Dear St. James Family,
I am looking forward to being with you this Saturday morning at the building that we are working on preparing as the new St. James location. During this time, your prayers and hopes will be placed into the walls that we are building. Check out the details below.
We are having a potluck on Sunday, November 3. Mark your calendar and be sure to join us. Details below 🙂
Also, November is the month of the dead. Learn more about this in my writeup on the Triduum of the dead below.
Prior to the destruction of Church art that was conducted by the Protestant Reformers, English-speaking Catholicism had its own tradition of the ‘sugar skulls and skeletons’. The cover art to this newsletter are a few surviving examples.
| NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS |
| UPDATES FROM MY PRIEST CONVOCATION TRIP – NEW HYMNAL, FINANCE PROCEDURES, AND SEMINARIANS I had a great time skipping out on Hurricane Milton here in Jacksonville and instead gathered with Bishop Lopes and my brother priests in Houston for our annual priest convocation, a time of prayer, fellowship, and training. I was in Houston October 7-10. During that time I received some of these updates: New Hymnal: as you know our diocese is working on publishing it’s own hymnal since sacred music is an important part of our patrimony. Bishop Lopes said that he would like to have some sort of a draft version into our hands by this coming summer and the actual hymnal in the pews by Advent of next year. Strengthened Finances: Bishop Lopes creating robust financial systems for our diocese. He recently moved Fr. Jason McCrimmon from Orlando to Houston and appointed him as Vicar for Administration. In turn, Fr. McCrimmon reviewed with us the initial draft of a thorough manual for sound financial procedures which we will be working to implement. Great Seminarians: I enjoyed meeting and getting to know some of our twelve seminarians (this is a huge number of vocations compared to the size of our diocese). They have great stories and are truly solid men. The future is looking bright for the Ordinariate.   No Blessings at Communion: Bishop Lopes clarified that blessings are not to be given when someone comes forward with crossed arms during communion. Although this has become a common custom, no where in any rubrics is this directed by the Church. The blessing at Mass takes place at the end, not during communion. Bishop Lopes pointed out that it does not make sense to drop the Blessed Sacrament back into the ciborium and give a blessing (he seemed to infer that this is disrespectful of the Lord). Instead, a person who is not prepared to receive can come forward with arms crossed to adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament or not come forward and remain at the seat. Jubilee Year Pilgrimages: You have probably heard that Pope Francis has proclaimed 2025 to be a Holy or Jubilee Year, an “event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church.” These Jubilee years take place once every twenty-five years (Learn more about the history and meaning of these special years). In response, Bishop Lopes is designating certain sites within our diocese as Jubilee Pilgrimage Destinations, one of which is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham. If you are interested in going on a transformative pilgrimage with us to the Cathedral please let me know so I can include you in our possible pilgrimage plans.2025 LITURGICAL CALENDARRESERVE YOURS BY THIS SUNDAYThis special calendar 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. Cost is $5 per calendar, which will be collected upon receipt of your calendar (most likely around the second Sunday of Advent). Reserve your calendar with Brian Burch at the Hospitality Table after Mass or email office@stjamescc.org. INCARNATION PARISH ARSON STRIKES AGAINSISTER PARISH IN ORLANDO CATCHES FIRE On October 16, 2024 the parish, where I was assigned from 2017-2018, was the target of an arson for a second time. A year ago, on June 24, 2023 someone piled up kneeling cushions at the main altar and set them on fire. Since that time the people have been meeting for Mass in the parish hall. However, last week the altar at the parish hall was also set on fire, though the sprinkler system quickly put it out. This is a parish that is part of our diocese. Please keep them in your prayers as they work to recover from these attacks.  THE U.S. GUIDE TO VOTING FOR CATHOLICS PUBLISHED BY OUR BISHOPS As the elections approach, if you are not sure how to vote, our Bishops have published this thorough document that will help you to put to work our Catholic principles for the common good. As citizens of the United States we have a duty of gratitude for this great land that we have been given, to contribute to the good of society by voting. Thank you for stepping up and voting, even when it is hard.  SUPRISE! DECEMBER 9 IS A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATIONSIDE NOTE: ST. JAMES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HOST THIS MASS A clarification has recently been issued by the Vatican, at the request of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, stating that the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception “must be observed as a day of obligation on the day to which it is transferred.” This means that the current calendars and Ordos for all dioceses of the U.S. are incorrect. Please update your calendar to joyfully participate in Mass for the Immaculate Conception on Monday, December 9, 2024.Because of the late notice, we will not be hosting this Mass at St. James. I learned this week that the club building that we rent for Mass is unavailable to us on the evening of December 9, 2024. However, there are a wide variety of Masses around the area that will be made available to you. |
| PROGRESS ON NEW HOME FOR ST. JAMES PLUMBING MOVING FORWARD | OTHER PERMITS AWAIT I spoke with the city yesterday about the work that we are allowed to do while we wait for the permits. Somehow the plumber was able to get his permit approved and is able to complete his work, but we are still waiting on the city for electrical, HVAC, and general building permits. It appears that permission to proceed will be happening in early November. In the meantime, we continue to work on what we can. Permit Paperwork Complete: everything is properly submitted as far as I can tell. Sufficiency review is supposed to be complete around October 30 and plan review takes place quickly thereafter from what I am told. Once this is done, electrical, HVAC, and framing can proceed. Landscaping demo: thank you to Rex Setzer for his generosity over the last month in preparing the beds for new landscaping. In order for this to take place he had to remove a large number of fifty year old overgrown bushes, filled with yellow jackets, old drainage pipes, and deeply rooted palms. This was not easy work. Thank you Rex, Lee, Sam, and Ford for your hard work. Sign: scheduled to be installed in the next two weeks. Landscaping Install: materials scheduled to arrive tomorrow (Friday). Will be installed on Saturday. My Projected Timeline: November: permits come back, work proceeds December: majority of work completed (holidays may effect this)January: finishing touches and move inFebruary: latest I would think we would move in, due to unexpected delays Give or Learn More about the Project FINANCE REPORT THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL SUPPORT September Giving: $7,526.08 (Capital Fund) $4,659.05 (General Funds) This does not include smaller funds. September 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 | New Location Build Out Finance Update Phase 2 Funding For Beautification and Welcome: $23,571.10 of $28,780.00 needed for Sacristy, Tables, Ambo, Baptismal, Kitchen, Arched Window Frames, Grand opening Advertising and Food. Four Ways to Give at St. James: General Fund: takes care of my support and other expenses Building Fund: making room for more growth Mass Intentions: provides for priest’s support when he offers the Mass for your special intention Special Blessings: house, car, birthdays, baptisms, etc. FROM THE PREACHER | FIND INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION FOR GROWTH IN HOLINESS Listen to one of the latest homilies that I delivered at St. James and share them with a friend. Search “Fr. Mayer’s Preaching & Teaching” wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe. Let’s Build a Great Parish Delivered by Father Mayer, October 20, 2024Jesus taught his disciples the secret to achieving greatness, a lesson that is 100%applicable to the mission of St. James. Find inspiration and courage to go the distance and build something that lasts. The Connection Between Frugality and Happiness Delivered by Father Mayer, October 13, 2024Jesus taught and exemplified what a simple life looked like. Something that is often overlooked in our culture of incredible wealth. By inspired to simple, unselfish living. Why So Many Marriages Fail and What We can Do About This Delivered by Father Mayer, October 06, 2024Jesus elevated marriage to a sacrament and yet 28% of Catholic marriages fail. Learn why this is and how to support those in these situations as well as all sacramental marriages. Avoid this Way of Confrontation at All Costs Delivered by Father Mayer, September 29, 2024Pride and irritability can easily lead to mistakes when pointing out where someone else is wrong. However, depending on who you are correcting, there may be far worse and even eternal results of a bad correction. Listen to this important warning, given by the Lord. Listen to these or other homilies here |
| UPCOMING EVENTS FUN DAY OF GROUNDS BEAUTIFICATION AT NEW BUILDING SATURDAY, OCT. 26, 2024, 8:30 AM, 4427 EMERSON ST. BLDG. 2 Join us in making our new building beautiful and welcoming by helping with the new landscape installation. If you can dig a hole, we want you there! Bring gloves, shovels, wheelbarrows, buckets, and a water bottle. We’ll begin the day with bagels, orange juice, coffee and pastries to kick off this day of fun with your favorite people! We will be digging plant holes and placing plants as well as mulching the new landscape. Please sign up with Brian at the hospitality table after Mass to be part of this event or contact office@stjamescc.org. MEMORIALIZE YOUR PRAYERS AND HOPES AT THE BUILDING OCTOBER 26, 2024, 11:00 AM LIMITED OPPORTUNITY This is your opportunity to join us at the building and to place your hopes and dreams into the walls that are being built! This is a limited opportunity to offer up your prayers to the Lord through the very building itself. These prayers, for all of the good things that God will be doing within the space and beyond, will remain within the walls of this space, being offered to the Lord, for years to come. Come and leave your memorial witness as a powerful remembrance of the part that you took in this important part of the St. James journey. Fr. Mayer will give a short tour of the building, then you will be invited to place your prayers within the space either through words or art using markers and paint. Please sign up with Brian at the hospitality table after Mass to be part of this event or contact office@stjamescc.org. UNLOCK THE MYSTERY OF THE BIBLE MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, October 28, 2024 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM you will have the opportunity to put all of the Bible pieces together into one overarching, fascinating story of salvation history. Learn how God has encountered the human family beginning with Adam and Eve all the way through to Jesus Christ in a narrative story that you can understand and grasp, a way that will forever transform how you enter into the Scripture. This presentation will be given by Fr. Mayer at the Salem Centre 7235 Bentley Rd, Jacksonville and will include sub sandwiches. Please RSVP by Thursday, October 24: office@stjamescc.org or 904-999-1423 TRIDUUM OF THE DEAD OCTOBER 31 – NOVEMBER 2 Check out this clear presentation of the universal Christian practice of praying for the faithful departed. All Hallows Eve: October 31, commonly called Halloween, originally came from the old English for the Eve of all the Holies or All Saints Eve. In the same way that Christmas Eve is a big deal, so also the Eve of All Saints came to also be a celebrated time for Christians. Because of its association with the saints and life after death, it started to be combined with the various other cultural traditions that we know today as Halloween. Following the Protestant reformation, Halloween and its associated holidays was suppressed, along with Christmas and Christmas Carols. However, for us as Catholics, this is a great time to build fraternity within neighborhoods and to point people to the truths of our faith, especially as it comes to the spiritual world and life after death. All Saints: Holy Day of Obligation: All Saints Mass, Friday, November 1, 5:30 PMJoin us for this fun and festive holy day of obligation in honor of the many unknown saints of the Church. Following Mass there will be a Potluck and a Saint Craft Activity for the children. Saint costumes encouraged! Please sign up to bring your favorite dish at the hospitality table after Mass or by contacting Tammy Bonkowski 904.838.4859.  All Souls Mass: Come and Pray for Your Departed Loved Ones, Saturday, November 2, 7:00 PM, Hosted at Lucas HomeNames of the Deceased and Attending: Please let me know by October 30 any names to be remembered in prayer at the All Souls Mass. If you are planning to attend the Mass, please let me know by October 28 so that we can gather and set up the appropriate number of chairs. The Mass will be hosted at the home of Dan and Chris Lucas: 12069 Dividing Oaks Trail Jacksonville.WHY DO CATHOLICS PRAY FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED?Remembering the dead through prayer is a great way that those of us who are still living can unite and assist our Christian brothers and sisters who have passed on from this life. Their need of assistance comes from the understanding that we need to be not only forgiven of sin, but also sanctified (made perfect like Christ), in order to enter heaven. This process is known as purification or purgation.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 Souls Mass is a great opportunity to offer this assistance to the faithful departed. Should you be curious, I’ll be explaining more about why we as Catholics participate in this practice at the Mass. You can also read this article. EXORCIST FILES PODCASTTRUE STORIES | RIVETING AUDIO DRAMAI would like to recommend to you, one of my favorite podcasts. For the past couple of years I have been listening with fascination to this podcast recounting the exorcisms of renowned exorcist Father Carlos Martins. I found it to be captivating from a story telling perspective and a great way to learn about the Catholic faith and to share the faith with others. I first came across Fr. Martins when he was making presentations at parishes here in Jacksonville. Since that time, I have been listening and sharing his podcast.In the last several years, there has been an alarming increase in the number of reported demonic possessions. Pope Francis often mentions the devil in his homilies and he has been encouraging the training of exorcists. As we are approaching Halloween, this is a great time when you may find those you know who are open to listening to this fascinating presentation of the power of the Catholic faith.Be sure to begin listening to this podcast beginning with the first episode of season on, or the more recently released episodes won’t make as much sense.  POT LUCK! BUILDING CLOSEKNIT COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 3, 11:45AM | LEARN ABOUT THE BUILDOUT Sharing a meal together can help people form new friendships or deepen existing ones. Grab a name tag and join us on for a Parish Potluck on Sunday, November 3, beginning at 11:45 AM. Bring a dish, reconnect with the people of St. James and listen to Fr. Mayer talk about the exciting news about the future home of the mission! Not sure what to bring? No problem. Sign-up with Brian at the Hospitality Table after Mass and he can help you get things figured out. Thanks for joining in! |
| OTHER UPCOMING DATES Check out the full events calendar at stjamescc.org All Saints: November 1, 2024, 5:30pm (Holy Day of Obligation) All Souls: November 2, 2024 Women’s Prayer Breakfast:  November 16, 2024, 9:30am Ember Day: Friday, December 6, no meat today Immaculate Conception: December 9 (Holy Day of Obligation) Baby Steps Camino: December 13-15, 2024 Carol Sing Along: December 24, 2024, 3:45 pm – 4:15 pm Christmas Masses: December 24, 2024 4:30 pm |  December 25, 2024 10:15 am |
| AROUND THE WIDER CHURCH Grace and Recovery from Addiction Retreats Those recovering from addiction and family members impacted by addiction are invited to the Grace and Recovery Retreats. Each retreat offers fellowship, meals, witness talks, scriptural reflections, the 12 steps of recovery, Mass and confession. Registration is now open at graceandrecovery.org/ols/products. For more information, call (732) 425-7949. Retreats will take place at the following: Assumption Parish: Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. San Juan del Rio Parish: Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. How and Why We Need to Defeat Amendment 4 in Florida Commentary by Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine Erik Pohlmeier regarding Amendment 4 in Florida Focus on Marriage Visit Our Lady Star of the Sea, 545 A1A N., Ponte Vedra Beach on November 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to strengthen your marriage with a day of inspiration and practical advice from national speakers and authors, Rev. Dr. Nicholas and Roxanne Louh. The day begins with 8:30 a.m. Mass and a continental breakfast, followed by two powerful sessions: “Having a God First Marriage”, covering topics like conflict management and communication, and “What Happens Above You Changes What Happens Beside You” focusing on friendship, stress management and living with purpose in marriage. Lunch is included. To register, visit: Focus On Marriage |