This message includes the following:
- Week at a Glance
- Lent
- New Adoration Time
- Adoration Sign Up
- Take Advantage of Confession
- Lenten Almsgiving
- Simple Suppers and Stations
- Ideas for Lent
- Lenten Food For Families Drive
- Youth News
- Formed for Kids
- Family Faith Formation
- Weekly Activity Prompt
- St. Joseph Celebration on March 19th!
- Easter Eggs and Candy Needed
- Saint Clare’s Haven Walkway Update
- This Week on Formed
- Life Ministry
- Sisters in Faith
- Care for Creation
- Craft Night Resumes
- Women's Guild
- Fire of the Spirit Prayer Group
- St. Vincent De Paul
- Save the Date: Parish Day of Renewal
- Justice and Mercy: Remembering Bishop O'Connell
- Annual Appeal
Calendar
Saturday, March 18:
- 3:30 Eucharistic Adoration Ends
- 4:30 Mass
- 6:30 Spanish Mass
- 6:00 Kof C St. Patrick's Day Social
Sunday, March 19:
- 8:30 Mass
- 9:45 Religious Education
- 11:00 Mass
- 4:00 St. Joseph's Feast day Potluck
Monday, March 20:
- 9:00 Mass
- 10:00 Bible Study
- 6:00 Moms Life and Spirituality
- 6:00 Craft Night
- 7:00 Bible Study
- 7:00 Eucharistic Adoration
Tuesday, March 21:
- 12:00 Communion Service
- 12:00 Women's Retreat
Wednesday, March 22:
- 10:00 Prayer Ministry Meeting
- 12:00 Mass
- 6:00 RCIA
- 6:00 Spanish Mass
- 6:30 That Man is You
- 7:00 Confirmation Class
Thursday, March 23:
- 9:00 Mass
- 9:00 SVDP Meeting
Friday, March 24:
- 9:00 Mass
- 11:00 Justice and Mercy
- 4:00 Grace Force
- 5:30 Simple Supper
- 7:00 Stations of the cross
Adoration Hours
- MONDAY:9:45 AM to 11:00 AM
- WEDNESDAY:12:45 PM to 2:00
- FRIDAY:9:45 AM to 11:00 AM
Guardians are still needed for the 30 hours of Eucharistic Adoration, beginning after the 9am Mass on Friday, March 17th and ending Saturday at 3pm
Become a Guardian of the Lord
Fri. March 17 & Sat. 18th
Sign-up in the vestibule
Looking to spend some quiet time with someone who really loves you?
Sign-up to spend an hour with our Lord. Holy Hour begins Friday March 17th with
Mass at 9:00am and continues to 3:30pm Saturday March 18th . Surely you can
spare Him an hour of your time. Sign up sheets in the back of church.
New Adoration Time for Lent
Take Advantage of Confession
Lent is the perfect time to re-acquaint yourself with the Sacrament of Confession. Sin is real. We all do it. It happens when we turn our backs on God or live as if He has no bearing in our lives. It takes a PERSON to commit SIN! Sin is my will in opposition to God's will. Each of us are different and God loves each of us differently. If you have children, you love them all, but you also love them "each". If you tried to love them the same it would be disastrous. So you have a one-on-one relationship with each of them. This is the relationship that God wants to have with you. He wants to help you grow in virtue and love and He wants you to be free from all the influence of sin in your life. This can be achieved in Confession. St. Faustina said that there are 2 reasons to come to Confession--1. To be healed, and 2. To be educated. Allow the priest to be your spiritual guide and teacher. Learn what great love God has for you and how restoring your soul to a right relationship with God can lead to peace and security in eternity.
Lenten Almsgiving
The almsgiving cause for Lent 2023 is for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. A box will be on the information table to collect donations and will be there throughout the season of Lent. With the deaths of over 45,000 people and the loss of thousands of homes, help is seriously needed.
Simple Suppers and Stations of the Cross
Simple suppers will be starting with the first Friday in Lent--2/24/23 at 5:30pm. This will be followed by the Stations of the Cross at 7pm which will be bilingual.
Ideas for Lent
There are booklets for Lent available to pick up in the church,
If you are looking for more things to make your Lenten journey fruitful here are some suggestions.
There are simple suppers and the Stations of the Cross, the "Formed" platform that has lots of Lenten content for children, families, and adults. This is highly recommended if people have chosen to give up conventional media for Lent. Other suggestions for Lent might be to pray the Scriptural Rosary every Friday and meditate on the Passion of Our Lord, re-consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Marian consecration, or to St. Joseph, attend the Stations of the Cross, attend Eucharistic Adoration, participate in "Let Freedom Ring" a 40 day program of prayer, fasting, and exercise. This program is offered from the US Grace Force and the book is available online. Dynamic Catholic has a program called "Best Lent Ever" which is a great way to ease into Lent if Lent is difficult for you. Check out their website.
LENTEN FOOD FOR FAMILIES FOOD DRIVE (40 CANS FOR 40 DAYS OF LENT)
This year the Knights of Columbus will again be collecting nonperishable food items for the ecumenical food bank. Our church members have been known as faithful and generous for years, however the need is greater than ever before. Everyone knows the cost of food has gone up in the past year and the number of families served by our food bank has almost doubled as well. We hope you will do what you can to make this year's food drive a truly mean- ingful part of your Lenten experience.
We will be collecting food in the kitchen under the counter in the front of the church and you may find boxes in other locations. Ask any Knight to help car- ry your donations to the kitchen from your car. We will have a drawing for a Lenten Pitcher and Bowl made by your parish potter. Please feel free to put your name and phone number in the pitcher: this is my way of saying thanks for the tremendous support offered by our church members year after year.
Rex Garrison
Formed for Kids
Brother Francis: The Stations of the Cross
Join Brother Francis as he follows our Lord on his way to the Cross. This episode includes:
- A short introduction to the traditional Stations of the Cross, and how meditating upon them brings us closer to our Savior.
- The traditional 14 stations beautifully illustrated with 14 thought-provoking meditations composed especially for children
- “What More Can He Give”—a moving song that reminds us of Jesus’s love for us all throughout his time on Earth.
This episode of Brother Francis is only on FORMED for a limited time! Watch it now, because it leaves after Easter.
- A short introduction to the traditional Stations of the Cross, and how meditating upon them brings us closer to our Savior.
- The traditional 14 stations beautifully illustrated with 14 thought-provoking meditations composed especially for children
- “What More Can He Give”—a moving song that reminds us of Jesus’s love for us all throughout his time on Earth.
This episode of Brother Francis is only on FORMED for a limited time! Watch it now, because it leaves after Easter.
Family Faith Formation
St. Joseph Celebration on March 19th!
Easter Eggs and Treats Needed
We will have our yearly Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday. We would appreciate donations of plastic eggs. We would also appreciate any donations of treats or candy to put in the Eggs!
Please place your donations in the box found in the Church kitchen. Thank you for your generosity.
Weekly Activity Prompts
March 19- 4th Sunday of Lent- Each Sunday in Lent, pray a Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary as a family to remind us of Jesus’ death and coming resurrection. Today, pray the third Sorrowful Mystery, The Crowning With Thorns.
Be sure to join us this evening from 4-6 PM in Marian Hall for our St. Joseph’s Day Celebration and Potluck Dinner! Bring a canned good to donate.
March 20- Solemnity of St. Joseph- Even though his feast day is March 19th, we celebrate him on the 20th this year since it fell on a Sunday! In the spirit of St. Joseph, find a way to serve others today.
March 21- Read a Saint story or watch a Saint story on Formed! There are many to choose from!
March 22- St. Lea of Rome was a fourth-century widow who left her wealth behind after the death of her husband. She entered consecrated life and attained great holiness through prayer. Take some time to talk about vocations and encourage your children to pray for priests and those in religious life.
March 23- St. Turibius of Mongrovejo was a missionary in Peru! Make a Peruvian dish in his honor or talk about what it means to be a missionary in our modern world
.
March 24- St. Oscar Romero, Archbishop and Martyr, was a priest that was very outspoken against a corrupt government. He was martyred while performing Mass. Talk as a family about what it means to stand up for what is right and how you can be bold in your faith.
March 25- Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. In Sweden, this feast is known as “Vaffeldagen” or “Waffle Day!” Have waffles for a meal today and read Gabriel’s message to Mary in Luke 1: 26-38.
Saint Clare’s Haven Walkway Update
Thank you to all those who have supported our effort to rebuild the walkway in Saint Clare’s Haven. The existing walkway requires improvement to ensure safety of use by our parishioners. To accomplish this we have been raising funds through the sale of commemorative bricks. Several of our parish committees purchased 12”x12” bricks for their organizations. We still have the 12”x12” bricks available for $500.00 each. Also, we have 8’x8’ bricks at $300.00 each, and 4”x8” bricks at $100.00 each.
During the Lenten season why not purchase a memorial brick to provide a perpetual reminder of your loved one, or to cite a favorite scripture passage. You may also sponsor a brick cross to be installed in the walkway.
To purchase a brick, please contact the parish office or speak to a Walkway representative in the Church Narthex after weekend Mass.
Lent on Formed
There are so many resources available to you and your family on our subscription to Formed! IF you were trying to introduce more faith filled media and learning into your life for Lent, then take advantage of the Lenten programs Formed has available. There is something for everyone! If you have trouble accessing Formed please email: communications@stfrancisblairsville.com
The Three Temptations with Dr. Brant Pitre
Reflect with Dr. Brant Pitre on the temptations of Jesus in the desert as he gets to the heart of the meaning of Lent
Life Ministry
. Life ministry will be meeting on March 28th (Tuesday) at 1pm in the library. Their meetings will now be the last Tuesday of the month.
March Gathering of Sisters in Faith Date Change
The March gathering of Sisters in Faith will be on the third Friday of the month (instead of the usual second Friday). The topic for March is Sacrifice: Jesus sacrificed His life for us. How are we called to sacrifice? What value is there in sacrifice? Sisters in Faith is a group of women from different faith traditions that meets each month to share their faith and break down walls between Christian churches. Our next meeting is Friday, March 17, from 10:00-12:30 in Marian Hall. The meeting is free, so come with a friend or come alone and make a friend. For more information, contact Colleen Orchanian at colleenorchanian@gmail.com.
Care for Creation
Save the date! Saturday, April 22 is Earth Day. There will be a Lakeshore cleanup event on Lake Nottely in Union County. Let’s form a Saint Francis team and show the community that we at Saint Francis care for the Earth. More details to come later.
Earth Hour, a worldwide movement organized by the World Wildlife Fund, will take place this year on March 25 from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM. The event encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off all non-essential lights and appliances for this one hour as a symbol of our commitment to the Earth. Please consider joining the millions of people around the world who will be turning off their lights on Saturday, March 25.
Calling ALL Crafters
Craft night will begin again on 3/20/23 at 6pm in the conference room. Crafters of all ability levels are invited to participate!
WOMEN'S GUILD MARCH 21ST
All Ladies of the Parish: Please join us on Tuesday March 21st for our Lenten Retreat. We will gather together for the 12 o'clock Communion Service and then go to Marian Hall for a brief meeting. BRING YOUR LUNCH! We will have water and coffee to drink.
Linda McKnight has prepared a message that will stir our spirits as we journey together through this Lenten season. Don't miss this opportunity to fellowship with your sisters as we sit at the feet of Jesus! I pray to see you there!
Fire of the Spirit Prayer Group
You are invited to join us in the Fire of the Spirit Prayer meetings for a closer
relationship with God ..to follow Him and hear Him better ...to love others better …to
learn, know and live your faith…to pray for ourselves and others, and much more
God invites each of us to: “Follow Me”.
Just as the disciples, we too are disciples of Jesus!
We meet on Wednesdays, 10-11:30 AM in Room 5. Come and See!
To request prayers or more information about Fire of the Spirit meetings write to:
onlineprayerrequests@stfrancisblairsville.com or leave a message at 706-897-8881.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life through our
knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” II Peter 1:3
Save the Date: Parish Day of Renewal
On May 20th a Parish Day of Renewal will be held in Marian Hall from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM for adults and youth (middle and high school age) of the parish and other guests. Lunch will be provided. Please add it to your calendar. You will not want to miss this day. More information will follow.
SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL
Saint Vincent de Paul Helpline
When Rachel first called the Helpline, it had only been a few months since she had been diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer. Until then, she had been a single mother working from home as a customer service representative. She and her daughter, who attended the local school, were managing on their own.
With the diagnosis, her doctor suggested an aggressive approach to treatment and Rachel spent the next 6 months receiving chemotherapy, followed by 2 months of radiation. As the treatments progressed she was unable to keep up her 40 hour work week and her finances began to suffer. Of utmost importance to Rachel was that she and her daughter be able to remain in their home and her daughter remain in school where she was doing well.
After talking to Rachel, the SVdP caseworkers recognized the amount of anxiety her financial situation was causing and the detrimental effect it was having on her health. With donations provided by St Francis parishioners, the rent was paid throughout Rachel's treatment, after she lost her job due to her inability to work, and during her recovery that followed.
In addition, through the many months of Rachel's ordeal, Vincentians stayed in touch with her, offering prayers and emotional support until she regained her strength, got back on her feet and, ultimately returned to working full time again.
Call 706-745-0552 for help or to join us.
+ St.Vincent de Paul
Justice and Mercy
We were greatly saddened by the tragic loss of Bishop O'Connell. Let us keep him in our hearts and prayers. He was truly a servant of God!
Annual Appeal
On behalf of those who will be served by your contributions, thank you to all who have already completed their pledge payments, as well as those who are still making payments. For those of you who have not had an opportunity to make a pledge or a gift this year, but still desire to be a part of the 2023 campaign, please visit our website at www.archatl.com/appeal or you may contact the Office of Stewardship at 404-920- 7600 or annual appeal@archatl.com.
When each of our individual gifts are combined with the gifts of thousands of other parishioners throughout the archdiocese, each contributor makes a very real difference in the ability of the archdiocese to provide ministries and services. Thank you again for your support.
"Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."-- St. Francis of Assisi
There will be a Motorcycle Ride and Retreat on Monday, October 4 (weather permitting) beginning at 10:00. We will meet at the church at 10:00 for a short talk and then ride to Dahlonega for lunch and conversation. Then we'll take a leisurely ride back to Blairsville. Total distance for the ride is about 80 miles. Contact Colleen Orchanian for more information at drecolleen@gmail.com or 706.400.9580.
How many people will be attending?
- View Details
- View Details
Why Go to Adoration
The Saints that we honor and ask intercession from are the Catholic Church's Hall of Fame. They are proof for us that every Saint had a past and every sinner has a future. If you have a favorite photo, painting, icon of your patron saint and would like to donate it to St Francis, we are creating a "Hall" of Fame in the administration building. Pictures should not exceed 9 x 12 inches in total size, including a frame. Pictures may be delivered to the Adult Faith Formation office.
Did you know we have a Parish Facebook Page? You can follow us at https://www.facebook.com/sfablairsville as another way to stay up to date and engaged with the parish!
Any questions about flocknote? Need help updating your information or being added/removed from groups? Please email communications@stfrancisblairsville.com for assistance!