Prayers of the faithful for the feast of St Joseph the Worker - 2025 May 1

Lord Jesus You grew up with Mary and Joseph in Nazareth.

Christ Jesus - You give dignity to human work. 

Lord Jesus - You are our Lord and Savior.  

PRIEST: Lord, you are the source of all holiness. We pray to our Lord God who gave St. Joseph the light and strength he needed to be faithful at all times: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and all priests. May they follow the example of St Joseph and lead us through a responsible and dedicated leadership.

2. That we in our Christian community may respect and love each other and be dedicated to our families by following the example of St Joseph.

3. That those entrusted with responsibility in various ministries of the Church set a modern Christian example for the people they lead.

4. That St Joseph the Worker may inspire all laborers and workers to work wholeheartedly in this world, seeking always to give God glory and be faithful to the duties assigned to them.

5. That through the intercession of  St Joseph, all humanity may find the opportunity to have secure employment and a fitting standard of living. We pray to the Lord.

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

PRIEST: Heavenly Father, we praise you for having led St Joseph to serve your son Jesus and his Mother Mary so faithfully. We ask that you help us to be faithful to our responsibilities and serve you with love. We ask this through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever. AMEN. 

1 May 2025 - homily for Friday of the 4th week of Easter - homily for the feast of St Joseph the worker - Acts 13:26-33

We have a lot of different examples of holiness in the lives of the saints. Just this week, on Tuesday, we celebrated St Catherine of Siena, a Dominican lay woman who lived in the 14th century and who had an incredible influence on the Church and the Church leaders of that era, leading her to be named a Doctor of the Church in the late 20th century. Then, yesterday, we commemorated Pope Pius V, who was named pope in the era of the Protestant Reformation and who was entrusted to implement the reforms and renewal that came out of the Council of Trent. Today, we celebrate Joseph, the spouse of Mary, as St Joseph the worker. Pope Pius XII instituted this feast day in 1955 to foster devotion to St Joseph as a model of faith and holiness and to counter-balance the May Day celebrations of the communist countries of Europe. This feast day is inspired by Joseph’s life of holiness as the humble hard-working carpenter who has inspired the Catholic example of the worker for centuries, emphasizing the dignity and respect we have for human labor and the way it contributes to our families and our society.  Beginning with the story of creation in the Book of Genesis, the dignity of human work has been celebrated as us participating in the creative work of God.

Just as St Joseph the carpenter and foster father of Jesus is a great example of the holiness of human labor for us in the modern world, we must remember that Jesus worked as a carpenter too. He learned carpentry from Joseph by working working with him. Jesus spent his early adult years working in Joseph’s carpentry shop before the start of his ministry. John Paul II stated in his encyclical On Human Work: “[Christ], while being God, became like us in all things devoted most of the years of his life on earth to manual work at the carpenter’s bench. This circumstance constitutes in itself the most eloquent ‘Gospel of work’, showing that the basis for determining the value of human work is not primarily the kind of work being done but the fact that the one who is doing it is a person.” Later in the same document, John Paul II states: “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated…”

In addition to this feast day of St Joseph the worker today and the feast day of Joseph the spouse of Mary on March 19, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph the patron of the universal Church in 1870. Just as Paul and the other apostles and disciples in the Early Church are great examples of faith for us as heard in our readings from the Acts of the Apostles during the Easter season, we honor St Joseph today in his example of holiness and his example of the dignity of human work. 

3 May 2026 - homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter - John 14:1-12

Our readings on this fifth Sunday of Easter present us with the themes of dwelling places and home. We Catholics are aware that the earth is not our permanent home. We are a pilgrims on a journey of faith here on earth. We are journeying toward eternal life with God in his heavenly kingdom. 

We are called to make our dwelling here on earth during this lifetime. We are to live as disciples of Christ and to proclaim God’s kingdom on our journey of faith. As disciples, we form the Church, the body of Christ here on earth. But we are also to form a domestic church in our homes with our families. Our faith is lived out each day mostly in our families in the domestic church. The words and actions of the family members form the faith of the family, the faith of the mother, father, and children. Our faith begins at home. We see this reflected in the sacrament of baptism. In a Catholic family, a child is baptized as a baby, as the parents make a profession of faith, profess the vows of their own baptism, and take responsibility for raising their child in the faith. The domestic church is to play a key role in our lives of faith and in helping us grow in holiness. The domestic home is the primary place where we are to practice intimate and selfless love of other persons.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus speak as heaven as a home that is filled with many dwelling places. “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” Jesus gives us this comforting image of the eternal life with God that awaits us in his kingdom. Jesus assures us of the personal love that God has for each one of us as he prepares for those who are faithful for him a place in the eternal kingdom. 

When I first arrived at Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception in the summer of 2022, which is hard to believe that it was 4 years ago, I met with Hunter Yentzen, the leader of the youth. One of the things we spoke about was adoration of the blessed sacrament. You might recall that I addressed adoration of the blessed sacrament at length in my homily last week. That devotion involves setting aside time to spend with the Lord’s body and blood that is present in the Eucharist as it is displayed in a special way in the church or in a prayer room in a monstrance or tabernacle. From that conversation I had with Hunter, we started adoration on the first Wednesday of each month, inviting all parishioners, but having a special emphasis in inviting our children, youth, and families. Making time for God as a family, practicing a devotion of the faith as a family, and praying to God as a family are important in the life of faith of the family, the domestic church. I want to invite you all to spend time with God in adoration. We have our first Wednesday adoration time this upcoming week from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, with confessions offered during that time as well. We have fellowship time with pizza afterwards as well. 

As we think about our family as a domestic church, how I we treating our families as such? Do we pray together as a family? Do we go to mass and adoration and participate in the life of our parish as a family? We had what I consider a good turnout for the Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent and for the liturgies of the Triduum during Holy Week, but many of our families and children and youth do not come to any of those liturgies. Many people who consider themselves devout Catholic never come to the liturgies of the Triduum. So, again, we need to ask ourselves if we are truly ourselves in our families as a domestic church. 

As we celebrate the 5th weekend of Easter and as we hear this wonderful Gospel reading today, may we respond to this great love that God offers us by taking good, responsible care of our earthly dwellings, making our homes true “domestic churches.” In our families and in our dwelling places here on earth, may we honor and worship God with our prayers, with our thoughtfulness toward each other, and with our generous hospitality shown toward all.

3 May 2026 - bulletin reflection for the 5th Sunday of Easter

Today, our children in our first communion class will receive the eucharist for the first time. Our children and their families have been looking forward to this day with great anticipation. They have been preparing for this day all year. We are very thankful for this moment in their lives of faith. In recent years, we have had a greater discussion and emphasis in the Church on the importance of the eucharist in our lives as Catholics. We have been discussing the importance of forming a eucharistic culture in our lives and in our families and the importance of identifying ourselves as a eucharistic people. Blessings to all of you as we continue to celebrate the joyful Easter season. Father Lincoln. 

3 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 5th Sunday in Easter - Saturday vigil mass

Introduction: We continue our celebration of the Easter season on this fifth weekend of Easter. With great joy, we will celebrate first communion with our children at our Sunday morning mass at Holy Savior. We hear Jesus tell us today that our hearts should not be trouble, that our heavenly Father has many dwelling places, that Jesus will prepare a place for his disciples. With the hope of our faith, may the reality of the resurrection help us to bring the Gospel message to the world and to evangelize others. 

Priest: Penitential Rite: 

Lord Jesus - you will prepare a dwelling place for us. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us the joy of your resurrection. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the hope of the eternal life in you.

Priest: With hope and trust, we bring our prayers today to our heavenly Father: 

1. For our children who are receiving the Eucharist for the first time at Holy Savior this weekend. We pray that the Lord continue to lead them and guide them and their family as they continue to grow on their journey of faith. We pray to the Lord. 

2. As we seek to follow Christ, that we in the Church may show the world the way to the Father. We pray to the Lord.

3. We pray that our national and world leaders choose the path of peace over the ways of violence and conflict. We pray for those communities and countries divided by violence and war. We pray for peace especially in the Middle East.  We pray to the Lord.

4. For all deacons, whose ministry of service dates back to the early days of the Church. For all transitional and permanent deacons in our diocese. We continue to pray for Hunter Yentzen and Chris Halliwell as they continue their diaconate formation program. We pray to the Lord.

5. For those whose hearts are troubled. For those who have lost their way. For those who are in need of guidance and support. That they might find what they need in our community of faith. We pray to the Lord.

6. For the sick and afflicted of our community. We pray for healing in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord.

7. For our deceased family members and loved ones. For their entry into eternal life. 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 and mercy, your son Jesus Christ shows us the way to you. Teach us to follow him more closely. Hear these our prayers that we make in his name, for he is our risen Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

3 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 5th Sunday of Easter - prayers of the faithful for First communion Mass - 10:30 am Sunday at Holy Savior

Introduction: We continue our celebration of the Easter season on this fifth weekend of Easter. With great joy, we also celebrate first communion with our children this morning. We hear Jesus tell us today that our hearts should not be trouble, that our heavenly Father has many dwelling places, that Jesus will prepare a place for his disciples. With the hope of our faith, may the reality of the resurrection help us to bring the Gospel message to the world and to evangelize others. 

Priest: Penitential Rite: 

Lord Jesus - you will prepare a dwelling place for us. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us the joy of your resurrection. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the hope of the eternal life in you. 

Prayers of the faithful:
PRIEST: On this 5th Sunday of the Easter season, we pray that all of us may be drawn more intimately into God’s love and mercy. We offer our prayers today for our needs and the needs of the world around us.


1. For God’s Church, that we may hear the call to be witnesses to the joy of Christ’s resurrection in the world. We pray to the Lord.


2. That we may be good stewards of our environment and take good care of God’s creation. We pray to the Lord.


3. For those who are who are hungry, for the poor, and for those in need. May we reach out to the them in works of mercy. We pray to the Lord 


4. For our first responders and for the men and women in the military. For all who protect us. We pray to the Lord.

5. For peace throughout the world. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For our children receiving first holy communion this morning and for their families. May they feel the joy of receiving Christ through the Eucharist. We pray to the Lord. 


7. For those who are sick in our parish community and in our families. For healing for them. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For our family members and loved ones who have died. 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. 

PRIEST: We are the people you shepherd, O God. We are the flock you guide. Hear these our prayers and graciously grant them through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever. AMEN. 

30 April 2026 - Pope Pius V - homily for Thursday of the 4th week of Easter - John 13:16-20

Today, we celebrate the feast day of Pope Pius V. He was elected pope in 1566. He served as pope for six years. He was born to a very poor family in the Piedmont regions of Italy. He worked as a shepherd until the age of 14, at which time he entered the Dominicans. As pope, Pius saw his main objective as the continuation of the massive program of reform for the Church, in particular the full implementation of the decrees of the Council of Trent that occurred after the Protestant Reformation. That council took place from 1545 to 1563. While pope, he published the Roman Catholic Catechism, the revised Roman Breviary, and the Roman Missal. He declared Thomas Aquinas a Doctor of the Church, issued a new edition of the works of Thomas Aquinas, and created a commission to revise the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible. The decrees of the Council of Trent were published throughout all Catholic lands, with Pope Pius V insisting on their strict adherence in response to the Reformation. 

We hear of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Passover meal from John’s Gospel today, a reading that was front and center during Holy Thursday in the midst of Jesus’ journey to the cross. We hear this reading again during the Easter season. It is a different context, but the message of being a servant and living out our faith in humility and service still speaks to us on our journey of faith. It is sometimes difficult hearing this message of service in the midst of our busy lives and in the midst of trying to get everything done. I think we all need to ponder how God is calling us to serve him and to serve our neighbor in humility and trust. 

22 April 2026 - Catholic prayer for earth day

I adapted this prayer for Earth Day 2026 from the Sisters of Mercy and from the Catholic Health Association: 

Let us pray: We are called to see ourselves and each other as earthen vessels created by God. As earthen vessels, we are called to care for God’s gifts in the world. Our world is fragile and in need of our love, support, and responsible stewardship.  May our hands align with God's hands in caring for his creation here on earth. We pray for: 

- Trees, plants, crops, and forests.  

-  Oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. 

-  Air, wind, and weather.

-  The sun, the moon, clean energy, and prevention of global warming. 

-  Animals, especially those animals that are endangered and who are losing their habitat. 

-  All humankind.  

- Recycling and prudent and moderate personal consumption of the earth's resources. 

 - Proper use of chemicals and disposal of toxic waste. 

-  The earth and the unity of all creation .  

Creator God, we thank you for all of creation. We ask your forgiveness for the times we have failed to be good stewards. We ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth. May we learn to live in harmony and in the just sharing of resources among all so that we may work toward the kingdom of God.  Peace be to this community. Peace be to this land. Peace be to all people. Peace to all of creation.  In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

26 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 4th Sunday of Easter - prison ministry

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. For our children and for all students. For a good end to the school year for them. We pray to the Lord. 

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

5. That our civil leaders may always promote a culture of spirituality. 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. For the safety of the men and women in the military. 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.

30 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 4th week of Easter

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

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

Lord Jesus - you are a light in the world - Lord have mercy.

PRIEST: As we celebrate the joyful Easter season, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For all who follow Christ in their daily lives, that his love may be visible in their words and actions.

2. For those who seek Christ's truth in the reality of life, that the Holy Spirit lead us and guide us each day.

3. For our children and youth, that they always find hope and encouragement on their journey of faith.

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

5. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life, and for the souls in purgatory.

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

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

29 April 2026 - St Catherine of Siena - homily for Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter - Acts 12:24—13:5a

I just finished reading the biography of St Catherine of Siena written by the famous Norwegian author Sigrid Undset, who had won the Nobel prize for literature in 1928. It was quite an amazing book, detailing the life of an Italian mystic who lived at the 14th century and who died at the young age of 33. She was a Dominican lay woman who had considerable influence in advising popes and other lay leaders. This was the era in which it was disputed who actually was pope and when the popes were in exile in France, quite a tumultuous time in Church history.  There was a lot of political turmoil in Italy at the time as well.  And from the details of the biography, Catherine seemed immeshed in so much of the intrigue of that era, always traveling with a large group of people who were her followers and friends. In 1990, Pope John Paul II named her one of the patron saints of Europe.  She was named a Doctor of Church by Pope Paul VI.  This quote of hers reflects the courage and zeal with which she lived out her faith: “Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear.”

We have had readings from the Acts of Apostles during these weeks of the Easter season. Last week, we heard about the stoning of Stephen, in which a man named Saul was a participant. We heard about Saul’s persecution of followers of Jesus.  Saul has a great conversion and he becomes a great evangelizer in the Christian community.  Today, we hear about the preaching of Saul and Barnabas, how they were chosen by the Holy Spirit to work in the community and to go to a special mission to Cyprus.  Saul will later be known by the name Paul. He becomes the great evangelizer to the Gentiles of the Ancient world. As we hear about the stories of the early Church from Acts, we might think about the ways that God calls us to spread Christ’s Good News in our words and our actions. All of us in our own way and with our own gifts can help bring this Gospel message to others. 

29 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you fill us with Easter joy. 

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

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Priest: Gathered around the altar of the Lord, we bring our prayer petitions on behalf of all who are in need

1. That we in the Church may find ways to preach the word and to serve our neighbor. 

2. For our elected leaders. May they serve with wisdom, compassion, and humility. 

3. For an end to violence and terrorism in our nation and throughout the world. For peace in the Ukraine and the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women serving in the military. 

4. For our students who are completing their semester at school. For all our graduates. 

5. That we will come to see the Lord Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. 

6. For the sick and the afflicted. For the faithful departed. 

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

Priest: God of all, you sent your only Son to us as a sign of hope and faith. Help us always to keep his way firmly in our sights as we make these prayers to you in his name, Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

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 the Easter season

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 leaders may always promote a culture of spirituality 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. For the safety of 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 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 - homily for the 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 a while back about my favorite Bible verses, and after a lot of reflection, since as a priest so much of Scripture speaks to me in different ways, I see the verses from the 23rd psalm and about Jesus being the Good shepherd speaking to me in a very profound way. 

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; 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, 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 the Old Testament. The shepherd enters through the gate to take care of the sheep, not to oppress them or harm them or lead them astray. The sheep recognize the good shepherd’s authority and they follow him where he leads them. Jesus leads his people to salvation, taking 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, TV, songs, and social media, we can get a lot of messages that are contrary to the values of our faith. 

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 to 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. 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 in today’s homily. 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 here at Holy Savior. That room is available 24 hours a day for the opportunity 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. In addition, 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, which is 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, which is May 6 next month. I want to invite all of you to join us for adoration of the blessed sacrament, to experience the presence of Jesus in your life in this profound way. 

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 from a Greek family. He was very much interested in improving relations between Rome and the Greek Church. He is remembered for declaring that matrimony is only a valid sacrament when it celebrated by a priest. He also formally inaugurated Easter as an annual festival in Rome. He was deeply compassionate and was known for his pastoral care, particularly for persecuted Christians. He sent alms and letters of encouragement to distant Christian communities, reinforcing unity and charity within the early Church.The Roman Martyrology of the official list of recognized saints references Soter. The details of his martyrdom are not known. 

Only John's Gospel 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 in the eucharist 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 years. 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. Later on, Saul would change his name to Paul. After 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 had the courage to witness for the Gospel, even when it meant 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.