29 June 2026 - reflection on the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Apostles

We can see in Peter and Paul individuals with very different backgrounds and very different ways they respond to their callings from God.  Yet, both Peter and Paul were called to work in ministry together, to build up the Kingdom of God in the Early Church and to bring converts to the faith. Peter was called to be a disciple out of his work as a fisherman. He probably did not have much formal education. Peter was a member of the original group of Apostles; he was surrounded by Jewish followers of Christ as they journeyed with him. Peter served as a leader in the early Church after Christ’s death and resurrection; he tried to serve the interests of the Jewish followers of Christ in the tensions they were having with both the Gentiles and with the other Jews. 

In some ways, Paul was the opposite of Peter. Paul was a thinker, an intellectual, a well-educated man, a privileged member of the Pharisees. Paul did not know Jesus during Jesus’ life here on earth. Paul felt called to bring the Good News to all, reaching out to the Gentiles in a special way.

Both Peter and Paul could be bold and direct. They clashed and argued at times, but they both became leaders in the Church. Despite their differences, they both greatly influenced the faith that we practice today. They both lived and died courageously for the faith.

Like Peter and Paul, we are called to be missionary in spirit, to be true to the Gospel, and true to the calling God has for each one of us.  

10 July 2026 - homily for Friday of the 14th week in Ordinary Time - Hosea 14:2-10 - Matthew 10:16-23

I find it interesting to learn about the different stories and legends about the saints that have been passed down throughout history. Today, we celebrate St Amelia of Belgium, an 8th century noblewoman and consecrated virgin. Tradition passing down that she was pursued by the Emperor Charlemagne, who proposed marriage to her, but that she refused him because she had taken a vow of virginity and wanted to dedicate her life to God. Because of a story about her breaking her arm in a physical struggle with Charlemagne that was miraculously healed, leading him to withdraw his request and accept her religious calling, she is known as the patron saint of those who are suffering from shoulder or arm pain or bruises.

In our first reading today from the prophet Hosea, the Lord tells his people that he will heal their defection and love them freely. The Lord will be like the dew for Israel, help Israel to bloom like a lily.  What a comforting image from this wise prophet. However, we hear some not so comforting images from the Gospel of Matthew, of how Christ’s followers will be sent out like sheep amongst the wolves. The Evangelist explains that the Lord will help his followers endure their persecution, putting words in their mouths that they will use in their defense, helping them get through this difficulty. 

10 July 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 14th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you bring healing into our lives. 

Christ Jesus - you forgive the sins of the contrite. 

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

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

1. That our life together as Church and as a parish community may be rooted in God’s love and mercy. 

2. That Pope Leo XIV and all the ministers of our Church may reveal the hope of our faith by the example of their lives. 

3. That the justice and peace of God may be at the heart of the service of our governmental leaders. 

4. That those who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, hunger, and need may find places of welcome and compassion. 

5. For the sick, the suffering, and the afflicted.  That they may know God’s healing and hope in the way they are supported and cared for. 

6. For our deceased family members and friends. That they be united in the kingdom of God. 

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

Priest: Father, as you hear the prayers of your Church, we ask that you help us sow compassion in the world in the midst of the reality of life. We make these prayers to you in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

9 July 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 14th week in ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you proclaim your Good news. 

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

Lord Jesus - you are the beloved son. 

Priest: We present our prayers this evening to our good and forgiving God: 

1. That we as a Church may feel the mystery of God at work within us. 

2. That the work and worship of our Diocese and our parish communities reflect the love and compassion of God. 

3. For all who serve in national, state, and local governments. May they carry out their responsibilities with wisdom and selflessness. 

4. For medical and scientific researchers. Through their study, may humankind may discover anew the sacredness of all of God’s creation. 

5. For the sick and the suffering. May the Lord of new life lead them to wholeness and healing. 

6. For our first responders, our veterans, and the men and women of the military. 

7. For our deacon candidates who are preparing for ordination later this month. For the deacons currently serving in our Diocese. 

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

Priest: We ask our prayers today through God the eternal Father, through Christ his son, and through the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. AMEN. 

9 July 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 14th week in Ordinary Time - Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9

As most of you know, I love to read. Reading has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. I guess it is the type of activity an introvert is drawn to. I remember reading The Scarlet Letter in high school, sot is very much intrigued mean to learn the story of the daughter of the author of that book and her journey of faith in Catholicism. A year after The Scarlet Letter was published, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s daughter Rose was born in 1851. She grew up in Massachusetts and in England, where her father served as the US counsel.  She married when she was a young woman, but her marriage was not a happy one, as her husband struggled with alcoholism and with holding down a job. Their only child died when he was five years old. She and her husband converted to Catholicism when they were traveling in Italy. Her faith that brought her courage and strength through the challenges of life. She separated from her husband and devoted her life to caring for cancer patients who were treated as lepers in America in the late 19th century. After her husband’s death in 1898, she became a Dominican sister.  She established the Dominican Congregation of St Rose of Lima, known as the Servants from Relief for Incurable Cancer.  They established a center for cancer patients in New York. She took the religious name Mother Mary Alphonsa. She served as a Dominican sister until her death on July 9, 1926, 100 years ago today.  She and her religious sisters were servants to their cancer patients, humbly showing them care, love, and concern. The book about her life is entitled Sorrow Built a Bridge. On March 14, 2024, Pope Francis recognized Hawthorne's life of heroic virtue and declared her Venerable, the final step before Beatification. 

Our passage from Hosea today portrays God not as a faraway impartial judge, but a loving Father who sees the people of Israel as his son. Evoking imagery of God teaching his son to walk and feeding him show the loving care God has for his people. Just as a parent laments a child who goes astray, God is sorrowful when his people turn to him. Yet, he is there for his people. He is always calling them back. We must always remember that, no matter how far we go astray. 

8 July 2026 - homily for Wednesday of the 14th week in Ordinary Time - Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

Born in the year 640, St Kilian was born into a noble family in County Cavan, Ireland. He became a priest and was sent as a missionary to the Germanic tribes after he and his 11 companions received permission from Rome. He based his missionary activities in the town of Würzburg, where he successfully converted many of the people there to Christianity. He convinced the duke to abandon his marriage to his brother’s widow. While the duke was away on a military campaign, the duke’s wife had him and some of his missionary companions beheaded in the year 689. His remains were later discovered by St Boniface in a vault in the cathedral at Würzburg. St Kilian’s prayers are sought out by those seeking healing, especially for arthritis, as there are many accounts of his miraculous healing ministry as a part of his missionary work. 

The 10th chapter of Hosea today gives powerful prophetic warning about the dangers of spiritual complacency during times of material blessing. We are invited to break up any fallow ground we have in our life of faith, to turn away from anything that has become a false Idol for us, and to cultivate a deeper, more fruitful relationship with God. Hosea compares Israel to a thriving vine, as it has become more prosperous as a nation. However, rather than respond to God with thanksgiving and gratitude, Israel has often turned to false gods and turned away from the faith. May we examine our lives to see the ways we have thanked God for the many blessings that we have in life. 

29 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Apostles

Lord Jesus - you built your Church on apostolic foundations. 

Christ Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory. 

Priest: As we celebrate the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul today, we present our prayers to our Heavenly Father with faith and hope:  

1. For Leo our Pope, Jospeh our bishop, and all our Church leaders, that they strengthen us in the apostolic faith. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For all leaders of nations, that they will strive to protect the Church from persecution. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For all who are suffering for who they are or for what they believe, that they will find strength in the Lord, who is at their side. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For all who are sick and the afflicted. For those who have died recently, that they will know Christ's saving love. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That in our Catholic community, apostles, prophets, and teachers will build us up as the Body of Christ. We pray to the Lord. 

6. That the Lord will bless all of us in the chancery in our service and in our ministry. We pray to the Lord. 

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

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

8 July 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 14th week in Ordinary Time

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

Christ Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the joy of God’s kingdom.

Priest: Let us lift up our hearts and voices in prayer to the God of goodness: 

1. That our ministries may bring God’s hope and love to those we serve. 

2. May Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our priests and bishops reveal God’s love to the world through their words and actions. 

3. That the nations and peoples of the world work together to protect and share justly the gifts of God’s creation. 

4. That God will bless the work of farmers, gardeners, and all who produce food. May they have a bountiful harvest. 

5.  For the members of our families and our parish who have died in Christ. May they share in the glorious freedom of God’s children. 

6. For all who are traveling. For safe travels and for a good summer break. 

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

Priest: Gracious God, hear our prayers that we make in hope and faith through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

7 July 2026 - homily for Tuesday of the 14th week in Ordinary time - Matthew 9:32-38 - Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13

Peter To Rot was the first saint to be canonized from Papua New Guinea. His canonization was celebrated by Pope Leo XIV on 19 October 2025 in St Peter’s square. Peter To Rot was a lay catechist who was martyred in 1945 for continuing his apostolate despite a ban imposed by the Japanese who occupied Papua New Guinea at the time. His parents were baptized Catholic before his birth. He was instructed in the faith by his parents and by the missionaries of the Sacred Heart. When the Japanese invaded the island, they at first just banned missionaries from evangelizing the faith, but then after a period of time, banned all from practicing the Christian faith. Peter To Rot was arrested for his defense of Christian marriage, which conflicted with the traditional customs on the island that allowed polygamy. He died on 7 July 1945 while in prison. He was honored as a martyr of the faith by Pope John Paul II at his beatification in 1995. 

This week we hear from the prophet Hosea in the first readings at daily mass. Hosea prophesied before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 8th century BC. Hosea was unhappy with the kings and princes who had been chosen by the people as their leaders. Many of them had made false idols for worship that led the people away from God. We can compare the leaders that Hosea calls out to the leadership Jesus embodies in today’s Gospel. Jesus is the good shepherd to the people, a servant who leads by example. Jesus has compassion for our burdens and for the troubles we face. We should expect the same servant leadership in our elected officials and in our Church leaders. Our readings from Hosea and Matthew’s Gospel are certainly relevant to our lives today. 

26 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 11th week in Ordinary time - prison ministry

Lord Jesus - you call us to missionary in spirit. 

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the good news of the Gospel. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us God’s peace. 

Priest: We come before our loving Father this evening as we lift our prayers to heaven. 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, and Bishop Joseph Kopacz. For all who lead us in the Church in faith and love. We pray to the Lord. 

2. May the words and actions of our daily lives help us to bear witness to the joy of the Gospel. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For all civic and governmental leaders. May our worldwide leaders work for the basic needs of all people. We pray to the Lord. 

4. May we welcome the lost and the marginalized in our community. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For the anguished and the sorrowful. May their hope be in Christ’s healing love. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For our deceased loved ones and family members. May God welcome home those who have taken their last breath here on earth. 

7. For our children and family. May they feel our prayers and love reaching out to them. We pray to the Lord. 

8. For all who are traveling during these summer month. For safe travels. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Gracious and merciful Father, listen to our needs as we reach out to you for purpose, hope, and direction. We make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

7 July 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 14th week in ordinary time

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

Christ Jesus - you call us to continue your mission and ministry.

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Prayers: Let us pray to our loving Father as we lift our prayers to heaven. 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. May their lives bear witness to Gospel joy and commitment.

2. That our civic and governmental leaders may work for justice and peace in our communities. 

3. That all of us Christians may work towards a thriving Christian witness in the world. 

4. For the afflicted and those who suffer in everyday life. May there be people who reach out to them. May their hope be in Christ’s healing love. 

5. For those who have died. For their entry into eternal life. For those who grieve their deceased loved ones. 

6. For a greater love and care for God’s creation. 

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

Priest: Gracious and merciful Father, we ask that you hear the prayers that we present to you today through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

Prayers of the faithful for the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time - 5 July 2026 - prison ministry

Introduction: With great joy, we celebrate our nation’s independence day this weekend and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As we gather as a community of faith, may we give thanks for the many blessings we have as individuals, as families, and as a nation. We we approach the Lord’s table today with reverence and hope. 

Lord Jesus - you give praise to your heavenly Father. 

Christ Jesus - you reach out to those who are burdened in life. 

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

Priest: Christ invites us to come to him with all that burdens us. In his name, we now offer our prayers with hope and trust: 

1. We pray for Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. May they be strengthened by the Spirit in proclaiming the Gospel to the world. We pray for the leaders of our Catholic community here at CMCF. We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for all religious and governmental leaders. May they collaborate together to bring peace to the world. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For people struggling with anxiety or stress or depression, especially those who have suffered abuse of any kind. May we, as members of God’s holy church, reach out to all in need to help lighten their burdens. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For the sick and the afflicted in our families and here at CMCF. For all who have asked for our prayers. We pray to the Lord. 
5. We pray for our country as we celebrate the 4th of July this weekend. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For our children and families. For safe travels during the summer. And for a good summer break. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For boldness and courage in our lives of discipleship. That we may be faithful in our witness of the Gospel message and dedicated in our service. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: We praise you, O God, for all the ways in which you care for your people. Receive these prayers on behalf of those who seek healing and release from life’s burdens. We ask this through Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of the faithful for the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time - 5 July 2026

Introduction: With great joy, we celebrate our nation’s independence day this weekend and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As we gather as a community of faith, may we give thanks for the many blessings we have as individuals, as families, and as a nation. We approach the Lord’s table today with reverence and hope. 

Lord Jesus - you give praise to your heavenly Father. 

Christ Jesus - you reach out to those who are burdened in life. 

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

Priest: Christ invites us to come to him with all that burdens us. In his name, we now offer our prayers with hope and trust: 

1. We pray for Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all the bishops of our Church. May they be strengthened by the Spirit in proclaiming the Gospel to the world. We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for all religious and governmental leaders. At all levels, may they be led to a realistic collaboration to bring peace to the world. We pray to the Lord. 

3. We pray for people struggling with anxiety or stress in their lives, especially those who have suffered abuse of any kind. May we, as members of your church, reach out to all in need to help lighten their burdens. We pray to the Lord. 

4. We pray for the sick and the afflicted of our parish. For all who have asked for our prayers. We pray to the Lord. 
5. We pray for our country as we celebrate the 4th of July this weekend. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For boldness and courage in our lives of discipleship. That we may be faithful in our witness to the Gospel message and dedicated in our service. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: We praise you, O God, for all the ways in which you care for your people. Receive these prayers on behalf of those who seek healing and release from life’s burdens. We ask this through Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Bulletin Reflection - 5 July 2026 - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend we celebrate our country’s national holiday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As we remember how the US Bishops consecrated our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus last month in honor of that 25th anniversary, I pray that all of us continue to grow in our devotion to the Sacred Heart and in our love for the Eucharist. May we continue to find ways that we can live out the spirit of the Eucharist each day. I wish all of you a blessed holiday weekend. May we pray together for our country and give thanks for the many blessings we have had as a nation. Father Lincoln. 

28 June 2026 - homily for mission appeal for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time cycle A - Matthew 10:37-42

It is very wonderful being with all of you here today to celebrate Mass around the table of the Lord. My name is Father Lincoln Dall. I come to you as a brother in Christ from the Diocese of Jackson (Mississippi) in the deep South. When your parish receives a mission visit, you probably expect a missionary serving in a faraway land overseas. However, I’m from missionary territory in our own country. Our Diocese has the lowest percentage of Catholics of any Diocese in the US, about 3%. However, we have the largest Diocese geographically east of the Mississippi River. Most of our 73 parishes and 15 mission churches are small and located in rural areas. We don’t have any large cities in Mississippi, so our parishes are spread out throughout sparsely populated rural areas, which would be familiar to all of you here in southern Indiana. Some counties in Mississippi only have one parish. Some do not even have that.

In our Gospel today, Jesus talks about how his disciples should received a warm welcome when the bring the Gospel to the community. But also Jesus gives us a challenging instruction, warning that “anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me”. This challenge reflects the reality of the Early Church, where the threat of persecution was common. In cases where some family members were Christian and some were not, the choice between “preferring” mother or father to following to Christ faced such believers in their daily reality. We see a lot of religious persecution throughout the world today and even a backlash against Christianity in our own country. In the midst of the challenging circumstance of the modern world, we try to bring the Gospel message to the people of the Diocese of Jackson in a warm welcoming spirit in both our words and our actions in different ways. 

As you are hearing my homily today, you probably do not detect a strong Southern accent. That is because I am not originally from Mississippi. I am originally from Chicago. I currently serve as the pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Raymond, MS and Holy Savior Catholic Church in Clinton, MS, two towns just outside the city of Jackson. I have also been working in the chancery office for 8 years, currently serving as vicar general of the Diocese. 

In wanting to share some specific ministry stories with all of you, I thought of the prison ministry in our Diocese, something that is very dear to my own heart. I have been involved in prison ministry for 18 years. I go out to the federal prison in Yazoo City, which has about 6,000 inmates, and the Central Mississippi state prison just outside of Jackson, with about 3,500 inmates. For many years, we struggled to even get access to see the inmates. Often, at the state prison, I would have mass at the foyer of the building where the inmates lived, sometimes in the fire station at the prison, or even on a picnic bench outside the prison cafeteria. Several years ago, we got access to have Mass in the chapel and have been able to go out every week, which has made a huge difference. You can imagine the terrible living conditions we have in the prisons in Mississippi. There is a lot of gang activity, violence, and drug use. Most of the inmates live in housing units that have no air conditioning. Unbelievable. Yet, our ministry has transformed the lives of many inmates. We usually have about 150 inmates attending Mass during any given week. We have 10 men entering the Church this year. For the last two years, we have been operating a garden project as a part of our ministry, where were have garden areas around the prison where the prisoners grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers. It has been a huge success. We try to tie the gardening to our Catholic spirituality. A lot of the produce goes to the prison cafeteria, and in certain raised garden, the inmates get to keep the produce for themselves. I am very passionate about the prison ministry.  It is amazing to see God at work in this mission environment of the prisons. 

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

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

28 June 2026 - homily for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary time - 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16A; Matthew 10:37-42

When I prepare for my homilies and first look at the readings for a Sunday, I try to see a common theme in them. Sometimes the theme is direct and evident.  Other times the theme is more subtle. The theme that strikes me in today’s readings is the importance of being welcoming and hospitable.  

One of the American Catholics I admire greatly is Dorothy Day.  I had heard about her when I was a college student at Wake Forest, since she passed away when I was in college. As a young adult, before her conversion to Catholicism, Dorothy Day was a journalist who very much lived in the secular world, with organized religion being of little importance to her. However, she was not content with that lifestyle and was searching for something else. She came to the Catholic faith through he friendship with a religious sister who lived near her home in New York. In 1933, with her friend Peter Maurin, she started the Catholic Worker Movement and their houses of hospitality, modeled after the way the monasteries would welcome visitors and strangers in the Middles Ages. All people were welcome to the Catholic Worker houses of hospitality, especially the poor, the downtrodden, the outcasts. Since this was in the middle of the Great Depression in the 1930s, those who needed to be welcomed were vast. Today, many decades after their founding, there are more than 175 Catholic Worker Houses operating throughout the world. Dorothy Day once said: “Those who do not see the face of Christ in the poor, are atheists” who do not receive the entirety of Christ’s Good News.  She also said: "If I have achieved anything in my life, it is because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God." Dorothy Day died in New York City in 1980 at the age of 83. In 2000, Cardinal O’Connor of New York proposed her cause for sainthood. She was declared a Servant of Good by the US Bishops in 2012. Her cause for sainthood is under review by the Vatican. 

In our first reading today, a reward is promised to the Shunammite woman who welcomed and gave hospitality to the prophet Elisah. Her hospitality foreshadows the promise in today’s Gospel, for the person who “receives (or welcomes) a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward.”  What a wonderful welcome this Shunammite woman made for Elisha in her humble abode: a small room on the roof of the house, with a bed, a table, a chair, even a lamp.  This humble, generous gesture of hospitality, offered simply out of respect for a man of God and with no thought of a reward whatever, grants her, in fact, a wonderful reward: next year, she and her husband, who were childless up to this point, would receive the gift of new life in a child born to them.  Elisha tells her that next year “you will hold a son in your arms”. So too, today’s Gospel tells us that even a simple gift of a cup of cold water will not go unnoticed by the Lord.

The idea of a warm welcome is only part of today’s Gospel message.  Jesus gives us a challenging instruction, warning that “anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me”. This challenge reflects the reality of the Early Church, where the threat of persecution was pervasive. In cases where some family members were Christian and some were not, the choice between “preferring” mother or father to following to Christ was a daily reality for such believers. We only have to look at what is in the newspapers or on the TV to see that this was not simply a challenge for those first Christians. We see a lot of religious persecution throughout the world today and even a backlash against Christianity in our own country. At first glance, some of these phrases in the Gospel reading may seem enigmatic, but delving into them, they are certainly relevant to our modern reality. 

When our Diocese formulated goals some years ago, the term “intentional disciple” was used a lot. So, what exactly is an intentional disciple? It is one who listens and learns from Jesus, our teacher, and then chooses to follow the teacher and apply what he teaches. An intentional disciples intends to practice what is taught. St Paul’s message to Christ’s disciples in Rome in the second reading today stresses the radical change we receive in the waters of baptism: a “death” to our old existence, a death to selfishness and sin. As baptized disciples of Christ, we are made new creations who live in the light of Christ’s resurrection.  As disciples of Christ, we can truly be intentional disciples, in union with Christ, in union with Christ’s love, embodying the values of his Good News. May we all strive to follow Jesus as true disciples. 

5 July 2026 - homily for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 11:25-30

Today’s Gospel from Matthew comes right after Jesus reproaches the powerful towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida, who witness his miracles and mighty deeds, but who still do not believe in him. Today, Jesus is telling us the reason for their unbelief and what is most important for us in our faith. 

After a prayer of thanksgiving to God, Jesus praises God for what he has revealed to the little ones, but what is not known to the wise and the learned. Think of how often in the Gospels the scribes and Pharisees lord their knowledge and their wisdom over others, but they fail to learn from Jesus, while the tax collectors and sinners and his group of faithful disciples are able to open their hearts to his message and his proclamation of God’s kingdom. 

In Jesus stating that God’s mysteries are hidden from the wise and learned, he is not telling us that he is against education. In fact, we are encouraged to learn more about our faith and to study Scripture as disciples of Christ. This refers to the spiritual pride we can have when we think that we rely entirely on our own strength and our own capabilities. This creates the burdens that are to much to bear. Jesus tell us to take his yoke upon us and to learn from him. In the ancient world, a yoke was a wooden beam that was placed over the necks to two animals to allow them to pull a heavy plow or wagon. When Jesus invites us to place ourselves in his yoke, he invites us to be yoked together with him, not to be pulling ourselves through life by ourselves. Jesus is with us every step away, telling us that we will not have to go through our trials and our struggles alone. 

From the youngest and the oldest in our families and in our community of faith, we can all learn from each other. Parents have a leadership role and a responsibility in the faith lives of their children, but they can also learn from their children. Just as our faith community has to create time and space for encounters with God, the family has to do so as well.  

I mentioned how important it is to constantly be learning more about our faith and to be curious about our faith in a healthy way, rooted in humility and a thirst for God’s truth, not rooted in arrogance or intellectual pride. As disciples of Christ, we are to strive for spiritual growth, a deepening of our prayer life, and an appreciation of God’s creation. St Anselm of Canterbury from the 11th century called theology faith seeking reason, showing that the two are compatible and complement each other on our journey of faith. We are called to have a holy desire to apply our intellect to study and learn more about our faith. The more we learn and discover about God, the more our love for him will grow, which should be the ultimate purpose of our lives. 

I have stressed the importance of always learning about our Catholic faith and always wanting to know about God and theology of our Church. There is always so much to learn. 

I want to show you a real life example of how I try to learn more about the faith. When it was announced that we are going to have the national consecration of the Sacred Heart, I wanted to know more about the Sacred Heart, even though I had already read extensively about this devotion. I started reading some documents written by the Popes, starting with the encyclical Pope Francis wrote last year, and then documents written by the Pope Pius XII, Pope Pius XI, Leo XIII, and all the way back to Pius VI in 1794. This gave me a really good historical overview of the importance of this devotion in the history of our faith. The good thing is, all these Vatican documents are available free of charge from the Vatican website with an easy Google search. I then found two books recommended by the US Bishops to read. Jesuit priest John Croiset was the spiritual advisor to St Mary Margaret when she had these visions of Jesus’ Sacred Heart in the 17th century. He wrote a book about this devotion, which is considered a spiritual classic. He wrote about his first hand knowledge about St Margaret Mary’s visions and his own observations. Then, the US Bishops recommended a recent book written by Jesuit priest James Kubicki about the Sacred Heart, which was a wonderful book. That led me to other books that he has written, including this wonderful volume of daily reflections that I am using for preparation for writing homilies. I am always looking for those types of resources.  In my research on the Sacred Heart, I found a wonderful article published by Bishop Robert Barron’s publishing house Word on Fire about the connection between the Sacred Heart and the Eucharist. A mom of one of our youth said that I should be always promoting education on the Eucharist and its important in our Catholic faith. The is something I have always tried to do in my service as a priest. 

I cannot mention this enough, about the importance of each of us personally delving deeper into our Catholic faith. In his visit to the US, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about how educating ourselves in the faith and the Church providing a means of this education is an essential part of the Church’s mission of proclaiming the Good News. Pope Benedict spoke about the importance of encounter. I can truly say that I encounter Jesus in my studies and my readings and the way I search for his truth in my life. Pope Benedict stated that there is a crisis of truth and a crisis of faith in the world today, where many have abandoned their search for God. So, yes, all of us, our children and youth, and first and foremost our adults need to be involved in education in faith on different levels, especially since our adults are passing on this faith to our children and youth. 

So, yes, it should feel it is a joy and a privilege to be in God’s presence as we study and learn about about him and about our faith. The words “Catholic identity” should not be this phrase that we toss around and we don’t even know what it means. Catholic identity should be something we explore every day on our journey of faith. 

21 June 2026 - Catholic blessing for Father's Day

God our Father, you govern and protect your people and you shepherd them with a father’s love.

You place fathers in our families and in our communities as signs of your love, care, and protection.

We pray for our fathers with us today that they may be faithful to the example shown to us in sacred Scripture:

steadfast in love, 

forgiving and merciful,

sustaining their families, 

and caring for the poor and the oppressed.

We pray for wisdom for our fathers, that they may encourage and guide their children and members of our community.

Guide our fathers and grandfathers with the spirit of your love. May they grow in holiness and draw their family ever closer to you.

We ask this blessing for our fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers today – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

21 June 2026 - prayer to confront our fears - inspired by the spirituality of St Therese

In our reading from the 10th chapter of Matthew's Gospel on the weekend of 21 June 2026, Jesus states three times that we are not to be afraid. But often, we can be afraid on our journey of faith. Here is a prayer that addresses those fears that was inspired by the spirit of St Therese, the little flower: 

Dear Father: My heart and mind are flooded with fears. Sometimes I am paralyzed,  I feel unable to go on. These fears are overwhelming, they remain with me day and night. Yet I hold onto your truth. You have told us not to fear, for you have overcome the world. So I cling to you, I trust in your promises, that you will never fail me, never forsake me. In moments of such crippling fear, I choose to hold your hand. I know you have experienced the most fearful places, I know that you have risen again. In you all promises meet and new life begins. You are my Savior, I hide in you, protected by your love, and sheltered by your grace. My Father. Amen. 

Prayers of the faithful for the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time - 5 July 2026

Introduction: With great joy, we celebrate our nation’s independence day this weekend and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As we gather as a community of faith, may we give thanks for the many blessings we have as individuals, as families, and as a nation. We we approach the Lord’s table today with reverence and hope. 

Lord Jesus - you give praise to your heavenly Father. 

Christ Jesus - you reach out to those who are burdened in life. 

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

Priest: Christ invites us to come to him with all that burdens us. In his name, we now offer our prayers with hope and trust: 

1. We pray for Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all the bishops of our Church. May they be strengthened by the Spirit in proclaiming the Gospel to the world. We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for all religious and governmental leaders. At all levels, may they be led to a realistic collaboration to bring peace to the world. We pray to the Lord. 

3. We pray for people struggling with anxiety or stress in their lives, especially those who have suffered abuse of any kind. May we, as members of your church, reach out to all in need to help lighten their burdens. We pray to the Lord. 

4. We pray for the sick and the afflicted of our parish. For all who have asked for our prayers. We pray to the Lord. 
5. We pray for our country as we celebrate the 4th of July this weekend. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For boldness and courage in our lives of discipleship. That we may be faithful in our witness to the Gospel message and dedicated in our service. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: We praise you, O God, for all the ways in which you care for your people. Receive these prayers on behalf of those who seek healing and release from life’s burdens. We ask this through Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Bulletin Reflection - 5 July 2026 - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend we celebrate our country’s national holiday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As we remember how the US Bishops consecrated our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus last month in honor of that 25th anniversary, I pray that all of us continue to grow in our devotion to the Sacred Heart and in our love for the Eucharist. May we continue to find ways that we can live out the spirit of the Eucharist each day. I wish all of you a blessed holiday weekend. May we pray together for our country and give thanks for the many blessings we have had as a nation. Father Lincoln. 

3 June 2026 - homily for memorial of St Thomas the Apostle - John 20:24-29

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hand and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” The apostle Thomas is remembered primarily by this statement he makes in in John’s Gospel. This statement is symbolic of how many in the world today view Christianity and all religion. Many demand proof and have the need to see. They want something tangible, concrete, and visible.  

No one today can see and experience Christ in the way Thomas did in that locked room. Thomas saw the risen Christ eating, praying, and discussing the events of the past week with his group of disciples.  We cannot literally put our fingers in the wounds in his hands and his side like Thomas did.  Christ seemed to know this when he said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”  We might not see him in a literal the way that Thomas did, but all who believe see Christ somehow in their lives of faith. They see him for who he is. 

We must see Jesus somehow with our own eyes.  Like Thomas and the other disciples, we also become followers of Christ through our faith. Through witnessing Christ’s presence in our lives, we in turn are called to be witnesses ourselves, just as Thomas did in his life when he became a missionary to Syria, Persia, and India. We pray that God help us in our disbelief. That God will watch over us on our journey of faith. 

3 July 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 13th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Christ Jesus - you send us out into the world to bring your Gospel message. 

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

Priest: We are grateful for God’s many blessings. Let us lift up our hearts in prayer:

1. That the Spirit of God may inspire and guide every dimension of our lives. 

2. As our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this weekend, that our community of faith may be a witness to the common good and the dignity of every human person. 

3. For those who teach, counsel, and care for children and youth. May the Lord lead them and guide them in the sacred responsibility of their work.  

4. For the poor and the most vulnerable of society. 

5. That the great compassion of God will restore to health and give hope to the sick, the suffering, the recovering, and the dying. 

6. That the souls of the faithful who have died find rest and peace in the presence of God forever. 

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

Priest: As we lift our voices to you in prayer, O God, raise our spirits to the joy of your presence; as we lift up our hearts to you in hope, transform our lives into the glorious life of your Son, the risen Christ, in whose name we offer these prayers. Amen.

2 July 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 13th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you bring healing into our lives. 

Christ Jesus - you forgive the sins of the contrite. 

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

Priest: With humble hearts, we present our prayers to our loving God:

1. May our Church leaders and governmental leaders always lead us in justice and peace. 

2. May adequate food, health care, and shelter be available for all people. We pray to the Lord. 

3. May our daily lives give witness to our faith. 

4. For all who have gone before us in death. May our loved ones feast in the presence of Christ in the eternal glory of heaven.

5. May those who grieve find hope in their faith. 

6. For our deceased family members and loved ones. For their unity in eternal life with God. 

7. For healing for those who are most need of God’s love and care. 

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

2 July 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 13th week in Ordinary Time - Amos 7:10-17

St Bernardino Realino was an Italian Jesuit priest who was born in Carpi, Italy in 1530.  He studied medicine and philosophy before earning a degree in civil and canon law. He served as mayor and judge in several northern Italian cities. While in Naples, he had a spiritual conversion after hearing a homily preach by a Jesuit priest. He entered the Jesuit novitiate at the age of 34 and was ordained a Jesuit priest. He was sent to Lecce in southern Italy to establish a Jesuit house and college. Over the next four decades, he had a profound impact on that city. Known as the "Apostle of Lecce” he devoted himself to teaching, ministering to the sick, and ministering to the prisoners. Many came to him for confession.  Right before he died, civic leaders asked him to continue to protect the city while in heaven, to which he nodded in agreement. He is the official patron saint of Lecce and Carpi. He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947.

In our reading from Amos today, we hear how Amos was expelled from the shrine at Bethel for his criticisms of the king of Israel. Amos had predicted that the house of the king would die by the sword. Indeed, the king’s son would be assassinated as he served as king. Amos’ words were seen as treason, but from Amos’ perspective, he was transmitting God’s words to the people. He was just the messenger, not the one who formulated the message. 

We need to evaluate what we are doing based on the values of our faith and the message of the Gospel. Sometimes input can be given to us as an attack, in wanting to hurt us and bring us down, but there is constructive criticism as well. We need to listen to God’s prophets and to repent from our sins and our temptations. 

1 July 2026 - Wednesday of the 13th week in Ordinary time - St Junipero Serra - Amos 5:14-15, 21-24

Growing up as a teenager in California, I always found the history of the California missions fascinating, even before I converted to Catholicism. We lived about 25 miles for Mission San Juan Capistrano, part of which still lays in ruins after a terrible earthquake in the 1812. Father Junipero Serra, a Franciscan missionary originally from the island of  Mallorca in Spain, is considered the Father of the California missions. He was canonized by Pope Francis in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC when Pope Francis visited our country. In recent years, those who really don’t understand the full context of world history and the reality of Father Serra and the California missions have criticized him and opposed his canonization. Statues of him were taken down and buildings named after him were renamed. California not longer included the California missions as a required part of its elementary school curriculum. It is easy to judge history that took place hundreds of years ago in a reality very different from our own, especially when our knowledge of history and that reality is very limited and focused on our own prejudices and biases.  

Father Serra was appointed as the head of the Catholic Church’s missionary effort in California in 1767 when he was 54 years old. At that time, he was in very bad health with a leg that had been infected with open sores for years. He also suffered from a compromised respiratory system. Father Serra founded 9 of the 21 original California missions. This humble Franciscan friar had spent most of his priesthood as a professor of theology and philosophy in Mexico and in Spain. He then worked tirelessly in bringing the Gospel to the people of present-day California.  His motto was - “Siempre adelante, nunca hacia atrás.” (Always forward, never back.) He never dwelt on past mistakes, but tried to learn from the past and to look forward to what he could do for God. Father Serra was a product of his time. He lived in the era of the Spanish Inquisition and served as a judge for the Inquisition. Yet, facts show that he had a great love for the native Californians to whom he ministered. At the time of his canonization, California’s bishops issued a statement, stating that Father Serra was a man “ahead of his times” and that he worked against an “oppression that extends far beyond the mission era.”  There is a statue of Father Serra in the Capitol building representing the state of California for his contributions to the history and development of that state, having survived many protests to have it removed. The bishops stated that very few historical figures would be revered and honored if we expect them to be perfect and try to judge them according to some sort of ambiguous modern standards. It is interesting, Standard University in California is named after one of the notorious robber barons of the 19th century, and will not remove his name from their school, yet they renamed buildings and streets on their campus named after Father Serra. It is easy to cast a stone against others but not to look at our own faults, isn’t it? 

We hear the prophet Amos proclaim in the first reading today: “Seek good and not evil, that you may live.” I thought about this in the context of Father Serra and his missionary work in California and his dedication and sacrifices to spreading the Gospel message to the world. I pray that we would all seek the good, that we would seek the new life we have in Christ, and that we would portray the values of the Gospel in our words and our actions. 

1 July 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 13th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you bring us the hope of God. 

Christ Jesus - you forgive the sins of the contrite. 

Lord Jesus - you lead us to God’s kingdom. 

Priest: Let us turn to our loving God as we offer our prayers and our needs:

1. For all who lead us in faith and service, especially Leo XIV, our pope, and Joseph Kopacz, our bishop. May they teach us to acknowledge Christ in the everyday moments of our lives. 

2. For an end to war, violence, and hatred. May we acknowledge the peace of Christ in our lives and offer such peace to others. 

3. For people burdened by sin and doubt. May we live with the joy of the Father’s love

4. For our families and those who care for our needs. May our lives be supported in God’s loving embrace. May we embrace God’s hope in our lives. 

5. For a greater love for the Eucharist in our lives. 

6. For all who grieve the past. May we be led to openness and joy.

7. For our loved ones and family members who have died. May all the dead now rest in the assurance of God’s peace. 

8. For the people of Canada who are celebrating their national holiday today. 

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

Priest: God of Providence, we ask you to listen to needs of our hearts. We ask this through Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

30 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 12th week in Ordinary time

Lord have mercy - you are the son of God and son of Mary. 

Christ have mercy - you bring us God’s love. 

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

Priest: We now turn to our loving God and offer our prayers and our needs to the Father’s eternal mercy.

1. For Leo XIV, our pope, Joseph Kopacz, our bishop, and all our Church leaders.  May all who lead us in faith find hope in the Eucharist of Christ and the fidelity of God in service to all people.

2. May the leaders of nations work diligently for justice and Christ’s peace. 

3. For a greater love for the Eucharist in our hearts and in our lives. 

4. For all who hunger for belonging in our world. For those who feel separated and excluded. May the feel the love of God and the love of our community. 

5. For missionaries and evangelizers of God’s word. May the Church’s new evangelization efforts reach out throughout the world. 

6. For the sick and the afflicted. For healing and wholeness. 

7. That we may all live out the spirit of the Gospel of life in our words and our actions. 

Priest: Loving and gracious God, pour out your bounty of hope amid the hungers of your people. We present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

30 June 2026 - First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church Amos 3:1-8, 4:11-12

Amos in the 1st Reading of today speaks of his calling, of wanting the people to work for a more just world. He must have seen a lot of injustices all around him, sparking his call for social justice. His message is to be a wakeup call for the people. As people of faith, we are called to responsibility as well. God is calling his people back to him, wanting them to repent. God reminds them that they are a chosen people, that they are held to a high standard. With the blessings that we have, God wants us to reflect God’s justice, mercy, and truth in our lives. 

Today’s feast day of the first martyrs of the Holy Roman Church commemorates those Christians who were martyred under the Roman emperor Nero in the year 64 AD. Following a devastating fire in the city of Rome, Nero scapegoated the Christians of the city and subjected them to brutal and horrific deaths. We honor this early witness to our faith. Condemned to death by the Roman senate, Nero himself took his own life a few years later.

May the example of those First Martyrs of the Church of Rome inspire to live our faith each day courageously and boldly.  give us courage on our own journey. Pope Francis proclaimed: “We must not be afraid of being Christian and living as Christians! We must have this courage to go and proclaim the Risen Christ, for he is our peace; he made peace with his love, with his forgiveness, with his blood and with his mercy.”

THIRTY-FIVE SALUTATIONS TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

The thirty-five salutations of the Sacred Heart is a traditional Catholic devotion attributed to St Margaret Mary Alacoque. It is a meditative prayer that invokes the sacred heart of Jesus through various titles and attributes, such as creator, savior, and judge, to ask for his spiritual graces and protection. I am praying these salutations of the Sacred Heart in my parishes in conjunction with the consecration we had for our country. 

Hail, Heart of Jesus!   Save me.

Hail, Heart of my Creator!   Perfect me.

Hail, Heart of my Savior!   Deliver me.

Hail, Heart of my Judge!   Pardon me.

Hail, Heart of my Father!   Govern me.

Hail, Heart of my Spouse!   Love me.

Hail, Heart of my Master!   Teach me.

Hail, Heart of my King!   Crown me.

Hail, Heart of my Benefactor!   Enrich me.

Hail, Heart of my Pastor!   Guard me.

Hail, Heart of my Friend!   Caress me.

Hail, Heart of my Infant Jesus!   Draw me to you.

Hail, Heart of Jesus, dying on the Cross!   Ransom me.

Hail, Heart of Jesus! in all your states!   Give yourself to me.

Hail, Heart of my Brother!    Dwell with me.

Hail, Heart of incomparable goodness!   Pardon me.

Hail, Magnificent Heart!   Shine forth in me.

Hail, Most amiable Heart!   Embrace me.

Hail, Charitable Heart!   Operate in me. 

Hail, Merciful Heart!   Answer for me.

Hail, Most Humble Heart! Repose in me.

Hail, Most Patient Heart!   Bear with me.

Hail, Most Faithful Heart!   Atone for me.

Hail, Most Admirable and Most Worthy Heart!   Bless me.

Hail, Peaceful Heart!  Calm me.

Hail, Most Desirable and Excellent Heart! Enrapture me.

Hail, Illustrious and Perfect Heart!   Ennoble me.

Hail, Sacred Heart, Precious Balm!   Preserve me.

Hail, Most Holy and Profitable Heart! Make me better.

Hail, Blessed Heart, Medicine and Remedy of our evils. Cure me. 

Hail, Heart of Jesus, Solace of the afflicted!   Console me.

Hail, Most loving Heart, burning Furnace!   Consume me.

Hail, Heart of Jesus, Model of perfection!   Enlighten me.

Hail, Heart of Jesus, Origin of all happiness!   Fortify me.

Hail, Heart of eternal blessings!   Call me to you. 

13 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the memorial of the immaculate heart of Mary - prayers of the faithful for Saturday of the 10th week of ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you are the Son of Mary. 

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

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Priest: As we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary today in a special way, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father with faith and hope: 

1. We pray for the Church. That we may work to form our hearts according to the sacred heart of Christ and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

2. We pray for Pope Francis, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and all our clergy and lay leaders. That they may serve God's people with joy and that they may receive care and support from the people. 

3. We pray for our Diocese and our parishes. That we may look to the past with gratitude and discern God's will in our present and future. 

4. We pray for those who have been abandoned and rejected. For those battling mental illness, depression, our addiction.  That they may experience their dignity in the love of Christ.

5. We pray for our country. That we may consecrate our lives to the example of Mary and her immaculate heart.  

6. We pray for the sick, the suffering, and the dying. That they may find healing and strength in Jesus. 

7.  We pray for all those who have died, especially for our family members and loved ones and members of our Christian community. That they may rest secure in the Sacred Heart of Christ. 

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

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

15 June 2026 - Memorial of the Immaculate heart of Mary - homily for Saturday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time - 1 kings 19:19-21

This weekend, we celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Thus, it is fitting that today we celebrate the immaculate heart of his mother. Mary was single-hearted in her faith and in her devotedness to God. She is an example and an inspiration for us, as sin and anger, frustration and impatience, our ambitions and our jealousies can take us away from our single-hearted devotion to our faith.  

Much of the devotion to the immaculate heart of Mary that we have today has its origin in the medieval period of the Church, especially with St Anselm of Canterbury and St Bernard of Clairvaux. In our modern era, John Paul II had this to say in his encyclical letter Redemptoris Mater: “By her loving consent, Mary first conceived Christ in her heart and then in her womb accepting fully and with a ready heart everything that is decreed in the divine plan. ” 

In looking at the immaculate heart of Mary, we can say that Mary faced a lot of situations in her life that she did not completely comprehend: including when the Angel Gabriel appears to her in the Annunciation, when she received the prediction from Simeon in the Temple, when she loses track of Jesus on their visit to the Temple, when Jesus is faced with starting his earthly ministry at the wedding of Cana, and when Mary witnesses her son dying on the cross. Mary pondered all these things in her heart.  Mary places her trust in God even when she does not completely understand.  She moves forward in her life and in her faith in her single-hearted devotion.  

In our first reading from the first book of Kings, we hear the call of Elisha to be a prophet. In response, Elisha gives a radical surrender to his vocation. When the prophet Elijah casts his mantle upon Elisha, showing the passing of the prophetic authority and grace, Elisha immediately leaves his livelihood to follow God's call, burning his plowing equipment as a sign that there is no turning back. The single-hearted devotion to faith that is symbolized in the immaculate heart of Mary is embodied in Elisha response in following the will of God as well. 

28 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 13th Sunday of Ordinary time - prison ministry

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the values of God’s kingdom. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to listen to God’s prophets in the world. 

Lord Jesus - you hear the cry of the poor. 

Priest: Loving Father, as we gather here before you at Mass today, we ask that you will hear our prayers and draw us closer to you:

1. We pray for Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and the leaders of our Church. May they show our Church to be a place of welcome for all. We hope all find us to be a welcoming place at the Catholic community of St Michael the Archangel. We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for our world leaders. May they work together for the good of humanity. We pray to the Lord. 

3.  As we gather to celebrate the Eucharist today, we pray that we will seek to proclaim God’s word and more fully do God’s will. We pray to the Lord. 

4. We pray our children and for our families, that the Lord will watch over them in their summer activities and summer travels. We pray to the Lord. 

5. We pray for the sick and the afflicted. For all who care for the sick and for our medical professionals. For the men going through the BMU program. For the men in the infirmary. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For our first responders. For the men and women serving in the military. For our veterans. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For our gardeners and our farmers. For good weather for them. For a bountiful harvest. For those who struggle to put food on their table. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Almighty God, you have called us to be children of light in a world of darkness. We ask that you hear our prayers, which come to you through Jesus, your Son, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

28 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 13th Sunday of Ordinary time CYCLE A

Introduction: We commemorate the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time. In our readings today, we are told of the new life we received through our baptism in Christ. We are challenged to take our crosses and to follow Jesus in the reality of our lives. May we find hope and encouragement in the daily reality of our journey of faith. 

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the values of God’s kingdom. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to listen to God’s prophets in the world. 

Lord Jesus - you hear the cry of the poor. 

Priest: Loving Father, as we gather here before you at Mass today, we ask that you will hear our prayers and draw us closer to you:

1. We pray for Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and the leaders of our Church. May they show our Church to be a place of welcome for all. We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for our world leaders. May they work together for the good of humanity. We pray to the Lord. 

3.  As we gather to celebrate the Eucharist today, we pray that we will seek to proclaim God’s word and more fully do God’s will. We pray to the Lord. 

4. We pray for our faith community. May we have a spirit of welcome and hospitality towards the people around us. We pray to the Lord. 

5. We pray for the sick and the afflicted of our parish. For all who care for the sick and for our medical professionals. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For our first responders. For the men and women serving in the military. For our veterans. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For our gardeners and our farmers. For good weather for them. For a bountiful harvest. For those who struggle to put food on their table. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Priest: Almighty God, you have called us to be children of light in a world of darkness. We ask that you hear our prayers, which come to you through Jesus, your Son, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

28 June 2026 - Bulletin reflection - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

We are now at the end of June as the summer months are passing by. This weekend I am in southern Indiana for a mission appeal. I will be taking some quiet time next week for prayer and contemplation. It is important for us to take time to pray and reflect in the midst of our very busy lives. Even as a priest, with my busy schedule, this can be very challenging for me. We always have to remind ourselves to look for the presence of God in our reality, in the joys and in the challenges. Have a blessed week everyone. Father Lincoln. 

26 June 2026 - Friday of the 12th week in Ordinary Time - 2 Kings 25:1-12

Our reading today from the second book of Kings continues to tell of the tragic fall of the city of Jerusalem to the Babylonias in the year 586 BC, with the destruction of the Temple and the other large buildings in the city. The destruction of Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon is a consequence of the sins and unfaithfulness of the people of Israel. The prophets had warned Israel to give up their idol worship are to return to the practice of justice. The people did not listen and paid the consequence for their infidelity. 

We must be accountable for our actions and take responsibility for the practice of our faith. Their exile from the promised land and the destruction of the Temple forced the people of Israel to see that God is not confined to certain place or a single building. This forced Israel to see that their priorities were too focused on the ways of the world and not the ways of God. 

We can feel like we are in the wilderness sometimes. It may be difficult for us to keep our faith alive in the realities of life that we are facing. We are called to reflect upon how we cooperate with God’s grace in our lives and how our sins and temptations take us away from God. 

26 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Friday of the 11th week in Ordinary time

Lord have mercy - you call us to missionary in spirit. 

Christ have mercy - you proclaim the good news of the Gospel. 

Lord have mercy - you bring us God’s peace. 

Priest: We come before our loving Father as we lift our prayers to heaven. 

1. For Leo XIV, our pope, and Joseph Kopacz, our bishop. For all who lead us in faith and love. 

2. May the words and actions of our daily lives help us to bear witness to the joy of the Gospel. 

3. For all civic and governmental leaders. May our worldwide leaders work for the basic needs of people.

4. May we welcome the lost and the marginalized. 

5. For the anguished and the sorrowful. May their hope be in Christ’s healing love. 

6. For our beloved dead. May God welcome home our loved ones who have taken their last breath here on earth. 

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

Priest: Gracious and merciful Father, listen to our needs as we reach out to you for purpose, hope, and direction. 

25 June 2026 - Thursday of the 12th week - 2 Kings 24:8-17

Throughout the first and second books of Kings, we hear about the different kings who reigned in Israel, how they were often unfaithful to God and how they led the people astray from the path of faith. God gave them chance after chance, asking them to repent and to mend their ways, but the kings and the people often turned back to their evil ways and away from the Lord. Today, we hear about the Babylonians invading Israel, securing victory, and sending King Jehoiachin, the army, skilled craftsmen, and the king’s officers and functionaries into exile in Babylon, leaving behind the poor in Israel. The exile is a very difficult and painful event in Israel’s history, something that they never forget. The return to Jerusalem after many years in exile and the restoration of the Temple and the rituals there and the restoration of their relationship with God are all a big part of the history of Israel, part of which motivated the establishment of the country Israel in the Holy Land after WWII. This is a part of the history of the people of Israel and part of our faith history as well. It is important for us to put our trust in God and to follow him on our journey of faith, to not put our full trust and hope in the things of this world, which many of the kings of Israel did. May we learn from history. 

25 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Thursday of the 12th week in Ordinary time

Lord have mercy - you send us God’s Holy Spirit. 

Christ have mercy - you forgive the sins of the contrite. 

Lord have mercy - you are the beloved son of the Father.

Priest: Let us now turn to our loving God as we offer our prayers today: 

1. For Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders. May they teach us to acknowledge Christ in the reality of our lives. 

2. For the end of war, violence, and hatred. May we work toward the peace of God’s kingdom. 

3. For all lawyers, judges, and those who work in the judicial system. May they work for the justice of God’s kingdom.

4. For our children, youth, families, and college students. May the Lord accompany them during their travels and their summer break. 

5. For all who grieve and mourn. May they be comforted. 

6. For family members who have died. May all the dead now rest in the assurance of God’s peace. 

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

Priest: God of Providence, may we receive your care and your loving plan for our lives. We ask this through Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

24 June 2026 - homily for the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist — Wednesday - Luke 1:57-66 and 80

John the Baptist died before Jesus’ death and resurrection. Even so, before his own death, John was able to be a strong Gospel witness for Jesus, knowing that Jesus was the Messiah, the one for whom he paved the way and announced his coming. Even while in prison, John was occupied with the idea of Jesus being the promised one, sending his disciples to ask Jesus that very question. In the Gospel of St John the Evangelist, Jesus asserts that John the Baptist is the greatest in the line of prophets in the Jewish faith, a very strong claim.  

Today’s solemnity celebrates the birth of John the Baptist to his parents Zechariah and Elizabeth. The date of his birth falls around the day in our calendar of the summer solstice, the time of the greatest amount of daylight in the northern hemisphere, which took place on Sunday, June 21 this year, just a few days ago. The summer solstice was a time of great festivals for many pagan religions, including the Romans. With creation on earth being dependent on light for all dimensions of life, the pagans wanted to appease the gods whom they saw as controlling the sun. The birth of Jesus on December 25 comes around the time of the winter solstice, when daylight starts increasing in the northern hemisphere of the world. Through our celebrations of the births of Jesus and John the Baptist, we celebrate Jesus as the light of the world. In his life and ministry, John the Baptist testified to the light, even when he was in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, leaping for joy when he and his mother were in the presence of Mary, with Jesus in Mary’s womb. From the moment he was conceived, John was brave in his testimony, confronting many of the social and political attitudes of his time. From the beginning of John’s existence, he was called by God to a specific prophetic task. From the moment of our own baptism, we to are called to give testimony to the faith and to be a part of God’s plan. We can help to build up God’s kingdom here on earth and to be a part of Christ’s mission and ministry. We unite our prayers with the prayers of John the Baptist today as we celebrate his birth.  

24 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Wednesday of the 12th week in Ordinary time

Lord Jesus - You bring us God’s grace and God’s peace. 

Christ Jesus - You call us to a life of holiness. 

Lord Jesus -  You are the resurrection.

Priest: Let us turn to God in love and offer in our prayers our needs and the needs of the world. 

1. For Leo XIV, our pope, Joseph Kopacz, our bishop, and all who lead

us in faith. May they imitate the heart of Jesus Christ and offer compassion to all who are burdened by life. 

2. For all people who face war, hatred, and hopelessness. May people beaten they find in Christ the love and compassion that they need. 

3. For all those affected by natural disasters, floods, storms, and droughts. For recovery and for the help that they need. 

4. For all people who face affliction, disease, and undiagnosed illness. May the they know the healing heart of Christ. May hope be born in our human vulnerability. 

5. For those who have entered eternal life know eternal union with God. 

6. For all people bowed down by burdens and broken relationships. May they feel God’s love and wisdom in their lives. 

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

Priest: God of eternal peace, comfort those lost in sin and heartache. We ask our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

23 June 2026 - prayers of the faithful for Tuesday of the 12th week in Ordinary Time

Lord have mercy - you embody God’s love and mercy. 

Christ have mercy - you forgive the sins of the contrite. 

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

Priest: Let us now bring our needs before the God, who hears our prayers: 

1. That the Church and our Church leaders may witness God’s mercy, justice, and peace to the world. 

2. That the actions of the leaders of government and society be rooted in patience and faithfulness. 

3. That those who struggle to see God’s goodness due to grief or suffering: may be surrounded by the comfort of a faithful community.

4. May anger and hardness of heart be converted to compassion, humility, and joy. 

5. For those who have died, especially our loved ones and family members.  May they rejoice in the eternal communion of God. 

6. For a greater sense of stewardship of the gifts God has bestowed upon us and care of God’s creation. 

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

Priest: Holy God, Source of all love and unity, hear these prayers we bring before you. Through belief in your triune mystery, grant us healing, peace, and the grace to live as your people. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

23 June 2026 - homily for Tuesday of the 12th week in Ordinary Time - 2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36

St Joseph Cafasso was born in the countryside in the town of Castelnuovo d’Asti in 1811. In 1834 he was ordained to the priesthood in Turin. He taught at the ecclesiastical college in Turin, which was dedicated to forming diocesan priests. Among his students was another future saint, John Bosco, who had been born in the same town as Joseph, and whom he had known from childhood.
While teaching at the major seminary, St Joseph was also known for guiding his flock with kindness and serenity. His fellow citizens had such high regard for him that they suggested he take a place in the legislative assembly. He refused, however, saying, “In the day of judgment, the Lord will ask me if I was a good priest, not a good deputy.” He was known as a model of priestly life. He was particularly drawn to the pastoral care of inmates, especially those condemned to death. He stood by their side as they were lead to the execution, bringing them to repentance by showing them God’s mercy and compassion. He died in Turin on June 23, 1860, at the age of 49. His relics can be found in the Sanctuary of the Consolata in Turin.

In our faith and in our trust of God, we are to  find refuge in him. Whenever we are threatened by external forces against our faith, we should not give way to fear and and we should not give way to falsehood. Rather than allowing the threatening message of the Assyrian King to weaken his spirit, King Hezekiah  turned immediately to the Lord for security and his heart’s desire was granted. When we prefer the wide gate to the narrow gate, we have not learned to trust in God as King Hezekiah did. Entering through the narrow gate could mean for us to live in loving and holy obedience unto God for the good of others even as we remain steadfast in the face of the temptations and trials of life.