From the Rector

Dear Friends,

In the hills of Umbria in the year 1205, Francesco Bernadone, restless and unsure of his life's purpose, stepped into the little church of San Damiano, which was in need of a good deal of repair. He knelt and prayed before a painted crucifix, asking God to give him direction. As clear as day, he heard a voice say, "Francis, rebuild my church, which as you see is falling down."

Filled with zeal after receiving this divine command, he set about doing just that. He restored San Damiano as well as other churches and chapels in the area. As he worked with his hands, though, a deeper spiritual understanding of Jesus' words developed. Not only was our Lord referring to physical structures, but the institution of the Church itself. The rest is history.

In the spirit of St. Francis' mission, the leadership of St. Mary's has been undertaking numerous restoration projects over the past several years, addressing decades of deferred maintenance across our whole campus. Little by little, things are looking better as with great satisfaction, we check things off our voluminous to-do list. I am very pleased to report that the restoration of the steeple is well underway and when complete, will last for many decades to come. Thank you to everyone whose generosity made this possible!

Blessings,
Father Rick

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