It seems like there is never any downtime for most of us in the modern world. It seems like we have busy lives and busy schedules all the time. Yet, we are called to make our journey of faith a priority in our lives. We make time for a lot of other things, but we are called to make time for the Lord, to make that the center of our lives. It is still the first part of May, and we have already had our first Friday devotion, our first Saturday devotion, our first Wednesday evening of adoration, our first communion Mass with our children, and our healing Mass for the month. We will still have a lot going on at Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception during the summer months. I hope you will join us. Blessings. Happy Mother’s Day weekend to everyone. Father Lincoln.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
10 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 6th Sunday of Easter
Introduction: We are nearing the end of our celebration of the Easter seasons, as we celebrate the risen Christ in our weekend liturgies in a special ways. We will close out the Easter season in the next two weekends with our celebrations of the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost. As we reflect on the meaning of Christ’s resurrection and the paschal mysteries, may we always feel the joy of the risen Lord in our hearts.
Lord Jesus - you call us to a life of discipleship.
Christ Jesus - you lead us on the path of holiness.
Lord Jesus - you call us to keep God’s commandments.
Priest: As you promise to send us the spirit of truth to accompany us on our faith journey, we present our prayers to you today with faith and hope:
1. That Jesus’ commandment to love one another may motivate ministries of outreach in the Church to those in need. We pray to the Lord.
2. That we may care for our planet and all its inhabitants with wise stewardship and reverence, recognizing the Creator in all of creation. We pray to the Lord.
3. As we celebrate May as the Month of Mary, we pray that we united our prayers with Mary’s prayers. May we grow in our devotion to her. We pray to the Lord.
4. For those who are afflicted and ill in body, mind, or spirit, May the Lord release them from all that holds them down and liberate them in new life in Christ. We pray to the Lord.
5. For mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers. That the Lord may strengthen them and guide them and their families in their lives of faith. We pray to the Lord.
6. For those who are struggling in different ways on their journey. That the Holy Spirit lead them in the right direction and restore them to wholeness. We pray to the Lord.
7. For all who have died. 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: As we continue our journey through the Easter season, may we feel the joy of the risen Lord accompanying us each step of the ways. We make our prayers through your son Jen Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.
8 May 2026 - homily for Friday of the 6th week of Easter - Acts 15:22-31
What are the essential requirements to be a disciple of Christ? The Early Church needed to decide the answer to that question. The community leaders gathered at Jerusalem, deciding that circumcision should not be imposed on the non-Jewish converts to the Way of Jesus. They promulgated this decision to the wider Church. Antioch was a great center of Greek speaking followers of the Way of Jesus, both Jewish and Gentile converts alike. Besides Paul and Barnabas being sent to Antioch to represent the Church in Jerusalem, they also sent others from the Jerusalem community. Significantly, they announced their statement with these words: “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us…” They find it important to say that they are not only speaking in their own name, but also with the endorsement of the Holy Spirit in their decision. In the last few days in our first readings from Acts, as we heard of the decisions that were made by the Church and of the ways that the Holy Spirit accompanied the Church and her leaders. The leaders discerned how the Spirit was working with them as they made their decisions guided by the Spirit. Sometimes the Holy Spirit can lead us to decisions that we would not make on our own. In recent years, it seems like there has been a distrust and a rebellion against authority figures in our country. Perhaps that distrust has been warranted in some cases. Let us pray today and everyday for our Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz and the other Bishops, and all of our Church leaders. They certainly need our prayers, our love, and our support.
3 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 5th Sunday in Easter - prison ministry
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 eternal life in you.
Priest: With hope and trust, we bring our prayers today to our heavenly Father:
1. For all of us who receive the Eucharist at Mass each week. We pray that the Lord continue to live within us as Jesus enters our lives in a special way in the Eucharist. We pray for all the children at Holy Savior Catholic Church who are receiving the Eucharist for the first time this weekend. 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 and Ukraine. 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 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 men in the BUM unit here at CMCF. For all here at CMCF who are battling addictions and different demons in their lives. For strength and courage. We pray to the Lord.
7. For the sick and afflicted of our community. We pray for healing in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord.
8. For our deceased family members and loved ones. 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: 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.
7 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 5th week of Easter
Lord Jesus - you are the beloved son of the Father.
Christ Jesus - you bless us on our journey.
Lord Jesus - you bring us Easter joy.
Priest: With Easter joy, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father.
1. That all who are ill may find new life and healing in Christ.
2. That we may all appreciate the gift of nature and God’s creation.
3. We pray for our farmers and gardeners. For good weather and an abundant harvest.
4. That the gift of Christ’s peace settle in the hearts of all the human family.
5. That those who struggle with faith may be liberated by the Word of God and grow in their relationship with God.
6. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today.
Priest: We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN
8 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 5th week of Easter
Lord Jesus - you tend your flock.
Christ Jesus - you lead your people to God’s kingdom.
Lord Jesus - you are our savior and redeemer.
Priest: With faith and hope in the risen Christ, we present our prayer to our heavenly Father:
1. For the Church throughout the world. May our faith in God’s love influence our word and our actions.
2. For peace in our world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women serving in the military.
3. For the poor, the homeless, and the unemployed. May God help them in the midst of their reality.
4. For the protection and sanctity of human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.
5. That the children and youth of our parish may grow in wisdom and grace on their journey of faith. For a good end to the school year.
6. For evangelizers, missionaries, and lay ministers.
7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today.
Priest: Heavenly Father, you are present in our midst. We pray that you continue to lead us and guide us as we commemorate the Easter season. We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.
7 May 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 5th week of Easter - apparition of St Rafael in Cordoba Spain - John 15:9-11
In the year 1578, the city of Córdoba in southern Spain was suffering from devastating plagues and unrest. Starting on May 7 of that year, Father Andrés de las Roelas, a devout priest, began receiving supernatural visions of a radiant figure. The heavenly visitor identified himself as St. Raphael, the Archangel. Rafael spoke these reassuring words to the priest: “I swear to you by Jesus Christ crucified that I am Raphael, whom the Lord has placed as guardian of this city.” This divine revelation brought immense consolation to the people of Córdoba. They believed that St. Raphael had been sent by God to protect their city from further calamities. Following this apparition, the city of Córdoba grew in devotion to the Archangel Raphael. Many miracles were attributed to his intercession. The people built shrines and statues in his honor. The apparition of St. Raphael in Córdoba is a powerful reminder that God sends his angels to watch over his people. The basilica of St Rafael in Córdoba was built on the spot of the apparition in the late 18th and early 19th century in honor of the city’s devotion to the archangel Rafael.
In the Gospel of John, right after Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples, he delivered a series of discourses to them. Yesterday, we heard one of those discourses, where Jesus explained that he was the vine and that his disciples are the branches, that they are intrinsically connected. Today, we hear an explanation of that Gospel story that consists of only three short verses. Jesus summarizes God’s law in the concept of Agape love, of a love that is unselfish and that reaches out to the well-being other person. Jesus wants us to love our neighbor in a way that would willingly suffer inconvenience and discomfort as a part of that love. This love is called to be rooted in our faith and in our relationship with Jesus. May we always abide in God’s love as disciples of Christ.