14 June 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time

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

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the values of the kingdom of God. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

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 in being witnesses to the Gospel and bring us together in helping those in need. 

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

3. That God will bring us to new life and help those who are struggling 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 healing for the sick and the shut in. 

8. 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.  

14 June 2024 - GK Chesterton - Friday of the 10th week of Ordinary Time - Psalm 27

Born in 1874, GK Chesterton was a famous English author, philosopher, and Christian apologist.  He was famous for his Father Brown mystery books. At the age of 48, he left the Anglican Church and converted to Catholicism. Always viewing himself as being firmly rooted in the principles of Orthodoxy, he was drawn to the concept of Tradition in the Catholic faith. Before his death in 1936, he gave a series of very popular talks on BBC radio and was also nominated for the Nobel prize for literature. The cause for bringing him up for beatification and canonization has also been brought up periodically. 

Psalm 27 today is labeled a psalm of King David. It is expressed in the psalm that even though God invited David to seek him, David had a sense that God was hiding from him. Yet, rather than turn away from God in anger and disappointment, David turned to God even more diligently and earnestly. At the end of the psalm, David encourages us to wait for the Lord with courage and stoutheartedness. Sometimes when we don’t feel the presence of the Lord with us on our journey, it can be frustrating and lonely. But in all circumstances, we are not to give up in our search for the Lord.  

13 June 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 13th week in Ordinary time

Lord Jesus, you came to preach the Good News of salvation: Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you bring new life to your people: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Jesus is our Good Shepherd sees and understands our needs. Let us pray in his name for all in need.

1. For the Church and her leaders, may they always preach Christ’s Gospel with integrity and hope.  

2. For our governmental leaders, may they work toward justice, healing, and peace.

3. For all missionaries, the men and women in the military, our veterans, and our first responders. May they feel our gratitude and prayers for their service. 

4. That all of us may proclaim the Gospel of life in our words and our actions, respecting human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

5. For healing for all who are sick in mind, body, and spirit. For their family members and care givers.

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

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

Priest: O God of gracious care, you grant rest to the weary and fill the needs of those who come to you. Hear these our prayers and grant that one day we may rest eternally with you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

13 June 2024 - St Anthony of Padua - Thursday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time - Psalm 65

Anthony of Padua is the saint we celebrate today. He was born just 13 years after Francis of Assisi at the end of the 12th century. He started his ministry as an Augustinian monk, but later became a Franciscan Friar. St Anthony is the patron saint of lost things. That patronage is rooted in a story from his life as a monk. Anthony had a book of psalms that was very important to him. Besides being a hand scribed book before the era of the printing press, making it very valuable, Anthony had many notes and commentaries written in the book that helped him in his teaching of novices to the Franciscan order. One of those novices decided to leave the order before taking his vows, taking Anthony’s psalter with him when he fled. Anthony prayed for its return, and not only got the psalter back, but the novice returned to the order as well! Not only is Anthony of Padua the patron saint of things lost by Catholics and non-Catholics alike, but Pope Pius XII named him as a Doctor of the Church in 1947, one of a select group of 38 men and women to be named to such a high honor.

Our psalm today, from the last portion of the 65th psalm, emphasizes God’s gracious provision for the crops and for a bountiful harvest. While humanity plants the crops, it is God who brings rain and allows the plants to grow. As we are in the spring season, and as we had a terrible drought last year, we pray for sufficient rain this year, for good gardens, and for a wonderful harvest this year. 

12 June 2024 - John of Sahagún - Wednesday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time - Psalm 16

John of Sahagún was born into a prominent family in the kingdom of León in Spain in the early 14th century.  He was ordained a diocesan priest, but later joined the Augustinian order.  He was twice elected as prior of the local Augustinian monastery in Salamanca. John was known for his wisdom and prudence. He was able to reconcile feuding families. He championed the rights of workers. And he was a man of prayer who was very devoted to the Eucharist.  He also reached out to the widows, the orphans, the needy, and the sick. Salamanca was a very divided city. Due to John's repeated attempts to reconcile the community, the opposing nobles of Salamanca signed a peace treaty in 1476. He died in 1479 and was canonized in 1690.  

Our psalm today states: “Keep me safe O God, you are my hope.” The psalmist speaks of finding refuge in the Lord, of the Lord showing him the path of life.  As John of Sahagún faced a community where the was a lot of division and violence, he came to them as a man of peace, a man of God, who would lead them to healing and reconciliation.  We live in a world where peace is often hard to come by. May we see the Lord as our hope. May we turn to the Lord in times of turmoil and struggle. 

12 June 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope - Lord have mercy 

Christ Jesus - you bring us love - Christ have mercy

Lord Jesus - you bring us truth - Lord have mercy

Priest: As the mystery of God accompanies us on our journey, we make our prayers with confidence in the infinite generosity of God the Father:

1. For the grace to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need in work of mercy.  

2. For the compassion to help the hungry, the homeless, the prisoner, and the oppressed.  

3. For the patience to resist resist temptation, to confront our sins and, to grow in faith. 

4. For those who are sick and shut-in. For those who need healing in body, mind and spirit. For God’s loving presence in their lives. 

5. For our children, youth, and their families as they journey through their summer vacations, for family unity and harmony.  

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

7. For those prayers we hold in our hearts.  

Priest: Help us to profess our faith in our words and our actions.  We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  Amen. 

11 June 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith.

Christ Jesus - you us to bring the Gospel message to the world. 

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

Priest: Out of the depths of our hearts, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That all of us in the Church may be aware of our mission to live the values of the Eucharist each day on our journey of faith. 

2. That we may bring the love of God to those who are in struggling or suffering in the reality of our work, our relationships, and our community.  

3. For Pope Francis and all Bishops, that they will guide the Church toward fuller unity and an effective proclamation of God’s truth. 

4. For the sick and the shut-ins, for all who need healing in body, mind, and spirit. 

5. For our loved ones, community members, and family members who have died, for their entry into eternal life. 

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

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

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

11 June 2024 - St Barnabas - Tuesday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time - Acts 11:21b-26 and 13:1-13

St Barnabas is the saint we celebrate today.  He has a very interesting story from the days of the Early Church. Barnabas was not one of the original group of apostles, but he is about as close to them as you can get.  He was a Jew from Cyprus who was a companion of St Paul. Barnabas is the one who introduced Paul to Peter and the other apostles.  He served as a kind of mediator between Paul, a former persecutor of the followers of Jesus, and the still suspicious Jewish Christians. When a Christian community was formed in the important city of Antioch, Barnabas was sent there as the official representative of the Church in Jerusalem to bring them under the umbrella of the Early Church. Barnabas and Paul spent a year in Antioch nurturing the Christian community there, bringing back contributions from Antioch to the Church in Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas later returned to Antioch to preach the Gospels to the Gentiles there. We hear about Barnabas’ story in our reading from the Acts of the Apostles today. Barnabas is the patron saint of the country of Cyprus, of the city of Antioch, and of peacemakers. Even though all of this sounds like a nice story, we know that Barnabas and Paul faced many challenges and controversies, including Christian communities experiencing a lot of division and discord, as well as a relationship with the mother Church in Jerusalem that could often be tense and heated. May Barnabas be an inspiration to us in the challenges that we face today in our modern world today. May we unite our prayers with the intercession of St Barnabas on his feast day.

9 June 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time - CMCF - prison ministry

Introduction: We gather together today as a faith family to celebrate the Eucharist. In our Gospel today, we hear Jesus tell the crowds that whoever does the will of God is a part of his family. May we pray that we are able to recognize the gift of God’s grace that allows us to be brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Priest - Penitential rite:
Lord Jesus, you are the Living word of God. Lord have Mercy. 

Christ Jesus, you are the giver of life. Christ have Mercy.


Lord Jesus, you will come again in glory. Lord have Mercy. 


Priest: Out of the depths of our lives, we present our prayers today, trusting that God is attentive to our petitions and supplications: 

1. That with the help of the Holy Spirit, we the Church may discern God’s will, building up the kingdom of God here on earth. We pray to the Lord.


2. That we may work tirelessly against the forces of evil in the world, choosing to follow hope and love. We pray to the Lord.


3. For the homeless and for those searching for a new place to live, that God will lead them to new possibilities. We pray to the Lord.


4. For Christian unity, that we may give witness to our common baptism through dialogue and cooperation. We pray to the Lord.


5. For our children and our families, that the Lord will accompany them on their summer travels and activities. We pray to the Lord.


6. For first responders, medical professionals, missionaries, and the men and women serving in the military. May the Lord protect them and their families in their lives of service. We pray to the Lord.


7. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit. For our family members and loved ones who have died, for their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord.

8. That in our ups and downs of life, we can feel God accompanying us on our journey. We pray to the Lord. 


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

Priest: God of mercy, you show us the way to live. Guide us in showing your mercy to our brothers and sisters in need. Redeem them by our forgiveness. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

2 June 2024 - the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Prayers of Faithful - CMCF - PRISON MINISTRY

Introduction: The Eucharist is central to our life of faith as Catholics. In the Eucharist, we receive Christ’s body and blood as food for our journey and we participate in Christ’s sacrifice. We are called to participate in new life that the Eucharist brings us. May the message we hear today as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ help us to appreciate this special gift. 

Priest - Penitential rite:


Lord Jesus, you are the living bread that came down from heaven. Lord have mercy.


Christ Jesus, you are the source of nourishment for your people. 

Christ have mercy. 
Lord Jesus, you bring us new life. Lord have mercy. 

Priest: As we celebrate the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit or our Christian life, may we rejoice in this incomparable gift as we present our prayers to our Heavenly Father:


1. For the Church, the we may always be the Body and Blood of Christ in the world, deepening our devotion to the Eucharistic sacrifice that brings us new life, we pray to the Lord.


2. For the Catholic faithful, that the redemptive power of Christ’s eucharistic sacrifice may extend into our hearts and minds, our words and actions, we pray to the Lord.


3. That through our Gospel witness, we may reflect what we receive in the most holy Eucharist, we pray to the Lord.


4. That the real presence of Jesus be experienced in in our friendships, in our families, in our work, and in our studies, we pray to the Lord.


5. For our family members and loved ones who have died, for their entry into eternal life. We pray especially for the souls in purgatory, we pray to the Lord.


6. For healing for the sick and the shut-ins in body, mind, and spirit. We pray for our sick family members and loved ones. We pray to the Lord.


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


Priest: Loving Father, the gift of the Eucharist blesses us with the divine presence for which our human hearts long. Through the grace of the Eucharist, help us to be more perfectly the Body of Christ. We make our prayers through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

9 June 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: We gather together today as a faith family to celebrate the Eucharist. In our Gospel today, we hear Jesus tell the crowds that whoever does the will of God is a part of his family. May we pray that we are able to recognize the gift of God’s grace that allows us to be brothers and sisters in Christ.

Priest - Penitential rite:

Lord Jesus, you are the Living word of God. Lord have Mercy. Christ Jesus, you are the giver of life. Christ have Mercy.

Lord Jesus, you will come again in glory. Lord have Mercy.

Prayers of the faithful:

Priest: Out of the depths of our lives, we present our prayers today, trusting that God is attentive to our petitions and supplications:

1. That with the help of the Holy Spirit, we the Church may discern God’s will, building up the kingdom of God here on earth. We pray to the Lord.

2. That we may work tirelessly against the forces of evil in the world, choosing to follow hope and love. We pray to the Lord.

3. For the homeless and for those searching for a new place to live, that God will lead them to new possibilities. We pray to the Lord.

4. For Christian unity, that we may give witness to our common baptism through dialogue and cooperation. We pray to the Lord.

5. For our children, our youth, and our families, that the Lord will accompany them through their summer travels and activities. We pray to the Lord.

6. For first responders, medical professionals, missionaries, and the men and women serving in the military. May the Lord protect them and their families in their lives of service. We pray to the Lord.

7. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit. For 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 today.

Priest: God of mercy, you show us the way to live. Guide us in showing your mercy to our brothers and sisters in need. Redeem them by our forgiveness. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

Bulletin Reflection - 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 9 July 2024

After celebrating the Holy Trinity and the Body and Blood of Christ at our Masses these past two weekends, we are doing back into the rhythm of Ordinary Time at our weekend Masses, returning to the liturgical color of green. The hectic month of May is now behind us, with all the end of the school year activities. A lot of us will be traveling during our summer months. We pray for safe travels for everyone. While I am writing this reflection a few weeks in advance, I have had several funerals in the past week, but have also had a baptism and a house blessing and other activities in the midst of our parish life. God is there with us in our lived reality, no matter what that reality may be. I think of the Ignatian spiritual concept of seeing God in all things. Seeing the presence of God in all our experiences may be challenging to do sometimes. I wish you all blessings as we journey through Ordinary Time during these summer months. Father Lincoln.

2 June 2024 - The solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Prayers of the Faithful

Introduction: The Eucharist is central to our life of faith as Catholics. In the Eucharist, we receive Christ’s body and blood as food for our journey and we participate in Christ’s sacrifice. We are called to participate in new life that the Eucharist brings us. May the message we hear today as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ help us to appreciate this special gift.

Priest - Penitential rite:

Lord Jesus, you are the living bread that came down from heaven. Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you are the source of nourishment for your people. Christ have mercy. 


Lord Jesus, you bring us new life. Lord have mercy.

Priest: As we celebrate the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit or our Christian life, may we rejoice in this incomparable gift as we present our prayers to our Heavenly Father:

1. For the Church, the we may always be the Body and Blood of Christ in the world, deepening our devotion to the Eucharistic sacrifice that brings us new life, we pray to the Lord.

2. For all the Catholic faithful, that the redemptive power of Christ’s Eucharistic sacrifice may extend into our hearts and minds, our words and actions, we pray to the Lord.

3. That through our Gospel witness, we may reflect what we receive in the most holy Eucharist, we pray to the Lord.

4. That the real presence of Jesus be experienced in our marriages, in our business relationships, in our daily encounters, in our friendships, and in our family life, we pray to the Lord.

5. For repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. We pray especially for the souls in the process of purification in purgatory, we pray to the Lord.

6. For healing for the sick and the shut-ins in body, mind, and spirit. We pray for our sick family members and loved ones. We pray to the Lord.

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

Priest: Loving Father, the gift of the Eucharist blesses us with the divine presence for which our human hearts long. Through the grace of the Eucharist, help us to be more perfectly the Body of Christ. We make our prayers through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

Bulletin Reflection - 2 June 2024 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Corpus Christi

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is leading a National Eucharistic Revival, which will take place from 2022-2025. The Revival launched on the Feast of Corpus Christi on June 19, 2022. Over these 3 years, parishes and dioceses throughout the country will host events that focus on the Eucharist. There will be a Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July as a part of this revival. For the past two years, I have been participating in a special national program at the McGrath Institute at the University of Notre Dame as a part of the Eucharistic revival. All of us in that program are working on projects that reflect the Eucharistic revival in different ways, through music, religious formation, youth groups, parish spirituality, priestly spirituality, social justice issues, etc. I have been working on the Eucharist as the center of the prison ministry, having the inmates see themselves as Eucharistic missionaries in the prison environment, bringing the presence of the Body and Blood of Christ to that reality. In the Eucharistic revival, our US Bishops pray to the Holy Spirit, that the spirit of God enkindle a missionary fire in the heart of our nation as we reconsecrate ourselves to the source and summit of our faith. Blessings to you on this wonderful feast day. Father Lincoln. 

9 June 2024 - homily for the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Genesis 3:9-15 - Mark 3:20-35

It is very interesting - the first question that is asked in the Bible comes from Satan in the third chapter of Genesis as he asks Eve: “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any of the trees in the garden’?” The first question God asks of man comes from the same chapter of Genesis, when God calls out to man and asks him: “Where are you?”  We hear this question in our first reading today. It is a good question we can ask of ourselves today: Where are we?  Whereas Satan asked his question to manipulate Eve to doubt God’s goodness, God asked his question in order to maintain a relationship with both Adam and Eve. God asked that question because he could not find them: they were not where he usually met them as they walked through the garden. But, this question is not just a matter of location; it is also a spiritual and psychological question.  Where do we find ourselves today on our spiritual journey? Where are we in relationship to the calling we have received from God? 

The first reading helps us to look at where we are in relationship with God, whereas our Gospel helps us look at where we are at in both our relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters. This Gospel reading is not about Jesus rejecting his mother Mary and his relatives, giving up on his biological family. Rather, it is about Jesus stating the intentions of his mission to proclaim God’s kingdom, of love of God and love of neighbor, rather than isolating ourselves in our tribe or our family unit. Only the grace we receive from God himself can help us grow in our love of God and love of neighbor, as Jesus states: “whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Our own journey of faith and our personal relationship with God is important, our family is important, but our neighbor is important to us as well, as we let the love of God enter our hearts and pass it on to others.  

As a priest, I've had parishioners ask me about one of the phrases in today’s Gospel, about why blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is considered the unforgivable sin, and what implications that has for us. Perhaps we can understand this statement in the context of God’s love of us and of the love we are to have for our neighbor.  If a person or a society turns against or blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, they cut themselves off from God’s love. Two weeks ago, we celebrated the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  The love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the world show us how to be in love as a community, how to work together as God's presence in the world. The three persons of the Trinity model for us how we should in God’s grace and God’s love as brothers and sisters in Christ.  

A few years back, before we had the synodal process and the reimagining process, the Diocese called us to work on three goals. One of the goals was to be a more inviting and reconciling community. In the synodal process, a similar theme noted was the rebuilding of community, of unity and healing, especially after the pandemic. We have tried to do this in different ways at Holy Savior and Clinton, such as having more social gatherings and a greater emphasis on children and youth. We have been trying to have a great emphasis on the Catholic devotions, such as adoration, the First Friday devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the First Saturday devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. We also have been trying to reach out in the community in different ways. In many ways, this process in just beginning. We are hoping to have more social gatherings, to offer more opportunities for adult religious education, and to increase the opportunities we reach out to the least of our brothers and sisters in the community. You will also hear me speak more about the Eucharistic revival in our country. Together, I want us to grow in our appreciation &  understanding of the Eucharist & what it means to live as Eucharistic missionaries.  

You are hearing me speak more about the Eucharistic revival in our country. I want us to journey together as we gain in our appreciation and understanding of the Eucharist and what it means to live out our lives of faith as Eucharistic missionaries.  

Let us go back to that question that God asked Adam and Eve: “Where are you?” Where do we want God to find us on our journey of faith, both as individuals and as a community?  Where do we want God to find us? 

2 June 2024 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Mark 14:12-16 and 22-26

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the real presence of Christ with us in the Eucharist. This celebration is also known by its Latin title, Corpus Christi. The Second Vatican Council very famously called the Eucharist “the source and summit of Christian life.” Our Christian spirituality is to flow from the Eucharist as its source, the same way light streams from the sun as the source of the light. Moreover, our Christian spirituality has the Eucharist as the high point toward which all of our actions should ultimately be directed. Thus, our Christian spirituality should flow in two directions, with the Eucharist as the point from which our daily life starts, and with the Eucharist leading us back home to our eternal life with God after our sojourn in the world comes to an end. 

Our US Bishops have called us to three year Eucharistic renewal in which we are to grow in our understanding of the Eucharist and in our devotion to it.  This Eucharistic renewal started two year’s ago on this same feast day in 2022. You can imagine, that for me as a priest celebrating Mass many times each week, the Eucharist is very much at the center of my life.  In my years serving as a priest, I have grown a lot in my understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist, in ways that are difficult to put into words. I remember that in December 2019, I was working as vicar general in the chancery.  Some parishioners from St Michael parish in Paulding, located in rural Jasper country past Bay Springs and about a half hour from the city of Laurel, contacted me, telling me that since their cluster of parishes did not have a full time pastor, they had not had a Mass in their parish for almost two years.  The people continued the celebrate in their church through word and communion services led by the parishioners themselves.  They were wondering if I could find a way to have a priest celebrate Christmas Mass for them. So for a couple of years, interrupted partially by the pandemic, I traveled once or twice a month on a Saturday morning to that parish in Paulding and to the neighboring parish in Newton, to ensure that they would at least have Mass periodically. It really touched my heart the way that the people yearned for the Eucharist, similar to the way all of us Catholics yearned for the Eucharist during the pandemic when in-person Mass was not an option. 

Back in October 2021, I was invited to apply to a two-year program at University of Notre Dame in conjunction with the Eucharistic renewal, in which Catholic leaders from all over the country would develop projects centered around the Eucharist. I put off thinking about that invitation, and did not apply until the very last day, thinking that I had nothing to lose for applying. At the time, we were not even back in the prisons with our Catholic ministry after the pandemic. But when I got accepted to the program and started working on developing a project, I knew that the Holy Spirit was leading me to center the project on the prison inmates and the Eucharist. To be honest, a prison probably is not the first place we Catholics associate with the Eucharist. The violence and brokenness of the prison environment can seem a long way from the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. But, as I started training the inmates to see themselves as Eucharistic missionaries, bringing the Body and Blood of Christ to the reality of prison, as I visited inmates in solitary confinement who could not even come to the Mass I was celebrating in the prison, as I brought a tabernacle to the prison and explained to them what a tabernacle was, Jesus entered into the prison reality in a profound way.  As I write this homily, I realize that this same week, I celebrated Mass for more approximately 225 men and women in the prison. I see how their lives are touched by the presence of Christ and for the love and compassion that the Eucharist and our Catholic ministry symbolizes for them. Through this prison ministry experience centered around the Eucharist, I understand in a more profound way that the Eucharist needs to be rooted in the love of Christ. 

The most important understanding that has come out of my love of the Eucharist is that it should guide our words and our actions to share our faith with others and to enkindle a missionary fire within our hearts. It is important to note that the Mass does not end with our reception of the Eucharist. The Mass concludes with the commission we receive as we are dismissed into the world, as the priest states, “Go forth, the Mass is ended, live, the Gospel,” or “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” We who are filled with the body of Christ, galvanized as a community according to the purposes of God, must go forth from Mass to bring the values of our faith into the world. At the end of Mass, the priest sends the community of the faithful out as seeds of new life. It is our mission to nurture a world that is hungry for meaning and direction. It is only when we see things in this way, of really living the Eucharist in the world, will we understand the purpose of the Eucharistic meal that we receive at Mass. 

I really want to devote a lot of time here in our parish this upcoming year talking about the Eucharist and finding ways to live out the message of the Eucharistic revival as individuals and a community.  Stay tuned for more. 

7 June 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Lord Jesus - you love us with your Sacred Heart. 

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

Lord Jesus - you call us to peace and justice.  

Priest: As we celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus today, we are confident that Christ intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. With faith in his love we make our prayers in his name:

1. For the holy Church, that all who believe in the Risen Christ and his Sacred heart may follow him faithfully. 

2. For our Diocese and for our parish community, that we may see the Lord in the signs he has left us, giving us new life in our baptism and nourishing us in the Eucharist. 

3. For all who are in need, that those with plenty may act with compassion so as to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ with justice.

4. For all who are sick or suffering and for those close to death, that Jesus, the risen Savior, may give them grace and strength. 

5. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. For the souls in the process of purification in purgatory.  ‘

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

Priest: God our Father, increase in our minds and hearts the new life we share with Christ, helping us to grow as your people in love and compassion. We ask this through Christ our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

7 June 2024 - homily for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - John 19:31-37

Each time that we gather around the Lord’s table for Mass, we celebrate God’s love for us in a special way. Today’s celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus falls 19 days after Pentecost, so it is always on a Friday. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a beloved religious devotion in our Church; it sees Jesus’ physical heart as a symbol of the love that he has for us. Many saints have contributed to our understanding of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  I most associate the Sacred Heart with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Visitation Nun of Holy Mary from the 17th century. Her visions of Jesus conveyed this message: “Look at this heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love me in return. Through you, my Divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth.” Devotion to the Sacred Heat goes back to the Medieval period.  In the 12th century, St Bernard of Clairvaux stated that the piercing of Christ's side reveals the goodness and charity of his heart for us.      

 As we reflect upon Jesus’ Sacred Heart today, our own hearts are to be touched by his death on the cross and by the way the soldier thrust a lance into his side, out of which blood and water flowed.  St Augustine of Hippo wrote about how Christ is the door through which we enter salvation, how that door was opened for us by his death and resurrection, by the soldier’s lance that opened up his side. We choose where we want to enter Christ, to enter from his side as he hung dying upon the cross, the side from which the blood and water flowed. The purification we receive from Christ is the water that flowed from his side. The redemption we receive from Christ is the blood that was shed for us.  

In his encyclical On Devotion to the Sacred Heart, Pope Pius XII calls the Sacred Heart of Jesus “a symbol of that divine love which he shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit but which he, the Word made flesh, alone manifests through a weak and perishable body, since in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily." May the Sacred Heart of Jesus call us to a life of holiness today. May it call us to true devotion and love for Christ our Savior.  

6 June 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 9th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope in our faith. 

Christ Jesus - you are the beloved son of the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

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

1. For our Church leaders and our governmental leaders, that God will lead them in guide them in their leadership challenges and in the challenging decisions that face them. 

2. For all who are recovering from natural disasters: that God will ease their pain, give them strength, and renew their hope. 

3. For all missing children, particularly those caught in human trafficking: that God will free them and reunite them with their families.

4. For an end to violence in families, neighborhoods, and cities. We pray that God will open new ways to resolve differences and protect the life and dignity of each person

5. For all who are sick: that God’s healing love will strengthen them, remove their pain, and restore them to wholeness.

6. For our deceased families members, loved ones, and community members, for their entry into eternal life. For the souls in the process of purification in purgatory. 

7. For our children and youth, that they may see God present with them in all their summer travels and activities. 

8. For the prayers we hold in the deep recesses of our hearts

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

6 June 2024 - St Norbert - homily for Thursday of the 9th week in Ordinary Time - Mark 12:28-34

Born in the late 11th century in the Premontre region of northern France, Norbert founded the religious order of the Norbertines.  He lived in an area of great warfare and enmity.  He faced a lot of indifference amongst the faithful. With a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, he and the Norbertines had great success in converting heretics back to the faith and rebuilding the faith in indifferent believers. The members of the Norbertines lived in priories during the week and served in ministry in parishes on the weekends.  Norbert was named archbishop of Magdeburg in central Germany, a region that had a large pagan population.  He worked courageously for the faith until his death in 1134. 

In the Gospel today, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment of all, in which he states it is love of God and love of neighbor. I remember telling some friends in Yazoo City the other week that if our ministry is not full of the love of Christ, we are missing the point. I remember the Norbertine priests who served in our Diocese for many years, with their priory in Raymond, the order founded by St Norbert. We give thanks for the many priests and sisters who have come to our Diocese from different parts of the United States and from different parts of the world, bringing us the Gospel message and the love of Christ.   

4 June 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 9th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - You are the son of the living God.

Christ Jesus - You are our savior and our redeemer. 

Lord Jesus - You nourish us with your body and blood. 

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

1. That we in the Church may hear God’s call to discipleship and seek first the kingdom of God in our lives. 

2. That we may know freedom of mind and heart so that we can serve those in need around us. 

3. That God’s word may touch our hearts and guide us into a deeper knowledge of God as we lives as disciples of Christ. 

4. For the prisoners and for the victims of violence, that God may accompany them on their journey and bring healing and transformation to them. 

5. For all who are recovering from natural disasters, whether they be storms, tornados, drought, wildfires or floods: that God will protect them from further harm, guide them to the resources that they need, and open the hearts of many to assist them. 

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

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

Priest: We present these prayers with humble hearts through your Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

4 June 2024 - homily for Tuesday of the 9th week in Ordinary Time - Nicola D’Onofrio - Psalm 90

Nicola D’Onofrio was born in 1943 in the Abruzzo region of southeastern Italy, not far from the birthplace of St Camillus de Lellis, the 16th century founder of the Camillians, a religious order dedicated to the care of the sick. Wishing to join this religious order whose members wear black cassocks with a large red cross, d’Onofrio moved to the Camillian house of studies in Rome in 1955. He made his first profession in 1961, promising to obey poverty, chastity, and obedience, and dedicate his life to caring for the sick. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1963.  He made a pilgrimage to Lourdes and Lisieux in May 1964 at the suggestion of his superiors.  He asked for the members of his order not to pray for his healing, but for the will of God. “I am very happy to be able to suffer a little now when I am young because these are the finest years to offer up something to the Lord,” He told them. He died in June of 1964. He is being proposed by the order of Camillians as a candidate for canonization for the grace and courage in which he faced his trials and sufferings and for the joy in which he lived out his journey of faith. 

Our psalm declares today: “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.”  The Lord is our strength and our hope. Our problems and sufferings in life may not be solved, but God, our refuge, help us meet our challenges and sufferings with courage and grace. 

5 June 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 9th week in Ordinary time

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

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the Gospel message to the ends of the earth. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Priest: As we commemorate the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a special way during the month of June, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith and hope:

1. For our Church leaders and government leaders, may they lead their people in wisdom and peace.  

2. That all you call to preach and teach your word may be filled with courage and zeal, just like St Boniface. 

3. That those who are laboring through physical or mental illness may be sustained in patience and hope. 

4. That all who struggle to forgive others who have harmed them may feel the love and humility of their faith. 

5. That the Church in the United States and in the Diocese of Jackson be inspired by the witness of the saints in our new evangelization and in our Eucharistic renewal.  

6. That the faithful departed may enter eternal life with their Lord and savior. 

7. That the Lord will be with our children, youth, and families during their travels and summer activities. 

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

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

05 June 2024 - St Boniface Bishop and Martyr - homily for Wednesday of the 9th week of Ordinary Time - 2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12

I lived in Winnipeg for two years as a lay missionary.  This city of about 700,000 inhabitants has two different Roman Catholic Cathedrals.  The Cathedral of St Mary is the Cathedral of the English speaking Archdiocese of Winnipeg. The Cathedral of St Boniface serves a French speaking population in the Archdiocese of St Boniface.  When I would travel to the soup kitchen and food bank where I worked, when I mostly traveled by bicycle, I would pass by the Cathedral of St Boniface, a very interesting architectural marvel. It was built in 1906, but in 1968, there was a terrible fire that destroyed the Cathedral, all except the front facade. A new smaller cathedral was built behind the facade, making a very interesting new building that has won many architectural awards. 

I thought of the St Boniface Cathedral today on the feast day of St Boniface. Born in the 7th century in England, Boniface spent many years as a monk in his native land. At the age of 40, he received a command from the Pope to be a missionary to the Saxon people of present day Germany, who still had not converted to the faith. He had great success in bringing them to the faith and later became the Bishop of Mainz in Germany. At the age of 80, while in Frisia in Germany bringing the Gospel to the people there, he was attacked and killed, becoming a martyr for the faith.

I think of St Boniface in the context of our first reading today from St Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Paul calls himself a prisoner for Christ, having been imprisoned many time for the Gospel message he preached.  He tells Timothy to have courage in preaching the Gospel message, to do so out of love and self-control, to take pride in the Gospel that we proclaim.  St Boniface did the same in bringing the Gospel to Saxon people.  We are to do the same in the reality of our lives as well. 

26 May 2024 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity - Prayers of the Faithful - CMCF prison ministry

Introduction - Baptized in the Holy Spirit, we invoke the Triune God today as we begin the mass with the sign of the cross. As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity today, let us reflect upon our Christian life in the Trinity in our words and our actions each day. 

Penitential Rite

Lord Jesus, you are the Son of the eternal Father: Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you bring us salvation through your death and resurrection: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the source of everlasting life: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST: The God of the Trinity loves us and saves us.  In the name of the Triune God, let us now present our prayers: 

1. For God’s Church throughout the world, that we may strive to share the good news of the salvation won for us in Christ Jesus, we pray to the Lord.

2. For peace in all the nations of the world, that the kingdom of the God of love and peace may rule throughout the earth, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For farmers and gardeners; for good weather as their crops and their gardens for our nourishment and for the betterment of our community. We pray for our garden program here at CMCF.  We pray to the Lord.

5. For catechists, teachers, and all who help us grow in our faith, in thanksgiving for all that they do. For the leaders of our community of St Michael the Archangel who lead and guide our community. We pray to the Lord.

6. For the Sick and shut-ins of our community. For healing in their lives. We give thanks for the doctors and nurses and for all who take care of them. We pray to the Lord.  

7. For those who have died, 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: God of mercy and compassion, in your love for us, you sent your only Son for our salvation. Graciously hear our prayers in his name, for he is Lord with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. AMEN.  

26 May 2024 - Homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity - Cycle B - Matthew 28:16-20

Today, the first weekend after the end of the Easter season, we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  I must say that as a priest, I always feel inadequate preaching about the Trinity, an eternal mystery of the faith. Even the great theologian St Thomas Aquinas said that it was much easier to say what God was not than to say what he is. In speaking about the meaning and inner relationship of the three persons of God, the words of our human understanding of things are inadequate to express that reality. Father Anthony de Mello says that human beings talking about the Holy Trinity is like trying to explain the color green to a person who has has been blind since birth. However, there are still many things we can say about the three persons of God.

All of us baptized Catholics were initiated into the Church with the mandate that Jesus gives at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, baptized in the name of the Trinity. We recognize what the Catechism teaches us: that God is three persons in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of these persons is God, but there is only one God. Although the reality of God is beyond our human understanding, we can still say this: (1) God the Father is the Father of Jesus Christ the Beloved Son, but he is also our Father and the creator of the universe. He is omnipresent in all his creation. So, all of us human beings live in the Father and creation exists in him. (2) Jesus, the son, is Emmanuel, God with us. He is our Savior and Redeemer. As we are his disciples, he is always with us. (3) The Holy Spirit is there to accompany us, lead us, guide us, and inspire us. The Spirit speaks in the recesses of our hearts. But there is only one God. He lives in us. And we live in him.  

I want to look at some important life lessons we can learn from the Holy Trinity. First, the Trinity teaches us to respect ourselves and each other. Our conviction is that the Triune God is present with us always; thus, we are called to esteem ourselves as God’s holy dwelling place, to behave well in his presence, and to lead pure and holy lives, reflecting God’s justice and charity. This Triune presence with us encourages us to respect and honor each other as temples of the Holy Spirit. In our modern world, it is so easy to get angry, to lash out at others, and to lose our patience; this attitude of respect for others can be a challenge to implement in the ordinary moments of life. 

Second, God is the source of our strength and courage. The awareness of his presence with us gives us the strength to face the manifold problems of life with Christian courage. This conviction prompted the early Christian martyrs who were put to death to shout the heroic prayer of faith from the Psalms: "The Lord of might is with us, our God is within us, the God of Jacob is our helper.” (Psalm 46). It takes a lot of courage and conviction to live out our faith. The Trinity is there to help us have that courage. 

Third, we are called to become more like the Triune God in all our relationships, as we are created in God’s image and likeness. Just as God is only God in the context of the Trinity, so we can be fully human only as one member of a triune relationship: ourselves, God, and our neighbor. We can think of this in the way we make the sign of the cross: being in a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with others - those relationship are integral to each other. In that way, our life becomes Trinitarian like the life of the Triune God. This is so different from our modern society, where we value individualism above everything else. Like God the Father, we are called to be productive, creative persons who help to build up the fabric of life and to build love in our families, our Church, our community, and our nation. Like God the Son, we are called to be peacemakers, to restore what has been broken and shattered. Like God the Holy Spirit, we are called to live out the truth of our faith, to teach truth and to dispel ignorance. The spirituality of the Trinity calls us to solidarity with God and with our neighbor.

Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier from the 16th century has the wonderful short prayer that he prayed often to the Trinity: “Most Holy Trinity, who live in me, I praise you, I worship you, I adore you, and I love you. Let the Son lead us to the Father through the Spirit, to live with the Triune God forever and ever. Amen.” Blessing to all of you as we celebrate the Trinity this weekend.  

26 May 2024 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity - Prayers of the Faithful

Introduction - Baptized in the Holy Spirit, we invoke the Triune God today as we begin the mass with the sign of the cross. As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity today, let us reflect upon our Christian life in the Trinity in our words and our actions each day. 

Penitential Rite

Lord Jesus, you are the Son of the eternal Father: Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you bring us salvation through your death and resurrection:

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the source of everlasting life: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST: The God of the Trinity loves us and saves us.  In the name of the Triune God, let us now present our prayers: 

1. For God’s holy Church throughout the world, that we may strive to share the great good news of the salvation won for us in Christ Jesus, we pray to the Lord.

2. For peace and reconciliation in all the nations of the world, that the kingdom of the God of love and peace may rule throughout the earth, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For all who are living out the sacrament of marriage in their lives and all who are preparing to celebrate that sacrament, that their union of love might reflect the divine love among the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, we pray to the Lord.

4. For farmers and gardeners; for good weather as their crops and their gardens for our nourishment and for the betterment of our community, we pray to the Lord.

5. For catechists, teachers, and all who help us grow in our faith, in thanksgiving for all that they do, we pray to the Lord.

6. For the Sick and shut-ins of our community. For healing in their lives and in thanks for their caregivers. We pray to the Lord.  

7. For 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, for our prayer intentions spoken and unspoken. We pray to the Lord.

Priest: God of mercy and compassion, in your love for us, you sent your only Son for our salvation. Graciously hear our prayers in his name, for he is Lord with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. AMEN.  

Bulletin Reflection - The Most Holy Trinity - 26 May 2024

As I reflect upon the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity that we celebrate this weekend, I thought of my visits throughout the Diocese to different parishes in my role as vicar general.  I thought of the different things we are involved in here in the Jackson metro area. Our ministry in the Diocese of Jackson should be rooted in our life in the Trinity: in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our faith has its foundations in the Trinity, as we are not just baptized in the name of Jesus, but rather in the name of the Trinity, as mandated by Jesus himself. We participate in the life of the Trinity as disciples of Christ. Gregory of Nyssa (335-395), an Early Church Father who wrote a great deal about the Trinity, stated that “Holy Baptism imparts to us the grace of eternal life because of our faith in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” We are called to emulate the love of the Trinity in the way we live as disciples of Christ. Reaching to others and evangelizing the community are some of the ways we can live out the love of the Most Holy Trinity in the reality of daily life. Blessings to all of you on this great solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity that we celebrate today in our Church’s liturgical year. Father Lincoln.

Bulletin Reflection - Pentecost - 19 MAY 2024

We have now completed our journey through the Easter season this year as we celebrate Pentecost this weekend. The Holy Spirit has been alive in our Church and in our parish in many unique ways during the Easter season this year. We have had an ordination to the priesthood. We have had the confirmation of the youth here at Holy Savior. We have been engaged in different corporal and spiritual works of mercy. This weekend, we celebrate the Holy Spirit and Pentecost in a special way at our Pentecost luncheon in our food and our fellowship. In one of our readings today for Pentecost from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he states that it is only through the Holy Spirit that we are able to say that Jesus is Lord. The Spirit unites all of us in the Body of Christ, no matter what our background, no matter from where we come. Blessings to all of you this Pentecost weekend. Father Lincoln.

Prayers of the faithful - Pentecost - 19 May 2024

Introduction: As we reach the end of the joyful Easter season, we very appropriately conclude our celebration of the resurrected Christ with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. May our prayers today be prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving for the presence of the Holy Spirit and the resurrected Christ in our lives.

Penitential Rite:

Lord Jesus, as you died on the cross as a sign of love: Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus, you ascended into heaven and are seated at the right hand of the Father: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you send us the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to bring us healing and peace: Lord have mercy.

Prayers of the faithful:

PRIEST: Let us pray today in the presence of the Holy Spirit for our brothers and sisters in our own local community and throughout the world. 

1. For our Church, led by Pope Francis and Bishop Kopacz, as we seek to be a Church that longs to preach the Gospel to the world with justice and conviction. We pray to the Lord.

2. That the peace of the Holy Spirit may dwell in our hearts as we share that peace with others in our words and actions. We pray to the Lord.

3. For all who have celebrated sacraments of initiation this Easter season, for those who went through our RCIA program, and for the youth who received confirmation this spring, that they may grow in their appreciation for the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they have received. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who are discerning their vocation in life. We pray especially for all who are being called to the priesthood, the diaconate, religious life, or lay ministry in response to the call of the Holy Spirit. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That summer vacation be a time of rest, refreshment, new vitality, and safe travels. We pray to the Lord.

6. For the sick and shut-in of our parish community. For those in the hospital, hospice and nursing home. Let us pray to the Lord.

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

PRIEST: Merciful God, your gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to continue the mission of our savior Jesus Christ here on earth. Give us the courage to accept our mission as disciples of Christ. We make these prayers in the name of your Son, our risen Lord for ever and ever. AMEN.

prayers of the faithful - prison ministry - Pentecost - 19 May 2024

Introduction: As we reach the end of the joyful Easter season, we conclude our celebration of the resurrected Christ with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. May we present prayers of gratitude for the presence of the Holy Spirit and the resurrected Christ in our lives.

PRIEST: Penitential rite:  

Lord Jesus, as you died on the cross as a sign of love: Lord have mercy. 

Lord Jesus, you ascended into heaven and are seated at the right hand of the Father: Christ, have mercy.


Lord Jesus, you send us the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to bring us healing and peace: Lord have mercy. 

Prayers of the faithful:


PRIEST: Let us pray today in the presence of the Holy Spirit for our brothers and sisters in our own local community and throughout the world. 

1. For our Church, led by Pope Francis and Bishop Kopacz, as we seek to be a Church that preaches the Gospel to the world with justice and conviction. We pray to the Lord.


2. That the peace of the Holy Spirit may dwell in our hearts as we share that peace with others. We pray to the Lord.


3. For all who came into the Church at Easter, that they may grow in their appreciation for the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they have received. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That all of us may discern the call that God has for us in life. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For the men who are in vocational and educational programs here at CMCF.  May the Lord bless their studies. We pray to the Lord.


6. For the sick of our community. For those who need healing in body, mind of spirit. Let us pray to the Lord.


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


PRIEST: Merciful God, your gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to continue the mission of our savior Jesus Christ here on earth. Give us the courage to accept our mission as disciples of Christ. We make these prayers in the name of your Son, our risen Lord for ever and ever. AMEN. 

 

19 May 2024 - Homily for Pentecost - Acts 2:1-11 - John 20:19-23

We welcome you all to our celebration of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the end of our joyful season of Easter. We look forward to our meal after our Sunday morning Mass at Holy Savior, celebrating Pentecost with different ethnic foods celebrating our families and our ethnic heritage. We priests wear red vestments on Pentecost, symbolizing the burning fire of God’s love and the tongues of fire that descended on the apostles, as described in the first reading today. In some parts of Italy on Pentecost, there is a tradition of scattering rose leaves from the ceiling of the church to recall this story of the fiery tongues. I was able to see this firsthand last year when I traveled to Rome with my Notre Dame program and attended Mass at the Pantheon with Dr Timothy O’Malley and my other classmates. It was an amazing experience. In some parts of France, there is a tradition to blow trumpets during Mass on Pentecost Sunday, recalling the sound of driving wind, another symbol of the Holy Spirit.  The great wind of the Holy Spirit is also referred to in our reading from Acts of the Apostles today. 

The message of the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles was not something they kept to themselves; the apostles immediately began to speak to the crowds that had assembled in Jerusalem. The crowds were comprised of persons from different places such as North Africa, Asia Minor, Rome, and all over the Mediterranean basin. Those in the crowd were amazed to hear these men speaking to them so that all could understand the message in their own native tongue.  The apostles were commissioned by the Holy Spirit to speak a message that is meant for all, not just for one people or one nation. The 11th chapter of Genesis, reports that out of their arrogance and pride, men tried to build a tower that reached up to heaven. God punished them by having them speak different languages, unintelligible to others. As a result of this arrogance, humanity became deeply divided. What happens today at Pentecost is the opposite of the Tower of Babel, as all are speaking and hearing God’s message with full understanding. Rather than being divided out of arrogance and pride, people are brought together in unity under God.

At Pentecost, Christ brings us a message of peace today, just as he brought a message of peace to the apostles as they huddled in fear in today’s Gospel. We receive the same call that Jesus gives the apostles, saying that as the Father sends him, so he also sends us. We are called is to continue Christ’s mission in the world. 

As I thought about the Holy Spirit at the center of our celebration of Pentecost today, I thought about the questions a lot of us might have. Who exactly is the Holy Spirt. A great wind? A presence within? A mysterious ghost? A personal being? Pope Benedict once stated that the Holy Spirit is perhaps the most neglected person of the Trinity.  Perhaps because we are a bit unsure about the Holy Spirit, we might not know how to welcome him into our lives.  

In an address he gave at St Peter Square in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI asserted that the Holy Spirit is indeed a real presence, stating that all “Christians should avail themselves to the Holy Spirit in prayer, particularly when they cannot find the words or inspiration to pray.” Benedict talked about how “Paul teaches us that in our prayers we must open ourselves to the presence and action of the Holy Spirit, who prays in us with inexpressible groanings, to bring us to adhere to God with our whole heart and with all our being,”  The Holy Spirit can be the strength in our weak prayers, the light of our dimmed prayers, and the focus of our dry prayers. The Spirit can give us inner freedom and can teach us how to face our trials, assuring us that we’re never alone, that the Spirit is always with us. We can call upon the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions. 

Come Holy Spirit; renew the face of the earth.  Help us to live out our faith with courage and conviction, with compassion and love. As we celebrate Pentecost this weekend, we joyfully celebrate the Spirit that is with us and the responsibility that comes with it.  

Mother's Day blessing - 12 May 2024

     God, our creator, we give you thanks for the many gifts you give us, for the gift of life and for the gift of those who love us. As we celebrate Mothers Day, we give thanks for the gift of our mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers.

      We give thanks for those mothers and grandmothers who have passed away, for the unique way they’ve revealed your love for us. We ask that you to continue to bless them and keep them in your care, until the time comes for us to join them in your heavenly kingdom.

      We ask your blessing upon the mothers and grandmothers who live far distances from us. May they know how much we love them.

      We pray for birth mothers who have loved their children so much that they've shared the gift of their child with those who could better care for them and their needs, giving them a secure home.

      We pray for adoptive mothers, that they may always know their special role as true mothers and as a revelation of God’s love for all his children.

       We ask your blessing for mothers who have lost children in many different ways, that they may have your continued strength and courage.

       We ask your blessing upon those who would very much like to be mothers, but who have had trouble conceiving a child.

       We also pray for those women who have been spiritual mothers and grandmothers to us in different ways. 

       We now ask your blessing, Lord, upon all our mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers. Give them the strength to follow the faithful and loving lives you call them to live. Let them know of the love and gratitude of their family and their parish community. Protect and guide them.  Keep them in your care. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN. 

11 May 2024 - Saturday of the 6th week of Easter - Acts 18:23-28

We continue to hear about Paul’s missionary journeys in our reading from Acts today.  Paul and his companions often encounter resistance, but they also receive affirmations and conversions.  Today, a man name Apollos, shows how much he has learned about Jesus, but he has only received a baptism in repentance for his sins, not being baptized in Jesus. Apollos is helped by other disciples to learn more about the faith. 

I have a couple of observations about how this reading might apply to us.  First, what efforts are we making to learn more about the faith.  Even though I studied for many years in the seminary and have served in ministry for many years, I still have a lot to learn about the faith. I am constantly trying to read, to study, and to learn from my experiences and my ministry as well. What efforts are we making? 

Secondly, like the disciples who reached out to Apollos and helped him learn more, how are we reaching out to our brothers and sisters?  How are we encouraging and teaching others in the ways of the faith. Being a part of the community of disciples means helping contribute to that community as well. 

6 May 2024 - Monday of the 6th week of Easter - - Commissioning Mass for ACTS retreat - Acts 16:11-15

 It is exciting for us to come together today for our commissioning Mass for the Acts retreat that will take place the first weekend in August.  Our Scripture readings today speak to us in the context of our Acts retreat.  During the Easter season, we hear from the book of Acts, about the formation of the Early Church and their evangelization efforts.  We hear today of Paul venturing into Europe, to the city of Philippi in the province of Macedonia.  Philippi had been named after Philip II, the Father of Alexander the Great. I love hearing about the growth and development of the early Church as recounted to us in Acts. We know that Paul and his companions were on fire for the faith. And no matter what opposition or challenges or persecution they face, they were never deterred from their evangelization efforts.  We hear of the people who were touched by the Gospel message.  Lydia was a Gentile who believed in the God of Israel, although she was not a full convert to Jerusalem.  She allowed her heart to be open to the message that Paul and his companions preached.  She in turn provided a joyful hospitality to them. 

Our most recent Popes have challenged us Catholics to be a part of a new evangelization effort rooted in the example we have in those first apostles in the early Church.  I see our ACTS retreat as a reflection of this new evangelization.  We pray that the Holy Spirit guide the message that we are presenting to the ACTS participants.  We pray that like Lydia, their hearts be open to the message of Christ’s Good News.  And we pray that Holy Spirit lead them and guide them as to how they are respond.  I am thankful for all of you being a part of ACTS and for being a part of the evangelization efforts of our Church and a part of the work of the Holy Spirit. And that important thing is that we are open to the Holy Spirit, to the way he is going to work in our lives and in the lives of all at the retreat.  May we trust in the Holy Spirit as we prepare and plan.  

31 May 2024 - homily for the feast of the visitation - Luke 1:39-56

Our redemption and salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ is a freely given gift that God offers us.  We accept this invitation that God gives us and we participate and cooperate in his plan of salvation.  Today, as we celebrate the feast of the Visitation, of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, we honor the unique role that these two women have in God’s plan of redemption for humanity.  

In the visitation scene each woman recognizes the importance of the other’s child in God’s saving plan. Elizabeth honors Mary for her willingness to participate in God’s saving work, as she states: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” In response to Elizabeth’s gracious greeting, Mary responds with the Magnificat, a hymn of praise to the Lord for the justice of his kingdom and for his saving outreach to humanity.

For us as modern-day disciples of Christ, the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth reminds us that we, too, participate in God’s plan on our journey of faith here on earth. We have all been called to contribute to and participate in God’s kingdom. We have all been called to take joy in God’s interaction in our lives. Like Mary, may we also proclaim the greatness of the Lord in our words and our actions.  

31 May 2024 - prayers of the faithful - feast of the visitation - 31 MAY 2024

Lord Jesus - you came to earth as a humble servant - Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus - you are the son of Mary - Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus - you meet us in the reality of our lives - Lord have mercy.  

Prayers of the faithful:

Priest: Let us unite our prayers with the prayers of Mary as we celebrate the feast of the visitation today.  Let us pray for our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world.

1. For our governmental leaders and our Church leaders - that they may be faithful disciples like Mary, our Blessed Mother.  

2. That all the nations of the world and their leaders may work for true economic justice and lead the people in unity and solidarity. We pray that we all might work toward an end to war, terrorism, and violence. 

3. For the poor, the stranger, and the oppressed: that they may be welcomed by all Christians and our community.

4. That all youth, like Mary, may be open to God’s call in their lives, that they may say “yes” to serving others.  

5. That all of us may trust in Mary’s intercessions and imitate her faith and her virtues.  

6. For the sick and shut-ins, for healing for all of us in body, mind, and spirit. 

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

Priest: Gracious God, you called Mary to visit her cousin Elizabeth in her time of need.  Hear the prayers of your children and grant them in the name of your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.

29 May 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 8th week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the Good News of God’s kingdom. 

Christ Jesus - you are our Savior and Redeemer. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope and love. 

Priest: We present our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith and hope as we journey through ordinary time:

1. That the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, may faithfully give witness to the Gospel and continue Christ’s mission. 

2. For all who are awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit in their lives, that their hearts may be open and their spirits receptive to all the gifts of God.

3. That we in the Church may allow the Holy Spirit to work through our words, deeds, and relationships to draw others to the faith.

4. That our hearts may be enlightened and our hope made firm in God who has called us to continue the mission of Jesus in the world. 

5. For healing in our lives in body, mind and spirit. 

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

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

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

30 May 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 8th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to discipleship

Christ Jesus - you call us to be courageous in our faith. 

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and Redeemer. 

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

1. That we in the Church may live as a Eucharistic people, giving and sharing of ourselves, as Christ continually does for us. 

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

3. For our children and youth, that they safe during the summer break and see God in their experiences this summer. 

4. For the Gospel of Life: may all profess the dignity of human life in their words and actions. 

5. That our faithfulness as disciples of Christ mirror the faithfulness Christ has for us.  

6. For the sick and shut-ins. For all who are struggling with mental illness, addictions, and depression. 

7. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. For their entry into eternal life.  For the souls in purgatory. 

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

Priest: We present these prayers, heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.   

29 May 2024 - Wednesday of the 8th week in Ordinary Time - Paul VI - 1 Peter 1:18-25

Today, we hear from the first letter of Peter. In great wisdom, this reading asserts that our salvation was paid for us not by things of the world such as gold or silver, but rather by the blood of Christ.  We have our new life in Christ not in the perishable things of this world, but in things that are eternal and divine. While we see things in this world that are beautiful and that catch our eye, it is the word of God that endures forever. That is where we are called to put our faith and trust.  

Today, we celebrate one of the great shepherds of our Church from the 20th century, Pope Paul VI. With the death of John XXIII, Paul  become pope in 1963, in the middle of the Second Vatican Council.  His papacy lasted for more than 15 years, until his death in 1978. His papacy has left a lasting legacy in our Church in the modern world.  Being Pope at the height of the Cold War and in the midst of the Vietnam War, he addressed the United Nations in New York City in 1965 with these famous words: "No more war, never again war. Peace, it is peace that must guide the destinies of people and of all mankind.”  To foster common bonds with all persons of good will, he decreed an annual day of prayer for peace to be celebrated on January first of every year.  To this day, each pope issues a prayer message for peace on January 1 in St Peter’s Square. Pope Paul VI is famous for this statement which has become a cornerstone of Catholic Social Teaching: “If you want peace, work for justice.”  To me, this message of peace and justice is what I remember most about Pope Paul VI. It is a message I thought of often in my missionary work in different places, including teaching at Greenville High School in the Mississippi Delta, because I certainly saw that as a work of peace and justice. May we never forget this message of peace and justice that is a part of our Catholic faith. 

30 May 2024 - St Joan of Arc - Thursday of the 8th week of Ordinary Time - 1 Peter 1:10-16

I think of the saint that we celebrate today, Joan of Arc, who died on this day in 1431 at the age of 19. She is remembered for her faith in the Lord, a faith that allowed her to lead the troops from France to victory over the English. Through her courage in leading the French troops she was able to say: "I place trust in God, my creator, in all things; I love him with all my heart.” Joan was burned at the stack as a heretic, the victim of the political circumstance of this period, yet the courage in which she lived out her faith has inspired generations of the faithful.  Although she died way back in the early 15th century and was not canonized until the year 1920, almost five hundred years after her death, she remained a saint in the eyes of believers for centuries even before she was officially named a saint by the Church.  One of my favorite novels, Black Robe by Irish-American author Brian Moore, shows a Jesuit priest praying at the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stack before he leaves for his mission work in 17th century Canada. Her example of faith still speaks to us throughout the centuries. Joan of Arc was able to take risks of faith based upon the enduring word of God that allowed her to rise above those transitory things of our world.  May we also have the strength and courage to stand by the word of God, to have it inspire us and guide us. The psalm refrain states today: “Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.” The joy in which we approach the Lord is not rooted in earthly pleasures, but is rather to be found in the joy of our faith, in the joy of our faithfulness to God.  I am sure Joan of Arc felt joy in her entry into eternal life with the Lord.  

28 May 2024 - Tuesday of the 8th week in Ordinary Time - Mark 10:28-31

Today, we hear the famous saying: “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” There was a lovely lady at St Richard who used to drive all of the way from the Carthage area to attend the mass at St Richard in Jackson every Sunday morning at 8:00 am. She would arrive in last row of pews in the church at least half an hour before mass to pray and to prepare. She told me that Father Ben Martinez used to often jokingly quote this Scripture passage to her before mass, telling her that the first would be last, and the last would be first, since she was all the way in the last pew in the church without fail.

When I was look at the readings for the day, I came across the name of a Frenchman who died in this date back in 1950; his name is Marc Sangnier. In 1894, Sangnier founded a movement called “Le Sillon”.  That French title would be translated as “The Path” or “The Furrow” in English. Le Sillon was a religious and political movement that aimed to bring Catholicism into dialogue with the reality of the world around it, to provide a religious alternative to Marxism and the anti-clerical labor movement that were drawing a lot of the youth and young adults away from Catholicism in France and in the rest of Europe. Sangnier was inspired by the groundbreaking social justice encyclical Rerum Novarum issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, which called for the Catholic Church to address the major social issues at that time. Sangnier’s movement, which became very popular, appeared to have the approval of many bishops and even Pope Pius X.  However, some traditionalists in the Church began to see the movement as too Republican and too modernist, criticizing the movement for what it saw as an emphasis on the opinions and the ideas of ordinary Christian lay people rather than the Church Magisterium and hierarchical authority. A papal letter condemned the organization in 1910, after which the movement dissolved itself. Sangnier retreated to the sidelines. Although he still promoted the cause of democracy and social justice, his voice never regained the prominence it once had. This is a person and a movement that I had never heard of before. However, our history of faith is full of many men and women who responded to God’s call and who tried their best to serve where God is calling them. Many of the saints and theologians who influenced the development of the faith were condemned or judged harshly in the own day. It is only through the lens of history that we can see the positive influence that they had. How is God sending us out in the world?  How is the Holy Spirit working in our lives?