Announcing the Good News in West Africa

Journal #2

Sister Anne Lansana, SJC

This was St. Francis of Assisi Parish Bulletin announcement welcoming Sister Anne to the Parish to make her appeal on behalf of the ministries of the Cluny Sisters in Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Ghana. 

Sister Genevieve and Sister Anne drove to Fitchburg, MA and were given hospitality overnight Saturday  with Wanda and Guiermo Diaz and were happy to celebrate with the Parish the Triduum honoring the life and martyrdom of St. Oscar Romero Sunday.

Saturday, June 24  

4:00 PM  English Mass

Sunday, June 25

9:00   AM  English Mass

11:00 AM  Spanish Mass

‘Our parish has been blessed having a wonderful heritage. French Canadian families established this parish and welcomed other families to the community.  Their children grew up in the parish and their children continued worshipping here.

The former Pastor, Father Gerald Dorais, welcomed the Hispanic community 27 years ago. 

'The community has grown we now have a bilingual parish.

We welcome with open arms any Catholic who would like to worship, in English or in Spanish.

Our parish is blessed by the intercession of Saint Francis for the entire community, the poor and the needy especially.

Praise the Lord and make me an instrument of your peace.’

Saint Francis Prayer

 

Lord make me a channel of your peace

Where there is hatred let me sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

And where there is sadness, joy

O divine master grant that I may

not so much seek to be consoled as to console

to be understood as to understand

To be loved as to love

For it is in giving that we receive

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned

And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life

             

Fitchburg is a city in northern Worcester County, Massachusetts the third-largest city in the county, its population was 42,000 at the 2021 census - 60% whites; 30% Hispanics; 5% Black or African Americans and a small percentage of Asian, American Indian, Alaska native descent.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish has an intercultural community of English and Spanish heritage and language.  When we arrived, the Faith Community was finishing a Triduum honoring Saint Oscar Romero.  A wonderful community celebration!  We pray that God will bless this diverse community and their mission to be ‘Instruments of Peace’.

We are so grateful to the Pastor, Reverend Angel R. Matos, the staff and parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi for their generous welcome, hospitality and generosity.  

Thank you Sisters Genevieve and Anne for participating in the USA Mission Cooperative Plan and sharing the ‘Good News of the Cluny Sisters in West Africa!’