St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community

Dear friends,

The month of June reminds us that summertime is here!  It means our children are out of school, and we can take those long-awaited family vacations.  It means soaring Florida heat and humidity have returned and, along with them, some much-needed downtime and relaxation.  It also means that we have a little more time to spend reading a good book or two.  I recently saw a slogan on a t-shirt that read,  Do something dangerous:  Read.  Yes, reading has become a forgotten pastime.  Please set aside time this summer to read some real BOOKS. 

June also reminds us of the beginning of the much-dreaded hurricane season.  We will continue to send our prayers heavenward for protection from the disruption and devastation of these unpredictable storms.

June also brings with it some of the most significant feasts of our liturgical calendar.  We begin with the Solemnity of Pentecost this Sunday, followed by the Solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles.  These feasts provide immense treasures that hold great promise for our growth in grace.  Rather than trying to grasp them within the confined spaces of our minds, let us cherish the richness of their great mystery in our hearts.

Our parish has been blessed in abundance.  Let me bring you up-to-date with parish events and accomplishments:

Confirmation:  I am pleased to share the news that Bishop John Noonan will celebrate our Confirmation Mass on Saturday, 4 June 2022, at 10 a.m.  I am particularly grateful to Schonda and Ronnie Rodriguez for coordinating the session materials that have prepared our teens for greater knowledge of the Catholic faith and an understanding of the significance of the Sacrament of Confirmation.  I thank the parents for their faith commitment and the teens for their time of growth in grace.  May the Holy Spirit fill their hearts with the fire of his love.

VBS:  While regular faith formation classes have ended for this year, Vacation Bible School (VBS) is transforming the parish center into a Jerusalem marketplace filled with the sights and sounds of Bible-time Jerusalem – a cast of interesting characters, a synagogue school, bakery, tented shops for basket and jewelry-making, pottery and carpentry, music, and so much more.  I ask that you please pray for the many volunteers who are preparing for this week-long Holy Land adventure as well as for the children who will be attending from 13 – 17 June, that they will discover what it was like to be near Jesus, to worship him, and even to witness his death and resurrection.  We will be asking for drink and snack item donations in the narthex of the church after all Masses this weekend, and I thank you in advance for your generous support. 

Father’s Day:  Following the success of our Mother’s Day celebration in May, we will remember and honor our fathers during the weekend of 18/19 June 2022.  So many faithful and God-fearing dads have sacrificed so much for their children, and we want to shower them with love and respect by taking the time to offer them the gift of our prayers.  During the Masses on the weekend of 18/19 June, we will again provide slips of paper for you to write your fathers’ names, living or deceased, and place them in a special basket that will be presented during the offertory procession at all Masses.  Please take this opportunity to thank God for our beloved fathers and to wish them a Happy Father’s Day!

Update on Our Construction Project:  Despite being affected by the supply chain problems that these times have subjected us to, our work is moving along and closer to its end.  Those of you who have visited the jobsite at the entrance of the church have surely noticed the improvements.  We are anticipating the work to be completed by the end of June and then will have to wait for the county to issue its authorization for our use.  Once the permit comes through, we will be able to enjoy the improvements/additions.  With permit in hand, I will then approach the bishop for a date to have it officially blessed.  I know we are all anxious for that momentous day.  Once again, thank you for your continued generosity in supporting this wonderful campaign, not to mention your kind patience during these many months of construction.

New Ministries:  Our parish is truly blessed and Spirit-filled.  Many of our parishioners have stirred into flames the gifts they have received from the Holy Spirit and, as a result, we are committed to adding a few more ministries to our lineup.  Our goal is to serve all aspects of our spiritual growth as we draw nearer to God.  The new ministries are as follows:

Praise and Worship with a Healing Touch:  Many of our members are so blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit that I can see the works lived out in their lives.  In order to provide a platform for them to express these gifts, we will begin a new ministry that will gather every last Friday of the month for prayer and worship and healing prayers.  We will begin this venture on Friday, June 24, 2022 at 7 p.m.  Thanks to Michael and Andrea Oliva for leading this ministry, the name of which is still being discerned.

Feed My Flock:  So many families in our community are going through countless struggles and suffering. The most challenging ones are homelessness and hunger.  Our parish has been a proud partner of the Children’s Hunger Project for many years, and now we want to expand our outreach to care for the families that are homeless.  Thanks to the kindness of so many of our members whose hearts are wide open to serving those in need, St. John’s is proud to introduce a new ministry that will collaborate with Family Promise of Brevard (FPB) to help provide meals to homeless families who are currently being hosted by various congregations.  Thanks to Janet Owens for spearheading this ministry and to the women of Gratia Plena for their initial support.  Soon, we will extend this opportunity to the entire parish.  May our attempt to follow Jesus’ invitation to feed his flock bear abundant fruit.

Ignatian Exercises:  St. Ignatius is renowned for his method for discernment.  During his life, he experienced worldly success and indulged in various worldly matters that gradually left him dry, weary and, unhappy.  But when he learned of the life of Christ and of the many saints, he discovered a deep sense of joy in devoting his life to the service of God and others.  He began the noble task of walking intimately with Christ, later founding the Society of Jesus.  Many men and women have attested to the profound changes in their lives after practicing the Ignatian Exercises.  I am grateful to Brian Bussen who has led many groups to discover how God truly works in their lives.  We have decided to offer this program in the fall, so get ready.  As soon as we have a date confirmed, we will let you know.  God continues to stir something new in each of us.

Please take some time to relax, and do not forget to pray.  Sundays are days set aside for the Lord.  I hope to see all of you each and every weekend for the celebration of the Eucharist.  Know that you will be in my prayers as I take a small group to the holy sites in Poland and also to witness the Passion Play in Germany, and I ask that you please keep us in your prayers.

Blessings to you and your families!

With love, Fr. John

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Weekly Offertory

Thank you for your continued support of our Parish. Without your help we wouldn't be up and running. If you have not made your weekly donation you have the following options:

1. Online at stjohnviera.weshareonline.org 

2. Offertory can be sent by mail.

3. Offertory can be dropped off at the Parish.

Thank you to those who have already made their donation. You are all in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Office Hours

Monday - Friday
8:30am - 5:00pm

Church Address

5655 Stadium Parkway

Viera, FL  32940

Contact Us

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (321) 637 9650
Fax: (321) 637 9651