MOCKSVILLE — True devotion to St. Francis of Assisi is a powerful thing. Bearer of the marks of Christ, example of purity, abounding in grace, reformer of the erring, pillar of the Church, defender of thy children, confounder of the heretics, healer of the lepers and raiser of the dead – the litany of St. Francis reads remarkably close to the life of Christ Himself.
Knowing this, Father Eric Kowalski, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church, sought to increase awareness of their patron saint with a nine-week novena, including a bilingual Mass and veneration of a first-class relic of the saint. The novena began Aug. 9 and will end Oct. 4. The parish holds its annual pet blessing and collection for the ASPCA the same day. Pets receiving blessings last year included turtles, birds, cats, dogs, two snakes, a gerbil and a ferret. This year, the celebration continues Oct. 7 with a special procession, Mass and fiesta.
“The parish has a real devotion to St. Francis. It’s not the pop-culture version. It’s not just we love trees flowers, birds, animals. It’s a real understanding of who he was – someone captured and sold as a slave, a missionary, quite a preacher, bearer of the stigmata – and what it means to have him as a parish patron,” said Father Kowalski. “Their devotion is not a pretentious thing. I’ve sensed a very real love for him and desire to follow him. Having Franciscan Father Andrew Draper here melded it.”
Father Draper acquired the first-class relic – some of the saint’s ashes – during his time as pastor of St. Francis, from 1999 to 2010. The certificate issued with the relic from Rome used the Latin word for ashes: “cinere.” “Apparently he was cremated. When I saw it, I was surprised,” Father Kowalski said. “I thought, ‘Can they do that?’”
Father Draper secured the relic and the certificate in a silver chest under the tabernacle. To increase visibility and maintain security, Father Kowalski acquired a reliquary to house the saint’s ashes and moved it above the statue of St. Francis inside the church.
“The second parish I was at in New Jersey had a great devotion to St. Jude. The novena always ended on his feast day. There were 300 to 400 people a week for it for 20 years. It’s simply nine prayers, one a week,” he explained. “Oct. 4 is our patron’s feast day, and whether you’re Catholic or Protestant you bless the animals, but to say we’re coming together for nine weeks increases knowledge, adds meaning and inspires devotion.”
The relic and St. Francis statue will be placed on a carrier during the procession before a bilingual Mass at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7, followed by a parish fiesta.
“To do that in a place like this is very important,” Father Kowalski said. “It helps build the community and strengthen the faith.”
— Annie Ferguson, correspondent
Want to go?
St. Francis of Assisi Church will offer the following events as part of the parish-wide devotion to St. Francis of Assisi:
- Bilingual Novena Mass and Veneration of a Relic of St. Francis of Assisi: 7 p.m. Sept. 20, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4
- Pet Blessing: 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4
- Procession, Bilingual Mass and Fiesta: 11 a.m. Oct. 7
The church is located at 862 Yadkinville Road in Mocksville. For more information, go online to www.stfrancismocksville.com.