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Dear St. James Family, |
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How are you doing as we move through Lent? Have you been getting back to the basics of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving? Not doing so well? No worries. This Sunday is an opportunity for a new start as we enter into the time of Lent called Passiontide. This period is designed to help you get ready for Holy Week (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, April 6-8. More on these in the next newsletter) and Easter.
When you come to Mass this Sunday you will immediately notice that the cross and statues are veiled, producing a sort of visual abstaining from beauty as the liturgy moves toward a more somber and sorrowful mood in preparation for the celebration of Holy Week. We will also be starting Mass by praying the Great Litany, spoken at the 8:00 AM Mass and chanted in procession at the 10:15 AM Mass, a beautiful prayer of repentance and turning back to the Lord. Come and join us for this Lenten restart as we prepare to celebrate Easter in the next couple of weeks. Learn more about Passiontide. |
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All about “Lady Day,” and the Deep Devotion Shown by Those of Our Tradition
This Saturday marks nine months before Christmas, in other words the day when God the Son took on human flesh in womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This event is known as the Announciation after this great announcement that the Angel brought to Mary. Our Lady of Walsingham, the patroness of the Ordinariate, is a reflection on this momentous event. Back in 1061 the Blessed Mother appeared to a pious noble woman in Walsingham, England and gave her directions to build a replica of the house where she, the Virgin Mary, was living when the Announciation took place. Many devout pilgrims would travel to Walsingham over the centuries to reflect there on the Announciation. Our Cathedral in Houston has a replica of the Walsingham Shrine and many still go there today to reflect and become more like Mary who said yes to God.
Historically English speaking Catholics had such a rich devotion to the Blessed Mother that the Announciation, March 25, marked the first day of the year for England all of the way up until 1752 (In that year they finally adopted the Gregorian Calendar or modern calendar that was first put into place by Pope Gregory VII in 1582 as a gift to the world from the Catholic Church). Continuing in this tradition, the Solemnity of the Annunciation is celebrated in the Ordinariate with special devotion using the historic English Catholic term “Lady Day,” showing the fondness of members of the Ordinariate our Blessed Mother.
I would encourage you to take time this Lent, especially this Saturday, to ponder the Announciation and Mary’s humble fiat, her yes to God, and how you can better imitate this in your own life. The traditional devotion in remembrance of this is the Angelus. This prayer that is traditionally said three times a day in remembrance of our Lord Jesus, the Word become Flesh. This is why the collect or official prayer for March 25 is taken from the Angelus:
WE beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts: that, as we have known the Incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an Angel; so by his Cross and Passion we may be brought unto the glory of his Resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
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We now have eighteen RSVPs. There are only a few spots left so jump on board quickly! April 2, 4-7 PM, come and hear about the history and vision of St. James and where you fit in. Get to know me, Father Mayer, and hear my story as well as other parishioners. Full details online. Please RSVP as soon as possible, but no later than March 31. Let me know to save you a spot. If not, the next one is not scheduled until May 21, 2023.
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Good Friday Stations of the Cross at Marywood Retreat: April 7, 2023 Remember our Lord’s passion on Good Friday and participate in a devotion that goes back to the Blessed Mother who is said to often revisit the sites of her son’s crucifixion. Meet at main parking lot (235 Marywood Dr., St Johns). Good shoes for stations walk along wide trail through the woods. Because the retreat center is closed that day, there are no easily accessible bathrooms, so please plan appropriately. Children’s Stations: 10-10:30. You may pack some meatless snacks and a blanket or chairs to picnic at the beautiful retreat grounds. This is a child friendly opportunity to remember the significance of this day while connecting with other families. Adult’s Stations: 12-12:30 PM: led by Fr. Mayer. Reverent and prayerful opportunity to meditate upon the Lord’s passion. Periods of silence and the Stabat Mater sung between stations.
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Catholic Prayer Class: April 10 and 24
Follow the Tradition of the Church and the wisdom of the saints, and learn how to express yourself to God in prayer, and how to hear his voice. Learn to deal with difficulties and even peer into some of the more advanced forms of prayer. This class is taught by Father Mayer and includes refreshments. Learn more.
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Invite a Friend to Join You for Mass on Easter Day, 8:00 AM or 10:15 AM: Note Location Change
On April 9, 2023 we will be meeting for Mass at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home Chapel at our normal times, 8:00 AM & 10:15 AM. The Mandarin Community Club, where we normally meet for Mass, is not available 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 the following Sunday. However the Hardage-Giddens Chapel is larger and much and a much nicer space. 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: 11801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL.
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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.
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Leasing a Storefront Space Discernment Pilgrimage: Saturday, April 15, 2023 Join us for a fun and bonding outing to see what it looks and feels like to have a Church in a store front and to pray and discuss if this is the direction that St. James should go. This Ordinariate community of St. John Fisher located near Orlando has an attendance of around 100 or so parishioners each weekend. Meeting to carpool at 10:30 AM at the back of the large parking lot of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Pack a sack lunch for our stop at a park or rest stop on the way there and bring money for a supper restaurant stop on the way back. We plan to return by 8:00 PM. Please RSVP with Brian Burch after Mass on any Sunday.
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A Time to Invite Fallen Away Catholics, Sunday, April 16, 2023 Divine Mercy Sunday, in which there is 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 16, 2023, he can obtain the complete forgiveness of all sins and all of the due punishments. Please 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.
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Improve your Relationship through Adventures in Marriage: April 14 – May 5 |
Check out All Upcoming Events at the Website
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Faithfully, your pastor, Father Mayer |
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Parochial Administrator St. James Catholic Church A Community of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter 904-999-1423 office@StJamesCC.org Worship Location: 12447 Mandarin Rd, Jacksonville, FL |
Passion Sunday 3/23/2023
