Bulletin Article: September 29

On this Sunday where we offer the Blue Mass I want to personally thank all first responders for what they do to serve our community. May we continue to keep each of them in our prayers. Next Sunday, we will have the Red Mass for those who serve in the legal profession. This Mass will be at 10am and I want to personally invite you to this Mass. Please spread the word to any among your family or friends of whom this Mass might be of importance.

At the past Parish Pastoral Council Meeting we set the date for the next Parish Town Hall as January 13. This event will begin with a Pot Luck Meal at 5:30pm with the Parish Town Hall beginning at 6:30pm. Please mark your calendars and attend if you are able.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins 

Dedication of St. Michael Homily

Today we come to celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of Saint Michael the Archangel. 

If you were to put a dot at each of the seven sanctuaries of Saint Michael which stretch from Ireland to Israel you would end up with a straight line. This straight line is known as the sword of Saint Michael. This sword represents the final blow that Saint Michael inflicted upon the devil which sent him to Hell.

The Sanctuary of Monte San’Angelo sul Gargano is located in Italy. It is said if you are to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Padre Pio that you are to complete your pilgrimage with a visit here.  This cave is said to be so holy that Saint Francis felt unworthy to enter and so stayed on the outside in order to pray. The dedication that we celebrate today concerns itself with this location.

Saint Michael appeared to the local bishop and asked him to consecrate this cave as a church. Repeatably the bishop did not heed Saint Michael’s request. Eventually Saint Michael dedicated this basilica for himself. If you were travel here you can still see the footprint of Saint Michael which was left behind in the rock of this cave which now stands as a basilica.

This takes us to 1656 when a plague broke out in Italy. The local bishop petitioned for the aid of Saint Michael and his prayers came to be answered. During his morning prayers a great earthquake broke out and Saint Michael appeared to him. Saint Michael commanded that he go to this cave and bless the stones found therein. Saint Michael promised that those who possessed a stone and kept it with great devotion would be preserved from sickness. Following this miracle a monument was erected to Saint Michael which reads: “This monument is erected in eternal gratitude to the Prince of Angels, Vanquisher of disease, our Patron and Protector.” To this day these rocks are still collected at this shrine and many of the faithful take them with them from here to invoke Saint Michael’s protection.

So too we are in need of the protection of Saint Michael. Thankfully, following every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that is offered within this diocese we have the opportunity to recite the prayer which is offered to his intercession.

We know from Sacred Scripture that a war broke out in Heaven and Satan was cast off from its midst. So too around us Satan continues to tempt and lead us astray from the straight path which leads to God. So awful is the soul which allow themself to give into these temptations. Rather, we must remember that we have this great patron which we can invoke to come to our aid in order that we may be delivered from the attacks of the devil.

As this great church was dedicated to the honor of Saint Michael, so too must our world and our life. The devil truly prowls about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. We must come to resist him solid in our faith by calling upon the protection of Saint Michael and all of the Heavenly host.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!

26th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

In Saint Paul’s words: “Compete well for the faith.”

If one is to compete well at something they must continue to practice each day at their craft. An athlete would be unable to compete well if they did not first commit their self fully to their sport of choice. One would not simply wake up and find themself playing in the NFL or NBA if they had not first prepared themself to compete.

This rule also applies to our pursuit of faith. Saint Paul lists a whole slew of virtues for us to excel at. He mentions: “righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” Despite this how many of us truly set out to master these virtues in order that we can be numbered among the saints?

The Prophet Amos makes it known that there are those who have grown complacent. They have allowed themself to be surrounded by comfort and excess and they see no reason to be put into action. This rings true with many who see no urgency to excel at their faith. On September 11th the Twin Towers came tumbling down. With it came a great urgency which filled churches, but as time went by the numbers only decreased.

To live out our faith properly we must transcend urgency and it must become something that is put into practice daily. We must remember that as Christian we are called to live within the world, but not be of the world. This notion is further summed up for us in today’s Gospel passage. Here we came to encounter the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man lived in the world, but he also lived of the world. On the other hand, Lazarus lived in the world, but he did not live of the world. The rich man came to be punished for his ways while Lazarus, in his poverty, was taken into the bosom of Abraham.

And so with this in mind it would be a grave mistake for Christians to allow their eternal destiny to become overshadowed by their worldly preoccupations. In the words of Cardinal Sarah from his newest book, The Day is Now Far Spent: “Faith is therefore a Yes to God. It requires a person to leave his gods, his culture, all human assurances, and riches in order to enter the land, the culture, and the inheritance of God. Faith consists of letting oneself be guided by God. He becomes our wealth, our present and our future. He becomes our strength, our support, our security, our unshakable rock in which we can rely.”

I hope that we can see that faith is more then a word. It is a way of life. It is something that we must set out each day to grow in. Each of us are called towards Heaven and yet so many do not heed this call. We have been called to “compete well for the faith.” We have been called to grow in our pursuit of virtue. We have been called to allow God to become our strength in the midst of all that we encounter. May we come to heed this call.

26th Sunday of OT Year C: Blue Mass

I welcome those men and women among us who serve or have served as first responders. Today we pray for each of you in a special way at this Holy Mass. Following our celebration of these Sacred Mysteries there will be a lite reception in our gathering hall to thank each of you for your service to our community. Ordinarily, the 29th of October serves as the Feast of the Archangels. One of the Archangels is Saint Michael who serves as the patron saint of police and paramedics. Therefore, this Blue Mass falls upon a very timely day. 

Our readings this morning call us out of our complacency and into action. The Prophet Amos frames this together by giving us the image of those who live in great comfort. In our Epistle Saint Paul reminds us that we are called to something greater. He goes as far as to say “compete well for the faith.” He instructs us that we are to grow in the virtues of “righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” By perfecting these virtues within ourself I can say that there will be nothing which is found complacent within us.

In our Gospel we encountered the rich man. He grew complacent in his wealth and through it he lived not only in the world, but of the world. Lazarus was a poor man and yet despite living in the world, he was not of the world. Lazarus was found to be far from complacent. Lazarus allowed himself to remain humble of heart and thus he came to compete well for the faith.

If we think for a moment about those who serve us as first responders we know that they have answered a call that has taken them out of the complacency of everyday life. Through their willingness to serve us they put their life on the line. If they are to serve with true justice then they must come to practice Saint Paul’s plea of growing in “righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” These virtues make them true servants of the people whom they serve for they do so out of love for others and serving the common good.

So too, here all of us are called to live likewise. We are called to strive to compete well for the faith. This means that we are to strive to become saints. Saints who have taken up the Gospel message in order to follow after Christ. Saints who desire not to be complacent, but found active in our practice of faith. Saints who live in the world, but are not of the world. Saints who excel each day at virtue and grow in “righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.”

Let us “compete well for the faith.”

Bulletin Article: September 22

I want to remind you of our upcoming Blue Mass which will be held on September 29 at 8am. The purpose of the Blue Mass is to pray for those who serve us as police, firefighters, and EMTs. Please spread the word to your friends and family, especially if they serve in this area. If you are a first responder please plan on attending this Mass if you are able. There will be a reception to follow to thank them for all that they do for our community.

Secondly, I return to the topic of our Parish Town Hall which was held this past week. Here it was discussed that it can be confusing at times to know what ministries exist at our parish. An idea was brought up to have the various ministry leaders come together to share their ideas and hardships with one another. It was highlighted that the parish has been stagnant with membership growth for some time. This stagnant period has effected parish finances, but through our participation in the OSV program we have great tools at our disposal. This directed our conversation to the need of a missionary spirit. This missionary spirit includes the need to continue to educate not only our youth in the faith, but also adults through various bible studies and studies of our faith.

Our youth programs were also highlighted during our discussion. This included mentioning the importance of our parish school as a ministry to our parish and community. It was mentioned that we need find ways to support Stephanie and invest in the youth of our parish. We also thanked Judy for the wonderful job that she does with our faith formation program.

The above is only a small sample of our discussion. I invite you to join us at future Parish Town Hall Meetings in order that we may continue to expound upon these ideas and other ideas which will bring us together as the Body of Christ and send us forth into the world to bring other souls into an encounter with Christ.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

15th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

Our Gospel presents us with something that many in our culture are uncomfortable with, death and a funeral. In this funeral procession we encounter a mother who weeps at the death of her son. We are told that a great multitude of the city was with her. And we are told that her son was carried upon the bier during this procession.

If we take this opportunity to explore the Funeral Mass we would realize its importance in the midst of the faith that we profess for as Christians we know that death is not the end, but only the beginning. So too in this procession for this man encountered our merciful Lord who commanded him to arise. So too at the conclusion of our life on this earth we encounter our Risen Lord who orients us towards Eternal Life.

Therefore, the processional cross is carried before the body for here we know that the deceased professed Christ during their life on this earth and allowed Him to be the one who led them through the journey of life. Candles are used during this procession to illuminate the darkness of sin and death and to orient us towards the joy that is to come with our Risen Lord who triumphed over this reality. In their burial their heads face towards the East to indicate this life giving reality of our risen Lord. 

Sadly, their are many in our Church who have lost their understanding of the true meaning of a Funeral Mass. Some even see no value in having a Mass offered at all. Instead they are concerned with having a Celebration of Life which is custom tailored to the individual who has passed from this life. The importance of the Funeral Mass lies in the fact that it is a necessity to pray for the souls of the faithful departed and it directs our mind towards the hope of life eternal brought about by our Blessed Lord’s Cross and Resurrection.

Our Blessed Lord saw this woman in her misery and He bestowed His infinite mercy upon her. So too our Lord hears our pleas and He answers them. Through our prayers and sacrifices the souls of the faithful departed are further purified in order that they may be received from Purgatory into Heavenly glory. If we are to have this hope for ourself or for our beloved dead it is important that one dies in the state of grace.

From our Epistle Saint Paul address us that “he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption: but he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap everlasting life.” It should be our goal in life to reap everlasting life. If we are to reap everlasting life let it be known that we must die in the state of grace. Therefore, it is important that we frequent the Sacraments. That we participate in the Sacrament of Confession and receive our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion only when in the state of grace.

Not only has our culture grown uncomfortable with a funeral or death, but it has grown to reject the reality of sin and its effect upon eternal life. Let it be clear that our Lord desires that we join with Him for all eternity, but at the same time sin is something which is serious and it has its consequences. Do we desire to be raised from the dead and to eternal life or would we rather be cast off from the Kingdom of Heaven? Let us contiunue to pray for the souls in Purgatory and to orient our life towards the Kingdom of Heaven.

Bulletin Article: September 15

I thank all those who attended our Parish Town Hall. We had close to 100 who were in attendance. These are the perfect opportunity for us to come together unified in our faith in order to work together for the common good of our parish. At the next pastoral council meeting we will discuss everything which was discussed as well as set the date for a of Parish Town Hall. I will include a summary on our discussion in next week’s bulletin.

Lastly, a question has arisen to what is proper for an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to do when it comes to giving a blessing. The Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith stated in 2008 to this question: “The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.” They went on to state: “Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest.” Here I think it is important that we understand the use of this word “blessing.” At the end of Mass the priest blesses in the Person of Christ which is far different from simply inviting God to bless you.

With this in mind I have directed them to simply say “Receive Jesus in your heart,” “May God bless you,” or something similar. We must also remember that when we touch the Sacred Host that every particle (crumb) of it is Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. I have thus asked that they refrain from making the sign of the cross on the forehead of the individual as this wipes Christ on their forehead. If they discern touch to be prudent they can either touch the head of the individual or their shoulder while stating one of the options given above.  

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

24th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Every pope and bishop has a pectoral cross. The one that is currently worn by Pope Francis is based upon today’s Gospel passage. In the middle of this cross we see Jesus who is the Good Shepherd. Here He has found the lost sheep and now has it placed it gently upon His shoulders. He is surrounded by the flock of sheep which have stayed obediently by His side. At the top of the cross we see a dove which represents to us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is found helping those who are lost and in darkness in order that they may be brought to new life.

To go in search of the one lost sheep does not mean that we are to abandon our faith, our teachings, and our morals in order to make them happy. To go in search for the lost sheep is to bring the fullness of faith to others in order that they may be snatched up by the truth of the Gospel message. As a Church we need to learn to walk with those who are astray in order that we may assist them in coming back into the flock of Christ’s Church on earth.

Between the years 2000 and 2009 10.1% of adults Catholics have left the Church. The reasons given: life is too busy, they don’t understand the Church’s teachings, scandals, they have married someone of a different faith tradition, they are looking for a more vibrant church life, and it is simply easier to become Protestant. When it comes to young adults 50% no longer practice their faith. It has been said that fallen away Catholics may be America’s largest Christian denomination.

These are troubling numbers, but at the same time they must remind us that we have a lot of work to do in the abundant harvest of the Lord. These numbers tell me that the faithful need to educate themselves better upon the Church’s teachings. These numbers tell me that we have done a poor job when it comes to educating others concerning the reality of the Eucharist. If one comes to believe that the Eucharist is truly Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divnity there would be no reason to leave the Church.

No matter how small or large a parish may be we very much so are a missionary people. We cannot allow ourself to become complacent. After all, it was at the Great Commission that Jesus said unto His disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” We do this in the words that we proclaim with our lips and we do this through the actions that we accomplish. Hopefully these words and deeds do not detract from the Gospel message, but invite others to partake of it.

The disciples could of never of become a missionary people if they did not first know Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to come into their life. With that I invite you to enter fully into the study of your faith, to enter fully into the silence of prayer (especially by filling the empty hours in our Adoration Chapel), and to participate fully with the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It is a great error to see the dismissal of the Mass as its conclusion. Rather the dismissal is an invitation to take what we have received into the world and live it. Here we come to commune with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. From that exchange we are sent into the world to “proclaim the gospel to every creature.”

Bulletin Article: September 8

Next Sunday our parish will hold a Communications Fair following each Mass. The purpose of this fair is to make people aware of the many ways that we communicate at our parish. I thank our Communications Committee for organizing this event and also thank them for their continued willingness to assist in this area. If you would like to volunteer to assist this committee please speak to one of the committee members at the Communications Fair or contact them at the communications email found in the bulletin.

Also, please keep in mind that we will have a Parish Town Hall scheduled for September 9 in the school gym. A pot luck meal will begin at 5:30pm with the town hall starting at 6:30pm and ending at 7:30pm. It is my hope that all will come to this event and work together for achieving the common goal of growing our parish community in number and holiness. This will be the perfect place to ask questions, bring ideas, brainstorm, and work together to reach this common goal. The topics of this town hall will be used as future agenda items for our pastoral council meetings and can lead to other serious discussions into the future.

I also want to make you aware that planning for our Fall Festival is underway. This event will be held October 26. Please get it onto your calendars and spread the word among your family and friends. If you would like to volunteer to help please contact the parish office. 

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

13th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

On this 8th day of the month of September we come to celebrate with great joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast falls precisely 9 months following the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception which is celebrated on the 8th day of December. This celebration of our Blessed Mother’s birth further prepares the way for the Lord’s coming. With every celebration of Mary we draw close to our Blessed Lord and the mysteries of His life, death, and resurrection. With this in mind may we come to further develop Marian devotion in our life.

It was at the time of Mary’s birth that the whole world was plunged into darkness. Throughout the world sin reigned, but with Mary’s birth a great light began to shine forth for she was born who would usher in the coming of the Messiah. Likewise, we must grow in our Marian devotion for through devotion to her the darkness of sin is pushed away as we begin to more perfectly orient our sight upon Christ.

Our Gospel reminds us that we are sick and that we are in need of the Divine Physician who is Christ our Lord. Ten lepers came to Him in order that they may be healed. Nevertheless, only one of these ten returned to give thanks for this miracle that had been worked. Of this man it was said: “Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.” This man like the other nine had been healed, but he is the only one who was said to be made whole. His faith in the Lord brought him back to give thanks and here we can see he was not only bodily healed, but his soul came to be healed.

We too need to realize that the Lord is merciful with us. We need to realize that we are sick and He is the Divine Physician who is able to make us whole. We can go through the motions of our faith, but better yet we should practice our faith with the fullest intention which we are able to give. The Sacraments bestow grace upon the receiver, but do we in return truly want to participate with the grace that we are given? This one leper who returned to give thanks to God desired to participate with this divine font of grace.

As those who live in the midst of the world we should fear not to participate in this same font of divine grace. We must be willing to realize that our practice of faith is not a simple check off list, but is to enter into truth itself. When we encounter the sacraments we encounter Christ and His love for us. Do we fathom the great that we have been given or do we take it for granted? I see so many who receive our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion and rush out the door as if they have received nothing of importance. These people are in such a hurry that they forget that the one they have received is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Take not advantage of this Sacrament, but kneel down in trembling and adoration of the great gift that has been given.

Despite the sin that had been plunged upon this leper it was Christ who made him whole again. Likewise, despite the darkness of sin and death may we allow Christ to be the one who makes us whole again. Our Blessed Mother on this her birthday singnals this reality unto us. From her birth will eventually come a great light which will dispel the darkness of sin and open the way to our salvation.

23rd Sunday of OT Year C Homily

As a reminder today is September 8th which is normally celebrated on our calendar as the Nativity of the Blessed Mother. Due to this memorial falling on a Sunday it is not celebrated in our liturgy, but still remains an important day. May we continue to set our sight upon our Blessed Mother and allow her to intercede for us in order that we may strive to follow after her towards the Kingdom of Heaven.

Saint Paul’s Epistle to Philemon introduces us to the figure of Onesimus. Onesimus is probably not someone who we are very familiar with. Nevertheless, Onesimus has since has been canonized a saint of the Church, he is held as being a bishop of Ephesus, and his life reached its conclusion through the reward of martyrdom. 

This name, Onesimus, means “useful” in Greek. This is interesting because in the one verse missing from our Epistle verse 11 we are told that he: “was once useless to you but is now useful to [both] you and me.” Saint Paul interestingly chooses this play on words concerning Onesimus. He calls the one whose name literally means “useful” useless.

Now we must ask why Onesimus was once useless, but now useful. Onesimus was useless because he was originally a slave for an earthly master, but through his conversion he became a slave for God. Through the intercession of Saint Onesimus I hope that we too will grow in being useful by letting go of all that holds us as slaves to way of the world. It is only though Christ Jesus that we are converted and can live.

The Gospel of Saint Luke presents us with this challenge. In it Christ reminds us of the importance of carrying the cross and following after Him. In it Christ reminds us of the importance of renouncing all in order that we may follow after Him. For whatever reason Onesimus heard this call and chose to embrace it. We have heard this invitation given to us on many occasions, but do we ever take these words to heart?

The more that we become enslaved to the ways of the world the more useless that we become. We can only become useful in so far as we come to know Christ. Through coming to know Christ we are liberated from all those holds us hostage. Through coming to know Christ we realize the importance of the sacrificial offering upon the cross and desire to orient our sight there in order to find meaning and healing in the midst of our own life.

Onesimus came to understand all of this. From this understanding he came to believe and came to have true faith. From this encounter with the truth he was sent into the world as an evangelist for Christ Jesus. In like manner, we too must come to believe and have true faith. From this encounter with our Lord in Holy Communion we too are sent into the world to bring others to come and know the Good News of Christ Jesus.

Saint Onesimus, pray for us.

St. Mary Men Evening of Recollection Sermon I: Holiness in Everyday Life

It is easy for us to become a pacifist in the midst of the Church. What I mean here is that it is easy for us to not see holiness as something that we are called to in our everyday life. Sometimes when a lay person thinks of this call to holiness they instead think that it is a call which has been reserved to the clergy alone. Well I am here to tell you that the call to holiness is not reserved to the clergy alone, but instead to all of us for we are all to strive towards holiness. All of us are to strive to be saints. 

The universal call to holiness was not something that was new at the time of the Second Vatican Council. Nevertheless, it was something that the Second Vatican Council was highly concerned with. The document to take this up in detail is known to us as Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. Here we are told: “it pleased Him to bring men together as one people, a people which acknowledges Him in truth and serves Him in holiness.” This document would later say this of the universal call to holiness: “Therefore in the Church, everyone whether belonging to the hierarchy, or being cared for by it, is called to holiness, according to the saying of the Apostle: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”

This my fervent hope concerning our time together that each of us strive for “the will of God, your sanctification.” Here there will be an opportunity for reflection in our faith, the cleansing of our sins through confession, an opportunity for fraternity, and most of all an opportunity to sit in the Presence of our Lord who is present with us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Through the various topics which I brought up here through the course of time we will delve more and more into this call to holiness for all of this is intertwined.

As Pope Francis reminded in a General Audience given in 2014: “Holiness is a gift, it is a gift that the Lord Jesus gives us, when He takes us to Himself, and renders us like Himself.” Here we must remember that if we are to become holy that we must grow to know Christ. The more that we grow in faith in Him the more that we grow in this universal call. This is why we must make use of reflection, prayer, confession, and Most Holy Eucharist enter into our life if we in return can grow in this universal call. Some, those filled with pride, believe that they can do without this. To those I remark if we do not enter into the full sacramental life of the Church this is an impossibility.

Now when we think of holiness sometimes we think that this requires us to do something which is impossible. Saint Josemaria Escriva summed things up perfectly in the words of this homily: “There is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it. There is no other way, my daughters and sons: either we learn to find our Lord in ordinary, everyday life, or we shall never find Him.”

It is with this that I continue to challenge each of you to find way to search out holiness in your everyday life. Moving forward with these Evening of Recollections we will spend our time with this being the line of our focus.

Bulletin Article: September 1

I continue to welcome all those who are new to our parish community. I hope that you will consider making this your parish home. If you would like to receive more information on how to become Catholic please call the parish office to receive more information on our RCIA program. Next weekend, September 8, we will welcome all newly registered families to our parish community. There will be a reception to welcome them following our 10am and 12pm Masses. Let us all do what we can to make this a welcoming parish community.

Some have probably noticed the veil which has now been placed upon the tabernacle. From Eucharisticum Mysterium number 57 we are instructed: “Care should be taken that the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle is indicated to the faithful by a tabernacle veil or some other suitable means prescribed by the competent authority.” Inaestimabile Donum number 25 also speaks on this topic. Here we are instructed: “The presence of the Eucharist is to be indicated by a tabernacle veil or some other suitable means laid down by the competent authority, and a lamp must perpetually burn before it, as a sign of honor paid to the Lord.” If we are to understand our Catholic faith I would instruct one to also learn the Jewish faith. One great writer on this topic who I highly recommend is Doctor Brant Pitre. The sanctuary of the church serves as a reflection of that which was found in the Temple in Jerusalem. There we would discover the veil which veiled the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was literally the presence of God. The veil on the tabernacle thus serves as a reminder of this reality. It is to state that what is located within the Tabernacle is literally the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord. What is located here is truly God who is present with us.

Another question that has given rise is the recent use of the communion plate at Mass. A 2004 document, Redemptionis Sacramentum, states in paragraph 93: “The Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful should be retained, so as to avoid the danger of the sacred host or same fragment of it falling.” In this day and age when roughly 70% of US Catholics do not believe in the true presence it is my hope that these will make us think about what we are about to receive. They also give the altar server another job during Mass and as stated above keep a fragment of it falling to the ground.

Lastly, I want to thank Mark Mancuso for his helpfulness in my transition into this parish. Mark has decided to step away from his role as Business Manager. I am currently in contact with the Diocese of Knoxville on how we will structure our office moving forward. If you would like any further information on this or anything always feel free to approach me.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

12th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

We encounter this man in our Gospel who was beaten and left half dead. He would of died if it were not for the intervention of others. He needed the assistance of both the Good Samaratian and the inn keeper in order to be nursed back to proper health.

Likewise, we too are in need of others for we too have been beaten and left half dead. The Fathers of the Church explain that this statement “left half dead” refers to the reality of sin especially that which we have inherited through the Fall where Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God. We too inherit these results of the Fall. Thankfully through our baptism, original sin has been washed away, but we still feel the pull towards sin and we even succumb to its grasp. We call this concupisence. 

We are in need of others for we cannot become saints through our own merits. Rather, we need the assistance of others. Precisely we need the assistance of Christ Jesus and we need the assistance of the Church. The Good Samamatain is Christ and the inn keeper is the Church who nourtures us back to proper health.

How many souls that I run into who have lost hope in this reality. They know that they have sinned, but instead of seeking out the aid of another they try to overcome its grasp through their own merits. There is nothing that we can achieve independent from God. If we are to seperate ourself from sin we are in need of God and His infinite mercy. We are in need of the sacraments. We are in need of the grace which is ourpoured through them. This man would of died had it not been for the Good Samaratian and the inn keeper.

Likewise, there would be no hope for us and our for salvation had it not been for Christ and His gift of the Church. The Good Samaratian gave assistance to this man, but what would of happened to him had he not been left in the confines of the inn? Some claim that they do not need the Church because they are spiritual. This passage proves that we need the Church for without it we lack the sacraments, without it we lack what Christ has handed on to us, and without it we lack the unity of believers who are unified in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Therefore, let us not grow confused. Rather, may we see all that Christ has done for us who have been beaten and left half dead. Let us not recluse into self, but seek out the assistance of others. In order that we may come together to rebuke vice and pursue virtue. Let us reach out to Christ and allow Him to come into our life to heal us. Let us remain in the confines of the Church and here come to discover mercy and forgiveness. With our sight fixed firmly upon this reality we will never be left alone for we will always be nursed back to proper health.