Prayers of the faithful - feast of St Simon and St Jude - 28 October 2025 - prison ministry

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

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

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

Priest: As we celebrate St Simon and St Jude, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For our church leaders and world leaders. May they promote justice, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness in the world.

2. For all who have suffered rejection or violence. For those who are search for God or for meaning in their lives. We ask that our wounds be healed and that God give us hope and courage on our journey.

3. For a deeper spirit of gratitude for God’s many gifts. May we recognize in each other all that is truthful, just, honorable, pure, and gracious. 

4. In the tradition of St Jude and his special patronage, we ask for his prayers and intercessions for those seemingly impossible and lost causes that exist in our lives. 

5. We pray for a greater respect for human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. For an end to abortion, the death penalty, and all types of hatred and systemic prejudice. May we learn how to care more deeply for all human life, hear the cries of the poor, the homeless, the prisoner, and the starving.  

6. For the sick and the afflicted. For healing for all of us in body, mind and spirit.  For those struggling with depression, anxiety, addictions, and mental health issues. 

7. For our loved ones and family members who have died. For their entry into eternal life. For the dying and for those who are close to death. For the men here in the infirmary and the hospice at CMCF. 

8. For those prayers we hold in our hearts today. For those who have asked for our prayers. 

Priest: We unite our prayers with the prayers of St Simon and St Jude today and with Mary and the entire community of saints.  We present these prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

14 November 2025 - homily for Friday of the 32nd week of Ordinary time - Wisdom 13:1-9

Many of us see God in creation in different ways. When I was at the restorative justice conference in Chicago in October, I was sharing with the group how I saw God in nature, which is one of the reasons I love to hike, feeling connected to God when I walk in the midst of forests and trails and nature. Several members of the group shared a similar message. I think of Hildegard of Bingen, a German Benedictine nun from the 12th century, who was declared a Doctor of the Church by Benedict XVI, who wrote these words: "Glance at the sun.  See the moon and the stars.  Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings.  Now think.  What delight God gives to humanity with all these things.  All nature is at the disposal of humankind.  We are to work with it.  For without it, we cannot survive.” Like Hildegarde, the author of the book of Wisdom saw God in creation.  He did not make the marvels he saw in creation an idol, for doing so would be foolish and ignorant according to him.  So many of the faithful see God in the beauty and wonder of nature, and this serves to strengthen and confirm our faith in God. 

Christians are called to serve the Lord in different ways, to see him in the different facets of the world.  A saint whose feast day falls on this Sunday, November 16, is St Hugh of Lincoln.  Hugh was a monk in a Carthusian monastery in France in the 12th century, in the same era of Hildegard of Bingen. The Carthusians are one of the monastic orders that observe a strict vow of silence. At the age of 40, he was asked to open a Carthusian monastery in England. He earned a great deal of respect from the people of that area of England when he made sure that the poor that were displaced by the building of the monastery were justly compensated for their land. He later was appointed Bishop of Lincoln, where he showed a special love for the sick, the poor, and the lepers of his diocese. He started the rebuilding of the cathedral in Lincoln when it was badly damaged in an earthquake.  He also personally shielded a group of Jews from an angry mob.  We see God in creation, and we reflect God’s love and mercy in how we treat God’s creation and our brothers and sisters in the reality that is present in our lives.  May we thank the Lord for the greatness and beauty of his creation, for the way we see God’s majesty in his creation and in the nature of the world. 

16 November 2025 - homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle C - Luke 21:5-19 — Malachi 3:19-20a

As we come to the end of the liturgical year, which happens next weekend with the celebration of Christ the King, we always have a Gospel passage which talks about the end times. When we look at the end times in the context of our faith, we are reminded that it is the closing of one age and the beginning of another age. In our first reading, we hear from Malachi, who is seen as the last prophet in the Old Testament. Malachi prophesied the coming of a Messiah and his forerunner, who would later be identified as John the Baptist in the New Testament. Malachi states in today’s reading: “For the day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble. The day that is coming is going to burn them up…. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays…” The same word that is translated into rays in this reading is the Hebrew word for the four corners of the prayer shawl that the Jews wear. It was believed that the four corners of the prayer shawl of the Messiah would have healing virtue. You may recall the woman in Gospels who has a bleeding disorder who reaches out to touch the fringe of Jesus’ garment, believing that touching his garment would bring her healing.  I find it interesting that this prophecy from Malachi alludes to God’s healing power in the end times for the righteous who follow his word and who believe in him, a contrast to those who do not believe who are doomed to destruction in the end times. My devotion and belief in the sacrament of healing that we have in the anointing of the sick is a big message I try to bring the faithful as a part of my service as a priest. It is God’s healing power that I bring in that sacrament, not my own power. We are going to offer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick today after the mass. If any of you would like this sacrament, just come to the front rows after mass and I will join you after greeting those who are leaving mass. As we all need healing in different ways in our lives, in body, mind, and spirit, any of you who feels you need healing in your life can partake in this sacrament. 

From Luke's Gospel today, we hear a description of the destruction of the Temple and the signs of the persecutions to come. Each of the four Gospel writers have a prophecy and description of the end times to come, when a new age will dawn. Luke tells us that we should not be terrified of this time to come, that for believers, the coming end times and the time of destruction will be a time of opportunity for believers to bear testimony and witness. This is a good reminder for us as modern believers in Christ, for in the times we live in today, we have the opportunity to bear witness. We see so much going on in the world today, in politics, with the changing weather, with persecutions and other challenges as well. This is our time to bear witness to our Catholic faith. Jesus tells us in the Gospel that God will give us the words of witness that our adversaries will not be able to refute. God will give us the words to speak, those of us who are a part of the body of Christ in the Church. Just as touching Jesus’ prayer shawl brought healing to the woman with the bleeding disorder, we can be the voice of Jesus’ healing power in the world today. So many people in our modern world lash out in anger and in hurtful words, knowing that their actions and their words harm others. But, in contrast, we can be the ones who brings Christ’s healing message to the world. We have seen a lot of young families come into our Holy Savior parish lately. As you can see, we have been trying very hard, putting a lot of time, effort, and resources into reaching out to all of our parishioners, especially our families, children, youth, and college students. As the world changes, our testimony as Christians is of vital importance. We can manifest Christ’s glory, his ministry and his life in our own words and actions. 

So, the point is not really trying to predict the end times to come. There is always some group trying to predict when the end of the world is to come. Most recently, popular on social media, there was a prediction that the world was going to end on September 25 of this year, and of course that did not happen. The point is the way that we can prepare and be witnesses of the faith in the world, to proclaim God’s kingdom in the present age. 

In a couple of weeks, we will celebrate Thanksgiving, a time where when we as a nation and when we as Christians can show are thanks and gratitude in different ways.  In a couple of weeks, we will begin the holy season of Advent, our time of preparation for the coming of the Lord, as he will come both in the end times and as a baby in the manger in Bethlehem. May we see the holy season of Advent not only as a time of preparation, but also as an opportunity for witness and testimony. 

16 November 2025 - prayers of the faithful for the 33rd Sunday in ordinary time - prison ministry

Introduction: Next weekend we celebrate the end of the liturgical year with the commemorate of Christ the King. This weekend, our readings prepare us for this point in the liturgical year, speaking about signs we will see and the end times to come. May we always be prepared for the coming of our savior, whenever he comes. 

Priest: Penitential rite: 

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

Christ Jesus - you invite us into eternal life with God. 

Lord Jesus - you will come again in Glory. 

Priest: On this 33rd Sunday of ordinary time, as we near the end of the liturgical year, we present our prayers to our loving and merciful Father:

1. That we in the Church may offer hope to all the human family, especially support to those who are searching for God. May we reach out to our brothers and sisters here at CMCF who are struggling on their journey, bringing them hope and compassion. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That God will strengthen us and sustain us in remaining faithful as disciples in times of trial and distress. We pray for perseverance and courage on our journey. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That the ministry and preaching of Pope Leo XIV and the leaders of our Church help the Church to continue her deeds of loving service and to witness to the Gospel until Christ comes in glory. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who are ill, who are looking for work, or who are grieving the death of a loved one. May they know God’s comforting presence and be strengthened by God’s Spirit. We pray for the Lord. 

5. For our children. We pray especially for our family members who are facing struggles, difficult challenges, or crisis. That God will give them strength and courage. That our families may always feel our love and prayers reaching out to them. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For families that are divided or in opposition to one another; may they have God's peace touch their hearts and lead them toward reconciliation and healing. We pray for peace and healing for the men and women here at CMCF.  We pray to the Lord. 

7. For all who are persecuted for their religion or deprived of their rights may find hope in their faith. We pray for the freedom for everyone to practice their religion here at CMCF. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: With perseverance and determination on our journey of faith, with humble hearts, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

16 November 2025 - 33rd Sunday in ordinary time - prayers of the faithful

Introduction: Next weekend we celebrate the end of the liturgical year with the commemorate of Christ the King. This weekend, our readings prepare us for this point in the liturgical year, speaking about signs we will see and the end times to come. May we always be prepared for the coming of our savior. 

Priest: Penitential rite: 

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

Christ Jesus - you invite us into eternal life with God. 

Lord Jesus - you will come again in Glory. 

Priest: On this 33rd Sunday of ordinary time, as we near the end of the liturgical year, we present our prayers to our loving and merciful Father:

1. That we in the Church may offer hope to all the human family, especially support to those who are searching for God. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That God will strengthen and sustain us in remaining faithful in our discipleship in times of trial and distress. We pray for perseverance and courage on our journey of faith. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That the ministry and preaching of the leaders of our Church will help their communities of faith to continue their deeds of loving service and to witness to the Gospel until Christ comes in glory. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That those who have become ill, lost employment, or are grieving the death of a loved one may know God’s comforting presence this day and be strengthened by God’s Spirit. We pray for the Lord. 

5. For our children, youth, and college students, especially those who are facing struggles, difficult challenges, or crisis. That God will give them strength and courage. We pray to the Lord. 

6. That families that are divided or in opposition to one another may have God's peace touch their hearts and lead them toward reconciliation and healing. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For all who are persecuted for their religion or deprived of their rights may find hope in their faith. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: We perseverance and determination on our journey of faith, with humble hearts, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

16 November 2025 - Bulletin reflection - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

It is hard to believe that we are in the middle of November, with the end of the liturgical year and the Thanksgiving holiday not far away. We continue to commemorate the month of remembrance as well, praying for our deceased loved ones, family members, and community members. This upcoming week, I will be traveling to St Louis for several days, where I will attend a retreat with Cardinal O’Malley and meet with the Diocesan representatives of the Pontifical Mission Societies, of which I represent our Diocese as the Vicar General. I am looking forward to hearing what Cardinal O’Malley has to say. Have a blessed week everyone - Father Lincoln.  

14 November 2025 - prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 32nd week in ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

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

Lord Jesus - you proclaim justice. 

Priest: As God’s love encourages us and brings us new life, we now present our prayers to the Lord:

1. For Pope Leo XIV and for our Church leaders and our governmental leaders. May their faith bring them wisdom and courage in their leadership roles. 

2. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed in this month of remembrance. For those grieving over the loss of a family member, that they may be consoled. For the names written in our book of remembrance. 

3. That we may continue to grow in our love for and appreciation of the Eucharist. That we may grow in our love of God’s holy word.  

4. For our program of religious education.  We pray that all children, youth, and adults may be active in learning more about their faith. 

5. For the sick and the afflicted. For their families and care givers.  For our medical professionals.  

6. For those caught up in a cycle of anger and violence in their lives. May God break those chains that bind them. 

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

Priest: God of endless love, in the shadow of your wings we find refuge: hear the prayers we humbly make, through your son Jesus Christ our Lord forever.  AMEN.  

13 November 2025 - Thursday of the 32nd week in Ordinary time - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you hear the cry of the poor. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us God’s justice. 

Lord Jesus - you proclaim God’s kingdom. 

Priest: United with the prayers of Mother Cabrini and the entire community of saints, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV and our Church leaders. That they would lead the Church in finding ways to reach out to the poor and to those separated from the Church. 

2. That we would use our gifts and talents for the glory of God. 

3. That God would heal the divisions that exist in society, uniting us to work for the common good. 

4. For all who suffer in despair. For the unemployed and the homeless. For children orphaned by war, terrorism or disease. For people dying of hunger or untreated illness.

5. For a lasting peace. That God would inspire efforts of diplomacy to end human bloodshed, terrorism and destruction.

6. For the names enrolled in our book of remembrance. We pray for all the faithful departed during this month of remembrance. 

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

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

12 November 2025 - Wednesday of the 32nd week of Ordinary Time - prayers of the faithful

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

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

Lord Jesus - you call us to be your disciples. 

Priest: In unity with the prayers of the Blessed Mother and the community of saints, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. We pray for the sick and the afflicted. For the dying and the grieving. For those struggling with mental health issues and addictions. 

2. That we would all help each other on our journey of faith, supporting each other’s hopes and dreams. 

3. We pray for our children, college students and youth. That all family would nurture their children physically and spiritually. 

4. For the names written in our book of remembrance. We pray for all the faithful departed during this month of remembrance. 

5. That we would grow as a community as the Body of Christ in our love of the Eucharist. 

6. That we would bring hope to the world during this Jubilee year of hope. 

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

With faith and trust, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

13 November 2025 - Mother Cabrini - homily for Thursday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time - Luke 17:20-25

Mother Cabrini is the saint we celebrate her name. I associate Mother Cabrini’s name with the infamous Cabrini Green housing project that was built in Chicago in the 1940s near the downtown area with the intention to provide safe affordable for the poor. In fact, my grandmother grew up as a girl in an apartment in downtown Chicago just a few blocks away from that site, although this housing project did not exist at the time that she lived there. Unfortunately, the good intentions of building Cabrini housing project and naming it after a saint who helped the poor were not helpful; this housing project became a symbol of how many housing projects in our country that were designed to help the poor became failures, perpetuating a cycle of poverty, desperation, and violence. The entire complex had been torn down by the year 2011. 

Mother Cabrini was born near Milan, Italy. She was rejected from joining several religious orders, having been told that her frail health would not be suited to missionary work. She founded a new religious congregation, the Missionary sisters of the Sacred Heart. Her dream had been to be a missionary sister to China, but her bishop and Pope Leo XIII both decided that she and her sisters would be better suited to be missionaries to the United States, which was attracting many Italian immigrants at the time.  Mother Cabrini and six sisters of her congregation sailed for America in 1889 where they established schools, orphanages, and hospitals. She worked in the United States until her death in 1917. Mother Cabrini became the first American citizen to be named a saint when she was canonized in 1946. Mother Cabrini followed the Lord’s call to minister to the poor and the downtrodden, to lift them out of there desperate circumstances, and to help them realize their dignity as children of God.

Our Gospel today presents a question that the Pharisees ask Jesus about when the kingdom of God will come. When should not worry about when the end of times will come, but rather we should be concerned about how we ourselves are proclaiming God’s kingdom and helping to build up his kingdom here on earth in the present day. We can see in many of the saints like Mother Cabrini and many of the Catholic faithful of how they did this in their daily lives. May we follow that example. 

12 November 2025 - St Josaphat - homily for Wednesday of the 32nd week of Ordinary Time - psalm 82

St. Josaphat is the saint we celebrate today. Perhaps this saint is not very well-known to us. Josaphat was a Basilian monk from the late 16th & early 17th centuries, who later was ordained a priest and became the Archbishop of Polotsk, a region in current day Belarus. Most of the monks in his area did not want to join in union with Rome, fearing interference in their liturgy and customs.  However, by catechetical instruction, synods, reform of the clergy, and his personal example, Josaphat was successful in winning the greater part of the Orthodox faithful in that area to union with Rome.  Due to fear of this union, Josaphat was struck down, shot, and his body was thrown into the river.  His remains were recovered and are now buried in the Basilica of St Peter in Rome. Josaphat was the first saint of the Eastern Church to be canonized by Rome.

The first verse of our psalm today states: “Defend the lowly and the fatherless; render justice to the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the lowly and the poor; from the hand of the wicked deliver them.” It is sometimes hard to give thanks in the difficult circumstances we face in our lives.  I think of the challenges and turmoil that Josaphat faced in his life, yet through his life and his actions, he served the Lord with joy, courage, and thanksgiving.It does not appear that Josaphat received justice through the circumstances of his life here on earth. It does not appear that the Lord physically delivered him from the hands of the wicked. The martyrs of the Church were willing to give up their lives for the faith. The Lord has a special love and mercy for the witness that they give us. We unite our prayers with the prayers of St Josaphat today. 

11 November 2025 - Tuesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary time - St Martin of Tours - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you call us to God’s wisdom. 

Christ Jesus - you hear the cry of the poor. 

Lord Jesus - you bring hope to the world. 

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

1. That the Holy Spirit enliven the Church, that we may love without expectations and hope without limits. 

2. That the different religions may work together to be good stewards of the earth and our natural resources. 

3. That we reach out to the hungry, the poor and the alienated, helping them in a context of dignity and respect. 

4. For world leaders and governments. May they seek vision so that their work can bring joy, promise and peace to all people. 

5. For a greater respect for human life. May every person deeply honor and appreciate the great gift of life from conception to natural death.

6. For the faithful departed. For the names enrolled in our book of remembrance. 

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.  

11 November 2025 - Martin of Tours - homily for Tuesday of the 32nd week of Ordinary Time - Wisdom 2:23–3:9

St. Martin of Tours lived in the 4th century, but he remains a very popular saint to this day. Born of pagan parents, he was forced to serve in the military starting at a very young age. He left the military service as an adult, following a call to serve Christ in a special way in service to the Church.  A famous recollection about Martin recounts how he as a soldier met a beggar on the road, how all he had on him was he weapon and his cloak.  He cut his cloak in half and gave the other half to this poor man.  It was a strange sight to see Martin only wearing half a cloak, but he knew he did the right thing. Martin later became the Bishop of Tours. He worked hard during his lifetime not only fighting the heresies in the Church, but also in trying to bring the heretics back into the flock. He died in Gaul, modern-day France, in 397. 

Our first readings this week at Daily Mass are from the book of Wisdom.  Part of today’s reading is frequently the first reading at a Catholic funeral liturgy. Wisdom declares that “the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.” Many in our world still believe that when our earthly existence comes to an end, our life abruptly comes to an end. Yet, the book of Wisdom sees a different destiny for those who place their hope in God. Our reading concludes today by asserting that “grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.” We started this month with the celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. These important feast days in our Catholic faith are in the spirit of what we hear from the Book of Wisdom today. As we hear this reading today from Wisdom, we unite our prayers with the prayers of the community of saints to pray for the faithful departed, especially those souls in purgatory. 

Prayers of the faithful - 9 November 2025 - feast of the dedication of the St John Lateran basilica in Rome - prison ministry

Introduction - Every year on November 9, we celebrate the dedication of the pope’s cathedral in Rome, the St John Lateran Basilica, which is dedicated to our Most Holy Savior. Today, at Mass, may we  praise our loving God who provides a home for us on earth as in heaven.

Priest - penitential rite -

Lord Jesus - you founded the Church as your body here on earth. 

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Lord Jesus - you unite your disciples as one family. 

Priest: As we gather on this feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, let us pray for our needs, the needs of the Church, the needs of the world, and the needs for all of us at CMCF: 

1. For the Christians of Rome and their bishop, Pope Leo XIV, that the Church of Rome may continue to follow in the footsteps of Peter, its first bishop. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For our diocese of Jackson and our Bishop Joseph Kopacz, that the Christians of our diocese may be united with the Christians of Rome and with Christians around the world. We pray to the Lord.  

3. For people on the margins of life, that the welcome they receive in their church may remind them of God’s care. We pray for our Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel at CMCF. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who design churches, that their work may give glory to God. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For all who take care of our church buildings, for the leaders of our Catholic community here at CMCF. That their care for the Body of Christ may bring them a heavenly reward. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the faithful departed, that having passed through the waters of baptism, they may share Christ’s victory over death. We 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: God of heaven and earth, you reward those with clean hands and pure hearts: in our unworthiness we bring our prayers to you, through Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

9 November 2025 - homily for the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome - 1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17

This year, in the past several months, we have had several feast days celebrated on our Sunday liturgies in our calendar, including All Souls’ Day last weekend, the feast of the exaltation of the holy cross in September, and then today’s feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. We might wonder why we celebrate the dedication of Church building in Rome at Mass today. What does that matter to us in Mississippi in the Diocese of Jackson? Indeed, we celebrate a physical building at mass today that most of us have never have set eyes upon, located in a country across the Atlantic Ocean, but this Feast is about much more than a physical building. 

Historically, basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral church of the bishop of Rome, the Pope, even though many of the Catholic faithful think the Basilica of St Peter would be his cathedral. The Lateran Basilica has the title “Mother and Head of all the Churches in the City and in the World.” The original church of St John Lateran was dedicated on 9 November 324 AD. Over the centuries, this basilica has been destroyed or damaged by earthquakes, fires, and attacks. Despite all these setbacks, the Basilica has been rebuilt and restored many times. 

The Lateran Basilica symbolizes the unity of the Church, which is something very important to the Catholic faithful. Catholic communities throughout the world are built on one foundation, our Lord Jesus Christ. By celebrating this feast today, we unite with the Pope and with each other, as we are all baptized into one body, the body of Christ. We should think of the Church not in terms of physical buildings, but in terms of community. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians that we are God's building, that the foundation of this building is the Lord Jesus Christ, and all of us who serve in the Church must build upon that foundation. We are the place where God wishes to dwell, giving us the opportunity and the responsibility to proclaim God’s loving presence to the world.

We live in a world where there is a lot of division and discord. The message of the Church as a community of Christ’s love is so important to the world today. Many families have been divided or have broken down. Many lives are overtaken by anger and bitterness. Many people are lonely and do not know where to turn. Public and political life is full of attacks and harsh rhetoric. There is a lot of violence and crime on our streets. Healing and wholeness is needed in the midst of this reality. Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians to give advice to a community that was badly divided, telling them to see themselves as the Temple of God and to feel the Holy Spirit working within them. 

We are grateful to have a large OCIA class this year. I also have 9 men coming into the Church at the prison in Pearl this year, and several men coming into the Church at the federal prison as well. I try to emphasize to those going through this process that they should not see OCIA as an academic class they attend or information they are trying to learn. They are called to have a personal encounter with Christ and to enter into our community, the Body of Christ. I have also told them that it is equally important, and in many ways more important, to attend Mass each week at Holy Savior, to be a part of our community and to participate in that community. The Church asks all of us to attend Mass each weekend and to support our Church community in different ways. 

St Paul was able to the write to the different Church communities from a position of faith because of his own personal encounter with Christ and the love of God that he had entered. St Paul made it his mission to help people know Christ and to proclaim Christ's Gospel message to the world. The purpose of the Church is to create opportunities for people to encounter Christ, and to receive his love and healing.  Sharing our time and our expertise creates an environment where God’s love can grow in us, as individuals and as a community. Our parish activities, our outreach, and our buildings give visibility to our faith. They remind us of God’s presence and help us experience God’s love.

It is God’s love that will revive and store our communities and the world. As St John of the Cross stated: “Put love where there is no love, and there you will draw out love.” In many ways, God’s love and our identity as Christ’s body are at the center of today’s celebration of the Dedication of  the Basilica of St John Lateran. 

Prayers of the faithful - 9 November 2025 - feast of the dedication of the St John Lateran basilica in Rome

Introduction - Every year on November 9, we celebrate the dedication of the pope’s cathedral in Rome, the St John Lateran Basilica, which is dedicated to our Most Holy Savior. Today, at Mass, may we  praise our loving God who provides a home for us on earth as in heaven.

Priest - penitential rite -

Lord Jesus - you founded the Church as your body here on earth. 

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Lord Jesus - you unite your disciples as one family. 

Priest: As we gather on this feast of the dedication of the Lateran basilica in Rome, let us pray for our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world:

1. For the Christians of Rome and their bishop, Pope Leo XIV, that the Church of Rome may continue to follow in the footsteps of Peter, its first bishop. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For our diocese of Jackson and our bishop Joseph Kopacz, that the Christians of our diocese may be united with the Christians of Rome and with Christians around the world. We pray to the Lord.  

3. For people on the margins of life, that the welcome they receive in their church may remind them of God’s care. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who design churches, that their work may give glory to God. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For all who take care of our churches here in Clinton and Raymond, that their care for the Body of Christ may bring them a heavenly reward. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the faithful departed, that having passed through the waters of baptism, they may share Christ’s victory over death. We 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: God of heaven and earth, you reward those with clean hands and pure hearts: in our unworthiness we bring our prayers to you, through Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

9 November 2025 - Feast of the dedication of the St John Lateran Basilica in Rome - bulletin reflection

Last weekend, we celebrated All Souls’ Day in our liturgies. This weekend, we have another special feast day that we are celebrating in our liturgies with the feast of the Dedication of the St John Lateran Basilica in Rome. During the three times I visited Rome as a priest, I have visited the Lateran Basilica. One of those times, when I visited Rome with the liturgical leadership program with the University of Notre Dame, I was the main celebrant of the Mass at the Baptistry at the Lateran Basilica, which was the main place where the citizens of Rome were baptized into the Catholic faith. We celebrate our ties to the Pope and the city of Rome, to the universal Catholic Church, and to our Church’s historical development. Blessings to all of you - Father Lincoln. 

7 November 2025 - Friday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time - prayers of the faithful

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

Christ Jesus - you call us to evangelize others in the faith. 

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

Priest: We faith, hope, and trust, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. For strength and courage as they lead the people of God. 

2. For a deeper sense of gratitude. May we be more consciously thankful for all that happens in our lives and humbly surrender ourselves to God’s will and healing.

3. For understanding where there is anger or hurt. For forgiveness and reconciliation where there is silence and division. For resolution and peace where there is conflict and pain.

4. For blessings upon the sick and the dying. For those who have long-term diseases. For those who are burdened with addiction. For understanding and patience to all who grieve.

5. For the souls of the faithful departed. For those souls who are enrolled in our book of remembrance. For the souls in purgatory. 

6. For our children, youth, and college students. That the Lord continue to accompany them during the school semester and on their journey of faith. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. For our prayer intentions spoken and unspoken. 

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

7 November 2025 - Homily for Friday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time - Romans 15:14-21

Today, we hear from the 15th chapter of St Paul’s letter to the Romans.  We have been hearing from Romans in our first readings at Mass these past several weeks. St Paul addresses the readers of the letter in very personal and endearing terms, wanting the Romans to know about his true motives in writing this letter. He tells them of the goodness he sees in them, how he sees them being full of knowledge and being able to instruct one another. Today’s readings show St Paul’s zeal and enthusiasm in bringing the Gospel to others, to the Gentiles who are being exposed to God’s sacred word for the first time. 

As I thought about St Paul and his letter to the Romans, I thought about the different missionaries and evangelizers who brought God’s word to different parts of the world with great zeal and sacrifice.  On a list of saints in our liturgical calendar for this week, I came across a list of martyrs of the Spanish Civil War who were killed from 1936 to 1939. Approximately 1,000 martyrs from the Spanish Civil War have been beatified or canonized by the last three popes. Those killed in that war include 15 bishops, more than 4,000 priests and seminarians, more than 2,000 monks and friars, and over 200 nuns – a staggering number who have died for the faith in this very Catholic country. The Spanish Civil War still inspires a lot of conflicting emotions in Spain, but the Vatican responded that these beatifications and canonizations do not pertain to ideology or politics, but rather to the virtue and holiness of the men and women who gave their lives for their faith. As we just celebrated All Saints Day and All Souls Day last weekend, let us give thanks for all those men and women who sacrificed and suffered in order that the faith may be passed down to us. 

6 November 2025 - prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you ask us to persevere in our faith. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to be servants. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to carry our crosses. 

Priest: As we commemorate the month of remembrance, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For perseverance in the Church. May we work and pray consistently for peace and justice in our lives and in our community. 

2. For our Church leaders. We pray for Pope Leo XIV and for Bishop Kopacz. We pray for courage and strength and they lead the people of God. 

3. For judges, attorneys, politicians and government leaders. May the Lord guide and inspire their work to the community. 

4. For growth in our own personal prayer life. May we move beyond rote and repeated prayer to discover the depth of prayer that reveals God’s vision.

5. For those who feel crushed by life’s pressures. May they feel direction and support in their faith. 

6. For the sick, the addicted, the dying and the grieving. Bring the Lord bring them healing and wholeness. 

7. During the month of remembrance, we pray for the names enrolled in our book of remembrance, for our deceased loved ones and family members, and for all the faithful departed. 

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

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

6 November 2025 - Homily for Thursday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time - Romans 14:7-12

In our reading from the letter to the Romans today, St Paul makes some very bold statements, as he states: “If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord.” As modern day disciples of Christ, what does that statement mean to us? Do those words inspire us or influence us in the way we live out our faith each day? As the vicar general of the Diocese and as the pastor of two parishes here in the Jackson area, I see the sacrifices we have to make for our faith. Some parishes in our Diocese are struggling to survive and to maintain a vibrant parish life. Some have decreased greatly in membership. There are some small parishes who do not understand why they cannot have a mass at 10:00 am or 10:30 am on Sunday for less than 10 people when the priest assigned to them is trying to serve several communities and meet the needs of all. 

How does all of this interplay with the statement that Paul makes today?  How do we understand our responsibilities and our obligations as disciples of Christ?  As the world becomes more secular, the freedom to live out our faith and to attend Mass might become something that will become more difficult and more of a challenge.  We might look back at these days when a parish has many different masses on a weekend as a reality that is not possible anymore. What does it mean to make sacrifices for our faith?  I think we all have to ask ourselves those questions. 

5 November 2025 - prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to follow God’s laws and commandments. 

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

Lord Jesus - you call us to follow God’s will. 

Priest: We now present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That we in the Church may learn to pray with honesty and humility, listening to God calling us to experience the great depth of his love and mercy.

2. For an end to tyranny and warfare in the world. May we reach out to those who are burdened and in need. 

3. May we abandon our pride and our pretensions. May we honestly recognize and acknowledge the limits of our own strength and power.

4. For those who are prisoners of their own self-righteousness and egos. Free their hearts to break down the walls of their prejudice. 

5. During the month of remembrance, we pray for the souls of the faithful departed and the souls in purgatory in a special way. We pray for those names enrolled in our book of remembrance. 

6. For our beloved sick, addicted, dying and grieving. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. For those who have asked us to pray for them. 

Priest: As we give thanks for our many blessings, let us reach out to God in faith and gratitude. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

5 November 2025 - homily for Wednesday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time - St Guido Maria Conforti - Romans 13:8-10

Guido Maria Conforti was born in 1865 in Parma, Italy to a family of farmers. He desired to become a missionary, but was turned down by the Jesuits and the Salesians. He was ordained for the Diocese of Parma and served as vicar general in that Diocese. In 1895, he founded the Xaverian Missionaries, which was approved as a missionary order by Pope Leo XIII. Their first missionaries were sent to China. Today, this order has missionaries in 21 countries. Their American branch is located in Wisconsin. He became the Bishop of Parma, Italy in 1907. He visited all the parishes in his diocese on horseback. He put a strong emphasis on religious education. He was one of the inspirations for the apostolic letter of Pope Benedict XV on the principles and priorities of the Church’s missionary work, Maximum illud. It is considered one of the main Church documents that defines the Church’s missionary role. Conforti died in 1931. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011. 

Jesus summed up God’s law in the commandments to love God and love our neighbor. In his letter to the Romans, St Paul sums up God’s law in the same manner. Living in God’s love will help bring us closer to God’s commandments. Yet, this is not easy to put into practice each day. Even for me as a priest, it is not always easy to apply God’s law to some of the situations I face in the parish, in my ministries, and in my work as vicar general. That is what is so interesting for us to learn about the saints, to find out how they applied God’s laws and commandment in the reality of their lives.  

4 November 2025 - Prayers of the faithful - Charles Borromeo - 31st week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to be servants. 

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

Lord Jesus - you are our redeemer and our savior. 

Priest: As we put our trust in our loving Father, we present our prayers and petitions: 

1. For the Church. That we may grow in our reliance upon God’s providence and confidently entrust all our needs to God. 

2. In this month of remembrance, we pray for all the names enrolled in our book of remembrance and for all those who died in war and armed conflict. For all the faithful departed. 

3. For peace in the Holy Land and in Ukraine. 

4. For a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving. May we be thankful for all the resources and blessings of the earth and strive to preserve them for future generations.

5. For all who are facing the daily struggle to survive. May the Lord guide our world leaders to assist all who do not have the basic necessities for life.  

6. For the sick and the afflicted. May the Holy Spirit relieve their suffering and bring them healing and comfort.

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

Priest: As we put our trust in our faith and in the Lord, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

4 November 2025 - St Charles Borromeo - Homily for Tuesday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time - Romans 12:5-16ab

In the letter to the Romans, St Paul talks about the different gifts we bring to the Church. Some are teachers or administrators, others perform works of charity, while others are called to be prophets. God gives us different gifts to live out our vocation, to our Church community, and to the world. All those different gifts are important and serve different roles. 

St Charles Borromeo might not be very well known to us, but he is also an important missionary and prophet in our Church, following in the footsteps of St Paul. Borromeo lived in the 16th century, the era of the Protestant Reformation, a time when our Church was under great scrutiny and great attack.  He was born into nobility in Milan Italy, being related to the powerful Medici family. When his uncle was elected as Pope Pius IV, Borromeo became the cardinal and administrator of the important Italian Archdiocese of Milan. He was named Bishop of Milan at a very young age.  He was very influential in the Council of Trent, and is well-known for promoting the system of seminaries that we have today to educate our priests.  Charles Borromeo could have lived a life of great luxury and privilege, but he gave much of his wealth to charity, led a very simple life, and took out debts in order to feed the victims of the plague in his city.        

Like Charles Borromeo and St Paul, we are all called to lives of holiness in our own way.  May all of us be able to discern the ways to which God is calling us to live out our lives of faith and to contribute to the Church. 

2 November 2025 - homily for All Souls Day - Wisdom 3:1-9, Romans 6:3-9

This weekend we celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. These two commemorations begin the month of November, the month of remembrance in our Catholic faith. All Saints’ Day is a solemn holy day of our Catholic faith celebrated annually on November 1. It is a day dedicated to all the deceased faithful who have ended their lives here on earth and who have entered heaven, including the saints who are recognized by the church and those who are not. 

Today, we celebrate All Souls’ Day, a significant day in our Catholic tradition. It is a time for us Catholics to remember and pray for our deceased loved ones and family members, as well as for all the faithful departed, including those those souls in purgatory. We Catholics believe that death is not an ultimate separation, as we remain united with our departed loved ones in the communion of saints in heaven. The theological basis for All Souls' Day lies in the belief that some souls, after death, may require a process of purification from their sins in purgatory before they attain the full joy of heaven. Today, on All Souls’ Day, we pray for the souls in purgatory, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the Church triumphant in heaven, the Church militant on earth, and the Church suffering in purgatory. All Souls' Day emphasizes the importance of prayers, Masses, and sacrifices that we can offer for those souls who have ended their journeys here on earth. The Church believes that these acts of charity and prayer help the souls in purgatory on their journey towards eternal bliss. This tradition has historical roots, with evidence of commemorations and sacrifices for the deceased dating back to the early Christian era.

All Souls’ Day reminds us of a distinctive and important Catholic practice, of praying for the dead. We Catholics believe that our prayers really do affect the souls of the dead, helping them in the process of purification in purgatory. One passage from Scripture cited in support of this is in the Old Testament in the second book of Maccabees, in which the Old Testament Priest and general, Judas Maccabeus, “made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” One powerful way to alleviate the burden of souls in purgatory is the offering of the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Many Catholics have Masses said for their deceased ancestors at their local parish. The benefits of almsgiving, fasting, and indulgences can also be applied to the dead, as can any other prayer, such as the praying of the rosary. Indeed, one beautiful Catholic prayer tradition for a deceased loved one is the praying of the rosary before a funeral Mass or at a funeral vigil prayer service. We can offer this prayer for our deceased loved ones as well as we pray the rosary in our daily lives. The act of remembering our loved ones in our prayers and the offering of Mass is a way of honoring them and respecting them as well. 

Our readings on All Souls Day remind us that God’s grace touches our lives in different ways. The Book of Wisdom was written in the first century before Christ’s birth. Our reading today from Wisdom reflects the belief in the afterlife that was developing in the Jewish community of that era. Many people of that day thought that an earthly death meant the end point for that person. Yet, the author of Wisdom states that these souls are still alive in the eternal life that they have in God. They are in the hands of God, where he will take care of them. In the trials and sufferings they went through in their lives on earth, these souls were proved worthy by God’s grace of immortality in the next life with God. In the letter to the Romans, St Paul reaffirms this by asserting that our baptism in Christ unifies us and makes us one in his Body and Blood, making us into new beings who are free from sin, rising to holiness in life. Reflecting the thoughts of the author of Wisdom, St Paul sees the grace of God working in us, bringing us to a newness of life that will live forever, to the immortal destiny we have in Christ. United with the community of saints that we celebrated yesterday on All Saints Day, we pray for the faithful departed today, especially for the souls in purgatory, as we are one with them in our common faith. 

2 November 2025 - prayers of the faithful - All Souls’ Day - Prison ministry

All Souls Day - Introduction: 

Today, we unite our prayers with the universal Catholic Church on All Souls’ Day. We remember all the dead, those in heaven and those still in the process of purification in purgatory. Today, we pray for all souls, for all the faithful departed still on the journey to their heavenly home. 

Priest: Penitential Rite:

1. Lord Jesus - You raise the dead to life in the Spirit, Lord have mercy. 

2. Christ Jesus - You bring pardon and peace to the sinner, Christ have mercy. 

3. Lord, Jesus, You bring light to those in darkness: Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  

Prayers of the faithful: 

Priest:  As we continue our journey to see the face of God, let us ask for help in the struggles we face each day as we present to God in our prayers our needs and the needs of the world:

1.  For all who follow Christ, that their faith in eternal life after death may be strong and resilient. We pray to the Lord.

2. For men and women who have died in war, violence, and acts of terrorism, that the tragedy of their deaths may spur humanity to build a world of peace, healing, and tolerance. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For young people and children who have died; for parents who have endured the loss of a child, that the healing light of Christ may bring them hope, light and peace. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For all who have died tragically in accidents or by suicide, that God who holds dear all he has created may raise them up. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For all our relatives, friends, and loved ones who have gone before us in faith. For the men and women who have died here at CMCF this past year, both from natural causes and in acts of violence. We pray that they may have the fullness of eternal joy. We pray to the Lord.  

6. For the sick and the afflicted of our community. For those in the hospital, hospice, and nursing homes. We pray for those in the infirmary here at CMCF.  Prayers for healing and perseverance. Prayers for their families and their caregivers. We pray to the Lord.  

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

Priest: O God, you are the desire of the nations. Our souls thirst for you. As we seek your divine presence today, we ask that you hear the prayers we make in faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

2 November 2025 - prayers of the faithful - All Souls Day

All Souls Day - Introduction: Today, we unite our prayers with the universal Catholic Church on All Souls Day. We remember all the dead, those in heaven and those still in the process of purification in purgatory. Today we pray for all souls, for all the faithful departed still on the journey to their heavenly home. 

Priest: Penitential Rite:

1. Lord Jesus - You raise the dead to life in the Spirit, Lord have mercy. 

2. Christ Jesus - You bring pardon and peace to the sinner, Christ have mercy. 

3. Lord, Jesus, You bring light to those in darkness: Lord, have mercy. 

Prayers of the faithful: 

Priest:  As we continue our journey to see the face of God, let us ask for help in the struggles we face each day as we present to God in our prayers our needs and the needs of the world:

1.  For all who follow Christ, that their faith in eternal life after death may be strong and resilient. We pray to the Lord.

2. For men and women who have died in war, violence, and acts of terrorism, that the tragedy of their deaths may spur humanity to build a world of peace, healing and tolerance. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For young people and children who have died; for parents who have endured the loss of a child, that the healing light of Christ may bring them hope, light and peace. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For all who have died tragically in accidents or by suicide, that God who holds dear all he has created may raise them up. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For all our relatives, friends, loved ones, and fellow parishioners who have gone before us in faith, particularly those who have died this past year, that they may have the fullness of eternal joy. We pray to the Lord.  

6. For the sick and the afflicted of our community, for those in the hospital, hospice, and nursing homes. Prayers for healing and perseverance. Prayers for their families and their caregivers. We pray to the Lord.  

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

Priest: O God, you are the desire of the nations. Our souls thirst for you. As we seek your divine presence today, we ask that you hear the prayers we make in faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

Bulletin reflection - All Souls’ Day - 2 November 2025

I really love the month of November. I love celebrating the community of saints in a special way during this month and praying for the souls of the faithful departed and for the souls in purgatory. This year, both All Saints Day and All Souls Day fall on the weekend, so we get to celebrate these great feast days in a special way. We will pray for the names that you enroll in our book of remembrance all during the month. And with our women’s retreat beginning with Mass on All Saints Day on November 1, we unite our prayers with Mary and with all the saints on that day. Blessings to you as we celebrate these wonderful liturgies this weekend. Father Lincoln. 

prayers of the faithful - ALL SAINTS DAY - 1 NOVEMBER 2022 - prison ministry

Introduction - November is the month of remembrance. We remember our loved ones and family members who have left their lives on earth and have entered eternal life with God. On All Saints Day, we remember and honor the community of saints, those faithful Christians who have entered eternal life with God and who help us and guide us with their prayers. We unite our prayers today with the entire community of saints. 

Priest: Penitential rite: 

Lord Jesus - you bless the poor in Spirit - Lord have mercy. 

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

Lord Jesus - you call us to justice and peace - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: As we unite our prayers with the prayers of the Blessed Mother and the entire community of saints in our celebration of All Saints Day this evening, we present our prayers to our merciful God:

1. For the Holy Catholic Church, for Pope Leo XIV, our Bishop, and all of our church leaders. For wisdom and clarity of mission as they lead the people of God. We pray to the Lord:

2. For the governmental leaders of the world, that they would promote justice, holiness, and respect for human life, and work together for the good of society. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For our Catholic community here at CMCF. For all the parishes here in the Diocese of Jackson. That we would model our lives after the holy men and women of God in the community of saints. We pray to the Lord.

4. In thanksgiving for the saints of God, for the love and mercy they have shown to the world. For the example of faith they give us. We pray to the Lord.

5. For those who are sick, suffering, or afflicted in any way. May they be comforted with the love of Christ. For healing for all of us in mind, body and spirit. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For all those who have died. That the light of Christ would shine upon them. In a special way, we pray for the souls in the process of purification in purgatory. We pray to the Lord:

7. For our own personal needs and intentions that we now recall in our hearts. For those who have asked for our prayers. We pray to the Lord:

Priest: As we honor the saints in our Mass today, we make these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.  AMEN.  

prayers of the faithful - ALL SAINTS DAY - 1 NOVEMBER 2025

Introduction - November is the month of remembrance. We remember our loved ones, family members, and community members who have left their lives on earth and have entered eternal life with God. On All Saints Day, we remember and honor the community of saints, those faithful Christians who have entered eternal life with God and who help us and guide us with their prayers and intercessions. We unite our prayers today with the entire community of saints. 

Priest: Penitential rite: 

Lord Jesus - you bless the poor in Spirit - Lord have mercy. 

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

Lord Jesus - you call us to justice and peace - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: As we unite our prayers with the prayers of the Blessed Mother and the entire community of saints in our celebration of the feast of All Saints Day this morning, we present our prayers to our merciful God:

1. For the Holy Catholic Church, for Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and all of our church leaders both lay and ordained, for wisdom and clarity of mission as they lead the people of God, we pray to the Lord:

2. For the governmental leaders of the world, that they would promote justice, holiness, and respect for human life, and work together for the good of society, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For our church community here at our parishes of Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception and all parishes in the Diocese of Jackson, that we would model our lives after the holy men and women of God in the community of saints, we pray to the Lord.

4. In thanksgiving for the saints of God, for the love and mercy they have shown to the world, and for the example of faith they give us, we pray to the Lord.

5. For those who are sick or suffering in any way, may they be comforted with the love of Christ. For healing for all of us in mind, body and spirit.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For all those who have died, that the light of Christ would shine upon them. In a special way, we pray for the souls in the process of purification in purgatory, we pray to the Lord:

7. For our own personal needs and intentions that we now recall in our hearts. For those who have asked for our prayers. We pray to the Lord:

Priest: As we honor the saints in our celebration of All Saints Day, we make these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.  AMEN.  

1 November 2025 - homily for All Saints Day - Matthew 5:1-12A

Today we commemorate the great feast of All Saints Day on November 1 as we begin the month of remembrance in the Catholic faith. In the year 609 AD, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the ancient Roman Pantheon to the saints of the Catholic Church, especially to all the martyrs. The Pantheon had been an important pagan Temple in Rome and one of the most important buildings in the ancient world. Pope Boniface IV consecrated this building to the saints on May 13, which became the feast of All Saints. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III transferred this feast to November 1st; it has been celebrated on that date ever since. 

What about the connection between All Saints Day and Halloween, an important celebration in secular America? Like any great feast in the Church, the celebration always begins on the eve or vigil of that feast day, just how we celebrate Christmas Eve the evening before Christmas Day. Halloween, then, is the evening celebration of All Saints Day, which is where we get its name. The name Halloween comes from All Hallows Eve, in which hallows is the Old English term for saints. What we see today in the world with our secular celebration of Halloween is different from the original intent of this holiday, which commonly happens. Churches hosting trunk or treat gathering with their families is a way to tie Halloween back to its religious roots in the Church. 

So what does it mean to be a saint? Normally, we probably think of those people of faith who led lives of extraordinary holiness, who have been canonized or beatified by the Church. We can think of a lot of the famous saints we have in the Church, such as St Jude or St Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa or St Thomas Aquinas.  In today's celebration of All Saints Day, we use the word saint in a much broader sense, referring to all baptized Christians who have died and are now with God in glory in eternal life. Tomorrow, on All Souls Day, we will remember those who have died but still need a process of purification before they can come face-to-face with God in eternal life. 

 Today, our Gospel reading is the Beatitudes from Matthew. As we strive toward holiness, perhaps in an examination of conscience we undertake before going to the sacrament of reconciliation, we usually use the ten commandments as the standard. However, as we hear the Beatitudes today, perhaps we understand how they give us a wonderful guide to living a life of holiness as Christ’s disciples. Perhaps the key to the Beatitudes is being poor in spirit, calling us to humility and openness in the way we receive the kingdom of God in our lives, being open to leading a life of compassion, love, and service to God and to our neighbor. The poor in spirit are open to standing before God with the open hands of a child, to receive what he has to give to us. The poor in spirit realize that their lives are not about power, control, and their own will, but rather following God’s will. God calls us to accept our limitations and our imperfections, to rely on him as the center of our lives. We can think of examples of how we have seen the values of the Beatitudes lived out in the lives of many of the members of the community of saints, such as Mother Teresa humbling herself to be a servant to the poor and the abandoned, even in the midst of her struggles with darkness in her own spiritual life. A saint is that person who is willing to follow the life to which Christ invites him. 

Our celebration of All Saints Day invites us to give thanks, for our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, and our friends who have all gone before us and who have entered eternal life. We look to that day when we will be united with them in God’s eternal kingdom. As we pray for the saints today, may we ask for their prayers on our behalf, that we may live lives of faithfulness and holiness.  

31 October 2025 - St Erc - St Erth - Homily for Friday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 14:1-6

I love learning about the saints. And it is amazing how I learn about new saints all the time, discovering them mainly in my research on the internet and in the books I read. That is very appropriate to say today as we get ready to celebrate All Saints Day tomorrow.  I found out about a saint named St Erc, who lived in the time of St Patrick in the late 5th and early 6th century. He was a Druid who was converted by St Patrick who was appointed as the first Bishop of Slane in Ireland. For a time, Brigit of Kildare was his companion in his missionary travels. Tradition passes down that he was sent to Cornwall in England as a missionary, where he is known as St Erth. Today is the day that his feast day is celebrated in Cornwall, where it is said that he died in 1513. 

We hear of a Pharisee in the Gospel today who criticizes Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath. I think of how the saints we celebrate are often remembered for their simplicity and their tenacity, how they brought the faith to the people in their missionary travels and by their example of how they lived out the faith each day. As we celebrate this Irish saint who lived in the 6th century today, I know that the lives of the missionary were not easy ones, that the day to day reality they face was harsh. We can look for things to criticize about the Church and about our faith. But that is not what our faith calls us to do. May Jesus transform us and change us and help us engage in our faith in the midst of our daily reality.  

Prayers of the faithful - 31 October 2025 - Friday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to take up our crosses and to follow you. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to serve others. 

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

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

1. For all who have helped to strengthen our faith. For parents, teachers, and those who give witness by the fidelity of their lives. That they may continue to be examples of Christian discipleship to all who encounter them. 

2. For our children, youth, and college students. That God will help them learn and help them find the resources they need to assist them as they continue their studies this semester. 

3. For justice and peace in the world. That God will protect all who are experiencing warfare and injustice. 

4. That the Holy Spirt will help us to be better listeners, opening our minds and our hearts to what others have to say and to be attentive to God’s word as it speaks to us.  

5. For healing for all of us in body, mind and spirit.  

6. For the repose of the souls of our deceased loved ones and community members. For their entry into eternal life. For the souls in purgatory. 

7.  For respect life month in the month of October. That we may grow in our respect for human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. 

8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. For those who have asked for our prayers. 

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

Prayers of the faithful - 30 October 2025 - Thursday of the 30th 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 at our daily Mass: 

1. For our Church leaders and our governmental leaders. That God will lead them in guide them in their leadership challenges and in the difficult decisions they have to make. 

2. For all who are recovering from natural disasters. That God will give them strength and renew their hope. 

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

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

5. For the month of world missions. May God kindle a missionary spirit in all of us, allowing us to evangelize our own corner of the world. 

6. For all who are sick and afflicted. May God’s healing love strengthen them, remove their pain, and restore them to wholeness.

7. For our deceased families members, loved ones, and community members. For their entry into eternal life. For the souls in purgatory. 

8. For the prayers we hold in the deep recesses of our hearts. For those who have asked for our prayers. 

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

30 October 2025 - St Alphonsus Rodriguez - homily for Thursday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time - Romans 8:31b-39

St Alphonsus Rodriguez was born in Segovia, Spain in 1532 in a wealthy merchant family. He was prepared for first holy communion by Peter Faber, one of the founders of the Jesuits and a good friend of his father. He studied with the Jesuits in Alcala, Spain, but was forced to return home when his father died and to take over his family’s business. He married and had three children. When his wife and children died, he sold his business and applied to enter the Jesuits. He had very poor health and did not have much of a formal education, so he was accepted as a Jesuit brother, not as a priest. He spent his time in the Jesuits working as a porter at a house of formation. He was overlooked by the Jesuit authorities as insignificant, but he had a great influence on many of the Jesuit students, including Peter Claver, who would later become a great Jesuit missionary and who Rodriguez encouraged to go to South American to serve as a missionary and to minister to the slaves there. He also received visits from many local governmental and community leaders, who would come to him for advice and spiritual direction. His faith was characterized by obedience and penance, and a strong devotion to the Immaculate Conception, centuries before that characteristic of Mary was declared dogma. He wrote many spiritual treaties that was simple yet very profound in their doctrine. He died at the age of 85 and was canonized a saint with Peter Claver in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII.  

We hear a very famous passage from St Paul’s letter to the Romans today, in which Paul states, that no calamity or affliction can separate us from the love of Christ. We let things separate us from Christ sometimes in our weaknesses and in the way we stray from the faith. But in Christ, we can remain strong and not let those things separate us from him. I love learning about the saints. They are one of the things that so strongly connect me to my Catholic faith and to the love of Christ, by their example and their prayers. I had not heard of St Alphonsus Rodriguez before, but just learning about his example of faith, how he overcame so many obstacles and stayed firm in his faith, it certainly inspires me on my journey. May we not let anything separate us from the love of Christ. 

29 October 2025 - homily for Wednesday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 13:22-30

As Jesus travels through the villages and as his ministry expands, he is asked a lot of questions. Today, he is asked if only a few will be saved. We do not know how many will be saved or how God will judge us. Today, Jesus challenges us to enter through the narrow gate, to be true to the values of our faith. 

As we continue on our own journeys of faith, we think about how the Lord can lead us and guide us in life. Many times, we may struggle to discern God’s will for us in our everyday life. Jesus is not with us today in the modern world to answer our questions in his flesh and blood like he did in answer to the questions of the people of Ancient Israel who heard his proclamation of the kingdom first-hand. Back in July of 2019, I spent more than a month praying the Ignition exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola in Spain, listening to God speak to me through a disciplined method of prayer and silence. At first, it was difficult and challenging praying in such an intense disciplined way each day. But, as the days went by, I appreciated that time experiencing God in that form of prayer, especially in the way we reflected upon Sacred Scripture in a very imaginative way.  There is no magic formula as to how to pray to God.  Prayer is a relationship.  Prayer is experiencing God as a reality in our lives.  God may not be with us in flesh and blood in the form of the historical Jesus who lived in Ancient Israel. But God is indeed present to us in so many ways and he communicates with us in our prayers. 

Prayers of the faithful - 29 October 2025 - Wednesday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to be people of prayer. 

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the justice of God’s kingdom. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Priest: We now present our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith and hope on this weekday of ordinary time: 

1. For our Church leaders and our governmental leaders. May they exercise wisdom and prudence in their leadership.  

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

3. For those who hunger for food. For those who hunger for meaning in life. For those who hunger for justice and righteousness. That their hunger may be fulfilled.  

4. For all who live amidst civil unrest, conflict, war, or violence, May God break down these destructive cycles, healing the divisions that exist within the community and protecting the innocent.

5. That God will renew and strengthen all who work to advance the good of society. 

6. For respect life month in the month of October. May we grow in our respect for human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. 

7. For 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: God, of love and compassion, strength us on our journey of faith. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful for the feast of St Simon and St Jude - 28 October 2025

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

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

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

Priest: As we celebrate St Simon and St Jude on their feast day, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For church leaders and world leaders. May they promote justice, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness in the world.

2. For all who have suffered rejection or violence. For those who are search for God or for meaning in their lives. We ask that our wounds be healed and that God give us hope and courage on our journey.

3. For a deeper spirit of gratitude for God’s many gifts. May we recognize in each other all that is truthful, just, honorable, pure, and gracious. 

4. In the tradition of our patron saint, St Jude, we ask for his prayers and intercessions for those seemingly impossible and lost causes that exist in our lives. 

5. We pray for a greater respect for human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. For an end to abortion, the death penalty, and all types of hatred and systemic prejudice. May we learn how to care more deeply for all human life, hear the cries of the poor, the homeless, and the starving.  

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

7. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. 

8. For those prayers we hold in our hearts today. For those who have asked for our prayers. 

Priest: We unite our prayers with the prayers of St Simon and St Jude today and with Mary and the entire community of saints.  We present these prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

28 October 2025 - homily for the feast of St Simon and St Jude - Tuesday - Luke 6:12-16

We celebrate the feast days of all the apostles in special ways at daily Mass. Today, we celebrate the feast of St Simon and St Jude, which takes place on October 28th each year.  As I was writing this homily, I wondered: Why would we celebrate Simon and Jude together? Shouldn’t each one get his own feast day like the other apostles? As best we can tell, they are associated with each other because tradition passes down that they were both missionaries together in Persia and Mesopotamia, with both dying as martyrs in Persia. In Scripture, we don’t know a lot about them, other than that they are included on the list of apostles. In art, Jude is often portrayed with a club, which is how he died. He is also often shown in icons with a flame around his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles. Another common attribute is Jude holding an image of Jesus, known as the Image of Edessa. King Abgar of Edessa (now part of Turkey) was suffering from a serious illness. He had heard of Jesus healing others and called for Jesus to heal him. Jesus pressed His face onto a piece of cloth and gave it to St. Jude to present to King Abgar. Upon receiving the cloth King Abgar was healed. He wears a green garment. The color green symbolizes hope and renewal. Just as in spring when foliage and flowers spring up with renewed life, we turn to St. Jude, the patron saint of hope, in difficult or seemingly hopeless times. Simon is portrayed with a saw, the instrument of his martyrdom. 

Tradition holds that Simon was a member of the Zealots, a group in Ancient Israel that was very nationalistic. The Zealots hoped that the Messiah would come to liberate them from the foreign powers that had occupied Ancient Israel, to bring Israel back to military and political glory.   The Basilica of St Peter in Rome and the Church of St Sernin in Toulouse, France both claim to have the remains of Simon and Jude, so we are not entirely sure where they are buried. We may not know a lot of details about a lot of the apostles, but we do know that the Catholic faith we have today was passed down by them through their sacrifices and their faith.  

As we hear in the Gospel today of the 12 apostles whom Jesus called by name, we know that they were not the richest, not the most intelligent, not the most politically connected. The apostles were men who had great flaws and weaknesses.  

I grew in my appreciation of St Jude when I was pastor of St Jude parish in Pearl for five years. Also, I have seen the devotion many of my parishioners have to St Jude. I had a special mass dedicated to St Jude in each year with the Hispanic community in Tupelo. One of the inmates at the state prison is very devoted to St Jude as well. We unite our prayers with the prayers of St Simon and St Jude today.