The parish offices are closed from 12/24/25 through 1/1/26
the catholic community of st. francis of assisi
In God's Image
Immigration and border enforcement are issues facing our country like never before. Before the celebration of Thanksgiving last month, Bishop Luis Zarama sent a letter out to the faithful of the Diocese of Raleigh, saying, in part, “Immigration is not merely a matter of public policy or law enforcement; it touches the very heart of our faith. Every person is created in the image of God and deserves dignity, compassion, and care. (Jesus) commands us to welcome the stranger, for in doing so, we welcome Him. A broken immigration system will not be improved through fear. We welcome comprehensive reform of the U.S. immigration system through a dialogue that respects both borders and human dignity.”
Similarly, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) stated: “Despite obstacles and prejudices, generations of immigrants have made enormous contributions to the well-being of our nation. We as Catholic bishops love our country and pray for its peace and prosperity. For this reason, we feel compelled in this environment to raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity. Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants. We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures.”
Ministry Spotlight: Young Adult/Fiat Franciscus
The Young Adult Ministry at St. Francis, Fiat Franciscus, is here for all those in their 20s and 30s looking to connect in a faith-filled environment. “Our main goal,” says Michelle Kaiser, “is to really help build community within young adults, to help connect people who maybe are new to St. Francis or they’re coming back to the Church. We find many people in their 20s or 30s who have become disconnected are now seeking reconnection with their faith. We provide times, places, and spaces for young adults to connect.” The group holds ‘once a month events’ that may be social or more spiritually focused, and also has a young-adult small-group meeting twice a month on Wednesdays. The Ministry’s focus on community building began with the formation of the leadership team, which helps plan the group’s vision and events. “From the start,” Michelle says, “I wanted multiple perspectives from different young adults, and work with the leadership team to build community within our relationships with each other, to serve as a model for the larger group.”
