2014 archive of FROM THE DESK OF FR. JEFF
December 27-28, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 12/29/14
The calendar year is coming to a close this week. On Thursday we ring in a new year with the celebration of Mary the Mother of God. Please join us at our vigil mass on Wednesday evening at 4:30pm, or at our 10:00am mass on Thursday. We will be ... Read More »
December 20-21, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 12/23/14
All of us at Transfiguration Friary wish you a very blessed Christmas. We friars feel very fortunate to be part of this parish community and to have a share in its many ministries. Thanks so much your expressions of Christmas joy this year!
The parish office is closed during ... Read More »
December 13-14, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 12/15/14
Do you remember taking the short survey last month? I am just beginning to sort through all the responses, all 480 of them. Not everyone completed the survey, so when I list the totals, the number does not always add up to 480.
To give you a sample of ... Read More »
December 6-7, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 12/08/14
We are happy to welcome Fr. Joe Hund, OFM to Transfiguration Friary in mid-December. He has finished a mission assignment in Namibia and will be taking a Sabbatical, and living here during this time. In June he will become pastor at our parish in Lafayette, LA. In the meantime ... Read More »
November 29-30, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 12/01/14
The season of Advent begins today. The tone of our worship changes to hope and anticipation. I hope that we can all drink deeply of this beautiful season. The struggle to find outward support for our inner spiritual journey has already begun, of course. To survive the incessant shopping ... Read More »
November 22-23, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 11/24/14
I've set aside this weekend to give you a year-end summary of our parish. As I talk, I would appreciate very much if you would fill in the quick survey that you will find in the pew. The survey will make you use the pencil only seven times. It ... Read More »
November 15-16, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 11/17/14
Next weekend concludes the liturgical year of the church with the feast of Christ the King. The readings describe how human history will end in judgment. St. Paul shares his glimpse of the end in our second reading: "Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to ... Read More »
November 8-9, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 11/10/14
This weekend we welcome Friar Colin King from Chicago. He is one of our friars in formation (training) that you can see on the vocation poster in the gathering room. He is here to seek your help for a student mission trip to Jamaica for a group of Chicago ... Read More »
November 2-3, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 11/03/14
This weekend we welcome new parishioners! Come and greet them at the reception after the 10:00 Mass. Any time, give a smile and warm greeting to anyone you have not met.
We also remember and pray for our beloved dead. November 1 was All Saints—“the great multitude which no ... Read More »
October 25-26, 2014
Posted by Father Bill Farris, OFM on 11/03/14
First of all, a big thank-you goes out to the many volunteers who helped our parish host the South Oakland Shelter last week. This effort creates the largest number of volunteer hours of anything we do as a parish. It is an around-the-clock witness of Christian love. I want ... Read More »