19 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 3rd Sunday in Easter Cycle A - prison ministry

Lord Jesus, you are a fountain of God’s grace and mercy. 


Christ Jesus, you give us food for our journey in the Eucharist. 

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

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

1. That we may always live as a eucharistic people and promote a eucharistic culture at CMCF.  We pray to the Lord. 

2. For our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. That they may lead their people to a richer appreciation of the presence of the Lord in the breaking of the bread. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For our civic leaders and the people whom they serve, especially the most vulnerable. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That we Christians may not drift from meeting the Lord each week in the Eucharist. For a greater love for the Mass. We pray to the Lord. 

5. Our prayers go out to our family members, our spouses, and our children. May the Lord watch over them. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the sick, the afflicted, and those battling addictions. May they know the care and love of Christ. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and in the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women serving in the military. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For our deceased loved ones and family members. For their eternal union with God. We pray to the Lord. 

9. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: Heavenly Father, we present these prayers the risen Christ. He is our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

28 April 2026 - Prayers of the faithful - TUESDAY OF the 4th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you tend your lambs - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you feed your sheep - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you shepherd your flock - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: With faith and hope in the risen Christ, we present our prayer to our God of love and mercy: 

1. For the Church throughout the world. May our faith in the love God be expressed in our love for one another. 

2. For peace in our world. May all lands that suffer violence and injustice find peace and reconciliation. We pray especially for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine. We pray for safety for the men and women serving in the military. 

3. For the poor, the homeless, and for those who are unemployed. May our care and concern for those in need be a sign of God’s mercy and love. 

4. For the protection and sanctity of human life. May all people be treated with the dignity they deserve. May we respect all human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. 

5. For the children of our parish who are preparing for the Sacrament of first holy communion. May they grow in wisdom and grace on their journey of faith. 

6. For the sick and the afflicted.  For those battling addictions. For those who need healing and reconciliation in their lives. 

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today.  We pray to the Lord.  

Priest: Heavenly Father, you are present in our midst. We pray that you continue to lead us and guide us as we celebrate the Easter season. We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

28 April 2026 - homily for Tuesday of the 4th week of Easter - Acts 11:19-26

Peter Chanel was born in France in 1803. He worked as a shepherd as a young by. He became a parish priest, but was intrigued by the letters sent home by missionaries to places like India and the Americas since he was a young boy. He joined the society of Mary, known as the Marists, as a young priest. That order was in the early stages of its formation. He spent his first years as a Marist serving as a spiritual director at their seminary. He traveled as a missionary to the Canary Islands, Chile, and the South Pacific Islands, establishing Marist mission sites at those places. He served as a missionary on the island of Futuna in the South Pacific near Fiji. He was killed there in 1841 in a dispute and is considered to be a martyr of the faith. He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954. He is one of the patron saints of the Oceania area of the South Pacific. 

In the Acts of the Apostles today, we hear how news reaches the Church in Jerusalem about how the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles in Antioch. This was quite startling news, since to this point, the Gospel message was just being presented to the Jews. Barnabas was sent to Antioch to investigate what was going on. When he recognized God’s grace at work, he encouraged the evangelizers in their efforts to spread Christ’s Gospel message. 

Missionary efforts continue in different ways. We heard about Peter Chanel’s missionary work in the South Pacific in the 19th century. I find that many of the men whom I serve in the prison have not been introduced to a lot of the basic concepts of Christianity. We here in the Church in modern America have a lot of missionary work to do as well. May we hear God calling us to be missionary in spirit and to be evangelizers for our faith. 

26 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: We welcome you to Mass this weekend as we celebrate Jesus as our Good Shepherd in the midst of the joyful Easter season. Jesus cares for and nurtures us with the love of the Good Shepherd. He is the gate through which we enter the path of salvation. May we received Jesus today with open hearts as he is present to us in word and sacrament. 

Lord Jesus - You are our Good Shepherd. 

Christ Jesus - You are the the gate through which we enter salvation. 

Lord Jesus - You look for the lost sheep. 

Priest: With faith and hope today, we present our prayers through Jesus, our Good Shepherd: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. May they form and nurture their flock with the love and compassion of the Good Shepherd. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For vocations in our Church to the priesthood, the diaconate, consecrated religious life, and lay ministry. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That we in our parish and our Diocese be active in supporting the vocations of our children, youth, college students, and young adults. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That we may reach out to the poor, the vulnerable, and the suffering through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That our civil leader may always promote a spiritual cultural in our society. For the freedom to practice our religion. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For our deceased loved ones and family members. That they achieve eternal union with God. We pray to the Lord.

7. For peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts today. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: We ask these prayers through Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. He does not neglect his flock in their need. He is our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

26 April 2026 - bulletin the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend, we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, which always falls on the 4th Sunday of the Easter season, in which we have a Gospel reading about Jesus as the shepherd caring for his flock. This weekend is also the annual world day of prayer for vocations, in which we not only pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, but also for vocations to the diaconate and lay ministry. The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd speaks to all of us. Our children love the presence of Uno the lost sheep in our sanctuary area of Holy Savior, representing the lost sheep that Jesus goes out of his way to search for. Blessings to all of you on Good Shepherd Sunday. Father Lincoln. 

26 April 2026 - 4th Sunday of the Easter Season cycle A - John 10:1-10

In the Old Testament, the Jewish nation was presented the model of the Good Shepherd. In the 23rd psalm, we are told: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. The prisoners asked me about my favorite Bible verses, and after a lot of reflecting on that, since as a priest so much of Scripture speaks to me in different ways, the verses from the 23rd psalm and about Jesus being the Good shepherd speak to me. 

Jesus as the Good Shepherd speaks to all of us, no matter who we are. We have Uno the lost sheep here with us every Sunday during Mass. I got the idea of having Uno when I visited a parish in New Hampshire in the town of Alton, on the shore of beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee. The priest there had a couple of stuffed lambs in the altar area, and I noticed that they moved places in between the masses there. I love having Uno here to speak to our children, to show them that they are important to us and are an important part of our Catholic community here in our parish. 

In our Gospel today from John, Jesus tells us that he is the gate for his sheep and for his flock. He tells us that whoever enters through him will be saved. Jesus is the fulfillment of the good shepherd that is spoken about in the 23rd psalm and elsewhere in Scripture. The shepherd enters through the gate to take care of the sheep, not to oppress or harm them or lead them astray. The sheep recognize the authority of the good shepherd and they follow him. Jesus leads his people to salvation, to take them out of the darkness of the world. The work of the good shepherd is the work that was entrusted in him by the Father, the work by which Jesus was sent into the world. Jesus is the gate of salvation for all. We are called to trust Jesus and to follow him as the good shepherd. 

We have a lot of voices around us that can challenge what we believe in our faith and lead us away from the path of the Good Shepherd.  In movies and TV and songs and social media, we get the message that a lot of things that are against our faith are OK to do. 

Do we listen to those other voices? Do we follow a path that leads us down a different road away from our faith? Or do we listen to our Good Shepherd and follow him? 

This year is the 63rd anniversary of the world day of prayer for vocations. According to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, the purpose of this day of prayer is to publicly fulfill the Lord's instruction to pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.” This day of prayer affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate, consecrated religious life, and lay ministry vocations. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), consecrated life in all its forms (male and female religious life, societies of apostolic life, consecrated virginity, secular institutes), and to the missionary life. We pray for vocations today.  We will have an ordination of a new priest, Will Foggo, on May 17 this year. We will have the ordination of our new deacons on July 17, including Hunter Yentzen and Chris Hallewell. We pray for all those men in a special way and for an increase in vocations. 

I want to mention adoration of the blessed sacrament. The devotions of our Church help us deepen our Catholic faith and deepen our relationship with Jesus. Adoration is a special devotion where we spend time with Jesus in the Eucharist. We have an adoration room in our religious eduction building. That room is available 24 hours a day to be present with Jesus in the blessed sacrament of the eucharist and to pray in his presence is quiet holy space reserved for prayer and adoration. We have different times in our parish to pray as a part of our community with the blessed sacrament. We have adoration this upcoming Saturday from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in our first Saturday devotion, a devotion associated with the apparition of Mary in Our Lady of Fatima. We also have adoration on the first Wednesday evening of the month from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This month, it will be May 6. When I first came to the parish, although everyone is invited to the first Wednesday adoration, we invite in a special way our children and youth and families. This month, we our youth trips coming up this summer, I am asking our youth who attended the youth convention this year and who are going to our trips to St Meinrad and Steubenville this year to come to adoration to experience that devotion in the context of your parish, since you will be having adoration in conjunction with your youth trips, and we want to pray for you and give you a special blessing in the context of your parish community. We want to invite all of you to join us for adoration and to experience Jesus in that special devotion of our faith. 

24 April 2026 - homily for Friday of the 3rd week of Easter - St Fidelis - John 6:52-59

Born in 1577 in the era of the Protestant reformation, St Fidelis started his professional life as a lawyer in Germany. However, he became disenchanted in practicing law and decided to dedicate himself to serving God in a consecrated religious community, joining the Capuchin Franciscans, of which his brother was a member. He very boldly lived out his faith and proclaim the faith in word and in action as a Capuchin Franciscan. He was sent to minister in different regions of Germany, where his preaching and ministry transformed entire communities. He often cared for the sick, especially in outbreaks of disease. For his great zeal for the faith, he was chosen to lead a mission delegation the country of Switzerland to bring people back to the Catholic faith. He would spend many hours in prayer and was a great example of faith for the people in both his words and his way of life. His example led people to criticize him and to threaten his life and to spread false accusations about him. One evening, he was shot at when delivering a homily at Mass. Leaving the Mass that evening, he was confronted by a group of Calvinist soldiers who killed him.  He died in 1622 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XIV in 1746. 

On this Friday in the third week of Easter, we hear from 6th chapter of John’s Gospel from the Bread of Life discourse, in which Jesus explains how he is truly present in us in his body and his blood in the Eucharist that we share. Since I have been a priest, we have had the year of the eucharist a couple of times, we have had a eucharistic revival, and our country had a eucharistic congress. We host adoration regularly in our parish. And I regularly talk about the importance of the eucharist and the importance of identifying as a eucharistic people as Catholics. Even though we come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, it is important for us to see the eucharist as central to who we are and a unifying factor of our faith. May we truly see ourselves as people of the eucharist. 

24 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 3rd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you bring us your Father’s love. 

Christ Jesus - you gather your people with joy.  

Lord Jesus - you give yourself to heal us and bring us strength. 

Priest:  We make our prayers known to our loving God today with hope and faith:

1. For all who follow Christ, that their faith in his resurrection may deepen. 

2. For missionaries and for all believers. May we spread Christ’s Good News throughout the world. May the joy of Easter fill us with fresh zeal for evangelization. 

3. For people who suffer in mind, body or spirit. May they experience healing and new strength. We pray for all in the hospital, hospice, and nursing home. 

4. For our children, youth and families. May the Lord accompany all of them on their journey.  

5. For those who have died recently. May God’s light may shine on them perpetually. We pray for all the faithful departed. 

6. For our first responders, the men and women in the military, our veterans, and our medical professionals.  

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts.  

Priest: O Lord, you are our salvation. Your glory shines in the world to bring joy to your people. Hear our prayers and grant us your all-powerful grace, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

23 April 2026 - Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 3rd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are the Good Shepherd. 

Christ Jesus - you feed your flock. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us your father’s love. 

Priest: Filled with paschal joy, let us pray to God, that he, who graciously listened to the prayers and supplications of his beloved Son, may now be pleased to look upon us in our humility:

1. For the shepherds of our Church. May they have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd. 

2. For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace given by Christ. 

3. For our president, our governor and all our elected officials. May they find wisdom in their faith in God as they lead us and guide us. 

4. For our brothers and sisters who suffer in different ways. May their sorrow be turned to gladness. 

5. That we may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ in our community. 

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

Priest: As our lives in this present age are subject to suffering and need, we ask O Lord that you hear us as we cry to you. Receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

23 April 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 3rd week of Easter - Acts 8:26-40

In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about a court official to the Queen of the Ethiopians who receives the call to journey to Jerusalem to worship God. This man doesn’t really know God and doesn’t really understand what God is about, but he realizes that something is stirring within him and wants to know more. The Lord sends Philip to greet this court official, to teach him about the reading from the prophet Isaiah that he is trying to read, to teach him about the Lord of Life. Philip disappears from this scene just as quickly as he appeared, as he is sent to another land to spread the word of God to others. Yet, before he leaves, Philip baptizes the court official in a body of water that they come upon.

Think about how important it is to be teachable on our journey of faith, to be open to learning more about God. Jesus refers to his followers as “disciples,” a term that means “learners.” Thus, teachability and being about to learning about God and being formed properly in the faith are important characteristics of being a disciple of Christ. We are born tainted by the corruption of sin. Through baptism, we are reborn through Christ and cleansed of those sins. We need to be open to the transformation that can brought about by this renewal. This requires having a teachable spirit, having an inner disposition that is eager and receptive to learning about God. Being “teachable” implies a readiness and openness to acquire knowledge, whether from individuals, such as preachers, or through various forms of media, like books or classes or studies or Scripture. Are we teachable and open to learning more about our faith?  

22 April 2026 - homily for Wednesday of the 3rd week of Easter - John 6:35-40

Pope Soter was bishop of Rome from 167 to 174. He was from the Lazio region of Italy in a Greek family. He was very much interested in improving relations between Rome and the Greek Church. He is remembered for declaring that barraging is only a valid sacrament when it celebrated by a priest. He also formally inaugurated Easter as an annual festival in Rome. The Roman Martyrology of the official list of recognized saints references Soter. The details of his martyrdom are not known. 

However, only John contains the words of Jesus as the bread of life contained in the 6th chapter of that Gospel: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”  Perhaps too many of us as Catholics take these words for granted. Perhaps too many of us do not think about what these words really mean, as some Catholics do not believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist, even though we are very explicit in this teaching. 

The belief in the real presence of Christ should affect the way we live out our lives after the mass has ended.  St Ignatius of Antioch from the 1st century criticized Christians who not only did not regularly receive the Eucharist or devote time to prayer, but who also did not have time to reach to the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, the man in prison, the hungry or the thirsty. May we live as eucharistic people everyday on our journey of faith in our words and our actions. 

22 April 2026 - Prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 3rd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you call us to Easter joy. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the light of God's kingdom.  

Priest: As we continue to celebrate the joyful seasons of Easter, we now present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For our growth as children of God. May God give us the grace and strength to love him with all our hearts and to follow God's law in our words and actions. We pray to the Lord.   

2. For the grace of reconciliation. May God help us turn away from selfishness, forgive those who have injured us, and be instruments of peace in our society. 

3. That the Holy Spirit give peacemakers wisdom and insight to help the people see the length and breadth of God’s love and mercy. 

4. That God help us recognize the healing that we can experience in that sacrament of reconciliation. 

5. For all who are questioning their faith or God presence in their lives. May the Holy Spirit guide them to new insights and help them recognize God’s presence through the witness of Christian’s love and service. 

6. For the sick and the afflicted. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of hearts. For the prayers we hold in our hearts for our loved ones, family, and friends.  

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

21 April 2026 - St Anselm - Tuesday of the 3rd week of Easter - Acts 7:51—8:1a

St Anselm is the saint we celebrate today. Anselm dedicated his life to God and to the faith, just like different disciples of Christ in the early Church that we have been hearing in our readings in the Acts of the Apostles throughout the Easter season. Anselm was born in the kingdom of Burgundy in the early 11th century in the Roman Empire. He became a Benedictine monk in the Normandy region. He was named as the Archbishop of Canterbury in England at the age of 60.  Even though Anselm was a monk and abbot, he is now remembered as one of the great theologians of Western Christianity. He is known as the Father of Scholasticism, a method of learning and reason that was employed in philosophy and theology for hundreds of year. Anselm spent many years in exile while serving as Archbishop of Canterbury trying to defend the faith against kings who overruled him and asserted their own will. I remember writing a paper on the proofs of God’s existence that Anselm put forth in a course I took in medieval philosophy while studying for the priesthood. The following quote from St Anselm reflects his steadfastness of his faith: “O Lord: my heart is made bitter by its own desolation; sweeten it by your consolation. I beseech you, O Lord, that having begun in hunger to seek you, I may not finish without partaking of you. I set out famished; let me not return unfed.”

Our reading from the Acts presents us two great men of faith. Stephen, was a man of great faith who had the courage to witness to the Gospel in the Early Church. He served as a deacon in in Jerusalem. He was brought before the Sanhedrin, accused of blasphemy. He was the first martyr in the Early Church. We celebrate Stephen’s feast day on December 26, right after Christmas. Then we have Saul, who stood there watching and approving of the killing of Stephen. We know that later on, Saul would change his name to Paul. Ater his conversion, Paul would become the great missionary to the Gentiles. Paul died a martyr’s death himself in Rome. Perhaps Paul’s conversion could be seen as a fruit of Stephen’s prayer at his death: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” The blood of the martyrs in the Early Church planted seeds of faith. In the end, both Stephen and Paul had the ability to sacrifice their lives for Christ because in Christ they found all that they had longed for and all that they had hungered for. Jesus was their life. Through Jesus, they for the courage to witness for the Gospel, even when it mean sacrificing their own lives. May both these men inspire us on our journey of faith. 

21 April 2026 - Prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 3rd week of Easter

Lord Jesus, you are a fountain of God’s grace. 

Christ Jesus, you bring us peace and wholeness. 

Lord Jesus: you leads us to new life. 

Prayers of the faithful:

PRIEST:  Inspired by God’s love and mercy, let us offer our prayers today for our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world:

1. That we in the Church may hear God’s call in our lives. May we be witnesses to Christ’s resurrection in the world. 

2. May the nations of the world work together to be good stewards of the environment and collaborate together in sharing the earth’s resources.

3. For those who are struggling in their lives. For those battling mental illness, depression, or addictions. May they feel God encouraging them on their journey. 

4. For all who yearn for justice and an end to violence, hatred, and prejudice. For peace in the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. 

5. For the sick and afflicted of our parish community. For healing and wholeness in body, mind, and spirit. 

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

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

PRIEST:  O God, we ask that you continue to guide your flock. Hear these our prayers and graciously grant them through Christ, our Lord for ever and ever. AMEN. 

19 April 2026 - homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Cycle A - Luke 24:13-35

We can easily find the locations of important sites related to Jesus in the Holy Land, such as the place of his birth in Bethlehem, the garden of Gethsemane and Mount Calvary in Jerusalem, and the site of Christ’s ascension in Nazareth. However, one place that is unknown is the town of Emmaus in today’s Gospel; its location has been lost to history. 

We can relate to the story of the Road to Emmaus. This story speaks to our hearts. It opens up God’s word to us. It reflects the truth of the Mass that we celebrate in our parishes on weekends and throughout the week. Just as the disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, Jesus wants all of us to recognize the way that he is present to us in the Eucharist. 

The Road to Emmaus leads us to the altar of the Lord. Every time we recognize Jesus in the moments of our everyday life, every time we feel him accompanying us on our journey, we reflect the spirit of the story of the Road to Emmaus. 

Those two disciples explained that they had hoped and believed that Jesus would be the one who would redeem the nation of Israel. However, in the events of Christ death and crucifixion, in the mystery of the empty tomb, they felt discouraged and confused. In their encounter with Jesus, in Jesus’ words and actions, they realized that their Lord Jesus had indeed risen. 

The Road to Emmaus is not just a story from the past. The reality of Christ risen and alive in a reality of our present as well. A reality of our Church. Christ is indeed alive in our midst. 

We talk about our journey of faith as disciples of Christ. All of us are on that journey in one way or another. Jesus and his disciples were always journey toward the holy city of Jerusalem. Today, these two disciples on the Road to Emmaus are traveling in the wrong direction.  

 In my homilies, I often speak about our journey of faith. It is important for us to think of our life here on earth as a journey of faith, to view every moment and every day as steps on that journey. The concept of journey is important for us to be able to understand the story of the Road to Emmaus. The disciples are undertaking a journey, but rather than going to Jerusalem, they are fleeing that city and going in the opposite direction. They have turned their backs of Jerusalem and on all that happened there. But as Jesus joins them in the midst of their journey, concealing his true identity, they later realize that they indeed sensed that Jesus was in their midst, that their hearts were burning within them as he spoke to them on the way and as he opened up the Scriptures to them. They recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread during their meal together, but then Jesus disappeared from their sight. Although Jesus has risen, the reality of his resurrection is a different reality, not the same as before his death and resurrection. After the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus recognize Jesus, they realize that they had made a mistake by fleeing, and they go back to Jerusalem. As the disciples gather together, they share their experiences with the resurrected Lord, trying to make sense of this new reality and awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

Perhaps we have similar experiences on our own journey of faith. Perhaps there are times when realize that Lord had been accompanying us when we look back, even in our darkest and most challenging moments, even though we did not realize it at the time. Perhaps when we get together in the company of believers, we are reaffirmed in our faith as well, just as that original group of disciples were reaffirmed in their faith as they gathered together in Jerusalem. In gathering with other believes, we are can continue in boldness and trust in our journey of faith through life. 

This is a painting of the nautical compass that I had one of the inmates paint for me. Supposedly, the first magnetic compasses were invented in the Han dynasty in China two centuries before Christ’s birth. Magnetic compasses still remain popular even in our modern era of GPS and other such technology. A lot of people see in this nautical compass a symbol of guidance, protection, and a commitment to staying on the right path. It can be a symbol for our of following God, of staying on the path of our spiritual journey. It is a popular symbol for pilgrims as well, of staying on the pilgrimage trail.

19 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 3rd Sunday in Easter Cycle A

Introduction: With great joy, we gather for Mass today on the 3rd weekend of Easter in the midst of our Easter journey. We celebrate the risen Christ in our readings today, hearing about his encounter with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. May we be aware to the ways we meet the risen Christ in the reality of our daily lives.

Lord Jesus, you are a fountain of God’s grace and mercy: Lord have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you give us food for our journey in the Eucharist: Christ, have mercy. 

Lord Jesus: you are the way that leads us to new life: Lord, have mercy 

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

1. That we may always live as a eucharistic people and promote a eucharistic culture in our parish and in society. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. That they may lead their people to a richer appreciation to the presence of the Lord in the breaking of the bread. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For our civic leader and the people whom they serve, especially the most vulnerable. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That we Christians may not drift from meeting the Lord each week in the Eucharist. For a greater love for the Mass and our liturgies. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For our children, youth, and college students. May they feel the risen Lord accompanying them through the last weeks of the school year. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the sick, the afflicted, the aged, and the homebound. May they know the care and love of Christ through our ministries. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and in the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women serving in the military. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For our deceased loved ones and family members. For their eternal union with God. We pray to the Lord. 

9. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: Heavenly Father, we present these prayers the risen Christ. He is our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

19 April 2026 - bulletin reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Easter

As we continue our celebration of the Easter season, I am thankful for all the participation we have had in our parish during Lent, Holy Week, and now the Easter season. We had a good turnout for our Divine Mercy prayer service last Sunday afternoon. As you know, as a priest, I promote the different devotions of the Church, and try to find ways to get more parishioners involved in them. With our Gospel last week of the apostle Thomas wanting to touch the wounds of Jesus and our Gospel today of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we hear of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus and the disciples trying to make sense of what is going on in their lives of faith. May this Easter season help us in our understanding and our practice of our Catholic faith. Have a blessed week everyone - Father Lincoln. 

16 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 2nd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are the resurrection

Christ Jesus - you bring us new life

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope.

Priest: We present our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith and hope during this 2nd week of the Easter season: 

1. For Leo XIV our Pope, the communion of Bishops, and all the clergy. For their fidelity to the truth of the Gospel revealed in the mercy of Christ. 

2. That all Christians may embrace the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that we are called to in our baptism. 

3. For all people of good will. That the entire human family may recognize our common bond to work for justice and peace and for the good of all peoples. 

4. For all victims of injustice.That they may learn the freedom of mercy and find healing in their brokenness. 

5. For all those enslaved by their past sins or past decisions. That the presence of the risen Christ encourage them to seek his mercy and love. 

6. We pray for the sick, the suffering, and the dying. That they may receive healing and encounter the mystery of their dignity as God's children. 

7. For those prayers we hold in our hearts.

Priest: Heavenly Father, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.    

16 April 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 2nd week of Easter - Acts 5:27-33

God’s grace works in the lives of the saints in different ways. St Bernadette is the saint we celebrate today. She was born to a poor family in France in 1844.  She suffered poor health throughout her life, but God allowed our Mother Mary to appear to her in the French village of Lourdes to bring a message of mercy and repentance to the world. At Mary’s command, Bernadette dug a hole in the ground and brought the healing water of a hidden spring to the surface.To this day, millions of pilgrims from all over the world flock to this holy site to encounter God’s healing presence. Bernadette eventually became a nun and died at the age of 35 due to fragile health. Her body lies in a glass reliquary at the Convent in Nevers, France. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Lourdes in both 2018 and 2025 on pilgrimage and to experience the healing waters of the spring there. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. 

In our first reading from Acts, the apostles give witness before the Sanhedrin that they’re following a higher authority that dictates their consciences, an authority that can be in conflict with civil authority. The Sanhedrin issued an edict that the apostles refrain from preaching the Gospel, but they declare that they must obey God, not man. We see situations like this in our modern world as well. We Catholics in modern America live in a land where we allow capital punishment . Even though the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade, some individual states still allow abortion. Our own Diocese sued the federal government some years ago, along with other Catholic Dioceses, to protest provisions in insurance plans that we were forced to follow that violate the Gospel of Life. By refusing to obey the authorities, Peter and his companions were in danger. Their belief in the risen Lord compelled them to speak out and to follow their conscience. Man put Jesus to death, but God raised him up. May the example of these apostles inspire us on our own journeys. 

15 April 2026 - homily for Wednesday of the 2nd week of Easter - St Cesar de Bus - Acts 5:17-26

Cesar de Bus was born in France as the 7th of 13 children in 1544 in the era of the Protestant Reformation. He became a soldier at the age of 18, fighting in the war against the French Protestant Huguenots. After leaving the war, he lived a very worldly life in Paris, devoted to poetry and painting, but also in the pursuit of worldly pleasures. Returning home, he worked as a caretaker of a church. Passing by a shrine dedicated to the Blessed Mother one night, he had a mystical experience that led him to a deep conversion of faith. Ordained a priest in 1582 in Avignon, he was inspired by the holiness of St Charles Borromeo. He founded two orders: the Ursulines of Province for women and the Fathers of Christian doctrine for men. The male order disbanded under the French Revolution, but an Italian branch of that order survived. That order continues in Italy, France, and Brazil to this day. He died in 1607. He was canonized in 2022 by Pope Francis. 

Peter, Paul, and the rest of the apostles were imprisoned many times for the way that they publicly preached the Gospel to the world in the years after Christ’s death and resurrection. As told in today's first reading from the Acts, when Peter and a group of apostles were imprisoned, they were miraculously set free and went out into the Temple area where they resumed preaching publicly about Jesus and his proclamation of God's kingdom.  

We can create different prisons for ourselves, but we ourselves can also imprison God’s word in the world just as the chief priests and the Jewish authorities did when they put Peter and the other apostles in prison. Christ’s Gospel message needs to be more than just words to us. We are called to put those words into action. God’s word is there in our lives to inspire us, motivate us, and guide us along our journey. It can be a big challenge for us to live out our faith each day. Our lives can seem so busy that we sometimes do not make time for God or for Church. But God always meets us in our reality. 

If God’s words do not infuse our words and actions, if God’s word does not have a place in our reality, then his word will be imprisoned just as it was when the first apostles were put into jail. How can we set God’s word free?   

15 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 2nd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you call us to be your disciples. 

Christ Jesus - you are the resurrection and the life. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to joy and hope. 

Priest: With Easter joy in our hearts during this 2nd week of the Easter season, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That we in the Church may bring the light of Christ to others through our words and actions. 

2. For all the newly baptized and for those who came into the Church at Easter. For our youth who received the sacrament of confirmation last week. May they faithfully follow Jesus and be a blessing to their parish communities. 

3. That Christ’s victory over death may bring hope and healing to all who are burdened in life.

4. For those who are struggling in their faith. May they experience the risen Lord in their lives and be encouraged on their journey.

5. For vocations to religious life, the priesthood, the diaconate, and lay ministry. 

6. For all who are suffering mentally, physically or spiritually. For those who are struggling with addictions and mental health issues. For healing and wholeness. 

7. For all parishioners and loved ones who have died. For their entry into eternal life. 

8. For peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and in the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women in the military. 

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

Priest: We present these prayers today thru your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

13 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Monday of the 2nd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to hope. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to Easter joy. 

Priest: With Easter joy in our hearts during this second week of the Easter season, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father this morning: 

1. That we in the Church may bring the light of Christ to those in darkness.

2. That Christ’s victory over death may bring hope and healing to all who are burdened by poverty, disease, prejudice, and fear.

3. That those who have doubts or who are searching in their faith may experience the risen Lord and discover the truth through his love.

4. For and increase in vocations to consecrated religious life, the diaconate, the priesthood, and lay ministry. 

5. For all those suffering mentally, physically or spiritually.  For healing and wholeness in their lives. 

6. For all our family members and loved ones who have died. May God meet them face to face on their journey to eternal life.

7. For peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. For safety for the men and women serving in the military. 

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

Priest: We present these prayers today thru your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.   

 

13 April 2026 - homily for Monday of the 2nd week of Easter - St Martin I - John 3:1-8

St Martin I became Pope in the year 649 when Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine empire and when the patriarch of Constantinople was the most influential Church leader in the East. There was a lot of tension between Eastern and Western Christianity at the time, with the emperor of Byzantium and the Patriarch of Constantinople often allied against Rome. In a council at the Lateran Basilica convened by Martin I, some of the teachings supported by the Patriarch and the Emperor were condemned, which angered both of them. After a failed assassination attempt against Martin I, the Emperor had him captured and brought to Constantinople, subjecting him to torture and imprisonment. The Patriarch repented and was successful in his attempt to free Martin I, but Martin was in a weakened state. He died shortly thereafter. Martin I was the last of the Popes in the Early Church to die a martyr. In our current era where there can be tension between our faith leaders and the government, the story of Martin I perhaps resonates with us. 

As we hear of Nicodemus coming to Jesus in the darkness of the night to ask him questions, it strikes us that he does not want to publicly associate with Jesus, for fear of ruining his reputation. It may be difficult for us to stand up publicly for our faith. It may take a lot of courage. I remember when I was living in the country of Guinea in West Africa on an island where almost all of the population was Muslim. I was the only practicing Christian living on that entire island. Yet, when some of the Muslim elders saw me praying the rosary or reading the Bible, when they saw me trying to live out my faith in the midst of such a strong presence of another religion, they commented as to the great faith they saw in me and the extent of my devotion and conviction. They publicly commented to those living on the island the respect they had for me for boldly living out my faith. We don’t have to hide in our faith by the cover of night. We are baptized by water and the Holy Spirit to proclaim God’s kingdom. We all called to go forth and bring the Gospel message to others. 

8 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for confirmation mass

Bishop: My dear friends, may we be one in prayer to God our Father as we are one in faith, hope and love.  As we celebrate the risen Christ today in the octave of Easter, we present our prayers: 

1. For the youth who are being confirmed by the gift of the Holy Spirit today, that they may always give witness to Christ by their lives. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For the parents, godparents, sponsors, and teachers who have led our confirmation candidates in faith, that by their word and example they may always encourage them to follow the way of our Savior Jesus Christ. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For the holy Church of God, in union with Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and all the lay and ordained leaders of our Diocese, that God may help us to journey together in faith. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For all people of every race and nation, that they may acknowledge the one God as Father, and seek his kingdom of joy and peace. 

5. We pray to end of war, terrorism, and violence in our world. For peace especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. We pray for safety for the men and women serving in the military. We pray to the Lord.   

6. That we all may recognize and give thanks to the risen Lord in the breaking of the bread and in every circumstance where Christ reveals himself to us. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For the sick of our community, for those in the hospital, hospice, and nursing homes, for healing and wholeness. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For our deceased loved ones and family members. For their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord.  

9. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. We pray to the Lord. 

Bishop: God our Father, you sent your Holy Spirit to the apostles, and through them and their successors, you give the Holy Spirit to your people. May the gift of the Holy Spirit continue to grow in the hearts of our confirmation candidates and in the hearts of all who believe. We ask this through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

14 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 2nd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - You are the risen Christ. 

Christ Jesus - You are a light shining in the world. 

Lord Jesus - You are the son of God and son of Mary. 

PRIEST: The power and hope of the risen Christ fills the world with life. With joy, we bring forth our needs and the needs of the world in our prayers today. 

1. That the Church may proclaim Christ’s resurrection to the world in our words and our actions. 

2. That our Church leaders embody the hope of paschal mystery. 

3. That the leaders of the nations of the world lead their people with integrity and respect. We pray for peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and in the Middle Easter. 

4. That in the light of Christ's victory over death, all Christians may work together to bring the Gospel message to the world. 

5. For the sick and the afflicted. For healing for all in body, mind, and spirit. 

6. For our missionaries, for lay people serving in ministry, and for all who proclaim Christ’s Gospel message to the world. 

7. For our first responders. For our men and women serving in the military. For our veterans. For our medical professionals. 

8. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today.  For those who have asked for our prayers. 

PRIEST: God of glory, you know the desires of our hearts. As we celebrate the Resurrection during the Easter season, make us faithful to you in all we do. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

14 April 2026 - Tuesday of the second week of Easter - Blessed Peter Gonzalez - Acts 4:32-37

Blessed Peter Gonzalez was born in the town of Frómista in the kingdom of Castile and Leon in Spain in the year 1190. I know of the town of Frómista from the Camino of Santiago, where I have stayed overnight several times. He could have had a very illustrious vocation as a priest under his uncle, the Bishop of Astorga, but in his humility, he joined the Dominican order, where he became renowned preacher, where he would preach to large crowds. He spent many years as the court preacher for King Ferdinand III of Castile. He worked for the human treatment of prisoners who were captured during war. After retiring from the king’s court, he traveled around northwest Spain where he preached. He was a popular preacher to Portuguese and Spanish seamen.  He died in 1246 and is buried at the cathedral in Tui, Spain. Due to his reputation as a patron saint of seamen, a famous neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina is named after him, San Telmo, one of his nicknames. 

Our first reading today from Acts tells us about the disciples of Christ in the early Church lived together in community. The believers who formed this community were of one mind and one heart and were united with each other. No one in the community claimed their belongings for themselves, but rather their possessions held in common. The members of the community witnessed their faith and their belief in the risen Christ through signs and miracles of healing. The community of believers in the Early Church gives us a great example of faith to follow. 

11 April 2026 - homily for Saturday of the octave of Easter - Acts 4: 13-21; Mark 16:9-15

The saint we celebrate today is an important leader in the history of the Church in Eastern Europe. St Stanislaus was born near Kraków, Poland in the year 1030. As a priest, his preaching and his example of faith brought about many conversions to the faith and a deepening of the faith of his faith. He was appointed bishop of Kraków in 1072. In this era of history, there was a tense political situation in Poland. Stanislaus was an outspoken critic of the king, of wars that Stanislaus saw as unjust and of other actions he saw as immoral. At first the king repented, but then he returned to his old ways. Continuing to be outspoken against the king, Stanislaus was charged with treason and was threatened with death. When the king’s soldiers refused to kill Stanislaus, the king killed him himself. Realizing what he did, the king repented for his actions, fleeing his country and living in exile.  

In our first reading, we continue to hear the members of the early Church preach the Gospel message and give testimony. In our Gospel, we hear about one of the post resurrection appearances of Jesus.  Both of these readings emphasize the importance of our faith in Jesus and how we have the responsibility to bear witness to his Gospel message. Even when there is great opposition to us bearing witness to the Gospel message, we still bear responsibility to testify to his resurrection and his teachings. These readings also stress the importance of the authority of God over the authority of man. Peter and John disobey the orders they have from the Jewish authorities against them bearing witness to Christ. The assert their obligation to obey God. These readings reflect the theme at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, of our mission to preach the Gospel message to the whole world and to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday this weekend and as we commemorate our Lady of Fatima today in our devotions in our Saturday morning Mass, may we reflect upon the ways we can bring the Gospel message to others. 

 

Prayers of the faithful for Saturday of the octave of Easter - 11 April 2026

Lord Jesus - You are the resurrection and the life. 

Christ Jesus - You are a light shining in the darkness of the world. 

Lord Jesus - You are the son of God and the son of Mary. 

PRIEST: The presence of the risen Christ fills the world with new life. With joy as we celebrate the octave of Easter, and as we celebrate Mary in a special way this morning, let us present our prayers to God. 

1. That the Church may proclaim Christ’s resurrection to the world in our words and our actions. 

2. That the leaders of the Church may embody the hope of paschal mystery which we celebrate in our liturgy during the Easter season. 

3. That the leaders of the nations of the world lead their people with integrity and respect. We pray for peace throughout the world, especially in the Middle East and Ukraine. 

4. That in the light of Christ's victory over death, all Christians may work together to bring the Gospel message to the world. 

5. For the sick and the afflicted. For healing for all of us in body, mind, and spirit. 

6. For our missionaries, for lay people serving in ministry, and for all who proclaim Christ’s Gospel to the world. 

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

PRIEST: God of glory, you know the deepest desires of our hearts. As we celebrate the Resurrection, make us faithful to you in all we do. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

10 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the octave of Easter

Lord Jesus - You are the glory of the Father.  

Christ Jesus - You give us hope in the midst of our challenges. 

Lord Jesus - You give us strength and courage on our journey. 

Priest: We present our prayers to our merciful Father in hope and trust on this Friday of the Octave of Easter: 

1.That we in the Church may be faithful to our Savior and proclaim the joy of his Resurrection to the world. 

2. We pray for our parish family, that renewed through the Easter mysteries, we live in service for God and for his people. 

3. For all those who have been initiated in the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass. For our children preparing for first holy Eucharist. For the youth receiving confirmation this past Wednesday evening. That they may feel our love and prayers reaching out to them.

4. For all who are struggling in their faith right now. That Christ, risen from the dead, may call their name and lead them back to the faith. 

5. We pray for all those who have suffered tragedies. For the sick in the hospital, hospice, and nursing home. That Christ’s presence in their lives may give them encouragement. 

6. For peace in the world, especially in the Middle East and Ukraine. For the safety of the men and women in the military. 

7. For our family members and loved ones who have died. That Christ shatter the chains of death and bring them to the heavenly banquet. 

8. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: On this Friday in the Octave of Easter, we present these prayer to you heavenly Father, through your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

10 April 2026 - homily for Friday of the octave of Easter - Acts 4:1-12

St. Michael de Sanctis was born in Catalonia, Spain in 1591. At the age of twelve, he came to Barcelona and asked to be received into the monastery of the Trinitarians. Three years later, he took his vows at St. Lambert's monastery in Zaragoza in 1607. He later entered the Discalced Trinitarians at Madrid and was ordained to the priesthood. He was elected as Superior of the Monastery at Valladolid two times. He was admired for his profound life of prayer, his humility, and his devotion to the Eucharist. He often entered into a state of ecstasy while celebrating Mass. He died on April 10, 1625, at the age of 33. He was canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 8, 1862. Many miracles of healing having been attributed to his prayer and intercession, including the healing of a woman of cancerous mouth tumors, which is why he is one of the patron saints of cancer patients. 

We continue to hear about the development of the Early Church in Acts in our first reading. Yesterday in Acts, we heard about the healing of a lame man. Today, we hear how that healing gave Peter and John the opportunity to preach the Gospel message to the crowds, calling the people to conversion. Peter and John brought the reality of the risen Christ to the lives of the people, showing them how their faith in Jesus can work miracles. Not only did Peter and John attract the interest of the crowds, but their activities attracted the attention of the Sadducees, the head of the Temple guards, and the chief priests in a negative way. Even though the authorities take Peter and John into custody, this gives them the opportunity to address the elders and to proclaim the Gospel, telling them that the name of Jesus is the only name that truly saves.

We are seeing a lot of energy in the Church this year and a lot of conversions to the faith, especially in college students and in young adults. May the spirit of the risen Lord encourage us to witness to others and to live out our faith in courage and zeal.  

12 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Divine Mercy Sunday - prayers of the faithful for the second Sunday of Easter

Introduction: We celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on this 2nd Sunday of Easter. God’s mercy for his people has its purest expression in the sacrifice of his beloved son. God’s mercy continues to flow into our world and into all creation until the end of time. We pray that we may be merciful and forgiving to others as we share the precious gift of God’s mercy. 

Priest - Penitential rite: 

Lord Jesus, your resurrection stands as the great sign of your Father’s love. 

Christ Jesus, you give us new birth and living hope.
Lord Jesus, you give us your Easter peace. 

Priest: God’s mercy endures forever and his love is everlasting. As we are assured of God’s eternal love and mercy, we pray for those in need of his love and mercy today:


1. That we in the Church be instruments of God’s mercy wherever and whenever it is needed in the world. We pray to the Lord.


2. That the peace that the risen Lord offered his first disciples reign over the whole world, particularly in countries and communities afflicted by war, violence, conflict, or terrorism. We pray especially for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine. We pray for the safety of the men and women in the military. We pray to the Lord.


3. For continued recovery and renewal in communities hit by natural disasters. We pray to the Lord.


4. For those in our parish and throughout the Diocese who entered the Church at Easter. For our children who will receive the sacrament of first holy communion. For the youth who were confirmed by Bishop Kopacz last week. May their witness of faith serve as an inspiration to us. We pray to the Lord.


5. May Christians everywhere recognize the Lord in our midst: in God’s holy word, in the Eucharist, in those around us, and in those in need. We pray to the Lord.


6. For healing for the sick and the afflicted. For those in the hospital, hospice, and nursing home. For healing in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord.


7. For the faithful departed, for their entry into enteral 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: Merciful God, hear our prayers for all in need. Kindle our own generosity within us so that we may share the blessings you bestow upon us. We make our prayers through your son, Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

12 April 2026 - bulletin reflection for Divine Mercy Sunday

This weekend, we commemorate Divine Mercy Sunday, which was established in the year 2000 when Pope John Paul II canonized Sister Faustian, the Polish nun who received the message from Jesus about his Divine Mercy and the establishment of this special feast day during the season of Easter. This Sunday, we will have a special prayer service in honor of Jesus’ Divine Mercy at 3:00 pm. I know that we all have very busy lives. Life for me as a priest has not slowed down a minute since the celebration of Easter weekend. In the midst of our busy lives, it is important for us to reflect on the ways that the risen Lord is present to us on our journey of faith. I wish you many blessings as we continue our journey through the Easter season. Father Lincoln. 

 

12 April 2026 - homily for Divine Mercy Sunday - homily for the 2nd Sunday of Easter Cycle A - John 20:19-31

Today, on the second Sunday of Easter, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, we commemorate Divine Mercy Sunday. The opening collect prayer at Mass today addresses the Father as the “God of everlasting mercy” who kindles the faith of the people he has made his own. Then, in the psalm today, it states three times that his mercy endures forever. God’s mercy is revealed to us in different ways on journey of faith. His mercy is embodied first and foremost in the sending of his only begotten son to the world as our Lord and Savior, revealed to us in Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. God’s divine mercy is given to us each time we celebrate one of the sacraments of the Church, which were instituted by Christ to sanctify us and to strengthen us in our faith. 

Our Gospel message today speaks to us very profoundly on the theme of Divine Mercy Sunday. Thomas has a hard time believing in the resurrected Christ as he is overwhelmed with hurt, defeat, pain, and a lack of hope. Seeing his Lord crucified, his faith was devastated. Thomas saw Christ’s wounds as Christ endured his passion and died on the cross. Thomas had to touch those wounds in order to be made whole and have his faith restored. Thomas would not know peace until he surrendered himself to the wounds of Christ. Rather than condemn him, Christ showed him mercy and allowed him to touch those wounds. This account of Thomas and his encountered with the risen Lord is a fitting Gospel for Divine Mercy Sunday. 

Our celebration of Christ’s divine mercy this weekend has some very interesting origins. In the 1930s, a humble Polish nun named Sister Faustina Kowalska began receiving private revelations from Jesus. In his messages to her, he asked that a feast dedicated to his divine mercy be established on the Sunday after Easter. In her diary, Sister Faustina recorded Jesus saying: "I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, especially poor sinners. On that day, the very depths of My tender mercy are open.” Pope St. John Paul II brought this request to fulfillment when he canonized Sr. Faustina on April 30, 2000, officially establishing Divine Mercy Sunday for the universal Church. This date wasn't chosen by chance, as it coincides with the completion of the Easter Octave, highlighting that God's mercy flows directly from Christ's Paschal sacrifice.

Divine Mercy Sunday reminds us that no sin is beyond God’s forgiveness. When we approach our Lord Jesus Christ in our prayers with a sincere heart, his mercy washes over us like the rays in the Divine Mercy image. They cleanse us, heal us, and restore us. Our celebration of Divine Mercy this weekend offers us extraordinary graces, particularly for those who receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist around this day.

The message of Christ’s Divine Mercy speaks to everyone. It speaks to those who are carrying heavy burdens of sin or who are struggling on their journey of faith. Christ’s Divine Mercy reaches out to those faithful souls who are seeking deeper conversion. His mercy reassures us that God's love isn't earned; rather, it is a freely given gift. Christ’s mercy calls us to action, challenging us to extend that same mercy to others.

Christ’s mercy isn't to be confined to this one Sunday during the Easter season. We're called to make mercy a way of life each day on our journey of faith. This means offering forgiveness when it's difficult, showing compassion to those most in need, and remembering always that we ourselves are to depend entirely on God's mercy.

St. Faustina wrote in her diary: "Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful... that my ears may be merciful... that my tongue may be merciful... that my hands may be merciful... that my feet may be merciful... that my heart may be merciful.”

In our modern world, the message of Christ’s Divine Mercy offers us hope and healing. It reminds us that God's love is stronger than our sins, stronger than our fears, and stronger than death itself. We are to place our trust in Jesus' Divine Mercy. We are to open up ourselves to his transforming grace.

9 April 2026 - St Thomas of Tolentino - homily for Thursday of the octave of Easter - Act 3:1-10

Born in Ancona, Italy in 1260, Thomas became a member of the Friar Minors as a youth. He distinguished himself in his strict observance of the Franciscan rule, being strict in his observance of the Franciscan spirit of poverty. He had a great zeal in brining others to the faith, which sent him to Persia and Armenia to work for years as a missionary. In 1320, he was sent out to the missions in China, but got as far as Thana, near Mumbai, India. He and two of his Franciscan companions were martyred there, being accused of disrespecting the prophet Mohamed. He and his companions were beatified in the 14th century. 

In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles today, we hear about Peter and John heading off to the Temple area to pray when a lame man stops them and asks for assistance. Instead of giving him money, they heal him through the Holy Spirit. The lame man is overcome with joy. As he shouts out to God in praises, the commotion draws the attention of a crowd, giving Peter the opportunity to preach about Jesus. Peter and his companions tell the crowd about what happened to their Lord. They want the people to repent and to change their lives. However, it is not the miracle itself that draws our attention, but rather the power and truth behind the miracle, as it teaches us about God’s kingdom and about our faith. May we learn from the growth and development of the early Church this week in our first readings at daily Mass from the example of faith given us the Acts of the Apostles.

9 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the octave of Easter

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

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

Lord Jesus - you are the resurrection.

Priest: Our joy is in Christ’s rising from the dead. In our Easter joy, we now present our prayers to our heavenly Father

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our church leader. May they continue to inspire the members of the body of Christ to deepen their reverence and prayer life on their journey of faith.

2. That pastors may lead and serve their flock entrusted to their care with humility and wisdom.

3. That all governmental leaders may reach out to their people in hope and unity.

4. For all those who are sick and in need of healing in their lives. 

5. For our medical professionals, first responders, veterans, and the men and women in the military. For those on the front lines and who keep us safe. For peace in the Middle East and throughout the world. 

6. For God's prophets in the modern world.  May their message enter our hearts and our minds. 

6. For the faithful departed. For their entry into eternal life. For the souls in purgatory. 

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today. For those who have asked for our prayers. 

Priest: Father, you know the many needs of your people. Hear and answer the prayers that we make through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

8 April 2026 - St Julie Billiart - Wednesday of the octave of Easter - Luke 24:13-35

St Julie Billiart has a very interesting story. She was born in France to a prominent farming family in 1751. As a youth, she started getting involved in teaching the catechism to farm laborers and to other youth. She was stricken with a mysterious illness at the age of 30, which left her paralyzed and mostly bedridden. However, she still gave spiritual advice and taught the catechism, having a big heart for evangelization. When the French Revolution started in 1789, she spent several years in hiding, since the revolutionary forces were aware of her allegiance to fugitive priests. She always stayed true to her Catholic faith. Later, her friendship with an aristocratic woman led to the founding of the Institute of Notre Dame in 1803, dedicated to the education of poor Catholic girls and to the training of catechists. She died at the motherhouse of the institute in Belgium in 1816 and was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1969. 

We hear the familiar Gospel story of the road to Emmaus today. While our theological knowledge of the faith is important, there is no substitute for a personal encounter and relationship with Christ. The disciples on the Road to Emmaus knew that Jesus died on the cross, so they did not recognize him as he appeared to them on their journey. Yet, through their interaction with Jesus, through the kindness they offered him, and through them breaking open God’s word together and breaking bread, they finally recognize Jesus and they believe. This encounter inspires these disciples to share their experiences and to bring the Gospel message to others. Like these disciples, we are also called to offer acts of kindness to the stranger.  We are called to break open God’s word, to have his word interact with the reality of life. In the Eucharist, in the breaking of the bread around the Lord’s table, we are to receive nourishment and encouragement. Like the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, we also are pilgrims on a journey. 

8 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the Octave of Easter

Lord Jesus - you bring us the joy of the Easter season.  

Christ Jesus - you raise us to new life. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the hope of our faith

PRIEST: As we place our needs before God, let us rejoice because Christ has triumphed over death and has brought us salvation:

1. For the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. May they continue to lead the Church in witnessing to the joyful truth of the Resurrection. 

2. For all who have dedicated their lives to God. That they may be Christ’s witnesses in the world in their words and their actions. 

3. For the unemployed. For those struggling economically. For the hungry and the homeless. For those crying out for justice. That their needs be met. 

4. For the family of God gathered here at Mass today. In our Easter joy, may we bear witness to the risen Christ and reflect him in our lives. 

5. For the sick and the afflicted. For all those who need healing in body, mind, or spirit. 

6. For those who have died. That they may rise to eternal life in Christ. 

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

PRIEST: Almighty Father, your beloved son has risen from the dead, as he promised us. In peace and joy we present our prayers to you, through the same risen Lord, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen.

7 April 2026 - homily for Tuesday of the Octave of Easter - Act 2:36-41

Today, we celebrate Tuesday of the Octave of Easter. The Octave of Easter is a 8-day liturgical period which starts on Easter Sunday and which concluded on the following Sunday when we celebrate Christ’s divine mercy. The Octave is a special time of celebration of the resurrection our Lord Jesus Christ, with each daily Mass within the octave celebrated as a solemnity. 

The saint we celebrate today is Hermann Joseph von Steinfeld, a Norbertine priest from Germany who was born in the late 12th century. As a child, he had a deep devotion to Mary. A legend is told him out on a cold day without adequate shoes, with Mary providing shoes for him.  He entered the Norbertine Abbey at Steinfeld at the age of 12. He maintained a mystical devotion to Mary throughout his lifetime. He was trained as a clockmaker, and even as a priest, used that skill to make and repair clocks. He is declared a patron saint of clock makers. He died in 1241 at a cloister of Cistercian nuns where served as chaplain, where he is now buried. He was canonized a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1958, more than 700 years after his death. Many miracles of healing from the medieval period are attributed to his intercession. 

In our reading today from the Acts of the Apostles today, we hear about 3,000 people who were baptized in response to the message that Peter preached to them. On Good Friday, we heard the crowd cry out in the midst of Christ’s passion to have him crucified. Some of those same people who cried out for Jesus to be put to death could have been the very ones who responded to Peter’s call of repentance and baptism in our reading today. They “were cut to the heart” when they realized that Jesus, who was just crucified, was made Christ and Lord by God. May their witness be an example of faith for us today. 

7 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the Octave of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are the living word of God - Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus - you bring us hope and truth - Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus - you are the Word of God - Lord have mercy.

PRIEST: As we celebrate the Octave of Easter, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. As we commemorate Christ’s resurrection in a special way today, may his love be visible in our words and actions as we live out our faith each day.

2. That the Holy Spirit may help find that truth in Christ our Savior in the reality of our lives.

3. For our children preparing for the sacrament of holy Eucharist. For our youth who will receive the sacrament of confirmation tomorrow. For those adults who entered the Church on Easter weekend. May they find hope and encouragement on their journey.

4. For all who are suffering or struggling in any way. For all who need healing of body, mind or spirit. May the love of family, friends, and neighbors remind them of God’s loving care.

5. For the faithful departed. For their entry into eternal life. For the souls in purgatory.

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

PRIEST: Heavenly Father, we ask that you continue to lead and guide your people during the holy season of Easter. Hear our prayers that we make through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever. Amen.

5 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Easter Morning Mass

Introduction - We rejoice that this is the day the Lord has made. God’s love reaches out to all of us today on Easter morning. By Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, he has conquered sin and defeated death. A new life has dawned for us, as God’s love survives sin and overcomes death. Jesus has shown us the way to the Father. May the promise of the resurrection fill us with hope and lead us to eternal life.

Penitential rite - Priest: 

Lord Jesus, you are the risen Christ.

Christ Jesus, you were anointed by God with the Holy Spirit. 

Lord Jesus, you will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Priest: Filled with Easter joy by the promise of the resurrection, we now bring our prayers to God with hope and trust:

1. That by our mercy and compassion, we in the Church may raise our brothers and sisters out of their pain and suffering, sharing the Good News of the risen Christ with them. We pray to the Lord.

2. That the peace Christ brings us on Easter morning extend to the nations of the world, filling their hearts with justice and healing. We pray for peace especially in the Middle East and Ukraine. We pray to the Lord.

3. For all who entered the Church at yesterday’s Easter Vigil Mass. May they grow in their love of God as they live as children of the light. We pray to the Lord.

4. For all who suffer from illness, hunger, isolation, or neglect. May their burdens be lifted by Christ’s continuing mission in the world. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For the sick and the afflicted. For all who cannot be at Mass with us today. May they feel our love and prayers reaching out to them. We pray to the Lord. 

6. May our Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and works of charity continue in our daily lives in the joyful season of Easter. We pray to the Lord.

7. For our deceased loved ones and family members. 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 prayer intentions spoken and unspoken. For those who have asked for our prayers. We pray to the Lord.

Priest: God of creation, out of your love for us, you have given us your only begotten son and you have raised him from the dead. We make our prayers this morning through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

5 April 2026 - Bulletin Reflection for Easter Weekend

Christ has risen! With great joy, we welcome all of our parish members, family members, visitors, and guests to our Easter Weekend Masses. With great joy, we welcome our newest members to our parish, with the catechumens and candidates who have entered the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass this weekend. We are also looking forward to the sacrament of confirmation for our youth that will be celebrated at the Mass at 6:00 pm the upcoming Wednesday, April 8, at 6:00 pm. Now that we have concluded our journey with Jesus on his way to the cross during Lent, we now celebrate his resurrection in the joyful Easter season. Blessings to all of you this Easter weekend. Father Lincoln. 

prayers of the faithful for the sacrament of holy matrimony - prayers of the faithful for a Catholic wedding

Priest: As we pray to the Lord for Logan and Ross on their wedding day, we also remember the needs of the Church and the needs of the world:

1. For the Church and its leaders. May our commitment to the Gospel lead us to deepen our faith and trust in God. We pray to the Lord. 


2. For Ross and Logan, that their love for each other may continue to grow in the peace of Christ. We pray to the Lord. 


3. For all of our guests gathered here with us today. May they enjoy the warm company of family and friends and have safe travel on their journey home. We pray to the Lord. 


4. For Logan and Ross. May they live long, blessed lives together, may their love grow stronger each and every day, and may they build a family rooted in faith and unconditional love. We pray to the Lord. 


5. For our family and friends that have died. May they know the peace and fullness of eternal life with God. We pray to the Lord. 


6. For the leaders of the Church: may Pope Leo XIV and the bishops work together to build up our Church, that it may become the living sacrament of God’s transforming presence in the world. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For peace throughout the world, especially in the Middle East. For our military veterans and for the men and women serving in the military. We pray to the Lord. 

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


Priest: God of love, you create man and woman to become one. Hear the prayer of your church and answer the needs of your children, Logan and Ross. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer intention of Pope Leo XIV for March 2026 - for disarmament and peace

For disarmament and peace:  Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

5 April 2025 - homily for Easter Sunday - Matthew 28:1-10 - Psalm 118

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” As we hear this message of great joy proclaimed to us in the psalm today, we joyfully greet all of you today on this glorious Easter morning when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. 

We have been journeying with Jesus for 40 days in the desert during the holy days of Lent. The Church asked us at the beginning of Lent to observe the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and works of charity. I know that many of the Catholic faithful have been following these disciplines in different ways. On Fridays throughout Lent, we here at our parishes of Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception invited you to pray the stations of the cross with us, emphasizing the reality Jesus went through in his passion and in his way of cross. His way of the cross became our way of the cross in many different ways. 

Last week, we commemorated Holy Week with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, with his last supper with his disciples on Holy Thursday, and with his death on the cross on Good Friday. At the time of his crucifixion, many of Jesus’ close friends and disciples had denied him or abandoned him out of their own fears and sufferings. 

By sharing in the passion of the Lord during the holy days of Lent, we are now able to share in his resurrection today with sincerity and joy.  By our participation in the holy days of Lent, we are able to rise with Jesus today to a newness of life. 

This bring us to Easter morning when Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb in the early morning hours to find that Jesus’ body was not there. The significance of the empty tomb cannot be overstated. The mystery of faith and the resurrection that the empty tomb symbolizes stand at the very foundation of our faith and as the source of our hope. Our life of discipleship and our actions of faith would be in vain if the resurrection had not occurred. The empty tomb and the resurrection are what give our faith its purpose and our hope its substance. We are called to live out this faith and pass it on to others, just as previous generations have done for over two thousand years. 

Mary Magdalene was the first to witness the empty tomb. Based on her subsequent actions, of going out to notify the other disciples right away, the great medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas called he the “apostle of the the apostles.” She shared the joy of the resurrection with Jesus’ close group of followers. We can imagine their shock and confusion as they tried to make sense out of what was happening. 

As Catholics, in the reality of our lives of faith, Easter is not to be a one-day event. Easter and the resurrection and the entire paschal mysteries are to be a life-changing reality for us that transform the way we live and transform our perspective in life. The reality of Easter morning is to give us the hope that we will be with the Lord for all eternity. This is a reality we are to share with others and to live out each day. The Church affirms this reality by inviting us to celebrate the Octave of Easter, which concludes next Sunday, when we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. We are planning to have a special Divine Mercy prayer service at 3:00 pm that Sunday afternoon, which is a traditional devotion of our Catholic faith. We also will be celebrating an entire Easter Season which will end 50 days after Easter morning on Pentecost Sunday, which takes place on May 24 this year. We will have our traditional parish Pentecost lunch at Holy Savior on that day. 

This Easter morning and throughout the Easter season, may we worship the Lord with humility, sincerity, and gratitude. May we be filled with the joy of Jesus and the joy of the resurrection. May our hearts be full of love, belief, and faith in our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. We wish all of you and your families a blessed and joyful Easter.