St. Francis of Assisi Parish

Visit our sister parish, St. Mathews Church in Longview at:http://stmattlgv.com for more mass times.  Father Cesar is at both parishes.  

Click this map link.https://maps.apple.com/place?address=2514%20FM%20852%20Gilmer%2C%20TX%2C%20United%20States&ll=32.778309%2C-95.065880&lsp=6489

 

Hello Everyone! As many of you know last week I came to Saint Francis of Assisi as parish Administrator. Bishop Strickland gave me this opportunity to minister over here in Gilmer, and I am very happy about it. As a new native of Deep East Texas, I am getting to know everyone by name thou it’ll take me quite a good time no offense taken lol. I am also getting used to the way you do mass and manage your beautiful parish. So far I have only come across wonderful people and ready to pitch in this new adventure and challenges in some ways. I am a native from Colombia and I am grateful having come to the states and share our common faith in Christ in the Catholic Church. I assure you that I will do my best to carry out my duties as administrator with the full conviction that only with the help of the Holy Spirit and that of all of you can be accomplished. Saint Paul says that this ministry is above all a Ministry of Reconciliation (II Corinthians 5, 11-21.) And as this ministry of reconciliation develops in Saint Francis some changes and adjustments ought to be taken as things go on in our Parish. I am asking you that when the time comes for these changes to be made be assure that such changes are done for the wellbeing of our parish and bearing in mind the wellbeing of our souls. Jesus using the imagery of the good steward said: “Give me an account of your management” Luke 16,2. Thou the passage is given in a different sense I can use this verse to refer to any administration. I am still assessing some things as to how address the parish finances and how we all can contribute to improve our stewardship commitments with our parish as well as letting you know in the parish bulletin the state of our church’s finances, and on the other what is it like to better brothers and sisters in Christ. Stewards of God’s goodness to us and serving Christ with the gifts he gave us: “And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1,4b.) Bulletin will have soon a makeover depending on our very limited resources and knowing that the parish is its won printing house. I am thinking of having it more organized and parish needs focused. Please pray that good ideas will surface and if you have any please be my guest. On the other hand, I think we all need to be cautious about the Covid spreading and especially when we attend the Sunday Mass, and we take all precautions to make sure nobody will be harmed because of it. Communion both on the hand and on the tongue is allowed and when in the tongue, I will make sure I will sanitize my hand before distributing communion to the next communicant. We should not panic about becoming infected since in good conscience we all take the necessary precautions of wearing a mask and social distancing. And if you think you have been exposed or have a medical condition you are not bound to coming to the mass. As a community of faith we all need to hear God’s Word and to partake in the Body and Blood of Jesus and that day is Sunday. Also, next Sunday October 4 the Parish will have a small festival gathering. I was hesitant at first about having something, but I think we all need to see the community at work and thou in such a short notice both Spanish and English speaking communities could agree with having a small festival. As a consequence, we are having the mass outdoors next Sunday, since we expect more people and keeping with social distancing. Since we are having the mass in the pavilion I’ll make sure that mass will be celebrated with decorum and reverence as for the Lord. Mass will be preceded by a short procession with our Patron Saint Saint Francis and blessing of animal afterwards. Please bring your own seats, tables and umbrellas in case you want to sit down for mass and to gulp up the food on the open areas available. Please pray for good weather too!! Saint Isidore, Saint Clair and Saint Francis pray for us!!!. Finally, we are having mass at 9 am from Tuesday to Friday and I haven’t seen that many people participating just yet. Please come if you have the chance. Right after mass I exposed the blessed Sacrament and heard a couple confessions thou not many adores came either, so I decided to cancel it until further notice. Let’s pray for increment in the faith in Christ and service to one another. Fr. Cesar Betancourt Administrator of Saint Francis of Assisi

Anytime by Appointment 
English and Spanish