the catholic community of st. francis of assisi
Laudate Deum, Pope Francis’ Reminder And Exhortation To Us All
JaVon Hansknecht had been the Director of Justice and Peace at St. Francis for only about three months when Laudate Deum, the apostolic exhortation and follow-up to Laudato Si’, was released by Pope Francis in October 2023. JaVon mentions he is “a fan of the horror genre,” and he finds Laudate Deum horrifying in scope that all of humanity, not just Catholics but all of us, are falling short in our response to the challenges of climate change. The Pope explains that we will see environmental shifts in our lifetime, and the effects of climate change are not just a vague threat but a genuine concern. At the core of Laudate Deum, he gives us the framework in caring for creation to work towards as people of faith, and Pope Francis praises the possibility of change and the fact that there is indeed a sense of hope.
Volunteer Spotlight: Rosemary and Joe Czejkowski
Rosemary and Joe Czejkowski have always felt called to the family life ministries at St. Francis. Rosemary says, “I am involved with Faith Formation, and I continue to work with the youth program where I met Christ and his transforming love.” She is also involved with the Diocesan team for Family Honor, which teaches parents about the virtue of chastity. At the parish, she and Joe mentor engaged couples preparing for marriage. She is also involved with the Women’s Ministry and Bible Study and serves as a lector. Rosemary says, “We are called to serve the spiritual needs of our community; as a community, we are fortunate and have great resources, but sometimes we don’t know what we need, which is Christ.”
