We believe that our faith is lived out in the world. As a church in the Town of Gilbert, it’s important we connect with those in our community. We try to maintain a visible and active presence by participating in local festivals and events that let us meet the people in our community and give them an opportunity to get to know us.
Here are some of the great events in Gilbert we actively join in:
Barktoberfest
This event held each October on the grounds of the Town’s Civic Center lawn, is a festival that celebrates all things “dog”. Put on by the Friends for Life Animal Rescue, our church offers free dog blessings to attendees in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
Gilbert Days Parade
The parade, which takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving is a celebration of Gilbert’s heritage and involves many local schools, businesses, non-profit organizations, and special interest groups. We enter a float and provide fun surprises for parade goers.
Christmas Caroling
We have a tradition of Christmas Caroling in December with a strolling group of singers made up of parishioners and anyone else who’d care to join us on the way. We’ll process along the sidewalks of Gilbert Road downtown, stopping at several points along the way to offer Christmas Carols to those shopping and dining there. (picture)
Stations of the Cross
During Fridays in Lent, through Good Friday, we observe the Way of the Cross. This public ritual of remembrance helps us to recall Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sake. We start our procession, led by the cross, on the sidewalks lining both sides of Gilbert Road downtown while diners and shoppers are going about their business. We stop at 14 “virtual” stations on our journey to remember what happened there before moving on to the next. Anyone is welcome to join in. It’s a powerful spiritual experience for participants and a witness of our faith to spectators.
Gilbert Global Village Festival
This festival, held in April, is a multicultural celebration for all ages. The event brings neighbors together in a friendly, educational way to learn more about each other. Community members, schools, non-profits, and service organizations are invited to participate. We are one of a handful of local religious organizations who have a presence there. We erect a tent to welcome people in to talk about our church and we offer fun crafts for kids.