Parish Life

Bereavement

Our Bereavement Ministry offers a reception in the parish hall for families after a funeral. Adding your name to the Bereavement Ministry call list is not a commitment to say "yes" when contacted. If, when called, you are able to provide a dish or work at the reception, you will be given the pertinent information. If the timing is not convenient, for whatever reason, it's alright to say "Sorry, not this time", and we'll just move on to the next name on the list.

CHRSM Catholic Homeschooling Resource & Support Ministry

A program open to homeschoolers and those who are not currently homeschooling but are interested. (Please check back for when more information is available) 

Communications

Provides information to parishioners by way of the weekly Sunday Bulletin, posters and flyers, Ministry Handbook, and a website which is updated weekly.

Friday Nite Fish Fry

Each Friday in Lent, the parish hall comes alive with families and individuals who join together for parish fellowship and a wonderful fried fish supper. We always needs volunteers to help set-up, serve and clean-up. We already have the Sparbanie family as the cooks! Proceeds from the fish fry benefit Vacation Bible School.

 Homebound Visitation

A Homebound Eucharistic Minister brings Holy Communion to homebound parishioners who are unable to attend mass either temporarily or permanently. In this ministry the homebound are given every opportunity to receive the Eucharist frequently. They may receive at any hour of the day. They may receive at any hour of the day. The faithful who are ill are deprived of their rightful and accustomed place in the Eucharistic community. In bringing communion to them the minister of communion represents Christ and manifests faith and charity on behalf of the whole community toward those who cannot be present. The obligation to visit and comfort those who cannot take part in the Eucharistic assembly may be clearly demonstrated by taking communion to them from the community’s Eucharistic celebration. This symbol of unity between the community and its sick members has the deepest significance on the Lord’s Day. We have special booklets, candles, holy water and a pyx (container for the Eucharist) for those ministers bringing holy communion to the homebound and will review and train any individual who is currently a Eucharistic Minister. This ministry carries with it many special blessings and graces for those who wish to visit the homebound.  

 Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic fraternal lay mens’ organization in the world with over 1.8 million members. Last year the Knights donated over 70 million hours of volunteer service. Our Council is focused on Pro-Life, Pro-Family and Pro-Marriage through the many activities we support and operate. If you would like to get involved in supporting the Catholic Church, our parish, priests and community please contact us at www.kofc11136.org.

Make a Meal

We keep a list of parishioners willing to provide a meal for a family who is dealing with a medical/family emergency. When the need arises, we set up a meal schedule for 2 or 3 days/week for a period of 2-6 weeks, depending on the nature of the need. We also offer to provide a reception in the parish hall for families after a funeral. Adding your name to the Meals list is not a commitment to say "yes" when contacted. If, when called, you are able to cover one of the scheduled dates, you will be provided pertinent information. If the timing is not convenient, for whatever reason, it's alright to say "Sorry, not this time", and we'll just move on to the next name on the list.

Parish Nurse Health & Wellness

The Parish nurses provide spiritual support, bring Holy Communion to the patient and family, provide respite for caregivers, read to the patient, write letters, provide meals and help with the chores of daily life during times of special need to support individuals and families dealing with health issues and problems. This care and support is essential to maintaining the parish community spirit. A secondary role of the Parish Nurse Ministry is to inform and educate the parish community about health care issues. On occasion, we offer presentations and seminars on topics of general interest; and health screenings. Specialized nursing or health care that should be handled in a medical setting cannot be provided. Referrals to an appropriate source for the care can be made. 

Parish Picnic

An event for the whole family, held in June each year, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Barbeque and beverages are served. Show off your God given gifts in the Talent Show! Enter your cake in the cake contest! Come and watch the grounds of the church come alive with families engaging in fun, games, and community. Volunteers are always needed for set-up and clean-up!

Senior Luncheons

Join us for lunch and conversation at noon on the last Tuesday on the month. Who is a senior? Whoever wants to be - no age minimum!

Softball Team

This is a multi-denominational coed league. The season runs from May through June. Practices and Doubleheader games are played through the playing season. Games are played on alternating fields throughout western Loudoun County. All parishioners are invited to register to play.

SoulStitch

SoulStitch Ministry continues our mission to knit, crochet, weave and embroider items for projects we select each year. Over the last 5 years SoulStitch has created and donated several thousand items. Annually we complete 65 prayer shawls for Workcamp. We complete prayer shawls to distribute to parishioners identified by parish nurses to provide the warmth and comfort they provide.

We embroider baptismal bibs for infants baptized at Saint Francis de Sales.

Additional projects each year include: knitted hats for Mobile Hope, baby layettes for Birthright, scarves for The Special Olympic athletes, hats for premature babies for a hospital in Haiti, mittens, hats, blankets and vests for Afghans For Afghans, vests for Native American children on reservations, and scarves for veterans.

We welcome new members who knit, crochet, weave or embroider, or would like to learn. If your vocation calls you to give up your time, vocation or treasure, please join us whether or not you are able to attend our gatherings. We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays on the month, from 9:30am to noon in the Parish Hall.

We have been generously blessed to have received many donations of yarn, needles, cloth and completed items, however, we are always in need of more as we continue our ministry.

Transportation

Drivers are needed to transport parishioners to medical and non-medical appointments. Transportation requests are highly variable, so there is no requirement to commit to a schedule of availability. If you are available when called, you will be provided contact information so you can make the arrangements directly with the passenger. If you are not available, we’ll contact the next name on the list!

Vocations Promotion

The call to the priesthood, religious vocation, or to the single or married vocation is a great mystery, which comes directly from the Lord and is instilled in the one called. Pope Benedict XVI has observed that one of the most effective ways we can increase vocations is by encouraging a sense a consistent prayer in our young people and helping them to recognize their encounters with the Lord. But how do we get our men and women to listen to the Lord? Be a part of our Vocations Promotion Team, helping to form ways to promote self-reflection and self-knowledge among the parish.

Women's Council

The Women's Council actions and activiteis have stemmed from the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, with our main focus on the Spiritual Work of Mercy, To Instruct the Ignorant. All women of Saint Francis de Sales are automatic members of the council. 

Mission Statement: To support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service. To serve the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Arlington with humility, refverence, and obedience to the authority of the Bishop.