2nd Sunday of Lent Year B Homily

Pope Benedict XVI stated of the virtue of hope: “Whoever believes in Christ has a future. For God has no desire for what is withered, dead, ersatz, and finally discarded: he wants what is fruitful and alive, he wants life in its fullness and he gives us life in its fullness."

It is the virtue of hope that becomes important on this Second Sunday of Lent where we receive this glimpse into the Transfiguration of the Lord. Very soon the apostles will come to embrace the event’s of the Lord’s Passion, but this event will give them hope in its midst for it delivers a message of who the Lord truly is, He who is fully human and fully divine.

If the Lord were not to be fully human He would be unable to touch us and become one with us. If the Lord were not to be fully divine then He would be unable to save us. The events of the Transfiguration of the Lord assist us in coming to encounter hope for through these events we begin to see the glory of Heaven which awaits us and we thus receive a foretaste for the coming of Easter.

The cross is something which is very real. We are called to take up the cross and to follow after the Lord. We know from experience that this statement is something which is difficult. If we attempt to endure the weight of the cross without the glimpse of Heaven it will be too much for us to bare and we will lose this glimmer of hope. At the same time if we glance towards Heaven and leave behind the cross then we will lose the glimmer of hope in the midst of trial.

The Transfiguration of the Lord sends forth the virtue of hope for it reminds us of all that we will come to endure, both the cross and the resurrection. We are not called to live as if we are dead, but instead as one who is found to be fruitful and alive. From the Transfiguration we can see that Christ is God made Flesh and thus in the midst of every trial and temptation we are given every reason to rejoice.

It is through sin that we fail to live as we ought and to reject the cross of the Lord. Through sin and despair we live not as one who is found to be fruitful and alive, but instead as one who is withered and dead. During this Lenten season we should realize that there is only one way that we can come to reject such a wretched state and that is to turn towards Christ and to hand over our life unto Him.

The Sacrament of Confession is the perfect vessel for this reality for through it we confess our sin, receive God’s mercy, and become receptive of His grace. The Sacrament of Confession is not to be sent to the executioner’s block, but is to open ourself up to God’s mercy and to live. If we desire to be found alive and fruitful then the Sacrament of Confession becomes our answer for it allows us to be healed and to be found alive.

As we continue this Lenten season and come to embrace the cross within our life may we do so with this glimpse into the Transfiguration of the Lord and the great hope which springs forth from it which brings us to look towards Heaven and our celebration of Easter.

Bulletin Article: February 21

Talent is one of the key areas of stewardship. We are blessed with many parishioners who are good stewards of their time, talent, and treasure. Therefore, I thank those who have recently helped with various upgrades to our parish campus. I thank Ed Basconi and Martin Walters for assisting with the upgrading of our sound system. As time progresses we will continue to replace some speakers which no longer work and will attempt to address other issues. I also thank various volunteers from our Spanish speaking community who dry walled and painted the walls inside of the gathering area, chapel, and bathrooms. Our gathering area is the first glimpse that you get of our parish and should be found in good shape and the women’s bathroom was not very welcoming with it’s cracked walls and pealing paint.

I found our Parish Open Forum to be very successful. We had at the highest point 29 users  who were logged in. A majority of our conversation was spent on what to do with our remaining HOME Campaign money and how to begin work on our basement area. Many echoed a reoccurring theme that our facilities are not sufficient for our needs. It would therefore be imprudent to put everything that we desire in the downstairs area. People agreed that a bathroom would be a good start because it would keep people from needing to go upstairs for the bathroom. Many commented that we need a long term plan not only for what we want to do with the basement, but for the campus as a whole. There is a need for us to have sufficient room for meetings and parish gatherings. At the same time it was questioned if the parish would support such endeavors.

Other areas of conversation was a rumor that the parish was removing the mural of the Ascended Lord found in the church. This nor other serious changes will be done unless first discussed in Parish Pastoral Council and discussed at our Parish Open Forums. There are not currently any of these conversations which are taking place on our campus. It was also mentioned that we should take care of our outside grounds and possibly have more then 2 parish cleanup days. Finally, the possibility of a comment box was mentioned. I personally wish that parishioners would call to discuss any suggestions/concerns or come to our Parish Open Forums to discuss these suggestions with the parish community.

The discussion from the open forum will be discussed at the next Parish Pastoral Council meeting and a future date for the next forum will be set. Please consider joining us in these discussions. It is my hope that we can join together at these to build the puzzle which is our parish by working together.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

1st Sunday of Lent Year B Homily

Today we celebrate the 1st Sunday in Lent. Each year we have the temptation of Jesus in the desert accounted for us. The first words of Christ according to the Gospel of Saint Mark are found from this account and so we hear, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

All of humanity had been longing for this day of fulfillment which was now set before them. This time of fulfillment does not call us to complacency, but to action. Through the passing of time it is so easy to forget what is important and what we are truly called towards. We thus so easily get caught up in procrastination, complacency, self-satisfaction, and we find ourself in a state of of slumber.

Christ entered into the desert for a period of forty days and nights and there He prepared for His public ministry which He would soon undergo which would lead towards His sorrowful passion. Throughout the Lenten season we have the opportunity to join with Him in this period of preparation. We ought to remain attentive to the reality of sin and the hope of repentance. So easily we forget what was begun in us at our baptism as we toil about in the ways of the world which lead us away from God.

There is none more cunning then the devil who desires to lead us away in thought and deed. The devil never tells the truth, but twists it. He attempts to do this to Christ in the desert to no avail. He continues to do this to us as we continue to make excuses to why our salvation is not important as we live out a life which wants nothing to do with God.

Therefore, each of us need to be stirred out of our slumber. As the Collect in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite states on this 1st Sunday of Lent, “O God, who does purify.” It is through self-denial and works of mercy that we are aided in overcoming temptation and being found receptive of the graces that God is constantly pouring out upon us. Lent aids us in this realm for it challenges us to be found attentive through acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Hopefully each of us we come to realize the importance of this time that has now been set before us. We should use it to reach our goal of Easter and thus the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection which also serves as preparation for the reward of Eternal Life. There are so many who have forgotten about the importance of this time of fulfillment that Christ has ushered in. We are given every opportunity to know, love, and serve Him, but we so often we forget what is most important.

As we continue this Lenten journey may we always remain attentive to the time that has been set before us. Let us realize the need to be shaken out of our complacency and moved towards a spirit of action. What ways do you continue to be complacent in your faith? Tomorrow is not the time for conversion because now is that time. Make use of the Sacrament of Confession, begin to fast in order to develop a true hunger for God which displaces our longing for disordered things, begin to devote time to prayer, and give alms in order that your heart may grow to be more like that of God. This is the time of fulfillment may we repent and believe in the Gospel.

Ash Wednesday Homily

This year our instruction concerning how ashes are to be distributed is far different then what we are used to. Recent changes have allowed for a cross to be traced with ashes using a Q-Tip while original instruction told us to drop it on the head of the individual. There were some who were highly upset over this news, but hopefully we are here not because of the mark of ashes that we bare upon our forehead for the world to see, but because we know that Lent is an important season and we desire to enter into it fully.

If others can see the ashes that we dare to bare or not does not change the important reminder of why we received them in the first place, for you are dust and to dust you will return. The reception of ashes is not a symbol of pride, but reminds us that we are sinners who are in need of God’s mercy. These ashes serve as a form of penance which will hopefully move us towards the desire to be reconciled with the Father in the sacrament of His mercy which is know to us as the sacrament of confession.

The world in which we live does not enjoy the reality of penance and yet this reality is so important for us to foster. Through enter into it we let go of all that has become disordered within us in order to we may be reoriented unto God. May this Lenten season renew that which was begun in you at your baptism. Through undergoing these penitential practices that now lay before you may you come to “repent and believe in the Gospel.”

Bulletin Article: February 14

I thank all those who participated in our Parish Open Forum. I will discuss all that was discussed with the Parish Pastoral Council and will set a date for our next forum.

I remind you that Ash Wednesday is February 17th and is the start of the Lenten season. On this day Catholics are obliged to abstain from meat and fast (18-59 years of age). Fasting is currently defined as eating one full meal as well as two smaller meals which do not equal a full meal. Each Friday during Lent we are also obliged to abstain from meat. On Fridays outside of Lent Catholics are asked to either abstain from meat or to supply another form of penance.

On Ash Wednesday Mass will be offered at 8:30am, 6pm, and 7:30 pm (Spanish). There will be the opportunity for confessions at 8am, 5:30pm, and 7pm. As Imposition of Ashes service will be offered at 12:15pm (this is not Mass and there will not be communion). Due to the pandemic we will not trace the sign of the cross on foreheads using ashes. Instead we have been instructed by Pope Francis to take a pinch of ash and place it on top of your head without saying anything as we do so. Some may be alarmed by this change, but it is in line with what other parts of the world including Rome have been doing. This is actually a more ancient form of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday.

I invite you to attend our Stations of the Cross each Friday at 6pm in English or 7pm in Spanish. If you are unable to make the Stations of the Cross I encourage you to make use of the Stations located inside of the church and pray them at some point during the day. The Knights of Columbus will provide a to go soup supper each Friday from 5pm-7pm. 

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

6th Sunday of OT Year B Homily

The season of Lent begins on Wednesday. It is my hope that each of us will take this season seriously and enter into it with the upmost spirit of faith. This past year has been a small glimpse into this penitential season. We have been thrust by a virus into deserted places, but despite of all this may we become convinced of the healing reality of Christ Jesus.

In our Gospel our Lord encounters this leper and through the spirit of faith that this leper displayed He stretched forth His Hand and made him clean. Likewise, each of us are in need of this healing relationship with our Lord, but we so often keep Him at a distance due to our lack of faith. Through our Lenten journey we ought to reorient our life towards Christ in order that we may accept His healing touch with a spirit of faith.

Lent becomes a time in which many forgo something which they enjoy in order to follow the perceived letter of the law. My question always remains, how does giving up chocolate reorient your life towards Christ? In undergoing this season we ought to pray concerning the practices that we will undertake in order that we may grow close to the Lord. If there is a temptation or sin which plagues us this season should serve as a vessel which redirects our life unto the Lord.

Therefore, the three marks of Lent remain prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Prayer ought to be first and foremost within our life for it draws us into relationship with the Lord. Our parish has Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday and Saturdays and our church remains open throughout the week. Maybe Lent would be the perfect time to undertake Eucharistic devotion. Also, don’t forget that we have the Stations of the Cross each Friday for this was the day that our Lord died upon the cross. If you are unable to pray them in common with our local community pray them at some point within the church or do so at home. 

One challenge that we make to you as a parish community is to call a member of our parish each day during Lent just to see how they are doing. We are calling this the “Staying in Touch Lenten Challenge.” On table located at the back of the church we have various Lenten materials including the rice bowl which you can take home with you to put any excess change. We also cannot forgot that our parish food pantry challenges us “40 cans in 40 days.”

Let us remain attentive during this penitential season which now lies before us and through it may we further prepare the way for the Lord’s Resurrection 

Bulletin Article: February 8

Our parish open forum will be on Monday, February 8th, from 6:30pm-7:30pm. I will use this time to present on Lent at our parish, discuss our parish use of HOME campaign money, and and general discussion from the parish community.

Lent begins on February 17th with Ash Wednesday. Our Masses for the day will be 8:30am, 6pm, and 7:30pm (Spanish). Confessions will be heard 8am, 5:30pm, and 7pm. There will also be an imposition of ashes ceremony at 12:15pm, this is not a Mass and there will not be communion.

On March 13th Deacon Hicks Armor will be with us to present our Lenten Day of Recollection on stewardship. His first conference will be at 9:15pm and the day will conclude at 12:05pm following a Holy Hour and confessions.

Each Friday in Lent we will have Stations of the Cross in English at 6pm and in Spanish at 7pm. The Knights of Columbus will hold their fish fry. Further details on these fish fries are still being worked out by the Knights of Columbus.

Our parish will not have a Lenten Penance Service this year. Nevertheless, confessions are heard each Wednesday at 6pm, Saturday at 9am and 4:30pm, and Sunday at 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm. Confessions are also heard by appointment.

During this Lenten season our Parish Lenten Challenge has been entitled “Staying in Touch Lenten Challenge.” During the Lenten season I ask that you call a new member of our parish each day or each week to see how they are doing. This could be someone who you know or don’t know. Due to the difficulties of COVID-19 it is easy for us to grow apart as a community, so we must continue to work hard to build up these relationships and to remain a welcoming community of Christ’s love.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Bulletin Article: January 31

February 2nd is the celebration of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple which is also known as Candlemas. At our 7am and 8:30am candles will be blessed for the church for the upcoming year. If you would like to have your candles blessed please bring them to this Mass.

February 3rd is the Memorial of Saint Blaise. On this day throats are traditionally blessed. Thus the blessing of throats will be done at each Mass that day as well as at all Masses on the weekend of February 6/7. Due to COVID-19 we will not bless each individual person, but instead do one blessing over the entire congregation at the conclusion of each of these Masses.

Please remember that next weekend will be the annual bishop’s appeal. I ask that you prayerfully consider giving to this appeal. We must remember that our parish exists within the confines of a diocese. Through your support of this appeal you assist with the many ministries which exist throughout our diocese. These ministries include Catholic Charities, the education of our seminarians and clergy, formation of the faithful, efforts of justice and peace, and the mobile clinic.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins