Pastor's Corner

2021 04-25   Frequently Asked Questions of Catholics

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

As Catholics, we are encouraged to grow in our knowledge and understanding of our faith.  The publication, Our Sunday Visitor, has prepared a list of the following ten questions which are frequently asked of Catholics: Are you saved? If you died tonight, would you go to heaven? Why do you worship wafers? Why do you…

2021 04-18   Our Holy Week Celebrations – Thank you.

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

As we know, we are living in difficult and uncertain times due primarily to the sustained impact of the COVID-19 virus.  During these times we have been striving to meet the spiritual needs of our parishioners and friends in conformity with the guidelines and directives provided by the Archdiocese of Atlanta.  We have celebrated our…

2021 04-11   Jesus I Trust in You, Divine Mercy Sunday

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. This year we celebrate this day in the midst of these difficult and uncertain times due primarily to the sustained impact of the COVID-19 virus which has caused us to adapt our approach to certain liturgical services. This great day is associated with Sr. Faustina. She was a Catholic…

2021 04-04   May Each Day of This Easter Season Provide Glimpses of Your Glory

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Sunday is Easter Sunday, and, on this day, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Through His Resurrection, Jesus has conquered sin and death. This is the message of His Good News. This is the message of Easter, and Pope Francis invites us to embrace this message. Our Holy Father supplemented this message as reported…

2021 03-28   “Beloved, let us set out with faith this Holy Week, in which Jesus suffers, dies, and rises again.”

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday, and we focus on the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  In our faith tradition, Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week during which we commemorate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.  Palms are blessed at Mass and distributed to the faithful to be used for personal…

2021 03/21  Congratulations to Carol Kler and Emma Oswald as Woman and Teen of the Year for Saint Brigid Parish

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Each year the Archdiocese of Atlanta honors the Woman and Teen of the Year for each of those parishes which are members of the Archdiocese of Atlanta Council of Catholic Women.  In past years, the Archbishop celebrated a Mass of Recognition honoring these women and teens.  However, this year, due primarily to the sustained impact…

2021 03-14   May Christ be with us! May Christ be before us! May Christ be in us!

Written by:

Next Wednesday we celebrate the feast of Saint Patrick.  We are encouraged in a special way on this day to reflect on his life and his contributions to the Catholic faith and to Irish culture.   It is a special day for many of our priests who were born in Ireland and who faithfully serve the…

2021 03-07   Parish Lenten Mission “How to RECLAIM, REIMAGINE, & RECONNECT in Our World Today

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

We will soon offer a Parish Mission to our faith community.  A Parish Mission can be viewed as an opportunity for spiritual reflection 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. We…

2021 02-28   Confession is Meant to Be a Sincere Time of Conversion

Written by:

Pope Francis often has urged us to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation when appropriate, acknowledging that we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy.  As reported by the publication “Catholic News Agency”, he stated that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is, “the efficacious sign that Jesus left to the Church so that the…

2021 02-21   Why Do We Pray the “Stations of the Cross”?

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Each Friday during Lent we are invited to come together as a faith community to pray the “Stations of the Cross.”  We begin at 7:00 pm with a brief reflection by one of our deacons or deacons in formation.  The reflection focuses on our Lenten challenges and concerns.   “Stations” then follow at 7:15 pm. As…

2021 02-14   Turn to God and Seek Spiritual Renewal in Heart, Mind and Body This Lenten Season

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 are included 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, and as a sign of…

2021 02-07   “Our Joyful Return to the Lord”, the 2021 Archbishops Annual Appeal

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This weekend we will discuss the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal for 2021 at our Masses. The theme of the Appeal is “Our Joyful Return to the Lord” (Isaiah 51:11).  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 our…

2021 01-31  We Celebrate the Feast of our Patron Saint Brigid

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Sunday we begin “Catholic Schools Week” as we focus on the value and importance of Catholic education.  The theme this year is “Catholic Schools: Faith, Excellence, Service.”  Our Holy Father, Pope Francis places a high value on the need for faith-based Catholic education.   As noted by the Archdiocese of Hartford, Pope Francis expressed his…

2021 01-24  Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This weekend we come to the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  The theme for this special week of prayer is “Abide in My Love…You Shall Bear Much Fruit.”  It finds its origins in the Gospel of John (cf. John 15: 1-17).  Fr. James Loughran, Director of Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute…

2021 01-17  A Prayer for the Unborn

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Monday as a nation we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  One of the many quotes he is noted for is: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.”  In honoring his legacy, we recognize his great efforts in shedding light on the need to respect the fundamental dignity…

2021 01-10   Baptism “The Foundation of Christian life”

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Our Christmas Season ends this Sunday as we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord.  Our Catechism indicates that Jesus began his public life after being baptized by John the Baptist.  It also states that although the baptism by John was intended for sinners, “Jesus’ gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying.” As we celebrate this…

2021 01-03  Hope for New Year

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Our New Year has begun in the midst of the sustained impact of the COVID-19 virus.  This past Friday we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, as we honored Mary as the Mother of God.   This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.  On this day, we focus on the wise men…

2020 12-24  Welcome the Christ Child as Jesus “Emmanuel”

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

As we know, at Christmas, we welcome the Christ Child as Jesus “Emmanuel” comes to us.  In a recent Christmas message, Pope Francis reminded us that the light of peace, hope, and salvation is brought into the world with the birth of Jesus.  Our Holy Father prayed that in the midst of our busy lives,…

2020 12-20   Prayer for the End of Our Advent Journey

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

We are approaching the end of our Advent season, and we are living in difficult and uncertain times due primarily to the impact of the COVID-19 virus.  Even in these uncertain times, many of us are busy going shopping, making plans, and getting ready for Christmas.  But in the midst of all this “busyness”, are…

2020 12-13   Gaudete Sunday, Reconciliation & Memorial Mass for Msgr. Paul Reynolds

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Sunday we celebrate Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday as we wait in joyful anticipation of the celebration of the birth of Christ.  As reported in the publication “Vatican News”, Pope Francis reminded us that our waiting for Jesus requires vigilance in the form of “marveling at God’s action and at His surprises.”  Our Holy Father asked…

2020 12-6   Our Advent Journey Continues With Mary.. The Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe

Written by:

Our Advent journey continues as we strive to remain watchful and alert as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Lord.  This past week we conducted our Advent Mission, and it was well-received as Fr. Paul Dressler helped us to focus on joy during Advent as we strive to cope with the…

2020 11-29   The Season of Advent and “Rejoice in the Lord” Parish Mission

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

The Season of Advent is upon us.  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.  Our Holy Father Pope Francis focused on the importance of…

2020 11-22   We Pray That Thanksgiving Day Will Truly Be a Time to Thank God for Prayers Answered and Blessings Received.

Written by:

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the 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, and that we are called to serve the King of…

2020 11-15   Pray for Our Confirmation Candidates, their Coordinators and Sponsors

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Next Saturday Bishop Shlesinger will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to approximately 165 of our teens.  As previously mentioned, Confirmation along with Baptism and the Holy Eucharist comprise the Sacraments of Christian Initiation.  Our Catechism reminds the faithful of the need for proper preparation for the Sacrament.  It states, “Preparation for Confirmation should aim at…

2020 11-08   Our Community Honors Veterans Day, We Must Always Appreciate Their Sacrifice

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Wednesday on November 11th, as a nation we celebrate Veterans Day.  In a special way on this day, we are encouraged to honor our men and women who have served in the armed forces and sacrificed so much on behalf of our country.  Many of us have loved ones who now have Veteran status. …

2020 11-01   We Celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints and All Souls Day

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Sunday we celebrate All Saints Day.  On this day, we remember those men and women who came before us marked with the sign of faith.  As Catholics, we are invited to follow the example of our great saints.  We can strive to model our behavior after them and follow their holy way of life. …

2020 10-28   Spending Time Before the Blessed Sacrament, Before the Living God

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

Eucharistic Adoration has a significant impact on the spiritual vitality of our faith community and provides us with a great opportunity for prayer.  A Catholic priest and author, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, indicated that there are “four kinds of prayer most appropriate in the presence of the Eucharist, namely adoration and praise, thanksgiving, repentance, and trusting…

2020 10-18   World Mission Sunday

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

This Sunday is World Mission Sunday.  Pope Francis, in his message for this day, stated, “Mission is a free and conscious response to God’s call.  Yet we discern this call when we have a personal relationship of   love with Jesus present in His Church.”  Our Holy Father asked, “Are we willing to be sent forth…

2020 10-10   Archdiocese of Atlanta Faithful Citizenship message

Written by: OFM Conv.

The Catholic community has the right to expect the priests of the Archdiocese, those entrusted with handing on the faith, to be clear and unequivocal on the Church’s teaching concerning respect and protection for life from the first moment of conception to natural death. This teaching is of the highest priority for the Church. Individuals…

2020 10-04   Respect Life Sunday

Written by: Father Neil Herlihy

 This Sunday we celebrate Respect Life Sunday.  We are invited to proclaim in a public way our appreciation for the precious gift of life.  There will be a series of “Life Chains” which will be conducted throughout the nation on this day.  We are welcomed to participate in the one that will be held between…