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St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church www.xavierbrunswick.org, 912-265-3249 December 2, 2018
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
www.xavierbrunswick.org, 912-265-3249
December 2, 2018
150 Years as St. Francis Xavier Parish!
The Sacraments have been celebrated in the Golden Isles since 1566 by priests traveling with
the Spanish explorers. Missions were set up along the coast from that time providing almost 500 years
of the Sacraments in the Golden Isles! In 1868 a small chapel was built in Brunswick dedicated to St.
Francis Xavier. A more suitable brick and stone church was built on Newcastle Street in 1884. The
present “new” church building was dedicated on April 2, 1967. This year St. Francis Xavier parish cel-
ebrates her 150th anniversary!
With 150 years of parish history behind us we gave thanks for the faith of those who have gone
before us and given us such a great foundation. Your presence and support of SFX Parish and School
continues a legacy of almost 500 years of Catholic presence on the Georgia Coast!
Our Parish and School History
1566 – Fr. Pedro Martinez lands in Georgia accompanying explorers from Spain. Spanish Franciscan
Fathers set up missions along the coast of Georgia from 1566 – 1742.
1597 – Between Sept. 14-17 Five Franciscan Friars (the GA Martyrs) are killed on the GA Coast.
1791 – The Du Bignon family purchases Jekyll Island. A visiting priest occasionally comes to say
mass on the island.
1844 – The Du Bignon family moves to Union St. in Brunswick. Mass is said in their home for the
few Catholics in town – mostly of French and Irish descent. Various Jesuit priests minister during this
time.
1868 – A small chapel is built and named after St. Francis Xavier.
1871 – Priests of the Diocese of Savannah are given care of the parish.
1884- A new brick and stone church is built and dedicated on Newcastle Street and dedicated on April
27, 1884.
1897 – The parish is entrusted to the care of the Marist Fathers (Fathers of the Society of Mary).
1900 – Saint Joseph School is established. The Sisters of St. Joseph run the school. The school opens
with 70 students.
1922 – The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis, take over the school.
1938 – The Portuguese parishioners present a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. It is carved
from a solid block of dry Brazilian cedar. Each Mother’s Day it is carried in procession around the
church. In the afternoon the local priest blesses the fishing fleet and places a wreath of flowers in
memory of deceased fishermen.
1953 – St. Joseph’s Convent is built (now the Christian Formation Center).
1958 – Due to growth at the school a new school complex is built and dedicated on February 9. As a
tribute to the generosity of the parish the school is renamed St. Francis Xavier.
1967 – The present church building is dedicated in April.
1988 – The Conventual Franciscan order is given care of the parish.
1996 – Xavier Hall is dedicated with a gymnasium, kitchen and meeting rooms.
2014 – Priests of the Diocese of Savannah are given care of the parish.
2017 – The Forward with Faith Campaign is launched with plans to renovate the church and school
properties.
What will you add to the legacy of SFX Parish and School?
To learn about the Georgia Martyrs go to: https://thegeorgiamartyrs.org/en/
Mass Schedule
Saturday
5:00 p.m. SFX
7:00 p.m. (on
Jekyll)
Sunday (SFX)
8:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m. in Spanish
Weekday Masses
Mon. - Noon (Chapel)
Tues., Wed. & Thurs.
7:00 a.m. (Chapel)
Wed. 7:00 p.m. (Church)
Fri. 8 a.m. (Church)
Reconciliation:
Church
Saturdays
4:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday
7:45 - 8:15 a.m.
(Or by appointment)
St. Joseph Chapel
(Please go to the main office for code)
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
St Joseph Chapel
First Friday
Adoration
2:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Holy Hour
7:00- 8:00 p.m.
First Saturday
8:45 a.m.
Come to the Adoration on Friday, December 7 and
begin your Advent in a spirit of prayer. First Friday
Adoration is scheduled for December 7 in the
Church from 2 to 8 p.m. Please sign-up for a one hour
slot. Sign-up sheet is located on the back table. First
Saturday Mass at 8:45 a.m. December 1st in the Chapel.
The Council of Catholic Women will meet on
Monday, December 3, 6:00 to 7:30 pm in Xavier
hall for their regular monthly gathering.
Ladies of the parish are also cordially invited to
join us for our annual Christmas Party on Sunday,
December 9, 4 to 6 pm in Xavier hall. Please call
Marisol 912-264-6805 extension 12 for details.
The winner of the St. Francis Xavier Council of Women
“Christmas Cash” raffle was Nyrita Carter. Thank you to all who
supported the CCW raffle and to the CCW ladies for making the
raffle a success!
Advent Penance Service will be
December 5th at 7 p.m.
On Dec 3, the Feast of SFX, we
will offer a 7:00 pm that evening
(in addition to the noon mass) to
celebrate our patron.
Saturday December 8th is a Holy Day of Obligation as we celebrate the Im-maculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
There will be a vigil mass on Friday
Dec. 7 at 7:00 pm and a mass on Sat-
urday at 10:00 a.m.
Collections for:
November
24 & 25
$ 9,263.57
December
1 & 2
$ 8,270.52
Blue Book/
Calendars
$ 1,071.00
Join our parish for BEST ADVENT EVER, a free email program
from Dynamic Catholic that will help you slow down and focus
on what matters most during the busy holiday season. Each day
of Advent, you’ll receive an email with . . . Short inspirational
videos from Allen Hunt, Matthew Kelly, and the Dynamic Catholic team. •
Practical tips for your everyday life • Real-life stories to encourage you in
your faith journey Sign up, visit BestAdventEver.com/Christmas18
The Most Reverend Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv.,
Bishop of Savannah
Invites all couples celebrating their Silver or Gold
(25th or 50
th) Wedding Anniversaries in 2019 to join him in celebrating the
Gold & Silver Wedding Jubilee Anniversary Mass
in your honor at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
in Savannah, Georgia
on Sunday: February 10, 2019.
Those wishing to attend should register online at
https://www.diosav.org/familylife-marriage-jubilee
by December 20, 2018 in order to receive a formal invitation with the detailed infor-
mation.
Questions?: Contact the Diocesan Office of Family Life, 912-201-4068.
You may have heard about a new program we have
been offering in the parish called Christ Life. We fin-
ished one session this fall called Discovering Christ.
We are going to offer Discovering Christ again this
winter in case you missed it. We will offer one ses-
sion that meets in the evenings at 6:30 pm and one
that meets in the day at 11:00 a.m. Stay tuned for
sign ups. For those who have completed Discovering
Christ we are going to offer level 2 (Seeking Christ)
this Lent.
“O God, hear our prayer and let our cry come unto You. Bless our Diocese of Savannah with many vocations to the
priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. Give the men
and women You call the light to under-stand Your gift and the love to follow al-
ways in the footsteps of Your priestly Son. Amen.”
PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION
(PSR): PSR meets Sunday Mornings
during the academic school year, 9:30 –
10:40am, for children Pre-K - 8th Grade. If
you have not registered yet, please come
over to the school and we will help you
get your child registered for this new year.
Call Deacon Larry-DRE-265-3249, X14.
St. Francis Xavier is the charter organization for
Boy Scout Troop 207 and Cub Scout Pack 207.
The unit number 207 has been a Scouting staple
in Brunswick for over 50 years, and we are
proud to call St. Francis Xavier home! We are
seeking young men to join us. Boys in first
through fifth grades are invited to sign up for
the Cub Scout program, and boys in middle and
high school would be welcome to join Boy
Scouts. If you're already involved in a different
unit, we'd love to have you join us. Both the
troop and pack will kick off their new year pro-
grams in the coming weeks. If you're interested,
or have questions about the program, please
contact Chris Sadowski at 912-399-0907
School and Youth News
Teens in the Spirit meets
every Wednesday from 5 -
7 p.m. with Mass to follow.
A Teen Event
What – Coco, the movie
When – Wednesday, December 19, 6 pm
Where – St. Anne’s room, Parish Hall
Join Deacon Robert Phillips for pizza and
drinks. Sing-along to the songs. Bring a friend and
let’s have fun.
Davis Love Foundation
Raffle Update
Thank you for supporting St.
Francis Xavier Catholic School by
purchasing a raffle ticket. The
school sold 671 tickets, and raised
$19,743.15. Winner of the car
was Missy Neu. Thank you for
your support.
Many thanks to the SFX School students
for their help in decorating Thanksgiving
place mats that were used at Manna
House on Thanksgiving Day, and for over
400 food items collected and donated to
the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry!
Congratulations to our SFX Quiz Bowl team for
taking second place at the St James Catholic
School Tournament!
Let us pray for all those in the military
and police force both active and retired.
Mass Intentions
Saturday, December 1
5:00 p.m. t Alma Musko
7 p.m. t Rose DeFranco
(At Jekyll United Methodist Church)
Sunday, December 2
8:30 a.m. t Eric G. Geores III
11a.m. 150th Celebration
6:00 p.m. t Mercedes Lopez-Guzman
Monday, December 3
Noon t R. D. Weiss
7 p.m. St Francis Xavier- Our Patron Saint
Tuesday, December 4
7 a.m. t Richard Brunegraff
Wednesday, December 5
7 a.m. t Lois Kronn
7 p.m. Penance Service
Thursday, December 6
7 a.m. t Carmen Zuba
Friday, December 7
8:00 a.m. Dorcas-Ehlman Families
2 - 7 p.m. Adoration
7 p.m. VIGIL Our Parish Family
Saturday, December 8
10 a.m. Our Parish Family (Holy Day)
5:00 p.m. t Harold Morrissette
7 p.m. t Sandee Coddington (Flowers)
(At Jekyll United Methodist Church)
Sunday, December 9
8:30 a.m. Living & Deceased LeMieux Family
11a.m. Knights of Columbus members
6:00 p.m. t Souls in Purgatory
December 2, 2018
First Sunday of Advent
Hans McCollum
Timothy Tindall
Jack & Jan Mistisshen
Vincent & Dan Schaefer
Jesse Cole
Norma Ireland
Joan Schwartz
Jerry Ehlman
Joyce McPhee
Carol Papia
Bradley Huffman
Jacky Free
Michael L. Mleko
Jim Nutt
Shirley Reilly
Hazel Woody
Betty Blouin
Lidia Gorman
Martha Burroughs
Felicia Lima
Maureen O’Farrell
Georgia Burgess-Erwin
David & Frances Nohrden
Mercedes Nadal
Kathy Poliwka
Lucille Nichols
Sarah Ray
Jerry Hayward
Jackie Maassen
Sandi Wadsworth
Linda Forsyth
Willie & Peggie Cash
Blanch Reed
Dan Hickey
Jim Layman
If you left a picture for the board, the pictures will be placed back in the box December 1st for you to pick up.
If you are interested in being part of a Living the Eucharist
Lenten study this year please contact Deacon Larry. We will
soon be ordering books for groups. If you were not in a
group last year you can learn more at LivingtheEucharist.org.
PRAYER LIST
The Vocation Office will sponsor a discernment retreat
“Answer the Call” for men ages 18 to 40 from Friday, De-
cember 28th at noon to Saturday, December 29th at 2pm
at Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge in Helena, GA
(south of Dublin). Please register at www.diosav.org/
vocations and click on the retreat icon. There is no cost
for the retreat and registration will close Christmas day.
Parish Activity Contacts
Adult Bible Study, Joe & Linda Kirby…………….267-9359
Altar and Environmental Care, Diane Lott……….223-1261
Bereavement, Ann Buebel………………………..265-3249
CCW, Marisol Soler ………………………264-6805 ext. 12
Culture of Life, Rose Lodise…………….…….…...264-4121
Greeters, Ginger Dorcas…………..……………....275-8492
Knights of Columbus, Bill Schuster……………….266-6779
Religious Ed., Larry Guyer ……………..…265-3249 ext. 14
St. Monica Society, Peggie Cash…………….…....264-5458
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store…………...….…....262-6027
Parish Council, RoseMary Jones
Most Rev. Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Bishop of Savannah
Membership
To be a registered member of the par-
ish is to have a sense of belonging to a
family. Newcomers are requested to
register at the church office soon after
arrival to meet the staff and learn about
your new parish. In the time of family
sickness, death or special need, parish-
ioners are asked to notify the Church
office. If requested, Holy Communion
will e brought o anyone desiring to re-
ceive the Eucharist but are unable to
attend Mass for serious reasons.
Church Office
405 Howe St.,
Brunswick, GA 31520
912-265-3249
