26 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thanksgiving Day Mass

Introduction: As we gather for Mass on Thanksgiving Day, let us recall all that we are thankful for. Let us bring to our minds the specific times when we have felt the presence of God who has gifted us with life and love, with mercy and salvation, and with goodness beyond our imagination. 

Penitential Rite:

Lord Jesus - you call us to have joyful and grateful hearts. 
Christ Jesus - you join us to give thanks to our Heavenly Father. 
Lord Jesus - you bring us new life - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: With grateful hearts and with confidence in God’s care and mercy, we place our prayers before him this Thanksgiving day: 

1. In gratitude for God’s loving care, we pray that God will guide Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all Church leaders. We pray to the Lord.

2. We pray for our nation and our state of Mississippi. We pray God’s help for our president, our governor, and all our national, state, and local elected officials. We pray to the Lord.

3. We pray for our family, friends, and loved ones. For God’s blessings for those most in need of his assistance at this time. We pray to the Lord.
4. In gratitude for the gifts of health and material blessings. We pray for those who do not have these gifts, that God may aid them and that we might mutually support one another. We pray to the Lord.

5. For the faithful departed and for our loved ones and family members who have gone before us, that God may grant them entrance to eternal life. For those names inscribed in our book of remembrance. We pray to the Lord.


6. In gratitude for those who keep us safe: our first responders, the men and women in the military, and our medical professionals, especially those who are not able to spend Thanksgiving with their families. We pray to the Lord.

7. In the silence of our hearts, we present our personal prayer petitions this morning. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: Hear our prayers, loving Father, on this Thanksgiving Day. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever. Amen. 

13 November 2026 - Mother Cabrini - homily for Friday of the 32nd week of Ordinary time - 2 John 4-9

The saint we celebrate today is St Francis Xavier Cabrini. Born in 1850 in the kingdom of Lombardy, which was then part of Austro-Hungarian empire, she was the youngest of 13 children, but only 5 of them lived passed adolescence. She was born 2 months premature, and thus had frail and delicate health her entire life. She became a teacher at the age of 18, being very successful and valued at that vocation. After being rejected twice from being a sister in two religious orders, she was accepted by the Sisters of Providence. At her vows at becoming a sister, she added the name Xavier, in honor of the Jesuit priest Frances Xavier, the patron saint of missionaries. In 1880, the orphanage where she taught closed. She approached the Bishop of the diocese about becoming a missionary, with him advising her to start her own missionary order. With some of the former sisters of her past congregation, she formed a new order: the Salesian Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, an order established to care for poor children in schools and hospitals.  Pope Leo XIII asked her to come to the United States with 6 other nuns from her order to work among the Italian immigrants. She received approval from Archbishop Corrigan of New York to work there in 1889. She did much work with the immigrant population in the US, founding school, hospitals, and orphanages.She became a US citizen in 1909.  She died in Chicago in 1917. The Cambrini-Green public housing project in downtown Chicago was named after her.  She was canonized a saint in 1946, the first American citizen to receive such an honor. She is the patron saint of immigrants. 

In our first reading today, we hear from the very short second letter of John. John takes great joy that the community is living out the Gospel message. As always, living out the Gospel is not done in the abstract, but rather in the relationship we have with Christ as his disciples. John calls them to live in both Christ’s love and in obeying God’s commandments. The two must always complement one another. The New Testament letters that we have been hearing from in our first readings in daily Mass always give us great advice. God’s word can give us strength and encouragement on our journey. 

24 November 2026 - homily for Tuesday of the 34th week in Ordinary time - Psalm 96

In 1988, Pope John Paul II dedicated this day in November to more than 100,000 Vietnamese martyrs, both named and unnamed. These martyrs lived over the course of many centuries. The first Vietnamese martyrs were Spanish missionaries who arrived in 1580. The Christians were viewed as foreigner invaders and were subject or persecution, torture, and death. Bishops, priests, and lay people are included in this group. St Andrew Dun-Lac was a Vietnamese priest who was born in 1795. After being baptized in the city of Hanoi, where he was trained by a catechist, he decided to become a catechist himself and then was eventually sent to seminary and was ordained as a priest in 1823. In 1832, the emperor expelled all foreign priests from the land and ordered all Christians in the country to renounce their faith. The teaching of Christianity was declared to be against the law. Andrew Dun-Lac was killed after his arrest in 1839. These Vietnamese martyrs stand as a powerful witness of the Catholic faith. 

The psalm today speaks about heaven and earth rejoicing in gladness in being a part of creation and in recognizing the Lord as king, about how the Lord will rule in justice. We know, unfortunately, that we human beings often fail in justice. People of faith are often persecuted or treated unfairly. The vulnerable are often not treated with respect. The witness of the martyrs show the sacrifices men and women have made for the faith throughout history. May we be instruments of God’s justice and peace to those around us. 

25 November 2026 - homily for Wednesday of the 34th Sunday of Ordinary Time - St Catherine of Alexandria - Luke 21:12-19

Today, we celebrate the feast day of St Catherine of Alexandria. A martyr in the era right before Constantine embraced Christianity, St Catherine of Alexandria died for the faith around the year 305 AD, when she was still a teenager. She was greatly honored and admired by Medieval Christians. Pope John Paul II restored her feast day to the status of memorial in our liturgical calendar in 2002. She was born in Alexandria, Egypt, an important center of learning and education in the ancient world.  Catherine was highly educated and came from a noble pagan family.   Tradition holds that Catherine was converted to Christianity through a vision she had of the Virgin Mary and the child Jesus, inspiring her to dedicate her life as a virgin and to reject a marriage proposal that she received.  Tradition also holds that Catherine came before the Emperor Maxentius during a time of brutal repression of Christians. She successfully defended the faith before a group of pagan philosophers and refused to renounce Christ. She also refused to become the emperor’s mistress. She was beheaded after brutal torture. More than 1,000 years after her death, Catherine would appear in a vision to the young French maid Joan of Arc, urging her to take up arms in defense of France. Joan of Arc would also die a martyr for the faith and become a beloved saint just like St Catherine of Alexandria. In our modern era when Christianity is facing hostility and persecution, when we are having to defend ourselves from different kinds of attacks, Catherine’s example of faith speaks to us very profoundly today.  

As we hear Catherine’s witness of faith today, we hear Jesus in the Gospels tell his followers that they will be seized and persecuted, handed over to synagogues and prisons, led before governors and kings, and will be called to give testimony of the their faith. Jesus tells them that he will accompany them in their persecution, giving them courage, and helping them with the words they need to say to defend themselves.  Sometimes we are called to suffer and to make sacrifices for our faith. Let us pray that we may have the courage to be true to our faith, no matter the cost.

7 November 2026 - homily for Saturday of the 31st week of Ordinary time - Philippians 4:10-19

Writing from prison, expresses his gratitude to the Philippians, thanking them for the financial gift that they sent him. Yet, he very clearly explains that his happiness does not depend on his financial well-being and his comfort, as he has learned to survive in times of poverty and in times of abundance. St Paul writes that he receives his strength from God, with God’s grace empowering him to me patient and faithful no matter what he is going through. Paul sees the generosity of the Philippians as an act of worshipping God that helps them on their journey of faith. 

Recently, in an address to Catholic educators, Pope Leo expressed his opinion that is so important for us to encourage our children and youth to reach out the poor and the vulnerable, to grow in their sense of charity. Our faith is often reflected more in our actions than in our words. 

As we celebrate the anointing of the sick, we pray for healing and wholeness for all of us in body, mind, and spirit. We pray for the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable in our families, in our community, and in society.  

25 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 34th week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope.

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

Lord Jesus - you bring us God’s word.

Priest: Let us turn to God our Father in confidence in our prayers. 

1.  For the Church and for all our Church leaders. May Christ’s faithful people commit themselves to bringing his light to the world. 

2. For all those who serve us in the government. May they always strive to protect the dignity of human life. 

3. For the healing of the nations. May all people learn to live in peace and endeavor to bring an end to war, violence, and terrorism. 

4. For all who are starved of hope, especially the world’s poor and those living on the margins. 

5. For our parish community. May we always be ready to hear God’s word and do God’s will. 

6. For the sick, the suffering, and the housebound. May they know the healing touch of God’s love. 

7. For those who have died. May they enjoy their eternal reward with Christ in heaven. We pray for those names inscribed in our book of remembrance. 

Priest: Heavenly Father, you know each one of us and all our needs. Forgive our failings, keep us in your peace and lead us in the way of salvation. We ask this through Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

24 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time

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

Christ Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Priest: Jesus prayed that we may all be one. As we present our prayers to God today, may we pray for unity among all Christians:

1. For the Church founded upon the apostles.  May she always

gather people in unity and truth. 

2. For the leaders of the nations. May they may be inspired by Christian

principles and lead all people to unity and peace. 

3. For unity amongst Christians from various traditions. May we come together in a spirit of acceptance and love. 

4. For the faithful departed. For their entry into eternal life. For those names inscribed in our book of remembrance. 

5. For our children, youth, and college students. May they always feel God’s presence accompanying them on their journey. 

6. For the sick and the afflicted. For those struggling with anxiety, depression, and mental health issues. 

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

Priest: In confidence, we present our prayers today through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

Bulletin reflection - solemnity of Christ the King - 22 November 2026

It is hard to believe we are at the end of the liturgical year, with our celebration of Thanksgiving and the Advent season quickly approaching. This time of the year is so busy for us, but it is good for us to look inside of ourselves and at our journey of faith, so think about our Advent promises that we are going to make next weekend and the steps that we are going to take in order to prepare for the coming of the Lord. I always love this time of the year. It is busy for us, but there is such a richness to this time of year in the liturgical calendar. Blessings to all of you. Father Lincoln. 

22 November 2026 - homily for the solemnity of Christ the King - Psalm 23 — Matthew 25:31-46

This weekend, as we head into Thanksgiving week, we celebrate the solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, honoring his supreme authority over all God’s creation. Pope Pius XI first established this celebration in 1925 in a world that was seeing increasing secularism, atheism, and dictatorship governments forming around that tried to push religions to the sidelines. When first established, this feast day was celebrated on the last Sunday in October, but Pope Paul VI moved it in 1969 to the last Sunday in the liturgical year right before the beginning of Advent. 

We have seen different world leaders and different empires come and go, but the kingdom of Christ that we celebrate at Mass today is eternal. We are called to surrender us to Christ and his rule. Our practice of our faith is not just to be on certain occasions, such as when we go to Mass each weekend. Our public life and private devotions are all to the be reflections of our faith life and our life of discipleship, aligned to the values of Christ’s kingdom. 

Commenting on today’s feast day, Pope Francis stated that often, the kingdoms of this world are characterized by rivalries, arrogance, and oppression, very different from Christ’s kingdom of justice, peace, and love of God and love of neighbor. When the world thinks of power, it often thinks of vengeance and military might. When we think of power in the context of our Christian faith, we are to think about the power of the cross and the strength of Christ’s love for us. That love is always stedfast and complete, even when faced with rejection. Christ’s love is the fulfillment of his life of complete surrender for the benefit of humanity and of our salvation. 

Pope Benedict XVI comments about Christ the king build upon the words of Pope Francis. He sees with power of Christ as being very different from the power of our earthly kings and governmental leaders and the powerful leaders of commerce and industry. Christ’s power is the divine power to give us eternal life, to liberate us from sin and the forces of evil in the world, and to defeat the domain of death. The power of Christ can draw good from evil and can liberate us from anger and hardness of heart. The power of Christ can bring peace to the harshest of conflicts and can be a light shining in the midst of so much despair and darkness. Yet, the Kingdom of Grace is never imposed upon us. Christ’s kingdom invites us in and always respects our human freedom. 

When I think of all of you men here at CMCF, I think of how it is so easy to get caught up in anger and sarcasm, to be in denial of the love of Christ’s kingdom that is being offered to us. It is easy to feel separated from Christ’s kingdom within this world of CMCF. Thus, it is important to make the decision to open our hearts to Christ’s kingdom, and I know that this might seem like an impossibility some days. It is easy to get complacent. In the free world, it can play out in the same way. If we separate ourselves from God’s kingdom and from a life of prayer and the values of our faith, all those things can seem far away and our lives then go in a different direction far away from Christ’s kingdom. It is a choice I have to make each day, even as a priest, to be in the world of Christ’s kingdom. It is a choice that all of us have to make. 

Our readings on Christ the King today, focus on the image of the Good Shepherd, both in the 23rd psalm, and in the Gospel, where Jesus will separate his flock into the sheep and the goats. And Christ the King and Christ the Good Shepherd will separate his flock based on how we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, gave drink to the thirsty, and visited the sick and the prisoner. We can think of our own needs here in CMCF, but how our we reaching out to our neighbor and those who are needier than we are? Christ the King will open our hearts and will help us be true disciples, he will help us to live out the values of his kingdom, but we too have to make the effort, even when it seems impossible at times. 

Let us pray these words to Christ our King: Christ Jesus, I acknowledge you to be the King of the universe. All that has been made is created for you. Exercise over me all your sovereign rights. I renew today the promises of my baptism, as I renounce Satan and all his works and his empty promises. I therefore engage myself to lead henceforth a truly Christian life. In an especial manner, I undertake to bring about the triumph of the rights of God and his Church to the best of my abilities. Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer you my humble actions to obtain the acknowledgment by every heart of your sacred kingly power. May the kingdom of your peace be firmly established throughout all the earth. In the name of the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

22 November 2026 - Prayers of the Faithful for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe prison ministry

Lord Jesus: You are the lamb of God. 

Christ Jesus: You are the beloved son of the Father. 

Lord Jesus: You are our savior and our king. 

Priest: As we celebrate Christ the King on the last weekend of our liturgical year, we present our prayer with faith and hope: 

1. That the holy Church of God be an effective sign of Christ’s kingdom. May clergy and lay leaders in the Church serve with the humble love of the Good Shepherd. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That those who govern the nations of the world and hold political power reject the lure of domination and instead following Christ’s example, ruling with justice, mercy, and service to the vulnerable. We pray to the Lord.

3. For the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, the imprisoned, and the forgotten. May they experience the consolation and practical care of Christ the King through our words and our actions. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For our local Catholic community of Christ the King. As the liturgical year draws to a close, may we renew our allegiance and loyalty to Christ and allow him to reign in our minds, our homes, and our daily actions. We pray to the Lord.

5. For the prayer intention of Pope Leo XIV for the month of November. For the proper use of wealth. That not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, wealth may always be put at the service of the common good and solidarity with those who have less. We pray to the Lord.

6. For those who have died recently and for all the faithful departed. May they be welcomed into the eternal glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. May we unite our prayers with the prayers of Mary and the community of saints. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: Heavenly Father, you rule your people with love and compassion. Hear the prayers we bring before you today that we make through Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

22 November 2026 - Prayers of the Faithful for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe


Introduction: This weekend, we commemorate the end of the liturgical year with the celebration of Christ the King. Although many earthly kings and earthly kingdoms have come and gone, Jesus as the King of the Universe reigns in glory for all eternity. We celebrate this great solemnity today as we start a new liturgical year next weekend with the beginning of the holy season of Advent. 

Lord Jesus: You are the lamb of God. 

Christ Jesus: You are the beloved son of the Father. 

Lord Jesus: You are our savior and our king. 

Priest: As we celebrate Christ the King on the last weekend of our liturgical year, we present our prayer with faith and hope: 

1. That the holy Church of God be an effective sign of Christ’s kingdom. May clergy and lay leaders in the Church serve with the humble love of the Good Shepherd. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That those who govern the nations of the world and hold political power reject the lure of domination and instead following Christ’s example, ruling with justice, mercy, and service to the vulnerable. We pray to the Lord.

3. For the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, the imprisoned, and the forgotten. May they experience the consolation and practical care of Christ the King through our words and our actions. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For our local parish community. As the liturgical year draws to a close, may we renew our allegiance and loyalty to Christ and allow him to reign in our minds, our homes, and our daily actions. We pray to the Lord.

5. For the prayer intention of Pope Leo XIV for the month of November. For the proper use of wealth. That not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, wealth may always be put at the service of the common good and solidarity with those who have less. We pray to the Lord.

6. For those who have died recently and for all the faithful departed. May they be welcomed into the eternal glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for those names inscribed in the book of remembrance. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. May we unite our prayers with the prayers of Mary and the community of saints. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: Heavenly Father, you rule your people with love and compassion. Hear the prayers we bring before you today that we make through Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

20 November 2026 - homily for Friday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - Revelation 10:8-11

We have been hearing from the book of Revelation this week in our first readings at daily Mass. Today, the reading from Revelation is very interesting. Several times in Sacred Scripture, prophets are told to eat pages of God’s Holy Word.  This happens to the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah. Today, in Revelation, John is told to take the scroll that is in the hand of the angel and to eat it. Asking these men to actually eat the pages of God’s word is symbolic of how the word is to become a part of our entire being. Rather than remaining on the surface of our lives, the word of God is to enter our lives, we are to chew on it and digest it, to be strengthened by it and nourished by it.  Only then can we become evangelizers of God’s word and to transmit that word to others. By eating God’s word in the book of Revelation, John acquired a greater understanding of the word. May God’s word always be at the center of our lives. May it be an integral part of our entire being. 

Prayer intention of Pope Leo XIV for November 2026

 

20 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you are the Lamb of God. 

Christ Jesus - you will come again in the end times. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the hope of our faith. 

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

1. For the grace to be able to listen to God as he speaks to us in the ordinary moments of our lives. . 

2. That our Church leaders. May they lead us in justice and peace. 

3. That our governmental leaders may grow in insight and wisdom. 

4. For all who feel overwhelmed, confused, or misdirected. May they be enlightened and strengthened on their journey. 

5. For peace among nations. For reconciliation in the midst of anger and division. 

6. For the sick, the addicted, the dying, the grieving, and the depressed. For healing and wholeness. 

7. For the names we remember during the month of remembrance. For the repose of the soul of all the faithful departed. We lift them up to God’s mercy. 

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

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

19 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 33rd week in Ordinary time

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

Christ Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Priest: With hearts united in prayer and hope, we come before our loving Father with our needs:

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz and all our Church leaders. May they continue to guide us to God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

2. For those in the medical profession, our first responders, those in public safety, our veterans, and the men and women in the military.  That God will work through them to impart healing and strength to all who seek their assistance. 

3. For the poor and the suffering. That we may open our hearts to hear their cries and to respond as God wills us. 

4. That all married couples may grow in true love, witnessing to God's intimate presence in their lives. 

5. For the sick and the afflicted. That God’s healing love may renew and strengthen them.                                                                                  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed during this month of remembrance. For the names inscribed in our book of remembrance. 

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

Priest: Gracious God, we ask that you hear the prayers we offer in humility and hope. In your infinite wisdom, grant them according to your will. We ask this through your son, Christ our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

19 November 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time - St Mechtild of Hackeborn - Luke 19:41-44

St Mechtild of Hackeborn was a sister in a Benedictine convent in Saxony, Germany in the late 13th century, entering there at the age of 7. She had her first mystical vision at the time she received first holy communion, when Christ appeared to her and left what felt like an imprint on her heart. She was devoted to the human nature of Christ, seeing the human side of Christ as the door through which humanity entered, forming a union with the divine nature of Christ. She received many mystical visions throughout her lifetime. She had a great devotion to the Eucharist, with Christ revealing to her in a vision that the Eucharist is the primary way he nourishes  our souls, and that receiving holy communion with faith allows a mystical entry into heart. She was an important leader in her Benedictine community. She was seen in the convent and in the community as a great prophet, teacher, and counselor. This convent produced two other great mystics in this same era: St Mechtild of Magdeburg and St Gertrude the Great. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus approaches the holy city of Jerusalem for the last time during his public ministry on earth, during which he is overcome with emotion. He weeps for his city and for his people, knowing in his heart that destruction and calamity will befall them soon. Jesus knew that the Jews of Ancient Israel struggled throughout their history to follow God, to be true to God’s commandments and laws, and  to honor their covenant with him. For the many times that they strayed, the Jews were often recalcitrant and willfully disobedient. Perhaps on our own faith journey through life, we may struggle with the same things that the Jews did in Ancient Israel. We pray that we may be true to our faith in our word and in our actions and in the ordinary moments of our days. 

 

18 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you bring us the love of your Father. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to faithfulness. 

Lord Jesus - you are the fulfillment of God’s laws and commandments.  

Priest: In the humility of our faith, we present our prayers to our loving God: 

1. That we in the Church to others. through the witness of our lives and our faith. 

2. For the grace of discernment. May we understand the signs of the times and may we recognize God’s presence, action, and invitation in the midst of our daily reality. 

3. In the challenges we face, we may remain confident that God. May we place our trust and hope in him. 

4. For all who are facing crisis, loss, or grief. That the Spirit of God will guide them and comfort them. 

5. For our children, youth, and college students. That the Lord will continue to guide them and accompany them on their journey. 

6. For the grace of forgiveness. That we may be open to God’s unending forgiveness and share that spirit of forgiveness with others. 

7. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed whom we remember in a special way during November. For the names inscribed in our book of remembrance.  

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

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

17 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you teach us how to pray. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Priest: With hearts united in hope, we now come before our gracious and loving Father with our needs and the needs of the world: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz and all our Church leaders. May they continue to guide us to the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

2. For those work in  health and public safety: that God will work through them in their service. 

3. For the poor, the suffering, and the afflicted. That we may open our hearts to hear their cries and respond through our ministry and our works of charity. 

4. That all married couples may grow in true love. May they be a witness to the world of God's intimate presence in their lives. 

5. For all who are sick: that God’s healing love may renew and strengthen them. For healing in body, mind, and spirit.                                                                                  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed during this month of remembrance. For the names inscribed in our book of remembrance. 

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

Priest: Gracious God, we ask that you hear these prayers offered in humility and hope.  In your infinite wisdom, grant them according to your will. We ask this through you son, Christ our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

15 de noviembre de 2026 - las oraciones de los fieles por el XXIII domingo del tiempo ordinario

SACERDOTE: Unidos alrededor de Jesucristo, presentemos al Padre nuestra oración diciendo: \

1.- Por la Iglesia. Que sepamos transmitir a todo el mundo el tesoro del amor de Dios que hemos descubierto en Jesucristo. OREMOS.

2.- Por los jóvenes. Que en su búsqueda de felicidad encuentren a Jesucristo y se enamoren de Él. OREMOS.

3.- Por los abuelos y los mayores. Que siempre sean tenidos en cuenta por su experiencia y sabiduría y no tengan que experimentar el abandono y la soledad. OREMOS.

4.- Por nuestra sociedad. Que aumenten en ella los compromisos en favor de la justicia, de la protección de los más débiles, de la igualdad… y se haga real y visible el Reino de Dios. OREMOS.

5.- Por la paz del mundo. Por todos los países, por sus gobernantes y por sus ciudadanos, particularmente por los que sufren el drama de la guerra, de la pobreza y del hambre. OREMOS.

6.- Por los navegantes, por quienes están de viaje. Por las personas que están en las cárceles. OREMOS.

7.- Por los que disfrutan las vacaciones. Que sean espacios de encuentro con Dios y los demás. Oremos.

8.- Por nosotros. Que aprendamos a encontrar los tesoros de Dios que se esconden a nuestro alrededor. OREMOS.

SACERDOTE: Escucha, Padre, la oración de tu pueblo y bendice al mundo entero con tu amor. Por Jesucristo, nuestro Señor. AMEN. 

18 November 2028 - homily for Wednesday of the 33rd week of ordinary time - Revelation 4:1-11

This week, our first readings in the daily Masses come from the book of Revelation. The Catholic Church sees this book in the New Testament from a symbolic and historical point of view, rather than to see it as a prediction of things that will happen in the future or a literal step-by-step timeline of the end of the world. In its historical context, this book was written around the year 95 AD to offer hope and encouragement to the Christians of that era who were facing persecution in the practice of their faith. 

I want to focus on the four living creatures who are centered around God’s throne in the vision in Revelation today. The first creature resembled a lion, the second an ox, the third had the face like a man, and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight. In some interpretations, these creatures are seen as the summit of God’s creation — the lion being the king of beasts, the ox representing the animals that were sacrificed to God, the eagle being the lord of the air, and the human person, the summit of God’s creation. Writing in the second century, St Irenaeus saw these four creatures as representing the four Gospel writers. Mark represents the lion, as he begins his Gospel with Jesus’ royal proclamation as the Son of David and son of God. Luke represent the ox, because the ox was present at Jesus’ birth, as presented in his nativity narrative. John represent the eagle, because of the advance form of theology that is present in his Gospel.  Matthew represents the man with the face of an angel, because of his focus on Jesus as the Son of Man and presence of the angels in his Gospel. 

It is interesting for us to reflect on the readings in Scripture not just from our own personal perspective, but from the perspective of the community and the Church, and the historical perceptive as well. 

17 November 2026 - Elizabeth of Hungary - Tuesday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - Revelation 3:1-6.14-22 - Luke 19:1-10

Over the years I have served as a pries, I have had parishioners tell me that they did not learn a lot about specific saints while growing up Catholic, even those who went to Catholic school. That surprises me, because I so enjoy learning about the saints and there is so much we can learn from them.  Today, we commemorate St Elizabeth of Hungary.  Born in Hungary in the year 1207 to a noble family, she was betrothed to a young prince in Germany at a young age. She had a loving relationship with her husband, but his family resented her piety and her love for the poor. At one point, she and her husband opened up the royal granaries to the hungry in a time of famine. Her young husband Ludwig died at a young age while traveling to the Crusades. Her husband’s family thrust Elizabeth and her young children out of the royal household. She lived a holy humble life, living in a small cottage and working to support her children. She was admired by many for her holiness, her charity, and her example of faith.  Even the rich families who once scorned her grew to admire her faith and charity.  She died at the young age of 24 and was canonized only 4 years later by Pope Gregory IX. Elizabeth of Hungary exemplifies the values of stewardship and charity to which we are all called as disciples of Christ.  All of us are to use our talents, our gifts, our time, our treasures, and our interests in service to God and to his people. This can manifest itself in different forms. 

Our readings today from the book of Revelation and from the Gospel of Luke point us to the heart of Jesus ministry and Gospel message. We hear at the end of the reading from Revelation: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house.” Then we hear in the Gospel after Jesus’ interaction with Zaccheus: “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house.”  These words reflect Jesus’ desire to bring us his mercy and his salvation, to have us enter eternal life with him and with God the Father. He is always knocking at our door and wants us to enter a life of discipleship with him. In turn, we are to share that life of faith with others and to bring that joy of our faith to the world, to invite and to welcome just as Jesus does with us. 

15 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time cycle A - prison ministry

Lord Jesus - you call us to be prepared and ready at all times. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to have respect and reverence for God the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory. 

Priest: United around Jesus Christ, let us present our prayers to God the Father in faith and trust: 

1.- That we in the Church may learn how to share with the whole world the treasure of God's love that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray to the Lord. 

2.- For our children and our families. May Christ be their happiness and their joy. We pray to the Lord. 

3.- For grandparents and for the elderly. May they always be valued for their experience and wisdom. May they never have to experience abandonment or loneliness. We pray to the Lord. 

4.- For our society. May our commitment to justice and the protection of the vulnerable grow within our communities. May the Kingdom of God become real and visible for us. We pray to the Lord. 

5.- For world peace. For all nations, their leaders, and their citizens, especially those suffering the tragedy of war, poverty, or hunger. We pray to the Lord. 

6.- May our families always feel our love and our prayers reaching out to them. We pray to the Lord. 

7.  May all Christians learn to find the treasures of God hidden all around us in the reality of life. We pray to the Lord. 

8. In November, the month of remembrance, we pray for our deceased loved ones and family members, for their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your people and bless the world with your love. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

15 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time cycle A

Introduction: On this 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, we continue to observe November as the month of remembrance, lifting up our prayers for our deceased community members and loved ones. As we get close to the end of the liturgical year, we hear readings about being prepared for when Jesus will come again. May our words and actions reflect the call to always be ready. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to be prepared and ready at all times. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to have respect and reverence for God the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory. 

Priest: United around Jesus Christ, let us present our prayers to God the Father in faith and trust: 

1.- That we in the Church may learn how to share with the whole world the treasure of God's love that we have discovered in our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray to the Lord. 

2.- For our youth and our young adults. May they find Jesus Christ in their search for happiness. We pray to the Lord. 

3.- For grandparents and for the elderly. May they always be valued for their experience and wisdom. May they never have to experience abandonment or loneliness. We pray to the Lord. 

4.- For our society. May our commitments to justice and the protection of the vulnerable grow within our communities. May the Kingdom of God become real and visible. We pray to the Lord. 

5.- For world peace. For all nations, their leaders, and their citizens, especially those suffering the tragedy of war, poverty, or hunger. We pray to the Lord. 

6.- For seafarers and those who are traveling. For safety and protection. We pray to the Lord. 

7.  May all Christians learn to find the treasures of God hidden all around us in the reality of life. We pray to the Lord. 

8. In November, the month of remembrance, we pray for those names inscribed in the book of remembrance. We pray for all the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your people and bless the world with your love. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

30 October 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 30th week in ordinary time prison ministry

Lord Jesus - you heal the sick. 

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Lord Jesus - you are our Lord and savior. 

Priest: Let us open our hearts to God’s healing presence as we present our prayers this evening: 

1. That we may recognize that nothing can separate us from the Love of God. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That we may graciously and freely share our gifts and blessings with others, even when we are tired and when it is inconvenient for us. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For those in classes to become a member of our Catholic community. For visitors to our Mass this evening. May they find welcome and a spirit of God’s love with us. We pray to the Lord.  

4. For all who are hungry for meaning. For those who go to bed hungry with a physical hunger. For those who have a spiritual hunger. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That the Lord give us wisdom and insight. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For those who are in classes here at CMCF. For those who are graduating from the BMU this week. May God’s blessings be upon them. We pray to the Lord. 

7. That all of us would live out in the Gospel message in the ordinary moments of our day. May all of us have respect for our neighbor. We pray to the Lord. 

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

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

15 November 2026 - Bulletin reflection - 33rd Sunday of ordinary time

As we get close to the end of the liturgical year, Thanksgiving, Advent, and the holiday season are just around the corner. I just got back from a retreat and conference in St Louis, and after Thanksgiving, will attend a meeting of chancery office official from the Dioceses in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana in Baton Rouge. We all are busy this time of the year, but our faith calls out to us in the midst of our busy schedules to think about where we are in our relationship with our Savior. We also send our best wishes to our friends the Carmelite sisters this weekend as they celebrate 75 years in our Diocese with a special Mass on Saturday morning, November 14. Have a blessed week everyone. Father Lincoln. 

15 November 2026 - 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time CYCLE A - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 - Psalm 128

As we get close to the end of our Church’s liturgical year, our liturgy for this 33rd Sunday in Ordinary time focuses on the end times, when Christ will come again. We are called to be vigilant and to be ready at all times. 

 The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  People will say “peace and security,” but suddenly, disaster will come.  But, the people will not escape. St Paul wrote these words to the Christian community he founded in the busy Greek seaport of Thessalonica. The members of that Christian community were Gentiles, converts from pagan religions. They put aside the other messages that were calling out to them in the world in order to follow the Way of Jesus. St Paul had to leave that community abruptly, but he remained concerned for their welfare. He encouraged them in his letter in the midst of their trials, struggles, and persecutions. The Thessalonians wondered since the years were passing by since Jesus’ death and resurrection if his return would ever come. St Paul told them that Christ’s second Coming would arrive at an unannounced time, but that the day would indeed come, so they needed to be ready at all times.

In the psalm today, we hear the refrain proclaimed: Blessed are those who fear the Lord. In our Catholic faith, just as in the Jewish faith, fear does not mean being afraid of God or having a sense of terror against him. Rather, it is a sense of reverence toward God, to worship him in awe and wonder. We are to avoid sin and temptation and to not become too overly attached to the created things of this world, making them idols, out of love and reverence for God. Out of this awe and reverence, we are to grow in our profound respect for the majesty of God, to see him as the Supreme being and to see ourselves as his creation. We are to surrender to God and to be dependent on him, to never want to be separated from God and his love. 

To be ready at all times and to have a reverence for God, these are not just ideas, but something we are called to do in our daily lives. It is just like when we had our ACTS retreat for women several weeks ago or when I went on a workshop and retreat last week or when the youth go to a convention. It is great that we have a wonderful time at those events and have a mountaintop experience, but when we come down the mountain, how do we incorporate the spirit of those experiences into daily life? 

The answer to this question can be found in some words spoken by Pope Leo. On October 22, he spoke at an international congress for Pastoral Care in Schools and Universities at the Vatican. What he said can apply to all of our journeys of faith, not just in the context of Catholic schools. He said that we must nurture the hearts and minds of our students, to emphasize active service, education, and the spiritual life. Our schools should be welcoming homes for their students, just as parishes should be welcoming homes for all Catholics. Pope Leo stated that our faith formation needs to help us “experience the beauty of an encounter with Christ, and the fruitfulness of the synergy between faith and reason, between the knowledge of the faith and other forms of knowledge.” He also stated that charity and prayer are inseparable. 

Another thing that struck me in Pope Leo’s comments: He said that service to others and helping the poor are essential parts of our life of discipleship and essential in expanding the capacity to care in our children and our youth. Service to the poor and to our neighbor should not been seen as an extracurricular activity, but as an important part of who we are. When I ask parishioners to donate hygiene items to the inmates or to make a tray of sandwiches and cookies for them, it is a part of our Catholic prison ministry that includes a couple of Masses and a couple of word and communion services a week, ministerial visits to sick inmates and to the inmates in the behavioral modification unit, a Knights of Columbus group for inmates, a gardening program, an OCIA program, small prayer groups, and many other things. When someone helps out in the prison ministry, it is part of this entire plan of ministry, not just one isolated action. And I could not do this ministry alone without so many different people helping in many different ways. 

You hear me as a priest state at the end of Mass, “Go forth and live the Gospel.”  How do we do that? How do we go into the world and live the values of our faith? How are we preparing to be ready for Jesus when he comes again? We must strive for a balanced life of faith in order to be ready. 

13 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for 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 bring us God’s love. 

Priest: God’s love encourages us and brings us new life. Let us now present our prayers before our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, 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 at our parish. May all our children, youth, and adults be active in learning more about their faith. For our Search evangelization program. 

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. May God break the 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 2026 - prayers of the faithful for 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 bring us God’s love. 

Priest: God’s love encourages us and brings us new life. Let us now present our prayers before our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, 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 at our parish. May all our children, youth, and adults be active in learning more about their faith. For our Search evangelization program. 

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. May God break the 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.  

12 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time

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

1. That we in the Church may take up our crosses and follow Jesus. 

2. For the grace of humility. May we live more like Christ each day. 

3. For a greater appreciation of the Sabbath. May we give God honor on the day of the Lord. 

4. May we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into a more authentic and virtuous life. 

5. May God inspire our world leaders to find new ways to reconcile and to resolve disputes. 

6. For all who are traveling. May God keep them safe. 

7. For the faithful departed. For the names inscribed in our book of remembrance. 

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

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

12 November 2026 - St Josaphat - homily for Thursday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time - Philemon 7-20

St Josaphat is the saint we celebrate today.  He was a bishop in present-day Belarus in the early 17th century.  He was killed by an angry mob because he was advocating that his community of Christians, who were Ruthenians and who were a part of the Orthodox Church, be joined in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. We think of the division that characters the world today and that characterizes Christianity in so many way.  When the Roman empire was split into the East and the West in the 4th century, it foreshadowed the split was to come in the Church the 11th century, when a schism split the Church in the year 1054. There have been signs of reconciliation and friendship in recent years between the Churches in the East and the West, but, unfortunately, Christianity remains very divided today. 

The last two days, we heard from the letter of St Paul to Titus. Today, we hear from the letter of St Paul to Philemon, which is so short that it is not even organized into chapters. St Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison himself, probably in Rome.  But Paul is not interested in his own safety and well-being and release from prison. Instead, St Paul is interested in the welfare of the runaway slave Onesimus, who was returning to his owner, Philemon. The faith journey St Paul is so interesting and filled with so many striking contrasts. He started out as a prosecutor of Christian, pursuing them to be arrested or killed. After his conversion to the way of Jesus, he works tirelessly to spread the Gospel message to the world, even willing to go to prison for the sake of the Gospel. When I was in Rome a few years ago at the Basilica of St Paul just outside the walls of the ancient city of Rome, I even got to see a piece of the chains that enslaved Paul when he was in prison. Paul wrote to so many different Christian communities as their spiritual father, one who spent so much time nurturing them in the faith. He even calls Onesimus his spiritual son in the faith, his own very heart. May the zeal and tenacity that characterizes Paul journey of faith inspire us to live out the Gospel message in the ordinary moments of our day. 

11 November 2026 - Wednesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time - Titus 3:1-7 - St Maria Vincenza Poloni

Today, we celebrate the feast day of St Martin of Tours and Sister Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy who had a very big presence both in Mississippi and in Ireland. However, I would like to speak about a rather new saint that was canonized under Pope Leo XIV.  Luigia Poloni was born in 1802 in Verona, Italy. She was the youngest of twelve siblings. Following in the footsteps of her father, who had a great love for the poor, she met Blessed Charles Steeb, a German-born priest who served in Verona. Together, they worked with the elderly, the poor, and the chronically ill. In 1836, she worked to heal victims of a cholera epidemic. In all her service, she had a devout life of prayer. In 1848, with Father Charles Steeb, she founded the Sisters of Mercy of Verona and took Maria Vincenza as her name in religion.  Her motto, “Serving Christ in the Poor,” became the cornerstone of this new congregation. She died 1855 from cancer and was buried in the municipal cemetery of Verona. The congregation that she and Father Steeb established grew outside of Verona and expanded to other nations, including Portugal and Tanzania. She was beatified in 2008 and was canonized under Pope Leo XIV. 

Our first reading today is from the New Testament letter of St Paul to Titus, which was written around the years 62-68 AD. St Paul wrote to his companion Titus, whom he left on the island of Crete, a place that was infamous for challenges such as greed, violence, and sexual immorality. Titus was charged with organizing house church on the island and preaching the values of the Christian faith to these inhabitants. Titus was a gifted Gentile believer in the faith who was a peacemaker and who had been on other mission trips with St Paul. Paul called the people to a transformation from their past inequities, to have hearts that are open to God’s mercy, grace, peace, and forgiveness, to place their hope in the promise of eternal life with God. This theme of St Paul’s letter to Titus calls us to transcend the anger and frustration that often characterizes our lives in the modern world to the transformation and new life that God offers us.  

11 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary time

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 today, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That the Holy Spirit enliven the Church. May we love without expectations. May we hope without limits. 

2. That the different religions of the world 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. May we serve them in dignity and respect. 

4. For world leaders and governments. May their vision seek to bring peace and hope to all people. 

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

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

10 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 32nd week of Ordinary Time

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 all of us would 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. For their studies and their school activities. 

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 and devotion to the Eucharist. 

6. That we would bring hope to the world through living out our faith each day. 

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

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

10 November 2026 - homily for Tuesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time - Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 - St Leo the Great

Today, our first reading comes from the letter to Titus, written by St Paul to his trusted missionary companion. Titus was a Greek Gentile convert to the way of Jesus. Paul left Titus behind on the island of Crete to organize and establish leadership in the local churches there. This letter was written around the years 62 and 64 AD. 

Paul asserts the importance of teaching sound doctrine, rather than abstract or nebulous theories and ideas. Paul teaches that the faith of the community must be visible through their actions and words and in the values through which they live. Paul urges Titus to be a good example to the Christians in his community, to model Christian integrity and the values of our faith. Paul gives good advice for us in the modern world today as well in the reading from Titus. 

Today, we celebrate Pope Leo the Great on his feast day. With “the great” attached to his name, we know that he has a profound impact on the Catholic Church through his leadership.  He was elected Pope in the year 440 at a time when the Church was battling several heresies. One of these heresies was Nestorianism, which held that Christ had two natures: a human nature and a divine nature. Because of these two natures, this heresy claimed that Christ was two separate persons. Another heresy, Monophysitism, held that Jesus only had one nature, his divine nature, which had replaced his human nature. For the defense he wrote against these heresies and for his other writings, Leo was named Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1754.  

Although a lot of heresies were put to rest in the Early Church, we have new heresies today, or the old ones creep up on us again in different disguises. One such heresy is Pelagianism, the belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without the help of God’s divine grace. Pope Francis and other Christian leaders have condemned what they see as a modern-day version of Pelagianism, of so many who think that through their own efforts, they make everything right in their lives, and in a sense achieve their own salvation. Pope Francis called this a “spiritual worldliness.”  

Leo the Great saw our salvation and our journey through life intrinsically tied to the salvation we have in Christ. Leo the Great wrote: “No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross.  No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ.”  Pope Leo the Great, we pray for your intercession and we unite our prayers to your prayers today. 

8 November 2026 - bulletin reflection - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

We are now in the month of remembrance. We are getting close to the end of the liturgical year and the beginning of Advent. This week I will be attending the annual meeting and retreat of the national pontifical mission societies at the Augustine institute campus just outside of St Louis. I always enjoy the mission societies gatherings, so I am looking forward to a very spiritually uplifting time up in St Louis. We are collecting items for Advent and Christmas outreach, for the Arc Angel program, for the prison ministry, and for the Carmelite sisters. We are always thankful for the generosity of our Immaculate Conception and Holy Savior parishioners. Blessings to all of you. Have a blessed week. Father Lincoln.  

8 November 2026 - homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary time CYCLE A prison ministry - Wisdom 6:12-16 - Matthew 25:1-13

For many centuries, tradition passed down that the Book of Wisdom was written by King Solomon, a ruler admired in ancient Israel for his wisdom.  However, most biblical scholars today believe that this Book was not written by Solomon, but probably written originally in Greek in the ancient center of learning in Alexandria, Egypt a couple of centuries before Christ’s birth, many centuries after the era of King Solomon. Today’s reading tells us that wisdom is received by all who love her, that she is found by all who seek her. The book of Wisdom states that if we watch for wisdom at dawn, she will be waiting for us at the gate. Indeed, we human beings innately yearn for wisdom in the same way we yearn for a connection with the divine. We are searching for wisdom just as we are searching for God. Likewise, wisdom and God are searching for us.  

A wise person would not wait for some undefined time in the future to forge a relationship with Jesus. Some who claim to be Christians put other things first in their lives instead of their faith. They take a risk, just like the foolish virgins in the Gospel. That can have dire consequences. The truly wise person builds his life on Jesus and his Gospel, on Jesus as the truth and the life, not just for the future, but in the here and now, in the reality of our daily lives.  

 So, if we are saying that wisdom goes beyond a book knowledge, beyond what we perceive intellectually, we can see wisdom as a resonance, as an understanding of God’s teachings, laws, and values. Wisdom leads us to integrate God and his teachings into daily life. While book learning and knowledge are important in our development as human beings and in our spiritual quest, they are certainly not everything. God can reach out to us and wisdom can connect with us in many diverse and eclectic ways: through music, art, poetry, literature, and nature; through prayer, contemplation, and even silence. So, meeting Wisdom at the gates means that we are to find ways to gain this understanding, this experience, this integration of God into our spirituality and into our lives.  

That is why I try to promote different faith opportunities and learning opportunities here in our Catholic community. It is important for you to read the Word among us and to read the Bible. It is important for us to read spiritual books. It is important for you to pray with your friends and to pray the rosary and to learn the different Catholic devotional prayers. It is important for us in the context of our faith to discuss the real life situations and experiences we have had, to come to terms with them and to see where our faith intersects with them. Although knowledge and book learning are important, it is just not always about the doctrine and dogma of our faith, but rather the wisdom we have learned along the way on our journey. 

Connecting with the divine wisdom, connecting with God, is not always easy and comfortable.   In our search of wisdom, we will have great joys and great struggles.  And all of this is an essential part of our journey.  All of this will help us be like the wise maidens, to be prepared and to be ready to meet the Lord when he comes.  

8 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Cycle A prison ministry

Lord Jesus - you call us to always be prepared. 

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

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory. 

Priest: Trusting in God’s mercy and keeping watch for the coming of Christ, let us bring our needs and the needs of our world before our heavenly Father: 

1. That communities everywhere may walk together as missionary sisters and brothers, bringing hope and the Good News to those experiencing loneliness, fear, or despair. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For the Pope Leo’s November prayer intention: For the proper use of wealth. We pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service the common good and solidarity of those who have less. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate, consecrated religious life, and lay ministry. We pray to the Lord. 

4. In this month of remembrance, we pray for our family members and loved ones who have died. For their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That our world leaders and civil authorities may govern with prudence, justice, and a genuine commitment to peace. We pray to the Lord.

6. That those waiting for comfort, healing, or relief from hardship may feel the reassuring presence of Jesus in their lives. We pray to the Lord.

7. That we may grow in wisdom and keep our hearts open to the needs of our neighbor, serving them with works of mercy and charity. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: With humility of heart, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

8 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Cycle A

Lord Jesus - you call us to always be prepared. 

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

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory. 

Priest: Trusting in God’s mercy and keeping watch for the coming of Christ, let us bring our needs and the needs of our world before our heavenly Father: 

1. That communities everywhere may walk together as missionary sisters and brothers, bringing hope and the Good News to those experiencing loneliness, fear, or despair. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For the Pope Leo’s November prayer intention: For the proper use of wealth. We pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service the common good and solidarity of those who have less. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate, consecrated religious life, and lay ministry. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those names inscribed in our book of remembrance. For all the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That our world leaders and civil authorities may govern with prudence, justice, and a genuine commitment to peace. We pray to the Lord.

6. That those waiting for comfort, healing, or relief from hardship may feel the reassuring presence of Jesus in their lives. We pray to the Lord.

7. That all of us Catholics may grow in wisdom and keep our hearts open to the needs of our neighbor, serving them with works of mercy and charity. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: With humility of heart, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

6 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 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. That we in the Church may grow in our reliance upon God’s providence and confidently entrust all our needs to him. 

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 and those places torn apart by war and terrorism. 

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 struggle to make in through the day. May the Lord guide our world leaders to assist all who do not have the basic necessities of 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. 

6 November 2026 - homily for Friday of the 31st week in Ordinary time - 1 Philippians 3:17-4:1

We having been hearing from Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi all this week.  Philippi was an ancient city in Macedonia in the northeast of Greece, founded 4 centuries before Christ’s birth. This city was named after Philip of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great.  It later became an urban center in the Roman empire where many veterans of the Roman legion lived. St Paul founded a Christian community in Philippi on his second missionary journey. St Paul was imprisoned when he wrote this letter, but he heard about the disunity of that community and wanted to write them a letter of encouragement and advice.

St Paul holds himself up as an example for the Philippians to follow on their journey of faith. That Paul is writing them this letter of encouragement while he is in prison is a testament to his strong joyful faith. Paul saw some in the community as false imitators of Christ, clinging too much to the things of the world and not keeping their eyes focused on our true homeland, God’s heavenly kingdom.           

When I was serving as a missionary in Ecuador, one of the Peace Corps volunteers in the area came looking for me in the mission site. One of the villagers told him – Brother Lincoln is not here – he has returned to his home.  The Peace Corps volunteer thought, Lincoln didn’t tell him he was going home to the United States to visit his family.  The villager explained that I had not gone back to the US, but rather what they saw as my home village here in Ecuador, the small village of San Francisco de Onzole, where I went every weekend and where he has so many projects going on.  It was an honor for some of the villagers to see me having a homeland there in Ecuador, where I definitely put a lot of my heart and soul.  Where would others see us having a homeland?  Is our homeland in God’s kingdom, or is it in the things of this world?

5 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time

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

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

Lord Jesus - you are present to us in the sacraments of the Church. 

Priest: With humility of heart, we now present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That God would give us strength and hope on our journey and the gift of perseverance. 

2. For the grace of humility in our life our discipleship. 

3. For all who are traveling. That God will guide them safely to their destinations. 

4. May God guide us to where our gifts and blessings may be shared with others. 

5. That we in the Church may take up our crosses and surrender to God. 

6. In the month of remembrance, we pray for our deceased family members and loved ones and for all the souls in purgatory. 

7. 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.  

5 November 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 31st week of Ordinary Time - Albanian martyrs - Psalm 105

Qerim Sadiku was arrested in 1946 for refusing to vote in a rigged election. He was a devout Catholic and an ethnic Albanian who attended daily mass.  He and his wife continued to make a pilgrimage to a local shrine in Montenegro even when the communist government in his country of Yugoslavia began persecuting Catholics for practicing their faith.  He joined the anti-communist Albanian union group after who Albanian priests had been executed by the government. For refusing to vote, and for being falsely accused for other crimes, he was put to death by a firing squad, along with other Catholic laymen, seminarians, and priests. Qerim Sadiku was beatified in 2016 by Pope Francis as a group of 38 Albanian martyrs. We celebrate the feast day of the Albanian Martyrs on November 5 each year. 

Psalm 105 declares today: Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord. When we had the ACTS retreat for women a couple of weeks ago, the joy that these women had during the retreat really struck me. They were coming to the retreat in the midst of their reality, coming to terms with many different things they had experienced in their lives. The Lord indeed rejoices when he sees us seeking him and searching for him. Let our hearts rejoice in the way we seek him as well. 

3 November 2026 - St Martin de Porres - homily for Tuesday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time - Philippians 2:5-11

I first became aware of St Martin de Porres when I was preparing to enter the Catholic Church in 1991.  St Martin de Porres, born in Peru in 1579 in the Spanish colonial era faced grave discrimination because of his mixed ancestry, with his mother having African ancestry and his father being from Spain. 

Initially denied entrance as a brother in the Dominican monastery in Lima, Peru, he responded in humility out of love of God and love of neighbor. They way he lived out his life each day was out of love of God and love of neighbor. He treated each person as a brother and sister. Gathering alms each day as a lay Dominican, he used those donations to feed the poor and to purchase medicine for the sick. He is often portrayed in artwork as having a broom with him. He would carry a broom with him wherever he went, sweeping out the living quarters of the poor whom he visited as sweeping out the living quarters of the monastery. He offered up those menial tasks to God. In the prejudice and discrimination he faced, he always responded with humility, grace, and forgiveness. He had a deep devotion to the Mass and to the Eucharist. He would spend hours in prayer and contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament. He meditation on Christ’s sufferings on the cross and Christ’s life of service, which motivated the way he lived out this life. Like Francis of Assisi, he saw God’s presence in all creation, including animals and nature. He and his sister would take in stray dogs and cats and nurse them back to health. He was asked to kill some mice that were in the monastery, and rather than kill them, he relocated them to the monastery gardens. 

Even though Martin de Porres faced a lot of discrimination during his lifetime, his funeral in 1639 was attended by the rich and powerful of society, showing the respect they had for him. He was beatified in 1837 and was canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXIII. He is the patron saint of people of mixed race and of social justice. 

In our first reading today from the letter to the Philippians, St Paul speaks about Christ’s incarnation, about his passion and crucifixion, and his ultimate exhalation by the Father. In many ways, this famous passage challenges to have the same humility and sense of service that Christ had, to have the same attitude as Christ in the words of St Paul. We are to put aside our ego and our pride in order to serve others and to work toward unity and justice. I could not help but think about the humility and service of St Martin de Porres as I was reflecting upon this reading. 

I love this quote from St Martin de Porres: “Everything, even sweeping, scraping vegetables, weeding a garden, and waiting on the sick could be a prayer, if it were offered to God.”

Indeed, the ordinary, humble tasks of daily life can become sacred acts and forms of prayer when they are done with love and when we offer them up to God.  

3 November 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 31st week of Ordinary time - Martin de Porres

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: As we commemorate St Martin de Porres today, 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 depth of his love and mercy.

2. For an end to terrorism and warfare in the world. May we reach out to those who are most burdened and most 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.As we commemorate St Martin de Porres today, we pray that all of may engage in works of mercy and charity. 

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.