WELCOME TO NEW STAFF MEMBERS: During the summer Saint Francis has had three women join our staff. Chanel Sanderson is our new parish secretary. Sr. Janice Urbanec, IHM, joined us in August as the Director of Faith Formation. Our new Coordinator of Sacramental Preparation, Beth Benham, began working with the staff in mid-August. Please extend a warm St. Francis welcome to all three.

REGISTRATION FORMS FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION for the school year 2010-2011 is open. Registrations will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. Open registration will begin the weekend of May 2nd. You must be a registered member of the parish and registration fees must accompany the registration forms. If you wish to serve as a catechist or co- catechists in the program, you have a priority for scheduling. Please call the RE office to speak with Marianne to find out more about serving as a catechists. Training and background investigations are required.

In April, Religious Education registration forms were mailed to currently registered RE families. Additional copies are available for download below:

• RE Registration Form (English)
• RE Registration Form (Spanish)

SAINT FRANCIS MUSIC MINISTRY will be launching its post-Summer Choir Rehearsals on Monday, August 30th. The Teen/Young Adult Choir rehearsal will run from 6:00 - 7:00 PM. The rehearsal for the Adult Choir will begin at 7:30 PM and will conclude at 9:00 PM. (Worship Ensemble Rehearsals resume on Thursday, September 9th at 7:30 PM.)

We have opportunities for teens, young adults and adults with vocal and instrumental talent and skill who would like to participate in our Teen & Young Adult Choir, Adult Choir and Worship Ensemble. Please, call call our Director of Music, Mrs. Sarsfield at 703-221-4745 or e-mail her at janets@stfrncis.org or jmily@comcast.net if you would like to enrich the parish's worship as a vocalist or instrumentalist. Auditions to determine your voice range and level of ability are available. Please, pick up and audition form in the foyer.

For information regarding Music Ministry, please visit our Music Ministry page or download the Music Information Sheet.

SAINT FRANCIS LABOR DAY PICNIC happens Monday, September 6th Prince William Forest Park Camp 5 Mass begins at 3:00 PM followed by picnic, games, and lots of fellowship. Meats, Beverages and Paper Products will be provided. Please indicate what covered dish or desert you will bring to share with everyone on the easel in the vestibule. CAMP 5 in Prince William Park is located 5 miles from St. Francis Parish. From the Quantico Gate, go west on Rt. 619 (Joplin Rd). Pass the main PW Forest park entrance and continue 4 miles to a right on Mawavi Rd. Follow gravel road .5 miles to left fork – CAMP 5. There is no entrance fee.

THE CHRISTIAN YOGA FALL SERIES AT SAINT FRANCIS will be starting soon! This six-week series will begin on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 and conclude on Tuesday, October 26, 2010. Two sessions will occur each Tuesday evening. The first will run from from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM and the second from 7:15 PM - 8:45 PM. Due to room capacity, each class will be limited to the first 18 participants who register per class time. The Spring Yoga Series is open to both men and women; minimum age of 15 years old.

The cost is $60.00 for the six week series. A $15.00 per class drop-in rate is available for those who are unable to attend the entire series; please allow enough time before class to process payment. A small number of special needs scholarships are available and will be handled with the strictest of confidence.

• What is Christian Yoga?
• Christian Yoga Registration Form
• Scholarship Application
• Your Yoga Instructor

You may also call/email Donna Kocian or Anne Tunney. Donna may be reached at (703) 395-3271 and amazinggraceyoga@aol.com. You may call the church office at 703-221-4312 to speak with Anne Tunney.

THE ORDER OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS (OCIA) is a process by which interested adults can find out more about the Catholic faith and choose to be initiated into the faith. For more information and to schedule an initial interview please call Margaret at 703-221-4978.

Mystagogia for the Newly Received, Neophytes and Inquirers started on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 7:30 PM. If you are planning to be received into the Catholic faith in Easter 2011, now is the time to begin!

OUR 3RD ANNUAL FRANCIS FEST is scheduled for Sunday, October 3rd from noon to 6pm on the parish grounds. Great food, activities for all ages, entertainment and camaradie guaranteed! To make this year's festival as a great success as it has been for the past two years we need lots of assistance from parish members!

What you can do to help? Join the Francis Fest Committee! We need new members with fresh ideas!! Our next meeting is Sunday August 22, 10:45am in the St. Juniper Room! Start setting aside your unwanted treasures and extra wine for the tag sale and wine wheel. These two events are very popular and help to offset the cost of the festival. Look for further information in upcoming bulletins. Questions? Please call Maureen Deutermann: 703-680-6238.

SAVE THE DATE: This year's Parish Retreat will be October 22 and 23, 2010. On Friday Night we will be having a potluck and dramatic play. Saturday's activities include keynote speaker: Fr. Kevin Cronin, OFM. All workshops will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.