FATHER MAYER
PASTOR
BECOMING AN ANGLICAN
I grew up as a devout Evangelical Protestant. I had (and still have) a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, which provided me with the foundation for my unexpected journey ahead. During college, in response to a calling to ordained ministry, I started studying theology and Christian history, and began searching for a denomination that held the fullness of what I was discovering. I got married to an amazingly adventurous woman and found myself drawn to the rich liturgical traditions, history, and warmth that I found within the Episcopal Church and went on to be ordained.
BECOMING A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
However, my studies into the Fathers of the Church and the development of doctrine continued and led me to be convinced it was the Catholic Church that was begun by our Lord and it was there that the fullness and true flourishing of the faith was still to be found. I entered the Church along with my wife and after receiving a special dispensation from Pope Francis, I was ordained as a Catholic priest and sent to Jacksonville to assist in fostering the growth and establishment of the mission of Saint James Catholic Church.
LEADING SAINT JAMES
I am excited about serving others as the pastor of this growing mission. As one drawn the evangelizing power of beauty I love the reverence and musical patrimony that are part of this form of the Mass that has been brought back into the Church. As a married man with three young children, I have a unique understanding of the needs of families and am dedicated to building a culture at Saint James that is committed to community life. As a convert to the faith, I love sharing the overlooked riches of our faith and topics that other priests are hesitant to broach. I am grateful to be able to serve within the Catholic Church as a priest.
JOIN THE ADVENTURE
For those curious about the Catholic Church, I would like to invite you to join me in asking the difficult questions and digging deeply into history of God's people to understand your identity. For others, I need your help and generosity to build this mission into a stable parish that will serve generations to come. Join me on this exciting journey.
Father Mayer, Pastor
904-999-1423
CONNECTION TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
This diocesan like structure, the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, was established by the Vatican in 2012 (see decree of erection) to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and bring unity among Christians through through a rich liturgical, and preaching tradition, and focus on community. Since that time, the Ordinariate has been thriving and has established nearly forty missions and parishes and counting throughout North America. The Ordinariate is led by Bishop Steven J. Lopes, who was appointed by Pope Francis in 2015. Learn more about the Ordinariate.
RELATIONSHIP TO THE DIOCESE OF ST. AUGUSTINE
St. James would not be in existence without the support of Bishop Estévez and the local diocese.
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See Saint James listed as a mission by the Diocese of St. Augustine
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Fr. Mayer, our pastor, can be found in the Diocese of St. Augustine, Priest Directory, meaning that he has full faculties to function as a priest anywhere in the Diocese.
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St. James has an office at Assumption Catholic Church, where Fr. Mayer often celebrates the 6:30 AM daily Mass.
WHO CAN JOIN SAINT JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH?
Anyone! You are welcome here. Also, any Catholic can satisfy Sunday and Holy Day obligations by attending a Mass at Saint James or any other Ordinariate community. If you are interested in becoming a parishioner of St. James please print, and complete this form, and bring it with you to Mass.
WHAT IS THE MISSION OF ST. JAMES AND THE ORDINARIATE?
To enrich and nourish Catholics and to help Protestants and others come back into communion with the one, Holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church through the reverence and beauty in worship, study of the faith, a distinctive musical and pastoral inheritance, charity for those in need, and mutual love and forbearance toward one another as followers of Jesus Christ and His Church.
