12 May 2024 - The Ascension of the Lord – Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:17-23

It seems so long ago that back on March 31 we celebrated Easter Sunday and the beginning of the Easter season. In our Catholic faith, the Easter season lasts 50 days, all the way to Pentecost, which will be next weekend. With Pentecost Sunday, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ being celebrated on the next four Sundays, perhaps our celebration of the Ascension of the Lord today gets lost in the shuffle. 

Our reading from the very beginning of the Acts of the Apostles today shows the disciples gazing up into the heavens, shocked and amazed as they see Jesus ascending. When two messengers appear on the scene, they ask the disciples: “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?” So what is the Ascension about?  We can start be stating what it isn’t about: The Ascension isn’t defined in a literal sense of Jesus floating up into space on his way up to “heaven”.

Perhaps we could say that the Ascension can be best understood in the way that it is a part of the Paschal Mystery, which is comprised of: (1) Jesus’ suffering and death, (2) his resurrection, 3) his ascension, (4) and his sending of the Holy Spirit. Those parts of the Paschal Mystery comprise one reality. In the resurrection, we understand that Jesus still lives as our Savior and our Redeemer.  In the Ascension, we better understand Christ’s relationship with the Father: that the living Christ has entered into glory, and that he shares that glory with the Father. 

In our 2nd reading, Paul sees the Ascension in terms of God the Father raising Christ from the dead, of seating him at his right hand in the heavens, above every other principality, authority, power, and dominion, above every name that is named, in this age and in all ages to come. Pope Francis sees the Ascension creating a new reality of Christ with us where Christ is with God the Father, where he always intercedes for us. He is no longer in a definite place in the world as he was before the Ascension. He is now in the lordship of God, present in all space and time. I am always impressed by the words and images that Pope Francis uses. 

I was once in the heart of the rain forest in Ecuador as a missionary, driving along on the passenger side in a truck to pick up some wood for the carpentry school that I managed. We came across a big pile of bamboo and small logs in the middle of the road, so the driver and I got out to move them out of the way. When I got back into the cab of the truck, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye on my bare arm, and out of my exhaustion from the hot tropical climate, I hastily brushed it off my arm without really paying attention. The driver looked at the floorboard of the truck cab, and in great haste, frantically, smashed what I had just brushed off my arm – a huge scorpion. I was both terrified and relieved. I said a prayer of thanks to the Holy Spirit, to all the saints in the heavens, to the Blessed Virgin Mary – to whomever was watching over me and protecting me that day. However, we should not be aware of God’s presence in just those times when we need him most. God is there with us always through the presence of the Holy Spirit. That is the message we hear in the prayer of St Patrick, with which I will close my homily with today:

THE PRAYER OF ST PATRICK - 

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, King of my heart.

Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me, never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me, shield in the strife.

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising, light of my life.

Christ be in all hearts thinking about me; Christ be on all tongues telling of me; Christ be the vision in eyes that see me; in ears that hear me, Christ ever be. AMEN.

Prayers of the faithful - 28 April 2024 - 5th Sunday of the Easter season - prison ministry

Introduction - As we continue our journey through the Easter season, we hear Jesus tell us how we are connected to him and the Father just like a vine is connected to the vine grower. Let us give thanks for the opportunity to live as the Body of Christ here in our community of St Michael. May God continue to bless us as individuals and as a community and may he continue to grant us his grace that helps us meet our challenges in life. 

Priest - Penitential Rite
Lord Jesus, you are the way that leads to freedom from the slavery of sin: Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you are the truth that reveals the love of the Father: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are the way that leads to the eternal dwelling place: Lord, have mercy. 

Priest: God has made us a chosen people, a royal priesthood who has been set apart. Now, let us pray for those in need.


1. For the Church, as we seek to follow Christ so that we may show the whole world the way to the Father. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That our national and world leaders choose the path of peace over violence and conflict. We pray for those communities and countries divided by violence and war. We pray to the Lord.


3. For those whose hearts are troubled, who have lost their way and who are in need of guidance and support, that they might find what they need in our community of faith. We pray to the Lord.


4. For the sick here at CMCF. For our sick family members and friends.  We pray for healing in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For those who have died. For their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord.


6. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, we pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God of love and mercy, your son Jesus Christ shows us the way to you. Teach us to follow him more closely, and hear all these our prayers that we make in his name, for he is our Risen Lord for ever and ever. Amen. 

5 May 2024 - homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter - 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

The theme of today’s readings is God’s love.  We often hear about God’s love in our readings at Mass.  In fact, last Sunday, the second reading from the first letter of John stated that God’s commandment that we are to follow is this: “we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as (Jesus) commanded us.” Today’s second reading, also from the same first letter of St John, states that the centre of all living is love. It is not only the center of Christian living, but should be at the center of any kind of life.

There are so many saints that have exemplified God’s love in their lives and in their ministry.  The first saint I thought of in regard’s to God’s love was St Elizabeth of the Trinity, a Carmelite nun who was born in France in 1880.  She was a gifted musician and pianist.  And she was also very rambunctious and strong-willed as a child. Until the time she entered the Carmelite monastery at the age of 21, she worked with troubled youth and performed many charitable works in the city of Dijon. Her fellow nuns noted her great spiritual joy.  At the time of her death at the age of 26 from Addison’s disease, she believed that God had a special mission for her in eternal life, that through her prayers and intercessions, she would help lead souls to a deeper encounter with Christ Jesus.  Here is a quote from Elizabeth the Trinity about God’s love: “In the morning, let us awake in love. All day long let us surrender ourselves to love, by doing the will of God, under his gaze, with him, in him, for him alone…And then, when evening comes, after a dialogue of love that has never stopped in our hearts, let us go to sleep still in love.” I love her idea of us abiding in god’s lives at different points of the day, of being conscious of his love and allowing that love to live within us. 

Another saint I associate with God’s love is St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. I have always been drawn to St Ignatius and the missionary spirit of the Jesuits, and grew even closer to him when I journeyed to his home town of Loyola, Spain to pray his spiritual exercises for an entire month in 2019. Born in 1491, Ignatius spent his  young adult years as a solider.  After being hit by a canon ball that shattered his leg at the Battle of Pamplona at the age of 29, he had a profound religious conversion that ultimately led him to the priesthood. Here is his quote about God’s love: “Love is shown more in deeds than in words.” Ignatius knew that anyone can say a pleasant word. But it’s a person’s deeds that truly show their love of God and the love of their faith, which is evident in his profound spiritual transformation. As Catholics, we must also remember to do more than just speak about the love of our fiath. We must show that love with loving deeds and actions. 

The lives of Elizabeth of the Trinity and Ignatius of Loyola illustrate that our faith is not just a religion or a set of rules that are tacked onto an otherwise secular life. Our Christian faith is a vision of how our human lives can be lived out in fullness. Our faith teaches us how to be a real person. St Irenaeus Lyon stated: “The glory of God is a person fully alive.” Indeed, a person is only fully alive when he is full of love. Because such a person then truly reflects God, who is love. This also reflects something that Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said: “Where there is love, there is God.” Notice that Mother Teresa did not say where there are Christians, there is God, or where there is the Church there is God. It is love that should characterize our life of discipleship. Love is a way of life for us. It is an internal attitude that should influence everything we do and say and think.

The love we express out of our faith is to be unconditional. Sometimes people will love us back; sometimes they will not. Sometimes, even though we want to love people, they may reject us. Sometimes, another person cannot return genuine love as they may not be capable of doing so at that moment.  That is all the more reason why we need to reach out to them. People often learn to love by being loved.

As disciples of Christ, the most important thing is not that we are clever or successful or rich or famous. The most important thing is that we are able to pass on the love of God, just as Jesus loves us, just as Jesus is loved by the Father. Our love may empower others to be loving too. To be able to reach out in love and to experience being loved is God’s greatest grace.

Prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 6th week of Easter - 10 May 2024

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God. 

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

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith.  

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

1. For all the faithful of the Diocese of Jackson: that God will strengthen our spirits, help us form supportive relationships, and guide us in our ministries and outreach to the poor and marginalized. 

2. For all married couples: that husbands and wives may appreciate the gift that they are to one another and help strengthen their partnership of life that they have formed together.   

3. For peace in communities experiencing terrorism, violence, conflict, or war.  They we may work to mend brokenness and practice justice.  

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

5. For all of our students, that they may feel God’s presence with them during the upcoming summer months. 

6. For our first responders, for the men and women in the military, and for our veterans.  May they feel the love and support of those whom they serve.  

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

Priest: We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  

Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 6th week of Easter - 9 May 2024

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God. 

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

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

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

1. For all the parishes of the Diocese of Jackson: that God will strengthen the spirits of our parishioners, help them form supportive relationships, and guide them in their ministries and services. 

2. For all couples preparing for marriage: that they may appreciate the gift that they are to one another and form a partnership of life for the good of each other. 

3. For peace: that God will turn minds and hearts from violence, open new ways for dialogue about wounds and grievances, and help all who are burdened with anger to find life and hope.  

4. For all who have experienced abuse: that God will heal them, give them new courage, and renew their vision for a future filled with God’s promises. 

5. For all of our students: that they may feel God’s presence with them during the upcoming months of summer vacation. 

6. For healing for the sick and shut-in, and may the Lord welcome into eternal life the faithful departed. 

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts. 

Priest: We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  

10 May 2024 - St Damien - homily for Friday of the 6th week of Easter - Acts 18:9-18

Today, we celebrate the feast day of a saint whose great work and enthusiasm as a priest in the state of Hawaii is remembered more than 135 years after his death. The date of a saint’s entry into enteral life is usually used for his feast day, but in this saint’s case, the date of his feast day which chosen for a different reason. On May 10, 1873, Father Damien De Veuster, a Belgian priest with the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, arrived on the island of Molokai in the Hawaiian islands to begin his ministry at the leper colony there. Damien had been born to a very poor family in Belgium. He had left school at the age of 13 to help out at the family farm. With so little formal education, it was thought that he was not suited for the priesthood. Yet, while in the formation period to become a priest, Damian offered to serve as a missionary in Hawaii, taking his brother’s place, since his brother was unable to go because of an illness. Damien volunteered to serve the lepers in Molokai after he served in different mission churches in Hawaii.  He served in Molokai from 1873 until his own death in 1889 at the age of 49, which came about after he himself contracted the disease from the lepers. Even in the midst of his illness, Damien was able to proclaim: “I consider myself the happiest missionary in the world.” Damien could have a combative and stubborn personality, which sometimes caused conflict with his companions and superiors, but his desire to proclaim the Gospel to others, and his love for those who suffer at the margins of society, speak so loudly to many in our world, both in the religious and the humanitarian sense. The joy that Damien felt was a joy that came from his faith.  Even Gandhi proclaimed: “The world can boast of very few heroes who can compare with Father Damien of Molokai.”  Father Damien’s holy life inspired countless priests and many members of the faithful, leading to his canonization in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. 

In the first reading from Acts today, we hear about St Paul’s missionary activity in Corinth. Time and again in Acts, we hear how those opposed to Paul’s preaching turn him in to the civil authorities.  Yet, the Lord encourages him to persevere in a vision that Paul has.  Paul continues to preach the Gospel message and develops the early church in Corinth.  

Both Damien and Paul served the Lord out of love and fidelity. They both live and died serving the Lord with great joy in their hearts. May their example inspire us on our own journeys of faith.

9 May 2024 - Thursday of the 6th week of Easter - Psalm 98:1-4

Our psalm today declares: The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power….The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.  He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.”  The Lord’s saving power was revealed in a new covenant with his Son Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, whom we celebrate in a special way during the Easter season.  May is also the month of Mary.  Many Catholics around the world celebrate a May crowning, in which flowers is present to an image of Mary, celebrating her title of Queen of Heaven and earth.  May has been Mary’s month since the medieval period. In the month of May, the winter season ends and the season of spring starts a new cycle of growth. With these new beginnings, we express our gratitude and devotion to Mary. In a special way, let us ask for Mary’s prayers and intercession during the entire month of May.  

8 May 2024 - Wednesday of the 6th week of Easter – John 16:12-15

We hear Jesus tell us about how he is sending us the Holy Spirit – called the Spirit of truth – to lead us and guide us to all truth.  We hear the word “truth” being bantered about all the time all around us, don’t we?  We hear some say: “I want the truth to come out” or “I am hear to speak the truth.”  Sometimes what we think is the truth can be our own perspective or how we see things, even though we don’t want to admit it.  We live in a world that is so divided these days that it might be difficult discerning what the truth is. It seems like even journalism today is more about advocating for an agenda rather than presenting facts.  I looked up “truth” in the Catechism and it directed me to the eighth commandment, “you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” The Catechism states: “Truth or truthfulness is the virtue which consists in showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and guarding against duplicity, dissimulation, and hypocrisy.”  Like any virtue, we must have a well formed conscience and we must be cognizant of the formation we are receiving.  On May 19, in a week and a half, we will celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit in the world. The presence of the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us to the truth and to the right path is so important in our lives of faith. We must be cognizant of the Spirit’s presence with us.   

7 May 2024 - Tuesday of the 6th week of Easter - Acts:16:22-34

Today, we hear one of the most dramatic scenes from our readings from Acts during the Easter season, as Paul and his companion are brought before the court, flogged, and thrown into jail.  Paul, Silas, and the rest of the prisoners are freed from prison from an earthquake that happened in response to the prayers and hymns that Paul and Silas offered. The guard, who was responsible for the security of the prisoners, prepared to kill himself out of shame for having failed his responsibilities. Yet, Paul tells him not to harm himself, that Paul and the others are not going to escape. This brings about a conversion in the heart of the guard. We don’t hear the end of the story, which concludes with the magistrates setting Paul and Silas free and apologizing for having treated them as Roman citizens in such an unlawful and undignified way. In the midst of our hardships and sufferings, God can still be at work in our lives and there are still blessings to discover.  Out of the harsh circumstances which met Paul, Silas and prison guard, a story of conversion and Christ’s love developed. 

I want to mention a very interesting commemoration on this date. May 7 is also the anniversary of an apparition of the Archangel Raphael who appeared to the priests in the Church of San Lorenzo in the city of Cordova, Spain in the year 1578. The city was experiencing a major epidemic in which many people were dying. On May 7, San Rafael appeared and said, “I swear by Jesus Crucified, I'm Rafael the Angel whom God put as the keeper of the city." After that, people did not die any more because of plague. A major church was erected in the 18th and 19th century to symbolize the city being protected under the Archangel Raphael. May we give thanks for the many ways God blesses us on our journey of faith.  

8 May 2024 - Wednesday of the 6th week of Easter - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you are the vine and we are the branches. 

Christ Jesus - you lead us to new life. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope and encouragement. 

Priest: With the Easter joy of the risen Lord in our hearts, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For all Church leaders, may they learn wisdom and patience from God, leading their people in justice and peace.  

2. For Christians everywhere: that we who have been called to follow Christ may instruments of healing and forgiveness in their families and communities. 

4. For all who suffer for the Gospel: that God will give them patience and guide them in following the example of Jesus who entrusted himself to God’s providence. 

5. For all who are discerning a call to ministry: that they will recognize God’s invitation, open their hearts to God who loves them, and follow Jesus in serving others.  

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

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

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

7 May 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 6th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

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

Lord Jesus - you bring us redemption and salvation. 

Priest; As we continue our celebration of the Easter season, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church: that we may allow Christ to bring forth abundant life within us and guide us in using our gifts for God’s glory

2. For a heart of mercy: that we may put our intentions and words into action in reaching out to those in need. 

3. For all who minister in the church: that they will faithfully help others find Christ by the witness of their lives, the truth of their words, and the integrity of their actions

4. For Pope Francis and all Church leaders lay and ordained: that they may faithfully imitate Christ in accompanying the people of God on their journey and encouraging them in their lives of faith.  

5. For healing for those who are sick in body, mind, and spirit. For healing for those battling addictions and living with mental health issues. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. For our deceased loved ones and family members.  

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts this evening.  

Priest: As we experience the joy of the Easter season in our lives of faith, we present our prayers this evening through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful - feast of St Joseph the Worker - 2024 May 1

Lord Jesus You grew up with Mary and Joseph in Nazareth - Lord have mercy 

Christ Jesus - You give dignity to human work - Christ have mercy

Lord Jesus - You are our Lord and our Savior - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: Lord, you are the source of all holiness. Let us therefore pray to Our Lord God who gave St. Joseph the light and strength he needed to be faithful at all times. 

1. For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, our Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and all priests, that they follow the example of St Joseph and lead us through a responsible and dedicated leadership, we pray to the Lord.

2. For our Christian community, may we respect and love each other, and be dedicated to our families by following the example of Saint Joseph, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For those entrusted with responsibility in various ministries of the church, may they set a modern Christian example for the people they lead, we pray to the Lord.

4. For all laborers and workers, may Saint Joseph the Worker inspire us to work wholeheartedly in this world, seeking always to give God glory and be faithful to the duties assigned to them, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For all humanity, that through the intercession of  Saint Joseph, we may find the opportunity to have secure employment and a fitting standard of living, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.  We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: Father, we praise you for having led Saint Joseph to serve your Son Jesus and his Mother so faithfully; help us to be faithful to our responsibilities and serve you with love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord for ever and ever. 

Prayers of the faithful - Thursday Of the 4th week of Easter - 2 May 2024

Lord Jesus - you tend your lambs - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you feed your sheep - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you shepherd your flock - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: With faith and hope in the risen Christ, we present our prayer to our God of love and mercy: 

1. For the Church throughout the world. May our faith in God’s love be expressed in our love for one another. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For peace in our world. May all lands that suffer violence and injustice find peace and reconciliation. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For the poor, the homeless, and for those who are unemployed. May our care and concern for those in need be a sign of God’s mercy and compassion. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For the protection and sanctity of human life. May all people be treated with the dignity they deserve. May we respect all human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That the children and youth of our parish may grow in wisdom and grace on their journey of faith.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the sick and shut-ins.  For those battling addictions. For those who need healing and reconciliation in their lives. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, you are present in our midst. We pray that you continue to lead us and guide us as we celebrate the Easter season. We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

feast of St Philip and St James the Lesser - 3 May 2024 - Prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you call all of us to be your disciples.

Christ Jesus - you draw us beyond our limitations.

Lord Jesus - you call us to be missionary spirit. 

Priest: As we celebrate the apostles Philip and James today on their feast day, let us bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

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

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

3. For all who are graduating this month from college and from high school, may the Lord bless them in their continued studies and in their future endeavors.

4. For journalists, writers, and broadcasters, may the Lord bless them in their writings and the works they produce.

5. 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.

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

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

Priest: Generous God, you sent St James the Lesser and St Philip out into the world to bring your Gospel message. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

3 May 2024 - homily for St Philip and St James the Lesser - Friday of the fifth week of the Easter season - John 14:6-14

Today, we celebrate two of the twelve apostles: Philip and James the Lesser.  We know that James is the son of Alphaeus, but we do not know much else about him. He is known as James the Lesser to distinguish him from the other apostle named James, James the Greater, who was the son of Zebedee.  

Philip came from Bethsaida in Galilee, the same town as Peter and Andrew. We hear of Jesus’ interaction with Philip in the story of the feeding of the crowds with the multiplication of the loaves and the fish as told in the Gospel of John. Philip is asked by Jesus about where they can get bread for the people to eat, which the Gospel notes was asked by Jesus in order to test him. These stories about Philip and the other apostles are told to illustrate how they were able to grow in their faith and collaborate with Jesus in his ministry. 

We see some of Philip’s curiosity in today’s Gospel. Jesus is telling the disciples about his relationship with the Father. In response, Philip wants Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus tells Philip that if one has seen Jesus, he has indeed seen the Father. We might have a similar curiosity about our faith. We may want to see more and want more explanation. A curious mind and the questions we ask will help us in our search for God.

As we celebrate Philip and James the Lesser today, we look back to the Early Church and to the diverse group of the faithful who have been on the journey of faith throughout history. May we always see the saints as our friends who are helping us with their prayers and intercessions along our journey.  

2 May 2024 - St Athanasius - homily for Thursday of the fifth week of Easter - John 15:9-11

In the Gospel today, Jesus commands us to remain in Jesus’ love just as Jesus has kept his Father’s commandments and has remained in his Father’s love. Jesus’ relationship with God the Father was at the foundation of his teachings and his proclamation of God’s kingdom.  

As such, Jesus’ human and divine identity was the subject of a great deal of discussion and controversy in the Early Church. The Arian heresy arose as a part of this controversy, named after Arius, a teacher and priest who lived in Alexandria, Egypt in the 4th century.  Arius argued that Jesus was a created being with divine attributes rather than a being who was eternally divine. Arius and his beliefs were labeled as heresy at the Council of Nicea in 325. Jesus’ eternal divine nature was professed in the Nicene Creed that came out of that council. I bring up the Arian heresy because the saint we celebrate today, St Athanasius, was instrumental in defeating the Arian heresy. Athanasius was a strong voice in this debate in his role as Bishop of Alexandria, an important leadership position in the Early Church.  This controversy and debate were so heated in the Early Church that Athanasius was exiled five different times for his defense of the doctrine of Christ’s divinity. His writings on the Arian heresy are considered important theological works in the history of the Church, earning Athanasius the title of Doctor of the Church. Among his celebrated writings is the Life of St Anthony, a biography of the famous Desert Father. This biography of Anthony and his teachings are said to have had a great influence on the development of monasticism in the Western Church. We celebrate St Athanasius today and unite our prayer to his. 

1 May 2024 - St Joseph the worker - Wednesday of the fifth week of the Easter season - Matthew 13:54-58

We already celebrate the feast of St Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on March 19 each year. However, to foster a more profound devotion to Saint Joseph amongst the Catholic faithful, and in response to the May 1st celebrations for workers established by Russia and other Communist countries, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955. This feast not only emphasizes our relationship with St Joseph, but also the cause of the worker that has been supported by the Catholic Church. The Book of Genesis sees dignity in human work as it is a participation in the creative work of God. Through our work, we human beings can fulfill the command found in Genesis to care for the earth and we can be productive in our labors. St Joseph, a humble carpenter, gives us a great example of the holiness of human labor. Jesus also worked as a carpenter, learning the carpentry trade from Joseph and spending his early adult years working in Joseph’s carpentry shop. In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II states that “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and to help to guide [social] changes so as to ensure authentic progress by man and society.” Pope Pius XII emphasized the dignity of human work exemplified in Joseph when he stated: “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work.” As we celebrate St Joseph the worker today, we pray for that the dignity and respect for all human work be upheld.  

Bulletin Reflection - 5th Sunday of the Easter season - 28 APRIL 2024

We are now at the 5th weekend in the Easter season and at the end of April. Just as the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is an image all of us can relate to, even our children, the parable of vine and vine grower is also an image of our faith that is easy to understand. In a modern world with technology that allows us to function without a lot of face-to-face contact with others, many do not think they need a community of faith in order to be a Christian, that they can do it on their own. However, just as we are connected to God the Son and God the Father in our life of discipleship, we also are intrinsically connected to the community as well. We are called to contribute to the community and to be a part of the community in many different aspects. Perhaps that is something we can reflect upon during the Easter season.

As we wind down our religious education program for the year, I give thanks for all the men and women who have volunteered this year as catechists and teachers to teach and form our children, youth, and adults in the faith. I give thanks to Tammy Threadgill and Christ Halliwell for their leadership in our religious education program. We are very grateful for the contributions they all make to our parish. Blessings to all of you. Father Lincoln. 

Prayers of the faithful - 28 April 2024 - 5th Sunday of the Easter season

Introduction - As we continue our journey through the Easter season, we hear Jesus tell us how we are connected to him and the Father just like a vine is connected to the vine grower. Let us give thanks for the opportunity to live as the Body of Christ here in our parish community. May God continue to bless us as individuals and as a community of faith and may he continue to grant us his grace that helps us meet our challenges in life.

Priest - Penitential Rite

Lord Jesus, you are the way that leads to freedom from the slavery of sin: Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you are the truth that reveals the mercy of the Father: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the way that leads to the eternal dwelling place: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: God has made us a chosen people, a royal priesthood who has been set apart. Now, let us pray for those in need:

1. For the holy Church, as we seek to follow Christ so that we may show the whole world the way to the Father. We pray to the Lord.

2. We pray that our national and world leaders choose the path of peace over the ways of violence and conflict. We pray for those communities and countries divided by violence and war. We pray to the Lord.

3. For all deacons, whose ministry of service dates back to the early days of the Church, for all transitional and permanent deacons in our diocese. And for Hunter Yentzen and Chris Halliwell as they continue their diaconate formation program. We pray to the Lord.

4. For those whose hearts are troubled, who have lost their way and who are in need of guidance and support, that they might find what they need in our community of faith. We pray to the Lord.

5. For the sick and shut-ins of our community. We pray for healing in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord.

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. For their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord.

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, we pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God of love and mercy, your son Jesus Christ shows us the way to you. Teach us to follow him more closely, and hear all these our prayers that we make in his name, for he is our Risen Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

30 April 2024 - Pope Pius V - homily for Tuesday of the fifth week of Easter - Acts 14:19-28

Today, we hear of Paul and Barnabas’ missionary journey.  It is interesting how many of the crowds are so impressed with the miracles and healings that Paul and Barnabas are able to perform in Jesus’ name, that they see them almost as gods themselves. But then those who oppose Paul and Barnabas arrive in town, turning the townspeople against them in acts of violence. One take away I have in hearing about Paul and Barnabas’ missionary work is that they are very diligent in their perseverance and courage in their faith. 

Today, we celebrate the feast day of Pope Pius V who served as pope in the era right after the Protestant Reformation. He was tasked with implementing the teachings of the Council of Trent. In this era, there were a lot of wars and conflicts amongst the various nations, there was the threat of invasion from the Muslims, and there was a lot of corruption that hampered the advancement of the faith. The Council of Trent close in 1563 after meeting off and on for 18 years.  Pope Pius V assumed his papacy in 1566.  A member of the Dominicans, Pope Pius V founded new seminaries for the proper training of priests. He published a new Roman missal, a new breviary, and a new catechism. He also implemented legislation against abuses in the Church. Beyond that, he stressed service to the sick and the poor and provided food to the hungry. He receive opposition to many of these reforms from the governments in places like France, England, and the Roman Empire. 

In hearing these stories about the Early Church and about Pope Pius V, may we take courage on our journey in the obstacles and challenges that we meet. 

30 April 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the fifth week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

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

Lord Jesus - you are our redeemer and our savior. 

Priest; As we continue our celebration of the Easter season, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church: that we may allow Christ to bring forth abundant life within us and guide us in using our gifts for God’s glory. 

2. That we may put our intentions and words into action in reaching out to those in need, bringing God’s mercy to others. 

3. For all who minister in the church, that they will faithfully help others find Christ by the witness of their lives, by the truth of their words, and by the integrity of their actions

4. For Pope Francis and all Church leaders, both lay and ordained, that they may faithfully imitate Christ in the way they accompany the people of God on their journey of faith. 

5. For healing for those who are sick in body, mind, and spirit. For healing for those battling addictions and living with mental illness. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life.  For our deceased loved ones and family members.  

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts this evening.  

Priest: As we experience the joy of the Easter season in our lives of faith, we present our prayers this evening through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

28 April 2024 – homily for the Fifth Sunday of the Easter Season – Acts 9: 26-31, John 15:1-8

It is hard to believe that we are more than half way through the Easter season now, as today we celebrate the 5th Sunday of Easter.  In three weeks, on May 19, we will commemorate the end of the Easter season with our celebration of Pentecost. The readings we have throughout the Easter season help us reflect upon the presence of the resurrected Lord that is with us and the impact that presence has on our lives. As I thought about our Gospel today, about Jesus being the vine that connects us together as his disciples in the new life we have in him, I thought I would share three objects that spoke to me about today’s Gospel. The first is this branch that comes from Pope Francis’ home country of Argentina.  One of my parishioners from Yazoo City brought me this back from a visit to her daughter when she was working for an oil company in Buenos Aires. It looks like an ordinary branch on the one side, but then you flip it over, you see that it is carved into a crucifix from its natural shape as a branch, that it is Jesus on the cross.  I thought of this branch when I read today's Gospel. The other item is this walking stick.  Back when I was ministering at the state prison in Pearl in 2011, I met a Catholic inmate from the coast who had just been sentenced to a 30 year term and who was in Pearl for processing. I only met him one time before he was shipped out to the prison on the Gulf Coast.  We started a correspondence through letters. Back more than 10 years ago, I wrote to him about about an upcoming pilgrimage I was going to take to Spain on the Camino of St James. Several weeks later, I received a package that his wife had sent. Contained in the package was this walking stick that he had carved from a holly tree on his property. He used the stick to go hiking with his son. He wanted me to have this stick for my hikes and for my pilgrimage. The third item I want to show is a cross that one of my parishioners from Yazoo City made for me from one of the trees on her property.  Lena Mae died some years ago, but I think of her when I see this cross hanging on the wall of my rectory.  On the back it has inscribed that she gave it to me on Thanksgiving day of 2011. Like the way we are connected with Jesus through as a vine is connected to the different branches, I feel connected to these three wooden object in different ways.  The remind me of the lesson of interconnectedness in this parable. 

 Our connectedness with Jesus in his explanation of the vines and the branches speaks to us today, just as does the reading about the evangelization of the Early Church from the Acts of the Apostles. In the stories of the Early Church in the Easter season readings, we hear about the first evangelization that took place after Christ’s death and resurrection. Why was this evangelization so successful? Why did the Church have converts from the different corners of the Roman Empire? Paul and Barnabas and that original group of disciples were on fire with the word of God permeating their lives. They were filled with joy and enthusiasm to share their faith with others. They wanted to proclaim the Good News to all the world, not letting any obstacles or challenges stand in their way. Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis see us called to a new evangelization that is in the spirit of Paul and the members of the Early Church, an evangelization that will energize our own faith and to those to whom we bring the Gospel message. Benedict and Francis have made this message of the new evangelization an important part of their preaching to the world. Pope Francis has proclaimed that the spread of the Gospel is not guaranteed by the number of persons, or by the prestige of the institution, or by the quantity of available resources. According to Pope Francis, what counts is that we be permeated by the love of Christ, that we let ourselves be led by the Holy Spirit and that we graft our own lives onto the tree of life, the cross of Jesus. We are called to be a part of the vine and the branches that connect us to Jesus as his disciples. 

One book that has made an impact on me is a book entitled REBUILT. It talks about Nativity parish in suburban Baltimore, about the process this parish went through to reenergize and revitalize its community of faith. The subtitle of the book is Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church matter. The authors of this book see the movement of the Kingdom of God as a movement of love. Ultimately, as modern-day Christians, we are to help restore God’s reign of love. We won’t see God's reign, we will miss it, unless we serve one another. Pope Benedict XVI, in his encyclical DEUS CARITAS EST (God is Love) states: “Only if I serve my neighbor can my eyes to opened to what God does for me and how he loves me.” Pope Benedict mentions that the saints, such as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, constantly renewed their capacity to love their neighbor through their encounter with Christ in Eucharist. This Eucharistic encounter took on more realism and depth through the way they served their neighbor. Thus, love of God and love of neighbor are inseparable in our faith.  Serving others out of our faith is more than caring about another’s need. It is about recognizing the image of God in others through our service, about allowing our service to open our eyes to God and to fall more deeply in love with him.

Just as the image of Jesus the Good Shepherd spoke to us in a very real way in last Sunday’s Gospel, the parable of the vine and the branch speaks to us in ways that we can understand. How are we are part of the vine and the branches her in our parishes of Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception? How are we reaching out to others and collaborating in order to build up the Body of Christ? 

26 April 2024 - homily for Friday of the 4th week of EASTER - Our Mother of Good Counsel - Acts 13:26-33

Today and yesterday, we hear readings from the 13th chapter of Acts, in which Paul is in Antioch, addressing the people in the synagogue about Christ’s Good News. For Paul and his companions, their faith in Jesus, Jesus’ proclamation of God’s kingdom, and his death and resurrection, influence their work of Evangelization and their new life in the Gospel message. Every Easter season, as we hear the story of the founding of the Early Church and the way in which they lived out their faith, we are called to be inspired by their zeal and energy. Everyone remembers that the Second Vatican Council called us to modernize the Church and to read the signs of the times of the modern world.  But the Council also called us to harken back to the traditions and teachings of the Early Church, to see our roots and our foundation as a community of believers in what they believed and in what they practiced.

Today, we also celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Good Counsel, a wonderful story about Mary that takes place in Genazzano, Italy, where the Augustine friars had a monastery and where they ministered in the parish church of Our Lady of Good Counsel.  As the Augustinian brothers were renovating the church in 1467, a marble figure of Mary was removed. At that site, there miraculously appeared an image of Mary and the child Jesus. That image took on the title of the parish church, Our Lady of the Good Counsel. According to an old tradition, that same icon was venerated in Albania under the name Our Lady of the Albanians. It is said that this image disappeared from a church as Albania after it was being invaded by infidels. Legend says that it was miraculously relocated by divine intervention to the church in Italy. This church became the site of pilgrimage. Pope John XXIII was a pilgrim to the shrine there on the eve of the Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II visited it before going to Albania to re-establish the hierarchy there following the collapse of communism. Mary is known under the title of Mother of Good Counsel for the good advice she gave, especially at the wedding of Cana. Mary is blessed for not only being the Mother of our Lord, but also for being his first disciple.  May we unite our prayers with Mary’s prayers today.  

 

prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 4th week of Easter - 26 April 2024

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God - Lord have mercy.

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

Lord Jesus - you are a light in the world - Lord have mercy.

PRIEST: As we celebrate the joyful Easter season, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For all who follow Christ in their daily lives, that his love may be visible in their words and actions.

2. For those who seek Christ's truth in the reality of life, that the Holy Spirit lead us and guide us each day.

3. For our children and youth, that they always find hope and encouragement on their journey of faith.

4. For all who are suffering or struggling in any way, and for all who need healing of body, mind or spirit: that the love of family, friends, and neighbors may remind them of God’s loving care.

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

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

PRIEST: Heavenly Father, we ask that you continue to lead and guide your people during the Easter season. Hear the prayers we make through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever. Amen.

25 April 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Feast day of St Mark the Evangelist

Lord Jesus, you were sent to preach the good news: Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you were sent to plant in our hearts the spark of eternal life: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you were sent to reconcile us to yourself by the shedding of your blood: Lord, have mercy.  

Prayers of the faithful: 

Priest: Encouraged by our fellowship with St Mark and all the saints, let us make our prayers to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. As Jesus called men and women as his disciples to leave their past behind and to follow him, may you look with mercy upon those whom he calls today.

2. Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid and breathed on them his gift of peace. May you look with mercy on the world into which he sent them out, and give us the peace for which we long. 

3. Jesus formed a company of disciples who were both servant leaders and friends. May you look with mercy upon our families and our friends and upon the communities in which we serve. 

4. Jesus sent out disciples to preach and heal the sick. May you look with mercy on all those who yearn to hear his good news of salvation. We pray for those who are sick in mind, body, or spirit. 

5. Jesus promised his followed him that they would share the banquet of God's kingdom. May you look with mercy on those who walked with Christ in this life and now have passed through death. 

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

Priest: Almighty God, grant that your Church may faithfully hold and make known the faith that has come to us through Mark and the other members of the community of saints, that with them, we may inherit the glories of eternal life. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

25 April 2024 – homily for Feast of St Mark, Evangelist – Mark 16:15-20

Today, we celebrate the feast day of St. Mark the evangelist. We believe Mark’s Gospel to be the oldest of the four Gospels in the New Testament. It was probably written sometime around 60 AD, primarily for Gentile converts to the faith in Rome. 

In today’s reading from Mark, we hear the commission that Jesus gives to his apostles. Jesus' last words to these apostles point us to his saving mission and to the call he gives to them to be witnesses to his saving death and resurrection, to proclaim the Good News of salvation to all. 

While some of us are ordained to specific ministries in the Church, with me ordained to the priest and serving as a parish priest and as vicar general, while some of us are sent as missionaries to different parts of the world, all of us as Jesus’ followers share in the task of being heralds of his Good News.  We are not left alone to this task, as we are members of the Body of Christ, the Church. The risen Lord works in us and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Through our words and actions, the risen Christ is a real presence in the world today. 

Celebrating the feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist reminds us of how central the apostolic faith of the early Church is to our tradition and to our faith. Not only did the Second Vatican Council modernize and renew our traditions in the context of our culture, but it calls us back to the roots of our faith as expressed by the evangelists, the Early Church Fathers and Mothers, and the apostles. In the spirit of St. Mark and the commission that Jesus gives to all his followers, may we be filled with the joy of the risen Christ. May we long to live a life of praise and thanksgiving for the glory of God.

24 April 2024 - Wednesday of the fourth week of Easter - John 12:44-50

Most of us here at mass this evening have probably had electricity as a part of our lives since we were born. Most of us have had electricity outages from one time or another.  A lot of people in the Jackson area lost power for a period of time in the storms a couple of weeks ago. Many parts of the world have a much less secure and less advanced electricity grid than we do. Where I lived as a missionary in Ecuador and where I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea in Africa, we did not have electricity all of the time.  Electricity has certainly changed the world. When I was on the Camino in Spain this past winter, the sun did not rise until about 8:30 am, so most mornings I was walking in darkness for at least an hour or two. Since many of the areas were down remote paths, there was not a lot of light. One year, on my last day of my walk into the city of Santiago de Compostela, I decided to start out very early in the morning – at 4:45 am – so that I could arrive at the pilgrims’ office that morning to register as a pilgrim and attend the pilgrims’ mass at noon. During those early morning hours, I spent time in a eucalyptus forest and down some very remote paths in total darkness before the sunrise. The quiet dark hours that gave way to a beautiful sunset were very spiritual and prayer-filled. I remember the little LED flashlight I used on the Camino in those early morning hours that gave me enough light to see where I was going. Jesus is the light of our world. His light helps us navigate through the darkness of our world. Jesus is the one who illuminates those values of our faith that we are to live by. May we see Jesus as our light in the midst of those things that could take us off our path of faith.

24 April 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you fill us with Easter joy - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you accompany the people of God on their journey of faith - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: Gathered around the altar of the Lord, we bring our supplications on behalf of all who are in need:

1. That we in the Church may find ways to both preach the word and serve our neighbor. 

2. For our elected leaders, that they may serve with wisdom, compassion and humility. 

3. For an end to violence and terrorism in our nation and throughout the world. 

4. For all those who are graduating high school and college, may the Lord give them joy and encouragement as they reach this milestone in life.  

5.  That we will come to see the Lord Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. 

6. For the sick and shut-in, for the faithful departed, and for those prayers we hold in our hearts today. 

Priest: God of all, you sent your only Son to us as a sign of hope and faith. Help us always to keep his way firmly in our sights as we make these prayers to you in his name, Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord forever and ever.

Prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 4th week of Easter - 23 April 2024

Lord Jesus - you tend your lambs - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you feed your sheep - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you shepherd your flock - Lord have mercy. 

With faith and hope in the risen Christ, we present our prayer to our God of love and mercy: 

1. For the Church throughout the world. May our faith in God’s love for us be expressed in our love for one another. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For peace in our world. May all lands that suffer violence and injustice work toward peace and reconciliation. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For the poor, the homeless, the afflicted, and the unemployed. May our care and concern for those in need be a sign of God’s love and mercy. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For the protection and sanctity of human life. May all people be treated with the dignity they deserve. May we respect all human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.  We pray to the Lord. 

5. For our youth who received the sacrament of confirmation earlier this month. May they grow in wisdom and grace on their journey of faith. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the sick and shut-ins. For those who need healing and in their lives 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: Heavenly Father, you are present in our midst. We pray that you continue to lead us and guide us as we celebrate the Easter season. We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

23 April 2024 - Tuesday of the fourth week of Easter -- John 10:22-30

Our Gospel takes place during the festival of the Dedication in Jerusalem, known an Hanukkah.  This winter festival commemorates the dedication of the temple by Judas Maccabeus in 165 BC after it had been desecrated by the Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus, being a devout Jew, would have celebrated this festival with his disciples and his family.  During this Jewish festival time, Jesus is questioned about his identity again, a recurring theme in the Gospels. The Jews do not understand who Jesus is. They are awaiting the Messiah, but their own expectations about the Messiah do not coincide with Jesus. Jesus’ signs and miracles and his proclamation of God’s kingdom are not recognized by many. How do we practice our faith, stay true to our traditions, and grow in our relationship with Jesus?  I read an article entitled:  “8 things every Catholic should be doing every day.”  The 8 points that the author recommends includes: 1. Start your day with prayer, reading the Bible, or with your Mother, Mary, 2. Smile – be polite to others – be kind – and give out hugs, 3. Reach out to a friend thru a phone call or an email or a visit, 4. Tell someone you love them and why, 5. Talk about God, 6. Sacrifice something, 7. Serve in some way, and 8. Reflect on your day. Those are all interesting suggestions. In whatever way we practice our faith, Jesus must always be our Good Shepherd, we must be true to our faith and our traditions, and we must be true to ourselves.

13 April 2024 - Saturday of the second week of Easter - Saint Martin I - Acts 6:1-7

St Martin I became Pope in the year 649 when Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine empire and when the patriarch of Constantinople was the most influential Church leader in the East. There was a lot of conflict between Eastern and Western Christianity at the time, with the emperor of Byzantium and the Patriarch of Constantinople often allied against Rome. In a council at the Lateran Basilica convened by Martin I, some of the teachings supported by the Patriarch and the Emperor were condemned, which angered both of them. After a failed assassination attempt against Martin I, the Emperor had him captured and brought to Constantinople, subjecting him to torture and imprisonment. The Patriarch repented and was successful in his attempt to free Martin I, but Martin was in a weakened state. He died shortly thereafter. Martin I was the last of the Popes in the Early Church to die a martyr. In our current era where there is often a lot of tension between our faith leaders and the government, the story of Martin I perhaps resonates with us. 

In our first reading from Acts today, we hear about the needs of some members of the community not being met. They choose some men from the community for this particular ministry. This is the precursor for the diaconate that we have the Church today. In our modern era, we also choose members of the community to meet particular needs that we have.  As disciples of Christ, it is important for us to responds to these needs in love and action. 

Prayers of the faithful - 3rd Sunday of Easter - 14 April 2024 - prison ministry

Introduction: We continue our celebration of the Easter season. As we hear about Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance today, as Jesus explains the reality of his death and resurrection, may we also gain understanding into the reality of the resurrection in our own lives. May the reality of the resurrection help us to bring the Gospel message to the world and evangelize others. 

Lord Jesus, you are a fountain of God’s grace and mercy: Lord have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you bring us peace and reconciliation: Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus: you are the way that leads us to new life: Lord, have mercy 

Prayers of the faithful:
PRIEST: We pray that all of us may be drawn more intimately into God’s love and mercy. We offer our prayers today for our needs & the needs of the world:


1. For God’s Church, that we may hear the same call as the disciples in today’s Gospel, being witnesses to Christ’s resurrection in the world, we pray to the Lord.


2. For international cooperation in being good stewards of our environment and sharing the earth’s resources with others. We pray to the Lord.


3. For those who are struggling in their lives, for those battling mental illness, depression, or addictions, may they feel God encouraging them on their journey. We pray to the Lord.


4. For all who thirst for justice and an end to violence, hatred and prejudice in our cities, our neighborhoods, our country, throughout the world, and even here in CMCF. We pray to the Lord.


5. For all those who are sick. We pray for the men here who are sick and for their sick family members.  We pray for healing for us in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For those who have died, for their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord. 


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

PRIEST: We are the people you shepherd, O God, the flock you guide. Hear these our prayers and graciously grant them through Christ, our Lord for ever and ever. 

Prayers of the faithful - 4th Sunday in the Easter Season - 21 APRIL 2024 - prison ministry

Introduction: Our Easter celebration continues today on “Good Shepherd Sunday,” the fourth Sunday of Easter. Today is a good day to reflect upon and be thankful for all the people who have been good shepherds in our faith life, to pray for all pastors, priests, and lay leaders, as well as for vocations for the future of our Church. 

Lord Jesus, you are the gate for the sheep—the way to eternal life: Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are the the Good Shepherd—the way to true and lasting peace: Christ, have mercy. 

Lord Jesus, you are the way to union with the Father: Lord, have mercy. 

PRIEST: As we return to the shepherd and guardian of our souls, let us now pray for our needs and the needs of all in the world around us.


1. For Pope Francis and all the leaders in our Church. May they strive to follow Christ the Good Shepherd and encourage us to do the same, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For all governmental leaders in our country and in the world, that they might follow the example of the Good Shepherd in caring for the needs of all who are entrusted in their care, we pray to the Lord.
3. For all those who entered our community of St Michael the Archangel at Easter, that they may deepen their faith and commitment to the Lord, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For the lost and wounded sheep of our flock, that they may know the love and care of the Good Shepherd through our efforts, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For the sick here at CMCF and in our families, for healing and wholeness, we pray to the Lord.
6. For those who have died, especially for our deceased family members and loved ones, for their entry into eternal life, we pray to the Lord.
7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, we pray to the Lord. 

PRIEST: Tender God, your care for us knows no bounds. Lead us with your love, and graciously hear these our prayers that we make through Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd and Risen Lord for ever and ever. Amen. 

Prayers of the faithful - 4th Sunday in the Easter Season - 21 APRIL 2024

Introduction: Our Easter celebration continues today on “Good Shepherd Sunday,” the fourth Sunday of Easter.  Today is a good day to reflect upon and be thankful for all the people who have been good shepherds in our faith life, to pray for all pastors, priests, and lay leaders, as well as for vocations for the future of our Church.

Lord Jesus, you are the gate for the sheep—the way to eternal life: Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the the Good Shepherd—the way to true and lasting peace: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the way to union with the Father: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST: As we return to the shepherd and guardian of our souls, let us now pray for our needs and the needs of all in the world around us.

1. For Pope Francis and all the leaders in our Church, both ordained leaders and lay leaders, as they strive to follow Christ the Good Shepherd and encourage us to do the same, we pray to the Lord.

2. For all governmental leaders in our country and in the world, that they might follow the example of the Good Shepherd in caring for the needs of all who are entrusted in their care, we pray to the Lord.

3. For all those who are celebrating their Confirmation and First Communion this Easter season, that they may deepen their faith and commitment to the Lord, we pray to the Lord.

4. For men and women in every faith community, that they might hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling them into ordained and lay ministries, we pray to the Lord.

5. For the lost and wounded sheep of our own flock, that they may know the love and care of the Good Shepherd through our efforts, we pray to the Lord.

6. For the sick and shut-in of our parish community, for those in the hospice, hospital, and nursing home, for healing and wholeness, we pray to the Lord. 

7. For the the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life, we pray to the Lord. 

8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, we pray to the Lord.

PRIEST: Tender God, your care for us knows no bounds. Lead us with your love, and graciously hear these our prayers that we make through Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd and Risen Lord for ever and ever. Amen. 

Bulletin Reflection - Good Shepherd Sunday - 4th Sunday of Easter - 21 April 2024

On the fourth Sunday of the Easter season, we always celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. In our Gospel today, Jesus states that he is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. For all of us, including our youth and children, Jesus is a such a wonderful image that speaks to us in many different ways. We have Uno the sheep with us in our church at Holy Savior as a symbol of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.  I got the idea for Uno from a parish I visited in the summer of 2022 in New Hampshire on a mission appeal for our Diocese..  Every time we see Uno at Mass, may we be reminded of Jesus as our Good Shepherds who leads us and guides us through the ups and downs of life.  

This weekend is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, fulfilling the Lord's instruction to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest. We all have different vocations to which God calls us, but, particularly on this world day of prayer, we pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated religious life. 

Blessings to all of you as we continue our joyful Easter season. Father Lincoln.  

Prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the third week of Easter - 16 April 2024

Lord Jesus - you bring us God’s love and mercy - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you are the beloved son of our heavenly Father - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to be born again in our faith - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: We now bring our prayers to our loving and merciful God: 

1. We pray for Pope Francis, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and the communion of Bishops, and all our clergy and lay leaders, that they may help us all be ambassadors for Christ. 

2. We pray that all Christians may embrace the corporal and spiritual works of mercy as a part of our baptismal call.   

3. We pray that all people of good will may work for justice and the good of all peoples. 

4. We pray for all the sick. For our medical professionals, first responders, and men and women in the military. 

5. We pray for all those enslaved by their past sins or decisions. That the wounds of Christ may encourage them to seek his love for them. 

6. We pray for all those who have died. That the Lord in his mercy welcome them into his dwelling place in the eternal kingdom. 

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, out of our lives of discipleship, we humbly present these prayers to you through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the third week of Easter - 17 April 2024

Lord Jesus - you bring us your Father’s love - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you gather your flock with joy - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you give yourself to heal us and bring us strength - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: The Lord grants favors to those whom he loves. May we make our prayers known to our loving God with hope.

1. For all who follow Christ, that their faith in Jesus’ resurrection may deepen. 

2. For missionaries and for all believers, that we may spread the Good News about Jesus. May all the faithful be filled with the joy of Easter as they spread the Gospel message. 

3. For people who suffer, in mind, body or spirit, that they may experience divine healing and new 

4. For our children, youth and all our families. May the Lord continue to accompany all of them on their journey of faith.  

5. For those who have died, that God’s light may shine on them perpetually. We pray especially for the souls in purgatory. 

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

Priest: O God of salvation, your glory shines throughout the world to bring joy to your people. We ask that you hear our prayers and grant us your all-powerful grace, through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

18 April 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 3rd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are the Good Shepherd - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you feed your flock - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us your father’s love - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: Filled with paschal joy, let us pray earnestly to God, that he, who graciously listened to the prayers and supplications of his beloved Son, may now be pleased to look upon us in our humility. 

1. For the shepherds of our Church, that they may have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd, we pray to the Lord.

2. For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace given by Christ, let us pray to the Lord.

3. For our president, our governor and all our elected officials, that they find wisdom in their faith in God as they lead us and guide us, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For our brothers and sisters who suffer in different ways, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For our community, that we may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, we pray to the Lord.

6. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today, we pray to the Lord. 

Priest: O God, as our lives in this present age are subject to suffering and need, hear our desires as we cry to you; receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 3rd week of Easter - 19 April 2024

Lord Jesus - you bring us your Father’s love - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you gather your flock with joy - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you give yourself to heal us and bring us strength - Lord have mercy. 

Priest:  We make our prayers known to our loving God this morning with hope and faith:

1. For all who follow Christ, that their faith in the resurrection of Jesus may deepen. 

2. For missionaries and for all believers, that we may all spread the Good News of Jesus, and that the joy of Easter may fill all of us with fresh zeal for evangelization. 

3. For people who suffer in mind, body or spirit, that they may experience healing and new strength. We pray for all in the hospital, hospice, and nursing home. 

4. For our children, youth and families. May the Lord accompany all of them on their journey.  

5. For those who have died recently, that God’s light may shine on them perpetually. We pray in a special way for the souls in purgatory. 

6. For our first responders, the men and women in the military, and our medical professionals. 

6. For the prayers we hold in our hearts.  

Priest: O God our salvation, your glory shines throughout the world to bring joy to your people: hear our prayers and grant us your all-powerful grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

21 April 2024 - homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter Season – John 10:11-18

The Church gives us images and symbols that speak to us on our journey of faith. Throughout the Old Testament, there have been shepherds who have been called to serve the people of Israel.  Moses was working as a shepherd, tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, when the Angel of the Lord visited him and called him to the special task of bringing the people out of bondage in Egypt. Many generations after Moses, God sent the prophet Samuel to the household of Jesse where he would find the youth whom God had chosen to be king.  After meeting all the older brothers, it was revealed to Samuel that the chosen king was a youth named David who was serving as a shepherd in the fields, caring for his father’s flock of sheep. And at almost every Catholic funeral, one of the readings we hear is the 23rd Psalm: the Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. These images of shepherds appeal to our imaginations, foreshadowing the coming of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asserts that he is the Good Shepherd who will lay down his life for his sheep, who will gather them together and protect them. Perhaps Jesus as our Good Shepherd takes on a different tone today than maybe it did just a decade ago. We hear stories of martyrs throughout history, of Christians being condemned for their faith or having their voices silenced, but in our own country, we took our Christian faith for granted, especially in the religious freedom that seemed to be the backbone of our society. Today, we see our country becoming more secular, with our faith more openly criticized and condemned. We cannot take the freedom to practice our faith for granted. We hear stories about Christians being martyred for their faith in countries in the Middle East and North Africa.  How does Jesus the Good Shepherd speak to us in this reality?

 Just as the image of the Good Shepherd tells a story in our reality as modern Christians, the stole I am wearing tells a story as well. In 1973, the democratically elected government in the country of Chile was overthrown by a military coup under General Augusto Pinochet. People were arrested, tortured, and even murdered by the governmental authorities; witnesses to those things were afraid to speak out.  A group of women approached the Vicariate of Solidarity, a special office of the Catholic Church that was set up to help the people in these difficult times. The ladies developed a new art form called the arpillera, which took small pieces of fabric and that told the story of what was going on in their country.  They shipped these arpilleras throughout the world in order to tell their story and to alert others what was going on.  Everyone has a story, and from these bright colored panels depicting different events in Jesus’ life on my stole, you would never know the history behind it. These ladies never gave up hope. They never gave up faith. They saw Jesus leading them and guiding them as their Good Shepherd, leading them to reach out to others and to speak out against the injustices they saw.

Today, as we hear these stories of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This year marks the 61st anniversary of this day of prayer. As we think about vocations today in the context of Jesus as the Good Shepherd leading us and guiding us, as the one who laid down his life for us, the flock he shepherds, we think of the need we have for shepherds and leaders in our faith. The week after Easter in our parish, a group of youth received the sacrament of confirmation with Bishop Kopacz. It was a special day in their journey of faith in their lives, in the lives of their families, and in the life of our parish. It is a moment that points to the vocation that Christ calls us to as well. Without Jesus as our Good Shepherd, without a relationship with him, we will never hear his voice calling out to us. There may some members in our parish whom God is calling to become priests or deacons or consecrated members of a religious community. There may be some whom God is calling to be lay leaders and lay ministers.  Whatever our vocation in life, we need to hear where Jesus is calling us in the context of that vocation.

How is Jesus our Good Shepherd?  And what different does that make in our lives?  Those are good questions for us to ponder on Good Shepherd Sunday. 

 

14 April 2024 - homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter - Cycle B - Witness from the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus - Luke 24:35-48, Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

I remember when I was about 8 or 9 years old, I was in downtown Chicago with my mom. We were walking down a busy street when this very large man was crossing and coming toward us. My mom took my hand and leaned down to me and said in a very hushed voice: “You see that man coming toward us. Say hello to him and wish him a good morning.”  My mom was a very vivacious friendly extrovert who never met a stranger.  I was this shy introvert child who had trouble saying one word to anyone.  Well, I knew this was something I had to do, so when the man reached us, I said hello to him and wished him a good morning. He responded to me with a big smile, “Well hello young man, good morning to you too.” As he walked away, I asked my mom why she wanted me to greet this stranger. She responded: “Doesn’t that man look familiar to you?  That was Mayor Daley.” Looking back now, I cherish that memory, and it so reflect my mom’s friendly outgoing personality.  

I did not expect to meet the mayor of Chicago crossing a busy street on an outing with my mom. The disciples did not expect to meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus as they fled the city of Jerusalem. They were sad, frighted, and dejected. The man who was their hero and spiritual leader had been put to death. Yet, they meet this stranger on the road who turns out to be Jesus. They were excited to tell their story to the rest of the group when they returned to Jerusalem. In the midst of this gathering, Jesus appears to them again. Luke’s Gospel states that “they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.” Jesus showed them the wounds in his hands and feet, proving that he was not a ghost.  He helped them delve into Sacred Scripture to understand what was happening and to allow them to grow in their faith and their belief.  

 Our life of faith can be full of surprises. It can be full of mystery as well. Perhaps we can better understand how we can approach our faith in the context of our first reading from Acts today. The crowds had just seen Peter cure a lame man in the name of Jesus in the Temple area. This miracle of healing drew the attention of the crowds. After talking about Jesus in relationship to the prophets and to Scripture, and explaining to them how the people were complicit in handing him over to death, Peter invites them to repent and to receive forgiveness from Christ, to believe in the new life he offers. I love the word “invite,” because Jesus invites us to believe and to enter into a relationship with him. The Church invites us into the community of believers, into the Body of Christ.  

I know a lot people drove long distances to view the eclipse this past week. Some from the Jackson area drove as as far as Missouri or Arkansas or Texas to view this event. Someone who viewed the eclipse told me that it even moved her to tears, it was such a magical moment.  And I am sure that photos and descriptions do not do justice as to what that event was like. A magical moment like the eclipse is like the mysteries of our faith that happen in our lives.  Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we never know who we are going to meet on our journey of faith. We never know how a certain prayer or passage from Scripture or spiritual book is going to touch us. We never know how God is going to touch us and speak to us on our journey. Celebrating the risen Christ in the Easter season is an invitation to open ourselves up to the mysteries of our faith, to those amazing faith experiences that await us.