Back in July 2019, I traveled to the Basque region of Spain to the retreat center on the grounds of the ancestral home of St Ignatius of Loyola to pray his spiritual exercises for an entire month. It was an amazing very intense experience that was done mostly in silence. Every morning, I would meet with my spiritual director, spend the day praying the exercises, and then spend time walking through the neighboring villages before Mass and dinner. As we celebrate the feast day of St Ignatius of Loyola today on July 31, I gave thanks for the way Ignatian spirituality has impacted my journey of faith and my priesthood.
Saturday, August 1, 2026
1 August 2026 - homily for Saturday of the 17th week in Ordinary Time - Mark 14:1-12
Looking at the calendar of saints these past few days, we see a lot of great luminaries from throughout Church history. Last Thursday we celebrated St Peter Chrystologus from the 4th century. He was a great preacher and the Bishop of Ravenna, Italy. He has been named as a Doctor of the Church. Yesterday was the feast day of St Ignatius of Loyola from the 16th century from the Basque Country in Spain, the founder of the Jesuits, and the author of the famous spiritual exercises. There is an entire movement of Ignatian spirituality that has developed from his teachings. Today, we honor St Alphonsus Liguori from the 18th century. Liguori studied law at the young age of 16. After a successful law career, he became a priest at the age of 27. He started his priesthood working with the poor and the marginalized youth in Naples, Italy. Soon afterward, he founded the congregation of the Redemptorists, which focuses on preaching and teaching in poor cities and neighborhoods. From his experiences in ministering the poor, he developed a moral theology that had great influence in the Church. Liguori was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871. It is an honor as a priest to offer masses that celebrate these great saints.
When the people of Ancient Israel were trying to figure Jesus out, they speculated as to whether he was the return of one of the prophets or the second coming of John the Baptist. Herod was intrigued by the message that John the Baptist proclaimed, but fearful of him at the same time. Although he had an inclination to save John the Baptist’s life, trapped by circumstances and his desire to hold onto power, Herod had John the Baptist put to death. In our world today, a lot of different voices and a lot of different prophets call out to us. Our busy schedules and our busy lives can lead us in different directions, sometimes away from the faith. May we look to Mary and the saints and the values of our faith help us stay on the right path.
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
9 August 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time CYCLE A - PRISON MINISTRY
Priest or Deacon: Penitential Rite
Lord Jesus, you calm the storms of our turbulent lives.
Christ Jesus, you save us when we are fearful and weak.
Lord Jesus, you lift us up when we call out to you.
Priest: The Lord invites us to come to him and not to be afraid. With faith and hope, let us draw near to God in prayer:
1. That in the midst of the storms of uncertain times, we may put our faith in Jesus to lift us up. We pray to the Lord.
2. For our Church leaders and our governmental leaders. May the Lord grant them wisdom in the important decisions they make. We pray to the Lord.
3. For those affected by natural disasters and by the hot summer weather. That the Lord lead them to relief and recovery. We pray to the Lord.
4. For those discerning important decisions in life. May they set aside their fears and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray to the Lord.
5. For those who are ill or injured or afflicted. May the the Lord stretch out his hand to them and grant them healing. We pray for those at CMCF in the BMU program and in the infirmary. We pray to the Lord.
6. For all who have died, especially our loved ones and family members. For their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord.
7. For our children. May the Lord accompany them in their studies and their school activities. We pray to the Lord.
8. For first responders, the men and women in the military, veterans, and medical professionals. We pray to the Lord.
9. For the prayers we hold in the silent of our hearts. For those who have asked for us to pray for them. We pray to the Lord.
Priest: Heavenly Father, when our lives are being tossed about by the waves of crisis, loss, and uncertainty, may we hear you calling us to step out in faith. May we respond with courage and conviction. We make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
9 August 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Introduction: We gather as a community of faith today. Our readings today show us how we can find God in the midst of the turbulence and storms of life. Jesus walks on the water and asks Peter to step out in faith. We are called to keep our focus on Jesus and our faith with whatever trials and struggles we are going through in life. May the message we receive at Mass today bring us hope and encouragement.
Priest or Deacon: Penitential Rite
Lord Jesus, you calm the storms of our turbulent lives.
Christ Jesus, you save us when we are fearful and weak.
Lord Jesus, you lift us up when we call out to you.
Priest: The Lord invites us to come to him and not to be afraid. With faith and hope, let us draw near to God in prayer:
1. That in the midst of the storms of uncertain times, we in the Catholic Church may put our complete faith in Jesus to lift us up above the waves of life. We pray to the Lord.
2. For our Church leaders and our governmental leaders. May the Lord grant them wisdom in their leadership and in the important decisions they have to make. We pray to the Lord.
3. For those affected by natural disasters and by the hot summer weather. That the Lord lead them in relief and recovery. We pray to the Lord.
4. For those discerning important decisions in life. May they set aside their fears and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray to the Lord.
5. For those who are ill or injured or afflicted. May the the Lord stretch out his hand to them and grant them healing. We pray to the Lord.
6. For all who have died. For the repose of their souls. For their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord.
7. For our children, youth, and college students. May the Lord accompany them in their studies and their school activities.
8. For our first responders, the men and women in the military, veterans, and our medical professionals. We pray to the Lord.
9. For the prayer we hold in the silent of our hearts. For those who have asked for us to pray for them. We pray to the Lord.
Priest: Heavenly Father, when our lives are being tossed about by the waves of crisis, loss, and uncertainty, may we hear you calling us to step out in faith. May we respond with courage and conviction. We make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
9 August 2026 - reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
You all know how much I love learning about the saints. This weekend on August 9, we celebrate Edith Stein, a Jewish woman who converted to Catholicism and who became a Carmelite nun. She was arrested for her Jewish background in World War II and was put to death in a concentration camp. Then on Friday of this upcoming week we will celebrate St Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan who ran a publishing house at his monastery and who also was put to death in a concentration camp. This two martyrs call out to us as examples of faith and service. May we give thanks to the community of saints who accompany on our journey with their prayers and their intercessions. Have a blessed week everyone. Father Lincoln.
7 August 2026 - homily for Friday of the 18th week in Ordinary Time - Pope Sixtus II - Matthew 16:24-28
Pope Sixtus II was elected Pope in the year 257. We do not know a lot about him, but most Church historians believe that he originally came from Greece. He served during the reign of the Roman Emperor Valerian, who was very tolerant when he first came to power. However, Valerian later issued an edict that outlawed Christian worship and that directed that bishops, priests, and deacons be arrested. In the year 258, Sixtus and six deacons were put to death. He was buried in the Crypt of the Popes, within the Catacombs of Callixtus located on the Appian Way in Rome. Although we do not know much more about him, we know that he is a saint and among the early martyrs of our Church who also fought to unite the Church, to treat sinners with mercy, and to hold firm to the teachings handed down to us from the Apostles. As we honor this courageous saint and martyr today, we pray that all of us be able to give witness to Christ by our fidelity to him.
In our Gospel from Matthew today, Jesus tells us that whoever wishes to come after him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow him. We see this being lived out in the lives of a lot of the saints and martyrs that we honor and recognize. May we unite the crosses that we carry in life with the crosses that the saints and martyrs carried and with Jesus’ own journey to the cross.
7 August 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 18th week in Ordinary Time
Lord Jesus - you bring us hope.
Christ Jesus - you are a light shining in the world.
Lord Jesus - you are the beloved son of the Father.
Priest: With faith and hope, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father:
1. For our Church leaders. For wisdom and strength.
2. For peace in the world, especially in our communities here in the United States, in the Middle East and Ukraine.
3. For all who are needy or lonely or suffering. For healing and wholeness.
4. For our loved ones and those who support us in prayer.
5. For all the faithful departed and for all who have died recently;
6. For the spiritual and physical well-being of all our parishioners and loved ones.
7. For our children and youth and college students. May God bless them in their students and in their school activities. For our parents and teachers.
8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.
Priest: We present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.
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