A VIDEO MESSAGE FROM FR. DAVE
PRAISE & WORSHIP
- Mass Times Our first weekend back in the parish went well. We implemented our plan and provided plenty of space for social distancing and fewer touch points. With a couple of additional tweaks to our plan this week, our normal Mass times continue on Saturday @ 5p and Sunday @ 8a, 10:45a (also live-streamed on our YouTube channel) and 5p. As you prepare to return, here are a couple of tips to help you know what to expect:
- Entry to the church can be gained through the church doors only.
- Handicap access is available by parking in our rear lot and using the entry ramp between the church and Lamy Center.
- Red signs are on pews that are NOT in use. Please see an usher if you need help finding a seat.
- Hand sanitizer is available, but feel free to bring your own to help us ensure a long-term supply.
- Thinking About Coming to Mass? We began offering our 4 weekend public Masses at St. Francis a couple weeks ago and have been successful in implementing safe, practical yet pastoral guidelines. If you've not yet returned, we encourage you to read our guidelines on returning to parish life as you discern joining us in the coming weeks.
- Daily Masses If you're not quite ready to return to a weekend Mass, consider one of our weekday Masses. There are far fewer people, providing plenty of room to spread out within the church. Our weekday Masses are Tuesdays at 12p, Wednesdays at 6:30p, Thursdays and Fridays at 9a. We hope to see you there! Please plan to enter through the church doors as Lamy Center will be closed.
- Bringing Eucharist To You For those not ready to return to public Masses just yet, we are offering to have Holy Communion brought to you at home. Learn how we're ensuring the highest level of safety in bringing this service to you, then contact Deb Shelly at 740.366.6924 to add your name to our list to have a Eucharistic Minister come to you!
PARISH, SCHOOL & COMMUNITY NEWS
- Alpha Youth Series Coming Soon Join us this summer for the first-ever Youth Ministry Alpha! Hundreds of our parish adults have gone through Alpha and now it's time to take it next level and share the experience with our youth, grades 6 - 12. All are welcome! Kick off is Sunday, 6/21 @ 7p. Learn more and sign up here.
- Summer Camp is NOT Cancelled Catholic Youth Summer Camp (CYSC) is an incredible high-adventure, high faith catholic summer camp and they're opening for in-person, sleep-over and online experience options for this summer! If you haven't yet registered, do it today!
- St. Francis Preschool Now Enrolling Registration is open for our preschool (age 3 - Pre-K) program. We take much pride in our high expectations and learning opportunities that promote number sense, reading, writing, and how school works. Our preschoolers will participate in Catechesis of The Good Shepherd, visiting their own specially-appointed Atrium to learn about prayer, Mass, Miracles of Christ, and His parables. Please inquire to learn more; contact Principal Sally Mummey by email or call the school at 740-345-4049.
- Parish Grant Forms Families seeking a grant to offset the cost of Catholic education are encouraged to complete the elementary school grant form or the high school grant form. For more information please contact Parish Accountant Ernie Loy.
- School Tuition Invoices Invoices have been sent to all families who are enrolled for Fall 2020. If you are a school family, but are not yet signed up for FACTS, our online payment system, please do so today. Contact Parish Accountant, Ernie Loy with questions.
- Donate With Every Amazon Purchase AmazonSmile customers can now support St Francis Desales Church & Mt Calvary & St Joseph Cemeteries in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations:
- Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
- Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
- Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process
- The Catholic Marriage Summit You're invited to John Paul II Healing Center's How to Get the Marriage You Want from the Marriage You Have. This free virtual conference featuring some of the most well-known and loved Catholic authors/speakers AND their spouses talking about the real issues married couples face every day. It’s going to be a phenomenal conference and…it’s FREE to register!
- FOCUS Virtual VBS Experience Summer 2020 may look different than we originally planned, but we’re still excited to partner with you to host the VERY BEST SUMMER! FOCUS VBS Virtual Experience to help kids dive deeper into their faith by putting the FOCUS on God and His amazing plan for us. This online experience is absolutely FREE and will take place the week of July 13! Details and timing to be finalized, but trust us, this is totally flexible and will work with your family's schedule. Register today!
- Semi-Annual Clothing & Household Item Drive Join your efforts with others to support St. Francis Outreach in McArthur, OH on Friday, 6/26, 3 - 5p, Saturday, 6/27, 9a - 5p and Sunday, 6/28, 9a - 2p (or when truck is full). Clothing and household items are welcome; furniture cannot be accepted. Please place all items in plastic bags. Volunteers are needed - if you can assist with this effort, contact Sandi at 740.814.1439.
- The Return Team We still have openings for our Sanitation, Greeter, Usher and EM teams for this weekend (and beyond). If you have not already done so, please sign up to volunteer at your preferred Mass. If you're new to volunteering for these roles, please contact Grace Wright to be added to our roster.
- Reconciliation New Confession times are Wednesdays, 5:30 - 6:15p, Saturdays, 4 - 4:30p. All confessions are now temporarily held in the Dominican Library (inside the Lamy Center). Appointments are no longer necessary during these open Confession times, but we do ask that you practice the following safety guidelines:
- Do not come if you are sick or running a fever.
- Please wear a mask.
- Use provided sanitizer.
- Practice social distancing by standing a minimum of 6' apart in the line (the floors will be marked to help you.)
- Please remain standing for your confession.
- Parish Office Hours The Parish Office has moved to the new Faith and Family Center building! The office has resumed with summer hours Monday-Thursday, 10a-4p (closed on Fridays) and Sunday, 9a-12n. To avoid crowding and to maintain social distancing, we ask that you please make appointments should you need to meet at length with a specific staff member.
St. Francis excels in more than academics. They are partnering with us to build the foundation we want Cole and Hudson to carry with them through life. We feel that the faith-based community is preparing them to be successful.
- Carolina & Will Lavery, Parents to Hudson & Cole
PASSING THE VIRTUAL OFFERTORY BASKET
Father made an appeal during last Sunday's homily, stating that our offertory has been down by 20% over these past few months. We really need everyone to make an ongoing pledge to support our mission. Electronic giving is currently the most consistent way to give, safest and most reliable. Will you consider how you can help us during this time?
- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) - MOST RECOMMENDED - For reoccurring gifts, you can set up automatic debit to one’s bank account or charges to one’s credit card. Please fill out this Offertory Commitment Form to set up recurring payments.
- One-Time Online Donation If you normally donate by envelopes or the basket, we have set up a link to donate online with a one-time donation by credit card. Click here to complete the form. You may use this link as often as you like.
- Text-to-Give Another option is through our new TEXT-to-GIVE number. Donate simply by texting SFDS to 740.240.6093. You can also use this in place of your normal offertory basket giving.
- US Mail If you would like to continue using your envelopes, please mail your contribution into the parish office at 40 Granville Street, Newark, OH 43055. Checks are preferred as cash is not a safe or secure way to fulfill your offertory through the mail.