Friday, March 23, 2012

Thank you for the Shelter at St. Francis Gym!!


Our St. Francis community hosted the Shelter Association's Rotating Homeless Shelter from March 12th to March 19th. About 20 men stayed in our gymnasium each evening. Almost 105 adults and students from St. Francis and Gabriel Richard supported the shelter. Their service included driving the men to and from the Delonis Center each day, providing snacks and beverages as well as serving food and drinks to the men each evening.

Adults as well as students with their parents also served as members of host teams staying overnight in the gym. St. Francis School participated in the shelter program through an ambitious service project. Students contributed personal care items, snacks and drinks for use by each of our overnight guests. All items remaining at the end of the week were donated to the Delonis Center in support of their ongoing work for the homeless. 

Thank you to all the students and volunteers who made this week possible!   And, Steve Lavender!!! Our coordinator.  Thank you!!!    Thank you all:  Justin Akinleye, Julie Allison-Conlin,  Michael Andaya, Joseph Arozarena, Robert Berarducci, Herbert Black, Andrew Blower, Daniel Blower, Pat Bogits, Rock Collins, Edward Conlin, Bob Conlin, Paul Crossley, Barbara Dankert,  Mariana DeMichele, Daniel Demlow, Katy Derezinski, Alexa Deutschmann, Kurt Deutschmann, Roy Deutschmann, AJ Diedrich, Drew Diedrich, Kellene Dishman, Ruthann Distler, Patti Dobbs, Gregory Dull, Nathan Dull, John Dunlap, Karen Dunlap, Thomas DuRussel-Weston, Libby Edwards, Lisa Edwards, Michael Edwards, Kristian Fansler, Brian Fitzgerald, John Fleszar, Jeff Fosdick, Mark Gawronski, Kelly Haas, Harmony Heath, Jane Heibel, Paul Hoffrichter, Jeff Holden, Steven Holodnick, Eduardo Icaza, Marty Javornisky, William Johnston, Philip Kearney, Chris Kempton, Rosaleen Kirk, Brian Koepele, Florence Kruzas, Bill LaCroix, Julie Lavender, Steve Lavender, Tian Lian, Marty Lucas, Marty Lutz, Alex MacKendrick, Theresa MacLean, Bernice Mathews, Cicie Miller, Johnny Miller, John Miller, Ann Moln, Bruce Moln, Lisa Morris, Tracy Nagy, Deborah Oberdoerster, Carl Opp, Stuart Parker, Robert Patulski, Kevin Pitcher, Barbara Pomey, Diane Purcell, Caitlyn Ryan, Ellery Sarosi, Kimm Sarosi, Matilyn Sarosi, Christina Schnug, Edward Scott, Kay Sekerak, Sam Singleton-Freeman, Michael Spath, Jim Spicer, John Paul Stando, Alyse Stemm, Christina Strahan, Emily Stumpo, Mark Sturgis, Tricia Suttmann, Emma Targett, Matthew Targett, Joe Tiberi, Aaron Tishkoff, David Traster, Anthony Waas, Dayamal Waas, Tuffin Wagner, Mary Wakefield, Tom Wakefield, Deanthony White, Jim Wiseman, Tristram Wolf, Sharon Wright, Jerry Wrubel, David Ziemba, Jacqueline Ziemba, & Rita Zyber.

Posted by at 6:09 AM 0 comments

Thanks for the Food Drive from St. Francis

Thanks for St. Francis Food Drive

We collected more than 469 bags of groceries. 
We distributed the following:
-     30 bags to Perry Nursery;
-    133 bags to CSS Northside;
-    156 bags to HOPE;
-     50 bags to Corpus Christi, Detroit;
-     85 bags to Community Treatment;
469 bags TOTAL.

Thanks to all of you especially those of you who went shopping.  And, thanks to our project coordinator, Mary Hayden, and, to her assistants, Linda Wiseman, and Mike Nazareth, as well as, everyone who worked on this project... stapling and handing out bags, drivers (Most of whom made numerous trips.), All of you are appreciated:  Norma, Julie Allison-Conlin, Amy Arozarena, Joseph Arozarena, Bob Conlin, MaryCarol Conroy, Alexa Deutschmann, Kurt Deutschmann, Patrice Deutschmann, Roy Deutschmann, John Dolson, Kathleen Downer, Christine Feak, Marilyn Fitzpatrick, Mary Hayden, Jordan Howes, Andrea Kempton, Andrew Kempton, Chris Kempton, Lillian Kempton, Miriam Kempton, Thomas Kempton, Rosaleen Kirk, Christopher Mollo, Ann Moln, Bruce Moln, Tiberius Moran, Emilee Nazareth, Joseph Nazareth, Michael Nazareth, Sarah Nazareth, Colleen Regan, Ann Scott, Edward Scott, Julie Soyer, Tricia Suttmann, Emma Targett, Matthew Targett, Kathi Tobey, Jim Wiseman, Linda Wiseman, Megan (Wiseman), Nucharee (Wiseman), Edward Wright, & Sharon Wright, and the wonderful Gabriel Richard student who assisted in the gym! She was super. 




Posted by at 6:07 AM 0 comments

Monday, March 12, 2012

Civil Dialogue - Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

Civil Dialogue:  
In their Introductory Note to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the Catholic bishops of the United States urge Catholics to "contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue." In the following essay, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, reflects on how Catholics can carry out this call to civil dialogue.

Civil Discourse: Speaking Truth in Love By Cardinal Donald Wuerl.


To download this and other helpful resources, visit www.faithfulcitizenship.org!

Posted by at 2:04 PM 0 comments

Anti-Human Trafficking Chain

Anti-Human Trafficking Chain
held by Tom Wakefield & Pietropaolo Family After 5:00 pm Mass 3/11/2012.  Photo by Mary Wakefield.


THANK YOU for Adding Your Link to Justice, helping to Strengthen MI's Anti-Human Trafficking Legislation and Taking a Stand against human trafficking - slavery - in Michigan!

We have over 150 links.  The Paper Chain Event went well this past weekend at St. Francis.

We especially want to acknowledge those who worked the table: the Don & Anne Courtois, Linda & Jim Wiseman & their family, Kelly Gauthier and family members, and Tom & Mary Wakefield.   And we appreciate Mary Wakefield for taking on the essential work of coordinating the table!


THANK YOU for your interest and for your participation and passion for social justice!!

See our additional events and future efforts list here at:    Human Trafficking
Posted by at 9:08 AM 0 comments

Monday, March 5, 2012

Justice Prayer Partners March 2012


Dear Justice Prayer Partners:

Each month on the day just after our St. Francis' Monday evening Peace and Justice Committee meeting we make this special prayer request.   St. Francis Peace and Justice Committee meets next on Monday evening, of Holy Week, April 2nd at 7:30 pm in the St. Francis School Library.

Thanks for your continued prayer... especially for the success of our Lenten efforts to serve the poor and the vulnerable in our community, and pray that we will all be motivated to live the gospel by caring for and advocating for those in need, our "Neighbors in Need"   http://www.stfrancisa2.com/church-community/outreach/lenten-efforts/almsgiving


Please pray for these, our efforts in the next month(s):

We are seeking ideas for assisting tornado victims in Illinois.


Thursday, April 5th, 2012, Special Collection Holy Thursday - Donations during the Mass of the Last Supper will go to support the work of LifeStraw. Visit http://www.rotarywaterprojects.org/ for more information and to watch videos about LifeStraw.  You can also search on “LifeStraw” at YouTube for additional informational videos.
              Most of us barely give clean drinking water any thought at all.  We simply go to the nearest faucet or drinking fountain and presto:  clear, clean drinking water.  Unfortunately, for millions of people around the world, mostly in developing nations, it is far from this simple. 


Thursday, April 12th, 2012, Homelessness Highlight Event:  at St. Francis Parish Activities Center, Ann Arbor, representatives from organizations serving people who are homeless in Washtenaw County. 





Sunday, April 15th, 2012, Big House Big Heart Run:   Mary Wakefield is soliciting sponsors; the money will support RAAH in their efforts to fight homelessness locally.  If you are interested in sponsoring Mary, please email her at mwakefeld140796mi@comcast.net or call her at 973-6113.  For information on the Run, visit: www.thebighousebigheart.com




In the past month:
Our Peacemakers Peace Training was attended by about 25 people.   See photos!


~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have time for additional prayers, please remember to pray for these additional St. Francis Parish Social Service efforts:





March 12 - March 19, 2012, Shelter at St. Francis Gym: help with hosting approximately 25-35 homeless men from our community. Help as a host one night, or, provide snacks, or, be a driver one evening or one morning.  Please sign-up by Mar 6, 2012. Or, Contact: Stephen Lavender slavende@att.net (734-973-2564)   Please sign-up to help!



Sat & Sunday, March 10th & 11th, 2012, help (at the end of a Mass) to distribute the empty grocery bags and shopping lists on the weekend prior to the  Food-Drive-Delivery to our grocery and food pantries in Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti for the needy in our area.    

Sunday, March 18th, 2012, return the groceries in the bag at Masses, and, help deliver and move the grocery bags in  the gym.  Contact: the Parish Social Ministry Office, (734-821-2121) justice@stfrancisa2.org .  Please sign-up to help!

Saturdays, February to April, For 12 weeks each year, parishioners volunteer their time to assist individuals in need with filing their Income Tax Return Forms, if they have limited income and simple tax returns. Sign-up here.

Friday, March 16th, 2012, and, every third Friday evening of the month, Prepare and Serve a Meal with a crew from St. Francis at the Ann Arbor Food Gatherers' Community Kitchen, located in the Delonis Center, Shelter, 312 W. Huron, Ann Arbor, MI.   To Serve Supper for the Hungry Twelve (12) volunteers (6 per shift) are needed for each meal.  To volunteer: Fill Out and Submit the volunteer form at   https://stfrancisa2.wufoo.com/forms/serve-meal-for-the-hungry/   
 If you have any questions our St. Francis Parish contact person is: Bridget McGillicuddy (734-883-9112) abcuddy@gmail.com . 

Saturday, March 24th, 2012, Jail Volunteers’ Orientation.  Scott Wright  swright@stfrancisa2.org    (734-821-2121).  


Are you seeking a service project or opportunity?  Go to the "Sign-up Forms" at:  stfrancisa2.com/sign-up-forms 


Posted by at 8:12 PM 0 comments

Sustainable Garden Project: Seed Sale Sunday April 15th

Sustainable Garden Project:  Seed Sale Sunday April 15th
Click Here to visit our blog page for St. Francis Sustainable Garden Project, which supports the hungry, struggling single parent families of our area. We use a garden plot in front of the St. Francis rectory where we grow and harvest herbs, vegetables and flowers. In past years each harvest has produced over 180 lbs. of produce- all delivered to the pantry at Perry Nursery School of Ann Arbor, - child care center for single-parent low-income families. Questions? Contact: Erich Jensen (734-996-1439)
Posted by at 6:54 PM 0 comments
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