Saint Francis Parish

🌈 We're going to Pride, and we need your help to get there!

Saint Francis Parish and Outreach is raising $1,000 by June 1 to have a booth at Augusta Pride 2026 — so we can be right there on the ground, showing our community that there is a Church that actually means it when it says all are welcome.

If you've ever wished there was a Christian presence at Pride that wasn't there to judge but to welcome, this is your chance to put us there.

💛 Venmo: @saintfrancisparish
💛 PayPal: paypal.me/saintfrancisparish
💛 Cash App: $saintfrancisparish

Every dollar gets us closer. Share this post. Tag someone who needs to know we exist. Let's go to Pride. 🕊️

📍 Saint Francis Parish and Outreach
557 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901
oursaintfrancis.org

#AugustaPride #AugustaPride2026 #SaintFrancisParish #AugustaGA #InclusiveChurch #AllAreWelcome #LGBTQAffirming #QueerChristians #PrideFundraiser #OldCatholic #OCCI #ChurchAtPride #YouBelongHere #PaxEtBonum

🐑 This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday at Saint Francis Parish and Outreach, and we would love to have you with us.

Join us for the Fourth Sunday of Easter as we continue our Easter series What the Spirit Builds — this week’s word is TEND. We’ll be reading from John 10, praying Psalm 23, and celebrating Mass together as a community that believes the table is set for everyone.

📍 In person: 557 Greene Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901

📺 Online — watch us live:

▶️ YouTube: @SaintFrancisParish@www.youtube.com
▶️ TikTok: @saintfrancis30901@tiktok.com
▶️ YouNow: https://YouNow.com/BishopGreg
▶️ OCCI Video: https://video.myocci.social

All are welcome. No exceptions. Come as you are.

🌐 oursaintfrancis.org

#GoodShepherdSunday #WhatTheSpiritBuilds #TEND #SaintFrancisParish #AugustaGA #OldCatholic #AllAreWelcome #LiveMass #Easter2026

New post: They Have Done This Before https://oursaintfrancis.org/they-have-done-this-before/
Palm Sunday is the day the liturgical calendar asks us to hold two things at once. We begi
#faith #hope #immigrants #love

Walking With the Stranger: Advent Joy, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the Call to Courage - https://oursaintfrancis.org/walking-with-the-stranger-advent-joy-our-lady-of-guadalupe-and-the-call-to-courage/

This Sunday’s lectionary readings bring us deeper into the heart of Advent, that season when the Church holds tension between longing and hope, between what is broken and what God is healing. Isaiah encourages a weary people: “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees” (Isaiah 35:3). James echoes that call, urging the early Church to “establish your hearts” (James 5:8) as they wait for the Lord. And in the Gospel (Matthew 11:2–11), Jesus offers signs of the Kingdom already breaking into the world—good news for the poor, healing for the hurting, freedom for those crushed by systems of power.

For us at Saint Francis Parish and Outreach in Augusta, these Scriptures do not float in the air as spiritual poetry. They land firmly in the middle of our ministry with immigrants, refugees, the poor, and those who have been silenced or mistreated. Advent tells the truth: the world is wounded, but God is at work in those wounds.

**Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Marginalized**

This week we also honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Old Catholic Churches International. Her presence reminds us that God often chooses to reveal holy truth through those the world considers unimportant. Mary did not appear to a nobleman, a wealthy family, or a bishop. She appeared to Juan Diego, an Indigenous man living under the weight of colonization, poverty, and cultural erasure.

Her message was more than comforting—it was disruptive. She lifted up a people whose dignity had been denied and challenged the Church to listen to voices it had often ignored. Her Magnificat is not a sweet lullaby but a declaration of God’s justice:

- the proud scattered
- the mighty cast down
- the hungry filled

**Walking With Immigrants in a Climate of Rising Hostility**

Here in Georgia, the headlines remind us daily that our immigrant neighbors are living under increasing pressure. Political rhetoric grows harsher, policies become more punitive, and communities already carrying trauma are forced into deeper uncertainty. Some of the language emerging in our national conversation echoes the same authoritarian impulses the Church has resisted in past generations, scapegoating, exclusion, and the portrayal of human beings as threats rather than as bearers of God’s image.

*To walk with immigrants is not about partisanship. It is about discipleship.*

At Saint Francis, we see the sacredness of this calling every day. We meet families fleeing violence and poverty, workers laboring long hours for low wages, and children bravely adapting to a new culture while carrying burdens far beyond their years. We receive far more from them than we give: resilience, joy, faith, and a living witness to hope.

**Standing Against Abuse and the Normalization of Harm**

Abuse, whether personal, political, or structural, thrives wherever silence becomes the norm. Advent challenges that silence. It insists that God does not accept cruelty as “the way things are.” Jesus’ words to John, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me,” speak to the courage required to follow him when compassion becomes countercultural.

Standing against abuse means refusing to normalize hateful speech about immigrants. It means resisting rhetoric that divides communities, justifies harm, or treats vulnerable people as disposable. It also means supporting survivors of domestic violence, workplace exploitation, state violence, and all forms of mistreatment. Advent calls us not only to wait for Christ, but to walk in his way now.

**A Final Word for Our Community**

As we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, may we remember that she stands with the poor, the immigrant, the survivor, and the silenced. She reminds us that God sees those whom society overlooks. She reminds us that tenderness can be revolutionary.

Her words to Juan Diego echo into our parish today:

**“Am I not here, I who am your mother?”**

May that assurance strengthen our hands, steady our knees, and deepen our resolve to walk with the stranger, confront injustice, and proclaim hope in a world that deeply needs it.

Pax et Bonum,

Bishop Greer

#oldcatholic #catholic #immigrants #WalkWithImmigrants #antifascist

Caminando con el Forastero: Alegría de Adviento, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y el Llamado al Coraje - https://oursaintfrancis.org/caminando-con-el-forastero-alegria-de-adviento-nuestra-senora-de-guadalupe-y-el-llamado-al-coraje/

Las lecturas de este domingo nos llevan más profundamente al corazón del Adviento, esa temporada en la que la Iglesia sostiene la tensión entre el anhelo y la esperanza, entre lo que está roto y lo que Dios está sanando. Isaías anima a un pueblo cansado: *“Fortalezcan las manos débiles y afiancen las rodillas vacilantes”* (Isaías 35:3). Santiago hace eco de ese llamado y exhorta a la Iglesia primitiva a *“afirmar el corazón”* (Santiago 5:8) mientras esperan al Señor. En el Evangelio (Mateo 11:2–11), Jesús ofrece signos del Reino que ya está irrumpiendo en el mundo. Son buenas noticias para los pobres, sanación para los heridos y libertad para quienes están aplastados por sistemas de poder.

Para nosotros en **Saint Francis Parish and Outreach** en Augusta, estas Escrituras no flotan en el aire como poesía espiritual. Aterrizan firmemente en medio de nuestro ministerio con inmigrantes, refugiados, las personas pobres y aquellas que han sido silenciadas o maltratadas. El Adviento dice la verdad: el mundo está herido pero Dios está obrando en esas heridas.

**Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe: Madre de los Marginados**

Esta semana también honramos a **Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe**, patrona de la **Old Catholic Churches International**. Su presencia nos recuerda que Dios suele revelar la verdad sagrada a través de quienes el mundo considera insignificantes. María no apareció a un noble, ni a una familia adinerada, ni a un obispo. Se apareció a **Juan Diego**, un hombre indígena que vivía bajo el peso de la colonización, la pobreza y el borrado cultural.

Su mensaje fue más que reconfortante. Fue disruptivo. Elevó a un pueblo cuya dignidad había sido negada y desafió a la Iglesia a escuchar las voces que con frecuencia había ignorado. Su Magnificat no es una canción de cuna dulce sino una declaración de la justicia de Dios:

los soberbios dispersados
los poderosos derribados
los hambrientos saciados

Por eso sigue siendo un símbolo para los inmigrantes, los desplazados y todos los que anhelan un mundo moldeado por la misericordia en lugar del miedo.

**Caminando con los Inmigrantes en un Clima de Hostilidad**

Aquí en Georgia, los titulares nos recuerdan diariamente que nuestros vecinos inmigrantes viven bajo una presión creciente. La retórica política se vuelve más dura, las políticas más punitivas y las comunidades que ya cargan traumas son empujadas a una incertidumbre aún más profunda. Parte del lenguaje que aparece en nuestra conversación nacional refleja los mismos impulsos autoritarios que la Iglesia ha resistido en generaciones pasadas. Se vuelven a crear chivos expiatorios, se promueve la exclusión y se presentan seres humanos como amenazas en lugar de portadores de la imagen de Dios.

Como cristianos, no podemos fingir que no lo vemos. El ministerio de Jesús deja claro que quienes son empujados a los márgenes no son preocupaciones opcionales sino centrales para el Evangelio. Cuando describe los signos del Reino a los discípulos de Juan, comienza con esto: **“a los pobres se les anuncia la buena noticia.”**

Caminar con los inmigrantes no es una postura política.
Es una postura evangélica.

En **Saint Francis**, vemos la sacralidad de este llamado cada día. Conocemos familias que huyen de la violencia y la pobreza, personas trabajadoras que soportan largas horas por salarios que apenas alcanzan y niños que se adaptan con valentía a una nueva cultura mientras cargan pesares que ningún menor debería llevar. Recibimos de ellos más de lo que damos: resistencia, alegría, fe y un testimonio vivo de esperanza.

**Decir No al Abuso y a la Normalización del Daño**

El abuso, ya sea personal, político o estructural, prospera allí donde el silencio se vuelve norma. El Adviento desafía ese silencio. Insiste en que Dios no acepta la crueldad como algo inevitable. Las palabras de Jesús a Juan, *“Bienaventurado el que no tropieza por causa de mí,”* hablan del valor necesario para seguirle cuando la compasión se vuelve contracultural.

Decir no al abuso significa rechazar la normalización del lenguaje de odio hacia los inmigrantes. También significa resistir toda retórica que divide a las comunidades, que justifica el daño o que trata a las personas vulnerables como desechables. Asimismo significa apoyar a quienes sobreviven la violencia doméstica, la explotación laboral, la violencia estatal y todas las formas de maltrato. El Adviento nos llama no solo a esperar a Cristo sino a caminar en su camino ahora...

We Serve No King But Christ

Welcome, dear friends and neighbors! At Saint Francis Parish and Outreach, in the heart of Augusta, Georgia, we gather as a community committed to walking in the footsteps of Jesus, the one true King. This week, our hearts and minds are drawn to the scripture lessons of 2 Samuel 5:1-3, Colossians 1:12-20, and Luke 23:35-43. These passages gently remind us of what it means to serve Christ above all, especially in a world where injustice and division can seem overwhelming.

Scripture Reflections: Leadership Reimagined

2 Samuel 5:1-3 recounts a pivotal moment for the people of Israel: the tribes come together to recognize David as their king. But this isn’t just about politics or power. It’s about unity and humble leadership. David is chosen not because he’s the strongest or the richest, but because he is a shepherd with a heart for his people. The elders affirm, “We are your bone and flesh.” These are words echoing the deep connection and shared humanity that God desires. Today, we remember that our ultimate allegiance isn’t to any worldly ruler, but to Christ, who calls us to care for one another with compassion and integrity.

Christ at the Center: A New Kingdom of Light

Colossians 1:12-20 paints a breathtaking vision. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Christ is the center of the universe and the source of our hope. Our inheritance is not about privilege, wealth, or status, but about sharing in the light of God’s love. This kingdom is radically different from the empires of our world. It is built on reconciliation, grace, and mercy. Every time we say, “We serve no king but Christ,” we are declaring that our hearts belong to something greater than the powers that divide, exploit, or exclude.

The Cross and the Margins: Mercy in Action

Luke 23:35-43 brings us face to face with Christ’s reign from the cross. While others mock, Jesus forgives. While the world rejects, He welcomes. Even as He suffers, He extends hope to the penitent thief, promising paradise to someone society had written off. This is true leadership, one that chooses solidarity over domination, mercy over condemnation. If Christ’s kingship is marked by love for the marginalized, our own lives as His followers must reflect the same radical hospitality.

Justice and Faith: Standing Up in Christ’s Name

Here’s where faith meets action. To say “we serve no king but Christ” is to reject systems and attitudes that dehumanize. It means standing up against fascism, the urge to control through fear and force. It means opposing racism and any ideology that divides us by skin color, heritage, or background. It means speaking truth to oligarchs and structures that put wealth before the common good, and it means advocating for immigrants and refugees, who often find themselves at the mercy of unjust laws and rhetoric.

At Saint Francis Parish, justice is not a slogan, it’s a daily calling. Our outreach ministries strive to greet strangers as friends, to feed the hungry, clothe the cold, and listen to the voices often ignored. Each small gesture, sharing a meal, offering a kind word, walking alongside someone in hardship, is an act of resistance against a culture that prizes exclusion and division. When we welcome the outsider, we welcome Christ.

Community in Action: The Parish as a Living Witness

What does this look like here in Augusta? It looks like parishioners organizing food drives and standing with immigrant families navigating uncertain futures. It looks like educational programs that confront prejudice and teach empathy. It looks like moments of prayer for victims of hate and violence, and for those in positions of power who need the courage to choose justice.

We know that standing up for what’s right isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes it means risking popularity or comfort. But we remember that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, and our strength comes from Him. United in faith, we challenge the status quo, not through anger or division, but through persistent love and hope.

A Call to Action: Living Our Allegiance

So, as you go about your week, remember: our deepest loyalty is to the King who wore a crown of thorns, not a golden one. Let us make Christ’s love visible by standing against hate, by refusing to bow before idols of power and wealth, and by standing up for anyone who is marginalized or mistreated. In every conversation, every outreach effort, and every prayer, let us echo, “We serve no king but Christ.”

May these scriptures inspire us to be bold and gentle, steadfast and compassionate. Let’s pray for the courage to see Christ in every person, and the grace to help build a parish and a world where justice and mercy walk hand in hand.

Blessings, friends! Let’s keep seeking, serving, and loving as Christ’s community, right here in Augusta and beyond.

Pax et Bonum,

Bishop Greer

https://oursaintfrancis.org/we-serve-no-king-but-christ/

#oldcatholic #nokings