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.
Elevated Parish Mission
Join us for the Elevated Parish Mission, a three-night parish-wide experience designed to help you encounter the transforming love of Jesus Christ and discover the joy of living as His disciple.
Through inspiring preaching, dynamic worship, Eucharistic Adoration, and meaningful opportunities for prayer and reflection, the Elevated Parish Mission invites you to deepen your faith and experience the love of Christ in a powerful way. Whether you are just beginning your faith journey or have been walking with the Lord for years, this mission offers an opportunity to renew your heart and grow in authentic discipleship.
Learn more about this transformational community experience!
October 25th-27th
Values in Action
Ever since the Franciscan beginnings of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, under the leadership of David McBriar, we have been committed to service; service directed toward the entire Raleigh community. Many years ago, when the Friars took over and held the first meeting of the Social Concerns Committee, Father David, then pastor, asked, “What does the city need, and how can we help?” At that meeting, the committee decided to tithe 10% of the weekly offertory for those in need in the area.
That effort continues today through the Office of Justice and Peace, providing opportunities to live out the corporal works of mercy, go on missions in solidarity and service, and advocate for the most vulnerable. Mary Ellen McGuire is the Director of Justice and Peace at St. Francis, joining the parish staff in 2025, and she is launching a new program to continue the parish’s outreach while showing how that outreach impacts our faith. It is called ‘Franciscan Values in Action’, or VIA.
“The idea of the Franciscan VIA, or Values in Action program, is a parish-wide initiative to bring people of faith together to have fellowship and community, to get to know each other, and to look at our experiences of God in our ministries and in our world. We hope the outcome for all of us will be to learn together, to highlight different ministries in the parish, to learn a little bit more about what various Justice & Peace groups or ministries are doing, and to send us all forth with a suggested action,” says Mary Ellen. Part of this effort is for people to discover and feel comfortable about how faith plays a role in our everyday lives.
Blood Drive
“Ready to help save a life?” That is the tagline on the American Red Cross blood donation page, and it is no exaggeration. One of the easiest ways to be an everyday hero and impact lives, especially with such a small sacrifice of your time, is to donate blood. You can make a life-saving impact, and the Knights of Columbus All Saints Council 9709 at St. Francis is here to make it even more convenient.
The St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a community of service and ministry, and no one exemplifies this mission more than the Knights of Columbus. The Council at St. Francis (All Saints Council 9709) has been a vital ministry within the faith community of St. Francis of Assisi since 1988. The mission of the Knights of Columbus is to empower Catholic men to live their faith actively in their families and communities. The Order’s principles center on Charity, Unity, and Fraternity, with four pillars of service: Faith, Community, Life, and Family. Among its many service programs, the Knights Council at St. Francis organizes two Red Cross blood drives each year.
