St. Francis of Assisi Parish

I met one of my dearest friends here at St. Francis. It was a time that I needed “a friend.”

My dad was getting much older and experiencing health issues. I also cared for his older sister and had to place her in a nursing home. I was still working and between their care, household duties, and running once or twice a week to the nursing home, I was experiencing total burnout.

But St. Francis gave me peace and comfort and sent a bright light my way. We started by waving to each other and smiling. Then one day we reached out to each other, and I learned that she too, had a mother who depended on her. We became “fast, good, and close friends.”

Thank you, my Lord and St. Francis, for granting me this gift! - DD

When I first came to St. Francis Parish, I met with Father Vern. He was so welcoming! I then met Louise, with her beautiful smile and she was welcoming also!

At daily Mass one day, I sat next to Lee Wallace, and she asked, “Are you new?” I said, “Yes” and she was so welcoming too!

Then later, Louise called me and asked if I would head up the Prayer Shawl Ministry, as the woman who used to do that had died. I said “Yes” and have enjoyed that ministry immensely!

Welcoming newcomers with genuine smiles and opportunities to join a ministry touched my heart - BM

I was going to St. Francis for a week and made an appointment for reconciliation. I made my own Act of Contrition, and it said I sinned not once or ten times or even a thousand. I went to mass before reconciliation. In his homily, Father Darcy said God will forgive us even if we have sinned once, ten times or a thousand. It was exactly what I had written, I knew then that the Holy Spirit filled this place. - Anonymous

I had the pleasure of working with a beautiful loving and caring woman while at Baystate Mary Lane. Our lives parted ways, but I always had hopes that we would once again be connected. At a large Women of Grace meeting, where masks were worn, I glanced over and recognized someone, not being able to place her. I walked over to her afterwards and to my delight, it was my beautiful friend from long ago. We see each other regularly and talk on the phone nightly. - JC

It started at morning Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church. I was praying, before Mass, that God would cure our friends with Parkinson’s, and my husband’s rheumatoid arthritis. I looked across the aisle and saw a neighbor of ours, deep in prayer, as well. I had heard a couple years earlier that her husband was on dialysis and was hoping to get a kidney transplant. I wondered if he had gotten one yet – Or if she was praying, as I was, for a cure for her husband.

My mind wandered (as it often does) and I thought, “God, if You will cure my husband’s arthritis, I’ll donate a kidney, if he still needs one.”

My Catholic education immediately kicked in, and I know it was wrong to make a “deal” with God. But then a voice in my head said, “give him a kidney.” I answered, “OK,” and started thinking about where to start.

I figured he still needed one, or God wouldn’t be asking. I’d have to get my family on board. The idea was a bit crazy, because we didn’t know these people that well, and donating a kidney probably had some health risks. But if God asked me to do it, surely, He would help pave the way.

Not sure how to approach the potential recipient, I friended his wife on Facebook, and sent a message. “Nice seeing you in Church this morning. Does your husband still need a kidney?” I explained about God’s request, and we began our journey.

It was truly incredible to be a part of God’s plan. Step by step, test after test, we moved quickly through the process. God made it so easy for me to keep saying “yest.” The team at the transplant center was amazed at how smoothly everything was going. Blood type and tissue matches were all perfect. Turns out, at 70, I was to be the oldest living donor in their history.

At one point, I reached what I thought was a hurdle. An ultrasound revealed a “little something” on the left kidney. The doctors said it shouldn’t cancel the surgery. But another test would be done.

Meanwhile, at daily Mass when Father said “may my sacrifice and yours be acceptable to God…” I pictured that kidney sitting on the altar (in a stainless stee bowl, no less) and God making it perfect. One morning, after asking again, I felt Jesus saying, “Look at my hands. Look at my feet. Am I perfect?” I smiled, and said, “Yes, You are perfect!” Perhaps Jesus kept the scars on His resurrected body to teach us something. That kidney could be perfect, even with a little “something.” I decided then to stop seeking my kind of perfection and rest easy in God’s perfection.

I told my recipient’s wife about the “little something” and she responded: “He would be honored; to receive your kidney, as it is perfect for him. The Lord knows exactly what he needs.”

A few days later, a CAT scan showed absolutely no abnormalities in either kidney. God’s gifted kidney had been made perfect!

I prayed that He would speed things along, because, after Covid, we were anxious to visit our grandkids in Florida again. I kept reminding myself, “God’s time, not mine.” The committee that approves each living donor only meets once a month, and surgeries are done only twice a month, but everything lined up perfectly! Our surgeries were scheduled just 7 weeks after my first appointment with the Transplant team! Throughout the process, we kept saying “God has this!” and indeed, He did! It was truly an honor to be asked to help God answer a wife’s heartfelt prayer. - BK

In our life moments, we turn to God for comfort, strength, love, praise, and thanksgiving.

During a tragic moment, I ran hard and fast into God's arms for that strength and comfort. What I received was an outpouring of parish support in the form of prayers, comforting messages, physical presence, love and joy!

What I learned and what was emphasized is that my St. Francis parish family is always there - God is always there. What is needed to move forward will be provided in my life moments as long as I keep turning in the right direction! - JZ

Years ago, when I was going through the RCIA program and getting closer to coming into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil, I had a powerful encounter where I experienced the peace that only comes from Christ.

While reading a book late at night about a youth trip to Medjugorje, where it is believed the Blessed Mother appears, I came to the point in the story where the group began climbing the hill to pray at the various Stations of the Cross. At one of the stations the writer described suddenly hearing screaming and rushing of hellcats surging up the hillside towards them. After some investigation, it came to light that one of the youth’s parents had consecrated her to the devil.

I have never enjoyed horror stories, and unexpectedly coming across this account struck me with such terror, that I began to pray over and over again in great earnest for God to send all of His angels and saints to fill my house to protect me. At some point I fell asleep, but I remember waking up and seeing a glowing white disk filling the doorway radiating a feeling of complete peace. I woke up several times throughout the night and the disk radiating peace was always there.

I knew without a doubt God had answered my prayer. He came in the form of a radiant Eucharist host and His peace permeated not only my darkened room, but my very soul. - KK

Watching Father David interact with the parishioners before, during and after Mass, especially my 10-year-old son who sees Father David as a rock star. The glory and excitement in my son's eyes when he is in the church and hears the bells, or watches Father David, is my WHY! - KP