This was a great weekend for service outreach with SFA Youth Ministry. 2 teens and 3 adults, along with other parishoners, joined almost 200 other people from across the city to help clean up a run down apartment complex in Binghampton. Some of these units will be used by Catholic Charities to house refugees. There are plans in the works to have more of these work days at different locations.

EDGE baked over 400 cookies to take to Ronald McDonald House and St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen.

A few of the 5 dumpsters that were filled with debris from the apartment complex, everything from kitchen sinks to trees and trash.

So often, we see a new year as a new start. But we shouldn’t forget the past. We have no doubt heard the expression “learn from your past mistakes”. Many parts of our faith lead us to live our lives according to this expression. In the Sacrament of Confession, we have the ultimate opportunity to start new. When we make a true confession, with true resolve to do better and avoid sin, it’s like a New Years resolution. So this year, have a lot of “New Years” celebrations. We are all human, we will always fall. We need to pick ourselves up and admit our faults, and find what needs to change in our lives to live the life Christ has called us to.

We are looking forward to a great year of ministry here at St. Francis. Thank you to all of the volunteers, donors, and church staff who make the LIFE TEEN and EDGE programs such a success.