All posts by Rob Boelke

August’s Giving from the Heart to Support SVdP, Dignity for Haiti

Parish News

Sacred Heart is holding its latest Giving from the Heart drive-through donation event on Saturday, August 13 at the North Campus main lot from 10 a.m. to noon. The August event is an effort of both Open Doors and the Young Professionals, benefitting Dignity for Haiti and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

Started in 2020, Dignity for Haiti is a non-profit dedicated to providing food, education, and shelter to people in Haiti, as well as funding and means needed to promote self- sustainability. The group focuses its mission through the parish of Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours on the island of La Gonâve, which is comprised of three chapels and nearly 400 parishioners.

Founded in 1833, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a worldwide organization of lay Catholics, following Christ’s call to serve the poor, the suffering, and the deprived. Operating in Hillsborough County since 1932, SVdP works to ease an individual or family’s initial emergency, then shepherd them into programs that can bring lasting change. Donations made locally are used and distributed throughout Hillsborough County neighborhoods. Many will know Sacred Heart’s group of SVdP volunteers as one of the 13 conferences for the non-profit within Hillsborough County.

If you are interested in volunteering for our next Giving from the Heart donation drive, contact Open Doors or the Young Professionals via email.

Below are lists from each organization highlighting the most needed items hoping to be collected during the drive.

Saint Vincent de Paul Needs:

  • Clothing (new or gently used), such as men’s jeans and shorts, tee shirts,
  • Tennis shoes, slides, sandals (new or gently used; men’s and women’s)
  • Socks and Undergarments (new; men’s and women’s)
  • Nail care items, such as clippers and files
  • Can openers

Dignity for Haiti Needs:

  • Home Healthcare Items, such as antibiotic ointment, adult and children pain relievers, antiseptic solutions, cotton balls, swabs, and gauze, antacids, cold remedies, bandages and band aids, waterproof tape, anti-diarrheal tablets, burn gel, eye drops
  • Toiletries and cleaning supplies, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, laundry detergent (Fels-Naptha), hand sanitizer, dish soap
  • Household necessities, such as batteries (9V and AA), lightbulbs (60W)

We thank you in advance for your generosity and continued support!

Online Mass | The Sixteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time

Online Mass Readings & Music

Thank you for participating in Sacred Heart’s Mass, whether in person or online. On this page you can find the readings for the Sunday celebration as well as the music for Mass.

Hymns for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Opening Song: All Are Welcome, All Belong G 924
Penitential Act: Glory to God: Mass of Joy & Peace (Alonso) G 249

Responsorial Psalm 15:
Lord, Who May Abide In Your Tent

Gospel Acclamation: Salisbury Alleluia (Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say G 781
Eucharistic Acclamations: Mass of Creation G 231, 234, 238
Lamb of God: Mass of Creation G 240
Communion Song: God of Day and God of Darkness G 932
Dismissal: Christ Beside Me G 724

Links to Resources for Mass: 

  • Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 17, 2022
  • Lyrics and Mass Order for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 17, 2022
  • Contemporary Music for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 17, 2022

Holy Hospitality | Friar Reflections | The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Friar Reflections, Parish News

Dear parishioners,

The Saints of God, the Lord be with you!

Today’s first reading from the book of Genesis (18:1-10) recounts the story of Abraham and Sarah giving hospitality to three strangers. In the ancient world, the gift of hospitality was
the norm, not the exception.

On reading this story, I couldn’t help but gaze on one of my favorite icons by the 15th century Russian master Andrei Rublev, who depicts this scene as Three divine beings, pictured as angels, seated around a table. At the head of the table to the left, is God the Father, in the center, the Son, and to the right the Holy Spirit, with the wings of all three forming an open circle, which may symbolize spiritual unity, peace, and mutual love.

Rublev’s famous icon showing the three angels being hosted by Abraham at Mambré, 1425

What’s interesting is that the circle is not closed, but open, and some art historians suggest that the small rectangle on the side of the table facing the viewer may have held a mirror, thus making the viewer part of the scene. This first reading, as well as the Rublev icon, pairs well with today’s well known Gospel reading (Lk 10:38-42) of Martha and Mary, offering hospitality to Jesus.

Martha takes on the burden of doing all the serving, while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus listening to Him speak. Despite the protestations of Martha, Jesus will not require Mary to leave her place and help her sister since, “Mary has chosen the better part.”

I don’t know about you, but often I come to Mass burdened with my own personal struggles, family issues, ministerial demands, or worrisome world and national issues facing all of us. The worst thing I can do is to feel so overwhelmed that I begin to skip my morning private prayer, the friar’s communal morning and evening prayer, or the celebration of the Eucharist. I’ve discovered that when most burdened by whatever, the Lord kindly offers me the opportunity to spend time in His presence.

Though my burdens don’t magically disappear, prayer seems to sanctify them, and they seem to lose some of their heaviness. By responding to the Lord’s invitation to spend time with Him, I am given renewed strength as well as the understanding that I am part of a holy community that will help carry what I cannot carry by myself.

As we celebrate this weekend’s liturgy, whether in person or via the live stream, let us remember that the God of holy hospitality invites us to come even with our burdens and sin. Let us remember that our encounter with Christ today can change us more and more into His image if we let Him. Then, to imitate that great open circle of holy hospitality in the Rublev icon, let us offer and invite someone to share and sit at our table to be refreshed, restored, and renewed.

Peace and all good,
Fr. Steve

Online Mass | The Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time

Online Mass Readings & Music

Thank you for participating in Sacred Heart’s Mass, whether in person or online. On this page you can find the readings for the Sunday celebration as well as the music for Mass.

Hymns for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Opening Song: God of Day and God of Darkness G 932
Penitential Act: Glory to God: Mass of Joy & Peace (Alonso) G 249

Responsorial Psalm 69:
Turn To the Lord in Your Need

Gospel Acclamation: Salisbury Alleluia (Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts: Christ Be Our Light G 652
Eucharistic Acclamations: Mass of Creation G 231, 234, 238
Lamb of God: Mass of Creation G 240
Communion Song: No Greater Love G 769
Dismissal: Celtic Alleluia (Sending Forth)

Links to Resources for Mass: 

  • Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 10, 2022
  • Lyrics and Mass Order for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 10, 2022
  • Contemporary Music for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 10, 2022

Go and Do Likewise | Staff Reflections | The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Friar Reflections, Parish News

Dear parishioners,

This week’s Gospel delivers a branched or layered look into the principles of our faith, wherein Jesus provides us with tenets through the Greatest Commandment, and backs it up through parable with the Good Samaritan. It’s so fitting that the law scholar approaching or questioning Jesus calls him “Teacher,” because that is exactly the way anyone in that selfless profession would approach their student. They would explain the necessary information, then work them through a hypothetical or real-world scenario in which they could apply the information they just learned.

It’s so simply applied, yet so poignant, to see Jesus readily act as a teacher. He provides the scholar the tools for which to achieve his end goal of salvation, but He does not go so far as to over explain or provide too much context. I’ve always admired how casual this scripture reading ends, as if He were to shrug His shoulders when telling the scholar, “Go and do likewise.” I’d half-expect that Luke left out the part where Jesus patted the scholar on the back, saying, “Go get ’em, kid!”

We have a very good opportunity within our parish community here at Sacred Heart to embody that line: “Go and do likewise.” Many of us on the staff are doing just that, taking the relative downtime of the summer months to prepare the parish for larger aspects of the liturgical and event calendars following the season’s conclusion, working to ensure you can join us in the “likewise.”

Registration for Faith Formation programs, such as RCIA, for the upcoming catechetical year is now available.

It’s no secret that so much of a Catholic parish’s calendar is dictated by the school calendars of their local area. This gives our Faith Formation staff the opportunity to plan their programs for the upcoming 2022/2023 catechetical year. Much of what they hope to accomplish with their students and catechumens is already ready to go. Registration for Family and Adult Faith Formation, sacramental preparation, and RCIA was made available recently through the parish website.

Event planning is working at a breakneck pace, with the addition of our new event coordinator. The staff is reinvigorating several events that were discontinued in the face of the pandemic, including “new parishioner welcome” meals, ministry fairs, volunteer appreciation luncheons, and new offerings, like “Theology on Tap.” An event planning committee is being reinvigorated as well. Those wishing to assist with events like our Fall Festival and Cookies with St. Nick, among others, will have the opportunity to reengage with the parish in this new group via monthly meetings starting in late August.

Events such as “New Parishioner Welcome” meals will be coming back onboard as we continue to build back our event schedule.

Our event and communications staff are working in concert to finalize details for parish listening sessions, alongside the friars and members of our parish advisory board. In a previous letter, I mentioned the need to provide a platform for parishioners to directly engage with our friars regarding long range plans and vision, and these sessions will provide that and more. Invitations for specific sessions will be released this month, with multiple sessions being hosted throughout August, culminating in an open session in late August and the launch of a parish-wide survey. We hope to have as much participation as possible in this endeavor.

Many ministries are also preparing their new offerings. A new women’s prayer group is being formed. A new racial justice committee has held their initial meeting, and are gathering a plan for programming as the friars continue to assist the implementation of a broader JPIC ministry within the parish. Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation being a principle tenet of the Franciscan charism, it will be great to see where this new group takes their ministry.

While this summary of our parish’s current objectives is just a small glance, I hope this is enough information for you, our parishioners, to “do likewise” alongside us.

Peace and all good,
Rob Boelke

Online Mass | The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Online Mass Readings & Music

Thank you for participating in Sacred Heart’s Mass, whether in person or online. On this page you can find the readings for the Sunday celebration as well as the music for Mass.

Hymns for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Opening Song: A Fire Is Meant for Burning G:817
Penitential Act: Glory to God: Mass of Joy & Peace (Alonso) G:249

Responsorial Psalm 66:
Cry out with joy to God, all the earth

Gospel Acclamation: Salisbury Alleluia (Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts: Will you come and follow me G869
Eucharistic Acclamations: Mass of Creation G: 231, 234, 238
Lamb of God: Mass of Creation G:240
Communion Song: O Lord, I know you are near G:751
Dismissal: America, The Beautiful G: 1085

Links to Resources for Mass: 

  • Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 3, 2022
  • Lyrics and Mass Order for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 3, 2022
  • Contemporary Music for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 3, 2022

A Time For Contemplation | Friar Reflections | The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Friar Reflections

Dear parishioners,

This past week, the friars took the opportunity to have a short retreat at the Franciscan Center. It was a time for the four of us to come together and talk about our fraternal and ministerial life here at Sacred Heart. It was a time to reflect and to get away, even though it was only a few miles up the road. Monday morning, we celebrated the Eucharist with the
Allegany Franciscan Sisters. It is always great when we can get together with other Franciscan groups.

We started off the ministerial part of the day with this prayer.

Loving Father, help us to celebrate and serve the people of many races, languages, and ways of life You have gathered to Yourself to form Sacred Heart Parish.

May we be signs of your welcome as we greet people as they gather.

May we encourage them to pray always as contemplative friars in ministry.

May we bless their generosity by being generous ourselves.

May we love them through loyal service, a faith that is fearless, compassion, and mercy.

May we share their joys and their hopes, their griefs and their anguish, their laughter and their tears.

Together as friar servants to the People of God, recognizing that we are all united in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, may we journey towards Your kingdom each in our own way, proclaiming Christ’s message of salvation, using words only if we must.

In one of our discussions on the retreat, the friars and I focused on Pope Francis’ Instructional on “The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelizing mission of the Church.” In this document, dated to just under two years ago, in July 2020, the pope highlights a struggle many parishes face when making determinations for the level of services or sacraments that can be provided to potential or current parishioners. His premise is largely fueled by the impasse of needing to respect parish boundaries vs. destination parishes, and how the number of registered parishioners vs. unregistered can impact a parish. After a few minutes of healthy discourse, one friar said, “Are they baptized? If so, we are called to serve them!” We all readily agreed to that summary. In our discussion, we were pointing out the many hurdles people are required to jump over, and how we can make it easier for people to live out their faith within our own parish. The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was brought up, with His Arms and Heart being open to all people. It is a wonderful and fitting image for our parish.

We had many productive conversations over the two days we spent at the Franciscan Center, and I feel we accomplished a lot of reorganization and planning. We had the opportunity to talk about our fraternal life together, our prayers, our shared time, and our commitment to each other as brothers. We also had the time to talk about our lives with Sacred Heart. We discussed our parish’s various ministries and with the addition of Fr. Steve to our group, we made new assignments on which friars will be involved with each particular ministry, and how best to help them. I and all the friars are always willing to help out with any of the ministries whenever needed. We also discussed how we can best serve the parishioners here at Sacred Heart. We will bring the conclusions from those conversations to the staff for their input in the coming days.

The days weren’t all work. After all, this was meant to be a retreat. We did get to have a meal at a few different restaurants, and ended the evenings with a card game. Fr. Steve gave us the instructions as we played. I remembered back to a time when both Fr. Steve and I were both working together in Raleigh, N.C., and he ran the card games there as
well. What I remember most, however, is that I didn’t win either time. I wonder then about the common denominator. The most important things about the retreat are that the friars
enjoyed their time together, and we all feel recharged.

Peace and all good,
Fr. Mike

Registration for 2022/23 Faith Formation Now Open

Faith Formation, Parish News

Faith Formation at Sacred Heart : Registration for the 2022-2023 Catechetical Year

Family Faith Formation: 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 begins Friday, July 1. Registration is open to all families who have children ages four (4) through high school.  Sessions are slated to begin on both Sunday, Sept. 11 and  Wednesday, Sept. 14. Registration forms and additional information are available here.

Sacrament Registration: If your child will be preparing to receive Reconciliation, Eucharist, or Confirmation this coming year and you were enrolled in Family Faith Formation this past year, families should expect to receive a mailing with registration forms and schedules early next week.

If you are new to the parish and have not attended Family Faith Formation at Sacred Heart -OR- your child attends a Catholic School, please contact Maria Giral at 813-229-1595 ext. 214 or Barbara Ferreris 813-229-1595 ext. 204 for registration information and materials. Sacramental preparation takes place in the parish, and is not handled through the Catholic school your child may attend. For more information, click here.

CLOW: Children’s Liturgy of the Word will resume on Sunday, August 21 at the 9 a.m. Mass. Immediately prior to the Liturgy of the Word, children and catechists are dismissed from the church to the St. Clare Room to celebrate a Liturgy of the Word geared towards children. They then rejoin the Mass and their families during the Preparation of the Gifts for the remainder of the liturgy. Registration forms and additional information are available here.

RCIA: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process by which adults from other faith traditions are received into full communion with the Catholic Church. RCIA is a journey of faith that not-yet baptized adults, as well as baptized adults, complete with the help of a sponsor, the catechists, the discernment team, and above all, on the strength of their own conviction and desire to grow in their faith.

Are you or someone you know interested in the Catholic faith? RCIA sessions will resume in early September. Please visit the “Adult Faith Formation” page or call Barbara Ferreris in the parish office at 813-229-1595 ext. 204 for more.

Volunteer In Faith Formation: Our parishioners have faithfully answered their Baptismal call and have responded to our needs for volunteers in our faith formation programs. But, there is still room for a few more! If you are prayerfully considering sharing your time and talent in this ministry, we have many ways you can help.

  • Sunday morning Family Faith facilitators
  • Children’s Liturgy of the Word (Sunday 9 a.m. Mass)
  • Wednesday evening Family Faith facilitators
  • Sacrament Preparation Catechists
  • Sunday morning office and administrative assistance

We invite you to become a part of our amazing team — serving God and our Sacred Heart community! To learn how you can help, please contact our Faith Formation department via email or at 813-229-1595, Ext. 204 or 214.

 

 

A Look At Catholic Social Teaching | Friar Reflections | Friar Henry Fulmer

Friar Reflections

Dear parishioners,

The Catholic Church has a history of social teaching that goes back centuries and provides a compelling challenge for living responsibly and building a just society. Modern Catholic Social Teaching, rooted in Scripture and articulated through a tradition of written documents, has evolved over time in response to the challenges of the day.

Our Giving From the Heart donation events are a fine example of the principle of community and participation.

It is said that Catholic social teaching originated in 1891 with the encyclical letter “Rerum Novarum.” Since then, a wealth of teaching continues to bring to life the Scriptures and shape the Church’s response to our modern world. It is from the Catholic social teaching documents the encyclicals we get theses seven core principles.

The first is dignity; that God created every human person in his image and likeness. This gift we share as fellow human beings. We are all loved by God. Every one of us is unique and beautiful and God is present in each one of us human beings, regardless of religion, culture, nationality, orientation of economic standing.

The second is solidarity. Solidarity arises when we remember that we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper. Solidarity happens when we stand with those living in poverty. In our interconnectedness, we are invited to build relationships—to understand what life is like for others who are different from us.

The third principle is community and participation. We are encouraged to stand side by side with others, especially those living in poverty. We should help whenever and however we can, thinking both about our local and global neighbors.

Ministries like Hands of Hope embody Catholic Social Teaching through their weekly meals for the poor.

The fourth principle is one of preference, in option for the poor. Jesus’ words come alive when He says “you will always have the poor among you.” This principle is a moral test of how our most vulnerable members are faring. Our tradition instructs us to put the needs of poor and vulnerable people first. This option reminds us of God’s love for the poorest and most vulnerable people. God is love, and His love is universal. He does not side with oppressors, but loves the humble.

Our next principle is Peace. The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Today, our world is still in need of peace. In the Ukraine, as an example, thousands have died following the Russian invasion. The conflict has destroyed tens of thousands of homes and have displaced millions of residents of the Ukraine. We pray peace be restored.

We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of the principle of creation. Pope Francis has invited everyone on earth to consider how our actions and behaviors actions are the earth and the poorest among us.

The Garden Ministry exemplifies both the dignity of work as well our stewardship or care for creation.

Finally, Catholic social teaching has long upheld the dignity of work. The well-being of the human person should always come before the pursuit of profit.  The worker should always have a just wage, spend time with their family and rest. Everyone should be given a chance to work and participate.

John 13:35 is one of my favorites. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love another.” I believe this sums up Catholic social teaching in a nutshell.

Peace and all good,
Friar Henry

Statement from the Florida Council of Catholic Bishops

Parish News

To view the original document released by the FCCB, click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2022
CONTACT:
Michele Taylor
Associate Director for Communications
(850) 205-6817
mtaylor@flaccb.org

Statement on U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

TALLAHASSEE – On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. In response, the bishops of Florida issued the following statement:

“We are deeply heartened to see that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in its landmark opinion, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The most influential abortion case in decades, Dobbs is a decision by our nation’s highest court to allow states to protect women and their children from abortion through all stages of pregnancy.

“The legacy of Roe and Casey has been the imposition of an abortion regime that made our nation one of the most liberal of Western democratic countries on abortion. As a result, over 62 million children nationwide and 3,368,4751 children in Florida were denied the opportunity to live outside the womb since 1973. Mothers, fathers, and families have suffered under the shadow of Roe. Now, decision-making on abortion policy is once again in the hands of the American people and their elected officials. This is a momentous step towards establishing a more robust culture of life.

“The Dobbs case marks a new era for the work of the Church and all those who strive to protect children in the womb. We remain committed to ministries of service that accompany expectant mothers facing difficult or unintended pregnancies. We strive to continue to build a society that empowers women so that mothers are truly supported throughout pregnancy and beyond. A truly pro-life culture values women for their unique contributions and special gifts in all spheres of life, while supporting them in their roles as mothers. We wholeheartedly promote the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ initiative Walking with Moms in Need as well as the Florida Pregnancy Care Network to provide life-affirming care for women.

“We also remain passionate in the collective effort to change hearts and minds in Florida so that abortion is unthinkable, and to advocate for the legal protection of human life in the womb accompanied by profound care for mothers and their children. Roe’s reversal is the long-awaited righting of a grievous wrong, and we look ahead with grateful hope as we seek to bring the light of Christ and the Gospel of Life to our state of Florida.”

1) https://www.johnstonsarchive.net/…/usa/ab-usa-FL.html, accessed on May 20, 2022.

# # #

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops is an agency of the Catholic Bishops of Florida. It speaks for the Church in matters of public policy and serves as liaison to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The archbishop and bishops of the seven (arch)dioceses in Florida constitute its board of directors.