| Dear St. James Family, |
| Happy Adventide! With its themes of hope, joy, and peace, this is one of my favorite seasons of the year. It is during this time that we focus especially on preparing for the joyous return of the Lord. I’ll be preaching this Sunday on how to get through difficult and painful times. If you have been away from the community for time and you are needing an uplift for your spirit, you will enjoy the homilies that I will be delivering over the next few weeks of Advent. Today is also the memorial of St. Nicholas, the person from whom we get our Santa Claus tradition. Santa means Saint and Claus comes from Nicholas. St. Nicholas was a fourth century bishop known for his generosity. It is said that Santa’s “Ho, ho, ho!” comes from the Holy, holy, holy, that we sing at Mass while getting ready for Holy Communion. Learn more about St. Nick. We are hosting a St. Nick party tomorrow morning for the kids. Email me if you want to join in and I’ll send you the details. |
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Upcoming Events CHRISTMAS TREE BLESSINGSBLESSING BOOKLETS AVAILABLE ON DECEMBER 15, 2024 Last year, our Cathedral assembled a little booklet that you can use to bless your family Christmas tree. On December 15, 2024 you can pick up your own copy of this booklet to use on Christmas Eve, the traditional time to bless the Christmas tree (or at another time near Christmas that works for your family). A great way to make this Christmas tree blessing special is to delay adding Christmas ornaments to your tree until Christmas eve. During Adventide, keep it simple in order to convey the anticipation of the season – use only white lights or perhaps decorate the tree with purple ornaments. Then on Christmas eve, add the colored lights and Christmas decorations, use the family blessing and ceremonially light the tree as a way of officially entering into Christmastide. ASSEMBLE YOUR CHRISTMAS PLANSDECEMBER 24 AND 25, JOYFULLY CELEBRATE THE SAVIOR Christmas Carol Sing-Along, December 24, 3:45 – 4:15 PMArrive early so that you can join in singing your favorite Christmas hymns led by the St. James Schola prior to Christmas Eve Mass! Christmas Carols have a rich tradition within the Church. Though carols were in place during the first few centuries, they fell out of popularity until St. Francis of Assisi revived them in the thirteenth century when he started his nativity plays. In the seventeenth century in England, the powerful Protestants stopped all Christmas singing, however such joy and festivity could not be kept under wraps for long and carols once again became popular in churches and concert halls, reaching their zenith in what is known as a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, 2024, 4:30 PM: Experience hope, joy, and wonder. Beautiful traditional music including choir, organist, and violinist, a message of hope, the Last Gospel, and the cherished tradition of singing Silent Night together at the end of the Mass. This Mass will not have incense. Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2024 10:15 AM: Celebrate the Lord on the day of his birth, and avoid the crowds. Beautiful reflective Mass, Christmas hymns led by song leader and organist, a message of hope, service concludes with the Last Gospel, and singing Joy to the World. There will be incense at this Mass. WOMEN’S CONFERENCE ON FEMININE GENIUSSATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2025, SAVANAH Inviting all the women of St. James to take a road trip for a Catholic Women’s Conference hosted by St. James Catholic Church, Savannah, GA. The conference titled Celebrating the Feminine Genius is Saturday, January 25th 9am-4pm in Savannah, GA and features two national speakers, Lisa Cotter and Danielle Bean, as well as Mass, Adoration and confession. The cost is $50. The St Therese of Lisieux Women’s Guild will be helping to coordinate carpooling to this one day event. Please register here and then contact Cathy Messina with any questions and to let her know you have registered to attend. OTHER UPCOMING DATESEmber Day: Friday, December 6, no meat todayImmaculate Conception: December 9 (No Masses at St. James due to building unavailability, Ordinariate members dispensed)Women’s Prayer & Breakfast: December 14, 9:30amBaby Steps Camino: December 13-15, 2024. John Nancy and Rex Setzer on this fun beach pilgrimageMonthly Potluck: January 5, 11:30 AMBlessing of the Epiphany Chalk: January 5, 9:15 AMBlessing of Holy Water & Salt: January 12, 9:15 AM Check out More Upcoming Events at the Website News and Announcements THANKS FOR YOUR POTLUCK PARTICIPATIONBUILDING WELCOMING COMMUNITY ONE DISH AT A TIME Thank you to those who participated in last Sunday’s potluck! Your attendance shows that you value building community at St. James. Community is big part of our identity, the charism through which we do evangelization within the Catholic Church. These monthly potlucks require a bit of work, but they are definitely worth it. Our next potluck is planned for January 5, 2025. 2025 LITURGICAL CALENDARAVAILABLE FOR PICKUP ON DECEMBER 15, 2024 I received word that the calendars have been shipped and will be arriving next week. Thank you to those of you who have pre-ordered this special calendar which lists the saint days and solemnities of the upcoming year, corresponding to the official ordo of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. If you did not pre-order but would still like a calendar, you may be in luck as we normally have few extras, however, priority goes to those who pre-ordered. Cost is $5 per calendar, which will be collected upon receipt of your calendar. Please see Brian Burch at the Hospitality Table after Mass to pick up your calendar. SUPPORT HOLY FAMILY HOSPITAL IN GAZASPECIAL ADVENT REQUEST BY BISHOP LOPES Be part of making this Christmas look different in Bethlehem. With the current wartime conditions, families are struggling to find work or put food on their table. Holy Family Hospital serves as a light during these dark hard times by providing steady employment and essential healthcare services. Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem is a Catholic teaching hospital located just 1,500 steps from the birthplace of Christ. Learn more or pick up a card from our giving tree on Sunday. THANKS TO THOSE WHO PLEDGED SO FARSHARING YOUR 2025 GIVING ESTIMATE IS A HUGE HELP If you have not yet turned in your pledge for 2025, please email it to me. Thanks to those who so graciously shared their giving estimates for this upcoming year: Dan Lucas, Robin Cooper, Louis Caron, Tina Newman, Nancy and Rex Setzer, Haitham Habib, Armando Lugo, Mary Ankenbauer, Philip and Melissa Mayer, Al and Diane Lamoureux, David Knapp, Cathy and Robert Messina, Paul and Lori Adelfio, Mercer Morris, Jeremy Dobbs, Mahlon and Iciar Wood, Ernie and Valerie Davis, Tammy Bonkowski. FINANCE UPDATEGIVING REPORT FROM NOVEMBER November Giving: Capital Fund $2,938.35—General Fund $6,881.05 (This does not include smaller funds.)November Expenses: $6,189.21 (one quarter of priest’s support, half of pension, travel, liturgical supplies, music, building rent and liability insurance, advertising, bishop’s tax, almsgiving, hospitality)Building Faith | Build Out Finance Update for New Location: $17,179.14 to go. This takes into account the expected cost increase due to city occupancy requirements. BUILDOUT PROGRESS UPDATEMADE IT THROUGH THE FIRST ROUND OF PERMITTING Landscape Installed: Thank you to all of those who showed up with shovels and wheelbarrows and helped us to install the new landscaping. It looks great, especially now that it is freshly mulched and the bushes are in. It’s going to look even better once they grow in. A good number of people also signed up to stop by and water the new plants to assure that they took good root. So far, we have not lost a single bush or plant which is impressive.Sign Delayed till Next Week: Though the sign company originally told me that it would be installed in 6-8 weeks, it turns out that it is taking twice as long. I called the company once again last week and was told that they would be installing it this coming week.Carpets Removed (nearly): Thank you to Doug and Michelle Nesmith who worked for an entire day to remove what Doug described and nuclear blast proof carpets. Even with a powered floor scraper, the old carpets which had been generously glued down to the cement, were arduous to remove. They are working on getting another removal day scheduled to complete the task. Are you up for a fun challenge?City Permit Response: The city finally reviewed our plans and returned them with comments. We are currently in the process of fixing the plans, which include adding more storage, so that we can resubmit them to the city. As always, pray that our hired engineers move quickly so that we can get this project moving toward completion. :-). INITO THE BUILDING BEFORE MARCH?My hope and prayer is that we can get the permits resubmitted this month and the work completed next month. If that takes place we will be in the building, hopefully, by the end of February. THE SEASON OF ADVENTA FEW WAYS TO USE THIS SACRED TIME Adventide is the four week season leading up to the birth of Christ. Advent comes from the Latin word for “coming” or “arrival” and it is a season of preparation to rightly celebrate Christ’s first coming as a babe in Bethlehem, and a season of anticipating Christ’s promised return and preparing our hearts for the day when we meet him, either at our death or at his Second Coming. Each week we light another of the four Advent candles, we sing Advent and carols, and we look for ways to take His light into the world. This is a season for growing in your faith. I would like to encourage you to deepen your faith during this season of preparation. Here are five ways to do just that:Worship: Plan to be at Mass each Sunday.Pray: Get out you Advent wreath and try out the Advent Family Prayers found in our St. Gregory Prayer Book (p. 142) or give the night prayers known as Compline a try (p. 68).Obtain Forgiveness: Get to confession. Advent is a penitential season. Stop by on Sunday morning to experience the healing power of confession or participate in one of the penance services around the local diocese. Study: Dig into the Scriptures. Read a holy book. Host a study with others. If you want to get something started, let me know and I will help you. Serve: What are your gifts? How can you serve the body of Christ? Let’s chat and see how we can get you plugged in.Give: This holiday season, experience the joy of generosity by contributing, especially to the poor, following the example of St. Nicholas.Share: This time is filled with opportunities to invite your friends, neighbors and co-workers to celebrate the season with you at St. James. Who is the Lord calling you to invite this year to Christmas Mass? CARE FOR OUR RETIRED PRIESTSHELP FUND THIS IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DIOCESE Last Sunday, we held our second collection for the Retirement Fund for Priests. If you still wish to make a contribution, please pick up a donation card and pre-addressed envelope this Sunday from the back table or give online. Thanks for participating in the long-term care for our priests by making a gift to this important campaign! Grow and Be Challenged in your Faith: Listen to a Homily If you have been away from St. James for a while or have yet to join us, get a little taste of the experience and receive some spiritual nourishment by listening to one of the homilies given during Mass. You can listen here or by searching for “Fr. Mayer’s Preaching & Teaching” wherever you get your podcasts. Dec 1, 2024End Time Judgement Detailed: Learn the Parameters by Which You will be Held to Account When Christ ComesLearn about the two judgments that every person will experience and get all of the details of how this final judgement will proceed, so that you can be ready and look forward to the coming of Christ with hope. Nov 24, 2024How Public Should Your Faith Be? The Catholic Response to Cultural Pressures to Privatize ReligionLearn what the Church teaches about separation of church and state. Learn about the history behind secularization and how you should respond, as based upon the example of Jesus and the early Christians. Nov 17, 2024Little Known Signs of the End According to Church FathersThe Church teaches that we will go through a final trial prior to Christ’s return and the great judgement. However, Jesus taught that we are to read the signs so we can know when this is near. Learn about the antichrist and the signs that proceed, accompany, and follow him according to Scripture and the Church Fathers, so that you can be fully ready for these soon coming events. Nov 10, 2024Financial Support: What the Church Actually Teaches about Giving and TithingUnlike some Christian groups which require or encourage giving ten percent, the Catholic Church operates differently. Learn about the history of tithing, giving, rules, and requirements and an incredible freeing way of living when it comes to generosity. Around the Local DioceseAMAZING LIVE NATIVITYDECEMBER 14 AND 15 AT ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH I attended this live nativity last year and I was stunned! I did not expect such an elaborate or exquisite scene painted for me. I felt like I was walking into Bethlehem. My spirit was moved as I walked in the footsteps of the Holy Family. At the end of the presentation we were given hot chocolate and cookies. I was a beautiful experience. Please do keep in mind that there are only a few spots left and no one is admitted without an online ticket. You can learn more and reserve your spot here. The free tickets are limited so you will need to move quickly to reserve your spot. HOLY FAMILY PILGRIMAGE OPPORTUNITYREENACTMENT, ST. AUGUSTINE, DECEMBER 21, 2024 Experience Las Posadas at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche from 3 to 8 p.m., along the route of St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights! Experience Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem with reenactors, processions, sacred music and Eucharistic Adoration. Enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and cookies at the Pilgrim Center. Tickets are $5; children under 12 are free with registration. Walk-ups are $10. Reservations available by visiting missionandshrine.org. |
| Faithfully, your pastor, Father Mayer |
Advent
