Faith Focus:

The Gift of Reconciliation

Why Confess to a Priest?


Many people wonder, "Why can't I just confess directly to Jesus?"


The answer is: we should! Every sincere prayer of repentance draws us closer to God.



 Yet Jesus also gave His Apostles the ministry of forgiving sins (John 20:22–23), and Scripture encourages us to "confess your sins to one another" (James 5:16).

Why? Because sin rarely affects only ourselves. Our words, choices, and actions touch our families, friendships, parish, and community. Sin wounds our relationship with God and with one another.


In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus restores both. Through the priest, acting in the person of Christ, He forgives our sins, strengthens us with grace, and begins healing the relationships our sins have damaged.


This week: Pray, "Lord, show me where my relationships need healing." Then ask Him if there is someone from whom you need to seek forgiveness—or someone you need to forgive.

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News & Upcoming Events

  • Sunday School 2026-27 Registration - Now Open!

    Register your child for Sunday School! Click here to learn more about our program.

  • PSR 2026-27 Registration

    To register using the “pay online” option, go to the direct link: www.osvhub.com/stfrancisav/religious-ed/parish-school-of-religion-psr-2026


    To register & mail a check, go to the parish website stfrancisav.com and select "PSR Registration" under the Links & Forms tab. 

    https://www.stfrancisav.org/psr-registration

  • Quilt Winners

    January: Catherine Schroeder of Aviston

    March: Pat Biver of Trenton (donated back for picnic)

    May: Brenda Gebhart of Chesterfield, MO

  • Community Resources - Utilities & Food Assistance

    Visit the Community Resources page for information on local services offering utilities and food assistance. 

  • Faith Formation Survey - View the Results

    Thank you for your participation in the recent Faith Formation survey. By completing this survey, you are helping us build a Parish that supports, welcomes, and inspires everyone in our faith family. 


    Linked below are the survey results. More  information will follow through the parish bulletin. 


    Survey Response Presentation

    Survey Responses


    Faith Formation Team Members:

    Fr. Von Deeke

    Sr. Jeannette Fennewald

    Denise Castillo

    Milissa Faust

    Corey Huegen

    Lynn Huegen

    Kevin Kohlbrecher

    Dan Ribbing

    Terry Thole

    Dave Weis

  • Franciscan at Home (FaH)

    St. Francis Parish has just subscribed to an extraordinarily effective new outreach from Franciscan University’s Catechetical Institute (CI). Thanks to a partnership between our diocese and the CI, we are now able to offer on-line education for every person in the parish. Select the "Faith Formation" tab from our website menu above to learn more.

  • Forming Catholics For Life

    St. Francis now has access to FORMED. FORMED is like “Netflix for Catholics”. Here are instructions on how to Create an Account:

    1. Visit Formed.org/signup

    2. Click on "Continue to Sign up/Login" (skip this step if the page says "Join your Parish”)

    3. Near the bottom, click on "Sign Up"

    4. Enter your information then click on "Sign Up"; .Here it may ask you to put in a code from your email. Or it may just have you click “sign in now” from your email.

    5. Enter the Zip Code, 62216

    6. Select St. Francis of Assisi

    7. Click "Submit"

    You will need to create an account on a browser before downloading the App. After signing into the app you may be sent another email.

  • Parish Center Rentals

    The St. Francis Parish Center is available for rental.

    Please visit the "Parish Center Use Agreement" under the "Links & Forms" tab for further instructions on how to make a reservation.

    NOTE: ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE WITH THE PARISH OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. THE AGREEMENT FORM DOCUMENT ON THE WEBSITE CANNOT BE SUBMITTED FOR AUTOMATIC RESERVATIONS. 

August 2026

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Mass: 7:30am & 9:30am

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Mass: 4:00pm

ANNUAL PICNIC (First Saturday of Aug every year)

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Mass: 4:00pm

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Mass: 7:30am & 9:30am

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Mass: 4:00pm

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Mass: 7:30am & 9:30am

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Explore Our Church

Mass Times

Mass Times:
Tuesday: 7:30am 
Wednesday: 7:00pm
Thursday: 7:30am
Friday: 7:30am
Saturday: 4:00pm
Sunday: 7:30am & 9:30am

Confession:

Saturday Evening: 3:15pm-3:40pm
Sunday Morning: 8:45am-9:10am
(or by appointment)


Weekly Rosary:
(before Masses)
Saturday: 3:40pm
Sunday: 7:10am

Church Hours:
The St. Francis Church Building is open from 7:00am - 3:00pm

for private prayer and adoration Monday through Friday via the parking lot entrance. 

Mission Statement

We, the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Family, are a welcoming faith community that

believes in and proclaims the powerful and loving presence of Jesus Christ.

Follow Us

Visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) web site 
to view daily Mass readings just as they appear in the Lectionary we use for Mass. 

Click above to access the Ascension Press Bible In a Year or Catechism in a Year Podcasts. 

Click the logo above to discover more ways to donate to St. Francis.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
Matthew 28: 18-20 (RSV-CE)

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