St. Francis de Sales Parish,
Lenni St. Francis de Sales Church
33 New Road
Lenni, Aston Township, Pa., 19052
Cluster 66 The parish celebrates the Feast Day of St. Francis de Sales Jan. 24.
What special devotions are observed at the parish?
• Recitation of the rosary after Saturday Mass
• Prayer groups for men and women
• Holy hours for various occasions
Of which ministries are you most proud?
• Visitation of the sick and homebound — Sunday morning sees about 20 extraordinary ministers of holy Communion leave the church to visit the elderly and ill. Through the services of our Homebound Visitor, our parishioners are visited. We have on record anointings of the sick in the thousands year after year because of the many health care facilities in our parish boundaries.
• Parish outreach programs — provide food and clothing to those in need. Our school and CCD students are very much involved in this program, as are their parents.
• Hope Committee — through which people in need are assisted anonymously by their fellow parishioners.
• Liturgical Ministry — Though we are a small parish, there is never a lack of assistance from the extraordinary ministers, Mass servers and lectors. We have a very talented choir and guitarists who freely give of their time and talent to enhance our liturgies.
Are there any new ministries projected to begin this year?
• A program to provide meals weekly through the Bernardine Franciscan program.
• A Sanctity of Life Committee, encompassing pro-life, parenting, bereavement, etc.
What interesting artifacts, architectural features and/or special works of art are in the church?
Our church, which sits on a hill, has often been referred to as a “picture-perfect postcard of a country church.”
What are among the most commonly asked questions about the parish?
• “Where is Lenni?”
• “Now that I know where it is, how do I get there?”
• “Did you know Father Martin (a former pastor)?”
• “Is Sister Stephanie still teaching math?” Answer: “Yes.”
The pastor would also like all to know the following about the parish:
The little village of Lenni in Aston Township is about a mile square. As far as I know, no one of worldly fame has been born or bred here. The farm of horse owner Sam Riddle was partially within our parish bounds. That’s our 15 minutes on the stage.
This is not a razzle-dazzle place.
We have many ministries, but they don’t need to be enumerated.
It is a very simple and down-to-earth parish, a very hilly place, built on rock.
The faith of the people here is as strong as the rocks on which this church is built. They are loyal to the Catholic faith and fiercely loyal to their parish.
The people here know and care for one another. Everyone is welcomed and accepted here.
— Compiled by Christie L. Chicoine, CS&T Staff Writer
PARISH FACTS:
Founded: Established as a mission church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Mills, in 1889; established as a parish in 1894
Current Pastor: Father Michael A. Colagreco
Pastor Emeritus: Father Joseph E. Walsh
St. Francis de Sales School, 189 students; staffed by three Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia and 13 laity
Convent: St. Francis de Sales Convent, residence of four Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Number of Registered Individuals: 3,299
Number of Registered Families: 1,035
Annually, number of:
Baptisms: 35
Marriages: 25
Funerals: 15 |