4 June 2023 - Homily for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Cycle A - 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, John 3:16-18

      Today, the first weekend after the end of the Easter season, we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  The Doctrine of the Trinity was enunciated in the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople in the fourth century.  It is one of the fundamental doctrines of Catholicism and the greatest mystery of our faith. The Trinity expresses how there are three divine persons sharing the same Divine nature in one God. Many of the Church Fathers wrote in defense of the Trinity, most notably Tertullian of Carthage in the 3rd century, St Athanasius of Alexandria in the 4th century, and St Augustine of Hippo in the 4th and 5th century. We took an entire course on the Trinity in seminary, a course that was called The Mystery of God.  

        A story has been passed down from the Council of Nicaea that states that St Spyridon from Cyprus was asked how three can simultaneously be one. He responded by taking a brick and squeezing it. The clay softened in his hands, a flame flared out of the brick and water flowed out of it.  Spyridon proclaimed: “As there is fire and water in this brick, in the same way there are three persons in the one Godhead.”

       In the conclusion to St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we hear a proclamation that is the priest also proclaims at the beginning of mass: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” In that reading, Paul tells us to mind our ways, to encourage one another, and to live in peace, so that the peace and love of God be with us. So, although there was a lot of discussion and development regarding God as a Trinity of persons in the Early Church, we hear from Paul a profession the Trinity, which he uses to bless the community in Corinth. 

        Another famous profession of faith is found in our Gospel reading today. In John’s Gospel, this profession comes right after Jesus’ visit from Nicodemus, who comes in the darkness of night. Nicodemus come to Jesus to learn from him and to ask questions. We profess our faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We profess that faith in the Creed each Sunday at Mass. However, the community of persons in the Triune God is more than a doctrine we profess: it is a reality that we are called to live out each day in our life of discipleship. 

     The Episcopal Conference of Latin American Bishops was formed in 1955 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  The fifth conference of the Latin American Bishops was held in the country of Brazil in the basilica of our Lady of Aparecida in 2007.  In a document entitled Disciples and Missionaries, the Bishops proclaimed the following: “The church is called to a deep and profound rethinking of its mission … confirming, renewing, and revitalizing the newness of the Gospel rooted in our history.”  I love the title of this document, "Disciples and Missionaries," because the Bishops are implying that one cannot be a disciple of Christ if one is not missionary in spirit. The final version of that document was written by a committee headed by the Archbishop of Buenos Aires at the time, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who we now know as Pope Francis.  Out of our relationship with the Triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are called to profess our faith as disciples of Christ as proclaimed in John's Gospel today.  As disciples of Christ, in the spirit of the apostles and the Early Church, we are called to bring the Gospel message to the world. As we reflect on the Most Holy Trinity today, let us remember that each time that we make the sign of the cross, we affirm our commitment to live in loving relationship with our Triune God and with our each other. As we receive the blessing of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, we are called and empowered to a relationship with one another and to an exchange of love with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prayer - meeting of the Catholic foundation

 Blessed are you God of all creation, God of love and mercy.  We come together today as the board of the Catholic foundation.  We give thanks for our blessings, for our benefactors, and for God’s grace that helps us meet our challenges.  Thank for the service that the Catholic Foundation has been to the people of God here in our Diocese, to our parishes, schools, and various ministries.  Help us to have the hearts of servant disciples, to work in collaboration with the Diocese and our Bishop. Lead us and guide us in our service and in our meeting today and in the decisions we have to make.   In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 7th week of Easter - 26 May 2023

Lord Jesus - you proclaim your Good News. 

Christ Jesus - you are our Savior. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

We present our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith, hope, and love: 

1. For the Church: empowered by the Spirit, may we faithfully give witness to the Gospel and continue Christ’s mission of bringing hope and healing to all. 

2. For all who are awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit: that their hearts may be open and their spirits may be receptive to all the gifts of God.

3. For a spirit of evangelization: that we may allow the Spirit to work through our words, deeds, and relationships to draw others to Christ.

4. For the grace of wisdom and knowledge: that our hearts may be enlightened and our hope made firm in God who has called us to continue the mission of Jesus. 

5. For healing in our lives in body, mind and spirit. 

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

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

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

prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 7th week of Easter - 25 May 2023

Lord Jesus - you are the spirit of truth - Lord have mercy.

Lord Jesus - you care for the hungry and the lonely - Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus - you bring us justice and peace - Lord have mercy.

PRIEST: In the midst of the reality of our lives, let us raise our minds and hearts in prayer to God during this last week of the Easter season:  

1. That our Church and its leaders help us to go out and make disciples of all nations.

2. That Christ’s spirit of truth, goodness, and love guide all of our governmental leaders, bringing peace to the people, and to care for the weak, the sick, the hungry and the homeless.  

3. For all those who have committed their lives to be missionaries and to bring the word of God to others.

4. For all involved in the world of communications and media. We pray that their work may serve the cause of truth and justice and bring real benefits to all.

5. We pray for the sick, for those recovering from natural disasters, and those who need Christ’s healing presence in their lives in body, mind, or spirit. 

6. We remember in the silence of our hearts our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers.

PRIEST:  Father, may your love and compassion be constantly with us on our journey.  We make our prayers through hour son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

22 May 2023 - prayers of the faithful - Monday of the 7th week of the Easter season

Lord Jesus - you are ascended into heaven. 

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

Lord Jesus - you hear the cry of the poor and the suffering.

In this last week of the Easter season, let us present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For wisdom: that God will inspire us in recognizing and using our gifts to enrich our faith community and cooperate with God in bringing forth the kingdom of God in our time and place

2. For all who spread the Good News, particularly missionaries and preachers: that God will inspire them to announce God’s saving love and healing presence boldly and dynamically. 

3. For our families: that they have a good beginning to their summer vacation. 

4. For government leaders: that God will inspire them with courage and wisdom in the challenging decisions they have to make.  

5.For the sick and the shut-in.  For healing in body, mind, and spirit.  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  For their entry into eternal life. 

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

As we celebrate the coming of the holy spirit in a special in the last week of the Easter season, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

prayers of the faithful - 24 May 2023 - Wednesday of the 7th week of the season of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are ascended into heaven. 

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

Lord Jesus - you hear the cry of the poor and the suffering. 

As the end of the holy season of Easter draws near, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church: that we may continue Christ’s mission here on earth, bringing forth the reign of God through our worship, our work, and our relationships each day. 

2. For a renewed spirit of evangelization: that the Holy Spirit will guide us in witnessing to Jesus and all that God has done in showing compassion and forgiveness to all the world. 

3. For the coming of Christ’s kingdom: that we may strive with dedication to bring hatred, injustice, and the evils of society under the saving and redeeming love of Christ. 

4. For all gathered here for Mass: that we may encounter Christ in our Eucharistic assembly, in our families and communities, and in those who need our assistance. 

5. For the Christian community in the Diocese of Jackson: that through our celebration of the Paschal Mystery and the Easter season, we may be renewed in spirit to live for Christ each day and place our talents and gifts in the service Christ’s kingdom. 

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

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. 

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

26 May 2023 - homily for Friday of the 7th week of Easter - St Philip Neri - John 21:15-19

    The saint we celebrate today is Philip Neri, who was born in Florence, Italy more than 500 years ago.  It amazes me to hear about the great saints who lived in the tumultuous time of the Protestant Reformation, those who were contemporaries of Philip Neri, such as John of Avila, Frances de Sales, Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, Frances Xavier, and John of the Cross. It struck me one year when I was serving as pastor of St James parish in Tupelo, three of the youth chose Philip Neri as their confirmation saint, primarily because they saw him as the patron saint of joy.  It is important to feel joy in our lives, particularly in our life of faith, isn’t it?  One priest described Philip Neri in this way: “Philip radiated joy. If we had encountered him on the street, we could see it coming a mile away. He had a ready laugh, a great sense of humor and profound holiness." Leaving Florence at 18 years old to go to Rome, on fire with the joy of the Gospel, he engaged people he met with the Word of God and the teachings of the Church.  After founding a group of lay people who welcomed pilgrims to Rome, Philip became a priest himself and then founded an order of priests called the Congregation of the Oratory.  Philip Neri’s model of engaging people in the Gospel message is something we can use in our modern era when we are called to a new evangelization.  Through the reality of our lives, through sharing our faith and witnessing to others, may we also radiate this Gospel joy.  

      We hear Jesus ask Peter three times in the Gospel today if he loved him.  When Peter affirmed that he did love Jesus, he was instructed to feed Christ’s lambs, to tend his sheep, and to feed his sheep.  Indeed, if we love Christ, we will radiate that love through service to our neighbor.  We have such great examples of this in the example of Philip Neri and many of the other saints.  May our love of Christ be shown in our words and our actions each day.  

22 May 2023 - Monday of the 7th week of Easter - St Rita - Acts 19:1-8

      Today, in our reading from Acts, we hear about St Paul missionary experiences in the city of Ephesus, where he met some disciples of Christ who had not even heard of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is not to be this nice comforting idea in our lives, but rather a force that fills us with Gospel joy and zeal for living out a life of discipleship through our words and actions.  After Paul laying on hands on these disciples, and calling down the Holy Spirit on these men, they were definitely filled with the spirt.  

      The spirit leads us in different ways in life.  Today we celebrate a very popular saint in our Church: St Rita.  It surprised me to know that although Rita was born in the 14th century in Italy, she was not canonized until 1900.  Even though she wanted to become a nun as a young woman, her family forced her into a marriage, in which she had two sons.  Her husband was killed in an act of violence in the midst of a feud of vengeance and revenge between families.  After several attempts, Rita was admitted into a convent of Augustinian nuns.  Her life as a nun was characterized by devotion to pray, austerity, and charity.  Developing a wound on her forehead, many saw this as being associated with Christ’s crown of thorns.  She was particularly devoted to Christ’s passion. She had a deep devotion to nursing her fellow sick nuns and providing spiritual counsel to lay people. With he attempts to mend the violence that existed in her family and her community while she was married, she has become a saint similar to St Jude who helps us with our seemingly impossible causes.  St Rita’s tomb is a popular pilgrimage site.  Let us unite our prayers with the prayer of St Rita.  

23 May 2023 - Tuesday of the 7th week of Easter - Acts 20:17-27

     Paul says goodbye to the community of Ephesus in our first reading today.  It is a very emotional moment for him, as Paul has spent several years preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in that community.  Paul at first encountered great enthusiasm from the Jews there as he preached to them in their synagogue. However, later, when opposition arose, he moved to the public hall where his message was heard by many.  As Paul gets ready for his departure, he makes preparations to go to Jerusalem, even though he knows that he may face violence or arrest upon his arrival there.  

      Paul was a great missionary in the years of the Early Church.  The way the faith spread throughout the ancient world reflects the zeal and enthusiasm in which Paul preached the Gospel to the people. 

      Lately, I have stumbled upon different saints who are perhaps not very well known.  Today is the feast day of St William of Perth, from the town of Perth in Scotland.  Much of what is known about him is passed down by legend.  A baker by trade, William is said to have gone to mass daily and to give one of every ten loaves of bread he made to the poor.  One day, while attending mass, he found an orphan child on the steps of the church, whom he adopted and taught his trade.  He took his adopted son on pilgrim to sites in England and Scotland, where he was robbed and killed in the city of Rochester, England while visiting the cathedral there in 1201.  Since he was killed on pilgrimage, he is considered a martyr.  He is said to have interceded with many miracles after his death, including the legend that a madwoman place a honeysuckle wreath on his corpse and then upon touching the wreath again, her madness left her.  Due to these many accounted miracles, not only was he seen as a saint by the people, leading to his burial in the Rochester Cathedral and his official canonization, but the cathedral and a chapel built in his honor because some of the most popular pilgrimage sites in England after the cathedral in Canterbury.  William of Perth is the patron saint of adopted children.  We unite our prayers with his prayers today.  

25 May 2023 - the Venerable Bede - Thursday of the 7th week of Easter - Acts 22:30 and 23:6-11

     We just have a few days left in our Easter season, as we will celebrate the solemnity of Pentecost this weekend and the end of the Easter season.  As you know, I will be leaving tomorrow morning for Rome with my Notre Dame cohort to celebrate Pentecost in the special Mass they have in the Pantheon. I am looking forward to a wonderful week in Rome with my Notre Dame group, as you can imagine.  As we continue to hear about the missionary efforts of the Early Church in our readings from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about Paul’s difficulties in today’s reading, as Paul is ordered to stand before the chief priests and the Sanhedrin to give testimony. Rather than trying to help Paul and encourage him, the Jewish authorities are plotting to kill him and destroy him, a reminder of what Jesus went through during his journey to the cross. Paul is cunning and intelligent as he traps the Sadducees and Pharisees, getting them in an argument that he knows that will keep them preoccupied, since these two groups do not agree in the belief in the resurrection. 

          Today, we commemorate the feast day of the Venerable Bede, an English Benedictine monk from Northumbria, which was a medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom located in what is now the northern part of England and the southeastern part of Scotland. The Venerable Bede is one of my favorite saints, and I really like his name! He was born in the late 7th century.  As a young child, he survived a terrible plague that struck that region in 686 that killed the majority of the population. Even though he spent the majority of his life at his monastery, he was a well-known author, teacher, and scholar. His work entitled the Ecclesiastical History of the English People has brought him claim as he is considered the father of English history. I remember reading that book in college in a course on Western Civilization. Pope Leo XIII declared the Venerable Bede a Doctor of the Church in 1899. Bede is the only native of Great Britain to achieve this designation of Doctor of the Church.  St Anselm of Canterbury, is also a Doctor of the Church, but even though Anselm was a Bishop in England, he was born in Italy.  Bede was also a great linguist in Latin and Greek, having translated the works of the Early Church Fathers into the language of the Anglo-Saxons, which contributed greatly to the spread of Christianity in England. Bede is the patron saint of English writers and historians. We unite our prayers with his prayers today.  

24 May 2023 - Wednesday of the 7th week of Easter - Acts 20:28-38

     In just a few days, we will mark an end to the holy season of Easter with the celebration of Pentecost. I will leaving on Friday to travel to Rome with the liturgical leadership program from the University of Notre Dame, where as a part of that trip we will attend the Pentecost Mass at the Pantheon.  Today, in the continuing story of the Early Church from Acts, we hear a continuation of Paul’s speech to the people of Ephesus, as he is getting ready to go back to Jerusalem where he knows he will face many struggles. Paul informs the community leaders in Ephesus that they, too, will face opposition in their ministry. Paul specifically says that he knows that after his departure, “savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.” Paul’s farewell to the community at Ephesus is very emotional for him.  As he and the members of the community weep and hug each other, they know that they won’t see each other again.  

     It is hard for me to believe that at the end of this month, I will mark 15 years as a priest.  It is harder to believe that this month marks 27 years since my arrival in Ecuador, back in May 1996, where I served as a lay missionary for three years with the Comboni missionaries.  I can remember the first days after my arrival in the capital city of Quito experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of South America for the first time. I remember my departure in May 1999 from all the villages where I served in the rural province of Esmeraldas in northern Ecuador. Like Paul’s farewell in the first reading today, it was a very emotional time for me. I remember one of the elders of the community saying that what he would remember most about me was not the many wonderful development projects I brought to the community or the school that I started, but rather that in the midst of my struggles and challenges, I always persevered and never gave up. I remember that sometimes as I suffered from malaria or pneumonia or a tropical fever, I would be wrapped up in a big blanket in the middle of the hot tropical climate because I was shivering with sickness. But in the midst of that, I continued my work as a missionary and never gave up. I saw the perseverance and courage of the other missionaries around me that gave me the strength to continue on my own journey.  May all our hearts be with Paul and his compassions, united with their zeal and their missionary spirit. Let us thank Paul for his passion and enthusiasm for bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, even in the midst of struggle and strife. 

Reflection on prison ministry - Central Mississippi Correctional Institution - 14 May 2023

 Friday evening, during my visit to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facitily, the inmate Eucharistic minister of our community showed me a letter he had received from an inmate from another part of the prison who does not yet have access to our Mass.  This inmate was asking for a Catechism and a pastoral visit if possible.  On the bottom of the note he wrote in big bold letters: ”Communion desperately needed.”  This inmate has no access to the Eucharist at all, something most practicing Catholics take for granted. We went to see him that evening, along with two other inmates.  There were lots of hugs.  I had our inmate Eucharistic minister give them communion.  The inmate who requested our visit also told me he was in a lot of pain and awaiting facial reconstruction surgery.  I gave all three of the inmates the anointing of the sick.  

The next day, Saturday, Bishop Kopacz visited our Catholic community at the state prison in Pearl for the first time to celebrate Mass with us. There were around 45 inmates to greet him.  He confirmed two of the inmates into the Church.  He also gave a blessing to the five inmates who serve in our newly formed pastoral council.  The inmates were so excited, as they had the signed copy of the bi-laws with the signatures of the correctional institution’s administrators - our Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel is now an officially recognized religious community within the correctional system.  This has been the fruit of a lot of dedication, a lot of prayers, and a lot of hard work.  

Prison ministry has been a labor of love of mine ever since my first year as a priest.  Some of the inmates who attend our Mass have known me this entire time.  I am so proud of these men and their journey of faith.  As a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Jackson, the heart of my ministry is at the two parishes where I serve in Raymond and in Clinton, and I absolutely love being a parish priest there in those two parishes.  Yet, the prison ministry, as not only a ministry but as a work of mercy, has had a huge impact on my journey as a priest.  

Not only am I thankful for the inmates and the way they are evangelizing their fellow inmates, how they are so enthusiastic about living out their faith and taking a leadership role, but I am so thankful to the many people who have supported our ministry in so many different ways.   There are many individuals, parishes, Knights of Columbus councils, and parish groups who have supported our prison ministry financially throughout the years, making all this possible. This year alone, I have purchased many used study Bibles, Catechism, YouCats, and rosaries to help the men practice their Catholic faith.  The Catholic Foundation also gave us a grant this year, which has been a gift from God. 

It was a very emotional weekend having Bishop Kopacz visit and celebrate Mass with us, having him meet the inmates who mean so much to me.  St Michael the Archangel, please watch over these men, leading them and guiding them to God’s holy truth.

Catholic blessings for Mother’s day - 14 November 2023 - Holy Savior Catholic Church - Clinton MS

 Blessing for Mother’s day:

Heavenly Father, we pray for all of our mothers and grandmothers today and ask for a special blessing for them:

We pray for our mothers who have given us life and love throughout our lives, who have celebrated with us through our joyful times and who have been there through our challenges and struggles. 

We pray for mothers who have lost a child through death or through other circumstances, that their faith may give them hope, and their family and friends support and console them.

We pray for mothers who have died, that God may bring them into the joy of his kingdom. 

Loving God, as you watch over your Church, as you lead her and guide her, watch over all those mothers and grandmothers who are with us today.  Lead them and guide them, nourish them and give them life, just as they have nourished us and given us life.  

Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, their grandchildren and loving family members and friends, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect and devotion.  May almighty God bless all of you - in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  AMEN.  

The prayer of the lost sheep

 The image of Jesus as our Good Shepherd is an important image we have on our journey of faith, an image that speaks to children, youth, and adults alike.  On the fourth Sunday of Easter, in the Gospel, we heard Jesus talk about himself as the gate through which the sheep enter the sheepfold. Good Shepherd Sunday was a great time for us to reflect upon Jesus as the Good Shepherd and to reflect upon the lost sheep. Since have had the presence of Uno the lost sheep with us in our church of Holy Savior, and since Uno the lost sheep is the mascot of our Flocknote email service, perhaps we are thinking more about the lost sheep and how we can reach out to those who are away from the flock. I am certainly thinking more and more of ways I as a priest can reach out to the lost sheep. The parable of the lost sheep has perhaps given us an important perspective as to what went on in our lives and in our society during the pandemic and as to process of secularization that going on in the United States and the rest of the modern world. I really like the message of this prayer.  

Lord, we pray for the one who is lost and who cannot find his way back. You have said in your holy word, Lord, that the Son of Man has come to save the one who is lost. You have said also, Lord, that if a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, would he leave the ninety-nine; and would he go to the mountain to look for the one that has strayed? Your holy word says, Lord, that if he finds that lost sheep, he should greatly rejoice. You said that he should rejoice over the lost sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. We know, Lord, that is not your will that anyone should go astray, that anyone should be away from your flock, that anyone should leave the faith. Thank you, Lord, for taking care of your lost sheep. Help us find the lost sheep and help bring them back into the flock. May we help you any way we can, O Lord, for you are our Good Shepherd. AMEN.

Honoring Mary in the month of May - Reflection

This last weekend at our Sunday Mass at Holy Savior, our children came up with flowers to present to Mary during our May Crowning, a beautiful tradition we have in our parish. For centuries, the Catholic Church has honored Mary during the month of May. Not just a day in May, but the entire month. I like to know the origins of our traditions and devotions in our Catholic faith, so I researched why we honor Mary in the month of May.

This custom of honoring Mary in this way evolved over many centuries and cultures. We can go back as far as Ancient Greece, where the month of May was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of fertility and new birth. In Ancient Rome, May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of blooms.

In the medieval era in Europe, there was a custom of honoring the month of May as the beginning of springtime and a time of new growth. In this time period of history, the tradition of a thirty-day devotion to Mary came about. Originally, this was traditionally observed in the summer. Later in Church history, mainly in the 19th century, May was honored as the Month of Mary with special devotions organized on each day throughout the month. This brings us to the month of May in which we honor Mary in the present-day.

There are many ways that we can honor Mary in the month of May. It is common for the faithful to pray the Rosary during May. Many of the faithful erect a special May altar with a statue or picture of Mary as a reminder of Mary’s month. It is also a long-standing tradition to crown a statue of Mary during May, a custom known as May Crowning. Often, the crown is made of beautiful flowers, representing Mary’s virtue and love. The May crowning is a reminder to the faithful to strive to imitate our Blessed Mother’s virtue in our own lives. May altars and May Crownings are not only observed in parishes, but also in our homes, our domestic churches.

We great love and faith, we honor Mary in the month of May. Blessings to all of you as we continue our journey together during this joyful Easter season. Father Lincoln.

19 May 2023 - prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 6th week of the Easter season

Lord Jesus - you bring us the Father’s love

Christ Jesus - you lead us and guide us on our journey. 

Lord Jesus - you hear the cry of the poor and the suffering.

As we continue our journey through the Easter season, let us present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For wisdom: that God will inspire us in recognizing and using our gifts to enrich our faith community and to cooperate with God’s plan in bringing forth the kingdom of God in our time and place

2. For all who spread the Good News, particularly missionaries and preachers: that God will inspire them to announce God’s saving love and healing presence boldly and dynamically. 

3. For the healing of racism: that all nations and peoples may recognize the value and dignity that God has given to each person and work together to bring forth the kingdom of God in the world. 

4. For government leaders: that God will inspire them with courage and new understanding in the challenging decisions they have to make.  

5. For all victims of violence: that God will heal their pain, ease their fear, and give them the courage to engage with life fully. 

6. For the healing of the sick, and for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. 

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

As we celebrate the coming of the holy spirit in a special in the last week of the Easter season, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

18 May 2023 - Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 6th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you call us to discipleship

Christ Jesus - you call us to stand up for our faith. 

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and our Redeemer. 

With Easter joy, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church: that we may all live as a Eucharistic people, giving and sharing of ourselves, as Christ continually does for us, so that all may have life. 

2.  For all missionaries and evangelizers, for the sacrifices they make to spread that Gospel message, and for those throughout the world who are persecuted for their faith.  

3. For our first responders, for the men and women in the military, and for our medical professionals.  

4. For our children and youth: as they start their summer vacation time, may they be safe and may they feel God accompanying them through all their summer activities.  

5. For the Gospel of Life: may all profess the dignity of human life in their words and actions, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. 

6.  For those who feel separated from God and for those who have left their church community: May they feel a welcome home back in their parish and in the Church. 

7. For the sick and shut-ins. For all who are struggling with mental illness and addictions.  For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  

8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. 

We present these prayers, heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 6th week of Easter - 17 May 2023

Lord Jesus - you proclaim your Good News. 

Christ Jesus - you are our Savior. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

We present our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith and hope:

1. For the Church: that, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we may faithfully give witness to the Gospel and continue Christ’s mission of bringing hope and healing to all. 

2. For all who are awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit in their lives: that their hearts may be open and their spirits receptive to all the gifts of God.

3. For a spirit of evangelization: that we may allow the Spirit to work through our words, deeds, and relationships to draw others to Christ.

4. For the grace of wisdom and knowledge: that our hearts may be enlightened and our hope made firm in God who has called us to continue the mission of Jesus. 

5. For healing in our lives in body, mind and spirit. 

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

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. 

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

prayers of the faithful - 16 May 2023 - Tuesday of the 5th week of the Easter Season

Lord Jesus - you call us to obedience. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to Gospel joy. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to service. 

PRIEST: The Lord's steadfast love endures forever: Let us pray for the needs of all God’s children in the name of Jesus - our Savior, our Redeemer, and our the Good Shepherd. 

1. For the Church: May Christians throughout the world come together in a unity of purpose, witness, and fellowship

2. For our world and its leaders: May they be good stewards of the gifts of God found in creation and may we work together to share these gifts with others, especially the most need.

3. For those who are called to the consecrated life, may they be faithful witnesses of God’s love. May others be inspired to live their baptismal commitment by this witness.

4. For our community of faith: May all feel welcome in our community in our words and our actions. 

5. For all those who are celebrating the sacraments of initiation this Easter season: May they bring to the community of faith their own unique and precious gifts as they go forth in the footsteps of Christ.

6. For those who suffer in body, mind, and spirit: May all the sick find healing in Jesus’ name, and care at the hands of his disciples.

7. For all who have died: May Christ the Good Shepherd lead them through the mystery of death and into the green pastures of eternal life with him.

8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.  

PRIEST: We present these prayers through Jesus our Good Shepherd, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.

Prayers of the faithful - CMCF state prison - 6th Sunday of Easter - 14 MAY 2023

Introduction: Jesus promises his disciples in today’s Gospel that he will not leave them orphans, emphasizing the importance of the care that a parent gives.  On Mother’s Day weekend, we honor our mothers and grandmothers and all who have been like mothers to us. As we recognize the ways that God cares for us, we continue to celebrate the presence of the risen Christ in this joyful season of Easter.  We welcome everyone to our mass today as we also welcome Bishop Kopacz for his first visit to CMCF.  

Lord Jesus - you open the way to eternal life. 

Christ Jesus - you release us from the power of sin and death. 

Lord Jesus - you sent us the Holy Spirit to be our advocate and guide. 

Priest: We are blessed with the Holy Spirit, as he is our advocate who is with us always.  Now, let us entrust our needs to God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:

1. For the Church, that we may be receptive to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the world, we pray to the Lord.  

2. That governmental leaders around the world may work together cooperatively for justice and peace, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For all mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and expectant mothers, for all those women who have nurtured us and mothered us in their care, that they may know the blessing of God through their families and loved ones, we pray to the Lord. 

4. That human life may be treasured at every stage, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death, and every point in between, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For our Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel here at CMCF , that through the work we do and through the message we offer, we may touch the hearts of the inmates here.  May we work together to bring other inmates into our community. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For healing for our sick inmates and sick family members.  For our family members, loved ones, and inmates who have died.  For their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For Bishop Kopacz. In thanksgiving for his visit to CMCF this weekend.  We pray to the Lord.  

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

Priest: Loving God, your son testified that he is in you and that you are in him.  Help us to see your son in others more clearly.  We make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

The Ascension of the Lord - 21 May 2023 - the prayers of the faithful

Introduction: Jesus assures his disciples that he is with them always even as he ascends to the heavens.  Jesus is with us in his word that is proclaimed so that we may be enlightened.  He is with us in the Eucharist that is offered for us and received by us.  He is with us in the priest who presides at our Eucharistic celebration.  He is with our community as we gather in his name.  We rely on his assurance that he is with us always as we follow him as his disciples and as we carry our his mission. 

Lord Jesus - you are the eternal Son of the Father. 

Christ Jesus - your presence fills the universe. 

Lord Jesus - you guide us with you bright glory. 

Priest: Jesus assures us that he is with us always.  Let us have the confidence to bring our needs before him, for he sits at God’s right hand to intercede on our behalf: 

1. For the Church, may we be inspired by Christ’s command to make disciples, helping lead our families, friends, and neighbors to the joy and peace we have found in Christ, we pray to the Lord. 

2. That the nations of the world may grow in solidarity and unity, accepting the primacy of God in all things, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For all who are searching for purpose and meaning in life, that the Holy Spirit may lead them to Christ and guide them in working together to fulfill Christ’s mission here on earth, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For all who have celebrated the sacraments of baptism, first communion, and confirmation this Easter season, that they may bear witness to Christ’s on-going presence in their lives, we pray to the Lord. 

5. That the Holy Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation may reveal to us the presence of Christ in our brothers and sisters, especially in the needy, the poor, and the oppressed, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For healing for the sick and the shut-in. For those struggling with addictions and mental illness.  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 we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God of all, your son reigns over all the earth from his seat at your right hand.  Hear the prayers we make today through the intercession of your son, for he is our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

The Ascension - Bulletin Reflection - 21 May 2023

      Back on April 9, we celebrated Easter Sunday and the beginning of the  Easter season. Easter concludes next weekend with the celebration of Pentecost.  The Ascension takes place 40 days after Easter, which would have been last Thursday, but in most Dioceses in the United States, the Ascension of the Lord is moved to a Sunday, since most of the faithful do not come to Mass on a weekday compared to Sunday. As we celebrate Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday, and then in the coming weeks the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church; the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity; and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, perhaps the Ascension of the Lord and the significance of the Ascension does not receive the voice in the Church that it deserves.  

      I think of the Ascension most of all in its context in the Easter season as a part of the Paschal mystery, which includes Jesus’ suffering and death, his resurrection, his ascension, and his sending forth the Holy Spirit to us, his disciples. These parts of the Paschal Mystery, as a whole, comprise one reality. In the resurrection, we understand that Jesus still lives as our Savior and our Redeemer. In the Ascension, we better understand Christ’s relationship with the Father: that the living Christ has entered into glory, a glory that he shares with the Father.

       With great joy, we celebrate the solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord this weekend. Blessings to all of you. Father Lincoln.

21 May 2023 - The Ascension - Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:17-23 - Matthew 28:16-20

      For the 40 days between the time of Christ’s resurrection and his ascension into heaven, our Lord appeared to the disciples at different times and spoke to them at length about God’s kingdom. He also told them a very curious thing: to remain in Jerusalem, to not depart that city, to await the promise of the Father. This is the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Even though the disciples had faith and hope in that promise, they had uncertainty and fears as well. They knew that Jesus was going to ascend to the Father, that the Spirit would be sent to them, but what did this exactly mean? This was a new reality that defied our normal human understanding of things. What exactly was going to happen? When we are in an in-between space, we are leaving our old comfort zone, reaching out into the unknown, into new possibilities. Living with our questions and our anxieties, living with ambiguity, having to trust and wait, it is difficult being in a state of unknowing. It seems like the one thing that each one of us brings to confession, to the sacrament of reconciliation, is the impatience that brings out feelings of anger and frustration in daily life. In our modern world, we don’t know how to wait any more or how to be patient. We live in a world where we are connected to just about everything through our smart phones and ipads.  We’re on the fast-track, demanding instant gratification. If our wifi goes out, it feels like the world is coming to an end, doesn’t it? Even though the disciples were not sure about the reality of the risen Christ, even though they were not sure what would happen after Christ’s ascension, they remained together in spite of their anxiety and uncertainty. The disciples’ experiences of God’s faithfulness to their Lord Jesus Christ gave them hope and perseverance. What would have happened if the disciples ran away in fear and frustration? What if they had refused to wait in Jerusalem for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, they persevered, making sure the Early Church would develop and grow, led by the Spirit.  

      In his letter to the Ephesians, St Paul summarizes the theological meaning that Christ’ ascension into heaven means for us as his disciples: “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.” Our hope is that one day we will ascend to the heavenly glory of eternal life that our faith promises, with the help of God’s grace. On our journey of faith, we are to follow the great commission that Christ gives in the concluding words of Matthew’s Gospel: to preach the Good News of salvation in our words and deeds.  

      Every Sunday, in the Nicene Creed, we profess that Christ “ascended into heaven.” Indeed, Christ’s ascension was the culmination of God’s plan for him, as he returned to his Father after accomplishing his mission here on earth. It is the culmination of his mission on earth, not the conclusion. From his place with the Father in glory, Jesus is always with us in spirit.  

       In the description of the Ascension in the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples are so captivated by the sight of Jesus ascending in the heavens that they don’t notice the two strangers that suddenly appear to them. These strangers turn out to be angels who speak comforting yet challenging words to the disciples. The angels ask them:  Why are you standing here gazing into the sky?  Don’t you have more pressing things to do?  Don’t you need to be going about the business of the Lord, in proclaiming God’s kingdom? The angels announce that Christ’s disciples should take heart that while they are serving God and working toward the establishment of God’s kingdom, that they can have confidence that Christ will indeed return. How are we fulfilling that mission in our work here on earth?  Are we gazing up at the sky, waiting for something to happen? Or are we confidently living out the Gospel in our lives, in serving God and serving our neighbor? Yes, there is still uncertainty and apprehensiveness and ambiguity in our modern world, but we definitely have work to do. 

19 May 2023 - Friday of the 6th week of Easter - Acts 18:9-18

     Our journey of faith is not always easy.  It can have a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns, struggles and challenges.  Even though we have our own struggles and challenges on our journey of faith, it's still difficult for me to imagine all the obstacles that St Paul faced on his journey.  We hear a lot about Paul’s journey of faith in our readings from Acts during the Easter season. Paul eventually died a martyr for the faith in Rome. Yet, in the midst of his ups and downs and the periods of imprisonment he endured, he also received a lot of encouragement from the Lord along the way. Today, we hear of a vision that Paul received from the Lord one night while he was in Corinth, how the Lord encouraged him to continue in his ministry and to not remain silent. Paul remained in Corinth for a year and a half, preaching the Good News to the community there.

     I think about how perseverance, steadfastness, and collaboration are all important on our journey of faith. I look at the ministries I have been involved in as a priest and as a layperson.  All of them required a commitment in times of struggle and adversity, when it is the easiest to give up.  Some of my fellow priests have asked me why I am involved with things like prison ministry or college ministry when I could leave those things behind and have some down time in my life. However, I feel God calling me to those ministries and they bring me a lot of joy and fulfillment.  I take a lot of inspiration and encouragement from St Paul and the disciples in the Early Church.  They are a great example of faith for all of us.   

    

18 May 2023 - Thursday of the 6th week of Easter - St John I - Acts 18:9-18

    John I became pope in the early 6th century at the time of the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. The emperor of the western Roman Empire embraced the Arian heresy.  When the eastern empire started persecuted Arian heretics, the western emperor forced John to lead a delegation to the East to try to stop these measures against the heretics.  On his way back to Rome, the western emperor had John imprisoned in Ravenna, accusing John in a conspiracy against him.  While in custody, John died, possible from the bad treatment he received in prison.  John’s remains are interred in the basilica of St Peter in the Vatican.  

      Today, in our reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about Paul going to the city of Corinth, about the challenges he faced in trying to bring God’s Word to the world. Paul initially was a persecutor of the followers of Jesus before his dramatic conversion. It is amazing to see where Paul was called to go as a follower of Christ himself, to hear about the different hardships and adversity that Paul himself faced in trying to bring Good News of Jesus to others. Paul received the calling to bring the Good News to the Gentiles, to those outside of the Jewish world, to those whom many Jews would have considered unclean and beyond the realm of God’s salvation. God can call us to things that we would have considered unimaginable. 

     As we hear about St John I and St Paul today, as we reflect upon the hardships and challenges they faced in their Church leadership, may we offer our prayers for Bishop Kopacz, Pope Francis, and all of our Church leaders.  We pray for wisdom and strength as they lead us in the faith, especially in any challenges and adversity they may face.  

17 May 2023 - Wednesday of the 6th week of Easter - John 16:12-15

      We hear Jesus tell us about how he is sending us the Holy Spirit,  the Spirit of truth, who will lead us and guide us to all truth.  We hear the word “truth” being bantered about all the time all around us. We hear some say: “I want the truth to come out” or “I am here to speak the truth.”  Sometimes what we think is the truth is perhaps our own perspective on things, even though we don’t want to admit it.

      In the year 1633, a century after the Protestant Reformation, the Inquisition of the Roman Catholic Church forced Galileo Galilei, one of the fathers of modern science, to recant his theory that the earth orbits the Sun. Under threat of torture from the Church, Galileo reluctantly recanted. Galileo's theories threatened the truth that many held onto, and their vision of the world and the universe. 

     Fast forward to 1992, 359 years later.  The Church finally agreed with Galileo. At an audience at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope John Paul II declared that Galileo was right based on the findings of a committee of the Academy that the Pope set up in 1979, soon after taking office. The committee decided the Inquisition had acted in good faith, but was wrong.

     For a long time, the Church often saw science as its enemy, but thankfully, that is no longer true. Instead, quantum physics, biology, and other academic disciplines are revealing that science can be a partner with the Church.  There is not to be a dualism separating the spiritual world and the material world - the truth can be found in both.  We could all be looking at the one truth from different angles, different assumptions, and different vocabulary depending upon our discipline, but we should all be working together.  We can look back at the theology and spirituality of St Francis of Assisi to complement our stewardship and care of all of God’s creation here on earth, to complement what science is discovering about the environmental destruction and pollution that is damaging God's creation.  If we trust that we in the faith have the truth, then we need to trust that others can see the truth from different angles and different perspectives, helping us to grow in understanding and faith. We all should be working towards a community of brothers and sisters, a community of good will.  

16 May 2023 - Tuesday of the 6th week of Easter - Acts 16:22-34

     Paul and his companions did not have an easy time preaching Christ’s Good News throughout the ancient world.  We hear of their struggles in the stories from the Acts of the Apostles. Paul and his companion Silas cured a young girl who was possessed by an unclean spirit, but since she used that spirit to tell the future and to earn money for her masters, her masters pressed charges against Paul and Silas when their money-making scheme was threatened, accusing them of disturbing the peace and breaking Roman law.  

      Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten with rods, and thrown into prison. Rather than being angry with their situation, they lifted it up to the Lord, singing hymns and praying, which attracted the attention of the other prisoners. It tickled me when I heard how Paul, Silas, and the other prisoners remained in the prison after a great earthquake, rather than using this as an opportunity to escape. I thought about the prisoners whom I minister to in the federal and state prisons here in Mississippi; most of them would burst out of prison with great joy as fast as they could when faced with a situation like this, seeing this means of escape as a gift from God. However, both the prisoners and the guards are touched by the word of God that Paul and Silas preached, and they came to believe.  What a great story for us to hear today from the Acts of the Apostles.  

        I want to mention a saint whose feast day was celebrated yesterday, St Dymphna, a saint who has become well-known in recent years. Tradition passes down that in the 7th century, Dymphna was the daughter of a pagan king in Ireland and his wife, a Christian princess, who passed her Christian faith down to her daughter.  Dymphna’s mom passed away while Dymphna was still a young girl.  Dymphna's father inappropriate proposal to have her marry her own father and become the new queen caused her to flee to Belgium.  Dymphna’s father traveled to Belgium, killing her in a fit of rage.  Dymphna’s death was mourned by the local people in the village in Belgium where she lived, where she was remembered for her kindness to the poor and the sick.  That village became a refuge for the treatment of the mentally ill in the medieval period when Dymphna’s remains were rediscovered in the 13th century and her story was remembered.  As St Dymphna is the patron saint of those with mental illness, we pray for those who struggle with mental illness in our modern world and we pray that they get the medical help they need.  

7 May 2023 - 5th Sunday of Easter - Acts 6:1-7, John 14:1-12 - homily for Mass at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility

There are several Mass going on this weekend, so I have modified the homily to accommodate those occasions.  This homily is for the weekend Mass at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility using the Sunday readings.   

     There are 37 men and women who have been designated as Doctors of the Church, a very select group of men and women from the history of the Church.  The most recent Doctor of the Church, Gregory of Narek from the 10th century and Irenaeus of Lyon from the 2nd century, were named during the pontificate of Pope Francis.  A person is designated by the Pope as a Doctor of the Church for having lived an exemplary holy life of faith and for having preaching, writings, & teachings that have deepened the Church’s understanding of Catholic faith and spirituality. One such Doctor of the Church is St John Chrysostom. Though he once spent six years living in a cave in the desert as a hermit in the 4th century, he eventually became the Archbishop of Constantinople, the main centers of Christianity in the East in the era of the Early Church. John lived a very austere life. Social justice was a main theme in his preaching and in the way he lived out his life of faith. When he preached against the depravities and extravagance of the Emperor Arcadius and the Empress Eudoxia, he was summoned before the Emperor, threatened with banishment and exile. John responded to the Emperor:  “You cannot banish me, for the world is my Father’s house.” The Emperor angrily replied: “Then I will kill you!” “No, you cannot,” John replied back, “because my life is with Christ in God.” “Then I will confiscate your treasures,” threatened the Emperor. “Sir, you do not have the power to do that, because my treasures are in heaven, as my heart is in heaven as well,” said John. “Then I will drive you from your people and you shall have no friends left,” shouted back the Emperor. John replied: “That you cannot do either, Sir, for Christ, my friend in heaven has said to me: ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ I will never be without his friendship.” John’s dialogue with the Emperor illustrates what is communicated in the Gospel today: Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. The life we have in Christ cannot be taken away from us by any man, for Christ has prepared a dwelling place for us.  

       As we reflect upon the significance of the risen Christ in our readings during the Easter season, we see how the Early Church responded to the reality that faced the growing Christian community. The Christian community tried to emulate Christ’s example of love and service when they realized that some community members were being discriminated against and not having their basic needs met, so the Early Church established the office of deacon as a ministry of service in order to help meet the needs of the people. Throughout our Church’s history, we have responded to the needs and the reality around us by developing different offices of service and social institutions that would provide outreach. In service, in word, and in sacrament, the Church is the Body of Christ here on earth, Christ’s presence here on earth.  

       Today, as we commemorate the 5th Sunday of the Easter season, as we celebrate the presence of the risen Christ in our lives, we also celebrate the first Sunday in the month of May, the month of Mary, the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ and the beloved Mother of our Church. The May crowning of Mary is a long-standing tradition in our Church, in which we honor Mary as the Mother of Christ, as the first disciple, as the one who always points us to the Son and brings us closer to the Son. Mary is always there to lead us and guide us.  As I think about the children and youth of our parish, Mary is the best example of humble love and service that we can give them as we all grow together in our faith. 

     I thought of St John Chrysostom, whom I mentioned at the beginning of this homily.  John Chrysostom was not baptized as Christian until he was an adult.  Eventually, he found himself chosen as the Archbishop of Constantinople, a huge city in the ancient world.  Seeing Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life, the hope and promise of his faith that propelled John’s life of true discipleship and service to Christ his Church. Pope Benedict, in his encyclical Saved by hope, quotes St Paul, by proclaiming, “in hope we were saved.” The message we receive in the Easter season is a message of redemption, salvation, and hope. Pope Benedict goes on to say: “The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life." 

     Mike Piazza was a major league baseball player who played for the Dodgers and the Mets.  He retired from baseball in 2007 and was inducted into the baseball hall of fame in 2016. He was drafted into baseball only as a favor to family friend, the legendary baseball coach Tommy Lasorda, who was a childhood friend of Piazza’s father.  Piazza quoted these words of hope from Pope Benedict when he was inducted into the baseball hall of fame.  He said that the Catholic faith that his mother and father instilled in him taught him patience, compassion, and hope, getting him through the difficult times in his life, in the struggles and discouragement he felt as a young baseball player when few baseball professionals believed in him and his abilities. The hope of our Catholic faith is there to help us endure the difficult and challenging moments that confront us on our journey of faith.  As we celebrate the risen Christ in our midst today during this joyful Easter season, let us not lose sight of our hope.  

7 May 2023 - 5th Sunday of Easter - Acts 6:1-7, John 14:1-12 - homily for first communion mass

There are several Mass going on this weekend, so I have modified the homily to accommodate those occasions.  This homily is for the first communion Mass on Sunday morning, May 7.  

    There are 37 men and women who have been designated as Doctors of the Church, a very select group of men and women from the history of the Church.  The most recent Doctors of the Church, Gregory of Narek from the 10th century and Irenaeus of Lyon from the 2nd century, were named during the pontificate of Pope Francis.  A person is designated by the Pope as a Doctor of the Church for having lived an exemplary holy life of faith and for having preaching, writings, & teachings that have deepened the Church’s understanding of Catholic faith and spirituality. One such Doctor of the Church is St John Chrysostom. Though he once spent six years living in a cave in the desert as a hermit in the 4th century, he eventually became the Archbishop of Constantinople, the main centers of Christianity in the East in the era of the Early Church. John lived a very austere life. Social justice was a main theme in his preaching and in the way he lived out his life of faith. When he preached against the depravities and extravagance of the Emperor Arcadius and the Empress Eudoxia, he was summoned before the Emperor, threatened with banishment and exile. John responded to the Emperor:  “You cannot banish me, for the world is my Father’s house.” The Emperor angrily replied: “Then I will kill you!” “No, you cannot,” John replied back, “because my life is with Christ in God.” “Then I will confiscate your treasures,” threatened the Emperor. “Sir, you do not have the power to do that, because my treasures are in heaven, as my heart is in heaven as well,” said John. “Then I will drive you from your people and you shall have no friends left,” shouted back the Emperor. John replied: “That you cannot do either, Sir, for Christ, my friend in heaven has said to me: ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ I will never be without his friendship.” John’s dialogue with the Emperor illustrates what is communicated in the Gospel today: Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. The life we have in Christ cannot be taken away from us by any man, for Christ has prepared a dwelling place for us.  

       As we reflect upon the significance of the risen Christ in our readings during the Easter season, we see how the Early Church responded to the reality that faced the growing Christian community. The Christian community tried to emulate Christ’s example of love and service when they realized that some community members were being discriminated against and not having their basic needs met, so the Early Church established the office of deacon as a ministry of service in order to help meet the needs of the people. Throughout our Church’s history, we have responded to the needs and the reality around us by developing different offices of service and social institutions that would provide outreach. In service, in word, and in sacrament, the Church is the Body of Christ here on earth, Christ’s presence here on earth.  

       Today, as we commemorate the 5th Sunday of the Easter season, as we celebrate the presence of the risen Christ in our lives, we also celebrate the first Sunday in the month of May, the month of Mary, the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ and the beloved Mother of our Church. The May crowning of Mary is a long-standing tradition in our Church, in which we honor Mary as the Mother of Christ, as the first disciple, as the one who always points us to the Son and brings us closer to the Son. Mary is always there to lead us and guide us.  As I think about the children and youth of our parish, Mary is the best example of humble love and service that we can give them as we all grow together in our faith. 

     In our Sunday Mass this morning, we celebrate with our first and second grade students as they received first holy communion.  I know that this is a big day for all of you that you have been anticipating for a long time. The Body and Blood of Christ you are going to receive for the first time today is a very important part of our faith.  Each weekend when you go to Mass, you will receive Jesus into your life in a special way.  Receiving the Eucharist will be an important part of your life from this day going forward. And not only is it something we receive, it should also be something that is the main influence as to how we live out our lives. What we say and what we do in our lives should be influenced by the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ we receive in our lives in a special way. As we celebrate the risen Christ this morning during the Easter season, he is with us in a special way as our children receive first communion.   

Bulletin Reflection - 14 May 2023 - 6th Sunday of Easter

       We are continuing our journey through the Easter season this week.  In two weeks, the Easter season will come to an end with our celebration of Pentecost.  As we celebrated our graduates and first communion students at Holy Savior last weekend, and as we celebrate our mothers and grandmothers on Mother’s Day this weekend, we know that the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer vacation season is around the corner.  This weekend, in our prison ministry, we are welcoming Bishop Kopacz to celebrate Mass with us, his first time ever at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl.  You can imagine that the inmates and I are very excited.  

      Our readings today at Mass get us ready for Pentecost in two weeks as these readings speak about the Holy Spirit. The people of Samaria, new converts to the Way of Jesus, receive the Holy Spirit as hands are laid upon them by Peter and John. One of the inmates last week was asking me about the Holy Spirit, saying that the concept of the Holy Spirit was a bit difficult for him to understand. He said that as a boy, the Holy Spirit was referred to as the Holy Ghost. Perhaps the change in terminology in referring to the Holy Spirit helps us understand the Spirit of God in a clearer way.  

     May the presence of the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit be with us as we continue our journey during the Easter season.  Blessings to all of you this week.  Father Lincoln. 

14 May 2023 - Sixth Sunday of Easter - Prayers of the faithful

Introduction: Jesus promises his disciples in today’s Gospel that he will not leave them orphans, emphasizing the importance of the care that a parent gives.  On Mother’s Day, we honor our mothers and all who have been like mothers to us.  As we recognize the ways that God cares for us, we continue to celebrate the presence of the risen Christ in this joyful season of Easter. 

Lord Jesus - you open the way to eternal life. 

Christ Jesus - you release us from the power of sin and death. 

Lord Jesus - you sent us the Holy Spirit to be our advocate and guide. 

Priest: We are blessed with the Holy Spirit, as he is our advocate who is with us always.  Now, let us entrust our needs to God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:

1. For the Church, that we may be receptive to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the world, we pray to the Lord.  

2. That governmental leaders around the world may work together cooperatively for justice and peace, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For all mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and expectant mothers, for all those women who have nurtured us and mothered us in their care, that they may know the blessing of God through their families and loved ones, we pray to the Lord. 

4. That human life may be treasured at every stage, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death, and every point in between, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For our parish community, that through the work we do and through the message we offer, we may bring great joy to those we meet, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For healing for the sick and the shut-in.  For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Loving God, your son testified that he is in you and that you are in him.  Help us to see your son in others more clearly.  We make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

Catholic Blessing for high school graduates - Holy Savior Parish - Clinton, Mississippi - 6 May 2023

Before you were formed as a human being, God knew you. While in your Mother's womb, God named you. At your birth, God's breath filled you with life.

Today we celebrate what you have become at this moment in time as we mark your high school graduation. And so we pray:

God of our beginnings, we thank you for the gifts of our graduates; their excitement, their wonder, their intellect, their faith, and their curiosity. 

Their contributions have blessed us and challenged us. We have become a richer and more diverse community because of them.

As they step forward into the world that awaits them, comfort their fears with the full knowledge of your divine presence. Strengthen their resolve to walk in the footsteps of Jesus as modern-day disciples in a world that needs their spirit.

Guide their feet as they move through life, protecting them from the pitfalls of darkness while they help to lead future generations into the warmth and promise of your light.

May you always remember the love and support of your church family here at Holy Savior.  We ask this blessing upon each of you, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Prayers of the faithful - Friday of the fifth week of Easter - 12 May 2023

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us the love of the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith.  

With humble hearts, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For all the faithful of the Diocese of Jackson: that God will strengthen our spirits, help us form supportive relationships, and guide us in our ministries and outreach to the poor and marginalized. 

2. For all married couples: that husbands and wives may appreciate the gift that they are to one another and help strengthen their partnership of life that they have formed together.   

3. For peace in communities experiencing terrorism, violence, conflict, or war.  They we may work to mend brokenness and practice justice.  

4. For all who are unemployed or looking for a new job, that the Lord will help them find their vocation and a work situation where they will be able to prosper and contribute to society.  

5. For all of our students, that they may feel God’s presence with them during the upcoming months of summer vacation. 

6. For our first responders, for the men and women in the military, and for our veterans.  May they feel the love and support of those whom they serve.  

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. 

We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  

Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the fifth week of Easter - 11 May 2023

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us the love of the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to a life of discipleship.  

With humble hearts, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father on this fifth week of the Easter season : 

1. For all the parishes of the Diocese of Jackson: that God will strengthen the spirits of our parishioners, help them form supportive relationships, and guide them in their ministries and services. 

2. For all couples preparing for marriage: that they may appreciate the gift that they are to one another and form a partnership of life for the good of each other. 

3. For peace: that God will turn minds and hearts from violence, open new ways for dialogue about wounds and grievances, and help all who are burdened with anger to find life and hope.  

4. For all who have experienced abuse: that God will heal them, give them new courage, and renew their vision for a future filled with God’s promises. 

5. For all of our students: that they may feel God’s presence with them during the upcoming months of summer vacation. 

6. For healing for the sick and shut-in, and may the Lord welcome into eternal life the faithful departed. 

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts. 

We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  

14 May 2023 - 6th Sunday of the Easter Season - Acts 8:5-8, 14-17, John 14:15-21

     Unfortunately, we Catholics can have some misconceptions about our faith. There are some Catholics who see Easter as signifying Easter Sunday, when in fact, Easter is an entire season. Today, we celebrate the 6th Sunday in Easter. Our Easter season concludes in two weeks, with the celebration of the Ascension of our Lord next Sunday, and then Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit the Sunday after that. In last Sunday’s Gospel, we heard Philip struggling with his faith and his belief in God, as he asked Jesus to lead him to the Father, that this would be enough for him. This week, in the Acts of the Apostles, we hear from Philip again, about his ministry to the people of Samaria. But, who exactly are the Samaritans? They were the people who lived in what had been the northern kingdom of Israel after it had been overtaken by the Assyrians in the 8th century before Christ. The Jews who had lived there had inter-married with the pagans who came into that land. Although they worshiped Yahweh along with other Jews, their religion was not considered mainstream by the others Jews, and they were considered to be unclean. After the stoning of Stephen and the beginning of the persecution of the disciples of Christ, these disciples dispersed to different parts of the Ancient World as missionaries.  Philip went to Samaria, where in the name of Jesus, he cured many of the sick and those possessed by unclean spirits, bringing them into the Way of Jesus. The apostles in Jerusalem rejoiced when they heard this good news, sending Peter and John to Samaria, where they called down the Holy Spirit amongst the Samaritans.  

     Today’s readings focus on the Holy Spirit, preparing us for the celebration of Pentecost in two weeks. But, in our understanding of the Trinity, sometimes we can understand the persons of the Father and the Son, but the Holy Spirit may seem more ethereal and nebulous. The word spirit comes from the Jewish word “ruach,” meaning “wind” or “breath” or an invisible moving force.  The word “ruach” appears more than 400 times in the Old Testament. In psalm 51, the psalmist pleads, “A clean heart create for me, O God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your holy spirit.” The Jewish tradition taught that when the Messiah came, God’s very own life, God’s very breath and spirit, would pour out upon all the faithful. 

      At the Last Supper, Jesus promised his disciples the Holy Spirit, his spirit with us after he departs this earth. Jesus promises us that we will not be alone, that we will not be orphans. We will have his risen presence with us: in ourselves, in our brothers and sisters in Christ, in the Church, in God’s holy word, in the Sacraments of the Church, in our Christian community, and in prayer. And in all these things, God is present through the enlightening presence of the Holy Spirit, in the teaching and action and guidance of God’s Spirit. The indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit nourishes us each time we receive the Sacraments, each time we pray, each time we worship together, each time we do outreach in God’s holy name, and each time we read God’s word.  

      A story is told about a little boy flying a kite on an extremely windy day.  The kite kept going higher and higher. The kite went so high that the little boy could not see it any longer. A man saw the little boy holding onto the piece of string. When the boy explained that he was flying a kite, the man asked him: “How do you know you still have a kite up there?” The boy replied, “Because I  can feel it. I know that it is there.”  Although the Holy Spirit is something that we cannot tangibly see, although it works in very mysterious ways most of the time, we can still feel the presence of the Holy Spirit with us, the Spirit of God leading us and guiding us. In faith, we are all called open our minds and our hearts to hear the Holy Spirit and to obey the Spirit’s promptings in our lives.