13 October 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - prison ministry - 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Priest - Penitential rite:

Lord Jesus - you call us to follow the commandments. 

Christ Jesus - you teach us the ways of truth.

Lord Jesus - you show us the way to God's kingdom.

Priest: Heavenly Father, you fill our days with blessings in answer to our prayers. Let us now turn to you in our needs:

1. That the Church embody the word of God and help all believers to know the saving power of Christ. We pray to the Lord.

2. That as individuals and as a community we be good stewards of the earth’s resources and all of God’s creation. We pray to the Lord.

3. That past injustices amongst the peoples of the earth may give way to justice, peace, and abundant blessings. We pray to the Lord.

4. That we may allow God’s word to penetrate our hearts, making his word living and effective in what we say and what we do. We pray to the Lord.

5. That Christians of every race and national original celebrate their oneness in Christ. We pray to the Lord.

6. As we commemorate respect life month in October, we pray that the Gospel of Life be followed by all in society. We pray to the Lord.

7. That God’s healing presence come into the lives of the sick and the afflicted. We pray for all here at CMCF who are dealing with addictions, mental health issues, anxiety, and depression. We pray to the Lord.

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

Priest: As the abundance of your grace inspires us to bring our prayers to you, we make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

15 October 2024 - St Teresa of Avila - Tuesday of the 28th week in Ordinary Time

    At the beginning of this month, we celebrated the feast day of Therese of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun who lived in France in the late 19th century. She was named as a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II. Today, we celebrate another Carmelite nun who also has been named as a Doctor of the Church: Teresa of Avila from the 16th century in Spain. Teresa was born in Avila, Spain in 1515, two years before the actions of Augustinian monk Martin Luther that led to the Protestant Reformation in the Church. She was born in the era of the Spanish Conquistadors, the Spanish Inquisition, and right after the Moors were expelled from Spain. It was an era of great change and turmoil. Yet, with the Protestant Reformation threatening Catholicism, reform movements in the Church were not taken lightly. Teresa, a Carmelite sister, felt called by God to reform her religious order, to get them back to the humble roots of the monasticism of her order that she felt had become distorted throughout the centuries. She and her companion John of the Cross founded monasteries based on their reform measures, with the Discalced Carmelites, or barefoot Carmelites, becoming its own religious order. Besides being an important reformer in the Church, Teresa is an important theologian and mystic. She is also an important figure in the history of Spain.  There have been movements to name her as Spain’s patron saint, replacing St James. 

The book The Interior Castle was written in 1577 by Teresa as a guide for spiritual development through service and prayer. The Interior Castle was inspired by her vision of the soul as a diamond in the shape of a castle containing seven mansions, which she interpreted as the journey of faith through seven stages, ending with union with God. Teresa’s mysticism and her actions in living out her faith and in reforming the Carmelite order are an example to all of us as to how we can mix our prayer life and interior life with a life of service and action and living out our faith. What is interesting about Teresa of Avila is that in 1855 at the age of 40 she had a profound interior experience with Jesus that enacted a conversion within her. She identified greatly with St Mary Magdalene and St Augustine, two saints we strongly associate with repentance and conversion. Being a member of the secular Discalced Carmelite order, St Teresa is a very important saint in my life. 

As Jesus tries to get the Pharisees to see what should be of greatest importance to them on their journey of faith in our Gospel today, Teresa tried to do a similar thing to her fellow Carmelites. May we unite our prayers with the prayers of St Teresa of Avila today. 

Bulletin Reflection - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 13 October 2024

October is respect life month and world mission month as well. As Catholics, the respect for life and the missionary spirit should not be seen as options that we can choose to follow, but rather essential to our identity as Catholics. It would be good for us to think about different activities we can participate in that reflection these two important values within our Catholic faith. Perhaps we can engage in an act of mercy this month in an intentional way. And find a way for us to contribute to help a family or a pro-life organization. We heard St James tell us in the Letter of James that we should be doers of God’s word, not just hearers of his word. That is certainly good advice to follow. Have a blessed week everyone. Father Lincoln. 

13 October 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: We come to Mass today in the midst of our lived reality. Perhaps we are worn out from work. Perhaps we are trying to cope with family tensions or marital difficulties. Perhaps we are feeling grief, guilt, or despair. We come to Mass in the midst of our brokenness and weaknesses. As we look to God at Mass today, we recognize that all things are possible in him.

Priest - Penitential rite

Lord Jesus - you call us to follow the commandments. Christ Jesus - you teach us the ways of truth.

Lord Jesus - you show us the way to the kingdom.

Priest: Heavenly Father, you fill our days with blessings in answer to our prayers. We now turn to you in our needs:

1. That the Church embody the word of God and help all believers to know the saving power of Christ. We pray to the Lord.

2. That as individuals and as a community we be good stewards of the earth’s resources and all of God’s creation. We pray to the Lord.

3. That past injustices amongst the peoples of the earth give way to justice, peace, and abundant blessings. We pray to the Lord.

4. That we may allow God’s word to penetrate our hearts, making his word living and effective in what we say and in what we do. We pray to the Lord.

5. That Christians of every race and national original celebrate their oneness in Christ. We pray to the Lord.

6. As we commemorate respect life month, we pray that the Gospel of Life be followed by all in society. We pray to the Lord.

7. That God’s healing presence come into the lives of the sick and the afflicted. We pray to the Lord.

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

Priest: As the abundance of your grace inspires us to bring our prayers to you, we make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

13 October 2024 - 28th Sunday of Ordinary time - Cycle B - Mark 10:17-27

In our Gospel today, an eager young man approaches Jesus, asking Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life in God's kingdom. Yet, by the conclusion of today’s Gospel, his joy and enthusiasm are gone as he walks away in sadness. What exactly is the point of this Gospel that brings up issues of wealth and poverty, of where we place our confidence and our priorities in life?

As Christians, we are called to see the world through the lens of faith.  But, we also see the world through the lens of our modern world, which is a very different viewpoint. Our perspective influences everything. Jesus told the young man that even though he follows God's commandments, he lacks one thing. The rich young man has many possessions that he does not want to part with.  We hear this Gospel from our own perspective, but think of a person living in extreme poverty in a different part of the world, with difficulty putting food on the table. That person would hear this Gospel differently. 

We can get so accustomed to the comforts and possessions of our modern American lifestyle.  As an accountant and as a priest, someone who is responsible for the budget of a parish, and all of you who have to manage your work and household budgets, we know that it is not easy. In recent years, you have heard Pope Francis scold his priests, telling us that he doesn’t want to see priests driving fancy cars or living in luxurious rectory. The Pope wants us priests to model Gospel simplicity in our lifestyle. In my 8 years as a lay missionary, I lived a standard of life that is very different than our lives here in the US. I was just telling a friend about how when I take a hot shower, with nice smelling soap or shower gel, I always say a prayer of thanks to God, because I think of what it was like to take a bucket bath with a buck of slimy river water and terrible smelling harsh soap made from palm oil that was very irritating to my skin. We often take for granted the lifestyle we have here in the United States. 

As I thought about how we are sometime not grateful for the things we take for granted, our 2nd reading from the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that God's word will go to the very depths of our hearts to change us only if we allow his word to work within us. If we invite God’s word into our lives, it will bring change, conversion, and renewal in ways we could not have imagined. It will help us foster gratitude in our lives. If we treat our material possessions as idols, or if our material possessions are stumbling blocks in our lives like they were in the young man in the Gospel, our hearts will not be truly open to love God and love our neighbor.  

This month of October is dedicated to the respect of human life in our Church. Our theme this year for respect life month is from the 10th chapter of John’s Gospel. In talking about how he is there for the sheep, Jesus contrasts this to others who are like thieves and bandits, who come to destroy or steal or kill the sheep. Jesus says: “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” In the context of the Eucharistic revival going on in our country, our Bishops state that all of our Catholic efforts to promote a respect for human life should be grounded in the Eucharist and in the Eucharistic culture we are promoting in our parishes and in our families. 

I think it is important to mention that there are many issues that are highlighted in pro-life month, respecting human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. This includes protecting the infant in the womb, the sick, the elderly, and the mentally ill; it includes reaching out to the lonely, the prisoner, the hungry, and those battling addiction; it includes being good stewards of the environment, addressing access to housing and health care, and the rights of the worker. There is a lot to Respect Life Month. It is not just about one issue.  

I really love celebrating Respect Life Month each year in our parish communities here in the Diocese of Jackson.  May we open our hearts to this pro-life message.  May we open our hearts to the way God is calling out to us today.  

11 October 2024 - John XXIII - Friday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time - Psalm 111

We celebrate the great pope St John XXIII on his feast day. Born in 1881 as Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli to a humble family in northern Italy, he always remained true to his roots, even becoming a secular Franciscan while studying for the priesthood in the Diocesan seminary. He later studied canon law, became the bishop’s secretary, became a stretcher bearer in World War I, and became the director the Society of the Propagation of the faith for the country of Italy. He later became a diplomat for the Vatican in the countries of Bulgaria, Turkey, and France.  

Becoming the Bishop of Venice in 1953, he was soon appointed as a Cardinal.  He was elected Pope at the age of 77 in 1958, a post he held until June 1963. He is remember for his joy and his wit and for having called the Second Vatican Council to breath life into the Church, to return to the apostolic roots of the Church, and for the Church to speak to the reality of the modern world. John XXIII died before the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, but the legacy he left the Church still lives today. 

Our psalm states today: The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. At the heart of our faith is our covenant with God. Pope John XXIII remembered that covenant in his leadership of the Church and in the way he tried to preach the Gospel of peace and justice in the reality of the modern world. He was canonized as a saint at the same time as Pope John Paul II, recognizing two great leaders of our modern Church. 

10 October 2024 - Daniel Comboni - Thursday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time - Galatians 3:1-5

We have been hearing passages from Paul’s letter to the Galatians at the daily masses these past several days. We can all get impatient, frustrated, and upset about things, but St Paul seems to have been in a really bad mood in the way he begins today’s passage: “O stupid Galatians!” St Paul is upset at the way the Galatians have been forsaking their faith. They are still relying on their human works and human efforts rather than placing their trust in God. There are some times when we Catholics in the South can be accused by our brothers and sisters in the Evangelical Christian denominations, claiming that we rely on our good works and our own efforts in order to achieve our salvation in our faith. Yet, that is definitely a false perception of what we believe. Our good works are to be a fruit of our faith and a fruit of our life of discipleship, from the salvation we receive through Christ as a freely given gift. 

I worked as a lay missionary with the Comboni missionaries for three years, so I am very familiar with the saint of the day, Daniel Comboni. 

He was born into a poor family of farmers in Italy in 1831. He is the only one of 8 children of his parents who made it to adulthood. He was ordained a priest in 1854. He always dreamed of being a missionary to Africa. He became the first bishop of the Sudan in Africa. He died at the young age of 50 from all of the hardships he went through as a missionary, but his love for God lives on in all priests, brothers, and nuns of the Comboni missionaries who work all over the world. I remember some of the Comboni priests telling me how in 1964 all of the Comboni missionaries were expelled from the south of Sudan when an anti-Christian government took power in the country.  Thousands of missionaries returned to Rome, many of whom had been in the Sudan most of their adult lives serving the Lord.  Daniel Comboni and so many of the Comboni Missionaries willingly gave up their lives for their love of their faith and in service to the calling they received from God. As I thought of the way St Paul called the Galatians to put their trust in God, Daniel Comboni and the Comboni missionaries are great examples for us. 

prayers of the faithful - 15 October 2024 - Tuesday of the 28th week in Ordinary Time

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

Christ Jesus - you call us to justice - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to serve our neighbor - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: We now bring our prayers to the God of justice and mercy:

1. For our Church, that Christians everywhere will work together for justice, unity, and reconciliation.  

2. For our governmental leaders, that they may they lead and guide their people in wisdom and courage.  

3.  For our first responders, for the men and women in the military, for those who protect us and keep us safe.  We pray for them and their families. 

4. For our children and youth, that their studies, rest, and play may always serve God’s glory.  

5. For the sick and shut-ins of our community, for healing and wholeness, for their caregivers and their families.  

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

7 . For our own prayer intentions that rest in the silence of our hearts. 

Priest: With humble hearts, we present these prayers to you through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.

Prayers of the faithful - 11 October 2024 - Feast of John XXIII - Friday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you are the living word of God. 

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

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and redeemer. 

PRIEST:  Let us unite our prayers with the prayers of John XXIII today as we honor him on his feast day:  

1. For our Church and our Church leaders, that they may they the people in peace, compassion, and justice.  

2. For all the faithful, that we may be witnesses of the faith in the modern world and may we dialogue with the world in the spirit of John XXIII. 

3. For greater communication and dialogue amongst the religions of the world.  For an end to war, violence, and terrorism.  We pray for peace in the world, especially in Israel and Ukraine. 

4. For a conversion of hearts, that we may put aside our pride of heart and work toward healing and reconciliation in our relationships.  

5. For healing of the sick and shut-ins. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  

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

PRIEST:  God of mercy and compassion, may we proclaim the Gospel with our words and our actions.  We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - 10 October 2024 - Thursday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time

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

Christ Jesus - you call us to justice - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to serve our neighbor - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: We now bring our prayers to the God of justice and mercy:

1. For our Church, that Christians everywhere will work together for justice, peace, and reconciliation.  

2. For our governmental leaders, that they may they lead and guide their people in wisdom and unity.  

3.  For our first responders, for the men and women in the military, for those who protect us and keep us safe.  We pray for them and their families. 

4. For our children and youth, that their studies, rest, and play may always serve God’s glory.  

5. For the sick and shut-ins of our community, for healing and wholeness, and for their caregivers and their families.  

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

7 . For our own prayer intentions that rest in the silence of our hearts. 

Priest: With humble hearts, we present these prayers to you through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  

Prayers of the Faithful - Our Lady of Champion - Wednesday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time - 9 October 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 our grief and in our sorrow - Lord have mercy.  

Prayers of the faithful: 

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

1. For our governmental leaders and Church leaders - that they may lead all of us to be faithful disciples.  

2. That all the nations of the world and their leaders may work for true economic justice and equality. 

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

4. That we may trust in Mary’s intercessions and imitate her virtues.  

5. For the sick and shut-ins. For healing for them in body, mind, and spirit.

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 heart.  

Priest: Gracious God, you chose Mary to bear our Savior. Hear the prayers of your children and grant them in the name of your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

8 October 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you are a light shining in the word. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us God’s truth. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Priest: Heavenly Father: We bring to you our prayers with humble hearts this evening: 

1. That we may have a greater respect for and stewardship of that earth’s resources. May we treasure the natural resources that God has given us and use them wisely. 

2. That God will send healing to all who are ill, giving them strength and courage. 

3. That God will watch over all schools and protect our students from sickness, violence, and bullying, helping all our students to grow in knowledge and self-awareness. 

4. That the Holy Spirit will renew the dedication of those working for peace and help us all work together to defeat the common enemies of violence, ignorance, and poverty. 

5. For vocations to the priesthood, consecrated religious life, the diaconate, and lay ministry. 

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

Priest: We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

9 October 2024 - Our Lady of Champion - homily for Wednesday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time - Psalm 117

There are not many apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary that have been officially sanctioned by the Church. In fact, on September 19 of this year, the Vatican made an official statement on Our Lady of Medjugorje, which started in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1981. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith for the Vatican approved the “spiritual experience connected with Medjugorje” as a place of pilgrimage, but declined to make a judgment about the supernatural character of the alleged private revelations associated with the shrine. 

That bring us to Our Lady of Champion, which is an officially sanctioned apparition right here in the United States. We celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Champion is today. The apparition was formally approved on December 8, 2010, by Bishop David L. Ricken, becoming the first Marian apparition approved by the Catholic Church in the United States. 

The apparitions of Our Lady of Champion took place near Green Bay, Wisconsin in October 1859 and were seen by Adele Brise, a young woman who had immigrated from Belgium to the United States with her parents several years earlier. Adele first saw a woman in white standing between two trees.  When she told the parish priest about what she saw, he told her to ask, ”In the Name of God, who are you and what do you wish of me?” After seeing the apparition again, she asked with question, with the apparition replying, "I am the Queen of Heaven, who prays for the conversion of sinners, and I wish you to do the same." The apparition told her to "gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation.” She spent her whole life teaching children about the faith, eventually forming a group of lay women who lived according the rule of the Third Order Franciscans. Adele Brise died in 1896. 

Our psalm today states: “Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.” We all are called to do that in different ways.  Through the apparition of Our Lady of Champion, Adele Brise received the call to educate children. But all of us, in our own way, are called to spread the Good News of the Gospel. 

8 October 2024 - Tuesday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time - Galatians 1:13-24

For two weeks, we will be hearing from St Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In today’s reading from the beginning of that letter, St Paul tells the people about his past history of being a devout Jew and a prosecutor of the followers of Christ. Yet, God revealed his son to St Paul in a special way through a powerful conversion experience. St Paul becomes a disciple of Christ with great zeal and enthusiasm. Immediately, Paul became a missionary and traveled around the Roman Empire and the Ancient Mediterranean world, proclaim Christ’s Good News wherever he went. Paul is very honest in sharing his story with others. 

It was back in 1992, 32 years ago, that I went I up to Winnipeg to be a lay missionary, so I have been following this road for a long time. One thing I feel so passionate about is encouraging the laity in not being afraid to witness to others, to be creative in proclaiming the Gospel in the same way that St Paul and the apostles were enthusiastic and creative. We are all called to be passionate evangelizers of the Gospel message. 

prayers of the faithful - 6 October 2024 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - prison ministry

Penitential Rite - Priest 

Lord Jesus - you bring peace and pardon to the sinner. 

Christ Jesus - you give us the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us on our journey. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to faithfulness and love. 

Priest: We turn our hearts to the Lord in our prayers this afternoon, offering up our needs and our lives:

1. That our Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel may always be welcoming to others and build up solidarity with the other ministries and other men here at CMCF.  We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for peace in those places in the world that are divided by war, terrorism, or violence.  We pray especially for end of violence in our communities here in the state of Mississippi.  We pray for an end to war in Ukraine and the Holy Land. We pray for peace and end to the violence and cycle of drug addiction here at CMCF. We pray to the Lord. 

3. We pray that people everywhere will embrace a universal respect for life. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who shepherd the faithful in the Church, that they will always seek God’s will. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For the sick and for all who are burdened by physical and mental illness. That they find courage in the Lord, through whom all things are possible.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For all present here at Mass with us today, that their faith bring them a deeper understanding of God’s kingdom. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: God our creator, you have given us salvation. May our prayers and strivings be acceptable to you as we await Christ’s return.  We present our prayers through your son, for he is our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful - 6 October 2024 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: October is respect life month. Our first reading today reminds us that God brought life to all of us. As God created the first man and the first woman, he has blessed humanity with the ability to share in the creation of new life. We are called to exercise this blessing with care and respect. We are to value life at every stage and to pray for those lives that are most vulnerable.

Penitential Rite - Priest

Lord Jesus - you bring peace and pardon to the sinner.

Christ Jesus - you give us the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us on our journey. Lord Jesus - you call us to faithfulness and love.

Priest: We now turn our hearts to the Lord, offering up our needs and our lives:

1. That the Church may always be welcoming to others and build up solidarity with all people of good will. We pray to the Lord.

2. We pray for peace in those places in the world that are divided by war, terrorism, or violence. We pray especially for end of violence in our communities here in the state of Mississippi. We pray for an end to war in Ukraine and the Holy Land. We pray to the Lord.

3. We pray that people everywhere will embrace a universal respect for life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. We pray to the Lord.

4. For those who shepherd the faithful in the Church, that they will always seek God’s will. We pray to the Lord.

5. For the sick and for all who are burdened by physical and mental illness. That they find courage in the Lord, through whom all things are possible. We pray to the Lord.

6. For all present here at Mass today, that their faith and simplicity bring them a deeper understanding of God’s kingdom. We pray to the Lord.

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

Priest: God our creator, you have given us salvation. May our prayers and strivings be acceptable to you as we await Christ’s return. We present our prayers through your son, for he is our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

Bulletin Reflection - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 6 October 2024

We celebrate different liturgical themes throughout the year. In November, we celebrate the month of remembrance, as we commemorate and remember the faithful departed. In December, we commemorate Advent as we get ready for Christmas. In October, we honor the values of Catholic social teaching through respect life month. Respect for human life and being good stewards of all of God’s creation are at the foundation of our Catholic faith. Respect for human life has different characteristics, respecting human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. We commemorate respect life month with great joy. Blessings to all of you. Father Lincoln.

6 October 2024 - homily for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Genesis 2:18-24

It is very wonderful being with all of you here today to celebrate Mass around the table of the Lord.  My name is Father Lincoln Dall.  I come to you as a brother in Christ from the Diocese of Jackson in Mississippi, in the deep South. When you receive a visit from a missionary at your parish, you are probably expecting a missionary serving in a faraway land. I am from a missionary territory in our own country. Our Diocese has the lowest percentage of Catholics of any Diocese in the US, about 3%. Most of our 90 parishes are small and located in rural areas, far different from the reality here in Los Angeles.  We also do not have any large cities in Mississippi, so our parishes are spread out throughout sparsely populated rural areas.  

Today, we hear the familiar creation story from the opening chapters of the book of Genesis, of how God created the universe as a fruit of his goodness and creativity. God created the universe because he did not want to be alone, just as God saw that man would not want to be alone and how man needed a partner. The birds of the air and the wild animals of the earth were a part of God’s creation. Friday, we celebrated the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, a saint who had a deep love for all of God’s creation here on earth.  Even though Francis was born in the 12th century, his teachings still speak to our modern world today. I think of our Diocese of Jackson and your Diocese here in Des Moines, how our states are both very rural, how we see God’s creation in the nature around us. But our rural states present us a lot of challenges in our ministry, with priests covering many small parishes and of traveling large distances.  We try to respond to those needs in our ministries in the Diocese of Jackson with our Catholic schools that are located in rural areas, with our small parishes located in remote parts of our Diocese, and with the different intercultural ministries that we have, including our growing Hispanic population and our historic African American parishes. 

You probably do not detect a strong Southern accent in my voice. That is because I am not originally from Mississippi. I am actually originally from Chicago. I am currently the pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Raymond, MS and Holy Savior Catholic Church in Clinton, MS, two towns just outside the city of Jackson. I have also been serving as the vicar general of the Diocese for the past five years. 

In wanting to share some specific ministry stories with all of you from our Diocese, I thought of the prison ministry in our Diocese, something that is very dear to my own heart. I have been involved in prison ministry most of my priesthood.  I go out to the federal prison in Yazoo City, which has about 6,000 inmates, and the Mississippi state prison just outside of Jackson, with about 4,000 inmates. Often, the prisons in Mississippi are places of gangs, of violence, and of drugs, places without a lot of hope. For many years, we struggled to even get access to see the inmates.  Often, at the state prison, I would have mass at the foyer of the building where the inmates lived, sometimes in the fire station at the prison, or even on a picnic bench outside the prison cafeteria.  About a year ago, we got access to have Mass in the chapel and have been able to go out every week, which has made a huge difference. You probably can imagine what terrible living conditions they have in the prisons in Mississippi. If you can believe, most of the inmates live in housing units that have no air conditioning at all. Unbelievable. Yet, our ministry has transformed the lives of many inmates. We sometimes have more than 200 inmates attending Mass during any given week. We have had more than 20 men enter the Church this year. I have inmates themselves as the leaders of our Catholic community at the prison, even Eucharistic ministers. They try to be witnesses of our Catholic faith to the other inmates. You can tell I am very passionate about the prison ministry.  It is amazing to see God at work in this mission environment of the prisons. 

I am here as a priest from the missionary Diocese of Jackson to share some of our stories with you as a part of our Church’s larger missionary effort.  Pope Francis has said that we as a Church should never lose our missionary identity. We always need to be a Church who goes forth into the world and invites others to our faith. Pope Francis calls all of us to be missionary in spirit, for all Catholics to be a part of the universal mission effort of the Church.  And I think most importantly, in a world torn apart by divisions and conflict, we must recognize each other as our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we see ourselves as missionary in spirit, when we encounter our neighbor and invite him into our faith, it will open up so many possibility for us as well on our own journey and to see the Gospel in a new wonderful light. 

I am so grateful to be here with all of you this weekend. To celebrate around the altar of the Lord.  Your parish is going to have a second collection to help us with the missionary needs of our Diocese, to help our prison ministry, our rural parishes, and our rural schools. I want to thank you for any help you are able to give. Also, I am ask for your prayers for our Diocese of Jackson.  And be assured that I will keep all of you and your parish in my prayers as well.

Readings for the feast of the archangels - 29 September 2024

A reading from the book of Revelation:

(Rev 12:7-12) 

War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them.”

The word of the Lord - Thanks be to God. 

Responsorial Psalm - 138

R. (1) In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,

for you have heard the words of my mouth;

in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;

I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name. 

R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Because of your kindness and your truth;

for you have made great above all things your name and your promise.

When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me.

R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD

when they hear the words of your mouth;

And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD

“Great is the glory of the LORD

R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 1:47-51) 

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” nAnd he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

The Gospel of the Lord - Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. 

Prayer of St Michael the Archangel 

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

prayers of the faithful - feast of the Archangels - 29 September 2024 - Central Mississippi Correctional Facility prison ministry

We adopted the name of St Michael the Archangel as the patron saint of our prison ministry at CMCF (Central Mississippi Correctional Facility). We celebrate his feast day this weekend, along with the other Archangels. 

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and our Redeemer 

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

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

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

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

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

3. For our first responders and the men and women in the military, and for our veterans. We give thanks for their service and their sacrifices. We pray that St Michael always protect them. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For our faith community of St Michael the Archangel, that St Michael may continue to lead and guide our community, our garden project, and our outreach to the men and women here at CMCF. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who spread the Gospel message throughout the world and for those who spread the Gospel here to the men at CMCF. For all the men who have contributed to our community in different ways.  We pray to the Lord. 

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

6. For healing for the sick. That the Lord will heal them in body, mind, and spirit. For those struggling with addictions and mental health issues. We pray to the Lord.   

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

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

prayers of the faithful - 6 October 2024 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - prison ministry

Penitential Rite - Priest 

Lord Jesus - you bring peace and pardon to the sinner. 

Christ Jesus - you give us the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us on our journey. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to faithfulness and love. 

Priest: We now turn our hearts to the Lord, offering up our needs and our lives: 

1. That our Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel may always be welcoming to others and build up solidarity with the other ministries and other men here at CMCF.  We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for peace in those places in the world that are divided by war, terrorism, or violence.  We pray especially for end of violence in our communities here in the state of Mississippi.  We pray for an end to war in Ukraine and the Holy Land. We pray for peace and end to the violence and cycle of drug addiction here at CMCF. We pray to the Lord. 

3. We pray that people everywhere will embrace a universal respect for life. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who shepherd the faithful in the Church, that they will always seek God’s will. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For the sick and for all who are burdened by physical and mental illness. That they find courage in the Lord, through whom all things are possible.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For all present here at Mass today, that their faith and simplicity bring them a deeper understanding of God’s kingdom.  We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: God our creator, you have given us salvation. May our prayers and strivings be acceptable to you as we await Christ’s return.  We present our prayers through your son, for he is our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful - 6 October 2024 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: October is respect life month. Our first reading today reminds us that God brought life to all of us. As God created the first man and the first woman, he has blessed humanity with the ability to share in the creation of new life. We are called to exercise this blessing with care and respect.  We are to value life at every stage and to pray for those lives that are most vulnerable. 

Penitential Rite - Priest 

Lord Jesus - you bring peace and pardon to the sinner. 

Christ Jesus - you give us the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us on our journey. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to faithfulness and love. 

Priest: We now turn our hearts to the Lord, offering up our needs and our lives: 

1. That the Church may always be welcoming to others and build up solidarity with all people of good will.  We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for peace in those places in the world that are divided by war, terrorism, or violence.  We pray especially for end of violence in our communities here in the state of Mississippi.  We pray for an end to war in Ukraine and the Holy Land. We pray to the Lord. 

3. We pray that people everywhere will embrace a universal respect for life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who shepherd the faithful in the Church, that they will always seek God’s will. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For the sick and for all who are burdened by physical and mental illness. That they find courage in the Lord, through whom all things are possible.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For all present here at Mass today, that their faith and simplicity bring them a deeper understanding of God’s kingdom.  We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: God our creator, you have given us salvation. May our prayers and strivings be acceptable to you as we await Christ’s return.  We present our prayers through your son, for he is our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

Bulletin Reflection - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 6 October 2024

We celebrate different liturgical themes throughout the year.  In November, we celebrate the month of remembrance, as we commemorate and remember the faithful departed. In December, we commemorate Advent as we get ready for Christmas. In October, we honor the values of Catholic social teaching through respect life month.  Respect for human life and being good stewards of all of God’s creation are at the foundation of our Catholic faith. Respect for human life has different characteristics, respecting human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.  We commemorate respect life month with great joy. Blessings to all of you.  Father Lincoln. 

4 October 2024 - St Francis of Assisi - Friday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 10:13-16

      St Francis Assisi, who founded the religious order the Franciscans in the 13th century, has had a huge impact on Christianity in his day and on the history of Christianity.  Pilgrims still flock to the small town of Assisi in Italy on pilgrimage to visit the places where he lived and where his ministry started. The Catholic faithful know about Francis’ great love for animals and for all of creation, of how he reached out to the lepers living outside of Assisi, even though their sickness and their sores revolted him. It is easy to view his life and his ministry in simplistic or romanticized terms, so not see it in its true radical nature. Lawrence Cunningham, professor emeritus of theology at the University of Notre Dame, sees St Francis of Assisi as a “man who was consumed totally in the desire to live a radical life following Jesus—a life shining forth the radical poverty of the Incarnation and the conviction that everything from creation to our redemption comes as sheer gift.”  We are going to have the blessing of the animals at our parish in conjunction with his feast day, which is a special tradition associated with St Francis of Assisi.  

     We hear Jesus calling the people to repentance in the Gospel today, as he is shocked at their lack of repentance and at the way they are ignoring the message he is preaching to them. Francis repented from his worldly ways and called the people of his day to repentance as well. It is a message that is still timely for us.  

Prayers of the faithful - St Francis of Assisi - 4 October 2024 - Friday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time

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

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

Lord Jesus - you come to us as a servant. 

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

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

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

3. For healing and reconciliation in our broken world. 

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

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

6. For the care of God’s creation, that we be good stewards of the earth. 

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

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

3 October 2024 - Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 26th week in Ordinary time

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

Christ Jesus - you call us to be your disciples. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith and hope. 

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

1. That God will lead us in wisdom to live the virtues of the Christian life. 

2. That God will help us discern our motivations and make life-giving choices each day. 

3. For all who hand on the faith. That Church leaders, teachers, and parents may share the faith clearly and convincingly. 

4. That our prayers, words, and actions may come to greater integrity and wholeness. 

5. That God will heal the pain of those who have experienced abuse, discrimination, or human trafficking and fill them with hope for the future

6. For all who are suffering from natural disasters and for those assisting them. For healing and recovery. 

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

Priest: We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

3 October 2024 - Mother Theodore Guerin - homily for Thursday of the 26th week in ordinary time - Luke 10:1-12

     I always find it interesting to learn about the American saints, especially those who brought Catholicism to the United States when we were still forming as a country. Theodore Guerin was born in France in 1798. Her father was murdered when she was 15 years old, at which time she took care of her mom and younger sister. Even in the midst of fragile health and the challenges her family faced, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1823. Sister Theodore Guerin and five of her fellow sisters were sent to Indiana at the invitation of the bishop of Vincennes, Indiana. They arrived in the frontier town of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, in 1840, to teach in the Catholic schools and to care for the sick and the poor. She helped establish the motherhouse of a new order there in Indiana. Mother Theodore and her community persevered amongst many challenges and difficulties. She died in 1856 at the young age of 57. She was buried in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She was beatified in 1998, and canonized eight years later.

      Today we hear the famous passage from Luke’s Gospel when Jesus sends the 72 disciples out to be missionaries. They have little provisions with them and they know that they are going to face challenges and hardships, but spreading the Gospel message is an important part of their journey as disciples of Christ. I think of Mother Theodore Guerin who faced a lot of adversity and challenges as a nun coming to a foreign land as a missionary. May we all have that same missionary spirit.  

2 October 2024 - Feast of the guardian angels - Wednesday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time - Psalm 88:10-15

     Last Sunday, September 29, we celebrated the feast day of the Archangels - Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Today, we celebrate the feast of the guardian angels. Most of us probably know by heart the prayer of the guardian angel, which most Catholics learn to pray as children. It is comforting to Catholic parents to know that there is an angel who is trying to protect their children on their journey of faith. The role of the guardian angel is to represent us before God, to watch over us always, to aid our prayers, and to present our souls to God at the time of our death. The concept of an angel assigned to guide and nurture each human person is a development of Catholic doctrine and piety based on what we learn in Scripture. Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:10 best support the belief: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” Devotion to the guardian angels developed in the monasteries in Europe in the Middle Ages, which we can see particularly is Saint Benedict and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. 

      Our psalmist states today: “Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Daily I call upon you, O LORD; to you I stretch out my hands.” We rely on the Lord for strength and help throughout our journey of faith. May the guardian angels that God sends to protect us and guide us give us comfort and confidence on our journey.  

2 October 2024 - Feast of the Guardian Angels - Prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - your angels are your holy messengers 

Christ Jesus - you are the Son of the living God. 

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

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

1. That we in the Church may experience an ever deeper conversion of mind and heart. 

2. That we allow God's Word to instruct and free us from all that burdens us. 

3. That we may be grateful to God for every blessing and gift, and develop them fully for God’s glory. 

4. That God will liberate us from the defenses of legalism and rationalism so that we may serve God wherever God calls us. 

5. For wisdom in living out our faith each day. 

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

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

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

1 October 2024 - Therese of Lisieux - Tuesday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you are the son of God. 

Christ Jesus - you are our living bread. 

Lord Jesus - you give us your body and blood. 

Priest: As we celebrate St Therese of Lisieux today, we bring our prayers to God in faith and in hope:

1. For consecrated religious and lay members of the Carmelite order, that the joyful faith of St Therese lead them and guide them on their journey. 

2. That all of us Catholics may find strength and courage in the Eucharist we receive. 

3. That all who are estranged or isolated from the faith be reconciled around the table of the Lord. 

4. That all of our students may feel the Lord accompanying them in their studies and in their school activities. 

5. For the sick, for those struggling with addictions, and for those in constant pain, that Lord will bring healing into their lives. 

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

Priest: We present our prayers to you God today, appealing to your mercy and compassion. We make our prayers through your son, for he is our Lord forever and ever.   AMEN. 

1 October 2024 - St Therese of Lisieux - Tuesday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time - Psalm 88

I remember some years ago asking one of the inmates in our Catholic prison ministry to name for me his favorite saint.  I knew that he had read a lot about the saints and was very interested in them. I was quite surprised that he said that without a doubt it was Therese of Lisieux, not that answer I expected from him. I did not expect a young man who had served in the Middle East in the army and who was serving a life sentence in prison for murder to name a cloistered Carmelite nun as his favorite saint. 

Born in 1873, Terese entered the Carmelite monastery of Lisieux in Normandy in France at the age of 15 and died of tuberculosis at the age of 24. She was unknown to most of the world when she died, but her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, became an international best-seller. She became affectionately known to the faithful as the Little Flower. Her insight, her holiness, her honesty, the simplicity of her spirituality, and her passion in living out the vocation of a cloistered nun touched the souls of the faithful in a special way. Before she died, she knew that her work up in heaven would be the work of saving souls. She was named by Pope John Paul II as a patron saint of the missions, due to her love of missionaries and the spread of the Gospel message. John Paul II also named her as a Doctor of the Church, only the third woman to receive such a distinction. 

Our psalmists states today: Let my prayer come before you, Lord. We have such a great example of prayer and holiness with Therese of Lisieux.  We unite our prayers with her prayers today. 

Prayers of the faithful - 29 September 2024 - 26th Sunday in ordinary time - prison ministry

Priest - Penitential rite

Lord Jesus - your word is truth.

Christ Jesus - you are the way that leads us to salvation.

Lord Jesus - you call us away from sin and into new life in you.

Priest - As we are guided by the holy spirit on our journey of faith, may we pray for our needs and the needs of our brothers and sisters throughout the world:

1. That the Church may truly be the Body of Christ in the world, focusing on the mission that Christ left us as his disciples. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That those who have suffered abuse may find safety, healing, and justice through the ministry of the Church. We pray to the Lord.

3. For vocations to the priesthood, lay ministry, the diaconate, and consecrated religious life. May we all discern the vocation to which God calls us. We pray to the Lord.

4. For those who are searching for meaning in life. For those battling addictions, depression, anxiety, or mental health issues. For healing and wholeness. In a special way, we pray for our brothers here who are caught up in the terrible cycle of drug addiction. We pray to the Lord.

5. That the spirit of the national Eucharistic revival may continue in all of us as individuals and as a community. May we in the Catholic community here at CMCF minister to all here at this facility. We pray to the Lord.

6. That all Christians may have the courage to bear witness to their faith and be evangelizers of Christ’s Good News. We pray to the Lord.

7. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord.

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

Priest: As guided by the Holy Spirit, may we proclaim your grace in word and deed. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

Prayers of the faithful - 29 September 2024 - 26th Sunday in ordinary time

Introduction - We come today to worship the Lord at Mass, to receive him in the Eucharist, to encounter him in our brothers and sisters, and to open ourselves to God’s revelation in the world. May today’s challenging readings inspire us to look at our lives and to remain on the path to God’s kingdom.

Priest - Penitential rite

Lord Jesus - your word is truth.

Christ Jesus - you are the way that leads us to salvation.

Lord Jesus - you call us away from sin and into new life in you.

Priest - As we are guided by the holy spirit, may we pray for our needs and the needs of our brothers and sisters throughout the world:

1. That the Church may truly be the Body of Christ in the world, focusing on the mission that Christ left us as his disciples. We pray to the Lord. 2. That those who have suffered abuse may find safety, healing, and justice through the ministry of the Church. We pray to the Lord.

3. For vocations to the priesthood, lay ministry, the diaconate, and consecrated religious life. May we all discern the vocation to which God calls us. We pray to the Lord.

4. For those who are searching for meaning in life. For those battling addictions, depression, anxiety, or mental health issues. For healing and wholeness. We pray to the Lord.

5. That the spirit of the national Eucharistic revival may continue in all of us as individuals and as a community. We pray to the Lord.

6. That all Christians may have the courage to bear witness to their faith and be evangelizers of Christ’s Good News. We pray to the Lord.

7. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord.

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

Priest: As guided by the Holy Spirit, may we proclaim your grace in word and deed. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

Bulletin Reflection - 26th Sunday in ordinary time - 29 September 2024

It is hard to believe that it is already the end of the month of September. It seems like the summer months were just upon us. We will continue our journey during the days of ordinary time until we celebrate Advent at the beginning of December. We give thanks for all of our parishioners who contribute to our parish in so many different ways. This Sunday, September 29, is the date we celebrate the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. It was about ten years ago when I was stationed at St James parish in Tupelo that I started praying the prayer of St Michael the Archangel at the end of the weekend Masses with my parishioners. I noted that all the parishes I visited for mission appeals this summer pray this prayer at the end of Mass as well. I love the prayer of St Michael the Archangel. I think it is very important to teach our children and youth a lot of the traditional prayers and devotions of our Catholic faith. Blessings to all of you - have a good week - Father Lincoln.

29 September 2024 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - James 5:1-6 - Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

This is the last of 5 readings from the Letter of James that we will hear in our Sunday Masses. I love these messages we have been hearing from James. It gives us good practical advice on how to live out our faith. It is good advice for all of us. In particular, I see it as really good advice for young Catholics: for youth, college students, and young adults. The message that we’ve been hearing from James is that we need to be doers of God’s word, not just hearers; that our faith is just not something that should remains in our hearts, but also to bear fruit in the world. 

I keep a blog with homilies and reflections. I actually started that blog about 10 years ago when I was pastor up in Yazoo City and Belzoni. I was looking at the blog - I have more than 6,000 posts so far. I was looking at an entry I made for this week in 2015; it was the week of the Pope’s visit to the US. Our country was so excited about his visit. It is interesting that we have been hearing from James these past five weeks coincides with what we heard from the Pope on his visit to the US, as he stressed how we as Christ’s disciples are obligated to be good stewards of the environment, and how we are to treat the poor and the stranger in our midst with dignity and respect. Pope Francis showed this with his actions, not just his words, in harmony with what James tells us.The Pope visited a shelter for the homeless run by Catholic Charities in Washington DC, where he told the residents that he saw the face of St Joseph in them, as Joseph was man who had no shelter and no home in which his child could be born. The Pope also visited poor inner-city Catholic School in East Harlem, New York. Many people who heard the Pope’s address to Congress back in 2015 were impressed with the four Americans he mentioned as people of faith and doers of God’s Word: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton. Though many Catholics are familiar with Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton, two very vibrant Catholics who lived in the 20th century, many in the secular media did not know much about them; they were scrambling to find out who they were. Unfortunately, the media can be a bit myopic and closed minded in their knowledge. Both Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton lived very secular worldly lives as young adults very much apart from God. However, once they had conversions of heart, they had a very enthusiastic committed faith. Pope Francis praised Dorothy Day, the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, for her social activism, her passion for justice, and her love for the poor and the oppressed. He singled out Thomas Merton’s work toward greater respect and dialogue between different cultures and religions, and in the way he challenged the assumptions of his day. Merton did this while living as a Trappist monk in the Abbey of Gethsemene in Kentucky. 

The Pope’s actions, and the examples he gave, are in contrast to those whom James points out in his letter, of the rich who store up their material wealth and possessions, but who do so on the backs of the poor whom they disrespect and oppress. They have great material rewards here on earth, but will not find their reward in God’s Kingdom. We can use our influence and riches to help others, in works of kindness and mercy.  We can earn a good living and still follow the values of the Gospel, or we can use our wealth and riches in ways that do not proclaim God’s Kingdom on earth.   

In the Gospel today, we see the disciples wanting to exclude those who do good works in Jesus’ name but who are not part of their group of disciples. We see in Pope Francis a desire for us to dialogue and work together, to find common ground and to care for the well-being of all. So many people in the world today see our reality as the insiders vs the outsiders, as the liberals vs the conservatives, as one country vs another, as us vs them. Pope Francis sees it differently. Our Catholic faith sees it differently. This is one quote from Pope Francis that I took away from his address to Congress: "Our efforts must aim at restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and of peoples." That quote was relevant when he said it in 2015. It is relevant today. It is a message that brings us together, that does not conquer or divide. And we have seen American society become more divisive year and year. May we talk to heart the message that the values of faith and the values of the Gospel bring to us in the midst of our reality.   

Prayers of the faithful - Feast of St Vincent de Paul - Friday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time - 27 September 2024

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

Christ Jesus - you bring us justice. 

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the glory of God. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27 September 2024 - Friday of the 27th week of Ordinary Time - St Vincent DePaul - Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

Our first reading today - Ecclesiastes in Greek or Qoheleth in Hebrew -  is a part of the Wisdom tradition of literature in Israel’s scriptures. It is a common reading in funeral liturgies, since it is about a wise person reflecting upon different times in his life: times of death and birth, times of killing and healing, times of weeping and laughing. There are times and seasons in the way nature and ecology functions. There are times and seasons in our lives. While each time and season may seem to happen randomly, the underlying significance of this reading is that there is a divine purpose for everything that happens. We are reminded of the sovereignty of God, the creator and ruler of heaven and earth. We human beings learn during our lifetime that there are many things beyond our human control. We may have a smart phone in our pockets that is more powerful than the computers that put the man on the moon. We may have advanced technology that many of our us could not have imagined as children. But there are many elements of our existence that are beyond our control. We cannot conquer time. God appoints each moment. Our lives here on earth are a mixture of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, harmony and struggle, life and death. Each season has an appropriate time in the cycle of life. Nothing stays the same.  

As we hear this wise reading from the Old Testament, we celebrate the feast day of St Vincent de Paul, a very beloved saint in our Catholic faith.  He was a French priest who was born at the end of the 16th century to a humble family of farmers. He was the founder of two important religious congregations in our Catholic Church: the Vincentians and the Daughters of Charity. Both of those congregations reflect their founder’s charism of compassion, humility, and service to the poor. He is also well-known throughout the modern world for the social service organization that was named after him more than 200 years after his birth by students at the University of Paris in the early 19th century: the Society of St Vincent de Paul. May we unite our prayers with the prayers of St Vincent DePaul today. 

26 September 2024 - Thursday of the 26th week of ordinary time – Ecclesiastes 1:2 and 2:21-23

St Cosmos and St Damian were put to death in the Diocletian persecutions in the Roman empire in the early 4th century. Tradition passes down that they were twin brothers who were originally from Arabia but who studied science together in Syria, working as doctors.  They are the patron saints of doctors, surgeons, chemists, and pharmacists. There are some saints from the early Church of whom we don’t know much, but they were revered by the faithful and many stories have been passed down about them. 

The words from the book of Ecclesiastes get our attention this morning: “Vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity!” On the surface, those words might appear pessimistic and cynical, but what do they really mean?  The Hebrew word “hebel” that is translated into the English word “vanity,” literally means breath or, more specifically, for the fleeting vapor we see when we breathe into cold air.  Ecclesiastes is telling us that life can be like a fleeting breath, filled with emptiness and futility. We human beings often attach ourselves to material things, thinking that these things will make us more secure or more appealing, that these material things will satisfy our desires and our needs and make us feel like we have meaning in life. But these things often leave us empty and wanting more, especially when we compare them to the eternal life that awaits us in God’s kingdom. Perhaps the message from Ecclesiastes is not very comforting, but it calls us to reflect upon life and our earthly existence.

26 September 2024 - Thursday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus, you bring healing to us and you forgive us our sins. 

Christ Jesus, you bring us the Father's love. 

Lord Jesus, you came that we might have life in its fullness.

Prayers of the faithful:

Priest: We present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That the leaders of the Church may preach with faith and courage, spreading the Gospel message throughout the world.

2. That our governmental leaders will gain wisdom from God during these challenging times as they lead their people.  

3. That Christian missionaries may be blessed and protected.

4. That we may continue to care for our neighbors — in good days and bad.  We pray for those who are struggling with depression, mental illness, and addictions.  

5. That our community may be strengthened. May comfort, healing, and new life be brought to all parishioners.

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

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, as we are gathered by the word of life and as we are supported the sacraments, we present our prayers through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, as he is our Lord forever and ever.  

25 September 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time

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

Christ Jesus - you are our Savior and Redeemer. 

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

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

1. That our Church leaders may help us profess in word and deed that Jesus is Lord. 

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

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

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

5. For a deeper appreciation of the beauty and dignity of life. 

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

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

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

Prayers of the faithful - 24 September 2022 - Tuesday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us out the reality of our lives. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us healing and renewal. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to unity and solidarity. 

Priest: As we unite our prayers with the prayers of the community of saints, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That we may be open to all the gifts that different cultural, ethnic, economic, educational, and age groups bring to our community. 

2. For all who exercise authority may follow in the footsteps of Christ in being servants to others and attentive to those in need.

3. For those who reach out to the poor and the marginalized recognize Christ in all whom they serve. 

4. That we may reach out to those who can never repay us, allowing the reign of God to be experienced in our time. 

5. That God's healing love may touch those who have experience abuse, bring them healing, and restore them to the fullness of life. 

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

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

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

25 September 2024 - homily for Wednesday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 9:57-62

We hear one of Jesus’ disciples declare today: “I will follow you wherever you go.”  Those are very easy words to say, especially when we don’t know where the road will lead in our journey of faith, when we don’t know the sacrifices we are going to have to make and what we are going to have to leave behind. We see some many of the saints and so many examples of faith make many sacrifices to serve God and his people. Even with their willingness to suffer for the faith, many of them could never have predicted the trials and tribulations they would endure. When I left for Canada and Ecuador to be a lay missionary, I would not have been able to imagine where that road would have taken me. In a lot of ways, I am glad I did not know. However, I still give thanks for those experiences, both the joys and the sorrows. May we give thanks for our journey of faith, no matter what that journey may be. 

24 Sept 2024 - homily for Tuesday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 9:51-56

Back when I was serving at St Jude in Pearl, the pastors of the local congregations read the 31 chapters of the book of Proverbs, one chapter per day. We were paired with one of the other pastors and would then text our insights from that chapter to the other person. I was paired with a pastor from an African American Baptist Church in Pearl who also worked with troubled youth in an after-school program. It was quite interesting to share our insights with each other. In today’s first reading, we hear from the 21st Chapter of Proverbs. One verse stood out to me: “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” In Ancient Israel, sacrifices were made in the Temple. Some Jews felt that offering those sacrifices were more important than anything else. Perhaps more important than proper conduct. Most Catholics approach confession with sincere and contrite hearts.  Doing penance and going to confession are important. Turning away from our sins is equally important. I hope that we could read the book of Proverbs together as a parish and be able to share our insights with other parishioners. I think that would be a wonderful exercise.  

14 September 2024 - The Exaltation of the Cross - John 3:13-17 - Numbers 21:4b-9

This upcoming Sunday at Mass in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 8:27-35), Jesus tells his disciples and the crowds that if they wish to be his followers, they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him; they must lose their life for his sake and the sake of the Gospel in order to save it. Today’s Mass has a similar theme: the exaltation of the Holy Cross, a liturgy that focuses our hearts and our minds on the cross of Christ. 

This feast celebrates the recovery of the cross in the 4th century by St. Helena, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, and then the new recovery of this cross from the non-Christians who had seized it. The main focus of this feast is the meaning of the cross, the mystery that we attempt to understand in our faith. 

In the book of Numbers, we hear how the people of Israel died and suffered in the desert after having been bitten by snakes, how God gave them the remedy of a bronze serpent mounted to a pole so that when they looked at it, they would be healed. The serpent that we are bitten by in our modern world is sin. Sin often leads us away from our journey of faith.  In our need to be healed of our sinful state, we are invited to look not at a bronze serpent on a wooden pole, but to the cross of Christ. From that look, we can be healed just as the people of Israel were healed in the desert.

Looking at our modern secular culture through the lens of faith, we see a culture that often encourages sins of all types, as well as an indifference to our faith. Yet, the Gospel message today is that God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but rather to be saved through him. We don’t celebrate the cross because we want to suffer for the sake of suffering. We are to be saved through Christ and his death on the cross. His cross brings meaning to our sufferings. We are to unite the crosses we carry to Christ’s cross and Christ’s sufferings. May we rejoice today that we have been saved by Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, that we are able to journey through life as followers of Christ.