National Shrine of
Saint Francis of Assisi

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ITALIAN HERITAGE PARADE

A grand time was enjoyed last Sunday, Oct. 13 by our table sponsors, guests and student friars at the "Feasting with Francis" dining and parade experience. We are especially grateful to Mona Lisa Restaurant and our event volunteers who contributed to a memorable afternoon. We look forward to the 3rd annual edition in 2020!

'Joy Is Your Strength,' Says Pope Francis to the Capuchins

"Joy is your strength," Pope Francis pointed out and proposed as a program of life to the Capuchin Religious.

On Thursday, October 10, 2019, the Holy Father met with 73 of the Friars Minor Capuchins of the Italian province of Las Marcas, in the small room adjacent to Paul VI Hall, reported "Vatican News," in a summary of an article published in L'Osservatore Romano.

In addressing this group, the Pontiff spoke of God's call, fulfilled in a different way and with varied methods. Nevertheless, He always does so inviting to conversion, which is an intense option, "a decision that involves the consecrated person and leads him forward on the path of life," he affirmed.

Constant Conversion

In this connection, the Pope recalled how Saint Teresa of Jesus [of Avila] warned the nuns of the temptation to consider themselves the object of injustice, which entails the "whining adage," a position that must be compensated with conversion. And he added that to enter a Religious Community implies constant conversion, as that is what leads to humility. Moreover, the Bishop of Rome stressed again the importance of speaking with the theology of nouns, not with adjectives, exactly as the Franciscan spirit highlights.

Testimony of Poverty

Pope Francis alluded also to the topic of "misionaridad," linked to the lack of vocations. Once one is consecrated "one must not think of oneself, but live as a witness. Proselytism must certainly not be engaged in, , rather, to preach Jesus more through one's existence rather than through words, as Francis of Assisi himself recommended to his brothers," he explained.

For Pope Francis, personal witness, as was the case of contemporary examples, such as Teresa of Calcutta, calls forth respect between believers and non-believers. Therefore, he invited those present go give their own witness of meekness, but, especially, of poverty lived in practice, as the devil attacks precisely given the incoherence in the vow of poverty. And he recalled Saint Ignatius of Loyola's words, who said that this should be the "mother and wall" of religious life.

Excerpted from an article by Larissa Lopez, Religious Orders and Congregations , Oct. 11, 2019

ON THE PASSING OF CARDINAL WILLIAM J. LEVADA
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ARCHBISHOP SALVATORE J. CORDILEONE:
September 26, 2019

I share the sad news that Cardinal Levada died peacefully in his sleep last night in his apartment in Italy. He was 83 years of age.

As you know, the Cardinal was Archbishop of San Francisco from December 1995 until the spring of 2005 when Pope Benedict XVI asked him to serve as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He served in that capacity in Rome from 2005 until 2012, and was the highest ranking American in the Roman Curia. I've known him ever since he was my seminar moderator in my first year of theology. I always appreciated his guidance and his commitment to the integrity of the Church's Faith.

Archbishop John Wester stated this morning, "The Cardinal always gave of himself selflessly to the Church that he loved so much, and he used all of his abilities in her service. The gift that always impressed me most was the gift of his heart. He had great compassion for the priests and people of the Church.."

Funeral Services at Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco are pending. Please join me in praying for the repose of Cardinal Levada's soul.

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES — All are welcome.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption
1111 Gough Street, San Francisco

Thursday, October 24, 2019
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption,
1111 Gough Street, San Francisco

Doors open for the public at 9:30 am. Parking will NOT be available at the Cathedral for the Funeral Mass. Funeral livestream: https://youtu.be/_8eCsxgsSQo

COMMITTAL: will take place at a later time Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Welcome to the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi and the namesake of our city, San Francisco. The National Shrine is the property of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and it consists of our historic Church built in 1849 and our beautiful Chapel (La Porziuncola Nuova, or Little Portion) built in 2008.

The National Shrine is not only located in the heart of San Francisco where Italian North Beach and Chinatown meet, it is "The Heart of San Francisco" in a singular way where Heaven and Earth meet like no other place in our city.

One of the reasons this Shrine is unique is its very urban location in the second most densely populated city in the country. But in the midst of an often rowdy, noisy, bawdy, and chaotic neighborhood (a bronze marker in the sidewalk reminds us that this was once "The Barbary Coast"), the Shrine's Church and the Porziuncola offer an oasis of peace, quiet, serenity, and refreshment to the thirsty spirit.

Saint Francis was very aware that all of God's creation is holy and that it reflects his beauty, truth, and goodness. But Francis appreciated churches, especially, because he knew that in these sacred spaces people could find and recognize the presence of God's spirit more easily than "in the world." That is why the Little Poor Man of Assisi dedicated a good portion of his life to rebuilding old abandoned churches, like San Damiano (where he had heard the voice of Jesus Christ) and Saint Mary of the Angels Porziuncola (or Little Portion).

We hope during your online visit to The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi you will experience something of the reverence, tranquility, and blessings people find when they enter our actual doors. Thus, we invite you to take the virtual tours, light a candle, ask for our prayers, and to return to this site as often as you like, while allowing "The Heart of San Francisco" to become a place where your own heart can find a haven of rest. Yes, leave your heart in San Francisco!

We also invite you to take the opportunity to participate in the mission of The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi by sharing with us your financial support, either by making a donation or by shopping at our online store. But even if you're unable to give anything at this time, please know that you are always welcome to visit us and to support our work with your prayers. We sincerely appreciate and thank you for your generosity of spirit.

The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi, as with The Archdiocese of San Francisco, has a mission that is rooted in the Gospels and the social teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Central to that teaching is the inherent dignity and sacredness of each human being.

We educate and advocate on this dignity in relation to the unborn child, the prisoner on death row, the homeless and hungry person on our streets, the elderly, the ill and disabled faced with the threat of assisted suicide, the stranger in our midst, and the poor and marginalized in our society and throughout the world. We are neither right nor left, Republican nor Democrat, but we formulate our agenda by the standard of human dignity that is reflected in our faith tradition.

1. It is the purpose of the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi to provide more abundant means of salvation, through the rich liturgical and devotional life of the Roman Catholic Church for the Christian faithful, including those who come as pilgrims from around the world to the City of San Francisco and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, who seek to encounter the living God through religious worship and special devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan saints.
2. It is the further purpose of the National Shrine to welcome, share and extend this same spiritual experience and devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan saints to pilgrims and visitors of all faiths, religions, denominations, and nationalities.
3. The Capuchin Franciscan Friars (OFM Cap.) and Staff of the National Shrine, therefore, provide a pastoral (i.e., welcoming and prayerful) environment with the hope that in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, spiritual nourishment healing and reconciliation will be found by all who visit the Shrine.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A MASS SAID IN HONOR OR MEMORY OF SOMEONE?

It is easy! Simply visit the Mass Intentions page of this website and find and request available dates and make offerings online.

Or, email or call the Shrine office admin@shrinesf.org, (415) 986-4557.

Please provide:

1. the name of the person the Mass is for
2. whether living or deceased
3. your name and phone number
4. your preferred date (we will try our best to accommodate), and the suggested offering is $10 for one Mass.

Mass Intentions can also be used to remember someone's birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion. Your donation is payable by credit card on the website, or cash or check that can be mailed to the Shrine office.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND THE NAT'L SHRINE

Calling all Catholic men of North Beach! The Knights of Columbus seeks to establish its presence in our community.

Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, the Knights of Columbus was chartered on March 29, 1882, as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.

The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Fr. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society.

The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to 15,342 councils and close to 2 million members around the world. Details will be released by the Shrine in the near future as the Knights seek to enroll members.

MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP FOR PEOPLE WITH LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS

St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough St. A diagnosis can be an opportunity to seek spiritual support through word, sacrament and community. Free monthly support session is led by Deacon Christoph Sandoval who will also provide guidance on Catholic teaching and the preparation of Health Care Directives for medical care. Located in the Msgr. Bowe on the west side of the parking lot. To register please contact Deacon Sandoval at 415-5672020 Ext. 218 or csandoval@stmaryscathedralsf.org.

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