| Dear St. James Family, |
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Today, July 25, is the Feast of St. James! As a mission of St. James, we have the privilege of moving the celebration to this Sunday so that more of you can join in. You can read more about that, other upcoming events below. Tonight, myself and some others from the mission will be heading down to St. Augustine for the big diocesan St. James celebration, which is expected to be quite spectacular. Check out this video from last year’s procession. Let me know if you would like to join us and I will get you the details. Otherwise, I hope to see you on Sunday!
News and AnnouncementsA Word about Our Good Relationship with Bishop Pohlmeier We were most honored by Bishop Pohlmeier’s recent visit to St. James! As you know, he is in charge of the Diocese of St. Augustine, and while St. James is not under his jurisdiction, since we are part of a separate diocese, he serves as the most visible symbol of the unity of the Catholic Church in this area. We are grateful for his support and ministry among us. During his homily, he described our liturgy as a rich experience. He even wore his biretta (clergy cap) as a nod to this standard practice for Ordinariate clergy (was standard for all clergy up until the 1960s when it became optional attire). When folks ask why I wear a biretta I respond that I wear it in order to take it off. Traditionally, the cleric removes his biretta when approaching the altar or during other more solemn times of the Mass in order to show greater reverence. Thank you Bishop Pohlmeier for entering into our world. We are honored to have you as our local shepherd. Cake, Champagne, Activities this Sunday in honor of Our Patron Saint July 28, 2024 join us to celebrate our big day! We will be commemorating our patron of title, St. James the Greater and getting to know him a bit more. This is a day of celebration for us! At the end of the Mass we will be singing a solemn Te deum, the official, age old song of celebration in the Church. After the primary Mass (the 10:15 Mass), we will be celebrating with cake and champagne, and activities for the children. You do not want to miss this. Come and be part of this festive day!
Three Reasons Why Catholic Parishes are Named after Saints No, Catholic parishes are not named after saints as some sort of saint worship cult, in which the saints are put on the same level of God. This would be idolatry. Instead, all of the reasons why parishes are often named after saints point to Christ and his work. First and foremost, being named after a saint is a proclamation that Jesus conquered death for those who died in him. James the Greater, after which our community is named, is alive and well and is in heaven praying for us and many others. He continues to minister and draw many people to Christ through parishes under his patronage and through the Camino, one of the most famous pilgrimage routes in the world. Second, parishes are often named after saints as a recognition that early Christians would gather at the the grave of particularly well loved saints and celebrate Mass there with the belief that these saints were worshipping God with them. This shows their trust that because of Jesus’ work, death no longer separates Christians. Out of this faith, parishes were eventually built on the sites of the relics of the saints. Third, a parish named after a saint shows forth a unique way that Christ worked in someone’s life and brought him to completion in spite of many flaws. We see this especially in the life of St. James and this brings hope to many. Having a parish named after a saint is a great way to get to know a special person through whom Christ worked, which is exactly what we will be doing this Sunday. So, there you have it, three reasons why Catholic parishes are commonly named after saints.
New Location Buildout Update: Engineers Making Rapid Progress, Note on AC This week I received word from the engineering firm (the one that we hired to finish out the blue prints for permitting) that they are ninety-five percent of the way through the electrical binder and well into the mechanical (HVAC) & plumbing. This is excellent news and much better than the 4-6 week time period that we were originally told that this part of the process normally takes. Thank you for your continued prayers since we are beginning to push up against the deadlines needed to complete this project before the date we agreed upon in the lease. One other piece of bad news turned good: The initial plan was to have about 11 tons of Air Conditioning in place for the space. However, the engineers are giving initial estimates of 17-20 tons needed. This is a significant cost difference than what was originally expected. Fortunately, the Lord is on our side and the landlord has generously agreed to cover whatever HVAC is required by the city. Phew! I’m happy to know that the building will be properly cooled. Learn more about the building project and how you can Give. Thanks 🙂
Three Adults Needed who Love Kids – Pass on the Faith to Our Little Ones If you would enjoy working with our children ages 4-6, 7-9, or 10-13, we need you. Discover the rewards of working with our little ones on Sunday mornings, 9:15 AM – 10 AM on the second and fourth Sundays, September through May. This is a great opportunity, not only do Jesus’ work with the least of these, but also to make friends and get to know other adults at St. James. There is a small amount of training and a background check required. If you are interested, please let me know :-). Thanks.
Upcoming EventsRegistration is now Open for the Kid’s Ministry – August 11 Deadline This week I met with the leadership of our Children and Family Ministry Guild and I am excited about the preparation that is taking place to equip parents, educate children, and build community. I have watched this program grow stronger each year and I am especially anticipating the joy of this year’s program. Begins: on Sunday, September 8, 2024, meets 2nd and 4th Sundays through May, 9:15 AM – 10 AM
How the Bible Came Together Workshop – Looming RSVP Deadline Monday, August 5, 2024 at 7 PM. Are you curious to dig into the roots of belief? Learn how the Bible, the most influential book in our culture, was assembled and how this points to a united family of God. Dig deeply into history and consider many important events and questions often overlooked. Find hope and insight and a new way of seeing the world and the Church. This evening will be led by myself, Father Mayer. I grew up as a devout evangelical Christian, then served for a time as an Episcopal Priest before joyfully becoming a joyous Catholic Christian because of some of the discoveries that I will be sharing in this workshop. This is a great opportunity to experience a highly praised, engaging presentation designed to bring us together around this holy book that is so loved yet misunderstood by many. These workshops tend to be full, so RSVP as soon as possible to assure your spot. Food & RSVP Deadline: Turkey and roast beef sub sliders from Publix catering, chips, water, soda (need special accommodations? Please ask :-). Space is limited so please let us know to reserve your spot. This also helps us know how much food to order. Please confirm as soon as possible, but no later than July 29, 2024 if you are planning to attend: office@stjamescc.org or 904-999-1423. Thanks. Other Upcoming Dates
Check out More Upcoming Events at the Website
From the PreacherI invite you to have a listen to some of the latest homilies that I delivered at St. James and share them with a friend. Search “Fr. Mayer’s Preaching & Teaching” wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe. July 21, 2024 Homily: Jesus’ Method of Dealing with Interruptions July 14, 2024 Homily: Bishop Erik Pohlmeier
Around The Wider ChurchYouth Day: Bishop Pohlmeier to Install Relics and Statues August 3 9AM-3PM To learn more about Blessed Carlo Acutis, visit: https://carloacutis-en.org/
How and Why We Need to Defeat Amendment 4 You are invited and highly encouraged to attend the upcoming training sessions on defeating Amendment 4. The goal of these sessions is to ensure the faithful understands the same unified message approved by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and reach as many people as possible. Our message must reach beyond the Catholic Church. Below is the current training and information schedule: August 6 – St. Paul Parish, Jacksonville Beach at 6:30 p.m. Faithfully, your pastor, |
St. James Sunday
