ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH P.O. Box 6310 Fernandina Beach, FL 32035 corner of North Fourth & Broome Streets 904-261-3472
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH DECEMBER 27, 2015 FAMILY LIFE Family life is sacred, but it is not without trial. Perhaps this is the most important message we can glean from today s readings. If Jesus, Mary, and Joseph can trip up sometimes can disconnect then we shouldn t find it surprising when such things happen to us as well. And parents everywhere (children, too) can probably relate to and take some solace in the Gospel s account of Mary and Joseph after Jesus explained why he stayed behind in the temple. They heard his words, Luke tells us, But they did not understand what he said to them (Luke 2:50). Amen! Nevertheless, Jesus does go back home with them, and continues to thrive under their care. TODAY S READINGS First Reading Hannah gives her son Samuel back to the LORD, leaving him in the temple at Shiloh: As long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD (1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28) or Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14. Psalm Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord (Psalm 84) or Psalm 128. Second Reading We are children of God when we believe in the name of God s Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us (1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24) or Colossians 3:12-21 [12-17]. Gospel Joseph and Mary find the lost Jesus in the temple in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking questions (Luke 2:41-52). READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 1 Jn 1:5 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Mt 2:13-18 Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35 Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40 Thursday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18 Friday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28 Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12 A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS O Lord Jesus Christ, Make me worthy to understand The profound mystery Of your Holy Incarnation, Which you have worked For our sake and for our salvation. Truly there is nothing so great and And wonderful as this, That you, my God, Should become a creature So that we could become like God. You have humbled yourself And made yourself small, That we might be made mighty. Blessed are you, O Lord, Who came to earth as one of us. Amen Bl. Angela of Foligno THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016. FR. JOSE AND ST. MICHAEL STAFF WISH YOU A HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR.
NEW YEAR S EVE VIGIL OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD Thursday, December 31, 2015 6:00 p.m. Church NEW YEAR S DAY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD Friday, January 1, 2016 8:30 a.m. Church 6:00 p.m. Church TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION This New Year s Eve, at the turning of the year, you may catch a glimpse of the old year, a cartoon figure of a hunched old man with a sickle, Father Time. Where else but in this column could you learn that this is in fact a pope? December 31 was in the old calendar the feast of St. Sylvester. Legend says that Sylvester healed the Emperor Constantine of leprosy, and presided at the liturgy of baptism for the grateful emperor. In 314, he was chosen pope, and it fell to him to organize the peacetime church, free at last from persecution. He founded the Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY RESUMES The Tuesday morning bible study will start meeting again on Jan. 5 at 10:00 am in the Parish Office Conference Room. The group will be reading the OT books of Jonah, Tobit and Judith. The Collegeville Bible Commentary books can be purchased at The Book Loft on Centre St. Participants should read the Introduction and first chapter for the first meeting. Direct all inquiries to Pam Huie at 321-0744. SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Monday: The Holy Innocents Tuesday: Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; St. Thomas Becket Wednesday: Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord Thursday: Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; St. Sylvester I; New Year s Eve Friday: The Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; Mary, the Holy Mother of God; World Day of Prayer for Peace; First Friday; New Year s Day Saturday: Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen; First Saturday In northern Europe Sylvester Night is a time of great parties with eating, dancing, and singing recalling perhaps the joy of the church in the fresh air of Sylvester s papacy. In Poland, there was great fear as the year 1000 approached that an immense dragon would devour the earth and set fire to the heavens. The people prayed earnestly to St. Sylvester, trusting that the saint would not permit such suffering on his feast day. They ve been celebrating ever since! Many New Year s customs have pagan roots, like the British First Footer tradition. The idea is that the first person setting foot into your house in the new year determines the luck for the year ahead. The ideal first footer was not a bit like old Pope Sylvester, but rather a tall, dark-haired man carrying the right gift. A handsome first footer meant the year ahead would be pleasant, and if he carried bread or a shovel of coal there would be food and warmth in the future. Who will be your household s first footer? CONFIRMATION The Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred by Bishop Felipe Estevez on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Our class will be joined by 3 students from St. Francis of Assisi Mission. Please keep these young people in your prayers as they grow in faith and confidence with the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit they received at their Baptism. We invite all to join us on this special day.
OFFICIAL PRAYER FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY DEC. 8, 2015 NOV. 20, 2016 Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: If you knew the gift of God! You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Sat. Dec. 26 (5pm) Bader family by Linda Bader Sat. Dec. 26 (7pm) Spanish Mass Sun. Dec. 27 (8am) Parishioners of St. Michael Sun. Dec. 27 (10am) SPECIAL INTENTION of Jonathan & Carina Tomassetti Sun. Dec. 27(12noon)Andrew & Mary Pollak by Jim & Barbara Lauerman Mon.Dec.28(8:30am) Luigi Bresciani by Jean & Sharleen Le Brun Tues. Dec. 29 (6pm) Wyndham Riotte by Frances Riotte Wed. Dec.30(8:30am)Isabell Sturges by Jean & Sharleen LeBrun Thurs.Dec.31(8:30am)Fr. Denis Kolumber by Steve White Thurs. Dec.31 (6pm) Paula Remington by Dallas & Marie Butcher Fri. Jan. 1(8:30am) Anne Mailey by Tom & Susan Smeeton Fri. Jan. 1 (6pm) Gonzala Moran by Moran & Burrell families Sat. Jan. 2 (5pm) Luigi Bresciani by Charlene Delugo Sat. Jan. 2 (7pm) Spanish Mass Sun. Jan. 3 (8am) Parishioners of St. Michael Sun. Jan. 3 (10am) Jim Kehler by Marie Kehler Sun. Jan. 3 (12noon) James William Bader by the Flynn family Please pray for the sick and all requests in our Prayer Request Book. Amen. Beloved, we are God s children now; What we shall be Has not yet been revealed. John 3:2a
ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH Corner of North Fourth & Broome Streets P.O. Box 6310 Fernandina Beach, FL 32035 Parish Office - 505 Broome Street - Phone - 904-261-3472 Fax - 321-1901 Email: smjdean@bellsouth.net ALL EMERGENCIES: 904-277-6566 Website: www.stmichaelscatholic.com Rev. Jose Kallukalam, Pastor Visiting Priest: Rev. Gerard O Shea Deacon Art Treadwell Saturday Vigil Masses: Sunday Masses- Confessions: Saturday: Daily Masses: Holy Days Vigil: Holy Day MASS SCHEDULE 5:00 pm 7:00 pm (Spanish Mass) 8:00 am 10:00 am 12:00 noon 4:00-4:45 pm or by appointment 8:30 am Mon., Wed., Thurs., & Fri. 6:00 pm Tues. 6:00 pm 8:30 am & 6:00 pm MINISTRY TO SICK & HOMEBOUND Weekly visits and monthly Communion Services are held at Savannah Grand, Quality Health Care and Jane Adams House. Visits by Priest or Extraordinary Minister can be arranged by calling 261-3472. MATRIMONY Marriage preparation for couples who wish to be married in a Catholic ceremony must meet with their parish priest at least eight months prior to the wedding date. R.C.I.A. For those seeking to learn more about the Catholic faith, call 261-3472. RELIGIOUS FORMATION Classes are available for grades 1 8. Sacrament preparation is available for Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. Call the parish office, 261-3472. YOUTH MINISTRY Walt Edwards: 491-0180 MUSIC DIRECTOR Denise Ziegler: 654-3855 ST. MICHAEL ACADEMY Pre-K Grade 8 Principal Jackie Stewart Call 321-2102 for information Email: smacad@smacad.org Website: www.stmichaels-academy.org St. Michael Catholic Church Mission Statement We are the body of Christ at St. Michael s Parish, called to: Gather for Worship, Celebrate the Paschal Mysteries, Preach the Gospel, Minister to Others, Be Witnesses to the World.