 Pastor Welcome
Dear Friends,
We hear all the time that we must believe in and hold on to our dreams, and that just about anything is possible if we believe and are willing to work for it.
As I look at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School, I am amazed at how it happened, that is, the journey from dreaming about having our own school to the realization of that dream. The journey began in early 1996 and became a reality with the 2004/05 school year. It took the cooperation and hard work of many people from the Diocese, St. Benedict at Auburndale and St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Perhaps the most important concept is that everyone shared the same dream and worked together to make it happen. I have no doubt that God was the Master Planner and we the instruments.
I'm not sure if this is true for most dreams, but often the fulfillment of a dream is far greater that the dream itself. That is certainly true when it comes to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School. The fulfillment of our dream far exceeded our original plans. No one back in 1996 could have possibly known what would actually materialize.
Some people ask why we wanted our own school.... When I came to St. Francis of Assisi as Pastor in July of 1995, I was constantly asked by the parishioners if and when St. Francis would have its own school. Many wanted the opportunity to give their children a Catholic education. The Diocese of Memphis operated St. Benedict at Auburndale as a K - 12th grade Catholic School and it was located directly across the street from St. Francis. However, it was limited in size. Very quickly, the parish leadership and the diocese realized St. Francis Parish had the ability and the financial base to assume operation of the K - 8th grades and significantly increase enrollment. And so we began working together to make it happen.
Today, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School is the largest Catholic elementary in the states of Tennessee and Kentucky with over 900 students and 100 or more faculty and staff.
I cannot overemphasize how proud and humbled I am to be a part of St. Francis of Assisi Parish and School. I cannot imagine a greater gift than the total academic, social and spiritual education of our children. May God be praised for making our dream become a reality.
Sincerely in Christ,
Msgr. Peter Buchignani
Pastor
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