Pastoral Letters

Pastoral Letter – New Year 2023
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,
 
I am immensely happy to write this to you as we are entering into the New Year. May this year bring God’s blessings to us and to everyone who comes into our lives. Hope you all enjoy reading Matthew Kelly’s book: “Holy moments”, a handbook for the rest of our lives.
      
Let us count on the blessings that we have had this past year 2022: the opportunity to come together to worship and celebrate the sacraments; the celebration of dedicating the new Altar and the Crucifix, marking the conclusion of one hundred years of witnessing life;  the number of volunteers who stepped up to serve; the new families who have joined our parish this year; the sizeable increase in the enrollment of students in our school; the generous donors of our parish and all the families for the regular financial commitment. The list can and will go on. We wouldn’t have achieved all these without you. THANK YOU!         
 
Baptistry Project: One last project in commemoration of our centennial year is to build a Baptistry at the entrance of our church. We do have a design and plan, and there will be a rendering of the same in the narthex soon. You may look forward to the updates. It will be a great welcoming fountain for everyone who walks into the church for communal worship and personal prayer.
 
Going forward, we will have a few changes in the faith formation program in our parish.
 
· Faith formation program in St. Francis parish (Church & School) is family-based, with all activities geared toward building the parish family.
· Events include:

· Family faith class & discussion (every first Sunday of the month).
· Community faith activity (every last Sunday of the month).
· Quarterly/bi-annual meeting for the parents of all children in the sacramental preparation classes.    

· All sacramental preparations (First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation) will be held in the church.
· First Holy Communion preparation is a two-year program, with First Reconciliation prep in the first grade and the Holy Communion prep in the second grade. 
· St. Francis School will continue to have the religious education for all grades, as an integral part of the curriculum.
· There is no change in the sacramental preparation program this year. The changes will take effect from 2023-24.        
 
As we begin the new year, I would like to personally thank every member of our parish family for all that you have done – serving, sharing and caring. May all your efforts bring to us the great gifts of this joyous season – love, joy and peace! May the Newborn King bless each and every one with those gifts! May His Eternal Mother protect all of us in her maternal mantle and assure us of all those blessings!
 
Wish you all a GRACE-FILLED NEW YEAR 2023!  
 
Thank you and God bless! 
 
Fr. Amal