Pastoral

Members of the Fasting Brothers are committed (both physically and spiritually) to one day a week (other than Sunday) to offer a holy hour, fast, and prayers for our Parish priests. Each Fasting Brother chooses the day, and what type of fast he will offer, (i.e., no food all day, only bread and water, not eating until 3 p.m.). Holy Spirit driven, Fasting Brothers conduct a sacrificial fast and prayers from the comfort of their own home, there are no meetings spaces to reserve. Fasting Brothers offers their fasts and prayers solely for the intentions of the Parish priests. These intentions include: the priests’ sanctification, spiritual and temporal needs, and for an increased devotion to St. Joseph, model of fortitude and purity. Holy Mother Church is under attack like never before. Our priests face daily the brunt of Satan’s brutal assault. Jesus tells us how to fight these powerful evil forces: “But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). The Fasting Brothers motto is “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” (Latin) “For the Greater Glory of God.” Ministry affiliation with the Seven Sisters Apostolate, which is established at the Sacred Heart Parish (Fleming Island). 

VBS is held during the afternoon of one week in June.  Bible stories, crafts, games, music, and snacks are centered on a specific theme each year.  Any children ages pre-k (4 years) through 6^th grade are welcome to attend.  Junior and senior high school students are welcome and encouraged to assist as crew leaders during the week.  Moms and Dads are asked to help to round out the team for this weeklong celebration.

This group meets some Wednesday mornings in Building A. Typically, a video series is watched and discussed each week. All are welcome to join!

Small groups are a great way to meet others to explore and challenge your faith. The groups will be meeting in homes or on campus each week following the same study guide. Groups are no larger than 10 people each which provides the ability for everyone to share, relationships to form, and faith to deepen.

This new ministry is part prayer, part fellowship, part marriage, part church education, and part support for each other! Since we are building this from scratch, we’re open to feedback and ideas on what you would like to see offered. To answer a few questions we’ve received: There aren’t any age limits for this ministry…if you feel called, please come!  This is for those of us in the middle whose kids don’t need as much support anymore. There aren’t any workbooks or preparation to do or any other heavy lifting on your part…this ministry is for you and we aren’t here to take up a lot of your time!  If you can’t make the next one, that’s OK…join anytime!

The Rosary Makers of Sacred Heart Catholic Church invite and welcome all to join in this ministry.  We meet monthly on the 3^rd Monday in the Activity Center from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  There is a half hour of potluck and fellowship, and then we make and teach others to fashion cord and plastic-bead Rosaries.  These Rosaries are blessed and freely distributed to individuals and other programs such as our homebound parishioners, the people in nursing homes our parishioners visit, religious education classes, sacrament preparation classes, Respect Life, and others.  Our goal is to foster and inspire evangelization, encourage the recitation of the Rosary, and to expand and enrich devotion to Our Blessed Mother.  If you are unable to attend but would like to participate with a donation, it is greatly appreciated.

Seeking the Truth about the Church Jesus established? Enter discussions on Catholic Apologetics.  Be part of a group that meets on Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. in the back of the church.  Hear answers about the Catholic faith that are truthful, theologically sound, logical, and backed up with references. 

Through Youth Ministry, we empower the next generation of faith leaders, we guide, support, and inspire youth on their journey within the Catholic community, inspiring a lifelong journey of faith, discipleship, community involvement, and devotion to Christ.

We are currently seeking Adult members of Sacred Heart Parish to become Youth Ministry Volunteers!  Come help us build a vibrant, supportive community that helps young disciples encounter Christ.

Accompany them, promote belonging in the parish community, share your faith in:  prayer, leadership, community and service.

Prayerfully consider volunteering, how can your gifts and talents be utilized in Youth Ministry?

Opportunities for involvement include but are not limited to the following:

• Participation in the Wednesday evening youth program
• Hospitality Leader (serving and/or bringing food for teens)
• Donate food, materials, resources, etc…
• Become a mentor

Become involved in this energetic and Spirit led ministry!

Youth Group Forms:

• Communication Consent Form
• Child Photography Release Form
• Adult Photography Release Form
• Parent Permission Field Trip Participation Form
• Parent/ Guardian Medical Release Form
• Adult Consent & Liability Waiver Trip Form

Seven Sisters Apostolate is a call to strengthen the Church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week for the sole intention of a specific deacon, priest or bishop.  Those participating are assigned a priest or deacon and a day of the week.  They then pray for their assigned clergy for one hour on their given day.  This ensures that all of our priests and deacons have someone praying for their special intentions or for his deeper conformity to Christ every day.

The St. Elizabeth Apostolate is dedicated to offering spiritual and prayerful support to couples who are trying to conceive, adopting, or experiencing the grief of pregnancy loss. With a compassionate heart, we also provide meals to families welcoming their new children into their homes. Our ministry includes a prayer list and emails containing a short prayer, fostering a supportive and caring community. While members are invited to contribute meals for families welcoming a new baby, participation is entirely voluntary. Through our efforts, we aim to embrace and uplift families, nurturing the future of the Church as they grow and blossom in faith.

Seeking a deeper prayer life? Connect with the Prayer Warriors, a group that meets on Tuesday 4:30 p.m. in front of the tabernacle.  Prayers: sung, silent, and spoken for the sick, deceased, our clergy, our parish, the conversion of sinners, and for the spiritual protection from evil.  Guiding verses: Philippians 4:6-7.  

Members of this ministry pray for the intentions of the sick as they make small blankets and then sew on a Medal of the Immaculate Conception (Miraculous Medal) which is covered with a red fabric heart onto the corner of the blanket. After being prayed over by parishioners during parish gatherings and blessed at Mass, the blankets are given to the sick to comfort them as they use them with knowledge that the prayers of the Parish cover them and they are not alone in their time of physical sufferings and mental anxieties.

If you are interested in making blankets, we would love to hear from you.

The Parish Council serves to advise and assist the Pastor in the establishment of policies and activities that promote the spiritual growth and development of the members of the Parish. There are also representatives of various organizations in the Parish that are part of the Council. The Council welcomes ideas and suggestions and meetings are open to all. 

You are welcome to join our Holy Rosary on Thursday mornings following the 8:00 a.m. mass.  We meet together to answer our Blessed Mother’s request at Fatima to pray the rosary.  The Rosary is a powerful prayer that brings healing and conversion to our families.  After the Holy Rosary, we read a message from Our Blessed Mother, given to Fr. Stefano Gobbi in the book To The Priests, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons.  Come join us for this beautiful and powerful prayer that (through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) has the power to convert the whole world. 

The Ministries of Consolation and Bereavement offer to bring the healing comfort of God into the lives of a family mourning a loss through death. Ministers express sympathy and compassion when a member of our parish community has experienced the loss of a loved one.  Additional support is provided by serving as liturgical ministers during the funeral Mass or by preparing food for or by serving at the funeral reception.

GriefShare is a thirteen-week support group program for people grieving a loved one’s death.  At a weekly meeting you will watch a video on a grief related topic and hear insights from counselors and people who have lost a loved one. After the video is a small group discussion time. You will also receive a take home workbook that you can read throughout the week and find daily encouragement and practical helps.  Join in at any time.

The Divine Mercy group studies The Diary of St. Faustina and God’s mercy and love for us through the conversations St. Faustina had with Jesus. We meet the first and third Tuesday of the month from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in the Bride’s Room. We also lead the Divine Mercy Chaplet every Tuesday morning after the 8:00 a.m. mass.

Our Homebound Ministry brings Holy Communion to our permanently homebound registered parishioners.  Our homebound ministers visit our homebound parishioners in pairs. They are required to be fingerprinted and attend a Protecting God’s Children class.  If you’re interested in helping or want more information, please contact us.  Please prayerfully consider this service to help spiritually nourish our homebound parishioners.

This ministry involves teaching the Gospel to children from ages 4 to 8 during the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays.  Ministers follow a specific curriculum and are able to fully participate in the Liturgy.  Children’s Liturgy of the Word helps make Liturgy a positive and meaningful experience for the whole community.  Volunteers must be finger printed and have a background check done to participate.

Evening Adult Bible Study is a scripture-based Bible study. We meet twice a month from September through March from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Activity Center. Most programs are 7-12 sessions long. You will complete assigned readings and questions at home and then meet at the Activity Center for small group discussions, and video explanations. Pre-Registration is required to receive the study material.