St. Michael Catholic Church
Welcome
to St. Michael Catholic Church located in Fernandina Beach Florida.
We are happy you decided to visit. If you have been away from the
Church, Christ longs for your return to join Him in the praise of God
at weekly worship. The words of Jesus are in our hearts as in His name
we extend a loving welcoming hand to you: "Come to me... and I will give you
rest. Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart...my yoke is easy, and my
burden light." Have you been away from the church? We welcome you back. Take a
tour and view all our photos. Read about Saint Michael or spend some time and
visit our prayers area.
We have many areas of information to offer. We
welcome your thoughts, concerns and prayers.
Please see our new section "Respect Life Ministry" Click Here
For the upcoming Events for the Respect Life Ministry Click Here
PLEASE
NOTE:
The Saturday evening Mass at the United Methodist Church in Yulee is at 4:00 PM.
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JANUARY 17, 2010
1) Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 96
2) 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Gospel: John 2:1-11
After a little coaxing and gentle persuasion from his mother to save a wedding feast from catastrophe, Jesus performs the first of his miracles at Cana in Galilee. However, there is more to his action of changing barrels of water into vats of wine than appears at first sight. He is not merely saving a couple of newlyweds from public embarrassment because their wine is running short. What he is really doing is talking to each one of us personally about the shortages in our own lives. Could it be true that after a few years of marriage, gone are our dreams? Our love has dried up, we’ve lost our ideals and no longer have the sparkle for living. Bored and weary we have settled for humdrum routine. John is telling us that we need to be refreshed, to let Christ touch the water of our lives, and bring greater understanding.
Christ came on earth to change people and to make all things new. He came to change us just as he changed water into wine. His presence among us is an invitation to change our ways and a call to a new manner of life. Christ is the spirit of new life who is continually bursting into a world that is weary of meaningless living. His words are spirit and life and have a message for every age. A few weeks ago we welcomed in a New Year which speaks of new beginnings and a fresh start. With it comes our old familiar resolutions to be better people and transform our living. If we really want to change our lives we have got to turn to Christ and call on his help. Wherever Jesus is found, life is always changed for the better. Given the opportunity, Jesus will be at work in the most unexpected of ways, transforming us, making us like himself.
The joy and happiness he brought into the lives of the newlyweds at Cana by his presence is ours for the asking provided we follow the simple instruction given by Mary, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ As our pleading mother, Mary is always anxious to show her concern by bringing our human needs into the mission of her Son. Our big mistake in life is that when we run short we forget to turn to Jesus for fresh supplies of what we need. It is only when we go to him with open hearts and empty hands that he can touch us and make certain that the wine of love and joy will always be part of our lives.Readings For The Week
Monday: 1 Sm 15:16-23; Mk 2:18-22
Tuesday: 1 Sm 16:1-13; Mk 2:23-28
Wednesday: 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; Mk 3:1-6
Thursday: 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7; Mk 3:7-12
Friday: 1 Sm 24:3-21; Mk 3:13-19, or any readings
from the Mass “For Peace and Justice,”
nos. 887-891
Saturday: 2 Sm 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27; Mk 3:20-21
Sunday: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Ps 19;1 Cor 12:12-30 [12-14, 27]; Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Please pray for the sick, and all names and requests in our Prayer Request Book.
You are invited to ‘Happy Hour’ in the Parish Hall after the 10 am Mass
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is immediately after the 8:30am Mass on Thursdays.
Our Mission Statement
St. Michael's has four M's
Melding, Ministry, Mirth, and Mission
We speak of melding into a new community. Remember Pentecost? We are from Fernandina Beach or Amelia Island, in Nassau County, Florida. We grew up in Jacksonville, Orange Park, Yulee, Callahan, and the regions around St. Mary's and Savannah in Georgia. There are even visitors from Wisconsin, New Jersey, Ireland, Italy and Japan. Yet each of us hears about the Marvels God has accomplished.
Ministry: What marvels should all these expatriates hear? "There are different gifts but the same Spirit: there are different ministries but the same Lord: there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone." Could there be a better description of a healthy parish?
Mirth: "At the sight of the Lord, the disciples rejoiced." Holy laughter is the corridor of a healthy parish.
Mission: "He showed them his hands and his side. As the Father has sent me So I send you." These words speak of mission. They remind us that the task is far from finished. Years of what has been points to what must yet be, what lies ahead.
Jesus still shows his hands and his side today. He still bears his wounds in the Poor and downtrodden. Jesus will not allow complacency to set in. Thus the parish's mission continues.