Category Archives: Parish News

Aiding Our Local Homeless w/ Next Parish-wide Drive

September 30, 2025Parish NewsRob Boelke

Parish-wide efforts to meet the needs of the Tampa/Hillsborough County community continue on Saturday, October 11, at the North Campus with our next Giving from the Heart drive-through donation event. Volunteers from our Open Doors ministry will be gathered from 9 to 11 a.m. to receive items assisting Hands of Hope, our parish’s homeless outreach.

Can’t make it to the North Campus on the day of the drive?

Click the image to access our Amazon Wishlist, and have your donation shipped directly to the parish office!

The emphasis our October drive is to restock the stores for Hands of Hope, which operates each and every Saturday to provide more than 100 unhoused clients on average with a hot meal and supplies, such as toiletries or clothing.

Hands of Hope is an outreach ministry of Sacred Heart that has been serving the poor and homeless of our community for more than a decade. Each weekend, a meal is prepared and then served to our neighbors in need at the North Campus. Throughout the day, volunteers share fellowship and resources of hope and healing for the physical, mental, and personal needs of their guests. Their mission in this meal service is to provide hope,
resources, and fellowship along the way.

Additionally, Hands of Hope is seeking assistance in procuring items for the North Campus of funding that would allow their ministry to continue to operate and grow. These items include:

One (1) Used, Operational Refrigerator
- Two of the four refrigerators located in the North Campus Kitchen no longer work.
- A used refrigerator would be seen as a bridge until the kitchen renovations are completed.
Three (3) portable picnic tables
Three (3) canopy tents for shade
Monthly financial commitment for the rental of a portable restroom

If you are interested in assisting the parish and ministry with any of these specific items, please click here to contact business operations manager Tony Miranda via email.

We wish to ensure that Hands of Hope has the supplies they need to continue their ongoing outreach to our local homeless. As always, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

How Do We Think About Greatness? | Friar Reflections | Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 21, 2025Friar Reflections, Parish NewsRob Boelke

Saints of God…

…the Lord be with you!

How do we think about greatness? Is it the size of our bank accounts or our homes? Is it how fit we are or how well we are dressed? Or how much weight we can press during a gym workout? (Every time I go to the gym (yes, I do work out only to look like this) I’m tempted to increase the weight on the machine after I’m done using it. But I don’t since I know that I won’t be fooling anyone.) But as Christians, we need to ask ourselves how does Christ view greatness? An answer to that question is how we show our love for God by caring for our neighbor, particularly those who are poor and in need.

In today’s first reading from the Prophet Amos (8:4-7) echoes themes from all the prophets who preceded him, and all those who will follow him: God will remember how we as individuals and as a nation treat the poor! The Responsorial Psalm (113) reminds us that “The Lord lifts up the poor” but through us and our charity. As saint Theresa of Avila puts it “Christ has no body on earth but (ours), No hands, no feet on earth but (ours)…(Ours) are the hands with which He blesses all the world.”

The Gospel today (Luke 16: 1-13) is the parable of the dishonest steward. His employer fires him for cheating, and he in return acts prudently by reducing his commission hoping that this will redound to him later since he is “not strong enough to dig and ashamed to beg.” In the end, Jesus warns his followers to be just as prudent and creative in doing good since we will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. No law should limit us in the good we must do, and all generosity will never get anyone in trouble. But I am preaching to the choir Saints of God in Sacred Heart Parish. Let us continue to do the good! As someone once said, “Let us teach people to fish!” To which I add, “And let us feed them while they are being taught.”

– Fr. Steve

Socktober Returns to Sacred Heart

September 20, 2025Parish NewsRob Boelke

On the heels of a successful 2024 campaign, Sacred Heart, alongside the Knights of Columbus Council #12110, is excited to announce the return of the popular “Socktober” sock drive, benefitting the many of the homeless initiatives with which our parish is associated.

Each night in Hillsborough County, a now estimated 1,796 homeless, with more than 1000 unsheltered who are forced to live on the streets. Many unsheltered people rarely take their shoes off. They walk often and don’t always have laundry facilities at close reach. Clean socks are a reliably top-requested item at homeless shelters.

Located in both the Sacred Heart Gift Store as well as the church, will be a pair of donation bins to address this critical need. Socktober donations may be made at all weekend Masses, or at the Gift and Book Store during weekday store hours throughout the month of October. Packages of new socks in adult sizes will be accepted. Our goal is to reach 2000 pairs, with the socks being distributed to the Tampa Hope homeless shelter, our Hands of Hope ministry, and Catholic Charities, among others.

Event this small act of love, donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our homeless neighbors. The Knights and friars thank you for your participation!

*This page will be updated with status updates from our drive as the month progresses. Thank you for your generosity in donating, and Happy Socktober!

Socktober is an international campaign that was started in 2011 when creator Brad Montague realized there was a large homeless population in his hometown, and he wanted to do something about it. While researching the needs of the homeless community, he learned that socks are the items least donated to homeless shelters. Since then, Socktober has exploded! Kids and adults around the world have started their own sock drives to benefit their local homeless shelters.

Franciscan Celebrations 2025

September 8, 2025Parish NewsRob Boelke

Each year on the evening of October 3, the Franciscan family throughout the world pauses to celebrate the solemnity of our Holy Father Francis’ Transitus, his passing over from this life to the next. St. Francis was not afraid of what would come at the end of his earthly life, choosing instead to recognize in that experience, not an end, but a transition from one way of living to another was to come.

The Friars of Sacred Heart invite you to join them for a series of Franciscan celebrations, reflecting on that devotion and understanding of creation, as we observe the Transitus and The Feast of St. Francis.

In a spirit of praise and thanksgiving, the Franciscan Order also celebrates the 800th anniversary of the composition of the Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi in 2025. The Canticle of the Creatures, also known as the Canticle of Brother Sun, is a poem written by St. Francis of Assisi shortly before his death.

Want to Learn More About the Transitus? Click Here

Tales of Wonder | Wednesday, October 1 | 7 p.m. | Church

In Marty Haugen’s musical Tales of Wonder, a Hawaiian village gathers around two story-tellers who relate some of the familiar and central stories of their faith – Creation, Job, Jesus, and the coming of the Spirit – primarily to the children, but also to the adults. Members of our parish choir, and children from the parish will participate in this uplifting performance which features musical renditions of salvation stories. The event is free to the public.

Blessing of the Animals | Thursday, October 2 | 5:30 to 7 p.m. | The Franciscan Center

The Franciscan Center (3010 N. Perry Ave.) once again plays host to our Friars blessing the animals of our local community as part of their annual “St. Francis Day.” Pets of all kinds and their owners will be blessed by the friars. This annual “Blessing of the Animals” for all furry, finned, and feathered friends is a Franciscan Tradition in celebration of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of animals and the environment. The event is free to the public.

Transitus of St. Francis | Friday, October 3 | 6:30 p.m. | Church

Every year, on the third evening of October, Franciscans ritually remember the passing of Francis of Assisi from this life during this liturgy, as a reminder to renew our own commitment to follow Christ in the way of the poor man of Assisi. Join the friars as they continue this tradition, and later for a reception with light refreshments in St. Francis Hall following the liturgy.

The Feast of St. Francis | Saturday, October 4 | Church

The Feast of the Father of our Order, St. Francis, will be celebrated at our scheduled vigil Mass, at 5:30 p.m. | Each of the Masses for the weekend will feature readings for the Feast.

More information on Tales of Wonder from Director of Music, Phil Jakob

Building on the success of our recent “Aloha Summer Social,” we hope to return to Hawaii with a parish performance of Tales of Wonder, a musical conceived by Marty Haugen while visiting a parish in Hawaii. That parish was largely made up of native Hawaiians who had preserved story-telling as one aspect of their culture. To an extent, we do the same every Sunday as we gather to listen to the Word of God. In Tales of Wonder a village gathers around two story-tellers who relate some of the familiar and central stories of their faith – Creation, Job, Jesus, and the coming of the Spirit – primarily to the children, but also to the adults.

I was first introduced to Tales of Wonder by Marty Haugen himself when he visited London for anniversary celebrations of the St Thomas More Centre. Since then. I have directed performances at St Ignatius College, Enfield (1991), Parrs Wood High School (1995) at which the Headteacher remarked that we had delivered the entire religious education program in one night! When I became Director of Music for the Cathedral and Diocese of Hallam, performances followed at churches throughout the Diocese. Most memorable was a performance in Iona Abbey (1998) at which both Marty Haugen and I had been invited as guest musicians for the annual Music & Worship Week of the Wild Goose Resource Group. I directed, with Marty at the piano. The choir was made up of the 120 people signed up for the week and the children all came from Iona’s tiny primary school.

Can we rise to the challenge of performing it here at Sacred Heart? The proposed performance date is Wednesday, October 1 (updated from previous bulletin and email listings showing October 2), in the church. Our choir has already expressed its interest. Parents of children aged 8 and up, might your children be interested in being part of a children’s singing group? We would need to rehearse, of course, but please let me know if your children are interested by writing to me at pjakob@sacredheartfla.org

– Philip Jakob | Director of Music

This page will be updated with additional details for this year’s series of Franciscan Celebrations as they are announced.

Receiving Your Prayers & Intentions | From the Desk of the Pastor | September, 2025

September 5, 2025Friar Reflections, From the Desk of the Pastor, Parish NewsRob Boelke

Dear Parishioners,

It has been two months since the parish started using Mass Intentions Online. It has been going extremely well and we have received many comments on the change. Parishioners have said they like it for several reasons. First, they can go online and look at available dates through 2027 for themselves and choose one that best fits their needs. Secondly, we’ve heard that many appreciate the convenience of it. The vast majority of requests are now coming online. Of course, you can still come into the parish office, and our receptionist can assist you with reserving a Mass intention.

With the implementation of the new program, several things have changed that you may want to know. The suggested donation is now $10 for a weekday Mass, and $15 for weekend Masses or major solemnities like Christmas. Another change is that now, on weekends, there can be up to two intentions for each Mass. You might notice that on some weekend Masses, the program only allows for one intention. These intentions were made before the new policy went into effect. When you are choosing a date, you will see that the next available date will be about two weeks in advance. The reason for this is so that we can get all of the intentions listed in the bulletin. If you see a date that you want before that two weeks and it is available you can call the parish office and they can assist you.

In addition, the new program allows us to also to accommodate memorials. When on to the website, click on “Request Memorial” on the top right side of the page:

• Sacristy Candle | Sits near the Tabernacle | Sun. to Sat. | Suggested donation: $25 | This candle will be lit all week in memory or in honor of someone. The names will be listed in the bulletin every week. You will find this memorial on Sundays every week of the year.

• All Souls Day | Suggested donation of $10 for each name | The list of the names will be remembered at all of the Masses on the first weekend of November. You will find this memorial under the Sacristy Candle on Sundays during the month of October.

• Christmas Flowers | Suggested donation of $20 per plant | Each poinsettia that you see has been given in remembrance or honor of loved ones whose names will be memorialized online. You will find this memorial on Saturdays during the season of Advent.

• Easter Flowers | Suggested donation $20 per plant | Each flower that you see has been given in remembrance or honor of loved ones whose names will be memorialized online. You will find this memorial on Saturdays during the season of Lent.

• Mother’s Day | Suggested donation $10 for each name | The list of the names will be remembered at all of the Masses on Mother’s Day. You will find this memorial under the Sacristy Candle on Sundays starting five weeks before Mother’s Day.

• Father’s Day | Suggested donation of $10 for each name | The list of the names will be remembered at all of the Masses on Father’s Day. You will find this memorial under the Sacristy Candle on Sundays starting five weeks before Father’s Day.

You can access and request Mass intentions and memorials online at shfla.org/intentions.

Over the past few months, many people have also used our new, online Prayer Wall. Here you are able to submit prayer requests for the sick, for the deceased, for those in the military, or for a special occasion. At times, we have been unable to approve certain requests because they didn’t meet the spirit of our Prayer Wall. We will not include any political rhetoric. Each prayer request remains up for one month. The requestor may than add it again.

You can submit your prayer requests on our website at shfla.org/prayerwall.

Peace and All Good,
Fr. Mike

Forming Our Faith As A Family | Staff Side Notes

August 31, 2025Faith Formation, Parish News, Staff Side NotesRob Boelke

Family faith formation is an educational method that focuses on engaging families in the process of learning and growing in their Catholic faith together, rather than just focusing on children’s religious education. The emphasis recognizes that parents are the among the most influential teachers of their children’s faith. But, as is common with most everything with parenting, just because parents bare the responsibility of being their children’s leading influencer doesn’t mean that teaching our love for God and Christ are easy concepts to instruct.

“Most adults might be a little uncomfortable doing that (talking about our faith),” exclaims Cynthia Maloney, a catechist and faith formation volunteer. “But I’ve discovered how lovely it is to talk with children about God. Children have a natural affinity for and interest in the spiritual, and with so much curiosity! They really only need encouragement, to be reminded of God’s love for them, and exposure to the Word.”

That is the goal for our Faith Formation here at Sacred Heart, creating the connection and providing the pathway to Christ for parents, kids, catechumens, and candidates alike. That task is an operation that requires a small army of catechists and volunteers, especially as we have seen our parish family growing over these last few years. “We’ve got more than 30 volunteers and catechists assisting us this year across all of our formation ministries,” says Maria Giral, the parish’s Associate Director of Faith Formation. “And that doesn’t include the parents or sacramental sponsors who are echoing that instruction.”

“I wanted to find a way to connect with other parishioners to make our church feel more like a home,” says Carly Hogsed, when asked what led her to assist the parish as a catechist. “The best way to do so I have always found is to get involved! I think having both the parents and the children sitting together for faith formation lessons will have long lasting positive impacts for their child’s faith journey.”

Switching from the nuclear definition of family and looking at our larger parish family, Sacred Heart, like many Catholic parishes, is seeing an influx of reverts and converts, a trend resulting in many seeking to begin or continue their faith journeys. “It’s life giving to see all of these seekers coming to us and to the Church,” says Barbara Ferreris, Director of Faith Formation. “They are coming to grow in faith and their relationship with God.” Ferreris also says more than 20 inquirers are set to take part in the O.C.I.A. process this year (2025-26), seeking Full Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) while more than 30 are seeking Full Communion (Eucharist, Confirmation).

Trey Gould, received into the Church at the Easter Vigil through O.C.I.A. in 2024, says volunteering in faith formation has been a great way for him to stay involved at the parish. “I see a reflection of myself in everyone (in O.C.I.A.) and it brings me closer to the faith. I always find I learn something new even if the lessons and faith sharing isn’t directed to me specifically.”

You can learn more about Faith Formation, including registration and volunteer opportunities, by clicking here.

Family Faith Formation Registration: Sacred Heart offers a non-traditional approach to assist parents in forming the faith of their children. “Family Faith Formation” is exactly what it says – families sharing and growing in faith.

Registration for Family Faith Formation is now live, and open to all families who have children ages four (4) through high school.

Sessions are scheduled to begin on both Sunday, September 7, and Wednesday, September 10. Registration forms and additional information are available here.

Are You Looking to Become Catholic? The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) is the process by which unbaptized and baptized Christians of other faith traditions are especially invited to explore Catholic spirituality in community in order to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Each faith journey is personal, and often is characterized by an awakening or conversion of the heart, that leads one to desire an authentic life of Christian discipleship. Through the sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist — we encounter and participate fully in the mystery of Jesus Christ’s life, saving death and Resurrection.

Weekly inquiry sessions for those interested in becoming Catholic begin on Wednesday, September 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the North Campus O.C.I.A. Room. We welcome all inquiries and look forward to accompanying you soon. Contact Barbara Ferreris via email or at 813-229-1595, ext. 204 for more information.

2025 Season of Creation | Peace with Creation

August 28, 2025Parish News, Staff Side Notesdiocesan-tampa

This year, the Labor Day holiday falls on Monday, September 1. For Christians throughout the world, this day is also the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the first day of the Season of Creation, which lasts until October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. As a Franciscan parish, our celebration of St. Francis this year is extended into the Sunday celebrations on October 6 and so the Season of Creation lasts a little longer!

St. Francis showed a reverence towards creation in his writings and in his life. For this reason, he is known as the Patron of Ecology. More recently, the late Pope Francis recognized that the Season of Creation was already being celebrated in other Christian denominations and brought the Catholic Church into line with this ecumenical movement. Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ seminal document on the Care of Creation, is enjoying its 10th anniversary this year and stands as a significant contribution to the movement. If you have not read this it would be a good exercise to do so during the season. You can view the encyclical here.

Pope Leo XIV became Pope in May of this year, but Pope Francis had already chosen this year’s theme. He hoped that the Season would provide “individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.” Perhaps it would be timely to consider, as individuals and as parish, what is our impact, both positive and negative, on our environment, our common home. The USCCB has published a summary for this year’s focus, which is available to view here.

– Phil Jakob, Director of Music

More from the USCCB on the Season of Creation

The Franciscan Center is also inviting our parishioners to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Creation at an ecumenical prayer service on Wednesday, September 3, from 2 to 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. Br. Louis Canter, OEF, will be leading prayer. Br. Louis is a member of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans and has been in pastoral ministry for more than 50 years. The theme for the service is Peace with Creation. This service is part of the overall Season of Creation, recognizing the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si. The prayer service will include song, sacred text, prayers, thanksgivings and more. Click here to register for the prayer service.

Choosing Love | Friar Reflections | 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 17, 2025Friar Reflections, Parish NewsRob Boelke

Saints of God…

…the Lord be with you!

If there is a consistent theme in all three of today’s readings, it is the role of a prophet and how a prophet is treated. In today’s first reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah (38; 4-6, 8-10) we read that Jeremiah is thrown into a muddy cistern because his message is “demoralizing the soldiers…and all the people.”

In the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews (12: 1-4) the author reminds his readers that “Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame…and endured such opposition from sinners.”

Today’s Gospel according to Luke (12: 49-53) has Jesus saying that He has come to set the world on fire and that He has come to create division. This is not an easy Gospel, and the question must be asked, “Where is the Good News in this?”

For me, the good news is found in the implicit idea of choice. We are free to choose to live the false sense of peace and security that the world and its values give, or we can freely choose to live empowered by the Holy Spirit, in imitation of Christ and His values. “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” Love, not judgement; Love, not apathy; Love, not selfishness; Love, not revenge; Love, not cruelty. You get the idea. Yet this choosing to Love above all else will at some point, put us in opposition with others. As the World War II Lutheran martyr Deitrich Bonhoeffer put it, “Grace is free, but is not cheap.” In the end, grace has a price.

Tradition has it that Jeremiah was stoned to death, the prophet Isaiah was sawn in two, Bonhoeffer was executed by hanging, Jesus was crucified. Yet as people of faith we know that death is not the end. The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that “we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses” so we are encouraged to “persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfector of faith.” So, no matter what the circumstances, let us all be prophets (as we are by our Baptism) and prophetically live our faith, using words only if we must.

– Fr. Steve

Turning the World on its Head | Friar Reflections | Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 10, 2025Friar Reflections, Parish NewsRob Boelke

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

This line opens the second reading this Sunday and it’s one of the most profound theological definitions of faith in all of Scripture.

You see, we live in a world obsessed with what is visible. Proof. Data. Measurement. Surveillance. If you can’t see it, test it, or touch it—it must not be real. And yet, today’s Scripture turns that on its head.

Faith, it says, is not blind. Faith sees more—not less. It is “evidence” of what the eyes cannot perceive, and the “realization” of what is not yet. Faith should never be seen as a fantasy, but rather, it’s a way of knowing, a kind of spiritual perception that recognizes God’s presence where others see only absence.

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for…” It’s not wishful thinking. It’s not “someday maybe.”

It’s a confidence that what God promises is already on its way.

Abraham lived in tents but believed in a city with foundations.

Moses left the palace of Egypt for a land he had never seen.

Mary said “yes” to a future that would shatter every plan she had.

Faith gives shape to the invisible—like an architect who builds from a blueprint not yet realized, or an artist who sees beauty in a blank canvas.

“…and evidence of things not seen.” Evidence is normally empirical: we test it. We prove it.

But Hebrews says faith itself is evidence—not of the visible, but of the invisible.

The Desert Fathers referred to faith as the heart’s capacity to perceive God. It doesn’t oppose reason; it goes beyond it. In this way, faith is both evidence and encountering the invisible becomes tangible in prayer, in trust, in love.

So, what does this mean for today? It means we don’t just believe in God—we rely on Him. We order our lives around His promises. We build our homes on a foundation that can’t be seen on any map or measured by any device.

The Catechism says: “Faith is a foretaste of the knowledge that will make us blessed in the life to come.” (CCC 163) Faith trains us to see not only what is, but what is becoming. We learn to wait—not passively, but with attentive hope. We become pilgrims who walk toward the unseen with eyes wide open.

A sailor once found himself navigating a dense fog at night. Visibility was nearly zero, and the coast was dangerous. Suddenly, a faint light appeared in the distance, a beam of a lighthouse. He couldn’t see the shore, but he knew where to go. That light was not the destination—but it was enough to move forward.

That is faith: Not full sight… but enough light.

We may not see all that God is doing. We may not understand the “why” of our suffering, or the “when” of His coming. But we have enough to walk forward.

Faith is not just about the afterlife. It’s about how we live this life — here, now, today — in the light of God’s promises. It’s the ability to take God at his word and the courage to take the next step.

Peace and All Good,
– Fr. Zack

Parish Choir to Perform Catholic Musical this Fall

August 8, 2025Parish NewsRob Boelke