Chancery prayer - Diocese of Jackson - In honor of St Francis of Assisi - Feast day October 4


The originally harmonious relationship between human beings and nature has become conflictual in many ways. Through universal reconciliation with every creature, Saint Francis in some way returned to the state of original innocence as described in the book of Genesis. In calling to mind the figure of Saint Francis of Assisi, we come to realize that a healthy relationship with creation is one of a personal conversion, recognizing our failures and leading to a heartfelt desire to change. May the light of the grace we have received from God be evident in our relationship to other creatures and to the world around us. Let us help nurture that relationship with all creation which Saint Francis of Assisi so radiantly embodied.

A reading from the book of Genesis (Gen 1:20-25)
    And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let Birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged Bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let Birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
     And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind :  Cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
The word of the Lord. 

We ask for a blessings for our pets and for all animals 

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of these animals his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless all the animals of the world, especially our pets. By the power of your love, enable them to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures.  Amen. 

Peace prayer of St Francis of Assisi: 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy. 

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, 
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Now let us present our prayer intentions to our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Francis and all our Church leaders, that they may help us be good stewards of God’s creation, caring for the earth, our gifts, and our precious resources, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For our governmental leaders, that they may be servant leaders who help feed the hungry and life up the poor from their desperate circumstances, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For healing and reconciliation in our broken world.  We pray to the Lord. 

4. For our deceased family members, loved ones, and community members.  For their entry into eternal life.  We pray to the Lord. 

5. For those who need healing in body, mind, and spirit. For those who are struggling with addictions, depression, or mental illness.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For members of Franciscan communities around the world.  For the spirit of St Francis of Assisi that is alive in them.  We pray to the Lord.  

Closing prayer: O God, by the gift of your grace, Saint Francis of Assisi was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility.  May we all walk in the footsteps of St Francis in our love our neighbor and in our love of creation as we live out our lives of discipleship, practicing joyful charity.  In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  AMEN. 

1 October 2023 - prayers of the faithful - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: God blesses us with the gift of life. While we were in our mother’s womb, God knew us and formed us. God continues to grant us his love and mercy in our journey through life. We come together at Mass today to praise God for the gift of life and for his love and mercy. As we enter Respect Life Month on this first weekend of October, let us all be reminded of the value of all human life and God's call to cherish life at every stage.  

Lord Jesus - you emptied yourself and you took the form of a slave.  

Christ Jesus - you are the Good Shepherd who leads us to new life with you. 

Lord Jesus - you will appear in glory at the end of the time.  

Priest: As we ask you to remember your mercies, O Lord, let us ask God to grant his mercy to all in need as we present our prayers to our Heavenly Father today: 

1. May we in the Church give witness to our resolve to do the will of the Father as we faithfully work in the vineyard to bring God's kingdom to fruition, we pray to the Lord.  

2. For all of us who are involved in the synodal process, especially those Bishops meeting in Rome this month. May we all discern the way forward for the Church in the third millennium. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That we may all respect life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death and throughout every point in between. Let us work to protect the most vulnerable and the most forgotten in society. We pray to the Lord.

4. For all who care for women during pregnancy and childbirth, that they may be blessed in their service to the community, we pray to the Lord. 

5. That those who have not returned to Mass since the end of the pandemic and for this who have fallen away from the faith, that they may hear the call to unity and community in Christ’s name, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. And for healing for the sick and the shut-in.  We pray to the Lord. 

7. For all the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all our prayer intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord.  

Priest: Merciful God, your son emptied himself and obediently accepted death for our redemption. May Christ’s sign of his love for us give us confidence as we present our prayers in his name today, for he is our Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

1 October 2023 - Bulletin Reflection - 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

It is hard to believe that we are starting the month of October this weekend. October is Respect Life month. Our Mass today on this first Sunday is dedicated to Respect Life issues. Jesus reached out to everyone in society, but had a very specific ministry to sinners and to the oppressed. This year’s theme of Respect Life month calls us to radical solidarity. We have been stressing unity and solidarity in our synodal process and in our pastoral reimagining process. Radical solidarity is more than a few sporadic acts of generosity. It calls us to a mindset and to a way of life. Radical solidarity calls us to get invoked by word and deed in people’s lives. It calls us to embrace human life, to touch the suffering flesh of Christ in others. It calls us as the Body of Christ to build a culture of life here in our society. Respect Life month draws us to these particular issues that are sometimes very complicated in our modern world. This month, let us all reflect upon how we are living out these values as a community, as a Diocese, and as individuals. Blessings to all of you - Father Lincoln.

prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time - 6 October 2023

Lord Jesus, you rose from the dead to destroy death and to restore life.

Christ Jesus, you are the source of healing and peace. 

Lord Jesus, you come to us in word and in sacrament. 

PRIEST:  Let us approach God today in a spirit of faith at mass today, recalling our needs and the needs of the world, asking for God’s love and mercy: 

1. For the Church, that we may be ever grateful to God for all the gifts we have received, installing within us a spirit of gratitude and appreciation, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For the governmental leaders of the nations and the leaders of all our towns and cities, that they pay attention to those who struggle in society with poverty, addictions, homelessness, and hunger, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For those who suffer from physical and mental illness, that they may know our Lord’s healing presence in their lives, we pray to the Lord. 

4. That we may give witness to others of our gratitude to God for all the blessings we have received, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life, and for the souls in purgatory, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For all the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord.  

PRIEST: Loving God, hear the needs of your grateful people and respond with your kindness and mercy.  We ask these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

Prayers of the Faithful - 5 October 2023 - Thursday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - You call us to be missionary in spirit. 

Christ Jesus - You bring us hope. 

Lord Jesus - You bring us your Good News. 

With hope and faith, let us bring our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Francis, that God will renew him and strengthen him and help him lead the Church to greater service and unity.

2. That the witness of modern day prophets may touch our hearts and be an opportunity for deeper conversion for all God’s people. 

3. For those who need healing in their lives body, mind, and spirit. 

4. For our elected officials, that the Holy Spirit will guide them in addressing the issues of violence and injustice and allow them to help those who are oppressed or forgotten by society. 

5. For healing of families and communities, that those touched by violence, anger, or division may heal and reconcile and be brought to wholeness. 

6. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our heart:

With humble hearts, we present these prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

Prayers of the faithful - St Francis of Assisi - 4 October 2023

Lord Jesus - you call us to be good stewards of God’s creation. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us the Father’s love. 

Lord Jesus - you come to us as a servant. 

As we celebrate St Francis of Assisi on his feast day today, we come to God with our prayers in faith and hope. 

1. For Pope Francis and all our Church leaders, that they may help us be good stewards of God’s creation. 

2. For our governmental leaders, that they may be servant leaders who help feed the hungry and rise up the poor.

3. For healing and reconciliation in our broken world. 

4. For safety and security for those in danger, help for those battling addictions, and comfort for the afflicted. 

5. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. 

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

With hope and joy, we present these prayer to you, O God, through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful - 3 October 2023 - Tuesday of the 26th week in ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you call us to stand firm in our faith. 

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Lord Jesus - you are the living word of God. 

Priest: In a spirit of trust and hope, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For a spirit of gratitude: that we may recognize all our gifts, possessions, and opportunities as gifts from God, that we may place each of them in the service of God. 

2. For all who are suffering or being persecuted for their faith: that God will comfort and strengthen them and bring them safely through their trial. 

3. For the Gospel of life, that we may respect all human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. 

4. For greater respect for each person: that God will turn the hearts of all who rely upon violence and bring healing to all who have suffered harm, abuse or neglect

5. For healing for the sick and the afflicted in body, mind and spirit.  

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

Priest: In unity with the community of saints, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

8 October 2023 – homily for the 27th Sunday in ordinary time – Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm 80, Matthew 21:33-43

Even though I will be away on retreat with the Secular Carmelite group this weekend down at the Visitation monastery in Mobile, Alabama, I still wrote this homily for this weekend:  

    We hear a lot of references to vineyards in our readings at Mass today.  With this reference to nature and to God’s creation, we can take this opportunity to reflect upon these readings through the spirituality of St Francis of Assisi, since we celebrated his feast day this past week. St Francis is a popular figure in today’s world not only for his love of nature, but also for the unity he saw in all of creation, for the way he saw everything in our world coming forth from the love of God, our creator.

      Isaiah prophesies today about God’s vineyard, about the choice grapes that the Lord planted and tended with care, about how they have become wild grapes. This message foretells Israel’s upcoming destruction due to people straying from their faith. Isaiah tells the people of Israel that they have not lived up to God’s hopes and expectations. I wonder: how would God view us? Look at all of the gifts the world has to offer us, at the individual talents and gifts each one of us has been given from God. We can ask ourselves if we are good stewards of these talents and gifts, if we as individuals and as a society use them respectfully, or if we squander these talents and resources in ways that are against God’s will. We are indeed the body of Christ here the Church, but in many ways St Francis thought of all nature and all creation as God’s body as well. St Francis gloried in the beauty of God’s creation that is all around us.

      When I think of God’s creation, I think of the beauty of the rainforest that I experienced as missionary in Ecuador.  I would travel all over the rain forest jungles in a canoe, on foot, and sometimes on horseback. Almost every weekend for those three years as a missionary, I would travel 4 hours in a canoe to a village called San Francis, named after St Francis of Assisi.  Even though I would journey there every weekend, I never tired of traveling through the vast rainforest. I was in awe of its presence, of the trees, plants, and animals in this beautiful ecosystem. Yet, when I saw how fast the lumber companies were cutting down the trees in the jungle without replanting or caring about what they were destroying, it called me to think about our stewardship of God’s creation.

       Many of the poor in Ecuador had few opportunities for education or work, so it made me appreciate even more all of the opportunities and resources that we have here in the United States. We are still a very rich nation, but there are many in our country who are suffer a great deal. Our Church acknowledges that there is not a magical solution or easy answers that will cure poverty or cure our society’s problems.  In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis asserts that “growth in justice requires more than economic growth… it requires decisions, programs, mechanisms, and processes specifically geared to a better distribution of income, the creation of sources of employment and an integral promotion of the poor which goes beyond a simple welfare mentality.”  

     St Francis of Assisi saw all of creation bound together by the Holy Spirit; he saw all of creation as a part of the brotherhood and sisterhood we have in Christ; he saw the fire, the wind, and the sun as our brothers; the moon, the water, and the earth as our sisters. In contrast to St Francis and his holistic view of creation, we have a group of wicked tenants in the Gospel today. The Lord was the landowner of their vineyard.  He sent his prophets and his son to bring his message; the tenants killed those messengers, rejecting the covenant they had with the Lord. As we live and work in the vineyard of the Lord, do we see ourselves as connected to him, as having a responsibility as his disciples? Do we follow the will of God with humility and obedience, or are we as selfish, arrogant, and recalcitrant like those tenants in our Gospel?  May the Lord come first in our lives.  May we follow the Gospel of Life. May we see ourselves as good stewards of God’s creation. 

6 October 2023 - St Bruno of Cologne - Friday of 26th week of Ordinary Time - PSALM 19:8-11

      Today, we celebrate a very interesting saint who was born almost 1,000 years ago, St Bruno of Cologne. Ordained a priest as a young man, he became the head of a prestigious school of philosophy and theology in Reims, in northern France, and later chancellor of the archdiocese there. Refusing an appointment to be ordained a Bishop, he withdrew to a solitary life, which led to the establishment of a monastery in the Chartreuse mountains near Grenoble in France. To this day, this religious order, called the Carthusians, follows the strict rule that Bruno established. The motto of the Carthusians is Stat crux dum volvitur orbit, meaning, "The cross is steady while the world is turning.” Currently, there are 23 charter houses of the Carthusians throughout the world, with one in our country in the state of Maine. The Carthusians are noted for their strict observance of silence. There was a documentary made about the Carthusians about 15 years ago that is entitled Into Great Silence.Indeed, there is little talking in that film. I have been recently reading a book entitled The Power of Silence by Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, West Africa.  In that book, he quotes St Bruno of Cologne often. Here is one of his quotes: “What benefits and divine exaltation the silence and solitude of the desert hold in store for those who love it, only those who have experienced it can know.” St Bruno asserted in this quote from one of his letters that the desire to see God and to experience him is what urges us human beings to seek him out in silence and solitude, for it is in silence that God dwells for God drapes himself in silence. St Bruno is one of the patron saints of Germany and of the region of Calabria in Italy. As we honor St Bruno today, may we lift up the members of the Carthusians in prayer, and thank them for the witness of faith that they bring to the world. 

     Today, we hear in the psalm: “The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.”  God’s law and God’s word are to nurture us and guide. St Bruno used silence in a creative way to follow God’s law and precepts.   

5 October 2023 - Thursday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time - Memorial of St Faustina - Luke 10:1-12

      Today, October 5, we celebrate the Memorial of St Faustina Kowalska. She was born in 1905 to a poor but devout Polish family in 1905. At the age of 20, with little formal education, and having been rejected from several convents because of her poverty and lack of education, she entered the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. She lived in convents in both Poland and Lithuania. Throughout her life, Jesus appeared to Sister Faustina. He asked her to become an apostle and secretary of his mercy, wanting her to write down the messages of Divine Mercy that he gave her. Jesus also asked her to have an image painted of his Divine Mercy, with red and white rays issuing from his heart, and to spread devotion to the Divine Mercy novena. Even before her death in 1938 at the age of 33, devotion to Divine Mercy began to spread throughout Poland. A boy in Poland at the time, Karol Wojtyla, heard about this image of Jesus’ Divine Mercy.  That boy later became Pope John Paul II.  

      Pope John Paul II wrote: “It is truly marvelous how her devotion to the merciful Jesus is spreading in our contemporary world and gaining so many human hearts! This is doubtlessly a sign of the times — a sign of our twentieth century. The balance of this century, which is now ending, in addition to the advances which have often surpassed those of preceding eras, presents a deep restlessness and fear of the future. Where, if not in the Divine Mercy, can the world find refuge and the light of hope? Believers understand that perfectly.”  On April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina in what he was widely reported as saying was the happiest day of his life.

      The Gospel today states the the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.  We are called to be laborers in the fields of the Lord in different ways. Religious nuns and monks who devote their life to prayer and cloistered life have a particular role as laborers of the Lord.  Sister Faustina has had a big impact in the Church in the image of Divine Mercy that Jesus communicated to her.  We unite our prayers with her prayers today.  

4 October 2023 - Homily for Wednesday of the 26th week in ordinary time - St Francis of Assisi - Luke 9:57-61

     When one of the disciples calls out to Jesus today, “I will follow you wherever you go,” I don’t think he realized the implications of such a statement. I don’t think he realized the many crosses he would have to bear as he followed Jesus. From our hearts, we might in all sincerity want to follow Jesus wherever he goes and wherever he calls us, but it could lead to a very difficult challenging journey.  

     I am sure St Francis of Assisi never dreamed of the places where God would call him. St Francis, whose feast day we celebrate today, is one of the most popular saints of any age. I was reading an article about St Francis that said that he is much more than a popular lawn ornament. I think we tend to domesticate and tone down the saints, making them these quaint, pious examples of faith, ignoring their flaws, their true radical nature, and the true reality of their lives. It is well-known that Francis lived a very wealthy pampered life, but then an encounter with a leper changed his life and helped him look at God in a new way. He gave away his worldly riches and proclaimed a radical Christian message that got back to a lot of the heart of Christ’s teachings. The way Francis saw God in all creation, the way he reached out to the poor, his love for animals: many people of our modern world can relate to a Franciscan spirituality.  In 1986, when Pope John Paul II called a peace conference of world religious leaders, he held it in Assisi, the hometown of Francis. Today, we recognize that if we do not see ourselves as stewards of the earth’s resources, if we don't see God in the beauty of creation, a message embodied in St Francis of Assisi, then perhaps we are denying a foundational aspect of our faith.When Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina became Pope in 2013, he had a special place in his heart and his ministry for the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, which is why he chose his name for pope after Francis of Assisi. For so many throughout the world, both Catholics and non-Catholics alike, the name of Francis of Assisi symbolizes poverty, humility, simplicity, and a rebuilding of the Catholic Church. We have a lot we can learn from St Francis of Assisi.

3 October 2023 - Tuesday of the 26th week of Ordinary Time - Luke 9:51-56

    Jesus persevered on his journey to Jerusalem, even though he knew that arrival in that holy city would bring an end to his life on earth. Today, Jesus’ messengers enter a Samaritan village who would not welcome him. Perhaps the villagers did not know about Jesus’ miracles and healings. Perhaps they feared Jerusalem for political reasons and nationalistic reasons. Throughout the Gospels, at different points on Jesus’ journey, he would be welcomed at some villages, but in others, he would face opposition or anger. Our own journey through faith can be like that too. We meet those who help us on our journey and who encourage us. We also meet those who put roadblocks in our way on our journey of faith. 

     Perhaps today’s Gospel helps us look at how we are welcoming to others as a parish and as individuals. In recent years, since the convening of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, our Popes have addressed the need for a new evangelization and a desire for our Church to be more welcoming and inviting, not only to visitors and strangers, but also to our parishioners and to those who do not feel they have a place in our parishes. Sometimes we do not know a person’s story and do not know the reality of their journey of faith. Their true story can be very different from what we see on the surface. In modern society today, it is easy to make assumptions or to be judgmental.  Mother Teresa once said:  “The biggest disease is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.” How can we be more welcoming, as individuals and as a community?  

Catholic Blessing of Pets in Honor of St Francis of Assisi

Our blessing of the pets will take place at Holy Savior parish in Clinton on Monday, October 2 at 6:00 pm. 

     Almighty Lord, our Creator, we give you praise, glory, honor, and blessings as we celebrate the feast day of St Francis of Assisi this week.  St Francis saw you, God, in all creation. He saw you in all creatures, big and small, for to you alone do all these things belong.  We praise you for giving us our animal friends, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, all these creatures which fill the world. May we think of you and thank you when we play with and care for our pets. We give you thanks for our pets who are our friends and companions. We ask you, Lord, that we may be good to our pets always, so that they may be happy and week-cared for. Help us always to take care of them so that they will be healthy. O God, your world is so wonderful. May we all come into your eternal kingdom where we shall see even more wonderful things and where we shall live and love for ever. This we ask to your eternal praise as we bless our animals today in honor of St Francis Assisi whom we celebrate on his feast day this week. May almighty God bless all of our pets in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.  

29 September 2023 – Friday - Archangels – Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel – Revelation 12:7-12 - CMCF - Central Mississippi Correctional Facility

       Today, we celebrate the feast day of the three archangels – Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael.  We’ve been celebrating the feast day of these three archangels together since 1970, when their feast days were combined together in the revised Roman Catholic calendar after the Second Vatican Council. 

       Our reading from the book of Revelation today depicts the Archangel Michael defeating Satan and the powers of evil. With the defeat of Satan, salvation and power have come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed – Jesus the Christ. St Michael and the other angels are messengers of God’s loving and merciful relationship with us. The Angels are bearers of Good News to us. They help us conquer evil and sin in our lives. We respond to this message of Good News by answering to God in faith in our thoughts, words, and actions. Indeed, sometimes our lives may seem like we are in the middle of a war that is fought by the angels who are on the side of God as they battle the demons and the evil spirits who seem intent on getting us. St Michael is the Archangel leading us in battle against those evil forces.  He is the patron saint of police officers, first responders, the men and women in the military, paratroopers, and fighter pilots. St Michael is the patron saint of our community.  When choosing a patron saint, we like the image of St Michael helping us fight off the forces of evil in the world. 

      A belief in angels in our modern world has gone beyond Christianity. It is popular in our secular world today to believe in angels, to have a belief in the divine messages that the angels deliver to us on behalf of God. In our celebration today, we give thanks for the angels and archangels.  In our preface before starting the Eucharistic prayer in the mass today, we proclaim that we join the angels and archangels in their song of praise to the Lord.  May we truly feel the praise that we proclaim to the Lord in connection with these heavenly spirits.  

     In celebrating the feast day of our Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel, I think of how our community has only been around since May.  It was during the visit of the Bishop Kopacz on May 13 that we signed the new bi-laws of our community.  That is only 4 months ago.  It seems like a lot longer, doesn’t it.  Back in January, we were not even coming out once a week.  Now, the week before last, I was out here four times in one week.  We now have two golf carts and a farmer’s market. We have come a long way.  The Holy Spirit has guided us.  St Michael has guided us.  We have a lot to be thankful for today.  

prayers of the faithful - feast of the Archangels - 29 September 2023 - Central Mississippi Correctional Facility

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and our Redeemer 

Christ Jesus - you are honored and glorified by the Angels and Archangels

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

Priest: As we honor the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael today in our celebration of our community's feast day, we present our prayers to God the Father: 

1. For our governmental leaders, for wisdom to guide them and lead them as they lead the people. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For our Church leaders, for compassion and mercy. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For our first responders and the men and women in the military, for their safety.  We give thanks for their service and their sacrifices. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For our faith community of St Michael the Archangel, that St Michael may continue to lead and guide our community and our farmer's market. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who spread the Gospel message throughout the world and for those who spread the Gospel here to the men at CMCF. For our Eucharistic minister Michael Shaw and for all the field ministers and chaplains.   We pray to the Lord. 

5. For our children and family members who are in school, that God may accompany them through their studies and through their journey through life.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For healing for the sick.  That the Lord will heal them in body, mind, and spirit.  We pray to the Lord.   

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

Priest: We present these prayers to you today as we celebrate your Archangels through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

 

1 October 2023 - prayers of the faithful - 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Introduction: God blesses us with the gift of life. While we were in our mother’s womb, God knew us and formed us. God continues to grant us his love and mercy in our journey through life. We come together at Mass today to praise God for the gift of life and for his love and mercy. As we enter Respect Life Month on this first weekend of October, let us all be reminded of the value of all human life and God's call to cherish life at every stage.  

Lord Jesus - you emptied yourself and you took the form of a slave.  

Christ Jesus - you are the Good Shepherd who leads us to new life with you. 

Lord Jesus - you will appear in glory at the end of the time.  

Priest: As we ask you to remember your mercies, O Lord, let us ask God to grant his mercy to all in need as we present our prayers to our Heavenly Father today: 

1. May we in the Church give witness to our resolve to do the will of the Father as we faithfully work in the vineyard to bring God's kingdom to fruition, we pray to the Lord.  

2. For all of us who are involved in the synodal process, especially those Bishops meeting in Rome this month. May we all discern the way forward for the Church in the third millennium. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That we may all respect life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death and throughout every point in between. Let us work to protect the most vulnerable and the most forgotten in society. We pray to the Lord.

4. For all who care for women during pregnancy and childbirth, that they may be blessed in their service to the community, we pray to the Lord. 

5. That those who have not returned to Mass since the end of the pandemic and for this who have fallen away from the faith, that they may hear the call to unity and community in Christ’s name, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. And for healing for the sick and the shut-in.  We pray to the Lord. 

7. For all the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all our prayer intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord.  

Priest: Merciful God, your son emptied himself and obediently accepted death for our redemption. May Christ’s sign of his love for us give us confidence as we present our prayers in his name today, for he is our Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

1 October 2023 - Bulletin Reflection - 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

It is hard to believe that we are starting the month of October this weekend. October is Respect Life month.  Our Mass today on this first Sunday is dedicated to Respect Life issues.  Jesus reached out to everyone in society, but had a very specific ministry to sinners and to the oppressed. This year’s theme of Respect Life month calls us to radical solidarity. We have been stressing unity and solidarity in our synodal process and in our pastoral reimagining process. Radical solidarity is more than a few sporadic acts of generosity. It calls us to a mindset and to a way of life. Radical solidarity calls us to get invoked by word and deed in people’s lives. It calls us to embrace human life, to touch the suffering flesh of Christ in others. It calls us as the Body of Christ to build a culture of life here in our society. Respect Life month draws us to these particular issues that are sometimes very complicated in our modern world. This month, let us all reflect upon how we are living out these values as a community, as a Diocese, and as individuals.  Blessings to all of you - Father Lincoln. 

1 October 2023 - Mass for Respect Life month - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Philippians 2:1-5

      Every year, the Catholic Church promotes respect for the pro-life values of our faith by recognizing the month of October as respect-life month. I look back to 15 years I have been a priest, starting in 2008; I have celebrated Respect life month each of those years. Respect-life month was important to me while I was in seminary and when I was first ordained as a priest because I saw these values are such an essential part of our Catholic faith. With the erosion of a strong voice advocating for a respect for life in our secular society, this pro-life message that Church announces is even more important today.  

       Jesus reached out to everyone in society. He invited all to be a part of God’s kingdom and God’s plan of salvation. However, he also had a very specific ministry to those who were marginalized and oppressed in society in different ways. In that same way, Respect Life Month calls us to a very specific ministry. This year’s theme of Respect Life month calls us to radical solidarity. We have been stressing unity and solidarity in our synodal process and in our pastoral reimagining process. Radical solidarity is more than a few sporadic acts of generosity. It calls us to a mindset and to a way of life. Radical solidarity calls us to get involved by word and deed in people’s lives. It calls us to embrace human life, to touch the suffering flesh of Christ in others. It calls us as the Body of Christ to build a culture of life here in our society. Respect Life month draws us to these particular issues that are sometimes very complicated in our modern world.  We are called to work in unity toward a pro-life culture in society.  This echoes the theme of our second reading today from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians, in which we are called to be of the same mind and same love of God, united in our hearts as we participate in the life of God through the Holy Spirit. God calls us not to just think of ourselves, but to be servants to others as well.  

     Our pro-life landscape in the United States has changed immensely with the overturning of the Roe vs Wade Supreme Court decision which had been in place since 1973 in which abortion was legalized in our country. However, we recognize that abortion continues in many states and is still promoted at the federal level. Many prayers, sacrifices, and good works are still desperately needed to transform a culture of death into a culture of life. Our public and our advocacy must continue, yet laws alone will not end the tragedy of abortion. We must work for the changing of hearts. 

      What are somethings we can do during pro-life month this October? We can consciously include pro-life intentions in our prayers.  We can also pray the rosary, reflecting upon pro-life mysteries for the rosary.  I will send those out on Flocknote each week with rosary guide containing these pro-life mysteries.  What we pray for show us what is important to us in our lives.  Prayers for pro-life intentions can be an important part of our lives of faith. 

      Secondly, we can think about how in our words and our actions we are living out this message of radical solidarity. In a program that US Catholic Church has called Walking with Mom’s in Need, we are called to walk alongside vulnerable mothers in profound friendship, compassion, and support for both them and their pre-born children. However, it is important to see Respect Life as more than one issue. In addition to helping moms and pre-born children, we are to look at our care of the elderly; our education system; our healthcare system; access to food, housing, and healthcare in our society; clean drinking water; care for the earth; our efforts against racism and discriminations; and our efforts to fight crime and reform our criminal justice system. I know that all these issues can seem overwhelming because there seems to be a lot of brokenness in these realities in our society right now. There is only so much we can do, but it is important to do something. As a parish, we are concentrating on some of these issues in our outreach and ministry. As an individual priest, as you know, I am concentrating on some of these specific issues as well.  

     A good step in all of this is the way we are initiating the discussion about Respect Life Month this first weekend of October. May the Lord open up our hearts and our awareness.  

29 September 2023 – Friday - Archangels – Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel – Revelation 12:7-12

       Today, we celebrate the feast day of the three archangels – Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael.  We’ve been celebrating the feast day of these three archangels together since 1970, when their feast days were combined together in the revised Roman calendar after the Second Vatican Council. 

       Our reading from the book of Revelation today depicts the Archangel Michael defeating Satan and the powers of evil. With the defeat of Satan, salvation and power have come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed – Jesus the Christ.  Michael and the other angels are messengers of God’s loving and merciful relationship with us.  They are bearers of Good News to us.   They help us conquer evil and sin in our lives. We respond to this message of Good News by responding to God in faith. Indeed, sometimes our lives may seem like we are in the middle of a war that is fought by the angels who are on the side of God as they battle the demons and the evil spirits who seem intent on getting us.  Michael is seen as the Archangel leading us in battle against those evil forces, so he is the patron saint of police officers, soldiers, paratroopers, and fighter pilots. 

      A belief in angels has gone beyond Christianity, as it is popular in our secular world today to believe in angels, to have a belief in the divine messages that they deliver to us.  May we give thanks for the angels and archangels today.  In our preface before starting the Eucharistic prayer in the mass, we proclaim that we join the angels and archangels in their song of praise to the Lord.  May we truly feel the praise that we proclaim to the Lord in connection with these heavenly spirits.  

prayers of the faithful - feast of the Archangels - 29 September 2023

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and our Redeemer.

Christ Jesus - you are honored and glorified by the Angels and Archangels.

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

Priest: As we honor the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael today, we present our prayers to God the Father: 

1. For our governmental leaders, for wisdom to guide them and lead them in their governance. 

2. For our Church leaders, for compassion and mercy as they lead the people of God. 

3. For our first responders and the men and women in the military, for their safety. We give thanks for their service and their sacrifices. 

4. For those who spread the Gospel message throughout the world.  

5. For our children and youth, that God may accompany them through their studies and through their journey through life. 

6. For the sick and the shut-in and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.   

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

Priest: We present these prayers to you today as we celebrate your Archangels through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 25th week of Ordinary Time: 28 September 2023

Lord Jesus - you call us to carry our crosses. 

Christ Jesus - you proclaim your Good News. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life.  

Priest: God is full of compassion and mercy. Let us now bring our prayers forward to God with confidence:

1. For the members of the Church: that we praise God in our words and our actions.  

2. For our elected officials, that they may lead their people with dignity and respect. 

3. For Christians suffering persecution: that they may feel hope and encouragement on their journey. 

4.  For the sick, especially those who are dangerously ill: that the cross of Christ may bring them comfort and hope.  For healing for them in body, mind, and spirit. 

5. For those who have died, for their entry into eternal life.  We pray especially for those whose lives have been lost through war, famine, and disease. 

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

Priest: Compassionate God, as you bring your people salvation, we ask that you hear the prayers we make in faith and hope through your son Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

28 September 2023 - Thursday of the 25th week of Ordinary time - Luke 9:7-9

      The people of Jesus’s day had a hard time figuring him out. They tried comparing him to the other prophets of Ancient Israel, judging him according to their preconceived ideas and expectations. As we reflect upon today’s Gospel, we might think about how it takes us a lifetime to figure out our own faith and our relationship with Jesus. We grow in faith and in our relationship with God over time as we discover more about him in the reality of daily life. I look at  how Pope Francis’ words have touched so many different people. It is through his compassion, humility, and words of welcome to all that people have responded to him. Sure, there are those who attack and criticize Pope Francis, but he has gotten many people to think about their faith in new and creative ways. 

      To figure out Jesus, perhaps we need to look at him in a new or different way, similar to the way we are seeking a Eucharistic renewal and revival in our country. We are called to deepen our study of Jesus and grow in our relationship with him. At the same time, we are called to grow in our relationship with our brothers and sisters in the faith. 

      Our interactions and encounters with the person of Jesus who is at the heart of our faith will continue to grow and expand if we stay engaged and if we continue to get to know him and explore our relationship with him.

27 September 2023 –Homily for Wednesday of the 25th week of ordinary time – St Vincent de Paul – Ezra 9:5-9

     Ezra was a scribe and priest at the time the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BC. In our first readings this week, we have two readings from the Book of Ezra before we move on to readings from other prophets. Ezra is very upset about how the people of Israel had sinned and turned their backs on God. Being in exile was a dramatic and horrific experience for them, but they had intermarried with the local people and had abandoned their faith and religious traditions for different pagan religions. Ezra called the people to return to God’s law, but he was angry at how slowly the people were responding. Ezra displays a simple humility in the way he approaches God in our reading today. 

     This same sense of humility is displayed in the saint we celebrate today: St. Vincent de Paul, a French priest who died in in the middle of 17th century, but whose influence is still felt strongly in our world today. De Paul founded two influential religious orders in his lifetime: the Vincentians and the Daughters of Charity. His compassion and humility in serving the poor served as the inspiration for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which was founded by Frederic Ozanam and his companions at the University of Paris in 1835.  This Society is known throughout the world for the way it serves the poor as an expression of our Catholic spirituality. When I served as Associate Pastor of St Richard parish in Jackson, I had the privilege of being on the ground floor of forming a conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at that parish, where it has become an important presence in serving the poor in northeast Jackson area. I have seen a lot of parishioners have their lives changed dramatically through their ministry with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, as I have also seen the ways this society has changed the lives of those who have received help.

      St. Vincent de Paul taught that true charity does not only consist of distributing alms and giving financial assistance, but also in helping the poor feel the fullness of their human dignity. He taught that our good works should not be separated from our faith, but rather flow out of our faith. He counseled that to be men and women of action and good works, we must also be men and women of prayer and deep spirituality. He advises us: “You must have an inner life, everything must tend in that direction. If you lack this, you lack everything.”

        May we give thanks to the Lord for the way his holy word interacts with our lives, for the many ways that God’s word indeed is with us. 

Prayers of the faithful for the Feast of St Vincent de Paul - 27 September 2023

Lord Jesus - you have a special love for the poor. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to justice. 

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the glory of God. 

Priest: As we celebrate the feast day of St Vincent de Paul today, let us remember God’s call to hope and justice as we present our prayers to God: 

1. That our government officials lead us in the practice justice and reconciliation in our communities and in our nation. 

2. That our Church leaders help lead us in reaching out to the poor and the vulnerable. 

3. That the sick and shut in experience healing in body, mind, and spirit. 

4. That the faithful departed receive God’s love and mercy as they enter eternal life. We pray especially for the souls in purgatory. 

5. That those who have lost hope and those who are struggling with addictions, depression, and mental illness may find new life in our risen Lord. 

6. For a greater love and appreciation for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

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

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

Prayers of the faithful - 26 September 2023 - Tuesday of the 25th 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. 

26 September 2023 – Tuesday of 25th week in Ordinary Time – Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20

     In our first reading today from the scribe Ezra, we hear about the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Jewish people had returned from their exile in Babylon. According to Jewish Tradition, Erza helped reintroduce their Sacred Scripture, the Torah, to the people of Jerusalem after their exile. The description of the return and rebuilding sounds orderly and successful, however, from other descriptions of the return from exile in the Old Testament, we know that there was a lot of confusion, arguments, and frustrations. Some thought the new Temple was not good enough compared to the Temple that Solomon built. Also, there were a lot of tensions and accusations going back and forth between those who were sent into exile and those who had remained behind in Jerusalem during that time. We see tensions in our modern Church today on many different levels. Looking at those tensions from the lens of what went on in Ancient Israel, perhaps we can better understand our reality today. Rather than accuse or attack someone who thinks differently than we do in our Church, perhaps we can learn from them and try to get along. Perhaps we can celebrate and appreciate the diversity that exists within our community of faith. 

24 September 2023 - homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 20:1-16a

     It helps to know the historical context of Ancient Israel and the Ancient Mediterranean world to help us better understand Sacred Scripture and to apply it to our modern world. I have been to the country of Spain seven different times. Spain is a part of the Mediterranean culture, just like Israel. When one goes to a restaurant for lunch or dinner in that part of the world, a bottle of wine is served with the meal rather than a glass of water. Wine is a big part of the culture there. In the days of Jesus, without refrigeration and without a good water purification system, wine was the safest thing to drink. Thus, the grape harvest was important in Israel; it took place at the end of September, followed by a rainy season. If the harvest wasn’t gathered quickly, it could be ruined. The vineyard owners welcomed all workers to help with the harvest, even if they could give just an hour or two. The laborers would meet in the market place, waiting for work. Jesus’ parable today is about divine justice, in which God is compared to the landowner who hires laborers to work in his vineyard. Those who worked the full day were promised the expected wage, but those who worked a part of the day, for as little as an hour, were promised to be paid “what is just” by the owner. Those who worked the entire day felt unjustly treated compared to those who worked a short time. However, the owner told them that they were not the victim of an injustice. 

      What can we take away from this parable? We cannot think about this parable just in terms of earthly values. What God gives us is not the same as a pay check that we receive from a job. What God gives us is a gift. God does not give us a reward. Rather, he give us grace offered from his love and mercy. 

   How can we think of God’s love and mercy for us in the context of our earthly values? Let’s think about the love and devotion many of us have for our sports teams.  The 3 big universities in Mississippi - Southern Mississippi, Ole Miss and State - all have huge sports fans. And amongst sport teams, a lot people here in Mississippi like the Braves or the Cardinals in Baseball and the Cowboys, Saints, or Packers in Football. One of the inmates recently told me that he loves football season since he is a huge Saints fan. He said that following the football season really helps him pass the time in prison. I can just imagine that.  The love we have for our sports teams means we still cheer them on whether we win or lose.  I am a Cubs fan - I certainly know that. Just a couple of weeks ago, it looked like we would make the playoffs. Now, it doesn’t look that way at all.  As fans, we can forgive bad losses or mistakes, even though it is so painful to see our teams lose. But the love we have for our sports teams, the sense of belonging we feel with the other fans, that is nothing like the love God has for us, nothing like the love, mercy, and forgiveness God has for us.  Nothing - there is no comparison.    

       I want to say one other thing about God’s mercy and social justice before I close. Unfortunately, social justice has become a politicized term.  We label people in society in a world that is very divided. We want to label people either a Republican or a Democrat, a liberal or a conservative, a traditionalist or a reformer. We also label people in the Church, don’t we? We are either a conservative, traditional Catholic, or a liberal Catholic who wants to modernize everything. These labels divide us. Most often, those labels are not productive at all.  We as disciples of Christ are to make up the one Body of Christ here on earth, to follow the values of God’s kingdom and the message of Christ’s Gospel. Journeying together as the Body of Christ can push us or challenge or make us uncomfortable or make us think. We sometimes wrestle with our faith. Sometimes we ponder it in our hearts. But we are here together on a journey. We are not here to divide. We are here to bring the justice and values of the Gospel to the world. 

24 September 2023 - prayers of the faithful - 25th Sunday - CMCF

Introduction - Even though we don’t always understand God’s thoughts and actions and the reality of the world around us, we should take comfort in knowing that God loves us and sent his son for our salvation. We are to trust that no matter what, God is with us. May we be reassured by that truth as we gather for Mass today. 

Lord Jesus - you are the true source of love and forgiveness. 

Christ Jesus - you are the Word of God made flesh. 

Lord Jesus - you are the way that leads us to eternal happiness. 

Priest:  The Lord is near to us when we call. Let us call upon the Lord now with our needs and needs of our brothers and sisters:

1. That we the Church welcome others to share in the work of bringing the kingdom of God to fulfillment, we pray to the Lord. 

2. That those who feel abandoned by God or abandoned by the Church may find it in their hearts to seek healing and to seek the Lord, for the God is near to them, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For our Jewish brothers and sisters who are celebrating their holy day Yom Kippur, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For anyone in our families who are unemployed, who are looking for new work, or who are struggling in their jobs, that God may lead them to better opportunities and a more fulfilling work life, we pray to the Lord.  

5. As we celebrate the feast day of the Archangels next Friday on September 29th, we pray for all police officers, first responders, and the men and women of the military who have St Michael the Archangel as their patron saint. We pray for the Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel here as we celebrate our feast day, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. And for healing for the sick and the shut-in. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For all the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all our prayer intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord.  

Priest: Generous God, you extend your love and mercy to those who call upon you. Extend your mercy to others as you listen to the prayers we make today though your beloved son, Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  Amen. 

24 September 2023 - Bulletin Reflection - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

     As we hear the parable of the landowner of the vineyard who hires workers for a wage, we might ask ourselves what type of work Jesus wants us to engage in as his disciples.  A couple chapters later in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus announces that we will be judged in the end days by the ways we have fed the hungry, clothed the needy, reached out to the poor, and visited the sick and those in prison. But just as the landowner rewarded those laborers who did not work a full day, even if we have been complacent or inactive in the way we have lived out our faith, God gives us hope and calls us to action. Just as the landowner paid all the same wage, God’s same love and mercy are extended to all who accept his gift of salvation. We have loving vibrant welcoming parishes at Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception. We extend our invitation to all around the table of the Lord. We hope all of you accept our invitation to become engaged in our parishes in the Mass, in our devotions, and in our different activities.  Blessings to all you - have a blessed week. Father Lincoln. 

24 September 2023 - prayers of the faithful - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction - Even though we don’t always understand God’s thoughts and actions and the reality of the world around us, we should take comfort in knowing that God loves us and sent his son for our salvation. We are to trust that no matter what, God is with us. May we be reassured by that truth as we gather for Mass today. 

Lord Jesus - you are the true source of love and forgiveness. 

Christ Jesus - you are the Word of God made flesh. 

Lord Jesus - you are the way that leads us to eternal happiness. 

Priest:  The Lord is near to us when we call. Let us call upon the Lord now with our needs and needs of our brothers and sisters:

1. That we the Church welcome others to share in the work of bringing the kingdom of God to fulfillment, we pray to the Lord. 

2. That those who feel abandoned by God or abandoned by the Church may find it in their hearts to seek healing and to seek the Lord, for the God is near to them, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For our Jewish brothers and sisters who are celebrating their holy day Yom Kippur, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For the unemployed, for those looking for new work, for those who are struggling in their jobs, that God may lead them to better opportunities and a more fulfilling work life, we pray to the Lord.  

5. As we celebrate the feast day of the Archangels this upcoming Friday on September 29th, we pray for all police officers, first responders and the men and women of the military who have St Michael the Archangel as their patron saint. We pray for the Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel at the state prison in Pearl, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. For healing for the sick and the shut-in. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For all the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all our prayer intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord.  

Priest: Generous God, you extend your love and mercy to those who call upon you.  Extend your mercy to others as you listen to the prayers we make today though your beloved son, Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  Amen.  

 

22 September 2023 - Friday of the 24th week in Ordinary Time – 1 Timothy 6:2c-12

      In today's first reading, we hear about how it is important that people are taught correctly regarding matters of faith.  When I was a seminarian up at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Milwaukee just before being ordained as a priest, we had a week-long visit from a visitation team of priests, sisters, and lay people, all appointed by the Vatican to visit the seminaries who are educating men to be priests. The goal of the visitation team was to ensure that we as seminarians were being properly taught and formed in our faith in our role as future priests, that our theology and moral ethics reflected what our Church teaches. Being faithful to the word of God is a daunting task indeed, one that we grow into as we journey daily as a pilgrim Church and a pilgrim people. 

     Today, this task is even more difficult as our secular world seems to be going in a very different direction than our Church.  As I walk around in public in my clerics here in Mississippi where Catholics make up such a small part of the population, I realize how counter cultural that is in our society today, while it would not have been so a generation earlier in our society. In 1960s, the hippies saw themselves as counter-cultural. Today, I would say it is the priests and those who try to lives as disciples of Christ - we are the ones who are counter cultural now.  

       Our reading today from First Timothy challenges us to truly listen to the words of truth in the Good News of Christ, to not have a disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.  We can get so caught up in the ways of our modern world, in striving for earthly accomplishments and material gain, yet the radical message of Christ's Good News calls out to us and challenges us to take up our cross and to follow Christ, to deny ourselves in order to gain everything that our faith is all about.  May we truly open ourselves to the Gospel.  May the Gospel penetrate our very hearts, our minds, and our souls. 

21 September 2023 - Feast of St Matthew, Apostle - Thursday in the 24th week in Ordinary Time – Matthew 9:9-13

      Matthew was a Jew who worked for the occupying Roman government in Jerusalem, collecting taxes from his fellow Jews. The Romans were concerned about getting their taxes collected, so they turned a blind eye to any bribes or fees that the tax collectors forced the people to pay, money that the tax collectors kept for themselves. The tax collectors were viewed as traitors by their fellow Jews. It  would have been shocking for the people to see Jesus call Matthew, a tax collector, to be one of the beloved disciples in his inner circle. 

       God calls us to be disciples in the reality of life, in the midst of our personalities,  human strengths, and weaknesses.  God's grace can work wonders in our lives as we repent and turn away from those things that keep us from him. Jesus tells us that he specifically came to call sinners to repent, to have them come to him. Matthew answered Jesus' call without hesitation. The Gospel tells us that Matthew got up from his custom post and followed Jesus immediately. What is Jesus calling us to leave behind? What do we need to do in order to answer the call of repentance and conversion?  

      We know that Matthew and the other apostles made many sacrifices to pass down the faith to us. Tradition has it that Matthew was martyred while bringing Christ’s Good News to the people of Ethiopia. As we celebrate the faith of the apostles today, may we turn away from the sins and from the obstacles in our own lives that keep us from a deeper relationship with the Lord. 

Prayers of the faithful - 22 September 2023 - Friday of the 24th week in Ordinary Time

Priest: Let us now bring our prayers to our heavenly Father for our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world: 

1. That Christ will unite us will unite us in being witnesses to the Gospel, in better understanding of each other, and in working together in helping those in need. 

2. For Pope Francis and all Church leaders, that the Holy Spirit will guide them in proclaiming the Good News, promoting unity in the Church, and inspiring us to greater love and service. 

3. That God will bring us to new life and help those who are bound by addiction, temptation, or destructive habits, to help them recognize that their faith can help them.  

4. For those who are recovering from natural disasters, that the Lord will relieve their pain, give them strength of spirit, and get them the assistance they need.  

5. For greater stewardship of the earth: that our hearts may be moved as we behold the wondrous work of God in nature and that we may care for it so that future generations may see God's work. 

6. For our deceased loved ones and family members, for their entry into eternal life.  

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

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

Prayers of the faithful - 21 September 2023 - feast of St Matthew Apostle and Evangelist

Lord Jesus - you call all of us to a life of discipleship.

Christ Jesus - you draw us beyond our human limitations.

Lord Jesus - you call us to be missionary spirit. 

Priest: As we celebrate St Matthew on his feast day, let us bring our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith and hope:

1. For missionaries and evangelizers, that all of us may proclaim Christ’s Gospel to the world in our words and actions.

2. For our youth and children, that the Lord will continue to accompany them and bless them and their families on their journey of faith. 

3. For teachers and educators, that the Lord may bless them and their students. 

4. For our first responders, for our medical professionals, for the men and women in the military, for all who keep us safe in society, for their safety and protection.

5. For the sick, the shut-in, for those in the hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes, for healing in body, mind, and spirit.

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into enteral life.  

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

Priest: Generous God, you sent St Matthew and the other apostles out into the world to bring your Gospel message. Let us follow their example of faith. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

Prayers of the faithful - 20 September 2023 - Wednesday of the 24th week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us into a family of believers. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to give thanks. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Priest: With generous hearts, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church, that we may be good stewards of the gifts that God has given us, use them for God’s glory, and never be possessed by our possessions. 

2. For the grace of diligence, that we may follow the commands of Christ and use our gifts and resources to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, and care for the sick

3. For wisdom, that the Spirit will guide us pursuing our goals and developing our abilities so that our endeavors may lead us into the fullness of life for all eternity

4. For gratitude, that we may appreciate all the gifts, opportunities, and benefits that we have been given and recognize them as signs of God’s love for us. 

5. For healing for the sick.  We pray especially for healing for those struggling with addictions, depression, and mental heath. 

6. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. 

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

Priest: We present these prayer with faith and hope through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  Amen. 

20 September 2023 - Wednesday of the 24th week of Ordinary Time – 1 Timothy 3:14-16

       St Paul writes to Timothy, who is in charge of the Christian community in Ephesus, a community that Paul helped establish. We can tell from the tone of the letter that Paul has great affection for him. Paul reminds Timothy of the mysteries of the faith in which we believe. Even though Paul is able to give a summary of these mysteries, a full explanation is beyond human understanding.  As I read this letter from Paul to Timothy, I thought about the letters that I used to write home as a missionary.  My location in Ecuador was so remote that phone service was not available. We did not have email or the internet available either. I would write letters quite frequently, so much so that the Chilean nuns in our mission site used to kid me as to how many letters I used to receive and how many I would send out. We would receive our mail every 2 – 3 weeks, since the post office was a 4-hour bus ride away. When I came back from the mission field, my brother handed me a stack of the letters I had written him; he had saved them to give to me, which was very thoughtful of him. Letter writing was such an important mode of communication for so long, but now with texts, emails, Facebook, and Instagram, writing a letter is a lost art. Paul, Timothy, and the members of the Early Church are a big part of our faith, a big part of the traditions we honor today in our Church. In many ways, the podcasts, texts, and blogs that we write today about our faith are in that same tradition. If Paul lived in the modern world, I would suspect he might have a blog or a podcast. Even Bishop Kopacz and Pope Francis use different forms of social media to communicate. Yes, we are called to use the methods of communication at our disposal to bring the message of the Gospel to others. 

17 September 2023 - Blessing for catechists and parents for Catechetical Sunday

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 and show forth our faith in the celebration of the liturgy and through their manner of life. 

This cooperation is provided by those who devote themselves to catechesis. Enlightened by God’s word and the teachings of the Church, catechists and teachers of religious education impart to others an initiation or a deeper formation in these realities that they themselves have learned as truths to be followed in living and to be celebrated in the liturgy. 

Today, we bless the name of the Lord for giving us these co-workers and pray that through the Holy Spirit they will receive the grace they need in their service to the Church. 

Let us pray for our Catechists: 

Heavenly Father, you are the source of all wisdom and knowledge. You sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us and to proclaim his message of faith, hope, and love to all nations. In your goodness, bless our brothers and sisters who have offered themselves as catechists and teachers of religious education in the Church. 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, let your peace settle within the hearts of these

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. Give them strength during the times of greatest difficulty and help them recognize the joys that are part of each day. May they grow in wisdom, understanding, and grace.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is one with you and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. R/. Amen.

19 September 2023 - Tuesday of the 24th week of Ordinary Time - 1 Timothy 3:1-13

     In St Paul’s first letter to Timothy, we hear an interesting description of what Paul sees as values towards which certain Church leaders should strive. One word in particular stood out to me in his description - “dignified.” St Paul states that a bishop should keep his children under control with perfect dignity. Deacons should be dignified. Women, as well, should be dignified. Elsewhere, in this letter, St Paul states that the elders of the Christian community should be dignified, that dignity is an important characteristic of good Christian teaching. In some translations of these Scripture verses, dignity is translated as gravity or seriousness. Just as gravity is an unstoppable force of nature, so too, the way we teach and the way we lead a good Christian life should produce long-lasting fruits which are unstoppable, which cannot be overcome. We are called to dignity, perfection, and holiness on our journey of faith: not just our elders, deacons, and bishops, but all of us as disciples of Christ. Rather than taking ourselves too seriously, rather than becoming arrogant or prideful, we're to be humble and obedient. We are called to give our greatest effort to our life of disciples and our life of holiness, to do so with joy, with wonder, and in awe of our loving and merciful God.  

17 September 2023 - Homily for Catechetical Sunday - 3rd Sunday in September - Homily for 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A - Romans 14:7-9 - Matthew 11:28

     Each year, the Catholic Church in the United States designates the 3rd Sunday in the month of September as “Catechetical Sunday.” Catechetical Sunday is a day on which we celebrate and pray for the Church’s mission to teach the Gospel to all people. Each year there is a theme for Catechetical Sunday: this year’s theme is “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened” from the 11th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. This theme reminds us of the invitation we receive from our Lord to follow him and the promise that he doesn’t want to add to our burdens; he wants to lighten them. 

      Our catechists and teachers of religious education are to respond to the call that all of us have: to share the gift of faith with others, even as we deepen our own faith.  This call can come to us in different ways, but, ultimately, this call comes from God, through the Holy Spirit working in us, guiding us, and inspiring us.  

      This quote from Matthew’s Gospel starts with an invitation: “Come to me.”  Jesus’ directive is for all to come; he is not just inviting a privileged group. That is why we at our parishes of Immaculate Conception and Holy Savior offer different liturgies and formation activities to welcome everyone, including our children, youth, and adults.  From our youth group and religious education program, to our monthly evening programs for adults to our young at heart monthly luncheons, we are trying to invite everyone in different ways. That is why we too are reaching out beyond our parish community.  Our children and youth have outreach events with the homeless in Jackson, nursing home residents here in the Clinton, and the Clinton fire fighters. Our adults help upkeep the lawn and gardens at the Carmelite monastery.  And as you know that through my ministries as a priest, I make time in my busy schedule for outreach at the VA hospital, at the state and federal prisons, and with the Carmelite community in our Diocese.  We reach out and minister to all, especially those who are sometimes forgotten. 

      Jesus singles out those who feel overwhelmed by life, specifically telling all who labor and are burdened to come to him. Jesus proclaims his Good News to all. When we come to Jesus, laying down our burdens and casting them upon him, we are opening ourselves up to his ministry and his message, we are opening ourselves up to spiritual growth, we finding rest from our burdens and to all that weighs us down. 

     Our catechists and teachers of religious education have a responsibility is also to reach out to their faith community. Pope Francis said that they are to be "shepherds with the smell of their sheep.” They are to be with their sheep and to grow in faith with their sheep. Catechists must be like shepherds who invite everyone to celebrate the sacraments. The lost, the disgruntled, the confused, and those who are hurt or in pain need someone to ask them to meet Jesus in the sacraments so that they may lay down their burdens and rest. Our catechists need to be ready to explain why they have hope in their midst of their challenges and struggles. We all need to share our stories with others, to share our hurts, our struggles, and our burdens.  

     We in the Diocese are undergoing a reimagining process of our ministry and our parish life. We in the US Catholic Church are going through a Eucharistic renewal, which also has hopes of encouraging a parish revival within the parishes throughout the country. We need to see this Gospel quote from Matthew today as challenging us to look for creative ways to invite people to our faith community. It is not only our priests, deacons, church leaders, parish staff, and catechists who are called to be inviting, but all our parish community.  Everyone in the Church, and those outside of the Church, should feel the invitation to come to Jesus through our liturgies, through our activities and small group gatherings, through our religious education programs and social events, to help individuals to come to know Jesus in a more intimate way.  

     Our second reading today from the letter of St Paul to the Romans reinforces this same message, telling us that we do not live for ourselves and we do not die for ourselves.  We are to live and die for the Lord.  We are to live and die by the values of our faith.  

     I always enjoy celebrating Catechetical Sunday here in the parish. It is so important for us to emphasize our program of religious formation and to thank all those involved.  May we hear this invitation that our Lord Jesus Christ gives us today.  

15 September 2023 - Our Lady of Sorrows – homily for Friday of the 23rd week of ordinary time – Luke 2:33-35

Mary, you have been there before me.

You have been dismayed and shocked by terrible, unwanted news.

You have known fear, sadness, and worry about the future.

You have had to quiet the heart aching distress within you.

You did not give up hope.

You did not drown in a pool of self-pity.

You did not let disappointment and anger destroy your ability to love.

You placed your trust in God.

Woman of Compassion, Mother of Sorrows,

I draw inspiration from your journey.

I, too, can move through the pain of my present situation.

Your faith and courage lead me to my own.

       These words were written by Sister Joyce Rupp in her book My Sorrow Is Your Sorrow: Hope and Strength in Times of Suffering.  This meditation reflects upon Simeon’s prophecy to Mary: that a sword would pierce her heart. Mary knew sorrow from the life of her son Jesus, from her life of discipleship, from the love she had for Jesus at the very core of her being. Mary stood by Jesus in his joys and in his struggles, in his passion and in his sufferings on the cross when so many of his friends and disciples had abandoned him. All of us can relate to Mary on some level with the sorrows and struggles we have on our own journey. Perhaps the sorrow that a mother bears is one of the most difficult sorrows of all. For a mother to see her child go to prison, or to struggle without end with alcohol or drug addiction, or to see a child leave this world into eternal life while his mother is still here on this earth: those are very difficult sorrows for a mother to bear. As a priest, I have seen mothers endure such struggle and sorrow.  Some mothers struggle to put food on the table to feed their children, to try to give them every opportunity in life, but they fail to meet that goal, and so it brings them sorrow. We just observed the anniversary of the horrors of September 11th.  It hard to believe that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were more than 20 years ago this week. We can imagine Our Lady of Sorrows crying with us through our tragedies in life as we unite our feelings of sorrow with Mary’s motherly love. Mary can understand our feelings, our sorrows, our anguish, and our struggles. We approach Mary today as we commemorate her as Our Lady of Sorrows. We unite our prayers with her prayers, we unite our sufferings with her sufferings. And as our mother, Our Lady of Sorrows is there for us.