Bulletin Article: December 29

I hope that you and your family continue to have a blessed Christmas. I want to thank everyone who made our Christmas liturgies possible. Without your hard work it would be very difficult to make everything so beautiful around this parish.

Please remember that January 1st is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and it is a Holy Day of Obligation. On December 31st we will have Mass at 7pm. On January 1st we will have Mass at 10am, 12pm (Spanish), and 7pm (Extraordinary Form). As we approach the end and the start of a year please keep in mind that you can receive a Plenary Indulgence for the praying of the “Te Deum” on December 31st and the praying of the “Veni Creator Spiritus” on January 1st. To gain on plenary indulgence one must (1) Make a confession within a brief time, (2) Pray for the intention of the pope, (3) Do the prescribed work, and (4) Detachment of even genial sins.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Holy Family Homily

Merry Christmas!

Today we come to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. This feast allows us to set our attention upon the domestic church which is the church at home. This church at home is very important because it molds hearts and souls to set their attention upon Christ just as Mary and Joseph set their attention upon Christ.

It should be no news to us that the family life is under attack. In our modern era there is an unending barrage of activities and information which pull us away from one another. Even worse with this unending barrage of activities and information some even loose sight of Christ in order to elevate other activities above Him. Again the example of Mary and Joseph is to set their sight upon Christ. We too must take up their example and come to the defense of the family.

Why is the family so important some may ask. It is important because it is the original cell of society. Within the family man and woman join together to become one flesh and from this mutual love given by couples brings forth new life. Together the family joins to orient their sight upon Christ and together work towards the building up of His Kingdom on earth.

In 1964 Pope Paul VI traveled to Nazareth and gave an address at the Basilica of the Annuciation. Here he spoke concerning the importance of the family in these words: “May Nazareth teach us the meaning of family life, its harmony of love, its simplicity and austere beauty, its sacred and inviolable character; may it teach us how sweet and irreplaceable is its training, how fundamental and incomparable its role on the social plane.”

With that we come to celebrate this beautiful Feast of the Holy Family for this is the feast of family life. Through this feast I hope that we see the necessity to build up the family and the domestic church. I hope that families are joining together in prayer. Some possibilities include reading and reflecting upon the Sunday readings and the praying of the rosary. Hopefully too families are not too caught up in the ways of this world, but make that time which is so important to assist at the Holy Mass on each Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.

Families must learn to move together instead of being separated to the point that each goes their own way to pursue their own wants. This attitude detracts from prayer. This attitude detracts from the Lord. This attitude even detracts from marriage for it leads towards divorce. The most perfect glimpse of love is found in the Trinity and from the cross. From the cross our Blessed Lord gives Himself up entirely for us out of love. In moments of difficulty the family should not be ripped apart, but move towards the cross and set their sight upon cross to get through whatever difficulty might arise.

May we continue to look towards the Holy Family to discover our inspiration and join with Mary and Jospeh in setting our sight firmly upon Christ and allowing ourself to dwell with Him always.

Christmas Extraordinary Form Homily

Merry Christmas!

In our Gospel we encounter the shepherds, who after their encounter with the angels are inspired to journey towards Bethlehem. Here they came to encounter our Blessed Lord and when they returned home they did so “glorifying and praising God in all the things they had heard and seen.” We can say that from this encounter the lives of the shepherds were changed forever.

Throughout the Gospels there are so many who came to encounter this same Lord and their life too came to be changed forever. There was the apostles who our Lord called to follow Him in order that they may be fishers of men. There was the woman caught in adultery who our Lord forgave and instructed to go and sin no more. There was Dismas who encountered Him upon the cross and through his repentant heart was instructed “today you will be with me in paradise.” These are only a small selection of the many whose lives were forever changed through this encounter.

This turns the attention inwardly upon each of us. Through our baptism we have come to be marked for Christ Jesus. Through these life giving waters sin was washed away and we were set upon a path which leads towards Heaven. From this sacrament we were given the gift of grace in order that we may come to run the race of faith. You can say that each us have encountered Christ the King and thus our life has been changed forever.

Nevertheless, we know how hard that all of this can be. We know the pull of sin. We know the darkness that can seemingly be ushered into the world at times. As heard in our Introit: “A light shall shine upon us this day: for the Lord is born to us.” We cannot forget about this light which now shines brightly. This great light gives us the faith and hope to endure and to allow this interaction with our Blessed Lord to change us forever.

Like the shepherds encountered in our Gospel we are encouraged to now journey towards Bethlehem. Here we will discover Christ, both fully human and fully divine, who has been laid in the comfort of a manger. From this encounter our life is forever changed. From here we will be sent back into the world “glorifying and praising God in all the things (we have) heard and seen.”

In this manner there will be no hardship that is too great for Christ. In this manner there will be no temptation which is too great for Christ to protect us from. In this manner there will be no sin which is too great for the mercy of God. In this manner whatever we “do in word or in work, (we will come to) do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Christmas Midnight Mass Homily

Merry Christmas!

What a beautiful night that this is. It is so quiet and peaceful. Today we rejoice for a Savior has been born for us. We once again get to rejoice as we cry out: “Gloria in excelsis Deo” “Glory to God in the highest.” Therefore, on this night we come to know and trust in the reality that the world has been brought towards the light of Christ.

Thus from the Prophet Isaiah we heard: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” From the Gospel of Saint Luke we heard concerning the shepherds: “The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.”

With this I think of the many ways in which we allow ourself to be cast into darkness. All that we have to do is turn on the news and we will see that. The more that we allow ourself to take our sight off of Christ the more we are cast into darkness. Without Christ we lose the hope of the Resurrection and the life which is to come. With that we pursue a path of wordiness that will never fill us and thus fear what may come next.

In our Gospel we encountered the shepherds. They had no clue what it was that they would encounter on that hallowed day. Nevertheless, their life changed forever as it was brought to light. So too throughout the Gospels we encounter so many people who encountered the light of Christ and their life was changed forever. This list includes the likes of the apostles, the woman at the well, the woman with the hemorrhage, and Dismas to name a few.

On this night we allow Christ to shed this same light upon us and this world. From this light the darkness becomes illumined and we are forever given hope. We are a world and people that have been touched by sin and yet God loved us so much that He took on our human flesh and dwelt among us. This reality should bring comfort into our life as the light of Christ continues to touch and illumine each of us.

We like those encountered in the Gospel have encountered this great light and we too have been transformed. An individual who encounters Christ has had their life transformed forever. Through this transformation we are given the hope that we can overcome the darkness that is present within this world. Through the light of Christ we are given the faith to endure and to trudge forward. Through the light of Christ we are given the charity necessary to spread and live the Gospel message in the midst of this world.

May this Christmas illumine our life for the darkness has no hope in overshadowing this great light to which shepherds, magi, and angels gather to adore.

Christmas Vigil Mass Homily

Merry Christmas!

What a beautiful gift that we celebrate this evening. The gift that we celebrate is the gift of Christ who is the Word made Flesh. Christ who was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was laid in a manger. A little later we will come to celebrate the Eucharist which is the same God that we venerate in the manger. The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord.

This word “Christmas” has two important meanings. Firstly, we have “Christ.” With that there are many campaigns which remind of the necessity to keep Christ in Christmas. Secondly, we have the “Mass.” Sadly, many deprive themself of this reality and instead only frequent the Mass on Christmas and Easter. To think of all that a soul deprives themself of when they do not assist at the Mass on every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.

In her diary Saint Faustina writes of the Mass: “Oh, what awesome mysteries take place during Mass! A great mystery is accomplished in the Holy Mass. With what great devotion should we listen to and take part in this death of Jesus. One day we will know what God is doing for us in each Mass, and what sort of gift He is preparing in it for us. Only His divine love could permit that such a gift be provided for us.”

Pope Paul VI stated of the Mass and the Eucharist: “The unique and indivisible existence of the lord, glorious in heaven is rendered present by the sacrament in the many places on earth where the Mass is celebrated. And this existence remains present after the sacrifice of the Mass in the Blessed Sacrament, which is, in the tabernacle, the living heart of each of our churches. And it is our very sweet duty to honor and adore in the blessed Host which our eyes see, the Incarnate Word whole they cannot see, and who, without leaving heaven, is made present for us.”

I hope that we see the beauty that takes place for us here as we celebrate the Mass especially on this Christmas evening. God’s love for us is so great that He dwells with us not only in the little town of Bethlehem, but continues to dwell with us here out of love in the Most Holy Eucharist.

This night is said to be one of peace, but I know that our world continues to be troubled. The more that we move away from Christ the more we will be troubled. Let us set out sight upon our Lord and allow Him to be the one who ushers peace into our life. With that let us frequent the Mass and leave all of our troubles and needs here to hand to the Lord. With that let us grow in our devotion and love for the Eucharist for here we come to allow our heart to be centered upon Christ.

As was stated by Pope Leo XIII: “In the Eucharist alone are contained in a remarkable richness and a variety of miracles all supernatural realities.” With this let us think of the many graces which come to us in the course of the Mass especially as we come to behold and receive our Lord present with us in the Most Holy Eucharist. Let us continue to dwell here with our Lord for this is the same Lord who was laid in the manger in Bethlehem to whom we now flock to adore. Let us continue to keep Christ not only in Christmas, but in our daily life. May we not forget about the Mass and the graces contained herein. 

Bulletin Article: December 22

We now celebrate this final Sunday in Advent. With that will will soon once again sing joyously with the angels: “Glory to God in the Highest.” With that our Mass schedule for Christmas will be December 24 at 5pm. On December 25 Mass will be celebrated at 12am, 8am (Sung Mass in Extraordinary Form), 10am, and 12pm (Spanish). Also, please remember that Christmas is a season which stretches from December 25 and in the Ordinary Form stretches to January 12 which is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

4th Sunday of Advent Homily

This is the final Sunday of Advent. On Wednesday will fall our celebration of Christmas. With that the news of the birth of the Saviour will quickly spread and from this miraculous birth the night will be illumined.

This Introit which was used on this 4th Sunday of Advent is the same as the Introit which is used for the Votive Mass to the Blessed Virgin Mary during Advent. Our parish celebrated that Mass last week. At the Rorate Coeli Mass the church is illumined only by the altar candles and those candles which are held by the faithful. It is truly a beautiful sight to behold.

The Rorate Coeli Mass recalls the advent of Christ, Light of the world. As the sun begins to rise Mass progresses. As the church comes to be illumined, we see how Jesus, the only-begotten Son illumines our minds with His truth and warms our hearts by His charity.

So too on this 4th Sunday of Advent the birth of Christ ever draws closer for us. On this Sunday the light of Christ ever draws closer to illumine the night. We can see the many ways in which the world has been touched by sin and death and yet Christ ushers the assurance of peace into the world. As Saint Paul exclaimed from his Epistle: “Therefore judge not before the time, until the Lord come; who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.”

As we prepare to encounter this great gift may we heed these words from Saint Paul. The world will continue to seem to be cast into darkness, but we must remember the great hope which is Christ the light which redeems and lifts us out of this darkness. So too we must turn towards the Lord and allow His light to illumine us. As Saint John the Baptist cried out: “prepare you the way of the Lord: make straight His paths.”

We must remember that the one we now prepare to encounter is fully human, but also fully divine. If we truly propose to encounter Him we must place our trust in His merciful hands. We must allow Him to be the one who heals us of our sin and sets us upon the straight path towards Heaven. Sadly, there are many who forget the Divinity of our Lord and thus don’t see the effect of sin when it comes to drawing closer to Him.

Momentarily, we will have the opportunity to encounter this same Christ in the Most Hold Eucharist. Yes again, sadly, there are those who do not see the Divinity that dwells here nor the need to reform their life when it pertains to the reception of Holy Communion. Let us not remain lost in the darkness, but allow the Lord to illumine our life and world.

Bulletin Article: December 15

It has been awhile since our parish held its Fall Festival.  I am finally able to disclose the numbers for that event.  We made a net of $4,685.33 and total of $5,996, which is pretty good considering the limited amount of time we had to plan it.

Moving forward I believe it important to start planning for our next fall festival in advance. Therefore, we will hold a Fall Festival Committee meeting on January 20 at 6:30pm. The main purpose of this meeting is to put into place the framework for future meetings which will pick a date and build upon the structure of last year’s festival. If needed we will also find a chairperson and co-chairperson for this committee.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

3rd Sunday of Advent Year A Homily

Today we were instructed from our Intriot: “guadete” which means to “rejoice.”

As our Lord draws near we are reminded of all that we have to rejoice for within this life. We rejoice for despite sin and hardship our Lord comes in the silence of Christmas night born of a Virgin. From this reality we rejoice for peace was ushered into the world as the world had never known peace before. On Christmas it will be to this crèche that we will flock with our attention placed upon Christ and for this we will have every reason to rejoice.

Saint John the Baptist directs all attention towards Christ. In our Gospel he sends out his disciples to see if Jesus is the one to whom they must now follow. John the Baptist understands that he must decrease in order that He may increase. John the Baptist has no problem with the virtue of humility for he understands that he is not God and only the forebearer for the one who will come after Him. With this he states: “prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight.”

During this season of Advent we must come to take John the Baptist’s example to heart. We must realize that we are not the center of attention. We must realize that our life should always point towards the coming of the Christ. We should be found in preparation of the coming the Messiah. We should realize that we are to be found humble of heart.

One great gift at this parish is that of our Perpetual Adoration Chapel. The one who dwells here is the same Jesus Christ for whom John the Baptist longed. This is the same Jesus Christ who was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose birth we now prepare for. This is the same Jesus Christ who died upon the cross in order that we may be forgiven of our sins. This is the same Jesus Christ who rose on the third day in fulfillment of the scriptures.

Despite all of this we have so many hours in our Perpetual Adoration chapel which go ignored. This is very serious because the Church does not asks, but demands at the very minimum two people are to be present whenever our Blessed Lord is exposed as we do in the chapel. If this cannot be accomplished then a parish cannot continue to have a Perpetual Adoration chapel.

It would be sad if we would have to cross that road. Thankfully, this parish community is large in number and filling the 24 hours which exist in a day should be possible. If there were to be a sale at the mall we would be lined up. If there were to be a concert of a beloved musician we would make sure to be there. If there were a sporting event taking place we would have a ticket. Why do we make sacrifices for so many things, but fail to make precedence for the Lord?

Today following Mass we have the gathering area set up to promote our Perpetual Adoration Chapel. To those who currently adore our Blessed Lord with a scheduled hour I thank you for your sacrifice, but know that it is filled with many blessings. To those who do not currently assist with our Perpetual Adoration Chapel please know that it is here and open to you and your family. It would be wonderful to see families set their sight upon the Lord together. From the Garden of Gethsemane our Lord asked His apostles as He asks all of us today: “Cannot you not stay awake with me for one hour? Truly, in our Lord we have every reason to rejoice. May we make way for Him to dwell among us.

Bulletin Article: December 8

I hope that each of you are having a Blessed Advent season.

I encourage your frequent use of the Sacrament of Confession. Currently our parish offers confessions Wednesday at 6pm, Saturday at 9am, and Sunday at 1:30pm. On Tuesday, December 10, we will also have our Parish Advent Penance Service which will give us a total of 9 priests to hear confessions.

On Saturday, December 14, we will hold a Rorate Caeli Mass at 6:30am. This is a Mass in the Extraordinary Form and is a Votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is taken from the first words of the Introit taken from Isiah 45:8, “Rorate Caeli” which in English means “Drop down dew, you Heavens.” This Mass is to offered by candlelight and thus we will not use any lights in the Church other then that of candles.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Immaculate Conception Homily

On this Second Sunday of Advent we come to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immacualte Conception. This word “immaculate” means “without stain.” Therefore, what we come to celebrate is the reality that our Blessed Mother was conceived without the stain of sin. That she was the pure and spotless vessel prepared by God to bring forth the Savior of the World.

In the Gospel of Saint Luke the angel Gabriel addresses our Blessed Mother with these words: “Hail full of grace.” These words get to the very heart of what is going on in the midst of this feast. Some of other faith traditions would argue that the word used here should be favor and not grace. Neveretheless, we later hear in Luke 1:30: “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.” In this passage the word used is clearly “grace” and not “favor.” With this we must consider what it means to state that Mary is “full of grace.”

For Mary to be “full of grace” there is no room in her for the tendency towards sin. For Mary to be “full of grace” there is not even the smallest drop of evil found within her. For Mary to be “full of grace” sets her apart from other saints who were sinners. For Mary to be “full of grace” she had her full attention always placed upon God. Mary is “full of grace” and thus she never fell into the stain of sin.

In our world it seems that many are led to believe that sin is not real and thus something that is impossible for them to commit. Even among Catholics we see people who have nothing to do with the Sacrament of Confession. Of them there are even some who believe they have not sinned. None of us can be the second coming of the Immaculate Conception because we are all sinners who are in need of the mercy of God. Taking the life of another is a serious sin, but there are other sins are serious too. When it pertains to what constitutes a sin it seems that we have set the bar so low that hardly anything constitutes sin.

It is difficult to grasp the reality of sin if we in return have lost our belief in God. Sadly, many have lost sight of God. Sadly, some never fathom their sinfulness in light of God’s merciful love. It is here that Mary shows us the way for her sight was always set upon God. Throughout scripture we are told that “she pondered all these things within her heart.” 

As we continue our expectant journey towards Betheleham during this season of Advent let us set our sight upon Mary who is found to be “full of grace.” Here may we come to be filled with joy, to set our sight upon God, and to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God. Through her intercession we can come to better welcome God into our life and strive for Heaven. The Immaculate Conception proclaims that Mary is “full of grace” in like manner may we learn how to be humble of heart and to allow her motherly care to come upon us to draw us towards Heaven.

2nd Sunday of Advent Year A Homily

One of the most difficult Gospel selections to read or listen to is that of the genealogy of Jesus which is found in the Gospel of Saint Matthew. Despite its difficulty this is an important Gospel for us to understand. It is even the Gospel which is selected to be read at the Christmas Vigil Mass. The geology of Jesus proclaims to us the lineage of Jesus Christ. From its start we hear: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David.” We later hear: “Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon.” We finally hear: “Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.”

Here we are reminded that Jesus is connected to the line of David. As we heard from the Prophet Isaiah: “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.”

One traditional practice for many during the Advent season is the Jesse Tree. It is the Jesse Tree which takes figures of the Old as well as New Testament and leads towards the coming of the Messiah. The Jesse Tree helps children as well as parents that they may come to know these important figures who build up to the coming of Christ. As we see from the genealogy of Jesus as well as the Book of Isaiah this begins with the figure of Jesse who is the father of David and leads to the Christ.

In the doorway of the rectory in Oak Ridge stands a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is very striking. If you would look closely you would see that connected to her lip was a root. This added root to her face was symbolic of this root that we heard from in the Book of Isaiah and comes to represent this geneology of the Lord.

This root is symbolic of the coming of the Lord. The Lord will not simply appear in any way, but will come through the royal lineage of King David. The word Advent comes from the Latin word, Adventus, which means in English, coming or arrival. I hope that we can see the great gift that we now prepare to receive into our life. We not prepare only for our Lord’s coming at Christmas, but we also prepare for His second coming at the end of time. As Saint John the Baptist proclaimed in our Gospel: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

This is precisely what we must do in the midst of this sacred season. We must come to realize the great gift for which we now long. A root becomes symbolic of something which is living. We do not want to be cut off from the root for we will be found dead. Let us now look at the roots of our faith and pray upon what may be doing them harm. Where they have been effected by the reality of sin may we see the need to go to the Sacrament of Confession.

With that we will have our Advent Penance Service on Tuesday where a total of 9 priests will be present. Let us not be filled with pride, but instead radiate towards humility through the confession of our sins. If it has been a long time since you have frequented the Sacrament of Confession despair not, but instust yourself to the infinite mercy of God.

Jesus is truly of the lineage of King David may we make straight his paths.

St. Mary Men Evening is Recollection Sermon IV: Advent our Hope

Advent is a time of fervent hope.

The Advent wreath serves as a reminder of this expectant hope. From the candles of the wreath the darkness is illuminated with light. On December 13 we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Lucy. Saint Lucy is often depicted with a wreath of candles placed upon her head. This wreath would illuminate the darkness as she made her way to visit Christians in the catacombs.

The Memorial of Saint Lucy is important because it gives way to the light for the coming of the Messiah now draws near. This is the great hope for which we now long.

Saint Josemaria Escriva stated: “That disturbance in your spirit, the temptation which envelops you, seems to blindfold the eyes of your soul. You are in darkness. Don't insist on walking by yourself, for, by yourself you will fall.”

These words are very true because we so often attempt to toil about the issues of life all by ourself. If all by ourself we will toil about lost in the darkness. We are in need of a guide who will light the way for us. That guide for which our soul now longs is Christ our Lord.

With that we must make use of the sacraments of the church. We must make use of the sacrament of confession for it purifies us in order that we may see more clearly. We must receive our Blessed Lord in the state of grace for here we come to not only encounter Christ as He is, but allow Him to enter into our life.

In the words of Saint Josemaria Escriva: “Seek union with God and buoy yourself up with hope — that sure virtue! — because Jesus will illuminate the way for you with the light of his mercy, even in the darkest night.”

Truly the Lord is our fervent hope. Let us never be found downcast. When we feel alone and afraid may we remember the Lord who is our hope. In time we will pass through this season of Advent and will come to rejoice with our Savior born in the manger to the Blessed Virgin. May Christ truly become our fervent hope.

Anniversary of Dedication of Church Homily

19 years ago this parish church was dedicated unto God.

This was made possible through the hands of many parishioners who came together to make this offering acceptable. To this day this parish community is blessed by many parishioners who carry on this concern through the offering of their time, talent, and treasure. To each of you I say thank you for your generosity springs forth from the Lord and His invitation to us to come and follow after Him in order that He may make us fishers of men.

And so since that time of that dedication these hallowed walls could tell many stories of sacraments celebrated and souls who have been claimed for God the Father. Within these hallowed walls people have proclaimed the Glory of God and have been drawn together as a community of faith.

As one walks into this Church they are first of all greeted by the Baptismal font which serves as a reminder of our baptism. Through this sacrament we have been welcomed into the life of the church. It was here that we were claimed for Christ Jesus and sent forth to proclaim His Most Holy Name.

From this Sacrament springs forth the other Sacraments of the Church. With that the Eucharist has been received here, confessions have been heard, people have been anointed, confirmation has been received, and weddings have been offered. Very soon we will celebrate the ordination of a new priest in the form of one Zach Griffith, may we remember to pray for him.

With that this is a house of prayer. It is the purpose of this place to elevate our sight upwards towards Heaven and inspire each of us to get there. May each of us continue to band together under the banner of the Eucharist. Through the Eucharist we become one though we are many. Through the Eucharist we put difference aside in order to follow after Christ who unites us. It is the devil who desires to spread lies which bring forth division, but as instructed in Holy Scripture a Kingdom divided among itself will not stand.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, despite the turmoil which may lie ahead this church will continue to stand. Truly the gates of hell will not stand against the church. The church will always prevail. Let us celebrate with great joy this day as we come to proclaim the glory of these hallowed walls and the stories contained here in. When we enter this hallowed temple of God may we always be inspired towards Heaven and towards an encounter with Christ.

Bulletin Article: December 1

We have now begun the Advent season and our journey towards Christmas. Let us remember that Christmas begins on December 25 and is a season that stretches until our celebration of the Baptism or the Lord on January 12. With that in mind let us use this season that has been set before us to prepare for that coming season.

Monday, December 2, we will celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of our parish church. In the liturgical calendar this day is treated as a solemnity. Therefore, we will have a special Mass at 6pm to celebrate this day. Following Mass there will be finger foods in the gathering area. Please bring something to share following this Mass.

Tuesday, December 3, we continue our Men’s Evening of Recollection in the church from 6:45pm-8pm. This is an opportunity for the men of our parish to gather together for reflection, prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and confessions are offered.

Saturday, December 7, will fall our parish Advent retreat. The theme is taken from Luke 2:7, “There was no room for them in the inn.” Following 8:30am Mass there will be donuts and coffee in the gathering area, the conference will begin at 9:30am in the chapel, and will conclude with a Holy Hour beginning at 11:30am. During this Holy Hour confessions will be heard.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

1st Sunday of Advent Year A Homily

Let us stay awake for the Lord’s coming is drawing near. We now find ourselves in the season of Advent and we now prepare for Christmas where God’s love is so great that He chose to take on our human flesh and dwell among us. It was for this life altering reality that the angels appeared to the shepherds and sung out “Glory to God in the Highest.”

Advent must remain a season of expectation. Within us there should be a longing to be united to God made Flesh. In the midst of our liturgy we can see this same expectation. For we will not sing this hymn of the angels again until the Good News of the birth of the Saviour has been proclaimed unto us on Christmas Day. Hopefully we use little reminders such as this during this season to allow ourself to stay awake.

Our Epistle reminded us of the need to “throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” As we drive around at night we will start to see Christmas lights which shine brightly from the darkness. Christmas lights serve as a reminder to us of the Light of Christ. Hopefully through seeing them we will be reminded of the one for whom we now prepare to encounter and realize our need to stay awake as we prepare to encounter Him.

It is sin which plunges us into darkness and causes our life to move around something other then Christ. With this many will now rush about and fill stores with the rush of finding the perfect gift for a loved one. There is nothing wrong with giving gifts to one another, but hopefully we do not let this rush detract from what is actually important during this season, coming into an encounter with Christ.

Throughout Advent I encourage you to find ways to stay awake and thus prepare for this life giving encounter. Let not the hustle and bustle of this short season take away from this preparation that we are called to make.

With this in mind make use of Sacrament of Confession, especially if it has been a long time since you have participated in the sacrament. Our confession times can be found in the bulletin and our parish Advent penance service will be December 10th. I also invite you to make use of our Perpetual Adoration Chapel. We sadly have hours which are open when our Blessed Lord is left all alone. Coming to this chapel as an individual or as a family would be a perfect way to place your attention upon Christ as you prepare to receive Him.

I also encourage practices within the home. Maybe an Advent wreath that brings that family together to pray each day. Maybe an Advent calendar for the children. Set up a manger scene in your home holding off on placing the baby Jesus until Christmas. Some even keep hay in a special place adding one grain each time a member of the family does something nice for someone else.

Let us thus head into the season of Advent and prepare the way for the Lord’s coming. Let us not be caught off guard, but stay awake and vigilant as we now prepare for His arrival for very soon we will once again sing “Glory to God in the Highest.”

Thanksgiving Homily

Today our nation celebrates Thanksgiving and we gather here this morning to celebrate the Mass. It is here that we come to encounter Christ who is present with us in the Eucharist. The word “Eucharist” actually comes from a Greek word which means “thanksgiving.” With that it becomes most fitting that we gather together in order to give thanks to God for the many blessings that we have received in this life.

I understand that some may lack family at this time of year. I understand that some may have to endure hardship which makes it difficult to give thanks. Nevertheless, we are able to look towards the cross and see all that the Lord has done for us. For from the cross we can see that God loves us so much that He gave up His only begotten Son. Despite my failures and sinfulness the Lord has done all this for me and so I give thanks.

In a matter of minutes I will take bread and wine into my hands and say the words of consecration. From these words will come about the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord. Let us remember the Israelites who had been freed from their enslavement in Egypt, who wondered about lost in the desert, and even dared to complain unto God that they were hungry. In time God poured out Heavenly food upon them from which they ate and gave thanks for what God had done for them. This Heavenly food encouraged them that despite their hardships that they must and can trudge onwards towards the Promised Land.

So too in the Eucharist we have so much to be thankful for. Each of us is on a journey towards a Heaven and along the way we will endure hardship like the Israelites. Nevertheless, let us receive our strength and hope from our encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. May each of you and your families have a blessed Thanksgiving and give thanks for all that God has done for you.

Bulletin Article: November 24

With this Sunday we come to our celebration of Christ the King. This celebration brings about the conclusion of our liturgical year. We now head into Advent where we prepare for the birth of Christ who is God made Flesh.

Our parish is always a busy place, but in Advent there will be a few extra activities that I would like you to be aware of. On December 2 we will celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of our parish church with Mass at 6pm, December 7 a parish Advent retreat will be held beginning at 9:30am, December 9 our parish will host the icon of Mary of Persecuted Christians with a prayer service at 6pm, December 10 our Advent penance service will be held at 7pm, December 12 Mass will be offered on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 7pm, December 14 a Rorate Caeli Mass will be offered at 6:30am, and December 19 our school will hold a musical at 5:30pm.

Lastly, I want to give you advance notice that I am currently planning a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from October 5-14, 2020. More information on this pilgrimage will soon follow. There will be an informational meeting held January 14 at 6:30pm.

In Christ, 

Fr. Dustin Collins

Last Sunday After Pentecost Homily

With this Mass we journey ever closer to the end of the liturgical year. When we gather next week we will arrive at the First Sunday of Advent and the start of a new liturgical year. The liturgical year is a cycle which has a beginning and an end. Nevertheless, when it comes to its conclusion it always begins anew.

This serves as a reminder of what goes on in the world around us. In the world we have many cycles which are continusely at play. We have the seasons which go from the warmth of summer to the cold of the winter. We are moving towards death and the Final Judgement. With each of these we do not simply pop out of existence, but life continues as is illustrated in this cycle.

There are some in this world who use prophesy to predict the end of the world. These many predictions have now come and gone and yet here we remain. What remains important for us is to remember that we know not the time nor the hour. If we realize this to be true we can place our attention on what is important and thus work on getting everything in order within this life. There are so many who act as if they are oblivious to the reality of death.

Our Gospel instructs that we shall see the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven and He will send out angels to gather His elect. This imagery reminds us of the harvest where crops are cut and collected from the fields. In this manner that which is found to be good and pleasing is taken while everything else is left behind. So too with death there will be judgement. The elect will be gathered together for they have been found worthy of Heaven while the rest will be cast into Hell. 

I hope that we come to place this imagery in our sight. We were created in the image and the likeness of God. God has taken on our human flesh out of love. He died upon the cross in forgiveness of our sins and sends forth the Holy Spirit to guide us in truth. Again there are many who never think of these life giving realities and thus they trudge about life chasing after false gods which will always leave them empty.

As we enter into the season of Advent next week may we keep all of this upon our mind. Fulton Sheen, who thanks be to God will be beatified on December 21st, stated that the saddest words every written were that there was no room for them in the inn. Therefore, as we enter into Advent may we come to make room in the inn of our heart for God made Flesh to come and dwell among us. If we are to do this we must cut away everything in this life which keeps us from this encounter.

Let us thus prepare for the many transitions that will take place in our life. Let us prepare for our movement into Advent and a new Church year. Let us prepare for our death and our encounter with God the Just Judge. It is towards Heaven that we must strive. May we come to do so with the assistance of all the angels and saints of Heaven and remain in the confines of the Church always.

Christ the King Homily

Adapted from homily given for Feast of Christ the King in the Extraordinary Form on October 27, 2019.

This Sunday marks the final Sunday of the liturgical year. When we gather together for the Holy Mass next Sunday we will begin the season of Advent and a new liturgical year. In the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite this final Sunday of the liturgical year is known as the Solemnity of Christ the King.

I have never met a king and this is probably true for just about all of you. If we were to ever meet a king it would be proper for us to genuflect in his presence. Thankfully each and every Sunday we do have this opportunity to encounter a King. This King whom we encounter is Christ our Lord. This is why we normally genuflect when we enter a Church. We genuflect for the one who is present with us within the Tabernacle is Christ our King. If the Tabernacle is not placed in its proper place and is thus hidden in some alternate location one should not genuflect for our Lord is not present.

Hopefully we allow nothing to take our sight away from this reality. It is to here that we should come to find our hope in the midst of any affliction that may befall us. Nevertheless, we are a society which has its news at its fingertips. There is nothing which is seemingly left for us to figure out on our own. So many allow themselves to get caught up with this endless revenue of information to the point that it becomes harmful for their soul. It becomes harmful because they forget about Christ. They take their sight off of Him and begin to worry about things which are out of their control. When we think about it there is nothing which we are ultimately in control of.

This is precisely why this Solemnity of Christ the King is so important for us. We must allow Christ to be the center of our life. We must allow Him to be the One who calms all of our fears. We must allow Him to be the one whom we go to as the source and summit of our life.

This Feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in order to remind Christians of their allegiance to their spiritual ruler in heaven as opposed to earthly supremacy. As we chase after Christ we must remember that His Kingdom is not of this world and thus we should come to elevate our sight upwards towards Heaven.

It would seem that many have lost sight of this direction as they come to push to the side Christ in order to chase after the world. Again we must be reminded that Christ is our King. We should be willing to submit to this just ruler. We should submit here all of our fears and worries. We should not let them overcome us, but submit them to Him. We should not chase after endless avenues of pleasure, but instead realize that it is Christ for which our heart now longs.

As we come to celebrate this great Solemnity of Christ the King may we allow Christ to become the King and Ruler of our life. Let us submit to His Divine will and always be found willing to humble ourself in His midst.

Bulletin Article: November 17

Congratulations to our children who made their first confession this past weekend. I hope that this first experience with the sacrament of our Lord’s mercy will not be their last, but instead the first of many. I encourage all to make frequent use of the sacrament. Our parish confession schedule can be found in this bulletin.

Next weekend we will celebrate the final Sunday of the liturgical year, Christ the King. Following this Sunday we will be quickly plunged into the season of Advent. Please keep in mind that our parish Advent retreat will be December 7 and our parish Advent penance service will be held December 10.

Lastly, I encourage the youth of our parish to serve at Mass. We will have a training session for altar servers next Saturday, November 23, from 10:30am-11:30am.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

23rd Sunday After Pentecost Homily

We are instructed about a woman who had an issue of blood for a period of twelve years. According to Jewish purity laws this woman was to be separated from the community until this flow of blood stopped and she could be purified. Here we hear from the Book of Leviticus: “When a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days.”

This woman in question had not put up this for a short period of time. She instead had to endure this trial for what had been 12 years. For this whole period of time she had been deemed to be unclean according to the Law.

With this in mind she makes a very profound action. She reaches out and touches the hem of the garment that Christ was wearing. Many would see no profound statement in this action. If one were a Jew they would see a profound statement here for the hem of this garment represents the Law.

For the Jew this fringe upon the garment is known as the tzitzit. Whenever the wearer of this garment walks these fringes hit them upon their legs and in doing so they are reminded of the Law of which they are to follow.

When this Jewish woman reaches out and grabs ahold of this hem she is pronouncing her faith in Christ. She grabs a hold of the very Law which had condemned her and through her faith in Christ healing is brought unto her. Through this healing she was able to return to the community for she had finally been healed.

I hope that we develop the faith of this woman found in our Gospel. She recognized the healing reality of Christ Jesus. Christ is the fulfillment of the prophets and the Law. Christ is that to which all of scripture is pointing towards.

In the midst of our own life there is a lot which overcomes us. We attempt to relieve this stress and these fears through many different avenues. May we realize in these moments that the one that we are in need of is Christ Jesus. This is the one to which our heart and soul now longs. What befalls us in this life may seem to be too much for us to handle, but that is not the case. If we have faith in Christ Jesus and come to embrace His Cross and Resurrection we to can see that this is the case.

Therefore, let us reach out with the confidence of faith this day and take hold of the garment of Christ with the confidence that Christ can and will bring healing to all the difficulties of our everyday life.

33rd Sunday of OT Year C Homily

The world has looked rather odd to me since we have changed our clocks. It seems to get so dark outside and yet it is so early. We have been plunged into a period of darkness. From the midst of this darkness I personally find myself longing for the light.

But from the Prophet Malachi we heard these words of hope: “But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.” Truly in the midst of darkness it is Christ for whom we now long.

This title “Sun of Justice” becomes an important title for Christ our Lord. This allegorical title shows that the period of time in which the world was waiting for the Messiah was a period of darkness. Thankfully now the sun begins to peak over the horizon and begins to slowly cast its light to the point that it will eventually illuminate the earth in its brilliance.

There is so much in this life that attempts to plunge us into a period of darkness. Sin and death exist and desire nothing more then to extinguish the Christian reality of hope. Through Christ our Lord and His trimphant Resurrection we have been lifted out of this reality and have been oriented towards this unending light.

An ancient sign of our Christian unity was to face together towards the east whenever we pray. The east becomes a sign of the Resurrection for it is from the east that the sun begins to rise. With this we must be willing to orient ourself towards the east for it is only here that we will come to encounter the light of Christ.

In his book “The Spirit of the Liturgy” Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger, instructs that where it becomes impossible for us to face together towards the east at Mass that it is important that a cross be placed upon the altar. He stated of it: “The idea that the priest and the people in prayer must look at one another reciprocally was born only in the modern age and is completely foreign to Christianity. In fact, the priest and the people do not address their prayer to one another, but together they address it to the one Lord.”

In looking upon this cross may we remember that all that we do here as priest or lay faithful is directed unto the Lord. What takes place here at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not the work of man, but it is the work of God. Upon our lips it should be known “Conversi ad Dominum” “Let us turn toward the Lord; let us convert to the Lord.”

Indeed the darkness seems to prevail, but towards the Lord we now look with Christian hope. From the Lord this “Sun of Justice” will illuminate this darkness. Are we willing to place our trust here? Are we willing to turn our gaze towards this direction?

Conversi ad Dominum. Let us turn toward the Lord; let us convert to the Lord.

Bulletin Article: November 10

Our principal or myself are always more then happy to speak with your family concerning our parish school. We would love to have your child in our school.

Over the course of the next few weeks you will see the school raffle tickets on sale. I encourage you to support this fundraiser which will go to support our school as well as the other schools in our diocese. From the last update that I had received Saint Mary School in Oak Ridge was in first place. I know that we can give them a run for their money. Also, as Christmas quickly approaches these make great stocking stuffers.

This can be purchased in the back of the church or at either the school or parish office.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins