|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Masses:
We are happy you chose to visit our parish. As you will soon discover, our parish community is very alive and friendly. It offers many opportunities for spiritual growth and development and involvement in parish activities. As a stewardship parish, we are well aware that God has blessed each of us with a variety of talents. The opportunities to use our talents for God, his church and for others is limited only by our imagination.
Our parish is the legacy of generations of fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers and disciples. It is the fruits of their “good stewardship” which remains the heart of our parish today. Though we are proud of our facilities, it is indeed the PEOPLE that are the parish, and it always has been so. With the advent of the Ohio Canal, and then the railroads, Newark grew rapidly, and so did the parish. In 1858, a second church, seating 300 was built. In 1884, with 2000 parishioners, the third, and present church was built. When it was dedicated in 1887, it was the largest church west of the Alleghenies, and had the finest choir in the state. Parishioners, young and old, volunteered to clean the bricks from the old church, for use in building a new large 10-room school. EDUCATION of the children has always been of prime importance. In 1850, shortly after the first church was built, a school was established in a private home. When the second church was built in 1858, the first church building was converted into an on-site school. There followed a succession of school buildings and expansions until we had a fully accredited four - year high school program. The high school program was transferred out of the parish to become the regional diocesan Newark Catholic High School, which opened in the fall of 1958. Today we have a comprehensive K through 8 school with modern classrooms, a cafeteria and staff, extensive library, a recently completed modern computer lab, recreation and gymnasium facilities – and an effective staff and program that makes the most of the facilities. Recent enrollment has averaged 500-600. GROWTH was relentless, and the parish was repeatedly subdivided: Blessed Sacrament to the east in 1904, St. Edward’s in Granville to the west in 1946, and St. Leonard’s to the south in 1962. Currently there are about 1900 families in the parish. CHANGE was also part of our growth. In 1964, Vatican II issued the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Msgr. Herman Mattingly, our pastor, who had been appointed the first chairman of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission for compliance, initiated the changes in our church facilities, which were to continue until 1992. It was then that Msgr. William Johnson completed our major renovation of the church for the Sesquicentennial celebration of the parish. With the altar located close to the people, attention is focused on the Mass. The Eucharistic Chapel, (off to the side) is a wonderful setting for a quiet interlude with God – away from all distractions. The Chapel of the Annunciation (the “Day Chapel” - named for it’s stained glass lunette window) is behind the main altar, and provides a wonderful, intimate setting for daily mass and other devotions. The Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and St. Francis de Sales, each have their own shrine. Light shinning through the modern - faceted stained glass windows reminds of us God’s universal presence.
PEOPLE, however, are the heart of the parish. It was with this in mind, that Msgr. William Johnson, immediately after the 1992 celebration, initiated the drive for the construction of a parish activity center. There was an acute need for facilities: meeting rooms, offices, and a hall where many different things could take place. Lamy Center, (the cap - stone of parish facilities), was built and dedicated in September of 1994. Sadly, Msgr. Johnson barely lived to see the dedication. He had been suffering from a brain tumor, and died on December 27, 1994. Shortly after his death, a beautiful statue of Father Lamy, which Msgr. Johnson had commissioned as his gift to the center, was enshrined in the lobby of the center. As he had envisioned, the Lamy Center quickly became the focal point, and catalyst, for all kinds of parish activities. The Center, like the Church, is fully accessible to everyone. The parish has much to offer, and the Parish Council and other Steering Committees, are continuously adding new activities as the needs arise. Whether you are looking for worship, personal, religious enrichment, some kind of help or support, or you want to give of your time and talent, the opportunity is waiting for you. A recent enumeration listed about 130 activities in which one can participate. LITURGY/WORSHIP is central to the parish. Included are Sunday and weekday Masses, special occasion Masses, four choirs – adult, youth, folk and funeral, Fruit of the Vine, Holy Hours, Special Devotions, personal Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Reconciliation Services, the Prayer Line, Devotional Study Groups, Missions and Retreats. There are also individual and group preparations for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage. PASTORAL MINISTRY brings the Parish to those who are confined to homes, hospitals, and nursing facilities, bringing them Holy Communion, Prayer Support, and a reminder that the parish cares. It also includes the Evangelization Committee - reaching out to inactive Catholics and the un-churched, the Sonshine Committee - offering support to families in crisis, and transportation to Sunday Mass.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION is another core function of the parish. There are three functional areas, all of which wouldbenefit from any kind of volunteer help. The Parish School has always been an integral part of the parish with strong and enthusiastic parishioner support. The Religious Education Program provides the continuing education of parishioners ranging from pre-K to grade 12, including our Life Teen Program, which is a total youth ministry program for 9-12 graders, with a strong focus on the Eucharist. We have religious education for all ages, including Sunday School, Jr. High Day Camp, and Vacation Bible School. There are also special study groups for adults. Such as Prayer Partners & Spiritual Enrichment programs. These programs have the continuing need for Catechists (Teachers) and substitutes, aids, Sacramental Tutors, Day Camp, and Bible School Tutors. The RCIA / CIC provides the education of Adult and Youth Converts who are studying to join our Faith and our parish. There are always opportunities for Catechists, Hospitality, Scripture Facilitators, and Sponsors. Youth K-12 often has it’s own Children’s Liturgies with all the same opportunities for participation as for adults. They provide most of the servers for the Liturgy and even have their own choir. Other activities include babysitting, scouting, classroom aids, visitation of the sick and aged, and their own youth group. Included are many opportunities for social interaction. PARISH LIFE is what makes the parish a community. These include a wide variety of activities: Socializing includes Active Retired Citizens, Adult Sports, Women of St. Francis, Knights of Columbus, Parish Picnic, Social Hour, Widows /Widowers, Young Adults, Young Mothers, Men's and Women's Groups. Social Concerns include Bereavement Support, Respect Life, Clothing Drive, Operation Rice Bowl, St. Vincent de Paul, Home Sponsorship, Response to Emergency Needs of Parish Family and Community, and the Welcoming Committee. Enrichment includes Christ Renews His Parish, Marriage Encounter, Natural Family Planning, as well as Participation in special ad hoc organizations as the need arises. Parish Services include the behind-the-scenes lay operations that keep the parish going; Parish Council, Office Staff, Computer, Secretarial, Weekly Bulletin, News & Views staff, the Stewardship Committee, Financial Responsibility, as well as; Cemeteries Management, and General Maintenance. We believe that the community of St. Francis de Sales, because of the extensive and continuing participation of its parishioners, has much to offer: If you need help in any way, be it spiritual, social, emotional, or financial, just ask, and we’ll do our best to help.
If you want to help in any way be it spiritual, emotional or financial, skilled or unskilled, just say the word and join us in God’s work. STEWARDSHIP is the very essence of a life with Christ. God has blessed each of us with a variety of talents. The opportunities to use our talents for God, for His Church, and for others, are limited only by our imagination. To be able to use a responsible, creative share of our gifts of time and talent for God’s special purposes is truly an act of worship. To be able to come to Mass each week and offer to God a week of talents well spent, and treasure well distributed, is indeed the goal of Christian Stewardship. If you have any questions concerning the parish, please feel free to call me at the Parish House at 740-345-9874. Working Together in Christ,
|
|||||||||||||
|
Sights | Sounds | Volunteers | Sponsors | Food Pantry Network info@sightsandsoundsofchristmas.org
|
||||||||||||||
