Enthronement of the Holy Face in St. Francis of Assisi Church, East Palo Alto, California November 11, 2017

A church filled with parishioners and pilgrims both young and old joyfully celebrated the Enthronement of the Holy Face in the parish church of St. Francis of Assisi of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.  A special framed image of the Holy Face, a replica of the image in Manoppello, donated by Mrs. Daisy Neves, was installed above the tabernacle of the church.  

After presiding at the Votive Mass of the Holy Face the pastor, Fr. Lawrence Goode, led a procession with the Holy Face around the grounds of the parish, blessing the area and the streets in four directions with the image of the Holy Face.   

Returning to the church, Fr. Goode read the prayer of Enthronement in English and Spanish, as well as the prayer of Pope Benedict XVI to the Holy Face.  All parish associations participated in the event.  The parish is known for having many different ethnic groups including Mexican, Filipino, Tongan, and African American and all were represented at the Mass, procession and Enthronement. 

Prior to the Mass a presentation on the Holy Face of Manoppello was given in the Church in English and Spanish by Fr. Goode and Raymond Frost.  Promoters of the devotion to the Holy Face who were present at the celebration included Mrs. Daisy Neves, Mrs. Augustine Pham and Deacon Christoph Sandoval of St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco.  

Raymond Frost, Daisy Neves, Fr. Lawrence Goode, Augstine Pham, Deacon Christoph Sandoval

St. Francis Church is centrally located near Stanford University about 20 miles distant from both San Francisco and San Jose. The Holy Face has been venerated in the church of St. Francis in East Palo Alto since 2008.  Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, Rector of the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello, visited the church in 2014, celebrating Mass and giving a talk on the Holy Face.  Fr. Cucinelli sent a special letter to mark the Enthronement of the Holy Face at St. Francis.