October Newsletter

Dear St. James Family,

 

Midterm elections are almost here and this Sunday, October 23, I am going to be preaching about how to make good decisions when it comes to casting your ballet, based on the rock solid, age old teaching of the Church. Come and learn why Catholics are not one issue voters. Join us!

 

MY EXPERIENCE AT CLERGY ASSEMBLY

Yesterday I arrived back from a great week with Bishop Lopes and my brother priests of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. We gathered together at Holy Name Monastery in Houston for our annual Clergy Assembly, a time of fraternity, prayer, administration, and formation. Thank you for your prayers. I have returned with a renewed focus on the unique identity and gifts that we as members of the Ordinariate bring to the Church and to those outside of the Church.

 

GROWTH THROUGHOUT THE ORDINARIATE

I was inspired to learn about the forty percent growth that has taken place in our communities since last year. The number of our communities have also increased. Bishop Lopes shared that we he was first appointed bishop around a dozen or so communities ended up being shuttered because they were not viable, but now we are up to 41 solid and healthy communities and parishes scattered across the U.S. and Canada. He even shared about one Ordinariate family who moved to Chicago and is working on getting a community started there. So far they have connected with 100 other Ordinariate members in the area and they are working to plan events and other gatherings to set the groundwork for an Ordinariate parish in Chicago. Our diocese is thriving and growing!

 

THRIVING VOCATIONS

Unfortunately, we barely have enough priests to staff all of these communities, yet the Lord is at work and has been stirring the hearts of young celibate men. We currently have five men in seminary and we have been discerning with seven others, good solid men, who would also like to become seminarians and priests for the Ordinariate. The challenge is that as a new missionary diocese, we cannot currently afford to send that many men to seminary, unless the Lord provides the finances. Please pray for generous hearts who will assist financially in training these young men. Click here to give.

 

ORDINARIATE HYMNAL

I was also excited to learn that the Ordinariate hymnal will be arriving in 2024! This book will contain our musical patrimony and will be a marked improvement over the hymnals that we are currently using. Not only will it have our beautiful traditional English hymns, but also Latin settings, Marian hymns with all of the verses, and in the middle will be the Order of the Mass, which means that you will no longer need the liturgical trifold on Sundays.

 

 

UPCOMING DATES AT A GLANCE

• Workshop: Introduction to Catholicism for Protestants: Mon, 10/24, 6:30-8:30 PM. Bring your Bible, learn about the often overlooked, but essential developments of your Christian family history.

• All Saints Mass & Potluck: Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 5:30 PM

• All Souls Mass: Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 7:00 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.

• Immaculate Conception Mass: Holy Day of Obligation, Thursday, December 8, 7:00 PM

 

 

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”.

 

Why Pray Daily?

Does it really matter that you pray? God is going to do what he is going to do anyway, so why should you pray? Fr. Mayer explains why daily prayer is essential for getting to heaven, obtaining the graces you need here and now, and building a relationship with God.

 

Best Means for Growth in Gratitude

Learn how to foster the much neglected virtue of gratitude. It is said that the Blessed Mother gave thanks without stop. All the saints exemplified this joyous thanksgiving. Learn how to foster gratitude in your life beginning with the most powerful means to grow in thanksgiving: the Mass.

 

Saved? Not so quick.

Many people believe that they are saved and that there is no need to do anything more. Let’s pause and bring this Once Saved Always Saved doctrine into question.

 

 

All Saints Mass & Potluck

Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 5:30 PM

 

Celebrate this Holy Day of Obligation in style. Dress as a saint or wear your Halloween costume or just come and wear your regular clothes!

 

Sign up for the potluck and/or a setup or cleanup slot online or at Mass by seeing Brian Burch. We also need someone to arrive about 20 minutes prior to Mass to get out supplies and collect food as people come in. Contact cathymmessina@gmail.com or 415-205-9705 for further information.

 

 

ALL SOULS MASS, NOVEMBER 2, 7:00 PM

Help Souls Escape the Severity of Purgatorial Fire

 

Though the souls in purgatory are assured of their salvation, according to both St. Augustine and St. Gregory and others, the pain of purgatory is more intolerable than anything a person can suffer in this life. However prayers, alms, works of piety, and especially the Mass can be offered for the assistance of those being purified. All those planning to be in attendance at the 7 PM All Souls Mass are invited to submit the names of up to four deceased souls for which the Mass will be offered. I will be wearing the traditional black vestments for this Mass which will be hosted at the home of Dan and Chris Lucas: 12069 Dividing Oaks Trail Jacksonville. Please RSVP with me by December 31 so that we can make sure we have enough chairs.

 

 

RESERVE YOUR ORDO (LITURGICAL) CALENDAR

Last Chance to Reserve is Sunday, October 23, 2022

 

Great tool for daily personal devotion. This traditional calendar faithfully lists the saint days and solemnities of the upcoming year, corresponding to the official ordo of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. The reservation deadline for this Walsingham Edition 2023 Ordo calendar is Sunday, October 23. Reserve your calendar by notifying Brian Burch: beburch67@gmail.com or 904-755-4076

 

 

INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLICISM FOR NON-CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS

Origins of the Bible: October 24, 2022, 6:30-8:30 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, how it was assembled, and what this teaches us about the Church. This evening will be led by myself, Father Mayer, who as you know, grew up as a devout Pentecostal, then 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).

 

Food & RSVP Deadline: Sub Sandwiches, option of turkey or roast beef, from Publix, chips, water, soda. Please confirm as soon as possible, but no later than the morning of October 23, 2022 if you are planning to attend – Office@StJamesCC.org or 904-999-1423

 

 

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

Items due by November 13 – bring to Any Mass

 

Please help our religious education students collect items for the Mandarin Food Bank: chicken stock, bags of stuffing, canned sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, dry mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, canned peas, canned corn, canned green beans, hot roll mix, complete pancake mix, syrup, cream soups, rice, noodles, and pie crusts. These items will be added to baskets and will include cards crafted by the kids. For questions please contact Christine.Coots@gmail.com or at 904-982-9664

 

 

SUNDAY MISSAL PEOPLE’S EDITION

RSVP for one by October 24, 2022

 

The Divine Worship: Sunday Missal contains the Order of Mass and the readings and prayers for Sundays and Solemnities; all the essentials of the Mass beautifully presented. Because of repeated requests, preparations are being put in place for a new printing of the Divine Worship: Sunday Missal. In order to proceed, the publisher would like to know how many to print. The cost per missal is $40 (not due until you actually receive the missal in your hands next year. Only your RSVP is needed right now).

 

The People’s Sunday Missal combines the Revised Standard Version (2nd Catholic Edition) lectionary approved for use in the Personal Ordinariates established under the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus and the texts of the Mass from the Divine Worship Missal.

 

This Missal beautifully presents all the essentials needed by the laity in the Mass: the Order of Mass alongside propers for Sundays and Holy Days (Year A, B, & C) including Advent and Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter, ember and rogation days. Music is included for the people’s responses and a table of Correspondence of Named Sundays to Ordinary Time for every year until 2050.

 

Durably and attractively bound with three placeholder ribbons, the Divine Worship People’s Missal features clear layouts, beautiful artwork and easy to read fonts. Take a look at the missal here.

 

 

MOVE FROM A GOOD TO A GREAT MARRIAGE WITH TEAMS OF OUR LADY

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. No obligation. Just come and learn. 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 Larry and Mary Kay Kuchta 386-503-7718 (call or text) or marykay@5gators.com

 

 

LEARN TO PRAY DIVINE WORSHIP: DAILY OFFICE

Sunday Mornings 9:10 AM

 

Divine Worship: Daily Office is our patrimonial form of the Liturgy of the Hours which brings with it all of the richness of the English Catholic poetry and spirituality going back to the time when the Anglos and Saxons were evangelized by the Benedictions sent by Pope Gregory in the fifth century.

If you have been away for a while, come and join us this Sunday!

Father Mayer