2022 3-13 Saint Patrick, a Faithful Witness to the Gospel as He Embraced the Mission and Ministry of Christ.
This coming Thursday, we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick is one of the patron saints of Ireland. He was a priest and later became a bishop in the fifth century. As a youth, he lived in Britain, was kidnapped, and taken to Ireland where he lived as a servant. After about six years, he…
2022 03-06 Praying the “Stations” can provide us with abundant spiritual graces.
Pope Francis has called on the faithful to enter more fully into the spirit of sacrifice, renewal, and repentance during the Lenten season. We can embrace this call in various ways, including by praying the “Stations of the Cross.” Our Holy Father has encouraged us to pray the “Stations”, and stressed their importance. He reminded…
2022 02-27 Ash Wednesday and the Beginning
Next Wednesday in the Church year is Ash Wednesday. It is a day of fasting and abstinence. Guidelines concerning fasting and abstinence are included in our Parish bulletin and on our parish website. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of people as a reminder of human mortality,…
2022 02-20 Archbishop Annual Appeal 2022 “Transformed in Christ”
This weekend we initiate discussion of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal for 2022 at our Masses. The theme of the Appeal is “Transformed in Christ.” 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 their people. A substantial portion…
2022 02-13 The Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission
Archbishop Hartmayer has encouraged us to actively participate in a process called a synod. He recently stated in a pastoral letter, “Pope Francis opened a two-year process called the Synod on Synodality (For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission) that will uniquely engage not only Catholics but God’s people all over the world. …
2022 02-06 Respect for God’s Children is Reflected in the Work of the Mustard Seed Communities
Last weekend, representatives of the Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) were present after all Masses to answer questions about Mustard Seed and the work it does. Mustard Seed was founded by Msgr. Gregory Ramkissoon, is a Catholic priest in Jamaica. MSC started in Jamaica and expanded to Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and now has a presence…
2022 01-30 Saint Brigid of Kildare, Patron Saint of our Parish and the Patron Saint of Students
This Sunday marks the beginning of “Catholic Schools Week.” The theme this year is “Catholic Schools: Living Life to the Full.” Catholic education has always been a priority for the bishops of our nation. They have strived to make Catholic schools accessible and affordable despite the increasingly secular environment in our society, rising tuition costs,…
2022 01-23 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
This weekend we are in the midst of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Our bishops have acknowledged the need for unity and have urged Catholics to participate in this week of prayer. Fr. James Loughran, Director of the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute (GEII), has been an articulate spokesman in this call for…
2022 01-16 The Legacy of Dr. King and Pro-Life Advocacy
On Monday, January 17th, as a nation we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his work in promoting the dignity of the human person. One of the many quotes he is noted for is: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” In honoring…
2022 01-09 Ensure Your Child’s Growth in Faith with the Gift of the Holy Spirit
We mark the end of our Christmas Season this Sunday as we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. As we celebrate this feast, we are reminded that the Sacrament of Baptism is the gateway to the other sacraments. Jesus began His public life after having Himself baptized by John the Baptist in…
2022 01-02 “New Years Reflection and Prayer” Braces the Call from our Holy Father
Our New Year began this weekend on Saturday as we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. As we reflect on this Solemnity, we are urged to follow Mary’s example of holiness. Pope Francis has noted that devotion to Mary is a requirement of the Christian life. This Sunday, we celebrate the…
2021, 12-25 and 12-16 The Nativity of the Lord and the Feast of the Holy Family
My brothers and sisters in Christ: At Christmas, Christ comes into the world and our lives as a sign of the love God has for us. The Christmas Season should be a time of prayer and reflection, wonder and silence as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world. The following prayer, …
2021 12-19 Rise Above the Distractions with the Advent Wreath this Season
During Advent, many of us can get caught up in the “busyness” of the season. With all the distractions of the season, it is very possible to lose our spiritual focus. The media does much to commercialize the season. Many weeks before Thanksgiving Day, various media outlets begin to overwhelm us with various “holiday” advertisements…
2021 12-12 We Celebrate Gaudete Sunday, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Remember Msgr. Paul Reynolds
This Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, we celebrate Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday as we wait in joyful anticipation of the coming of the Christ Child. As we wait, we continue to strive to prepare ourselves spiritually. In our Sunday gospels during Advent, the call to prepare for Christ comes primarily from John the Baptist. He,…
2021 12-5 Our Advent Journey Continues Through our Devotion to Mary, Prayers, Charity, and Healing by Reconciliation.
Our Advent journey continues in these difficult and uncertain times as we strive to remain watchful and alert as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Lord. This Wednesday we especially honor our Mother Mary as we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and affirm our…
2021 11-28 Avail yourself to the Special Time of Grace – Advent Parish Mission
The season of Advent begins this Sunday. Advent is a special time in the Church year as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. Advent holds out the hope and desire to see the light of Christ shine through the darkness of our world. Pope Francis stated, “Advent is the time we are given…
2021 11-21 A Day For Our Lord, Family and Friends
This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe as we approach the end of the liturgical year of our Church. We remember in a special way what Christ means to us, and what Christ did for us. We also celebrate Thanksgiving Day this Thursday, and we give thanks…
2021 11-14 Pray for our Confirmation Candidates as they Continue on their Journey of Faith
Next Saturday, Bishop Bernard Shlesinger will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation at Saint Brigid to approximately 160 of our teens. Confirmation along with Baptism and the Holy Eucharist comprise the sacraments of Christian initiation. Our Catechism states, “Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism by a special outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which…
2021 11-07 Through our Veterans unselfish service, they make it possible for us to enjoy the freedoms provided in this nation.
This Thursday, November 11th, we celebrate Veterans Day. At this time, we remember our men and women who served in the military and who sacrificed so much through their dedicated commitment to our country. Many of our Veterans served in Viet Nam or some other foreign land, or here in the United States. Many others…
2021 10-31 Honor our Saints and Deceased Loved Ones
This Monday, November 1st, we celebrate All Saints Day. We remember in a very special way on this day the many saints who came before us, holy men and women marked with the sign of faith. They set such good examples for us, and we are encouraged to strive to model our behavior after them…
2021 10-24 Embrace the Missionary Spirit of our Precious Faith
This Sunday we celebrate World Mission Sunday. This year’s theme is, “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). In his ‘Mission” message this year, Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has described the theme as “a summons to each of us to ‘own’ and to bring to others what we…
2021 10-17 Our Lady of the Rosary
The month of October each year is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. During this month, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and we honor our Mother Mary who has encouraged the faithful to pray the Rosary. The publication, “Our Sunday Visitor” noted that the Rosary was developed in the Middle…
2021 10-03 Respect Life Month – Life Chain and the Holy Hour for Life
This Sunday we celebrate Respect Life Sunday. We are reminded that God is the Creator of all life, and all life is precious in His sight. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has called on the faithful to promote the dignity of all human life from conception until natural death. He encouraged the faithful to promote…
2021 09-25 Priesthood Sunday 2021
This Sunday we celebrate Priesthood Sunday, a special day set aside to reflect upon and affirm the role of the priesthood in the life of the Church. It is traditionally celebrated on the last Sunday in September and is coordinated by the USA Council of Serra International to show their appreciation for the many priests…
2021 09-19 Catechetical Sunday, “Say the Word and my Soul Shall be Healed”
This Sunday, the Catholic Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops noted that the theme for this day is, “Say the Word and My Soul Shall Be Healed.” Our bishops remind us that Catechetical Sunday is a “wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each baptized person plays in handing…
2021 09-12 Patriots Day – In Remembrance of the Terrorist Attacks on Sept. 11, 2001
This Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We as a nation recalled the tragic deaths and injuries that occurred at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on the fields of Somerset, Pennsylvania. We also remembered the men and women in uniform who gave their lives or who…
2021 09-10 The Image and Likeness of God are Present in Marriage
Last weekend, Archbishop Hartmayer celebrated a special Mass at Saint Brigid honoring couples in the Archdiocese of Atlanta celebrating the 50th or 60th anniversary of their marriage. These couples have committed themselves in a sacramental way to the Lord, and to one another. In our Church tradition, a man and woman are not only joined…
2021 09-5 This Labor Day, Treat it as a Day of Prayer For All Those Who Truly Labor in the Spirit of Jesus and St. Joseph
As a nation, this Monday we celebrate Labor Day. It is traditionally celebrated on the first Monday in September. On this day we honor all those who labor for a living. We thank these workers for their service to their families, and for their service to all those who benefit from their efforts. We’re also…
2021 08-29 Family Love, A Vocation and Path to Holiness
The traditional activities of many Catholic families have been disrupted or altered due primarily to the sustained impact of the COVID-19 virus. Mass attendance, prayer routines, work schedules, family meals, and other activities may have changed. In some instances, this may have an adverse effect on the family unit. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has…
2021 08-22 We Truly Appreciate the Faithful, Dedicated, and Holy Deacons who Serve Us
As we know, there are men who serve in the Catholic Church as Permanent Deacons. Those men who are called to the Permanent Deaconate can be married, and they are ordained usually after a rigorous period of five years of training and formation. Many of these deacons have secular jobs to support their families and…