3 September 2023 - prayers of the faithful - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - CMCF prison ministry

Introduction: As we commemorate Labor Day this Monday, we honor all whose labor enhances our lives and the lives of others, recognizing the holiness in the work we do. We pray for you men here at CMCF who work in different jobs. We pray for the men of our Catholic community who work for our farmer’s market. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that they must deny themselves and take up their crosses. In all the crosses we bear in life, including the crosses we bear in our work, let us strive to make our work more closely united with our discipleship in Christ. 

Lord Jesus - you summon us to take up our crosses and to follow you - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - your cross is a sign your love for us - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you come in glory to bring salvation to all - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: Let us turn to God today with our needs and the needs of the world, to accept God’s will in response to our prayers.  

1. For God’s Church, that we Christians may have the fortitude to proclaim our faith in the face of struggle and opposition, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For all Christians whose lives are in danger because of their commitment to Gospel, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For our governmental leaders, that God may guide them with wisdom and courage as they work for justice and solidarity. We pray to the Lord. 

4. As we celebrate Labor Day this Monday, we pray for all who labor to provide for themselves and their families. We pray for all of us who do work here at CMCF.   We pray that we may contribute to the well-being of others through our work. We pray that all be treated with dignity and respect through their work. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For all who have difficulty caring their crosses in life, that they mind find compassion and assistance from their brothers, from their family, and from God, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit. 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: God of justice and mercy, we pray that we may bear witness to your presence that you have made manifest throughout human history. May we continue to seek your justice and mercy in response to the prayers we make through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

St Fiacre - feast day - 1 September 2023

     It is interesting how I first discovered the saint we celebrate today.  Several years ago, I was visiting some friends in Indianapolis. We were admiring a friend’s beautiful garden in which there was a large statue of a saint wearing a cassock with a hoe in his hand. I asked that friend if that was St Francis of Assisi, but that she stated it was St Fiacre, the patron saint of gardeners. A couple days later we were in the garden of another friend, when lo and behold, I encountered another statue of St Fiacre. St Fiacre was an Irish monk from the 7th century who traveled to continental Europe in order to be a missionary. He settled among the Franks near the town of Meaux, not far from Paris, where he told the local bishop that he sought silence and solitude. Fiacre built a monastery where he could live and where he tended a garden to sustain himself. He became adept at using herbs to heal people, which drew many of the faithful to come to his monastery. He was known for his charity to the poor. An interesting point about St Fiacre: he became the patron saint of Parisian taxicab drivers as well.  We might wonder how this came to be, as there does not seem to be a logical connection between gardeners and taxicab drivers. It began at the Hotel de Saint Fiacre in Paris, which rented carriages back in the 17th century. People began referring to these carriages as “Fiacre cabs”, and then simply “fiacres”. Thus, the drivers of these carriages took on St. Fiacre as their patron and protector. In the medieval period, people prayed to St Fiacre for help and healing many centuries after his death. Anne of Austria attributed the recovery of king Louis XIII from a terrible illness to the intercession of St Fiacre, to whom she prayed. In thanksgiving, she made a pilgrimage on foot to his shrine in 1641. I know we have a lot of parishioners who are very devoted to their gardens.  Let us unite our prayers with the prayers of the wonderful saint Fiacre today.  Have a blessed end to your week - I hope to see all of you at Mass this weekend.  Father Lincoln.   

Pope Francis - prayer intention for September 2023

For people living on the margins - We pray for those persons living on the margins of society, in inhumane life conditions; may they not be overlooked by institutions and never considered of lesser importance.

Pope Francis' prayer intention for August 2023

 Many youth throughout the world attended World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal this month.  We pray for all the youth who attended World Youth Day in Lisbon this month, that this experience will help our young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives.

6 September 2023 - Wednesday of the 22nd week of Ordinary Time - Colossians 1:1-8

     Today, we hear from the opening of Paul’s letter to the Colossians.  Perhaps this letter is not as familiar to us as some of Paul’s other letters, such as Romans, Corinthians, and Thessalonians. We will hear six days of readings from the Letter to the Colossians at daily mass. 

       It is speculated that Paul wrote this letter to the faith community in Colossae in 60 or 61 AD during his time of imprisonment in Rome, even though he had never visited that city. It appears that one of Paul’s converts from Ephesus was in leadership in that community of believers. Paul was concerned that the Colossians were questioning Christ’s divinity and thus moving toward heresy. Paul sought to develop a personal connection with them through this letter, with the desire to eventually teach and serve there, to lead them away from heresy and false teachings. 

       The overall tone in the Letter to the Colossians not pessimistic, but hopeful. This hope is rooted in the message of Christ’s Good News. Even though Alexander Pope, an 18th century English poet, wrote that “hope springs eternal in the human heart”, in many ways, that is not the reality that exists in the world today. There is a lot of existential angst and a turn to materialism, alcohol and recreational drugs in order to numb the pain or to face life where we human beings do not feel hope. Paul knew that even with riches and power there could be an emptiness inside, a life without hope. Paul knew that the Colossians were once hopeless, but they found hope in their faith. He wanted to remind them of that in his letter.   

     Just as Paul mentions faith, hope, and love very famously in the 13th chapter of First Corinthians, he mentions those three attributes in the reading we hear today as well. In our struggles and despair, we are called to cling to our hope to help us. Just as in our Church’s plan of new evangelization, we have to be evangelized ourselves in order to evangelize others, we have to feel hope in our faith in order to be able to bring that hope to others. Let us truly feel that hope. 

Prayers of the faithful - 5 September 2023 - Mother Teresa of Calcutta - Tuesday of the 22nd week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus, you were a servant to the poor and the oppressed: Christ, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you bring us the Father's love: Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus, you call us to justice: Lord, heave mercy.

Prayers of the faithful:

We present our prayers to our heavenly Father of love and mercy: 

1. That the leaders of the Church may preach with faith and courage, spreading the Gospel message throughout the world.

2. That our governmental leaders will gain wisdom from God in the challenges they face as they lead their people.  

3. That Christian missionaries may be blessed and protected.

4. That those who are recovering from the recent storms, hurricanes, tornados and wildfires in different parts of the United States may receive the assistance that they need.  We pray for aid workers and all who are helping in the recovery process.  

5. That we may continue to care for our neighbors, both in good days and bad.  We pray for those who are struggling with depression, mental illness, and addictions.  

6. That like mother Teresa, we may reach out to the poor and marginalized in acts of love and mercy. 

7. That our community may be strengthened and bring comfort, healing and life to all our parishioners.

8. For the sick & shut-in.  For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.

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

Heavenly Father, as we are gathered by the word of life and as we are supported by the power of the sacraments, we ask our prayers through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, as he is our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.

Prayers of the faithful - 1 September 2023 - Friday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - You call us to be missionary in spirit. 

Christ Jesus - You bring us hope. 

Lord Jesus - You bring us your Good News. 

With hope and faith, let us bring our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Francis: that God will help him lead the Church to greater service, love and unity. 

2.  We pray that all Christians may cooperate and collaborate with together to proclaim the Gospel and to work for peace and justice.  

3. For all who are called to bear prophetic witness, that their witness to the truth may touch hearts and be an opportunity for deeper conversion for all God’s people. 

4. For our elected officials: that the Holy Spirit will guide them in addressing issues of violence, injustice, and poverty, and to work more diligently for those who are oppressed or forgotten by society. 

5. For healing of families and communities: that those touched by violence, anger, division, or addictions may heal and reconcile and be brought to wholeness. 

6. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our heart:

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

prayers of the faithful - 31 August 2023 - Thursday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith.

Christ Jesus - you call us to trust.

Lord Jesus - you call us to love.

Priest: The Lord is at our side to support us and to guide us. Let us present our needs to God with confidence.

1. For all Christians, that they may be found ready when the Savior comes in glory.

2. For those who share the priesthood of Jesus, that they may be faithful ministers of God’s healing and forgiveness.

3. For those who live in fear or anxiety, that God’s consoling word may be their support.

4. For the bereaved, whether their loss was recent or many years ago, that they may find healing and wholeness in their lives.

5. For those who suffer, in body, mind or spirit, that God’s powerful presence may help them to stand firm and bring healing into their lives.

6. For the faithful departed, that they may awake to everlasting life. We pray especially for the souls in purgatory.

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

Priest: O Lord, you are our portion and our cup, you support us all our days: hear the prayers we make for all your Church, though Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time - 30 August 2023

Lord Jesus - You are the beloved son of the Father, Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - You endured the passion of the cross, Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - You are seated at the right hand of the Father, Lord have mercy. 

Priest: In our weaknesses and brokenness, we come before God as we trust that our prayers will be heard. 

1. For the prophets of our modern world, that they may persevere as they bring God's message to the world, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For nations and communities who are divided by war, violence, or conflicts, that they may work hard toward healing and peace, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For those we have been affected by natural disasters such as fires, floods, drought, heatwave, tornados, and storms, that they find strength and encouragement in the midst of their losses and their sufferings, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For all who gather around the Eucharistic table of the Lord, that they may find hope and deeper faith that they may share with others, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For the sick and the shut-in, that they may feel God’s healing presence, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the prayers we hold in our hearts, both spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord. 

Priest:  Heavenly Father, you are the source of power and might.  We ask that you hear our heartfelt prayers that we make in the name of your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.   

Prayers of the faithful - Passion of John the Baptist - Tuesday of 21st week in Ordinary Time - 29 August 2023

Lord Jesus - you are our hope.

Christ Jesus - you are our strength.

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and our redeemer.

As we commemorate St John the Baptist in a special way today, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father.

1. We pray for a deeper commitment to the stewardship of our planet. May we find ways to secure the earth and her resources for our children and future generations.

2. For all who are in special need. For those who suffer from anxiety or worry. For those who struggle through illness, death or grief.  For healing for us in body, mind, and spirit. 

3. For the grace of true conversion, that we in the Church may address the needs of our world, not only with words, but with determination and action.

4. May we turn away from self-righteous attitudes. We pray that the Lord may free us from the need to control, and from pride and selfishness. May we learn to serve others with love, patience and humility.

5. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  For the souls of those in a process of purification in purgatory.  For their entry into eternal life.  

6. As we commemorate John the Baptist today, we pray for all who are called to be God's prophets and all who are persecuted for their faith. 

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

Heavenly Father, we present our prayers this today through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.   

5 September 2023 - Tuesday of 22nd week of Ordinary Time - St Teresa of Calcutta - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11

      In our reading from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he writes about light and darkness. Paul tells the community members that they are not children of darkness, but instead, they are children of light. They are not to be of the night or of the darkness; thus, they are to stay alert or sober for the day of the Lord that will come.        

       Sometimes we can grow accustomed to the darkness we encounter on our journey through life.  Sometimes when we don’t see any light in our lives, we grow so accustomed to the darkness, then we are able to see better in the darkness than we can in the light.  Even though we are called to be children of light as disciples of Christ, we might not think the light will ever come back again. Maybe, if the light comes back, it blinds us so much that we cannot see again. I know for me, there have been periods in my life that the darkness had so enveloped me that I once had to consciously and physically remove myself from those experiences of darkness to return to light. No matter what, we are called to cling to the hope of our faith in the midst of the darkness.  

      On a day when our reading addresses the darkness we may encounter on our journey, the saint of the day is Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  So many around the world admired Mother Teresa for her love and mercy for the poor. I read an article that was entitled “Mother Teresa: A Saint who Conquered the Darkness.” After her death, Mother Teresa’s letters revealed that, except for one short period, she had been afflicted with a deep sense of God’s absence, a period that lasted almost 50 years. Those who admired Mother Teresa for her work with the poor and as a woman of great faith were confused at this description of her spiritual darkness.  What did Teresa’s long stay in the spiritual wilderness mean? Was she a victim of depression? Had she lost faith in God? What gave her the inner strength to carry on even when she anguished over feelings of God abandoning her? In studying what happened to Mother Teresa, it appears not to be depression or a loss of faith, but a dark night that was also a period of great spiritual development for her. Other saints such as John of the Cross have recounted their own experiences of darkness in their relationships with God.  In her darkness, she shared in Christ’s passion and suffering.  May the prayers and intercessions of Mother Teresa help us to see the light in the midst of the darkness.  

27 August 2023 - Mission appeal for Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church - West Warwick, Rhode Island - 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time - Matthew 16:13-20

     Who do people say that I am?  Who do YOU say that I am?  What do you believe in your life of faith?  This gets to the heart of the questions that Jesus asks his followers today. 

      When we see Jesus in today’s Gospel, he’s in the midst of his ministry here on earth. Jesus and his disciples are going all over the countryside proclaiming the kingdom of God.  In our Gospel readings in recent weeks, we’ve seen Jesus speak to great crowds, performing the miracle of multiplying the loaves and the fish.  People have come to him for healing and change in their lives.  At this point, Jesus is wondering what the people have learned, how they perceive him.  So he asks the disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

     As we hear this wonderful Gospel about Christ’s identity and our identity as his disciples, I come to you as your brother in our Catholic faith. My name is Father Lincoln Dall from the missionary Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi. I come to you to share stories of faith from our missionary Diocese. We might think of the missions as existing in faraway lands, but we also have mission territory right here in our country. The Diocese of Jackson is located in the deep South between the states of Louisiana and Alabama. While it has been exceptionally hot this summer in a lot of the country, it is very hot and humid a lot of the year in Mississippi. We are the largest Diocese in the eastern part of the United State in territory, but we also have the smallest percentage of Catholics of any Diocese in our country, at about 2.3%. Our Diocese has 65 counties in the state of Mississippi. Some counties have only one parish, and some counties have no parish at all. 

     I have been a priest for 15 year in the Diocese of Jackson. My first assignment as pastor was in the Mississippi Delta, the region of rich farmland that hugs the Mississippi River where a lot of cotton is grown. I was pastor of three parishes and chaplain of two prisons located in Yazoo and Humphreys counties. My territory covered about 1,400 squares miles, but had only a total of 37,000 inhabitants. To put this in perspective, the whole state of Rhode Island and the whole Diocese of Providence is of a similar size. From where I lived in Yazoo City to Belzoni, it was about 25 miles, between which were no towns and not even a gas station, but only farmland, swamps, and bayous. While serving the Catholics of Humphreys county as their pastor, that county had the highest child poverty rate and lowest median family income of any county in the US. 

      I currently serve as pastor in two parishes located in the towns of Raymond and Clinton, just outside the City of Jackson. I am have also been the vicar general of the Diocese for the last four years. In addition, I am very active in prison ministry in the Diocese, serving as chaplain in two prisons. 

      You may have been expecting me to have a strong Southern drawl. However, from my accent, you can tell that I am not originally from Mississippi. I was born in Chicago and grew up as a teenager in Santa Ana in southern California. I started my career as an accountant, but felt God calling me to missionary work. I became a lay missionary, serving in Canada for three years, working in a soup kitchen and with  the indigenous people there, and also for three years and in Ecuador, working in a mission site in a large rain forest jungle. 

      I spoke about serving as pastor in Yazoo City. There is someone from Yazoo City, Mississippi who one day could become a saint. Her name is Sister Thea Bowman. Born in Yazoo City in 1937 to an African American family, her father was a doctor and her mother an educator. Even though they were not Catholic, her parents felt that their daughter would receive the best education possible at the Catholic school run by nuns. Thea decided to become Catholic as a girl and at the age of 15, decided to become a nun herself. She joined the Franciscan sisters of perpetual adoration, the order of sisters that taught at her school. She taught English on the elementary school and college level. She became a great evangelizer in the Catholic faith, reaching out to people of different races and cultures. She also was an accomplished singer and musician, being one of the editors of the African American Catholic hymnal. She came
back to our Diocese in the 1980s, serving in the office of intercultural ministry. She died in 1990 at the age of 52. I mention Sister Thea Bowman because her joyful spirit and her creative approach to ministry represents the missionary spirit of our Diocese. 

       We indeed have a diverse Catholic population in the Diocese of Jackson, with many Asian and Hispanic Catholics and a good number of historically African American churches. 

      We will be taking up a collection for the Diocese of Jackson today at mass.  We appreciate any help you can give us. These mission funds we collect go to help our Catholic schools and the small parishes in the rural areas of our Diocese. I mentioned my prison ministry; some of these funds have helped expand our prison ministry and to purchase Bibles, catechisms, and rosaries for them. Some weeks we visit more than 200 prisoners. I have forming the prisoners to see themselves as Eucharistic ministers and to evangelize the other inmates in the prison; this project has seen great success. Another example of the use of our funds is the purchase of a copy machine for a small African American parish in the Mississippi Delta in the town of Indianola when the current copy machine stopped working. 

     I am so glad I was able to visit your parish this weekend. As Catholics, it is important for us to have unity and solidarity, to share in the Body and Blood of Christ around the altar, and to share our experiences and stories with each other. Thank you for any help you can give us. Be assured I will pray for all of you and for your parish community. I ask for your prayers for our missionary Diocese as well. 

3 September 2023 – 22nd Sunday of ordinary time – Psalm 63:2-9; Jeremiah 20:7-9

      “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord….You are my God, whom I seek…My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me.” 

    I think of the theme of our psalm today, of a soul that is thirsting for the Lord, of seeking God in all facets of our life, of our souls clinging to the Lord, of the Lord’s hand upholding us. What Christian would not want such a relationship with the Lord? We all want to find joy in our relationship with God, a joy that surpasses everything else. We want to feel God’s love and mercy in deep recesses of our hearts. Yet, there are times in life when these sentiments feel distant, when we wonder where God is. When we struggle, when we don’t have the answers to our questions, when we are searching and seem to find nothing, then we have to trust in our faith and in the call we receive from God.

         One of my favorite saints is Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit priest from France who was one of the first Catholic missionaries to the native people of Canada in the 17th century. It is difficult to imagine the hardship, isolation, and struggle that many missionaries experience on their journey. Brebeuf was content and even grateful to endure any hardship or sacrifice, if only God would allow him to bring the Gospel to others, to be an instrument of God’s grace in their lives. For 25 years, Jean de Brebeuf lived with the Huron people of Canada. He embraced their customs and mastered their language, even writing a catechism for them in their language. Even though most of his early missionary efforts brought few converts to the faith, he persevered and even kept a sense of humor. He wrote this in a letter inviting other Jesuits to his mission: “When you reach the Hurons, you will find us with hearts full of love. We shall receive you in a hut, (a hut) so mean that I have scarcely found in France one wretched enough to compare it with. Fatigued as you will be, we shall be able to give you nothing but a poor mat for a bed. Besides, …the fleas will keep you awake most of the night.” Jean de Brebeuf found joy in his missionary work and in his calling, even with his many challenges. He eventually found success in converting the Hurons to Christianity. His life ended when he was tortured to death after being captured by the Huron’s enemy tribe. When I was a missionary, and now as a priest, Jean de Brebeuf’s faith and courage inspire me in my ministry and on my journey. 

      The call of faith cried out to Jean de Brebeuf; it cried out to the prophet Jeremiah as well. Jeremiah was called to be God’s prophet at a time when Israel strayed from its covenant with God by getting into ill-advised alliances with other nations. This ended with the destruction of Temple in Jerusalem and with the exile of many of its citizens to Babylon. From the beginning, Jeremiah did not want to be a prophet. He finally agreed to go where God called him, but then saw the people and their leaders turn against him when he delivered God’s harsh prophecies in this turbulent era. Jeremiah’s messages were hard for the people to hear because he spoke the truth. Jeremiah cries out to God in the midst of his pain and anger: You tricked me, Lord, you seduced me!  You lured me into a situation where I’m despised by everyone, even my family and friends! Jeremiah blamed God for his misery, even wishing that he had not been born. Yet, no matter who we are, we’re going to have our ups and downs, our joys and struggles. Even though Jeremiah lashed out at God, later on, just few verses after today’s reading ends, he is able to say to God: You know, God, you are at my side like a mighty hero. With you beside me, my opponents will stumble and be vanquished; they will be confounded with their failure. Jeremiah is able to say: Lord, I sing praises to you, for you have delivered the soul of one in need from the clutches of the evil doers. 

      Our human spirit is resilient if we put our trust in the Lord, if we let the Lord lead us in our words and our actions. On the internet, I saw a photo that was taken by a Sister of St Joseph when she was visiting South Africa in 1987. It was in the middle of the Apartheid era; Nelson Mandela was still in prison; the South African government had declared a state of emergency and military troops patrolled the street. The photo showed large black printing scrawled on a cement wall. It said: HANG MANDELA. But in another handwriting, you could see another word inserted between the two.  It now read – HANG ON, MANDELA.  The original message of hatred and intolerance was turned into a message of love and encouragement; the original message of anger and violence was completely subverted. In the context of our faith, we can turn a curse into a blessing, we can turn an insult into an act of encouragement. Like the prophet Jeremiah, let us hear God calling out to us today. Let us hear God encouraging us, comforting us,  and calling us to be his servant. 

Bulletin Reflection - 27 August 2023 - 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

After being out in Los Angeles for the past three weekends for mission appeals, I headed out to New England for a mission appeal in Rhode Island this weekend. This summer at our parishes in Clinton and Raymond, I have been addressing the topics of the eucharistic renewal, our outreach to our brothers and sisters in need through works of mercy, and the evangelization of our parish community and those beyond our community boundaries. As we hear Jesus ask Peter who he says that Jesus is, we all need to proclaim who Jesus on our own journey of faith, most importantly in the way we live out our faith each day, not just in our words. It is easy for us to say something in words, but more challenging for us to live out the meaning of those words each day. May the values of our faith be integral to the way we live each day. Have a blessings week everyone - Father Lincoln.

27 August 2023 - prayers of the faithful - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: Jesus asks his disciples today in the Gospel: “Who do you say that I am?” As Jesus’ disciples, he asks us this same question. As Peter calls Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, may we also recognize Jesus’ presence in our lives, particularly as we gather together in Jesus’ name at Mass today and as we receive him in the Eucharist. Let us affirm the answer that Peter professes in the Gospel today.

Lord Jesus - you are the Christ, the son of the living God - Lord have mercy. Christ Jesus - you are the Prince of Peace - Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus - you are the everlasting sign of reconciliation - Lord have mercy.

Priest: Confident that the forces of darkness will not prevail against us, we now bring our needs before our wise and generous God:

1. For our Holy Father Pope Francis, our Bishops, and our Church leaders, that they may draw on their wisdom and empathy as they lead the people of God, we pray to the Lord.

2. For governmental authorities and elected officials, that they may govern their people with peace and justice, we pray to the Lord.

3. For parents, that they may exercise their authority over their children with love and mercy, we pray to the Lord.

4. For students, teachers, and school staff, that they all may experience the joy of learning and may the Lord bless them in all their school activities, we pray to the Lord.

5. For all children, youth, and adults in our parish community, that we may hear the Lord calling us to works of mercy and to evangelization, we pray to the Lord.

6. For healing for the sick and the shut-in, for those who are struggling with addictions, depression, and mental illness, we pray to the Lord.

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

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

Priest: God of wisdom and love, instill in us empathy and compassion, that we may treat each other with kindness and mercy. We present these prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

3 September 2023 - Bulletin Reflection - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

I remember that during my childhood and youth, Memorial Day weekend meant the beginning of summer and Labor Day meant the end of summer and the beginning of school. However, with the new schedule of the Clinton public school system and with school now starting again during the summer months, our ideas of the summer and the school year may have changed somewhat. With Labor Day commemorated this Monday, we give thanks for our jobs that help us provide for our families and help us contribute to society. We pray that workers are treated with dignity and respect, while we also pray that workers treat their employers and their work with dignity and respect. Indeed, in our work, we should try to find a way to live out the holiness to which God calls us. The Gospel this weekend calls us to deny our own desires and caprices and to carry our crosses with love and courage. May our work lives, our personal lives, and our lives of faith be united in the way we live out the Gospel each day. Blessings to all of you. It is certainly good being back with all of you this weekend after being away on the mission appeals. Father Lincoln.

3 September 2023 - prayers of the faithful - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: As we commemorate Labor Day on Monday, we honor all whose labor enhances our lives and the lives of others, recognizing the holiness in the work we do. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that they must deny themselves and take up their crosses. In all the crosses we bear in life, including the crosses we bear in our work, let us strive to make our work more closely united with our discipleship in Christ.

Lord Jesus - you summon us to take up our crosses and to follow you - Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus - your cross is a sign of your love for us - Christ have mercy. Lord Jesus - you come in glory to bring salvation to all - Lord have mercy.

Priest: Let us turn to God today with our needs and the needs of the world, to accept God’s will in response to our prayers.

1. For God’s holy Church, that we may have the fortitude to proclaim our faith in the face of struggle and opposition, we pray to the Lord.

2. For all Christians whose lives are in danger because of their commitment to Gospel values, we pray to the Lord.

3. For our governmental leaders, that God may guide them with wisdom and courage as they work for justice and solidarity. We pray to the Lord.

4. As we celebrate Labor Day this Monday, we pray for all who labor to provide for themselves and their families. We pray that we may contribute to society and to the well-being of humanity through our work. We pray that all be treated with dignity and respect in their work. We pray to the Lord.

5. For all who have difficulty caring their crosses in life, that they mind find compassion and assistance from their brothers and sisters and from God, we pray to the Lord.

6. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit. 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: God of justice and mercy, we pray that we may bear witness to your presence that you have made manifest throughout human history. May we continue to seek your justice and mercy in response to the prayers we make through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

1 Sept 2023 - Friday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

     In today’s reading, we continue to hear excerpts from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.  Today’s message from Paul calls us to holiness.  Paul encourages us to remain true to our Christian values and to live out the values of our faith in the reality of our lives.  I remember Brother Francisco from when I served at the mission site in the jungles of Ecuador as a missionary with the Comboni Missionaries.  I remember him telling the youth group there in our mission site that their lives at that present moment were the fruit of how they lived in the past, that they were called out of their faith to make decisions that would bring forth the fruits of their faith in the future.  In our modern world, many people do what feels good, making choices based upon short-term pleasures. Instead of being drawn into the ways of the world, we are to heed Paul’s call to holiness.  We are not called to make decisions because they are the politically correct thing to do, or because we just go with the flow with what everyone else is doing in our society.  The Thessalonians that Paul addressed in today’s reading were not coming out of a strong Jewish background; rather, they had been idol worshippers who had previously followed other practices that were contrary to the values that Jesus taught.  The Thessalonians fought against so much of what was going on in the secular world around them just as we also do today.  Let us remember that holiness rests in those little everyday ordinary moments that make up our day on our journey. Our holiness will be cultivated and lived out in those everyday moments of life.

31 August 2023 - Thursday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time - 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13

    Today’s reading from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians talks about joy, thanksgiving, and relationship.  Paul states that he and Silas render thanksgiving to God for the joy they feel for them before God.  I am always struck by the joy that Paul expresses in his letters, a joy that is firmly rooted in his faith, not in the pleasures and accomplishments of the world.  Not only does the letter talk about the relationship that Paul and Silas have with the Thessalonians, but the relationship they all have with God. Relationship is so important on our journey of faith. Those of us in ministry need to always keep that in mind. We know from the body of this letter that it was not always a smooth journey for the Thessalonians, that they had left their worship of pagan idols for the Way of Jesus, that their relationship with the broader community that had not converted was difficult and tense because of their newly found faith. Yes, we are to take comfort, joy, and encouragement in the love we receive from God in the difficulties and struggles we have in life. In our own reality, let us take Paul’s message to heart today.  

30 August 2023 - Wednesday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time - Matthew 23:27-32

     I have a great love for the saints and love learning about the saints. This week we have some very interesting saints that we are celebrating.  Yesterday, we commemorated the Passion of John the Baptist, his martyrdom for the faith.  This week we also celebrate the separate feast days of the mother and son St Monica and St Augustine.  It is well-known that Augustine resisted entering the faith, but it was the prayers of his mother, St Monica, that always persisted in praying for his soul.  Augustine eventually became a very influential scholar and Bishop in his day, a theologian whose works are incredibly influential to this day. This week, we commemorate the day in which a very important Archbishop from Brazil departed this world: Dom Helder Camara, who passed away on August 27, 1999.  His work as a young priest in the poor neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro impressed on him the intrinsic connection between love and justice in the Gospel of our Lord.  He stated that charity was not enough; instead, as disciples of Christ, we need to work toward justice and toward changing our society.  As a military dictatorship came into power in Brazil just as he was named Archbishop of Recife in northern Brazil, he became a brave spokesperson for human rights and democracy. The Brazilian government forbade his name to be mentioned in the newspapers for years.  Years after his death, he is still an inspiration to many.  In one quote of his, he said:  “When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.”  Yes, we all have to work together as disciples of Christ.  He also said: “Watch how you live.  Your lives may be the only Gospel your brothers and sisters will read.”  

In 2015, Dom Helder Camara was declared a servant of God in the process of becoming a saint.  Just as Jesus proclaims in the Gospel today that the Pharisees and scribes have white washed tombs on the outside, putting on a good appearance, but old dead bones on the inside, we are called to radical action and away from hypocrisy in the way we live out our faith as disciples of Christ.  Yes, that is what the Gospel message is about.  

29 August 2023 - Tuesday of the 21st week of Ordinary Time - The Passion of John the Baptist - Mark 6:17-29

    Today’s memorial commemoration used to be referred to as the Martyrdom of John the Baptist, but the name has been changed to the Passion of John the Baptist, which is similar to the way we refer to the Passion Of Jesus.  We think about how passionate John the Baptist is in proclaiming the Kingdom of God and in paving the way for Jesus.  One of my professors in seminary, and many other Old Testament Scripture scholars, believe that John the Baptist was raised in the community of the Essenes, that mystical Jewish community that lived near the Dead Sea, the same community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls.  John’s lifestyle and message fits into the style of that community. John was the last in the line of the prophets who brought God’s message to the people of Israel and who were precursors for Jesus’ life and ministry.

         King Herod had a lot of respect for John the Baptist. He knew that John was a righteous man. But, Herod feared John the Baptist because he knew that John preached the truth.   Speaking the truth and remaining steadfast to his mission cost John the Baptist his life.  The prophets of our Christian faith today have the same courage and tenacity.  We hear Pope Francis being very bold and courageous in the way he is challenging the secular world today.

         May we all be able to emulate John the Baptist in the way we live out our faith.  May we boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives through our words and our actions, in truth and in love.  At some point, all of us will have to pay a cost for our faith.  May we be not afraid to do so. 

23 August 2017 – Wednesday of 20th week in Ordinary Time – Judges 9:6-15

     Our first reading today is from the book of Judges, a book from the Hebrew Scriptures that perhaps is not very familiar to us. The Book of Judges tells the story of the different Judges and Prophets who call Israel back to its covenant with the Lord.  In today’s reading, Abimelech, the son of the great judge Gideon, is made the ruler to succeed his father.  However, he does so treacherously. He killed his 69 half-brothers to eliminate all of his rivals, with his youngest half brother Jotham the only one surviving.  His reign is recorded as being unprincipled and ambitious, with him often battling his own subjects for power and control.

     When Jotham is told about his brother Abimelech being made ruler of Israel, he recounts a parable about some trees. All of the trees who bear great fruit and who produce much for society do not want to be made king, because that would compromise their productivity and their gifts.  However, the briar, which produces no fruit and has the leisure to accept this position, is the one who consents to being king, even though it cannot even provide shade or anything of worth for the other trees. 

     Israel wanted a king because their other neighbors had one, not being content with God alone. We all have heroes and people we admire in life, and hopefully we all have heroes and people we admire for their faith. Do we admire them for the right reasons, or is this just folly?  May we choose our leaders and our heroes wisely, guided by the truth and the values of our faith.  

August 22, 2017 - Tuesday of the 20th week in Ordinary Time - The Queenship of Mary - Psalm 85

      Some years ago, Bishop Latino gave us priests a book for Christmas entitled Behold Your Mother: Priests Speak about Mary, edited by Stephen Rossetti. This book talks about the special relationship that we priests have with Mary. It really touched my heart to read these reflections by different priests about how they see Mary in their lives and in their priesthood. We have a lot of different days in the Church in which we honor Mary. I enjoy being able to honor Mary in a special way through our Church’s liturgical celebrations. Mary is the mother of Jesus, the King of Kings, so it is appropriate that we would celebrate the Queenship of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth one week after we celebrated her Assumption.  Pope Pius XII, who also established the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary in 1950, established the feast of the Queenship of Mary in 1954. Like most doctrines and dogma declared about Mary, the faithful for centuries had believed this before it was officially declared so by the Church. 

      Our psalm today declares: “The Lord speak of peace to his people.” We see Jesus as the Prince of Peace.  As well, one of the titles assigned to Mary is the Queen of Peace. In our Catholic faith, we see Mary bring us closer to the values of God’s kingdom, the values of peace, reconciliation, and justice. Mary indeed does all she can through her motherly love for us to guide us to the light of Christ and to help us grow ever closer to her Son.

     On Sunday August 20, we celebrated the memorial of St Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor of the Church. He lived in the 11th and 12th centuries and was one of the most influential figures in the Church in the Middle Ages. Bernard had a great devotion to Mary; his spiritual writings on Mary still have a profound resonance in our modern world.  I will close my homily with some of his thoughts: “Whoever you are that perceive yourself during this mortal existence to be rather drifting in treacherous waters, at the mercy of the winds and the waves, (rather) than walking on firm ground, turn not away your eyes from the splendor of this guiding star, unless thou wish to be submerged by the storm. Look at the star, call upon Mary. With her as guide, you shall not go astray, while invoking her, you shall never lose heart if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.” Let us unite our prayers with the prayers of Mary, the Queen of Peace.  

20 August 2023 - 20th Sunday - Prayers of the Faithful - CMCF

Introduction: In today’s first reading, God tells Isaiah that God’s house will be called a house of prayer for all people.  We are gathered at Mass today as men of faith in a house of prayer, so we welcome everyone who has come here today to join together to pray to God in praise, in petition, and in thanksgiving.  Let us lift up our voices in prayer to God.  

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you cured the sick and the afflicted - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you will come in the end times to gather the world - Lord have mercy. 

Leader: Jesus tells the woman of great faith in the Gospel today: “Let it be done for you as you wish.”  With great faith, let us offer our needs and the needs of our brothers and sisters to the Lord: 

1. For the Church, that we may reach out to those who have been slighted, alienated, or rejected, so that all may feel welcome in the Church, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For peace amongst the nations and in our community, that we embrace reconciliation and non-violence, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For visitors to our Catholic faith who are joining us for Mass and for the new members of the Catholic faith, that they may find welcome and acceptance with us, we pray to the Lord. 

4. That we may value human life at every stage and in every condition, we pray to the Lord.  

5. For healing for the sick amongst, for the members of our community who need health care, for all who are struggling with addictions, depression, or mental illness, for healing for all of us, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life.  For our deceased loved ones and family members, we pray to the Lord. 

7. That all of us may be missionary in spirit and help bring the Gospel message to all the men here in this facility, we pray to the Lord.  

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

Leader: Loving God, you offer your love and mercy to all your children.  As we grow in our faith, may we realize your universal call to love and mercy.  We make our prayers through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Bulletin reflection - 20 August 2023 - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I am in my last weekend of mission appeals in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I will be back in Mississippi for a few days this upcoming week before I head to New England for my last mission appeal of the summer. Going out to mission appeals each summer to different Dioceses throughout the country and telling the stories of our missionary Diocese of Jackson help us be in solidarity with the universal Catholic Church. Although I miss being with all of you here in Clinton and Raymond, I enjoy visiting different parishes throughout the country. The missionary spirit that I gained from all my missionary service in places like Canada and Ecuador continues to be very strong within me in the Diocese of Jackson. I am very excited about the different faith formation and evangelization activities we will have going on in our parishes this school year. Blessings to all of you as we continue our journey of faith during these weeks of Ordinary Time. Father Lincoln. 

20 August 2023 - 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Prayers of the Faithful

Introduction: In today’s first reading, God tells Isaiah that God’s house will be called a house of prayer for all people. We are gathered at Mass today in a house of prayer as we welcome everyone who has come here today to join together to pray to God in praise, petition, and thanksgiving. Let us lift up our voices in prayer to God.  

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you cured the sick and the afflicted - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you will come in the end times to gather the world - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: Jesus tells the woman of great faith in the Gospel today: “Let it be done for you as you wish.” With great faith, let us offer our needs and the needs of our brothers and sisters to the Lord: 

1. For the Church, that we may reach out to those who have been slighted, alienated, or rejected, so that all may feel welcome in the Church, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For peace amongst the nations and in our community, that we may embrace peace, reconciliation, and non-violence, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For visitors to the Catholic faith and the stranger in our midst, that they may find welcome and acceptance, we pray to the Lord. 

4. That we may value human life at every stage and in every condition, we pray to the Lord.  

5. For healing for the sick, for all who are struggling with addictions, depression, or mental illness, we pray to the Lord. 

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

7. That all of us may be missionary in spirit and help evangelize the Gospel message in the world, we pray to the Lord.  

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

Priest: Loving God, you offer your love and mercy to all your children.  As we grow in our faith, may we realize your universal call to love and mercy.  We make our prayers through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

20 August 2023 - Mission Appeal - St Anthony Parish in San Gabriel CA - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 15:21-28

        In the Gospels, we hear many stories of people coming to Jesus to bring healing in their lives. They have faith that Jesus can cure them and perform a miracle. In our Gospel today, the Canaanite woman asks for healing for her daughter, presenting us with an amazing story of faith. Even when Jesus does not seem open to healing her daughter, she persists in her faith, pleading and paying him homage. Jesus finally is able to recognize her great faith and heals her daughter. 

       As we hear this great story of faith today, I come to you as your brother in our Catholic faith.  My name is Father Lincoln Dall. I am a priest from the missionary Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi.  I come to you to share stories of faith from our missionary Diocese. We might think of missions bringing the faith to people in faraway lands, but we also have mission territory right here in the US. The Diocese of Jackson is located in the deep South, located between the states of Louisiana and Alabama.  While it has been hot here in the southern California this summer, hot and humid is the norm in Mississippi.  Very hot and humid. We are the largest Diocese in the eastern part of the United State East in territory, but we also have the smallest percentage of Catholics of any Diocese in our country, at about 2.3 per cent. Our Diocese, is comprised of 65 counties in the state of Mississippi. Some counties have only one parish, and some counties have no parish at all. 

      I have been a priest for 15 year in the Diocese of Jackson. My first assignment as pastor was in the Mississippi Delta, the region of rich farmland that hugs the Mississippi River where a lot of cotton is grown. I was pastor of three parishes and chaplain of two prisons located in Yazoo and Humphreys counties. My territory covered about 1,400 squares miles, but had only a total of 37,000 inhabitants. To put this in perspective, Orange County, which is its own Diocese, is less than 1,000 square miles. The two parishes in Yazoo City were about 25 miles from the parish in Belzoni, between which were no towns and not even a gas station, but only farmland, swamps, and bayous. While serving the Catholics of Humphreys county as their pastor, that county had the highest child poverty rate and lowest median family income of any county in the US. 

    I currently serve as pastor in two parishes located in the towns of Raymond and Clinton, just outside the City of Jackson. I am also the vicar general of the Diocese, an assignment I have had for four years. In addition, I am very active in prison ministry in the Diocese, serving as chaplain in two prisons. 

   You may have been expecting me to have a strong Southern drawl.  However, from my accent, you can tell that I am not originally from Mississippi. I was born in Chicago and grew up as a teenager in Santa Ana in Orange County, so I have a strong connection to Southern California. I started my career as an accountant, but felt God calling me to missionary work. I became a lay missionary, serving in Canada for three years, working in a soup kitchen and with the indigenous people there, and also for three years and in Ecuador, working in a mission site in a large rain forest jungle. 

      I spoke about serving as pastor in Yazoo City. There is someone from Yazoo City, Mississippi who one day could become a saint. Her name is Sister Thea Bowman. Born in Yazoo City in 1937 to an African American family, her father was a doctor and her mother an educator. Even though they were not Catholic, her parents felt that their daughter would receive the best education possible at the Catholic school run by nuns. Thea decided to become Catholic as a girl and at the age of 15, decided to become a nun herself. She joined the Franciscan sisters of perpetual adoration, the order of sisters that taught at her school. She taught English on the elementary school and college level. She became a great evangelizer in the Catholic faith, reaching out to people of different races and cultures. She also was an accomplished singer and musician, being one of the editors of the African American Catholic hymnal. She came back to our Diocese in the 1980s, serving in the office of intercultural ministry. She died in 1990 at the age of 52. I mention Sister Thea Bowman because her joyful spirit and creative approach to ministry represents the missionary spirit of our Diocese. We indeed have a diverse Catholic population in the Diocese of Jackson, with many Asian and Hispanic Catholics and a good number of historically African American churches. 

        We will be taking up a collection for the Diocese of Jackson today at mass. These mission funds we collect go to help our Catholic schools and the small parishes in the rural areas of our Diocese. I mentioned my prison ministry; some of these funds have helped expand our prison ministry and to purchase Bibles, catechisms, and rosaries for them. Some weeks we visit more than 200 prisoners. Another example of the use of our funds is the purchase of a copy machine for a small African American parish in the Mississippi Delta in the town of Indianola when the current copy machine stopped working. 

      I am so glad I was able to visit your parish this weekend. As Catholics, it is important for us to have unity and solidarity, to share in the Body and Blood of Christ around the altar, and to share our experiences and stories with each other. Thank you for any help you can give us. Be assured I will pray for all of you and for your parish community. I ask for your prayers for our missionary Diocese as well. 

6 April 2023 - mission appeal - St Finbar - Burbank - California - The Feast of the Transfiguration - Matthew 17:1-9

     Sometimes, we are stuck in our own perspective, not even realizing it.  Sometimes we see only what is in front of us, not the big picture.  We can reflect on our perspective on our journey of faith as we celebrate Jesus’ transfiguration today.  Jesus separated himself from the crowds as he journeyed up the mountaintop where he is changed and transformed.  If we ourselves are going to be transformed by God, we need to block out the other voices that call out to us in the world, voices that can drown out God’s voice.  It is God’s message that will transform us and renew us, that will help us get beyond our own perspective and to see things from the perspective of faith. 

     My name is Father Lincoln Dall. I come to you today as your brother in Christ, as a priest from the missionary Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi.  I come to you to share our stories and to share our perspective of what in means to be missionary in the United States.  We might think of missionary territory as just existing in faraway lands, but we have mission territory right here in the US. We are actually the largest Diocese in the United State East of the Mississippi River in land, but we also have the smallest percentage of Catholics of any Diocese in our country, at about 2.3 per cent.  Our Diocese, comprised on 65 counties in the state of Mississippi, has some counties with only one parish, and some counties without a parish at all. 

    I have been a priest for 15 year in the Diocese of Jackson.  My first assignment as pastor was in the Mississippi Delta, the region of rich farmland that hugs the Mississippi River.  I was pastor on three parishes and chaplain of two prisons located in Yazoo and Humphreys counties.  My territory covered about 1,400 squares miles, but had only a total of 37,000 inhabitants.  To put this in perspective, Orange County, which is its own diocese, is less than 1,000 square miles.  The parishes in Yazoo City were about 25 miles from the parish in Belzoni, between which were no towns and not even a gas station, but only farmland, swamps, and bayous.  While serving the Catholics of Humphreys county, that county had the highest child poverty rate and lowest median family income of any county in the US. 

     I currently serve as pastor in two parishes located in the towns of Raymond and Clinton.  I am also vicar general of the Diocese, a post I have had for four years.  I also am very active in prison ministry in the Diocese, serving as chaplain in two prisons.  

    From my accent, you can tell that I am not originally from Mississippi.  I am actually from Chicago originally and grew up as a teenager in Santa Ana in Orange County.  I started my career as an accountant, but felt God calling me to missionary work.  I became a lay missionary, serving in Canada for three years, working in a soup kitchen and with the indigenous people there, and also for three years and in Ecuador, working in a mission site in a large rain forest jungle.  

    I spoke about serving as pastor in Yazoo City.  There is someone from Yazoo City, Mississippi who one day could become a saint.  Her name is Sister Thea Bowman.  Born in Yazoo City in 1937 to an African American family, her father was a doctor and her mother an educator.  Even though they were not Catholic, her parents felt that their daughter would receive the best education possible at the Catholic school run by nuns. Thea decided to become Catholic as a girl and at the age of 15, decided to become a nun herself.  She joined the Franciscan sisters of perpetual adoration, the order of sisters that taught at her school.  She taught English on the elementary school and college level.  She became a great evangelizer in the Catholic faith, reaching out to people of different races and cultures.  She also was an accomplished singer and musician, being one of the editors of the African American Catholic hymnal. She came back to our Diocese in the 1980s, serving in the office of intercultural ministry.  She died in 1990 at the age of 52. I mention Sister Thea Bowman because her joyful spirit and creative approach to ministry represents the missionary spirit of our Diocese.  We indeed have a diverse Catholic population in the Diocese of Jackson, with many Asian and Hispanic Catholics and a good number of historically African American churches.  

       We will be taking up a collection for the Diocese of Jackson today at mass. These mission funds we collect go to help our Catholic schools and the small parishes in the rural areas of our Diocese.  I mentioned my prison ministry; some of these funds have helped expand our prison ministry and to purchase Bibles, catechisms, and rosaries for them.  Some weeks we visit more than 200 prisoners.  Another example of the use of our funds is the purchase of a copy machine for a small African American parish in the Mississippi Delta in the town of Indianola when the current copy machine stopped working.  

      I am glad to be able to visit your parish this weekend.  As Catholics, it is important for us to have unity and solidarity, to share in the Body and Blood of Christ around the altar, and to share our experiences and stories with each other.  Thank you for any help you can give.  Be assured I will pray for all of you and for your parish.  I ask for your prayers for our missionary Diocese as well.  

Prayers of the faithful - Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary - 15 August 2023

Introduction - At the end of her earthly life, the Blessed Virgin Mary, forever unstained by sin, was brought to heaven body and soul. Through her, God’s son was born. Our Blessed Mother was taken to heaven to be reunited with her beloved Son. Today, we celebrate Mary as a model of obedience and humility. She intercedes for us as Queen of Heaven. Mary stands ready to welcome us to eternal life in the presence of our Lord. 

Lord Jesus - you are the Beloved Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you have done great things for us - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - your love and compassion extends to every generation - Lord have mercy. 

Prayers of the faithful: 

Priest: Mary intercedes for us at her son’s right hand. Let us join our prayers with the prayers of our Blessed Mother, our greatest model of faith:

1. That Mary’s acceptance of God’s will may be a model for us as we accept the daily challenges of living our faith each day, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For our world leaders and local governmental leaders, that through their leadership we may lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good things, and extend love and mercy to those in need, we pray to the Lord.  

3. For all mothers and expectant mothers, that they may look to Mary as an example of devotion and strength as they carry out their vocation as mothers, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For all doctors, nurses, and medical professional.  May their bring healing and wholeness to their patients.  We pray to the Lord.  

5. For our parish community, that we may be a living, serving model of new living, bring the Gospel message to others, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For healing for the sick. 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 all our prayer intentions spoken and unspoken.  We pray to the Lord.  

Priest: God of love and salvation, Mary’s acceptance of your will allowed the promises you made to your people Bec fulfilled through your son.  May Mary be a model for us as we present these prayers to you through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful - 13 August 2023 - 19th Sunday - CMCF state prison

Introduction:  Sometimes, it seems that the forces of nature buffet us from every side, especially with the storms and tornados we have been having in Mississippi this summer. The disciples find themselves in danger in today’s Gospel, being tossed around by the winds in their small boat.  Jesus approaches the disciples, bringing them peace. In whatever dangers we face in life, we are to put our trust in the Lord. He strengthens us and comforts us in times of danger. 

Lord Jesus - You are the beloved Son of God - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - You calmed the seas - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - You are the way to eternal life - Lord have mercy. 

Leader: As we trust that the Lord will be with us in times of struggle and turmoil, just as he met the disciples in the storm at sea, let us ask for God’s presence in our lives and in the lives of all in need:

1. For our Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel, that we may imitate Christ in reaching out to comfort and assist those who are struggling to weather the storms of life, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For our elected officials, that they may reassure the people during difficult times with wisdom and integrity, we pray to the Lord. 

3. That we may be kept safe from the effect of summer storms and turbulent weather.  For help for those who are still recovering from natural disasters, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For the homeless, the unemployed, and for those who are experiencing trauma or crisis in their lives, that the Lord accompany them in their daily reality and that they receive the help they need.  We pray for all who are struggling with depression, mental health issues, and addictions. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For all of us here in our Catholic community of St Michael, that we may be a shelter from the storms in people’s lives, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For healing for the sick.  For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. For our deceased family members and loved ones. 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. 

Leader: God of mercy, grant us the strength to overcome our difficulties and our challenges.  We make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful - August 13, 2023 - 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Introduction: Sometimes, it seems that the forces of nature buffet us from every side, especially with the storms and tornados we have been having in Mississippi this summer. The disciples find themselves in danger in today’s Gospel, being tossed around by the winds in their small boat. Jesus approaches the disciples, bringing them peace. In the dangers we face in life, we are to put our trust in the Lord, who strengthens us and comforts us in times of danger.

Lord Jesus - You are the beloved Son of God - Lord have mercy. Christ Jesus - You calmed the seas - Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus - You are the way to eternal life - Lord have mercy.

Priest: As we trust that the Lord will be with us in times of struggle and turmoil, just as he met the disciples in the storm at sea, let us ask for God’s presence in our lives and in the lives of all in need:

1. For the Church, that we may imitate Christ in reaching out to comfort and assist those who are struggling to weather the storms of life, we pray to the Lord.

2. For our elected officials, that they may reassure the people during difficult times with wisdom, integrity, and benevolence, we pray to the Lord.

3. That we may be kept safe from the effect of summer storms and turbulent weather. For help for those who are still recovering from natural disasters, we pray to the Lord.

4. For the homeless, the unemployed, and for those who are experiencing trauma or crisis in their lives, that the Lord may accompany them in their daily reality and that they receive the help they need, we pray to the Lord. 5. For our parish community, that we be a shelter from the storms in people’s lives, we pray to the Lord.

6. For healing for the sick. 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 our intentions spoken and unspoken. We pray to the Lord.

Priest: God of mercy, grant us the strength to overcome our difficulties and challenges. We make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.