Bulletin Article: December 27

Merry Christmas! Let us not forget that Christmas is a season which stretches to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 10th.

On December 8th Pope Francis made this the Year of Saint Jospeh. This year stretches from December 8, 2020-December 8, 2021. There are two feast days attributed to Saint Joseph, Saint Jospeh the Worker on May 1st and the Feast of Saint Jospeh on March 19. I recommend Father Donald Calloway’s book, “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.” This book enters into history and devotion concerning Saint Jospeh and prepares one to make a consecration to him.

January 1st will be the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Our Mass schedule will be: 7pm (vigil Mass), 10am, 12pm (Spanish), and 7pm (Latin). On December 31st and January 1st the church gives us the opportunity to receive two plenary indulgences. On December 31st one is to recite the “Te Deum” which gives thanks to God for the year. On January 1st one is to pray the “Veni Creator Spiritus” which asks the Holy Spirit to come upon us as we enter into the new year. In conjunction with the above work one must also pray for the intention of the Holy Father, make a confession, receive Holy Communion, and be detached from all sin including venial sin.

Finally, don’t forget that pick ups for our Parish Epiphany Dinner will be January 2nd from 5pm-6:30pm. We ask that you take a picture of your family enjoying this meal to send in, so that we can put together a slideshow of our parish family coming together for this event.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Sunday in the Octave of Christmas Homily

Merry Christmas!

During this Christmas season our heart is filled with joy at the good news concerning the birth of the Savior of the World. Nevertheless, we cannot lose sight of the cross of our Blessed Lord. On the days which follow Christmas we are reminded of this through Saint Stephen, the Holy Innocents, and Saint Thomas Becket. We are also reminded of this reality in the words of Simeon: “this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel: and for a sign which shall be contradicted: and thine own soul a sword shall pierce.”

This prophecy ultimately leads towards the cross. It is a reminder that He is destined to die upon it in order that we may be redeemed. Thus it was upon the wood of the manger that He was laid as a child and the wood of the cross that He came to breath His final breath. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem and a crown of thorns was placed upon His head at Calvary. If the Lord never came to die upon the cross there would be nothing for us to celebrate during this Christmas season. Therefore, we cannot allow ourself to take our sight off of the cross and it’s redeeming effect.

One Feast of the Blessed Mother is that of Our Lady of Sorrows. In this devotion there are seven sorrows which are present, one of which was accounted for us in our Gospel through Simeon’s prophecy. These seven sorrows begin with this prophecy and end with our Lord’s death and burial. Truly, the season of Christmas remains connected to the cross of our Lord. This is a reality that we cannot allow ourself to lose sight of.

Those who want to take their sight off of the cross dwell in a faith which is exempt from hardship and sorrow. They want to live for the joys of this life, but when hardship and sorrow come they so easily abandon the Lord. None of us here can allow ourself to take our sight off of the cross or we will fall into the same trap. The trap of a faith which is based upon feelings and prosperity and has nothing to do with Chris Jesus. As Christians we must dwell with the cross and the resurrection for from both of these realities spring forth the virtue of hope in the midst of all that we are called to endure within this life.

Truly the birth and death of the Lord are entwined. Our celebration of Christmas is an anticipation of the joy that is found at Easter through the Resurrection. Through our celebration of the Nativity we proclaim the reality that God became man and dwelt among us out of love and from that love He was willing to lay down His life for us upon the cross. At Christmas as well as from the cross we know that joy triumphs over despair and light triumphs over darkness. Through our celebration of these Sacred Mysteries may we be drawn into this life giving reality and truly be given reason to have courage and faith in the midst of all that we are called to endure within this life. From the manger extends the cross and towards these life giving realities may we always dwell.

Feast of Holy Family Homily

Merry Christmas!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The family is central to society and yet we have allowed this important institution to fade away in favor of modernism. This celebration of the Holy Family proclaims what it means to be a man and a woman, what it means to be a husband and a wife, what it means to be a parent and a child, and most of all what it means for Christ to be placed at the center of our life.

At this point it should be no secret that we are currently in the Year of Saint Joseph which started on December 8th, 2020 and will come to its end on December 8th, 2021. Through this year we have the opportunity to foster devotion to Saint Joseph who serves as the husband of Mary and the foster father of Christ. In the midst of a world which is in need of strong masculine role models we can find none greater then Saint Joseph.

The family is something which is always under attack by the forces of evil. As Sister Lucia stated: “the final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about marriage and the family.” Saint John Paul II said concerning the importance of the family: “The family has the mission to guard, reveal, and communicate love and in doing so become a living reflection of God’s love.”

As Saint Paul stated: “Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Truly, for the family to be strengthened in the midst of a society which tries to rip apart the meaning of marriage, the family, being a man, or a woman it is important for us to put on Christ and place Him at the center of our life.

At the Nativity we discover the Christ child who came as God made Flesh to dwell with us in a family. At the manger His mother, Mary, was present as was Joseph. Mary and Joseph placed their gaze upon Him and gave Him every ounce of their love and attention. If we are to put on Christ and place Him at the center of our life we need to model ourselves after the virtues that and displayed to us by Saints Mary and Joseph.

Therefore, our households must become a dwelling place for Christ. We ought to surround ourselves with sacramentals such as a crucifix, statues, art, and holy water which raise our hearts and minds to Heaven. We should pray together within the household, so that together our gaze may be set upon Christ. We should frequent the sacramental life of the church which means attending Mass and frequenting the sacrament of confession.

The forces of evil will continue to attempt to destroy the family by destroying the sanctity of marriage, by attacking masculinity, and femininity. Nevertheless, in the Holy Family we find a true example of love which conquers all things. Lived out within the Holy Family is an example of being husband, a wife, a man, a woman, a married couple, and most of all allowing one’s gaze to be set upon Christ. As we continue our journey during this Christmas season may the Holy Family intercede for us that we may place our trust in God and be led along the path of holiness.

Christmas Mass at Midnight Homily

Merry Christmas!

Throughout this past year we have had a lot of changing to do with our plans. Due to snow this night also follows suit. Therefore, I also welcome all those who may be watching this Mass from home. For many attending the Midnight Mass is a tradition and at least through the use of YouTube this important tradition can continue. Hopefully next year you will be able to once again follow this tradition in person.

In our Gospel the angels sang a very familiar hymn and so they sang: “Gloria in excelsis Deo” “Glory to God in the highest.” This hymn is familiar for we hear it throughout the year when we assist of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Whenever we hear it at Mass our minds should be taken to the Nativity of the Lord. You see within the crib is not just any child, but God who takes on our human flesh and dwells with us out of love. You see this hymn points the way towards the Lord who continues to come among us in the form of bread and wine which through the words of consecration become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord.

The words of the angel are very important to us in this day and age: “Do not be afraid.” So often we allow ourself to be filled with fear. At these moments we take our sight off of the Lord for we lack faith. The angel’s statement should make us realize that everything that our heart could ever long for is discovered within the manger and thus too within the Eucharist. We should not be afraid because God is love and came to dwell with us out of love.

Do we desire to enter into this love of the Godhead or would we rather twist love to the point that is no longer love that we express? Christ came to conquer the sin of Adam. That sin that came about due to the lies of Satan who lead the way to love being twisted. Christ is an outpouring of perfect love for this is the love of the Trinity and the love that dwelt among us and eventually came to embrace the wood of the cross.

Thus in our society we see so many who are looking for truth in all the wrong places. Therefore, it should be no surprise that the sanctity of marriage is under attack, or life within the womb, or the family, what it means to be male and female and created in the image and likeness of God the Father. Therefore, let us be not afraid, let us place us trust in Christ and have faith, let us be bold in our proclamation of Christ and living out what we preach with our lips. 

This beautiful night a bright light shines for the whole world to see. To this light the angels sing “Glory to God in the highest. May we too desire adore our Lord and keep our sight place upon Him. Therefore, frequent confession and time spent with the Eucharist. Through these two sacraments you are present with the Lord and His mercy which endures forever. On this Christmas night May we realize the need for this great light and through Christ and His presence among us may ever fear be taken away. May we be stirred out of our slumber always remain true disciples of the Lord no matter the trial, temptation, or hardship which might befall us.

Christmas Homily

Merry Christmas!

From the Gospel of Saint John we are instructed: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Therefore, on this Christmas Day we rejoice at the fact that God’s love is so great that He was willing to take on our human flesh and dwell among us. This is not just a child who is born, but it is He who is both fully human and fully divine. As important as His humanity may be we cannot allow ourself to forget about His divinity.

It was for this reason that shepherds came to do Him homage, that angels came to rejoice, and magi came from afar to adore. The manger becomes the scene where the great light which is Christ the Lord shines forth for the whole world to see. With all that we have been through this past year we are in need of this great light which shines forth from the darkness. We need this glimmer of hope which is manifested by the one who comes to dwell among us.

The Church will remind us on the days following Christmas that to be a Christian is not easy and therefore we must embrace our faith not with complacency, but with fervor. On these days following Christmas we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Stephen who was the first Christian martyr, we will have the Feast of the Holy Innocents who were slain due to Herod’s fear, and we will commemorate Saint Thomas Becket who died if defense of the church. Likewise, just because we celebrate Christmas and profess Christ with our lips does not mean that our walk of faith will be easy. Therefore, no matter what may lie ahead for us we must always stay close to Christ.

There are some who would state that this world would be so much better if Christ was still present with us. We cannot forget that Christ remains present with us in the gift which is the Most Holy Eucharist. You see what we celebrate this day is one and the same with the Eucharist.

As was stated by Saint John Paul II: “Bethlehem! The city where Jesus was born in fulfillment of the Scriptures, in Hebrew means “house of bread.” It was there that the Messiah was to be born, the One who would say of himself: “I am the bread of life.” In Bethlehem was born the One who, under the sign of broken bread, would leave us the memorial of his Pasch. On this Holy Night, adoration of the Child Jesus becomes Eucharistic adoration. We adore you, Lord, truly present in the Sacrament of the Altar, the living Bread which gives life to humanity. We acknowledge you as our one God, a little Child lying helpless in the manger!”

With that we should continue to flock towards the light of the manger which is Christ’s Eucharistic presence. There will come moments of difficulty, but with Christ all things are possible. The shepherds and magi came to the manger to be spiritually fed by He who is the Bread of Life and we come to communion in order to receive Him into our life. Year round we have the opportunity to adore our Lord present in the Most Holy Eucharist, but so often leave Him unattended as we believe that we have something more important and pressing. In this year ahead let us dwell with Christ as the shepherds, magi, and angels did and in return may our fears, temptations, and hardships be calmed as we place our trust in Christ our Lord who is the Word made Flesh.

Bulletin Article: December 20

Today marks the final Sunday of Advent and very soon we will encounter the Word made Flesh at Christmas. This year our parish will offer two vigil Masses on December 24th, 4pm and 6pm. For Christmas, December 25th, we will have Mass at 12am, 8am (Latin), 10am, and 12pm (Spanish). There is not a need to make a reservation as I feel the addition of an extra vigil Mass will offset the demand on December 24th.

Please remember that orders for our Parish Epiphany Dinner are ongoing until December 28th. The dinner costs $10 and consists of pork tenderloin with an orange glaze sauce served on the side, roasted potatoes, green beans, a roll, and desert. This dinners will be picked up January 2nd from 5pm-6:30pm. We encourage those who participate to submit a picture of their family enjoying the meal in order that we can put together a slideshow of our parish family coming together for our Epiphany Dinner.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins  

4th Sunday of Advent Homily (Extraordinary Form)

It is hard to believe that we are already at the 4th Sunday of Advent and in a matter of days we will arrive at our celebration of the Nativity of the Lord. Thus we need to be reminded that there is an urgency concerning our preparation for Christ. We cannot give the excuse that we have an infinite amount of time to prepare for Him and thus we can get around to it later when it is more convenient. No, prepared or not Christmas will come. We will celebrate the birth of the Word made Flesh, He will come to us in the Most Holy Eucharist, and He will come again at the end of time.

Saint John the Baptist’s message is not to take your time or get around to it when it is convenient. Rather, the message of Saint John the Baptist comes with great urgency. Thus he instructs: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight His paths: every valley shall be filled: and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

So what does all of this mean for us? It means that we shall take every valley and hill of our life which is the many difficulties and crosses that we are called to embrace and not allow them to overcome us, but rather move towards the Lord. If one were to make a road they would need to fill it in order that the treacherous may become possible. Likewise, we must let nothing come in the way of the Lord and if an obstacle is found we must turn towards God and His grace in order that we may move forward. Just too we are told that that the crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways plain. Thus there is a need for us to turn away from those sins to which we are attached to and all those ways and actions which are contrary to the Gospel and to the Church.

Again there is a great urgency for all of this because none of us will escape the passing of time and the reality of death. Prepared or not we will celebrate the Nativity of the Lord, the Lord will come again, and we will behold Him in the Most Holy Eucharist. We must realize that what we should be moving towards is truth itself for what we are moving towards is an encounter with Christ and thus truth itself. As Christ instructed in the Gospel of Saint John: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man come through to the Father, but by me.” As Christ would go onto state in the Gospel of Saint John: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

This brings us to our Gradual which states: “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him: to all that call upon Him in truth.” To this truth it was said in 1st Timothy: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who will have all men saved, and to come to the knowledge of truth. For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

As we prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord we must ask ourself if we are open to truth. In our day and age so many want to form a religion in their own image and likeness and not in the image and likeness of God. Truth is something that does not change while we are changing all the time and are not the basis of truth. We now prepare the way for the Lord; let us do so by coming to accept and follow the way of Truth. We begin to make straight the ways of the Lord by staying in search and being exceptive of Truth. This is the truth for which we must prepare during this Advent season.

4th Sunday of Advent Year B Homily

It is hard to believe that Friday will be Christmas and that next Sunday will be our celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family. In our Gospel we have the three members of the Holy Family present: Mary, Joseph, and Jesus within the womb of His mother. I would therefore like to note Saint Joseph and the fact that Pope Francis has named this the Year of Saint Joseph. This Year of Saint Jospeh will stretch from December 8, 2020-December 8, 2021. I am hopeful that we will use this year that lies ahead to learn more about Saint Joseph, to foster devotion to Saint Joseph, and to emulate the many virtues of Saint Joseph.

This Gospel taken from Luke largely concerns itself with Mary and her yes to the Angel Gabriel. Through her yes given to God she bares within her womb God made Flesh. During this season of Advent we prepare for this same encounter with the Lord. The Gospel of Saint Matthew also accounts for the Annunciation by simply stating: “When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.”

Joseph was therefore left with a great surprise to find that his wife was with child. Saint Matthew’s Gospel goes onto state: “Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.” This verse reveals a lot about Saint Joseph because we are told that “he was a righteous man.” A little later in this passage we are told, “When Jospeh awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.”

Therefore we can say that Saint Joseph was righteous because he was obedient. Saint Joseph serves as a model to all of us because of his obedience to God in all things no matter how difficult. It is for this reason that he serves as a model man, a model husband, a model father, a model worker, and most importantly a model servant of God. In our world we can see the need to have a model for fathers, a model for men, a model for husbands, a model when it pertains to work, and a model when it comes to being found in service to God.

Saint Joseph was not just some guy who randomly wondered into the Nativity story. This can be seen from the flowering staff that Saint Joseph is often depicted as holding such as the statue that we have here in the church. To this sprouting staff the Book of Numbers states: “And the rod of the man whom I choose shall sprout.” Legend holds that this staff sprouted for Saint Joseph when he went to visit Mary who would be his wife in order to show that he had been chosen by God for this task.

Today’s O Antiphon instructs us: “O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!” From the Gospel of Saint Luke we are told that Joseph is of the line of David: “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.” Saint Joseph then was not a random figure, but was a righteous man who connected Christ to the royal lineage of King David.

As we continue this Year of Saint Jospeh it is my hope that we will be inspired to grow in our devotion to Saint Joseph. Through our devotion to this holy man may we receive the grace to unite the interior with the exterior life, receive the grace to grow in our imitation of love for Jesus and Mary, and may we receive the grace of a happy death.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Bulletin Article: December 13

Our Eve of Saint Celebration was held this past Saturday. We had close to 50 who were in attendance for the event. I thank all those who helped especially Judy and Jim Holt who provided music in English, Raymond Issac and the Spanish community for providing music in Spanish, the Knights of Columbus for taking for of the distribution of hot chocolate, those who baked cookies, and of course Saint Nicholas for making an appearance.

On December 19th we will hold our parish Advent Day of Recollection. I thus welcome Sister Maria Juan Anderson, RSM who will lead our day of recollection. This event will be held in the church from 9am-11am. From 11am-12pm we will have a Holy Hour with confessions to conclude the retreat. Please note that due to events going on at our parish in the afternoon and the desire to start promptly at 9am that Saturday morning Mass will be at 8am. Also, please note that there will not be confessions at 9am.

On January 2 our parish will hold an Epiphany Dinner. This dinner will be offered as to go meals and we encourage that those who participate take a photo of your family together enjoying this meal, so that we can put a slideshow together of our parish family coming together. Meals can be preordered now until December 28 and are to be picked up on January 2 from 5pm-6:30pm. The meal will cost $10 and consist of pork tenderloin with an orange glaze sauce served on the side, roasted potatoes, green beans, roll, and desert. To order please fill out the slip at the back of the church and drop it into the box.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

3rd Sunday of Advent Year B Homily

This third Sunday of Advent is known to us as Guadete Sunday which means “rejoice.” This is taken from the Introit of this Mass which states at its beginning: “Gaudete in Domino semper” or in English, “rejoice in the Lord always.”

As a world we probably ask what exactly do we have to rejoice for. After all, our Christmas plans have come to be greatly altered by the pandemic. Our hospitals are beginning to be full of COVID patients. Maybe we have recently lost a loved one or fear for their life. Other areas of our country head back into lockdown and we must fear for the same.

We cannot forget that Advent is a time of hope. This is a time of hope for we are a people of faith and we know that God’s love is so great that He took on our human flesh and dwelt among us. Very soon our celebration of Christmas will come and we will celebrate the birth of a Savior, we will anticipate His second coming at the end of time, and we will prepare for our encounter with Him in the gift which is the Most Holy Eucharist.

So often our hope and reason to rejoice is lost for we desire to place ourself at the center of attention and just make everything about us. Instead we must look outward and begin to see the bigger picture of salvation history. No matter what seems to be taken away from us Christ cannot be taken away. We must be a people of faith who always proclaim Christ Jesus and who attempt to orient our life after His.

One bodily posture that has not been done away with by the Church is that of offering Mass ad orientem. It is here that the priest stands with the people in prayer and worship. This orientation places our sight not upon the priest, but more fully upon Christ. Cardinal Sarah remarked: “Since ancient times, Christians have faced the east during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to remember to keep watch for Christ.” He went on to say: “Today, at a time when it is easy to forget that Christ is coming -and easy to be complacent in our spiritual lives and in the work of evangelization that Christ will come.” The crucifix on the altar reminds of this orientation for together we stand gazing upon it to “recall the importance of watching for his return.”

It is for this reason that we must come to orient our life towards the coming of Christ by frequenting the sacraments of the church. To make a good confession of our sins is reason for us to rejoice. To receive the Eucharist in the state of grace is a reason for us to rejoice. To spend time in prayer before God is reason for us to rejoice. Each of these actions turn ourself away from our desires and orient our mind and heart towards that of God and preparing ourself for the return of the Messiah.

I do not know what the future may hold for us. Even outside of this time of pandemic the same would hold true. I do know that we are given every reason to have hope and every reason to rejoice. The question always points back to us and if we want to open up our heart and soul for our encounter with Christ. We must remember that without Christ we can do nothing, but with Him nothing no matter how difficult will prove to be impossible.

Saint John the Baptist did not dwell in darkness, but he instead came to testify to the light. Likewise, we are to orient our life towards His coming among us by setting straight the way for this encounter.

Immaculate Conception Homily

In 1858 the Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Bernadette at Lourdes and announced: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” This dogma of the Immaculate Conception came to be infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII in 1854. Prior to this the Immaculate Conception was already celebrated in the East since the 7th century and in the West a feast was already established which was celebrated in certain parts of the world. The fears concerning this dogma have nothing to do with Mary sinning or not, but with how it would be possible to say that she was in need of a Redeemer while being without sin.

Therefore, two questions came to be raised which I think are questions often raised in the minds of our non-Catholic brothers and sisters. These questions are:

1. Was Mary in need of redemption if she had been conceived without stain of original sin?
2. When, in the course of her conception, was Mary preserved from the stain and effects of original sin?

These are questions that were left unanswered by the likes of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Augustine, Bonaventure, and Anselm to name a few. It was Saint John Duns Scotus who died in 1308 who would develop these answers in detail. He would write: “He who is the most perfect mediator must have a most perfect act of mediation in regard to some person on whose behalf he exercises the mediatorial office. Now Christ is the most perfect... and he had no more exalted relation to any person than to the Blessed Virgin Mary... This could not be if he had not merited for her preservation from original sin.”

To sum up what Saint John Duns Scotus was getting at in simple terms is that Mary serves as a witness to Christ’s saving power. It is true that she was conceived without sin and was thus never touched by sin even original sin. At the same time it was also true that she was in need of a Redeemer. Our Lord preserved her and redeemed her from the cross and this grace was applied to her in anticipation of that redemption upon the cross.

If we delve further into devotion to the Blessed Mother we would hear that one of the titles often attributed to her is that she in the New Eve. It was from the Book of Genesis that we were told, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” When the Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Bernadette she described to her the Miraculous Medal which was to be made. If you look at this image you would see her standing upon the serpent for she crushes the devil under her feet for she is the new Eve who brought the New Adam into this world.

At the Annunciation the angel Gabriel came to her and exclaimed, “Hail full of grace.” She did not become full at grace at that moment, but was already found to be so perfectly full of God’s grace that it was flowing over for Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant for she was the pure and spotless vessel which would bring forth Christ our Lord. It we look at the hands of Mary, in the Miraculous Medal, we would see the rays which pour forth, for these represent to us the fact that she is the Mediatrix of All Graces. 

Therefore, as we come to celebrate this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception may we foster devotion to our Blessed Mother. She is indeed this pure and spotless vessel which was chosen to bear the Word made Flesh. Through our devotion to her may we draw closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. She is the Mediatrix of All Graces, which is to say, that we should pray for her intercession that we may come to more perfectly be open to the gift of God’s grace. Let us foster this devotion and in return open heart to be more like the heart of Christ.

Bulletin Article: December 6

Prior to the start of Advent our parish held its last open forum. There were roughly 25 users who logged into the forum. Various topics which were brought up was our parish’s need for volunteers especially to our youth ministry program which has been struggling to find them, the desire to have a young adult group, need for newer technology on our campus, and outreach to those who are in need especially the homeless. The Parish Pastoral Council has set the next date for our Parish Open Forum for February 8th from 6:30pm-7:30pm.

This week we will come to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Within the Diocese of Knoxville there is not currently an obligation to attend any Masses due to COVID-19, but I believe it very important to offer ample opportunity to attend Mass. Therefore, the vigil Mass will be December 7th at 7pm (Spanish) and on December 8th Mass will be offered at 6:30am (Latin), 8:30am, 12:15pm, and 7pm.

On December 12th we celebrate another Marian Feast. This time the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mass will be held in Spanish for this occasion on December 11th at 7pm and in English at 8:30am on December 12th.

Please continue to be attentive to confession being heard 30 minutes prior to Sunday obligation Masses. These new times are Saturday at 4:30pm and Sunday at 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm. If you desire to make a confession at these times please be in line on time. Also, be aware that Sister Maria Juan will join us on December 19th to offer our Parish Advent Day of Recollection from 9am-12pm.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

2nd Sunday of Advent Homily

There are people who desire to hear what they want to hear. Imagine that. The last thing they would want of church is to be given a message which challenges them and their desires. On this Second Sunday of Advent we are given a glimpse into Saint John the Baptist who is the forbearer to Christ. He brings with him a message of conversion and repentance by calling people to make straight the path of their life. Through our encounter with him, his message, and this Advent season may we be stirred out of our slumber and allow our minds and hearts to be taken unto the Lord.

From our encounter with Saint John the Baptist we know that there were those who were drawn to him, but also those who would turn against him when they did not hear what they wanted to hear. Time and time again this was true of the prophets for they were put to death for giving a message that many did not want to hear because it challenged them out of there complacency. As Christ instructed from the Gospel of Saint Mark: “Amen I say to you, that no prophet is accepted in thy own country.” Saint John the Baptist spoke against Herod for having married his brother’s wife and entering into adultery with her and thus he was arrested and eventually beheaded. Likewise, there were those who would not follow Christ and desired to put Him to death. They became offended and filled with fear that He was willing to challenge the conceived status quo.

Saint John the Baptist and his message of repentance are an important model for us as we continue this journey throughout this Advent season. We ought to be preparing for our encounter with Christ which should call us out of our compliancy and towards a spirit of conversion. What we encounter at Christmas is a great light which should illuminate the darkness of sin, doubt, and despair. When we arrive at our celebration of this joyous occasion we should not allow our heart and mind to be left unchanged to the point that it is unable to behold the splendor of this great light.

As our Collect attested: “that through His coming we may deserve to serve Thee with purified minds.” This statement attests to the fact that our interaction with Christ has to change us and thus we cannot be slothful in our pursuit of faith. It is not enough for us to claim to know Christ, but to care less about Him when we it comes to how we choose to order and live our life. Everything that we do must be influenced by our love for Christ. Christ does not always give us the Gospel that we want to hear, but the Gospel that we need to hear. Likewise, the Church challenges us out of attachment to sin and towards the freedom which springs forth from Christ.

Nevertheless, there are those who don’t want to be challenged nor purified for they believe to know better than Christ and the Church. To these people GK Chesterton would instruct: “I don’t need a church to tell me I’m wrong where I already know I’m wrong; I need a Church to tell me I’m wrong where I think I’m right.”

Therefore, may each us remain attentive and on guard during this Advent season. May we allow this Advent season to stir us out of our slumber and move us towards the Lord with spirit of conversion and purification. May we dare to heed the message of Saint John the Baptist and make straight the way of the Lord.

Anniversary of Dedication of Church Homily

Today is a very special day in the life of the local Church of Johnson City for we celebrate the Solemnity of the Dedication of our Church. This parish has a rich history within this city which heralds all the way back to 1906 when this parish was founded. Of those 114 years we have spent 20 of them within this church which we currently use.

If we take a moment to reflect upon the evolution of these past 114 years we will realize the growth of Catholicism throughout this area. As time went by this parish has grown and with it the people of this parish were faced with the need to build a new church. When we look around this place in its vastness we should realize the need to evangelize and to be sent forth to lead others into a relationship with Christ. If that task was not done by those who came before us we would not be in the building that we are in today.

The Church reminds us of the instruction of Christ: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” You see within these hallowed walls we come to encounter Christ who is present with us in the Eucharist. We come to worship God especially as we enter into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We are reminded that independent from our worship of Him that it is impossible for us to be sent out as disciples for there is nothing that we can do when it is done independent of Christ.

As we continue this celebration may we as the people of God continue to come together in our worship of God. From our worship of Him may our hearts be transformed to better reflect Him to those whom we encounter within this life. Truly from our interaction with this holy place we are sent forth to live out our faith and to draw others into relationship with God. It for this reason that we celebrate this great joy which is the anniversary of the dedication of this church.

St. Mary’s Men Evening of Recollection Sermon XIII: Patience

We are now in the season of Advent and we thus prepare for Christ’s coming as Word made Flesh at the Nativity, His second coming at the end of time, and His coming among us in the gift which is the Most Holy Eucharist. Throughout the liturgical year it is so easy to loose sight of where we are headed and to move onto something else. We cannot allow the season of Advent to rush by and leave us unchanged. We instead need to remain “patient” and allow the Lord to always be found at work within us.

Therefore, this evening I move onto “patience” which is the 5th of the 7 virtues which I have been covering for the last few months. Patience finds its opposite in the vice of anger. As mentioned by Christ: “In your patience you shall possess you souls.” Concerning this virtue Saint Josemaria Escriva reminds: “From the hidden life of Jesus you must draw this further consequence: not to be in a hurry... even when you are!”

As a generation we always seem to be in a hurry. Do to our rush we never allow ourself to slow down and reflect. Patience forces us to look inworldy upon ourself and to let the work of the Lord to be made manifest within us. As Saint Josemaria Escriva would remind: “There is a remedy for those anxieties of yours. Be patient, have rectitude of intention and look at things from a supernatural perspective.”

If we are to look at things from a supernatural perspective we must calm our heart and turn our attention towards God. Therefore, being to pray in order that you may obtain this virtue. We should allow ourself to dwell with the life of Christ especially to mediate upon His Passion. Through these opportunities we turn towards God and allow the actions of our life to become reflective of His especially in those difficult moments with require the virtue of patience from us.

It should be no secret that there are those who are difficult for us to get along with. Maybe you even find yourself dwelling in anger concerning them or simply lash out at them whenever they irk us. Concerning our interaction with these individuals Saint Josemaria Escriva remarks: “Never correct anyone while you are still indignant about a fault committed. Wait until the next day, or even longer. And then, calmly, and with a purer intention, make your reprimand. You will gain more by one friendly word than by a three-hour quarrel. Control your temper.”

Therefore, let us grow in patience by being found humble of heart. We must remember that none of us are perfect and therefore we even irk others with our imperfections. Likewise, we should practice going against our anger. This means when we are tempted to lash out in a spirit of unkindness, impatience, or simply being mean to another let us learn to stop and do the opposite of our intent. In this manner, we grow in our charity and humility towards them and teach ourself to grow patient.

As we now come closer to the season of Christmas let us remain patient and be prepared to rejoice at the Good News of the birth of the Savior of the World. It is through our encounter with Him that every heart will find it’s rest.