18 July 2024 - Homily for Thursday of the 15th week in Ordinary Time - St Camillus - Matthew 11:28-30

The saint we celebrate today – St Camillus – is well-known for the order of the Ministers of the Sick that he founded, which is now known as the Order of St. Camillus.  The ministry of this religious community of men, both brothers and priests, is to care for the sick and the dying, the marginalized and the poor. St Camillus is also the patron saint of nurses.  As a child, as a teenager, and a youth, St Camillus seemed destined for trouble. He got into fights all the time, he developed a bad gambling habit, and he skipped school a lot. However, God gave him opportunities to serve. While serving in the military as a soldier, Camillus developed a leg infection that caused him much pain and suffering. Indebted and nowhere to go, he worked at a hospital in Rome where he served the sick. He was ordained a priest, and decided to found a religious order that would serve those in Rome who suffered from the plague and other epidemics. He died in 1614 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XIV in 1746. Camillus’ motto for his order was this: “We want to assist the sick with the same love that a mother has for her only sick child.”

In the midst of his weaknesses and brokenness, Camillus found a way to bring rest to so many of the sick he encountered. In the Gospel today, Jesus states, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” This echoes the healing power of Christ that St Camillus tried to bring to the sick. We also can bring healing to our little corner of the world as well. 

16 July 2024 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel - Tuesday of the 15th week in Ordinary Time - Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus spoke to the people of his day, particularly to the people of the Israelite villages where he spent a lot of time proclaiming God’s kingdom and performing miracles. However, many in those villages did not heed this message. Jesus provides those villages a warning. This message, nevertheless, is relevant for us today.  How often do we ignore our faith or make excuses for not participating in our parish as much as we should?  Are the teachings of Christ reflected in the words and actions of non-Christians more than they are reflected in us?

Today’s feast day celebrates a special devotion and apparition of Mary as we commemorate the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  We think of our beloved Carmelite sisters here in Jackson, for which Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a special feast day. In the Old Testament, Mount Carmel was a place of refuge. In the Christian era, Hermits lived on Mount Carmel in northern Israel beginning in the 12th century, dedicating a chapel there to Mary. They soon celebrated a special mass and office of readings dedicated to Mary. Since the 15th century, popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has centered on the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, also known as the Brown Scapular. Traditionally, Mary is said to have given the Scapular to an English Carmelite monk named Saint Simon Stock in the 12th century.

The feast day was officially recognized by the Church in 1726 under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  This group of hermits at Mount Carmel evolved into the religious order of the Carmelites, the religious group that has given our Church the great saints & mystics Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, and John of the Cross, all three doctors of the Church. 

In the different ways Mary appears to the faithful, she always points us to her son in a very special way.  May the intercessions of Our Lady of Mount Carmel lead us to her son, Jesus Christ. May we find meaning and significance in our burdens as we unite them to the sufferings of Jesus.  

19 July 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 15th week in Ordinary time

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

Christ Jesus - You bring us hope. 

Lord Jesus - You bring us your Good News. 

PRIEST: With hope and faith, let us bring our prayers to our heavenly Father this morning: 

1. For Pope Francis, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Bishops and church leaders, that God will help them lead the Church to greater service, love and unity. 

2. For families who are traveling, the Lord keep them safe.  And may the Lord continue to bless the children and youth in their summer activities. 

3. For all who are called to bear prophetic witness to the faithful, that their witness to the truth may touch hearts and be an opportunity for deeper conversion for all God’s people. 

4. That the Holy Spirit may guide our governmental leaders in addressing issues of violence, injustice, and poverty. 

5. For healing of families and communities. For those who are struggling with mental health issues, depression, or addiction. That God bring healing into their lives and restore them to wholeness. 

6. For our families members, loved ones, and community members who have died, for their entry into eternal life. 

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

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

18 July 2024 - Thursday of the 15th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus, you are our lasting treasure. 

Christ Jesus, you call us to share our resources with the poor. 

Lord Jesus, you lead us to eternal gladness. 

Prayers of the faithful:

Priest: Let us seek what matters to God with generous hearts.  We now pray for our needs, the needs of our brothers and sisters, and the needs of the Church:

1. For the Church, that we may be a model of generosity, freely giving of our abundance to those in need, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For the leaders of the nations, that we may be inspired to share their nation’s resources with those who suffer, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For an end to terrorism, war, and violence. For healing and reconciliation in our families, our communities, and our nation, we pray to the Lord. 

4. That all of us may seek wisdom, guidance, and understanding in God’s holy word, we pray to the Lord.  

5. For healing for the sick and the afflicted in body, mind and spirit, for those who are suffering from addictions and mental illness, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For our students, families, and teachers.  May the Lord bless their studies and all their school activities in the upcoming school year, we pray to the Lord.  

6. For the prayers we hold in the silence for our hearts, we pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God of holiness, you lovingly renew our minds and our spirits.  We offer our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - 17 July 2024 - Wednesday of the 15th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - You died and rose again to save us from sin 

Christ Jesus - you teach us how to pray

Lord Jesus - in you, we find the path to holiness

Prayers of the faithful - 

Priest: Jesus assures us that if we ask, we will receive. As children of God, we now bring our needs before our Father in heaven:

1. That we in the Church may imitate God’s generosity as we assist those in need, materially and spiritually, we pray to the Lord: 

2. For our governmental leaders, that they may work toward the day when no one will be without daily bread, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For those who have been affected by natural disaster, by drought, and through the heatwave in our country, that their suffering may be relieved, we pray to the Lord. 

4. That all who gather around the eucharistic table of the Lord may remember those not present, especially the sick and the homebound, we pray to the Lord.  

5. That our Church may deepen its persistence in prayer and its witness of the Gospel message, we pray to the Lord. 

6. That the nations of the world may seek peace, defend life, and practice mercy, we pray to the Lord.  

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

Priest: Father of mercy, help us to desire the good and to guide us to seek the truth. We ask this through our Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

 

16 July 2024 - Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you bring us salvation. 

Christ Jesus - you proclaim justice. 

Lord Jesus - you call your Church to be prophetic in the modern world. 

Priest: The Lord’s mercy and love never ends. We now present our prayers to God with confidence and hope: 

1. For our Church leaders, that they may sincerely and fully live the Gospel message that they preach. 

2. That we may all grow in our understanding of God’s mercy, recognizing the welcome extended to those who are repentant and contrite. 

3. For those on the margins of society, for men and women who are exploited, that justice and hope may prevail in our land. 

4. For those who endure sickness in body, mind or spirit, that the support of the Christian community and their family and friends remind them of God’s healing care. 

5. For all the faithful departed, that they may be raised to life through Jesus’ resurrection. We pray for the souls in purgatory. 

6. For our children and youth, that God may watch over them in their summer activities and travels. 

7. For our Carmelite sisters here in the Diocese of Jackson and for our secular Carmelite group, for their novena this week for our Lady of Mount Carmel. We give thanks for all their benefactors and for the parishes in the Jackson area who help them, including our Knights and many parishioners from Holy Savior. 

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

Priest: God of endless goodness, your love and compassion have no end.  We ask that you hear the prayers that your people make in faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

14 July 2024 - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Prayers of the faithful - prison ministry

Penitential rite - Priest -
Lord Jesus - you bring us words of truth - Lord have mercy.
Christ Jesus - you forgive our transgressions - Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus - you bring healing to our weary world - Lord have mercy. 

Prayers of the faithful:
Priest: Se receive many spiritual blessings from Christ. Let us now call upon the Lord to make known our prayers today: 

1. That we in the Church may follow in the disciples’ footsteps as we make our own journeys in life:  as we seek repentance, as we bring healing to the sick, and as we offer forgiveness. We pray to the Lord.


2. May we all work for justice and peace in our world. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For all missionaries, for their safety and well-being as the proclaim the Gospel message throughout the world. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That all victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse may know safety and security and receive the healing they need. We pray to the Lord. 

5. That through the celebration of the Eucharistic revival, we may grow in the love of Christ present in the Eucharist. We pray to the Lord.


6. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit for all them men and women here at CMCF and for all our loved ones. For those with mental health issues, depression, and addictions. We pray to the Lord.


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


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

Priest: Heavenly Father, let us see your kindness and provide us with all we need. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.