Bulletin Article: March 27

The date of our next Parish Open Forum will be May 16th at 6:45pm. In light of our recent Parish Listening Sessions from the Synod this will now be referred to as Parish Discussion Sessions. It is the goal to have these sessions quarterly in order to bring the parish community together to discuss with one another what is taking place at our parish. Despite the change of name our goal will remain the same as it has been in the past. This first Parish Discussion Session will return to being held in person and will begin with an optional potluck at 6pm.

I thank our parish Synod team for all of their hard work. They provided the diocese with a one page document which summarized the Parish Listening Sessions and survey. This document from our parish, a similar document representing our parish school, and survey questions have been complied together and are currently available on our parish website in PDF format.

Finally, I remind all parishioners that I can always be contacted if you are in need of anything, would like to discuss what is taking place at our parish, or would like to assist the parish in some way. 

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

4th Sunday of Lent Homily (Extraordinary Form)

Today we observe the 4th Sunday of Lent also known to us as Laetare Sunday. Serval ancient documents also refer to this as the Sunday of the Five Loaves.

It is this miracle that was given to us in our Gospel when Christ took these five loaves along with two fish and multiplied them and came to feed the multitude. It is this Heavenly food which came down from Heaven in order to give life to the world.

Not only did five thousand men come to be fed, but 12 baskets were left filled. This is a true testament to the omnipotence of God and the reality of what those who place their trust in Christ receive. This miracle summarizes His mission and it prepares us for something much greater. This is a foreshadowing of the banquet where we will come to be fed not once a year, but continuously.

Through all that unfolds for us within this miracle we are being given a symbol of the Eucharist. This bread is that Heavenly food which Christ promised for He is “the bread of life; whoever comes to Him will never hunger, and whoever believes in Him will never thirst.”

In Saint Matthew’s Gospel this feeding of the multitude takes place within the desert. Despite entering into this space of heat and solitude, they come to find the nourishment they are in need of. We too have entered into this Lenten season where we have prayed, fasted, and given alms. These practices assist us in coming to know the Lord and to invite Him to enter more intimitly into our life.

We must set our sight upon Christ who is the prize and dare to move closer to Him in this life. Christ does not keep us at a distance, but invites us to enter in by coming to be fed. To stay at a distance would be not to enter into the desert in order to pray, fast, and give alms. If we are to enter into relationship with Him and be nourished by the Eucharist we must come to leave the slavery of sin behind in order to live for Christ.

The Eucharist becomes food for our journey that we may always live for Him. Sadly, the Eucharist and thus Christ so often get pushed off to the side in order to invite the ways of the world into our life. The shackles of slavery can only be released if we allow Him to be the one who does so. Therefore, make a confession of your sins in order to be liberated. Therefore, receive Him in the state of grace. Therefore, rejoice for the day of the Lord’s Resurrection is coming soon. Let us always be found prepared to go out in order to greet Him.

4th Sunday of Lent Year C Homily

The tax collectors and sinners drew near to listen to the words of Jesus while the Pharisees and scribes began to complain concerning what they heard and observed. They had the opportunity to listen to the words of spirit and life, but they instead closed their heart to such a life giving encounter. To fathom the transforming effect which would of been felt if only they had listened to the Lord like the tax collectors and sinners.

As Saint Hippolytus puts it, “The Word spoke, and by these words He turned man away from disobedience, not enslaving him by force or necessity, but inviting him to choose freedom of his own accord.”

To this we must understand that Christ is calling us away from our disobedience in order that we may truly be found free. Sometimes there are sinners who cannot fathom that the Father can and is merciful with them. They live with a fear of eternal salvation because they falsely believe that they are unworthy to approach the Lord. Instead the Lord invites the sinner in and forgives them of their sin.

The Sacrament of Confession is a beautiful sacrament because through it we encounter this infinite mercy of God. Through the grace that is outpoured through the absolution of one’s sins one’s relationship with God is restored. In this parable we see this infinite mercy of the Father on display for he runs out to console the son who had fallen away and had now been found. So too does the Father in His infinite mercy run out to console us in the Sacrament of Confession.

So often we grow content with where we are in the here and now without daring to go any further. To enter into relationship with Christ always challenges us towards something more because we are entering into a love which is infinite. The Sacrament of Confession opens our heart to this love and it directs us into better relationship with Christ who is present with us in the Most Holy Eucharist.

To encounter the Eucharist is to encounter the same Lord to whom the heart of these tax collectors and sinners were attuned. They allowed their heart to be found content with what was now set before them. So too should our heart be found content with the Lord. So often we are led to believe that there is something more that we need if we are to be found happy. That for which our heart longs is Christ our Lord who is truly present with us in the Eucharist.

As we continue this Lenten journey let us find ways to rejoice with the Lord always. Slow down and allow your heart to dwell with Him. Remember to come to Him, especially in the Sacrament of Confession, to seek out His love and mercy. From this encounter with the merciful Lord stay close to Christ who is present with us in the Most Holy Eucharist for He is the source and summit of our faith. Let us be found willing to listen the Lord always.

4th Sunday of Lent Year A Homily

On this 4th Sunday of Lent, also known to us as Laetare Sunday, we come to celebrate the 2nd scrutiny. It is the purpose of the scrutinies to further prepare those to be baptized for their baptism.

In our Gospel we encounter the man born blind. The physical healing that is brought about within this man is equal to that spiritual healing that the Lord desires to bring about within each of us. It was through his encounter with the Lord that he was able to see, so to through our encounter with the Lord is our blindness corrected.

These individuals who will receive this scrutiny will be baptized at the Easter vigil. So too for us who have been baptized should remain attentive to this lesson. For through baptism we were made children of God. It was through these waters that our eyes were opened wide to the Lord as sin and death came to be washed away.

Despite this life giving encounter with the Lord we still need to constantly awaken our spiritual vision. Through our baptism we receive the outpouring of God’s grace which awakens within us our supernatural destiny of Heaven. It is through our consent to temptation that we enter into sin and move away from God. In return we become blind to the divine truths of faith.

It is Christ who heals these vision problems that have been brought about through sin. Through the sacraments we continue to encounter Him and He continues to reach out in order to heal us. Where sin has cast us into this state of blindness it is Christ in the Sacrament of Confession who opens our eyes. Where we struggle with the mundane of everyday life it is Christ present with us in the Eucharist who opens our eyes.

During this Lenten journey I suggest that you begin to develop the practice of making a daily examination of conscience. Here you take the time to reflect upon your day and the ways in which you have turned away from the Lord and make an Act of Contrition. This practice assists us in making a better sacramental confession and attunes our heart to constantly seak out the infinite mercy of God which heals us.

Let us come to further bring sight unto our eyes. Not through our own merit, but through Christ and the abundant mercy which He brings into our life. Let us come to further cultivate our faith and be willing to enter further into God’s abundant love. It is through our encounter with Jesus in the sacraments that this healing is made so. Let us come to place our trust in Him in order that sight may be brought to our eyes.

Bulletin Article: March 20

Our second collection this weekend was for refugees from Ukraine. With all that is taking place within Ukraine and the world let us continue to pray for peace. At Fatima our Blessed Mother left a timeless message with three shepherd children. She asked (1) that we stop offending God and be moved towards repentance, conversion, and reparation, (2) that we pray the rosary daily, (3) entrust ourself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

Stations of the Cross continue each Friday at 6pm (English) and 7pm (Spanish). Our Knights of Columbus provide a wonderful fish story each Friday from 5pm to 7pm. This is a perfect opportunity for fellowship.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

3rd Sunday of Lent Homily (Extraordinary Form)

Our Epistle left us with the contrast that exists between darkness and light.

Easter is a celebration of this light that triumphs over the darkness. We especially see this played out at the Easter Vigil Mass. This Mass begins in complete darkness for we have been thrust into it through the Lord’s Crucifixion and have been lifted out of it through His Resurrection. Therefore, from the darkness of night comes forth a flame which dispels the darkness from our midst. This flame spreads throughout the Church as we come to welcome the Resurrected Lord into our life.

Saint John’s Gospel testifies to this, “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” As Saint Paul also states in 2nd Corinthians, “God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts.”

Lent is time of preparation in order that we may always be found prepared to encounter this great light. Through baptism the light of faith begins to shine brightly for sin has been washed away, we have been claimed for Christ, and have been incorporated into the life of the Church. Where temptation and sin creep into our life we must look outward towards the grace and mercy of God in order that we may turn away from it’s grasp.

Satan is indeed powerful , but he is nothing more then a creature. God alone is the Creator and cannot create. Therefore, in our Gospel we see Christ who casts him out. It is always light which dispels the darkness. So too when we elevate our sight towards this great light the darkness can and will be dispelled from our midst. Satan and the powers of darkness attempt extinguish the presence of God from our life, but instead we cannot allow fear and sin to turn us away from the light. No matter the temptation or struggle that we endure we must remember that the light of Christ always remains for those who so desire it.

Let us reflect today upon the ways in which we can invite this light to enter into our life. This light enters into our life through the sacraments, through the study of Sacred Scripture, through the study of the faith, and through prayer. Hopefully we are allowing Lent to assist us in this task for very soon we will rejoice at the Good News of the Lord’s Resurrection. May we be found prepared for such a wondrous event.

The Lord our God truly dispels the darkness from our midst. Let us come to know, trust, and stay in the light of the Lord. 

3rd Sunday of Lent Year C Homily

Let us be reminded of the words of the Psalmist, “The Lord is kind and merciful.” We see this mercy played out through the image of the fig tree. Instead of cutting it down it is shown mercy and given time to produce fruit. The fig tree serves as an image from the Old Testament that represents Israel. As the Lord commanded of them earlier in this Gospel, “Bear fruit that befit repentance.”

This Gospel serves as a reminder that at any moment we may parish and in return we will have to atone for our sins. We are thus being called towards an encounter with repentance. Repentance is not a one time change of heart, but is a life long process. It can be easy to regress once we come to know Christ to our old ways of life, but we must continue to move forward with the confidence of faith.

The Israelites were given so much when they were liberated from their slavery, but they still cried out against God that it would be better to turn back towards their old way of life. So too do we often stumble about and fear to let go. God’s grace is always sufficient if only we would place our trust in Him and realize that this were so. There is always the temptation that we need something more in order to be holy, but in all actuality all that we need is God and His grace.

Let us remember that “the Lord is kind and merciful” and thus use the time of this Lenten season to cultivate our life towards Him. It is Christ who we must allow to cultivate our heart by allowing Him to uproot everything that gets in the way of us following after Him. In other words we must trust in the Lord and realize that there is nothing which is impossible with Him on our side. As our Pslamist had stated, “He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills.”

For your reflection I encourage you to reflect upon the ways in which you are in need of the healing touch of the Lord. With this knowledge placed before your sight realize that hope is always found if we place our trust in the Lord and realize that He is “kind and merciful.” The last thing that we should do is remain passive because time will pass and we will never hand our life over entirely to Christ. As Cardinal Newman has stated, “to live is to change, and to be perfect means to have changed often.”

If good fruit is to be found upon this fig tree we must realize this urgency and need to hand over our life to Christ. Day by day we should be reminded of what was begun within us at our baptism and strive to return towards that glorious day by how we order our life on this earth. Victory over sin and death was won for us upon the cross and so may we trust that “the Lord is kind and merciful” as we are lead towards the interior conversion of the Gospel. This is indeed the lesson of the fig tree.

3rd Sunday of Lent Year A Homily

Water is a critical resource for life. Without water we would not be able to survive. The importance of water especially becomes apparent in the midst of the baroness of the desert. For within the confines of the desert one quickly realizes the heat of the day and the lack of this important element which is needed to survive.

Our Gospel presents us with the symbol of “living water.” Water is something that comes from outside of ourself from another source. In the midst of a drought the need for water quickly becomes known as we pray for an increase of rain. This “living water” in our Gospel is a source for life which will never dry up. No matter the drought or desert that we may find ourself within this living water always remains.

This living water is that which Christ alone is able to give. This water is not to simply be collected and stored, but is to flow over abundantly as a flowing fountain. This is the very love of God Himself who gives in abundance out His of love. The love of God is a love which is so perfect that is is given mutually and flowing over. Upon the cross we see the great love that Christ has for us as He comes to lay down His life for us.

As we journey throughout the course of this Lenten season may we too desire to enter more fully into this living water. The Samaritan woman prepared for this same infusion with God’s grace by coming to acknowledge and repent of her sins. In such manner she opened her heart wide to allow this living water to penetrate into the very depths of her heart.

Lent assists us in coming to acknowledge our sinfulness and reach out to this same font of mercy that this Samaritan woman encountered. If we are unwilling to allow our heart to be opened in such a way how can we be led to believe that we will be found receptive of such an important gift?

Today we have in our midst those who long for this living water in a special way. They are those individuals who will enter into the living waters of baptism at the Easter Vigil. Today they will encounter the first scrutiny along this path where they are reminded to turn away from sin and the allures of evil in order to follow after Christ. 

Let us join with them in coming to desire this same living water by ordering our life towards Christ. The world is filled with so much, but it is Christ for whom our heart longs. He is the living water who sustains us. Let us be prepared to encounter Him with great joy as we continue the journey of this Lenten season.

Bulletin Article: March 13

Our last Parish Open Forum was held on February 28th. Our discussion focused upon the parish portion of the Synod. The finished one page report that was submitted to the diocese was read and will be further presented to the parish in the near future. Our discussion then evolved to focus on the importance of evangelization and providing adult education opportunities for adults. The date of our next Parish Open Forum will be set by the Parish Pastoral Council at their next meeting.

I thank Pat Marek for his continued service to our parish community. He will be stepping away from his responsibilities as facilities manager in August. He plans to continue to assist our parish as a volunteer. I will begin to evaluate this position and develop an updated job description. In the near future we will look for applicants to fill this important position for our parish community.

June 19th is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. I would like to officially reopen our adoration chapel that evening following our Eucharistic procession. In order to make this a reality we need to fill all days of the week with adorers. We currently offer adoration on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. We are now looking for adorers for Tuesday. Let us fill the hours before the end of March in order that we can move to another day of the week and one step closer to our goal of reopening the adoration chapel.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

2nd Sunday of Lent Homily

On this 2nd Sunday of Lent we have the Transfiguration of the Lord accounted for us in our Gospel. Despite hearing this Gospel, today is not the Feast of the Transfiguration. That instead falls on August 6th.

To put the Feast of the Transfiguration into it’s proper historical context. It was celebrated throughout the world in the East and eventually made its way to the West. It was added to the universal liturgical calendar in 1456 by Pope Callixtus III. It was added in celebration of the victory of Hungarian forces over the Turks. August 6th is also important historically because it was the day that the atomic bomb was dropped upon Japan.

This date of August 6th works well because it proceeds the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross by 40 days. This draws an important connection between the Transfiguration and the cross of our Blessed Lord. From the Transfiguration to the cross we are able to see the presence of Christ’s glory which shines forth from both. It is the season of Lent that assists us in drawing close to the cross and preparing for our encounter with the Lord’s Resurrection.

The cross without the Resurrection would bring forth true sadness and a lack of hope. This small glimpse into glory that we receive through the Lord’s Transfiguration encourages us to continue to move forward with the confidence of faith. When the road begins to get difficult it can be easy to desire to regress instead of continuing to move forward with the confidence of faith. Nevertheless, the apostles whom Jesus took with Him to the mountain top would come to see His glory and they would be allotted the faith and hope that was nesessery for all that they would soon encounter.

Despite the continued reality that comes through the darkness of sin and death we are called upon to place our trust in Jesus and to listen to Him. Just as August 6th surrounds itself within a history of war, so too did the healing reality of the Lord’s Transfiguration continue to shine forth.  Our world continues to be touched by sin and death. We know of the attacks upon human life especially that within the womb. We hear of the bloodshed that takes place oversees especially between Russia and Ukraine. Despite all of these injustices and effects of sin in our world and life we must place our trust in Jesus and listen to Him.

Concerning war our Blessed Mother at Fatima entrusted us with three timeless requests: (1) Stop offending God which comes as a call to repentance, conversion, and reparation, (2) Pray the rosary daily, and (3) entrust ourself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. To think of the effect that would take place within our life and world if only we took these requests to heart. 

Lent is a time to strengthen our relationship with Christ Jesus. Throught the darkness which springs forth from the reality of sin and death always shines forth the hope that was given at the Transfiguration. These realities may remain a part of the human experience, but they do not have to overcome us. Let this Lenten season remain a time of hope as we anticipate that life which is to come. Let us come to order our life towards this reality.

Bulletin Article: March 6

Beginning next Sunday, March 13th, we will resume sharing the sign of peace with one another at Mass. In doing so please keep in mind the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: “It is appropriate that each person, in a sober manner, offer the sign of peace only to those nearest.” Due to the continued complications of COVID-19 please be mindful of those outside of your household. A simple bow of the head to those around us can be given as an alternative to a handshake.

I thank Andrew Cooper for all the work he has accomplished as Director of Development for our parish and school. His final day with us will be June 30th. I am pleased to announce that Tanya Chavez has been hired as the new Director of Development effective June 16th. I welcome her to our parish staff and look forward to working with her in the near future.

I hope that all of you continue to have a blessed Lent. Our parish penance service will be March 16th at 6pm and Father Michael Hendershott will lead our Lenten Day of Recollection on April 9th from 9:30am-12:30pm. Also, don’t forget that we have Stations of the Cross each Friday at 6pm (English) and 7pm (Spanish). Each Friday from 5-7pm the Knights of Columbus also have their fish fry which is a great opportunity for great food and fellowship.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

1st Sunday of Lent Year C Homily

Today we have arrived at the first Sunday of Lent. We enter here in order to draw close to the Lord for the 40 days that make up the Lenten season.

40 is an important number that is scattered throughout Sacred Scripture. It is this number which signifies new life, new growth, and transformation. The number 40 always brings about a type of change. For example the great flood lasted for 40 days and nights, Moses fasted for a period of 40 days before he received the Law, the Israelites wondered about the desert as the fleed from slavery for 40 years, and as was heard in our Gospel Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in the desert.

40 signifies a lot of meaning to us. It serves as a reminder of repetence, newness, and preparation. It is through Lent that we have the opportunity to do precisely this. As the Congregation for Divine Worship describes Lent, “It is a time to hear the Word of God, to convert, to prepare for, and remember Baptism, to be reconciled with God and one’s neighbor, and of more frequent recourse to the ‘arms of Christian penance’: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.”

Not only is the number 40 of importance, but the desert also serves of great importance. It was here that one would go to bring about testing, encounter, and renewal. The Israelites passed through the desert as they were being renewed for their encounter with the Promised Land. Christ entered into the desert in order that He would prepare to enter into His public ministry. Likewise, we head into the desert that is this Lenten season to bring about renewal within us as we prepare for Easter.

During Lent we have the opportunity to head into the desert to pray, to fast, and to give alms for a period of 40 days. This season is very active because we know Easter to be so important. We realize the reality of sin and temptation and allow the Lord to enter into our life in order that we may come to purify it from our midst. No matter the temptation that is present within your life please realize that you already have everything that you will ever need to overcome it through your baptism, as you were strengthen by you Confirmation, have received the Lord’s mercy in confession, and been fed by the Lord in Holy Communion.

Christ Himself entered into the desert and there He was tempted. Nevertheless, the devil had no power over Him no matter what lie he would tell. So too does the devil have no power over us if we place out trust in the Lord and His mercy which endures forever. May this truly be a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in order that we may prepare ourself for an encounter with the Risen Lord at Easter. In such manner we will be prepared to undergo a new way of life as we come to more clearly live for Christ.

Ash Wednesday Homily

Today we begin the Lenten season through this celebration of Ash Wednesday. As a reminder our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has asked that we offer our prayers and fasting this day for peace throughout the world especially in Russia and Ukraine.

Our Gospel was taken from the Sermon on the Mount. The importance of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving were outlined there. In performing these acts we were reminded that we must be found humble of heart. It is through humility that we do not perform righteous deeds in order to be seen, that we don’t give alms in order to blow a trumpet before us, that we don’t pray in order that others may see us, and that we don’t fast in order to look gloomy. As we were told, “And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Throughout Lent let us open our heart to these ancient practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These practices open our heart up to the Lord and assist us in coming to live more freely in our love for Him and our neighbor. It is easy to allow other practices to creep into our life which hold us back from making this a reality. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are all ways that we combat this from taking place.

As we take ashes upon ourself we humble our pride and are reminded that we must live for the Lord. We are reminded that we must repent and believe in the Gospel and that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. Let us use this season and the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to make this reality so.