Dear Friends,
Last weekend, we celebrated our amazing Veterans. I was not joking when I said that we, as a community, are truly blessed to have among us so many from the different branches of the military – those who have served and those who still are serving. At each Mass, there were so many who stood when I asked our veterans and active military to stand. The only surprise for me was how few there were from the Coast Guard.
I am grateful to Sean Edwards and Joann Molina and Tim and Lulu Ferrell for their leadership of our new SJE4VETERANS ministry and for coordinating our Veteran’s event on Monday, 11 November 2024. Thanks to all our veterans who responded to our invitation to come and see. It was so lovely see all of you praying the Patriotic Rosary and covering our entire country with the Precious Blood of Christ. Our SJE4VETERANS surely will evolve into a large community with great opportunities for coming together.
A huge thanks to all those who donated food items for the 13th Annual Harvest Festival to support the Farm Workers in Fellsmere. Your generosity was astounding! Thanks also to our amazing team of Mary Ann, Marylyn, Lulu, Cindy and Pete, who worked tirelessly on this project for many weeks. We are sure that, in these days when the poor are hurting, our farm workers are most grateful for our help.
On this, the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, the Church invites us to reflect on the last things in life, as we draw near the end of the Church’s Liturgical Calendar. The last day of this liturgical year ends next weekend with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The clarion call is, the end is near! Be prepared for the second and last coming of Son of Man, for the end of time will arrive with a cosmic upheaval.
Jesus asks his disciples to learn from the fig tree (Mark 13:. What is it that the fig tree can teach us? First, just as we can predict summer when we see the fig tree branches turning tender and budding with the new leaves, so must we pay attention to the signs around us so as to not to be caught off guard when the day/ hour of Jesus’ final coming arrives. And second, in Mark, Chapter 11, the fig tree becomes a sign, when Jesus curses it for having no figs (Mark 11:12-14), that we also are expected to be fruitful, not barren. Our call as disciples of Jesus is to always bear good fruit, in season and out.
This weekend we have the opportunity to support the amazing work done by Catholic Charities of Central Florida (CCCF). So many people are experiencing tremendous hardships – financially, physically, and spiritually. The last two hurricanes, Helene and Milton, have made the situation much worse.
Do you realize how much the people of Brevard County benefit from aid provided by CCCF? This past fiscal year in Brevard county alone, their Family Stability Program case managers provided 2,390 individuals with emergency financial assistance for utility bills, rent and other urgent needs.
The CCCF cannot possibly provide this level of service without your strong financial support. You have been very generous previously in supporting the many and varied services CCCF provides for those in most need. I ask you to continue this good work, and I thank you in advance for your generosity. Please keep the staff of CCCF and the people that come to them for assistance in your prayers. May the good Lord watch over all of us with kindness and mercy.
Be Blessed! With Love,
Fr. John