29 September 2021 - the feast of the Archangels - Revelation 12:7-12

     Today, with great joy, we celebrate the feast of the Archangels:  St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael.  We know of the three archangels from Scripture, about the special tasks to which they were appointed. St Michael the Archangel went to battle against Satan and his demons and cast them out of heaven.  We heard about Michael leading this war against the forces of evil in our reading from the Book of Revelation.  St Raphael cured Tobit’s of his blindness in the book of Tobit in the Old Testament.  St Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit, and that he would be God’s own son.  

       I remember when I served as pastor of St James parish in Tupelo, when I was visiting the first communion class one Sunday, one of the students asked me about the difference between angels and archangels.  What a wonderful question.  Angels are spiritual beings who are special messenger for God.  Archangels are a high rank of angels.  Archangels are given the most important messages that must be delivered to humans. In many ways, both angels and archangels remain mysterious beings to us humans, as we still know relatively little about them.

        Traditionally in the Catholic Church, we hold a BLUE MASS in conjunction with the feast of the Archangels for our police and our first responders, as St Michael the Archangel is their patron saint. I know that my parish of Holy Savior in Clinton and St Jude in Pearl are reaching out to the police officers and fire fighters in our cities to let them know that we are praying for them in a special way today.  We pray that St Michael keep them safe and protect them as they serve our communities.  

       As we celebrate the Archangels in a special way today, let us unite our prayers with the prayers of St Michael, St Gabriel, and St Raphael.  

prayers of the faithful - feast of the Archangels - 29 September 2021

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and our Redeemer 

Christ Jesus - you are honored and glorified by the Angels and Archangels

Lord Jesus -you are seated at the right hand of the throne of the Father. 

As we honor the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael today, we present our prayers to God the Father: 

1. For our governmental leaders, for wisdom to guide them and lead them in their governance. 

2. For our Church leaders, for compassion and mercy as they lead the people of God. 

3. For our first responders and the men and women in the military, for their safety.  We give thanks for their service and their sacrifices. 

4. For those who spread the Gospel message throughout the world.  

5. For our children and youth, that God may accompany them through their studies and through their journey through life. 

6. For the sick and the shut-in and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.   

We present these prayers to you today through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 26th week of Ordinary Time - 28 September 2022

Lord Jesus - you accompany us on our journey of faith. 

Christ Jesus - you bring healing into our lives. 

Lord Jesus - you are the Son of the Father.

The Lord’s mercy never ends, so we now present our prayers to the Lord with confidence:

1. For the leaders of the Church, that they may sincerely and fully live the message they preach. 

2. For people who feel they are beyond God’s mercy, that they may know the welcome extended to those who change their ways. 

3. For all who are on the margins of society, for men and women who are exploited, that justice and equality may prevail in our land. 

4. For those who endure sickness in mind or body or spirit, that the support of friends, family, and community may remind them of God’s healing care.

5. For the faithful departed, that they may be raised to life through Jesus’ resurrection. 

6. Let us remember in silence our own personal prayers.  

O God of endless goodness, your love and mercy have no end: hear the prayers your people make in faith, through Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

27th Sunday of ORDINARY TIME - 2 October 2022

Introduction: As the Lord tells us today that even faith as small as a mustard seed can do great things in our lives, let us open our minds and hearts today to God’s presence in word and sacrament.  

Lord Jesus - you spoke as a prophet.  

Christ Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Lord Jesus - you call us your brothers and sisters.  

PRIEST:  With faith in God, the giver of every good gift, let us now bring our needs before the Lord:

1. For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and for all our Church leaders, that they will continue to lead the Church in proclaiming the Good News of Christ, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For our governmental officials, that they may protect the least among us, especially those who are marginalized by society, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For all of us gathered together in prayer at Mass today, that all that is unworthy in our lives may be pruned away and all that is true be nourished, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For the sick in mind, body, or spirit;  for the lonely and the abused;  and for those who suffer in any way, that they may be comforted by the Holy Spirit, we pray to the Lord. 

5. That catechists continue to deepen their love of the word of God, and those seeking membership in the Church hear the word with open hearts, we pray to the Lord.  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life, we pray to the Lord. 

7. For the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord.

PRIEST:  Merciful Father, hear the prayers we bring to you today. Help us to acknowledge your greatness and so yield a harvest of faith, hope, and love. We ask this through Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

Bulletin Reflection - 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time - 2 October 2022

     This past weekend, I was at the parish of St Ignatius in the town on Annandale, Minnesota, located about 60 miles northwest of the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area.  I celebrated the weekend Masses there, telling them stories of our Diocese and being Catholic in the Bible Belt of the Deep South.  This summer, I have had mission appeals in southern California, Minnesota, and next weekend in New Hampshire, celebrating Mass at Catholic parishes in different parts of the country and in very different realities.  I enjoy interacting with the Catholic faithful in this way.  As we hear Jesus asked about faith in the Gospel this weekend, as Jesus tells us that faith as small as a mustard seed can do big things, we are asked to reflect upon our own faith.  I see the faith of the people manifested in different ways as I visit these parishes for our mission appeal.  The sister parish of St Ignatius, St Timothy parish in Maple Grove, Minnesota, was celebrating the 100th anniversary of its church building.  The Archbishop of Minneapolis-St Paul came to celebrate Mass with them that Sunday morning. The parish held a dinner and a parish festival that weekend, celebrating their history and their faith.  We here at Holy Savior and Raymond have our history and our own story of faith that we recognize and celebrate as well.  I am thankful for Father McGing and Father Charles celebrating the weekend Masses while I have been away these past two weekends. I miss being with all of you and will be thankful when we travels this fall are over. Blessings to all of you.  I look forward to being with all of you when Bishop Kopacz visits us at Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception to commemorate my installation as pastor next weekend.  Father Lincoln. 

Prayers of the faithful - Feast of St Vincent de Paul - 27 September 2022

Lord Jesus - you have a special love for the poor. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us justice. 

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the glory of God. 

As we celebrate the feast day of St Vincent de Paul today, let us remember God’s call to hope and justice as we present our prayers to God: 

1. That our government officials lead us in the practice justice and reconciliation in our communities and in our nation. 

2. That our Church leaders help in reaching out to the poor and the vulnerable. 

3. That the sick and shut in experience healing in body, mind and spirit. 

4. That the faithful departed receive God’s love and mercy as they enter eternal life.  We pray especially for the souls in purgatory. 

5. That those who have lost hope and those who are struggling with addictions and mental illness find new life in our risen Lord. 

6. For a great love and appreciation for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts this evening.  

With hope and joy, we present these prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

25 September 2022 - Luke 16:19-31 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

     In our Sunday readings these last couple of weeks, we heard a lot about social justice and reaching out to the poor and marginalized of society.  Last Sunday, we heard from the prophet Amos in the first reading, who called out the rich and prosperous in society for the way they had abandoned the poor. Today, we hear the well known parable about Lazarus and the rich man.  Lazarus is on the streets, hungry, homeless, and sick. But there’s a lot we don't know about Lazarus.  Was he was an alcoholic, a drug addict, or mentally ill?  Was he injured or too sick to work?  Was he down on his luck or had he been recently laid off from his job?  Had he recently been released from prison? Or was he having a difficult time getting his life together after a recent crisis?  

       In the context of today’s Gospel, in which the rich man is challenged in the way he ignored Lazarus, I come to you as a brother of Christ from a missionary diocese here in the US, the Diocese of Jackson in state of Mississippi. We have mission territories overseas, but also mission territory also in our own county.  Diocese of Jackson is very large geographically, taking up most of Mississippi. We’re the largest Diocese geographically east of MS River, but we have the lowest % of Catholics in any Diocese in the US - 2.3%. We have 90 parishes & missions, but most are small, reflecting the rural nature of our state. Most of the 65 counties in our Diocese only have only one parish; some don’t have even one parish. 

     You may have heard of Jackson, Missisippi recently in the news due to our water issues.  We had a boil water notice since July, which was just lifted recently.  We did not have any water at all for over a month.  Boil water notices and disruption of service are nothing new. You can imagine the chaos this causes in families, schools, and business.  The water system has been in crisis for years and the city has not dealt with that issue.  It sounds like that this last crisis put it in the national spotlight.  It is hard to believe a situation like this can exist in our country. 

      I’ve been a Diocesan priest for 14 years. My first assignment as pastor was in the communities of Yazoo City & Belzoni in the heart of the MS Delta, the cotton growing region along the MS River, which has one of the highest levels of poverty in our country. While stationed in the Delta, I served as the priest in 3 parishes and 2 prisons. The territory I served in these 2 counties encompassed large area: 1,400 square miles.  However, population was only about 37,000 people in these two counties.  I had a 30 mile drive between two parishes in the middle of cotton fields and swamp, no towns or gas stations or stores in between. While serving there, one of those counties, Humpheys county, had the highest child poverty rate and lowest median family income of any county in the US. Currently vicar general of the diocese - pastor of two parishes in Clinton and Raymond - outskirts of city of Jackson.  

     From my accent, you can probably detect that I am not from MS originally. I am originally from Chicago, so you might detect a hint of a Midwest accent.  After serving as a missionary in Ecuador and Canada as a young adult, I decided to become a priest in a mission area of the US, which brought me to Mississippi.  I had mentioned that I had served as pastor of the Catholic Church in the small town of Yazoo City. There is actually someone from that town who could be canonized as a saint one day.  Thea Bowman, who was born in that town in 1937, was educated at a Catholic school in our Diocese. Raised in a Methodist family, she converted to Catholicism as a girl and decided to join the order of sisters that taught at that school, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration from Wisconsin.  She was the first African American sister in that order.  Sister Thea Bowman became a renowned professor in literature, African American church music, and African American Catholic spirituality.  She later returned to our Diocese to head the office of intercultural ministry & to work on racial healing in Mississippi.  She brought a lot of joy and love to many people within the Church. She worked to bring people of different races and cultural groups together, respect their unique gifts.  Her life was cut short when she died of cancer in 1990 at the age of 52.  Her cause for canonization was approved by the US Bishops in 2018.  I thought of Sister Thea and her witness of faith as I was preparing for my mission appeal at your parish, as she represents the missionary spirit of our Diocese, of bringing the Gospel & love of Christ to the people of MS & beyond, of working together in the rich cultural diversity and traditions that make up our Church. 

     I want to thank all of you for the opportunity to share with you our experiences in the Diocese of Jackson. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. It is important for us to be in solidarity together in proclaiming God’s kingdom here on earth. We are going to take up a second collection for our Diocese. Those funds are used to help fund the small mission parishes and schools in our Diocese.  I thank you for any support you can give us. As I will pray for all of you, I ask that you pray for our Mission Diocese of Jackson.  

20 September 2022 - prayers of the faithful - 25th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME

Lord Jesus - you call us into a family of believers. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to give thanks. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

With generous hearts, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church: that we may be good stewards of the gifts that God has given us, use them for God’s glory, and never be possessed by our possessions

2. For the grace of diligence: that we may follow the commands of Christ and use our gifts and resources to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, and care for the sick

3. For wisdom: that the Spirit will guide us pursuing our goals and developing our abilities so that our endeavors may lead us into the fullness of life for all eternity

4. For gratitude: that we may appreciate all the gifts, opportunities, and benefits that we have been given and recognize them as signs of God’s love for us. 

5. For healing for the sick.  We pray especially for healing for those struggling with addictions and mental heath. 

6. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. 

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today. 

We present these prayer with faith and hope to your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

feast of St Matthew the Apostle - 21 September 2022 - Prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you call all of us to be your disciples.

Christ Jesus - you draw us beyond our limitations.

Lord Jesus - you call us to be missionary spirit. 

As we celebrate St Matthew today on his feast day, let us bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For missionaries and evangelizers, that all of us may proclaim Christ’s Gospel to the world in our words and actions.

2. For our youth and our children, that the Lord will continue to accompany them and bless them and their families on their journey of faith, especially in their studies and in their school activities. 

3. For journalists, writers, and broadcasters, may the Lord bless them in their writings and the works they produce.

4. For our first responders, for our medical professionals, for the men and women in the military, for all who keep us safe in society, for their safety and protection.

5. For the sick, the shut-in, for those in the hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes, for healing in body, mind, and spirit.

6. For those prayers we hold in our hearts today.

Generous God, you sent St Matthew out into the world to bring your Gospel message. Let us follow his example of faith. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

18 de septiembre de 2022 - 25º Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario - El Domingo Catequético - Ciclo C - Lucas 16:1-13, Amós 8:4-7

Amós era un hombre sencillo y trabajador que vivió en el reinado del rey Uzías del reino de Judá ocho siglos antes del nacimiento del Cristo.  Amós era pastor y segador de higueras. En esta época, los ricos prosperaron con sus riquezas, sin preocuparse por la vida de los pobres. Dios llamó a Amós para servir como profeta, para llamar la atención sobre la forma en que el pueblo quebró su convenio con Dios, sobre la corrupción y las injusticias. Amós llamó al pueblo a la misericordia, la compasión y la integridad. Amós declaró que Dios no aceptaría la explotación de los débiles y los vulnerables de la sociedad.

Al igual que la lectura del profeta Amós, las otras lecturas este domingo nos ayudan a reflexionar sobre la forma en que estamos llamados a vivir discípulos de Cristo con justicia y misericordia. Necesitamos cuidar los tesoros, los dones y los talentos que tenemos en el camino de fe.  Debemos respetar el convenio que Dios ha hecho con nosotros. Como discípulos de Cristo, debemos crecer y aprender constantemente en el camino de fe. Este domingo, reconocemos el Domingo Catequético en el calendario de la Iglesia. Reconocemos la importancia de la educación religiosa y la formación en la doctrina de la Iglesia.  Reconocemos los hombres y mujeres que sirven a nuestra comunidad como líderes y maestros en las clases de la doctrina. Aquellos que nuestra comunidad de fe ha elegido para servir como catequistas y maestros serán llamados hoy en Misa para recibir una bendición en su ministerio.

El tema este año para el Domingo Catequético es: “Este es mi cuerpo entregado por vosotros” del Evangelio de San Lucas. En verdad, necesitamos tener mas formación sobre el significado de la Eucaristía. Como sacerdote, yo predico mucho sobre la Eucaristía y la presencia real de Cristo en la Eucaristía, pero tal vez no hablamos lo suficiente.  El Catecismo afirma que la Eucaristía es la fuente y la cumbre de la vida cristiana. Como fuente, esto significa que el centro de nuestra espiritualidad cristiana debe brotar de la Eucaristía como su fuente, como la luz brota del sol. Como cumbre, esto significa que la espiritualidad cristiana tiene la Eucaristía como punto culminante, la cumbre hacia la cual debemos  dirigir todas nuestras acciones.

La palabra “eucaristía” proviene de la palabra griega “eucharistia” que significa acción de gracias. En la celebración de la Eucaristía en la Misa, el pan y el vino se convierten en el Cuerpo y la Sangre de Jesucristo por el poder del Espíritu Santo y la instrumentación del sacerdote. Cristo entero está verdaderamente presente: en su cuerpo, su sangre, su alma y su divinidad, bajo las apariencias del pan y del vino, el Cristo glorificado que resucitó de entre los muertos. Esto es lo que quiere decir la Iglesia cuando habla de la "Presencia Verdadera" de Cristo en la Eucaristía. En la hostia que recibimos en la Misa en la Eucaristía contiene esa verdadera presencia del cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo. 

Nuestros catequistas y maestros de educación religiosa recibieron una bendición especial hoy en la Misa en ingles esta mañana. Nosotros, nuestra parroquia, tenemos una gran responsabilidad en nuestro programa de educación religiosa y formación en la fe. Pero me gustaría terminar esta homilía afirmando esto que enseña la Iglesia Católica, que se expresa en el Compañero del Catequista Diocesano: “Los padres son los primeros maestro religiosos de sus hijos.” Los padres deben ser los primeros maestros de sus hijos en educación religiosa, y los mejores maestros. La Diócesis afirma que: “Los padres y la parroquia actúan en colaboración en la preparación sacramental (y educación religiosa) de los niños (y jóvenes).”  Todos nosotros debemos colaborar juntos en esta misión para que nuestro programa de las clases de doctrina. Como sacerdote, en verdad, es importante celebrar el Domingo Catequético aquí en nuestra parroquia, para hablar sobre la importancia de la educación religiosa en la vida de fe. 

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 25 September 2022 - prayers of the faithful

Introduction: In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man that we hear today, we hear of how the rich man spends his life taking care of himself and ignoring those in need.  No matter where we are on our journey of faith, our attitudes and our behavior should reflect our life of discipleship, reaching out to our brothers and sisters in need.  

Lord Jesus, you are the light that leads us out of the darkness. 

Christ Jesus, you are the risen one who destroys the power of sin. 

Lord Jesus, you are the way that leads us to new life. 

Priest: God calls us to responds to the needs of the poor and of our brothers and sisters throughout the world.  Let us now present our prayers to our loving God: 

1. For the Church, that we may be instruments of God’s love and mercy, sharing what we have with those in need, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For the leaders of the nations, that they may reach out to those on the margins of society and work toward economic and social justice, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For priests here in our own country and throughout the world, that they be blessed in their service to God’s people, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For our children and youth, may they see God calling them to have compassion for those in need, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For the sick and the shut-in, for healing and compassion for those in the hospital, hospice, and nursing homes, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life, we pray to the Lord. 

7. For the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord. 

Priest: Generous God, grant us the grace to share what we have with those in need as you grant these prayers of your children, we make these prayer through your Son, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.   

Reflection - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Holy Savior Catholic Church - Clinton Mississippi - 25 September 2022

    This past Thursday and Friday, I was away at St Meinrad Benedictine archabbey and seminary in southern Indiana, as I was a presenter at a workshop for new pastors from Dioceses throughout the country.  Some of our own new pastors from the Diocese of Jackson will be attending these St Meinrad workshops this year. I have been giving the presentation on finance and accounting at these workshops at St Meinrad for many years now.  Also, this weekend, I am out of town at a Mission appeal at St Ignatius Catholic Church in Annandale, Minnesota, about an hour from Minneapolis-St Paul.  I always enjoy representing our Diocese at these Mission appeals, telling our story as a Mission Diocese in the heart of the Bible Belt of the South.  

      As we hear the story of Lazarus and the rich man in our Gospel today, I think of the words of Pope John Paul II that he gave a visit to the United States as pope for the first time. These words were spoken at Yankee stadium in New York in 1979: "The parable of the rich man and Lazarus must always be present in our memory; it must form our conscience. Christ demands openness to our brothers and sisters in need: openness from the rich, the affluent, the economically advanced; openness to the poor, the underdeveloped and the disadvantaged. Christ demands an openness that is more than benign attention, more than token actions or halfhearted efforts that leave the poor as destitute as before ...We cannot stand idly by, enjoying our own riches and (our own) freedom, if, in any place, the Lazarus of the 20th century stands at our doors.”

       Blessings to all of you this weekend.  I am thankful for Father McGing for celebrating the Masses here at Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception this weekend.  Father Lincoln.  

27 September 2022 - Tuesday of the 26th week of Ordinary Time - St Vincent de Paul - Luke 9:51-56

     Jesus was intent to continue his journey to Jerusalem, even though he knew that the destination of this journey would bring an end to his life here on earth.  At different times on his journey, he would be welcomed or he would meet opposition or anger.  Our own journey through faith is like that as well.  We meet those who help us on our journey, who provide us encouragement and new life, but we also meet those who put roadblocks in our way. 

     Today, we celebrate St Vincent de Paul, a very beloved saint in our Catholic faith.  He was a French priest who was born at the end of the 16th century to a humble family of farmers. Vincent de Paul was the founder of two important religious congregations in our Catholic Church: the Vincentians and the Daughters of Charity.  Both of those congregations reflect their founder’s charism of compassion, humility, and service to the poor. He is also well-known throughout the modern world for the social service organization that was named after him more than 200 years after his birth by students at the University of Paris in the early 19th century: the Society of St Vincent de Paul. 

     St Vincent de Paul believed that true Christian charity did not just consist in distributing alms and financial assistance to the poor, but also in helping them feel the fullness of their dignity and freedom. He taught his followers that good works cannot be separated from our faith.  Those good works must flow directly out of our faith.  But, he believed that faith must be connected to action, as he wrote: “There is nothing more in keeping with the Gospel than, on the one hand, to gather up light and strength for the soul in prayer, spiritual reading, and solitude, and then to go forth and dispense this spiritual good to men. This is how we should act; that is how we should by our deeds bear witness to God, that we love him.”

      As a young priest, Vincent de Paul was on a journey to sell some property that he inherited from a wealthy benefactor.  He was captured by the Barbary pirates and sold into slavery.  He spent two years in bondage before he was returned to freedom by his master. In fact, de Paul convinced that master who had been a convert to Islam to return to the Christian faith.  

       All of us face hostility or obstacles of one type or another on our journey of faith.   Perhaps not as extreme as what St Vincent de Paul and Jesus faced, but obstacles and hostility none the less.  Let us maintain the courage to move forward on our journey no matter how difficult it may seem some days.  

20 SEPTEMBER 2022 - Tuesday of the 25th week of Ordinary Time – Luke: 8:19 – 21

        Today's Gospel passage contains a basic theme that is found throughout the Luke’s Gospel. Luke sees the proclamation of the kingdom of God as centering around a household or family of believers in Christ, rather than those who gathered together at the Temple to offer sacrifice or our biological family. This manner of forming family groups of believers plays a key role in the spread of Jesus' teachings in the Early Church. These groups of believers cross different boundaries that separated people in society. In Jesus' day, society and the very survival of an individual were linked to the kinship group that formed around the biological family. Thus, the message of today's Gospel would have been quite shocking to those who heard it.

         Even today, those of us who follow Jesus and who seek the will of God in our lives enter into a new family: the family of believers in our Catholic faith. True kinship in Christ is not about flesh and blood. Our adoption as Christ’s sons and daughters transforms our relationships and requires loyalty to God and his kingdom.

        I look out at our parishes here in the Diocese of Jackson and I see so much diversity. We are called to be welcoming to everyone, not just to those who are the same as we are.  In fact, we can learn so much for those Catholics who have gifts and interests that are different from our own.  Our true kinship in Christ brings challenge and learning edges to our lives of faith, but it is not something we should fear.  

28 September 2022 - Wednesday of the 26th week in ordinary time - Luke 9:57-61

     When one of the disciples calls out to Jesus today, “I will follow you wherever you go,” I wonder if he realized the implications of that statement. Many of us may feel something like that in our hearts, following Jesus wherever he goes and wherever he calls us, but it could lead us to some very difficult, challenging places. 

      Last week, I traveled to southern Indiana to be a presenter at a workshop at St Meinrad Benedictine Abbey to a group of new pastors for different Dioceses throughout the country.  Back when Indiana was at the edge of America’s western frontier, a French nun named Mother Theodore Guerin, the founder of the Sisters of Providence, traveled with 5 of her other sisters from their motherhouse in France to Indiana. This was in the year 1840. Mother Theodore Guerin and her companion nuns attracted postulants to their order, as well as students to their school, from the pioneer families in the area, creating a thriving, prosperous religious community. Their biggest hardship was the local bishop, who treated them very cruelly.  At one point Mother Theodore offered to resign as superior of the community. The bishop was not content with that, declaring that she was no longer a Sister of Providence at all.  He expelled her from the Diocese and threatened to excommunicate any sister who followed her. All of the sisters decided to leave to go back to France and to start anew. Their bags were already packed when they received news from the Vatican that a new bishop had been appointed.  Prayers had been answered.  Mother Theodore Guerin had followed Jesus many places in her life as a nun. She died in 1856 in St-Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She was canonized a Saint in 2006.  I love this quote from Mother Theodore: "We are not called upon to do all the good possible, but only that which we can do."

21 September 2022 – Homily for the Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist – Matthew 9:9-13

     Matthew was a Jew who worked for the occupying Roman government in Jerusalem, collecting taxes from his fellow Jews.  The Romans were concerned about getting their taxes collected, so they commonly disregarded the additional bribes or fees that the taxes collectors forced the people to pay, money that the tax collectors kept for themselves. The tax collectors were viewed as traitors by their fellow Jews, so you can imagine how shocking it would have been for the people to see Jesus call Matthew, a tax collector, to be one of his beloved disciples in his inner circle. 

       God calls us to be disciples in the reality of our lives, in the . midst of our personalities, our strengths, and our weaknesses. God's grace works in our lives as we repent and turn away from those things that keep us from God. Jesus came specifically came to call sinners to repentance and to have them come to him. Matthew answered Jesus' call without hesitation. The Gospel tells us that Matthew got up from his custom post and followed him immediately.  What is Jesus calling us to leave behind in our own lives?  What do we need to do in order to answer the call of repentance and conversion?  

      Matthew and the other apostles made many sacrifices to pass down the faith us. Tradition passes down that Matthew was martyred while bringing the Gospel to the people of Ethiopia.  As we celebrate the faith of the apostles today, may we turn away from the sins and the obstacles in our own lives that are keeping us from a deeper relationship with the Lord. 

Prayer and blessings for Catechetical Sunday - 18 September 2022

The cooperation of a great many people is needed for the faithful of our community to grow to full maturity in faith through prayer and the celebration of the sacraments, through study, and through their way of living.

Those who help in the ministry of catechesis play a vital role in the Church’s pastoral activity. Enlightened by God’s Word and the teaching of the Church, and inspired by their own life of prayer and witness, catechists lead others to know the living Jesus Christ through word and deed. Through their ministry, catechists provide a process of initiation and formation for those in their care, introducing them to the truths of faith, which they themselves have learned, lived, and celebrated.  May we bless the name of the Lord for giving us these co-workers and pray that through the Holy Spirit they will receive the grace they need in their service to the Church.

May our catechists and teachers of religious education please stand for a special blessing: 

Lord God, source of wisdom and knowledge, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us and to proclaim his message of faith, hope, and love to all nations. In your goodness, bless our brothers and sisters who have offered themselves as catechists for your Church. Strengthen them with your gifts that they may teach by word and by example the truth that comes from you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Parents and guardians are entrusted with a special role and responsibility in forming their children in the faith. It is fitting on this Catechetical Sunday that we offer a blessing for them.

God our Father, let your peace settle within the hearts of these mothers, fathers, and guardians. Give them strength and wisdom as they care for their children. Show them how to raise their families with patience and tenderness. Give them strength during the times of greatest difficulty and help them recognize the little joys that are part of each day. May they grow in wisdom, understanding, and grace. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is one with you and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. 

Prayers of the faithful - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 18 September 2022

Introduction: Today, as we celebrate Catechetical Sunday, we give thanks for our catechists and teachers of religious education.  Let us be reminded how Jesus, our great teacher, continually teaches us about our journey toward God’s eternal kingdom.  

Lord Jesus - you call into your all-embracing love and compassion. 

Christ Jesus - you gave yourself as a ransom for all. 

Lord Jesus - you are the way that leads us to enteral happiness. 

Priest: With humble and sincere hearts, let us offer our prayer petitions this morning for all those in need: 

1. For the Church: that we may be generous with our treasures and our talents, sharing what we have to the glory of God, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For all who exercise governmental authority, that they be honest and trustworthy in the leadership that is entrusted to them, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For those who suffering in poverty, for the unemployed and the homeless, for families who struggle to make ends meet, that their needs may be lifted up to our heavenly Father, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For catechists, teachers, and all who instruct others in the faith, that they may know the value of their efforts as they instill and deepen a love of the Lord in all they teach, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For the sick of our parish, our families and our community, for healing in body, mind, and spirit, we pray to the. Lord. 

6. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life, we pray to the Lord. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for our intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord. 

Priest: Generous God, as you guide us in the responsible use of our gifts and treasures, we make these prayers to you through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

bulletin reflection - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - HOLY SAVIOR CATHOLIC CHURCH - Clinton, MS - 18 SEPTEMBER 2022

      Most of you know that I love the traditions of the Church. I love celebrating the community of saints in different ways. The liturgies we celebrate this week say so much about our faith.  Tuesday was the feast day of St John Chrysostom, the Archbishop of Constantinople in present-day Turkey in the 4th Century, an important center of Christianity in the Early Church.  Wednesday was the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, commemorating the recovery of the actual physical cross of Jesus by St Helena, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, in the 4th Century. On Thursday, we commemorated Our Lady of Sorrows, a major feast day of the Blessed Mother.  Finally, on Friday, we commemorated St Cyprian, the Bishop of Carthage in North Africa in the 3rd century, and St Cornelius, who was pope during that same era.  Both Cornelius and Cyprian died martyrs of the faith. Finally, this weekend, we start our classes of religious eduction and we celebrate Catechetical Sunday in our Church, giving a blessing to our catechists and teachers of religious education. 

       In recent years, we see many people trying to tear down statues and erase history, judging the historical figures of the past through our current lens.  Yet, like anything in life, reality is often more complicated that what we want to see and what we understand.  We have to recognize both the good and the bad of our history in order for us to make sense of our current reality.  The saints were human in their strengths and weaknesses, in their joys and struggles, in the way they followed God in their lives and in the way they sometimes missed the mark.  We can learn from the saints and from our history.  We can unite our prayers with the prayers of the saints, asking the saints to help us, lead us, and guide us.  

       I give thanks for our wonderful staff here at Holy Savior and for all our catechists, religious education teachers, and volunteers.  So many people work very hard for our parish.  Blessings to all of you.  Have a blessed week.  Father Lincoln.  

Prayers of the faithful - 13 September 2022 - 24th week in Ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to be humble servants. 

Lord Jesus - you lead us to salvation. 

As members of the Body of Christ, let us join our voices with the community of saints as we present our prayers to God:

1. For the Church: that we may recognize the ways God is present and active in our lives so that we may cooperate with him more fully. 

2. For openness on our journey of faith: that we may respond to God’s call to eternal life and recognize that salvation comes not from our efforts but as a gift from God.

3. For the grace of humility: that we may come to a deeper understanding of our gifts and acknowledge our need for God amidst our weaknesses.

4. For deeper intimacy with God: that we may experience the tenderness of the Good Shepherd who cares for us as we draw closer to God in prayer and service. 

5. For the faithful departed: for their entry into eternal life. 

6. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today. 

With faith and joy, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful - 16 September 2022 - 24th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us out the reality of our lives. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us healing and renewal. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to unity and solidarity. 

As we unite our prayers with the prayers of the community of saints, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the grace to be more inclusive: that we may be open to all the gifts that different cultural, ethnic, economic, educational, and age groups bring to our community. 

2. For all who exercise authority: that they may follow in the footsteps of Christ in being servants to others and attentive to those in need.

3. For those who reach out to the poor and the marginalized: that they may recognize Christ in all whom they serve, honor the dignity of each person, and be sincere in their care and compassion. 

4. For transformation of our hearts: that we may reach out to those who can never repay us, allowing the reign of God to be experienced in our time. 

5. For all who have experienced abuse: that God's healing love may touch them, heal their deepest selves, and restore them to the fullness of life. 

6. For the sick and shut-in and for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. 

With joy and hope, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

15 September 2022 - Our Lady of Sorrows - Prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you came to us as a humble servant - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you are the son of our Heavenly Father and the son of Mary - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you meet us in our grief and our sorrow - Lord have mercy.  

Prayers of the faithful: 

Priest: We unite our prayers with the prayers of Mary today as we pray for our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world. 

1. For our governmental leaders and our Church leaders: that they may be faithful disciples like Mary, our Blessed Mother.  

2. That all the nations of the world may work together for true economic justice and peace. 

3. For the poor, the stranger, and the oppressed: that they may be welcomed by our community. 

4. That all youth, like Mary, may be open their hearts to God’s call in their lives, that they may be open and generous in serving others.  

5. That we may trust in Mary’s intercession and imitate her virtues.  That we may unite our sorrows, pain, and sufferings to the prayers of the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Sorrows.  

6. For the sick and shut-ins, the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, and for the prayers we hold in our heart.  

Priest: Gracious God, you chose Mary to bear our Savior.  Hear the prayers of your children and grant them in the name of your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. 

prayers of the faithful: feast of the exaltation of the holy cross: 14 September 2022

Lord Jesus - you call us to carry our crosses. 

Christ Jesus - you call us unite our sufferings with your sufferings. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life.  

God is full of compassion, so we now bring our prayers forward with confidence:

1. For the members of the Church: that we may glory in the cross, where our salvation was won.  

2. For all people of goodwill: that they may respect the cross, a symbol dear to Christians.  

3. For Christians suffering persecution: that our savior who died on the cross may provided them hope and encouragement.  

4. For those whose sufferings bring them an experience of Calvary: that Jesus may transform their pain into new life.  

5. For the sick, especially those who are dangerously ill: that the cross of Christ may bring them comfort and hope. 

6. For those who have died, for their entry into eternal life.  We pray especially for those whose lives have been lost through war, famine and disease: that Christ may liberate them from the chains of death. 

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts.  

Compassionate God, you forgive your people’s sins and you bring them salvation: hear the prayers we lay before you under the shadow of the cross, through your son Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

11 de septiembre de 2022 - vigésimo cuarto domingo del tiempo ordinario - La Oveja Perdida - CICLO C - LUCAS 15:1-10

      Escuchamos la parábola de la oveja perdida este domingo en el evangelio de San Lucas.  Entonces, tengo esta imagen de la oveja perdida.  Esta oveja tiene un nombre: UNO.  Es posible que ustedes hayan visto a esta oveja UNO antes. UNO es la mascota de nuestro servicio de correo electrónico en nuestra parroquia y en nuestra diócesis que se llama FLOCKNOTE. UNO era miembro de un gran rebaño de ovejas. El pastor que cuidaba a las ovejas amaba mucho a UNO y lo cuidaba, como amaba a todas sus ovejas de su rebaño. UNO siempre tuvo suficiente comida y agua, tuvo un lugar cómodo para dormir.  UNO se sintió cuidado y amado en este medioambiente. Había una cerca alrededor del pasto para mantener seguridad a todas las ovejas. Pero un día, UNO se concentraba tanto en comer este pasto delicioso, no estaba consciente de su medioambiente. UNO solo miraba lo que estaba delante de él.  Y UNO salió del hoyo en la cerca. Comiendo el pasto frente de él.   No fue hasta que UNO estuvo lejos de su entorno familiar que se dio cuenta de que estaba perdido. UNO estaba muy asustado. Afortunadamente, el pastor se dio cuenta de que UNO no estaba con el rebaño y el pastor se fue a una misión para encontrarlo. Le dio un fuerte abrazo a UNO cuando lo encontró. UNO estaba muy alegre de estar de vuelta con el pastor y con el rebaño, tan feliz que lloró lágrimas de gozo.

     Todos podemos perdernos de maneras diferentes. Podemos perdernos en la diversión que tenemos en la vida, en nuestros estudios o nuestro trabajo, en los tesoros del mundo y en los valores del mundo.  Pero, también, podemos perdernos en el camino de fe. Muchos personas estaban perdidas durante la pandemia; muchos católicos también. Estaba una nueva realidad para nosotros. Hemos visto a muchas personas volver a la misa después de lo que pasaron durante la pandemia, muchas personas que antes de la pandemia, estaban afuera de la Iglesia. Pero también hemos visto a muchas personas perderse durante la pandemia y dejar de asistir a la Iglesia y todavía no regresaron. Tenemos que encontrarlos y traerlos de vuelta al rebaño, y darles la bienvenida a nuestra comunidad.

     La parábola de la oveja perdida se cuenta en el Evangelio en respuesta a los escribas y fariseos quejándose de cómo Jesús come con los pecadores y pasa mucho tiempo con ellos. Los escribas y fariseos pensaron que el Mesías pasaría su tiempo con personas religiosas justas como ellos, no con los pecadores y los perdidos. Sin embargo, los escribas y fariseos no se dieron cuenta de que ellos mismos estaban perdidos también, que estaban lejos de la seguridad del rebaño de Cristo como los pecadores y los recaudadores de impuestos. La actitud rígida de los escribas y fariseos les impedía el gozo de la fe y el amor y la misericordia de Dios. En su práctica de la fe, trataron de excluir a los pecadores y los marginados a la fe. Más adelante en el Evangelio de San Lucas, al final de la historia de Zaqueo, un recaudador de impuestos que era uno de los perdidos en los días de Jesucristo, dice: Jesucristo, “el hijo del hombre, ha venido para buscar y salvar a los perdidos.” En verdad, Jesús vino a llevar a los perdidos a una comunión segura y amistosa con Dios.

     A veces, cuando yo estoy en caminata en peregrinación, yo puedo estar completamente perdido en el sendero. A veces, estamos perdidos en el camino de la vida.  En estos momentos, cuando estamos perdidos, podemos recordar que nunca sabemos cómo la gracia de Dios va a interactuar con la realidad de la vida. Necesitamos estar abiertos a esos momentos donde Dios puede tocar esta realidad.  En los momentos cuado estamos perdidos, podemos abrir nuestros ojos de la realidad de Dios en maneras diferentes. En estos momentos, estamos capaces de ver las cosas desde una nueva perspectiva. A veces podemos acostumbrarnos a nuestras rutinas y los territorios familiares que vemos cada día. Perderse puede ayudarnos a ver a Dios y a la vida de fe desde una perspectiva diferente. Cuando estamos perdidos, nos ayuda a estar abiertos a estos momentos mágicos en los que Dios nos habla de formas nuevas y sorprendentes. Si tratamos de mantener nuestras vidas demasiadas rígidas, entonces esas nuevas formas espontáneas de experimentar a Dios no van a suceder.  Podemos utilizar el tiempo cuando estamos perdido para ver a Dios de una manera diferente.  Podemos encontrarnos cuando estamos perdidos.  

prayers of the faithful - feast of the nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary - 8 September 2022

Lord Jesus, you the Prince of Peace: Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the Son of God and Son of Mary: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are Word of God made flesh: Lord, have mercy.

Prayers of the faithful:  

God graciously blesses humanity in many different ways.  We bring forward our needs to God with confidence as we honor our Blessed Mother today: 

1. That those who follow Christ may remain faithful throughout the challenges and difficult circumstances of their journey.

2. That God may grant wisdom to our governmental leaders in the difficult decisions they have to make.

3. For peace in our communities in the United States and the nations around the world that are torn apart by violence, terrorism, war, anger, or conflict.

4. That we may all be peacemakers who work for reconciliation, peace, and justice in our relationships.  

5. That Mary may be an example to all of us in her patience, compassion, mercy, and love.  

6. For all who have been affected by recent bad weather, storms and tornadoes, and flooding.  For continued recovery for them.  For help for the water crisis in Jackson.  

7. For healing for the sick and the shut-in.  For perpetual light to shine on all our dearly departed.

8. For those prayers we hold in our hearts.  

PRIEST: Gracious God, you bless your people with peace and justice: accept our prayers and give us your help, through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

prayers of the faithful - 7 September 2022 - 23rd week in ORDINARY TIME

Lord Jesus - you call us to seek you out - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to be your disciples - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you respond to us in the midst of our reality - Lord have mercy. 

Prayers of the Faithful

Introduction: As we search for God on our journey of faith, let us present our prayers for our needs and for the needs of our brothers and sisters: 

1. For the holy Church: that we may extend God’s love to all who are on the margins of society, that we may invite them to seek out Jesus. 

2. For the grace to risk all for Christ: that we may humble ourselves and take up our crosses in order to connect with Christ in our lives. 

3. For the gift of joy: that we may rejoice in our faith as we experience Jesus in our lives as our Lord and Savior.  

4. For the ability to forgive and reconcile: that we may forgive those who have wronged us and reach out to them with concern and kindness. 

5. For the grace of conversion: that we may accept God’s generous love, return to the path of life, and be renewed through God’s mercy. 

6. For the sick and shut-in: for healing in mind, body, and spirit. 

7. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  For our deceased family and friends.  For those souls in purgatory in the process of purification, readying themselves for unity with God. 

8. For those prayers we hold in our hearts today.  

Closing: As we search for God in our lives, we present these prayer to you through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  

24th Sunday in ORDINARY TIME - 11 September 2022 - prayers of the faithful

Introduction: Although the Pharisees disparage Jesus for welcoming sinners and eating with them, Jesus assures us that God has a special love for the lost and for the repentant sinner. Let us approach the altar of God today with repentant hearts, thankful for God’s love and mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the loving compassion of the Father. 

Christ Jesus - you gather the lost to yourself. 

Lord Jesus - you show us the way to salvation. 

PRIEST: God is especially attentive to those in need.  So, in confidence, let us address God with our needs, the needs of our brothers and sisters, and the needs of the Church:

1. For the Church: that we may be a model of forgiveness and mercy to all, providing a witness to God’s love to the world, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For our governmental leaders: that they may be guided by the ideals of justice and mercy in the laws they enact and enforce, we pray to the Lord. 

3. As we remember the terrorist attacks back on September 11, 2001, we pray for those who continue to suffer from that event, that they may find comfort in the support they receive and in God’s loving embrace, we pray to Lord. 

4. For reconciliation and healing for those whose lives are trapped in a cycle of anger, vengeance, or revenge, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For those who are estranged from family members or friends, that they may be ever ready to welcome them back into their lives, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For healing for the sick in body, mind, spirit. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life.  We pray to the Lord. 

7 For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts, for our intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord. 

PRIEST: As we pray for the grace to trust in God even when we turn away or wander astray, we present these prayers through our Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Reflection - 11 September 2022

     Last Sunday, Jesus reminded us in the Gospel that we are to take up our crosses and follow him.  Jesus demands a total commitment from us on the road of discipleship, which will certainly include sacrifices and challenges.  Today, we hear Jesus tell us the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, emphasizing the way that Jesus came to save the sinner and the lost, to rejoice when the lost soul repents and comes back to the fold.  Paul describes how he once embraced blasphemy, persecution, and arrogance on his journey of faith, but that through God’s grace and mercy, he experienced a profound conversion in his life that brought him to Christ.  We can be lost in many different ways on our journey, but God always offers us his love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  

      As we pass Labor Day, which is traditionally seen as the end of summer, we start our new school year of religious education.  Having taught religious education myself as a layperson before I became a priest, and having come through the RCIA program as an adult to the Catholic faith, I have experienced the importance of religious education first-hand in my own life of faith.  All of us are called to be lifelong learners in the faith. We have changed the Mass time at Immaculate Conception in Raymond to 8:00 am in order to better accommodate our program of religious education.  Next weekend we will celebrate Catechetical Sunday as we recognize the importance of formation on our journey of faith and recognize our catechists and teachers of religious education.  Blessings to all of you - Father Lincoln.  

prayers of the faithful - 6 September 2022 - 23rd week in Ordinary Time

Penitential Rite:

Lord Jesus, you gather us into God’s peace: Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus: You come to us in word and sacrament: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus:  You will come in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have m

Priest: We lift up our prayers to God for our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world: 

1. For the poor people of the world — that they may never be forgotten. 

2. For victims of war, violence, oppression, and human trafficking — that their dignity and their wholeness may be restored. 

3. For the homeless, the unemployed, and those searching for meaning and a place in life - that God may lead them to where they need to be. 

4. For people who live in fear— that God may comfort them. 

5. For the sick and shut-in, for those who need healing in mind, body and spirit.  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for our deceased loved ones and family members, and the souls in the process of purification in purgatory.  

7. For the prayers that reside in our hearts.  

Priest: Lord our God, you rule the world with justice: help us in all our needs.  We ask these prayers through your Son Christ our Lord, our Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

 

18 September 2022 - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Catechetical Sunday - Cycle C - Luke 16:1-13, Amos 8:4-7

      Amos was a simple, hard working man who lived under the reign of King Uzziah of the kingdom of Judah in the 8th century BC. He was a shepherd and a harvester of fig trees.  In the Southern Kingdom of Israel, the upper classes prospered and amassed great wealth, not caring about the lives of the poor.  Corruption, injustices, and unscrupulous business practices were commonplace in that society.  God called Amos to be his prophet in the midst of the reality around him, to call attention to the way the people had broken their covenant with God, to the way they were unjust and corrupt.  Amos called the people to mercy, compassion, and integrity. Amos declared that God would not accept the exploitation of the weak and vulnerable of society.  

     Like our reading from the prophet Amos, the other readings today help us reflect upon the way we are called to be good stewards as disciples of Christ.  Stewards of our treasures, our gifts, and our talents.  Stewards of the covenant God has made with us.  We cannot be good stewards as disciples of Christ unless we grow and learn constantly in our faith.  Indeed, we are called to be life-long learners in the faith.  Today, the third weekend of the month of September is the day in which we recognize Catechetical Sunday in our Church’s liturgical calendar.  We recognize the importance of religious education and faith formation in our lives of faith and the men and women who serve our community as leaders in these programs. Those who our community of faith has chosen to serve as catechists and teachers will be called forth today at Mass to be given a blessing and to be commissioned in their ministry.  

      Catechetical Sunday is a great opportunity for us to reflect upon the role that each of has, by virtue of our baptism, to hand down the faith to others and to be witnesses to Christ’s Good News. It gives our community of faith here at Holy Savior Clinton and Immaculate Conception Raymond an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to that mission, which is a foundational mission we have as a Roman Catholic parish. 

     The theme our bishops have chosen this year for Catechetical Sunday is : “This is my body given for you,” taken from Luke’s Gospel. Many of us just assume that all Catholics understand what the Eucharist is all about. I feel like I preach about the Eucharist and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist a lot, but perhaps we do not speak about it enough.  The Catechism states the the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life.  As the source, this means that the heart of our Christian spirituality should flow from the Eucharist as its source, the way light streams forth from the sun. As the summit, this means   that Christian spirituality has the Eucharist as its high-point-that to which all of our actions should ultimately be directed.

     The term “Eucharist” originates from the Greek word “eucharistia” meaning thanksgiving. In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. The whole Christ is truly present -- body, blood, soul, and divinity -- under the appearances of bread and wine, the glorified Christ who rose from the dead. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.

        Perhaps this is a good opportunity to state that the host you receive at Mass in the Eucharist contains that true presence of Christ’s body and blood.  I know that we have missed receiving the cup in the Eucharist since the pandemic began. There are still safety concerns about bringing back the cup, which also includes the priest having to purify the vessels, with many of our priests having underlying health issues or compromised immune systems.  We are not sure when we are going to bring back the cup, if we ever will, but just be assured that we all receive the fulness of the Eucharist when receive the host.  

      As you know, the Church is the midst of a Eucharistic revival and Eucharistic congress which we are celebrating throughout these next couple of years.  You will hear more of this theme throughout this time period.  

      Our catechists and teachers of religious education will receive a special blessing today at Mass. We the parish have a big responsibility in our program of religious education and faith formation.  But I would like to close by stating this which the Catholic Church teaches, which is stated so beautifully in our Diocesan Catechist Companion:  “Parents are the primary religious educators of their children.” The parents are to be the first teachers to their children in religious education, and the best teachers.  The Diocese states in the Catechist Companion: “Parents and Parish act in partnership in the sacramental preparation (and religious education) of children (and youth).” Indeed, we all must collaborate together in this mission in order for our program of religious education will never succeed.  As pastor here, I really feel it is important to celebrate Catechetical Sunday here in our parish, to speak about the important of religious eduction in our life of faith. 

16 September 2022 - St Cornelius and St Cyprian - Memorial - Friday of the 24th week of Ordinary Time - Luke 8:1-3

      In the 7th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, which comes right before today's Gospel, we hear about different people who come to Jesus for help:  a centurion who has a sick slave, a widow who mourns her deceased son, the disciples of John the Baptist who want to get to know Jesus, and a sinful woman who anoints Jesus feet with costly ointment. Each of these individuals comes to Jesus out a desperate, harsh reality, out of the pain, sorrow, and suffering of their lives. Today, we hear about a group of women who follow Jesus together with his group of disciples, women who came to Jesus for healing and renewal and who chose to become his disciples. Out of the healing and strength that they find in their identity as disciples, they generously give to Jesus and to others. 

      Today, as we hear about this group of disciples who came to Jesus out of their brokenness and their humanity, we celebrate two martyrs from the Early Church: Cyprian and Cornelius, both of whom have very interesting stories. Cyprian spent most of his adult life as a professor of rhetoric in the city of Carthage. He was not baptized until the age of 45, but he later became the Bishop of Carthage in the year 248. Under the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Decius, many priests and bishops were martyred. Cyprian went into hiding. Cyprian’s writings emphasize the unity and solidarity the followers of Christ are to have, unified under the leadership of the Bishops and the Pope, a message that still rings true in our modern world today.  Cyprian was martyred in another wave of persecutions under the Emperor Valerian in the year 257. Cornelius was Pope at the time that Cyprian was writing about unity and solidarity under the leadership of the papacy. Many who had denied the faith during the persecutions wanted to return to the faith, which was a point of controversy in the Early Church. Cornelius, who called for forgiveness, mercy, and moderation, was sent into exile under the persecutions of the Emperor Gallus, where he died a martyr. 

      Perhaps as we hear more and more about persecutions against Christians in our world today and as we get more backlash from our secular world, we can better identify with martyrs like Cornelius and Cyprian.  May we find strength and courage in our faith from these examples from the Early Church. 

Stabat Mater Dolorosa - 15 September 2022 - Our Lady of Sorrows

1. The grieving Mother stood weeping 

beside the cross where her Son was hanging 

2. Through her weeping soul, 

compassionate and grieving, a sword passed. 

3. O how sad and afflicted 

was that blessed Mother of the Only-begotten! 

4. Who mourned and grieved, the pious Mother, 

looking at the torment of her glorious Child. 

5. Who is the person who would not weep 

seeing the Mother of Christ in such agony? 

6. Who would not be able to feel compassion 

on beholding Christ's Mother suffering with her Son? 

7. For the sins of his people,

she saw Jesus in torment and subjected to the scourge. 

8. She saw her sweet offspring dying, 

forsaken, while He gave up his spirit 

9. O Mother, fountain of love, make me feel 

the power of sorrow, that I may grieve with you 

10. Grant that my heart may burn in the love 

of Christ my Lord, that I may greatly please Him 

11. Holy Mother, grant that the wounds 

of the Crucified drive deep into my heart. 

12. That of your wounded Son, who so deigned 

to suffer for me, I may share the pain.

13. Let me sincerely weep with you, 

bemoan the Crucified, for as long as I live.

14. To stand beside the cross with you, 

and to join you in your weeping, this I desire.

15. Chosen Virgin of virgins, 

be not bitter with me, let me weep with thee.

16. Grant that I may bear the death of Christ, 

share his Passion, and commemorate his wounds.

17. Let me be wounded with his wounds, 

let me be inebriated by the cross and your Son's blood. 

18. Lest I be set afire by flames of death, Virgin, 

may I be defended by you, on the day of judgement 

19. Christ, when it is time to pass away, grant that 

through your Mother I may come to the palm of victory 

20. When my body dies, grant that to my soul 

is given the glory of paradise. Amen. 

15 September 2022 – Our Lady of Sorrows – John 19:25-27

      Jesus knew that his destiny was the cross, that he would die on the cross as a part of God’s plan of salvation.  Today, in John’s Gospel, we hear of the women who had significant roles in Jesus’ life, who stood by him while he died on the cross, who lent him prayers, love, and support.   With him at that moment of anguish and sorrow were his mother the Virgin Mary, Mary of Magdala, and Mary of Cleophas, who perhaps is the sister-in-law of Jesus’ mother Mary. We human beings often dread pain, suffering, and loss in our lives; they are not things we pursue and cherish. We cannot imagine the pain and anguish that Jesus’ blessed mother felt at that moment, seeing her son die on the cross.  When Mary heard the Angel's announcement about the upcoming birth of her son, she heard God’s promise that her son would be the Messiah, the one for whom the people of Ancient Israel were waiting and hoping. But, after Jesus’ birth, when they brought Jesus to the Temple for his presentation in accordance with Jewish law, Mary heard Simeon’s prophecy, prophesying that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart so that the hearts of many would be revealed.   Mary stands by her son in order for God to accomplish his plan, even without understanding the fullness of that plan. I knew a family where a son had tragically passed away, slumped over the steering wheel of a car in the parking lot where he worked after a life of great struggle and suffering.  A nun who was a good friend of the family told the grieving mother that in her she saw the face of our Lady of Sorrows, the Blessed Mother whose sorrow reached out from the pain of her heart to her beloved son. There are many mothers who cry out for their sons and daughters, who make sacrifices with the that their children may have a better life. Mary has many titles in our faith as we honor and respect her as our Mother, as Jesus’ mother, and the Mother of the Church. Today, we celebrate Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows. 

      Jesus' beloved disciple John took Mary into his home. The Tradition of the Early Church passes down that John took Mary into his home in Ephesus in Turkey, caring for her until her last days. As Jesus entrusted his mother with his beloved friend John, John took that responsibility very seriously.  Mary assumed the role of Mother of God with love, care, and dedication as well. In the midst of her sorrows, Mary knows what is in our hearts.  She comforts us in our sorrows and sufferings.  Mary, we look to you in our time of sorrow, in our time of pain and struggle.  Thank you for your motherly love.  Thank you for the example you give to us. 

14 September 2022 - Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Jesus - Numbers 21:4B-9 - John 3:13-17 - Philippians 2:6-11

      Today’s feast of the exaltation of the holy cross was first observed in Rome in the 7th century.  Today’s feast commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mount Calvary by St. Helena in the 4th century and preserved in Jerusalem, but then had fallen into the hands of the King of Persia. The cross was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius in 629.

       It is said that Heraclius carried the cross back to Jerusalem on his shoulders, wearing costly garments with ornaments of precious stones. But, at the entrance to Mount Calvary a strange incident occurred.  No matter how hard he tried, the Emperor could not move forward.  Bishop Zacharias of Jerusalem told him: "Consider, that with these triumphal ornaments you are wearing, you are far from resembling Jesus carrying his cross." The Emperor put on a penitential garment and was able to continue his journey.

      In the Roman empire, the cross represented the worst possible way a criminal could be put to death. Death on the cross was violent, painful, and disrespectful. However, our Mass commemorating the exaltation of the holy cross is indeed a triumphant liturgy.   When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent over the people in the desert on their journey to the promised land, it foreshadowed the cross and the salvation we would receive through Christ’s death and resurrection.  Indeed, our faith demands that we must take up our own crosses in order to follow Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We are called to be obedient in carrying our crosses even until death, even if it means martyrdom. We identify with Christ on the cross, sharing in his cross.  We remember how Jesus carried his cross in obedience and servanthood, since we are called to do the same. When we are baptized in the Catholic faith, we are sealed with the cross as our original sins are taken away, as we die with Christ in the waters of baptism and as we receive new life in him. As practicing Catholics, we make the sign of the cross as we begin and end our prayers, consecrating ourselves to God.  We make the sign of the cross at the beginning of Mass to begin our celebration in the name of our Lord.   During our trials and sufferings, the cross is there give us strength, protection, and hope.  O cross of Christ, you are the glorious sign of victory.  Through the power of the cross, may we share in your triumph, O Lord. 

13 September 2022 - Tuesday of 24th week of Ordinary Time - St John Chrysostom - 1 Corinthians 12: 12-14 and 27-31A; Luke 7:11-17

       As we hear the Gospel message today of a dead man who is brought back to life by Jesus after Jesus is moved by pity at the desperate situation of his mother, we may reflect up the different ways people are brought to the faith and the different realities that exist in the members of our faith.  Our Catholic Church is a very diverse body of faith.  It has been diverse since the days of the Early Church. We only have to think about the diversity of the group of apostles.  But the Catholic Church is also one body, which is addressed in the reading from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians today.  We are all in solidarity as members of the Body of Christ into which all believers are baptized.  But, as individuals, we are all important to that one Body of Christ as well.  Some of us are called as prophets or apostles.  Some of us are administrators or teachers or healers.  Each member of the Body of Christ has unique talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts.

     St John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople from the last half of the 4th century, is the saint we celebrate today.  He was in the second group of Early Church fathers who were named to be Doctors of the Church. John was known for his great teaching and preaching skills. The name assigned to him, “Chrysostom,” means “golden mouthed.” Politics brought him to be Archbishop of Constantinople, but he was direct and honest in the way he preached to the people, not catering to the rich and influential of society. The Gospel message he preached reached out to the poor in justice and integrity.  In fact, he once said: “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the Church door, you will not find him in the chalice.” His honesty and his candor finally caught up to him when he was sent into exile by the Emperor where he died in 407.  

      John Chrysostom started his life as a monk, yet his gifts of preaching and teaching, as well as his declining health, brought him to serve the Church as a Bishop.  He is remembered today more than 1,600 years after his death as one of the patriarchs of the Early Church.  St John Chrysostom, we unite our prayers to your prayers today as we remember you and the other members of the Early Church who passed down the faith to us.    

prayers of the faithful - Labor Day Mass - 5 September 2022

 Lord Jesus - you bring us faith. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us love. 

PRIEST:  On this Labor Day, we now present our prayers to God: 

1. For Pope Francis, Bishop Kopacz, and all of our church leaders, may they lead God’s people by their example in word and in deed.  We pray to the Lord. 

2. For all countries affected by war, terrorism and violence - may God inspire all of us to labor for justice and peace. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For all who labor and work - For migrant workers and factory workers who labor to feed and clothe us; for parents who labor to care for their families; for all who seek out the dignity of work and meaningful employment. We pray to the Lord. 

4. In this new school year, we pray for students, teachers, and school staffs; for children away at college and the parents who miss them. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For the sick and the suffering: For orphans, widows, the homeless, and the mentally ill; for those we label unclean by sickness or disease; for those who are close to death.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the dead: For victims of natural disaster, human error, or greed; or those who have been killed by war, poverty, or hate.  We pray to the Lord. 

PRIEST:  God, you are the Father of light and the source of every perfect gift. We pray that you plant your word within us and make us true disciples who hear and do the Gospel. Receive the prayers we offer to you & grant them according to your will, for you are close to us whenever we call. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.