St.Francis of Assisi Parish Flocknote News: To Keep in touch with us Text SFABS to 84576 – Or on line at sfoabarresouth.flocknote.com. There is a Icon next to Facebook. This way we can reach-out to you with  resources and more… Welcome New Parishioners We are so happy to have you at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. We recently changed our registration process. All you need do is either fill out the back of the Welcome flier in each of the pews or directly call the Parish Office at 978-355-2228. If when you call our office manager, it directs you to voice mail, leave your name and a telephone number and he will call you back. Did you know that Priscilla McGlynn is our Parish Outreach Coordinator? One of her responsibilities is sending cards to parishioners experiencing  illness, hospitalization or loss. Please call Priscilla at 508.822.3128 to let  her know who may need a card (please include their address)  so they know that they are in our thoughts & prayers. We have exciting news to share! We have some exciting news  regarding the Emergency Fund! It was started about ten years  ago as a way our parish could  have a few dollars to be able to  help when someone knocked  on the rectory door. More and more families have needed assistance over these past ten  years. Through the grace of God, the fund’s balance has grown along  with the scope of assistance. We are blessed with parishioners who give  to the fund on a regular basis. In addition, we have applied for and have  been granted a couple of grants. Just this year, we applied and received  a grant of $5,000 from the Barre/Fidelity Charitable Fund. The funds name has been changed to “St. Francis of Assisi Charitable Needs & Resources Fund”. The mission of our fund is to Help Families and Individuals in need by  assessing the needs for Food, Fuel & Utilities. The one-time assistance  will be assessed individually to the circumstances of each family. In  addition to helping with the immediate financial needs we will provide  clients with recommendation of other resources in the area for legal  assistance, housing, and counseling. If you need assistance or  know someone who needs assistance please contact Paula Wood at 978-355-2228 Ext. 6 Learn the five tools for a better marriage by signing up  and attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience You will be glad you did! You can find one by looking up WWME.org. Some of the dates to sign up are: April 11-May 23, 2024 (virtual 3RE) June 7-June 9, 2024 in Upton,, MA June 21-June 23, 2024 in Huntington, NY August 2-4, 2024 in Portland, CT Worldwide Marriage Encounter sponsors a variety of in-person and  virtual marriage experiences, some on weekends and some on seven  weekdays.  Couples explore their relationship with each other,  God, & the Church. Registration is limited; there is a $100 application fee. For more information or to apply, call Joe & Ginny Vatelle at 978-870-5646 or https://wwmema.org/ MONTHLY GUILD MEETING   Wednesday, May 8th · 6:30PM · St. Joseph's Hall Agenda: Craft Fair & Visitation House All Members of the Parish are Welcome Contact Mary Ann Jordan via email at mjordan92557@gmail.com for more information. The Women’s Guild of St. Francis Parish will once again be sponsoring THE 120 CLUB Tickets are available Because of the generosity of 47 parishioners, we have surpassed our goal of $25,000! Our parish has donated $28,593 towards the Diocesan mission of charity, education and ministry! By your support we are able to be God's helping hands, serving thousands of families and individuals throughout Worcester County. Thank You! The Artisans @ St. Francis of Assisi The Raffle Quilt and Christmas Fair Crafters will be meeting at St. Joseph’s Hall the 1st Thursday and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 10 AM- 12 PM. Sewers will be working on quilt blocks and crafters will be working on items for the  Christmas Craft Table. Knitters and Crocheters you are invited to bring your projects and join in this fellowship! Our next get-together will be May 1st . Can’t attend a day time meeting but want to  contribute? Please email Beth Cunningham at elizabethcunningham68@gmail.com. The St. Francis of Assisi Women’s Guild is sponsoring a Baby Bottle Drive for Visitation House Visitation House is a non-profit organization that empowers both mothers and babies. Women are able to find support and a welcoming home during their pregnancy. Women are  given the skills to be able to find employment, housing and the skills to be mothers for their little ones.  You can help Visitation House in three ways. 1. Take a baby bottle, and over the 40 days of Lent  save your dollars and coins in the bottle and return to the parish. We will see that your donation goes to  Visitation House. 2. Take one of the Envelopes and mail them a check or  return it to the parish and we will forward it to  Visitation House. 3. Make an on-line donation which can be a one time  gift or a monthly donation. Simply visit their website at www.Visitationhouse.org Tilling the Ground with Prayer A Three O’Clock Challenge In 1935, our Lord revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska that the most holy hour of the day is 3pm, the hour of Mercy, and that prayer during this time releases profound and powerful graces, as it was the moment Jesus offered Himself to the Father in expiation of our sins. The celebration of the Eucharist allows us to join Christ in that offering to His Father and commune with Him. Unfortunately, many no longer respond to Our Lord’s invitation to remember his passion, death, and resurrection in the Eucharistic Celebration. Jesus describes such a heart as barren ground; no longer fertile, as the seeds of his grace struggle to penetrate deep and take root so that they may bring about the transformation necessary to prepare for eternal life. In an effort to till that ground and allow grace and inspiration to flourish once again, our parish is launching, “Tilling the Ground with Prayer,” Continued where parishioners will be invited to join in prayer during the holiest hour of the day between 3pm and 4pm for loved ones who have fallen away. Fr. Jamie will pass hour cards with a simple prayer and explain this effort to help our loved ones come back home to God. The Three O'clock Hour Challenge Back in September Fr. Jamie introduced us to the fact that the 3 0'clock hour is said to be the holiest hour of the day. He passed out cards with the 3 O'clock prayer and challenged us to sign-up to pray the 3 O'clock Prayer and offer the sacrifice of being silent for 3 minutes for the intention: for all who have left the practice of the Faith .... At the time we had 34 people sign up to take this challenge If you didn't have a chance to sign-up, we have brought back the sign-up sheets in the back of each of our churches. You can pick-up a copy of the prayer too! For all who have signed up - Keep Persevering! You are not alone. If you find that you miss a day a two, or those 3 minutes seem like forever. Keep Going! Our prayers are tilling the hearts of our loved ones. * UPDATE * Tilling the Ground with Prayer At the end of August of 2023 our parish launched the Tilling the Ground with Prayer Campaign. Fr. Jamie introduced us to the 3 O’clock Challenge. We were asked to sign up to pray a very short prayer that was given to St. Faustina from Jesus sometime during what is called the Holiest Hour of the Day; 3-4  O’clock, be that in the afternoon or in the middle of night. We honor Jesus’s suffering and sacrifice for us by pausing for prayer. This week you will find Divine Mercy Prayer Cards in the pews for you to take. On the back of the card is the “Divine Mercy Chaplet”. You may want to add the Chaplet to your routine. If not, that’s okay – remember our goal is for us to unite our prayers as a parish for our loved ones who have fallen away. The Divine Mercy Prayer was written by Saint Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s. It reads: “Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.” The prayer calls upon God to show mercy to all people, regardless of their sins or shortcomings. It also acknowledges that Jesus’ death was an act of atonement for all humanity’s sins. The words of this prayer are meant to remind us that God’s mercy is infinite and available to all who seek it. Daily mass . Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 9AM . St. Thomas A Becket Daily Masses are canceled when school is delayed/canceled due to weather  Please remember St. Francis of Assisi Parish has an Emergency Fund* to help those in need. If you as a parishioner, or if you know of anyone in the Barre/Oakham area that may need assistance please call Paula Wood at 978-355-2228 Ext. 6 All inquiries are strictly confidential. BEREAVEMENT COMMITTEE The Women’s Guild Bereavement Committee will be re-organizing so that once again we will be able to offer lunches for families at a time of loss. These lunches take a lot planning and co-ordination, so a lot of help is needed! The lunch menu consists of a selection of four filled sandwiches, fruit cup, relish tray, chips baked goods and coffee for a cost of $5.00 per plate. We will be looking for donations of fillings, of egg salad, tuna salad, ham salad or turkey salad, baked goods, and kitchen help on the day of the event. If you are able to help in any of these areas, please sign up with your name, phone number and indicate the areas where you could help. Sign up sheets are in the back of the church. Thank you!       Photo's of St. Joesph & St.Thomas Becket courtesy of https://statues.vanderkrogt.net Church of St.Thomas-a-Becket and St. Joseph Chapel Are Wheelchair Accessible Diocese of Worcester ©Copyright St.Francis of Assisi Parish 2013-2024. All rights reserved. 398 Vernon Ave., P.O. Box 186 South Barre, MA 01074 fax (978) 355-0042 • Office phone (978) 355-2228

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