Dear St. James Family,

I am sitting in the airport in Houston as I write this newsletter. I am headed to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham. There I will be gathering with Bishop Lopes and my brother priests for the annual Chrism Mass. This special Mass is celebrated in memory of the Last Supper when Jesus gave the Eucharist to the Apostles thus inaugurating their priesthood. In memory of this momentous occasion, Bishop Lopes will bless the Chrism and other oils that will be sent home with the priests to be used in priestly ministry. We will also be renewing our priestly promises (following and being conformed to Jesus, stewardship of the sacraments, and zeal for souls). I will be returning to Jacksonville tomorrow.

Much has happened since my last newsletter. I’m excited to share the big news about our building permits as well as the liturgical festivities of Holy Week and beyond.

Upcoming Events

JOYFUL & SOMBER PALM AND PASSION LITURGY

SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2025 AT 8:00 AM AND 10:15 AM

Relive Jesus’ welcome into Jerusalem as well as his passion and death. This Sunday is Palm Sunday, one of the most well attended liturgies after Christmas and Easter. The joyful beginning of Mass this Sunday will begin outside with the blessing and distribution of the palms. We will then relive our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem by waving palm branches and singing the much loved hymn, All Glory Laud and Honor as we process into the building.

Once inside, the mood quickly shifts, especially upon the dramatic reading of the suffering and death of our Lord. Following the readings, I’ll be giving a short homily on the spiritual power and importance of meditating on the Lord’s Passion, as commended by the saints. This is a moving liturgy that you will not want to miss.

LIVE INTO HOLY WEEK AT A LOCAL PARISH

EXPERIENCE THE THREE DAY LONG TRIDUUM

If you are able, I would encourage you to attend all or part of what is known as the Triduum Liturgy during Holy Week. This three part liturgy begins with Holy Thursday, on April 17, commemorating the Lord’s washing of the disciples feet and his mandate to do the same for others. Next comes Good Friday on April 18, at which the veneration of the cross takes place. This three day liturgy concludes with the Solemn Vigil of Easter on April 19 which is the first commemoration of Easter.

St. James is not hosting these liturgies this year because we are small mission and the church encourages smaller communities to join with others for these bigger liturgies. Also, we do not have access to the building that weekend due to the Mandarin Art Festival. However, this is a great opportunity to foster catholicity and join another parish for these liturgies as you are able.

REQUIRED FASTING ON FRIDAY, APRIL 18

NO MEAT. NO FOOD OR REDUCED FOOD.

Good Friday is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. This means that in addition to being meatless, you are asked to eat very little food on April 18, in remembrance of the day that Christ died for you, and to join him in his work, by making this small sacrifice of fasting in reparation for our sins and the sins of the world. However, if you find that you need to eat something, you are allowed up to a full meal and two small snacks.

This is only required of adults up to the age of 59. In other words, the old and the young are not required to fast, but are encouraged to do so if they are able. Also, those younger than 14 are allowed to eat meat on the Fridays of Lent. Those who have medical conditions that would be exacerbated by these disciplines are also dispensed.

EASTER DAY MASSES AT HARDAGE-GIDDENS

DON’T GO TO THE NORMAL LOCATION ON SUNDAY APRIL 20

On April 20 we will be meeting for Mass at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home Chapel located at 11801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville (Do not go to the wrong Hardage-Giddens since there are two of them located on San Jose Boulevard. We are at the one down in Mandarin.) at our normal times of 8:00 AM and 10:15 AM. The Mandarin Community Club, where we normally meet for Mass, is not available that weekend due to the Art Festival which has been held there on Easter weekend for over fifty years. We will be back at our normal location at the Mandarin Community Club on the following Sunday.

FUN BUILDING WORKDAY

APRIL 26, 2025, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The future site of St. James is coming quickly together which means we are moving speedily to finish up the floor and wall preparation. It’s hard, but good honest work, great for growing in holiness, with excellent companions for the day. Thanks to the generosity of the Burch family we’ll be having firehouse subs for lunch. I’ll be providing most of the tools. All you need is a water bottle and an old pair of shoes – bonus if you bring some work gloves. Here are all of the details.

A TIME TO INVITE FALLEN AWAY CATHOLICS

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2025

This is an opportunity to receive an abundant outpouring of God’s graces and mercies, a day when Jesus longs to immerse sinners in the abyss of his mercy. The Church even provides a plenary indulgence, which in simple terms means that if a person goes to Confession and then receives Jesus in Holy Communion on April 27, 2025, he can obtain the complete forgiveness of all sins and all of the due punishments. This Sunday pick up your Divine Mercy Novena and Chaplet brochure and prayerfully gather and invite all those you are able, and bring fainting souls to the spring of Christ’s mercy so that he can heal and strengthen them. There will be an abundance of opportunity to go to confession both before and during Mass. Learn more.

OTHER UPCOMING DATES

SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE UPCOMING AND PAST EVENTS

• Easter Octave: April 20-27. No fasting. 8 days of celebration
• Ascension Mass & Potluck: May 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
• Walsingham Pilgrimage: August 7-9 experience our beautiful Cathedral, enrich your faith by visiting this designated Jubilee site.  

News and Announcements

INVITE SOMEONE TO EASTER DAY MASS

YOUR TOUCH MAKES A DIFFERENCE

There are people who would be willing to attend Mass on Easter Day if they received a personal invitation. Blanket invites have little effect, but a person to person invitation is effective. This is a great time to invite a friend or acquaintance to join you at Mass. Ask in person, make a phone call, or send an email or text. Here are a few ways to help you make those invitations:

• Share website event: StJamesCC.org/Event/Easter
• 8:00 AM Facebook Event – use invite button
• 10:15 AM Facebook Event – use invite button

BUILDING IS MOVING QUICKLY FORWARD

JULY MOVE-IN IS LOOKING HOPEFUL

Finally obtained permits!!! We are forging ahead.

• Architectural Plans (Approved)
• Asbestos Clearance (Approved)
• Electrical Plans (Approved)
• Energy Calculations (Approved)
• Engineer’s Certification (Approved)
• HVAC Plans (Approved)
• Permission & Property Owner Documents (Approved)
• Specifications (Approved)
• Notice Of Commencement (Approved)

We have cleared what I have been told is the biggest hurdle of the building process: permits. We began assembling the plans for submission in June of last year and now after two prior submissions, we cleared the third attempt and have been given the green flag to move forward!

Electrical Rough-in Complete: We hired the expeditious BB Electric and Technology to finish the job of getting the building rewired. They finished this biggest most expensive part of our buildout in less than two weeks and are now awaiting inspection.

Hot Water Complete: Thanks to Baldwins Quality Plumbing for installing hot water pipes into the bathrooms and our breakroom area. This is done and is now awaiting inspection.

Increased Electricity: I wrote in the last newsletter about the current amperage in the building needing to be increased. The completion of this task has lagged due to a city addressing issue, but we are nearing resolution. I expect this to be complete within the next week.

Saved $14K on Closets: The city had previously rejected our occupancy calculations which put us over the 300 mark and would have required more bathrooms and a $40k+ voice evacuation system. In response, we added $14K of closets to the plan to reduce our occupancy load below 300. However, because of the persistence of our most excellent and saintly architect, Chris Belyea of Dasher Hurst Architects, who met with city, he was able to negotiate the occupancy below 300 while also removing closets plan which saved us the $14k that it would have cost to build them. Current approved building occupancy now stands at 299.

Tabernacle has Arrived: Through the generous gift of a doner, I purchased a tabernacle back in November. This particular model is much sought after and so after a long wait, it has finally arrived and is ready to be put into use.

Upcoming challenges: The next big piece of the puzzle is getting the HVAC installed, which is lagging somewhat. However, the contractor says he will be getting a semi-inspection this week, which means that we can then cover the walls with drywall even before the duct work is installed, so as not to slow down the work on our end, but we shall see. He hopes to be done within two weeks, but I have yet to see any duct work installed.

The current challenge is inspections and repairs or adjustments or other surprises that will need to be taken care of as a result. It is looking like an inspection will not take place until next week.  

Timeline: I expect that the contract work will take a good part of April and May. Best case scenario we will be doing finish work (painting and flooring) in May and then move into the building in June or July depending on delays related to obtaining our certificate of occupancy. It would be great to be able to celebrate the Feast of St. James (nearest Sunday to July 25) in our new space.  

Learn More about the Buildout Project

STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS BEGINNING

COUNCIL TAKES ON YEAR LONG PLANNING PREPARATION

Last month I met with the St. James council and asked them if they would be willing to use the next twelve months to investigate and research, discuss and deliberate, and then recommend a thorough a strategic planning process that would involve as many parishioners as possible in order to build ownership and momentum in our new location. They said yes and have diligently begun the process or preparation for this exciting time in the life of our community. I am putting great hope on what will come of this process and how the Lord will be leading us during this time. Thank you for your prayers for them and for us during this pivotal year in the life of the mission of St. James.

LATEST FINANCE UPDATE

THANKS FOR YOUR FAITHFUL SUPPORT

• Giving for March: $9,515.09 (General – $7,245.30, Capital –  $2,269.79). As far as I can tell, we now have enough money in the bank to complete our new location buildout.
• March Expenses: $6,386.71 Covers quarter of priest’s support, half of pension ,travel, liturgical supplies, music, building rent and liability insurance, advertising, bishop’s tax, almsgiving, and hospitality.

If you want a more thorough look at our finances and you are on record as actively supporting St. James, please let me know and I will be happy to get you this information to you. We are dedicated to transparency and good fiscal stewardship.  

THANKS TO THE WORKDAY PARTICIPANTS

BUILDING PROGRESS MADE ON MARCH 22 AND APRIL 5, 2025

A hearty thanks to David, Adrian, Peter, Max Colin, Rex, Zach, Dan Lahey, Dan Widener, Paul Adelfio, and Doug, who participated in one or both of the past couple of workdays at the future St. James building. We have been able to accomplish a great deal and are making good progress toward getting the glue covered cement floors ready for our vinyl planks. We’ve been scraping them with 8” razor blades and rented machines. It is taking some time, but we are getting there. Thank you to the Burch family for providing the delicious Firehouse Sub Sandwiches, pickles, chips, drinks, and candy.

SUCCESSFUL SOUP AND STATIONS EVENT

TOOK PLACE ON FRIDAY APRIL 4, 2025

Thank you to Dan and Chris Lucas for hosting us at their home on Friday, April 4. We had a great time praying the Station of the Cross which were set up in their beautiful backyard. Following the prayers, I got too taste some of the most magnificent soups of my life – it was like a foreshadowing of Easter, a glimpse of light in our otherwise penitential lenten journey.

THANKS FOR THE FUN SHROVE TUESDAY

CONFESIONS AND PANCAKES TOOK PLACE MARCH 4, 2025

Thanks to Brian Burch and Cathy Messina for hosting the tasty Shrove Tuesday gathering. Thanks to Rex and Nancy for helping to get everything setup and then put away afterwards. Thanks to Fr. Jim for hearing confessions. This was a great time. I’m looking forward to next year.

Faithfully, your pastor,

Father Mayer

Parochial Administrator

St. James Catholic Church