Bulletin Article: November 28

Our parish open forum was held on November 8th. We again used the Zoom platform and had 25 users logged in at the highest point. Conversation was spent speaking about the upcoming synod, the need for people to assist with live streaming Masses, the new statues which will soon be installed on campus, landscaping for the front of the school, parish fraternal activities including an idea of a program called Journey to Bethlehem, and a question which was posed if there was a better way to report our parish collections in the bulletin. Our next parish open forum will be February 28, 2022 from 7pm-8pm.

I thank Carl Bailey and Karen Purcott for agreeing to be Synod group coordinators for our parish. There will be a training session for all coordinators in our deanery on December 13th. Following this training session our parish will schedule forums for the synod. I assume that these sessions will take place in January due to heading into the Christmas season.

Private donations were made to purchase three statues from Mexico. The first of these statues (Our Lady of Guadalupe) will be placed at the entrance of our parish school, the second of these statues (Our Lady of Guadalupe) will be placed in the field behind the parish in a grotto, and the third of these statues (St. Charbel) will be placed along the walking trail. If everything goes as planned the statue in the grotto will be blessed on December 12th, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, following the 12pm Mass. This is open to everyone in the parish and a reception will follow in the school gym.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

1st Sunday of Advent Year C Homily

Today we celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent where we begin to prepare for Christ’s first coming at the Nativity.

There are three figures which are most important in any Nativity scene. You must have the Christ child and the Blessed Mother. You must also have Saint Jospeh. We place much emphasis on these first two (and rightly so), but so often forget about the importance of the later. As Saint John XXIII stated, “But Jospeh for long centuries remained in the background, in his characteristic concealment, almost a decorative figure in the overall picture of the Savior’s life.”

On December 8th we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. This solemnity brings about the conclusion of the Year of Saint Joseph which we have been in since this past December 8th. With that December 8th will be the final occasion where we will pray the prayer to Saint Joseph after Mass.

Saint Jospeh is a key figure in Sacred Scripture who so often goes overlooked. Saint Joseph is important because he never allowed his heart to become drowsy. Despite the anxiteties of his everyday life he remained with God and came to adore the Lord. He was a man who kept viligent at all times for he was the protector of the family.

As we enter into this Advent season may we come to do so through the intercession of Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph married Mary and would not divorce her due to her being found with child. As the angel of the Lord had come to instruct him in a dream: “Jospeh, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

As we say in the Prayer to Saint Joseph, “Guardian of the Redeemer, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” It was at the Annuciation that Mary received the Word made Flesh in her womb. From this point forward Saint Joseph would be his guardian. Saint Jospeh exemplifies the importance of obedience of faith.

Of this obedience the Second Vatican Council stated: “The obedience of faith must be given to God as he reveals himself. By this obedience of faith man freely commits himself entirely to God, making the full submission of his intellect and will to God who reveals, and willingly assenting to the revelation given by him.”

As we now prepare, in this Advent season, for the celebration of our Lord’s Nativity let us desire this same faith which Saint Joseph came to exemplify. God is constantly being revealed unto us, but we are constantly bombarded with so many distractions which cause us to loose sight of this reality. Advent is an invitation to focus upon the Lord’s coming in order to hear His voice more clearly in order that we may respond to it by our life. 

Saint Joseph, pray for us, that we may prepare the way for the Lord’s coming among us.

Bulletin Article: November 21

Next Sunday we will begin the Advent season and a new liturgical year. It is hard to believe that another Christmas is just about upon us. I encourage you to use this Advent season to prepare for the Lord’s coming as Word made Flesh.

To assist parishioners in this preparation there will be a parish mission on the evenings or December 9-11 presented by Father Noel Mueller, OSB who is a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. I also invite you to make use of our many opportunities for confession (Wednesday at 6pm, Saturday at 9am and 5pm, and Sunday at 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm). We will also have a penance service on December 22nd at 6pm where we will be joined by 6 priests for confession.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Last Sunday After Pentecost Homily

Next Sunday we will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent and the start of a new liturgical year. With it we will set our sight upon His first coming at Christmas. Today we celebrate the Last Sunday after Pentecost which concludes our liturgical year. Today we set our sight upon the fact of His second coming at the end of time. Therefore, what we celebrate today as well as what we will soon prepare for meet. We now anticipate the coming of Christ for the first and the second time.

When it pertains to the Second Coming everyone would like to know when it will occur. There are many who spend their time chasing after the signs of the times to affix a date to the Second Coming. Even at the time of Saint Paul there were those who were convinced that Christ’s Second Coming would be during their lifetime. The best answer to when it will occur comes to us from Jesus Himself who said, “No one knows the day or hour.”

In modern times there are those of other faith traditions who place their emphasis upon the Rapture. It is at the Rapture that those who believe will be taken up and those who do not will be left. Traditional Catholic thought instead places emphasis upon the coming of the Parousia which is a time of fulfillment through Christ. Saint Paul makes use of the dead rising in “a blink of an eye.” Then is his Epistle to the 1st Thessalonians we are told that they will be snatched up in order to meet Christ in the clouds. 

Saint Paul is not making reference to the rapture, but to the fact that the dead will go out to meet the Lord and they will return with Him in glory. For the Greco-Roman world a parousia is a celebration of arrival. Thus when a person of status arrived they would be ready to greet them and to accompany them. This is what we now prepare for as we contemplate the Second Coming of Christ.

As we profess in the Creed that Christ “will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and of his kingdom there will be no end.” As we come to this final Sunday in the liturgical year we further profess this reality. We now prepare for His Second Coming by how we come to order our life on this earth. So too, even though, this is the final Sunday of the liturgical year will a new year spring forth. In all things we realize that we should be prepared to encounter Christ.

Advent assists us in encountering Him at His first coming and we then must daily prepare for His second coming. Let us do all that we can in order to prepare for this life giving reality. If we were to realize that our life on this earth should be ordered towards Christ and the Kingdom which is to come then we would order life in a way which is worthy to encounter Him.

Bulletin Article: November 14

Our Parish Stewardship Weekend was held on the weekend of September 25/26. This year we had 188 out of our 1,385 households participate which is 13.6% of the parish. This is up from last year where 75 households, 5%, of the parish participated. The financial commitment from those who responded was $559,512. Parishioners also graciously recommitted themselves to many ministries already involved with a few even offered their time and talent to new areas of parish life. Very soon ministry heads should be reaching out to those who have committed themself to an area of parish life through this stewardship appeal.

This year we also asked the children of our CFF program, youth group, and school to participate. 56 students in CFF, 17 in youth group, and 116 students of school participated. 213 minutes of prayer for the parish where pledged by CFF and youth group and 985 minutes were pledged by the students of our parish school. Students in all three programs pledged many ways in which they would assist the parish with their time and talents including activities such as being an altar server, being in choir, being an usher, etc.

I thank all who participated in this year’s Parish Stewardship Weekend and for all stewards of our parish who continue to give of their time, talent, and treasure. Please continue to pray for the good of our parish community.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Resumed 6th Sunday After Epiphany Homily

On two occasions our Gospel told us of people who took something and put it to use. Therefore, a man took a mustard seed and sowed his field and a woman took leaven and hid in three measures of meal.

The mustard seed and the leaven gives us two different perspectives, but they have the same meaning. Ultimately the seed and the leaven will grow into something greater with the passing of time. As Saint John Chrysostom commented, “The leaven, though it is buried, is not destroyed. Little by little it transmutes the whole lump into its own condition. This happens with the gospel.”

If the man and the woman did not take something and put it to use they would have nothing at the end of time. Therefore, the man took the seed, planted it, time passed, and it began to grow. Therefore, the woman took the leaven, hid in three measures of meal, time passed, and it was leavened.

Concerning these two individuals they had to be patient and allow the Gospel and God’s grace to be at work in them. This must also be so of us. We must be patient and allow the Gospel and God’s grace to be at work within us. So many are not patient, fail at taking something and putting it to use, and thus they fail at allowing God to be at work within their life.

As a Church we are journeying towards the end of the liturgical season. During this period of time our readings reflect upon the certainty of the end and thus the four last things: death, judgement, Heaven, and Hell. This Gospel ties into this theme for we cannot be complacent, but must be active in all allowing God to be at work within our life.

Matthew Henry stated that yeast “works silently and insensibly, yet strongly and irresistibly.” From this statement we can see that the same is true when it pertains to God’s grace. This grace is always at work within our life, but we see often recluse inwardly upon self instead of placing our trust in God and His coming Kingdom.

Whenever we have the opportunity to assist at the Holy Mass, study Sacred Scripture, receive the sacraments, enter into prayer, and study the faith we allow God to be at work within us in a most intimate way. When we fail to live out the faith to the fullest degree we fail to turn our heart onto God and allow Him to active in our life at all times.

We must be like the individuals in our Gospel who took something and put it to use. Let us take hold of the faith, never compromising it, and live it always. The Kingdom of Heaven is coming and is worth more than all the treasures of this world. Let us strive for this Kingdom and do so with God’s help.

33rd Sunday of OT Year B Homily

Today the Rite of Welcoming was celebrated with the catechumens of our parish who will be received into the life of the Church through the waters of baptism at the Easter Vigil. May we continue to pray for them as they continue their journey towards these life giving waters.

As they come to set their sight upon eternal life we must also do so. Our readings reminded us of the certainty of death and how it is something which will catch up with each of us. As was stated to us in our Gospel: “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Therefore, we must come to live for eternal life. This path was set before us at our baptism, but so often we forget to rely on God’s grace as we get caught up in the many twists and turns which come with life. As was revealed to us in the Book of Daniel: “some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.”

This verse places our attention upon the four last things: death, judgement, Heaven, and hell. Death and judgement is something which lies in wait for each of us. Despite this reality, with God’s grace we can order our life towards Heaven and thus be able to live forever in Paradise.

As is stated concerning this in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ” and “each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in particular judgment that refers to his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven- through a purification or immediately, - - or immediate and everlasting damnation.”

As Catholics the Kingdom of Heaven must be our ultimate goal. In striving for this we must desire to remain in the state of grace in order that we may always be prepared to meet the Lord at an unknown hour. Our encounter with Christ present with us in the Eucharist, the forgiveness that exists in the sacrament of confession, our daily prayers, and our service to our neighbor are all ways that we are prepared for our encounter with this unknown hour. Concerning this unknown hour eternal life much be our goal.

If we desire such a reality for ourself we must ask what we must strip away if this is to be found true. To be baptized is to be conformed unto the Lord. Therefore, let us continue to order our life on this earth towards what was begun there for we know neither the time nor the hour. Therefore, our time on earth is fleeting, so let us live for the Lord always.

Bulletin Article: November 7

Monday, November 8, is our next Parish Open Forum from 7pm-8pm. We will again meet via Zoom. The purpose of these open forums is to bring the parish together to talk about topics which are of importance to our community. This is the perfect place to bring ideas and concerns, so that we as a parish community can work together for the good of the parish.

In Christ, 

Fr. Dustin Collins

Resumed 5th Sunday After Epiphany Homily

Our Gospel instructs us on the sifting of the cockle and the wheat. The issue with these two plants is that it is impossible to tell the two apart until they have begun to mature. Cockle is toxic to humans and when mixed with flour it will cause bread to ruin. A serious outbreak of cockle could cause one to lose their whole crop of wheat.

Heinrich Fullmaurer depicts this passage as a demon walking about a field placing the cockle seed among the wheat as everyone is fast sleep. Thus as time passes the two will begin to grow together and it will be impossible to tell them apart until the time of the harvest. It is here that the cockle will need to be separated from the wheat. In this depiction a woman is busy making bread which soon could unknowingly be threatened by this cockle. So too for us if we allow this cockle into our life for we too will we become threatened.

We now begin to journey towards the end of this liturgical year. With it we are reminded of the certainty of death and the need to order our life towards the Lord. The harvest is symbolic of Judgement where we will be judged either to Heaven or Hell. Death is something that we cannot escape, but we can and should order our life towards Heaven while here on earth. There are many who journey throughout this life without giving this notion a second thought to the detriment of their salvation.

If we are concerned with this coming judgment we must also remain on guard against false teachings which begin to blur the truth of faith and morals. Allowing cockle into our life may not seem to be important due to its ability to blend in, but it does effect our ability to love the Lord our God. The devil does not want unity of faith and thus he does everything in his power to cause division and uncertainty. We cannot give into such division and uncertainty, but must place our faith in the merciful hands of the Lord.

Saint John Chrysostom stated concerning the importance of this cockle: “For in order that not even this might disturb His disciples, He foretells it also, after having taught them why He speaks in parables. The former parable then means their not receiving Him; this, their receiving corrupters. For indeed this also is a part of the devil’s craft, by the side of the truth always to bring in error, painting thereon many resemblances, so as easily to cheat the deceivable. Therefore He calls it not any other seed, but tares; which in appearance are somewhat like wheat.”

Therefore, let us always stay on guard against the lies of the enemy. We must do all that we can to sustain the unity of faith and the truth of morals. Cockle comes into the picture in order to rip us away from such unity, but we must hold fast to maintain it. In this manner once the Harvest of the Lord comes and the cockle is separated from the wheat we will be found worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

All Souls Day Homily

Today we commemorate All Souls Day where we are reminded of the need to pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Praying for the souls of the faithful departed is an act of charity. We are called upon to pray for them that they may be cleansed from the temporal punishment for sin and for their cleansing from the attachment of sin. It is Purgatory which purifies the soul before it enters into Heaven. As the Book of Revelation instructs: “Nothing unclean will ever enter it.” Thus it is Purgatory which purifies the soul in order that this may be true.

We have a lot to offer these souls through our charity. From the Second Book of Maccabees we saw the need to pray for the souls of who have gone before us, “that they might be freed from this sin.” We should be active by having Masses offered for them, by praying for them, by offering up our sacrifices for them, and by obtaining indulgences for them. Pope Paul VI exclaimed concerning the importance of indulgences, the “aim in granting them is both to help the faithful expiate the punishment due sins and to urge them to works of piety, penance, and charity.”

Therefore, let us grow our charity for the faithful departed. Through this charity may we see our own need to order on life on this earth towards God and the coming of His Heavenly Kingdom.

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

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

All Saints Day Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints Day.

When an ordination Mass takes place, the one being ordained lies prostrate upon the ground. What is chanted as they do so is the Litany of Saints. When called to the bedside of someone who is dying one of the prayers for the dying is the Litany of Saints.

Through the Litany of Saints we are reminded of the vast number of those who are now in Heaven who are praying for us. When one undertakes their priestly ministry they are in need of these prayers. When one is journeying from this life to the life to come one is in need of these prayers. Nevertheless, there are so many who toil about life without giving the saints a thought.

The life of the saints are lives of triumph. They have been called home to the Kingdom of Heaven and have been found worthy of it. They have struggled with the allure of sin, but found Christ and His love for us to be greater. They struggled with sickness and sadness and yet they came to embrace Christ and allowed Him to be their light in the midst of all their struggles. Christ became their joy and there was nothing which could take this joy away from them.

In our society we can say so much concerning actors, musicians, and athletes, but so often fail to be stirred with the same joy when it pertains to the saints. I cannot say where actors, musicians, and athletes lead us, but I can say that the saints always, that is 100% of the time, lead us on a path towards God.

Let us come to foster devotion to the saints within our home and through this devotion may we come to desire to be like them. It should be the goal of every Christian to be a saint. If we are not numbered among the saints we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. We are not called to live a life of mediocrity, but rather a life of greatness- a life of holiness!

May all the angels and saints of Heaven, pray for us.

Bulletin Article: October 31

This year All Saints Day, November 1st, is on a Monday which means that it will not be a Holy Day of Obligation. For this solemnity we will have Mass at our regularly scheduled time of 7am, 8:30am, and 6pm (Latin).

All Souls Day, November 2, is on Tuesday. Our Mass schedule will be 7am, 8:30am, 11:15am (Monte Vista Catholic Section), 5:30pm (Latin), and 7pm (Spanish).

A pleanary indulgence can be received from November 1-8 if one visits a cemetery and prays for the departed. To receive this indulgence one should also be detached from sin, pray for the intention of the Holy Father, make a sacramental confession, and receive Holy Communion. We have a cemetery right behind the Church, so we do not have to go far in order to receive this indulgence.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins