ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH P.O. Box 6310 Fernandina Beach, FL 32035 corner of North Fourth & Broome Streets 904-261-3472
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 5, 2017 STRENGTH AGAINST TEMPTATION The first Sunday of the season of Lent always includes a Gospel account of the temptation of the Lord Jesus in the desert by the devil. This year, the story is set against the backdrop of the first reading from Genesis, which recounts the very first temptation by the devil. That story is set in a garden of delight. The Gospel story is set in the desert. As believers, we know that temptation comes our way in our own gardens of delight as well as the deserts of our lives. As Lent begins, our attention is drawn to that temptation within each of us to become like God we want control, power, and answers to all of life s difficult questions. As communities of faith, we are given this season of repentance so that we can join our hearts with others on the difficult journey of conversion. We look to God and to one another for strength against temptation. TODAY S READINGS First Reading The man and the woman ate the fruit of the one tree that God had told them to avoid, and their shame overtook them (Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7). Psalm Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned (Psalm 51). Second Reading Death reigned from Adam to Moses, but now grace and life abound in Christ Jesus (Romans 5:12-19 [12, 17-19]). Gospel Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit and there he fasted for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1-11).. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Ps 19:8-10, 15; Mt 25:31-46 Tuesday: Is 55:10-11; Ps 34:4-7, 16-19; Mt 6:7-15 Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; Lk 11:29-32 Thursday: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Ps 138:1-3, - 8; Mt 7:7-12 Friday: Ez 18:21-28; Ps 130:1-8; Mt 5:20-26 Saturday: Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Mt 5:43-48 Sunday: Gn 12:1-4a; Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; 2 Tm 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9 The Lord, your God, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve. Matthew 4:10 TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in various forms of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Some people suggest that this recovers an ancient tradition in the church, when in fact the practice belongs to a later time. The custom of showing the consecrated host to the people, encased in a vessel called a monstrance, developed in a period of history when even very pious people received Communion only rarely. The opportunity to see the host raised high above the head of the priest at Mass, or to see the host exposed outside of Mass, was thought by many to be a form of spiritual Communion. Without question, our Catholic practice of reserving the consecrated host both for adoration and Communion of the sick and dying is a cherished tradition. Over the next few weeks, we ll look at how these traditions developed and how the Church envisions reservation and adoration today. We do this by the light of the liturgical reforms that have restored a heightened appreciation for how receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is central to our worship. Perpetual Adoration, Reservation, Benediction, and Reposition are all part of the Catholic vocabulary. Often the terms are misused, and a tangled history as well as widely varying practices in our parishes adds to the confusion. Many Catholics today have never participated in Benediction, or even spent time in adoration on Holy Thursday night. There s plenty of interesting history, much of it surprising and challenging, and we will do our best to inform you along the way.
MARCH 5, 6, 7, 8, 2017 Nationally acclaimed author and speaker, Fr. Jeff Kirby will present the 2017 Parish Mission at St. Michael, March 5th thru Wednesday, March 8th. Fr. Kirby is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Charleston SC and shepherds two parishes in northcentral S.C. We are very fortunate to have Fr. Kirby present the mission and encourage all parish families, including youth, to enhance their Lenten preparation by attending all programs. The parish Mission 2017 program will be held in the church twice daily, 8:30am and 6:00pm. A unique program will be presented at each session. A Penance Service, in lieu of Mass, will be held on Tuesday evening. ST. PATRICK DAY IS COMING! The St. Michael Annual St. Patrick Day Dinner will be held at the Parish Hall on SATURDAY MARCH 18, 2017. All Parishioners and friends are welcome to attend. Our evening includes -- Irish music and entertainment, raffle - Irish Quilt - 50/50, surprises, and corned beef, cabbage/potatoes, desserts, and refreshments. Please note change in price - $15.00 per person, (children under 6 - free - hot dogs available). Come join us - limited seating. Serving from 5:00pm till 8:00pm - carry outs available. Tickets go on sale at all Masses starting on the 18th. SPONSORED BY ST. MICHAEL S MEN'S CLUB KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Members of the Knights of Columbus Council 14295 - the monthly meeting will be held at 6:30 PM (Note New Time) on Thursday March 9. The meeting will take place in the St. Michael's Parish Hall. LENT You are reminded of the Church s laws for fast and abstinence during Lent. Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence. Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are permitted one full meal and two lesser meals per day (which together should not equal one full meal) with no eating between meals. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Catholics who are 14 years or older should abstain from meat entirely. Soups and gravies made from meat are permitted STATIONS OF THE CROSS FRIDAY, MARCH 10th, MARCH 17th, MARCH 24th, MARCH 31st AND APRIL 7th AT 6:00PM. BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND FRIDAY LENTEN FISH DINNERS Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend the Lenten Fish Dinners offered again this year in our Parish Hall on the following dates: March 10th, March 17th, March 24th, March 31st and April 7th. The dinner will NOT be available on Good Friday, April 14th. Following the Stations of the Cross in church, you may purchase your tickets at our parish hall when you go to the hall for dinner. JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU Many timers we trust a doctor: it is good, because the doctor is there to cure us; we trust in a person: brothers and sisters can help us. It is good to have this human trust among ourselves. But, we forget about trust in the Lord: this is the key to success in life. Trust in the Lord, let us trust in the Lord! Lord, look at my life. I m in the dark. I have this struggle, I have this sin, everything we have: Look at this: I trust in you! And this is a risk we must take: to trust in Him, and He never disappoints. from A Year of Mercy with Pope Francis.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS OFFERING! Registered Families 1634 February 26, 2017 Offertory $17,690.00 On Line Offertory 2,069.00 Children s Collection 23.38 Debt Reduction 508.00 On Line Debt Reduction 385.00 The SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is for the Eastern European Churches. RCIA: RITE OF SENDING WHAT IS IT?? Please join us on Sunday March 12th at the 10:00am Mass as our RCIA catechumen and candidates participate in the Rite of Sending. It is an optional rite that is performed before the Rite of Election. It is during the Rite of Sending when their sponsors and we, their faith community, publically state that they are ready to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass. We are sending them to the Bishop. It is at the Rite of Election that Bishop Estevez will accept our testimony and state that they have been chosen in Christ. The Rite of Election will be held at the Basilica in St. Augustine at 2:00pm. Please keep our catechumen, Vashronda Sellers, and our candidates, Kristel Bailey Baylon, Beckie Bliss and Susan Dodge in your prayers. CCW NEWS The March General Meeting for the CCW (Council of Catholic Women) will be held on Monday, March 13. We welcome you to join us in the Parish Hall with light refreshments beginning at 6:30 PM, followed by the one hour business meeting which begins at 7:00 PM. Come pray with us, meet new women of the Parish as well as reconnect with old friends. All Catholic women are invited especially visitors, friends and part-time residents. Sat. Mar. 4 (5pm) Sun. Mar. 5 (8am) Sun. Mar. 5 (10am) Justine Shurman by St. Michael Visitation Ministry Parishioners of St. Michael Anne & Andy Hammer by Dan Hammer & family Sun. Mar. 5 (12noon) Jayne Kayser by Doris Homan Mon.Mar. 6(8:30am) SPECIAL INTENTION for John Coogan s birthday by Mary Coogan Tues. Mar. 7 (6pm) Alfonso Savadie by Patrick & Suzy Sabadie Wed. Mar. 8 (8:30am) Ellen Darby by John & Moira Cella Thurs. Mar.9(8:30am)Ellen Daarby by John & Moira Cella Fri. Ma. 10 (8:30am) Lorraine Mangold-Gross by Patrick & Suzy Sabadie Sat. Mar. 11 (5pm) Madeline Bender O Dell by Pete & Gloria Rubio Sun. Mar. 12 (8am) Joe Reamer by Betty Metz Sun. Mar. 12 (10am) Harvey Sibley by Mary Berger Sun. Mar. 12 (12noon) Parishioners of St. Michael Please pray for the sick and all requests in our Prayer Request Book. THANK YOU... To everyone who helped to make our first annual dinner theater a success. A special thank you to all who purchased tickets for this fund raiser for St. Michael s Religious Formation. FIRST RECONCILIATION Please keep the children, who are preparing for their First Reconciliation on Wednesday, March 29th, in your prayers.
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 Deacon Art Treadwell Saturday Vigil Mass: Sunday Masses: Confessions: Saturday: Daily Masses: Holy Days Vigil: Holy Day MASS SCHEDULE 5:00 pm 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 7. Sacrament preparation is available for Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation on Sundays from 10:30 am 11:45 am. Call the parish office, 261-3472. YOUTH MINISTRY Walt Edwards: 261-3472 MUSIC DIRECTOR Denise Ziegler: 654-3855 ST. MICHAEL ACADEMY Pre-K Grade 8 Principal Dr. Christopher Hampton Call 321-2102 for information Email: smacad@smacad.org Website: www.smacad.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.