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.
Save the Date! Our Holiday Bazaar is Returning! November 20, 2010 Click here for details
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.
TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SEPTEMBER 12, 2010
1) Exodus 32:7-11,13-14
Psalm 51
2) 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Gospel: Luke 15:1-32
Running through the bible is the consoling message of the forgiveness and mercy of God towards sinners. Christ preached the story of the Prodigal Son to answer the bitter criticism of the Pharisees, who accused him of lowering moral standards by associating with public sinners, and spending too much time with the dregs of society. These high-minded people were scandalized by his indifference to bad company and they grumbled at him for eating with outcasts. In this classic passage on forgiveness, the focus is on the Father, in order to tell us something about God. We are in a family relationship with God whose kindness is beyond words. He welcomes his wayward children home and treats them as if they had never strayed.
In this story we feel the overpowering might of the mercy of God, who withholds no sign of affection for those who have walked a crooked path. This spirit of forgiveness must surely touch, console and give hope to sinners. Jesus wants us to know that, even after our most stupid mistakes and tragic sins, he will be looking to take us back with open arms and restore us to his love, because God is tireless in seeking out sinners. It is comforting to know that should we stray away, a loving Father joyfully awaits our return. In our world today there are a lot of lost souls, people who are adrift morally, spiritually and in need of healing. Like the prodigal son, they have sown their wild oats, have led a life of debauchery and are on the hard shoulder of life, feeling the pinch. They are bewildered and confused because, in their plight, they have not experienced God as a loving Father. The closer we feel to the elder son, who neither appreciated the Father’s pain of loss or joy of reunion, the more we are an obstacle to their return. The older son needed a change of heart every bit as much as his younger brother. If we have taken God’s unfailing pardon in our own lives for granted, then we have muffled his message of mercy. God the Father expects his love and forgiveness to be imitated by us. How else can he seek and save the lost except through our cooperation? His pardon is brought into the world by the love and mercy we show sinners. Our ability to welcome home the lost shows how much we treasure our own friendship with God. What we receive from him we must pass on to others.
Readings For The Week
To read the reading of the week just click here: usccb.org
Monday: 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33; Lk 7:1-10
Tuesday: Nm 21:4b-9; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17
Wednesday: 1 Cor 12:31 — 13:13; Jn 19:25-27 or Lk 2:33-35
Thursday: 1 Cor 15:1-11; Lk 7:36-50
Friday: 1 Cor 15:12-20; Lk 8:1-3
Saturday: 1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49; Lk 8:4-15
Sunday: Am 8:4-7; Ps 113; 1 Tm 2:1-8; Lk 16:1-13 [10-13]
‘Something good about to happen”
‘COME — ENCOUNTER JESUS’
Fr. Blaise Czaja, a Passionist priest will speak at our Parish Mission beginning with weekend Masses on March 20 & 21, and each evening at 7:00pm beginning Sunday, March 21 thru Wednesday, March 24. Please cancel all other activities during that time and come to our Mission - Bring your family and friends.
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.