HISTORY AND MISSION
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a Roman Catholic Church that was established in 1903 to serve the South Farms section of Middletown, as well as the towns of Durham and Middlefield. The parish’s first pastor, Rev. Patrick McGivney, was the brother of Fr. Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus. The church at 10 Elm Street was built at a cost of $27,000, was dedicated on November 4, 1904.
The nave windows were installed on August 1973, under Fr. Edmund Barrett. The windows in our church are intended as a source of meditation. They represent in modern design and symbols, God and man. The central figures in our lives is Christ, the Son of God, born of the Blessed Virgin, offering His life for the Redemption of man and rising from the dead as proof of His divinity.On the west side of the nave, (to the viewers right as he faces the altar) these salient Gospel events, and truths are represented. On the east side of the church ( to the viewers left as he faces the altar) the facts of the man’s destiny according to our faith in the gospel are represented. The facts are the gift of life – grace and the gifts from God – death – judgement and hope and expectation of our own resurrection.
Fr. Michael Davitt Fox was named the eight pastor of St. Francis in 1984. He was a generous men and a voice for the poor and the unborn. “Fox was a long time champion of the poor, the homeless, and the Hungry. His Commitment to social responsibility and outreach programs was a perfect Match for the St. Francis Mission of caring for others”- The Hartford Currant, Oct 27, 2004-
Fr. Fox was well respected in ecumenical circles, and was assisted by many associate pastors and retired priest, including Fr. Thomas Murphy, Monsignor Joseph King, Fr. Anthony Alaharasan, and Fr. Richard Buongirno. During his stay at the Parish the second renovation of the church was completed. After appreciation dinners and dances with the Ed Kosicki orchestra were held, the beautiful stained glass windows of the sanctuary were uncovered, air-conditioning installed and a “crying room” for children added. The Parish also committed to supplying 75 boxes of cereal a month for the Amazing families feeding families program and operates an intergenerational drop is center for children, teens, adults and seniors.
In 1998, Rev. Robert Washabaugh was assigned to St. Francis Parish. Before his assignment at St. Francis and because he is fluent in Spanish, Fr. Washabaugh traveled from New London each Sunday to celebrate Mass for the Hispanic Catholic community at St. Johns Church in Middletown, at that time, there were around two hundred people in the Hispanic community. Fr. Washabaugh, knew well the people and had a sincere, respectful and love feeling toward them and soon after his assignment , the Hispanics were relocated to St. Francis from St. John. On January 2, 2001, Monsignor Fox died suddenly and Fr. Bob became the ninth pastor of our church. He began marshaling parish support and fund raising to build a new parish center. The church’s families raised about $800,000, the capital improvement fund was put to good use and with a small loan the 90 by 90 foot building took shape.
On September 2, 2001, St. Francis led the ringing of church bells through the city of Middletown to start the great parade marking the city 350th birthday. Fr. Bob and the choir march alongside our float, the largest in the parade – The St. Francis Steeple had to be lower it each time to pass the beneath the wires. Then just nine days later on September 11th ,2001 our country suffer a terrorist attack; that evening Fr. Bob led an interfaith service at St. Francis as the whole nation mourned. A month later Fr. Washabaugh agreed to become Pastor of St. Mary Start of the Sea in New London, mainly to serve its large Hispanic community. It’s administrator, Fr. Martin Jones was then transferred to be St. Francis 10th Pastor in May 2004.
Under Fr. Jones, the Monsignor M. Davitt Fox Center was completed, along with the restoration of the sanctuary, stations of the cross and gold capitals undertaken, a new carillon installed, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament began on Mondays concluding with a holy hour and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Evening Prayer and Benediction; the Liturgy of the hours with the office of readings and Morning Prayer before the weekday Masses with the Rosary recited afterwards; the bilingual Living Rosary was recited on the 1st Monday of the Month of May and October, the crowning of Mary and Corpus Christi Procession started, as well as bible school for kids, teens, and adults, a parish based, intergenerational-multicultural program.
At present we are a multicultural parish with a growing Spanish population and other immigrant cultures as well.