Welcome
Welcome to the St. Francis web site! We celebrate the traditional Tridentine Mass in English every Sunday at 10 am and we invite you to stop by and join us. You are welcome to take Holy Communion, whether a Christian or not; whether divorced or not; whether you’ve ever taken communion before or not. We break bread with all to whom the Lord Christ would show love and compassion --- namely yourself.
Join us for refreshments afterwards, and do visit our library. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask our clergy or congregation members. St. Francis is not only a church, but is also a center that encourages community through the spiritual growth of every person.
The Church of St. Francis
The Liberal Catholic Church, Province of the US
12 West School Street
(Northwest corner of Ardmore and School)
Villa Park, Illinois 60181
(630) 834-3320
Rector's Web Site: www.liberalcatholic.com
Email: info@stfrancisvillapark.org
Click here to view and printout our 2008 Church Calendar(pdf)
Our Heritage
The Liberal Catholic Church’s founding Bishops transformed a nearly insignificant Old Catholic movement in England into a renewed visionary Church, proclaiming the Gospel in a new light with great power. It was a revolutionary church built upon the foundation of:
- FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND BELIEF
- FREE INTERPRETATION OF CREED AND SCRIPTURE
- COMMUNION OPEN TO ALL WHO APPROACH THE ALTAR WITH REVERENCE
- UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THE DIVINE LIGHT IN EACH PERSON
Our church holds that every person is a child of God, related and inseparably linked to one another. That which harms one harms all.
This web site is dedicated to those founding Bishops and also to those who are now lighting new spiritual pathways for humanity.
Palm Sunday 2008
Celebrant Rev T-Metz is surrounded at the altar by Rev. Jeffrey Forth, Deaconess Julie Hamilton, Dillan James Jones, Tiffany Leah Jones, Kiefer Daniel Provost, Lucas Ryan Jones, Daniel Joseph Provost (Doorkeeper) and Rev. James Ascareggi.
Lucas (13), Tiffany (11), and Dillan (10) celebrated their First Communion on Palm Sunday, 2008. Their preparations began in 2007 under the instruction of Vicky Fitzmaurice using material developed by the late Dimpna Clarin-Smith. They were baptized in unison on November 11, 2007 at the Church of St Francis. All three can be found serving at the altar in various supporting roles including Cross Bearer, Boat Bearer, Candle Bearers, and Bell Ringer. They are the children of Stephanie Chantos and friends, with Kiefer (10) who also was Baptized and earlier took his First Communion in 2007.
In September, 2008, the Regionary Bishop William Downey visted the church, performing confirmations and an ordination. Read about Bishop Downey in the Daily Herald article online
Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008.