Prayers of the faithful for the Catholic sacrament of Holy Matrimony - Marriage convalidation

Priest: We now call upon the mercy of God the almighty Father. 

His plan of salvation is reflected in the love and fidelity of Emily and Austin, the their marriage that they are having blessed in the church today: 

1. Renew the fidelity of your servants Emily and Austin. Holy Father, as they bless their marriage today in the presence of their family and friends. We pray to the Lord. 

2. Holy Father, who with the Son and the Holy Spirit enjoy from eternity the perfect oneness of life and communion of love, grant that Emily and Austin may always remember and faithfully keep the covenant of love they make in this Sacrament. We pray to the Lord. 

3. Holy Father, watch over Emily and Austin and their family in both the joys and challenges of life. We pray to the Lord. 

4. Holy Father, you will that the partnership of Marriage should be an example of Christian living, grant that Emily and Austin and all married couples may be witnesses in the world to the mystery of your Son’s love. We pray to the Lord. 

5. We have family members and loved ones who are going through health challenges and illnesses. We pray for them in the name of Christ the healer and the great physician. We pray for healing in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord. 

6. We pray that the Lord bless all the children and youth of our community and accompany them on their journey of faith. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: O God, in whose plan, family life has its firm foundation. Please hear with compassion the prayers of your servants and grant that, following the example of the Holy Family, they may praise you without end in the joy of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. ± Amen.

23 October 2026 - St John of Capistrano - homily for Friday of the 29th week in Ordinary Time ACTS RETREAT - Ephesians 4:1-6

Today is the feast day of St John of Capistrano. We probably are familiar with him by his Spanish name, as mission San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, California was named after him by the Franciscan missionaries who brought God’s word to the native people of California. The Spanish missionaries usually named missions and areas after the saint on the date of the feast day on which they arrived in that location. St John of Capistrano was born in 1386 in the kingdom of Naples in Italy.  He was imprisoned during a war with a neighboring town. He entered the Franciscan community as a friar in Perugia after his release. After being ordained to the priesthood, he brought his gifts of preaching to countries all over Europe – throughout  Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia.  Through his preaching, John of Capistrano tried to unify the Christians throughout the European realm. He also wrote religious tracts against different heresies of that era. He died in 1456 at the age of 70. 

We have been hearing from St Paul’s letters to the Galatians and the Ephesians these past several weeks.  Today, in his letter to the Ephesians, St Paul writes how he is a prisoner of the Lord. He is writing this while he is actually imprisoned in Rome. Writing this message behind bars, it gives weight to his message to the Ephesians to be worthy of the calling to live a Christian life that they received through their baptism. He exhorts them to be patient, gentle, and humble. We can imagine St Paul praying that he himself would be follow those same virtues in his challenging life circumstances. He calls the Ephesians to live in unity as one Body and one Spirit, of which those virtues would help to achieve these goals. We can think of the ways our faith and God’s love can set us from free from all that keeps us down. 

We welcome all of you to this first Mass of our ACTS retreat. The Mass and the Eucharist are central to our Catholic faith and to our relationship with Christ, so Mass has a very important role in our ACTS retreat. As we hear St Paul tell the Ephesians to be patient and humble, as we start this ACTS retreat, it is important to be patient and humble and open to how God is speaking to us through this retreat. It is always good to enter a retreat time with openness to how God is going to speak to us through this retreat, that it may be in a way that might surprise us. God will certainly speak to us in this retreat in the midst of the reality of our lives, through the talks and devotions and conversations and prayers and experiences we will have in this retreat. May our hearts and our minds be open. May we not have expectations as to what this retreat is going to be. The team and I look forward to journeying with all of you this weekend.  

22 October 2026 - St John Paul II - homily for Thursday of the 29th week in Ordinary time - ACTS RETREAT MASS FOR TEAM MEMBERS - Ephesians 4:1-6

When we consider that Pope John Paul II served as Pope from 1978 to 20025, one of the longest pontificates in the history of the Church, we can think of the influence he has had on the Church and the Catholic faithful. He made a profound impact on the Church and on the world. And his contributions as pope continue to have an impact on the Church and the world today. 

One of the first popes who was not from Italy for many centuries, he made an impact on the world in helping to bring an end to communism in his native country of Poland and in many other countries in Europe. 

In the life of the Church, he promulgated a new Catechism, providing a new authoritative summary of Catholic doctrine for the Catholic faithful. He also oversaw the reform of Canon Law. He issued many influential documents during his papacy, including 14 encyclicals and 15 apostolic exhortations. He also wrote the influential theology of the body, which addressed the topic of human love, sexuality, and the dignity of the human body. He advocacy for the pro-life movement also made a big impact in the United States and in other countries in the world. 

In the realm of spirituality, he popularized the spirituality of St Therese, whom he named a doctor of the Church. He also popularized his personal devotions to the Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Fatima. He beatified and canonized numerous saints, more than many of his predecessors combined. He also established World Youth Day in 1985. His travels to many countries helped revitalize the Catholic faith throughout the world. 

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes how he is a prisoner of the Lord.  Paul indeed was imprisoned in Rome at the time that he wrote this letter. Even though he was behind bars, he was able to exhort the Ephesians to be patient, gentle, and humble. I tell the prisoners whom I visit and minister to in the state prison here in Central Mississippi that there are far worst prisons that can confine them in their lives than the bars that they are behind right now at the state prison. We can be imprisoned by different forms of addiction. We can be imprisoned by false expectations and a false sense of values, by clinging the to values of the secular world and our worldly appetites that never seem to be satisfied. We can be imprisoned by our past, by not being able to let go and forgive. St Paul calls us to the one Body, the one Spirit, the one faith. Through our faith and through our membership in the Body of Christ, we can break free from all that imprisons us. 

As we celebrate Mass today right before the beginning of our ACTS retreat, I am thankful for all the hard word and dedication of you ladies in starting the ACTS retreat here in Central Mississippi. I know that a lot of you have made a lot of sacrifices in our busy daily lives in order to commit to ACTS. For years, the men and women of Vicksburg who had gone on the ACTS retreat had approached the Diocese and had approached their parish priests and there was no answer and no support as to beginning the ACTS program. We tried to get it started in the Jackson area, and then the pandemic hit, derailing those plans. Thankfully, through prayers and hard work and perseverance, that dream of starting the ACTS retreat in Central Mississippi is now a reality. I am thankful for the women of the Diocese of Alexandria and of the Diocese of Jackson who have made all of this possible. We unite our prayers with the prayers of Pope John Paul II and St Paul, two great evangelizers, as we start our ACTS retreat today. 

THE ANGELUS PRAYER - traditional Catholic prayer

The leader reads what is in regular text. 

The others read who is in bold text. 

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: 
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.


Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 



Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

Description and history of the Angelus prayer

The Angelus prayer dates back to the monasteries where the monks prayed the hail Mary in the evening with the ringing of the bells back in the 11th century.  It evolved into the Angelus prayer we know today back in the 16th century. 

The Angelus prayer recalls the visit of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce Jesus’ upcoming birth. We pray the Angelus at a set time, pausing our busy days and remembering the incarnation, when Jesus became man and dwelt amongst us here on earth. 

Traditionally, communities have prayed the Angelus at 6:00 am, noon, or 6:00 pm. This short devotional prayers sanctifies the hours of our day and focuses us toward Christ. Pausing at a certain time each day for this prayer breaks the the noise of daily life and brings prayer in the middle of our work or rest. 

Through this prayer we join the global community of Catholics around the world, uniting us with believers in a shared rhythm of faith. 

Teresa of Avila - readings for Memorial Mass - 15 October 2026

Teresa of Avila - readings for Memorial Mass - 15 October 2026 

For the Mass at St Joseph Catholic School, Madison, Mississippi 

Reading 1- Romans 8:22-27

Brothers and sisters: We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.

In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God's will.

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R.    (10)  The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
R.    (John 6:63)  Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.


The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.


R.     The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.


R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just.


R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.


R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.


Alleluia - John 15:9b, 5b

R.    Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in my love, says the Lord; whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
R.    Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel - John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.


I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

15 October 2026 - St Teresa of Avila - homily for Thursday of the 28th week in Ordinary Time - John 15:1-8

Teresa of Avila was born in 1515, more than 500 years ago. She entered the Carmelite monastery at the age of 20 against the wishes of her Father. She experienced great physical and spiritual challenges in her first years as a nun. During the first 20 years in the monastery, she lived a very conflicted life. She followed her religious duties as a nun, yet was still very attached to worldly comforts and social status. One day during Lent in the year 1554, she entered the chapel and saw the statue of the wounded Christ. Overwhelmed with feelings of Christ’s love for her, she fell to the floor in tears and surrender to him. This event changed her life dramatically. 

Teresa realized that she and the other nuns needed to return to a life of simplicity and humility, to get back to the roots of the hermits who lived on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land in the 12th century, the beginnings of the Carmelite order. The Carmelite monk St John of the cross joined Teresa’s efforts of reform and renewal of the Carmelite order; this led the establishment of a new religious order named the discalced or barefoot Carmelites. Teresa of Avila is the author of two important books on Catholic spirituality: The Way of Perfection and the Interior Castle. She died in the year 1582 at the age of 67. 

Right now, around 16,000 monks and nuns are members of the Discalced Carmelites living in monasteries around the world. Teresa was named as the first female doctor of the Church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI, alongside St Catherine of Siena. I have visited the city of Avila several times on pilgrimage. The city of Avila has one of the best preserved medieval walls surrounding a city in all of Europe. Teresa’s presence is still very much felt in this city many centuries after her death. As a member of the secular Carmelites myself here in the Diocese of Jackson, I very much experience Teresa of Avila and her spirituality as a part of my priesthood. 

St Teresa of Avila is a great Church reformer, theologian, spiritual leader, and mystic. One of the things I take away from the life of St Teresa of Avila and her spirituality is how prayer is not to be a rigid chore that we do or to be focused on the words, put prayers is to be seen as a conversation between close friends, as a part of our friendship with God and our friendship with Jesus. 

One of the things I take away from the life of St Teresa of Avila and her spirituality is how prayer is not to be a rigid chore that we do or to be focused on the words, put prayers is to be seen as a conversation between close friends, as a part of our friendship with God and our friendship with Jesus.

In our Gospel today, we here about the parable of the vines and the branches. It is so important that we feel connected to Jesus and maintain a personal relationship with him. Through Jesus we are connected to the Father and connected to our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. As we pray together and worship together as a school community, we come together today to offer mass for Luke Anglin, whose is connected to different members of our St Joseph community. We unite our prayers with the prayers of our Mother Mary, with St Joseph, our school’s patron, St Teresa of Avila and all the members of the community of saints. 

I am reminded of a wonderful prayer written by St Teresa of Avila that talks about how in our works and our actions and our presence, we can be the presence of Christ in the world: 

Christ has no body but yours, 
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks 
compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
 yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
 Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
 Yours are the eyes, you are his body.