St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

Transcription

1 St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church November 25, 2018

2 A Mini Homily & My Vocations Story ~ by Deacon Robert Phillips It is good to be back at St. Francis Xavier and Nativity! I have spent the last three years in Rome, Italy at the Pontifical North American College, which is where the seminarians live and have workshops. I graduated last June with my Bachelors in Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also known as the Angelicum. On September 27, 2018 I was ordained a transitional deacon with 39 of my classmates, in Vatican City at St. Peter s Basilica, by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. I am now on my Pastoral Year, and I will be here until next summer. I will then return to Rome next Fall for my last year of studies before my priestly ordination at our Cathedral in Savannah in June of Having been involved in our Christ Life programs here at the parish, I was struck by how similar the core points of these talks were to my own life and vocation story. Three major points stuck out to me from the talks, which correlate to my own faith journey thus far: (1) God s Forgiveness, (2) a Personal Relationship with Christ, and (3) Vocation. (1) For me personally, God s forgiveness was a hard thing to accept. While I grew up Catholic, I couldn t accept the main thing that Jesus came down to earth to tell us: God loves us personally and He wants us to accept His love & forgiveness. I thought that all my sins and failings were too much to be forgiven. If people really knew me, knew my thoughts and my heart, they wouldn t love me. How could God really love me? I could never bring myself to confess all of my sins, to give God everything. However, through His grace, I was able to go to confession after graduating from High School, even though I thought I couldn t be forgiven, that the priest would be mad at me, that he wouldn t forgive my sins, and that he would look at me differently. I went into the confessional and started listing off my sins. As I finished, my throat was dry and I could barely speak. I looked up at the priest, expecting to be reprimanded, scowled at, or yelled at. Instead, I wasn t met with a scowl, but with a huge smile and encouragement! The priest said, We thank God for giving you the courage to come here today. I was blown away. I was forgiven! My life was radically changed from that point on. I knew that Jesus loved me. (2) After this experience in the confessional, I started to go to Eucharistic Adoration regularly at the perpetual adoration chapel in Augusta, my hometown. I was growing my personal prayer life, spending time with Jesus. I came to see Him as my best friend, and the Lord of my life. In Adoration, I experienced the presence of God s love. He was always there, waiting for me to spend time with Him. It was in adoration that I heard God s call to be His priest. (3) I always wanted to be a husband and father, but God was calling me to something else. After a time of increased prayer, retreats, and spiritual reading, I heard the Lord speak straight to my heart in Adoration one night. What He said was unmistakably from Him: I want you to be a priest. The plan that God had for my life became so clear! I became so filled with peace & happiness after hearing God s call in my life. I have come to see that my call to be God s priest is ultimately a call to be intimate with Jesus Christ, to love God and His Church in this special way, through my diaconal and priestly ministry. All of us are called to forgive and accept forgiveness, to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and to follow the vocational call that God has for each one of us. The confessional is a wonderful place where YOU can encounter Christ s healing & forgiveness, no matter what your sins are. In Adoration, Heart speaks to heart. Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with YOU. All of us are called by God to give Him some definite service. YOU have a call to follow Christ, to serve the Lord, and He wants YOU to be intimately in love with Him. So, how will YOU respond to the Lord? Is CHRIST the KING of your life?

3 Mass Schedule Saturday 5:00 p.m. SFX 7:00 p.m. (on Jekyll) Sunday (SFX) 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. in Spanish Weekday Masses Mon. - Noon (Chapel) Tues., Wed. & Thurs. 7:00 a.m. (Chapel) Wed. 7:00 p.m. (Church) Fri. 8 a.m. (Church) Reconciliation: Church Saturdays 4:00-4:30 p.m. Sunday 7:45-8:15 a.m. (Or by appointment) St. Joseph Chapel (Please go to the main office for code) Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. St Joseph Chapel First Friday Adoration 2:00-7:00 p.m. Holy Hour 7:00-8:00 p.m. First Saturday 8:45 a.m. The second collection today will be for the Little Blue Books and 2019 calendars. Join our parish for BEST ADVENT EVER, a free program from Dynamic Catholic that will help you slow down and focus on what matters most during the busy holiday season. Each day of Advent, you ll receive an with... Short inspirational videos from Allen Hunt, Matthew Kelly, and the Dynamic Catholic team. Practical tips for your everyday life journey Real-life stories to encourage you in your faith Sign up, visit BestAdventEver.com/Christmas18 Mass to celebrate our 150 th anniversary as a parish: Sunday December 2 at 11:00 a.m. Bishop Hartmayer will preside. Reception to follow in Xavier Hall. We will be joined by Fr. John Beckley S.M. and Fr. Wilfred Logsdon OFM. The Council of Catholic Women will meet on Monday, December 3, 6:00 to 7:30 pm in Xavier hall for their regular monthly gathering. Ladies of the parish are also cordially invited to join us for our annual Christmas Party on Sunday, December 9, 4 to 6 pm in Xavier hall. Please call Marisol extension 12 for details. On Dec 3, the Feast of SFX, we will offer a 7:00 pm that evening (in addition to the noon mass) to celebrate our patron.

4 Come to the Adoration on Friday, December 7 and begin your Advent in a spirit of prayer. First Friday Adoration is scheduled for December 7 in the Church from 2 to 8 p.m. Please sign-up for a one hour slot. Sign-up sheet is located on the back table. First Saturday Mass at 8:45 a.m. December 1st in the Chapel. Advent Penance Service will be December 5th at 7 p.m. The Most Reverend Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv., Bishop of Savannah Invites all couples celebrating their Silver or Gold (25 th or 50 th ) Wedding Anniversaries in 2019 to join him in celebrating the Gold & Silver Wedding Jubilee Anniversary Mass in your honor at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia on Sunday: February 10, Those wishing to attend should register online at by December 20, 2018 in order to receive a formal invitation with the detailed information. Questions?: Contact the Diocesan Office of Family Life, Bishop s Annual Appeal 2018 results to date Parish Valdosta-Brunswick Deanery Paid on Targets Pledged Pledge Pledge One Balance Time Total Given % of Target Alma % Baxley 5, % Brunswick 57,285 14, , % Darien 8,793 1, % Douglas 22,726 1, % Fitzgerald 3, % Folkston 2,851 2, % Hazelhurst 3, % Hinesville 22,413 7, % Jesup 6, % Lakes Park 1, % Ray City 11,808 1, % St Marys 34,666 10, ,477 27,347 36, % St Simons Island 70,423 13, % Valdosta 88,170 14, % Waycross 21,881 4, % Willacoochee 2, % Collections for: November 24 & 25 will be in next weekend bulletin. As we come to the end of the calendar year here is a Stewardship checklist. Have you given to each this year to support our Catholic work in Coastal Georgia? There are envelopes on the tables or you can contact Ann at the office for more information: -Forward With Faith Campaign to renovate our church and school! -Bishop s Annual Appeal to assist with the Bishop s needs especially the education and training of seminarians from which we greatly benefit! -Southern Cross pay and support our diocesan Catholic newspaper.

5 School and Youth News St. Francis Xavier is the charter organization for Boy Scout Troop 207 and Cub Scout Pack 207. The unit number 207 has been a Scouting staple in Brunswick for over 50 years, and we are proud to call St. Francis Xavier home! We are seeking young men to join us. Boys in first through fifth grades are invited to sign up for the Cub Scout program, and boys in middle and high school would be welcome to join Boy Scouts. If you're already involved in a different unit, we'd love to have you join us. Both the troop and pack will kick off their new year programs in the coming weeks. If you're interested, or have questions about the program, please contact Chris Sadowski at or csadowski@bellsouth.net. PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION (PSR): PSR meets Sunday Mornings during the academic school year, 9:30 10:40am, for children Pre-K - 8 th Grade. If you have not registered yet, please come over to the school and we will help you get your child registered for this new year. Call Deacon Larry-DRE , X14. Say Yes to Grace! Pre-Register For Your 2019 GRACE Scholars Tax Credit GRACE Scholars makes awards to students with demonstrated financial need to attend Catholic school in Georgia. GRACE is fueled by no-cost contributions eligible for a 100 percent tax credit against Georgia income taxes. Go towww.gracescholars.org and click on the button for the online form on the home page. A paper form is also available. Please submit your pre-registrations for GRACE by December 15, For more information, please contact: Frank Ferra via fferra28@yahoo.com Parent of a St Francis Xavier Catholic School Student ***Sponsors Needed*** St. Francis Xavier Catholic School is in need of sponsors for their annual Crusaders Bash to be held on Nov. 30th at the King and Prince Hotel. Please contact Stephanie D'Amico for information sgdamico26@gmail.com Teens in the Spirit meets every Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. with Mass to follow. O God, hear our prayer and let our cry come unto You. Bless our Diocese of Savannah with many vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. Give the men and women You call the light to understand Your gift and the love to follow always in the footsteps of Your priestly Son. Amen.

6 PRAYER LIST Hans McCollum Timothy Tindall Jack & Jan Mistisshen Vincent Schaefer Dan Schaefer Jesse Cole Norma Ireland Hazel Woody Betty Blouin Lidia Gorman Martha Burroughs Felicia Lima Maureen O Farrell Georgia Burgess-Erwin David & Frances Nohrden Mercedes Nadal Kathy Poliwka Lucille Nichols November 25, 2018 Christ the King Mass Intentions Saturday, November 24 5:00 p.m. t Emilio & Erminia Stefini 7 p.m. t Sandee Coddington (Flowers) (At Jekyll United Methodist Church) Sunday, November 25 8:30 a.m. t Jack & Jeanne O Donnell 11a.m. t Mary, Effie & Preston Blanchard 6:00 p.m. Our Parish Family Monday, November 26 Noon t Antonietta Bruni Joan Schwartz Jerry Ehlman Joyce McPhee Carol Papia Bradley Huffman Jacky Free Michael L. Mleko Jim Nutt Shirley Reilly Sarah Ray Jerry Hayward Jackie Maassen Sandi Wadsworth Linda Forsyth Willie & Peggie Cash Blanch Reed Let us pray for all those in the military and police force both active and retired. The Vocation Office will sponsor a discernment retreat Answer the Call for men ages 18 to 40 from Friday, December 28 th at noon to Saturday, December 29 th at 2pm at Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge in Helena, GA (south of Dublin). Please register at vocations and click on the retreat icon. There is no cost for the retreat and registration will close Christmas day. Tuesday, November 27 7 a.m. t Hal Brown Wednesday, November 28 7 a.m. t Lena Tozzi 7 p.m. t John Silva Thursday, November 29 7 a.m. t Lily Badre Friday, November 30 8:00 a.m. t Rick Moore Saturday, December 1 8:45 a.m. Special Intentions 5:00 p.m. t Alma Musko 7 p.m. t Rose DeFranco (At Jekyll United Methodist Church) Sunday, December 2 8:30 a.m. t Eric G. Geores III 11a.m. 150th Celebration 6:00 p.m. t Mercedes Lopez-Guzman If you left a picture for the board, the pictures will be placed back in the box December 1st for you to pick up. If you are interested in being part of a Living the Eucharist Lenten study this year please contact Deacon Larry. We will soon be ordering books for groups. If you were not in a group last year you can learn more at LivingtheEucharist.org.

7 Parish Activity Contacts Adult Bible Study, Joe & Linda Kirby Altar and Environmental Care, Diane Lott Bereavement, Ann Buebel CCW, Marisol Soler ext. 12 Culture of Life, Rose Lodise Greeters, Ginger Dorcas Knights of Columbus, Bill Schuster Religious Ed., Larry Guyer ext. 14 St. Monica Society, Peggie Cash St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Parish Council, RoseMary Jones at Most Rev. Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv. Bishop of Savannah Membership To be a registered member of the parish is to have a sense of belonging to a family. Newcomers are requested to register at the church office soon after arrival to meet the staff and learn about your new parish. In the time of family sickness, death or special need, parishioners are asked to notify the Church office. If requested, Holy Communion will e brought o anyone desiring to receive the Eucharist but are unable to attend Mass for serious reasons. Church Office 405 Howe St., Brunswick, GA