St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church www.xavierbrunswick.org, 912-265-3249 December 2, 2018
150 Years as St. Francis Xavier Parish! The Sacraments have been celebrated in the Golden Isles since 1566 by priests traveling with the Spanish explorers. Missions were set up along the coast from that time providing almost 500 years of the Sacraments in the Golden Isles! In 1868 a small chapel was built in Brunswick dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. A more suitable brick and stone church was built on Newcastle Street in 1884. The present new church building was dedicated on April 2, 1967. This year St. Francis Xavier parish celebrates her 150 th anniversary! With 150 years of parish history behind us we gave thanks for the faith of those who have gone before us and given us such a great foundation. Your presence and support of SFX Parish and School continues a legacy of almost 500 years of Catholic presence on the Georgia Coast! Our Parish and School History 1566 Fr. Pedro Martinez lands in Georgia accompanying explorers from Spain. Spanish Franciscan Fathers set up missions along the coast of Georgia from 1566 1742. 1597 Between Sept. 14-17 Five Franciscan Friars (the GA Martyrs) are killed on the GA Coast. 1791 The Du Bignon family purchases Jekyll Island. A visiting priest occasionally comes to say mass on the island. 1844 The Du Bignon family moves to Union St. in Brunswick. Mass is said in their home for the few Catholics in town mostly of French and Irish descent. Various Jesuit priests minister during this time. 1868 A small chapel is built and named after St. Francis Xavier. 1871 Priests of the Diocese of Savannah are given care of the parish. 1884- A new brick and stone church is built and dedicated on Newcastle Street and dedicated on April 27, 1884. 1897 The parish is entrusted to the care of the Marist Fathers (Fathers of the Society of Mary). 1900 Saint Joseph School is established. The Sisters of St. Joseph run the school. The school opens with 70 students. 1922 The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis, take over the school. 1938 The Portuguese parishioners present a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. It is carved from a solid block of dry Brazilian cedar. Each Mother s Day it is carried in procession around the church. In the afternoon the local priest blesses the fishing fleet and places a wreath of flowers in memory of deceased fishermen. 1953 St. Joseph s Convent is built (now the Christian Formation Center). 1958 Due to growth at the school a new school complex is built and dedicated on February 9. As a tribute to the generosity of the parish the school is renamed St. Francis Xavier. 1967 The present church building is dedicated in April. 1988 The Conventual Franciscan order is given care of the parish. 1996 Xavier Hall is dedicated with a gymnasium, kitchen and meeting rooms. 2014 Priests of the Diocese of Savannah are given care of the parish. 2017 The Forward with Faith Campaign is launched with plans to renovate the church and school properties. What will you add to the legacy of SFX Parish and School? To learn about the Georgia Martyrs go to: https://thegeorgiamartyrs.org/en/
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. 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. 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 912-264-6805 extension 12 for details. The winner of the St. Francis Xavier Council of Women Christmas Cash raffle was Nyrita Carter. Thank you to all who supported the CCW raffle and to the CCW ladies for making the raffle a success! Advent Penance Service will be December 5th at 7 p.m. 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. Saturday December 8 th is a Holy Day of Obligation as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There will be a vigil mass on Friday Dec. 7 at 7:00 pm and a mass on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
Join our parish for BEST ADVENT EVER, a free email 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 email with... Short inspirational videos from Allen Hunt, Matthew Kelly, and the Dynamic Catholic team. Practical tips for your everyday life Real-life stories to encourage you in your faith journey Sign up, visit BestAdventEver.com/Christmas18 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, 2019. Those wishing to attend should register online at https://www.diosav.org/familylife-marriage-jubilee by December 20, 2018 in order to receive a formal invitation with the detailed information. Questions?: Contact the Diocesan Office of Family Life, 912-201-4068. You may have heard about a new program we have been offering in the parish called Christ Life. We finished one session this fall called Discovering Christ. We are going to offer Discovering Christ again this winter in case you missed it. We will offer one session that meets in the evenings at 6:30 pm and one that meets in the day at 11:00 a.m. Stay tuned for sign ups. For those who have completed Discovering Christ we are going to offer level 2 (Seeking Christ) this Lent. Collections for: November 24 & 25 $ 9,263.57 December 1 & 2 $ 8,270.52 Blue Book/ Calendars $ 1,071.00
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 912-399-0907 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-265-3249, X14. Davis Love Foundation Raffle Update Thank you for supporting St. Francis Xavier Catholic School by purchasing a raffle ticket. The school sold 671 tickets, and raised $19,743.15. Winner of the car was Missy Neu. Thank you for your support. A Teen Event What Coco, the movie When Wednesday, December 19, 6 pm Where St. Anne s room, Parish Hall Join Deacon Robert Phillips for pizza and drinks. Sing-along to the songs. Bring a friend and let s have fun. Teens in the Spirit meets every Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. with Mass to follow. Congratulations to our SFX Quiz Bowl team for taking second place at the St James Catholic School Tournament! Many thanks to the SFX School students for their help in decorating Thanksgiving place mats that were used at Manna House on Thanksgiving Day, and for over 400 food items collected and donated to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry! 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.
PRAYER LIST Hans McCollum Timothy Tindall Jack & Jan Mistisshen Vincent & Dan Schaefer Jesse Cole Norma Ireland Joan Schwartz Jerry Ehlman Joyce McPhee Betty Blouin Lidia Gorman Martha Burroughs Felicia Lima Maureen O Farrell Georgia Burgess-Erwin David & Frances Nohrden Mercedes Nadal Kathy Poliwka Lucille Nichols Sarah Ray Jerry Hayward Jackie Maassen Saturday, December 1 Mass 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 Monday, December 3 Noon t R. D. Weiss 7 p.m. St Francis Xavier- Our Patron Saint Tuesday, December 4 December 2, 2018 First Sunday of Advent 7 a.m. t Richard Brunegraff Carol Papia Bradley Huffman Jacky Free Michael L. Mleko Jim Nutt Shirley Reilly Hazel Woody Sandi Wadsworth Linda Forsyth Willie & Peggie Cash Blanch Reed Dan Hickey Jim Layman Let us pray for all those in the military and police force both active and retired. Wednesday, December 5 7 a.m. t Lois Kronn 7 p.m. Penance Service Thursday, December 6 7 a.m. t Carmen Zuba Friday, December 7 8:00 a.m. Dorcas-Ehlman Families 2-7 p.m. Adoration 7 p.m. VIGIL Our Parish Family 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 www.diosav.org/ vocations and click on the retreat icon. There is no cost for the retreat and registration will close Christmas day. Saturday, December 8 10 a.m. Our Parish Family (Holy Day) 5:00 p.m. t Harold Morrissette 7 p.m. t Sandee Coddington (Flowers) (At Jekyll United Methodist Church) Sunday, December 9 8:30 a.m. Living & Deceased LeMieux Family 11a.m. Knights of Columbus members 6:00 p.m. t Souls in Purgatory 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.
Parish Activity Contacts Adult Bible Study, Joe & Linda Kirby.267-9359 Altar and Environmental Care, Diane Lott.223-1261 Bereavement, Ann Buebel..265-3249 CCW, Marisol Soler 264-6805 ext. 12 Culture of Life, Rose Lodise.....264-4121 Greeters, Ginger Dorcas.....275-8492 Knights of Columbus, Bill Schuster.266-6779 Religious Ed., Larry Guyer.. 265-3249 ext. 14 St. Monica Society, Peggie Cash....264-5458 St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.......262-6027 Parish Council, RoseMary Jones at rosemarysjones@hotmail.com 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 31520 912-265-3249