Our Parish - About Us - Parish History At the juncture of this first and second-quarter century, St. Francis De Sales Parish - like the universal church - faced a number of challenges: implementation of principles and understandings articulated by Vatican Council II; concretization of new understandings of church and mission; adaptation and renewal both of the community and its members; actualization of lay ministry. Moral issues of war and peace, justice and love, life-giving and death-dealing required a reexamination of Christian belief and practice. Biblical justice and Catholic social doctrine became texts for new lessons in Catholic action and personal morality. Throughout the world, new patterns of community interaction and institutional expectations, and changing lifestyles have affected parishes. Within the parish itself, great debt and deep divisions called for multi-leveled reconciliation. Pastors Leo Rosloniec (fl. 1970-1982), Louis Stasker (fl.1982-1994), and Thomas Simons (1994-), their priest associates, and expanded professional lay staff, aided by pastoral boards/councils, addressed and continue to address these challenges. These have been years of searching for the "real work" of the Church in the Modern World and the particular work/mission of the church of St. Francis De Sales. Liturgy, service, witness, education, stewardship - the perennial work of church - all have been parish endeavors directed toward fulfilling its mission and its heritage, toward living fully in "God's Own Time."
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