The Archdiocese of Louisville has established a Relief Fund for the communities in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Funds will be used to support emergency response, and the pastoral and reconstruction efforts needed for the civic and faith communities affected. If you wish to support this effort, please send donations directly to the following:

Archdiocese of Louisville
ATTN: Hurricane Helene Relief
3940 Poplar Level Rd
Louisville, KY 40213-1463

St. Francis Xavier Church was once again recognized for our participation in the Premier Blood Partners Program. In 2023 the American Red Cross collected 235 Units through SFX sponsored blood drives. This is up from 193 units in 2022 (22% increase). The next opportunity to donate here at St. Francis is Sunday, October 20th.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word (aka “Children’s Church”) will resume on August 25 at both 9:00 and 11:00 mass!   During Mass, kids ages preK through grade 3 are invited to a special liturgy that simplifies the Sunday readings and includes interactive discussions for kids!   We are so grateful for the existing volunteers that make Children’s Church possible and are seeking a few more volunteers for the 2024-25 year. If you’d like to volunteer for this important ministry, please contact Lauren Battcher at lauren.battcher@sfxmw.com.

Starting the week of August 19th, Volleyball and Pickleball sessions will move to 6:30 – 8:30PM to make room for a new Yoga class being offered in the Xavier Center those same evenings.

If you are interested in joining a group of friendly, spirited ladies who enjoy working together for the good of the parish, the SFX Women’s Club is the place for you!

With events such as Bunco and the Christmas Bazaar, the Women’s Club helps fund various parish ministries and community programs and causes. The ladies participate in a variety of parish activities across the SFX campus.

General Meetings are held the first Monday of August through May at 6:30PM in the Lower Parish Hall. All women, age 18 and over, are welcome to join. Contact Ann S at (502) 777-1576 for more information.

The SFX Music Ministry is looking for additional members for any and all masses. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to worship through song.

Adult Choir/Musician rehearsals begin Wednesday, August 14th at 6:45 in the church.

Children/Youth Choir practice starts Wednesday, September 4th from 6:15-6:45 in the church.

Contact Carrie Gary with questions or for more information: carrie.gary@sfxmw.com / (502) 931-2193.

We would like to welcome Lisa Pence as our new High School Youth Group Minister! Lisa has been a member of SFX for more than 20 years. She has served as a catechist with the Children’s Faith Formation program for 5 years and been involved with the HSYG for 4 years. Lisa and her husband Darren have 4 adult children: Chas, Bethany, Dylan and Sami. They have been blessed with 3 grandchildren and have 1 on the way! Lisa recently retired from Ford Motor Company and served in the military for 4 years. She loves to travel and outdoor adventures. Lisa believes that she was called to Youth Ministry by the Holy Spirit. She is passionate about being a catechist and working with our youth because they are the future of our church. Lisa would like to extend an invitation to our 8^th grade and high school age students to join HYSG. Meeting resume on August 25^th. Contact lisa.pence@sfxmw.com for more information.

This summer we hope to provide Flat Francis with many adventures as he gets to know our young (and young at heart) parishioners. Through Flat Francis’ travels, our parishioners will learn what makes each of us special.

Personalize Flat Francis: Color Flat Francis to make him recognizable (or use the color version if you prefer)

1. Take Flat Francis on Adventures: Take Flat Francis with you wherever you go. Whether it’s to the park, the grocery store, or on vacation, bring Flat Francis along and take photos of him in different locations and doing various activities.
2. Document the Adventures: Take photos of Flat Francis in different places and situations. Be creative and have fun with it! You can take photos of Flat Francis with landmarks, with interesting people, or participating in fun activities.
3. Share the Photos: Share the photos of Flat Francis’ adventures with us. Tag St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (@sfxmw ) on Facebook; or you can submit a single photo, create a scrapbook, photo album, or digital slideshow to document all of Flat Francis’ travels (Paula.Silliman@sfxmw.com) Note: By submitting your photos, you grant St. Francis Xavier Church permission to post images across all social media and print platforms.

Optional: Send Flat Francis on a Journey: If you want to make it even more exciting, you can send Flat Francis to friends or family who live far away and ask them to take photos of him in their hometowns. Reflect and Share: After the challenge is complete, reflect on Flat Francis adventures and share your favorite photos and memories with others. It’s a great way to learn about different places and cultures while having fun!

• Click here to access the Flat Francis Outline for printing and personalizing.
• Click here to access the Color version of Flat Francis.
• Stop by the office for a copy if you are unable to print your own.

Congratulations to Brenden Zygmunt for being awarded the Patricia French Honorary Scholarship.  This scholarship was established and awarded for the first time in 2017 with an objective to honor Patricia K. French by recognizing and financially supporting a deserving member of the St. Francis Xavier Community with tuition assistance for college or vocational school. To qualify, students must be SFX parishioners in their senior year of high school, demonstrate a solid work ethic, and be a service-oriented person of high Christian moral values.

Brenden Zygmunt, son of Kim and Michael Zygmunt, fulfilled all these requirements and more. He has shown his dedication to his education at Bullitt East High School through his academic performance as well as his involvement in Beta Club, National Honor Society, Leaders of East, Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz & Pep Bands. Brenden’s service-oriented attitude extended past the doors of Bullitt East. He participated in the Lions Club Dare to Care, has been an altar server, a member of the SFX Youth Group, and as a young adult, a member of the Knights of Columbus. He exemplifies the kind of person for whom the Pat French Scholarship was intended and does honor to her memory. Congratulations Brenden!

Are you looking for a way to get involved with the SFX Community? The SFX SummerFest and Super Raffle offer many different opportunities to give of your time and talent.

Super Raffle is in need of volunteers to sell/distribute tickets before and after masses starting April 27th and under the canopy starting May 17th. Click here to access SignUpGenius or contact Wende Aubrey @ (502) 385-6716 to choose a date.

SummerFest workers are needed for June 8th. There are openings for booth workers during the event as well as for the set up and tear down crews. The SignUpGenius site for SummerFest can be accessed here or contact James Underwood at (502) 494-5988 for more information. Booth Captains are still needed for a few booths, reach out to James if you are able to fill one of these positions.

Super Raffle 2024 will draw on June 8th at 10pm at SummerFest. Tickets go on sale after masses and in the office on April 27th.

Ticket sales are now Closed! Drawing is scheduled for 10PM on June 8th.

Charitable Gaming LIC #ORG1325

If you are available to assist in distributing/selling tickets before and after mass or working the canopy, click on this link to volunteer through SignUpGenius.

Are you interested in advertising your business in our weekly bulletin? Kirk Ritzenthaler will be in the Mt. Washington area Monday thru Wednesday, April 8 -10th. Reach out to him at (614) 301-8651 for more information.

Easter Sunday 2024

March 31, 2024

Gospel:  John 20:1-9

Today, in this Catholic Church and in all the other Christian churches of the world; our Eucharistic liturgy is the most gratifying celebrations in our whole liturgical calendar.  Our church is decorated with more flowers than usual (lilies and poinsettias are not here 24/7); the choir is singing upbeat songs; most people are wearing their best clothes; there is a chance for some fellowship with friends we have not seen for a long, long, long while… 

Yet, none of us came here today for the scenery, the concert, the fashion show or the socializing.  We are here today because we are reminded that death was conquered ONCE.  Today, with all the Christian faiths that have spun off the root of Catholicism, we share in the hope that it will happen again… FOR US… in due time… in God’s choosing… 

Have you even watched illusionists like Harry Houdini or David Copperfield in either the media or live at a theatre?  There is usually the one who puts a lady in a box.  Locks are secured.  The box is suspended.  The illusionist thrusts swords through the box.  When unlocked and opened, the lady was gone.  “HOW did he do it?”  Although we do not know HOW the trick was accomplished, we DO know that it was not magic.  There is a logical explanation for the disappearance for the lady. 

On Good Friday, many saw the wrapped lifeless body of Jesus laid in a tomb.  They watched a HUGE stone rolled into the groove before the cave-like vault sealing the only exit.  Sunday morning three people saw the same tomb.  The stone was rolled away.  The body was gone.  WHERE had the body gone?  There were three responses: Mary Magdalene thought the body was stolen.  Peter was puzzled, “Why would someone unwrap the body BEFORE stealing it?”  John saw and believed.  Our response to the empty tomb should make all the difference in the way we live life.  Does it for you?  What do you make of an empty tomb… if anything?

Christ is raised to new life by God.  The Resurrection is not a magic trick.  It was a feat foretold by prophets and accomplished by the power of God.  Peter and others ate and drank with him.  Mary conversed with Jesus.  We follow a risen Lord.  He is alive.  Bet on it.

Christ is raised.  We are raised with Christ.  Christ’s resurrection changes everything for all who lives before and after him.  When we die, we will not he held by death.  We believe through faith like John.  Eyes of faith help us see the invisible reality.  Believing is seeing.  

Christ is raised.  Our goal is eternal life with Him. 

Christ is raised.  Proclaim it.  We proclaim it with our words.  We are not responsible for the belief of the hearer.  Jesus was not always believed.  We will only be accountable for sharing the message.  Our message may not be popular or well received.  It is always difficult to go against the grain.  We may suffer, as disciples have, as Jesus did, for our faithfulness.  Doing comes out of believing.  Believing in eternal life makes all the difference.  When our words and actions match, we become credible.  People may not agree with us, but they can not ignore us.

A Dutch navigator sailing the high seas happened to come across an uncharted island in the Pacific.  He was just thrilled to land on it.  And this discovery happened on Easter Sunday in the year 1722… over 300 years ago.  Not surprisingly, the island was named “Easter Island”.  A well-known preacher used this bit of history to make a point.  He pointed out that we make a mistake if we regard Easter merely as an island – a nice place to visit once a year and then go back to the mainland.  Rather, he stressed Easter belongs on the mainland… your mainland is wherever you go… and with whomever you journey. 

Friends, the tomb is empty.

What do you have to say about that?