2021 01-17 A Prayer for the Unborn
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”
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
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”
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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…
2020 09-27 Priesthood Sunday
This Sunday in the United States we celebrate Priesthood Sunday. It is a special day set aside to honor the priesthood and is celebrated this year on the last Sunday in September. The day is coordinated by the USA Council of Serra International. It is a day to reflect upon and affirm the role of…
2020 09-20 During These Uncertain Times, Let Us Not Forget Our Military and Chaplains Who Serve Us
In these difficult and uncertain times, when many are preoccupied with the devastating impact of the COVID-19 virus, we should not forget our men and women who serve in the military and who sacrifice so much to preserve our freedoms through their dedicated service to our country. We live in a world where the potential…
2020 09-13 Remembering Sept. 11, 2001, Patriots Day Mass
As we know, we are still in the midst of the devastating impact of the COVID-19 virus. The fabric of our country and our world has changed dramatically in these last few months. While preoccupied with the impact of this virus, many paused recently to focus on the events of September 11, 2001. This past…
2020 09-06 Honor for Those Who Labor in the Spirit of Jesus and Joseph
This Monday, as a nation, we celebrate Labor Day. On this day, we honor all those who labor for a living. We thank them for their service to their families, and for their service to all those who benefit from their efforts. As we know, prayer and work go hand in hand. Therefore, we are…
2020 08-30 Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
Our election season is upon us, and Catholics are urged to embrace the opportunity to vote. Pope Francis has addressed the issue of voting. He stated, “We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics…
2020 08-23 Welcome our New Parochial Vicar, Fr. Cristian Cossio
Fr. Cristian Cossio recently has been assigned by the Archdiocese of Atlanta to Saint Brigid parish. He will serve as a parochial vicar along with Fr. Michael and Fr. Bill. Fr. Cristian is a newly ordained priest, originally from Colombia, and has been in the United States since 2014. He said his family has always…
2020 08-16 Children’s Liturgy of the Word- Immerse your Children to the Word of God
Our Catechism teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children in the ways of faith. As reported in the publication the “National Catholic Register”, Pope Francis, in one of his weekly general audiences, stated that the Church and all Christian communities are called to accompany and support parents in their educative role. One…
2020 08-09 “We Are Blessed to Have Many Faithful, Dedicated, and Holy Deacons to Serve Us At Saint Brigid.
In addition to “transitional deacons” who are in formation for the priesthood, the Catholic Church provides an opportunity for men to serve 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 permanent…
2020 08-02 We Cannot Afford to Become Indifferent to the Plight of Persecuted Christians Throughout the World
As we strive to deal with the devastating impact of the COVID-19 virus and the recent civil unrest in our nation, we may tend to forget that violence continues to be rampant in the Middle East. Many people, especially Christians, have been singled out for persecution. Many have been victims of planned acts of terror….
2020 07-26 Reminder of our Call to Live a Life of Love and Service
At this time, we are in the midst of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal for 2020. The Archdiocese has recently sent reminder notices urging parishioners to support the Appeal., and Bishop Joel Konzen has spoken about the importance of the Appeal. He stated, “The theme of our 2020 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, ‘You are the Light of…
2020 07-19 Our Children and the Celebration of the Great Gift of the Eucharist
In the last few weeks, at various scheduled times, many of the children in our faith community have made their First Holy Communion at Saint Brigid. Their parents and other loved ones presented them to share with us in the fullness of the Lord’s Supper for the first time and watched proudly as these children,…
2020 07-19 Vocations and First Holy Communion
In the last few weeks, at various scheduled times, many of the children in our faith community have made their First Holy Communion at Saint Brigid. Their parents and other loved ones presented them to share with us in the fullness of the Lord’s Supper for the first time and watched proudly as these children,…
2020 07-12 Our Local SVdP Society Works Quietly and Effectively for Those in Need of Our Community
Here at Saint Brigid, our local Saint Vincent de Paul Society Conference works quietly and effectively to help those in need in our local community. The need for assistance has increased dramatically in the Atlanta area at this time due primarily to the impact of the COVID-19 virus. Some people have lost their jobs, while…
2020 07-05 We Celebrate the Birth of Our Nation and Cherish Our Religious Freedoms
Saturday on this weekend we celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day. On this day, we remember and appreciate the birth of our nation. As previously noted, Catholic author Norm Langenbrunner reminds us that Independence Day is also a time “…for remembering the courage and sacrifice of our nation’s founding generation, and succeeding generations who…