Pastor's Corner

2019 04-28 Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have Mercy on Us and On the Whole World.

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  This great day is associated with Sr. Faustina.  She was a Catholic nun and mystic from Poland who experienced apparitions of Jesus which inspired the devotion of Divine Mercy and earned her the title of “Apostle of Divine Mercy.” The Church reminds us that, “During the Church’s millennium celebration…

2019 04-21 We Are Truly the Body of Christ, The Community of Hope, and the Easter People of Faith

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Today we celebrate Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of Jesus.  Pope Francis stated, “Jesus is risen from the dead!  This message resounds in the Church the whole world over, along with the singing of the Alleluia.”  Our Holy Father further assures us, “Death, solitude and fear are not the last words.  There is a word…

2019 04-14 We Are Challenged to Focus Following the Way of Christ During This Special Time Of Grace

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday and focus on the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  Palms are blessed and distributed to the faithful on this day to be used for personal devotion throughout the year.  Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week during which we commemorate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. …

2019 04-07 “The Church Fully Alive” Parish Lenten Mission and Penance Service

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

A Parish Mission can be viewed as an opportunity for spiritual healing and renewal. With an emphasis on love and mercy, it also can provide an opportunity to change hearts and transform lives as we renew and strengthen our relationship with Our Lord.  This week from Monday, April 8th to Wednesday, April 10th we are privileged to host a Lenten Parish Mission presented by…

2019 3-31 Saint Brigid’s Woman and Teen of the Year 2019

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

On Saturday, April 13th, Archbishop Gregory will celebrate the Mass of Recognition at 10:00 am at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in downtown Atlanta honoring the Woman and Teen of the Year for each of those parishes which are members of the Archdiocese of Atlanta Council of Catholic Women.  Donna Ortiz has…

2019 3-24 Operation Orphan – Mustard Seed Communities

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

As Catholics, we are taught to respect the fundamental dignity of the human person, and we hope to see that dignity reflected in all God’s children. This respect for God’s children is reflected in the work of the Mustard Seed Communities (MSC). Mustard Seed was founded by Msgr. Gregory Ramkissoon, a Catholic priest in Jamaica….

2019 3-17 Keep St. Patrick in St. Patrick’s Day

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Sunday we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.  It is a very special day for people of Irish heritage.  The publication Stubhill News reported that Pope Francis urged Catholics to “keep St. Patrick in St. Patrick’s Day.”  Our Holy Father criticized the commercialism that unfortunately has become part of the day, and which tempts people to…

2019 3-10 The Widowed Have an Important Place in Our Church

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

At Saint Brigid we are blessed to have a vibrant ministry for widows and widowers. Many widows and widowers from our parish come together in our parish hall generally on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month for dinner, community and fellowship.  They invite widows and widowers from other parishes.  Many of these widows and widowers were married more than 30 or…

2019 03-03 Lent is a Time to Seek Renewal in Heart, Mind & Body

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Next Wednesday in the Church year is Ash Wednesday.  It is a day of fasting and abstinence.  Guidelines concerning fasting and abstinence can be found at the USCCB website.   Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of people as a reminder of human mortality, and as a sign…

2019 2-23 We Pray That One Day, All Human Life Will Truly Be Respected

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

The very first tenet of Catholic social teaching is: “Human life is sacred and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. We need to respect life in all its forms.” Following this tenet, Pope Francis invites us to recommit ourselves to the dignity and value of all…

2019 2-17 Archdiocesan Annual Appeal 2019 “Go Therefore and Make Disciples”

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This weekend we initiate discussion of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal for 2019 at our Masses.   The theme of the Appeal is “Go Therefore and Make Disciples.” (Matthew 28:19).  At this time, Catholics are invited to make a significant pledge so that we can meet the spiritual, educational, and temporal needs of our parishes and its…

2019 2-10 World Marriage Day

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Today we celebrate World Marriage Day and focus on the sacrament of marriage.  In the Book of Genesis, it is the Lord’s intention and ideal that two people who marry should become one flesh.  That ideal is found in the unbreakable union of Adam and Eve.  They were created for each other, and for no…

2018 11-25 Strengthen our Personal Relationship with Christ. Our Eternal King

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday in the liturgical year.  According to the publication,   “Our Catholic Prayers”, Pope Pius XI instituted the feast of Christ the King in 1925 “… to combat the disturbing growth of secular as well as…

We Pray that Our Bishops will Acknowledge Past Failures and Choose to Enact Recommendations

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will convene for their semi-annual assembly on November 12th.  One of the primary topics for discussion will be the current abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.  Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the president of the Conference, has called for a National Lay Commission, made…

We Invite You to Honor Our Saints and Deceased Loved Ones

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy This Thursday we celebrate All Saints Day.  It is a Holy Day of Obligation.  On this day, we remember those men and women who came before us marked with the sign of faith.  As previously mentioned, Pope Francis stated, “To be a saint is not a privilege of a…

Celebrate Couples Sacramental Commitment to the Lord

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy Last weekend, we celebrated a special Mass at Saint Brigid honoring those couples in the Archdiocese of Atlanta celebrating the 50th or 60th anniversary of their marriage.  Eleven of these couples are parishioners of Saint Brigid.  Archbishop Gregory began a tradition of bringing couples together for an annual celebration. …

2018 11-11 Honor Those Who Have Unselfishly Served Our Nation with Our Prayers, Gratitude and Respect

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy   This Sunday we celebrate Veterans Day. At this time we remember our men and women who served in the military and who sacrificed so much thorough their dedicated commitment to our country. They were willing to leave behind family and friends to serve our nation.  Many of our…

2018 11-18 Let our Hearts Respond With Gratitude this Thanksgiving Season

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy This Thursday we celebrate Thanksgiving Day and we are invited to give thanks in a special way for the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed on us.  We are encouraged to resist the temptation to join with those in our society who are making Thanksgiving Day more commercial…

2018 10-28 We Invite you to Honor our Saints and Deceased Loved Ones

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy    This Thursday we celebrate All Saints Day.  It is a Holy Day of Obligation.  On this day, we remember those men and women who came before us marked with the sign of faith.  As previously mentioned, Pope Francis stated, “To be a saint is not a privilege of…

2018 11-04 We Pray that Our Bishops Will Acknowledge Past Failures and Choose to Enact Recommendations

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy    The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will convene for their semi-annual assembly on November 12th.  One of the primary topics for discussion will be the current abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.  Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the president of the Conference, has called for a National Lay Commission,…

2018 10-21 Celebrating Parish Families – Parish Picnic 2018

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy As a parish family, we continue to be blessed with a firm spiritual foundation and a strong community spirit.  This community spirit was clearly evident at our annual Saint Brigid Parish Picnic.  We are blessed to have wonderful parishioners who truly enjoy being together. At Saint Brigid, we also strongly…

2018 10-14 Celebrate Couples Sacramental Committment to the Lord – 50/60th Anniversary Mass

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy    Last weekend, we celebrated a special Mass at Saint Brigid honoring those couples in the Archdiocese of Atlanta celebrating the 50th or 60th anniversary of their marriage.  Eleven of these couples are parishioners of Saint Brigid.  Archbishop Gregory began a tradition of bringing couples together for an annual…

2018 10-07 USCCB Plan To Address Abuse Church Crisis

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy    Cardinal DiNardo, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has recently announced a comprehensive plan to address what he called the “moral catastrophe” of the current abuse scandal in the Catholic Church in this country. According to Mr. John Allen, writing for the Catholic publication, “Crux”,…

2018 09-23 The Newcomers Social, Welcoming New Parishioners in our Community

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy   Each quarter, we sponsor a “Newcomers Social” at the Saint Brigid Parish rectory. We welcome all those who are new to the Parish to join us for food and fellowship.  It is a way to welcome newcomers into our faith community.  They are invited to meet our priests…

2018 09-30 We Are Invited to Join the Nation, to Proclaim the Precious Gift of Life

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy   Next Sunday we celebrate Respect Life Sunday. We are invited to join with people throughout the nation in proclaiming our appreciation for the precious gift of life. There will be a series of “Life Chains” which will be conducted throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta. We are invited to…

2018 09-16 Pray for the Renewal and Sanctification of the Church

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy   In communion with the Holy Father, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has called for a National Lay Commission, granted independent authority, to address the current abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. During this painful time of uncertainty, we are invited to…

2018 09-09 In Honor and Remembrance, the World Day of Prayer for Peace Mass, September 11th

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy This Tuesday we mark the seventeenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  We as a nation recall the tragic deaths and injuries that occurred at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on the fields of Somerset, Pennsylvania. As a faith community, we will participate on…

2018 09-02 Take Time for Prayer As We Honor Those Who Labor in the Spirit of Jesus and Saint Joseph

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy   As a nation, this Monday we celebrate Labor Day, and we honor all those who labor for a living.  We thank them for their support of their families, and for their service to all those who benefit from their efforts.  Laborers deserve our respect and appreciation and we…

2018 08-24 Special Letter – Invite to Mass for Healing and Open Forum, August 27th

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy   My brothers and sisters in Christ: At Saint Brigid, we believe in collaborative ministry: the priests, deacons, and laity working together to build up the Kingdom of God. We are invited to come together to address the scandal of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.  We cannot let…

2018 08-26 Archbishop Gregory’s Statement in Regard to the Resignation of Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick

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From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy   Archbishop Gregory recently issued a statement in regard to the resignation of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick relating to allegations of sexual abuse.  I believe the comments of the Archbishop should be evaluated also in light of recent revelations of allegations of pervasive sexual abuse in various dioceses in…