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Dear St. James Family, |
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There is a good amount of behind the scenes groundwork being laid right now, to prepare for the upcoming growth of the mission. Last week with some excellent financial minds to discuss getting a finance council up and going. I’m grateful to Linda, Nancy, Michelle, Doug, and Blake for helping me get more eyes and wisdom on the prudent management of our finances. We are still in the process of getting this council up and running and clearly defining the membership, so if there is someone that you would like to nominate to be part of it, please let me know. We also have begun the work of getting out invites to the bishop’s dinner coming up in December. Thank you to Christine and Dan Lucas for hosting a working dinner at their home last week where we got the process started of getting out the invitations to this much anticipated gathering (if you would like to be part of this fundraiser, but have not yet gotten an invite, please let me know). I am looking forward to seeing how the Lord is going to work through all of this.
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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.
Jesus’ take on Republicans and Democrats – Delivered on October 22, 2023
We are preparing to enter a big political year with the election of our next president. How would Jesus respond if he were to be thrown into this mix? Learn how to deal with political controversies from the example of Jesus and how he responded to the political parties of his day.
Rejecting the Church or Sacraments? This Parable is for You – Delivered on October 15, 2023 Learn the meaning of Jesus’ fascinating parable of the wedding feast and the guests who violently refuse to be a part of this celebration. Learn the historic understanding of the guy who does come, but then refuses to put on the wedding clothes. What does all of this mean? What does it have to do with rejecting the Church or the sacraments?
Upcoming Events
Tonight: Men’s Bonfire at the Parsonage. Be inspired by the Life of St. Philip Neri Friday, October 27, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Relax, catch-up and connect, and get ready to delve deeply into the life of St. Philip Neri, a man who transformed his city and is still rousing souls today. Bring a snack or a drink to share or just bring yourself: 3725 Lilly Rd. N., Jacksonville. Can’t make it? The next one is tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 17 or November 24 (date will be finalized at October 27th gathering), 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Join the first quarterly service gathering hosted by the Children and Family Ministry at L’Arche Jacksonville a worldwide federation of communities founded by Jean Vanier, a Canadian Catholic philosopher and theologian, for people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them. We will assist staff and residents with weeding and other yard work at the facility located at 700 Arlington Rd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32211. Please let us know if you are coming by contacting Colleen Kelley @ olearykelley@gmail.com or text 408-306-6280 to sign up and receive additional information.
Name Tag Sunday: October 29, 2023 Thanks for putting on a nametag this Sunday when you arrive for Mass. If you are new, this is a great, easy way to introduce yourself to the community. If you have been around a while, this is a great way to help our newer attenders come to better know the community. We try to do this once a month, normally on the last Sunday of the month.
This Sunday’s Homily: How to Replace Huge Emotional Swings with Steadiness In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus is asked about which rules are the most important and he gives a fascinating answer, that in a way, skips over all of the rules. It is an answer that, if you truly understand it and buy into it, will allow you to leave behind the experience of going from perfect contentedness to being distraught and instead to find security no matter what happens. I am looking forward to explaining all of this during the homily.
Holy Day of Obligation: All Saints Mass, Wednesday, November 1, 5:30 PM Join 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.
Come and Pray for Your Departed Loved Ones, Thursday, November 2, 7:00 PM, Hosted at Lucas Home Why would a person pray for the dead? 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. Names 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.
Talk on Catholic Church History: Monday, November 6, 2023, 7-9 PM I’ll be presenting the historic evidence for how Christ wanted his Church to be structured and how this Church has thrived and grown through even difficult challenges on up to the present time. Location: The Salem Centre, 7235 Bentley Rd, Jacksonville. Please let me know by November 5, if you are planning on coming so that I can be sure to set up enough seats: office@StJamesCC.org
Check out More Upcoming Events at the Website
Around the Local Diocese
Mass for Deceased Children: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 11:30 AM Mass for all the precious children we have lost will be celebrated at the Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, 17155 NW U.S. Highway 441, in High Springs. The Mass begins at 11:30 a.m. For information and questions, email May Oliver at moliver@dosafl.com.
Let It Shine Fall Concert, Saturday, November 4, 7:30 PM St. Joseph Adult and Children’s Choir and the St. Joseph School Choir with Violinist Helen Morin and Accompanist Melaine Staples will be performing at the main church of St. Joseph, 11757 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville 32258. The concert is free but a goodwill offering benefitting the St. Joseph’s Music Ministry will be taken up during the program. Click here for a promotional graphic.
Life Festival in St. Augustine: Saturday, November 4, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Life Fest kicks off with an outdoor Mass celebrated by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier at 9 a.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios, 101 San Marco Ave., in St. Augustine. The day continues with an awards ceremony at 10 a.m., confession from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. teen workshops (“Theology of the Body”) in English at 1 p.m. and Spanish at 2 p.m. and a Eucharistic procession starting at 3 p.m. There will be guest speakers, games, food trucks, music by Stella and a workshop/panel for college students. The day will conclude with a Eucharistic procession and rosary ending at 4:00 p.m. Keep your eyes on the sky for a special surprise. (This event is weather permitting) The event is sponsored by the office of youth & young adults and the office of human life & dignity. For more information, contact Robin Shipley at rshipley@dosafl.com or May Oliver at moliver@dosafl.com. Checkout the flyer.
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Faithfully, your pastor, Father Mayer |
Latest Update Sent October 27, 2023
