30 January 2026 - Friday of the 3rd week in Ordinary Time - Psalm 51

In our psalm today, we hear a raw and honest look at repentance. This psalm is written from the perspective of King David after his confrontation with the prophet Nathan regarding his sins with Bathsheba. The psalm reveals the depth of David’s remorse and sorrow and the scope of God’s mercy. In a verse we do not hear in our psalm today, the psalm starts out by saying:  “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.”

David doesn’t give any excuses for what he has done. He doesn’t try to put the blame on someone else or something else. He puts himself before God’s mercy. David knows that only God's mercy and compassion can reach the depths of his failure.

We have the sacrament of reconciliation in the Catholic Church to offer us God’s mercy and forgiveness when we sins. It is important that we are contrite and remorseful for our sins, to repent and to turn away from our sins. May we avail ourselves of God’s love and mercy. 

30 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus, you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary.

Lord Jesus, you forgive the sins of the contrite. 

Priest: Lord God of mercy and love, as you reveal yourself to us in your incarnate son, we bring our prayers to you this morning:

1. For Pope Leo XIV and the leaders of our Church. For wisdom and courage. 

2. May we deepen our awareness of our responsibility to care for the earth in a spirit of good stewardship. 

3. For healing within churches. That God will help us work together as the body of Christ. 

4. For families who are experiencing struggle and brokenness. That God will guide them through difficult times, 

5. For all who are recovering from natural disasters and who are experiencing harsh winter weather. That God will give them courage and strength,. 

6. For greater attention to God’s Word: that we may recognize the words of scripture as sources of spirit and life. 

7. For the faithful departed. For their entry into eternal life. 

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

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

28 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus, you are the savior of the world. 

Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary.

Lord Jesus, you are lamb of God. 

Priest: Lord God of mercy and love, as you reveal yourself to us in your incarnate son, we bring our prayers to you this morning:

1. May we Christians manifest the Good News in our lives, our families, and our workplaces.

2. May we work together to build the kingdom of God here on earth in our service to others. 

3. For the gift of discernment. That we may discern where God is calling us in our lives. 

4. For all teachers, catechists, and preachers of God’s word. That God will inspire them with words that will renew the faith of others. 

5. For those whose lives are broken by anger or violence. For hearing and wholeness. 

6. For all who struggle with emotional and mental illness: that they may come to know a time of God’s favor. 

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

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

28 January 2026 - homily for Wednesday of the 3rd week in Ordinary Time - Thomas Aquinas - Mark 4:1-20

Today, we commemorate the memorial of St Thomas Aquinas, one of the great theologians and thinkers of the Catholic faith, Born in the year 1225 near the city of Naples, Italy to a noble family, he disappointed them by joining the Dominican order. Due to his sharp intellect, he ended up studying at the renowned University of Paris, where his professor and mentor was the important theologian Albert the Great. He later retuned to the University of Paris to teach. He pioneered the use of the Greek philosophy by synthesizing it in Christian theology,  Aquinas used the power of reason to demonstrate that God and the universe could be understood by reason guided by faith. Beside his many well known works of theology, he is also the composer of several important Latin hymns, including O Salutaris Hostia and Pange LIngua. The Summa Theologica written between 1267-1273, was intended to be a textbook for students of theology. Written in a question and answer format, it covers topics such as God, creation, human nature, Christian morality, Jesus, and the sacraments of the Church. Aquinas died in 1274. He was the fifth person to be named as a Doctor of the Church, having received that distinction in 1567. 

We hear a familiar parable in the Gospel today, of a sower sowing seeds in different types of ground. We may be able to identify with this parable in different stages in our lives. At times, God’s word seems to fall in our lives and take root easily, but at other times, it seems as though God’s word has been snatched up from our lives like birds grabbing seeds off the ground. Just as Thomas Aquinas dedicated his life to the study of theology and God’s word, may God’s word be a constant presence in our lives of faith. 

27 January 2026 - homily for Tuesday of the 3rd week in Ordinary Time - St Angela Merici - Mark 3:31-35

Jesus is in the midst of his ministry in today’s Gospel. He is at work in his ministry and in his proclamation of God’s kingdom. Perhaps his mother and his family are concerned for his welfare.  Perhaps they want to make sure that he is ok and well taken care of.  Yet, Jesus knows he needs to be occupied with his Father’s work, so he declares that his true mother and his true brothers and sisters, are those who do the will of his Father in their lives. 

St Angela Merici is the saint we celebrate today. Born in 1474, she was a ground breaking and influential figure in the Church in her era, having the distinction of founding the first secular institute and the first teaching order of women in the Church. When we see the influence Catholic sisters and consecrated Catholic lay women have had in Catholic schools and in the field of education throughout the centuries, we can appreciate the contributions of Angela Merici. She was orphaned as a child and faced a lot of obstacles in her life. She joined the third order Franciscans as a young woman, but later, at the age of 60, with twelve other women, she founded the Company of St. Ursula, which was named for a patroness of universities in medieval Europe.  The Company of St Ursula constituted a new way of life, of single women consecrated to Christ and living in the world rather than as nuns in a convent. These women did not live in community, wore no special clothing, and made no formal vows, so it was quite different from living the life of a nun. Four years after her death in 1540, the rule of life that St Angela wrote for this group of women was approved; it prescribed for them the practices of chastity, poverty, and obedience. 

27 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. 

Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary.

Lord Jesus, you are Word made incarnate. 

Priest: Lord God of wonder and awe, as you reveal yourself to us in your incarnate son, we bring our prayers to you this evening:

1. That we in the Church may recognize our identity as members of the Body of Christ. 

2. May we be more open to the Holy Spirit in our lives and be willing to nurture and develop the gifts that the Spirit has given us. 

3. That we may work together with evangelizers and missionaries to proclaim the Gospel message to the world. 

4. For a greater openness to God’s word and to the message it brings us. 

5. For first responders, veterans, the men and women serving in the military, and medical professionals. 

6. That those who are struggling may find peace in their hearts. 

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

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

29 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus, you the Prince of Peace. 

Lord Jesus, you are the Son of God and Son of Mary: Christ. 

Lord Jesus, you are Word of God made incarnate. 

Prayers of the faithful:  

PRIEST:  God graciously blesses us in his love and mercy.  We now bring forward our needs to God with confidence:

1. For Pope Leo XIV and the leaders of our Church. For our elected officials.  For wisdom and courage.

2. That we may be better stewards of the earth’s resources, recognizing all of  God’s creation as gifts to us. 

3. For those who are in hospice and those who are dying. May they feel God’s loving embrace. 

4. For peace for those parts of the world torn apart by war and violence. 

5. For the men and women in the military. For our veterans. For our first responders. And for our medical professions. 

6. For all who are sick or afflicted. May the light of Christ lead them out of darkness and into healing and wholeness. 

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

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

29 January 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 3rd week in Ordinary Time - Mark 4:21-25

Baptisms are one of the most joyful occasions I celebrate in my life as a priest. In the baptismal rite, the godparent lights a candle for the child being baptized from the paschal candle, representing how the light of Christ that is being passed on to the child through the sacrament of baptism and through the promises and commitment that the parents and godparents make on behalf of the child. The baptismal rite explains that this light is entrusted to the parents and grandparents in order to be kept burning brightly in the life of the child. 

We are called to be the light of Christ in the darkness of the world. We have the light of Christ burning inside of us. We can choose to keep this light burning.  We can pass on this light to others. Or we can extinguish the light and keep it hidden from the world.

We may face a lot of challenges and struggles in our lives that try to keep the light of Christ away from us.  Yet, it is up to us to keep it burning brightly. May we never forget that task that is entrusted to us.

17 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the Saturday of the first week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you bring us the joy of the Gospel. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to repentance. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to conversion. 

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

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all of our Church leaders. That God will lead them and guide them in their roles as shepherds. 

2. That we may have a deeper connection with Christ through both the joys and the sufferings in our lives, so make present God’s loving plan for us. 

3. For the healing of racism and prejudice in society. 

4. That all of us may care for God’s creation in our daily lives and do what we can to protect planet earth. 

5. For peace. That God will turn our hearts away from violence. That we may work together to end violent crime and warfare. We pray for Beth Israel Synagogue and their healing and recovery process. 

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

7. For the ACTS retreat today we are having for our team members. We pray that we feel the presence of the holy spirit with us today. 

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

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

17 January 2026 - homily for Saturday of the 1st week in Ordinary time - St Anthony of the Desert - Mark 2:13-17

Earlier in the week, we commemorated the feast day of Paul the Hermit, one of the first Desert Fathers. Today, we commemorate the most celebrated of the Desert Fathers: Anthony of Egypt, who was born in the middle of the 3rd century. St Athanasius of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church and Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt, wrote a biography about St Anthony of Egypt, which made him a very popular figure in the Early Church. Anthony sold his large inheritance at the age of 20 and moved to the solitude of the desert. The movement of the Desert Fathers exemplified the way these early Christians felt called to live out the simplicity and silence of their faith in a time when the Church was becoming a bigger part of society. It reminds all of us how important our prayer life is to our faith, how we are called to find quiet reflective moments in our prayer life where we will encounter God in a profound way.

Anthony was called to a particular way of life in his vocation as a follower of Christ. Today, we hear Jesus calling Matthew, a tax collector, to be his disciple. Jesus’ association with the tax collectors and sinners, those deemed unclean, shocked the sensibilities of those who followed the letter of Jewish law.  In calling Matthew to be one of his disciples, Jesus chose one of the unlikeliest of men – a tax collector whose profession was despised by the Jewish people.  When Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees for the company he kept, he explained how he sought out those in the greatest need.  Jesus is like a physician. He healed people on spiritual & psychological levels, as well as on the physical level. We all need to open up ourselves to Christ’s presence and to the healing he brings to our lives. 

We are here today gathered for Mass on this Saturday morning as a part of the ACTS retreat team. We are here as part of our preparation to put on the ACTS retreat in February. I am very edified by the faith I see all of you living out in your lives if faith. I am edified by the commitment you are making to be a part of the ACTS team. We have been all called to do this by God. It is important for us to feel Jesus accompanying us in the ACTS retreat in everything we do every step of the way. It is Jesus who will live in us as we do his work and service. 

25 January 2025 - bulletin reflection for the 3rd week in Ordinary Time

This week we start Catholic Schools week, recognizing the importance of Catholic education is our Diocese and in our Church. I had been an administrator and teacher of two Catholic schools in Ecuador and taught for a year in a Catholic elementary school here in the United States as well.  However, I also taught for four years at a public high school in Greenville and still have a current teaching license in the state of Mississippi, so I recognize the importance of both our Catholic schools and public schools in society and in the lives of our families at our parish. While I recognize the importance of our Catholic schools here in the Jackson metro area, I also recognize the importance of the religious education program and youth group at our parish. We celebrate and recognize all these things this week. Blessing to all of you - Father Lincoln. 

25 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time CYCLE A

Introduction: In our Gospel today, Jesus calls his disciples to come and follow him. As Jesus also calls out and asks us to follow him, we commemorate Word of God Sunday dedicated to the proclamation, study, and celebration of God’s holy word. Jesus words call out to us today to a deeper commitment to our faith. May the word of God inspire us to enter our life of discipleship more deeply. 

Priest - penitential rite - 

Lord Jesus - you call us to proclaim God’s kingdom to the world. 

Christ Jesus - you unite us in God’s love. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life. 

Prayers of the faithful - 

Priest: United in our faith, may we bring our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world in our prayers today:

1. That we in the Church reach out in mercy to those caught up in poverty, neglect, or injustice. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That the world leaders work together to life the yokes that burden those who are marginalized and oppressed. We pray to the Lord. 

3. As we commemorate Catholic Schools Week, we pray for our Catholic school students, teachers, and administrators. We also pray for all of our public schools. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For the men and women in the Church in consecrated religious congregations, that God will continue to bless them in their vocations. We pray to the Lord. 

5. This upcoming week, we commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We remember those who lost their lives in the Holocaust during World War II. May we work to change hearts that are filled with anger and hatred. We pray to the Lord. 

6. As we conclude the week of prayer for Christian unity, we pray that members of all Christian denominations may work together as disciples of Christ. We pray to the Lord. 

7. That the Lord continue to bless our children, youth, and college students in their studies and in their school activities. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For missionaries, catechists, and all who proclaim God’s word in the world. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: As your son Jesus Christ calls us to follow him, we ask that you answer our prayers according to your will. We present our prayers through your son, who is our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

25 January 2026 - homily for 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Ordinary Time - 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

At last weekend's Masses, our second reading from the very beginning of the first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul told the people of God in Corinth that they had been sanctified in our Lord Jesus Christ, that as such they have a calling to holy, and that they should always call upon the name of the Lord. Yet, in the midst of their life of discipleship as individuals and as the Body of Christ as a community, we hear today of the many divisions that exist in that community in a continuation of that letter. Many of the members of that community had lost sight of the important of Christ in their lives of faith and instead focus on the human leaders they were following in the Church. Two of the biggest problems that the Corinthians faced were price and selfishness. Those are often problems we also can face on our own journey of faith. 

Paul, Apollos, and Cephas were leaders in that community who tied to bring the people together and to get them to follow the Way of Jesus. Those ministers were united in the same mind and purpose. In his life and ministry, Jesus himself did not operate out of price and selfishness. His entire life was dedicated to sacrifice and service and following the will of his Father, which ultimately led to his journey to the cross for our salvation. 

Paul ends today’s reading by stating that he was entrusted to bring God’s message that would not empty the meaning from the cross of Christ. Jesus’ death on the cross is not some romanticized version of God’s love for his son and for us. The omniscient God allowed his beloved son to be put under human power, to be killed violently on the cross, defying human reasoning and human logic. St Paul goes on to say that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.

The power of God is not manifest in military might or great shows of power. The power of God is manifest in genuine acts of self-sacrificial love.  To the ways of the world, this might look foolish or meaningless, but that is the power of the cross of Christ. 

This Sunday concludes our commemoration of the week of prayer for Christian unity. This week of prayer for Christian unity started in January 1908 in the Atonement Franciscan Convent of the Episcopal Church, in Graymoor in the Hudson Valley of New York. This week of prayer was led by Father Paul Wattson and Mother Lurana White, who later converted to Catholicism. This week of prayer for Christian unity was recognized in the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XV in 1916, extending this week of prayer to the universal Catholic Church. 

The theme for this year comes from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: “There is one body, and one spirit, just as you are called to the one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:4)  These words of St. Paul see the unity of the community of believers as a vocation, a calling by the Holy Spirit. This unity requires conversion of heart, which is not possible without openness to reconciliation and healing. This unity is linked to hope and practiced in communal support, by embracing diversity while maintaining communion. This also means the we are willing to accept the diversity of gifts exercised in ministry, the goal of which is building up unity for the whole. This unity is guided by a mutual search for truth in a spirit of communal love.

For a lot of the time I have been a priest, I have been involved in ministerial associations in the towns where I have served, where the pastors of the various churches get together for fellowship and support and to work together in the proclamation of God’s kingdom. Unfortunately, we do not have this in Clinton, but I have a lot of contact with the different minsters who serve out at the prison and with the prison chaplains. I get a lot out of my collaborations and my conversations with them. 

It is important for us to continue to pray for Christian unity. However, it is important to practice concrete actions in striving for Christian unity as well. 

I wanted to mention that this Sunday is also Word of God Sunday, as declared by Pope Francis in 2019, a time when we at to celebrate the word of God as a living presence in our lives. As this homily shows, delving deeply into God’s word show how relevant his word is in our lives of faith in the modern world. 

18 January 2026 - bulletin reflection for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

We have now concluded the Christmas season and are now in the days of ordinary time before we start the holy season of Lent later in February. This week we commemorate the week of prayer for Christian unity. We are called to work with other Christians in those areas that are common ground. We also commemorate the national Martin Luther King Jr holiday and the day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children on the anniversary of the Roe vs Wade Supreme Court decision. Thus, there are a lot of theme and topics that grab out attention this week in the midst of our busy schedules. There are many facets of our faith that are important to us. Have a blessed week everyone. Father Lincoln.  

18 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A - prison ministry

Penitential rite - priest - 

Lord Jesus - you are the holy servant of God. 

Christ Jesus - you give us new life. 

Lord Jesus - you are the light of the nations. 

Prayers of the faithful: 

Priest: Let us call to mind our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world in our prayers today as we open ourselves to do the will of our heavenly Father: 

1. That we in the Church be a light to the nations and a sign of God’s love and mercy in the world. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That our evangelization efforts and proclamation of God’s kingdom reach the ends of the earth. May we the Catholic community proclaim the kingdom of God to all here at CMCF.  We pray to the Lord. 

3. That all Christians may work together for Christian unity. We pray to the Lord.  

4. That we may work to promote the dignity of every human life as we commemorate the day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children this upcoming Thursday. We pray to the Lord. 

5. As we commemorate the Martin Luther King Jr holiday this week, may we work together to advance the values he stood for in our society. We pray to the Lord. 

6. May we who are gathered for Mass today respond willingly and joyfully to God’s call in our lives. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For our first responders, for the men and women in the military, for our veterans, and for our medical professionals. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For all of our loved ones. For our children, spouses, and family members. May they feel our love and prayers reach out to them. 

9. 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: Glorious God, as your son gave witness to your justice and mercy, teach us to give witness as well. We make our prayer through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

18 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time CYCLE A

Introduction: As we concluded the Christmas season, we now return to Ordinary Time. We heard from the John the Baptist during the holy season of Advent. We hear from John again in today’s Gospel as he gives testimony to Jesus as the Lamb of God. When we receive the Eucharist at Mass, we also testify to Jesus as being the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. May these words resonate with us today and everyday on our journey of faith. 

Penitential rite - priest - 

Lord Jesus - you are the holy servant of God. 

Christ Jesus - you give us new life. 

Lord Jesus - you are the light of the nations. 

Prayers of the faithful: 

Priest: Let us call to mind our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world in our prayers today as we open ourselves to do the will of our heavenly Father: 

1. That we in the Church be a light to the nations and a sign of God’s love and mercy in the world. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That our evangelization efforts and proclamation of God’s kingdom reach the ends of the earth. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That Christians of all denominations work together for Christian unity. We pray to the Lord.  

4. That we may work to promote the dignity of every human life as we commemorate the day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children this upcoming Thursday. We pray to the Lord. 

5. As we commemorate the Martin Luther King Jr holiday this week, may we work together to advance the values he stood for in our society. We pray to the Lord. 

6. May we who are gathered for Mass today respond willingly and joyfully to God’s call in our lives. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For our first responders, for the men and women in the military, for our veterans, and for our medical professionals. 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: Glorious God, as your son gave witness to your justice and mercy, teach us to give witness as well. We make our prayer through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

18 January 2026 - homily for 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time cycle A - John 1:29-34

This weekend, we break from our readings in Matthew’s Gospel, which we will primarily hear from in this year’s cycle of readings on Sundays, to hear an account from John’s Gospel today. Last Sunday, we heard Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism as we celebrated the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Today, we hear John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus. John’s Gospel does not directly describe Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. Instead, John the Baptist announces that he knows that Jesus is the Son of God.

John the Baptist uses two titles for Jesus. He calls Jesus both the “Lamb of God” and the “Son of God.” With these titles, John the Baptist identifies Jesus’ ultimate purpose to the world: to redeem humanity. John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus distinguishes John’s baptism from the Baptism that Jesus will inaugurate. While John baptizes the people with water, Jesus will baptize them with the Holy Spirit. John explains that the purpose of his baptism was to make Jesus known to Israel.

In preparing the way for Jesus and in making him known to the world, John the Baptist shows us what discipleship is all about. In our baptismal promises, we are called to make Jesus known to the world by our words, by our witness, and by our actions.

It is important that we Catholics see baptism as the first sacrament of initiation into the faith and a sacrament that is necessary for our salvation. The Catechism states: “Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all Baptism cannot be repeated” (CCC, no. 1272). 

In our Catholic view of baptism, this sacrament can only be received once, since it enacts a permanent change within us. This spiritual mark is also called a character, which St. Augustine likened to distinctive brandings impressed upon soldiers and slaves during Roman times to signify the commander or owner to whom they belonged. Baptism marks us permanently as belonging to Christ, whose image we bear.

One reminder of our baptismal promises that we can make during the day is the sign of the cross, which we should see as a prayer in itself. When signing ourselves in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we recall our identity as God’s sons and daughters first bestowed upon us at baptism. In the sign of the cross prayers, we invoke God’s aid in our journey toward God’s eternal kingdom. We are always to be mindful of the graces given us at baptism and recall the presence of the Trinity within us each time we make the sign of the cross.

I remember that after showing a movie about a saint to the inmates, one of the prison ministry volunteers was very upset about the movie we showed, saying it was inappropriate because it showed the saint struggling with his temptations and his weaknesses. We are very mistaken when we think that a saint was a perfect person who never did anything wrong and never had faults and weaknesses. By virtue of our baptism in Christ, we are all called to holiness. And because of our diverse talents, challenges, and circumstances in life, we all find different ways to grow in holiness. This call to holiness is not for the select few, nor should it be viewed as an unattainable ideal.  St. Pope John Paul II writes: “. . . this ideal of perfection must not be understood as if it involved some kind of extraordinary existence, possible only for a few ‘uncommon heroes’ of holiness. The ways of holiness are many, according to the vocation of each individual…The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living: the whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction. It is also clear however that the paths to holiness are personal and call for a genuine “training in holiness,” adapted to people’s needs…” 

May our baptismal promises challenge us to live a life of holiness, to live out the values and ideals of our faith each day. 

23 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 2nd week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. 

Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary.

Lord Jesus, you are Word made flesh. 

Priest: Lord God of wonder, as we reflect upon we you reveal yourself to us in your son, we bring our prayers to you this evening: 

1. For all who seek to follow Christ, we pray that we may follow him more closely each day.  

2. For for healing and wholeness for the sick and the afflicted in body, mind or spirit.  

3. For all married couples, that the Lord may bless them in their joys and their struggles, in their children, family members, and friends. 

4. For more love and kindness in the world, for a greater sense of thanksgiving and gratitude.  

5. For an end to all violence in our homes and in our communities. 

6. For our children and youth. May the Lord continue to lead them and guide them in their studies and activities this school year.  

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

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

23 January 2026 - Friday of the 2nd week in Ordinary Time - 1 Samuel 24:3-21

We hear our continuing story from the first book of Samuel today. In today’s reading, David has the opportunity to kill King Saul, his nemesis, as Saul enters the cave where David is hiding. Saul is intent on killing David himself when he enters that cave, as he sees David as his rival. The mercy that David showed Saul when he had the chance to kill him is remarkable, a contrast to the revenge, vengeance, and vitriol we have seen in society in recent years, especially in the realm of politics and social media.  So many in our modern world today would not have the discipline or compassion to show the restraint that David showed in cutting off the end of Saul's garment and then pointing out to Saul that he could have easily killed him. Even if David had not confronted Saul and had simply allowed him to walk out of the cave unharmed without saying anything, God would have known the truth. In the end, it is the Lord who judges us, who knows our motives and our desires. It is easy to show kindness to our friends, family members, loved ones, and those who are kind to us, to pray for them, but not so easy toward our enemies. 

Marianne Cope was the oldest of 10 children. She was born in Germany in 1838 and was brought to New York state as a baby by her parents. Her parents struggled in the US, so Marianne quit school after 8th grade to work in a factory to help her family. Despite the challenges she faced, she entered religious life in 1862 as a Franciscan sister. She taught in German-speaking Catholic grade schools and became a school principal. Later, she and her order opened some of the first hospitals in that area of New York state. When she was the superior general of her order, she was asked to send some of the sisters to serve in ministry in Hawaii with the lepers. Not only did she send 6 sisters, but she went herself.  

Sister Marianne and her Franciscans sisters worked in two hospitals, they opened a home for the daughters of lepers and a home for women and girls on the island of Molokai when Father Damien was living out his last days after coming down with leprosy himself from his ministry with the lepers. Sister Marianne nursed Father Damien in his last dying days. She and the Franciscan sisters continued Father Damien’s ministry on Molokai.  She stayed on that island 30 years until her death in 1918.  She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, three years after Father Damien was canonized. Sister Marianne’s life and ministry stand as a testimony of faith for all of us. May we unite our prayers with her prayers today. 

22 January 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 2nd week in Ordinary Time - psalm 56

Saint Vincent of Zaragoza was ordained as a deacon by his friend St Valerius of Zaragoza in Spain. The Roman emperors had published their edicts against the clergy in 303, and the following year against the laity. Vincent and his bishop were imprisoned in Valencia, Spain. They were tortured to impel them to renounce their faith. Valerius was sent into exile.  Dacian, the Roman governor, tried everything he could against Vincent, but failed. He asked Vincent to give up his sacred books to be burned, but Vincent refused. Thrown into prison, Vincent converted the prison guard to the Christian faith. Finally, Vincent was allowed to rest on a jail bed, where he went to his eternal life with God. He died around the year 304. Much of his life is based on legend that has been passed down, but even the great St Augustine of Hippo was inspired by the story of Vincent of Zaragoza. 

As we celebrate the courage of the deacon Vincent of Zaragoza today, we commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade legal decision and the day established by the Church of penance for abortion. This day has been formally named as the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” Even with the overturning of the Roe vs Wade decision, abortion remains legal in many states. I remember for many years going down to the abortion clinic on State Street in the Fonderan neighborhood to pray for an an end to abortion. It is amazing to think that this clinic is now closed. We as Catholics are to be pro-life in many different ways, especially protecting human life that is most vulnerable and that cannot protect itself. We unite our prayers with Christian all around our country today, respecting the dignity of human life on its most basic level.

Our psalm today states: “In God I trust; I shall not fear.” May we place our trust in God’s laws and commandments as we proclaim the truths of the values of our faith to the world. 

22 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 2nd week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you are the holy servant of God. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us new life. 

Lord Jesus - you are the light of the nations.  

Priest:  We now look to God, who sent his son and his holy spirit to the world, as we present our prayers:

1. For the Church, that by our prophetic word and works of service, we may give witness to the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit in the world.

2. For our world leaders, that they may resolve to pursue peace amongst all nations, resolving conflicts and animosities. 

3. For all missionaries and evangelizers, that they may testify to the light of Christ, so that God’s word may be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. 

4. That all Christians may put into practice our love of God and our love of neighbor, finding common ground in our faith. 

5. For the healing of any sickness and brokenness that exists in our lives. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. For the souls in purgatory.  

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. For our prayers, both spoken and unspoken. 

Priest: Generous God, may your precious gifts of the Son and the Holy Spirit guide us as we put your love and mercy into action.  We make our prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

21 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 2nd week of Ordinary Time Lord Jesus - you bring us your Father’s love. Christ Jesus - you proclaim God's justice and peace. Lord Jesus - you bring us healing and strength. Priest: We now present our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith and hope: 1. That our Church would be renewed with the Holy Spirit working within us as individuals and as a community. 2. That the Gospel of life would motivate our words and our actions, helping us to reach out to the vulnerable in society, both the born and unborn. 3. As we celebrate Word of God Sunday this upcoming weekend, may we grow in our love of God’s word and embrace his word in our daily lives. 4. That we would take practical steps in striving toward Christian unity, working in collaboration with all our Christian brothers and sisters. 5. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit. 6. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts today. Priest: We make our prayers out of faith and obedience through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

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

Christ Jesus - you proclaim God's justice and peace. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us healing and strength.  

Priest: We now present our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith and hope: 

1. That our Church would be renewed with the Holy Spirit working within us as individuals and as a community. 

2. That the Gospel of life would motivate our words and our actions, helping us to reach out to the vulnerable in society, both the born and unborn.  

3. As we celebrate Word of God Sunday this upcoming weekend, may we grow in our love of God’s word and embrace his word in our daily lives. 

4. That we would take practical steps in striving toward Christian unity, working in collaboration with all our Christian brothers and sisters. 

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

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

Priest: We make our prayers out of faith and obedience through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

20 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 2nd week of Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to be faithful. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to holiness. 

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

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

1. That all of us Christian may bring hospitality and compassion to our brothers and sister in need.  

2. For the unemployed, for those searching for work, for those searching for value and meaning in their lives. May the Lord lead them to meaning and to their vocation in life.  

3. For our governmental leaders. That they look beyond their own self-interests and to the good of society and to the values of our faith. 

4. For parents and teachers, that by their words and actions, they may help our children and youth find Jesus and grow in their faith.

5. For the elderly and all who are lonely. For the sick and the afflicted. That they may know our support during these dark winter days.

6. For those who have died recently and for all the faithful departed. That God who delivered Jesus from death may raise them to eternal life.  

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

Priest: God our creator, you hear our cries when we are in need.  We ask that you humbly grant our petitions, we pray you, through Christ our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.   

21 January 2026 - homily for Wednesday of the 2nd week of Ordinary Time - 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

St. Agnes, who died around the year 258, is the saint of the day. She was a young woman who died at the age of 12 or 13 for her commitment to Jesus.  Agnes was an important saint in the early church. She committed her life to virtue & chastity, vowing to remain a virgin bride for Christ.  She was killed by Roman authorities at a time of great persecution.  Agnes remained an example of great faith to many of our early Church fathers, so much so that the daughter of the Roman emperor Constantine built a basilica in Rome in her honor. St. Agnes remains an example of faith in our modern era. May her  courage be an inspiration to us all.  As she honored Christ with her virtue and her life, may we honor Jesus as the Chief priest forever. 

Today, from the first book of Samuel, we hear the familiar story of David and Goliath, of a professional warrior being approached by young boy for a fight. Goliath curses David in the name of his pagan gods and describes how he is going to destroy him. David came into this meeting with Goliath having confidence that the Lord would protect him. David tells Goliath that he comes against him in the name of the Lord. While David has confidence in God, he also does his part. He doesn't just sit back and let God do all the work. David had work to do as well. But, instead of the weapons of an ancient warrior, David brings stones and a sling, the tools that a shepherd in Ancient Israel would use to protect his flock. At times on our journey of faith we may feel vulnerable and ill equipped, needing to put our trust in the Lord. When we approach goals and problems in life, we are called to see God's presence in what we are undertaking. Nothing is impossible for God. 

20 January 2026 - St Sebastian - Tuesday of the 2nd week of Ordinary Time - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

St Sebastian lived in the latter part of the 3rd century. He was a very important martyr in the early Church, but there is not a lot that we can substantiate about him in our modern era.  He died as a martyr and was venerated in Milan in the era of St Ambrose and St Augustine in the 4th century. Tradition passes down that he was a soldier in the Roman army. When his Christian Faith was discovered, he was brought before a squad where he was clubbed to death. He survived this beating, but his identity as a Christian was again discovered, and this time he died from his beating. He was buried on the Appian way in the catacombs that bear his name. St Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes due to his legendary physical endurance, strength, and perseverance in the face of torture, mirroring the qualities valued in sports. 

In our reading from 1 Samuel, God rejected Saul as the king of Israel due to his recalcitrance. God sent Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem, telling Samuel that he has chosen the new king of Israel from among Jesse's sons. Samuel sees one of Jesse's sons, Eliab; Samuel is certain that he is the one whom God has chosen. However, God responds to Samuel that he should not judge according to appearance only, that God looks not at the outside appearance, but at the heart. 

As a priest, I realize that sometimes we think we can know someone's situation from what we ourselves observe and from the outward appearance, but what is going on in someone's heart can be completely different. In our society, we can focus on the externals that we see. We are conditioned in society to make everything look good on the outside. Yet, ultimately, it does not matter what everyone else thinks or what our appearance is. What matters is what God sees and what God knows is going on in our hearts.  

16 January 2026 - homily for Friday of the first week in Ordinary time - 1 Samuel 8:4-7 and 10-22a - Psalm 89

For generations, the people of ancient Israel were a confederation of tribes. God brought forth leaders, priests, and prophets throughout Israel's history to lead his people. The tribes were supposed to help and protect each other, but often they were too weak or too disorganized to be effective. Many of the books of the Old Testament show the failures that happened Israel because of their lack of unity and trust.

In our reading from the first book of Samuel, the people approach Samuel, wanting a king for their nation after seeing the other nations around them prosper and gain military victories under the leadership of kings.  However, Samuel responds to the people that they already have God, that they simply need to be more faithful to him. But, having God as their king is not good enough; they want more, they want what their neighbors have. 

This pattern is repeated again and again in human history. Often, what we have isn't good enough. Many in our society and in our world today envy the prosperity, success, and material goods of their neighbor. Samuel tells the people of Israel what it will cost them when they make things other than God their king. The same is true for us today. The people of Israel refuse to listen to Samuel. For us as well, if we do not listen to God, there will be a price to pay. 

The psalmist tells us in Psalm 89 that we are blessed if we walk in the light of the Lord, if we rejoice in God's name and if we exalt in his justice. May we truly follow in our hearts this road of faith that the Lord has put before us.   

16 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 1st week in Ordinary Time

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

Christ Jesus - you are a light shining in the world. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life. 

Priest: As we journey through this first week in ordinary time, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For the unity of all Christians: that God will heal the wounds in the body of Christ and help us to give common witness to the world. 

2. For all impacted by natural disasters and winter weather. That God will lead them to safety and help. 

3. For an end to violence in our families, our neighborhoods, and our city streets. That God will turn hearts away from violence and anger. 

4. That God will help us build up our communities in justice and peace. 

5. For greater respect for human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. 

6. That the Holy Spirit open our hearts to see the ways God is present in the world. 

7. For the sick and afflicted. For those struggling with addictions and mental health issues. For healing and wholeness. 

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

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

15 January 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 1st week in Ordinary Time

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

Christ Jesus - you are a light shining in the world. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Priest: As we journey through this first week in ordinary time, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That we may fully cooperate and support the actions of God working in the reality of our lives. 

2. That we may grow in discipleship, supported by the intercessions of Mary and the community of saints. 

3. May we grow in our trust of God, who never tires of providing for us. 

4. For our president, our governor, and all elected officials. May God help them fulfill their duties of leadership. 

5. That God will help heal the divisions that exist in our country and in our families. 

6. That God will work within our families and within all married couples. That they be channels of God’s love. 

7. That our works of mercy and charity be signs of God’s presence in the world. 

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

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

15 January 2026 - St Ida - homily for Thursday of the 1st week in Ordinary time - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

The Israelites were defeated by the Philistines in battle, but they went to get the ark of the covenant, which they thought would bring them sure victory.  However, rather than bringing them victory, they received instead a humiliating defeat, with the Philistines beating them easily.  The Philistines captured the ark of the covenant in the process. The Israelites would get the ark of the covenant back several chapters later in the first book of Samuel. The unintended happens in life sometimes and our actions can bring about that which we were fearing would happen. 

We celebrate a very interesting saint from 6th century Ireland today - St Ita of Killeedy located in county Limerick. A nun, she founded a school and convent in Killeedy. It is said that St Brendan was one of her students at the school. St. Ita was once asked by St. Brendan what were the three things which God most detested. She replied: a scowling face, a will that clings to wrong-doing, and placing too great a confidence in the power of money. Brendan then asked her what are the three things that God especially loves. She answered: true faith in God with a pure heart, a simple religious life, and being generous in charity. A holy well and Catholic Church are located today on the site of her former convent.