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Safe Environment Training for Adults: Protecting Our Children

by Chanel Marquis | Aug 1, 2022

Are you considering volunteering for a ministry here at St. Francis? We hope you are! If the ministry has substantial contact with children then you must attend safe environment training. And no worries, we are offering the Virtus training program here at the parish. The VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children is the adult program being offered by the Diocese of Arlington to establish a safe-environment for children. The Diocese requires all adult employees and also volunteers who have substantial...

The Sign of Peace – part 2

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Jul 31, 2022

Sarah Garone, November 2018, originally appearing on the Busted Halo website A few weeks ago, I showed up to Mass with a heavy heart. Though I try not to follow the news too closely (for the sake of my mental health), I couldn’t help but notice the acrimonious Supreme Court nomination proceedings in the headlines and the outrage on social media. So many people around me seemed entrenched in an ugly us-versus-them political battle, and I felt pulled into the drama, too. Is our country...

Sharing a Sign of Peace

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Jul 24, 2022

It is the year 1935 and Waxahachie, Texas is a small, segregated town amid a depression. One evening the local sheriff, Royce Spalding, leaves the family dinner table to investigate trouble at the rail yards. He dies after being accidentally shot by a young black boy, Wylie. Local white vigilantes tie Wylie to a truck and drag his body through town, for all the community to see, before hanging him from a tree. The sheriff's widow, Edna Spalding, is left to raise her children alone and...

Chaos and Cleaning House

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Jul 15, 2022

Recently I was given to a fit of “spring cleaning” in my office. As with most house cleanings, the day was marked by occasions of, “Oh my gosh, I wondered where that was,” “Where did I get that?”, “Why in the world did I keep that?” and a host of other ongoing revelations. Seven large garbage bags of …of…. stuff was collected and sent off for recycling or disposal. There was a point in which my office had the appearance of the primordial swirl of chaos – papers, books, boxes, bags, and all...

Last Words, First Things

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | May 8, 2022

If you knew this was your last week, your last day on earth, what would you tell the people you love? Would it be advice? Your hopes for them? Would it be the dreams you have? Perhaps, the gratitude and love in your heart? What would be your last words to the ones you love? Beyond the fact we’d really not like to think about it, even if we were ready to do so, this is something difficult, daunting, and delicate. In many of the weekday gospels of Eastertide as well as this Sunday’s gospel we...

St. Francis House Receives Major Grant

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Apr 25, 2022

April 25, 2022: As we all know, finances have been constrained throughout the parish and community due in no small part to Covid-19. As such, the need for the assistance provided by our Outreach Ministry, St. Francis House, continues to grow. In January, a parishioner forwarded information on a grant opportunity to help with COVID-19 relief. The Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William County was chosen by the Prince William County government to administer the $10,000,000 of federal...

Holy Week 2022

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Apr 4, 2022

Holy Week Schedule – 2022 Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – normal weekend schedule (4/10)Monday through Wednesday - Daily Mass each day at 8:45 am- Confessions at 7:00 pm Wednesday (English and Spanish)Holy Thursday (4/14)- Thursday morning – Morning Prayer with the Friars at 9:00 am- Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 pm (live streamed - bilingual)Good Friday (4/15)- Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord at 3:00 pm (live streamed)- Outside Stations of the Cross at 6:00 pm (Spanish)- Good...

Examination of Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Mar 11, 2022

Life and Dignity of the Human Person Do I respect the life and dignity of every human person from conception through natural death? Do I recognize the face of Christ in all others around me whatever their race, class, age, or abilities? Do I work to protect the dignity of others when it is being threatened? Call to Family, Community, and Participation Do I try to make positive contributions in my family and in my community? Do my beliefs, attitudes, and choices strengthen or undermine the...

40 Hour Devotion Spiritual Goals

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Feb 19, 2022

St. Francis of Assisi parish will hold a 40 Hour Eucharistic Devotion beginning with morning Mass on March 14th and closing with a solemn Benediction on Thursday early evening, March 17th. The daily schedule will be: Morning Mass (8:45 am) Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (from after morning Mass until 7:30 pm each day). Hour long segments with a small prayer service and extended periods of silence. Materials in support of prayer will be available. Each day will close with the Repose of...

History of the 40 Hours Devotion

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Feb 19, 2022

St. Francis of Assisi parish will hold a 40 Hour Eucharistic Devotion beginning with morning Mass on March 14th and closing with a solemn Benediction on Thursday early evening, March 17th. The daily schedule will be: Morning Mass (8:45 am) Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (from after morning Mass until 7:30 pm each day). Hour long segments with a small prayer service and extended periods of silence. Materials in support of prayer will be available. Each day will close with the Repose of...