Jackie Francois Angel sings during her presentation to students at Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School Nov. 8. (Sun photo | Katherine Long)
With an acoustic guitar and a beautiful singing voice, Jackie Francois Angel brought a message of God’s love to students and families across the diocese last week.
Francois Angel, a Catholic speaker, singer/songwriter, and worship leader from Orange County, Calif., spent three days in the diocese headlining events sponsored by the Offices of Family/Respect Life Ministry and Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
At her evening youth and family rallies at Holy Cross Church in DeWitt and St. Joseph’s Church in Oswego, Francois Angel spoke on the topic of “Be Not Afraid” and focused on “not being afraid to live our faith out,” she said.
Her daytime talks at Bishop Ludden Jr./Sr. High School in Syracuse and Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School in East Syracuse focused on “Loving Boldly.”
Mixed in with renditions of pop songs and lighthearted jokes would be a few key messages, which Francois Angel outlined in an interview with the Sun before her talk at Grimes: what love is and what love isn’t; God created us out of love, to love, and to be loved; the Church teaches that love is free, total, faithful, and fruitful; and God’s love is the greatest love of all.
What did Francois Angel hope the students would take away from her talk? “I want them to know that God loves them and he has a purpose for them,” she said. “God sees them and knows them and loves them deeply.”
Francois Angel will return to the diocese in April for rallies and school presentations in the Eastern and Southern Regions of the diocese.
