Dear St. James Family,
This Sunday during my homily I will be answering the question about how to determine whose teaching to found your life upon. There are lots of people who claim to be preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be sent by God, but many contradict one another, so how do you know who to follow? The Bible says to imitate and obey your leaders (Hebrews 13:7, 17) so whose teaching you choose to place yourself under is a pretty big deal. Come and learn how to discern this question by using a method traced back to Christ himself.
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Blessing of Salt, Water, and Chalk this Past Sunday Above is a picture of myself, assisted by Instituted Acolyte Andrew Salvatore, blessing salt and water, and then chalk. Epiphany commemorates the initial revealings of Christ, first to the Magi, then at his baptism, and finally through the miracle that took place at the Wedding of Cana. So, this is a great time for blessing water and in the Ordinariate we continue the older custom of adding blessed salt to the water (2 Kings 2:19-22), which is what you see me doing in the picture. Once the Holy Water is ready, it is then used to bless the chalk that is taken home by parishioners to mark above their doors with the year and the initials of the three wise men symbolizing that as the home of the Holy Family welcomed the wise men, so also for this upcoming year, may my home also be a place of hospitality and blessing to others. |
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Missed Picking up your Blessed Chalk Last Sunday? We seemed to have run out of chalk last Sunday and the little blessing instruction sheet that goes along with it. If you would like to mark your home as a place of blessing and welcome, I plan to bring a few extra pieces of white chalk to Mass this Sunday along with the blessing sheets, which you will find on either the entry table or the hospitality table. In remembrance of the three kings who visited Jesus in his first home, Christian homes and households traditionally receive the Three Wisemen or Epiphany Blessing by using blessed chalk to write above the main door of the home the year and the initials of the Three Wisemen who visited the Holy Family: 20 + C + M + B + 23. |
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Upcoming Dates at a Glance
Check out All Upcoming Events at the Website |
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Welcome Dinner: History and Vision of St. James. RSVP needed Today This Sunday, January 15, 5-8 PM come and learn about the history and vision of St. James and where you fit in (next welcome dinner scheduled for 5/21 if you miss this one) Get to know me, Father Mayer, and my story as well as other parishioners. Dinner will be served: Italian themed (Spaghetti w/meatballs, Lasagna, Chicken Fettuccine, Mixed green salad, Garlic knots, Tiramisu, Chianti win). Location and more info at the website. Please RSVP by January 12, 2023 by responding to this email or call or text me at 904-999-1423. Thanks. |
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Recent Homilies Chastity: Living it Joyfully Everyone is called to live out fruitful chastity, even married people, who are called to chastity outside of marriage. Learn how to live out chastity joyfully in a way that intrigues and draws others to Christ.
Why Hospitality is an Essential Part of the Gospel Learn why hospitality is an essential part of the gospel going back to the creation story, up through the life of the holy family and in the teaching of our Lord. Find inspiration and motivation to open your life to others.
Listen to these and other homilies over at StJamesCC.org/Homilies. |
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Great time at Prayer and Potluck Last Sunday Thank you to Cathy Messina for opening her home to a couple of dozen people for Prayer and Potluck. Thank you also to Andrew Salvatore, who lead the prayers and Doug Nesmith gave the reflection. Afterwards there was lots of great food and good company and conversation. Thank you to those of you who participated. |
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Ordination Anniversary Mass: Fr. Ernie Davis On Sunday, January 22 I have been invited to preach at the anniversary Mass for a good friend of the Ordinariate, Fr. Ernie Davis who was ordained 40 years ago as an Episcopal priest, 20 years ago as a Catholic priest. The Mass will be taking place at St. Michael Catholic Church, 201 N. 4th St. Fernandina Beach at 4:00 PM. If you are free, come and join us. |
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New Council Members Installed Last Sunday: Cathy and Brian Thank you to Cathy Messina and Brian Burch for your commitment to serving the next three years as a members of the St. James Council! The Council exists to foster pastoral activity and assist in the administration of the goods of our community. These two new members join John Brown, Stephen Coots, Carol Patton and Robin Cooper, who received a special blessing during Mass this past Sunday, January 8. The Council meets every other month. |
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Kenneth Workman admitted as a Candidate to join the Church This past Sunday, January 8, Kenneth Workman (flannel shirt below) was admitted as a candidate which means that he is making public his intention to learn about and discern entering the Catholic Church. He was joined by his sponsor Ruben Serrano (black beard mask) and Brett Baker (red shirt), a fellow candidate, and the group of men known as the Sons of Our Lady, who came to support both him and Brett. |
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Last Official Day of Mourning Tomorrow, January 13 is the last official day of morning for Pope Benedict XVI, which completes the longstanding custom after the death of a pope, of the “novemdiales” the tradition of mourning for nine days. To assist you in closing out these nine days with us, I have placed the final day of this devotion below.
In the name of the Father, (✠) and of Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A reading from the Letter to the Corinthians of Pope Clement I (A.D. 80; 42:4-5; 44:1-3):
THROUGH countryside and city [the apostles] preached, and they appointed their earliest converts, testing them by the Spirit, to be the bishops and deacons of future believers. Nor was this a novelty, for bishops and deacons had been written about a long time earlier. . . . Our apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the office of bishop. For this reason, therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have already been mentioned and afterwards added the further provision that, if they should die, other approved men should succeed to their ministry.
Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord. And let light perpetual shine upon him.
HEAR, O LORD, the prayers we offer unto thee for Benedict, thy servant and priest; that having faithfully fulfilled his ministry in thy Name, he might rejoice for ever in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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So long for Now
Happy Epiphanytide to you. We will be celebrating this time after Epiphany for the next three Sundays.
Faithfully, your pastor, Father Mayer |