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.
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
JUNE 28, 2009
1) Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24
Psalm 30
2) 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43
The gospel portrays an example of the healing power of Christ in an uncommonly moving scene. Jairus, a respected synagogue official, has a little daughter who is seriously ill, on the point of death. In desperation he seeks out Jesus and begs him to come to his house, to lay his hands on his daughter and cure her. Jesus responds without hesitation, but on the way news comes that the little girl is dead. To continue further would be useless, but with calm authority Jesus calls for faith and proceeds to the house. In the quiet of the sick room, speaking just two words, he restores the child to full health.
The heart of Jesus could never resist a hand outstretched in need or an appeal for help made in faith. Healing was at the center of his public ministry and a point worthy of note is that his healing activity extended to both body and soul. In his lifetime he went around the whole of Galilee curing whatever illness or infirmity was among the people and filling them with the life-giving presence of God. The healing acts of Jesus were themselves a message, that he had come to set men free.
The mission of the church in every age is to continue the healing work which Jesus began through his miracles. Every Christian is called to this ministry in one way or another. The unique healing power of Jesus was in his willingness to show compassion. Nailed to the cross on the hill of Calvary, he pardoned the good thief even though he did not remove him from his agony. There can be no doubt that his sins were forgiven, that he was spiritually healed. Real healing so often takes place in doing the simple ordinary things of life, that are so often neglected or taken for granted.
All of us are called to represent God by Christ-like actions and nobody can be excused from caring because our vocation is to be healers. When a friend of ours is terminally ill, medical knowledge and skill together cannot make them well again. What they need more than anything else in this situation, is that the love of God be made real for them. Through the actual experience of care and concern shown by the people around them. Just by being there, even though we are powerless, we can make faith in God real for them, for we are following the Lord in his compassion. Today’s Mass reminds us of the generosity of our Lord, who became poor for our sake. We have received the richness of his many blessings and now we are asked to go out and share that same richness with others.
Readings For The Week
Monday: Vigil: Acts 3:1-10; Ps 19; Gal 1:11-20; Jn 21:15-19
Day: Acts 12:1-11; Ps 34; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt 16:13-19
Tuesday: Gn 19:15-29; Mt 8:23-27
Wednesday: Gn 21:5, 8-20a; Mt 8:28-34
Thursday: Gn 22:1b-19; Mt 9:1-8
Friday: Eph 2:19-22; Jn 20:24-29
Saturday: Gn 27:1-5, 15-29; Mt 9:14-17; or, for Independence Day, any readings from the Mass “For Public Needs,” nos. 882-886, or “For Peace and Justice,” nos. 887-891
Sunday: Ez 2:2-5; Ps 123; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Mk 6:1-6a
Please pray for the sick, especially those names in our Prayer Request Book. Please pray for the repose of the soul of George Navarre, father or parishioner, Mary Elwell. May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
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.