Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 5, 2025

Dear friends, “Do not forget the works of the Lord!” I am profoundly grateful to God for all that he continues to do in our lives. My heart also overflows with gratitude to you, my dear family of St. John’s, as we echo the psalmist in response to our Jubilee Prayer: “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own!” (Psalm 33). I am so grateful to all who helped with the organization of our inaugural celebration. I want to thank Sandy Samuel for overseeing the Jubilee committees and Jason and Yleem Pobletes for their coordination of the 11 a.m. Mass with Bishop Noonan, including their preparation of the program to commemorate the day. In addition, I add special thanks to them for securing the “Peace Light” from the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, an eternal flame from the birthplace of our Lord and Savior which now burns brightly in our sanctuary. Many thanks to the choir, the kitchen crew and Justin and Amanda Libak and family for taking charge of all the picnic−related items and feeding over 1000 folks, and to each of you for your contributions/donations to our opening celebration. It is my fervent hope that all parishioners will join in as we give honor, praise, and glory to our God. Bishop Noonan’s uplifting message set the tone for a continued spirit of evangelization at SJE in bringing the love of Jesus to others. Fr. Emmanuel Kallarackal, our Vicar General from Rome, represented the entire family of Holy Cross, and his note of congratulations, best wishes, and prayers was greatly appreciated. As a fitting conclusion to our opening celebration, we honored our Lord for his Divine Presence with us in the Blessed Sacrament with 40 unbroken hours of adoration. The 11 a.m. Mass can be viewed on our website: https://www.youtube.com/live/CIN−uS_4T7A. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Fr. James Martin Nobles, O.P., a friar of the Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres (Southern Province) and the Provincial Promoter for the Laity. He will preside at the 11 a.m. Mass this weekend and receive four new members from our parish as candidates of the Lay Dominican Order. He will also witness the “temporary promise” of three candidates. In addition, we welcome Mrs. Donna Farrell−Pellisier, O.P., Provincial Secretary of the Lay Dominicans. Two of our newest ministries are up and running, the SJE Mom’s Ministry and Seedlings of Hope. Our St. Monica Ministry will launch on Friday, 26 September at 7 p.m. We invite all mothers whose spouses and/or children have left the Catholic faith to join this movement of love for your families. In addition, I invite all doctors, nurses, and medical professionals for a meeting on Tuesday, 30 September at 6 p.m. to begin a ministry for their healing profession. Our world and our country are experiencing agonizing times as we witness frequent acts of violence born of hatred and division. Recently, we watched a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota in which two children were killed. We also witnessed the stabbing death of a young woman, Iryna Zarutska, in the subway of Charlotte, NC last month and, just a week ago, the heartbreaking assassination of Charlie Kirk and the deep sense of loss experienced by his wife and young children. He was a man who will be remembered for his courageous faith. Bishop Barron noted that Charlie “was indeed a great debater and one of the best advocates in our country for civil discourse, but he was, first and last, a passionate Christian.” He and the many others who have become victims of heartless violence have been robbed of every dream they and their parents and families might have had for them. We lift them up in prayer. These senseless incidents bring us to the painful realization that our country is infected with cancer, and I fear that we are in danger of losing her to it. There is so much deep−rooted animosity and a seemingly unfathomable divide. As Kelsey Reinhardt has noted: “That advanced cancer is evil, widespread, and metastasizing. The disease is not only political. It is spiritual. A culture without God will always end in confusion, division, and violence. But if we focus only on political solutions, we will not only be disappointed, we will fail. The root of our decline is spiritual – hate exists in the human heart.” Where are we as a nation? Where are we as a community of believers? The readings for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time offer some consolation for us. St. Paul Timothy 2:1−8 asks “that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone … that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1−8). In today’s gospel reading, Jesus affirms that “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Luke 16: 1−13). The cancer of violence, hatred, and division has its roots in our nation becoming increasingly God−less. In this year of our Silver Jubilee, let us renew our commitment to keeping God as our one and only Master. Let us pray for the healing of our fractured nation, and may this jubilee year bring us ever closer together and bind us as people chosen by the Lord, a people on a mission to transform lives through devotion to the Eucharist and love of neighbor. Let us shine courageously and cheerfully, embodying hope and a deep love for both ourselves and our communities. May ours truly be a “Journey of Grace, Faith, and Hope!” Have a blessed weekend! With Love, Fr. John

Dear friends, “Do not forget the works of the Lord!” I am profoundly grateful to God for all that he continues to do in our lives. My heart also overflows with gratitude to you, my dear family of St. John’s, as we echo the psalmist in response to our Jubilee Prayer: “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own!” (Psalm 33) I am so grateful to all who helped with the organization of our inaugural celebration. I want to thank Sandy Samuel for overseeing the Jubilee committees and Jason and Yleem Pobletes for their coordination of the 11 a.m. Mass with Bishop Noonan, including their preparation of the program to commemorate the day. In addition, I add special thanks to them for securing the “Peace Light” from the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, an eternal flame from the birthplace of our Lord and Savior which now burns brightly in our sanctuary. Many thanks to the choir, the kitchen crew and Justin and Amanda Libak and family for taking charge of all the picnic−related items and feeding over 1000 folks, and to each of you for your contributions/donations to our opening celebration. It is my fervent hope that all parishioners will join in as we give honor, praise, and glory to our God. Bishop Noonan’s uplifting message set the tone for a continued spirit of evangelization at SJE in bringing the love of Jesus to others. Fr. Emmanuel Kallarackal, our Vicar General from Rome, represented the entire family of Holy Cross, and his note of congratulations, best wishes, and prayers was greatly appreciated. As a fitting conclusion to our opening celebration, we honored our Lord for his Divine Presence with us in the Blessed Sacrament with 40 unbroken hours of adoration. The 11 a.m. Mass can be viewed on our website: https://www.youtube.com/live/CIN−uS_4T7A. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Fr. James Martin Nobles, O.P., a friar of the Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres (Southern Province) and the Provincial Promoter for the Laity. He will preside at the 11 a.m. Mass this weekend and receive four new members from our parish as candidates of the Lay Dominican Order. He will also witness the “temporary promise” of three candidates. In addition, we welcome Mrs. Donna Farrell−Pellisier, O.P., Provincial Secretary of the Lay Dominicans. Two of our newest ministries are up and running, the SJE Mom’s Ministry and Seedlings of Hope. Our St. Monica Ministry will launch on Friday, 26 September at 7 p.m. We invite all mothers whose spouses and/or children have left the Catholic faith to join this movement of love for your families. In addition, I invite all doctors, nurses, and medical professionals for a meeting on Tuesday, 30 September at 6 p.m. to begin a ministry for their healing profession. Our world and our country are experiencing agonizing times as we witness frequent acts of violence born of hatred and division. Recently, we watched a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota in which two children were killed. We also witnessed the stabbing death of a young woman, Iryna Zarutska, in the subway of Charlotte, NC last month and, just a week ago, the heartbreaking assassination of Charlie Kirk and the deep sense of loss experienced by his wife and young children. He was a man who will be remembered for his courageous faith. Bishop Barron noted that Charlie “was indeed a great debater and one of the best advocates in our country for civil discourse, but he was, first and last, a passionate Christian.” He and the many others who have become victims of heartless violence have been robbed of every dream they and their parents and families might have had for them. We lift them up in prayer. These senseless incidents bring us to the painful realization that our country is infected with cancer, and I fear that we are in danger of losing her to it. There is so much deep−rooted animosity and a seemingly unfathomable divide. As Kelsey Reinhardt has noted: “That advanced cancer is evil, widespread, and metastasizing. The disease is not only political. It is spiritual. A culture without God will always end in confusion, division, and violence. But if we focus only on political solutions, we will not only be disappointed, we will fail. The root of our decline is spiritual – hate exists in the human heart.” Where are we as a nation? Where are we as a community of believers? The readings for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time offer some consolation for us. St. Paul Timothy 2:1−8 asks “that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone … that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1−8). In today’s gospel reading, Jesus affirms that “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Luke 16: 1−13). The cancer of violence, hatred, and division has its roots in our nation becoming increasingly God−less. In this year of our Silver Jubilee, let us renew our commitment to keeping God as our one and only Master. Let us pray for the healing of our fractured nation, and may this jubilee year bring us ever closer together and bind us as people chosen by the Lord, a people on a mission to transform lives through devotion to the Eucharist and love of neighbor. Let us shine courageously and cheerfully, embodying hope and a deep love for both ourselves and our communities. May ours truly be a “Journey of Grace, Faith, and Hope!” Have a blessed weekend! With Love, Fr. John

Dear friends, Today, the grand opening weekend of our Silver Jubilee celebrations begins, and what a privilege it is for us to be part of this history-making event. A jubilee is the time to celebrate God’s faithfulness, and our theme, “Journey of Grace, Faith, and Hope,” profoundly reflects both how the hand of God has led us from the beginning and how He expects us to cooperate with HIS holy design through faith. It also expresses how our hope is anchored to HIM to carry us into the future where many may come to know of His divine providence. This parish family that God has assembled together in response to our jubilee prayer echoes the sentiments so beautifully expressed in Psalm 33: “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own.” St. John the Evangelist parish began on September 8, 2001, the Feast of the Nativity of our Mother Mary. We began in small ways with just 200 families and, during those initial days, experienced what it means to be a nomadic people. We had no place to call our own, moving from the Brevard County Government Center to the Faith Viera Lutheran Church for celebration of the sacraments until we could obtain land and build ourown parish hall and classrooms. We remember with much gratitude the Holy Cross priests who approached the diocese as well as the many bishops who supported our efforts and were instrumental in identifying this current location. We also remember the many parishioners who toiled long and hard to realize our dream of having a place of our own to call home. Lastly, we remember all those who have passed on to the Lord, including our founding pastors, Fr. Larryand Fr. Brad. This jubilee year is a clarion call for us to never forget the works of the Lord, as we sing joyfully in the responsorial psalm (78) for today. Unlike our ancestors in the desert who continuously complained without remembering the wonderful deeds done by the Lord when He rescued them from slavery in Egypt, we will remain faithful to Him, ever acknowledging His mercy. September 14th, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, happens to fall on a Sunday this year and, thereby, trumps the usual Ordinary Time Sunday observance. The name “Holy Cross” is fittingly very dear to the Congregation of Holy Cross, our motto being “Ave Crux, Spes Unica (Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope).” We acknowledge that through the cross is found our salvation. Just as Moses raised the bronze serpent on a pole, a symbol of healing for the people of Israel stricken by the poisonous serpents in the desert (Book of Numbers 21: 4-9), so Jesus was lifted upon a cross on Calvary, becoming our healing balm, the salve that provides eternal life. At the end of the grand opening of the Silver Jubilee Mass, we will have the opportunity to venerate the cross of Christ, the means for our salvation. A challenge is placed before us: Salvation is not a passive gift that we receive simply by looking at a crucifix; it is a gift that needs to be consciously received by us, and we are expected to work at transforming our lives through the demands the cross presents. This is the story of every saint in the Catholic Church. Each has responded actively to the gift offered by Jesus on the cross. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, canonized this past weekend, offer us profound testimony. They didn’t conform to the standards of the world but, in humility, acknowledged the supremacy of Jesus in their lives which, in turn, led to their transformation and lasting impact on their contemporaries. This was made possible by their unquenchable thirst for the Eucharist and their deepest desires to spend time in front of the Eucharistic Lord in adoration. We, too, will spend 40 hours in adoration at the beginning of this Silver Jubilee year as a sign of our acknowledgement that Jesus has been our focus and will continue to be the center of our lives. We will begin the 40-hour Adoration on Sunday, 14 September, after the 4.30 p.m. Mass and end on Tuesday, 16 September 16, at 10 a.m. Let us come together as a community blessed by the Lord and spend these holy hours in His presence. As our newly canonized 15-year-old St. Carlo Acutis said: “Jesus is my great friend and the Eucharist my highway to Heaven." This time of jubilee is also a time of celebration as a family, so we will come together to share bread together. Well, in our time, it will be hamburgers and hotdogs, our picnic menu. With delight, let us rejoice in the Lord’s work in our community. I am grateful to the amazing team of people who have been working for these past several months to plan for this yearlong celebration. I am especially grateful for the stupendous work accomplished by Sandy Samuel, Coordinator of the Silver Jubilee Committee, and the many talented, generous, and loving people serving on various committees. The celebration is just beginning, and there is more to come. This family of St. John the Evangelist can pray with all sincerity, “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own.” May this Silver Jubilee year bring us ever closer together and bind us as people chosen by the Lord, a people on a mission to transform our lives through devotion to the Eucharist and love of neighbor. May it truly be a “Journey of Grace, Faith, and Hope!” Have a blessed weekend! With Love, Fr. John

Dear friends, Pinch yourselves … YES, the long-awaited, yearlong celebration of our Silver Jubilee is here, as we begin the closing of 24 fruitful years and the beginning of this 25th year as the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community, a Journey of Grace, Faith, and Hope. To mark this great milestone on the weekend of 6/7 September, we will pray together the Jubilee Prayer composed for this occasion. We will also begin the Vocations Prayer Challenge during the 9 a.m. Mass. We all need to pray for more young men and women from our community to respond in service to the Lord as priests, brothers, deacons, and religious sisters. In addition, we will recognize our first ever “SJE St. Carlo Acutis Youth Service Award,” initiated by our own CCW. On 7 September in Rome, Pope Leo XIV will canonize Bl. Carlo Acutis and Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, two Italian laymen who will be the first saints proclaimed by our new pope elected on May 8, 2025. The canonization of Blessed Acutis, a teenager known for his devotion to the Eucharist and for creating an online exhibition of Eucharistic miracles, had originally been scheduled for 27 April during the Jubilee of Teenagers but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. Born in 1991 and raised in Milan, Blessed Acutis used his tech skills to evangelize and was noted for his joyful faith and compassion for others before dying of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Blessed Frassati, born in 1901 to a prominent family in Turin, Italy, was admired for his deep spirituality, love for the poor, and enthusiasm for life. A member of the Dominican Third Order, he served the sick through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He died at the age of 24 after contracting polio, possibly from one whom he assisted. I would like to draw your attention to next weekend when we will celebrate the Solemn Opening of the Silver Jubilee. On Sunday, 14 September, we will cancel the 7:15 and 9 a.m. Masses and will, instead, celebrate Mass at 8 a.m. to allow more time to get ready for the 11 a.m. Mass. Bishop John Noonan will preside at this Eucharistic Celebration, our grand opening Jubilee Mass. We are also privileged to have Fr. Emmanuel Kallarackal, C.S.C., Assistant Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, along with our Holy Cross confreres from the Cocoa Beach Community. During this liturgy, we will light the Jubilee Candle and the Eternal Flame from Bethlehem. After the Mass, we will celebrate with a parish picnic. If you plan to attend the picnic, please sign up using the QR code so we know how many will come for lunch. As an act of thanksgiving, we will begin 40 hours of Adoration shortly after the 4.30 p.m. Mass on Sunday. With genuine humility, we acknowledge that everything we have comes from the Lord. To Him be all the glory and honor! Please come anytime during these 40 hours to spend some time with our Lord. On this Twenty-Third Sunday in Year C, the Scripture readings focus on our need to make Jesus our priority. Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke (14: 25-33), “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” By saying this, Jesus is certainly not asking us to hate others or even to hate oneself. Rather, he is asking us to prefer Him over others and to prioritize him in all of our dealings. Jesus knows well enough that if HE becomes our priority, then our relationships with family members and others will thrive through the proper ordering of our actions and the choices we make. As we begin our Silver Jubilee year, let us pledge to keep Jesus at the center of all we will do. May our journey be filled with his grace. Have a blessed weekend! With Love, Fr. John

Dear friends, Unthinkable and incomprehensible and senseless act of violence was inflicted on innocent victims on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. This time it was a Catholic School. It was the first week of School at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. It was their first School Mass for the Academic Year when the 23-year-old assailant shot randomly at the children through a window. At least two children aged 8 and 10 were shot dead and 17 were injured. We are deeply saddened by this news and our hearts ache inconsolably at such mindless and cruel attacks on innocent helpless children. May their Souls Rest in the Peace of the Lord. Our prayers are with the families that have to deal with this horror. We are happy to announce that our religious education classes have begun for all grade levels, with over 400 students enrolled. As we continue to pass along our faith, many volunteers have responded to both teach and assist. Thank you! Our steady growth as a parish — while most certainly a blessing— is impacting availability of time and space throughout our campus. I will return to you soon with plans for future developments to address these concerns. Our Children’s Ministry during the 9 a.m. Mass has likewise grown into a vibrant and heart-warming avenue of participation. As an offshoot of this increased interest, we are rolling out a beautiful project called SJE Seedlings of Hope. The children of St. John’s will celebrate our Jubilee Year with a service-inspired children's club. Elementary-aged students are welcome to join this exciting new group where they will grow in their faith through Catholic social teachings and acts of service. Examples include acts of kindness, community service projects, and learning and practicing the Fruits of the Spirit. The SJE Seedlings of Hope will meet the second Tuesday of each month beginning on 9 September from 4-5 p.m. I encourage you to bring your children so they can be part of this amazing and fun- filled group designed to develop their sense of community at SJE. Since we couldn’t all be here for the grandparents day celebrated in honor of Saints Joachim and Anne on 26 July, we will be joining the national Grandparents Day on 7 September to honor the important role they play in families and in passing on their faith to the younger generations. We ask all of 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. Be prepared to begin the closing of 24 fruitful years and the beginning of this 25th year since the birth of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community. To commemorate this great milestone, we will begin with a soft opening of our Silver Jubilee on 7 September with the presentation of the Vocations Prayer Chalice during the 9 a.m. Mass, a beautiful way to begin the year. We all need to pray for more young men and women from our community to respond in service to the Lord as priests, brothers, deacons, and religious sisters. Next Sunday during the 9 a.m. Mass, we will begin with the presentation of the “Saint Carlo Acutis Youth Service Award.” This is an initiative begun by our SJE Council of Catholic Women (CCW) to encourage our youth to actively participate in parish life. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, will be canonized by Pope Leo XIVon 7 September. Thank you to those who generously responded to our request for “I pad/tablets,” for our music ministry. We will gladly put them to good use. Thank you for your generosity. Please do not forget that the Grand Opening of our Silver Jubilee will take place on Sunday, 14 September during the 11 a.m. Mass. Bishop John Noonanwill be with us. Following the Mass, we will host a picnic for which I request you to please signup so we can better prepare to serve you. Additionally, I request your assistance with donations of sodas, chips, and cookies. Chris Stefanick will visit us on Wednesday, 1 October for an evening of REBOOT. I most especially encourage our high school teens and young adults to join us, as this will be a life-changing experience for all in attendance. Tickets are now being sold for our amazing GALA event to be held on 18 October. This is a fundraising event, and seats are limited. It promises to be an exciting and relaxing evening under the shimmering moon. The Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us to reflect on the virtue of humility. Jesus points this out when he says in Luke 14: 10, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Each of us has personally experienced this. In presenting the example of a wedding banquet and the number of guests that have been invited, Jesus points out our desire to be exalted by being seated at noticeable places of honor. What a disappointment it will be if we are asked to be moved! Humility is a foundational virtue exemplified by the wisdom of so many saints, emphasizing self-knowledge as God sees us, the rejection of pride, and an acceptance of God's will. St. Augustine noted, “The way to Christ is first through humility, second through humility, third through humility.” Additionally, the book of Sirach in the first reading says, “My child, conduct your affairs with humility.” Let us then look for ways to conduct our affairs with humility. Be blessed! With Love, Fr. John

Dear friends, I begin by extending a warm welcome to Fr. Cyril Imohiosen from the Archdiocese of Arusha, Nigeria! Fr. Cyril is with us this weekend as part of the Mission Co-Operative offered by the Diocese of Orlando. There will be a second collection at all Masses, so please be generous. As always, thank you in advance! If you are writing a check, please make it out to St. John the Evangelist with “Mission” in the memo. Response to our Children’s Ministry during the 9 a.m. Mass has been tremendous, with active participation from both our children and their parents. The leadership team that supports this ministry would like to commemorate our silver jubilee in a special way with a beautiful project named SJE Seedlings of Hope. The children of St. John’s will celebrate our jubilee year with a service-inspired children's club. Elementary-aged students are welcome to join this exciting new group where they will grow in their faith with Catholic social teachings and acts of service. Examples include acts of kindness, community service projects, and learning and practicing the Fruits of the Spirit. The SJE Seedlings of Hope will meet the second Tuesday of each month beginning on 9 September from 4-5 p.m. I encourage you to bring your children so they can be part of this amazing and fun-filled group designed to develop their sense of community. Since we couldn’t all be here for the Grandparents Day celebrated in honor of Saints Joachim and Anne on 26 July, we will be joining the national Grandparents Day on 7 September to honor the important role they play in families and in passing on their faith to the younger generations. We ask all of 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. I want to thank Judy and Jim Fiandaca, recipients of the Family of the Month award for the month of August 2025. Unfortunately, Jim passed away before he could receive the award, so Judy and their daughter Terri received it on Sunday, 17 August before the 9 a.m. Mass. Judy and Jim were active and faithful members of our community. Apart from numerous ministry involvement, both were active in the Small Christian Community Bible Study on Tuesdays for many years. We will truly miss Jim. May his soul rest in peace! Grand Opening of our Silver Jubilee will take place on Sunday, 14 September during the 11 a.m. Mass. Bishop John Noonan will be with us. Following the Mass, we will host a picnic for which I request you to please sign up so we can better prepare to serve you. Additionally, I request your assistance with donations of sodas, chips, and cookies. Chris Stefanick will visit us on Wednesday, 1 October for an evening of REBOOT. Tickets are fast selling. I would very much like our high school teens and young adults to join us, as this will be a life-changing experience for all in attendance. Get ready for an outstanding GALA event which will be held on 18 October. Seats are limited. It promises to be an exciting and relaxing evening under the shining moon. This weekend, we celebrate the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, and we are offered some lovely images of how the message of the gospel should spread to all the nations of the world. The prophet Isaiah’s vision is spectacular in that he says the Lord will gather nations of every language, and they shall proclaim his glory among the nations. How true it is! The responsorial psalm proclaims the same truth: “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” In the gospel reading, we hear a question posed to Jesus: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus makes an astonishing assertion: When you stand knocking at the door do not be surprised to hear the answer, “I do not know where you are from.” How prepared are we, and are we willing to do what it takes to be ready?  Be blessed! With Love, Fr. John

Dear friends, It is so good to have our children and parents back in the rhythm of parish life and participating in the Church’s liturgical year. Faith formation programming for all students begins soon, with our children’s ministry returning to the 9 a.m. Mass this weekend. High school programs (FIAT and confirmation classes) kick off on Sunday, 17 August, and our middle school Anchored in Faith ministry will begin on Wednesday, 20 August. SJE Kids classes for kindergarten through 5th grade will start on Sunday, 24 August, on Wednesday, 27 August, or on Thursday, 28 August, as appropriate. Thanks to all who have signed up for the Vocations Prayer Challenge and photo directory, two highlights of our silver jubilee. Many additional events are slated for this year of grateful celebrations. What a blessing to share this important event in the life of our parish. On the weekend of 23/24 August, Fr. Cyril Imohiosen from the Archdiocese of Arusha will be with us as part of the Mission Co-Op offered by the Diocese of Orlando. Let us extend a warm welcome to him. There will be a second collection that weekend, so please come prepared. I would like to invite all of you to a presentation on “Building Sound Relationships” by Fr. Arul Raj Gali, C.S.C., on Friday, 29 August at 7 p.m. in the church. This is part of our ongoing efforts to enrich married couples. Daniel Goleman, a noted psychologist and author, states that “Communicating with emotional intelligence enhances bonding.” During this presentation, Fr. Arul will touch on topics such as managing your anger and expressing it safely, learning your primary love language, and applying it in your relationships (Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages). I invite all married couples and those preparing for marriage and convalidation to please come and attend this informative session. On this Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Church gives us examples of what happens when we truly follow the commands of the Lord. In the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, we hear of Jeremiah being lowered into a cistern to die, falsely accused of demoralizing the people and the soldiers with his words. But God rescues Jeremiah from his predicament by sending Ebed-melech, a Cushite and foreigner, to advocate for him to the king, resulting in his release. The author of Hebrews asks us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we run the race that lies before us. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus longs to set the world on fire with the Holy Spirit. Oh, how I wish it were already blazing! Let us pray for perseverance. Let us pray for Christians persecuted everywhere for their faith. Have a blessed week! With Love, Fr. John The Holy Year of 2025 is itself in continuity with preceding celebrations of grace. In the last Ordinary Jubilee, we crossed the threshold of twomillennia fromthebirth of Jesus Christ. Then, on 13 March 2015, Iproclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee for the sake of making known and encouraging an encounter with the “merciful faceof God”,[3] the core messageof the Gospelfor every man and woman of everytime and place. Nowthe timehas comeforanew Jubilee, when oncemorethe Holy Door will beflung open to invite everyonetoan intense experience of the love of God that awakensin hearts the surehope of salvation in Christ. The Holy Year will also guide our steps towards yet anotherfundamental celebration for all Christians: 2033 will markthe twothousandth anniversary of the redemption won bythepassion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We are about to makea pilgrimage marked by great events, in which the grace of God precedes and accompanieshispeopleasthey press for- ward firm in faith, active in charity and 4 steadfast in hope (cf. 1 Thess 1:3) .

Dear friends, We are well into the second week of August, summer vacations have ended, and programming for our parish community is back in full swing. In addition, a new academic year begins for our children and their teachers, so we will offer a blessing for all who are returning to school. Meanwhile, our faith formation classes will resume in this order: The high school programs (FIAT and confirmation classes) kickoff on Sunday, 17 August. Our middle school Anchored in Faith ministry begins on Wednesday, 20 August. SJE Kids classes for kindergarten through 5th grade start on Sunday, 24 August, on Wednesday, 27 August, or on Thursday, 28 August, as appropriate. As you know, we need many volunteers to assist with teaching our children. I am deeply grateful to our catechists and assistants both for their time and passion in passing along our faith to the next generation. Sensory-friendly Mass: In our efforts to make worship of our God more meaningful for families with children who struggle with distractions, we will celebrate a sensory-friendly Masson Sunday, 10 August at 1 p.m. in the parish hall. Vocations Prayer Challenge: On 7 September, we will begin our Vocations Prayer Challenge. This will be an opportunity for our parish to pray for religious vocations in a special way which is vital toward ensuring future generations of Catholic priests, deacons, and religious to celebrate the sacraments and help guide us in our faith. Please sign up using our SignUpGenius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10C0D4AAFAA22AAF4C61-55726073-stjohns . Photo Directory: As part of our Silver Jubilee celebrations, we are creating a parish photo directory. I am grateful to Mike and Kathy Mos for coordinating this huge undertaking. Please sign up in advance for the day among those available that works best for your schedule. August 19th and 20th have been added. Call Mike & Kathy with any questions or if you need to change or cancel an appointment. We celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time when the Church, in her wisdom, invites us to place our trust in God, as did Abraham, our “father in faith” who, despite all odds, trusted in God and in his promise(Hebrews 11: 1-2, 8-19). In this week’s gospel reading, Jesus uses a parable to present examples of both faithful and unfaithful stewards. Faithful servants receive greater responsibility for sharing the Father’s generosity. Jesus concludes saying “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more” (Luke 12: 32-48). Speaking of faithful stewards, I want to recognize the SJE MOPSTERS ministry. Our church, as you know, is a large and beautiful place of worship, but it requires regular maintenance to keep it that way. The members of our Mopsters team area phenomenal group of passionate and dedicated men and women who faithfully dustmop the floors on Tuesdays and damp mop on Thursdays. Larry Wehner has led the way for so many years, followed by Bill Seck, but now the time has come for us to bolster the ministry with more support. Nearly half of our current crew are unable to continue for medical reasons or due to relocation, so I am now requesting more hands on deck to join this awesome ministry and help us keep our church clean. As a young boy, my mom and I were involved in the upkeep of the church for our parish. My responsibility was the sanctuary lamp, ensuring it had sufficient kerosene to keep it lit. This small act was one of many ways for us to foster a stronger sense of belonging to our parish community. St. John’s is our church, our faith family and home, and we need to come together to help keep it clean. Can I count on you to step up? Know that I am extremely grateful to the team dedicated to this ministry, and If you see the mopsters around our campus, please thank them. On Friday, 15 August, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since it is a holy day of obligation, we will have three Masses as follows: 8 a.m., 12.05 p.m., and 7 p.m. Have a blessed week! With love, Fr. John In a particular way, I would like to invite the faithful of the Eastern Churches, particularly those already in full communion with the Successor of Peter, to take part in this pilgrimage. They have suffered greatly, often even unto death, for their fidelity to Christ and the Church, and so they should feel themselves especially welcome in this City of Rome that is also their Mother and cherishes so many memories of their presence. The Catholic Church, enriched by their ancient liturgies and the theology and spirituality of their Fathers, monks and theologians, wants to give symbolic expression to its embrace of them and their Orthodox brothers and sisters in these times when they endure their own Way of the Cross, often forced by violence and instability to leave their home- lands, their holy lands, for safer places. For them, the hope born of the knowledge that they are loved by the Church, which does not abandon them but follows them wherever they go, will make the symbolism of the Jubilee all the more powerful.

Dear friends, This weekend, we take time to pray in thanksgiving for Deacon Steven Lumbert and his 25 years of service to the diaconate. He was ordained in the Diocese of Pueblo on August 4, 2000 by Bishop Arthur Tafoya and served his first five years at his home parish of Holy Family. He was then assigned as Pastoral Associate for St. Paul the Apostle in Pueblo West for three years, followed by a two-year stint as Associate Director of Deacon Formation. In 2010, he was assigned as Administrator of St. Anne’s Parish and served there for nine years. During his active ministry, he assisted at most of the parishes in Pueblo, celebrating quinceañeras, weddings, funerals, committals, Word Communion services, and other ministries as needed. In 2019, he retired from the Diocese of Pueblo and moved with his ailing wife Socorro to Florida to be closer to their daughter Karina and son-in-law Rob and their children, becoming members of our parish. In 2023, he asked to serve in retirement through his diaconate ministry at St. John’s. It has been lovely knowing him and his family, and we thank him for his ministry, praying that he will continue to serve the Lord with joy. Congratulations, Deacon Steven Lumbert, on completing 25 years of service to the Lord and His people. I also take this occasion to thank George and Cis Franzen for their commitment to the Christ Renews His Parish ministry. George has served us faithfully for 15 years, beginning in 2010. Having stumbled into CRHP by chance, he has given his heart and soul toward promoting this life-changing ministry at St. John’s. George now passes the baton to Joe Flora with the hope that he will run with it for another 15+ years. Thank you, George and Cis, for your great passion. You will always be the “father figure” of CRHP at St. John’s. I offer a hearty welcome to Chris McLaughlin who will lead the music ministry during Sunday 4:30 p.m. Masses beginning this weekend. He comes to us with vast experience in leading LIFETEEN camps through amazing worship experiences. Please welcome Chris and plan to join us as a parish community in ever more vibrant praise and thanksgiving during our Eucharistic celebrations. On this Eighteenth Sunday, the Church calls us to reflect on building our treasures in what matters most to God and not be fooled into indulging worldly attractions and desires that will surely perish. In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul invites us to seek what is above and put to death the parts of us that cling to this Earth. We look forward to the return of our children to full Mass participation and continued religious education. Have a blessed week! 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: Pilgrimage is of course a fundamental element of every Jubilee event. Setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life. A pilgrimage on foot is a great aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort and simplicity of life. In the coming year, pilgrims of hope will surely travel the ancient and more modern routes in order to experience the Jubilee to the full. In Rome itself, along with the usual visits to the catacombs and the Seven Churches, other itineraries of faith will be proposed. Journeying from one country to another as if borders no longer mattered, and passing from one city to another in contemplating the beauty of creation and masterpieces of art, we learn to treasure the richness of different experiences and cultures, and are inspired to lift up that beauty, in prayer, to God, in thanksgiving for his wondrous works. The Jubilee Churches along the pilgrimage routes and in the city of Rome can serve as oases of spirituality and places of rest on the pilgrimage of faith, where we can drink from the wellsprings of hope, above all by approaching the sacrament of Reconciliation, the essential starting-point of any true journey of conversion. In the particular Churches, special care should be taken to prepare priests and the faithful to celebrate the sacrament of Confession and to make it readily available in its individual form. To be continued ...