45 am- Confessions at 7:00 pm Wednesday (English and Spanish)Holy Thursday (4/14)- Thursday morning – Morning Prayer with the Friars at 9:00 am- Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 pm (live streamed - bilingual)Good Friday (4/15)- Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord at 3:00 pm (live streamed)- Outside Stations of the Cross at 6:00 pm (Spanish)- Good...

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Examination of Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching

Examination of Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching

Life and Dignity of the Human Person Do I respect the life and dignity of every human person from conception through natural death? Do I recognize the face of Christ in all others around me whatever their race, class, age, or abilities? Do I work to protect the dignity of others when it is being threatened? Call to Family, Community, and Participation Do I try to make positive contributions in my family and in my community? Do my beliefs, attitudes, and choices strengthen or undermine the...

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40 Hour Devotion Spiritual Goals

40 Hour Devotion Spiritual Goals

St. Francis of Assisi parish will hold a 40 Hour Eucharistic Devotion beginning with morning Mass on March 14th and closing with a solemn Benediction on Thursday early evening, March 17th.  The daily schedule will be: Morning Mass (8:45 am) Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (from after morning Mass until 7:30 pm each day). Hour long segments with a small prayer service and extended periods of silence. Materials in support of prayer will be available. Each day will close with the Repose of...

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40 Hour Devotion Spiritual Goals

History of the 40 Hours Devotion

St. Francis of Assisi parish will hold a 40 Hour Eucharistic Devotion beginning with morning Mass on March 14th and closing with a solemn Benediction on Thursday early evening, March 17th.  The daily schedule will be: Morning Mass (8:45 am) Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (from after morning Mass until 7:30 pm each day). Hour long segments with a small prayer service and extended periods of silence. Materials in support of prayer will be available. Each day will close with the Repose of...

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40 Hour Devotion Spiritual Goals

Parish 40 Hours Devotion

St. Francis of Assisi parish will hold a 40 Hour Eucharistic Devotion beginning with morning Mass on March 14th and closing with a solemn Benediction on Thursday early evening, March 17th. The Forty Hours Devotion can be celebrated either in 40 continuous hours, or based on the needs of the local parish, can be broken into daily celebrations. Here at St. Francis, we have elected to do the latter. The daily schedule will be: Morning Mass (8:45 am) Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (from after...

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