Bulletin Article: January 26

I thank those who attended our past Parish Open Forum. There were roughly 45 who were in attendance. I believe we had wonderful conversation which will give out Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Council a lot to discuss. The date of our next Open Forum will be set at out next PPC meeting. Issues which were discussed are as follows:

-Concern for our youth ministry program and how we can better support it.

-Brochure of stewardship in the pew.

-How to better relay financial information to the parish.

-Better communication of our parish goals. Where is the money going? What projects would we like to do that can’t be done because of money?

-Parish has seemed to be divided for some time. How can we bring people together? How can we reach out to the lukewarm and to those who have fallen away?

Next weekend, will be the Solemnity of the Presentation. The blessing of candles will take place at the start of Mass, so please bring candles with you to be blessed if you so desire. This Sunday will also be the annual Bishop’s Appeal. I ask your prayerful consideration in supporting this appeal because it assists with various ministries which make up our diocese.

Also, please keep in mind that there is currently an opportunity for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from October 5-14. This trip will be limited to 30. At our informational meeting we had roughly 15 in attendance. There are still brochures for this pilgrimage in the gathering area. If you are interested please see me and I will get you the registration form.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

3rd Sunday After Epiphany Homily

Our Gospel presents us with the healing ministry of Christ. Our world seems to forgot about this healing reality and instead has been cast down into an attitude of doom and gloom. This leper was cast down into the depths of doom and gloom, but our Lord healed him and lifted him out of it. So too the Lord becomes our hope in the midst of every difficult moment of our life.

There are some who may see the Church as a doomed institution. This is an absurd statement because the Church was established by Christ and of it was told to Saint Peter: “Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” With that the Church is alive and well no matter the scandal, social media post, or news article which may claim otherwise. With that may we realize the need to place our trust in the Hands of the Lord for through these merciful hands hope is always found. 

Two areas where I wish to highlight this hope is that of our parish school and that of our diocese. Our school is a shining light to this city of Johnson City. Our diocese is a shining light which continues to grow and bring Christ into the lives of many here in East Tennessee.

It is on this Sunday that we kick off the theme of the importance of Catholic education through Catholic Schools Week. As administrator of a parish which happens to have a Catholic school I would like each of you to consider its importance. I would also like each of you to pray for the students and teachers of our parish school. If you would ever like to enroll your children in our school please speak with me or our principal. Never think that this is something which is an impossibility for your children because I am committed to making this a possibility. Statistics show that children who are enrolled in a Catholic school or more likely to practice their Catholic faith into the future. From my limited time to be in this school I know it to be of good moral character and ready to form your children in the ways of the Lord. The more your children come to know the Lord the more they will become on fire with Christ.

This brings me to our diocese which remains on fire for Christ. With that there are so many programs which support so many people. With each of these programs there is the need of funding. It should be no secret that next week we will hold the annual bishop’s appeal. The bishop’s appeal hopefully reminds each of us that we are connected to a diocese. Therefore, the bishop has chosen various areas of ministry to which this money will flow in order that Christ may be brought into the lives of many. The bishop’s appeal will support the education of clergy (to this we should be thankful for we do have Deacon Zach who will soon be ordained a priest), the mobile clinic we receive funding in order that may continue to minister to the impoverished of East Tennessee, Catholic Charities will receive funding, education will receive funding. Please, give to the Bishop’s Appeal next weekend and continue to pray for its success for it assists in keeping the light of faith alive and well throughout East Tennessee.

With all of this may we not get caught up in the doom and gloom of everyday life, but leper in our Gospel may we lifted out of it and given hope as we come to place our trust in the merciful Hands of our Lord.

3rd Sunday of OT Year A Homily

The 2020 Bishop’s Appeal has been entitled: “A Joyful Witness.” Our readings remind us of this joyful witness that we are called to give. It is easy to get cast down into a mentality of doom and gloom. Nevertheless, an encounter with Christ Jesus lifts us out of this doom and gloom and sets us upon a straight path which leads towards the hope that manifests itself to us as a great light. As was stated in our Gospel: “The people who sit in darkness have seen a a great light.”

Christ is this great light which is being spoken of. Nevertheless, so many allow themself to continuously be thrust down into doom and gloom to the point that the ability to see this great light becomes dimmed. With that the virtue of hope begins to slip away from us. Thankfully, we are called to be a joyful witness to the Gospel. As a joyful witness we stay close to Christ and allow the joy that we receive from Him to be brought forth into the world.

With that we come to celebrate Catholic Schools Week which should fill out Church which a spirit of joy and hope for the future as well as the present age. Through a Catholic education your children are given a firm foundation of faith in order that they can come to know this great light which is Christ. Statistics attest that children provided a Catholic education are more likely to practice their faith as adults then those who did not receive one. As we come to celebrate Catholic schools this week I invite each of you to pray for our students and teachers they they may always remain a joyful witness to the Gospel message. I also invite your family to consider sending your children to our parish school. I, as well as our principal, are committed to working this reality out with your family. 

This brings me to next week where we hold the annual bishop’s appeal. Some may question why we in Johnson City ought to support something which exists outside of our parish. Saint Paul answers here from our Epistle and urges us “that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” Thus this collection serves as a reminder that we are a parish connected to a diocese which is connected to the Church universal.

At a time where it may be difficult to be filled with hope concerning the future of the Church and her ministry thanks to scandal and the closing of parishes in some dioceses we are called to be joyful witnesses to the Gospel. With that I can say that this diocese continues to grow and open new parishes. With that I can say that we have a decent amount of men who are studying for the priesthood. Hopefully, this parish will continue to foster vocations to the priesthood into the future as it has done with Deacon Zach who will be ordained a priest this summer.

With the continued growth of this diocese and its vibrancy there is a great need for us to support the bishop’s appeal. To do so is to support the many ministries which make up this diocese. Through it we support the formation of our future priests, through it we provide for the needy through the support of Catholic Charities as well as the mobile medical clinic, through it we provide for our youth and their education in the faith, and through it we support many other ministries which make up our diocese. 

Let us be filled with hope as we encounter this great light which is Christ and may we be willing to assist others and coming to behold this great light for themself.

Bulletin Article: January 19

I thank Stephanie Mann for her continued dedication to our parish youth. She recently took 15 of our youth to Jenkins, Kentucky to assist with the ministry of the Missionaries and Charity. While there they worked with impoverished community by providing clothing, blankets, the serving of food, work in the food pantry, led song, conversation, and most of all brining the love of Christ. As a parish community I hope that we find ways to support her important ministry to the parish. She is always in need of volunteers and hopes to lead a trip in the near future to bring out youth to visit the seminary in St. Louis in which Deacon Zach currently attends.

Secondly, I want to draw attention to the Fall Fellowship Committee meeting which will be held Monday, January 20, at 6:30pm. This will be the first meeting of this committee and will hopefully get the ball rolling for our 2020 Fall Festival. We are still in need of someone who is willing to chair this committee. This past Fall Festival was a great coming together of our parish community to build up fraternity and making outreach to our local community. I hope that we will continue to build upon the success of what we were able to accomplish in 2019.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

2nd Sunday After Epiphany Homily

Today we are given the account of the miracle that was worked at the Wedding Feast in Cana. It was here that Jesus came to work His first miracle when water was changed into wine.

What takes place inside of our Gospel is a very serious matter. The serious matter is the very fact that a wedding celebration was taking place and that wine ran short. I am not saying this as a joke, but for the very fact that from the perspective of the family this was an embrarassment. This is a lack of hospitality towards one’s guests who gathered to celebrate this marriage. In Jewish culture hospitality is something that was highly valued and the wine comes to represents one’s ability to celebrate for the prophets indicate it as being an important element of the messianic banquet.

From the pleading of the people our Blessed Mother heard their pleas. She took them upon herself and brought them to the attention of her Son. It was here that He worked His first miracle by changing the water into wine. What we are instructed on here is very important because it was pointed out that this wine was better then the wine which was had before. This is important because typically one would offer the best wine first and as the celebration would run on wine of less value would be offered maybe even to the point of it being watered down. Instead here we are told that this wine was greater then what was had before.

This Gospel shows us the need to be a people who are filled with joy. Joy was had at this celebration as is displayed by the wine. Greater joy was discovered by the wine which was created through our Lord’s first miracle. Here we are being shown the reality that with the Lord there is always reason for us to be filled with joy.

So many lessons are being given to us through this Gospel and through each of them we come to encounter this same unending joy. We encounter our Blessed Mother and are shown how proper devotion to her will bring us to know her Son. We encounter Baptism which was encountered through the water which has claimed us for Christ. We encounter the wine which points the way towards the Eucharist where we will come to behold Christ; Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. I can think of no greater joy then all of this.

Therefore, at those moments when we feel as if all has been stripped away from us may we come to place our trust in the Merciful Hands of the Lord. From our encounter with these merciful hands may we be filled with joy and the virtue of hope. Through the wedding feast of Cana joy is being brought into our life which overcomes every moment of our life which is filled with grief and despair.

2nd Sunday of OT Year A Homily

Through Saint John the Baptist we come to encounter the virtue of humility. He realized that one greater then he was to come and he was okay with stepping aside in order to make way for His coming. To this Sacred Scripture attests to us: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” With this wisdom and sense of humility he goes on to state within our Gospel: “A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.” Through all that Saint John the Baptist preaches and teaches we can see that he was always willing to humble himself to the truth that exists before him.

In our world we sometimes have a problem humbling ourself to truth or to the authority of another. Nevertheless, truth does exist within this world. Towards truth we are called and to this truth we are to be humbled. This truth of which I speak is that of Christ our Lord. This truth is present within the Church and her teachings. This truth does not rely upon popular opinion, but solely upon the fact that it represents Christ and what He handed onto the apostles who through their authority shape where we find ourself in this current age.

I must agree that sadly a select few priests and even bishops have abandoned this path. Through their abandoning of truth they have led the Church to suffer in confusion of church teaching and morality. They have left others in despair as they have left the Church due to their incompetence of leadership and morality as they prowl upon the vulnerable. This makes me think of Saint John Christendom who stated: “The road to hell is paved with the skull of erring priests, with bishops as their signposts.” Despite these actions of a select few we cannot allow them to overshadow Christ and what He has left us.

I must admit that at times it may seem that all hope is lost. To this I am reminded that Christ is our light. It is towards Christ that we must set our gaze. Therefore, it matters not the priest who has been set before us for our sight is to be set upon Christ. No matter the priest, his sinfulness, or lack of favor with us his hands have been consecrated and when at the Holy Mass represents Christ on this earth. If we ever allow ourself to take our sight off of him or become more important then He we are in error. Christ must be our light for He was the light of Saint John the Baptist to whose way he prepared the path.

Truly, we have been given a glimpse into humility through this holy saint of God. Through him we have been shown that Christ is the truth to which our heart now longs. Through him we are shown that nothing on this earth is more important then Christ and the authenticity of His love for each of us. Through him we are shown that He must be made central in our life. Let us not loose faith, but instead let us stand firm with Saint John the Baptist who is always prepared for the Lord’s coming.

Bulletin Article: January 12

Today brings about the end of the Christmas season. It is hard to believe that the season of Lent will begin February 26 with the observance of Ash Wednesday.

Please keep in mind that our Parish Open Forum will be held tomorrow, January 13, in the school gym. There will be a pot luck meal beginning at 5:30pm with the open forum taking place from 6:30pm-7:30pm. It is my hope that these will aid our parish community in following the guidance of the Holy Spirit and moving together as one for the good of this parish community.

Finally, an informational meeting will be held January 14 concerning the parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This meeting will he held in the gathering area at 6:30pm. The cost for this trip is $3,350 and includes airfare, hotel, tour guide, bus, entry to sites, and 2 meals a day. The pilgrimage we be October 5-14, 2020.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Holy Family Homily (Extraordinary Form)

Today we arrive at the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Jospeh. They serve as the perfect example for us concerning family life. They direct our sight towards Christ and thus too towards Heaven. We know Jesus, Mary, and Jospeh and the love found within their family to be a perfect example for us on how to be holy.

Some see holiness as something which cannot be obtained. Nevertheless, throughout the Christmas season we are shown ways in which holiness comes to dwell in rather mundane everyday areas of life. Therefore, we encounter a God whose love for us is so great that He takes on our human flesh and dwells among us. With that, this child is placed at the center of our faith and yet He is God made Flesh.

Out of the many ways that God could of chosen to dwell among us He chose to enter into the confines of a family. With this, this child needed the love, support, and protection of Mary, His mother, and Joseph, His foster father. He was unable to feed Himself and relied upon the assistance of his family. His life came to be endangered thanks to the fear of Herod and yet Saint Joseph protected Him and his family.

Through the Holy Family we are being shown that holiness is something which can be obtained within this life as well as within our own homes. We are shown that this is something that we must each strive for. It is not enough for us to keep the pursuit of holiness out of our reach to the point that it becomes something which cannot be obtained. To do this would be a grave mistake because Christ and the Blessed Mother show us that this is something which can be obtained.

Today’s feast finds it foundation in Canada and from there spreads throughout the whole Church. The purpose of this feast is to reenforce the importance of the family in the midst of the world which has forgotten about its importance. At times the hope for the future for family life may seem to be bleak, but we cannot allow this attitude to take hold of us. After all, we just celebrated Christmas where we came to acknowledge that great light which came to dwell among us that is God made Flesh.

With this great light held firmly in our perspective, so too should our homes become a reflection of this great light which caused angels to chant with joy: “Glory to God in the highest.” There is nothing bleak about this realty because through it hope is always found. Let our homes become places where this hope is allowed to dwell and where holiness is chased after.

It is important that Christian homes become places of prayer with Christ is placed at the center. Pray together as a family, have a common place of prayer within the home, and make sure that a crucifix is placed in each room as a constant reminder of Christ’s merciful love for each of us. Let this feast become a feast of joy which fills our homes with the light of Christ which cannot be hidden, but rather must be shared throughout all the world.

St. Mary Men Evening of Recollection Sermon V: Baptism

I hope that all of you continue to have a Merry Christmas. As a reminder the Christmas season comes to its conclusion this Sunday with the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. I hope that we will continue to celebrate this days which lie ahead.

Baptism is the first sacrament that one receives. Without it we are not able to receive any of the other sacraments. In the words of Saint Josemaria Escriva: “In Baptism, our Father God has taken possession of our lives. He has made us sharers in Christ’s life and sent us the Holy Spirit.”

Despite this how well do we allow our life to be a reflection of Christ who has claimed us? There are some who may be fooled into remarking that their sin is exeptable if it is seen by no one or only by those who we do not know. This type of attitude only leads to scandal and leads us away from Christ who has claimed us in the waters of baptism.

As Josemaria Escriva reminded: “God has placed an indelible mark on your soul through Baptism: you are a child of God, Child, are you not aflame with the desire to bring all men to love of Him?”

Here we were reminded of the indelible mark which is placed upon us in baptism. This mark is one which can never be taken away. Even in our death this mark will remain throughout life everlasting. There are three sacraments which leave an indelible mark: baptism, confirmation, and holy orders. In each of these sacraments the oil called the Sacred Chrism is placed upon the receiver of the sacrament.

With that we have God’s grace at work within us through these life giving waters. So may think that their baptism was only important on the day that they received it, but this is not the case. Rather, everyday from that moment going forward is important and the graces of baptism are at work within the life of the receiver.

In Pope Paul VI’s encyclical letter, Ecclesiam Suam, On the Church, he states: “To be a Christian, to have received Baptism, should not be looked upon as something indifferent or of little importance. It should be imprinted deeply and joyously on the conscience of every baptised person.”

With this may we give thanks to God for our baptism. May we remember the graces that are at work through it as well as the other sacraments that we receive. When we undergo moments of temptation or doubt may we allow ourselves to be moved towards God’s grace that is constantly at work within our life. May we do all that we can to protect our baptismal garment that it may never be soiled with sin, but may always remain white as snow.

Truly our baptism is a celebration of God’s love for us for through these waters we came to be united with Christ Jesus and the community that is the Church.

Bulletin Article: January 5

I hope that you are having a blessed 2020. The month of January will be very busy around this parish. Here are a few events that I would like to highlight:

-January 6 Mass will be offered in the Extraordinary Form at 6pm to celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany.

-January 13 will be our Parish Open Forum. It is my hope that these will be helpful in bringing our parish community together towards the building up of our parish community for the Lord. There will be a pot luck dinner starting at 5:30pm and the forum will be from 6:30pm-7:30pm.

-January 14 there will be an informational meeting for those interested on the pilgrimage to the Holy Land at 6:30pm. There are brochures located in the gathering area.

-January 20 we will have a meeting concerning our 2020 Fall Festival at 6:30pm. We are still in need of a chairperson for the festival.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins 

Most Holy Name of Jesus Homily

Merry Christmas!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Please keep in mind that there will be a Mass offered in the Extraordinary Form on the proper day of the Epiphany which is January 6th. This Mass will be offered at 6pm. This feast of the Holy Name fell out of the calendar following the reforms, but thankfully it has been restored in the current Roman Missal and thus this feast was offered in the Ordinary Form this past Friday.

This is an important feast because it presents us with the name of Jesus. From the account of the Annunciation we are told: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. We are also told from the account of His circumcision: “When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” We are also told of the importance of this name from Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians: “Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in Heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

The Hebrew meaning of the name “Jesus” means “God saves.” Some Greek fathers of the Church would also relate this name to healing and thus “God heals.” As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: “The name “Jesus” signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son, made man for the universal and definitive redemption from sins. It is the divine name that alone brings salvation, and henceforth all can invoke his name, for Jesus united himself to all men through his Incarnation, so that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

In the year 1274 Pope Gregory X desired the faithful to foster devotion to the Holy Name especially when they attended the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He therefore wrote and requested of the faithful: “We have also judged it proper to persuade the faithful to demonstrate more reverence for the Name above all names, the only Name in which we claim salvation- the Name of Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us from the bondage of sin. Consequently, in obedience to that apostolic precept, “In the Name of Jesus let every knee, be bent,” we wish that at the pronouncing of that Name, chiefly at the Holy Sacrifice, every one would bow his head in token that interiorly he bends the knee of his heart.”

With that let us come to foster proper devotion and trust in the Most Holy Name of Jesus. This is the Name that saves and heals. In our world we have lost a lot of respect for holy things especially the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Let us instead strive to not take this Name in vain, but to honor it always with our thoughts and words. When we are tempted to sin let us call upon this Name to receive our strength. May this Name remain our light and hope always as we strive for the Kingdom of Heaven. In all that we may do may we come to honor and adore the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

Epiphany Homily

Merry Christmas!

Today we celebrate an important solemnity in the form of the Epiphany. For some this is solely a celebration of three wise men or three kings who come to visit Jesus and bring Him gifts. This is true, but this is also a very profound celebration in Christendom which transcends even these magi.

The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek and means “manifestation.” What is revealed here is the manifestation of God to man. In the East the Epiphany not only accounts for the visit of the Magi, but His baptism in the Jordan, and the miracle at the wedding feast where water was changed into wine. Each of these three realities serve as God’s manifestation to us.

The magi serve as important figures because God manifested Himself unto them. They followed the light of a star which brought them into this encounter with the Messiah. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “it is not the star that determines the child’s destiny. It is the child that directs the star.” He goes on to state: “this implies that the entire cosmos speaks of Christ, even though its language is not yet fully intelligible to man in his present state.”

From the light of this star Christ calls the magi into an encounter with Him. With this the magi journey towards Him. The magi who were Gentile in origin then undergo their conversion. They become the first to encounter God made Flesh and be converted. For them this conversion marks a new beginning. Through them we find in the words of Benedict XVI “the journeying of humanity toward Christ.”

In our Gospel we heard these words: “they prostrated themselves and did him homage.” In the Extraordinary Form the priest genuflects at this point in the Gospel for this verse points towards their realization that this child who they have encountered is God made Flesh.

May we too journey with these Magi during this time of the Epiphany. May we encounter this same child who is God made Flesh and may we too be converted and live. From the lowliness of a manger He now manifests Himself unto the whole world as God made Flesh. From this reality may we continue to journey towards Him in how we live and orient our life.

Proclamation of Moveable Feasts 2020

Know, dear brethren,

that, as we have rejoiced at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ,

so by leave of God's mercy

we announce to you also the joy of his Resurrection,

who is our Savior.

On the twenty-sixth day of February will fall Ash Wednesday,

and the beginning of the fast of the most sacred Lenten season.

On the twelfth day of April you will celebrate with joy Easter Day,

the Paschal feast of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the twenty-fourth day of May will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the thirty-first day of May, the feast of Pentecost.

On the fourteenth day of June, the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

On the twenty-ninth day of November, the First Sunday of the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ,

to whom is honor and glory for ever and ever.

Amen.

Mary, Mother of God Homily

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Today we embark upon this New Year. As we embark upon it may we call upon the Holy Spirit to guide us in this new year. It is for this reason that the singing of the “Vini Creator Spiritus” “Come Creator Spirit” is a plenary indulgence on January 1st along with (1) receiving communion in the state of grace, (2) making a confession in a reasonable amount of time, and (3) praying for the intention of the Holy Father.

Today is also the eighth day following Christ’s birth. This day brings about the conclusion of what is known to us as the Octave of Christmas. The importance of this eighth day was also pointed out in our Gospel: “When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” As time has progressed this day has also become dedicated to Mary as being Mother of God. Truly whenever we have the opportunity to celebrate the Blessed Mother we have the opportunity to dwell with Christ for all devotion to her always points the way back to her Son.

Throughout Christmas we celebrate the fact that God loved us so much that He took on our human flesh and dwelt among us. With that let us think how scandalous all of this may seem to the untrained mind. God was unable to feed Himself and instead relied upon His parents in order to receive His sustenance. He would go to the desert and there He would come to know the true meaning of hunger and thirst as He fasted for a period of forty days and nights. Through His circumcision He spilt His Blood as a foreshadowing of what would come through the ultimate spilling of blood upon the cross.

If we desire to be more human then we will strive to be more like Christ. Through this reality we are not called to becomes less human, but to become more human through this pursuit. As Saint Athanasius put it in today’s Office of Readings: “Our Savior truly became man, and from this has followed the salvation of man as a whole. Our salvation is in no way fictitious, nor does it apply only to the body. The salvation of the whole man, that is, of soul and body, has really been achieved in the Word himself. What was born of Mary was therefore human by nature, in accordance with the inspired Scriptures, and the body of the Lord was a true body: it was a true body because it is the same as ours. Mary, you see, is our sister, for we are all born of Adam.”

As we head into this new year may we continue to foster devotion to Mary in our life and within our family. All of this devotion draws us into a closer relationship with her Son, Jesus. In this manner we can strive to be more like Christ and in the process strip away everything that keeps us from achieving this goal. For many a New Year’s resolution never gets put into action or if it does it only lasts a few days and weeks before things return to normal and we begin to forget of what we once strived for. To pursue Christ is not a New Year’s resolution, but a way of life.