"From Age to Age" by SFXChurchNYC

Ann interviews Sr. Boreta, a longtime parishioner of St. Francis Xavier, about finding welcome, healing, and purpose in a faith community committed to inclusion and justice. Boreta shares her journey to Xavier after a painful experience of racism at another parish, and how music, preaching, and genuine hospitality first made her feel at home. She reflects on her deep involvement in the choir, prea...

Ed, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier for more than 25 years, interviews Bill, a longtime parishioner deeply involved in parish life, about finding a spiritual home at Xavier. Bill reflects on his return to the parish after its renovation, the sense of welcome he experienced, and how Xavier’s vibrant community drew him into active faith. He shares how prayer and service are intertwined through h...

Liz, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier for about eight years, interviews Nancy, a longtime parishioner since 1998, about her journey back to the Church and her deep commitment to faith-rooted social justice. Nancy reflects on her years living and working in Central America, her advocacy for human rights and immigrants, and how Xavier became a spiritual home that welcomed her as a returning Catho...

Kevin, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier for nearly 15 years, interviews Fr. Peter, a former associate pastor whose relationship with Xavier spans decades. Fr. Peter reflects on his years of ministry at the parish, his deep commitment to sacramental life and liturgy, and his belief that worship is something a people do together. He shares stories of welcoming new Catholics through RCIA, accompan...

Catherine, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier since 2011, interviews Sr. Mary, a member of the Xavier community since 1980, about her life of faith, ministry, and service at the parish during a time of profound change in New York City. Sr. Mary reflects on her vocation as a Sister of Mercy, her early years of pastoral outreach at Xavier, and her deep involvement in ministries of presence, justice...

Andrea, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier since 2001, sits down with her daughter Grace and longtime parishioner Marjorie to reflect on faith, community, and belonging across three generations of Catholic women. Marjorie, a daily communicant for decades, shares how Xavier has anchored her spiritual life and sustained her through profound changes in the Chelsea neighborhood and the Church itself....

Aedan, a lifelong parishioner of St. Francis Xavier, interviews Luz, the parish’s longtime Director of Religious Education, about her journey of faith, vocation, and service at Xavier. Luz reflects on her path to New York City, her transition from computer science to professional dance, and the moments that led her to Xavier during a difficult period in her life. Together, they explore Luz’s deep...

Natasha interviews Stephanie, who was led to Xavier by her brother in 2001. Natasha and Stephanie, both LGBTQ+ women of Filipina heritage, talk about negotiating their relationships with their sexual orientation, the tug of faith in their hearts and the call to prophetically proclaim the Good News. To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visi...

John, a cradle Catholic who grew up in a very spiritual and religious home in the Franciscan tradition, had fallen away from the faith during his 20s and 30s. One day nearly 40 years ago, John found his way into the Xavier church while trying to escape a rain storm, which led him to spiritually "escape the rain" and find shelter within and amongst the community through the storms the AIDS crisis,...

Through the persistent invitation of a friend who was a Xavier parishioner, Paula and Roe eventually attended mass in May 2000 at Xavier and were taken aback by their first experience of the radical welcome of the Xavier parish community. Brandon, a parishioner for about five years, talks with Paula and Roe about the faithful people they've known at Xavier throughout the years and thoughts about w...

Joan and Maria, who count over 50 years together in a committed relationship, recount their journey of faith as members of the Xavier community since the early 1990s with Tess, a younger, more recent Xavier parishioner. Together they talk about the value of being integrated into the wider fabric and community of the faithful as a lesbian couple, and worshiping and expressing their faith side by si...

Nadine, a member of the religious order of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate has a Franciscan heart. Although her order is based in the Midwest, family obligations led her to request to be posted back in the New York City region in the 1980s. Upon her return, conversations during a retreat led her to the Church of St. Francis Xavier, where she eventually become a member and has been wo...

In the over 18 years that Kathleen has been a parishioner at Xavier, she has been particularly interested in ensuring that Xavier extends its promise of Christ's love and warm welcome to all, especially those on the margins who are differently abled from most others. Bill, a relatively recent parish member, interviews Kathleen to understand how she came to Xavier, and Kathleen discusses with Bill...

Kristen, one of Xavier's young parish leaders, interviews Ann, one of Xavier's wise parish elders and a pillar of the community. Ann, a cradle Catholic who had fallen away from the church for about 20 years in her middle age, was introduced to Xavier at the Pentecost mass in 1987 by a good friend. Ann fell in love with the parish and its community, in large account because of the music ministry. S...

Pablo, a parishioner at Xavier since 2017, interviews Roseann, a parishioner at St. Francis Xavier for nearly 40 years, about God leading her to Xavier and a life of dear relationships and involvement in various ministries and groups at the parish since 1985. As a young person, Roseann had heard great things about the Xavier community, but felt she herself wasn't holy enough to join them as a fell...