THE CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

SUNDAY, JUNE 20.
Please join us at a Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the retirement of St Francis of Assisi School Principal, MRS BARB PLENGE, on Sunday, June 20 at the 10AM Mass. Bishop John Quinn will be awarding Barb with the Bishop’s Medal. Everyone is invited to attend!  We are grateful for her service!

PAX ET BONUM ('PEACE AND ALL GOOD').  Good things are happening here in our parish, even amidst difficult circumstances. 

• We have welcomed 41 new families to our parish in the last year. 
• Mass Attendance was at capacity at all of the Holy Week and Easter Services.  We are learning many new and different ways of being the church.  Even when it is safe to resume parish life as usual, virtual worship will most likely continue.  More people are being reached as time and distance are no longer factors in who attends services!
• You faithfully responded to the Parish Budget Shortfall in August with $72,376 in giving and $32,278 to our Fall Festival Shortfall. 
• We were $21,486 over our 2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal Goal - and those funds were used to update our security system and Wi-Fi capabilities in the church.   We have already surpassed our 2021 goal!
• During Advent, you responded to help those in our parish in need with donations of $16,500 in gift cards to buy food. 

We would like to express our deep appreciation - your generous giving allows us to maintain vital ministries within our parish, and to those beyond our doors!

Please know that your support is needed and appreciated, now more than ever.  We are currently working on the 2021/2022 budget.  As you can imagine, we continue to feel the financial effects of a reduced and inconsistent offertory.  We are seeking to maintain our proposed 2021/2022 fiscal budget with as few increases as possible.  

You have been so faithful and we are moving forward in the assurance that will continue!  We ask that you please consider signing up for the convenience of Electronic Giving - to assist the parish with much-needed giving consistency.  Click HERE for the link or feel free to contact Debbie Worden, our finance secretary, at (507) 288-7313 or finance@stfrancis-church.org

Fr Jim Berning and Fr Luis Vargas

2021 CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL (CMA).  We are so grateful to the 143 parishioners that have already contributed $54,280 towards our 2021 goal of $50,145 (108%).  To make your CMA gift online, click HERE.  Thank you!

As always, 100% of the monies reached over our goal will be returned to the parish for designated projects: 1) refinishing pews and woodwork, 2) upgrading our sound system/wi-fi capabilities in our church. Please join us in being generous together in making our goal and going over to help with these much needed projects.  Let’s Share the Light of Hope together! 

Click HERE to hear a message from Bishop John Quinn.

Learn more about the Catholic Advocacy Network - an initiative of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.  This network allows a person to easily stay informed about upcoming legislation,and to contact our state representatives to voice our concerns or support.  It includes thousands of Catholics and non-Catholics from Minnesota who are striving to live their faith in a challenging culture.

By joining the free network, you will receive periodic e-mails and a monthly E-Update in order to promote life and dignity. Consider visiting the Catholic Advocacy Network Action Center to join!

DAILY MASS:  7AM (English) Monday - Friday
SATURDAY:  4:30PM (English)
THURSDAY:  7PM (Spanish)
SUNDAY:  8AM (English), 10AM (English) and 12PM (Spanish)