10/18/2026 – Build My Church

This weekend, I did not have the opportunity to celebrate 8:00 a.m. Mass with you. As the Vicar for Permanent Deacons for the Diocese of St. Augustine, I celebrate the 7:00 a.m. Mass on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month for the men who are preparing for the Permanent Diaconate. To avoid being away from our parish every month, a brother priest occasionally covers for me. I am grateful to Monsignor Frank, who celebrated with our community this past Sunday.

Over the past few weeks, I have experienced firsthand how active our parish is! It is incredible to see the number of activities we have held recently and all those planned for the coming weeks, especially as we enter the month of November.

The Spirit of the Lord is with us, guiding us by the hand and leading us toward a personal encounter with Him. In the Gospel of John, we hear these beautiful words: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). These words have been on my mind lately. I try to avoid watching the news too much because of the negativity it often brings. However, when we take our eyes off the Lord, it becomes easy to lose our way and allow our hearts to be filled with discouragement, sadness, anxiety, and spiritual dryness.

The parish life of St. Francis is filled with opportunities to hear and live the words the Lord offers us. Through our liturgies, ministries, gatherings, and acts of service, we encounter His presence in one another and grow closer to Him.

That is why I encourage you to become more actively involved in our parish family. We are a community that seeks to draw closer to God, discover His presence in the people around us, and live with the joy and happiness of knowing that we are His beloved children. May we continue to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, trust in His Word, and allow His Spirit to guide us each day. Together, let us continue building a parish where faith grows, hope is renewed, and the love of Christ is shared with everyone.