Our February 16, 2020 St. Francis of Assisi Parish Family

Welcome to our February 16, 2020

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Family

Sharing the love of Jesus in the north Georgia mountains, and beyond……

Archdiocese of Atlanta Deacon Larry Casey Mass Times: Sat: 4:30 pm - Vigil Deacon Paul Dietz Sun: 8:30 am, 11:00 am Deacon J.P. McGuire – Administrator 1:00 pm (Spanish)

Business Manager Communion Svc: Mon - Fri: 9:00 am Jim Gioia ______Sacrament of Reconciliation: Office Assistant Sat: 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm Lisa Howard Eucharistic Adoration: Finance Manager Mon. – Fri. 9:45 am – 12 noon Rita Baker Church Office Phone: (706) 745-6400 Dir. Of Religious Education 3717 Hwy 515 Joe Kwiatkowski Blairsville, GA. 30512 Adult Faith Formation Colleen Orchanian Office Hours: Mon – Thurs: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm Music Director E-mail: [email protected] Marianne Engelmann Website: www.stfrancisblairsville.com

February 16, 2020 th nd . Mass Intentions Readings: The Week of Feb 16 - Feb 22 Sat. 4:30 PM + Andy Denny Sunday-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time SIR 15:15-20 1 COR 2:6-10 MT 5:17-37 By Pat Denny Monday- The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order JAS 1:1-11 MK 8:11-13 Sun 8:30 AM + Patricia Kay Tuesday By Betsy Thomas JAS 1:12-18 MK 8:14-21 Wednesday Sun 11:00 AM + Robert Persche JAS 1:19-27 MK 8:22-26 By Tom & Marcy Walsh Thursday JAS 2:1-9 MK 8:27-33 The eternal flame candle burns this week Friday-St. Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor of the Church JAS 2:14-24, 26 MK 8:34-9:1 for the soul of Gertrude Louise Joules Saturday- Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle th nd WEEKLY CALENDAR Feb 16 - Feb 22 1 PT 5:1-4 MT 16:13-19 SUNDAY 9:00-1:00 pm Knights Breakfast Marian Hall 9:45 am Catechism Lower Marian Hall 5:00 pm Youth Group Marian Hall

Monday 10:00 am Romans Study Marian Hall

Tuesday 10:00 am Women’s Group Room 6 2:00 pm Women’s Guild Marian Hall

Wednesday 10:00 am Prayer Group Room 11 Prayer Requests 6:00 pm Young Adults/Catechism Room 7 Judith Brickman Jean Caputa 7:00 pm Spanish Prayer Group Church David Drake Fr. Gary Burkhart Ann Jacques Barbara Lewis Bruce & Stephanie Miller Elizabeth Smith Thursday Ken Voss Carole Harahan 2:00 pm Koffee Klatch Marian Hall Ray Kelly Jean Hiler, ofs 4:00 pm Choir Church Pat Smith Roseanne Denchy 5:00 pm Romans Marian Hall Robert Hafer Julie Waltz Jack Gallagher Ginny Sauer Friday Buddy Mawyer William McConnell No Activities Megan Harrell Donald Elyard Bev Schutt Irene Tisdale Saturday Charlie Gluodenis Adam Chedister No Activities Todd Smith Edward Stuart Glenn Haney George Ponzio

Offertory Feb 9th Donna Warren Marie Hancock First Collection $ 2,088.00 Online Giving $ 1,690.00 Names will be removed after 30 days unless requested to remain 2020 Mass Intentions Prayer for Healing As a reminder, the Mass Intentions Book for 2020 is Almighty and merciful Father, by the power of your open, and intentions are limited at this point of the command, drive away from them all forms of sickness and year to weekend Masses only, until we return to a disease. Restore strength to their bodies and joy to their daily Mass schedule. Please call the office to arrange spirit, so that in their renewed health, they may bless and for any Mass intentions. serve you, now and forevermore. A Note …from the desk of Deacon John Paul Dear Friends:

This week I have the pleasure of telling you that Bishop Ned Shlesinger, our current pastor, with be with us this Sunday for the 8:30 and 11 AM Sunday Masses, and the 1 PM Spanish Mass. He is coming to see us because he wants to see how we are doing.

Bishop Ned will offer Masses, and attend the Knights’ breakfast while holding a Town Hall meeting because he As St. Mother Teresa reminds us, the “noise” and wants to hear what you have to say. He will also make restlessness that surrounds us in today’s world makes it very difficult to commune with God. God seeks us in the himself available to speak with us individually as he has moments when we embrace silence. Silence which allows before, with the time he has between Masses, and again us to hear His voice. between, 11 and the Spanish Mass.

Recall that as Elijah stood out on the mountain, that he did Bishop Ned will also be leading us in a Lenten Mission / not hear God in the raging wind, shattering of rocks, Day of reflection March 15, 16, and 17. The theme for earthquake or raging fire……..but in a gentle whisper. our Lenten Mission is “Sacrifice”. This is a wonderful Let us do our best then, at the very least, to set aside the opportunity for our community and I hope those who Sanctuary of the Church as a place for the silence that attend 4:30 Mass with Fr. Oberle, will also return for the Jesus seeks. In order to hear His voice, so that we may Town Hall meetings. Welcome Bishop Ned! Next discern His will for us. And kindly reserve personal weekend we have a very special surprise guest, and conversation to the doors beyond the Sanctuary. Jesus will discuss the Archbishop’s Annual appeal is next weekend. be well pleased.

There will be a meeting with invited and interested UPCOMING SILENT RETREATS! parties regarding campus security next Tuesday Keep going on that commitment to deepen your th spirituality in 2020! Participate in a silent retreat at February 18 Ignatius House, a single-day retreat, evening workshop, or book discussion. Retreats begin at 6 Thank you to all of the helping hands who helped us p.m. on Friday and conclude Sunday at Noon unless clean the Church this Saturday. Mary- Mike Keller, otherwise noted. Details for Registration at Eileen, Jerry Rousseau, Sue McFarlane, Tori Molineux, IgnatiusHouse.org, or call 404.255.0503 Lisa Howard and Joan Furst. So appreciative of your Feb. 21-23 help! Thank you! Through silence, prayer, and spiritual Update: Ash Wednesday February 26, we will have two conversation, discover English Masses: 9 AM & 7 PM, Ashes distributed Henri Nouwen’s message 12 PM - Ashes distributed after benediction of living as God’s beloved.

The Simple Supper and Stations of the Cross schedules are set as well, and you’re now up to date! Mar. 8-13, or Mar. 8-15 Experience a 5- or 8-night + God Bless retreat with extended silence and solitude. Meet daily with a spiritual DJP director; customize a 706-455-9119 prayer schedule. Daily [email protected] liturgy offered. GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY! For the Knights of Columbus VERY popular Chili & Trivia Night. Tickets are $10 per person, but you can enter FREE with a pot of Chili for the Chili Cook Off Contest! A night of fun, VIRTUS TRAINING laughs and entertainment are guaranteed for all, along VIRTUS training is required for all volunteers at St. with prizes to the best and brightest teams. Tickets on sale Francis of Assisi. The next opportunity to attend after Mass this weekend or in the Office . nd th Virtus training will be NEXT Saturday, February 22 SATURDAY, FEB. 29 @ 6:00 PM from 10 am – 1 pm. Marian Hall This important training allows all volunteers to freely LAUDATE- engage in ministry, while helping raise appropriate awareness to protect our children and elderly, the The # 1 Catholic APP most vulnerable within our community. Tired of carrying around your Bible, Catechism, a list of the Please sign up with Joan Furst, in the office. Those Daily Mass Readings, and who have direct contact with children, or the elderly reflections, information on the within their ministry will not be allowed to be involved Saint of the Day, the Breviary, a Catholic Calendar, in their ministry until they have completed VIRTUS your prayer books with HUNDREDS of prayers….in training. English and Latin, videos of Mother Angelica, and other EWTN broadcasts, the Code of Canon Law, Papal All other ministries which have INDIRECT contact with Encyclicals, an examination of conscience, and children and the elderly will be granted 60 days to interactive Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet complete VIRTUS training before such restrictions are podcasts? Plus more? Well……now you no longer have imposed. There will be additional future sessions to do that if you have a “smart phone”. The smartest offered, but none scheduled at this time. thing YOU can do with your smartphone is to download the Laudate app. The #1 Catholic App. And Thank you to ALL involved in ministry at our parish. the best part is…..it’s FREE. Download the app today While this step may be viewed as inconvenient, it is a and fall more deeply in love with your Catholic faith. small and necessary step to help insure we are doing You’ll be glad you did! our best for the innocent and the vulnerable. FACILITIES ACCESS Please be aware of a new policy that will be implemented immediately. The upper doors to The Importance of Online Giving Marian Hall will We would like to take this time to thank all of you remain locked unless participating in online giving with WeShare, and there is a scheduled encourage those who have yet to sign up! Online giving activity going on. This has provided St. Francis of Assisi with more consistent policy is an effort to further the safety and security of contributions, the ability to accept credit and debit those on our campus. While this may on occasion be cards, the ability to make automatic withdrawals from an inconvenience, we appreciate your understanding. checking and savings accounts, and saves the Thank you! administrative staff much needed valuable time.

Affair of the Heart: Lecturas: Sirach 15: 15–20 Scott Hahn Reflects on the Salmo 119: 1–2, 4– 5, 17–18, 33–34 1 th 6 Sunday in Ordinary Time Corintios 2: 6–10 Mateo 5: 17–37 Readings: Sirach 15:15–20 Psalm 119:1–2, 4– Jesús nos dice en el 5, 17–18, 33–34 1 Corinthians 2:6–10 Evangelio esta Matthew 5:17–37 semana que no ha venido para abolir Jesus tells us in the Gospel this week that He has come not sino para "cumplir" la Ley de Moisés y las enseñanzas de to abolish but to “fulfill” the Law of Moses and the los profetas. teachings of the prophets. Su Evangelio revela el significado más profundo y el His Gospel reveals the deeper meaning and purpose of the propósito de los Diez Mandamientos y la Ley moral del Ten Commandments and the moral Law of the Old Antiguo Testamento. Pero su evangelio también trasciende Testament. But His Gospel also transcends the Law. He la ley. Exige una moralidad mucho mayor que la lograda demands a morality far greater than that accomplished by por los judíos más piadosos, los escribas y fariseos. the most pious of Jews, the scribes and Pharisees. La observancia externa de la Ley no es suficiente. No es Outward observance of the Law is not enough. It is not suficiente que no matemos, cometamos adulterio, enough that we do not murder, commit adultery, divorce, divorciemos o mientamos. or lie. La ley del nuevo pacto es una ley que Dios escribe en el The law of the new covenant is a law that God writes on corazón (véase Jeremías 31: 31–34). El corazón es el the heart (see Jeremiah 31:31–34). The heart is the asiento de nuestras motivaciones, el lugar de donde seat of our motivations, the place from which our words proceden nuestras palabras y acciones (ver Mateo 6:21; 15: and actions proceed (see Matthew 6:21; 15:18–20). 18–20). Jesús esta semana nos llama a entrenar nuestros Jesus this week calls us to train our hearts, to master our corazones, a dominar nuestras pasiones y emociones. Y passions and emotions. And Jesus demands the full Jesús exige la plena obediencia de nuestros corazones (ver Romanos 6:17). Él nos llama a amar a Dios con todo obedience of our hearts (see Romans 6:17). He calls us nuestro corazón, y a hacer su voluntad desde el corazón to love God with all our hearts, and to do His will from the (ver Mateo 22:37; Efesios 6: 6). heart (see Matthew 22:37; Ephesians 6:6).

Dios nunca nos pide más de lo que somos capaces. Ese es God never asks more of us than we are capable of. That is el mensaje de la primera lectura de esta semana. Depende the message of this week’s First Reading. It is up to us to de nosotros elegir la vida sobre la muerte, elegir las aguas choose life over death, to choose the waters of eternal life de la vida eterna sobre los fuegos de la impiedad y el over the fires of ungodliness and sin. pecado.

By His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has shown us that Por su vida, muerte y resurrección, Jesús nos ha it is possible to keep His commandments. In Baptism, He demostrado que es posible guardar sus mandamientos. En has given us His Spirit that His law might be fulfilled in us el bautismo, nos ha dado su Espíritu para que su ley se (Romans 8:4). cumpla en nosotros (Romanos 8: 4).

The wisdom of the Gospel surpasses all the wisdom of this La sabiduría del Evangelio supera toda la sabiduría de esta age that is passing away, St. Paul tells us in the Epistle. The era que está pasando, nos dice San Pablo en la Epístola. La revelation of this wisdom fulfills God’s plan from before all revelación de esta sabiduría cumple el plan de Dios desde ages. antes de todas las edades.

Let us trust in this wisdom, and live by His kingdom law. Confiemos en esta sabiduría y vivamos por la ley de Su

reino. Como lo hacemos en el Salmo de esta semana, As we do in this week’s Psalm, let us pray that we grow in recemos para que crezcamos y podamos vivir mejor su being better able to live His Gospel, and to seek the Father Evangelio y buscar al Padre con todo nuestro corazón. with all our heart.

The Story of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order Can you imagine seven prominent men of Boston or Denver banding together, leaving their homes and professions, and going into solitude for a life directly given to God? That is what happened in the cultured and prosperous city of Florence in the middle of the 13th century. The city was torn with political strife as well as the heresy of the Cathari, who believed that physical reality was inherently evil. Morals were low and religion seemed meaningless.

In 1240, seven noblemen of Florence mutually decided to withdraw from the city to a solitary place for prayer and direct service of God. Their initial difficulty was providing for their dependents, since two were still married and two were widowers.

Their aim was to lead a life of penance and prayer, but they soon found themselves disturbed by constant visitors from Florence. They next withdrew to the deserted slopes of Monte Senario.

In 1244, under the direction of Saint Peter of Verona, O.P., this small group adopted a religious habit similar to the Dominican habit, choosing to live under the Rule of St. Augustine and adopting the name of the Servants of Mary. The new Order took a form more like that of the mendicant friars than that of the older monastic Orders.

Members of the community came to the United States from Austria in 1852 and settled in New York and later in Philadelphia. The two American provinces developed from the foundation made by Father Austin Morini in 1870 in Wisconsin. Community members combined monastic life and active ministry. In the monastery, they led a life of prayer, work and silence while in the active apostolate they engaged in parochial work, teaching, preaching, and other ministerial activities.

The time in which the seven Servite founders lived is very easily comparable to the situation in which we find ourselves today. It is “the best of times and the worst of times,” as Dickens once wrote. Some, perhaps many, feel called to a countercultural life, even in religion. All of us are faced in a new and urgent way with the challenge to make our lives decisively centered in Christ. The Catholic Church What is the spiritual significance of the celebrates Feast of The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle? The Chair of St. Peter, According to Pope Benedict XVI: The Apostle This is a very ancient tradition, proven to have existed in nd Rome since the fourth century. On it we give thanks to God on February 22 for the mission he entrusted to the Apostle Peter and his Successors. "Cathedra" literally means the established seat of the What is the Bishop, placed in the mother church of a diocese which for this reason is known as a "cathedral"; it is the symbol of Chair of Peter? the Bishop's authority and in particular, of his It depends on what you "magisterium", that is, the evangelical teaching which, as a mean. On the one hand, successor of the Apostles, he is called to safeguard and to there is a physical object--an ancient, ornamented chair-- transmit to the Christian Community. . . . located in the apse of St. Peter's Basilica. On the other hand, there is the spiritual authority that this chair The See of Rome, after St Peter's travels, thus came to be represents. recognized as the See of the Successor of Peter, and its What is the physical Chair of St. Peter? Bishop's "cathedra" represented the mission entrusted to This object--known as the Cathedra Petri (Latin, "Chair him by Christ to tend his entire flock. . . . of Peter")--is located in the apse of St. Peter's Basilica. It Celebrating the "Chair" of Peter, therefore, as we are doing is in the back of the chamber, behind the famous altar, on today, means attributing a strong spiritual significance to it the far, back wall, below the the well-known, stained and recognizing it as a privileged sign of the love of God, glass image depicting the Holy Spirit as a dove (see the eternal Good Shepherd, who wanted to gather his picture). This display contains an ancient chair that has whole Church and lead her on the path of salvation been repaired and ornamented over time. [General Audience, Feb. 22, 2006].

In 1057, Pope Stephen IX became determined to make Peter Damian a bishop, a goal he accomplished only by demanding the monk's obedience under threat of excommunication. Consecrated as the Bishop of Ostia in November of that year, he also joined the College of Cardinals and wrote a letter encouraging its members to set an example for the whole Church.

With Pope Stephen's death in 1058, and the election of his successor Nicholas II, Peter's involvement in Church controversies grew. He supported Pope Nicholas against a rival claimant to the papacy, and went to Milan as the Pope's representative when a crisis broke out over canonical On Feb. 21, Catholics honor Saint Peter Damian, a and moral issues. There, he was forced to confront rioters Benedictine monk who strove to purify the Church during who rejected papal authority. the early years of its second millennium. Peter, meanwhile, wished to withdraw from these In his Sept. 9, 2009 general audience on the saint, Pope controversies and return to the contemplative life. But Benedict XVI described him as "one of the most significant Nicholas' death in 1061 caused another papal succession figures of the 11th century ... a lover of solitude and at the crisis, which the cardinal-bishop helped to resolve in favor same time a fearless man of the Church, committed of Alexander II. That Pope kept the Cardinal Bishop of personally to the task of reform." Ostia occupied with a series of journeys and negotiations for the next six years. Born in 1007 in the Italian city of Ravenna, Peter belonged to a large family but lost both his father and mother early in In 1067, Peter Damian was allowed to resign his episcopate life. An older brother took the boy into his household, yet and return to the monastery at Fonte Avellana. Two years treated him poorly. But another of Peter’s brothers, a priest, later, however, Pope Alexander needed his help to prevent took steps to provide for his education; and the priest's own the German King Henry IV from divorcing his wife. Peter name, Damian, became his younger brother’s surname. lived another two years in the monastery before making a pilgrimage to Monte Cassino, the birthplace of the Peter excelled in school while also taking up forms of Benedictine order. asceticism, such as fasting, wearing a hair shirt, and spending long hours in prayer with an emphasis on reciting In 1072, Peter returned to his own birthplace of Ravenna, to the Psalms. He offered hospitality to the poor as a means of reconcile the local church with the Pope. The monk's last serving Christ, and eventually resolved to embrace illness came upon him during his return from this final task, voluntary poverty through the Order of Saint Benedict. and he died after a week at a Benedictine monastery in Faenza during February of that year. The monks chosen to join, in the hermitage of Fonte Avellana, lived life devoted to the Cross of Christ through a St. Peter Damian was celebrated as a saint after his death in rigorous rule of life. They lived mainly on bread and water, many of the places associated with his life. In 1823, Pope prayed all 150 Psalms daily, and practiced many physical Leo XII named him a Doctor of the Church and extended mortifications. Peter embraced this way of life somewhat the observance of his feast day throughout the Church. excessively at first, which led to a bout with insomnia. Married Couples and Deeply versed in the Bible and the writings of earlier theologians, Peter developed his own theological acumen Priests: and became a skilled preacher. The leaders of other monasteries sought his help to build up their monks in "So be perfect, just as holiness, and in 1043 he took up a position of leadership as your heavenly Father the prior of Fonte Avellana. Five other hermitages were is perfect." Encourage established under his direction. the Holy Spirit to perfect your marriage Serious corruption plagued the Church during Peter's by taking part in a lifetime, including the sale of religious offices and Worldwide Marriage immorality among many of the clergy. Through his writings Encounter weekend and involvements in controversies of the day, the prior of on April 17-19 or June Fonte Avellana called on members of the hierarchy and religious orders to live outtheir commitments and strive for 26-28. You can get more information or apply holiness. online at GATN-wwme.org or by calling 678-242- WWME . For information on Encuentro Matrimonial Mundial: luchaportumatrimonio.org. Mayra L. Owen Cone & Associates CPAs, LLC Independent Senior Sales Director 770-833-8842 Accounting * Tax * Consulting Over 30 Years’ Experience Litigation Support * Financial Forensics www.marykay.com/mayraowen parishioner John T. Cone, CPA, ABV, CFF (706) 781-1700 * (706) 781-2502 (fax) [email protected] [email protected] www.conecpafirm.com

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