ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4th, - we will celebrate the solemn Feast of SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI.
Besides the Mass that weekend celebrating St Francis' feast (with approval of the Archbishop), the Franciscan Friars of Kingston will be blessing animals in front of Holy Family church, Sunday, at 1:00 pm.
ST FRANCIS was born in the small Umbrian city of Assisi, Italy, in 1181 or 1182. His wealth and love of life made him the leader of Assisi's youth and filled him with dreams of grandeur. Following his imprisonment after Assisi's loss in a battle with a neighbouring city, Francis turned his back on a military career and a promising business profession in order to respond to the impulses of the Lord that moved mysteriously within him. A meeting with a leper and hearing a voice from the cross of San damiano, resulted in his conversion, the renunciation of his possessions, and a project of rebuilding churches. While working in the little church of St Mary of the Angels and hearing the missionary message of Matthew's Gospel, Francis responded immediately and embarked on the life of a poor itinerant preacher proclaiming a message of penance and peace. Shortly afterward, his first followers joined him and formed a brotherhood dedicated to an intense living of the Gospel life. Francis and his brothers went to Rome and had a simple rule of life -- Gospel texts a prescriptions helpful for their common life -- approved by Pope Innocent III. Francis also wrote a gospel plan for sisters (the Poor Ladies of San Damiano, today the Poor Clare sisters), and another for men and women, single and married, who remained in their homes and among their daily secular concerns and strove to live an intense Christian life. Francis and his brothers and sisters witnessed and proclaimed the gospel and became a strong force of renewal in the Church of Europe.
The life of the Poor Man of Assisi is characterized best by his total identification with the mysteries of Christ. On December 25, 1223, at Greccio, he further developed the dramatic presentations of the birth of Christ and brought the crib scene into popular spirituality. Francis had an intense devotion to the mystery of the Eucharist, in which Francis saw the Lord of all creation assume poverty and humility each day so that all men and women might be reconciled with God and one another. The crucified Christ, however, absorbed the saints attention to a great degree so that the last years of his life became caught up in the mystery of the Cross. On September 14, 1224, while Francis was immersed in a long period of prayer, he received the stigmata in his body (the crucifixion wounds of Jesus), which he carried until his death. Francis died at St Mary of the Angels Church on October 3, 1226, and less than 2 years later was canonized.
[excerpts from Francis and Clare, The Complete Works. Pub: The Classics of Western Spirituality, 1982]
**Please read*** Archbishop Mulhall's letter attached in PDF format
Letter from June 13th, 2020
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Letter from July 6th, 2020
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HOLY FAMILY CHURCH RETURNING TO MASS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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This granite memorial Bench was just installed on the walkway at the back of Holy Family church. It is in memory of our beloved previous Pastors of Holy Family Parish, Msgr. Donald Clement and Fr. Charles Gazeley. Funds to purchase the bench came from the donations both pastors had made in their bequests to our parish, a sign of their love and devotion to Holy Family Parish.
