Palm Sunday 3/30/23

by | Mar 30, 2023 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Dear St. James Family,

As I am sending this email I am on my way to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham, here in Houston (the word cathedral means the bishop’s church). Our Lady of Walsingham serves as the mother church of the Ordinariate, our diocese, here in North America. I will be celebrating with Bishop Lopes and the other priests, the Chrism Mass. This Mass recalls when Jesus instituted the twelve apostles as priests to celebrate the Eucharist and in memory of this I will be joining my brother priests in renewing the promises we made at ordination. At this Mass Bishop Lopes will be consecrating the holy oils that we will use throughout the upcoming year. It is called the Chrism Mass after the aromatic Chrism oil blessed to be used at baptisms, confirmations, and ordinations, although the oil of the sick and the oil of catechumens (adults preparing for baptism) are also blessed at this Mass.

I will be returning to Jacksonville tomorrow (3/31) and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

 

Arrive Early this Sunday for the Blessing and Procession of Palms
On April 2 at our principal Mass (10:15 AM) the liturgy will begin outside of the building with the joyful blessing and procession of palms into the church while singing the much loved hymn All Glory, Laud, and Honor, commemorating our Lord’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week. Because everyone loves this Mass, it tends to be on the full side, so I would encourage you to arrive early.

There will not be an outdoor procession at the 8:00 Mass. Instead, the palms will be blessed and distributed inside of the building. Like the principal Mass, there will be an interactive reading of the Passion at this Mass.

After Mass remember to place your palm in a safe place as it is a blessed object. Some people will fold the palm frond into a cross and attach it to the wall above a door frame or on or near a family altar. It is traditional to bring this blessed palm back with you next year as Lent nears, so that it can be burned and the ashes used on Ash Wednesday.

 

Tomorrow, Our Lady in Passiontide, Friday, March 31, 2023
The Friday of Passion Week stands one week before Good Friday and is a day that recalls the suffering of Our Lady as she witnessed the events of her Son’s Passion and Death. St. Mary in Passiontide or Our Lady in Passiontide is a good day to pray the traditional Via Matris, found on page 349 of the St. Gregory Prayerbook (scroll to the bottom of this page to learn about this prayer book) and to reflect on Mary’s spiritual wounds at seeing her Son crucified, which occurs the following Friday.

 

Holy Week Liturgies: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday April 6-8, 2023
If you are able, I would encourage you to attend what is known as the Triduum Liturgy during Holy Week. This three part liturgy begins with Holy Thursday which commemorates the Lord’s washing of the disciples feet and his mandate to do the same for one another, Good Friday at which the veneration of the cross takes place, and Holy Saturday or the Easter Vigil which is the first commemoration of Easter and baptisms often take place. St. James is not hosting these liturgies this year because we are small mission and because 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.

 

Pick up a Divine Mercy Novena and Chaplet Brochure this Sunday
Good Friday, April 7 is the traditional time to being praying the Divine Mercy Novena (novena is a nine day period based on the days of prayer offered by the disciples while awaiting Pentecost), especially for those who are away from the Church. These nine days of prayer lead up to Divine Mercy Sunday which we are celebrating on April 15. I have purchased a handful of brochures that will guide you through these prayers so be sure to obtain yours before they run out (remember to bring it back for the public praying of the chaplet on Divine Mercy Sunday). This is a time to 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. Learn more.

 

St. James History and Vision Dinner – Only 2 Spots Left! April 2, 2023, 4-7 PM
Herb roasted chicken hindquarters, yellow rice with black beans, salad, marble brownies, red and white wine, beer.
Please let me know soon if you are planning to join us this Sunday evening for dinner. You will have the opportunity to connect with other parishioners and hear the unlikely story and divine happenings that brought me to Jacksonville, and how St. James got started in the city with only three families, little money, in the middle of a pandemic, and yet has thrived and grown. You will also learn about this new and vibrant mission diocese of which we are part, called the Ordinariate, started by Pope Benedict back in 2012 and of course how you might fit in and become part of St. James. Learn more or let me know soon if you will be joining us.

 

Missing Homilies?
I have not posted my homilies in a few weeks because I was away for a Sunday, and then the Sunday I returned for some reason the recording failed and the past Sunday Fr. Jim took care of the homily. However, on the failed Sunday, thanks to the diligent work of Armando Lugo, we did get a video recording of the homily I gave on March 19 on What to Expect when You are Converting, should you be curious to check it out or listen to past homilies over at the website.

 

Easter Altar Flowers: Prayers for someone You Love
Honor or remember in prayer someone special to be listed in the Easter bulletin by making a contribution toward the altar flower fund. Submission deadline is April 2, 2023 Palm Sunday. Requested donation is $30 per name. Setup through online giving or note “Easter Flowers” on your check or use a flower giving envelope at St. James.

 

Other Upcoming Dates

Check out All Upcoming Events at the Website

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

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