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.

We invite you to join our parish community by filling out the online registration form. Someone from our Newcomers Group will contact you shortly thereafter. As one family we come together to know, love, and serve the Lord as instruments of his peace.

Also,

Thanks for visiting and please check out our Facebook page or subscribe to our weekly
Parish E-bulletin.

Reverend Michael J. Schneller
Pastor

Uptown Canticle by Father Michael
May 9, 2021
 

Fourteen months ago, everyone was suddenly afraid of one another. Anyone could be a carrier of the virus — even your spouse. We avoided each other, we masked, we washed our chapped hands again and again; we have lived in our own safe, protected — and lonely — bubbles. For thousands of    families this has been a time of indescribable loss. Some of us will be living with the scars of this  forever. No one ever wants to go back to what we’ve been through.
 
With vision toward the light at the end of this dark pandemic tunnel, last week Archbishop Aymond issued his pastoral letter regarding the restoration of the obligation to participate in Sunday mass   every week and the reasons for this obligation.  His letter was printed in last week’s bulletin and the  Clarion Herald if you were unable to participate in mass last weekend.
 
The Archbishop wrote that the “obligation” to celebrate Mass on Sunday need not be seen simply as “you must go”; instead, it is God saying, “Come to me and worship as a community.  Come hear my Word in the Scriptures, receive the Risen Christ in the Eucharist and reserve time for me and those whom you love.”  The obligation is an invitation from God to grow in love with him and to better know ourselves as Catholics, as he awaits our response.
 
As we look to the future, on June 6, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, better known as    Corpus Christi, Archbishop Aymond will restore the obligation to attend mass in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  After consultation with medical experts and his priests, agreement indicates that with proper precautions, this is an appropriate time to take these actions.
 
What does this mean for us at St. Francis of Assisi? On June 5 & 6 we will remove the ropes on the Blessed Mother side of the church. The ropes will remain on the St. Joseph side for those who want more social distance. We ask that you continue to wear a mask or facial covering as long as this is  required by the City of New Orleans. We will resume our regular offertory collection by passing the baskets and the presentation of the gifts of bread and wine and the communion procession up the  center aisle. Holy water will be available at each entrance to the church. I will be returning to hearing confessions in the reconciliation room in church, wearing a mask during confession is required. We will begin printing the weekly bulletin as well as continue emailing it to parishioners.
 
We realize that for some returning to Sunday Mass is impossible. Home bound parishioners and residents of nursing homes or patients in the hospital are naturally dispensed from the obligation to attend mass. Those persons who are sick or vulnerable or fearful because of underlying health conditions are excused from attending Mass in-person on Sundays. However, those who cannot attend are invited and encouraged to participate via television or online with live streaming and to make an Act of Spiritual Communion. We will continue the live stream of the 9:30 am mass for the foreseeable future.
 
This Sunday the New Testament reading from the First Letter of John and the Gospel of John speak of the commandment to love one another as Jesus loves us. Mothers’ Day is the perfect day for these passages on love. Today we honor our mothers for how they have mirrored God’s unconditional love for us their children. The Eucharist celebrates the sacrificial love of Jesus. Let us open ourselves to receive the love of God in His Son’s Body and Blood of His Son and go forth to bear fruit in the world. 
 

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For parishioners we cannot accommodate in the church or who are fearful to gather with us, Archbishop Aymond has given permission to distribute Holy Communion after mass outdoors. He strongly suggested that we not give Holy Communion to people in vehicles. He recommends that we do so outside where people can form a communion line and observe social distancing. Therefore, after each mass, weather permitting, I will be available to distribute Holy Communion in the front lawn of the rectory. I suggest that as you approach me to receive the Body of Christ you pray the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father.

Please remember Archbishop Aymond has dispensed the people of the Archdiocese from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. If someone is vulnerable and not feeling well, we ask that you not celebrate Mass in church with other people.