Blessing of the Animals
Our clergy will be in front of the Church (corner of 14th & East Capitol Streets, SE) on Wednesday, October 4th to give your pet(s) a brief blessing between the hours of 6:30pm – 8:00pm. Please feel free to bring your pets and invite your family, friends and neighbors who have pets!
Saint Francis of Assisi’s Story
Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit, and without a sense of self-importance.
Serious illness brought the young Francis to see the emptiness of his frolicking life as leader of Assisi’s youth. Prayer—lengthy and difficult—led him to a self-emptying like that of Christ, climaxed by embracing a leper he met on the road. It symbolized his complete obedience to what he had heard in prayer: “Francis! Everything you have loved and desired in the flesh it is your duty to despise and hate, if you wish to know my will. And when you have begun this, all that now seems sweet and lovely to you will become intolerable and bitter, but all that you used to avoid will turn itself to great sweetness and exceeding joy.”
From the cross in the neglected field-chapel of San Damiano, Christ told him, “Francis, go out and build up my house, for it is nearly falling down.” Francis became the totally poor and humble workman.
He must have suspected a deeper meaning to “build up my house.” But he would have been content to be for the rest of his life the poor “nothing” man actually putting brick on brick in abandoned chapels. He gave up all his possessions, piling even his clothes before his earthly father—who was demanding restitution for Francis’ “gifts” to the poor—so that he would be totally free to say, “Our Father in heaven.” He was, for a time, considered to be a religious fanatic, begging from door to door when he could not get money for his work, evoking sadness or disgust to the hearts of his former friends, ridicule from the unthinking.
But genuineness will tell. A few people began to realize that this man was actually trying to be Christian. He really believed what Jesus said: “Announce the kingdom! Possess no gold or silver or copper in your purses, no traveling bag, no sandals, no staff” (Luke 9:1-3).
Francis’ first rule for his followers was a collection of texts from the Gospels. He had no intention of founding an order, but once it began he protected it and accepted all the legal structures needed to support it. His devotion and loyalty to the Church were absolute and highly exemplary at a time when various movements of reform tended to break the Church’s unity.
Francis was torn between a life devoted entirely to prayer and a life of active preaching of the Good News. He decided in favor of the latter, but always returned to solitude when he could. He wanted to be a missionary in Syria or in Africa, but was prevented by shipwreck and illness in both cases. He did try to convert the sultan of Egypt during the Fifth Crusade.
During the last years of his relatively short life, he died at 44, Francis was half blind and seriously ill. Two years before his death he received the stigmata, the real and painful wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side.
On his deathbed, Francis said over and over again the last addition to his Canticle of the Sun, “Be praised, O Lord, for our Sister Death.” He sang Psalm 141, and at the end asked his superior’s permission to have his clothes removed when the last hour came in order that he could expire lying naked on the earth, in imitation of his Lord.
Saint Francis of Assisi is the Patron Saint of:
Animals
Archaeologists
Ecology
Italy
Merchants
Messengers
Metal Workers
Read more about St. Francis of Assisi at https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-francis-of-assisi/
Sunday School Program
(We recommend that ALL children who are not in Catholic school enroll in our religious education class)
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are pleased and excited to offer our Catholic education catechism classes from 9:30-10:45am every Sunday, except summer months, at the school building (15th & East Capitol Sts, SE). These classes are for youth in pre-K through 12th grade and are required for those preparing to receive their sacraments (First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation). Sunday school begins on Sept. 24th and we ask you to register your youth before that date if possible.
If you are interested, complete the FILLABLE registration form below, print or save a copy and drop off at the rectory office; email to mre@hcscchurch.org, or mail to the church address (ATTN: Shirley Austin) on our home page.
We also invite you to participate in our Adult Sunday School Program that is led by our clergy and catechists. We had great participation in the past and want to continue this year so that our parents can learn about their faith along with their children. The Adult Sunday School Program is held the same time as your child’s class so it is convenient for everyone.
Our Sunday school teachers are outstanding in their support and dedication in answering God’s call to serve the people of God, especially our children. We look forward to another year of great things here at HCSC. Thank you to the parents who supply nourishment for our families and we invite all our parents to assist with this very important part of the overall success of our Sunday school. Like Christ, we must not only feed the soul we must also feed the body. Let us know if you are able to assist with the food and coffee service during Sunday school.
If you have questions regarding our Sunday school program, contact Shirley Austin at 202-368-7231 or mre@hcscchurch.org.
Shirley Austin
Minister of Religious Education
Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Catholic Church
202-368-7231 (cell) ◊ mre@hcscchurch.org
Sunday School Registration 2023-24_FILLABLE
myParish App for our Church
We invite you to use our myParish App, offering great ways to be connected to our church:
- Messages – get informed about news and events
- Calendar – events and meetings at our parish
- Parish News
- Daily Mass
- Links to Msgr. Pope’s Homilies and Blog
- Readings – Bible readings for the day at your fingertips
- Available for both Apple & Android Smartphones
- Many more features — see MyParish App website for details
- See the introductory videos below
Introduction Video to myParish App
myParish App Demo