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Our Christmas Mass Schedule

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Christmas Season 2025/26 Masses and Programs:

— Christmas Eve —
Wednesday, December 24
4 p.m. | Children’s Christmas Program at 3:30 p.m.
6 p.m. | 8 p.m.
Mass During the Night | 11 p.m. | Carols and Prayers at 10:30 p.m.

— Christmas Day —
Thursday, December 25 | 7:30 a.m. | 9 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | Noon

— Historical Society Christmas Tour —
Friday, December 26 | 1 p.m. | In the church
No Mass or Confessions on 12/26

— Daily Mass & Confessions | December 27, 29-31 —
12:10 p.m. Mass Only | 11:30 a.m. Confessions

— The Feast of the Holy Family — 
Sunday, December 28, 2025 | Standard Weekend Mass Schedule

 — The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God —
Vigil Mass | Wednesday, December 31 | 5:30 p.m.
New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1, 2025 | 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
Holy Day of Obligation

— The Epiphany of The Lord — 
Sunday, January 5, 2025 | 7:30 a.m. | 9 a.m. |10:30 a.m. | Noon | 5:30 pm
Sing Out Epiphany | Special Carol Event | 3 p.m.

*Parishioners and visitors are advised to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of any event or Mass on Christmas Eve.

Parish Office and Daily Mass Schedule During the Christmas Season

Closures | Please note that our parish office will be closed on Wednesday, December 24.  Confession will not be held, and the regular 7 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. Masses will not be celebrated.

– The office  will reopen on Thursday, December 26. No Masses will be celebrated this day, and confessions will not be held, with only the Historical Society Christmas tour taking place at 1 p.m.

– On the weekdays between the Feast of the Holy Family and the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, December 29, 30, and 31, Masses will be celebrated at 12:10 p.m. only, with Confessions available at 11:30 a.m. There will be no 7 a.m. Mass on these dates.

– The office will be closed Thursday, January 1, with the celebration of the 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Confessions will not be held.

– The standard daily Mass and confession schedule will resume on Friday, January 2.

Parking Information

On Street Parking: During Mass times on Sundays, parishioners are invited to park in The City of Tampa’s Church Zone free of charge. The City recently made an adjustment to the hours of operation for on-street parking throughout downtown. Spaces are now enforced from the hours of 8 a.m. to midnight, Monday-Saturday, and Sunday’s from 2 p.m.-midnight. These spaces are enforced on nights, weekends, and holidays.

For general parking information, click here.

Madison Building Garage: The garage neighboring the church (entrance on Florida Ave.) will be open, with daily parking rates available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: $3 for the first hour, $2 for subsequent hours, $12 maximum. Remember to take a ticket when entering the garage. Failure to do so will result in a charge of the daily maximum of $12.

Live Streaming

Whether you are unable to be with us in person, or you don’t want to miss our Christmas pageant and night-time musical offerings, two Masses will be streamed live this Christmas.

Click here for our Online Mass (live stream) page.

Both the 4 p.m. Family – and – 11 p.m. Night Mass will be streamed on Christmas Eve. These broadcasts will begin early to include festive offerings from our children, musicians, and choirs. Mass will not be livestreamed on Christmas Day.

If you can’t join at these specific times, the livestream videos will be available to view 15-30 minutes following the conclusion of each Mass.

Christmas Poinsettias | Online Memorial

Remember a loved one during the Christmas season with a poinsettia used to decorate our sanctuary. A long-standing Sacred Heart tradition, each plant that you see has been given in remembrance or honor of loved ones whose names will be memorialized online.

*NEW* Poinsettias can now be ordered online through our parish Mass intention and Memorials request page. Simply click on “Request Memorial” on the top, right corner of the page, and select any available day in December.

Request forms can be found on the table near the church entrance, or at the link below. All forms, along with the suggested donation of $20 per plant, must be received by Thursday, December 18.

Click here to order your 2025 Poinsettia Memorial online

Click here to download your 2025 Poinsettia order form

2025 Advent & Christmas Events

Blessing of the Crèche | Friday, December 5 | 5:30 p.m.

Join the friars at the Franciscan Center (3010 North Perry Avenue) for the annual Blessing of the Crèche next Friday, December 5, starting at 5:30 p.m. The friars, alongside former Sacred Heart friar, Fr. Michael Reyes, OFM, will bless the outdoor crèche, as well as the figures from your home nativity scenes as they celebrate the 802nd Anniversary of St. Francis’ first crèche at Greccio. Caroling, cookie decorating, and hot chocolate will get you into the Christmas spirit. Learn more about the origins of the first crèche by clicking here.

Coffee & Donuts w/ St. Nicholas | Sunday, December 14 | 10 a.m.

Sacred Heart is changing it up this year and bringing Saint Nick to you! Join us for a special Coffee & Donuts on Sunday, December 14, following the 9 a.m. Mass in St. Francis Hall. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to make crafts and take pictures with jolly old St. Nicholas himself, of course while enjoying a warm beverage and donuts galore, so get your sweet tooth ready! Gifts featuring the church will also be for sale. Come early for the 10:30 a.m. Mass, or stick around after the 9 a.m. as we look forward to having a holly-jolly time with you!

The Road to Bethlehem | Sunday, December 14 | 2:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart, alongside our friends at the Franciscan Center, invites you to an afternoon of scripture, meditation, and song on Sunday, December 14 at 2:30 p.m. in the church. Join Br. Louis Canter, OEF & singer Katherine Petrucci, as their presentation is framed by organ music from Langlais and Bach is played by our very own director of music, Philip Jakob. This event is free, and open to the public.

Historic Christmas Tour of Sacred Heart Church | Friday, December 26 | 1 p.m.

Join the Docents of Sacred Heart on Friday, December 26 at 1 p.m. for an historic Christmas tour of our Church. Decorated splendidly for the Christmas season, including the historic “creche”, the tour of the church will include multiple stations featuring our docents, in period dress, and special guests explaining extraordinary features of the church including:

— the motivation behind the significant donation of the altar and altar rail
— unique architecture and design elements
— original relics that were obtained for the dedication of the church in 1905
— memorial stained glass windows
— renovations to improve and sustain our church

Learn about these and so many more interesting aspects of this ecclesiastical jewel of downtown Tampa. As always, docent-led lecture and tours are free, and open to the public.

A reception with light refreshments will follow the tour in St. Francis Hall.

Donations are gratefully accepted and used to continue the renovation and restoration of the church.

Sing Out Epiphany | Sunday, January 4 | 3 p.m.

On Sunday, January 4 at 3 p.m., you’re invited to gather in the church for a festival of carols to celebrate the close of the Christmas season. We all love to sing Christmas carols, but it may be that your particular favorites will not find a place in the liturgies of the Christmas season. Alongside a few of those liturgical standards, we will sing seasonal favorites that may have been missed. Our director of music, Philip Jakob, may also introduce some carols with amusing alternative lyrics! Festive costumes and attire are encouraged! All are welcome!

Watch Livestream MassParkingReadings & HymnsOnline GivingWeekly Bulletin

How We Might Remember | From the Desk of the Pastor | November 2024

Friar Reflections, From the Desk of the Pastor, Parish News, Uncategorized

Dear Parishioners,

This Saturday, November 2, we celebrate the Solemnity of All the Faithful Departed, more commonly known as All Souls’ Day. This month is often seen as a time to remember all of our loved ones. I’d like to remind you that this year, Remembrance Cards will be available to you, where you can write down the names of your departed loved ones and we will remember each of them at every Ordinary Time Mass throughout November. Many have already filled out the cards, causing us to run out last weekend. You can be sure that we will keep a supply in reserve as the month continues. Cards can be found near our Book of Intentions in the back of the church. Simply place the completed cards in the adjacent basket, and the friars will collect them.

A poem that I often read during near All Souls’ Day is called We Remember Them; a litany by Rabbis Sylvan Kamens and Jack Riemer. This poem reminds us of how the memories of our loved ones who have died, even if significant time has passed since their death, will be seen in smallest or most repetitive aspects of our own lives. The first time I heard this poem was at a remembrance celebration in 1999 at a local Hospice facility in Maryland. In the time since, I have revisited this litanty countless time for All Souls’ celebrations.

At the rising of the sun and at its going down,
We remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of Winter,
We remember them.
At the opening of buds and in the rebirth of Spring,
We remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of Summer,
We remember them.
At the rustling of leaves and the beauty of Autumn,
We remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends,
We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength,
We remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart,
We remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share,
We remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make,
We remember them
When we have achievements that are based on theirs,
We remember them.

Some of you know that I am a bit of a baker. At that that Hospice remembrance service, one of the volunteers made these graham cracker dessert for those in attendance to share. They were absolutely delicious, and stick out in my mind whenever I think to that poem and service. It took me a while but I tracked down the woman who made them and she gave me the recipe, which I will share with you.

Graham Cracker Treats

Ingredients:
1 cup – Butter
½ cup – Sugar
1 cup – Chopped Pecans
12 large Graham Crackers

Directions:
• Put graham crackers on a foiled cookie tray and sprinkle with pecans.
• In a saucepan, melt sugar and butter over medium heat and let boil for 2 minutes. When finished, pour over crackers and pecans.
• Bake in oven at 350*F for 10 minutes.

One of the best ways we remember loved ones is when we share what they had given us in life. Ahead of the holidays, let us share their stories and the gifts they have given us with others. As they have lived in us, may they now also live in others. For example, my great, great aunt Sarah died when I was a toddler. She was about 107. I don’t remember her, but I am connected to her through the warm stories my dad and grandmother would tell about her.

Take the time in November to pray for all those who have gone before us, as we remember them.

Peace and All Good,
– Fr. Mike

Online Mass | The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Hymns for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Opening Song: As we gather at your table G 922
Penitential Act: Glory to God: Mass of Joy & Peace (Alonso) G 250

Responsorial Psalm 121:

When the just one cries out, the Lord hears,

When the just one cries out, the Lord hears,

And rescues him, rescues him,

And rescues him from all his distress.

(Text: Abbey Psalms & Canticles © 2010, 2018 USCCB; Music: © 2016, 2022, Philip Jakob)

Gospel Acclamation: Salisbury Alleluia (Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts I want to walk as a child of the light G 650
Eucharistic Acclamations: Mass of Creation G 231, 234, 238
Lamb of God: Mass of Creation G 240
Communion Song: Come to me (Joncas) G 789
Dismissal: We will walk with God G807

Links to Resources for Mass:

Parking Alert – November 13 & 14, 2021

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To Parishioners who park in the Madison Building garage (416 E Madison St) for Mass and parish events, be advised that the building owners will have the lobby on the main floor locked for maintenance (floor replacement) the weekend of November 13-14, 2021, and parking in the garage may be limited to monthly members only. The elevators will not be available, requiring parishioners to utilize the garage’s stairwells.

Our apologies for this inconvenience.

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) – Nov. 2, 2021

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Thank you for participating in Sacred Heart’s Mass. On this page you can find the readings for All Souls’ Day, as well as the music for Mass.

  • Readings for the All Souls’ Day
  • Music for the All Souls’ Day

Included in this Feast Day’s music document is a prayer for successful outcomes of the 26th annual U.N. Conference of the Parties on climate. For more on this important gathering, and how Pope Francis has been involved, click here.

On October 17, we began singing a new Glory to God  at most Masses. To preview the new arrangement, links to the sheet music and a recording have been added below.

  • Sheet Music for the new Glory to God from the NEW WINE Mass
  • Sample Recording of the new Glory to God from the NEW WINE Mass, as sung by the Catholic Primary School Choirs of Sheffield, England (Diocese of Hallam, 2010)