10 May 2026 - bulletin reflection for the 6th Sunday of Easter

It seems like there is never any downtime for most of us in the modern world. It seems like we have busy lives and busy schedules all the time. Yet, we are called to make our journey of faith a priority in our lives. We make time for a lot of other things, but we are called to make time for the Lord, to make that the center of our lives. It is still the first part of May, and we have already had our first Friday devotion, our first Saturday devotion, our first Wednesday evening of adoration, our first communion Mass with our children, and our healing Mass for the month. We will still have a lot going on at Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception during the summer months. I hope you will join us. Blessings. Happy Mother’s Day weekend to everyone. Father Lincoln. 

10 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 6th Sunday of Easter

Introduction: We are nearing the end of our celebration of the Easter seasons, as we celebrate the risen Christ in our weekend liturgies in a special ways. We will close out the Easter season in the next two weekends with our celebrations of the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost. As we reflect on the meaning of Christ’s resurrection and the paschal mysteries, may we always feel the joy of the risen Lord in our hearts. 

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

Christ Jesus - you lead us on the path of holiness. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to keep God’s commandments. 

Priest: As you promise to send us the spirit of truth to accompany us on our faith journey, we present our prayers to you today with faith and hope: 

1. That Jesus’ commandment to love one another may motivate ministries of outreach in the Church to those in need. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That we may care for our planet and all its inhabitants with wise stewardship and reverence, recognizing the Creator in all of creation. We pray to the Lord. 

3. As we celebrate May as the Month of Mary, we pray that we united our prayers with Mary’s prayers. May we grow in our devotion to her. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who are afflicted and ill in body, mind, or spirit, May the Lord release them from all that holds them down and liberate them in new life in Christ. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers. That the Lord may strengthen them and guide them and their families in their lives of faith. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For those who are struggling in different ways on their journey. That the Holy Spirit lead them in the right direction and restore them to wholeness. We pray to the Lord.  

7. For all who have died. For our deceased family members and loved ones. For their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: As we continue our journey through the Easter season, may we feel the joy of the risen Lord accompanying us each step of the ways. We make our prayers through your son Jen Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.  

8 May 2026 - homily for Friday of the 6th week of Easter - Acts 15:22-31

What are the essential requirements to be a disciple of Christ? The Early Church needed to decide the answer to that question. The community leaders gathered at Jerusalem, deciding that circumcision should not be imposed on the non-Jewish converts to the Way of Jesus. They promulgated this decision to the wider Church. Antioch was a great center of Greek speaking followers of the Way of Jesus, both Jewish and Gentile converts alike. Besides Paul and Barnabas being sent to Antioch to represent the Church in Jerusalem, they also sent others from the Jerusalem community. Significantly, they announced their statement with these words: “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us…”  They find it important to say that they are not only speaking in their own name, but also with the endorsement of the Holy Spirit in their decision. In the last few days in our first readings from Acts, as we heard of the decisions that were made by the Church and of the ways that the Holy Spirit accompanied the Church and her leaders. The leaders discerned how the Spirit was working with them as they made their decisions guided by the Spirit. Sometimes the Holy Spirit can lead us to decisions that we would not make on our own. In recent years, it seems like there has been a distrust and a rebellion against authority figures in our country. Perhaps that distrust has been warranted in some cases. Let us pray today and everyday for our Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz and the other Bishops, and all of our Church leaders.  They certainly need our prayers, our love, and our support.   

3 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 5th Sunday in Easter - prison ministry

Priest: Penitential Rite: 

Lord Jesus - you will prepare a dwelling place for us. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us the joy of your resurrection. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the hope of eternal life in you.

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

1. For all of us who receive the Eucharist at Mass each week. We pray that the Lord continue to live within us as Jesus enters our lives in a special way in the Eucharist. We pray for all the children at Holy Savior Catholic Church who are receiving the Eucharist for the first time this weekend. We pray to the Lord. 

2. As we seek to follow Christ, that we in the Church may show the world the way to the Father. We pray to the Lord.

3. We pray that our national and world leaders choose the path of peace over the ways of violence and conflict. We pray for those communities and countries divided by violence and war. We pray for peace especially in the Middle East and Ukraine. We pray to the Lord.

4. For all deacons, whose ministry of service dates back to the early days of the Church. For all transitional and permanent deacons in our diocese. We pray to the Lord.

5. For those whose hearts are troubled. For those who have lost their way. For those who are in need of guidance and support. That they might find what they need in our community of faith. We pray to the Lord.

6. For the men in the BUM unit here at CMCF. For all here at CMCF who are battling addictions and different demons in their lives. For strength and courage. We pray to the Lord. 

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

8. For our deceased family members and loved ones. 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: God of love and mercy, your son Jesus Christ shows us the way to you. Teach us to follow him more closely. Hear these our prayers that we make in his name, for he is our risen Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

7 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 5th week of Easter

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

Christ Jesus - you bless us on our journey. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us Easter joy. 

Priest: With Easter joy, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father. 

1. That all who are ill may find new life and healing in Christ. 

2. That we may all appreciate the gift of nature and God’s creation. 

3. We pray for our farmers and gardeners. For good weather and an abundant harvest. 

4. That the gift of Christ’s peace settle in the hearts of all the human family. 

5. That those who struggle with faith may be liberated by the Word of God and grow in their relationship with God. 

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

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

8 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 5th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you tend your flock. 

Christ Jesus - you lead your people to God’s kingdom. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and redeemer. 

Priest: With faith and hope in the risen Christ, we present our prayer to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church throughout the world. May our faith in God’s love influence our word and our actions. 

2. For peace in our world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women serving in the military. 

3. For the poor, the homeless, and the unemployed. May God help them in the midst of their reality. 

4. For the protection and sanctity of human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

5. That the children and youth of our parish may grow in wisdom and grace on their journey of faith. For a good end to the school year. 

6. For evangelizers, missionaries, and lay ministers. 

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, you are present in our midst. We pray that you continue to lead us and guide us as we commemorate the Easter season. We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

7 May 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 5th week of Easter - apparition of St Rafael in Cordoba Spain - John 15:9-11

In the year 1578, the city of Córdoba in southern Spain was suffering from devastating plagues and unrest. Starting on May 7 of that year, Father Andrés de las Roelas, a devout priest, began receiving supernatural visions of a radiant figure. The heavenly visitor identified himself as St. Raphael, the Archangel. Rafael spoke these reassuring words to the priest: “I swear to you by Jesus Christ crucified that I am Raphael, whom the Lord has placed as guardian of this city.” This divine revelation brought immense consolation to the people of Córdoba. They believed that St. Raphael had been sent by God to protect their city from further calamities. Following this apparition, the city of Córdoba grew in devotion to  the Archangel Raphael. Many miracles were attributed to his intercession. The people built shrines and statues in his honor. The apparition of St. Raphael in Córdoba is a powerful reminder that God sends his angels to watch over his people. The basilica of St Rafael in Córdoba was built on the spot of the apparition in the late 18th and early 19th century in honor of the city’s devotion to the archangel Rafael. 

 In the Gospel of John, right after Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples, he delivered a series of discourses to them.  Yesterday,  we heard one of those discourses, where Jesus explained that he was the vine and that his disciples are the branches, that they are intrinsically connected. Today, we hear an explanation of that Gospel story that consists of only three short verses. Jesus summarizes God’s law in the concept of Agape love, of a love that is unselfish and that reaches out to the well-being other person. Jesus wants us to love our neighbor in a way that would willingly suffer inconvenience and discomfort as a part of that love.  This love is called to be rooted in our faith and in our relationship with Jesus. May we always abide in God’s love as disciples of Christ. 

6 May 2026 - homily for Wednesday of the 5th week of Easter - John 15:1-8

Born into a peasant family in Riva, Italy in 1842, Dominic Savio was a student with John Bosco in Turin. As a young man, he was a gifted organizer and a peacemaker in the community. He founded a group called the Company of the Immaculate Conception, which help teach boys manual labor. He spent many hours in prayer. His health, however, was always frail. He died at the age of 15 in 1857.  John Bosco, who hoped that Dominic would Jon his order as a priest, wrote an account of his life. He was canonized in 1954. He is remembered for his religious piety, his deep devotion to the Eucharist, his love for liturgical music and ministry, and his devotion to being an altar server at mass. He is the patron saint of choirboys. 

We are connected to Jesus in many ways in our lives of faith. As Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we receive our salvation through him through the new life we receive in the waters of baptism and in the way we live out our baptismal promises each day. We are connected to Jesus through the Eucharist we receive at Mass. We are connected to him through our membership in the body of Christ, the Church. We are connected to him in the way we serve our neighbor through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.  As Jesus is the vine and we are the branches connected to him, he gives us life, nourishment, and support.  

2 May 2026 - Prayers of the faithful for the First Saturday Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima - prayers of the faithful for the Saturday of the 4th week of Easter

Penitential Rite: 

Lord Jesus, you the Prince of Peace: Lord, have mercy.

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

Lord Jesus, you are Word of God: Lord, have mercy.

Prayers of the faithful:  

Priest:  God graciously blesses us with his love and mercy. We now bring forward our needs to God with confidence as we commemorate our first Saturday Devotion this morning, dedicated to Mary, Our Lady of Fatima

1. That those who follow Christ may grow in their faith during the celebration of the Easter season. 

2. That God will grant wisdom to our governmental leaders in the decisions they make and in the challenges they face. 

3. For peace in our communities that are torn apart by violence, terrorism, anger, or conflict. For peace throughout the world, especially in the Middle East and Ukraine. For the safety and well-being of the men and women serving in the military. 

4. That we may all work for reconciliation, peace, and justice in our relationships and in our families.  

5. That our Mother Mary, Our Lady of Fatima, be an example to all of us in her patience, compassion, and love.  

6. For Pope Leo XIV and all our Church leaders. For wisdom for them as they lead and guide the people of God. 

7. For the sick and the afflicted.  For our dearly departed family members and loved ones, that perpetual light may shine on them.

8. For those prayers we hold in our hearts.  

PRIEST: Gracious God, you bless your people with peace and justice. As we commemorate our Mother Mary, Our Lady of Fatima, we ask that you accept our prayers and give us your help, through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever. Amen.

2 May 2026 - homily for the Saturday of the 4th week of Easter - St Athanasius - Acts 13:44-52

Many of the Jews were not open to hearing the Gospel of Jesus proclaimed to him. In the early Church, it was first assumed that the Gospel message was reserved entirely for the Jewish people, that salvation was only open to them. But then Paul felt the call to preach the Gospel to the Gentile, a huge shift in their evangelization efforts. Many of the Gentiles received this message positively, arousing fear and jealousy amongst the Jews. 

As the early Church developed and great, Jesus’ humanity and divinity were the subject of a great deal of discussion and controversy. The Arian heresy arose as a part of this controversy, named after Arius, a teacher and presbyter who lived in Alexandria, Egypt in the 4th century.  Arius argued that Jesus was a created being with divine attributes rather than a being who was eternally divine. Arius and his beliefs were labeled as heresy at the Council of Nicea in the year 325 AD. Jesus’ eternal divine nature was professed in the Nicene Creed. I bring up the Arian heresy because the saint we celebrate today, St Athanasius, was instrumental in defeating this heresy. Athanasius was a strong voice in this debate in his role as Bishop of Alexandria, an important leadership position in the Early Church. This controversy was so heated in the Early Church that Athanasius was exiled five times for his defense of the doctrine of Christ’s divinity. His writings on the Arian heresy are considered important theological works in the history of the Church, earning Athanasius the title of Doctor of the Church. Among his celebrated writings is the Life of St Anthony of the Desert, a biography of the famous Desert Father. This biography of Anthony and his teachings are said to have had a big influence on the development of monasticism in the Western Church. We celebrate St Athanasius today and unite our prayer to his prayers today. 

6 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 5th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - You bring us Easter joy. 

Christ Jesus - You bring us hope. 

Lord Jesus - You bring us the good news of the Gospel. 

Priest: We present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That we as a Church may be strengthened in our life of discipleship through the breaking of the bread that we share together. 

2. That the resurrection of Christ that we joyfully celebrate during the Easter season enable us to live with a great sense of meaning and purpose. 

3. That we may bring our lives, our experiences, and our relationships to the Eucharist that we celebrate in the Mass, allowing us to grow in wisdom and understanding. 

4. For a deepening of our love and hunger for the Word of God. 

5. That as individuals and as a community, the Spirit of God will guide our daily journeys and bring us hope. 

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

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

5 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 5th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are the vine and we are the branches. 

Christ Jesus - you lead us to new life. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to have hope. 

Priest: With the Easter joy of the risen Lord, we now bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz , and all our Church leaders. May they learn wisdom and patience from God, leading their people in justice and peace.  

2. That Christians everywhere may be instruments of healing and forgiveness in their families and in their communities. 

3. For persecuted Christians and for all who suffer for the Gospel. That God will give them patience and guide them in following the example of Jesus who entrusted himself to God’s providence. 

4. For all who are discerning a call to ministry. That they will recognize God’s invitation, open their hearts to God who loves them, and follow Jesus in serving others.  

5. For healing for the sick and the afflicted. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  

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

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

5 May 2026 - homily for Tuesday of the 5th week of Easter - Acts 14:19-28

Nunzio Sulprizio was born in 1817 in Italy. His father died when he was Nunzio was three years old. He was treated poorly by his stepfather and at the blacksmith shop where he worked as a apprentice as a boy.  Due to injuries from his ill heath and the abuse he endured, he entered a hospital in Naples.  He always relied on his faith to survive. Through his uncle, he met a colonel in the Italian military who became his surrogate father. He aspired to be a missionary. But his ill health and the injuries he endured through ill-treatment caused him to die at the age of 19. He was known for his patience and his great faith. Nunzio was canonized in 2018 by Pope Francis. His canonization miracle involved the healing of a young man who had been injured in a motorcycle accident and who went into a coma which was expected to leave him in a vegetative state. A relic from Blessed Nunzio was placed in this young man’s room. After a week of prayers from his family, the young man woke from his coma. 

As we hear about St Nunzio Sulprizio and the challenges he faced on his journey, we hear about the challenges Paul face in his travels in our reading from the Acts of the Apostles. In some villages, Paul is welcomed warmly and he is able to win over many converts for the faith. Yet, in one place as described in today’s reading, Paul is stoned and dragged to the outskirts of the city and left for dead.  No matter how Paul is treated and no matter what obstacles and challenges stand in his way, he never gives up in spreading the Gospel throughout the land. He goes from town to town bringing Christ’s message wherever he goes. May these great examples of faith give us inspiration on our own journey and in the challenges we face. 

3 May 2026 - homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter CYCLE A - homily for the first communion mass - John 14:1-12

We are exited to be celebrating first holy Eucharist with all of our children this morning who have been preparing throughout the year. Their teachers have worked hard with them. They have all received the sacrament of first reconciliation. And they are now ready for this big step today on their journey of faith. We are very proud of all of you children. We celebrate with great joy with you and your families today. 

We have been hearing readings throughout the Easter season that help us understand Jesus’ resurrection after he had been put to death on the cross, what that resurrection means for us on our journey of faith, the salvation and the new life we receive in Jesus. 

Last weekend, boys and girls, you may remember that we spoke about Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep. We always have Uno up here at Mass with us, don’t we? He represents the sheep that Jesus needs to reach out to with special love and care. Jesus is always looking out for us, isn't he? He is always with us on our journey. Uno always reminds us of that. 

Jesus promises eternal life with him and with the father for those of us who are his disciples. Jesus says that he is going to prepare a place for us so that we can be with him. Later in the Easter season, Jesus is going to ascend into heaven and will send us the Holy Spirit to help us on our journey. Today, he speaks about the eternal life that we will have in our faith, how after our life here on earth is finished, we will have eternal life with God in heaven. This is what our celebration of Easter is all about. How Jesus changes everything for us. 

We not only have our parish here at Holy Savior, part of the universal Catholic Church and the Catholic Church here in the Diocese of Jackson led by Bishop Kopacz. We have a church with our family as well. And that church is very important too. Your parents and your families form you in your faith. Your families have helped you prepare for today when you will receive the Eucharist for the first, Jesus entering your lives in a special way. This host is now a regular wafer of bread. Later in the Mass, in our Eucharistic prayer and in our consecration, it will become the body and blood of Christ. It will become food that nourishes us on our journey of faith. The word we have for the body and blood of Christ, Eucharist, actually has its origins in a Greek word that mean thanksgiving, gratitude, or giving thanks. We give thanks for the gift of Jesus that you are going to receive for the first time today, boys and girls. 

We always celebrate first holy Eucharist in the midst of the Easter season, when we celebrate the risen Christ is a special way. The important thing, boys and girls, is to remember the body and blood of Christ that you receive at Mass as you go about your life each day. When you are having a bad day or when things don’t seem like they are going well, remember that Jesus is with you. He is calling us to acts of kindness to our parents and siblings and other family members, to act right with our teacher and with our friends and fellow students, to help others in kindness and love. 

We are so happy for you boys and girls today. This is a day of great joy. 

Prayers of the faithful for the feast of St Joseph the Worker - 2025 May 1

Lord Jesus You grew up with Mary and Joseph in Nazareth.

Christ Jesus - You give dignity to human work. 

Lord Jesus - You are our Lord and Savior.  

PRIEST: Lord, you are the source of all holiness. We pray to our Lord God who gave St. Joseph the light and strength he needed to be faithful at all times: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and all priests. May they follow the example of St Joseph and lead us through a responsible and dedicated leadership.

2. That we in our Christian community may respect and love each other and be dedicated to our families by following the example of St Joseph.

3. That those entrusted with responsibility in various ministries of the Church set a modern Christian example for the people they lead.

4. That St Joseph the Worker may inspire all laborers and workers to work wholeheartedly in this world, seeking always to give God glory and be faithful to the duties assigned to them.

5. That through the intercession of  St Joseph, all humanity may find the opportunity to have secure employment and a fitting standard of living. We pray to the Lord.

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

PRIEST: Heavenly Father, we praise you for having led St Joseph to serve your son Jesus and his Mother Mary so faithfully. We ask that you help us to be faithful to our responsibilities and serve you with love. We ask this through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever. AMEN. 

1 May 2025 - homily for Friday of the 4th week of Easter - homily for the feast of St Joseph the worker - Acts 13:26-33

We have a lot of different examples of holiness in the lives of the saints. Just this week, on Tuesday, we celebrated St Catherine of Siena, a Dominican lay woman who lived in the 14th century and who had an incredible influence on the Church and the Church leaders of that era, leading her to be named a Doctor of the Church in the late 20th century. Then, yesterday, we commemorated Pope Pius V, who was named pope in the era of the Protestant Reformation and who was entrusted to implement the reforms and renewal that came out of the Council of Trent. Today, we celebrate Joseph, the spouse of Mary, as St Joseph the worker. Pope Pius XII instituted this feast day in 1955 to foster devotion to St Joseph as a model of faith and holiness and to counter-balance the May Day celebrations of the communist countries of Europe. This feast day is inspired by Joseph’s life of holiness as the humble hard-working carpenter who has inspired the Catholic example of the worker for centuries, emphasizing the dignity and respect we have for human labor and the way it contributes to our families and our society.  Beginning with the story of creation in the Book of Genesis, the dignity of human work has been celebrated as us participating in the creative work of God.

Just as St Joseph the carpenter and foster father of Jesus is a great example of the holiness of human labor for us in the modern world, we must remember that Jesus worked as a carpenter too. He learned carpentry from Joseph by working working with him. Jesus spent his early adult years working in Joseph’s carpentry shop before the start of his ministry. John Paul II stated in his encyclical On Human Work: “[Christ], while being God, became like us in all things devoted most of the years of his life on earth to manual work at the carpenter’s bench. This circumstance constitutes in itself the most eloquent ‘Gospel of work’, showing that the basis for determining the value of human work is not primarily the kind of work being done but the fact that the one who is doing it is a person.” Later in the same document, John Paul II states: “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated…”

In addition to this feast day of St Joseph the worker today and the feast day of Joseph the spouse of Mary on March 19, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph the patron of the universal Church in 1870. Just as Paul and the other apostles and disciples in the Early Church are great examples of faith for us as heard in our readings from the Acts of the Apostles during the Easter season, we honor St Joseph today in his example of holiness and his example of the dignity of human work. 

3 May 2026 - homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter - John 14:1-12

Our readings on this fifth Sunday of Easter present us with the themes of dwelling places and home. We Catholics are aware that the earth is not our permanent home. We are pilgrims on a journey of faith here on earth. We are journeying toward eternal life with God in his heavenly kingdom. 

We are called to make our dwelling here on earth during this lifetime. We are to live as disciples of Christ and to proclaim God’s kingdom on our journey of faith. As disciples, we form the Church, the body of Christ here on earth. But we are also to form a domestic church in our homes with our families. Our faith is lived out each day mostly in our families in the domestic church. The words and actions of the family members form the faith of the family, the faith of the mother, father, and children. Our faith begins at home. We see this reflected in the sacrament of baptism. In a Catholic family, a child is baptized as a baby, as the parents make a profession of faith, profess the vows of their own baptism, and take responsibility for raising their child in the faith. The domestic church is to play a key role in our lives of faith and in helping us grow in holiness. The domestic home is the primary place where we are to practice intimate and selfless love of other persons.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus speak as heaven as a home that is filled with many dwelling places. “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” Jesus gives us this comforting image of the eternal life with God that awaits us in his kingdom. Jesus assures us of the personal love that God has for each one of us as he prepares for those who are faithful to him a place in the eternal kingdom. 

When I first arrived at Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception in the summer of 2022, which is hard to believe that it was 4 years ago, I met with Hunter Yentzen, the leader of the youth. One of the things we spoke about was adoration of the blessed sacrament. You might recall that I addressed adoration of the blessed sacrament at length in my homily last week. That devotion involves setting aside time to spend with the Lord’s body and blood that is present in the Eucharist as it is displayed in a special way in the church or in a prayer room in a monstrance or tabernacle. From that conversation I had with Hunter, we started adoration on the first Wednesday of each month, inviting all parishioners, but having a special emphasis in inviting our children, youth, and families. Making time for God as a family, practicing a devotion of the faith as a family, and praying to God as a family are important in the life of faith of the family, the domestic church. I want to invite you all to spend time with God in adoration. We have our first Wednesday adoration time this upcoming week from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, with confessions offered during that time as well. We have fellowship time with pizza afterwards as well. 

As we think about our family as a domestic church, how I we treating our families as such? Do we pray together as a family? Do we go to mass and adoration and participate in the life of our parish as a family? We had what I consider a good turnout for the Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent and for the liturgies of the Triduum during Holy Week, but many of our families, children, and youth did not come to any of those liturgies. Many people who consider themselves devout Catholic never come to the liturgies of the Triduum. So, again, we need to ask ourselves if we truly see ourselves in our families as a domestic church. 

As we celebrate the 5th weekend of Easter and as we hear this wonderful Gospel reading today, may we respond to this great love that God offers us by taking good, responsible care of our earthly dwellings, making our homes true “domestic churches.” In our families and in our dwelling places here on earth, may we honor and worship God with our prayers, with our thoughtfulness toward each other, and with our generous hospitality shown toward all.

3 May 2026 - bulletin reflection for the 5th Sunday of Easter

Today, our children in our first communion class will receive the eucharist for the first time. Our children and their families have been looking forward to this day with great anticipation. They have been preparing for this day all year. We are very thankful for this moment in their lives of faith. In recent years, we have had a greater discussion and emphasis in the Church on the importance of the eucharist in our lives as Catholics. We have been discussing the importance of forming a eucharistic culture in our lives and in our families and the importance of identifying ourselves as a eucharistic people. Blessings to all of you as we continue to celebrate the joyful Easter season. Father Lincoln. 

3 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 5th Sunday in Easter - Saturday vigil mass

Introduction: We continue our celebration of the Easter season on this fifth weekend of Easter. With great joy, we will celebrate first communion with our children at our Sunday morning mass at Holy Savior. We hear Jesus tell us today that our hearts should not be trouble, that our heavenly Father has many dwelling places, that Jesus will prepare a place for his disciples. With the hope of our faith, may the reality of the resurrection help us to bring the Gospel message to the world and to evangelize others. 

Priest: Penitential Rite: 

Lord Jesus - you will prepare a dwelling place for us. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us the joy of your resurrection. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the hope of the eternal life in you.

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

1. For our children who are receiving the Eucharist for the first time at Holy Savior this weekend. We pray that the Lord continue to lead them and guide them and their family as they continue to grow on their journey of faith. We pray to the Lord. 

2. As we seek to follow Christ, that we in the Church may show the world the way to the Father. We pray to the Lord.

3. We pray that our national and world leaders choose the path of peace over the ways of violence and conflict. We pray for those communities and countries divided by violence and war. We pray for peace especially in the Middle East.  We pray to the Lord.

4. For all deacons, whose ministry of service dates back to the early days of the Church. For all transitional and permanent deacons in our diocese. We continue to pray for Hunter Yentzen and Chris Halliwell as they continue their diaconate formation program. We pray to the Lord.

5. For those whose hearts are troubled. For those who have lost their way. For those who are in need of guidance and support. That they might find what they need in our community of faith. We pray to the Lord.

6. For the sick and afflicted of our community. We pray for healing in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord.

7. For our deceased family members and loved ones. For their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord.

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

Priest: God of love and mercy, your son Jesus Christ shows us the way to you. Teach us to follow him more closely. Hear these our prayers that we make in his name, for he is our risen Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

3 May 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 5th Sunday of Easter - prayers of the faithful for First communion Mass - 10:30 am Sunday at Holy Savior

Introduction: We continue our celebration of the Easter season on this fifth weekend of Easter. With great joy, we also celebrate first communion with our children this morning. We hear Jesus tell us today that our hearts should not be trouble, that our heavenly Father has many dwelling places, that Jesus will prepare a place for his disciples. With the hope of our faith, may the reality of the resurrection help us to bring the Gospel message to the world and to evangelize others. 

Priest: Penitential Rite: 

Lord Jesus - you will prepare a dwelling place for us. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us the joy of your resurrection. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the hope of the eternal life in you. 

Prayers of the faithful:
PRIEST: On this 5th Sunday of the Easter season, we pray that all of us may be drawn more intimately into God’s love and mercy. We offer our prayers today for our needs and the needs of the world around us.


1. For God’s Church, that we may hear the call to be witnesses to the joy of Christ’s resurrection in the world. We pray to the Lord.


2. That we may be good stewards of our environment and take good care of God’s creation. We pray to the Lord.


3. For those who are who are hungry, for the poor, and for those in need. May we reach out to the them in works of mercy. We pray to the Lord 


4. For our first responders and for the men and women in the military. For all who protect us. We pray to the Lord.

5. For peace throughout the world. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For our children receiving first holy communion this morning and for their families. May they feel the joy of receiving Christ through the Eucharist. We pray to the Lord. 


7. For those who are sick in our parish community and in our families. For healing for them. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For our family members and loved ones who have died. 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: We are the people you shepherd, O God. We are the flock you guide. Hear these our prayers and graciously grant them through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever. AMEN. 

30 April 2026 - Pope Pius V - homily for Thursday of the 4th week of Easter - John 13:16-20

Today, we celebrate the feast day of Pope Pius V. He was elected pope in 1566. He served as pope for six years. He was born to a very poor family in the Piedmont regions of Italy. He worked as a shepherd until the age of 14, at which time he entered the Dominicans. As pope, Pius saw his main objective as the continuation of the massive program of reform for the Church, in particular the full implementation of the decrees of the Council of Trent that occurred after the Protestant Reformation. That council took place from 1545 to 1563. While pope, he published the Roman Catholic Catechism, the revised Roman Breviary, and the Roman Missal. He declared Thomas Aquinas a Doctor of the Church, issued a new edition of the works of Thomas Aquinas, and created a commission to revise the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible. The decrees of the Council of Trent were published throughout all Catholic lands, with Pope Pius V insisting on their strict adherence in response to the Reformation. 

We hear of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Passover meal from John’s Gospel today, a reading that was front and center during Holy Thursday in the midst of Jesus’ journey to the cross. We hear this reading again during the Easter season. It is a different context, but the message of being a servant and living out our faith in humility and service still speaks to us on our journey of faith. It is sometimes difficult hearing this message of service in the midst of our busy lives and in the midst of trying to get everything done. I think we all need to ponder how God is calling us to serve him and to serve our neighbor in humility and trust. 

22 April 2026 - Catholic prayer for earth day

I adapted this prayer for Earth Day 2026 from the Sisters of Mercy and from the Catholic Health Association: 

Let us pray: We are called to see ourselves and each other as earthen vessels created by God. As earthen vessels, we are called to care for God’s gifts in the world. Our world is fragile and in need of our love, support, and responsible stewardship.  May our hands align with God's hands in caring for his creation here on earth. We pray for: 

- Trees, plants, crops, and forests.  

-  Oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. 

-  Air, wind, and weather.

-  The sun, the moon, clean energy, and prevention of global warming. 

-  Animals, especially those animals that are endangered and who are losing their habitat. 

-  All humankind.  

- Recycling and prudent and moderate personal consumption of the earth's resources. 

 - Proper use of chemicals and disposal of toxic waste. 

-  The earth and the unity of all creation .  

Creator God, we thank you for all of creation. We ask your forgiveness for the times we have failed to be good stewards. We ask for your guidance in restoring the face of the earth. May we learn to live in harmony and in the just sharing of resources among all so that we may work toward the kingdom of God.  Peace be to this community. Peace be to this land. Peace be to all people. Peace to all of creation.  In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

26 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 4th Sunday of Easter - prison ministry

Lord Jesus - You are our Good Shepherd. 

Christ Jesus - You are the the gate through which we enter salvation. 

Lord Jesus - You look for the lost sheep. 

Priest: With faith and hope today, we present our prayers through Jesus, our Good Shepherd: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. May they form and nurture their flock with the love and compassion of the Good Shepherd. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For vocations in our Church to the priesthood, the diaconate, consecrated religious life, and lay ministry. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For our children and for all students. For a good end to the school year for them. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That we may reach out to the poor, the vulnerable, and the suffering through works of mercy. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That our civil leaders may always promote a culture of spirituality. For the freedom to practice our religion. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For our deceased loved ones and family members. That they achieve eternal union with God. We pray to the Lord.

7. For peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women in the military. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: We ask these prayers through Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. He does not neglect his flock in their need. He is our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

30 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 4th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God - Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus - you bring us the love of your Father - Christ have mercy.

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

PRIEST: As we celebrate the joyful Easter season, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For all who follow Christ in their daily lives, that his love may be visible in their words and actions.

2. For those who seek Christ's truth in the reality of life, that the Holy Spirit lead us and guide us each day.

3. For our children and youth, that they always find hope and encouragement on their journey of faith.

4. For all who are suffering or struggling in any way, and for all who need healing of body, mind or spirit: that the love of family, friends, and neighbors may remind them of God’s loving care.

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

6. For those prayers we hold in our hearts today.

PRIEST: Heavenly Father, we ask that you continue to lead and guide your people during the Easter season. Hear the prayers we make through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever. Amen.

29 April 2026 - St Catherine of Siena - homily for Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter - Acts 12:24—13:5a

I just finished reading the biography of St Catherine of Siena written by the famous Norwegian author Sigrid Undset, who had won the Nobel prize for literature in 1928. It was quite an amazing book, detailing the life of an Italian mystic who lived at the 14th century and who died at the young age of 33. She was a Dominican lay woman who had considerable influence in advising popes and other lay leaders. This was the era in which it was disputed who actually was pope and when the popes were in exile in France, quite a tumultuous time in Church history.  There was a lot of political turmoil in Italy at the time as well.  And from the details of the biography, Catherine seemed immeshed in so much of the intrigue of that era, always traveling with a large group of people who were her followers and friends. In 1990, Pope John Paul II named her one of the patron saints of Europe.  She was named a Doctor of Church by Pope Paul VI.  This quote of hers reflects the courage and zeal with which she lived out her faith: “Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear.”

We have had readings from the Acts of Apostles during these weeks of the Easter season. Last week, we heard about the stoning of Stephen, in which a man named Saul was a participant. We heard about Saul’s persecution of followers of Jesus.  Saul has a great conversion and he becomes a great evangelizer in the Christian community.  Today, we hear about the preaching of Saul and Barnabas, how they were chosen by the Holy Spirit to work in the community and to go to a special mission to Cyprus.  Saul will later be known by the name Paul. He becomes the great evangelizer to the Gentiles of the Ancient world. As we hear about the stories of the early Church from Acts, we might think about the ways that God calls us to spread Christ’s Good News in our words and our actions. All of us in our own way and with our own gifts can help bring this Gospel message to others. 

29 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you fill us with Easter joy. 

Christ Jesus - you accompany us on our journey of faith. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Priest: Gathered around the altar of the Lord, we bring our prayer petitions on behalf of all who are in need

1. That we in the Church may find ways to preach the word and to serve our neighbor. 

2. For our elected leaders. May they serve with wisdom, compassion, and humility. 

3. For an end to violence and terrorism in our nation and throughout the world. For peace in the Ukraine and the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women serving in the military. 

4. For our students who are completing their semester at school. For all our graduates. 

5. That we will come to see the Lord Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. 

6. For the sick and the afflicted. For the faithful departed. 

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

Priest: God of all, you sent your only Son to us as a sign of hope and faith. Help us always to keep his way firmly in our sights as we make these prayers to you in his name, Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

19 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 3rd Sunday in Easter Cycle A - prison ministry

Lord Jesus, you are a fountain of God’s grace and mercy. 


Christ Jesus, you give us food for our journey in the Eucharist. 

Lord Jesus: you are the way that leads us to new life. 

Priest: As we continue our journey through the Easter season, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That we may always live as a eucharistic people and promote a eucharistic culture at CMCF.  We pray to the Lord. 

2. For our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. That they may lead their people to a richer appreciation of the presence of the Lord in the breaking of the bread. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For our civic leaders and the people whom they serve, especially the most vulnerable. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That we Christians may not drift from meeting the Lord each week in the Eucharist. For a greater love for the Mass. We pray to the Lord. 

5. Our prayers go out to our family members, our spouses, and our children. May the Lord watch over them. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the sick, the afflicted, and those battling addictions. May they know the care and love of Christ. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and in the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women serving in the military. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For our deceased loved ones and family members. For their eternal union with God. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, we present these prayers the risen Christ. He is our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

28 April 2026 - Prayers of the faithful - TUESDAY OF the 4th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you tend your lambs - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you feed your sheep - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you shepherd your flock - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: With faith and hope in the risen Christ, we present our prayer to our God of love and mercy: 

1. For the Church throughout the world. May our faith in the love God be expressed in our love for one another. 

2. For peace in our world. May all lands that suffer violence and injustice find peace and reconciliation. We pray especially for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine. We pray for safety for the men and women serving in the military. 

3. For the poor, the homeless, and for those who are unemployed. May our care and concern for those in need be a sign of God’s mercy and love. 

4. For the protection and sanctity of human life. May all people be treated with the dignity they deserve. May we respect all human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. 

5. For the children of our parish who are preparing for the Sacrament of first holy communion. May they grow in wisdom and grace on their journey of faith. 

6. For the sick and the afflicted.  For those battling addictions. For those who need healing and reconciliation in their lives. 

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, you are present in our midst. We pray that you continue to lead us and guide us as we celebrate the Easter season. We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

28 April 2026 - homily for Tuesday of the 4th week of Easter - Acts 11:19-26

Peter Chanel was born in France in 1803. He worked as a shepherd as a young by. He became a parish priest, but was intrigued by the letters sent home by missionaries to places like India and the Americas since he was a young boy. He joined the society of Mary, known as the Marists, as a young priest. That order was in the early stages of its formation. He spent his first years as a Marist serving as a spiritual director at their seminary. He traveled as a missionary to the Canary Islands, Chile, and the South Pacific Islands, establishing Marist mission sites at those places. He served as a missionary on the island of Futuna in the South Pacific near Fiji. He was killed there in 1841 in a dispute and is considered to be a martyr of the faith. He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954. He is one of the patron saints of the Oceania area of the South Pacific. 

In the Acts of the Apostles today, we hear how news reaches the Church in Jerusalem about how the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles in Antioch. This was quite startling news, since to this point, the Gospel message was just being presented to the Jews. Barnabas was sent to Antioch to investigate what was going on. When he recognized God’s grace at work, he encouraged the evangelizers in their efforts to spread Christ’s Gospel message. 

Missionary efforts continue in different ways. We heard about Peter Chanel’s missionary work in the South Pacific in the 19th century. I find that many of the men whom I serve in the prison have not been introduced to a lot of the basic concepts of Christianity. We here in the Church in modern America have a lot of missionary work to do as well. May we hear God calling us to be missionary in spirit and to be evangelizers for our faith. 

26 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 4th Sunday in the Easter season

Introduction: We welcome you to Mass this weekend as we celebrate Jesus as our Good Shepherd in the midst of the joyful Easter season. Jesus cares for and nurtures us with the love of the Good Shepherd. He is the gate through which we enter the path of salvation. May we received Jesus today with open hearts as he is present to us in word and sacrament. 

Lord Jesus - You are our Good Shepherd. 

Christ Jesus - You are the the gate through which we enter salvation. 

Lord Jesus - You look for the lost sheep. 

Priest: With faith and hope today, we present our prayers through Jesus, our Good Shepherd: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. May they form and nurture their flock with the love and compassion of the Good Shepherd. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For vocations in our Church to the priesthood, the diaconate, consecrated religious life, and lay ministry. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That we in our parish and our Diocese be active in supporting the vocations of our children, youth, college students, and young adults. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That we may reach out to the poor, the vulnerable, and the suffering through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That our civil leaders may always promote a culture of spirituality in our society. For the freedom to practice our religion. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For our deceased loved ones and family members. That they achieve eternal union with God. We pray to the Lord.

7. For peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women serving in the military.  We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: We ask these prayers through Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. He does not neglect his flock in their need. He is our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

26 April 2026 - bulletin the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend, we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, which always falls on the 4th Sunday of the Easter season, in which we have a Gospel reading about Jesus as the shepherd caring for his flock. This weekend is also the annual world day of prayer for vocations, in which we not only pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, but also for vocations to the diaconate and lay ministry. The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd speaks to all of us. Our children love the presence of Uno the lost sheep in our sanctuary area of Holy Savior, representing the lost sheep that Jesus goes out of his way to search for. Blessings to all of you on Good Shepherd Sunday. Father Lincoln. 

26 April 2026 - homily for the 4th Sunday of the Easter Season cycle A - John 10:1-10

In the Old Testament, the Jewish nation was presented the model of the Good Shepherd. In the 23rd psalm, we are told: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. The prisoners asked me a while back about my favorite Bible verses, and after a lot of reflection, since as a priest so much of Scripture speaks to me in different ways, I see the verses from the 23rd psalm and about Jesus being the Good shepherd speaking to me in a very profound way. 

Jesus as the Good Shepherd speaks to all of us, no matter who we are. We have Uno the lost sheep here with us every Sunday during Mass. I got the idea of having Uno when I visited a parish in New Hampshire in the town of Alton, on the shore of beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee. The priest there had a couple of stuffed lambs in the altar area; I noticed that they moved places in between the masses there. I love having Uno here to speak to our children, to show them that they are important to us and are an important part of our Catholic community here in our parish. 

In our Gospel today from John, Jesus tells us that he is the gate for his sheep, that whoever enters through him will be saved. Jesus is the fulfillment of the good shepherd that is spoken about in the 23rd psalm and elsewhere in the Old Testament. The shepherd enters through the gate to take care of the sheep, not to oppress them or harm them or lead them astray. The sheep recognize the good shepherd’s authority and they follow him where he leads them. Jesus leads his people to salvation, taking them out of the darkness of the world. The work of the good shepherd is the work that was entrusted in him by the Father, the work by which Jesus was sent into the world. Jesus is the gate of salvation for all. We are called to trust Jesus and to follow him as the good shepherd. 

We have a lot of voices around us that can challenge what we believe in our faith and lead us away from the path of the Good Shepherd.  In movies, TV, songs, and social media, we can get a lot of messages that are contrary to the values of our faith. 

Do we listen to those other voices? Do we follow a path that leads us down a different road away from our faith? Or do we listen to our Good Shepherd and follow him? 

This year is the 63rd anniversary of the world day of prayer for vocations. According to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, the purpose of this day of prayer is to publicly fulfill the Lord's instruction to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.” This day of prayer affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate, consecrated religious life, and lay ministry. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), consecrated life in all its forms (male and female religious life, societies of apostolic life, consecrated virginity, secular institutes), and to the missionary life. We pray for vocations today. We will have an ordination of a new priest, Will Foggo, on May 17 this year. We will have the ordination of our new deacons on July 17, including Hunter Yentzen and Chris Hallewell. We pray for all those men in a special way and for an increase in vocations. 

I want to mention adoration of the blessed sacrament in today’s homily. The devotions of our Church help us deepen our Catholic faith and deepen our relationship with Jesus. Adoration is a special devotion where we spend time with Jesus in the Eucharist. We have an adoration room in our religious eduction building here at Holy Savior. That room is available 24 hours a day for the opportunity to be present with Jesus in the blessed sacrament of the eucharist and to pray in his presence is quiet holy space reserved for prayer and adoration. In addition, we have different times in our parish to pray as a part of our community with the blessed sacrament. We have adoration this upcoming Saturday from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in our first Saturday devotion, which is associated with the apparition of Mary in Our Lady of Fatima. We also have adoration on the first Wednesday evening of the month from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, which is May 6 next month. I want to invite all of you to join us for adoration of the blessed sacrament, to experience the presence of Jesus in your life in this profound way. 

24 April 2026 - homily for Friday of the 3rd week of Easter - St Fidelis - John 6:52-59

Born in 1577 in the era of the Protestant reformation, St Fidelis started his professional life as a lawyer in Germany. However, he became disenchanted in practicing law and decided to dedicate himself to serving God in a consecrated religious community, joining the Capuchin Franciscans, of which his brother was a member. He very boldly lived out his faith and proclaim the faith in word and in action as a Capuchin Franciscan. He was sent to minister in different regions of Germany, where his preaching and ministry transformed entire communities. He often cared for the sick, especially in outbreaks of disease. For his great zeal for the faith, he was chosen to lead a mission delegation the country of Switzerland to bring people back to the Catholic faith. He would spend many hours in prayer and was a great example of faith for the people in both his words and his way of life. His example led people to criticize him and to threaten his life and to spread false accusations about him. One evening, he was shot at when delivering a homily at Mass. Leaving the Mass that evening, he was confronted by a group of Calvinist soldiers who killed him.  He died in 1622 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XIV in 1746. 

On this Friday in the third week of Easter, we hear from 6th chapter of John’s Gospel from the Bread of Life discourse, in which Jesus explains how he is truly present in us in his body and his blood in the Eucharist that we share. Since I have been a priest, we have had the year of the eucharist a couple of times, we have had a eucharistic revival, and our country had a eucharistic congress. We host adoration regularly in our parish. And I regularly talk about the importance of the eucharist and the importance of identifying as a eucharistic people as Catholics. Even though we come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, it is important for us to see the eucharist as central to who we are and a unifying factor of our faith. May we truly see ourselves as people of the eucharist. 

24 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 3rd week of Easter

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

Christ Jesus - you gather your people with joy.  

Lord Jesus - you give yourself to heal us and bring us strength. 

Priest:  We make our prayers known to our loving God today with hope and faith:

1. For all who follow Christ, that their faith in his resurrection may deepen. 

2. For missionaries and for all believers. May we spread Christ’s Good News throughout the world. May the joy of Easter fill us with fresh zeal for evangelization. 

3. For people who suffer in mind, body or spirit. May they experience healing and new strength. We pray for all in the hospital, hospice, and nursing home. 

4. For our children, youth and families. May the Lord accompany all of them on their journey.  

5. For those who have died recently. May God’s light may shine on them perpetually. We pray for all the faithful departed. 

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

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts.  

Priest: O Lord, you are our salvation. Your glory shines in the world to bring joy to your people. Hear our prayers and grant us your all-powerful grace, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

23 April 2026 - Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 3rd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are the Good Shepherd. 

Christ Jesus - you feed your flock. 

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

Priest: Filled with paschal joy, let us pray to God, that he, who graciously listened to the prayers and supplications of his beloved Son, may now be pleased to look upon us in our humility:

1. For the shepherds of our Church. May they have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd. 

2. For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace given by Christ. 

3. For our president, our governor and all our elected officials. May they find wisdom in their faith in God as they lead us and guide us. 

4. For our brothers and sisters who suffer in different ways. May their sorrow be turned to gladness. 

5. That we may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ in our community. 

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

Priest: As our lives in this present age are subject to suffering and need, we ask O Lord that you hear us as we cry to you. Receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

23 April 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 3rd week of Easter - Acts 8:26-40

In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about a court official to the Queen of the Ethiopians who receives the call to journey to Jerusalem to worship God. This man doesn’t really know God and doesn’t really understand what God is about, but he realizes that something is stirring within him and wants to know more. The Lord sends Philip to greet this court official, to teach him about the reading from the prophet Isaiah that he is trying to read, to teach him about the Lord of Life. Philip disappears from this scene just as quickly as he appeared, as he is sent to another land to spread the word of God to others. Yet, before he leaves, Philip baptizes the court official in a body of water that they come upon.

Think about how important it is to be teachable on our journey of faith, to be open to learning more about God. Jesus refers to his followers as “disciples,” a term that means “learners.” Thus, teachability and being about to learning about God and being formed properly in the faith are important characteristics of being a disciple of Christ. We are born tainted by the corruption of sin. Through baptism, we are reborn through Christ and cleansed of those sins. We need to be open to the transformation that can brought about by this renewal. This requires having a teachable spirit, having an inner disposition that is eager and receptive to learning about God. Being “teachable” implies a readiness and openness to acquire knowledge, whether from individuals, such as preachers, or through various forms of media, like books or classes or studies or Scripture. Are we teachable and open to learning more about our faith?  

22 April 2026 - homily for Wednesday of the 3rd week of Easter - John 6:35-40

Pope Soter was bishop of Rome from 167 to 174. He was from the Lazio region of Italy from a Greek family. He was very much interested in improving relations between Rome and the Greek Church. He is remembered for declaring that matrimony is only a valid sacrament when it celebrated by a priest. He also formally inaugurated Easter as an annual festival in Rome. He was deeply compassionate and was known for his pastoral care, particularly for persecuted Christians. He sent alms and letters of encouragement to distant Christian communities, reinforcing unity and charity within the early Church.The Roman Martyrology of the official list of recognized saints references Soter. The details of his martyrdom are not known. 

Only John's Gospel contains the words of Jesus as the bread of life contained in the 6th chapter of that Gospel: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”  Perhaps too many of us as Catholics take these words for granted. Perhaps too many of us do not think about what these words really mean, as some Catholics do not believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist, even though we are very explicit in this teaching. 

The belief in the real presence of Christ in the eucharist should affect the way we live out our lives after the mass has ended. St Ignatius of Antioch from the 1st century criticized Christians who not only did not regularly receive the Eucharist or devote time to prayer, but who also did not have time to reach to the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, the man in prison, the hungry or the thirsty. May we live as eucharistic people everyday on our journey of faith in our words and our actions. 

22 April 2026 - Prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 3rd week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you call us to Easter joy. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the light of God's kingdom.  

Priest: As we continue to celebrate the joyful seasons of Easter, we now present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For our growth as children of God. May God give us the grace and strength to love him with all our hearts and to follow God's law in our words and actions. We pray to the Lord.   

2. For the grace of reconciliation. May God help us turn away from selfishness, forgive those who have injured us, and be instruments of peace in our society. 

3. That the Holy Spirit give peacemakers wisdom and insight to help the people see the length and breadth of God’s love and mercy. 

4. That God help us recognize the healing that we can experience in that sacrament of reconciliation. 

5. For all who are questioning their faith or God presence in their lives. May the Holy Spirit guide them to new insights and help them recognize God’s presence through the witness of Christian’s love and service. 

6. For the sick and the afflicted. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of hearts. For the prayers we hold in our hearts for our loved ones, family, and friends.  

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

21 April 2026 - St Anselm - Tuesday of the 3rd week of Easter - Acts 7:51—8:1a

St Anselm is the saint we celebrate today. Anselm dedicated his life to God and to the faith, just like different disciples of Christ in the early Church that we have been hearing in our readings in the Acts of the Apostles throughout the Easter season. Anselm was born in the kingdom of Burgundy in the early 11th century in the Roman Empire. He became a Benedictine monk in the Normandy region. He was named as the Archbishop of Canterbury in England at the age of 60.  Even though Anselm was a monk and abbot, he is now remembered as one of the great theologians of Western Christianity. He is known as the Father of Scholasticism, a method of learning and reason that was employed in philosophy and theology for hundreds of years. Anselm spent many years in exile while serving as Archbishop of Canterbury trying to defend the faith against kings who overruled him and asserted their own will. I remember writing a paper on the proofs of God’s existence that Anselm put forth in a course I took in medieval philosophy while studying for the priesthood. The following quote from St Anselm reflects his steadfastness of his faith: “O Lord: my heart is made bitter by its own desolation; sweeten it by your consolation. I beseech you, O Lord, that having begun in hunger to seek you, I may not finish without partaking of you. I set out famished; let me not return unfed.”

Our reading from the Acts presents us two great men of faith. Stephen, was a man of great faith who had the courage to witness to the Gospel in the Early Church. He served as a deacon in in Jerusalem. He was brought before the Sanhedrin, accused of blasphemy. He was the first martyr in the Early Church. We celebrate Stephen’s feast day on December 26, right after Christmas. Then we have Saul, who stood there watching and approving of the killing of Stephen. Later on, Saul would change his name to Paul. After his conversion, Paul would become the great missionary to the Gentiles. Paul died a martyr’s death himself in Rome. Perhaps Paul’s conversion could be seen as a fruit of Stephen’s prayer at his death: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” The blood of the martyrs in the Early Church planted seeds of faith. In the end, both Stephen and Paul had the ability to sacrifice their lives for Christ because in Christ they found all that they had longed for and all that they had hungered for. Jesus was their life. Through Jesus, they had the courage to witness for the Gospel, even when it meant sacrificing their own lives. May both these men inspire us on our journey of faith. 

21 April 2026 - Prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 3rd week of Easter

Lord Jesus, you are a fountain of God’s grace. 

Christ Jesus, you bring us peace and wholeness. 

Lord Jesus: you leads us to new life. 

Prayers of the faithful:

PRIEST:  Inspired by God’s love and mercy, let us offer our prayers today for our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world:

1. That we in the Church may hear God’s call in our lives. May we be witnesses to Christ’s resurrection in the world. 

2. May the nations of the world work together to be good stewards of the environment and collaborate together in sharing the earth’s resources.

3. For those who are struggling in their lives. For those battling mental illness, depression, or addictions. May they feel God encouraging them on their journey. 

4. For all who yearn for justice and an end to violence, hatred, and prejudice. For peace in the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. 

5. For the sick and afflicted of our parish community. For healing and wholeness in body, mind, and spirit. 

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

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

PRIEST:  O God, we ask that you continue to guide your flock. Hear these our prayers and graciously grant them through Christ, our Lord for ever and ever. AMEN. 

19 April 2026 - homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Cycle A - Luke 24:13-35

We can easily find the locations of important sites related to Jesus in the Holy Land, such as the place of his birth in Bethlehem, the garden of Gethsemane and Mount Calvary in Jerusalem, and the site of Christ’s ascension in Nazareth. However, one place that is unknown is the town of Emmaus in today’s Gospel; its location has been lost to history. 

We can relate to the story of the Road to Emmaus. This story speaks to our hearts. It opens up God’s word to us. It reflects the truth of the Mass that we celebrate in our parishes on weekends and throughout the week. Just as the disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, Jesus wants all of us to recognize the way that he is present to us in the Eucharist. 

The Road to Emmaus leads us to the altar of the Lord. Every time we recognize Jesus in the moments of our everyday life, every time we feel him accompanying us on our journey, we reflect the spirit of the story of the Road to Emmaus. 

Those two disciples explained that they had hoped and believed that Jesus would be the one who would redeem the nation of Israel. However, in the events of Christ death and crucifixion, in the mystery of the empty tomb, they felt discouraged and confused. In their encounter with Jesus, in Jesus’ words and actions, they realized that their Lord Jesus had indeed risen. 

The Road to Emmaus is not just a story from the past. The reality of Christ risen and alive in a reality of our present as well. A reality of our Church. Christ is indeed alive in our midst. 

We talk about our journey of faith as disciples of Christ. All of us are on that journey in one way or another. Jesus and his disciples were always journey toward the holy city of Jerusalem. Today, these two disciples on the Road to Emmaus are traveling in the wrong direction.  

 In my homilies, I often speak about our journey of faith. It is important for us to think of our life here on earth as a journey of faith, to view every moment and every day as steps on that journey. The concept of journey is important for us to be able to understand the story of the Road to Emmaus. The disciples are undertaking a journey, but rather than going to Jerusalem, they are fleeing that city and going in the opposite direction. They have turned their backs of Jerusalem and on all that happened there. But as Jesus joins them in the midst of their journey, concealing his true identity, they later realize that they indeed sensed that Jesus was in their midst, that their hearts were burning within them as he spoke to them on the way and as he opened up the Scriptures to them. They recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread during their meal together, but then Jesus disappeared from their sight. Although Jesus has risen, the reality of his resurrection is a different reality, not the same as before his death and resurrection. After the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus recognize Jesus, they realize that they had made a mistake by fleeing, and they go back to Jerusalem. As the disciples gather together, they share their experiences with the resurrected Lord, trying to make sense of this new reality and awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

Perhaps we have similar experiences on our own journey of faith. Perhaps there are times when realize that Lord had been accompanying us when we look back, even in our darkest and most challenging moments, even though we did not realize it at the time. Perhaps when we get together in the company of believers, we are reaffirmed in our faith as well, just as that original group of disciples were reaffirmed in their faith as they gathered together in Jerusalem. In gathering with other believes, we are can continue in boldness and trust in our journey of faith through life. 

This is a painting of the nautical compass that I had one of the inmates paint for me. Supposedly, the first magnetic compasses were invented in the Han dynasty in China two centuries before Christ’s birth. Magnetic compasses still remain popular even in our modern era of GPS and other such technology. A lot of people see in this nautical compass a symbol of guidance, protection, and a commitment to staying on the right path. It can be a symbol for our of following God, of staying on the path of our spiritual journey. It is a popular symbol for pilgrims as well, of staying on the pilgrimage trail.

19 April 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 3rd Sunday in Easter Cycle A

Introduction: With great joy, we gather for Mass today on the 3rd weekend of Easter in the midst of our Easter journey. We celebrate the risen Christ in our readings today, hearing about his encounter with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. May we be aware to the ways we meet the risen Christ in the reality of our daily lives.

Lord Jesus, you are a fountain of God’s grace and mercy: Lord have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you give us food for our journey in the Eucharist: Christ, have mercy. 

Lord Jesus: you are the way that leads us to new life: Lord, have mercy 

Priest: As we continue our journey through the Easter season, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That we may always live as a eucharistic people and promote a eucharistic culture in our parish and in society. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. That they may lead their people to a richer appreciation to the presence of the Lord in the breaking of the bread. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For our civic leader and the people whom they serve, especially the most vulnerable. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That we Christians may not drift from meeting the Lord each week in the Eucharist. For a greater love for the Mass and our liturgies. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For our children, youth, and college students. May they feel the risen Lord accompanying them through the last weeks of the school year. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the sick, the afflicted, the aged, and the homebound. May they know the care and love of Christ through our ministries. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and in the Middle East. For the safety of the men and women serving in the military. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For our deceased loved ones and family members. For their eternal union with God. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, we present these prayers the risen Christ. He is our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.