St. Francis Parish has been lauded for its welcoming atmosphere, and we strive to enhance further that experience for all who come to our campus. You may have noticed some improvements to the facilities at St. Francis in the past few months, but you may have yet to see all of them. The Welcome Center, located to the right of the sanctuary as you walk in from the side parking, the outdoor spaces between the Church and Fellowship Hall and the St. Francis Preschool, and the new video screens in the Church are more apparent improvements.
Stacey Shine, the parish’s Director of Engagement and Development, points out, “As we continue to grow and evolve as a parish, we must provide a warm and welcoming environment for both our longtime parishioners and those new to our community.” With that in mind, an exciting renovation is taking place. The Engagement Team helped to form a committee to consider changes. With evaluation and advice from experts in design, the committee proposed several priorities for the space to become our New Welcome Center. Stacey says, “This will be an area where parishioners can explore our many ministries and engage in them, especially our outreach and service initiatives. This space will also serve as a testament to our rich Franciscan heritage. It will be a place where newcomers can learn about our parish’s rich Franciscan history and mission and discover ways to get involved and become active participants in our community.” So far, the room’s warmth has been enhanced by incorporating a wood wall that prominently features bulletin boards to highlight our ministries and community events. In the center, two televisions serve distinct purposes: the left screen showcases stories, ministries, and the contributions of volunteers and staff who strengthen our community, while the right screen highlights upcoming events.
“As a specific vision for the center,” says Stacey, “the committee suggested a ‘History Wall’ that tells the tale of our parish’s journey—the humble beginnings, the challenges overcome, and the triumphs celebrated. This wall will serve as a reminder of our roots, a testament to our resilience, and a source of inspiration for future generations.” The development of this Welcome Center will align with our new parish strategic plan to cultivate a greater feeling of hospitality within our community. It will also reaffirm our commitment to living out the Franciscan values of humility, simplicity, and service. “It is a tangible expression of our mission to welcome all with open arms, to share the love of Christ, and to build a stronger, more inclusive community for the greater glory of God,” added Stacey.
The new outdoor space provides an area for conversations and even meetings to occur outside in the welcoming embrace of our North Carolina weather! It is also a place where faculty from the preschool and our staff can take a welcome break during their day to relax or have lunch, all while enjoying the birds’ call and the sun’s warmth. This new quiet spot also exudes a sense of welcome similar to what has been envisioned for the Welcome Center. These changes add to the openness and sense of inclusion that permeates our campus.
You can’t help but notice the addition of screens to the sanctuary space. The large screens in the church sanctuary are an opportunity to bring our community together to participate in Mass. How so? “Their usefulness,” says Father Chris Koehn, “is most noticed when we celebrate the Mass with our young people. The screens, very notably, increase the participation in prayer and song, uniting us as the living body of Christ.” With the lyrics available for all to see, the increased participation in the joyful songs associated with the liturgy and performed by the music ministry under Jim Wahl adds to the liturgical experience.
There are also more sublime, often small, changes that improve the sense of welcome. Subtle changes implemented to enhance how we welcome and accommodate visitors and parishioners have been added. Father Chris says, “There are now tissue boxes in the narthex, a small and hospitable element. The church’s candle boxes are clear, and the altar clothes are smaller. These alterations help to highlight the simple sightlines in our Franciscan tradition to emphasize the actions of the Mass and the importance of the people involved in the Mass.”
“We are constantly working to keep our facilities in good order to support the many gatherings of the parish’s families,” added Father Chris. Recently, improving drainage areas, updating heating and air conditioning units, and repairing roof leaks have occurred. Father Chris emphasizes, “We like all our facilities to function as a carefree backdrop to the mission of bringing people together in Jesus Christ.” The church always centered itself on the family model; just as our family homes change and update in many ways, so must the church update its facilities.
“Of course,” adds Pastor Chris, “We will continue to pilot ways for the church to increase our resource support.” These improvements all add to the welcoming experience here at St. Francis but do put demands on the parish’s financial resources. The current offertory will come under strain to sustain campus maintenance and staffing in the future. “We have to be open to increasing the culture of active participation and support at the parish,” says Father Chris. He is encouraging electronic giving and will continue to invite all to participate actively in growing and maintaining all that we have built at our parish over the years. Father Koehn encourages all to consider how “we want to be a strong family home to help all our families be strong. We want to be Jesus’ beautiful house of prayer for all people who come to St. Francis of Assisi Parish.”.
