Greetings St. James Family,

Myself and others have been busy getting ready for a most exciting occasion for us as a community. Bishop Steven Lopes will be flying from Houston to celebrate Mass and confirm six parishioners on Sunday, January 17, 2021! If you have not yet met Bishop Lopes or experienced one of his Masses, you will not want to miss this opportunity! He is by far one of the best bishops that I have ever known, a great pastor, leader, and an excellent homilist. He originally was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of San Francisco, but then went to work for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican, prior to his appointment as our bishop in 2016.

In celebration of this most festive occasion, we are hosting a meal to follow the Mass (check out this video for easy directions to the meal location). If you have not been to St. James in a while or have been meaning to visit, come and be our guest. We would be most honored to have you. If you are a regular, this is a great opportunity to invite a friend. There are folks who would come to St. James, if you would invite them. Please bring your mask (not required for small children). 

Obtain a Free Holy Water Font this Sunday!

On Sunday, January 10, 2021, we will be celebrating the Baptism of Jesus and following Mass I will be teaching about the power of holy water, blessing holy water, giving away bottles of holy water, and giving out a limited supply of holy water door fonts to the first twelve people who arrive for the teaching and blessing. Be sure to bring a along a jug of water to have blessed and take home.

Stronger Leadership coming to St. James!

I recently had the privilege of instituting the St. James Council, a group of six individuals who have committed the upcoming year to providing counsel and assisting me in leadership and laying the foundation of our community. Please keep the following individuals in your prayers: Stephen Coots, John Lanzilotti, Dan Lahey, Robin Cooper, Louis Caron, and Carol Patton (not pictured). 

Celebrating the Year of St. Joseph

One hundred and fifty years ago, St. Joseph was declared to be Patron of the Universal Church. On the anniversary of this great occasion our Holy Father has proclaimed the Year of St. Joseph, December 8, 2020 – December 8, 2021. This is a great opportunity to enrich your devotion to St. Joseph by reading Pope Francis' apostolic letter Patris Corde (a Father’s Heart) and to see the beautiful example offered by St. Joseph to us of a beloved, tender, obedient father, one who welcomed the will of God with creativity and courage. Learn how St. Joseph exemplified what it means to be a loving father, one who taught the value, dignity, and joy of work, and one who was not centered on himself, but placed himself in the shadows when compared to his wife, Mary, and especially next to his son, Jesus.

Septuagesima, 
On January 31, 2021 we will enter into Shrovetide, a time of being shriven of your sins and preparing for a Holy Lent. For most of Church history it was traditional during the three Sundays leading up to Ash Wednesday to begin taking on a more somber tone of reflection and examination to get ready for Lent. Following the revision of the Roman Rite in 1969 this season of Pre-Lent was eliminated for those who celebrate the Ordinary form of the Mass, but continued to be celebrated both in the Extraordinary (Traditional Latin Mass) and Divine Worship (Ordinariate) forms of the Mass. Beginning on Septuagesima Sunday, January 31, 2021 you will observe the priest wearing a purple chasuble as well as the lack of alleluias and no Gloria, all designed to assist you as we prepare to enter a holy Lent.

Need a Year End Giving Statement?

Due to the new tax code most will be taking the standard deductions instead of itemizing. However, if you are one of the few who will be itemizing, please let me know so that I can prepare a charitable giving statement for you.

Faithfully Your Pastor,

Father Mayer