the catholic community of st. francis of assisi
Jubilee Year of St. Francis
Welcome to a sacred year of reflection, renewal, and joyful celebration as we honor the Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi. Rooted in the spirit of humility, peace, and deep reverence for all creation, this Jubilee invites our community to rediscover the timeless wisdom of St. Francis and live more intentionally in harmony with God, one another, and the world around us.
Throughout this year, we will come together as a community in prayer, service, and celebration, embracing the Franciscan call to simplicity, compassion, and care for all living things.
Milestone Moments for TFS 8th Graders
Eighth grade at TFS is marked by meaningful traditions, such as Prayer Buddies, completing a capstone project, attending a special Mass with the Bishop, and enjoying privileges like outdoor lunch. May is a month filled with milestones. Some of the most significant ones for our 8th graders are the Washington, D.C. trip and graduation. Graduation marks the end of their time at TFS and in middle school, paving the way for them to fly their wings in high school. We get the chance to celebrate this special group of students and empower them to go out and change the world.
This 8th-grade class is a resilient group. During their second-grade year, the pandemic disrupted classroom instruction, sending students home to learn and then back in third grade to a cohort setting. As staff and parents, we’ve enjoyed watching them grow and mature as we’ve seen them prove to be academically prepared, curious, responsible, and eager to serve others.
For the last several years, we’ve asked our 8th graders a few questions about their time at TFS. Questions like what they will miss most about TFS, how they would describe TFS in one word, and what their favorite memory at TFS is.
Medical Presence & Safety At Mass
Bill Logallo, coordinator of the ‘Medical Presence and Safety at Mass ministry ’, says, “The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi is well known in the local community as being a place open to all, as emphasized through its pastoral care ministries. The ‘Medical Presence and Safety at Mass’ ministry strives to respond to any issue with compassion through de-escalation, when necessary, mental health awareness, and seeing every person with inherent dignity.”
After COVID-19, Bill and his teammates were looking to rebuild the medical presence ministry as in-person Masses restarted. However, they found that by adding a safety and security component designed to enhance situational awareness, they could provide more efficient medical responses, integrate with hospitality and other liturgical ministries, and strengthen their security posture through incident-specific response protocols. These protocols would lead to a better environment for all. That effort continues, as Bill states: “We have recently increased our training efforts by offering a ministry orientation, and we will be providing advanced situational awareness and de-escalation training later this summer.” Bill adds, “We are blessed to have these training initiatives led by Harry Dolan, a St. Francis parishioner, TFS grandparent, and a former Police Chief of the Raleigh Police Department.”
2026 Bishop’s Annual Appeal
As a diocesan family, we are invited to join together in supporting the ministries, programs, and outreach efforts that bring Christ’s love into our parishes and communities. Your prayers and participation help strengthen Catholic education, support parish vitality, and extend care to those in need.
Please take time to reflect on how you can contribute to this mission of faith and service.