| Dear St. James Family, |
| We had a great time celebrating the completion of our buildout last week! Thank you to the large number of those of you who joined us including Bishop Pohlmeier who shared encouraging words with us as did Fr. Kramer, the vicar general of the Ordinariate. Check out these pictures of the event. Ash Wednesday, February 18, is just a few days away. I would invite you to enter into this ancient biblical practice (Job 42:6, Jonah 3:6, Jeremiah 6:26, Matthew 11:21) of using ashes as a sign of humility and repentance. You don’t have to be Catholic to receive ashes on your forehead and to begin this spiritual renewal of turning back to God. Come and give it a try. More information below. Upcoming Events FUN, FLAPJACKS & FORGIVENESS SHROVE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 5:30PM – 7 PM Prepare for a Holy Lent with evening prayer, deliciously topped pancakes, fun, and confessions. Haven’t been to confession in a while? Come and be shriven of your sins or if you don’t need confession, simply come and enjoy the good and welcoming people of the St. James Community. History of the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Tradition: Shrove is an old English word that means to be forgiven. Pancakes were often cooked on the day prior to Lent because people were removing tempting foods, especially sugar, fat, eggs, meat, and wine and beer from their homes in preparation to give them up for Lent. Throw in some floor with the sugar and oil and you have pancakes to go with the meat you are giving up. Traditionally, these foods were enjoyed together with your parish which is how the Shrove Tuesday festivities began. Bring: St. James will be supplying the pancakes. If you would, please sign up to bring sausage, bacon, a beverage, a dessert, or pancake topping (email to let me know if you haven’t already signed up after Mass). If you would prefer not to bring a side, please consider dropping $5-10 into the donation jar to cover your meal. AGENDA FOR THE EVENING Evening Prayer 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM Food and Games 5:50 PM – 7:30 PM bring a favorite board or card game so that the community can enjoy it with you. Confession: 6:10 PM – 7:30 PM available for those who need it (no obligation for those that don’t). Cleanup: 7:30 PM – 7:50 PM Thank you to the saintly souls that are still around at the end of the evening who help wipe and put away tables and chairs. REMEMBER YOUR ASH WEDNESDAY PENANCE NO MEAT AND ONLY ONE MEAL ON FEBRUARY 18, 2026 Ash Wednesday is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. Fasting: This means you are obligated to eat no more than one full meal and two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. This requirement does not apply if you have medical needs, are pregnant, nursing, or you are younger than 18 or older than 59. Abstinence: Ash Wednesday is also a day of abstinence from meat, which is binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. THREE OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE ASHES FEBRUARY 18 7:00 AM, 6:00 PM, 7:30 PM Mass with Ashes: I will be celebrating Mass for Ash Wednesday at 7:00 AM and again at 6:00 PM. This is a beautiful and somber liturgy that is designed to help you remember your mortality and to turn away from those things that stop you from communing with God. Short Ashes Liturgy: If you would like to begin your Lent with a shorter liturgy, I would encourage you to attend the Penitential Office for the Blessing and Imposition of Ashes which begins at 7:30 PM and concludes at 7:50 PM. This liturgy consists of the blessing of Ashes followed by a few prayers after which you will come forward to receive Ashes on your forehead. There is no homily at this liturgy. WOMEN’S MORNING PRAYER & FELLOWSHIP FEBRUARY 21, 9:00AM—10:30 AM All women are warmly invited to join the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Women’s Ministry for Morning Prayer, breakfast, and fellowship at the Metro Diner (San Marco) 3302 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. This gathering will be held on the third Saturday of each month. Come grow in prayer, friendship, and faith—we look forward to welcoming you! PENITENTIAL PROCESSION ON FEBRUARY 22 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT AT 10:30 MASS Get into the Lenten spirit this Sunday by praying the Great Litany, a beautiful and historic set of prayers asking for the Lord’s mercy. This Sunday we will participate in a first Sunday of Lent tradition that is unique to the Ordinariate and the Anglican patrimony that has been brought back into the Catholic Church: the Great Litany. This practice helps to set the tone for this season of preparation and renewal that we began on Ash Wednesday. At the beginning of Mass we will be praying together the Great Litany, a beautiful and somber way to begin this season of penance, preparation, and anticipation leading up to Easter. The Great Litany is the oldest piece of English liturgy in existence, first published in 1544, though with much older roots. At the simpler, 8:15 Mass, the Litany will be prayed together while you remain at your chair. At the 10:30 Mass the Great Litany will be chanted in procession as we move around the property and then back into the building (those unable to walk are invited to remain prayerfully in their seats) for Mass. Processions are ancient, going back to King David who processed with the Ark of the Covenant as well as to Our Lord’s procession into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. Theologically they remind us that we are a pilgrim people, moving prayerfully through life with the goal of arriving in the presence of our Lord, symbolized by entrance into the church. CONNECT WITH GOD: LEARN TO PRAY WORKSHOP ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Find that peaceful place of contentment and consolation though an interactive workshop on prayer. During the first hour, you will learn about prayer and be guided through an experience of mental prayer. During the second hour, there will be an engaging walk through the Mass, the most powerful form of prayer that we have. Learn how to pray it well. Please let me know if you are planning to join us. Thanks. THE SOLEMNITY OF THE CHAIR OF SAINT PETER MONDAY, FEB 23, 7 AM, DIOCESAN PATRONAL FEAST St. Peter is our Diocesan Patronal Feast, just as Our Lady of Walsingham is our Patroness, and St. James is our Parish Patronal Feast. For us, this is a solemnity, the highest of the festival days of the Church. Solemnities are days to take a break from Lenten fasting and to celebrate. Join me at Mass, or if you are not able to, try to say Morning or Evening Prayer. SOUP AND STATIONS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM The blessed Mother would often walk and ponder the Lord’s passion. The saints taught that pious meditation on the Lord’s passion is one of the best devotions for growing in holiness. Join us in following the example of the saints to pray the Stations of the Cross together and then enjoy the companionship of others over a simple Lenten meal of water, soup, and perhaps a side or two. Please let us know if you will be coming and if you would like to bring a side of bread or crackers. Enjoy cooking? Sign up to bring a soup on an upcoming Friday: March 6, 13, 20, or 27. CONSIDERING BECOMING CATHOLIC? DON’T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE FALL? I know of a couple of people who are already baptized and are interested in possibly becoming learning about becoming Catholic, but do not want to wait until this fall to begin (which is what most parishes require). If you find yourself in a similar situation, please let me know and we’ll gather a group together to begin preparation. Thanks. OTHER UPCOMING DATES Daylight Savings Time: March 8—remember to spring ahead! Mothering Sunday: Sunday, March 15 Passion Sunday Great Litany & Procession: Sunday, March 22 Soup, Stations and Planning: Sunday, March 27 Palm Sunday: Sunday, March 29 Bishop Lopes: December 12, 13, 2026, Pastoral visitation Check out More Upcoming or Past Events at the Website News and Announcements FUNERAL PLANNING LUNCH AND LEARN BE READY BEFORE THE EVENT The good people over at Dignity Memorial, who generously hosted our Easter Mass for a number of years, have offered to host a lunch and learn event on funeral planning at St. James. Death is already difficult enough, but even more so if your funeral plans are not in place. I’m happy for us to schedule this event if we have a decent number of people who are interested. Please let me know. Thanks. FURNITURE TO DONATE? HELP NEEDED FOR OUR GROWING YOUTH MINISTRY The rooms that our youth are currently using are rather echoey and uninviting. Some of the items that we need that would help with this would be area rugs (room sizes 15’x10’, 15’x12’, 11’x14’), a sectional, a storage cabinet, and a whiteboard. Please send me a picture of the item and its dimensions so that I can see if it would work for what I need. Thank you for your generosity. ST. JOHN HENRY NEWMAN PILGRIMAGE BIRMINGHAM, LONDON, SEPTEMBER 6-12, 2026 Experience the life and legacy of the man who put in place the groundwork for what we now celebrate as the Ordinariates, these new dioceses that have brought the beauty and community of the Anglican patrimony back into the Catholic Church. Travel to England and explore the conversion and influence of this Anglican convert and writer who died in 1890 and has since been declared to be a doctor of the Church. Learn more. BISHOP’S APPEAL: THRIVING EVANGELIZATION GIVING TOWARD THE BIGGER PICTURE Checkout a few of the things that took place within our diocese over the past year. Ten Ordinariate seminarians are preparing for ordination to the priesthood at St. Nilary’s Seminary, the Pontifical College Josephinum, and the North American College in Rome. Three transitional deacons were ordained in 2025, anticipating priestly ordination on June 29, 2026. Forty-eight Acolytes were instituted at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham on August 10, 2025 Fifty music directors, organists, and musicians from Ordinariate parishes attended the Musicians’ Workshop hosted by the Office of Worship at the Chancery in January, 2025 and January 2026. Eleven of our communities are currently engaged in capital campaigns to buy or develop land for their permanent parish home. Cathedral High School, Houston, TX will celebrate its first graduating class on May 30,2026. Bishop Lopes has asked you to consider prayerfully supporting this mission with a monetary gift to the 2026 Bishop’s Appeal. Your gift, no matter how large or small, contributes to these works and makes more possible. The Bishop’s Appeal provides direct support to the Ordinariate, cultivating vocations to the priesthood and religious life, providing crucial administrative support to our needy 40 parishes and parochial communities, and helping new communities to form. Your generosity brings new Ordinariate members into full Catholic communion and provides for catechetical and liturgical support for our growing parishes. Christ to the world. Visit ordinariate.net/bishops-appeal or pick up and return a pledge card this Sunday at the mission. I give monthly to the Bishop’s appeal and I would ask you to consider prayerfully supporting this mission with a gift to the 2025 Bishop’s Appeal. Your gift, no matter how large or small, contributes to these works and makes more possible. Thank you for your generosity. JANUARY FINANCE REPORT THANK YOU FOR A GENEROUS MONTH Giving: $15, 517.73. This does not include smaller funds. Expenses: $11,023.43 Covers quarter of priest ’s support, half of pension, travel, liturgical supplies, music, building rent and liability insurance, advertising, bishop’s tax, almsgiving, hospitality. Financial Goals: 1. Hire part time onsite business manager (in process); 2. Increase priest support from quarter time to half time by 2027; 3. save money to purchase/build our own building GIVE TODAY  AROUND THE WIDER CHURCH RECONCILIATION AND PARISH MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE LOCAL DIOCESE Check out all of the places and opportunities to have your confession heard and sins forgiven during Lent. Also, here are all of the opportunities to grow in faith by attending a parish mission or retreat this Lent. CATHOLIC CAREGIVER RETREAT MARCH 14, 2026 Sponsored by Ascension St. Vincent’s in collaboration with Catholic Caregiver, this retreat offers a day to renew emotional, mental and spiritual well-being while gaining wisdom for the caregiving journey. The retreat is Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with an optional welcoming Mass at 8 a.m., at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, 101 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. Open to past and current caregivers, at home or professionally, the day includes talks, reflection and silence, adoration and a catered lunch. For details, visit dosafl.com/office-of-family-life/caregivers/. 2026 FUN FAITH FAMILY FESTIVAL HOSTED BY THE DIOCESE OF ST. AUGUSTINE Mark your calendars for the annual Diocese of St. Augustine Family Fest at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine on Saturday, Apr. 25! From exciting games and entertainment to spiritual talks and formation opportunities, there’s something for every member of the family. We are excited to announce our 2026 speakers, Dr. Andrew & Sarah Swafford! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to celebrate faith and family together. For more and to register, visit www.dosafamilyfest.com EUCHARISTIC ENCOUNTER YOU ARE INVITED, MARCH 6, 7 Mark your calendars for the Diocese of St. Augustine’s 2026 Eucharistic Encounter, formerly known as the Eucharistic Congress, taking place during Lent on March 6–7. Queen of Peace Parish will host the Friday evening events, and St. Joseph Parish will host Saturday’s sessions. Friday, March 6th at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 10900 SW 24th Ave., Gainesville — Doors Open: 4:00pm | Saturday, March 7th at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11757 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville — Doors open at 7:00am. For a full calendar of events visit: www.dosafl.com/calendar/2026-03/ Faithfully, your pastor, Father Mayer Parochial Administrator St. James Catholic Church A Community of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter www.StJamesCC.org 904-999-1423 office@StJamesCC.org |
February 2026 | Ash Wednesday 2026
