Bulletin Article: November 29

I hope that each of you had a blessed Thanksgiving. Please remember that we will not have a Parish Advent Service this year. Therefore, we now have confessions prior to each Sunday obligation Mass as well as our normally scheduled opportunities. If you wish to make a confession prior to Mass please be on time because I will only hear confessions in so far as there is a line. These new confession times are Saturday at 4:30pm and Sunday at 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm.

On December 2nd our parish will celebrate the Solemnity of the Dedication of the Parish Church with a special Mass at 6pm. On December 5th I will celebrate a Rorate Caeli Mass at 6:30am. This Mass will be by candlelight and will be in the Extraordinary Form. On the Eve of the Feast of Saint Nicholas, December 5, we invite you for the lighting of our nativity star and nativity scene following the 5pm Mass. During this event we will enjoy hot chocolate and cider as we enjoy a few hymns to prepare us for the Advent season and our encounter with Christ’s coming as Word made Flesh. Saint Nicholas might even make an appearance to take social distanced photos with those present.

I thank Jena Bitler, a parishioner who works with www.doxologydesign.com, for working with me and the communications committee to help design a new parish logo which is located on the front of the bulletin. It is my hope that we will begin to use this logo to brand our parish within the community at large and to remind us of who we are as a parish community.

This logo makes use of the “M” which can be found within the miraculous medal. This “M” represents Mary as Mother our Mediatrix. From the “M” extends the cross which reminds us of the cross of Christ which brought about our redemption. The “M” and the cross are intertwined reminding us of a sign of their union. Under the “M” is the year 1906 which reminds of the year that our parish was established. 

The 12 stars remind us of Revelation 12:1, “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” This verse points towards devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe who is patroness to the Americas as well as very important in the life of our Spanish speaking people. These 12 stars also reminds us of the 12 apostles who were first called by Christ to be fishers of men. Likewise, each of us have been called by Christ towards the missionary journey to evangelize other towards Christ and His Church on this earth. These stars have 7 points which remind us of the importance of the seven sacraments (baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, confession, anointing of sick, marriage, and holy orders) and the seven fruits of the Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord). May we fully enter into the sacramental life of the church and live out these fruits of the spirit within the world.

Below all of this, we find the mountains which are used within the Johnson City logo. These mountains remind us of the city to which we belong and to which we are sent forth to live out our life of faith. Mountains are very important throughout the course of Sacred Scripture and are mentioned within it some 500 times. The mountains are seen by the people of Jewish and Christian cultures as bringing them closer to God. From the mountain tops God gave Moses the ten commandments and from a mountaintop Christ gave us the Beatitudes which call us into service to God and one another. Likewise, may we strive to be closer to God in this life and to bring others with us on this journey. 

Within this logo we find the use of three colors blue, green, and white. Blue is a color which is associated with Mary who is the patroness of our parish community. This is a color which is associated with purity and so the Blessed Mother was most pure and through devotion to her we will be brought into relation with Christ. White represents purity, holiness, and virtue. We must always be reminded of our missionary awareness and commitment which is rooted in the grace of baptism The color green is seen within the Johnson City logo, but is also the color that we see during Ordinary Time. The Church clothes herself in green vestments to express her joyous, lively hope of the ever lovely and eternally verdant meadows of the heavenly paradise, of the incorruptible inheritance and the unfading crown of glory in Heaven.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

1st Sunday of Advent Year B Homily

Thanksgiving is now over and many have already started to move onto the Christmas season. In a world of Christmas trees, music, and lights we find a far different reality proclaimed to us within the Church. Here we find a somber tone for the church is not decorated with flowers nor trees, we make use of the liturgical color of violet which reminds us of the need to do penance, and our music reflects somber moderation for we do not yet sing Christmas carols and do not sing the Gloria until we see sing it anew with the angels who rejoice at the birth of a savior.

With the message that the world now proclaims it is so easy for us to loose sight of this o’ so important season within the life of the Church. Our readings do not tell us about mistletoe and holly, but the need to be watchful and alert. This season is about two things: it is about preparation for the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as His second coming at the end of time. It is towards both of these realities that we must now remain watchful and alert for we must make straight the way of our life towards our encounter with the Lord.

Despite this need to be watchful and alert for our encounter with the Lord it should be no secret that we do not like to wait. We instead want everything without delay. So often this attitude is reflected by many throughout the Advent season for they push it to the side in order to celebrate Christmas without first preparing for it. We must Remember that the people of Israel waited generations for the coming of the Messiah. Despite having to wait they longed for the reality of the Lord’s coming to which Saint John the Baptist foretold: “Behold the Lamb of God.” We too must allow this great anticipation to give rise within us as we prepare to behold such a wondrous gift.

As the Catechism attests concerning this great season: “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Therefore, I invite each you to enter fully into this season that has been set before us. Please do not let it rush by as if it were just another day among days. Rather, this season serves as an important opportunity to prepare for the Lord’s coming in order that room may be found within the inn for Him to come and dwell with us. I implore you to use this season to dare to enter into silence, to begin to pray more fervently, to study and pray with Sacred Scripture, and to enter fully into the sacramental life of the Church. To practice these four steps will aid you in remaining watchful and alert for the Lord’s coming.

May we all have a fruitful Advent season. May we realize its importance for we truly need to “behold the Lamb of God” by how we come to order our life on this earth towards Him. Remaining watchful and alert during this sacred season assists us in undergoing this conversion for the sake of the Kingdom and letting go of that which detracts us from Christ in order that we may allow Him to increase within us. Let this season be a time of hope for we now prepare for our encounter with the Word made Flesh who is Christ our Lord. He who is present with us in the Most Holy Eucharist. May we always prepare our heart and soul to encounter Him.

Bulletin Article: November 22

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. When we gather next Sunday we will begin the Advent season and begin a new Church year. It is the purpose of Advent to prepare the way for the Lord’s coming at Christmas.

As we move into the Advent season and prepare for Christmas I wish to highlight the following events:

-On December 2nd we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Dedication of our Church with Mass taking place at 6pm.

-On December 5th we will celebrate a Rorate Caeli Mass at 6:30am. This Mass is in Latin and completes before sunrise and is done by candlelight.

-On December 5th following the 5pm Mass we will light our outside lights and gather in front of the school for hot chocolate and hot cider while we enjoy a few hymns on the Eve of Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas might even make an appearance.

-On December 8th we observe the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with the vigil Mass at 7pm (Spanish) and Masses of the day at 6:30am (Latin), 8:30am, 12:15pm, and 7pm. 

-Our Spanish speaking community will observe the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 11th with Mass taking place at 7pm. 

-On December 19th from 9-12pm Sister Maria Juan will present our Advent Day of Recollection on being watchful and conversion. This retreat will take place in the church and we will live stream it to our parish YouTube page.

-Christmas Masses will be 4pm and 6pm for the vigil and 12am, 8am (Latin), 10am, and 12pm (Spanish) for Christmas Day.

-Masses for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God will be celebrated with a vigil Mass at 7pm and then Masses at 10am, 12pm (Spanish), and 7pm (Latin) on January 1st.

-The evening of January 2 our parish will celebrate an Epiphany Dinner which will be distributed from 5pm-7pm. More information will follow on this event in the near future.

Our parish will not hold a Advent Penance Service this year. Our parish offers confession each Wednesday at 6pm and Saturday at 9am. During this season of Advent I will also hear confessions beginning 30 minutes prior to a Sunday obligation Mass and ending 5 minutes to the start of Mass. Therefore confessions will also be heard Saturday at 4:30pm and Sunday at 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm. You can also always schedule a confession by appointment.

Finally, our bishop has updated his mandates concerning the celebration of Mass in the Diocese of Knoxville. Beginning next Sunday we will resume singing at Mass. Those who wish to receive communion on the tongue will now be able to do so once Mass ends. During Mass in the Extraordinary Form communion will be given on the tongue during Mass. After each communicant the priest will clean his hands prior to distributing when doing so on the tongue.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Last Sunday after Pentecost Homily

Today is the Last Sunday after Pentecost and when we gather next week we will be in the season of Advent and we will be moving towards the coming of Christ as Word made Flesh, not only as the Christ Child, but also at the end of time.

As we reflect upon this past year we can think of a lot that we have had to endure. The expectations of life as we know it have changed a lot due to COVID-19, but at the end of the day Christ remains unchanged. Sadly, people put faith in other realities then that of our Blessed Lord. They allow the ways of this world to tug at them until they become lost from the path which leads to Heaven or with the abundance of stress found in everyday life they begin to lose the virtue of hope.

False Christs and false prophets are all around us. They attempt to move us away from this o’ so important path which leads to Heaven. One of the ways in which this becomes manifest is through the reality of division. As Christ said elsewhere in Sacred Scripture: “And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

This verse is important because Satan does nothing more then attempt to divide. We thus loose faith in the Church established by God because we have instead trusted in earthly voices. No matter the earthly voice let us our faith not falter, but instead may it always stand firm. No matter the trial and tribulation which lies ahead we must continue to trust in God and place our trust in Him and not the ways of this world.

As this liturgical year comes to its end, so to will a new one spring forth in its place. Thus too from every hardship, trial, and tribulation must we set our sight upon His Cross and Resurrection. From these realities the virtue of hope is always being made manifest as we orient our sight upon Him. Instead of embracing the cross and resurrection we so often rebuke these realities to give into the allures of worldly pleasures and the voice of false prophets. Again let us not be led astray and into despair, but as we transition into a new Church year may we come to be a people who manifest the virtues of faith and hope.

If faith and hope are to be made manifest and we are to turn away from these worldly allures let us remain open to the grace that God constantly pours out upon us and let us make full use of the sacramental life of the Church which means receiving Holy Communion in the state of grace and making use of the sacrament of confession. These realities open us up to true love itself and set our heart on fire for Christ which counteracts the worldly prince who does nothing more then turn us inwardly upon ourself.

Truly, the year that lies ahead will be a year of grace if we allow God to be at work in our life instead of trusting in the voices of false prophets and worldly allure which do nothing more then attempt to rip us away from Christ and His Church. As we close out this year and enter into a new one may our faith never falter and may we live out the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

Christ the King Year A Homily

As we come to celebrate this Solemnity of Christ the King let us be reminded that there are two kingdoms, that of Heaven and that of earth. It is Christ who is the King of Heaven and Satan who is known as the worldly prince. As we come to the end of this liturgical year it is a fact to state that we have been through a lot, but with the knowledge that Christ is our King everything that we might be called to embrace should not be too much for us to withstand.

Nevertheless, instead of placing our trust in the healing mercy of God and the Kingdom which is to come we so often allow ourself to dwell in the here and the now. We must be reminded that we are not called to follow after this worldly prince, but instead to chase after the Kingdom of Heaven. No matter how much we strive for this world to be a reflection of Heaven it will always fall short, but we are still called to be sent forth as disciples of the Lord to spread the Good News of the faith. In doing so we live in service of the Kingdom of Heaven and not the kingdom of this world.

As disciples of the Lord we must never allow the voice of faith to be silenced. Throughout the world’s history there are those who have tried to silence this voice, but they have always failed. They failed because the faith is truth itself and because Christians were so convinced of this reality that they were willing to lay down their life in defense of this truth. I would hope and pray that we will not have to face the plight of martyrdom, but we do have to head into the world to allow the flame of faith to shine brightly.

When we fail to live for Christ and His Heavenly Kingdom we are allowing the prince of lies to overcome us to believe that we are to live for the here and now. To live for the here and now is to live for the amassment of earthly pleasures without ever having to embrace the cross which leads us to an encounter with Truth. We have just passed through another election year, I for one am happy that we only have to go through this process every four years and not more often. So often it seems that we place the political process over our trust in God. This be true not only in politics, but even with COVID-19 that we have had to deal with for this past year. Instead of worrying about something that is out of our control and stressing over what is on our television screen we should place our trust in God.

With all that seems grim around us let us be a people of hope. It is a fact that our liturgical year comes to a close, but it is also a reality that a new year will begin. The same holds true with everything that is taking place around us. From the cross and resurrection of our Blessed Lord always springs forth a great hope if only we would be open and listen to God. After all we must remember that Christ is the Good Shepherd who tends His flock. In other words He provides for all of our needs. We can see this made manifest through the grace that is constantly being poured upon us and through the gift that is the sacraments especially the Most Holy Eucharist and the sacrament of confession.

With that I invite you to make use of the new confession opportunities during the Advent season. I will hear confessions 30 minutes prior to each Sunday obligation Mass which means I will hear confessions at 4:30pm, 7:30am next week, 9:30am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm next week. I will remain in the confessional until the line is finished or until 5 minutes before the start of Mass, whichever comes first.

As we come to the end of this liturgical year and soon embark upon a new one may we be filled with hope concerning what lies ahead. May we always serve Christ our King and the Kingdom of Heaven for this Kingdom is a kingdom which will never pass away.

Long live Christ the King!

Bulletin Article: November 15

I thank all those who participated in our Parish Stewardship Weekend which was held a few weeks ago. There were a total of 75 households which responded out of our 1,486 registered families. This is a response rate of 5% from our parish. Of those responses $230,000 was committed to our parish for this year. Of those responses 5 committed to increasing their prayer for the good of the parish. 10 of the respondents desired information on specific ministries. Next year I would like to expand our response rate and goal to getting it a close to 100% as is possible.

The Diocese of Knoxville promotes a program known as #iGiveCatholic which coincides with Giving Tuesday which is December 1st. This year our parish will use any funds given to properly fix the guttering on the school which will prevent building damage and allow us to improve the look of the front of the school. One can give beginning November 16th all the way up to December 1st. For more information please look up the #iGiveCatholic website and look up our parish’s page under the Diocese of Knoxville.

Finally, I remind you of our Parish Open Forum which will be held on Monday from 6:30pm-7:30pm.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Resumed 6th Sunday after Epiphany Homily

We are in such a rush to see results that having patience is often difficult and yet through patience we see so much become manifest. Our Gospel comes to document three of these realities for us. Firstly, we are told about the mustard seed which seems to be small in size and yet through the passing of time wields a tree. Secondly, we are told about the leaven which when left to sit begins to grow. Finally, we are told about parables which do not always have an obvious meaning, but instead challenge us to think more deeply about a given issue. Nevertheless, we can see the need to have patience and to work at something because without patience we will never dare to wait and see the fruit which will give rise.

 The spiritual life is something that cannot be progressed in if we are not willing to have patience and allow time to pass by. If one wants to pray they so often fail to have patience and to work at this relationship. Instead of working at it with a spirt of patience they instead grow upset when they don’t get what they want or don’t find the pleasure that lies behind it for which they had at first hoped. If we find ourself in this realm of spiritual dryness we must endure and realize the true fruit which springs forth from prayer. This is the same as the true fruit that springs forth from the passing of time which leads a seed towards becoming a tree, leaven growing, and parables which bring forth recollection and thought.

Very soon we will be entering into the season of Advent which will help prepare for the Lord’s coming among us as God made Flesh. As we enter into this sacred season it is important that we enter into this season with a spirit of true faith and hope. We must remain patient and invest ourself fully into the life of the Church for through doing so we will grow close to God even if it feels as if that is not the case.

33rd Sunday of OT Year A Homily

Next Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King which brings us to the conclusion of our liturgical year. Our readings echo the reality of that which currently surrounds us; the fact that time is quickly coming to its conclusion. As we glance around we see this theme reflected for it draws dark so early. We also see this for the liturgical year is coming to its close.

Some Christians allow themselves to be transfixed upon the sign of the times and thus they are always proclaiming that the end of the world is nigh. With all that is currently going on within our world and own country we may even believe this to be ringing true. Nevertheless, we should not be transfixed upon these end of time prophecies, but instead upon that reality that will ultimately come to claim each of us, our own mortality.

If we know that our own mortality is lying in wait for us then we should heed our Epistle and thus “stay alert and sober.” By staying “alert and sober” we allow ourself to be prepared to encounter the Lord who is merciful and just. Nevertheless, there are so many who have fooled themselves into believing that they will live for ever. Even in the midst of this pandemic they have not woke up to reflect upon this reality which will ultimately befall them.

Let us thus be reflective of all that we keep pushing off when it pertains to faith and morals. The ways that we have failed to make time for God through prayer, the times that we have decided that we will not participate in the Sacrament of Confession, the ways in which we have explained away sin or have grown lazy in staying in guard against it. Truly, we are called to “stay sober and alert” for we will soon encounter the great light which springs forth from Christ our Lord.

Bulletin Article: November 8

Our Drive Thru Trunk or Treat was a great success. We had close to 600 cars which drove through our trunk or treat! A big thank you to all of our volunteers including those 21 trunks which were decorated, all the candy that was dropped off by parishioners, and those who helped to direct traffic for the event.

This past weekend our Mass attendance was up to 676 people. As we continue to grow I ask that you heed the directions of the ushers especially if you attend the 10am Mass in order that we can maximize the capacity of the church.

Lastly, there will be a Parish Open Forum on Zoom on November 16 from 6:30pm-7:30pm. The login information will be located in the bulletin next week, but please go ahead and mark your calendars.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins 

23rd Sunday After Pentecost Homily

In these troubling times we must always remember that Christ looked to Peter and said: “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Despite this assurance from our Blessed Lord, Saint Paul stated in our Epistle that there “are enemies of the cross of Christ.”

Sadly, these enemies of the cross of Christ can come from within the church and thus they give us scandal and possibly rock our faith. These people want to fashion a church which comes independent from the cross. In other words they want to do away with practices such as sacrifice, repentance, dying to self, and taking up the cross in order to follow after Christ. If the church is to be fashioned in such an image it becomes important to change the church and her teachings.

Nevertheless, this is something which is impossible. As Saint Paul would warn: “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”

Let us never be led astray to follow after such false prophets. Let us never allow these false prophets to chase us away from the Church of Christ. It is important that we continue to faithfully live out the teachings of the church in the midst of this world. We must continue to offer sacrifice, to repent, to die to our self, and to take up the cross in order to follow after the Lord. Let us also pray for all shepherds of the church especially our bishops and the Holy Father in order that they may be persevered and never be led astray from the truths contained within the Gospels. Let us never be led astray nor scandalized by “enemies of the cross of Christ.”

St. Mary’s Men Evening of Recollection Sermon XII: Diligence

Today I focus our attention upon the virtue of diligence. It’s opposite is found in the vice of sloth. Diligence is summed up by careful and persistent effort or work. 

Josemaria Escriva stated that “there are two human virtues, industriousness and diligence, which merge into one, for they both help us in our efforts to make good use of the talents we have each received from God.”

As he would say in the Forge: “If we really want to sanctify our work, we have inescapably to fulfill the first condition: that of working, and working well, with human and supernatural seriousness.”

So often in this world it seems as if our motivating factor is getting by with the easiest method possible. Our motivating factor should not be the question of what is the least amount of work that I must do in order to get by. When it pertains to Heaven our attitude should not be the least that we can do, but instead the most that we can do in order to achieve this goal.

As Josemaria Escriva would remark of this attitude: “Relying on flimsy excuses, we become too easygoing and forget about the marvelous responsibility that rests upon our shoulders. We are content with doing just enough to get by. We let ourselves get carried away by false rationalizations and waste our time, whereas Satan and his allies never take a holiday.”

Not only should we excel at the work entrusted to our care in this life be it one’s job or family responsibilities, but we must also be concerned with our practice faith. So often people are content with just getting by and so they do the bare minimum of what is required of them. Therefore, they go to Mass on Sunday and Holy Days and make their yearly confession and yet they go no further.

If we are sanctify our work and thus too our day then we must practice the virtue of charity for this virtue allows us to have supernatural love for God and for souls. As was said in Saint Mark’s Gospel: “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Even with the most mundane of tasks we are to be diligent and to find value within them. In these tasks and opportunities we have the ability to enter into the joys of God’s presence and may we thus come to accept the offering of work that is well done.

In the Holy Family we see the virtue of diligence made manifest to us. In Joseph we see the carpenter who worked with order and cheerfulness. In Mary we see her who gave this same attention to her daily tasks. So too may we join them and not grow lazy and idle, but instead excel at everything that we do for the greater glory of God. In all things may God come to be glorified especially through the offering of our work and the application of our life of faith in the midst of all that we do.

All Souls Day Homily (Cemetary)

Look around yourself. What do you see?

What surrounds us in this cemetary are those who once walked about this earth like you or me. Some who are buried here may be a member of your family or even your friends.

I believe that it is important that we have Mass here this afternoon for this hallowed place reminds us that we will one day join with them and that there is a need for us to pray and offer sacrifice for those who have gone before us into life eternal.

Some might claim that a place like this is filled with sorrow, but as Christians that is not the case. As I often remind at a Funeral Mass: “Life has changed, but not ended.” Truly, there is nothing for us to be sorrowful for because we profess in the Good News of Our Lord’s Resurrection.

With that we here on earth must remover our own mortality and order our life on this earth not towards sin for sin only brings about true death, but towards the Lord for from here death is not found, but instead Everlasting Life in Heaven.

Let us now continue to pray and offer sacrifice for those who have gone before us. Through our prayers and sacrifices they are cleaned and brought towards the Light of Heaven.

Eternal rest grant onto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest In Peace. Amen.

All Souls Day Homily

Our modern world has lost sight concerning the importance of the human body. With the rise of cremation we face issues such as a burial never taking place or ashes being spread around certain locations or divided up among family members. Actions such as these are incompatible with our faith.

Some claim that the body is not important for it is only an empty vessel which contained the soul which is now not present. Even with death our faith teaches that the body in important. The body is important for it is a temple of the Holy Spirit and points towards the Resurrection of the body to come. Even with the rise of cremation we should remember that “the Church (prefers) the practice of burying the bodies of the deceased.”

To bury one who has died is one of the corporal works of mercy. This corporal work of mercy also includes offering our prayers for the souls of the faithful departed. Sadly, it seems that not only have we lost sight of the importance of the human body, but also the necessity to pray for them.

We heard this reflected today from 2nd Maccabees which reminded us of this important need. Throughout the month of November we are especially encouraged to go to a Cemetary in order to pray for the souls of the deceased. A visit to a Cemetary reminds us of our own mortality and our need to set our life straight for Christ and reminds us to pray for those in Purgatory.

As we commemorate all the souls of the faithful departed on this All Souls Day may we come to understand and frequent our prayers for them.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest In Peace. Amen.

Bulletin Article: November 1

This past weekend our food pantry joined with Catholic Charities and were able to distribute 790 cases of food and 790 gallons of milk. A big thank you to the 15 adults and 18 youth of our parish community who came together to give service at this event.

Please remember that tomorrow, November 2, is All Souls Day. There will be 5 opportunities for Mass that day at our parish: 7am, 8:30am, 1:30pm (In Catholic section of Monte Vista Cemetery behind Church), 5pm (Extraordinary Form), and 7pm (Spanish). During the whole month of November there are opportunities to receive a plenary indulgence if you visit and pray in a cemetery for the souls of the faithful departed. One may also receive a plenary indulgence if the go to a church and pray an “Our Father” and “Creed” for the faithful departed. Normally, these indulgences are limited to November 2-8, but due to COVID-19 have been extended to the whole month of November. Besides the assigned task one should also go to confession, receive communion, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Lastly, please remember that we will have our next Parish Open Forum via Zoom on November 16 from 6:30pm-7:30pm. It is my hope that members of our parish community will attend these if they have a concern or not. The purpose of these is to foster community as we discern life in the parish.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

All Saints Day Homily

The month of November is a very interesting month in the life of the Church. It is during this month that we consider where we are headed in this life. Those realities being our death, our judgement, and hopefully the Kingdom of God.

For this reason the Church gives us special indulgences that we can receive during this month of November. The work that needs to be done is to visit a cemetery to pray for the dead or to even offer an “Our Father” and “Creed” for them here inside of the Church. Normally, these indulgences can only be received during a certain set of days, but due to COVID-19 these indulgences have been extended throughout the whole month of November. In conjunction with the work which is attached one must also make a confession, receive the Eucharist, pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, and be detached from sin.

When was the last time that you have entered into a cemetery in order to pray? Cemeteries serve as a constant reminder of where we are headed in this life and they remind us of the need to pray for the souls of the faithful departed. Sadly, it seems that we want to forget about our own mortality and so easily push off the necessity to pray for the souls of the dead. Tomorrow we come to commemorate All Souls Day where our parish will have a total of five Mass opportunities. One of these opportunities will be at 1:30pm and will take place in the cemetery that is right behind our parish.

Today the Church observes the Solemnity of All Saints which is very much so connected to these realities which should be constantly set before our sight. Those who we venerate today have been called home to Heaven. Some of them have been revealed to the Church by God by their name while so many have not been revealed to us in such a manner. If they are known by name or not what we can say of them is that they have run the race and have been good and faithful servants of the Lord. They have walked this earth and died in service to the Gospel message and have now been called home to God.

Our ultimate goal on this earth is not to be rich in a worldly sense and to amass earthly possessions. Ultimately, we are called to be saints which means that we are called to Heaven. How many of us ever stop and think that we are called to be saints because we are called to Heaven? In our prayer we should mediate on that very question. In doing so we should ask what we must let go of if we are to be saints and be in Heaven. If we are not living the life of a saint nor striving for Heaven then there is only one place for us and I would hope that none of us want to end up there.

On this solemn day on our Church calendar may we fall in love with the saints and desire to live like them. The Church is blessed to have huge calendar of saints who make up the life of the Church. I would urge you and your families to study the lives of these holy men and women and to foster devotion to them. We are so well versed in athletes and celebrities, but so poorly formed in our love and devotion for the saints.

May all the Saints of Heaven pray for us that at the end of our life we may join with them in the Kingdom of Heaven.