How do we think about greatness? Is it the size of our bank accounts or our homes? Is it how fit we are or how well we are dressed? Or how much weight we can press during a gym workout? (Every time I go to the gym (yes, I do work out only to look like this) I’m tempted to increase the weight on the machine after I’m done using it. But I don’t since I know that I won’t be fooling anyone.) But as Christians, we need to ask ourselves how does Christ view greatness? An answer to that question is how we show our love for God by caring for our neighbor, particularly those who are poor and in need.
In today’s first reading from the Prophet Amos (8:4-7) echoes themes from all the prophets who preceded him, and all those who will follow him: God will remember how we as individuals and as a nation treat the poor! The Responsorial Psalm (113) reminds us that “The Lord lifts up the poor” but through us and our charity. As saint Theresa of Avila puts it “Christ has no body on earth but (ours), No hands, no feet on earth but (ours)…(Ours) are the hands with which He blesses all the world.”
The Gospel today (Luke 16: 1-13) is the parable of the dishonest steward. His employer fires him for cheating, and he in return acts prudently by reducing his commission hoping that this will redound to him later since he is “not strong enough to dig and ashamed to beg.” In the end, Jesus warns his followers to be just as prudent and creative in doing good since we will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. No law should limit us in the good we must do, and all generosity will never get anyone in trouble. But I am preaching to the choir Saints of God in Sacred Heart Parish. Let us continue to do the good! As someone once said, “Let us teach people to fish!” To which I add, “And let us feed them while they are being taught.”
On the heels of a successful 2024 campaign, Sacred Heart, alongside the Knights of Columbus Council #12110, is excited to announce the return of the popular “Socktober” sock drive, benefitting the many of the homeless initiatives with which our parish is associated.
Each night in Hillsborough County, a now estimated 1,796 homeless, with more than 1000 unsheltered who are forced to live on the streets. Many unsheltered people rarely take their shoes off. They walk often and don’t always have laundry facilities at close reach. Clean socks are a reliably top-requested item at homeless shelters.
Located in both the Sacred Heart Gift Store as well as the church, will be a pair of donation bins to address this critical need. Socktober donations may be made at all weekend Masses, or at the Gift and Book Store during weekday store hours throughout the month of October. Packages of new socks in adult sizes will be accepted. Our goal is to reach 2000 pairs, with the socks being distributed to the Tampa Hope homeless shelter, our Hands of Hope ministry, and Catholic Charities, among others.
Event this small act of love, donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our homeless neighbors. The Knights and friars thank you for your participation!
*This page will be updated with status updates from our drive as the month progresses. Thank you for your generosity in donating, and Happy Socktober!
Socktober is an international campaign that was started in 2011 when creator Brad Montague realized there was a large homeless population in his hometown, and he wanted to do something about it. While researching the needs of the homeless community, he learned that socks are the items least donated to homeless shelters. Since then, Socktober has exploded! Kids and adults around the world have started their own sock drives to benefit their local homeless shelters.
Each year on the evening of October 3, the Franciscan family throughout the world pauses to celebrate the solemnity of our Holy Father Francis’ Transitus, his passing over from this life to the next. St. Francis was not afraid of what would come at the end of his earthly life, choosing instead to recognize in that experience, not an end, but a transition from one way of living to another was to come.
The Friars of Sacred Heart invite you to join them for a series of Franciscan celebrations, reflecting on that devotion and understanding of creation, as we observe the Transitus and The Feast of St. Francis.
Tales of Wonder | Wednesday, October 1 | 7 p.m. | Church
In Marty Haugen’s musical Tales of Wonder, a Hawaiian village gathers around two story-tellers who relate some of the familiar and central stories of their faith – Creation, Job, Jesus, and the coming of the Spirit – primarily to the children, but also to the adults. Members of our parish choir, and children from the parish will participate in this uplifting performance which features musical renditions of salvation stories. The event is free to the public.
Blessing of the Animals | Thursday, October 2 | 5:30 to 7 p.m. | The Franciscan Center
The Franciscan Center (3010 N. Perry Ave.)once again plays host to our Friars blessing the animals of our local community as part of their annual “St. Francis Day.” Pets of all kinds and their owners will be blessed by the friars. This annual “Blessing of the Animals” for all furry, finned, and feathered friends is a Franciscan Tradition in celebration of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of animals and the environment. The event is free to the public.
Transitus of St. Francis | Friday, October 3 | 6:30 p.m. | Church
Every year, on the third evening of October, Franciscans ritually remember the passing of Francis of Assisi from this life during this liturgy, as a reminder to renew our own commitment to follow Christ in the way of the poor man of Assisi. Join the friars as they continue this tradition, and later for a reception with light refreshments in St. Francis Hall following the liturgy.
The Feast of St. Francis | Saturday, October 4 | Church
The Feast of the Father of our Order, St. Francis, will be celebrated at our scheduled vigil Mass, at 5:30 p.m. | Each of the Masses for the weekend will feature readings for the Feast.
More information on Tales of Wonder from Director of Music, Phil Jakob
Building on the success of our recent “Aloha Summer Social,” we hope to return to Hawaii with a parish performance of Tales of Wonder, a musical conceived by Marty Haugen while visiting a parish in Hawaii. That parish was largely made up of native Hawaiians who had preserved story-telling as one aspect of their culture. To an extent, we do the same every Sunday as we gather to listen to the Word of God. In Tales of Wonder a village gathers around two story-tellers who relate some of the familiar and central stories of their faith – Creation, Job, Jesus, and the coming of the Spirit – primarily to the children, but also to the adults.
I was first introduced to Tales of Wonder by Marty Haugen himself when he visited London for anniversary celebrations of the St Thomas More Centre. Since then. I have directed performances at St Ignatius College, Enfield (1991), Parrs Wood High School (1995) at which the Headteacher remarked that we had delivered the entire religious education program in one night! When I became Director of Music for the Cathedral and Diocese of Hallam, performances followed at churches throughout the Diocese. Most memorable was a performance in Iona Abbey (1998) at which both Marty Haugen and I had been invited as guest musicians for the annual Music & Worship Week of the Wild Goose Resource Group. I directed, with Marty at the piano. The choir was made up of the 120 people signed up for the week and the children all came from Iona’s tiny primary school.
Can we rise to the challenge of performing it here at Sacred Heart? The proposed performance date is Wednesday, October 1 (updated from previous bulletin and email listings showing October 2), in the church. Our choir has already expressed its interest. Parents of children aged 8 and up, might your children be interested in being part of a children’s singing group? We would need to rehearse, of course, but please let me know if your children are interested by writing to me at pjakob@sacredheartfla.org
– Philip Jakob | Director of Music
This page will be updated with additional details for this year’s series of Franciscan Celebrations as they are announced.
It has been two months since the parish started using Mass Intentions Online. It has been going extremely well and we have received many comments on the change. Parishioners have said they like it for several reasons. First, they can go online and look at available dates through 2027 for themselves and choose one that best fits their needs. Secondly, we’ve heard that many appreciate the convenience of it. The vast majority of requests are now coming online. Of course, you can still come into the parish office, and our receptionist can assist you with reserving a Mass intention.
With the implementation of the new program, several things have changed that you may want to know. The suggested donation is now $10 for a weekday Mass, and $15 for weekend Masses or major solemnities like Christmas. Another change is that now, on weekends, there can be up to two intentions for each Mass. You might notice that on some weekend Masses, the program only allows for one intention. These intentions were made before the new policy went into effect. When you are choosing a date, you will see that the next available date will be about two weeks in advance. The reason for this is so that we can get all of the intentions listed in the bulletin. If you see a date that you want before that two weeks and it is available you can call the parish office and they can assist you.
In addition, the new program allows us to also to accommodate memorials. When on to the website, click on “Request Memorial” on the top right side of the page:
• Sacristy Candle | Sits near the Tabernacle | Sun. to Sat. | Suggested donation: $25 | This candle will be lit all week in memory or in honor of someone. The names will be listed in the bulletin every week. You will find this memorial on Sundays every week of the year.
• All Souls Day | Suggested donation of $10 for each name | The list of the names will be remembered at all of the Masses on the first weekend of November. You will find this memorial under the Sacristy Candle on Sundays during the month of October.
• Christmas Flowers | Suggested donation of $20 per plant | Each poinsettia that you see has been given in remembrance or honor of loved ones whose names will be memorialized online. You will find this memorial on Saturdays during the season of Advent.
• Easter Flowers | Suggested donation $20 per plant | Each flower that you see has been given in remembrance or honor of loved ones whose names will be memorialized online. You will find this memorial on Saturdays during the season of Lent.
• Mother’s Day | Suggested donation $10 for each name | The list of the names will be remembered at all of the Masses on Mother’s Day. You will find this memorial under the Sacristy Candle on Sundays starting five weeks before Mother’s Day.
• Father’s Day | Suggested donation of $10 for each name | The list of the names will be remembered at all of the Masses on Father’s Day. You will find this memorial under the Sacristy Candle on Sundays starting five weeks before Father’s Day.
You can access and request Mass intentions and memorials online at shfla.org/intentions.
Over the past few months, many people have also used our new, online Prayer Wall. Here you are able to submit prayer requests for the sick, for the deceased, for those in the military, or for a special occasion. At times, we have been unable to approve certain requests because they didn’t meet the spirit of our Prayer Wall. We will not include any political rhetoric. Each prayer request remains up for one month. The requestor may than add it again.
Family faith formation is an educational method that focuses on engaging families in the process of learning and growing in their Catholic faith together, rather than just focusing on children’s religious education. The emphasis recognizes that parents are the among the most influential teachers of their children’s faith. But, as is common with most everything with parenting, just because parents bare the responsibility of being their children’s leading influencer doesn’t mean that teaching our love for God and Christ are easy concepts to instruct.
“Most adults might be a little uncomfortable doing that (talking about our faith),” exclaims Cynthia Maloney, a catechist and faith formation volunteer. “But I’ve discovered how lovely it is to talk with children about God. Children have a natural affinity for and interest in the spiritual, and with so much curiosity! They really only need encouragement, to be reminded of God’s love for them, and exposure to the Word.”
That is the goal for our Faith Formation here at Sacred Heart, creating the connection and providing the pathway to Christ for parents, kids, catechumens, and candidates alike. That task is an operation that requires a small army of catechists and volunteers, especially as we have seen our parish family growing over these last few years. “We’ve got more than 30 volunteers and catechists assisting us this year across all of our formation ministries,” says Maria Giral, the parish’s Associate Director of Faith Formation. “And that doesn’t include the parents or sacramental sponsors who are echoing that instruction.”
“I wanted to find a way to connect with other parishioners to make our church feel more like a home,” says Carly Hogsed, when asked what led her to assist the parish as a catechist. “The best way to do so I have always found is to get involved! I think having both the parents and the children sitting together for faith formation lessons will have long lasting positive impacts for their child’s faith journey.”
Switching from the nuclear definition of family and looking at our larger parish family, Sacred Heart, like many Catholic parishes, is seeing an influx of reverts and converts, a trend resulting in many seeking to begin or continue their faith journeys. “It’s life giving to see all of these seekers coming to us and to the Church,” says Barbara Ferreris, Director of Faith Formation. “They are coming to grow in faith and their relationship with God.” Ferreris also says more than 20 inquirers are set to take part in the O.C.I.A. process this year (2025-26), seeking Full Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) while more than 30 are seeking Full Communion (Eucharist, Confirmation).
Trey Gould, received into the Church at the Easter Vigil through O.C.I.A. in 2024, says volunteering in faith formation has been a great way for him to stay involved at the parish. “I see a reflection of myself in everyone (in O.C.I.A.) and it brings me closer to the faith. I always find I learn something new even if the lessons and faith sharing isn’t directed to me specifically.”
You can learn more about Faith Formation, including registration and volunteer opportunities, by clicking here.
Family Faith Formation Registration: Sacred Heart offers a non-traditional approach to assist parents in forming the faith of their children. “Family Faith Formation” is exactly what it says – families sharing and growing in faith.
Registration for Family Faith Formation is now live, and open to all families who have children ages four (4) through high school.
Are You Looking to Become Catholic? The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) is the process by which unbaptized and baptized Christians of other faith traditions are especially invited to explore Catholic spirituality in community in order to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Each faith journey is personal, and often is characterized by an awakening or conversion of the heart, that leads one to desire an authentic life of Christian discipleship. Through the sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist — we encounter and participate fully in the mystery of Jesus Christ’s life, saving death and Resurrection.
Weekly inquiry sessions for those interested in becoming Catholic begin on Wednesday, September 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the North Campus O.C.I.A. Room. We welcome all inquiries and look forward to accompanying you soon. Contact Barbara Ferreris via email or at 813-229-1595, ext. 204 for more information.
