WELCOME!  BIENVENIDOS! 

The parish of St. Francis of Assisi is a vibrant and diverse community made up of people from all over the world - who speak many different languages and bring with them a variety of cultures and traditions. Together - we share our love for the Lord Jesus and the same Catholic faith that comes to us from the Apostles.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the “source and summit” of our parish life.  It is from the Mass that all aspects of parish life flow: from education and catechesis, to the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.  Yet, all these good works lead us back to the Mass - Our Lord’s perfect sacrifice on Mt. Calvary.

Bishop Francis M. Kelly, the third Bishop of Winona, established St. Francis of Assisi parish on August 22, 1937 in southeast Rochester, and appointed Father Francis McCarthy as its first pastor.  The first Mass in the current church building was celebrated on November 30, 1941 – one week before the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into World War II.  St. Francis of Assisi School opened in 1952.  The school campus has been expanded and improved many times over the past 70 years.  The rectory was also built in 1952.  The convent opened in 1958 and today serves as the Parish Center offices.
 
You are cordially welcome to visit and join our faith community!

Rev. Luis Vargas


¹  Sacrosanctum Concilium, #10.  “The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed;at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows.”