June 15, 2019On Saturday, June 15, Fr. Patrick Burns was formally installed as the pastor of St. Francis Borgia Parish. The ceremony was held during the 4:30 p.m. Mass at the North Church, with Archbishop Jerome Listecki presiding. On this special occasion, the Knights of Columbus served as an honor guard during the entrance procession. Fr. Patrick concelebrated the Mass along with former pastor Fr. Tom Eichenberger and several other priests. During the installation, the archbishop spoke about the importance and role of the pastor in the life of the parish. Then he "introduced" Fr. Patrick to his parish staff, the members of the finance and pastoral councils, and the trustees, as if they were meeting for the first time. Upon their introduction, each one proceeded to the altar and shook Fr. Patrick's hand. After Mass, parishioners congratulated Fr. Patrick in the gathering space and in the church hall where a reception was held in his honor.
Sept. 8, 2018
On Saturday, Sept. 8, a memorial prayer service was held for aborted children at the Rachel statue outside the St. Francis Borgia-South Church. This was the sixth annual National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children. At the service, Fr. Patrick delivered a powerful reflection, participants prayed and sang “Amazing Grace,” and the Knights of Columbus stood guard by our precious Rachel statue witnessing to life. The prayer service was organized by the St. Francis Borgia Respect Life Ministry. Prayer services were held throughout the country on this day to commemorate the more than 55 million children who have lost their lives to legal abortion since 1973, and to remind our society of the humanity of the unborn child.
May 7, 2017
One of the defining aspects of being Catholic is our devotion to Mary, the mother of God. May Crowning is the Catholic tradition of recognizing and celebrating Mary, our Heavenly Mother as the queen of heaven and earth. On May 7, recent First Communicants, their families and other parishioners gathered on the plaza after the 10 a.m. Mass at the North Church. From there, they processed with Fr. Patrick Burns to our Marian shrine (the Shrine to Mary, Mother of the Divine Word). The children wore their First Communion attire. One of the children placed a wreath of flowers on the head of the statue of Mary, other flowers were placed at the shrine in Mary’s honor.
