30 September 2026 - St Jerome - homily for Wednesday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 9:57-62

Today, we commemorate Early Church Father and Doctor of the Church St Jerome, who was born in the middle of the 4th century. He was born in the Roman province of Dalmatia in the region of the Balkans. He was a student of philosophy and ancient languages, studying in Rome. He made a decision to convert to Christianity and spent time living as hermit in the desert. He is well-known for his translation of the Bible into Latin, known as the Vulgate, commissioned by Pope Damasus I. He also wrote extensive commentaries on Scripture. His famous quote is: "ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ," emphasizing the importance of knowing the Bible for understanding the Christian faith. This assertion highlights the necessity for Christians to engage deeply with Scripture to truly know Christ and His teachings. In addition to his commentaries on the Bible and his writings on theology, the letters he left are important too, comprising a variety of topics, such as the problem of scholarship, comforting the afflicted, exhorting the ascetic life and the renunciation of the things this world, and debating his theological opponents. The Catholic Church recognizes St Jerome as the patron saint of translators, librarians, and encyclopedists. He ended his life living five years in the silence of the desert for five years and then living for 34 years near Bethlehem, spending that time studying, praying, and translating the Bible. What can we learn from the life of St Jerome. First and foremost, the importance of Scripture in our life of faith. He taught that believers should read and meditate on the Bible every single day to stay close to God. Also, his life story shows us the importance of personal conversion in our life of faith. As a young man, he sought worldly pleasures, but after his conversion, lived as a hermit in the desert and used prayer and fasting to fight temptation and grow closer to God.His journey teaches us to recognize our faults and accept God's mercy in our lives. 

When one of the disciples calls out to Jesus in the Gospel today, “I will follow you wherever you go,” I wonder if he realized the implications of such a statement. All of us may feel something like that in our hearts, following Jesus wherever he goes and wherever he calls us, but it could lead us to some very difficult and challenging places. In the lives of the saints such as St Jerome, we see where Jesus can call on our journey of faith. May we be open to God and his will and the places where he calls us. 

30 September 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time - St Jerome

Lord Jesus - you are the living word of God. 

Christ Jesus - you are the beloved son of the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Priest: As we celebrate the Early Church Father St Jerome today at Mass, we united our prayers with Mary and the community of Saints and we present them to our heavenly Father. 

1. That our Church leaders and government leaders will lead us in justice and wisdom.

2. That we may hear the voice of Christ calling us to “not be afraid” 

3. That we may learn to turn to God in every circumstance that is beyond our control. 

4. For our Jewish brothers and sisters and for peace in the Middle East. 

5. For all who struggle with doubt and uncertainty. 

6. For all families facing crisis or financial difficulty. That they may find the help they need and may they find hope in their faith. 

7. As we celebrate St Jerome today, we pray for a greater love and understanding of Sacred Scripture. 

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

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

29 September 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the feast of the archangels

Lord Jesus - you send us the archangels as messengers. 

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

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Priest: With homily of heart, let us present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That we may keep Christ as the center of our attention and never tire of calling out for God’s saving help in the challenges of life. 

2. That we not be confused nor distracted by the different voices that cry out to us in the world. 

3. For an openness to God’s call and our vocation as Christians. 

4. That we may honor the archangels and angels and the community of saints and their role in our life of faith. 

5. For the grace of humility. That we may live like Christ in the ordinary moments of our lives. 

6. With gratitude and thanksgiving, that we may recognize the gifts and blessings that we have in our lives. 

7. That St Michael may lead us in fighting the forces of evil here on earth. 

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

Priest: As we celebrate and honor the archangels today, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

 

29 September 2026 - Homily for the Feast of the Archangels - Revelation 12:7-12ab

With great joy, the Church in the West celebrates the Archangels on their feast day on September 29. We honor them this way each year to recognize their important roles as messages of God and as protectors in the history of salvation. 

There are three archangels named in the Bible. St Michael is seen as our protector and defender against Satan and against all evil. St Gabriel is a messenger of God’s Good News to his people on different occasions. And Raphael has the role of being a healer and a guide. The Archangels have been sent by God for these specific purposes in order to carry out specific roles in God’s plan of salvation for humanity. This feast day also reminds us of the presence of these spiritual beings who are actively at work to help us. 

Since the angels and archangels are spiritual beings and have never been human beings, who are the three archangels given the title “Saint”? That is a question I have been asked on numerous occasions as a priest. 

The dates of today’s feast on September 29 originally marked the dedication of an ancient basilica honoring St Michael located near the city of Rome. After the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the Church’s liturgical calendar combined the feast days of St Rafael and St Gabriel into this one feast day that celebrates all three archangels together. 

Sometimes, non-Catholic do not understand why we would pray with Mary or the community of saints or the Archangels. To be very clear, we do not worship any of them like we would worship God. We do not see them as equal to God. However, we do honor the Archangels as powerful intercessors who bring our petitions before God, who guard us and help us on our spiritual journey, and who offer us spiritual strength during life’s struggles and challenges. The St Michael the Archangel prayer who written by Pope Leo XIV from a vision he had after his celebration of the Mass. That prayer was prayed at the end of all the low masses in Latin up until the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. St Michael is seen as the Prince of the Heavenly Host and the defender of the Church. He is invoked in prayers by Catholics both privately and at Mass for protection against Satan and against all evil. It is with great joy that we unite our prayers with the prayers of the Archangels today. 

20 September 2026 - Blessing of our parents and catechists on Catechetical Sunday 2026

For the pastoral activity of the Church, the cooperation of many individuals is needed so that that our community and our parishioners may advance in full maturity in the faith. 

This cooperation is provided by those who devote themselves to catechesis. Enlightened by God’s word and the Church’s teachings, catechists and teachers of religious education impart to others an initiation or a deeper formation in the realities of the faith and share their faith with others. 

Let us pray for our Catechists: Heavenly Father, you are the source of wisdom and knowledge. You sent your Son to live among us and to proclaim his message of faith, hope, and love to all nations, to bring good news to the poor. Bless our catechists and teachers of religious education. Strengthen them with your gifts, that they may teach by word and by example the truth that comes from you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen.

Let us pray for our parents: God our Father, bless our mothers, fathers, and guardians. Give them strength and wisdom as they care for their children. Show them how to raise their families with patience and tenderness. May they be the main teachers of the faith to their children. May they grow in wisdom, understanding, and grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen. 

May the Lord bless our teacher of religious education, our catechists, and our parents, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. R/. Amen.

20 September 2026 - Explanation of Catechetical Sunday 2026

Catechetical Sunday was inspired by the Vatican document Provido sane consilio (On the Better Care and Promotion of Catechetical Education) published in 1935.

This year’s theme for Catechetical Sunday: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to bring good news to the poor” Lk 4:18; cf. Is 61:1

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to bring good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18; cf. Is 61:1) reveals Jesus’ mission and identity. Anointed by the Holy Spirit, he is sent to bring hope, healing, and freedom—especially to the poor, the brokenhearted, and the forgotten.

These readings show that the Messiah comes not with power or status, but with compassion and love. He has come to restore our human dignity and to proclaim God’s mercy to all. Jesus’ mission to bring God’s Good News to the poor becomes a model for the Church, us, which is called to continue Christ’s work by sharing the Good News and caring for those most in need.

We are grateful for our catechists and for all involved in our program of religious education for children, youth, college students, and adults. May we never forget our mission in the Church to bring Christ’s Good News to the poor, to those most in need, to the vulnerable, and to those on the margins. May we go outside our parish boundaries to bring this message to others. 

I am very thankful for those who involved in our mission of catechetical education at our parishes of Holy Savior in Clinton and Immaculate Conception in Raymond. 

Blessings - Father Lincoln. 

Much of this information was taken from the USCCB website. 

27 September 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Prison ministry

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life. 

Christ Jesus - you have the power to change us and transform us. 

Lord Jesus - you guide the sinner on the right path. 

Priest: Out of the depths of our faith, let us present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, for Bishop Kopacz, and for all Bishops and Church leaders. May they be an inspiration for all people who labour in the Lord’s vineyard. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For all our governmental leaders. May they move beyond power and control and place their priority on the justice and well-being of the people whom they serve. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For each one of us gathered around the table of the Lord today. As we receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, may we strive to live in a manner worthy of Christ’s Gospel. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For the sick and afflicted of our community. For healing and wholeness. For the men in the BMU and the infirmary.  We pray to the Lord. 

5. For the prayer intention of Pope Leo XIV for the month of September. For the care of water. For a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it. We pray for those who are managing the water system for the city of Jackson. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For those who have recently died and for all the faithful departed. May God welcome them into his eternal kingdom to share the reward of their faithful service. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For our children and youth. May the Lord continue to accompany them throughout the school year in their studies and in their school activities. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Loving God, you are near to all those who call upon you. Hear us always in your generous love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
 Amen.