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 SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
AUGUST 29, 2010
1) Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm 68
2) Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14
We are all familiar with this gospel passage which encourages the practice of humility. At a banquet to which he is invited, Jesus is not at all impressed by the sight of the guests, pushing themselves forward, scrambling for the good seats and skillfully maneuvering themselves into the places of honor. He makes a comment about good manners at table and from it draws conclusions concerning an invitation to an even greater banquet to which we are all called—the eternal banquet in the kingdom of heaven.
Humility does not get good publicity these times. In a world of power and privilege where the fittest survive, and where those who push themselves forward succeed, it does not rate highly. In fact it is often associated with spinelessness, weakness and a poor self image— but it is none of these things. Humility is an attempt to try to see ourselves as God sees us. It’s taking an honest measure of ourselves without being boastful, pompous or proud, realizing that we are what we are before God and nothing more. It is an admission that our talents come from God who has seen fit to work through us. We are conditioned to view our gifts as if they are our own, without realizing that they are to be used for the good of the community. The truth is that we are all vessels of clay and have much to be modest about. In one sense we are worthless, merely dust and ashes but God took hold of our worthless dust and gave it eternal value by turning it into his own image and likeness. Our lives only have meaning when we are sincere in relation to God.
We need to practice humility if we are to be true to ourselves and God. It is a key which opens the gate of heaven for us. The gospel warns us against all forms of pride and self-glorification. The message is so obvious that we may fail to give it serious thought. We should take a hard look at ourselves for what we are. Pride is a road going nowhere. Like a frost which nips our spiritual growth in the bud, it makes us so self-centered and full of our own importance that there is precious little place for God in our lives. Pride cuts us off from reality and makes us prisoners of ourselves. In God’s eyes the proud man takes a very lowly place because God rejects the proud and raises up the humble—for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.
Readings For The Week
To read the reading of the week just click here: usccb.org
Monday: 1 Cor 2:1-5; Lk 4:16-30
Tuesday: 1 Cor 2:10b-16; Lk 4:31-37
Wednesday: 1 Cor 3:1-9; Lk 4:38-44
Thursday: 1 Cor 3:18-23; Lk 5:1-11
Friday: 1 Cor 4:1-5; Lk 5:33-39
Saturday: 1 Cor 4:6b-15; Lk 6:1-5
Sunday: Wis 9:13-18b; Ps 90; Phlm 9-10, 12-17; lk 14:25-33
‘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.