Kairos Registration is OPEN!

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We are excited to announce that we have rescheduled Kairos and registration is open! This retreat is open to incoming juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors this year! Participants do not need to be Catholic to attend - All are welcome!

What is Kairos?

Kairos is a Christian experience of prayer and reflection. St. Francis de Sales Parish began hosting Kairos retreats for high school juniors and seniors in 2009. Kairos can be a powerful and life-changing opportunity for teens as they grow in their knowledge of themselves, others, and especially, God.

Good Reasons to Participate in a Kairos Retreat:

  1. Everyone needs time to reflect. This retreat offers a break from the many distractions in our lives.

  2. The Kairos retreat centers on seeing God’s love in our lives and encourages the development of a personal relationship with God.

  3. This retreat creates an open and accepting retreat atmosphere for you to experience God’s love and forgiveness and the importance of friendship and family.

  4. Maybe you don’t know if God really cares and you need to find out just how much He does.

  5. The reasons to attend are as unique as each person. Talk to past Kairos participants or youth ministry adults and ask them why they participate in Kairos!
    Masks will be worn per guidelines at the time. Teens will sleep in private rooms. The retreat will begin on Friday near 4:00pm and will conclude Monday near 7:00pm. Teens will be transported to and from St Francis de Sales on bus.

Cost: $300.00 for 4 days & 3 nights (please let us know if you need assistance).

If you are interested in Kairos but want to learn more before registering, please email us and we can connect you with someone who can answer your questions!

Steubenville Registration is OPEN!

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We are excited to announce that we are going to Steubenville and registration is open! This experience is open to all high school students.

What is Steubenville?

Steubenville Youth Conference is an event where hundreds of Catholic teens come together to experience the peace of Jesus through inspiring talks, praise and worship, and the sacraments. Teens will have an opportunity to grow closer to their peers at St. Francis de Sales Youth Ministry, as well as with teens around the nation. You will return home with memories that will last a lifetime, and knowing you are never alone.

Please watch the two videos in this email to learn more! One video is from St. Francis de Sales Youth Ministry's experience in 2015, and the second video is the trailer for Steubenville 2022 (Theme: Fearless).

Reserving a Spot:

We only have 28 spots. Availability is on a first come, first served basis and a spot can only be assigned by the submission of your registration form and check. Once all 28 spots are reserved, a waiting list will be established also on a first come basis.

Cost: $300.00 per person - Includes retreat fee, room & board, bus transportation, and group t-shirts.

What’s not covered in the fee? Meals in route (one meal each way), gift shop purchases at conference.

Please let us know if you need assistance!

If you are interested in Steubenville but want to learn more before registering, please email us and we can connect you with someone who can answer your questions!

Holy Week Schedule

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PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSIONDistribution of Palms

Saturday, April 9
5:00pm Vigil Mass

Sunday, April 10
6:30am
9:00am (also streamed on Facebook & YouTube)
11:00am (also broadcasted to West Parking Lot)

Monday, April 11

8:30am & 12 Noon Mass
11:00am & 1:00-2:00pm Confessions

Tuesday, April 12

8:30am & 12 Noon Mass
11:00am & 1:00-2:00pm Confessions

Wednesday, April 13

8:30am & 12 Noon Mass
11:00am & 1:00-2:00pm Confessions

Holy Thursday, April 14

8:30am Mass
7:00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
with Adoration after Mass until Night Prayer at 11:45pm

Good Friday, April 15

10:00-11:45am Confessions
12 Noon-3:00pm Tre Ore (*Stations of the Cross & Reflection on the 7 Last Words of Christ)
1:00-2:00pm Confessions
3:00pm *Passion of the Lord Service
8:00pm Tenebrae (Meditation Service of Darkness & Light)

Holy Saturday, April 16

10:00-11:45am Confessions
12 Noon & 1:00pm Blessing of Easter Baskets (1pm in Parking Lot)
7:30pm Easter Vigil Mass in the Holy Night

Easter Sunday April 17, 2022 | The Resurrection of Our Lord

6:30am - Main Church with Fr Ryan

9:00am - Main Church with Fr Ryan, Fr Valker Hall with Fr Paul
(also streamedon Facebook & YouTube)

11:00am - Main Church with Fr Ryan, Fr Valker Hall with Fr Paul
(also broadcasted to West Parking Lot) 

12:30pm - Main Church with Fr Ryan

Catholic Schools Week Essays \\ Libby Magones

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What St. Francis Has Made Me by Libby Magones

Hello my name is Libby and I am a student at St. Francis de Sales. I'm an 8th grader and this week is Catholic School’s Week and I wanted to talk about how special St. Francis de Sales is and what St. Francis de Sales has made me.

When we have each other, we are everything. The people atSt. Francis de Sales has made my 12 years of school everything I could have imagined. St Francis has made me the best version of myself. It has given me confidence and knowledge to share and to use. I grew in faith, I made a family, achieved excellence and soon, I'll have to move on

A Catholic School, you would expect to learn about face and of course, the Catholic religion. While at Saint Francis, only are we informed about our religion, we grow in it. Andn on the way we have grown as a family. I have practically lived with the same people since what, Pre-3?  it's been awhile. We became family. Bus rides begin to feel like a family road trip. the picture on the bus, we joke, we laugh, we even sleep sometimes. We are so comfortable with one another but I consider these people I have grown up with more than just friends. We have grown over the years because of one another. Greta Roscoe,  in particular,  who is one of my closest classmates,  helped me grow in my faith. She guided me towards Christ, she lifted me up And honestly is one of the best people I've ever met. this is what you get at Saint Francis. the most well-rounded and kind-hearted people you will ever meet. like words to my classmates was one of my teachers,Mrs. Jeske. My brother had her for homeroom in 7th grade. I was so excited to be in her class. and I'll tell you what, it did not disappoint. I learned about her,  our class made jokes with her, We were comfortable with one another. We even threw her a birthday party once. Point being, even if we aren't all in the same “friends groups”,  we all know and love each other and care for one another even if we don't know it. The connection is greater than our minds can comprehend.

 Faith and family is what takes Saint Francis the extra mile. But what all schools have is education. This school achieves excellence in that field too. We are a 2-time Blue Ribbon School! Since we are such a small school, I have had the same 8 people in my class for 6 years. We are one competitive class. But, instead of bringing us down, it lifts us up! And encourages us and it strengthens us. Now, one thing absolutely every kid is not a fan of at St. Francis is the grading scale. But this grading scale pushes us 2 be our most prepared selves.

The end of the quarter and throughout the whole quarter really, I would stress about my grades. still do. teachers like Mrs. Keller, our principal, Remind me that the exorbitant amount of pressure that I put on myself is it not worth it. These teachers truly care about their students,  every single one. 

Excellence is shown in another way. Since we are a small school, we are forced out of our comfort zone in different scenarios to meet new people. We are told to care for others that we don't know. We have service projects with Heifer International, and so much more. Students are constantly making fundraisers to help learn about others. Another extracurricular activity is the speech contest. At the moment, learning the speech, having it memorized, performing it, it can all be a bit (more than a bit) stressful. It can be dreaded. But as I head into the speech contest this year, I look back. It has helped me as a speaker, it has helped me with confidence and calmness. Even the things we don't love to do, it is all worth it. A matter of tough love. 

I'm in 8th grade, it didn't really hit me until the second quarter ended thatI have to move on. The school has made me who I am. I wouldn't be the same without it. I will leave Saint Francis. I will go into High School. it will be different. I am scared. add red leaving and being in the situation of having to make new friends. I realize that Saint Francis has prepared me for just that. I have served as a Catholic, learned as the student. I am ready, no matter how much I want to deny it, for my next step. Having somewhere to go home. Having something to love is family. Having both is a blessing. St Francis is a blessing. My happiness and memories and heart will stay at Saint Francis no matter how many miles I travel. At Carmel, there will be no Christmas Concert for each student to participate. There will be no religion class with Mrs. Nigro or office with Marion, I have to learn to take risks. It will be different. It is a pain to leave, but instead of worrying about leaving, I move into the new mindset of being glad it happened.

In a word, St. Francis has given me confidence, knowledge and people with great hearts and minds. They give me intelligence in guiding me as a Catholic and as a person. This school is so great. I wrote this essay to remind you to always keep that in mind and to appreciate where you are. Don’t waste your time at St. Francis, don't complain about school, live it up, because I realize now that it is the best thing that ever happened to me.