St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

www.xavierbrunswick.org, 912-265-3249

August 4, 2019

True Wisdom

"Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity." The sacred writer penned these words in 300 BC. The Hebrew word for vanity means vapor. All is like a vanishing mist. The older we become the truer these words ring. 25 centuries later these words have not lost their impact. “Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity.”

We share one characteristic with every person that has ever lived. We all seek happiness. It is what drives us throughout the day. What will lead us to happiness? We try different things to make us happy. Some things disappoint us. Some bring brief happiness. Some lead to lasting happiness.

The gospel of the world promises three means to happiness. They are power, lust and money. The world says indulge in these and you will find happiness. The man in today's gospel lives by such a creed, "rest, eat, drink and be merry." This is readily apparent in the world of advertising. Turn on the TV or

open a magazine and see how many ads promise us power, lust or money to sell their product.

There is only one path to happiness. Fulfillment only comes through a right relationship with God. As we talk to Jesus each day and seek to follow his example, we find happiness. Our hearts are like black, fertile soil, the type you see in North Dakota. Rich soil is neutral. Weeds may grow there as easily as crops. What do we allow to grow in our hearts?

The call of a Christian is to look to the life of Christ for happiness. St. Paul tells us this. "If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." However,

the things of heaven are disdained by the people of the world.

In fact St. Ignatius of Loyola said we should strive for a holy indfifference, meaning a complete openness to God’s will. “Therefore, we must make ourselves indifferent to all created things, as far as we are allowed by free choice and are not under any prohibition. Consequently, as far as we are concerned, we should not prefer health to sickness, riches to poverty, honor to dishonor, a long life to a short. The same holds for all other things.” (Spiritual Exercises # 23)

An unknown Confederate soldier penned this prayer. I am not sure if he ever read St. Ignatius, but he captures holy indifference:

I asked for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I had asked for, but everything that I had hoped for. Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered; I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

“Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity.” The author of that phrase lived 300 years before Jesus. He lacked the hope in eternal life that we now possess. Yes, life is hard. Yes, life can be cruel. But all is not vain. Our actions on this earth are geared towards this world and eternity. Do I live the life Christ has won for me or is my mind burdened down by the things of this world? May we order our lives aright so

we do not live in vanity but with the peace and joy Jesus came to bring us.

-Fr. Tim McKeown

Mass Schedule

Saturday

5:00 p.m. SFX

7:00 p.m. (on

Jekyll)

Sunday (SFX)

8:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m. in Spanish

Weekday Masses

Mon. - Noon (Chapel)

Tues., Wed. &

Thurs.

7:00 a.m. (Chapel)

Wed. 7:00 p.m. (Church)

Fri. (See Mass schedule for time)

Reconciliation:

Church

Saturdays

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Sunday

7:45 - 8:15 a.m.

(Or by appointment)

St. Joseph Chapel

(Please go to the main office for code)

Monday - Friday

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St Joseph Chapel

First Friday

Adoration

2:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The SFX Community extends their prayers and condolences to the family of Mary Whitney. May she rest in the peace of Christ.

PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION (PSR): We are nearing the beginning of a

new catechetical year. CLASSES BEGIN AUG 18TH.

REGISTRATIONS AUG 10TH & 11TH, AFTER THE MASSES. Take a regis-

tration form from the back table, fill it out, and bring it to the Church Office or

bring it back next week.

WE ARE IN NEED OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. You need not be a theo-

logian, just someone practicing the Faith and willing to share that Faith. The

work is rewarding, the children great. Come join us in spreading the Good

News of Jesus to our young people. PSR meets on Sunday mornings during

the academic school year, 9:30 - 10:40am, for children Pre-K - 8th Grade.

Call Deacon Larry-DRE-265-3249, X14.

Deacon Robert will complete his pastoral year with us on Sunday

August 18. In September he will return to Rome for his final year

of seminary. We will hold receptions for him after the 8:30 and

11:00 masses on Aug 18. If you would like to give him a gift you

may do so at that time or contribute to a parish gift. Please make

checks out to SFX and memo them “Deacon Robert” and we will

present it to him on August 18. Thank you.

A Parishioner has graciously donated an extensive dollhouse with

various decorations for the entire year. We will sell raffle tickets for

it the next two Sundays with the intent of purchasing a new baptis-

mal font for the church. Tickets are $5 each and will be available in

the Narthex. The dollhouse is on display in the Narthex.

We will present the Christ Life series “Sharing Christ” begin-

ning on Thursday August 8. This is open to all who have

completed both “Discovering Christ” and “Following Christ”.

All sessions will take place in the Narthex. The dates will be

Aug. 8, 15, 22, 29 and Sept. 5, 12, and 19 - 6:00 pm to 8:00

pm in Narthex . Please RSVP with Deacon Larry at

guyerla@comcast.net.

Collections for:

July 27 & 28

$ 8,645.43

Please note a change in email

address for

Ann Buebel, SFX Office Manager:

annbuebel@xavierbrunswick.org

Friday August Schedule

August 9 Noon Mass

August 16 Noon Mass

August 23 School Mass 8:00 a.m.

August 30 School Mass 8:00 a.m.

NOW ENROLLING PS3 – GRADE 8

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School

1121 Union Street, Brunswick, GA 31520

(912) 265-9470 SFXCS.ORG

A secure sense of discipline, respect and responsibility

Academic excellence

Fine arts

Strong sports program, including volleyball, tennis, basketball,

soccer and cheerleading

Extended day program

Tutoring services

Scholarships

Transportation from St. Simons Island available

Please call the office to schedule a tour.

Summer hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 to 1.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is

seeking apart-time Church Organist,

Pianist/Accompanist to play on week-

ends. Music is sung by a cantor at Sat.

5:00 pm mass and Sun. 8:30 am mass

and by a choir at Sun. 11:00 am mass.

The candidate does not have to be

Catholic. Please contact Fr. Tim McKe-

own at TMcKeown@diosav.org or the

SFX church office at 912-265-3249 for

more information.

The Council of Catholic Women will be

meeting on Monday, August 5, at 6 pm in

Xavier Hall. We would like to invite the

ladies of the parish 18 years old and up

to come and join us. Bring a friend.

August 15 Holy Day of Obligation

The Assumption

Wed 14th the 7:00 pm Mass will

be Assumption vigil.

Thurs 15

-8:00 School Mass

-Noon Mass

-7:00 pm

Skylark Baby Bottle Change for Life

Thank you for participating in the Skylark baby bottle

change for life fundraiser to support the gift of life and the

men and women in a pregnancy crisis. The Skylark team is

very thankful for the $2500.00 we raised to save the un-

born babies. Thank You and, yes, we are The Good Samari-

tan !!

SFX School will resume a

new school year on Monday

August 12.

All apple tree donations

must be turned in by August

11th. Thank you for helping!

Mass Intentions

Saturday, August 3

5:00 p.m. t Wes Hogquist

7 p.m. Our Parish Family

(At Jekyll United Methodist Church)

Sunday, August 4

8:30 a.m. t Jose Manuel Ezeta

11 a.m. t Shirley Ambayec

6 p.m. St Jude

Monday, August 5

Noon t Maria Aurora Soler

Tuesday, August 6

7 a.m. t Mary Whitney

Wednesday, August 7

7 a.m. Our Parish Family

7 p.m. t Charlotte Cornelius

Thursday, August 8

7 a.m. t Robert Tuya

Friday, August 9

noon t Elaine Knight

Saturday, August 10

5:00 p.m. t Jack & Jeanne O’Donnell

7 p.m. t John C. Sumner (Bubba)

(At Jekyll United Methodist Church)

Sunday, August 11

8:30 a.m. Knights of Columbus

11 a.m. t Flora Sarigumba

6 p.m. t Johnny Montes

August 4, 2019

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mass Intention Request: Having a Mass offered for a

loved one, living or deceased, is a wonderful expres-

sion of caring, compassion and thoughtfulness. The

usual donation for a Mass offering is $10. Please stop

by or call the parish office and someone will gladly

assist you with your request 912-265-3249 ext. 0

Timothy Tindall, Jack & Jan Mistisshen, Jerry Ehlman,

Joyce McPhee, Carol Papia, Michael L. & Michael S.

Mleko, Ric Carr, Shirley Reilly, Hazel Woody, Betty

Blouin, Lidia Gorman, Martha Burroughs, Georgia

Burgess-Erwin, Jackie Maassen, Linda Forsyth, Dan

Hickey, Jim & Susan Layman, Manuel & Derek Canas,

Glenn Cornwell, Yvonne Lott, Tedi LaMere, Todd

Donovan, Helen Berry, Emory Young, Clay Dial, David

Higbee, Dianne Jackson, Wanda Hand, Sr Andrea

Curran, Sr Kathleen McMenamin, Bro Robert

Sokolowski, Helen Berry, Emory Young, Linda Royster,

Patricia Clark, Janice Guyer, Norma Ireland, Joan

Schwartz, Mary Chapman, Dusty Sloan, Ruthie

Aspinwall, Denny Silva, Katherine Haven, Bebe

Browning, Alexandra Bergman, Eric Meiring, Helen

Drawdy, Peter Mistisshen, Sandi Wadsworth, Marion

Schmidt, Carl Alexander, Peter & Mary Homitz, Gerald

Homans, Mike Force, Dorothy Pepich, Kyle Kirby, Pat

Huff, David Zachry, Ann Brown, Bonnie Fales, Phyllis

Johns, Michael Westberry, Helen Ladensack, Roy Rose,

Wendy Pruitt, Cynthia Robinson, Merlene Burgess, Jim

Holland, Manuel Rocha, Evelyn Potts, Janice Murrell,

Gerard Kilroy, Henrique Castanheira, Mary Whitney,

Nathan Lockwood, Helen Seaman, Marcus Seaman,

Robert Chagnon, Joe Kirby, Vicky Lynn Mleko, Dianna

Rutledge, Rick Tyrer, Special Intentions

PRAYER LIST

Prayer List will be updated on September 2. Please email or call the office the week of

the 26th to keep names on the list.

Parish Activity Contacts

Adult Bible Study, Joe & Linda Kirby…………….267-9359

Altar and Environmental Care, Diane Lott……….223-1261

Bereavement, Ann Buebel………………………..265-3249

CCW, Marisol Soler ………………………264-6805 ext. 12

Culture of Life, Rose Lodise…………….………...264-4121

Greeters, Ginger Dorcas…………..……………....275-8492

Knights of Columbus, Bill Schuster……………….266-6779

Religious Ed., Larry Guyer …………..…265-3249 ext. 14

St. Monica Society, Peggie Cash………….…....264-5458

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store…………..….…....262-6027

SFX School/Dr. Mermann …...……….…….912-265-9470

Parish Council, Alan Borst

Most Rev. Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM

Conv. Bishop of Savannah

Church Office

405 Howe St.,

Brunswick, GA 31520

912-265-3249

Ann (Office Manager) ext.0

Fr. Tim ext. 11

Fr. Chris ext. 12

Deacon Larry ext. 14

Deacon Robert ext. 15

CFC Building

912-264-6805

Juan ext. 11

Marisol ext. 12

Maggie (Finance) ext. 10