Canon Saylors to celebrate Feast of St. Francis

The members of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Prairie View will celebrate its 65th Anniversary in the community and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. The Rev. Canon Joann Saylors, the Canon for Mission Amplification for the Diocese of Texas is the preacher and celebrant. Dinner will be served following the services and the public is invited to the fellowship.

St. Francis had its beginning in 1939 when a group of Episcopal Church members at Prairie View A. & M. College met and decided to start an Episcopal congregation in Prairie View. Miss Maude Ernestine Suarez, Dean of Women led the group in starting a chaplaincy and congregation. In 1952 St. Francis of Assisi Mission Congregation was born, with Reverend James Murray as Vicar. In 1991 St. Francis of Assisi became a Parish with Rev. Earlie Clemens, Sr. as Rector. St. Francis of Assisi is the 2nd oldest church in the city of Prairie View, following Wyatt Chapel Baptist Church which was founded in 1894.

Reverend Saylors joined the diocesan staff on April 4. She formerly served as the Canon for Deployment and Congregational Development in the Diocese of West Texas. Her pre-seminary background as a CPA working in project management and team leadership, combined with her ministry in a parish and experience in congregational development, distinguished her in a supremely talented field of candidates.

In accepting the position Saylors said, “I am excited about Bishop Doyle’s vision for the future of the Church and grateful for the opportunity to help reimagine the place of the Church in the world, facilitating new and creative ways to live into God’s mission with the world.”

“Canon Saylors is the perfect fit for this critical position,” Doyle added, noting, “This was not an easy brief to fill, but I’m delighted that she shares our excitement for the diocesan vision and brings substantive giftedness and specific experience for the ministry that lies ahead.”

Saylors will lead the Mission Amplification Team’s five missioners to assist leaders and congregations to plant new communities of faith, both church plants and missional communities, and to nurture congregations and their leaders. The team provides coaching and consulting, as well as assessments and programs like cultural competency training and formation events. With the arrival of the new canon, the Mission Amplification Team will be able to support more congregations to enhance and expand their ministries to have an impact on their communities.

Saylors has served in her West Texas role since 2012, when she and her husband Rick relocated from Church of the Redeemer, Irving, in the Diocese of Dallas. She holds a Master of Divinity from Seminary of the Southwest in Austin and the Bachelors degree in business administration, accounting and finance from the University of Texas as a Phi Beta Kappa honors graduate. She is also a licensed CPA. Prior to ordination, Saylors was a financial systems and project management consultant. She has served ex officio on a number of diocesan committees and as a member of the Board of Good Samaritan Community Services in San Antonio.

The church will host a Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi on Saturday, October 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon. Bring you animals, other pets and stuffed animals for the blessing.

The Reverend Dr. Cynthia Engle is the Rector. For information on St. Francis of Assisi, email: stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net