Holy Savior Book Club - month of February

 The Holy Savior Book Club will be reading The Bridge of San Luis Rey in February by Thornton Wilder, the author of the famous American play Our Town. This book won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1928. Loosely based on a true story, this novel is about an Incan bridge that collapses in Peru in the early 18th century. A friar who witnesses the accident investigates the lives of those who died in this accident.  We will meet on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:00 pm and Wednesday, February 29 at 9:00 am to discuss the book. 

Bulletin Reflection - 15 February 2026 - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend we are at the ACTS retreat. The men from this retreat experience will return for the 10:30 am Sunday mass at Holy Savior. I am very thankful for the men of our Diocese and the men of the Diocese of Alexandria who are helping with this retreat. I am excited that this retreat experience is finally coming to the Diocese and that our hard work, prayers, and dedication have led us in this direction. As we enter the holy season of Lent this upcoming week, I pray that all of us prepare our hearts as we accompany Jesus in his passion and journey to the cross. Father Lincoln. 

Prayers of the faithful - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time cycle A - 15 February 2026

Introduction: On the final Sunday before Lent, our reading today remind us of God’s commandments. God’s wisdom give us the laws that direct us to live an righteous life. As we begin the holy season of Lent this upcoming week, today’s readings give us the opportunity to reflect on the ways we follow God’s commandments in our lives, of the way we love God and love our neighbor. 

Penitential rite: PRIEST:

Lord Jesus - you have come to fulfill the law and the prophets. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us new life. 

Lord Jesus - you teach us to keep God’s laws with all our hearts. 

Priest: As we prepare to celebrate our Eucharistic prayers before God’s altar, let us now offer our prayers for ourselves, for the Church, and for all in need: 

1. In striving to live out the spirit of God’s commandments, may we grow in our understanding of the wisdom of God. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That our elected officials may exercise judgment and mercy in creating, enforcing, and applying our civil laws. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That those who are suffering in the trials and brokenness of their lives find the support and hope they need. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For the prayer intention of Pope Leo XIV for February: For children with incurable diseases. Let us pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the necessary medical care and support, never losing strength and hope. We pray to the Lord. 

5. May the followers of the different religions of the world work together to bring about peace, justice, healing, and reconciliation. We pray to the Lord. 

6. That we may grow in discernment, recognizing the wisdom of God’s law and commandments. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For the men who are attending the ACTS retreat this weekend. May the Holy Spirit touch their heart and renew their faith through this retreat experience. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: God of infinite wisdom, we ask that you help us taken your commands to heart that we may choose rightly in life. Grant these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

8 de febrero de 2026 - homilía por el V domingo del tiempo ordinario - Isaías 48:7-10 - Mateo 5:13-16

El domingo pasado, escuchamos el comienzo del Sermón del monte en la proclamación de las Bienaventuranzas por parte de Jesucristo. Hoy, Cristo continúa con las enseñanzas en el Sermón del monte con las imágenes de la luz y la sal.

Isaías marca el tono del Evangelio al invitarnos a un ayuno especial: liberar a los que están injustamente oprimidos, dar libertad a los cautivos y romper las cadenas de la opresión. Según Isaías, hacemos esto cuando compartimos el pan con los hambrientos, ayudamos a los afligidos y a los sin hogar, y vestimos a los desnudos. Cuando hacemos esto, nuestra luz brillará como el amanecer. Nuestra luz no brilla para nuestra propia gloria, sino para guiar a otros hacia Cristo, para ayudar a los necesitados y para traer la justicia de Dios al mundo.

Hay muchos desafios para ser luz en el mundo moderno. Hay mucho oscuridad, dolor y sufrimientos. Sin embargo, debemos recordar que solo podemos ser luz en el mundo a través de Jesucristo. Él es la verdadera luz. Cristo instruyó a sus discípulos a ir a todos los pueblos para llevarles su luz. Desde aquellos primeros seguidores de Cristo que salieron de dos en dos como misioneros, la luz de Cristo se extendió hasta los confines de la tierra. Somos la luz en el mundos como discípulos de Cristo. Esta es nuestra misión. Debemos dejar que la luz de Cristo brille a través de nosotros dondequiera que vayamos y en todo lo que hagamos. Debemos hacerlo viviendo nuestra fe lo mejor que podamos, poniendo nuestra fe en acción, especialmente amando a nuestro prójimo como Cristo nos amó.

A menudo nos vemos a nosotros mismos como luz en el mundo y como sal de la tierra en las acciones de evangelización. Pero también necesitamos verlo en el contexto de justicia y misericordia. Similar al mensaje del profeta Isaías, el salmista afirma que «el justo es luz en la oscuridad para los rectos». Según el salmista, esta luz brilla cuando uno es bondadoso, misericordioso y justo.

Jesús utiliza este simbolismo de la luz y la sal justo después de predicar las Bienaventuranzas en el Sermón del monte. Vivimos las Bienaventuranzas cuando somos sal y luz. Aportamos sabor y luz a las personas cuando vivimos como discípulos de las Bienaventuranzas. ¿Cómo estamos siendo luz y sal para los demás miembros de nuestras familias, para nuestros compañeros en la escuela y en el colegio, para nuestros amigos, nuestros compañeros de trabajo y nuestros hermanos en la parroquia? ¿Como podemos llevar la luz y la sal a los necesitados, a los afligidos y a los que sufren?

13 February 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 5th week of ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you are the living word of God. 

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

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith and hope. 

Priest: With humble hearts, let us present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. That the Lord will give them courage and wisdom. 

2. For all the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Jackson. We pray that God will strengthen our spirits, help us form supportive relationships, and guide us in our ministries. 

3. For peace in communities and nations experiencing terrorism, violence, conflict, or war. That we may work to mend broken relationships and practice justice. 

4. For all who are unemployed or looking for a new job. May the Lord help them find their vocation and a work situation where they will be able to prosper and contribute to society.  

5. For our children, youth, and college students. That they may feel God’s presence with them in their studies and their school activities in their journey throughout the school year. 

6. For our sick and the afflicted. For healing in body, mind, and spirit. 

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

Priest: With joy and hope, we present our prayers through our Savior Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  

12 February 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 5th week of ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you are the Beloved Son of the Father. 

Christ Jesus - you are our Savior and Redeemer. 

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the values of justice and compassion. 

Priest: In faith and hope, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That our Church leaders may help us profess in word and deed that Jesus is Lord and help us to better know him and follow him. 

2. That we may increase our awareness of God’s grace at work in our lives, that it may help us share more fully in the life of the Trinity. 

3. That we may trust in God’s providence to lead us in our evangelization efforts and in our proclamation of God’s kingdom. 

4. That our students and teachers may learn together as they grow in wisdom. May God will protect them and guide them throughout the school year in their studies and their activities. 

5. For a deeper appreciation of the beauty and dignity of life: that the wisdom and knowledge of God may open our minds and hearts to honor and respect life, especially in the aged, the disabled, and the mentally ill.

6. For those who have died, especially our loved ones, family members, and friends, for their eternal life with God.

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

Priest: As we continue our journey of faith during these days of ordinary time, we present our prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

12 February 2026 - Sister Dorothy Stang - homily for Thursday of the 5th week in ordinary time - Mark 7:24-30

Sister Dorothy was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1931, one of nine children. She entered the community of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1948. After teaching in Catholic schools in the United States for 15 years, she was sent to the country of Brazil, where she spent 4 decades defending the rights of poor settlers who lived in the rain forest jungle. She advocated for better stewardship of the rain forest, seeing the destruction and deforestation caused by powerful  Brazilian ranchers. On February 12, 2005, less than a week after meeting with Brazil’s human rights officials about threats to local farmers from loggers and landowners, she was shot by hired gunmen and left to die on a muddy country road. She was 73 years old. She was posthumously awarded the 2008 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights. She has been declared a martyr for the faith by the Vatican. 

Like the faith of the Syrophoenician woman in the Gospel today who crossed cultural and society norms to plead for Jesus to help her daughter out of her great faith for Jesus, many of the missionaries of our Church like Sister Dorothy Stang are great examples of faith for us through their perseverance against challenges and obstacles.