the catholic community of st. francis of assisi
Confirming Your Faith
Did you know that it was the belief in the great importance of the Eucharist by Pope Pius X (Pope from 1903-1914) that led to the First Eucharist being moved to a younger age and flipped with the Sacrament of Confirmation? According to Tim Hetzel, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at St. Francis, whose undergraduate thesis was on Confirmation, says, ”It was Pope Pius X who saw people weren’t receiving communion; they would receive it maybe once or twice a year, an Easter and Christmas kind of thing. Even if they would go to Mass, they didn’t feel worthy to receive it, or it wasn’t really part of the culture to receive it.” That broke his heart because he believed the Eucharist was so important to the faith that people should receive it regularly. Accordingly, and he was very smart, said Tim, “He said, ‘I’m going to change the age that people receive their first communion from sometime in adolescence to the age of 7.’”
“Well,” you may ask, “what age did they use to receive their First Eucharist?” Great question! Tim points out, “First Eucharist used to be in adolescence, in most of the Western world; so like 11, 12, 13. And what Pope Pius’s thought was, and it was very smart, and I think we see the results of it now, is if we get the kids to receive communion and build that habit up with the younger children, they will continue to receive, and they’ll teach their kids to receive. Here we are today, and it’s worked. The problem was, when he made that change, he didn’t say anything about Confirmation.”
Volunteer Spotlight: Pam James
Pam James can weave, and not just a great story! Pam has been in Weaver’s Guilds, each with over 200 members, in three different states, Colorado, Texas, and North Carolina, and has been an avid weaver and mixed media artist for a long time. Every two years, there is a convention where she says, “Every well-known weaver attends and is probably teaching a class.” This past year, the convention was in Wichita, Kansas, where she entered a piece in the Mixed Media category and won 3rd Place!
How does this correlate to her work at St. Francis? She weaves her love of art with her leadership of the ‘Care for Creation’ ministry at St. Francis. “I’ve always been a bit of an ‘eco-freak,’” says Pam,” I grew up with the idea that you mustn’t waste. My sister-in-law is kind enough to call me resourceful, but I’m just cheap! I’ve always asked myself, ‘Why would I throw that away? I can use that.’” She exclusively uses ‘recycled yarn’ in weaving, embracing the ‘reuse’ principle of Care for Creation.
Ministry Spotlight: Lectors
“At St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church,” says ministry coordinator Mike Wrzesien, “the lector ministry plays a vital role in the celebration of the Mass. Lectors are more than just readers; they are proclaimers of the Word of God, tasked with bringing the sacred scriptures to life for the parish community.” As those who attend Mass at St. Francis know, the dedication and reverence our lectors demonstrate help to foster a deeper understanding and connection to the divine message within the congregation.
“The primary responsibility of a lector,” adds Mike, “is to proclaim the scripture readings during Mass, which typically include the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Prayers of the Faithful.” These readings are not simply a recitation but an act of service and faith. He emphasizes, “A well-prepared lector reads with clarity, conviction, and reverence, ensuring that the words are heard and understood by all the faithful in attendance.” Through their tone, pace, and emphasis, lectors can illuminate the meaning and significance of the biblical texts. Lectors strive to embody the spirit of the readings, resonating within the hearts of parishioners to make the Word truly alive and relevant.
