Dear St. James Family,

We had fun this past Monday celebrating the Solemnity of St. John the Baptist! There were a good number of Catholics who experienced for the first time, the Anglican patrimony within the Mass and we received good feedback. Afterwards, we went to work burning the many damaged Bibles and the like, as well as burying broken saint statues and other non burnable items. So many blessed items were brought for reverent disposal that we ran out of time before we got through even half of them! Thank you to Fr. Jason Trull and the good people of Assumption Catholic Church for allowing us to celebrate the solemnity at their parish.

News and Announcements

Welcome Back Fr. Ernie!

Fr. Ernie is back in town and will be with us this Sunday, July 30. He has been out on the pilgrim trail, traversing the country by foot and visiting various holy sites. Perhaps he will be sharing some of his adventures this Sunday! It’s great to have him back in town and at St. James. Fr. Ernie, you have been missed!

Ordinariate Parish Transforms Community: Featured on EWTN

I was excited to learn that, Fr. Eric Bergman, a friend of mine, and his parish, St. Thomas Moore Parish in Scranton, Pennsylvania, was recently featured on EWTN. Check out the clip on St. Thomas more, which begins at 12 minutes and 55 seconds and learn about how this parish moved into a crime infested, drug ridden, impoverished part of Scranton and transformed the neighborhood! What an inspirational story and a great example of the kind of work that Ordinariate parishes are doing in various parts of the country and beyond.

Pope Francis Shows his Confidence in the Mission of the Ordinariates!

This past April Pope Francis appointed the first bishop for the Ordinariate in Great Britain, Fr. David Waller. Last week he was ordained as a bishop! This clearly shows that Pope Francis is responding to the evangelizing power that is taking place within these Ordinariates by further strengthening them. It was he who appointed our own Bishop, Steven Lopes, back in 2015, and he has now done the same for the Ordinariate in Great Britain. Prior to this past Saturday, the Ordinariate in Great Britain was led by a monsignor, rather than a bishop. Learn more.

New Home for St. James: Leased Building Progress and Updates

Little by little, we continue to make headway in preparation for a hopeful move-in date by Christmas.

• Architecture plans are now signed and sealed and ready for submission
• Demo of existing walls and floor patching – thanks to the volunteers who got this done!
• Rotten soffit repair and painting is almost complete
• Landscaping plans submitted to building owner for approval
• Church sign design is nearly finalized
• Obtained one electrical bid, waiting on two others
• Obtained project navigation counsel from Diocese of St. Augustine Real Estate Planning and Property Development director
• Narrowed down to one general contractor due to his generosity and experience. Preparing to submit for permitting soon.

Your Help Needed to Bring this Project to Completion. Give Today 🙂

Upcoming Events

Brown Scapular Enrollment: Spiritual Protection, Silent Devotion | July 14

On July 14 at 9:15 AM, learn about the Brown Scapular. Through this sacramental endowed with the prayers of the Church, evil spirits are powerless when the wearer of a scapular faces temptation, calling upon the Holy Virgin. Pious legend holds that on July 16, 1251, the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Simon Stock, gave him the brown scapular and said “in which he that dieth shall not suffer eternal fire; behold the sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, the covenant of peace and everlasting alliance.” Purchase a brown scapular ahead of time to be blessed and so that you can be enrolled. Scapulars.com produces the most durable scapulars that I have been able to find and is where I purchased the scapular that I wear.

Parish Feast Day Dinner: Have Fun, Fr. Mayer, Inside Scoop Presentation

On Saturday, July 27th, you are invited to join me and the good people of the mission to honor our patron: Saint James the Great! We’ll be celebrating on July 27th with a parish wide dinner. Don’t miss an evening of fun and camaraderie with the quirkiest and most lovable Catholics around! Dinner will be at St. Mary’s Seafood at 8129 Point Meadows Way, Jacksonville, FL. Tickets are $40 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and under.  You can pay for your tickets online HERE  Be sure to choose the pull down menu and choose “July 27 Dinner Tickets” and indicate how many adults and children. See Brian at the Hospitality table after Mass to pick up your tickets or contact Cathy Messina for more information.

How The Bible Came Together: Workshop for Curious Christians | August 5, 7:00 PM

Are you curious to dig into the roots of belief? Learn how the Bible, the most influential book in our culture, was assembled and how this points to a united family of God. Dig deeply into history and consider many important events and questions often overlooked. Find hope and insight and a new way of seeing the world and the Church. This is a great opportunity to experience a highly praised, engaging presentation, led by myself, Fr. Mayer, designed to bring us together around this Holy book that is so loved yet misunderstood by many.  Please RSVP by Monday, July 29 to office@stjamescc.org in order to reserve your spot! Food will be served so we need a head count. Thanks.

Other Upcoming Dates

• Bishop Erik Pohlmeier To Visit St. James:July 14, 10:15 AM Mass

• St. James Sunday:  July 28, 11:30 AM  Learn about our patron. Enjoy cake and champagne after the 10:15 AM Mass

• Mass of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | A Holy Day of Obligation: August 15 5:30 PM at our regular worship space

• Introduction to Catholicism Workshop: August 19, 7:00 PM  Learn why Catholicism has brought hope to so many. Get your tough questions answered.

• Deciphering the Catholic Church Service – Workshop for the Clueless:  September 16, 7:00 PM, designed especially for Non-Catholics.

   

Check out More Upcoming Events at the Website

From the Preacher

Below is the latest homilies that I delivered at St. James. Have a listen and share it with a friend. Search “Fr. Mayer’s Preaching & Teaching” wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe.

A Simple Way to Grow in Patience – Delivered on June 16, 2024

Learn about the elusive virtue of patience and why it is so central to the Catholic faith. There is an easy way to begin experiencing growth in this virtue, a way that many people fear unnecessarily. With this simple way, you can instead begin excelling in this virtue.

Think God is Mean To You? Learn the Most Helpful Answer to the Problem of Suffering – Delivered on June 23, 2024

If you are mad at God and have issues with his sovereignty and him allowing horrible things to happen, you will want to hear this homily. This is especially true if you are tired of hearing unhelpful, trite responses such as “its all because of free will” or “God willed your abuse” or “everything has a meaning.”

Around The Wider Church

Retreat for those with Mental and Physical Disabilities 

For more than 40 Years, the Diocese of St. Augustine has hosted Faith & Sharing retreats for those with mental and physical disabilities and those who love them. The first Faith & Sharing retreat began in 1981 when it was still Camp St. Johns under the support of Bishop John J. Snyder and Sister of St. Joseph Rita Baum.

The upcoming retreat:

Monday, August 5 beginning at 4 p.m. to Thursday, August 8 at noon

Marywood Retreat Center and the adjacent Camp St. John Facility

235 Marywood Drive, St. Johns.

Each day the Mass is celebrated followed by talks and small group sharing based on a theme for the week. We have a lot of fun, and we grow deeper in our faith. To learn more download the registration application or email Brianna McCoy at bmccoy@marywoodcenter.org or call (904) 287-2525. Applications need to be mailed to Marywood Retreat Center, 235 Marywood Drive, St. Johns, FL 32259. All checks must be made payable to Catholic Charities with Faith & Sharing noted on the check.

Courage Ministry – Support for Relatives of Persons with Same-Sex Attraction

Encourage is a ministry dedicated to the spiritual needs of parents, siblings, adult children and other relatives and friends of persons who identify as LGBTQ+, brochures are now available in limited quantity. Please contact our office if your parish/ministry would like some. For more information about Courage and Encourage, contact Father Ed Murphy by emailing courage.st.augustine@proton.me or visit https://couragerc.org.

How and Why We Need to Defeat Amendment 4

You are invited and highly encouraged to attend the upcoming training sessions on defeating Amendment 4. The goal of these sessions is to ensure the faithful understands the same unified message approved by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and reach as many people as possible. Our message must reach beyond the Catholic Church. Below is the current training and information schedule:

June 25 – Pope John Paul II Parish session for young adults at 6:30 p.m.
July 24 – St. Matthew Parish, Jacksonville at 6:30 p.m.
August 6 – St. Paul Parish, Jacksonville Beach at  6:30 p.m.
October 7 –  San Juan Del Rio Parish, St. Johns at 6 p.m.

Theology on Tap: The Epidemic of Loneliness | July 15

This month’s event, “The Epidemic of Loneliness,” is scheduled for from 7 to 9 p.m. at Historically Hoppy, 1638 N. Main Street, in Jacksonville with special guest, Marlys Adjevi, LMHC. This event will kick off a three-part series focusing on friendship and the call to communion with one another hosted by the Offices of Family Life, Youth and Young Adults and Evangelization. For more information on the Theology on Tap, please contact Robin Shipley at rshipley@dosafl.com. Click here for flyer.

Faithfully, your pastor,

Father Mayer

Parochial Administrator

St. James Catholic Church

A Community of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter

www.StJamesCC.org

904-999-1423

office@StJamesCC.org

Worship Location: 12447 Mandarin Rd, Jacksonville, FL