The weekend of November 4th and 5th our parish will celebrate “Commitment Sunday.” It is a time to show that you belong to Sacred Heart. Belonging to a parish community, to be a people of faith, means that we are also called to share our time and our talents. How do you discern how God is calling you to bring forward your gifts? Discernment is a word Christians often use instead of “making a decision” or “picking a choice,” although it means more than that. Discerning something means taking the ideas, the options, and the choices to prayer in order to ask God where and how He is leading you.
Category Archives: Parish News
A Home-Cooked Meal
Our Hospitality ministries go beyond just welcoming new and current parishioners – they also welcome our students studying close by at various universities, especially the University of Tampa. Each month, they host a home-cooked meal for our students who attend the 5:30 pm Sunday evening Mass.
In addition to participating in this meal, the dinners provide an opportunity for students to meet fellow Catholic students and active parishioners at Sacred Heart and enjoy a nice break from studying, homework, and other pressures of student life. Volunteers to this ministry help host, cook, set up, and clean up each event as well as get to know and form mentorships and friendships with the younger members of our parish community.
Our Upcoming Franciscan Celebrations
Next Wednesday, October 4th, marks the patronal feast day of Franciscans across the globe – the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It is a time when Franciscan communities come together to remember the passing of Francis from this world to the next, to celebrate his life and legacy in Masses and gatherings, and to hold events that are notably Franciscan. We hope you can join us at one of the upcoming events below.
Sunday, October 1st
On Sunday, October 1st, the Franciscan friars will hold the annual Blessing of the Animals. Bring your beloved pets and furry friends to the North Campus for a blessing and to share in God’s blessing of all of creation.
Sacred Heart North Campus (3515 N. Florida Ave.)
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Special Bible Study Series: A Letter to the Romans
Have you ever thought about joining our Bible Study program? Held weekly on Tuesdays throughout the year, they cover all sorts of topics – from weekly readings to special series on different themes. One of those special series will be starting soon!
Starting Tuesday, September 19th, Fr. George will lead everyone in a discussion about St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Why focus on St. Paul? The majority of the “books” that make up the New Testament are attributed to St. Paul of Tarsus, the apostle chosen by Christ, while on the road to Damascus, to be the one sent (apostolos) to the Gentiles. As Luke Timothy Johnson [259] notes: “The Christian Movement found its first and most vivid voice in the letters of the apostle Paul. The evangelists remained anonymous behind their shaping of Jesus’ story. Paul’s letters, by contrast, reveal a human personality so forcibly, yet with such great complexity that, for some, coming to grips with Christianity means first of all coming to grips with Paul. Paul’s personality appears at first to be full of contradictory elements. He can be gentle (2 Cor. 10:1) and also harsh (1 Cor. 4:21). He is full of restless energy (2 Cor. 2:12–13), yet also of firm resolution (2 Cor. 1:17). He claims to be weak rather than strong (2 Cor. 12:5), even as he boasts of power (2 Cor. 12:11). He is sublime in the expression of ideals (Rom. 12:14) but very human in his lack of them (Gal. 5:12).”
September 19th – December 12th
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm
San Damiano Center
And if you ever decide to try and tackle the Bible on your own, Fr. George has some tips and tricks for doing just that. Check out his blog articles below:
– How to Read the Bible
– How Not to Read the Bible
Special Announcement for Hurricane Irma
Updated Announcement on Parish Activities
Sacred Heart and the parish office survived Hurricane Irma with no damage, and both have power and a fully-operational air conditioning system! We hope all of our parishioners are slowly but surely getting their homes and lives back in order too after the storm.
As we continue to resume normal life and activities, we’ve provided an updated look at our parish calendar and Mass schedule for the rest of this week.
A Hand for the Hopeless
Another one of our thriving ministries under Franciscan Care is Hands of Hope, which is an outreach ministry serving the poor and homeless of our community. Each weekend, a meal is prepared and then served to our neighbors in need. Throughout the day, we share fellowship and resources of hope and healing for the physical, mental, and personal needs of our guests.
U.S. Franciscans Statement on Charlottesville Violence
As followers of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of peace, we, the Franciscans Friars of the United States join with the many public and religious leaders and fellow-citizens who have condemned the recent violence in Charlottesville, VA.
We hold that all forms of racism, white supremacy, neo-nazism, xenophobia and hatred are wrong.
Continue reading U.S. Franciscans Statement on Charlottesville Violence
Where Two or Three Are Gathered
Did you know Sacred Heart has a Rosary Devotional Group? This ministry meets once a month, on the first Saturday of each month. They pray the rosary together and then dine out a local restaurant afterwards. All members of Sacred Heart are welcome to join, so be on the lookout for their next meeting in the bulletin.
We also invite you to read more about this wonderful ministry and what inspired one of our parishioners to join.
The Missionary Spirit of Franciscans
This weekend, August 5th and 6th, will bring a very special guest to Sacred Heart. Br. John Aherne, OFM, who interned with us during the summer of 2014 will be visiting us and sharing his experiences with the Franciscan Missionary Union.
Hope and Comfort Amid Pain and Loss
Franciscan Care encompasses many ministries, those that participate in outreach like Hands of Hope, to those that support our friends and neighbors through physical, spiritual, or mental suffering like our TGH Eucharistic Ministers and Prison Ministry. But one of those ministries – Bereavement Care – offers hope and comfort amid the pain and loss of our loved ones.
