St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church

Steeped in a rich and vibrant history of service and growth, St. Francis of Assisi has been serving the needs of Catholics for almost 125 years and welcomes young and old from all walks of life into our faith and social community. St. Francis prides itself on being a family-friendly church. We believe that all members of our church community are important to the celebration of the Eucharist.

We invite you to learn more about the parish by exploring this website. Please visit the “Our Parish” section to learn more about the church and its rich traditions. You can also learn how to exercise your stewardship of time and talent in one of the wonderful parish ministries by visiting the “Parish Ministries” section. Some of the many ways that you can become involved include: being an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or Lector, singing in our choir, serving the needy through the Ministry to the Poor, or by joining our Senior Associates group. For the youngest members of our parish family, opportunities to get involved include serving Mass as altar servers and Children's Ministry, a group which coordinates a variety of activities including weekly Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Christmas Nativity Program, and May Crowning.

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Reverend Michael J. Schneller
Pastor

September 25, 2022

Who is the Lazarus at our gate?

Yes, Lazarus is at our gate. Wendy is one of a million homeless children who sleep nightly in America’s streets. She has been in 12 foster homes and is now pregnant, 18 and alone. Michelle was physically abused by her mother and sexually molested by her father. Christy, a runaway, telephones her mother, only to hear, “Things are so much better now that you’re not here”

Lazarus is at the gate. He is 15 years old and has been swallowed up by New York’s sex industry because his parents sent him away from home when he admitted to be homosexual.

Lazarus is at the gate. He is an illegal immigrant who paid almost two thousand American dollars to be crammed into a windowless, airless moving van to travel for days through the desert in order to cross Texas into the United States. He doesn’t want to break the law, the needs of his wife and children far outweigh his respect for the I.N.S.

Lazarus is at the gate. She is one of millions of Americans with no access to health care. She must decide whether to use some of her husband’s meager salary to buy medicine for her heart condition or food, clothing or shoes for the children.

Lazarus is at the gate. He’s been out of work for weeks due to downsizing. She’s been in the nursing home for almost 10 years but her visitors have been few.

Lazarus is at the gate. He lives just next door and always seems to be around when you’re coming home or leaving for work. He’s been lonely since his wife of more than 40 years died recently. Lazarus is at the gate. Mental illness makes her seem a little odd and you hope she’s taking her medication. He’s shabbily dressed and offering to mow your lawn or weed your garden or rake your leaves in return for whatever you might be able to give.

Lazarus is at the gate. This is the message put before us today by Amos and the Jesus of Luke’s gospel. Each Lazarus we meet constitutes a challenge to our humanity, to the quality of our Christianity, to the authenticity of our discipleship. Have we eyes to see, ears to hear, a heart to understand and hands to help the Lazaruses whom God sends into your life and mine?

We live in a narcissistic society. The problem with narcissism and a narcissistic culture is that we don’t see people. To ignore the needs of others is to allow an abyss to grow between God’s will and us.

So, we’ve done nothing evil to the poor – not kicked dust on them or laughed at their misfortune or mocked their poverty. In fact, maybe we’ve done nothing at all! Therein lies the problem. We are not told that the rich man did anything to overtly harm Lazarus. He simply ignored him, acting as if Lazarus and his plight did not exist. Complacency is a subtle evil.

Centuries earlier the prophet Amos warned his people of the dangers of complacency. He lambasted those who lolled in luxury, eating and drinking, taking the best for themselves. Louisiana now has its first billionaire, ranking 234 among Forbes 400 wealthiest people in the United States. The majority of us are not in that number.

But as we thank God, we can reveal our grateful hearts by reaching out to remedy the circumstances that force some to live like Lazarus. What can we do for the Lazaruses at our gate? We can see them. We can resist the temptation to pretend a homeless person or mentally ill person is invisible as we encounter them. Most of them are harmless. Recently, we received a barrage of requests for assistance with utility bills.
How can learn about the political and economic policies that create the circumstances that keep today’s Lazaruses outside the wall of shelter and human comfort.

This parable is a cautionary tale, telling us that it is not yet too late for us. By implication, we are the five brothers. We still have time to make the lifestyle changes that will bring our lives in tune with God’s way and follow in Christ’s footsteps while we are still living. Yes, Lazarus is at the gate. Shall we tend to this person now, like the rich man in the Gospel shall we wait until it is too late?