This message includes the following:
- The Week at a Glance
- Stations of the Cross
- How Do I get Added to Faith Formation Groups and Events?
- The Three Pillars of Lent
- Faith Formation During Lent
- Lenten Prayer Series
- Important Information Regarding the Lenten Bible Study
- Online at Home for Lent
- Suffering Saints
- Young Adult Group
- Lenten Mission
- Jewelry Auction Online
Calendar
Saturday, February 20:
- 4:30 Mass
Sunday, February 21:
- 8:30 Mass - Streamed
- 9:45 Catechism Class
- 11:00 Mass
- 1:00 Spanish Mass- Streamed
- 5:00 Youth Group
Monday, February 22:
- 9:00 Mass/Adoration
- 10:00 Passion Bible Study - Online and Marian Hall
- 11:15 Online Rosary
- 11:30 Bible in a Year - Room 5 and Online
- 6:30 Passion Bible Study - Online
Tuesday, February 23:
- 10:00 Weight on the Lord
- 10:30 Music Appreciation Online
- 1:00 Life and Dignity - Online
- 7:30 On-Line Prayer via https://sfprayerministry.online.church
Wednesday, February 24:
- 10:00 Prayer Ministry -Room 5
- 11:15 Online Rosary
- 12:00 Mass
- 1:00 Prayer Talk #2 Room 5
- 1:30 Catechism in a year Online and Conference room
Thursday, February 25:
- 9:00 Mass
- 10:00 SVDP - Online
- 11:15 Online Rosary
Friday, February 26:
- 9:00 Mass/Adoration
- 11:15 Online Rosary
- 4:00 Grace Force Marian Hall
- 6:00 Stations of the Cross - Church
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa (Latin for Way of Sorrows), is a devotion that reflects on Jesus’ final days on Earth—from being condemned to death to dying on the cross and being placed in the tomb. The Stations of the Cross consist of a series of 14 artistic renderings that typically line the interior walls of every Catholic Church. These illustrations capture key moments during Jesus’ journey to His death on Good Friday. It’s often said that you must walk a mile in someone’s shoes to understand what they are going through. The goal of this devotion is to “walk” in Jesus’ shoes by praying and meditating on each of the events (stations) that Jesus experienced. Join us in the Church on Fridays at 6:00pm to meditate on the Passion of Christ.
How Do I get added to Faith Formation Groups and Events?
Have you seen a faith formation group or event that you would like to try but aren't sure how to join? We've got you covered! All you have to do is contact Colleen Orchanian (adultformationstfrancisblairsville.com) or leave a note on any flocknote that goes out. If technological concerns are keeping you away please let us know so that we can assist you! We hope to help you find a group that helps nourish your soul and provide spiritual growth this Lenten season!
The Three Pillars of Lent
Faith Formation for Lent
Retreats
- Parish Mission in English: “Conversion and Repentance.” The details for this
mission are still being confirmed. Watch the bulletin and Flocknote for final
information. - Parish Mission in Spanish: “Conversion and Forgiveness” on Sundays in Lent at 12:15 beginning February 21 for five weeks.
- Women’s Guild Retreat with Deacon Loris Sinanian: Tuesday, March 16 at 10:00.
- Healing Service with the Alleluia Community: Sunday, March 21 from 3:00-5:00 in the church
- Online Parish Mission with Ralph Martin Sundays at 8:00 for 4 weeks Feb. 28-March 21.
- Consecration to St. Joseph, a six-week series beginning on March 30 and concluding on the Feast of
St. Joseph the Worker.
Educational and Faith Enrichment
- Music Appreciation – the music of Lent and Easter, beginning February 2, online.
- Suffering Saints – Saint Study Group meeting 1 st and 3 rd Wednesdays at 7:00 online.
- Parish Prayer Series (6 weeks) with Cricket Aull and Elizabeth Uhle Wednesdays at 1:00.
- Young Adults Search Program: 1 st and 3 rd Saturdays at 10:00 beginning February 20. Contact Jessica Ashcraft for more information: jessicasmithashcraft@gmail.com.
- Lenten Reflection Booklets: We have purchased enough for one per family. Pick up in the vestibule of the church this weekend. A special booklet is available for kids and will be distributed during Catechism classes this weekend. Any extras will be in the church on Ash Wednesday.
- Lenten Bible Study: No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk through Christ’s Passion: Filmed on location in the Holy Land, No Greater Love highlights the biblical foundations of every moment of Christ’s Passion - the Old Testament prophesies fulfilled, the amazing connections to our Catholic faith, the historical context of the events – all unfolding in a way that is ever ancient, ever new. Sign up in the vestibule of the church. Mondays at 10:00 (live and online) and 6:30 (online only) beginning February 22.
Lenten Prayer Series
The parish prayer series continues next Wednesday at 1:00 in Marian Hall and online. The topic for February 24 is Stations of the Cross presented by Cricket Aull. A reminder email will be sent on Tuesday to all those who have registered with a link for online access and a copy of the handouts. Leave a comment or contact Colleen Orchanian directly to be added to the email list.
Online at Home for Lent
In addition to the numerous faith formation activities available both online and in-person at our Parish, we also have access to Formed.
Formed (https://formed.org/)has a large database of books, movies, and film series to help you further formation at home with your family. During the Lenten season please take advantage of this service to help you and your family have a fruitful journey to Easter! If you have any problems accessing or signing into Formed, please contact nicoleamcdougal@gmail.com or leave a note on this message and we will assist you!
Important Information Regarding Lenten Bible Study
The Lenten Bible Study will begin on Monday. All those who have registered will get an email on Saturday with instructions for picking up materials and the link for Monday's meetings. The two meeting options are:
- 10:00 am live meeting on Monday morning with the option to join online
- 6:30 pm Monday evening online only
Materials will be placed in the church kitchen for pickup and will be labeled with the participant's name. We are hoping to have them all available for pickup this weekend but there has been a delay in shipping. If you do not receive a message on Saturday, it means we don't have you on the list. If you do not receive that email please leave a comment on this flocknote or contact Colleen directly.
Suffering Saints
The Church in her wisdom has given us the great gift of our beloved Saints. They are an inspiring model of heroic virtue and human excellence achieved through Christ. In this group, we seek to explore the historical and spiritual lives of these Holy men and women. In so doing we hope to learn more about them and how their example can lead us towards Sainthood in our own lives. For the season of Lent, we will be discussing the Suffering Saints. Our Saintly lineup will be:
- St. John Maria Vianney- March 3
- St. Faustina- March 17
If you have any questions or want to be added to the group you can contact:
Young Adult Group
Is that you? This group meets the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 10:00-11:30 beginning February 20 in the St. Francis Meeting House. All are welcome, married or single, with or without kids. For more information contact Jessica Ashcraft at jessicasmithashcraft@gmail.com or 706.897.4352.
Parish Lenten Mission
Pope Francis reminds us of our responsibility as Catholics to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love one another as brothers and sisters and to care for all of creation.TO THE NATIONS is a small non-profit organization founded right here in our parish by parishioner Stephen Smith OFS in 2014. It began simply as a means to provide food for starving children on 54 missions in Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Colombia and Uganda. At first, TOTHE NATIONS was feeding but the one small village of Kiwaala, a couple hundred children, a simple daily meal so they could function in their very primitive yet functional school at a nominal cost per child. Soon we expanded to 11 villages feeding 5000! Symbolic? Yes!
Then the missionaries along with in-country mission partners built orphanages, churches, schools, clinics, hospitals, elder homes… equipping them all with chicken projects which we call chickeries, then piggeries, raised bed gardens, soup kitchens, wells and sanitary latrines.It was the addition of the chickeries, piggeries and gardens that are enabling the villages to reach toward self-sustainability.
In Uganda, it is not uncommon for boys and girls at about age 12 to be sent out to either find money or food to bring home to help support the family or else…don’t come home. We discovered a small community of these kids in Masaka, about 75 between the age of 10-16 which we have affectionally referred to as our Street Kids. They live “on the streets,” sleep wherever they can, and search in the daytime for food. To be expected, they get into trouble, fights, stealing and other illegal and other inappropriate behavior. Girls often are raped and find themselves trying to raise a child on the streets with no support. We began feeding them a daily meal about 5 years ago. They had to wash, pray then eat. When they finished eating,
they were given spiritual love. In this “Year of St. Joseph,” we initiated the TO THE NATIONS St. Joseph’s Vocational Institute. There has been no campus. It is a school without walls at this time. 5 boys said they’d give it a try. We bought them street clothes, work uniforms, tool kits, a place to live and 3 meals a day and assigned them to approved mechanics (also members of the local parish) who train them in welding and automotive mechanics. In Uganda, the most popular transportation is by
bodaboda, a motorcycle with a long seat capable of carrying 2-3 passengers for a small fee. The roads are unforgiving so these bodabodas frequently break down requiring repair. Steel doors and windows are all custom-made in Uganda. No “one size fits all.” They are each individually crafted by a welder. So, these two trades are ideal for a young man looking for regular work. The boys are doing great! They are working hard and learning. The Bishop of the Diocese of Masaka has given TO THE NATIONS 4 acres of land to build an actual residential vocational school for these Street Kids. The program will be a two-year nationally accredited program followed by internship in area shops. The Street Kids will receive full scholarships including dormitory and meals. Instruction will be in welding, automotive mechanics, construction, agriculture, animal husbandry, sewing, and design. A local School
Board has been selected to include Fr. Martin, Fr. Robert, Bishop John Baptist, and local community leaders to ensure the success of the project.
Meet some of the Street Kids :Soon we will have individual prayer cards available for you ifyou wish to pray for one of these kids throughout Lent.
they were given spiritual love. In this “Year of St. Joseph,” we initiated the TO THE NATIONS St. Joseph’s Vocational Institute. There has been no campus. It is a school without walls at this time. 5 boys said they’d give it a try. We bought them street clothes, work uniforms, tool kits, a place to live and 3 meals a day and assigned them to approved mechanics (also members of the local parish) who train them in welding and automotive mechanics. In Uganda, the most popular transportation is by
bodaboda, a motorcycle with a long seat capable of carrying 2-3 passengers for a small fee. The roads are unforgiving so these bodabodas frequently break down requiring repair. Steel doors and windows are all custom-made in Uganda. No “one size fits all.” They are each individually crafted by a welder. So, these two trades are ideal for a young man looking for regular work. The boys are doing great! They are working hard and learning. The Bishop of the Diocese of Masaka has given TO THE NATIONS 4 acres of land to build an actual residential vocational school for these Street Kids. The program will be a two-year nationally accredited program followed by internship in area shops. The Street Kids will receive full scholarships including dormitory and meals. Instruction will be in welding, automotive mechanics, construction, agriculture, animal husbandry, sewing, and design. A local School
Board has been selected to include Fr. Martin, Fr. Robert, Bishop John Baptist, and local community leaders to ensure the success of the project.
Meet some of the Street Kids :Soon we will have individual prayer cards available for you ifyou wish to pray for one of these kids throughout Lent.
As a special treat here is a message from Father Martin for our Parish Family!
The Parish Festival Jewelry Auction has Gone Digital!
With the cancellation of the Fall Festival in 2020, we are offering the jewelry booth items as a fundraiser through an online auction.
Between now and March 7, 2021, you may view and bid on the 116 items in the sale.
Yes, we know it is Lent, but this is the slot given to us by the auction house. So...look around! There is a link to HiBid auctions to register for the sale.
Between now and March 7, 2021, you may view and bid on the 116 items in the sale.
Yes, we know it is Lent, but this is the slot given to us by the auction house. So...look around! There is a link to HiBid auctions to register for the sale.