Dear St. James Family
My thoughts and prayers are with you as we navigate the wind, rain and storms of the next couple of days. I am moving our Michaelmas celebration, originally scheduled for tomorrow, September 29, to this Sunday, following the passing of the storm. Please feel free to reach out with any needs. Let's stay close and take good care of one another during this time.
In the meantime, I would encourage you to allow your heart to be enflamed with devotion to St. Michael, champion of God's people. Doctor of the Church St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote that veneration of the holy Angels, and particularly of St. Michael, is an outstanding sign of predestination. According to St. Lawrence Justinian, a fifteenth century holy bishop ‘Although we must honor all the Angels, we ought to invoke in a very special manner the glorious St. Michael, as the Prince of all the heavenly spirits, because of his sublime dignity, his pre-eminent office and his invincible power, which he proved in his conflict with Satan, as well as against the combined forces of Hell.’ Again, the same Saint says: ‘Let all acknowledge St. Michael as their protector, and be devoted to him, for he cannot despise those who pray to him . . . But he guards them through life, directs them on their way and conducts them to their eternal home.’ Learn more about St. Michael by reading this article about the history of devotions around this powerful saint.
MICHAELMAS POTLUCK & ACTIVITIES MOVED
NEW TIME: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2022, 11:45 AM
Come on out and enter into the autumn season with us! Because Michaelmas (St. Michael's Mass) falls near the equinox and is associated with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days. Going back to medieval times there are traditionally four “quarter days” in the year: Lady Day on March 25, St. John the Baptist on June 24, Michaelmas on September 29 and Christmas on December 25. Remembering these days is a great way to orient the four seasons around important events and figures in salvation history.
Traditional foods for this fall feast include roast goose with apples, mutton pies, blackberry crumble, Sruthan Mhìcheil (bread made from equal parts barley, oats, and rye), St. Michael’s Bannock, and nuts to be cracked. Find recipes over at FishEaters.com. In honor of St. Michael you will have the opportunity to experience jousting, sword fighting, target shooting, and horse raising. Your assistance is needed for this festivity. Sign up to bring a dish or assist in setup or cleanup. Contact Cathy Messina with any questions: cathymmessina@gmail.com, 415-205-9705
INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLICISM FOR PROTESTANTS
OCTOBER 12, 2022, 6-9 PM
Know a Protestant or two who might be curious to learn where the Bible came from and how this points to the Catholic Church? Bring them with you to dig deeply into Church history, examining the roots of the Bible, and how the Church functioned prior to the time when the books of the Bible were collected together. Learn how the Bible came together and what this teaches us about the Church. Come prepared to discover the often overlooked, but essential developments of your family history as a Christian. This evening will be led by myself, Father Mayer. As you know I grew up in a devout evangelical family, and then as an adult served for a time as an Episcopal Priest before coming into the Catholic Church. This is a great opportunity for Protestants to better understand Catholics and to experience an engaging and interactive presentation designed to bring Protestants and Catholics together around the Scriptures. Bring your Bible!
Workshop Location: Assumption Catholic Church (2403 Atlantic Blvd), Conference Room (located in the rectory - call or text when you arrive and Father or someone he sends will come and find you and lead you to the conference room: 904-999-1423).
RSVP Deadline: Please confirm as soon as possible, but no later than October 9, 2022 if you are planning to attend – Office@StJamesCC.org or 904-999-1423
JOIN A COMMUNITY GROUP - UPDATE
BELONGING, FRIENDSHIP, GROWTH
Discover roots and a place of belonging, support and people with whom to grow in the faith by meeting together with others every other week to connect, discuss scripture, and conclude with sung Compline (night prayer). We currently have four people who have said they would like to be part of a group. We need at least two more people in order to get the group up and going. There is some discussion about setting the meeting time for the group to every other Sunday evening. Please let me know if you are interested in being part of this group.
MOVE FROM A GOOD TO A GREAT MARRIAGE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2022, 10:00 AM
Connect with other couples, grow spiritually, have fun. Teams of Our Lady is a movement of "married spirituality" officially recognized by the Holy See under the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Any couple in a sacramental marriage is invited to attend an information meeting: Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 10:00 AM at the Mandarin Branch Library, 3330 Kori Rd, Jacksonville. Please RSVP by October 26 to my friends Larry and Mary Kay Kuchta 386-503-7718 (call or text) or marykay@5gators.com
CHECK OUT THE LATEST HOMILIES
LEARNING, INSPIRATION, FORMATION, SANCTIFICATION
Below are the homilies that I have given over the past few Sundays at St. James. Please listen and share with others, either online at the website or through your podcast app by searching "Saint James Jacksonville".
CALLING MEN TO FRATERNITY, PRAYER, & ASCETISM
NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 25, 2022
Commit to gathering together weekly with other guys, daily formational reading, twenty minutes of silent prayer daily, abstaining from complaining, a nightly examen, and meatless Fridays. Begins now through November 25, 2022. I have a group that currently meets Friday mornings 7-8 AM at Assumption Conference Room. However, I am also looking for a leader to coordinate a second group that meets at a different time and location. Please contact me for more information.
THE MISSION IS HEALTHY & GROWING FINANCIALLY!
GIVING NEARLY DOUBLE FROM LAST YEAR
Giving for August: $4,951.13 | Monthly Average Giving for Past Twelve Months: $6,244.25 (average giving at this same time last year: $3,535.53)
August Expenses: $5,394.05 | Covers quarter of priest’s income, half of pension, travel, liturgical supplies, music, building rent and liability insurance, advertising, bishop’s tax, alms giving, hospitality
Capital Fund Balance: $31,388.43 | Used for long term purchases, buildout when St. James is ready to move into long term leased facility, or to purchase property.
Each action of sacrifice and generosity allows us to expand our evangelization, deepen our roots, and move closer to becoming closer to purchasing land and having a permanent building. The next step is to move into a leased space, which would allow for a fuller offering of services to be provided to the people of Jacksonville: daily Mass, a place where anyone can come and pray with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament day or night, more room for our burgeoning children’s ministry, space for classes and meetings and gatherings. To move into a leased space, we need to continue moving toward having an average Sunday attendance closer to 100, which would allow for the necessary financial support.
CELEBRATING A BIG ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR?
RECEIVE A SPECIAL MARRIAGE BLESSING FROM BISHOP POHLMEIER
Couples observing a 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th (or more) wedding anniversary between January 1 - December 31, 2022 are invited to participate in the 2022 Anniversary Celebration with Bishop Erik Pohlmeier on Saturday, November 19 at 1:00 PM. The celebration is available in-person at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Gainesville but will also be livestreamed. Bishop Pohlmeier will facilitate a renewal of commitment to the wedding vows and impart a special blessing. Couples will also be recognized in a digital slideshow that will display names, parish, and years married. Certificates will be provided to couples along with materials and instructions for participating. You may register: family.dosafl.com or 904-262-3200. Registration deadline is November 11, 2022.
Upcoming Dates at Glance
Autumn Festival: Sunday, October 2, 2022, 11:45 AM Potluck and Games
Workshop: Introduction to Catholicism for Protestants: Wed, 10/12, 6-9 PM. Bring your Bible, learn about the often overlooked, but essential developments of your Christian family history. Please RSVP by 10/5 Office@StJamesCC.org.
Children’s Religious Ed: Sunday, October 19, 2022, 11:45 AM, ages 4-13. Meets third Sunday of the month through May 2023.
Marriage Group: Move your marriage from good to great while connecting with other couples, through Teams of Our Lady. Information meeting Sat, October 29, 10:00 AM
All Saints Mass & Potluck: Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 5:30 PM
St. James Council: November 15, 2022. Have a pressing agenda item to be discussed by leadership? Please let one of the council members know one week prior to the meeting
Ember House Mass: Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 7:00 PM, Mass held at a parishioner’s home to ask the Lord’s blessing on the winter season. RSVP at Office@StJamesCC.org.
