September 2025 Update
Dear family,
September is here, and with it the beginning of an amazing year. Our calendar is filling up fast, so our pace will have to be adjusted accordingly. I ask you kindly to be prepared to make some sacrifices to accommodate all that has been planned in observance of a yearlong celebration of the SJE Silver Jubilee. Our theme is “Journey of Grace, Faith, and Hope.” What a blessing it is for us to be part of the St. John’s family during this year of special programming, and I ask that you make plans to actively participate in all that will be offered.
We will have a soft opening of the jubilee year on the weekend of 6/7 September, introducing our Jubilee Prayer. The Jubilee Grand Opening is scheduled for the weekend of 13/14 September. The Mass schedule for that weekend will be:
Saturday, 13 September: Mass at 4.30 p.m.
Sunday, 14 September: Mass at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and 4.30 p.m. Bishop John Noonan will preside at the 11 a.m. Mass, and we will enjoy a parish picnic immediately following. I request that you please sign up so we can prepare sufficient food for all. That evening, we will begin our 40 Hours of Adoration following the 4.30 p.m. Mass as an act of thanksgiving to God for his abundant mercy.
To commemorate our Silver Jubilee, we will roll out several new ministries:
SJE St. Monica Ministry: Our hearts ache when our children/spouses/siblings leave the Catholic faith. Inspired by the unwavering faith and perseverance of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, the SJE St. Monica ministry offers a space for encouragement, shared stories, and heartfelt intercession. All mothers are welcome to join this compassionate and faith-filled journey. I thank Tricia Meyer, Luzedith Biggs, Julietta Mendoza, and Jacqueline Dittmore for leading this ministry. The launch date is Friday, 26 September at 7 p.m.
SJE Moms Ministry: We are blessed with so many young families, most of whom are new to this area. Rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, this group aims to foster a supportive and faith-filled community for mothers through the medium of FaceBook. I thank Jamie Waller and Christina Rickett for leading this group. They can be reached at
sjemomsministry@gmail.com. The SJE Moms Ministry launch/kick-off will be held on Sunday, 7 September. Stop by the parish hall after the 9 a.m. Mass for coffee, donuts, and a chance to connect with other moms in our parish.
On 7 September in Rome, Pope Leo XIV will canonize Bl. Carlo Acutis and Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. Bl. Acutis died in 2006 at the age of 15, and Bl. Frassati died in 1925 at the age of 24. These two holy young men are powerful examples of faith, charity, and devotion. Bl. Acutis used his talents to create a website documenting Eucharistic miracles to help people grow in love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, while Bl. Frassati shared Christ’s love through his hands-on service to the poor, the homeless, and the sick.
Saint Carlo Acutis Youth Service Award: In honor of this amazing millennial saint, the SJE Council of Catholic Women will initiate the “Saint Carlo Acutis Youth Service Award” to be given quarterly. Its aim is to inspire and encourage our own teenagers and youth to follow in his footsteps. Recipients of this award will be parish children 18 years or younger who exemplify a life of Christian virtue and servant leadership in our parish and the greater Viera community.
The Brother Andre Silver Jubilee Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, 13 September at the Duran Country Club. Thanks for your amazing and unprecedented support of this event, also to the players, sponsors, volunteers, and all who will join them for lunch.
National Grandparents Day: In 2021, Pope Francis established the celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and Elderly. St. John the Evangelist will observe this celebration on 7 September. We ask all our children to invite their grandparents to join them for the 9 a.m. Mass, followed by coffee and donuts, as a way to make this day meaningful for the whole family.
SJE Seedlings of Hope: To involve the children of our parish in celebrating our Silver Jubilee, we have created a service-inspired children's club where they will grow in their faith through Catholic social teachings and acts of service. We invite all elementary-aged students to join the SJE Seedlings of Hope club beginning 9 September. Sign-ups are available after the 9 a.m. Mass on 7 September or via the QR code in the bulletin.
Deacon Mike is presenting another Adult Bible Study – The Spirituality of St. Paul beginning on Wednesday, 24 September and continuing for 7 sessions. They will meet on Wednesdays at either 10:30 a.m. at St. John's or at 6:30 p.m. on line.
The Flourish our Faith team brings to us another amazing 4-week group study beginning on 18 September and titled “Power and Grace: A Guide to the Catholic Sacraments.” It introduces us to the purpose and meaning of the seven Catholic sacraments. This study is presented by Father Mike Schmitz, Chris Stefanick, Father Josh Johnson, and other well-known speakers.
I intend to bring doctors and nurses of our parish for a ministry. We will have a brainstorming session on Tuesday, September 30 at 6 p.m. I invite all our doctors and nurses to attend.
We have too many events and activities to cover in this communication, so please read the bulletin and/or visit the parish website to stay informed.
Wishing you all the blessings of our Silver Jubilee celebrations. Let us be God’s people on this incredible journey of Grace, Faith, and Hope.
Let us now look at some of the important events that will take place in the month of September:
Rosary at the Grotto every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
5 September First Friday Holy Hour of Devotion in the church at 3 p.m.
6 September First Saturday Devotion, Rosary at 8:30 a.m. followed by Special Mass in the church at 9:00 a.m.
6 September Alter Server Refresher Course and Luncheon at 11:00 a.m.
7 September TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
True wisdom leads us to acknowledge our limitations and our idols of materialism as we seek to follow the Lord without reservation.
· Outreach Weekend.
7 September Soft opening of the Silver Jubilee. Sensory Friendly Mass at 1:00 p.m. in the Hall.
8 September Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Actual Day of Silver Jubilee: Mass at 8:00 a.m. in the church. Mass at the grotto at 6:00 p.m.
9 September Launching of SJE Kid’s Club will take place in rooms 8 & 9 at 4:00 p.m.
12 September Kerygma Prayer Service and Adoration at 7:00 p.m. in the Church
13 September Silver Jubilee Golf Tournament at Duran Country Club at 8:00 a.m.
13 September Confirmation Day of Discernment at 8:00 a.m. in the Father Patrick Peyton Room.
14 September Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Grand opening celebration of the Silver Jubilee at 11 a.m. followed by Parish Picnic. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent, so must the Son of Man be
lifted up.
14-16 September 40-Hour Eucharistic Adoration Event begins Sunday September 14th following the 4:30 Mass and ends at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday September 16th
15 September Beginning of the OCIA Class for the year at 6:00 p.m. 16/23/20 September SAIL (Senior Adventures In Learning) begins at 9:00 a.m.
18/25 September Flourish Our Faith will host "Power and Grace: A guide to the Catholic Sacraments", at 12:00 p.m.
18 September Deacons Discernment Night at 6:00 p.m. in the Church. Our men desiring to become permanent deacons are welcome.
18 September SJE 4 Veterans Potluck & Meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Father Patrick Peyton Room
19 September International Festival in the Hall at 7:00 p.m.
20 September Tamil Mass at 6:15 p.m. in the church and the hall.
21 September TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
By giving ourselves to God rather than money, we can truly pray with blameless hands for all those in need, especially the poor whom the Lord will raise up.
21 September Baptism Prep Class at 12:00 p.m. in rooms 6 & 7.
22 September Gratia Plena at 8:00 a.m. in the Hall & Kitchen
26 September SJE Monica Ministry at 6:00 p.m. in the
Father Patrick Peyton Room
28 September TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Self-sufficiency must never blind us to the needs of others.
29 September Feast of Archangels Mass at 12:00 p.m. in the Church.
30 September Doctors and Nurses Meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Father Patrick Peyton Room