St. Francis de Sales

From the chapel

      Did you know...

      The very beautiful, unique altar was created by McAfee artist Rick Gauer. It was made from the root of a cherry tree from Upper Greenwood Lake. Candles are lit on the altar or nearby to remind us that Jesus is present and the light of the world. Sometimes flowers or plants are placed at the foot of the altar nearby.
      Our parish has been blessed with Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Upon entering the chapel you will know immediately what a very, very special place it is.
      Jesus is present on the altar where a monstrance is displayed. The monstrance holds the Eucharistic Host which is the Body of Jesus Christ in the form of bread after it is consecrated at Mass. This is truly the Real Presence of Jesus Christ.
      Devotion to the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is important to our spiritual life. There is a special intimacy with Jesus when you kneel and pray before the Blessed Sacrament.



      All are invited to come and spend an intimate moment with Jesus. We encourage you to teach your children or grandchildren the love Jesus has for them and for us. Bring them for a visit on the way to the playground, the store, or on the way home from a friend's house. Books are available in the chapel for the children. If there are no young children in your family, we encourage you to stop on your way home from work or from an errand. During your visit you will be refreshed with renewed faith and trust in Jesus.
      Time presents us with a hard challenge - how we spend that time can be a gift from God. We must teach ourselves to stop running and simply give ourselves to God. He wants us to be happy and live joyfully. Perpetual Adoration is a uniquely personal experience. If we let Him, God will guide and direct our lives.
      We hope that as you visit, you will discover or perhaps rediscover, your special place, your special time with Jesus. We also hope that you will experience such a realization of God, of God's Real Presence, and of God's love that you will know - truly know - something within you has changed - and definitely changed for the better.
More about Adoration


Take a moment and view the "Vision of Our Lady" collector plates. These plates belonged to Linda Wolverton and were donated in her memory.
More information on Marian Apparitions.

Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of Communion with Him. At the same time it dammages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God's forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished by the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Only God forgives sins. Christ entrusted the exercise of this power of absolution to the apostolic ministry. After attaining the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound to confess serious sins at least once a year. Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution unless he has a grave reason for doing so and there is no possibility of going to confession.
Catechism of the Catholic Church


The Reconciliation room lies just off the chapel.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Saturday at 4 P.M.

May and October are the months dedicated to Our Lady. May 13 is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Our Lady appeared to three young children. She asked them to pray the rosary and to make sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. She appeared to them 5 more times on the 13th of each month. The last apparition on October 13, a miracle occurred, "The miracle of the sun", which was seen by thousands of people.

More information on Our Lady of Fatima.

While at daily Mass or while enjoying the stillness and peace in God's presence at Adoration, you can view the Grotto containing the statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette. The Grotto was built with stones taken from the rock walls around the church property.

Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. When Bernadette asked the Lady who she was Her answer was "I am the Immaculate Conception". The Lady was holding a pair of rosaries and asked her to pray for the conversion of sinners and to do penance.

More information on Our Lady of Lourdes.

Just across from the poor box are votive candles. The votive lights burning in the chapel are symbols of prayers. They stand as "silent reminders" for those who have made private requests.

Holy water is available in four areas of the church. It is in the holy water font in the atrium, in the baptismal font of the main church, in the large bowl in the center aisle as you enter in the back of the church and in the chapel where you may obtain some for your home.

      The carved wooden statues above the votive candles are of St. Francis de Sales, St. Anthony, the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph.

      St. Francis de Sales was born in 1567 to a noble family in Southeastern France. At the age of 24 he received a doctorate in civil and canon law. His writings promote faith and courage. During his lifetime, Francis' humility and holy deeds were an inspirattion to many. Francis believed that to be good, one must possess charity, a great liveliness, and a readiness to perform loving actions on behalf of one's neighbor. When he was ordained as a Bishop on December 8, 1602, at the age of 35, Francis founded the Sisters of Visitation, an order still active today. Inspired by his spirituality, other religious orders have been established, including the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesian Fathers and Brothers), and the Salesian Sisters. St. Francis is known today as one of the great figures of the Catholic Counter-Reformation and of the 17th century rebirth of Catholic mystical life.

      St. Anthony of Padua was actually born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195. For many years he was a professor of theology in the Augustinian order. Some Franciscan missionaries passed through Lisbon on their way to North Africa to preach the gospel to the muslims. He was so impressed with them that he requested permission to join the Order of Friars Minor. He joined the Franciscans and spent many years in Padua. He was well known for his preaching and performed many miracles. Many people pray to him for lost articles but he is a powerful advocate whatever your need might be.

      Mary, our Blessed Mother, learned of God's mission for her when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and greeted her "Hail, Full of Grace". He told her she was to bear a Son, our Savior who would save His people from their sins. We consider Mary to be our Mother as well. When Jesus spoke to St. John from the cross "Behold thy Mother", she became the mother of us all. Mary was with the Apostles in the upper room, praying for the Holy Spirit. She became the "Mother of the Church".       St. Joseph was the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of our Blessed Lord. He was chosen by God to care for Jesus and Mary. In purity of heart, in chastity of life, in humility, patience, fortitude, and gentleness he reveals to us the perfect type and model of a true Christian. His patronage extends over the Mystical Body of Christ, over the Christian family, and the Christian school.

      The pictures etched into the doors of the Daily Chapel commemorate the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. On the door separating the main church and the daily chapel are the symbols for two sacraments. The upper half of the door commemorates Baptism with its symbols of water, light and the baptismal garment. The symbolic hand of God represents entrance into the family of God, the Church. The lower half of the same door contains the symbols of Confirmation: the dove and tongues of fire. We celebrate this event on the church's feast of Pentecost.

      The door between the chapel and the atrium of the church depicts the symbols of the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist: the wheat, the loaf of bread, the grapes and the cup of wine. The bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ at the time of the Consecration during the Mass.

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