Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 27, 2025
Dear friends,
We celebrate the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time this weekend, and we are treated to an amazing
passage where Jesus entrusts to his disciples, to his Church, and to us the fundamental Christian prayer: the
“Our Father.” Jesus wants us to keep asking, to continue knocking at the door, and to never give up. Persistence in prayer will ultimately align our hearts to that of God’s.
I extend my warmest, heartfelt welcome to Dr. Erikson Wikstrom, Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Orlando. We will hear about her dedication to Catholic school education this weekend, with a primary focus on St. Mary’s School in Rockledge and its dire need of our assistance. I humbly ask you to open your hearts to her message and be generous in helping St. Mary’s School. Thank you, Dr. Erikson, for all that you do for the spread of Catholic school education.
I am extremely grateful to Jennifer Hera who has served our community as bulletin editor and, recently, as our Communications Coordinator. She was on staff from Sept 2023 to July 18, 2025 and is now leaving us to pursue higher studies and to attend to her ailing father. Jen has served St. John’s with love and dedication. Please join me in thanking her and wishing her all the best, as we will certainly miss her.
Brian Kelly has now joined our staff, making the transition with Jen and taking over her responsibilities. Brian is a recent college graduate and delighted to be part of our team. I extend my warmest welcome to Brian and hope that his contributions to our parish community will bring joy not only to him but to all of us. A
hearty welcome to you, Brian.
Congratulations to Susan Answay, recipient of the Family of the Month Award for July 2025. Susan is one of our original parishioners and has done amazing works through her involvement with so many of our ministries. I thank her most especially for coordinating the EMHC ministry. Thank you, Susan, for your presence with us.
With Love,
Fr. John
Let us now continue reading Spes Non Confundit, “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025, titled “Pilgrims of Hope.” We pick up where we left off last weekend:
5. This interplay of hope and patience makes us see clearly that the Christian life is a journey calling for moments of greater intensity to encourage and sustain hope as the constant companion that guides our steps towards the goal of our encounter with the Lord Jesus. I like to think that the proclamation of the first Jubilee, in the year 1300, was preceded by a journey of grace inspired by popular spirituality. How can we fail to recall the various ways by which the grace of forgiveness had been poured out upon God’s holy and faithful People? We are reminded, for example, of the great “Pardon” that Saint Celestine V granted to all those who visited the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in Aquila on the 28th and 29th days of August 1294, six years before Pope Boniface VIII instituted the Holy Year. The Church was already experiencing the grace of the Jubilee as an out pouring of divine mercy. Even earlier, in 1216, Pope Honorius III granted the plea of Saint Francis for an indulgence for all those visiting the Porziuncola on the first two days of August.
The same can be said of the pilgrimage to Santiagode Compostela: in 1222, Pope Callistus II allowed the Jubilee to be celebrated there whenever the Feast of the Apostle James fell on a Sunday. It is good that such “dispersed” celebrations of the Jubilee continue, so that the power of God’s 3 forgiveness can support and accompany communities and individuals on their pilgrim way. To be continued …
Dear friends, This weekend, we celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and our readings are all about the virtue of hospitality. Our first reading, from the Book of Genesis presents the story of how Abraham graciously hosts three unknown visitors who were passing by his home. In the Gospel of Luke (10: 38-42), we see the hospitality extended by Martha and Mary to Jesus and his disciples. Whenever I read these passages, I remember my mom who, despite the economic hardships of our life, would generously receive people at our home and serve them graciously, even if all she could offer was a cup of coffee or tea. I often see a similar graciousness shining in the lives of members of our parish. I am enormously grateful to the many of you who have been so gracious to both Father Martin, and me going out of your way to show your love and blessing us with your generosity. Let us pray for this virtue of hospitality in all that we say and do. Let us always remember the famous line, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it”. (Hebrews 13:2) It is good to be back from our astonishing pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Thank you for your prayers for our safety. We prayed daily for each and everyone of our St. John’s families. Please be sure to ask our pilgrims about their experiences. We have a few more weeks to take advantage of the summer break. If you are preparing to travel before the end of summer, don’t forget— you still need to pack lots of patience, as you will surely need it. And one more thing: Summer travel doesn’t mean pressing “pause” on your Catholic faith! You still need to profess your faith in word and deed and participate in the celebration of Mass at one of the Catholic churches that may be found anywhere in the world. As I mentioned last week, the Brother André Golf Tournament will be one of the kick-off events for the parish’s Silver Jubilee Year. The tournament will be held on Saturday, 13 September at the Duran Golf Course. This is the first opportunity to come together to celebrate our parish family—you can sign up to play or just come for the catered picnic lunch. Thanks to Paco Farach and David Tomczak for spearheading this event. We need many volunteers to staff and assist with the tournament and related activities, so please contact Paco if you can help out—his contact information is on page three, along with a QR code through which you can register to play, attend the picnic lunch, sponsor a hole, or be involved in one of the many aspects of hosting this event. Thank you in advance for all your help! As described in last week’s bulletin, sign-up for the yearlong Vocations Prayer Challenge will begin in August, and the first week of prayers will begin on 7 September 2025. This is a program in which individual parishioners and parish families are invited to commit a week to praying for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially within the Congregation of Holy Cross. See page eight for a snapshot of how the program works. We will provide more detailed information at the beginning of August. Let us now continue reading Spes Non Confundit, “Hope Does Not Disappoint.” This papal document was written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025 titled “Pilgrims of Hope.” We pick up now where we left off last weekend: With Love, Fr. John 4. Saint Paul is a realist. He knows that life has its joys and sorrows, that love is tested amid trials, and that hope can falter in the face of suffering. Even so, he can write: “We boast in our sufferings, 2 knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Rom 5:3-4). For the Apostle, trials and tribulations mark the lives of those who preach the Gospel amid incomprehension and persecution (cf. 2 Cor 6:3-10). Yet in those very contexts, beyond the darkness we glimpse a light: we come to realize that evangelization is sustained by the power flowing from Christ’s cross and resurrection. In this way, we learn to practice a virtue closely linked to hope, namely patience. In our fast-paced world, we are used to wanting everything now. We no longer have time simply to be with others; even families find it hard to get together and enjoy one another’s company. Patience has been put to flight by frenetic haste, and this has proved detrimental, since it leads to impatience, anxiety and even gratuitous violence, resulting in more unhappiness and self- centredness. Nor is there much place for patience in this age of the Internet, as space and time yield to an ever-present “now”. Were we still able to contemplate creation with a sense of awe, we might better understand the importance of patience. We could appreciate the changes of the seasons and their harvests, observe the life of animals and their cycles of growth, and enjoy the clarity of vision of Saint Francis. In his Canticle of the Creatures, written exactly eight hundred years ago, Francis saw all creation as a great family and could call the sun his “brother” and the moon his “sister”. [2] A renewed appreciation of the value of patience could only prove beneficial for ourselves and for others. Saint Paul often speaks of patience in the context of our need for perseverance and confident trust in God’s promises. Yet, before all else, he testifies to God’s own patience, as “the God of all patience and encouragement” ( Rom 15:5). Patience, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, sustains our hope and strengthens it as a virtue and a way of life. May we learn to pray frequently for the grace of patience, which is both the daughter of hope and at the same time its firm foundation. To be continued… [2] Cf. Fonti Francescane, No. 263, 6.10.
Dear friends, This weekend, we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. At a time when our country is so deeply divided, the Gospel of Luke (10: 25-37), with the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan, challenges us to put aside division and learn to love everyone. We must ask ourselves: How can I overcome divisions and hatred and infuse my life and the lives of those around me with the spirit of Christ? How can I apply merciful love in all the circumstances in my life that cry out for it? The 4th of July celebration at our parish was splendid, with many prayer opportunities as well as great food, fun, and fireworks. We even extended the fun through Sunday so that our children could play in the bounce house and on the slide. We were blessed with a wonderful group of people who stepped up to assist Justin and Amanda Libak with this event. Thanks to all who pitched in. I am also grateful to Miller’s Ale House for sponsoring the hot dogs and for covering the cost of the bounce house, the slide, and the face painting stations. If you stop by Miller’s Ale House, please tell them you are from St. John’s and appreciate their generosity! The peak of summer break is upon us, and I know many of you will be traveling. Summer travel doesn’t mean that you press “pause” on your Catholic faith. Wherever you are in the world, you are still called to practice your faith and to locate a Catholic church at which to celebrate Mass on Sunday, at the very least. Please continue to remain faithful to our Lord wherever you may go. The Brother André Golf Tournament will help kick off our parish’s Silver Jubilee year. It will be held on Saturday, 13 September, at the Duran Golf Course. This is a great opportunity to come together to celebrate our parish family – you can sign up to play or just come for the catered picnic lunch. Thanks to Paco Farach and David Tomczak for spearheading this event. We need many volunteers to for supporting this event! You may remember that I announced last week another Silver Jubilee event: a year-long parish dedication to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially within the Congregation of Holy Cross. Called the “Vocation Prayer Challenge,” this will be similar to the parish’s previous “Elijah Cup” and “St. John’s Cup” vocation prayer efforts. Sign- up will begin in August, and the first week of the challenge will begin on 7 September. You will hear more about this in the coming weeks. Let us now continue reading Spes Non Confundit, “Hope does dot disappoint,” written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, “Pilgrims of Hope.” It is an appropriate reflection as our St. John’s group of pilgrim visits the holy sites in Croatia and those of the apparitions in Medjugorje. Please pray for us; we will certainly pray for you. Let us turn now to where we left off with Spes Non Confundit last weekend. 3. Hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the cross: “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life” (Rom 5:19). That life becomes manifest in our own life of faith, which begins with Baptism, develops in openness to God’s grace and is enlivened by a hope constantly renewed and confirmed by the working of the Holy Spirit. By his perennial presence in the life of the pilgrim Church, the Holy Spirit illumines all believers with the light of hope. He keeps that light burning, like an ever-burning lamp, to sustain and invigorate our lives. Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or the sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” ( Rom 8:35.37-39). Here we see the reason why this hope perseveres in the midst of trials: founded on faith and nurtured by charity, it enables us to press forward in life. As Saint Augustine observes: “Whatever our state of life, we cannot live without these three dispositions of the soul, namely, to believe, to hope and to love”. [1] To be continued … [1] Serm. 198 augm. 2
Dear friends, After six straight Sundays of celebrating the most solemn mysteries of our amazing Catholic faith, we now enter into a period of ordinary Sundays. On this 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 10, presents a beautiful scene: Jesus sends 72 men on a mission to prepare the people for his coming. They return overjoyed because they have experienced life-changing transformations in the lives of the people among whom they were sent, including, the witness of demons fleeing from them. This is the beauty of working for the Lord, a beauty that we, too, will experience when we work for the Lord with total commitment. Our second annual 4th of July celebration was wonderful! We celebrated not only the historical event that gifted us with freedom but also the gift of our St. John the Evangelist family. I am deeply grateful to Justin and Amanda for managing the entire effort and to the Kitchen Crew and other volunteers who helped make this day an amazing experience. A special thanks to our Brother Knights for managing the parking. And thanks to each of you who contributed drinks, tablecloths, games, cookies, and other items. I wish to preview here another Silver Jubilee event: a year-long parish dedication to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially within the Congregation of Holy Cross. Called the Vocations Prayer Challenge, this event will be similar to the parish’s previous “Elijah Cup” and “St. John’s Cup” vocation prayer efforts. Sign-up will begin in August, and the first week of prayers will begin on 7 September 2025. You will hear more about this during Mass and in the bulletin beginning next week. Please join me in congratulating Fr. Jim Preskenis, C.S.C., on his Golden Jubilee of Priesthood. Fr. Jim was ordained to the priesthood in the Congregation of Holy Cross on March 22, 1975, with the motto: Know, Love, and Serve God. Fr. Jim served as a chaplain in the United States Air Force for 10 years, as the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in South Easton, MA, and also at Sacred Heart/St. Francis de Sales Parish in Bennington, VT. This was where I had the opportunity to serve as a deacon for seven months and as a priest for one year. After his full-time ministry, Fr. Jim moved into our Holy Cross senior men’s residence in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Whenever I needed a priest, Fr. Jim was always there to help us with Masses and confession. He has been a great brother to me. I would like to thank him for his priestly ministry and congratulate him for his steadfast commitment to serving the Lord. Fr. Jim will celebrate the 4.30 p.m. Mass on Sunday, 6 July 2025; we will use that opportunity to again thank God for his ministry. Let us now continue reading Spes Non Confundit, “Hope does not disappoint,” written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 titled “Pilgrims of Hope.” We pick up where we left off last weekend. With Love, Fr John A word of hope 2. “Since we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God… Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:1-2.5). In this passage, Saint Paul gives us much to reflect upon. We know that the Letter to the Romans marked a decisive turning point in his work of evangelization. Until then, he had carried out his activity in the eastern part of the Empire, but now he turns to Rome and all that Rome meant in the eyes of the world. Before him lay a great challenge, which he took up for the sake of preaching the Gospel, which knows no barriers or confines. The Church of Rome was not founded by Paul, yet he felt impelled to hasten there in order to bring to everyone the Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, a message of hope that fulfils the ancient promises, leads to glory and, grounded in love, does not disappoint. To be continued …
Dear friends, The long list of solemnities is not over yet, with this weekend’s bonus of Saints Peter and Paul. It is a solemnity which is celebrated by the Church every 29 June but only occasionally on a Sunday. This is indeed a gift, because our whole Church family gets to celebrate together two foundational characters, true pillars of the Church. It is important for us to see why and how St. Paul is joined with St. Peter for this celebration. In the Scripture readings provided for our reflection this weekend, we hear how St. Peter was miraculously rescued from the prison into which he had been thrown by Herod. We also hear how St. Paul, in his turn, is protected time and again from his vicious enemies. Despite the many attempts to silence them both, they continue to boldly proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Through them, the Church shows us how we as disciples of Jesus are called even today to proclaim unabashedly in word and deed that Jesus is truly the Son of the living God. On the 4th of July, we will gather once again as a parish to celebrate the gift of freedom we have received through the blessing of living in this country. What a privilege to be able to gather as a community here at St. John’s to celebrate this holiday! We will have a Mass and Rosary followed by food, festivities, fellowship and fireworks! See page eight of the bulletin to RSVP for this event. We extend a huge thanks to Justin and Amanda Libak for their devotion in making sure our remembrance of this day is a true tribute and great fun. We are now fully into the summer season, which I believe is a wonderful time for us to study one of the key papal documents marking the Jubilee Year. We will do this in small doses so that we can savor the richness of our Catholic tradition and the depth, power, and potency of our faith. Let us now begin at the beginning of Spes Non Confundit, “Hope does not disappoint,” the papal bull written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 with the title, “Pilgrims of Hope.” Let us begin! With Love, Fr. John SPES NON CONFUNDIT BULL OF INDICTION OF THE ORDINARY JUBILEE OF THE YEAR 2025 FRANCIS BISHOP OF ROME SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD TO ALL WHO READ THIS LETTER MAY HOPE FILL YOUR HEARTS 1. SPES NON CONFUNDIT. “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5). In the spirit of hope, the Apostle Paul addressed these words of encouragement to the Christian community of Rome. Hope is also the central message of the coming Jubilee that, in accordance with an ancient tradition, the Pope proclaims every twenty-five years. My thoughts turn to all those pilgrims of hope who will travel to Rome in order to experience the Holy Year and to all those others who, though unable to visit the City of the Apostles Peter and Paul, will celebrate it in their local Churches. For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” (cf. Jn 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope” (1 Tim 1:1). Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt. Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness. For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope. God’s word helps us find reasons for that hope. Taking it as our guide, let us return to the message that the Apostle Paul wished to communicate to the Christians of Rome. To be continued …
Dear friends, The culmination of a secession of the foundational mysteries of our Catholic faith is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, known to us in the West as Corpus Christi Sunday. It is the day when we recognize, celebrate, venerate, and worship the Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. This solemnity encourages us to profess, adore, and grow in love of our Eucharistic Lord, thereby deepening Eucharistic devotion throughout the Church. As you know, celebrating the Lord’s Body and Blood began at the Last Supper and continues to be celebrated at every Holy Mass. However, the formal feast of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) began in 1246 in the Diocese of Liege in Belgium. It was extended to the wider Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264. The feast incorporates texts composed by Saint Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican priest who lived from 1225 to 1274. St. Thomas was commissioned by Pope Urban to compose a special Office of Readings and hymns for this feast. It is from these that we have the two most well-known Eucharistic songs: Pange Lingua, which contains the beautiful Tantum Ergo,) and O Salutaris Hostia, which we regularly use at our Masses and Benedictions here at St. John’s. The Solemnity of Corpus Christi occurs on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday, two weeks after Pentecost Sunday. It is designed to honor and celebrate the second person of the Trinity, our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, by affirming him as really, truly, and substantially present in the consecrated bread and wine at Mass. Christ’s Real Presence comes to us at every Mass through the act which the Church calls “transubstantiation” (change of substance). This occurs when, at the consecration, the priest says the words that Christ himself pronounced over bread and wine, “This is My Body,” “This is the chalice of My Blood,” “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Corpus Christi Sunday calls us to focus on two manifestations of the Body of Christ— in the Holy Eucharist and in the Church. At every Mass, our attention is called to the Eucharist and the Real Presence of Christ in it. But the Body of Christ is also present in the Church. The Church is called the Body of Christ because of the intimate communion that Jesus shares with his disciples. This is foreshadowed in the gospels through the image of Christ as the vine and his believers as the branches. It is made explicit in the letters of St. Paul who says, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it” (1 Corinthians 12:17), and “[the Father] put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way” (Ephesians 1:22-23). This image helps keep in focus both the unity and the diversity of the Church. In most places, the Feast of Corpus Christi is an opportunity for public Eucharistic processions which serve as a sign of common faith and adoration. It is a public act of worship. I have been hesitant to do it at our parish because of the heat here in June. However, I really would like to have a Eucharistic procession next year during our Silver Jubilee celebration. I invite those who are interested to become part of a team to organize the procession. Please let me know if you would like to do this. It is a great way for you to bless our community here at St. John’s. Coming together to publicly declare our worship of Jesus in His Real Presence is a way of offering God our Father a pledge of undivided love. It also is an offering of ourselves in service to others. The 300 tickets for REBOOT! that were set aside at a discounted price have been sold! We are now opening registration to other parishes and cities in the area. I truly hope many more of our parishioners will register for this life-changing event with Christ Stefanick on Wednesday, 1 October 2025. Chris is undeniably one of the most gifted, powerful, and passionate Catholic speakers of the day. The REBOOT! experience has proven to change lives by reenergizing and renewing the faith life of those who attend. May your coming week be glorious! With Love, Fr. John
Dear friends, We have been celebrating a number of amazing Church mysteries and solemnities since the Solemnity of the Ascension. This weekend, we celebrate the basic and fundamental mystery of the Church and our faith: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Our attempt to understand any mystery is, in the end (and regardless of our efforts), essentially futile, and for none is this more true than the mystery of the Holy Trinity. This is the most mesmerizing and confounding of all the mysteries. As Tim Staples says, “Are we claiming that there are three Gods or are we teaching a logical contradiction such as saying 3 = 1, and 1=3?” As he seeks to answer this question, Staples says: The council of Florence (AD 1338-1445) taught that there is one nature in God, and that there are two processions, three persons, and four relations that constitute the Blessed Trinity. The Son “proceeds” from the Father, and the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son.” These are the two processions in God. And these are foundational to the four relations that constitute the three persons in God. These are those four eternal relations in God: The Father actively and eternally generates the Son, constituting the person of God, the Father. The Son is passively generated of the Father, which constitutes the person of the Son. The Father and the Son actively spirate the Holy Spirit in the one relation within the inner life of God that does not constitute a person. It does not do so because the Father and Son are already constituted as persons in relation to each other in the first two relations. This is why CCC 240 teaches, “[The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity] is Son only in relation to his Father. The Holy Spirit is passively spirated of the Father and the Son, constituting the person of the Holy Spirit. I guess now you can understand why it is better to leave the mystery to itself. Rather, it suffices to say, “I believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Shifting to a more practical issue: For quite some time, we have been unable to use the automatic door opener designed for those for whom the church doors are too heavy to open or who are using assistive devices that make opening the door especially difficult. But now, thanks to the creative mind and expertise of parishioner Richard Krassowsky who, as our electrical engineer, volunteers hours and hours of his time to both solving and fixing our electrical issues. Richard created for us a remote that allows us to turn on the automatic door-opening system. We are now able to keep it working during office hours and whenever we are celebrating the liturgy or having another function in the church. Thank you, Richard, and your lovely wife Mirian, for devoting your time and expertise to us. Our Vacation Bible School (VBS 2025) adventure “True North - Trusting Jesus in a Wild World,” held from Monday, 9 June to Friday, 13 June, was both exciting and meaningful for all the kids (and teens!) who attended. I was so thrilled to see our children having a great time and learning amazing lessons about trusting Jesus at all times, no matter the circumstances in our lives. I am most grateful to Natasha Mikse for volunteering to lead this year’s VBS experience as well as to John Moster, Gail Sullivan, and Art Hudson for their commitment to bringing to life the entire concept of “True North.” They worked many months to make this year’s VBS a worthwhile experience for our children. Thanks also to Kelli Salceda and Schonda Rodriguez for their guidance and to the many volunteers who attended to the multitude of activities and needs of the program, including the kitchen ministry team led by Denise Uram for ensuring our children were well fed. Finally, thank you to all who donated so many items for this year’s VBS. This weekend, we take time to celebrate our fathers, foster fathers, adopted fathers, grandfathers, spiritual fathers, and all who have been fathers to us. Father’s Day offers us a magnificent occasion to thank God for the irreplaceable role our fathers play in the life of the family, the domestic church. They are the ones called to imitate St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family and model of fatherly virtues, in their fidelity to the tasks entrusted to them. Like St. Joseph, they are here to protect and safeguard the family. Through his example and prayers, may fathers be strengthened to live their vocation with faith, love, and steadfast commitment, embracing their sacred role in forming their children and safeguarding the dignity of life. Thanks to those who have bought their tickets for REBOOT!, hosted by Chris Stefanick on Wednesday, 1 October 2025. Soon, we will be opening our ticket sales to other parishes. I wish more of our parishioners would avail themselves of this opportunity, as Chris is undeniably one of the most gifted, powerful, and passionate Catholic speakers of the day. This REBOOT! event is guaranteed to change lives by reenergizing and renewing our faith life. You can still purchase your tickets at our parish. As of now, we only have 25 more that will be offered at the discounted price of $30. With Love, Fr. John
Dear friends, We were blessed to celebrate a Confirmation Mass on Saturday, 7 June, during which 39 of our teens and seven adults were confirmed by Bishop John Noonan. Congratulations to all who received the gifts of the Holy Spirit at their confirmation. It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in the liturgical year, the weekend of Pentecost. I would like to thank the parents for their commitment toward ensuring the ongoing gift of faith formation to their children, especially their teenagers. I am most grateful to Schonda and Ronnie Rodriguez and their team of volunteers for their tremendous efforts in passing on the faith to these youth. In addition, I thank the kitchen ministry and, most especially, the team of parents who were engaged in cooking meals for our children on Sundays through the Carlos Acutis Teen Nourishment ministry led by Kelly Rosas. The celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost reminds us of that day on which the Holy Spirit most powerfully demonstrated his presence by the pouring forth of his gifts to over 3000 people gathered together. Pentecost changed their lives! It was the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise when he said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1: 1-11). This is the event we continue to commemorate as the birthday of the Church. Ever since that day, the Holy Spirit has been active in leading the Church and in continuing to bring people to the fountain of baptism. Even today, God is active through the power of the Holy Spirit in setting the hearts of many of the faithful on fire with His love, strength, and grace. Through the daily occurrence of Pentecost that we experience in the celebration of the sacraments, God continues to enable us to be powerful instruments of His transforming grace … if only we allow Him. One of the easier ways to be open to receiving the presence of the Holy Spirit is to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Or, you can use the following prayer: “Lord, send forth Your Spirit in my life and set me on fire with the Gifts of Your Spirit. Holy Spirit, I invite You to take possession of my soul. Come Holy Spirit, come and transform my life. Holy Spirit, I trust in You.” Pentecost also signals the end of the Easter season. As a sign that the Easter season has come to an end, we will carry the Easter candle in procession at the end of the Pentecost Mass from the sanctuary to the baptismal Font where it will remain for the rest of the liturgical year. Beginning on the Monday following Pentecost, we will resume Ordinary Time with the tenth week, and it will continue until we begin the First Sunday of Advent on 29 November 2025. We will move from singing Regina Caeli to praying the Angelus during this time. White vestments will give way to green vestments, with the exception of feast days. Also, on the Monday following Pentecost, the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, a decree issued by Pope Francis in 2018. To honor our Mother, we will have a special Mass at 7 p.m. on Monday, 9 June at the Grotto. I encourage those who have yet to purchase tickets for Chris Stefanick’s visit on Wednesday, 1 October to do so soon. He is a gifted, powerful speaker and a passionate, faithful disciple of the Lord whose presentation REBOOT! can change lives by reenergizing and renewing our faith life. Chris is also a commentator, internationally acclaimed author, producer of films and documentaries, and a committed husband and caring father. To learn more about Chris and hear the good news he shared at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress, scan the provided QR code or click the following link: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=LccklgQU8SA. Remember, the first 300 tickets purchased are being offered at a discounted price. May your coming week be glorious! With Love, Fr. John
Dear friends, Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. This solemnity should occur 40 days after the Resurrection, which would be the Thursday after the Sixth Sunday of Easter. However, most dioceses in the U.S. have moved it to the Seventh Sunday so all can celebrate together this awesome and solemn truth of our faith. The truth is this: Our Lord Jesus, after spending 40 days with His disciples and others after His Resurrection, finally ascends to heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. This means that the crucified and risen Son of Man is now victoriously enthroned as King of Heaven and Earth —a huge advantage and of great significance for us as humans. Because of His Ascension, Pope Benedict XVI says, “Man henceforth finds room in God forever.” He goes on to say that through the Ascension, “We draw close to Heaven; indeed, we enter Heaven to the extent that we draw close to Jesus and enter into communion with him.” Our readings for this great solemnity speak of how Jesus promises to send His Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to guide the Church. He instructs the disciples to go forth and engage the world, gathering all within the embrace of their evangelizing mission. Let us rejoice knowing that Jesus is with our Father in heaven, interceding for us and continuing to be with us through the animating presence of the Holy Spirit. Thanks to all who graciously participated in our recent fundraising efforts. These included the Blaze Pizza dinner, the Make-Your-Own Sundae movie event, and the Spaghetti dinner. Congratulations to John and Holly Russo and their sons Maximilian, Alexander, and Leo, recipients of the Family of the Month award for May 2025. I thank them for their dedication and commitment to our parish family and for their involvement with our ministries. What a blessing they are! I would like you to become aware of the huge impact that Chris Stefanick’s visit on 1 October will have on our parish and the surrounding communities. He is a gifted, powerful speaker and a passionate, faithful disciple of the Lord whose presentation REBOOT!, can change lives by reenergizing and renewing our faith life. Besides presenting this remarkable program, Chris is a commentator, author, producer of films and documentaries, and a committed husband and caring father. There will be a high demand for tickets to his presentation, as it is being advertised in all the area’s parishes. So, please make your ticket purchases soon. Remember: the first 300 tickets are offered at a discounted price. I am truly looking forward to this amazing and transforming experience. Have a glorious week ahead! With love, Fr. John
Dear Friends, We celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter this weekend. The Gospel of John presents one of the beautiful conversation between Jesus and his disciples in which He speaks of His pending crucifixion and His ascension to His Father. He promises them that He will send the Holy Spirit. All of this must have been puzzling to them; however, through this intimate discourse, He reveals the unbreakable unity of the Trinity's three persons. Love is the bond that unites them. Jesus wants us to partake of this love. He invites his disciples to love Him and, through Him, to come to know His Father and the Spirit. When you get one, you get three. Wow, what a blessing it is to fall in love with Jesus! Let us keep mulling over this passage from John 14:23: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him.” Our parish is filled with so many people from various parts of the world. Their presence and integration into the life of our parish family are a true illustration of what it means to be Catholic. I plan to celebrate our community’s rich cultural diversity by gathering with our parishioners from different countries and discussing with them the possibility of creating a new ministry. I will start with our families from Brazil. Please come to Holy Cross Hall on Tuesday, 24 June at 7 p.m . Monica Gusman will coordinate this gathering. She can be reached at Ni98@yahoo.com.br . Next, I invite our families from the Filipino community to come to Holy Cross Hall on Thursday, 3 July 2025 , at 7 p.m. Chan Grason will coordinate this gathering. She can be reached at etienne1218@gmail.com . I have spoken to you about the Silver Jubilee of our parish and about our plan to make this year meaningful and memorable. As a gift to our community, I wish to offer to sacramentalize the marriages of those who, for various reasons, were not married in the Catholic Church. I know the pain experienced by our parishioners who cannot participate in the Eucharistic banquet because of this. The Eucharist is what makes us Catholics. We all know that it is the irreplaceable sustenance for our spiritual health. I say to you, wait no longer. Do not deprive yourself of the greatest gift the Lord created for us. Accept this gift. Please come forward and address this issue which you may have placed in the closet for however long and whatever reasons. We will at least give it a try. I want you to know I deeply care about you and your spiritual welfare. Take this as a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit. Let us begin. I have known couples who waited for many, many years before taking this step and who succeeded in their efforts. God longs for you to receive these same graces, and I long to help. To begin, we have set up a special meeting. If you and your spouse or partner were not married in the Catholic Church, please come to our informational meeting on Thursday, 24 July at 6:00 p.m. in Holy Cross Hall. Carolina Breton, Regional Advocate from the Orlando Diocese Tribunal, will make a short presentation on how you can have a sacramental marriage. Fr. Martin, Carolina, and I will be available to help you begin the process. Because we need to know how many are coming, please RSVP by calling the office (321-637-9650) and speaking to Kelli or by emailing her at ksalceda@stjohnviera.org . Have a magnificent week ahead! With love, Fr. John
Dear friends, What a relief ... finally!!! The time of anticipation, conjecture, speculation, prediction, and prayer is over. The whole world was glued to their televisions, computers, and mobile devices as they keenly followed the progress of the conclave. On Thursday, 8 May 2025, we were overjoyed to hear this proclamation from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti: Annuntio vobis gaudium: HABEMUS PAPAM (I announce to you a great joy: WE HAVE A POPE.). We have a new Holy Father to lead the Church, Pope Leo XIV. Thanks be to God for this good news! I am thrilled and grateful for many reasons, some of which are: He is the 267th successor of St. Peter. He is the first American pope in the Church’s history, born and raised in Chicago. He is a religious priest of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) and, as prior general, traveled to over 50 countries to visit their missions around the world. In this connection he even visited India, and there is much rejoicing at the parishs where the Augustinians serve in India. He was a missionary in Peru and thus knows what it is to bring hope beyond borders of every sort, the call of this Year of Mission in the Congregation of Holy Cross. "Peace be with all of you!" were the first words of Pope Leo XIV. That speaks volumes about his good intent to be a shepherd for the whole world. Robert Francis Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1981. This is a moment of historical significance and an opportunity for hope in the spiritual renewal for the Church in the United States as well as the universal Church. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community, along with the world, rejoices because of this gracious gift from God. I can’t even begin to imagine the weight of this cross on his shoulders. Therefore, let us not be like the rest of the world in judging him. Let us not try to fit him into our political categories of left or right. Let us, instead, transcend the narrow confines of seeing everything through a political lens. Let us commit to offering prayers for our new Shepherd, as he will need them far more than our judgment and criticism. We held the first Thanksgiving Mass for the gift of our new pope with our faith formation children and their parents on the same day of his election, Thursday, 8 May, at 6:00 p.m. A second Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, 13 May, at 7:00 p.m. at the Grotto. On the Fifth Sunday of Easter, we are invited to focus on the first reading which, during the Easter season, is taken from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 14:21-27 speaks about the tremendous work of evangelization undertaken by Paul and Barnabas despite monumental opposition from their adversaries. The text tells us that they moved from one town to another, strengthening the spirits of the disciples and exhorting them to persevere in the faith. God’s grace was poured out on those who heeded the words of these two amazing men, thus increasing the number of fervent disciples ready to endure any hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. I wish that our faith might be so enflamed with zeal for God that we, likewise, are willing to persevere in living our faith, especially when it is inconvenient. Are you planning to get married or have your marriage convalidated? Then you need to know the following : It is of great importance that you give us at least six (6) months to a year to work with you before the desired date of your wedding. There are many logistics to work out and paperwork requirements that are often out of our hands. Whether time-consuming or not, these requirements must be met before we can proceed with your wedding. We will guide and help you meet all such requirements, but know that these things take time. Please help us to serve you well by following these basic requirements : Make an appointment to meet with me first before setting any dates. If you are planning to have your wedding ceremony in any other church, you will need to meet with me at least a year before you plan to marry. Marriage in a church other than your home parish involves, besides the usual preparation steps for the couple, the sending of all necessary paperwork from us to our diocese and from our diocese to the diocese where the wedding is to take place. You must be a registered and participating member of St. John’s for at least one year before we can begin to work with you on your wedding. Have an amazing week ahead! With love, Fr. John