the catholic community of st. francis of assisi
Jubilee Year of St. Francis
Welcome to a sacred year of reflection, renewal, and joyful celebration as we honor the Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi. Rooted in the spirit of humility, peace, and deep reverence for all creation, this Jubilee invites our community to rediscover the timeless wisdom of St. Francis and live more intentionally in harmony with God, one another, and the world around us.
Throughout this year, we will come together as a community in prayer, service, and celebration, embracing the Franciscan call to simplicity, compassion, and care for all living things.
From Cardboard Shrine to Parish Church: One Woman's Story
In the 1980s, a few years after St. Francis of Assisi Parish opened in North Raleigh, the North Carolina Catholic publication ran a story by someone who was familiar with the area. Bryna Bozart, who wrote the article, recounted her early life on her family’s farm in Wake County. She was surprised to see her family’s former farm was now the home, as near as she could tell, of the new St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
Bryna remembered in that article: “When I was a child between the ages of 10 and 16, I grew up in a rural area about 12 miles from the city limits of Raleigh. In the summer, out of school, my days were filled with farm chores, animals, and loneliness, for I was a child of the vast fields and woods of the South. With no friends my age in the area, I was often left to my own devices to seek companionship.” She and her family were Catholic and would travel to Sacred Heart Cathedral for Mass on Sundays.
Altar Servers & Thurifers
We see them every time we are at Mass: the altar servers who assist the priest. Many of us may have served as altar servers many years ago, and those who did know how vital these young girls and boys are to our clergy and to those attending Mass. As Ministry Coordinator Karina Miranda says, “The Altar Server Ministry at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a ministry of faith, service, dedication, and spiritual growth. It serves God and the Church through active participation in the liturgy, and is a great way to involve kids in the Liturgy.”
The Altar Server Ministry emphasizes the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and helps young people understand the Mass, grow in faith, and serve the Church with devotion.
