A sampling of recent events:

Advent Customs & Traditions – presentation Monday, December 2nd with Fr. Tom Lankenau 6 -7:30 pm in Reidy Hall and enjoy a warm bowl of soup & bread!

Cinnamon Roll Sunday – December 1st and the St. Nicholas Day Tradition surprise for Children’s Liturgy of the Word!

Afaria! – a special name for a special occasion! Potluck and presentation 6-8pm in Reidy Hall November 20th. All are invited to a potluck dinner followed by a presentation. We invite you to bring a favorite appetizer, main dish, or salad to share! Luke Larson, our Director of Spirituality, will talk about the thousand-mile horseback trip he and Father Pat Conroy, S.J. made 35 years ago in commemoration of the early Jesuit missionary’s journeys throughout Montana. Our next scheduled Afaria events will take place next year on February 26th and April 30th .

Dips & Dice Young Couples Event – Thursday, November 14th 6-8 pm in Reidy Hall Bring your favorite board, card or party game & a dipping pair or snack to share! Contact: Shai Hill shill@sfxmissoula.org

Cinnamon Roll Sunday! – November 3rd 2024 following the 8am & 10am Mass Also, in Reidy Hall items from Bethlehem will be on sale in support of their community. And, many books will be available free to a good home!

Remembrance Service – Monday, November 4th 7:00 pm in the church A candle light prayer service to honor loved ones who passed this year.

Trunk or Treat Halloween – Sunday 27th October, 4 – 5:30pm in the church parking lot. This family event is now in its 4th year. If you would like to decorate your trunk, donate treats or help out with this event please contact Katy 406.542.0321 kmckinnon@sfxmissoula.org

Young Couples – Paint your Punkin’ Friday, October 18th 6-8pm in Reidy Hall. Bring an appetizer to share and your own beverages and we’ll provide the rest – including paint supplies! RSVP Shai shill@sfxmissoula.org

Cinnamon Roll Sunday! – Returns October 13th  2024 following the 8am & 10am Mass

Blessing of Animals – Sunday, October 6th following the 10:00 am Mass by the Grotto

Afaria! – a special name for a special occasion! Potluck and presentation 6-8pm in Reidy Hall September 25th. St. Francis Xavier Parish is starting something new! Join us for our first ever “Afaria” or “dinner” in the Basque language of St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier. Beginning on Wednesday, September 25th all are invited to a potluck dinner followed by a presentation by Fr. Hightower, S.J. on the topic of Fr. Ravalli, S.J. and his contribution to society here in Montana. We invite you to bring a favorite appetizer, main dish, or salad to share!

Parish Picnic – Sunday, August 25, 2024 following the 10:00 am Mass. Come join in the fun at our annual Picnic following the 10 am Mass The Knights of Columbus will be cooking up hamburgers and hotdogs and we ask that you bring a favorite side dish or dessert to share. We will be having our pie contest again this year so select that special recipe! And, of course activities for the children. See you there!

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – March 30th 2024 at 11:00 am on the church lawn

Novena of Grace –  annually March 4 -12th at St. Francis Xavier Parish in honor of our patron, St. Francis Xavier.  Although the Novena of Grace is a Catholic prayer tradition in Jesuit communities, it is open to people of all faiths. It affords all who participate time to reflect, and to open one’s self to God’s Spirit and the healing grace that rejuvenates and transforms our lives.

Men and Women’s Advent Prayer Breakfast – All are Welcome. A great way to prepare for the coming of our Lord! Come and join us.  Homemade scones, cinnamon rolls, frest fruit, yougurt, coffee and juices.

Remembrance Service –  a candle light prayer service  November 2nd at 7:00 pm where we remember our loved ones who have recently passed.

Taize – Young Adult Advent Taize Dates: Dec. 3, 10, 17 @ 6pm  All are welcome to join us in prayer. The Social Gathering (with wine & cheese!) afterwards is for young adults.

Craft Fair – Get your holiday shopping done early!!  Please come support local artists and parishioners (even some SFX kids!) at our St. Francis Xavier Craft Fair. High School Youth Ministry will also be there selling snacks and drinks!  

Women’s Scripture Study –  Fall 2024 Session lead by Tom Lankenau SJ Women’s scripture class starts September 26th at 10:00 – 11:30 Reidy Hall.  We will be looking at church and the arts. We will be using the book ‘Sacred Art Every Catholic Schould Know’ by Dr. Jen Sullivan. 

CHALLENGE -Beginning September 10th 2024  Noon to 1:30 pm in the Parish Office. Challenge is an adaptation of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, which was developed by Father Mark Link, S.J.  Participants pray with a short daily reflection, keep a journal of their prayer, and meet with fellow retreatants for an hour each week for support and faith sharing.  There is no cost to participate. Meeting September thru May  If you have questions about Challenge,  contact Facilitators: Beverly Frohlich 406.240.2704 and Patricia Baker 307.851.8339

Martha’s Ministry  Do you love to knit or crochet? Please join the Martha’s Ministry group on the 3rd Wednesday of each month in the Parish Office to make prayer shawls. This is a fun social time and you are welcome to bring other sewing projects to work on as well. Meets at 11am in the Parish Office. Questions? Call 406.542.0321

Catholic Men’s Spirituality Group –Every first Wednesday of the month Meets in the parish office building. Questions: Eric Reiber 406. 370.1777

Men’s Groups –When: Option #1 Weekly, Friday Morning, 6:30am, Upstairs Meeting Room of Parish Center  Option #2 Monthly, First Wednesday of Every Month, 7pm, Parish Office & Sanctuary Come to one or both! What: An opportunity for Catholic men, and men interested in Catholic faith, to gather and explore faith, masculinity, fatherhood, being a man, husband, servant, leader, and follower of Jesus. Prayer, discussion, learning, fun.

LGBTQ Outreach Ministry

When: Variable meetings and special events; watch for announcements. Contact Fr. Hightower hightowersj@sfxmissoula.org

What: Our parish LGBTQ+ ministry, a work for, with and increasingly led by LGBTQ+ Catholics, is inspired by the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2358:
“They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives…”

Sample of Past Events:

Men and Women’s 2024 Lenten Breakfast – Thursday’s February 22nd thru March 21st 6:30-7:30 am in Reidy Hall for a delicious breakfast, fellowship, prayer & reflection. Contact Mark Brown 406.370.5366 or mark@greatgrizzly.net

We are excited to bring the Vocation Chalice Ministry to St. Francis Parish. This ministry invites a family, couple, or individual each week to take home a consecrated chalice as a focal point for daily prayers dedicated to vocations. The Vocation Chalice Ministry aims to foster a supportive, prayerful community at St. Francis, lifting up those called to serve as priests, deacons, religious, and lay ministers. Each participating family, couple, or individual will receive the Vocation Chalice and a special blessing at the Mass of their choice, along with prayer materials to guide them through the week. This is a wonderful opportunity to place the chalice in a place of honor at home, praying together for those discerning a call to serve. At the end of the week, please return the chalice to the Parish Office by Friday at noon, allowing the next family to share in this special prayer tradition.If you’re interested in participating or learning more, please contact John Neuman at jneuman@sfxmissoula.org. 

Let’s join together to build a foundation of prayer for vocations within our parish community!

Sign up to pray with the Chalice

Ministers of Care – Visit & bring Eucharist to fellow parishioners. Members of SFX regularly minister to those who are unable to leave their residence by providing regular pastoral visits and the reception of Holy Communion. If you or a loved one are in need of pastoral care in your place of residence, or if you would like to know more about participating in this valuable ministry, please contact the parish office

Mary Martha Ministry – Knit Prayer shawls for the sick or hospitalized. Martha’s Ministry is back! Do you love to knit or crochet? Please join the Martha’s Ministry group on the 3rd Wednesday of each month in the Parish Office to make prayer shawls. This is a fun social time and you are welcome to bring other sewing projects to work on as well.Meets at 11am in the Parish Office. Questions? Call 406.542.0321

Funeral Hospitality – provide a side dish or dessert or assist in facilitating luncheons. Contact Katy 406.542.0321

Knights of Columbus – Grand Knight

RCIA Sponsor – Consider being a team member or sponsor for someone seeking full communion with the Catholic Church through RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

CGS Assistants & Catechists – Share your faith with the youth of this parish as a Catechist or Children’s Liturgy of the Word Minister.

Vacation Bible School – June and July

Marriage Ministry – Just as Mary was invited to bring light into the world and she offered a resounding yes, you are invited to do the same. If you are a married couple and interested in journeying with couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, we invite you to join our Marriage Ministry. You needn’t be the “perfect couple”…simply a couple who believes in the Sacrament and is willing to help engaged couples begin their life together. The time commitment is flexible, the ministry team is a welcoming community and the enrichment for your own marriage is priceless. To offer your “Yes” or for more information, please contact Susan Standley sstandley@sfxmissoula.org

Being a sacristan is a very beneficial way to serve our parish community and an active way to participate in Mass. The Sacristan is responsible along with the priest for the overall preparation of the mass. Setting out the vessels for Eucharist, making sure the books are out and ready, and making sure all necessary items for worship are available. This ministry is behind the scenes and very rewarding. We offer training so no experience is necessary.It offers lots of flexibility…simply sign up for any Sunday mass you are available. We need sacristans at the 5pm, 8am, 10am and 6pm. You can choose how often you serve…once a month or more.
This is a vital ministry for our parish and our priests very much appreciate the work of the sacristan. If you are willing to serve as a sacristan, please contact Erin Turner at eturner@sfxmissoula.org

Our parish has a long history of beautiful and rich liturgies due to the incredible volunteer help you, as parishioners, have given over the years.
The pandemic reduced a number of our regular volunteers and we are in need of new volunteers to support our wonderful liturgies!
Whether you are a seasoned minister or have never helped at mass before, we need YOU! We will provide all the training necessary to make you feel comfortable!

Here are ways you can help….
-Lector (reading at mass)
-Cantor or any musical instrument (sing, playing piano or anything else. These ministers receive a stipend))
-Eucharistic Minister (administering Eucharist at mass or to home bound)
-Ushers (greeting parishioners and assisting in getting them seated) *greatly needed
-Altar Servers (2nd grade and up….all ages welcome)
-Sacristan-(Assist in setting up before mass) *greatly needed*
-Tech minister (live-streaming mass. This position receives a stipend. Ideal job for a young teen or young adult but anyone is invited)

None of these roles appeal to you? We also need people to wash and iron altar robes, take vestments to cleaners, help decorate the church, polish chalices and other mass items, and more behind the scenes jobs!

We hope you consider helping breathe new life into our liturgies by helping out in any way you can!
All are welcome!

Please contact Erin Turner, Director of Liturgy at eturner@sfxmissoula.org

Might you enjoy recording our 10:00 am Mass?

Training and support on the sanctuary livestream system is provided.

This ministry is extremely important to those parishioners who can not attend in person. They rely on our livestream every Sunday to stay connected to our community. We are losing some of our longtime tech ministers to college. So, we need some new help! Anyone 13 yrs or older are encouraged to consider joining this ministry! The parish will pay you $40 for each mass you livestream. We will provide as much training as you need. It’s not complicated but you will want to be comfortable with operating a computer. This is a great ministry for middle school. high school or college students who want to earn some money! Please contact Erin Turner at eturner@sfxmissoula.org for more information or to sign up!

Our Virtual viewers Thank you!

Contact Erin eturner@sfxmissoula.org

Christmas Giving Tree

During this season of Thanksgiving as we recall our many blessings and we remember those organizations in town who support our neighbors in need.

Look for the Giving Trees in the Church beginning November 14th, 2024!

Please fill an envelope with a gift card or monetary donation and bring to the parish office or place in the collection basket.

Mountain Home – Mountain Home Montana provides shelter for young mothers who need a place to live, and a network of support as they create safe, stable, and nurturing homes of their own. Your donation would allow mothers to buy a gift for their child this Christmas.

Council Groves – Council Groves Apartments is a low income housing community. Council Groves provide high-quality housing and offer residents events and classes to support residents’ educational and professional goals. Your donation would allow low income families to buy gifts this Christmas.

Essential Eats Distributors – Established in 2017, Essential Eats Distributors, Inc. is an all – volunteer, virtual based non-profit dedicated to serving hard-to-reach populations facing food-insecurity. Your donation would help to provide food to families in Heart Butte, Blackfoot, Seville, Babb, and East Glacier during this holiday season.

International Rescue Committee – The international Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. Locally, the IRC supports refugee families who have been resettled to Montana. Your donation would go to buy toys for newly resettled children during their first Christmas in their new home.

Family Promise – Family Promise helps families experiencing homelessness and low – income families achieve sustainable independence through a community – based response. Your donation would help but gas cards for the families staying at the Meadowlark housing center.

2023 Thank you!

We would like to personally thank each and every one of you who donated to the Giving Tree this year! Your generosity is overwhelming and we were able to raise just over $14,000 to give to Mountain Home, Council Groves, Essential Eats, International Rescue Committee, and Family Promise. The SFX Outreach donations gave us the ability to establish a fund to assist more in the community throughout the year, which there is always a need for. Once again we appreciate the generosity in the parish and Happy New Year.

Dear St. Francis Xavier Community, I wanted to personally reach out to thank you all for your incredible & continued support for the young families we serve at Mountain Home. There woould need to be much more paint for all the finger you’ve impacted, like Charlie 3yrs who helped paint/decorate the attached card. Your generosity demonstrates that there are folks who believe in them & care about their futures, two gewnerations at a time. Thank you for investing in healther & happier futures for so many. Deepest Gratitude, Steph Goble, Executive Director

Dear Friends at St. Francis Xavier Church, On behalf of the board and staff of the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative (MIC), thank you for your very generous donation. We are most grateful for your important support of Family Promise of Missoula and the Giving Tree. MIC continues to empower congregations and community organizations to work together, leveraging strengths to meet the needs of the community and address challenges such as homelessness, hunger, and unemployment. We are working for a day when people who identify themselves as homeless can be housed immediately and can be supported in putting their lives back together. Your financial assistance is helping us reach that day. MIC could not do this work without you. We, and those who serve, sincerely appreciate your generosity. Thank you for your thoughtfulness! Many thanks! Nancy S., Missoula Interfaith Collaborative Directors

To our dear friends at St. Francis Xavier church – Thank you so much for your very generous contribution to Essential Eats Distributers. Because of you and others we can continue our mission of providing essentials to the hard to reach Indigenous families of Montana. From coats to pantry boxes, bicycles to books, plus additional support for Indigenous led programs. Together we are making a difference. Best, Sara Wecker – Director

On behalf of the International Rescue Committee in Missoula, please accept my heartfelt thanks for the generous gift from the SFX community this holiday season and your continued support of our work throughout the years. It is only because such compassionate supporters as you take the important step of partnering with us that the IRC can help so many uprooted people – not just to survive conflict or disaster, but to recover and gain control of their futures.

This year, staff at the IRC in Missoula are working around the clock to offer safe haven to newly arrived families fleeing conflict zones from around the world, giving them the opportunity to enjoy security, hope, and freedom in the United States. Your gift will enable the IRC to continue providing newly arrived refugees with crucial services that include community and cultural orientation, English language instruction for those who will benefit from it, career development, healthcare, financial literacy, school enrollment, and other programs to support them in becoming productive, healthy, and self-reliant. 

We are grateful to you for being an important part of the IRC community and for your commitment to our ongoing mission of helping people on their journey from harm to home in Missoula.  Sincerely, Eamon Fahey Deputy Director

2024 Lenten Project 

Updated Lenten Project 2024 Numbers! – Thank you AGAIN St. Francis Xavier Parishioners for making our Lenten Project “Warm Your Spirit – Fill Your Heart” a HUGE success. I am happy to announce that we are adding an additional 275.00 hours to last week’s total to bring our GRAND TOTAL to 769.25 hours – Once again on behalf of the St. Francis Xavier Priests and Staff we would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who participated, what a blessed parish we are to have such amazing people among us.

Once again our Annual Lenten Project will be centered on raising ‘volunteers’ so get ready to keep track of your volunteer hours! Our theme this year is Warm Your Spirit – Fill Your Heart. To participate more deeply in the Lenten season, we are asking parishioners to volunteer for organizations in need, we have many organizations that can use your help, some suggestions are Mountain Home, Poverello Center, Family Promise, Annual Bitterroot Special Olympics, Missoula Food Bank, and so many more. The Lenten project will kick-off starting Ash Wednesday (February 14th ) and there will be purple pledge cards and letters with local groups that could use your help located in the entryways of the church. Please grab a few and fill them out with your completed volunteer hours or pledged hours for the week. Simply drop them in the offering basket each week as your gift of time! Or, feel free to email Katy at kmckinnon@sfxmissoula.org with pledged or completed hours.

Lenten Project 2023 Update  – Once again we were overwhelmed to have additional hours turned in after we reported the results last week! We are adding 468.5 hours to our total from last week of 673.75 hours for a TOTAL of 1142.25 hours of true giving from your hearts to assist the Missoula Community in so many ways. On behalf of the SFX Priests and Staff we would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who participated, what a blessed parish we are to have such amazing people among us!

Family Promise

Family Promise Volunteers Needed

It is our turn to serve at Meadowlark the week of  December 22-28, 2024, Christmas week! We know Christmas is a very busy time of the year for everyone but we  will need those of you who spare an hour or two to volunteer to help out. We can’t do it without you. Please click the link below for details. Then check your calendar and if possible, sign up. We would love to have you join us to help support the homeless families. Training is provided. Feel free to contact Anette Blaskovich, coordinator, if you would like her to accompany you on your first time volunteering for any event.  916-747-7427.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0444A4AC23A2FE3-53312751-volunteers

Family Promise is a volunteer organization that helps homeless families with food and assistance at the Meadowlark Housing Center 1800 S. 3 rd St. W.

Won’t you consider volunteering? St. Francis has been part of the Family Promise since it began in Missoula ten years ago. Help us serve the homeless families of Missoula by volunteering with Family Promise at the Meadowlark/YWCA building. Directions are written out for each position on the Signup Genius and training is provided. Volunteer options include providing store bought salads, fruits, or desserts to go with dinner (You would drop your donation at the Meadowlark building for that night’s dinner between 9:00am-5:00pm. Specify it is for Family Promise.); serving dinner 5:50-7:30pm; serving as an evening host from 8:00pm-10:00pm; laundry, when needed.

Be sure to check our St. Francis Xavier emailed bulletin for your invitation to signup. If. you give me your email address, we will get the signup to you personally. (Michelle Bedard Smith of St. Anthony’s Church pairs up with me and sends out the Signup Genius)

Anette Blaskovich is our Family Promise Coordinator. Contact me at any time: 916-747-7427 or ablaskovich@sfxmissoula.org

(Besides our regular four (4) weeks during the year, if you would like to help other churches or organizations fill their signup, contact Anette. Notifications can then be emailed to you.)

Spare a blanket for Family Promise? Clean, gently used twin, full, and queen size blankets are welcome. King size is too big – sorry. Bath towels are also welcome. Again, contact Anette at 916-747-7427 or ablaskovich@sfxmissoula.org for her to pick up or you drop off.

Giving Tree 

Each year at Christmas, St. Francis Xavier has put Family Promise on our Giving Tree. It is through your very generous donations that we are able to contribute 2 – $50 gift cards to Walmart and 2 – $50 gift cards for gas, and the needs of the Welcome Baskets. The gift cards are given during each of the four (4) weeks we serve. These gift cards are given to new residents entering without much, and to those needing gas to get to work.

Giving Tree 2023 Thank you! 

From the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative Directors:

Dear Friends at St. Francis Xavier Church,

On behalf of the board and staff of the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative (MIC), thank you for your very generous donation. We are most grateful for your important support of Family Promise of Missoula and the Giving Tree. MIC continues to empower congregations and community organizations to work together, leveraging strengths to meet the needs of the community and address challenges such as homelessness, hunger, and unemployment. We are working for a day when people who identify themselves as homeless can be housed immediately and can be supported in putting their lives back together. Your financial assistance is helping us reach that day. MIC could not do this work without you. We, and those who serve, sincerely appreciate your generosity. Thank you for your thoughtfulness! 

Habit for Humanity –  Habitat helps create stability and self-reliance through shelter for our local families.  Katrina at impact@habitatmsla.org.

Learn more – https://habitatmissoula.org/about-us/

Donations to ReStore  The sales from ReSore help fund Habitat for Humanity of Missoula afforable homeownership program

3655 Highway 200 East, East Missoula Hours to drop off/shop Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm    406.549.8215 You may schedule a pickup.

We accept new and used furniture, building materials, appliances and home fixtures in working condition.

Please note, we cannot accept:
– mattresses, box springs or linens
– clothing
– used carpeting
– used florescent fixtures or bulbs
– picture tube TV’s

The Poverello Lunch team – is seeking volunteers to help prepare and assemble sack lunches each Wednesday & Thursday from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. 1110 West Broadway Street No sign up necessary, just show up. Thank you!

If you would like, Anette Blaskovich will meet up and accompany you.  Call 916-747-7427 or email her tweetytoo14@gmail.com

Baskets are located in the rear of the church for donations of non perishables for your neighbors in need.

Fr. Hightower is our representitive

About Common Good Missoula https://www.commongoodmissoula.org/

Common Good Missoula unites everyday Missoulians to work together across traditional divides like race, class, and ideologies. We listen. We plan. We organize. We act. We celebrate.

Common Good Missoula is an affiliate of IAF (Industrial Areas Foundation) Northwest and has 19 member organizations based in Missoula – All Nations Health Center, labor unions, faith communities, neighborhoods, and other non-profits. In our tradition, organizing is led by the people most directly affected by the issues the organization is working on.

Well-being throughout our community requires everyday citizens, particularly the most impacted to be meaningfully involved in creating the solutions shaping our community. Recognizing this, we continually build leadership from within our community, working to understand and address the root causes of the issues, not just the symptoms. When everyday folks realize they have the agency to create change and that they aren’t alone in their struggles, their human dignity shines and they are motivated to make change and become leaders in the community.

We bring these leaders together to build power they wouldn’t have individually and use that power to create systemic change. We see ourselves as part of a larger movement for social change and work towards strengthening that movement.

Common Good addresses inequity by creating a large and racially/socially diverse network of everyday leaders working to address local challenges such as structural racism, lack of affordable housing, and community safety.

Common Good Missoula and Catholic Social Teaching