Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 17, 2023

Dear friends, Lent is here! We begin this holy season with Ash Wednesday on 18 February. To help everyone participate — especially those heading to school or work — we will celebrate four Masses to better accommodate your schedules: 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 12:05 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. Lent is a sacred, forty−day journey of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving modeled after Jesus’ time in the desert. It is a season given to us by the Church to slow down, refocus, and prepare our hearts for the joy and victory of the Resurrection at Easter. On Ash Wednesday, the imposition of ashes in the form of a cross marks the beginning of that journey. The ashes are a visible sign of repentance and humility, and they remind us of our human frailty as we hear the solemn words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The ashes are not a sign of despair but, rather, a sign of hope; the cross traced on our foreheads reminds us that we belong to Christ and that, through repentance and renewal, we walk toward Easter with confidence and joy. Let us begin this Lenten journey together. The Sixth Sunday readings invite us to embrace our freedom to choose life and our fidelity to God's law. Sirach reminds us, "Before each person are life and death, and whichever one chooses will be given" (Sir 15:17), while the psalmist prays for a heart steadfast in God's statutes. St. Paul reveals God's hidden wisdom through the Spirit, and Jesus fulfills the law, calling us to a righteousness surpassing externals, guarding our hearts from anger, lust, and false oaths: “Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’" (Mt 5:37). May we live this deeper holiness in our daily choices. Congratulations to the recipients of the Family of the Month Award — Jesse, Sonia and Rey Santiago — for your amazing service to our parish family. May you continue your selfless commitment to the family of St. John’s! Our Catholic Appeal 2026: This weekend, our parish will join with the entire Diocese of Orlando to launch the annual Our Catholic Appeal (OCA). This year’s theme, "Inspired by the Spirit," calls us to reflect on how the Holy Spirit empowers us to be God’s light in Central Florida. While we often see the vibrancy of life within our own community, many of our vital ministries are made possible through the collective support of the diocese. Your gifts to OCA directly impact our parish by providing clergy and leadership support, professional services such as fiscal management, human resources, and facility maintenance expertise that ensure our parish remains a safe and well−run home for all, faith formation (resources for our catechists and lay leaders to better form our children and adults in the faith), and protection for the vulnerable (specialized training for Safe Environment protocols that protect our children and vulnerable adults during every parish event). Beyond our parish borders, your generosity fuels Catholic Charities of Central Florida, providing food, medical care, and housing to our neighbors in need as well as support for our Sister Diocese in San Juan de la Maguana. We invite you to prayerfully consider your gift during the Masses this weekend when making your pledge or contributing online through the Diocese of Orlando Giving Portal. Whether through a single gift or a monthly pledge, your participation will help us reach our parish goal for this year ($453,269) and continue the work of Christ in our community. “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16). Have a blessed week! With love, Fr. John

Dear friends, God must surely have a wonderful sense of humor. Last Sunday’s frigid weather — so unusual for us Floridians — turned out to be an unexpected blessing for our International Festival. In the Gospel, we were given a prescription for blessedness: to be poor in spirit. The poor in spirit are those who know their need for God, and we lived that truth so beautifully that day. As we began the festival, there was a prayer on our lips: “Lord, we have done all we can. The rest is in your hands. We need you.” And God responded. What unfolded was a joyful, grace−filled celebration. I am immensely grateful to you, my dear families of St. John’s, for your warmth, generosity, commitment, and love for God and for our community. Thank you for the sacrifices you made to showcase how, in God’s mercy, people from different continents and cultures have come together as one. Our parish truly reflects the Gospel preached to the ends of the earth. This year’s Silver Jubilee International Festival was centered on a beautiful theme: “United in Christ, Webbed in Love.” Everything we experienced gave life to that theme — the reverent liturgy, the sharing of delicious food, and the stunning performances that revealed the richness of our many talents and traditions. I am deeply grateful to Janet Owens who chaired the festival committee with remarkable dedication and vision. Beginning over a year ago, she planned every detail with care and perseverance, guiding the entire effort to a wonderful finish. My sincere thanks also go to all of our committee chairs and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly across so many areas: liturgy, banners, food, entertainment, kitchen crew, media/video, baskets, logistics and traffic, information and administration, photography, bar, Boy Scouts, and all our liturgical ministries. Each of you is truly a blessing to our parish. I am especially grateful to Beth Lowry, our Business Manager, who graciously coordinated with all the committees to ensure everything moved seamlessly. Many of you gave long hours, personal resources, and your God−given talents with generous hearts living out, almost recklessly, what it means to be one in Christ, webbed in love. At the end of the festival, the beauty of what we shared was captured perfectly in a single, heartfelt observation. Helen Buchanan, one of our beloved octogenarians, said, “If only our world could have a slice of what we experienced today.” Indeed, for a moment, we glimpsed the kingdom of God among us. Thank you for braving the cold to come and worship the Lord — no small sacrifice for Floridians! For the first time, I had to dig out my long coat from my days at Notre Dame and Vermont, never imagining I would need it here. And for the first time since moving into our church in 2018, we turned on the heat! Blessed indeed are the people chosen to be God’s own. Next weekend, we will have the opportunity to hear from our beloved Bishop John Noonan as he shares how the diocese continues to be a blessing to so many. You will also have the opportunity to respond to his appeal through this year’s Our Catholic Appeal (OCA). Thank you, as always, for your generous support of our diocese. This weekend, we also enter more deeply into Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He tells his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world.” Our faith is not meant to be hidden or kept private. Like salt, we are called to bring flavor, preserve goodness, and inspire hope. Like light, we are meant to shine not for our own glory but so that others may see God’s love through us. May our kindness, honesty, and compassion this week give glory to our Father in heaven. Have a blessed week. With love, Fr. John

Dear friends, Reflecting on our jubilee year and recent parish events, I wonder if we, a growing community of faith−filled people, realize how truly blessed we are. Do we allow ourselves to pause now and again to appreciate what we do, how we do, for whom we do, and why we do? In the busy−ness of our lives, it’s easy to take for granted the beauty of our Catholic faith, the wisdom of our Church, and the diversity of the people who embody it. I often feel that many of us simply go through the motions but miss the beauty of our liturgies. Ever grateful to be part of this thriving and vibrant parish, I am always amazed by what our many visitors experience and their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude. As an example, I wish to share with you something written by one of our visitors at last Sunday’s Mass, the 3rd Sunday, celebrated as Sunday of the Word. Her name is Kelly, and this is what she wrote: “Father John: I attended Mass this past Sunday with my dear friend, Gina Campbell, in memory of her mother, Arlene Harrington. Gina and Kevin were so kind to host me for a few days while I was here visiting. As I told you when I left Mass, I was so encouraged that the message that day was to read the Bible. I don’t think that was a coincidence. As a Christian I believe everything is divinely planned. I had not attended Catholic Church for many years even thought I was raised in a devoutly Catholic home and both my parents not only brought us to Church every Sunday but they modeled their faith daily. It has just been in the past four years I joined a church near my home that focuses on bible study. After hearing your service, I’m looking forward to going back to the Catholic Mass. Unfortunately, my church (St. Catherine) was closed and all three consolidated into one church in downtown Portsmouth…. Thank you, Father. Kelly.” I pass along her thanks to all of you for living out your faith. Fr. Martin and I are extremely grateful to be part of this family of St. John’s. During phase 1 of our Mosaic construction project (begun on 21 January), we will be nomads. Daily Masses are held in the Fr. Patrick Peyton Room at 8 a.m., with adoration in Room 9 of the parish center, same hours as before. Weekend Masses will continue to be held in the church. Thank you for enduring this inconvenience until just before Palm Sunday. On this 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, we hear from Matthew’s gospel, chapter 5, which begins with Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. In the Beatitudes, Jesus enumerates a series of fundamental principles/attitudes that bring forth blessedness and offer the way to a good life. The Beatitudes are considered the "New Law" that fulfills and completes the promises of the Old Testament; they depict the character of Jesus, emphasizing simplicity and humility, meekness and spiritual poverty as essential attitudes of a blessed person. The Beatitudes serve as a “road map” for living as disciples of Jesus, challenging the believer to embrace values opposite to worldly successes. Pope Benedict XVI described the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) as a "veiled interior biography of Jesus," representing a "new program of life" that translates the Cross and Resurrection into daily discipleship. He viewed them as a countercultural path to true happiness that frees people from the world's false values. Let us pray that we, as people of St. John’s, might embrace the gentleness of Jesus as we live out our blessedness. On 1 February, we celebrate our biannual International Festival, a beautiful expression of Jesus’ parting command to his disciples to carry the Good News of the Gospel to all corners of the earth. This weekend, you will see a lived reality of this vision — people from all corners of the earth professing our one, catholic, and apostolic faith. Though our forecast predicts cold weather, we can bring warmth and love by gathering to celebrate with the theme, “United in Christ, Webbed in Love.” So, plan to pull out the warm clothes you rarely have the opportunity to wear in Florida, and bring your family and friends to celebrate our brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ. The team has worked for over a year to make this happen, and there will be much joy on that day, first to be shared at the Eucharistic Table and then with bountiful food from so many different cultures. We will also enjoy lively song and dance. What a blessing it will be to rejoice together as an amazing community of believers. In honor of St. Blaise, we shall have a Blessing of the Throats after every Mass! Have a blessed week! With love, Fr. John

Dear friends, “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.” How true is this portion of the psalm we have been praying during this Silver Jubilee Year at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community, and what a week! We thank God for sparing us from the dreadful weather that was forecast for last Sunday during the blessing of our rectory. I am filled with gratitude to God for blessing us with a new rectory for the priests who minister to our family and to all who worked to make this dream come true: our beloved Bishop John Noonan, for his gracious presence, his blessing of the rectory, and for presiding over the liturgy; Dr. Chris Haug who came all the way from South Bend, IN to represent the U.S. Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross; for Catherine McCarthy and her team who helped to ensure the successful coordination of the day’s event; for our amazing kitchen ministry team who took care of feeding so many of us; for Mr. Ed Fleis and Monarch Homes of Brevard, LLC and all the subcontractors; and for all of you and your continued generosity. In a few days, when we receive the Certificate of Occupancy, Fr. Martin and I will begin to move in. This marks another era and proud accomplishment for our parish community. Truly blessed are we, the people the Lord has chosen to be his own! On Tuesday, 20 January, we celebrated the Feast of Blessed Moreau and the anniversary of the dedication of our church. Thanks to Dr. Chris Haug who engaged the staff in an in−service program from 11 to 2 p.m. He also delivered a beautiful presentation on Holy Cross and St. John the Evangelist as a force for good in the worldwide community of Holy Cross, how we can be makers of hope, bringers of hope, shapers of hope, and how each of us can stoke the dying embers with a renewed and burning desire to make God known, loved, and served as did Blessed Moreau. Thanks to Joe Maurin and our CRHP men who helped empty the sanctuary on Tuesday evening to enable the work of building the wall for the mosaic project. Remember, Phase 1 will run from Wednesday, 21 January through Friday, 27 March. We will take a break for Easter and then begin Phase 2 on the Monday after Divine Mercy Sunday, 13 April, when the mosaic design will be applied. The final reveal with Thanksgiving Mass for the Jubilee Year will be held on Sunday, 24 May. For our snowbirds who will be returning home, please make sure you stay until the 24th of May. Pope Francis, in his motu proprio of 30 September 2019, “Aperuit Illis” (8), declared that “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration of, study, and dissemination of the word of God. This Sunday of the Word of God will thus be a fitting part of that time of year when we are encouraged to strengthen our bonds with the Jewish people and to pray for Christian unity … This Sunday therefore, gives us opportunity to renew our resolve to grow in the knowledge and love of the Scriptures and of the risen Lord, who continues to speak his word and to break bread in the community of believers.” We will take time to honor the Word of God in the Scriptures and find ways to regularly read the Bible. Many of our parishioners have already followed the Bible in a Year podcast by Fr. Mike Schmitz. If you have not, I strongly suggest you do so this year. I’d like to thank our lectors who faithfully and conscientiously prepare each day and each week to proclaim the Word of God to us. Thank you for your love of the Word and for proclaiming it so beautifully. Might we all hear afresh and be in awe of the fact that God speaks to us through the proclamation of the Word at each Mass. Jeremy Priest, reflecting about this Sunday says, “In the prologue to his gospel, Saint John helps us see that speaking is not merely something God does: not only does God speak in the beginning; not only was the Word ‘with God’ in the beginning … ‘the Word was God’ (1:1)! In this vein, the Catholic novelist, Walker Percy, famously called God Deus Loquens, the ‘speaking God.’ Indeed, the God who speaks the Word.” Let us attune ourselves to this speaking God and his way of speaking. In the Gospel of Matthew 4: 12−23, we hear both of those who did not hear Jesus’ words and of those who heard and answered his call like Simon, Andrew, James, and John. The gospel points out that “He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.” Are you accustomed to hearing the Lord speak? Have a blessed week! With love, Fr, John Servant of God Bishop Vincent McCauley The oldest of six children, Bishop Vincent McCauley, was born on March 8, 1906, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. His parish school, St. Francis Xavier, first awakened in him a desire for missionary work and evangelization. Inspired by Holy Cross priests who preached a mission at his parish in the fall of 1924, McCauley left Creighton University and entered the Congregation of Holy Cross Seminary at the University of Notre Dame. McCauley took final vows with Holy Cross on July 2, 1929. After ordination in Washington, D.C. on June 24, 1934, his mission to East Bengal (now Bangladesh and part of India) was postponed for two years due to Great Depression funding issues, and he departed in October 1936. McCauley’s work among the neglected Kuki Christians in Agartala (a distinct minority in the overwhelmingly Muslim country) confirmed his calling as a missionary. Unfortunately, illness forced him back to the United States in May 1944. He spent nearly a year in recovery before joining the formation staff at the Foreign Mission Seminary in Washington. The next 13 years of his life would be devoted to seminarian formation and mission procuration, a role in which McCauley made famous the mission appeal slogan – “Wanted to build a better world: Few architects, more bricklayers.” In 1958, McCauley was sent to lead the congregation’s new mission to Uganda. As had been the case in East Bengal, the congregation’s work in western Uganda focused on building up the local Church through the establishment, renovation, and strengthening of parish churches and schools. When Rome split western Uganda into two dioceses, McCauley was appointed bishop of the newly−created Diocese of Fort Portal. As Bishop, McCauley built the diocese from the ground up, founding numerous parishes and diocesan structures, along with St. Mary’s Minor Seminary for local priestly formation. Remembered for his compassion and leadership, Bishop McCauley guided the Church in aiding countless refugees, widows, orphans, and migrants in the region during the political turmoil of the 1960’s and 70’s.  His leadership in the establishment of both an East African seminary and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa remains one of his distinctly Holy Cross legacies to a region in which global Catholicism finds one of its modern centers of gravity. In August 2006, the cause for canonization of McCauley was introduced in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. As Servant of God, Bishop McCauley’s cause undergoes review by the Diocese of Fort Portal, Uganda. Holy Cross seeks to emulate his faith, talent, energy, and joy – gifts by which he made God known, loved, and served.

Dear friends, I am filled such immense gratitude for our Lord’s abundant graces and sing with the psalmist, “I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done” (9:1). The rectory for our priests to live in on the campus of St. John’s is a dream come true. I am grateful to so many for their guidance, encouragement, expertise, and support: our beloved bishop, John Noonan, Rev. Bill Lies, C.S.C., Provincial of the U.S. Province, and Scott Fergerson and Debbie Whalen from the Department of Ecclesiastical Property. In addition, I thank Beth Lowry, our Business Manager, for her attention to all of the details involved with such an undertaking, and our parish and finance councils and building committee for their support. A huge thanks to Ed Flies and the Monarch Homes of Brevard, LLC for the design and build of this beautiful residence. Finally, thanks to you, my beloved family of St. John’s, for your amazing generosity. You never cease to amaze me, as I recall George Bowdren’s offer of a check some five years ago to begin the work of building a rectory. I wish to name our rectory “Saint John’s House” after our patron. May the Lord bless and watch over the priests who will stay there, and may they always be ready to serve the people of God with love and enthusiasm. I extend a warm welcome to Most Reverend John Noonan, Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando, Reverend Bill Lies, C.S.C., Provincial of the U.S. Province, Mr. Chris Haug, Director of Apostolic Missions of the U.S. Province, and my community members from Cocoa Beach for their presence at this memorable occasion. Feast of Blessed Moreau and the Anniversary of the Dedication of Our Church — Eight years have passed since we were blessed with the new church building, and we gratefully remember that day when we first entered the house of the Lord to worship, Saturday, January 20, 2018, the Feast of Blessed Moreau. We will, therefore, celebrate this day with Mass at 8 a.m. in the church. We will gather in the hall at 5 p.m. for its rededication and name it officially as the Holy Cross Hall. Dr. Chris Haug will offer a presentation on how St. John the Evangelist is an expression of Fr. Moreau’s vision to extend Christ’s reach to the world. The day will conclude with a holy hour, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Construction of the wall behind the altar in the sanctuary will begin on Wednesday, 21 January. This will not affect our weekend Masses; however, daily Mass and funeral/wedding Masses will be held in the former daily Mass chapel, the Fr. Patrick Peyton Room. The adoration chapel will remain closed for the duration of the construction and will be moved to room 9 with hours staying the same. Thank you for your cooperation. Congratulations to Hank Poletto, recipient of the Family of the Month Award for January 2026. Hank and his late wife Carol have been a huge part of our developing parish from the beginning. Congratulations to our amazing Team SJE for holding on to first place in this year’s Children’s Hunger Project 5K held on Saturday, 10 January. Thanks to Dawn and Mike Hurley for coordinating the event and to Fr. John Patrick Riley, C.S.C., who came all the way from Phoenix, AZ to take part. This was our largest team to date with 62 members, our five fastest runners assuring the victory: Michael Girard, Phil Piotrowksi, Quinn Pasanen, David Schill, and Christine Rodriguez. The Spirit of Holy Cross Award instituted by the Province of the Priests and Brothers of Holy Cross recognizes and celebrates lay collaborators who strive to enhance the spirit and the charism of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The Spirit of Holy Cross Award acknowledges the critical importance lay collaborators play in living out the vision and mission of Holy Cross founder, Blessed Basil Moreau, “to make God known, loved, and served through education, parish and mission settings.” I am deeply honored to announce that the recipient of the Spirit of Holy Cross Award 2026 is Carrie Seringer. We congratulate her and her family for their extraordinary love for the Congregation of Holy Cross. Today, we celebrate the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. We continue the theme of last Sunday, focusing on John the Baptist and his mission as the precursor to Jesus, announcing his identity as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. How blessed we are to have a Savior in Jesus. Have a blessed week! With love, Fr. John Blessed Basil Moreau Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, was born in Laigné− en−Belin, in the Diocese of Le Mans, France, on Feb. 11, 1799. In 1821, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of LeMans. He later became a seminary professor, teaching philosophy and theology while enthusiastically continuing to engage in pastoral work. He was known not only as an inspiring professor but also a man of God who faithfully sought to grow in the image of Christ through prayer, personal asceticism, and service. Blessed Basil Moreau is commemorated on January 20. Blessed Basil Moreau demonstrated steadfastness throughout his life, enduring adversity, temptations, and setbacks while relying on Divine Providence and maintaining trust in God. He expressed complete trust in God: “My God, I consent to this provided the Congregation be saved and that You be glorified.” His sense of urgency was reflected in his awareness of God’s presence and love, shaping his vocation as a priest and founder. He responded to God's call with devotion, expressing the desire to live solely for God's glory. He had a deep realization of the presence of God, of God’s love, and of God’s call to him personally. Moreau expressed love and gratitude, as he demonstrated in a sermon, “He alone merits the homage of my mind and the affection of my heart. I want to live but for Him and to breathe but for His glory.” Basil Moreau was a man of untiring effort. It was in service that he lived and struggled. In his meditation on the workers sent into the vineyard, he wrote, “If today you hear the voice of the Lord to the care of His vineyard – harden not your hearts – but go at once.” Moreau constantly tried to cooperate with the grace of his calling. He wrote, “Each one will try his best, with the help of grace, to augment his love until it fills his whole mind, his whole heart, until it exhausts his strength.” Basil Moreau was a dedicated spiritual leader and educator who emphasized patience, gentleness, faith, and forgiveness. He saw Jesus as the educator of his disciples, the model educator, and advised combining firmness with wise restraint. Moreau was passionate about his mission, addressing the Church's needs, such as shortages of priests, educators, and aid for the poor. Moreau grew up amidst the turmoil of the French Revolution, and as a young priest he felt compelled to revitalize a Church devastated by years of civil war. With nearly two−thirds of France’s clergy and religious exiled or killed, Moreau organized a group of Auxiliary Priests to preach, teach, and bring the message of Christ to those in neglected towns and villages and founded religious communities at Holy Cross. Confident in God's guidance, he established Holy Cross as a recognized body within the Church and developed its statutes and rules over twenty years, focusing on broad evangelization through education. In 1957, Basil Moreau was declared a Servant of God. On April 12, 2003, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him Venerable. Basil Moreau was beatified in Le Mans by Pope Benedict XVI on September 15, 2007, the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows and the feast day of the Congregation of Holy Cross. For canonization, another miracle is needed for both “blessed” martyrs and “blessed” who lived a virtuous life, attributed to the intercession of the “blessed,” and having occurred after his or her beatification. Canonization allows for the public veneration of the saint by the Universal Church. With canonization, the blessed acquires the title of saint.  Today, we pray for the canonization of Blessed Basil Moreau.

Dear friends, What a blessing to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany with our children enacting/retelling the biblical story during all the Masses. Thanks to Justin and Amanda Libak for their amazing commitment and to the children who participated. Congratulations to Jonathan Naghdi, recipient of the Saint Carlos Acutis Youth Service Award presented by our CCW. Jonathan has served as an altar server primarily for the 7:15 a.m. Mass. Thanks to his parents who have shown him the way and to his siblings for their encouragement. On January 6, 2026, Pope Leo officially concluded the celebration of the Jubilee Year of Hope by closing the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. You might recall that the Jubilee Year was inaugurated by Pope Francis on Dec. 24, 2024. Strangely, this is only the second time in history that an ordinary jubilee was opened by one pope (Francis) and closed by another (Leo), necessitated by the death of Pope Francis. It happened first in 1700 with Pope Innocent XII and Pope Clement XI. With the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord this weekend, we conclude the season of Christmas. Beginning on Monday, we return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time which will be celebrated until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and will continue again after the Easter season. The Church recalls our Lord's second manifestation, or epiphany, which occurred on the occasion of his baptism in the Jordan. Jesus descended into the river to sanctify its waters and to give them the power to beget sons of God. The event takes on the importance of a second creation in which the entire Trinity intervenes. In the Eastern Church, this feast is called “Theophany” because at the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River, God appeared in three Persons. The baptism of John was a sort of sacramental preparation for the baptism of Christ. It moved men to sentiments of repentance and induced them to confess their sins. Jesus entered the waters not because he needed cleansing but because he choose solidarity. He stands with sinners. He enters fully into our human condition. From the very beginning of his mission, Jesus showed us a God who does not remain distant but, rather, one who comes down into our mess, our weakness, our brokenness. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas notes something beautiful: “Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin.” Today is another opportunity for to us to reflect on the gift of our own baptism when a gateway was opened for us to experience all the treasures of the Church. This weekend, we shall renew our own baptismal vows and begin again to own our responsibility as people on a mission, the same as Jesus who, immediately following his baptism, is led by the Holy Spirit into the desert and then on to his public ministry. At baptism, we receive our identity as adopted children of God. It is a gift received, not merited. At our baptism, we were commissioned to live as children of the light and to be witnesses to the truth, instruments of God’s love to the world. Each one of us is invited to make Christ visible in the world — in our families, in our community of St. John’s, in our workplaces, and in our society. Questions to ponder this week: Do I remember my baptism? Do I live as one who knows he or she is loved by God? Do others experience God’s love through me? The month of January is celebrated as Holy Cross Heritage month. This week, we are given the opportunity to learn a little more about Brother Flavian Laplante, C.S.C, who was born in Quebec, Canada and became a Brother in Holy Cross and was sent to Bangladesh as missionary. He is now a Servant of God. Let us get to know him a little more. Please note that the Blessing of the Rectory has changed to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 18, 2026 due to a scheduling conflict with the Bishop Noonan’s calendar. Please come to the rectory by 10:20 a.m. to be part of this historic event. We will celebrate Mass at 11 a.m. and then visit the rectory afterwards as planned. Please keep the evening of Tuesday, January 20, the Feast Day of Blessed Moreau when we will come to know about Fr. Moreau from Dr. Chris Haug, the Director of Missions. Have a blessed week! With love, Fr. John  Servant of God Flavian Laplante Br. Flavian Laplante, C.S.C., was born on July 27, 1907, in St.−Louis−de−Richelieu, Quebec, Canada. He was the seventh child of nine to Honoré Laplante and Louise Théroux, who named him Doria. After meeting the Holy Cross brothers at school, he entered the Congregation at the age of 16. On August 15, 1923, he received the religious habit and took the name Flavian. Just over five years later, after completing his Novitiate and studying at St. Joseph’s Scholasticate, he professed Final Vows on August 16, 1928. After working several years in Notre Dame College in Quebec as a teacher and dorm supervisor, Flavian was assigned to the Congregation’s mission in East Bengal in 1932 (present−day Bangladesh and India). Flavian reached Chittagong, East Bengal, on December 1, 1932. He supported the new high school in Padrishibpur with building work, teaching, and managing the dormitory. Two years later, he became principal, starting a sequence of educational and administrative roles at the Congregation’s schools in East Bengal. In May 1942, when the Japanese Army started air raids on Chittagong, Flavian went there to assist. He remained in Chittagong in 1943 and 1944 when a severe famine hit the land so he could help tend to the hungry and sick. Flavian worked principally with the Hindus, who were considered at the bottom of society. It was during this time that he met the fishermen to whom he eventually devoted most of his life. Following the end of World War II, Flavian worked out a program so that many fishermen could receive new boats, because theirs had been commandeered during the war. Flavian often accompanied the fishermen out to sea for days. He even led them in resistance against pirates and participated in rescue missions. Flavian’s main plan, however, was to organize the fisherman into cooperatives in which they could help each other. At the same time, Flavian began constructing an orphanage at Diang, about 10 miles from Chittagong, after the War to care for the orphans from the Chakati Refugee Camp. Flavian persisted in the project, including the construction of a school, despite thefts and vandalism from the unsupportive neighbors. Except for a posting in Noakhali from 1957 to 1962, Flavian spent his life serving Diang and its fishermen. He renamed the settlement Miriam Ashram, inspired by Hindu religious retreats. During this period, he launched several development and education initiatives, including the Women’s Promotion Center with Holy Cross sisters. In 1975, Flavian started the Kalidaha Fishing Project, helped fishermen motorize their boats, and opened a technical school for boat−building and repair skills. After returning from his last visit to Canada on December 24, 1976, Flavian retired as a hermit in his private ashram near Diang. He installed a statue of Our Lady on October 1, 1978, and organized a prayer and feast for Mary on February 11, 1979, attended by over 800 pilgrims—a tradition that remains a major pilgrimage in Bangladesh. In 1981, despite serious health issues and being advised to seek treatment in Canada, Flavian chose to remain in Bangladesh, where he completed 49 years of service to the poor before his death on June 19, 1981. Flavian was declared a Servant of God on February 13, 2009 – the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes – by Most Rev. Patrick D’Rozario, Bishop of Chittagong Diocese, Bangladesh. His cause is being advanced by coordinated work in Bangladesh and in Canada.

Dear friends, Mother Church invites us this day to contemplate the mystery of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. Epiphany usually falls on January 6th, which is twelve days after Christmas. According to tradition, this is the span of time from the birth of Jesus until the visit of the magi from the east. Epiphany doesn’t always fall on a Sunday, so the Church celebrates it on the nearest Sunday (this year, January 4, 2026), and it is called “Epiphany Sunday.” The Greek word “epiphany” simply means “to reveal” or “to make manifest.” It was the name given by the early Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the revelation of God’s love to the world (John 3:16). The Church observes this feast to recognize that Jesus, the Son of God, comes to reveal God’s plan to save the world. Jesus Christ is the inextinguishable light of the gospels. This feast also reminds us that God is always at work revealing himself, even today, and that he has not abandoned his people. He is always close at hand, working in, around, and through us, leading us to other “epiphanies” so that we might realize just how much God loves us. As such, I take this Sunday to reflect with you on the impact you have made not only on both the global missionary efforts of the Church and diocesan evangelical efforts but also on our local communities through our many outreach initiatives. I am immensely grateful to Cindy and Pete Lamonica and the teams of people who work under the umbrella of our Outreach ministry, to include Janet Owen−Jones and the Feed My Flock ministry and Lulu and Tim Farrell who coordinate the Farmworkers effort. Our Outreach ministry also has helped many non−government social service organizations (NGOs). Through them, we are able to reach even more of the needy, the vulnerable, and the marginalized than we have staff and volunteers to address. Included among these are: Family Promise of Brevard, Brevard Senior Nutrition Program, Aging Matters, Street Showers, Our Daily Bread, the Sharing Center of Central Brevard, the Haven for Children, Bishop Grady Villa, the Children’s Hunger Project, St. Stephen’s Way, and some of our Catholic parishes and schools that are in need ... and the need continues to grow each year. One of the most uplifting Christmas events sponsored by St. John’s was held on 11 December, when approximately 300 young adults with various medical challenges enjoyed a wonderful Christmas luncheon with their caretakers in our beautifully decorated hall. This annual event brings such joy to all in attendance. As a parish community, we packed 5100 meals for the Children’s Hunger Project, that in addition to the 2,700 packed by the Feed My Flock team and the 1300 by the Notre Dame Club. This amazing effort provides meals for children who go hungry on the weekends when school is closed. The Feed My Flock team also provided more than 310 cupcakes for the Ministry to the Sick, bringing joy to hospitals, nursing homes, and the homebound. They also fed four families in shelter at WoodSpring Suites through Family Promise of Brevard. In support of our 25th Jubilee, our parish came together to prepare and distribute over 300 peanut butter & jelly and meat sandwiches during our Matthew’s Hope outreach to feed neighbors experiencing homelessness. A group of volunteers also went to Matthew’s Hope to help serve a hot lunch to the guests who visited the facility. Through Aging Matters, we donated bread for distribution and packed and delivered 400 unperishable food item baskets to homebound seniors. Through our Christmas Giving Tree ministry coordinated by Susan Answay, we were able to bring joy to more than 400 children and adults. With your generous assistance, we supported the Farmworkers of Fellsmere with annual collections of nonperishable food items and clothes to assist with their mission. Many other ministries such as CCW, Gratia Plena, Seedlings of Hope, SJE−4−Veterans, WINGS, Blessed Is She, the Sunshine Ministry, Gen Hope, blood drives, our Faith Formation programs, and our Mom’s ministry have offered a number of activities not only in support of our parish needs but also those of the larger local community. Our Rosary Makers have made several thousand rosaries that have been shipped to various people in nursing homes and hospitals and to other organizations both within our country and abroad. Our Kitchen Crew with wonderfully talented chefs and helpers and our Parish Life ministry team have helped feed thousands this past year through numerous events. In addition to all of the above, you have been most generous in helping the Missionary Co−op from Africa, our Sister Diocese in the Dominican Republic, the Holy Cross Peru missions, and Catholic Charities. Our Funeral Ministry team has assisted with the funerals of more than 100 individuals and have provided guidance, comfort, and consolation to their grief−stricken families. In addition, our GriefShare ministry has sustained our ongoing efforts to walk with grieving members who continue to experience a void in their lives left by the loss of a spouse/child. All of that being said, I must also mention both the various liturgical ministry teams and our Faith Formation programming that facilitate the spiritual needs of all in our parish. I express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to the 73 ministry leaders and their team members for such amazing dedication and commitment to our parish life, a gift to all. Fr. Martin and our deacons and staff have been an amazing blessing in supporting the needs of such a large and vibrant parish. Your assistance and support often go unrecognized, and I thank you all! As noted, the sheer volume of our outreach is astonishing, and it is accomplished only through the expression of our continued love for one other and our neighbors. The challenge is to multiply our efforts 1000−fold by continuing to gather as a parish community, sharing generously of our time, talent, and treasure. What would l I do without YOU! You make the Impossible POSSIBLE. WHAT A BLESSING YOU ARE! With love, Fr. John Who is St. Brother André Bessette? Saint Brother André Bessette was born on August 9, 1845, and died on January 6, 1937. He was canonized a saint on October 17, 2010. Pope Benedict XVI declared him a saint for the Universal Church in a ceremony in Rome. He is the first Congregation of Holy Cross member to receive this honor. Saint André believed in the healing power of Christ Jesus. His devotion to Saint Joseph was his guide to God’s fidelity. Alfred Bessette, his baptismal name, came from humble beginnings and was considered to be illiterate. He came from a large family near Montreal, Quebec, Canada but was an orphaned He was weak in body and strength. He suffered from stomach ailments. Because of his frailty, he was not considered a suitable candidate for religious life. His life was filled with paradox. Yet, God raised him up to reveal to others how faith mends body and soul. Alfred desired a life of prayer. He wanted to join a religious community. His pastor at his home parish suggested the Congregation of Holy Cross. The priest told the superiors of the community, “I am sending you a saint.” At first, Holy Cross was reluctant to accept him. However, they soon became aware of Alfred’s integrity and prayerfulness. Alfred became “Brother André,” as he entered religious life. The Congregation of Holy Cross assigned Brother André to serve as Porter for Notre Dame College near Montreal. He ministered at the door for the next 40 years. However, he didn’t just open the physical door for guests, he began to open the door of faith for many who were sick, disabled, and in need of physical nourishment and security. Brother André’s devotion to Saint Joseph began to flourish in the encounters he had with people. Word of Andre’s healing touch spread rapidly. Brother André never sought out the limelight. André always realized that Saint Joseph was allowing people to receive the healing they needed, so he sought the foster father of Jesus. Brother André leaned deeply into his relationship with Saint Joseph and invited others to do the same. People requested Brother André for spiritual healing for their children and also for themselves. Word spread before the Internet, before social media, and before television. The healing miracles began to emerge. At the high point of Brother André’s ministry, he encountered 600 people a day. He told them to be short, to be quick, because of the number of people in line to seek his faith and healing touch. Brother André did not have the physical strength to spend much time with the many requests that came to the door of the college. Yet, he welcomed their stories and their souls. The Holy Cross community in which Brother André served struggled at times to support the ministry of Brother André. They were confused about what to do with all the people who wanted just a moment of advice from the saintly man. As with any prophetic person, Brother André just did not fit into the ministry and life of the other members of the Holy Cross community. Brother André persisted in his inner call to bring people to Saint Joseph and to the sacraments of the Church. Brother André spent his days listening to people’s requests for healing and their stories of pain, anguish, and uncertainty. Perhaps, even more importantly, Brother André spent his nights praying for the people with whom he encountered during the day. It was not unusual for Brother André to sleep only an hour or two at night. He wanted to work through the pain people confessed to him. He knew people needed spiritual help and he kept knocking on heaven’s door all through the night. His life was purely devoted to God. He begged God to heal the people whom he listened to during the daylight hours. God consumed him. People’s suffering became his life work, his prayer, and his way of life. One of the most important aspects of Brother André’s life was hospitality, which may be defined as the radical acceptance of others. To truly listen to people’s anguish, their stories, and their suffering became his holy hospitality. People felt heard by Brother André, even though their encounters with him were often brief. They experienced a recognition from another human being that their lives mattered. When doctors and healthcare workers gave up on people’s healing, Brother André accepted them. He put a spiritual arm around them. He comforted them with his integrity and his prayerful heart. Hospitality for André became his life and true acceptance of people became his spiritual story. Please pray on January 7, his feast day, for the healing of the sick, the discouraged, and the forgotten. Saint André Bessette, pray for us. Rev. Ronald Raab, C.S.C.

Dear friends, It is the final weekend of 2025, the new year is nigh, and we must ask ourselves, “Are we prepared?” Please come and spend an hour with our Lord on the last day of the year, Wednesday, 31 December at 4 p.m. We will celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, immediately following with a Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. Masses on Thursday, 1 January 2026, will be at 10 a.m. in the church and at 5 p.m. in the Grotto. Today, the Church invites us to celebrate this last weekend with the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Who better to spend time with during the season of Christmas? In the Gospel of Matthew, we are given a unique perspective on the life of the Holy Family. They had to flee to Egypt at the prompting of an angel, later returning to Nazareth. It is a story of migration, the identity of their ancestors, our ancestors, and it all began with the father of our faith, Abraham, when he and his wife Sarah and their children’s children all had to migrate to Egypt. The people of Israel who were slaves in Egypt had to migrate to the Promised Land, thanks to the guiding hands of our Heavenly Father. Today’s Scripture beckons us to consider the plight of those throughout history who have had to migrate from place to place, country to country, to find a safe place to call home. Even today, immigration has become a hotly contested topic in our country. On November 12, 2025 at the Fall Plenary Assembly of Bishops in Baltimore, our bishops offered for the first time a unified voice on this issue. It is titled, “2025 USCCB Special Pastoral Message on Immigration.” See BELOW for the full statement. I take this opportunity to congratulate Fr. Martin as he celebrates his 15th Ordination Anniversary! His story of coming to St. John’s is nothing short of a miracle. How is it possible for an uncle and a nephew to minister as priests in the same parish? I thank him most sincerely for his services. He has been a source of blessing not only for me but for all. Congratulations to Jean Reilly, recipient of the Family of the Month Award for December 2025. Jean has been a faithful, committed, and loving usher at the 7:15 a.m. Mass, a blessing to our parish. On behalf of Fr. Martin, the deacons, and the staff, I wish you a most blessed and peaceful New Year! May our Mother Mary wrap us in the mantle of her love and lead us ever closer to her son, Jesus Christ! Our annual participation in the 5K walk or run to benefit the Children’s Hunger Project is underway. It will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The race begins at Viera High. Dawn Hurley is our point of contact. As in year’s past, Fr. John Patrick Riley, C.S.C., will be joining us. Please see the bulletin for more details. With love, Fr. John 

Dear friends, This weekend, we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and we will be lighting the last of the four candles, this one representing LOVE. In the gospel reading, Matthew peers into the life of Mary and Joseph who are an indispensable part of the season. Through the message of an angel, both Mary and Joseph come to know even of the name of the child before his birth. The angel says in Matthew 1:21 that “She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” The birth of Jesus is the birth of a savior, not of an ordinary mortal being. Let us thank God the Father for his mercy in choosing to send his only begotten Son to be born for us as an “Emmanuel” God, a God who will always be with us. The Incarnation of the Son of God is the biggest turning point the universe has ever known. This Fourth Week of Advent is a short one, barely a three−day affair, in busy preparation for Christmas. A significant part of these last days of Advent is the use of the “O Antiphons” during Evening Prayer from 17 to 23 December. Each Antiphon invokes Christ by means of an Old Testament symbol: O Wisdom, O Sacred Lord, O Flower of Jesse's Stem, O Key of David, O Radiant Dawn, O King of All Nations, and O Emmanuel. Grace Hetzel sums up their importance: “The O Antiphons proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but our present desires as well.” C.C. Pecknold says that “They prepare us for the great Vigil of Christmas, uniting Israel’s hopes and the desire of nations as a kind of prophetic summa in praise of divine providence. In the heart of winter’s darkness, the O Antiphons call us to worship Jesus Christ as the center of salvation history.” I wish you would have time to do exactly that. On Tuesday, 23 December at 7 p.m., we will have an opportunity to pray the Evening Prayer in the Fr. Patrick Peyton Room, during which time we will pray the Antiphon “O Emmanuel.” Please come and experience the splendor of waiting for the fulfilment of our heart’s desire: Jesus Christ, our “Emmanuel” God who is always with us. Following this, the Christmas celebrations will be just around the corner with morning Mass on Wednesday, 24 December at 8 a.m., as usual. Following that Mass, the season of Advent will be over, and the Christmas season begins . The celebration of Christmas begins on 24 December with the following Masses: 4 p.m. Mass is hugely popular with families with children. The children’s choir will begin with carols at 3:30 p.m., and the Nativity pageant will follow at 3:45 p.m. This is the first time we are having the pageant before the Mass to help our children — all of us — focus our attention on the Mass itself. Hence, I request you to come early. We have arranged for an overflow Mass in the Holy Cross Hall which will be simulcast. Then we will offer the following: 6:00 p.m., 8 p.m., and midnight Masses. The choir will begin with carols at 11:30 p.m. On 25 December, we will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m. which will also be simulcast in the hall for overflow. We will follow with another Mass at noon. For Christmas, our office will be closed from Wednesday, 24 December at noon through Friday, 26 December. The office will reopen on Monday, 29 December. We are privileged to celebrate Fr. Martin’s 15th Ordination Anniversary and the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, our patron, on Saturday, 27 December, with a special Mass at 10 a.m. That evening, we will celebrate Fr. Martin after the 4.30 p.m. Mass in the Holy Cross Hall with a dinner. Our annual participation in the 5K walk or run to benefit the Children’s Hunger Project is underway. It will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The race begins at Viera High. Dawn Hurley is our point of contact. As in year’s past, Fr. John Patrick Riley, C.S.C., will be joining us. Please see the bulletin for more details. On behalf of Fr. Martin, the deacons, and the staff, I wish you and yours a very joyful and peaceful Christmas! May the Baby Jesus for whose birth we have been waiting find us alert, awake, and prepared to behold him. Have a joyful Advent and blessed Christmas! With Love, Fr. John