Rebuild My Church!

When St. Francis of Assisi was praying before the crucifix in the little church of San Damiano, he heard Christ say to him, “Francis, go and repair my house, which, as you see, is falling into ruin.” Francis initially understood those words in a very practical way. San Damiano was in poor condition, so he began repairing the physical church with his own hands. But eventually Francis came to understand that Christ was asking something much greater of him: to help rebuild the Church—the living Body of Christ.

We learn something critical from that lived experience of Francis. St. Joseph's is not simply a building. It is our spiritual home. It is where generations of Catholics have come to encounter Jesus Christ. It is where we celebrate the Eucharist, receive the sacraments, baptize our children, celebrate marriages, mourn our dead, teach our faith, and gather together as a parish family.

Our parish mission is: “To foster Sacrament-nurtured disciples of Christ who live a bold and extraordinary faith, first in the family, then flowing out into our community.” That mission begins with Christ. We are formed as disciples through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. From that encounter with Christ, our faith is meant to enter our homes and families and then flow outward into our community.

Our buildings exist to serve that mission, which brings me to our current situation. Our Facilities Committee has identified two immediate needs: repairing the roof of our bell tower and improving our narthex restroom so that it is more accessible and welcoming. These may seem like ordinary maintenance projects, but they are part of something much larger. Repairing the roof protects the church entrusted to us. Addressing the restroom allows us to better welcome parishioners and visitors, including those who have difficulty with accessibility. These improvements help ensure that our physical surroundings continue to support the work of evangelization, worship, fellowship, and the sacraments.

We should be careful, however, not to confuse the building with the mission. A repaired roof does not make a disciple. A beautiful restroom does not make a person holy. A well-maintained church cannot replace prayer, the Eucharist, or the life of faith. But the condition of our physical home communicates something about what happens within it. We want our church to reflect the dignity of the worship offered here and welcome people who come through its doors.

This is also an opportunity to think about stewardship. We are called to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us—not simply so that we can preserve an old building, but so that current and future generations can continue to encounter Christ here. We are called to rebuild more than walls and roofs. We are called to rebuild families. To renew our parish. To form disciples. To deepen our love for the sacraments. To foster a bold and extraordinary faith that begins in the family and flows out into our community. The physical work we undertake should always serve that greater work of our mission. Your support of these projects will provide a groundwork for that mission.

May St. Francis inspire us to hear Christ’s words, “Rebuild My Church,” and to see that caring for our church also means caring for the people who gather here, creating a place where Christ can continue to form disciples and build His Church for generations to come.

In Christ,

Fr. Fleck