Bulletin Article: July 28

I believe that communications is a very important element in the life of a parish. As I walk around in the evenings I see many cars in the parking lot, so I know that this is a vibrant parish community. Hopefully in return we advertise what is going on at the parish to the best of our abilities, so that all may feel welcome to join in. A communications committee has been established which will assist with meeting this goal.

In the time ahead the parish website will be taken under advisement which will lead to a website which will be kept up-to-date and filled with important parish information such as the parish calendar, forms, policies, and more to help communicate life of the parish to the community. We have recently taken the Facebook group, Friends of St. Mary’s Johnson City TN, and have made it the official parish Facebook page. It’s title is now, Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. Please follow it on Facebook to keep in the loop of what is going on in our parish.

Lastly, always make sure to pick up and read a copy of the bulletin, but why am I telling you this if you are reading this article? 

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

17th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Abraham came to invoke the infinite mercy of God in the 18th chapter of Genesis. From fifty, to forty-five, to forty, to thirty, to twenty, and finally to ten innocent people. God would rather convert the heart of the sinful then to have them be destroyed and cast off. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were so perverse that not even ten righteous people could be found here. Through the intercession of Abraham the Lord was prepared to forgive these people and yet they wanted nothing to do with His mercy.

In this day and age many have lost sight of the reality of God’s justice. We often forget that God is the just judge who not only rewards the good, but also punishes the wicked. Sin is not something that we should celebrate, but rather it is something that we should rebuke. If we are to understand the infinite mercy of God then we must also come to understand how He is just.

God is just for in the words of the Prophet Ezekiel “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked,” but desires “that they turn from their wicked ways and live.” Justice becomes necessary for without it their cannot be mercy. Without justice we would be left deformed and incomplete for without justice injustice would be allowed to continue for all eternity. God in His merciful love is just for He allows those who reject His law, grace, and mercy to do as they wish. In His merciful love He thrusts nothing upon those who reject it and thus freely choose for themself this rejection of His mercy.

From the Book of James we hear: “Mercy exalts itself above judgment.” It is my fervent hope that we prevail ourself to the infinite mercy of God. So many might look at the situation of Sodom and Gomorrah and say what was the big deal. The same is true that some would look at their sinful behavior and ask what is the big deal for it hurts no one. Others have failed to examine their conscience and fail to educate theirself in the precepts and teachings of our faith. Hopefully we will become inspired to not only learn what we believe and profess, but also live it.

Our Epistle left us with the image of the cross. From the cross we look to see this vision of God’s infinite mercy. Christ died for each of us and His grace is found sufficient. Nevertheless, we are free to reject this great gift of God’s mercy and want nothing to do with it.

Our Gospel instructs that we are to continue to knock at the door and it will be opened for us. So many have lost sight of God’s justice and mercy. They fail to ask for His pardon and help in the midst of their life; especially in the midst of their sinfulness and temptations. As the faithful who make up the Church of God we cannot fail to make use of the Sacrament of Confession. We are all in need of the mercy and grace which is found here. Yet sadly, their are many who call themselves practical Catholics who pride themself at the fact that they have not been to confession in years. 

God is merciful with us, but He is also just. Do we truly desire to receive this mercy or would we rather run from it and turn towards our former way of life before we came to be claimed by Christ Jesus in the Sacrament of Baptism? Flock to His infinite mercy for His mercy endures forever.

Bulletin Article: July 21

Greetings to the parishioners of Saint Mary Parish. I thank each of you for the wonderful receptions that I received this weekend to welcome me to this parish community.

It is my hope in the days in weeks to come that I will get to know each of you. Always feel free to contact me if you have any needs. Ways to keep in contact with me are through my blog (fathercollins.blogspot.com), on Facebook (@fathercollins), on Twitter (@Dustin_Collins) and on Instagram (@fatherdustincollins). Please feel free to follow me on any of these platforms.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

16th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

My name is Father Dustin Collins and I have been appointed by Bishop Stika to be the administrator of this parish community. I know that you miss Father Peter, but I assure you that Our Lady of Fatima Parish will take good care of him and as you already know has also gained a good priest and pastor. I for one am happy to be here. I am especially happy that I continue to find myself under the protective care of our Blessed Mother. My first assignment as a priest was Saint Mary Parish in Oak Ridge, my second being Our Lady of Fatima, and now I find myself here with you. I like your seminarian, Deacon Zach, attended Davy Crockett High School in Jonesborough. Go Pioneers! We can debate that after Mass in case you are associated with a different high school. 

As I begin my time at this parish community we are given a great lesson in the importance of hospitality. I was blessed with eight years of seminary formation which was founded in the Benedictian tradition. My final four years were at Saint Meinrad Seminary where I had little overlap with your associate pastor, Father Jesus. The opening words of the 53rd chapter of the Rule of Saint Benedict state: “Let all guests be welcomed as Christ.” Our readings today model this statement.

In Genesis we saw Abraham’s hospitality shown to three men. Abraham lived in the midst of a culture which valued hospitality. Here it was acknowledged that one never knows when they will become dependent upon the hospitality of another. Therefore, a stranger should expect this treatment. Throughout this passage we are given a list of verbs which show Abraham’s eagerness to fulfill this role: “he ran to meet them,” “quickly three measures of flower,” “run to the herd to get the calf,” and “hasten to prepare it.”

We encounter Martha and Mary in our Gospel. They too give an important lesson in hospitality. Through Martha we see one who opens the doors of her home to Christ and is willing to labor tirelessly for the needs of her guest. Through Mary we see one who sits attentive at the words of Christ taking them in. Both of these women display the virtue of faith. Faith which allows the Lord to enter into their home and dwell with them. 

Faith is not just a disposition of mind, but it must be put into action. Hopefully, we can come to invite the Lord to enter into our life and through this encounter share what we receive with others. If we are to become a welcoming community of faith, which shares the Gospel message to others, we need to come and know Christ. Through an encounter with Him we will have something to share. 

As we grow in hospitality may we not just go through the motions of it, but rather come to see the face of Christ in all those who we serve. I am humbled to be named the administrator of this parish community. Together I hope that we will continue to make this a place of hospitality where “all guests be welcomed as Christ.” This is the same missionary attitude we must undertake as we are sent into the world as disciples of the Lord. 

15th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

May God’s Blessing be with each of you during this time of transition. This will be my final weekend in this parish, so please continue to pray for me and for Father McNeely as we depart from here. Also, please pray for your new priests, Father Peter Iorio and Father Andrés Cano. No matter your thought in this time of change, happy or sad, let all of us set our sight upon that which is most important: Christ Jesus, the Sacraments, the Church, and God. Each of these are unchanging realities from which our hearts should be comforted and our minds should be elevated towards this transcendent reality which is unchanging.

In any movie, television show, or book it is important that we have something that we can anticipate and look forward to. It is this that tempts us to skip ahead or to look up the ending before we get there. In its initial watching or reading any of these would not be interesting if we already knew everything about their content before we started. It is their mystery that keeps us engaged and looking forward to what is to come next. From our Epistle we were instructed that “Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God.” Sometimes we approach faith as if we know everything that is being revealed to us. We no longer desire to be lead towards a transcendent reality.

Again we are told about an “invisible God,” but we would rather assume that we know everything about this reality which is infinite. If we know everything about this reality then we have come to tame God and have come to take ownership over Him. As was instructed in Deuteronomy: “it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out. “You have only to carry it out” which means we must be lead in search of it. In this manner we will be like the Psalmist who cries out: “Turn towards the Lord in your need, and you will live.”

Instead of going in search of this transcendent reality we have been left searching for the temporal. In our pursuit of the temporal we have elevated the likes of wealth, power, pleasure, and honor to a place of focus while we have lowered the transcendent nature of God. Our devotion is not to God, but is oriented towards the pursuit of goods.

Our Gospel instructs us: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart.” Instead of loving God with all our heart we have elevated so much to take precedence over this reality. If there is a movie, sport, dance recital, or musical it becomes more important that one’s obligation to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. As a reminder to those who have missed Mass without just cause you are to make use of the Sacrament of Confession before you receive our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion.

The Church must become an important voice in our life. The Church must continue to proclaim and elevate hearts towards this transcendent reality of God through her liturgy. It was no mistake that this man was left in the inn in order to be brought back to health for this is an image of the Church to whom our soul has been entrusted. To the Church we must flock not to receive self help or self affirmation, but rather to be elevated towards God. The more we chase after this transcendent reality the more we will let go of that which is not important and come to say and believe the proclamation of faith made by the scholar of the law: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

14th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

As many of you know I will be moving to another parish in a week’s time. I am most thankful for what will be the nine months that I have spent here. This is very much so a vibrant parish community and I know that each of you will come to welcome Father Peter Iorio and Father Andres Cano with open arms. Despite having to leave, I am thankful, that I will remain under the intercession of our Blessed Mother. My first assignment as a priest was Saint Mary Parish in Oak Ridge, then I was sent here to Our Lady of Fatima, and starting July 15th I will become the parachial administrator of Saint Mary Parish in Johnson City.

Our reading from Isaiah left us with an ancient depiction of our Blessed Mother: “Oh, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, that you may nurse with delight at her abundant breasts!” This is the image of Our Lady who is found feeding our Blessed Lord in His infancy. Here she provides for His nourishment and needs. So too we must stick close to our Blessed Mother in order that she may intercede for us and draw us closer to her Son.

Sometimes I think we have allowed devotion to her to slip away from our life and home. Nevertheless, we must reinkindle this devotion because through devotion to her we are brought into a greater relationship with her Son. Mary leads us forth in Christian virtue and allows our heart to come and dwell with her Son.

From Fatima she proclaimed to us: “Pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace in the world . . . for she alone can save it." Saint John Paul II stated of the rosary and its connection to the family: “The revival of the Rosary in Christian families, within the context of a broader pastoral ministry to the family, will be an effective aid to countering the devastating effects of this crisis typical of our age.”

Therefore, let us, continue to turn our sight towards our Blessed Mother. Let her intercede for us as she interceded for those at the Wedding Feast of Cana. Let us foster proper devotion to her within our homes, especially through the taking up of the weapon of the rosary. May Mary provide for our needs as she provided for those needs of the Christ child. Together let us invoke her intercession and pray:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.