505 Broome Street Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

Office (904)261-3472 Emergency (904) 277-6566 www.stmichaelscatholic.com Fr. Jose Kallukalam, Pastor

Inside This Week Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and

Joseph Faith and Tradition Liturgical Schedule

Daily Readings Coming Events

Ministry & Organization News Financial Update

Ministry Schedule Our Parish in Action

Our Mission 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

And be Witnesses to the World.

ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH DECEMBER 31, 2017

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH DECEMBER 31, 2017

BEARERS OF THE WORD

The Church has placed a number of notable feast days immediately after Christmas. The feasts of Stephen, John the Evangelist, and the Holy Innocents form a summary of the life lived in Christ, the Word made flesh. What do these have to do with the feast of the Holy Family, which crowns the Octave of Christmas? These feasts remind us that suffering will occur in fulfilling the mission of Christ, and that we are all called to be bearers of this Word whose birth we celebrate.

We also see this manifested in the lives of Joseph and Mary, both of whom took social and religious risks in obedience to the will of God, and both of whom were open to the word of God sent to them from on high. In these ways they prefigured the life of Jesus himself.

Most likely, few of us found ourselves at Mass this past Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, but the essence of these feasts and the essence of the holiness of Joseph, Mar and Jesus remain central, a holiness we celebrate today.

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow charity;

Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, the truth; Where there is doubt, the faith; Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light; and Where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled, as to console; To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are par-

doned; And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Faith and Traditions

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION

There’s no more unusual setting to celebrate today’s Feast of the Holy Family than Barcelona, Spain and the tower-ing unfinished sandcastle known officially as the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia. In 1882, the plan was hatched to build a vast place of worship in reparation for the revolutionary and liberal leanings of the city. The modern artist Antoni Gaudi dedicated his life to the pro-ject, living in the building, attending Mass daily, and giv-ing up his personal wealth. When people pressed him to pick up the pace, he responded, “My client is not in a hurry.” (Gaudi’s cause for beatification is moving along, and he could be the first professional artist and architect to be beatified.) The Spanish Civil War, a disaster for the Catholic Church in which thousands of priests, brothers, and nuns were murdered, halted work in 1935. In the 1950s work began anew, speeded up by computers in the 1980s. Still, the final stage of construction is not due to end until 2026. If the original methods had stayed in place, it would take several hundred more years to com-plete the plan. So far there are eight towers, with four to go. The highest steeple is three feet shorter than the near-est hill, since the architect didn’t want his work to surpass God’s artistry. The three faces of the basilica each have three doors, with the faces named Passion, Nativity, and Grace. The interior is crammed with geometric figures that almost seem to spin, crazy-quilt windows, spiral staircases, and jumbles of statues and figures. Although inspired by ancient Gothic cathedrals, the style is called Expressionist, and very little is left unexpressed by the masonry. 2

Liturgical Schedule (Intentions)

Sat. Dec. 30 5:00 Major Patrick H. Wood by Bill & Patsy Flynn Sun. Dec. 31 8:00 Parishioners of St. Michael Sun. Dec. 31 10:00 Col. Richard Wallace by Medra Keyser Sun. Dec. 31 12:00 George Strain by the family Mon. Jan. 1 8:30 Proceso Reyes by Eli & Agnes Bayacal Tues. Jan. 2 6:00 Edward O’Malley by Brian & Mary Downey Wed. Jan. 3 8:30 Shirley Lewis by Jean Winslow Thurs. Jan. 4 8:30 Gabriella Urbaniwiez by John & Sheila Carlin Fri. Jan. 5 8:30 Tori Maffatt by Mary Mahoney Sat. Jan. 6 5:00 Helen Wilkins by John & Sheila Carlin Sun. Jan. 7 8:00 Michael D’Alessio by Gregory & Pat D’Alessio Sun. Jan. 7 10:00 Mary Catherine Bennett by Therese Williams Sun. Jan. 7 12:00 Dorothy Frantz by Michael & Geraldine Janzen The SECOND COLLECTION next weekend, Jan. 6th and Jan. 7th will be the Catholic Relief Services Collection.

The Holy Family of Jesus,

Mary, and Joseph December 31, 2017

My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in

the sight of all the peoples.

—Luke 2:30-31

Daily Readings

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading — Those who honor their par-ents will be greatly blessed and will atone for sins (Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14) or Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3. Psalm — Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways (Psalm 128) or Psalm 105. Second Reading — Be thankful; do every-thing in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:12-21 [12-17]) or Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19. Gospel — The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom (Luke 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]).

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21 Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28 Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:29 — 3:6; Ps 98:1, 3cd-6; Jn 1:29-34 Thursday: 1 Jn 3:7-10; Ps 98:1, 7-9; Jn 1:35-42 Friday: 1 Jn 3:11-21; Ps 100:1b-5; Jn 1:43- 51 Saturday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Mk 1:7-11 or Lk 3:23-28 [23, 31-34, 36, 38] Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES

Sunday: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Monday: Mary, the Holy Mother of God; The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord; World Day of Prayer for Peace; New Year’s Day Tuesday: Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen Wednesday: The Most Holy Name of Jesus Thursday: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Friday: St. John Neumann; First Friday 3

ST. MICHAEL MENS CLUB

ANNUAL RETREAT

Coming Events St. Michael’s Men’s Club is sponsoring its annual retreat for all men of the parish at Marywood Retreat Center for Spirituality and Ministry in St. Johns, FL. The retreat is from 5:00 pm on Friday, January 19, 2018 to Sunday at 12:00 noon on Sunday, January 21, 2018. Cost is $150.00 for room and meals. In the event someone cannot afford the fee, discreet funding is available. Please contact Charlie Sciarini: 904-521-6838 or csciarini@gmail.com for more information or to reserve a room.

The Gift Shop will be closed from January 1st—5th, 2018 for the New Year's holiday and inventory. We look forward to opening on Saturday, Jan. 6th for the 5:00 pm Mass. Our regular hours are: Wednesday: 9:00 am—4:00 pm Thursday: 9:00 am—4:00 pm Friday: 11:00 am—3:00 pm Thank you for shopping at St. Michael’s Gift Shop. We appreciate your patronage.

Ministry & Organization News and

Announcements

ST. MICHAEL MEN’S CLUB

The St. Michael Men’s Club first meeting of 2018 will be Tuesday, January 2nd beginning at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall. We will discuss our recent Ca-sino Night and plan for future fund-raising events. All men are welcome—refreshments will be served following the meeting. Hope to you then!

ST. MICHAEL WOMEN’S

GUILD

The St. Michael Women’s Guild will hold its first meeting of the new year on Monday, January 8, 2018. We meet in the parish hall at 6:30 pm and enjoy light re-

freshments before our meeting from 7:00—8:00pm. All women are welcome to attend.

RELIGIOUS FORMATION All Parish Religious Formation programs (Adult Bi-ble Class, Grades 1-8th and Children’s Liturgy of the Word) will start back up on Sunday, January 7, 2018.

SAVE THE DATE MINISTRY APPRECIATION DINNER

Our annual Ministry Appreciation Dinner will be coming up on Saturday, January 20th. Everyone in a ministry will be receiving a call from their minister coordinator asking those attending to bring an appe-tizer, side dish or dessert, depending on the first let-ter of your last name. More details will follow soon. ` 4

Ministry Schedule Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017 5:00 pm Mass Lector MacDonell Ushers Delaney, Stoffa Extraordinary Ministers Altar Servers Ella Schoening, Tia Schoening Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 8:00 am Mass Lector Pulsinelli Ushers Lunt, Miller Extraordinary Ministers Altar Servers Pulsinelli, Shripka Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 10:00 am Mass Lector J. Quinn Ushers Holmes, Yeoman Extraordinary Ministers Altar Servers Harrison Pollack, Phillip Tita, Emma Venerdi Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 12:00 noon Mass Lector Stoner Ushers Oliver, Oberholtzer Extraordinary Ministers Altar Servers Devon Coyle, Gianna Coyle, Emma Venerdi Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 5:00 pm Mass Lector Morris Ushers Southwick’s Exraordinary Ministers Altar Servers Sunday, Jan. 7 2018 8:00 am Mass Lector Oden Ushers Balsamo, Donovan Extraordinary Ministers Altar Servers 10:00 am Mass Lector Light Ushers Extraordinary Ministers Altar Servers 12:00 Mass Lector Bustabad Ushers Extraordinary Ministers Altar Servers 5

Financial Update Sunday, December 24 & 25, 2017

Registered Families 1650 Offertory $ 66,892.34 On Line Giving $ 1,974.00 Children’s Collection $ 56.36 Debt Reduction $ 12,220.00 On Line Debt Reduction $ 240.00

Contact Walt Edwards today in the Parish

Office at (904)261-3472

2017 Q4 DEBT AND REPAYMENT AMOUNT (As of June 30, 2017)

Existing Debt/Notes Payable $1,663,549.29 4th Quarter Repayment $-181,836.47 (From “Debt Reduction” Donations) ===================================== Remaining Debt $1,481,712.82

OUR PARISH IN ACTION

CHRISTMAS MASS, 2017

Parish Directory Pastor Fr. Jose Kallukalam Deacon Deacon Art Treadwell Parish Pastoral Council Mr. Jake Gosa, Chairman Parish Finance Council Mr. Jan Smith, Chairman Parish Staff Jeanne Dean, Secretary Lori Kennedy, Director Religious Formation Walt Edwards, Business Manager Patty O’Neill, Bookkeeper Denise Ziegler, Director of Music Parish Office Hours Monday—12noon—4pm Tuesday—Friday—9am—4pm Parish Phone (904)261-3472 Emergency Phone (904)277-6566 Parish Fax (904)321-1901 Parish Website Address www.stmichaelscatholic.com Religious Formation Adults—Sunday—9am—9:45am - Parish Hall 1st Grade—7th Grade—9:am—9:45am St. Michael Academy Children’s Liturgy of he Word 3 year olds—7 year olds—during 10am Mass St. Michael Academy Dr. Chris Hampton, Principal Academy Phone (904)321-2102 Academy Website Address www.smacad.org

Parish Information

Would You Like to Join St. Michael Parish? To join St. Michael Catholic Church and to register your email address, to receive parish information and updates, please chose one of the following: Via Email— lkennedy@stmichaelscatholic.com Register Online— www.stmichaelscatholic.com By Phone - (904)261-3472 In Person - 505 Broome Street., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Ministry to Sick & Homebound Please contact the Parish Office by email or by phone to arrange a visit from a Priest or Extraordi-nary Minister. Baptism Please contact the Parish Office by phone to ar-range for a Baptism and requirements. Matrimony Couples seeking information on marriage prepa-ration and available date should contact the Parish Office by email or by phone to meet with a priest at least eight months prior to the wedding date. R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Persons interested in learning more about the Catholic faith are encouraged to contact the Parish Office by email or by phone for more information on our RCIA process. Religious Formation Persons interested in Adult, Youth or Young Adult formation programs should contact the Di-rector of Religious Formation by phone or email at lkennedy@stmichaelscatholic.com. 7