At Christmas, Christ comes into the world and into our lives as a sign of God’s love for us.  The Christmas Season should be a time of prayer, reflection, wonder, and silence as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world.

In a Christmas message as reported by the media outlet, “Vatican News”, Pope Francis spoke about the need to understand the true meaning of Christmas.  He stated that the “good news of great joy” we celebrate is the “sure promise of an unprecedented gift: the hope of being born for heaven.”  He noted that the birth of the Christ Child reveals God’s tender love and that Jesus “gives us power to become children of God.  This is the joy that consoles hearts, renews hope, and bestows peace.”  As we reflect on these profound insights of Our Holy Father, in the midst of our busy lives, we are invited to truly focus on the birth of Jesus.

We are also encouraged to allow the joy of this Season to console our hearts and renew our hope as we reflect on these words taken from Psalm 46: “…Be still and know that I am God, exalted among all nations, exalted in the earth.”

At this special time of the year, may we truly be still and hear His voice in the silence of our hearts, and allow the light of His Son to shine through the darkness of our world and the darkness of our lives.

My prayer for all of us is that in the midst of the darkness of this increasingly secular and violent world, we embrace the spiritual peace that Jesus offers us.  As a community of faith, may we truly experience the joy and love of the Lord this Christmas as we continue to strive for peace in our world, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts.

As disciples, we have much for which to be thankful.  As a parish community, we join in thanking God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, our families, and our nation.  We especially thank Him for the gift of His Son.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, I want to thank you for all you do to enhance the spiritual vitality of our parish, especially in these difficult and uncertain times. I am deeply grateful for your willingness to embrace a spirit of generosity that, in so many ways, has enriched and strengthened our programs, ministries, and activities and greatly fostered vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life.

On behalf of Msgr. Marren, Fr. Bill, Fr. Colin, our Deacons, and staff, I wish you and your loved ones a blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy, and holy New Year.  May you experience the wonder of the Lord’s peace and joy in many profound and mysterious ways.

It is a privilege to serve you and our faith community.

Our faith community celebrates Gaudate (Rejoice) Sunday on this third Sunday of Advent as we wait in joyful anticipation for the coming of the Christ Child.  In our gospels for Advent, the call to prepare for Christ comes primarily from John the Baptist.  John serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments.  He is the last of the Old Testament prophets who point the way to the Messiah.  He is the first of the New Testament witnesses and martyrs.

Some regard John as some crazy person who lives in the desert wears strange clothes, and eats exotic foods.  Yet there is nothing strange or crazy or exotic about his message.   It is very clear, very practical, very prudent, and very challenging.   He tells us to prepare for the coming of the Lord, acknowledge our shortcomings and failures, repent of our sins, and change our hearts.  With great humility, he acknowledges that his role is subordinate to that of Jesus.  He says, “I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of His sandals,” and acknowledges that he must decrease and Jesus must increase.  John is the voice urging us to make way for the Lord and prepare for His coming.

Pope Francis has often urged the faithful to clearly focus on the Season of Advent, and use it as a time to reflect on our spiritual priorities.  During Advent, many of us can get caught up in the “busyness” and distractions of the Season.  The media does so much to commercialize the Season, and all too often, we may do the same.  We may be busy going shopping; we may be busy going to parties; we may be busy making travel plans.  But in the midst of all this “busyness,” are we really preparing spiritually for the coming of the Christ Child?

As we strive to prepare spiritually for the coming of the Lord, we are reminded that this Wednesday, December 18^th, at 9:00 am, we will celebrate a memorial Mass for our beloved former pastor, Monsignor Paul Reynolds.  He served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Atlanta for over forty years.  Msgr. Reynolds shepherded his congregation here at Saint Brigid from 2006 until his death in 2010.  He was a priest of great wisdom and insight and truly appreciated the opportunity to serve the people entrusted to his care.

As we honor the memory of Msgr. Reynolds and as we reflect on the example of John the Baptist, we know the Lord is ready to come to us.  Are we willing to step back from our “busyness,” avoid the distractions of the Season, and truly focus on His coming?  Hopefully, through prayer and reflection, we will truly open our hearts and get our spiritual priorities in order as we prepare to receive Our Lord, Our Savior, and Our King of Kings.

During this season of Advent, we continue to honor our Mother Mary in special ways. This Monday, December 9th, we honor Mary as we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This feast day is usually celebrated on December 8th but was moved so as not to conflict with the Second Sunday of Advent. As reported in the media publication “Vatican News”, Pope Francis, reflecting of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, noted that Mary “specifically because of her simplicity, kept pure that Immaculate Heart which, by God’s grace, she had been conceived.”

This feast day is a Holy Day of Obligation and it presents us with the opportunity to affirm our belief that Mary was blessed among women and was preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception. In addition to our Masses at 6:30 am, 9 am, 12 noon, and a Holy Redeemer School Mass at 1:30 pm, we will offer Mass at 5 pm on Monday, with a reception to follow, prior to the evening session of our Parish Mission presented by Dr. Allen Hunt.

Then, on Thursday, December 12th, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe as we once again honor Mary, our Mother. She is the patroness of the United States, Mexico, and all of the Americas, as well as the protector of the unborn. She is a religious and cultural figure to the people of Mexico. In 1531, she appeared in a vision of a humble peasant farmer named Juan Diego near Mexico City. The appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe helped generate the conversion of Mexico and Latin America to Catholicism. Her feast day is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm throughout the Americas.

As we focus on these two great feast days of our Church and on the words of Our Holy Father, please be aware that we will have additional opportunities during this season of Advent to avail ourselves of the great Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Sacrament is here to heal us spiritually and get us closer to the Lord who loves us. Please check the parish bulletin or the parish website for additional times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

During this great season of Advent, my hope is that through our devotion to Mary, through our prayers and spiritual reflections, through our acts of charity, and through the healing provided by the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we will truly be spiritually prepared as we wait in joyful anticipation for the coming of the Christ Child.

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, what Christ did for us, and that we are called to serve the King of Kings.
This coming Thursday, we also celebrate Thanksgiving Day, and we are encouraged to give thanks for the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed on us. As in the past, we pray that Thanksgiving Day will not be commercialized but rather will truly be a time for reflection and thanksgiving. It is so easy to get caught up in shopping frenzies, travel plans, and other situations that can distract us from the truly important significance of this day.

The word “Eucharist” means “giving thanks” and we are invited to attend Mass on Thanksgiving Day. If possible, we are also encouraged to share a meal with loved ones. As we attend Mass and enjoy a meal together, we can reflect on our blessings and thank God for the gifts of our life, our health, our family, our friends, and our vocations. We can also give thanks for the gift of our precious faith, and for the opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters, especially our brothers and sisters in need at this time of the year.

The following “A Simple Prayer of Thanks” provided by the media outlet “Christianity.com” reflects the significance of the day:

Dear God, on this Thanksgiving Day,
I want to pause and thank you for your blessings.
For another day, for family, friends, for food on the table.
You are the source of all good things.
We praise you for the simple things that bring us joy.
Help us keep our eyes on you this day and every day
so our lives may be filled with praise and joy. Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, our bishops suggest that beginning Monday, the days before Thanksgiving be set aside for deeds of charity, for penance, and prayers for economic justice. Our bishops are painfully aware that many people are marginalized in some way and continue to suffer in these difficult and uncertain times. We can also pray that Thanksgiving Day will truly be a time to thank God for prayers answered and blessings received.

On behalf of the priests, deacons, and staff at Saint Brigid, I give thanks for our Saint Brigid faith community and I pray that your Thanksgiving Day will be a blessed one.

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, what Christ did for us, and that we are called to serve the King of Kings.

This coming Thursday, we also celebrate Thanksgiving Day, and we are encouraged to give thanks for the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed on us.  As in the past, we pray that Thanksgiving Day will not be commercialized, but rather will truly be a time for reflection and thanksgiving.  It is so easy to get caught up in shopping frenzies, travel plans, and other situations that can distract us from the truly important significance of this day.

The word “Eucharist” means “giving thanks” and we are invited to attend Mass on Thanksgiving Day. If possible, we are also encouraged to share a meal with loved ones.  As we attend Mass and enjoy a meal together, we can reflect on our blessings and thank God for the gifts of our life, our health, our family, our friends, and our vocations.  We can also give thanks for the gift of our precious faith, and for the opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters, especially our brothers and sisters in need at this time of the year.

The following “A Simple Prayer of Thanks” provided by the media outlet “Christianity.com” reflects the significance of the day:

Come, Holy Spirit, be with me always.
Show me to use Your seven gifts,
wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude,
knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord
in ways to help my community, family and friends.
Amen

As we reflect on this prayer, our bishops suggest that beginning Monday, the days before Thanksgiving be set aside for deeds of charity, for penance, and for prayers for economic justice. Our bishops are painfully aware that many people are marginalized in some way and continue to suffer in these difficult and uncertain times. We can also pray that Thanksgiving Day will truly be a time to thank God for prayers answered and blessings received.

On behalf of the priests, deacons, and staff at Saint Brigid, I give thanks for our Saint Brigid faith community, and I pray that your Thanksgiving Day will be a blessed one.

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.  Through their unselfishness and dedication, they made it possible for us to enjoy the freedoms provided in our nation.

We should appreciate their sacrifice and service and never take them for granted.  As mentioned previously, the Johns Creek Veterans Association arranged for the construction of the Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk, located in Newtown Park.  The Walk serves as a vivid reminder of the contributions to the defense of our nation made by our men and women in the armed forces throughout the years.  Members of the Saint Brigid
Knights of Columbus, many of whom are Veterans, assisted in the construction of the Walk.

We are also reminded that many of the Veterans in our nation continue to strive to adapt to civilian life.
Catholic Charities in Atlanta has made a concerted effort to assist Veterans in obtaining adequate housing
and providing needed spiritual, emotional, and financial support.  In addition, our Veterans
Administration hospitals and treatment centers continue to strive to make necessary improvements to provide appropriate ongoing care for Veterans in need.

The following “Prayer of Blessings For Veterans” reflects the essence of our appreciation for the
the sacrifice of our Veterans:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Today, we come before You with gratitude in our hearts for the selfless service of our
Veterans. Lord, we ask for Your blessings to shower upon them like refreshing rain.

For those who are active in service, may they be clothed in Your full armor, protected from
harm, and fortified in courage.

For our retired Veterans, we ask for blessings of health, healing, and a sense of purpose as
they navigate life beyond the military.  May their hearts be filled with peace and their
minds with clarity.  May Your grace extend to their families, providing strength and unity.
May their homes be havens of love, resiliency, and joy.

For those who bear scars, both visible and invisible, may they find comfort and healing in Your loving embrace.  Let them feel Your presence, as a balm for their wounds and a salve for their souls.
Grant them the blessings of friendship, community, and deep spiritual growth.  May they always feel honored, not just today, but every day.

In the powerful name of Jesus, we ask these blessings. Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are encouraged to continue to honor our Veterans through our prayers and expressions of gratitude, always appreciating their commitment and sacrifice.

Next Saturday, November 6th, after our 5:00 pm Vigil Mass, we will host a “Deacon Appreciation” reception in Corbett Hall, honoring our Deacons in a special way.  The Catholic Church is blessed to have men 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 Deacons have secular jobs to support their families and strive to balance family, Church, work and other responsibilities.

Permanent Deacons serve the Church in many ways.  They assist the priest at Mass, preach at Mass when appropriate, preside at baptisms, teach in our faith formation programs, visit the sick and the homebound, prepare couples for marriage, counsel couples who may be struggling in their marriages, preside at Benediction and Holy Hours, and participate in many of our Church ministries and activities.  They also strive to help those who are struggling or marginalized in some way find the spiritual, emotional, and material assistance they need.

We are blessed to have many faithful, dedicated, and holy Deacons serving us at Saint Brigid.  They are:

These Deacons generously share their gifts and talents with us.  Please join us next Saturday and avail yourself of an opportunity to thank them for their service and continue to wish them well in their ministry.  Please also continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life.

This coming Friday, November 1^st, we celebrate All Saints Day.  The Catholic Church recognizes this day as a Holy Day of Obligation.  Speaking on the significance of this day, as reported by the media outlet, “Vatican News”, Our Holy Father, Pope Francis reminded the faithful that, like the saints, we are all called to holiness.  He stated, “Holiness is also a journey, a journey be made together, helping each other, united with those excellent companions who are our Saints.”

As we reflect on these words of Pope Francis, 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 can strive to model our behavior after them and follow their holy way of life.  We are challenged to learn from them and to learn more about them.  Many of them were ordinary people who were guided by the Lord to do extraordinary things.  We are encouraged to seek the intercession of our saints as we pray for wisdom and guidance and continue on our journey of faith.

Then on Saturday, November 2^nd, we commemorate All Souls Day.  It is a day to honor and pray for all souls.  We especially pray for our deceased relatives, friends, neighbors, parishioners, co-workers, and all who shared their lives with us.  Our Holy Father encouraged us to attend Mass and receive the Eucharist on this day, noting that it is the best spiritual help that we can give to the souls who have gone before us.

In addition, on Wednesday, November 6^th, at 7 p.m., we will celebrate a Mass of Remembrance.  As in the past, we will honor the memory of those loved ones who have died, including those who have died recently.  A litany of names and an offering of roses with appropriate lighting of candles will mark this special occasion.

As Catholics, we are encouraged, especially during this first week of November, to visit grave sites as we strive to honor our dead and to bring spiritual peace and consolation to families who mourn for their loved ones.

We can also give thanks to all those who give of their time to participate in our bereavement and grief-sharing ministries, and who do so much to assist families in their time of mourning and grief.  They provide these families with much comfort and guidance.

We are invited to honor our deceased loved ones and our great saints by participating in our Church liturgies on these very special days.   Details concerning these liturgies can be found in below and on the Parish website.

At this time of the year, many Catholics are aware of the various media commercials, advertisements, brochures, and other promotions involving political candidates at various levels of government.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued the document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” to guide Catholics during this election season.  The following are excerpts from the document.

“As Catholics and Americans, we are blessed to be able to participate in our nation’s political and public life.  Our freedoms respect the dignity of individuals and their consciences and allow us to come together for the common good.  Election seasons, therefore, should contain a sense of gratitude and hope.  Our love of country, our patriotism, properly impels us to vote.”

“Participation in political life also requires judgments about concrete circumstances.  While the bishops help form the laity in accordance with basic principles, they do not tell the laity to vote for particular candidates.  On these often-complex matters, it is the laity’s responsibility to form their consciences and grow in the virtue of prudence to approach the many and varied issues of the day with the mind of Christ.  Conscience is a ‘judgment of reason’ by which one determines whether an action is right or wrong (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1778).  It does not allow us to justify doing whatever we want, nor is it a mere ‘feeling’.  Conscience – properly formed according to God’s revelation and the teaching of the Church – is a means by which one listens to God and discerns how to act in accordance with the truth.”

This document can be read on our home page at the Saint Brigid Website.

 “The threat of abortion remains our pre-eminent priority because it directly attacks our most vulnerable and voiceless brothers and sisters and destroys more than a million lives per year in our country alone.  Other grave threats to the life and dignity of the human person include euthanasia, gun violence, terrorism, the death penalty, and human trafficking.  There is also a redefinition of marriage and gender, threats to religious freedom at home and abroad, lack of justice for the poor, racism, the need for greater access to healthcare and education, care for our common home, and more.  All threaten the dignity of the human person.”

“It is our responsibility to learn more of Catholic teaching and tradition, to participate in Church life, to learn from trustworthy sources about the issues facing our communities, and to do our best to make wise judgments about candidates and government actions.”

As we reflect on these comments, our bishops have asked us to seek “wisdom from above” and prayerfully consider how we can effectively participate in the political process.

This Sunday we celebrate Priesthood Sunday, which is traditionally celebrated in September or October.  It is a day to reflect upon and affirm the vital role of the priesthood in the life of the Church as we strive to raise vocation awareness in a special way.

As reported by the media outlet, “Catholic News Service”, Pope Francis called on priests to be true shepherds of those entrusted to their care.  He stated they should be “Shepherds of the holy, faithful people of God.  Shepherds who go with the people of God – sometimes ahead of the flock, sometimes in the midst of it or behind it, but always there with the people of God. “

He encouraged the faithful to pray for holy, happy, and healthy priests to shepherd and guide the Church of tomorrow.

The following “Prayer for Priests” provided by “Our Catholic Prayers” asks Our Lord to continue to guide and protect all priests amid the trials and temptations of this world.

O Jesus, eternal priest, look down with love upon thy priests.
Fill them with burning zeal for the conversion of sinners.
Keep them within the shelter of thy sacred heart.
Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch thy sacred body.
Keep unsullied their lips purpled with thy precious blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts sealed with the sublime marks of thy glorious priesthood.
Let thy love protect them from the world’s contagion.
Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may the souls to whom they minister on Earth be one day their joy and consolation in heaven.
Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that Jesus has called His priests to serve not to be served. He said in John 12:26, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.  The Father will honor whoever serves me.”  As priests, we are challenged to go forth with a renewed appreciation for Jesus and His ministry.  We are called to be truly willing to serve Our Lord, the Church, and its people.

As we celebrate Priesthood Sunday, our bishops often remind our priests that it is a great privilege to celebrate the Mass and to minister the sacraments to the people of God.  Msgr. Marren, Fr. Bill, Fr. Colin, and I appreciate the opportunity to serve the people of Saint Brigid, and thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Catholics, we are encouraged to promote the dignity of all human life from conception until natural death.  Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has called us to promote the Gospel of Life, and protect and cherish the lives of the elderly, the physically and mentally challenged, and the unborn.  We should never forget that God is the Creator of all life, and all life is precious in His sight.  In past statements, Pope Francis has strongly criticized a “throwaway culture” that places too little value on human life.  He said, “Unfortunately what is thrown away is not only food and disposable objects but often human beings themselves, who are discarded as unnecessary.”  He stressed the need to respect the dignity of the most vulnerable and marginalized in society.

The following “Prayer for Reverence for Life” provided by “Catholics Online” reflects the sentiments of Our Holy Father:

Heavenly Father,
the beauty and dignity of human life was the crowning of your creation.
You further ennobled that life when your Son became one with us in his incarnation.
Help us to realize the sacredness of human life and to respect it from the moment of conception until the last moment at death.
Give us courage to speak with truth and love and with conviction in defense of life.
Help us to extend the gentle hand of mercy and forgiveness to those who do not reverence your gift of life.
To all, grant pardon for the times we have failed to be grateful for your precious gift of life or to respect it in others.
We ask this in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer and the profound words of Pope Francis, this Sunday we are invited to reaffirm our appreciation for the precious gift of life.

A series of “Life Chains” will be conducted throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta.  We are invited to participate in the “Life Chain” that will be held between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Old Alabama Road in an area that will include the space in front of our Church.  The “Life Chain” will be a peaceful, public, and prayerful witness concerning the dignity of all life, especially the lives of the unborn.  We will pray for our nation and its people and we will be exercising our responsibility to speak out on behalf of the value of life.

Our Holy Father has reminded us that we have been called to be voices for the voiceless, to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.  We are challenged to commit ourselves publicly to the protection of all human life as we strive to enhance the moral integrity of our great nation.   If we cannot be at the “Life Chain” in Johns Creek this Sunday, we are invited to speak for the most vulnerable through prayer in the silence of our hearts.

May God continue to bless you and your families for all you do to embrace a culture of life.

Our national election season is upon us, and Catholics are urged to embrace the opportunity to vote.  As previously noted, 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 by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern.”

In addition to these sentiments of Pope Francis, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has also issued a document concerning voting called, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.”  The bishops have encouraged us to take our voting responsibility seriously.  They have indicated that responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.  The bishops stated that they “…seek to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with the truth, so they can make sound moral choices.  We do not tell Catholics how to vote.  The responsibility to make political choices rests with each person and his or her conscience.”

The bishops have recently updated the document and indicated in making decisions about voting, “…it is essential for Catholics to be guided by a well-formed conscience that recognizes that all issues do not carry the same moral weight and that the moral obligation to oppose policies promoting intrinsically evil acts has a special claim on our consciences and our actions.

These decisions should take into account a candidate’s commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence a given issue.  In the end, this is a decision to be made by each Catholic guided by a conscience formed by Catholic moral teaching.”

As in the past, the bishops affirmed the fundamental dignity of the human person.  They stated that human life is sacred, and that intrinsically evil actions such as abortion and euthanasia must always be opposed.  The gift of life is the foundation upon which rests all the other marvelous gifts that God has given us.  We are challenged to prayerfully consider the guidance of our bishops as we exercise our right to vote.

As we know, we live in an imperfect world and we are dealing with imperfect candidates.  Our bishops encourage us to properly form our consciences when evaluating candidates at all levels of government.  We invite you to respond to the call of our bishops to embrace our moral obligation to engage in our political process.

For more info from USCCB:
https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship.pdf

Pope Francis has encouraged us to truly appreciate the communal dimension of our Catholic faith.  He has urged parishes to foster this sense of community, and to create a welcoming environment for those who come to Church, and to offer opportunities to create and strengthen relationships.  Therefore, we should strive to welcome those who enter our Church doors to attend Mass and our other various liturgies.  In addition, we should also welcome them to participate in our many parish activities and programs.
An important parish activity, and welcoming opportunity, is our Parish Family Picnic.  It will take place this Sunday afternoon, September 29th, from 1 pm to 4 pm on the Holy Redeemer School soccer field, weather permitting.  We invite you to join us as we come together as a community of faith.  There will be plenty of free food and drinks and great entertainment for our children.  Many of our parishioners and guests have enjoyed the Picnic in past years, as they embraced this atmosphere of community and fellowship.

Pope Francis often speaks about the need for strong parish communities as he addresses various groups of the Catholic faithful. As reported in the media outlet, “Vatican News”, he noted that parishes are “close-knit communities, without bureaucracy, people-centered, a place where the gift of the Sacraments can be found.” He further noted that parishes should be community-oriented, serving as centers of welcoming and listening. He stated, “They have to become one again schools of service and generosity, with their doors always open to those who are excluded. And to those included to all”.

The “Prayer for Community” provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops focuses on the importance of community:

Embracing Father, You grace each of us with equal measure in your love.
Let us learn to love our neighbors more deeply
  so that we can create peaceful and just communities.
Inspire us to use our creative energies to build the structures we need
  to overcome the obstacles of intolerance and indifference.
May Jesus provide us the example needed and send the Spirit to warm our hearts for the journey.
Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we should note that our bishops have echoed the sentiments of Pope Francis and have reminded us that hospitality and welcoming are important ways we can build community as we accompany our people on their journey of faith.  Our Picnic is just one way we can join in this community effort.  Please avail yourselves of this welcoming opportunity to embrace our parish family, and join with your fellow parishioners this Sunday for food, fun, and fellowship.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated the third Sunday in
September as Catechetical Sunday.  This year the theme for this day is, “We are stewards of
God’s Creation.”

Our bishops remind us that Catechetical Sunday is a “wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role
that each baptized person plays in handing on the faith and being witness to the Gospel.
Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a
community of faith.”

The bishops further highlight the role of parents, noting, “Parents are truly the primary catechists of
their children.  They prepare the soil and plant the first seeds of faith.  On Catechetical Sunday, we
not only highlight the work of catechists in parishes and schools, but we also commend
parents and guardians and encourage them to take seriously their role of making their Catholic
households a place where faith is passed on to the next generation.”

We have been blessed at Saint Brigid with many dedicated parents, some serving as catechists
who teach our faith to children and adults.  These catechists generously give of their time and talent
to serve the needs of our people.  They teach at various times of the week and to a variety of
groups of the faithful.

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has a great appreciation for the role which catechists play in
teaching and spreading the faith.  He recently instituted a formal ministry of Catechist,
acknowledging the great contributions that this ministry makes to the Christian community.
The following “A Prayer for Catechists”, provided by the media outlet, Loyola Press, asks God to
guide and support a catechist:

L oving God, Creator of all things, you
call us to be in relationship with youand others.
Thank you for calling me to be a
catechist, for the opportunity to share
with others what you have given to me.
May all those with whom I share the gift
of faith discover how you are present in all things.
May they come to know you, the one true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
May the grace of the Holy Spirit guide
my heart and lips, so that I may remain
constant in loving and praising you.
May I be a witness to the Gospel and a minister of your truth.
May all my words and actions reflect your love. Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are encouraged to thank those catechists who have answered
the call to discipleship and have helped us to more fully embrace the precious faith we
cherish. They are truly a blessing to our faith community.

This Wednesday will mark the twenty – third anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Many will pause to focus on the events of that day. We as a nation will recall the tragic deaths and injuries that occurred at the World Trade Center, and at the Pentagon, and on the fields of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We will also acknowledge the dangers and violence in our unstable world that continue to confront us. Evidence of the dangers and violence can be seen in our news media on a regular basis.
Commenting on the tragedy commonly referred to as “9/11”, as previously noted, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stated, “After September 11, we are a wounded people. We share loss and pain, anger and fear, shock, and determination in the face of these attacks on our nation and our humanity. We also honor the selflessness of firefighters, police, chaplains, and other brave individuals who gave their lives in the service of others. They are true heroes and heroines.”

As Catholics, we are challenged to respond in faith to the pressing concerns of our brothers and sisters in need, and to remember in a special way all those who suffered in some way on that fateful day of September 11, 2001, and in its aftermath. We are also provided with the opportunity to explain to some of our young people, who were not with us at that time, about the dedication and sacrifices of so many.

Pope Benedict XVI, in 2008, visited “Ground Zero”, the site of the attack on “9/11” at the World trade Center in New York City. He reminded us that we continue to live in a dangerous and violent world. The following is an excerpt, provided by the media outlet “Hallow”, from the prayer he read during his visit:

God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy, we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared may live
so that the lives lost here may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly
for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.
Amen

As we reflect on this prayer, we are encouraged to continue to ask for the special intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace, as we pray for peace in our world, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts.

** We will celebrate a special Patriots Day Mass on Wednesday, September 11th at 7:00 pm.  Confession and Evening Prayer are NOT scheduled this evening.

As a nation, this Monday we celebrate Labor Day.  On this day we honor all those who labor for a living.  We are encouraged to thank them for their service to their families, and for their service to all those who benefit from their efforts.  In addition, we can remember and pray for all those who are now retired after many years of labor, and for the unemployed and underemployed.

The Catholic Church focuses on the dignity of the human person, and the dignity of labor since labor is clearly important to the human experience.  As previously noted, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2427, 2428) states:

–  “Human work proceeds directly from persons creatid in the image of God and called to prolong the work of creation.”

– “Work honors the Creator’s gifts, and the talents received from him.”

– In work, the person exercises and fulfills in part the potential inscribed in his nature.  The primordial value of labor stems from man himself, its author, and its beneficiary.”

– “Everyone should draw from work the means of providing for his life and that of his family, and of serving the human community.”

Our Holy Father Pope Francis also spoke about the dignity of labor, reminding the faithful that Jesus and Saint Joseph were workers.  He also stressed that the safety of the worker should be protected.  We offer a thanksgiving prayer to not only thank the Lord for our Labor Day blessings, but to also thank Him for blessing us with work.  May we never forget to thank God for all the work that comes to us, because these are His blessings.

The following “Labor Day Prayer for Thanksgiving” from the media outlet “Christian.net”, thanks God for the gift of work.

Ever loving Father, thank You for the gift of work. 

Not all of us are blessed with these opportunities.

But with Your blessing, I am able to work. 

With You, I am able to support myself and those around me.

I know that this was Your plan for me; to work hard and serve others

to teach me that the servitude I do is all in and for Your name.

May we all have a blessed Labor Day< that keeps You at the center of all our celebrations. 

This prayer I lift to You.  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, and as we celebrate Labor Day, we are encouraged to make it more than a day of rest and recreation.  Our bishops remind us that it should also be a day of prayer, when we honor those who labor for a living, including those who labor in various ways for the Lord.  They deserve our respect and appreciation.

God our Father has blessed many of the faithful with the gift of children.  Our Catechism teaches us that parents are the primary educators of their children in the ways of the faith, and parents teach primarily by the example they set for their children.

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has called upon the Church and all Christian communities to accompany and support parents in their educative role.  One way the Church can assist parents is through our “Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)” ministry.  As previously explained in our Parish School of Religion guidelines, the “CLOW ministry enables children to participate in the formal worship experience, to nourish and guide their spiritual growth and to immerse them in the Word of God in ways that are understandable to them.”

Children are encouraged to attend Mass with their parents, and then, “The children are dismissed from Mass during the Liturgy of the Word.  They are escorted to the chapel and assisted by volunteer shepherds.  They will hear the Word from the Children’s Lectionary.  The leader guides the children to an understanding of the Gospel that they can embrace.  The children will return to their parents at the offertory.”

The guidelines also state that, “All the elements that help to explain the readings are given great consideration so that the children may make the bible readings their own and may come more and more to appreciate the value of God’s word.”

CLOW is offered at the 9:00 am Sunday Mass during our Parish School of Religion (PSR) season, extending from September to May.  All children, ages 4 years old through First Grade, are welcome to participate.  There is no registration necessary.

The following “Prayer for a Child’s Faith”, asks God to guide the faith journey of a precious child:

Dear God:
Create in my child pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within him.
Help my child to know your Word and to grow in faith each day.
Thank You that Your word says I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future,
nor any power, neither height, nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate my child from
the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are invited to note that our ministry coordinators stated that they “are looking for Leaders who enjoy children and engaging them in learning about the Gospel stories.”  The Leaders would rotate and assist about one Sunday per month.  Please contact our CLOW coordinators Barbara Kratz and Kathryn Halaszynski if you would like to participate.

We thank our coordinators and their staff for all they do to assist our children as they grow in their knowledge and understanding of the faith.

We believe in collaborative ministry in our faith community of Saint Brigid: our priests, deacons and lay faithful working together to build the Kingdom of God. Our Lord has blessed each of us with a unique set of gifts, skills, talents and resources so we can play a special role in building up that Kingdom here on earth.

Many of us are busy people who want to assist in some way at our parish, while balancing family, work, and other responsibilities. As we strive to balance our responsibilities, we may quickly realize that it is often difficult to discern what God wants from us unless we spend some time communicating with Him. We are encouraged to spend time in prayer, and to listen to hear if God is calling us to a more active, conscious participation in our parish.

In addition to prayer, to help us discern how we may place our talents at the service of God and His Church, next weekend we will have a Ministry Fair in Corbett Hall after each of our Masses. More details concerning the Fair can be found on the parish website. Representatives of many of our parish ministries will be present to explain the purpose of their respective ministries and to answer questions. We encourage you to attend the Fair and then prayerfully consider how you may more actively participate in a ministry that interests you. We invite those who may not have participated in any ministries in the past, to consider participating in just one ministry for one year. Your involvement, even on a limited basis, can enhance the spiritual vitality of our Saint Brigid faith community, and also your own spiritual life.

The following prayer provided by the media outlet, “PRAYERSAVES” asks God to guide our volunteers as they respond to the call to serve our parish community.

Heavenly Father: We humbly lift our church volunteers, who tirelessly dedicate themselves to the well-being of our congregation.
We ask for your strength to fortify their commitment even in the face of challenges and fatigue.
Let their hearts be fueled by a deep sense of purpose and their spirits sustained by your grace.
Grant them the perseverance to continue serving faithfully, knowing that their efforts contribute to the spiritual growth of our community.
May their unwavering dedication inspire others to join in the journey of service, creating a church that stands united in love and devotion.
In your steadfast love, we pray.  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are invited to ask God what He may be calling us to do to enrich and strengthen our parish community as we continue

This Thursday we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Our Catechism states that “…the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.  The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.”

Our Holy Father Pope Francis has a great devotion to Mary.  Speaking recently about this great feast, as reported in the media outlet, “Vatican News”, he stated that Mary, “small and humble, has been raised up and – we celebrate this today – brought to the glory of Heaven, while the powerful of the world are destined to remain empty-handed.  Our Lady, in other words, announces a radical change, an overturning of values.”  He encouraged the faithful to, like Mary, focus on spiritual and heavenly values, not earthly ones.  Pope Francis has again invited Catholics, in addition to attending Mass, to visit a Marian shrine or pray before a statue of Mary, or acknowledge her in some special way on the feast of the Assumption.

The following “Prayer for the Feast of the Assumption” from the media outlet, “Prayerist” encourages us to truly appreciate the assistance of Mary on our journey of faith:

Almighty and everlasting God,
You have taken up body and soul into heavenly glory the Immaculate Virgin Mary,  Mother of Your Son.
Grant, we beseech You, that, ever intent upon heavenly things, we may be worthy to be partakers of her glory.
Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.”  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that the feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation, and Catholics are obliged to attend Mass.  We will have a Vigil Mass on Wednesday evening at 7 pm, and Masses at convenient times during the day on Thursday.  Please read below for details.

Encouraged by the Assumption of Mary, we are invited to look to Mary as a model of faith and respond in generous love to the call of her Divine Son.

Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, intercede for us.

Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us.

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Holy Day Mass Times Are:

Wednesday, August 14 Vigil at 7:00 PM, and Thursday, August 15 at 6:30 AM, 9:00 AM (with Holy Redeemer), 12:00 Noon and 7:00 PM.

Confessions and Evening prayer are NOT scheduled Wednesday evening.

People searching in their faith journey are often attracted to the Catholic faith for various reasons.  Our faith community offers spiritual and educational programs for those adults and children interested in becoming Catholic, and for those baptized Catholics who have not yet received the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation.  The programs are the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC).  Those adults and children who are not Catholic are invited to learn about the Catholic faith, and they make the free choice to embrace Catholic teaching and become members of the Church.

Those in the programs participate in a thorough period of inquiry, discernment, and catechesis, led by their coordinators.  They have the opportunity to grow in the knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith.  Participants often also take part in a retreat and various social gatherings and hopefully, over time, will be more fully integrated into the parish community.

Speaking about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Catholic author and program director Thomas H. Morris, in his book “The RCIA: Transforming the Church” stated that the program “…is a restoration of the ancient practice of initiation in the Church.  Focused on conversion, candidates entered an extended period of formation and probation.  The community ritually celebrated the conversion at various points on the journey, culminating with the celebration of baptism, confirmation and eucharist at the Easter Vigil.  An extended catechesis followed this to help the newly initiated to live the commitment they made; lives of justice, service and charity as witnesses to the reign of God.”

Many who have participated in the program have truly appreciated its effectiveness.  The steps in the RCIA process, as explained in the media publication, Our Sunday Visitor, are as follows:

The Precatechumenate, or period of inquiry, welcomes newcomers to ask questions as they begin to learn more about the Church.

The Catechumenate is a time of serious formation, often with others who are inquiring about the faith.

The Period of Purification and Enlightenment, “which coincides with Lent, is a period of continued instruction coupled with more intensive preparation and prayer.  This period culminates with the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist), bringing the candidates and catechumens into the full communion of the Catholic Church, usually at the Easter Vigil.  (A candidate is a baptized Christian; a catechumen is an unbaptized candidate.)”

Mystagogy is the time “after the newly initiated have been fully received into the Church; it lasts from Easter to Pentecost.  All of these stages are marked by distinct liturgical rites.”

The process is similar, but more simplified, for children participating in the RCIC program.

Our parish RCIA and RCIC programs will begin in August.  We expect that many in the programs will receive the appropriate sacraments at the Easter Vigil next year.  If you know of someone who may be interested in the programs, please contact our parish office or any of our clergy.

The Catholic Church is blessed to have men 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 Deacons have secular jobs to support their families, and strive to balance family, Church, work and other responsibilities.

As reported in the media outlet “Deeper Truth”, the word deacon “comes from the Greek word ‘diakonos’ meaning ‘servant’.  Strengthened by sacramental grace, in union with the bishops and his priests, deacons are called to serve the people of God in the three-fold ministry of liturgy, word, and charity.”

Permanent Deacons serve the Church in many ways.  They assist the priest at Mass, preach at Mass when appropriate, preside at baptisms, teach in our faith formation programs, visit the sick and the homebound, prepare couples for marriage, counsel couples who may be struggling in their marriages, preside at Benediction and Holy Hours, and participate in many of our Church ministries and activities.  They also strive to help those who are struggling or marginalized in some way find the spiritual, emotional, and material assistance they need.

The following “A Deacon’s Prayer”, provided by the media outlet “Deeper Truth”, asks the Lord to guide a Deacon in his ministry:

Lord Jesus Christ, Servant of all,
Send your Spirit upon me as I serve your Church.
Give me eyes to see the needs of Your people.
Give me a discerning mind to know Your truth.
Give me a generous spirit when I am tired but needed.
Give me a humble heart when my work goes unnoticed.
Give me peace of mind in obedience and service.
Give me health of body so I may serve with strength.
Make me fertile ground for Your inspiration and love.
Comfort me when I question myself and my ministry.
Grant me grace as I age so I may share Your wisdom.
Make my heart like Yours so I may love Your people.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that we have many faithful, dedicated, and holy Deacons serving us at Saint Brigid.  They generously share their gifts and talents with us.  Please avail yourself of an opportunity to thank them for their service and continue to wish them well in their ministry.  Please also continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life.

We are in the midst of our Growing in Faith capital campaign for our proposed Pastoral Life Center.  This proposed large free standing two-story Pastoral Life Center would serve as an investment in the spiritual vitality of our Parish and strengthen our efforts to enhance our faith and fellowship.  It would also serve as a legacy to our children and grandchildren.  The new Center would enable us to enhance our ministries and programs, helping to ensure that our Parish will continue to be vibrant and flourish.

For more than two decades, Saint Brigid Catholic Church has served the spiritual needs of Catholics in the North Atlanta area.  We have provided a spiritual home where our people could find fellowship in Christ, raise their children in a spiritual environment, expand their knowledge and understanding of their faith, and work to fulfill their God-given purpose.

Our existing parish facilities have served us well, and now we are a thriving faith community with over 4,000 households, blessed with active lay leaders and dynamic ministries.  As our parish has grown, we have struggled to accommodate the over eighty parish ministries and organizations seeking space for meetings, activities, and fellowship.  Scheduling events and functions can be difficult due to space limitations.  Our limited space hinders our ability to add new ministries and expand existing ones.  Our parish leadership, in coordination with professional advisory firms, has prepared a summary of the proposed project including a brief video.  The video is also accessible on our Parish website.  In addition, we have conducted various information conferences and provided visual aids to assist in explaining the project.

We sincerely thank all those who have supported our Growing in Faith capital campaign spiritually and financially and ask that you follow through on your pledges as soon as possible.  For those who have not yet pledged, we ask you to prayerfully consider making a pledge, payable over three years, that is generous and sacrificial based on your present needs and circumstances.

If you have any questions or require additional information as to the status of the campaign or the project, you may contact one of our Parish representatives:
John Revell: jrevell@saintbrigid.org, Chief Operating Officer
Brian Dooling: brian.t.dooling@gmail.com, Campaign Chairman
Jim Shields: jrsx5@bellsouth.net, Project Chairman
Nancy Ketchum: nancy.ketchum@att.net, Project Committee

Please also be assured that we are challenged to be good stewards of Church funds.  Due to your generosity and the prudent management of our parish leadership, our Church is debt free.   We do not intend to initiate the project unless we can remain debt free after utilizing a small bridge loan from the Archdiocese of Atlanta during the period of construction, which is common operating practice.   I truly appreciate all you do to enhance the spiritual vitality of our faith community.  Thank you all and God bless you.

Saint Brigid Campaign Pledge Form April-24.pdf 

Growing In Faith Capital Campaign | Saint Brigid Catholic Church (myvanco.com)

Or visit www.saintbrigid.org/faith for more information.

At this time, we are in the midst of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal for 2024.  The theme of the Appeal is “In His Presence”.  The Archdiocese has recently sent reminder notices urging parishioners to support the Appeal.  Catholics are invited to make a significant pledge so we can meet the spiritual, educational, and temporal needs of our parishes and our people.
Our contributions to the Appeal provide funds that are applied to the training and support of future happy, holy, and healthy priests needed to serve the Church of tomorrow.  The Appeal also supports our diaconate program, and many other Archdiocesan pastoral outreach, education, and formation programs that serve our parish as well as our larger Church family.  The Appeal also provides contributions to Catholic Charities which is making a concerted effort to help homeless veterans in the Atlanta area and other local communities to stabilize their lives through housing and employment assistance in these difficult and uncertain times.  In addition, the Appeal provides needed financial support for our priests in retirement who have served the people of this Archdiocese so faithfully over the years.

Through your generosity, our Saint Brigid faith community has benefited directly from the Appeal. A substantial portion of the Appeal provides for funding for our Archdiocese Vocation program.  At Saint Brigid we strive as a community to assist seminarians as they discern a vocation to the priesthood and as they continue their training and formation.

Seminarian Juno Lee was assigned to parish ministry at Saint Brigid for a designated “Pastoral Year” which began last September and ended this July.  He assisted primarily at our liturgies and with our Adult Education, Youth, and Confirmation programs.  Juno gained valuable experience in parish ministry, and he truly enjoyed this opportunity to interact with the faith community of Saint Brigid.

As we can see, our prayers and financial support of the Annual Appeal are clearly bearing fruit.  We ask for your continued support. If you have already given via the mail or online, we thank you. If you have not yet given to the Annual Appeal, we ask you to prayerfully consider doing so. Additional information about the Appeal can be obtained from the parish office or from the parish website.

Archbishop Hartmeyer has asked us to generously and sacrificially support the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.  We ask you to assist us to the extent possible.  Thank you for all you do to enhance the spiritual vitality of our faith community.

As Catholics, we are blessed to have a high regard for the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith.  As encouraged by Our Holy Father Pope Francis, we are invited to bond with each other by nourishing together on the Bread of Life in the Eucharist, and then by going forth in loving service of our brothers and sisters, especially our brothers and sisters in need.

One way we demonstrate our high regard for the Eucharist is through our support of, or active participation in, the National Eucharistic Congress which will take place in Indianapolis, from July 17th to July 21st.  The Congress will focus on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  Congress organizers noted, “This once-in-a lifetime gathering will bring together the most trusted voices in the Church and thousands of on-fire Catholics for five powerful days of worship, encounter, and formation.”

The Congress will feature such dynamic Catholic speakers as Bishop Robert Barron and Fr. Mike Schmitz.  Bishop Barron founded “Word on Fire Ministries” a non-profit organization, which spreads the Gospel message.  He is a highly respected commentator, lecturer, and author on various aspects of Catholic life, including the Holy Eucharist.  Fr. Schmitz is well known for his insightful podcasts, “The Bible in a Year” and “The Catechism in a Year”.  Each podcast consists of 365 daily episodes of informative commentary and prayer.  In addition, other nationally prominent clergy and lay speakers will also be present.

The following “Eucharistic Revival Prayer” by Most Reverend Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, asks God to strengthen and enhance our appreciation for the Eucharist.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that the word “Eucharist” means “giving thanks.”  And today we can once again thank the Lord for the great gift of the Eucharist and for our vibrant faith community of Saint Brigid.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who promised to stay with us always, until the end of the age.
Reawaken our wonder at His presence in the Most Holy Eucharist.  May our hearts burn with us as He opens the Scriptures and breaks the bread.
Give us the eyes of faith to recognize His presence in our brothers and sisters, especially in the face of the poor and suffering.
Nourished by the Eucharist, send us forth to walk faithfully as missionary disciples, proclaiming the Gospel to every heart and extending Your kingdom to every land.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

This coming Thursday we celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day.  On this day, we celebrate the birth of our nation, and we are encouraged to cherish in a very special way the many freedoms we enjoy in this country.  We are blessed to enjoy these freedoms, and they should never be taken for granted.

As we know, we live in difficult and uncertain times.  There is uncertainty in our world due primarily to wars in Ukraine and Israel.  There is also much division and conflict in our nation due primarily to a rise in crime and illegal drugs, and concerns over our immigration policies.  Much of this division and conflict is reported in our various media outlets on a daily basis.  We also live in a society which over the years has become more secular in its orientation, placing some of our religious freedoms at risk.

Unfortunately, there are those in our society who are attempting to undermine our trust and belief in God, and in the process are distorting our precious freedoms.  As previously noted, on our money bills we proclaim, “In God We Trust.”   As disciples, and as citizens, we are invited to pray that this trust in God may be restored in our nation by our leaders.  Our bishops remind us that there is a need to strengthen the moral foundation of our country, a moral foundation based on faith and trust in the Lord.  There is also a need to reaffirm our commitment to truly make our country “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The following prayer for Independence Day, titled “A Prayer for Gratitude and Remembrance” provided by the media outlet, “PRAYERSAVES” reminds us to be grateful to God for the freedoms we enjoy:

Gracious God, on this Independence Day, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, and the sacrifices made by those who fought for our independence.
We remember with reverence those who laid down their lives for the cause of liberty.
Their sacrifices inspire us to cherish and protect the freedoms we hold dear.
Help us to be mindful of the responsibilities that come with freedom – to love our neighbors, seek justice, and work for the common good.
May this day be a time of remembrance, thanksgiving, and commitment to the values that our nation was founded upon.
In your name, we pray.  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, and as we celebrate Independence Day, we are encouraged to take time to truly appreciate our faith and freedoms, and to be thankful for the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed on us and on our nation.

During the first week in July, we will welcome Fr. Colin Patrick to our Saint Brigid parish family as our new parochial vicar.  Fr. Colin was recently ordained to the priesthood of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.  He attended the U.S. Military Academy and completed his principal theological studies at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary (Mundelein), in Illinois.

Fr. Colin is thankful for the gift of his vocation.  He is also thankful for the spiritual vitality that is evident in the Saint Brigid faith community and is anxious to assist our parishioners through his priestly service.  Fr. Colin will strive to focus on the essentials of his priesthood, including celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, and visiting the sick, in addition to other assigned duties.  He will also work closely with our adult and youth faith formation ministries.

Fr. Colin was born and raised in Norcross.  He enjoys watching college football, and also enjoys outdoor activities, especially camping, backpacking, and hunting.  Please pray for Fr. Colin and welcome him to our faith community.

All are welcome to attend Fr. Colin Patricks’ Welcome Reception on Sunday, July 7th, 2024, at 12 Noon in Corbett Hall.

This Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day, and we remember in a special way all that fathers do for their children.  Being a father is a great privilege and a great responsibility.  Fathers are challenged to set a good example for their children and to help prepare them for their lives as adults.  This is especially important for fathers in these difficult and uncertain times when their children, especially teens, may face many temptations and trials which may influence their behavior.

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has placed great emphasis and focus on fatherhood.

As noted in the media outlet, “Catholic News Agency”, he stated that, “Our experience of faith…arises from somebody’s witness.”  He then pointed to St. Joseph as a witness and model for fatherhood, as he noted that Joseph had a remarkable “ability to know how to listen to God speaking to his heart.”  Pope Francis further stated, “I am convinced that the fatherly relationship that Joseph had with Jesus influenced His life so much that Jesus’ future preaching is filled with images and references taken precisely from paternal imagery.”  In that special relationship, Jesus honored His foster father St. Joseph throughout His life.

As we reflect on these words of Pope Francis, we are reminded that we are called to honor our fathers.  There should be a desire to maintain a strong bond of communication with them and assist in their care in their later years, after the many years that they have cared for us in so many different ways.  It is also suggested that we pray for them after their death.  Our love for our fathers should reflect the love that God has for us.  Many fathers have their share of trials and struggles but they do their best within their human limitations to serve as mentors and guides for their children.

The following prayer “Happy Father’s Day” provided by the media outlet “Catholics Striving for Holiness” thanks God for the gift of our fathers:

God our Father, through the intercession of St. Joseph, the foster father of Your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, we give You thanks and praise for all fathers in the world.
We pray for them so that they may find courage and perseverance to balance work, family and faith.
We remember fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and with You and nourish us with their love.  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are invited to thank Our Heavenly Father for the gift of our fathers and for the many blessings He has bestowed on us.

Our Holy Father Pope Francis has called on the Church community to foster and nurture vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life.   As reported in the media outlet, “Catholic News Agency”, in his message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis stated, “amid the variety of our charisms, we are called to listen to one another and to journey together in order to acknowledge them and to discern where the Spirit is leading us for the benefit of all.   We can become for our world messengers and witnesses of Jesus’ dream of a single human family, united in God’s love and in the bond of charity, cooperation, and fraternity.”

As we reflect on these words of Pope Francis, in addition to praying for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life, at Saint Brigid, we also strive as a faith community to assist seminarians as they continue their training and formation.

This past year, we welcomed seminarian Juno Lee who joined us for a Pastoral Year of formation.  Juno is currently studying for the Archdiocese of Atlanta at Saint Vincent de Paul Seminary in Florida.  In addition to assisting at our liturgies including our Holy Week services, Juno has assisted in our Vacation Bible School, Confirmation conferences, and many of our Special Needs, and Youth activities.  He also participated in various aspects of our adult faith formation programs.

Instead of being assigned a “summer seminarian” as in past years, we have been informed that Juno will remain with us throughout most of the summer, and then return to his seminary studies soon thereafter.  Juno looks forward to continuing to interact with our Saint Brigid faith community, as he gains valuable pastoral experience.

As a faith community, we are encouraged to reflect on the following “Prayer for Vocations” provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Father, hear the prayers of your people,
and bring to maturity the seeds you have sown in the field of your Church.
May many of your people choose to serve you
by devoting themselves to the service
of their brothers and sisters.
Raise up worthy ministers for your altars
and ardent but gentle servants of the Gospel.
May those who follow in the footsteps of Christ your Son grow, and provide by their way of life
a convincing sign of your kingdom for the Church and the whole world.
May all the ministers of your Church increase in numbers, and persevering in their prayer,
perform their ministry with gentleness and concern for others.
Father, keep them all faithful to the call of the Gospel that the world may see in them
the living image of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who is Lord for ever and ever.    Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are invited to pray for Juno and all those discerning vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, or religious life as they continue on their journey of faith.

 This Sunday we celebrate the solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, and Our Holy Father Pope Francis has called on us to focus on the Eucharist.   As reported in the media outlet, “Catholic News Service”, he stated, “the Eucharist is God’s response to the deepest hunger of the human heart, the hunger for authentic life because in the Eucharist Christ himself is truly in our midst to nourish, console and sustain us.”  Pope Francis also noted, “We become credible witnesses to the joy and transforming beauty of the Gospel only when we recognize that the love we celebrate in this sacrament cannot be kept to ourselves but demands to be shared with all.”   He emphasized, “The Eucharist impels us to a strong and committed love of neighbor, for we cannot truly understand or live the meaning of the Eucharist if our hearts are closed to our brothers and sisters, especially those who are poor, suffering, weary or may have gone astray in life.”

As we reflect on these words, we are reminded that, as Catholics, we are blessed to have a high regard for the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith.  As encouraged by Our Holy Father, we are invited to bond with each other by nourishing together on the Bread of Life in the Eucharist, and then by going forth in loving service of our brothers and sisters, especially our brothers and sisters in need.

One way we demonstrate our high regard for the Eucharist is through our participation in the Eucharistic Congress.  There will be a National Eucharistic Congress in July in Indianapolis, with a focus on the Real Presence on Jesus in the Eucharist. As previously noted, Archbishop Hartmeyer expressed his hope that the Congress will inspire, “…a renewed encounter with the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist and an experience of the Gospel (kerygma), renewed eucharistic devotion and adoration throughout the archdiocese, and a revival of faithful celebration (the ars celebrandi) and participation in the liturgy.”

The following “Corpus Christi Novena” prayer encourages us to truly appreciate the gift of the Eucharist:

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so, to revere the sacred mysteries of Your Body and Blood,
that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of Your redemption,
who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Jesus, Lord of Creation, grant us the grace to offer ourselves,
our works, and all creation in union with you to the Father.
Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that the word “Eucharist” means “giving thanks.” And today we can once again thank the Lord for the great gift of the Eucharist and for our faith community of Saint Brigid.

We celebrate Memorial Day as a nation this Monday.  On this day, we remember in a special way those men and women in the armed forces who have made the supreme sacrifice in defense of our nation.  We pray for the repose of their souls, and for all those who mourn their passing from this world.  Many of them died in wars and terrorist attacks.  Some were military chaplains who faithfully served the spiritual needs of our men and women in the armed forces and also served the spiritual needs of their families.  They all sacrificed their lives and their freedom and helped make it possible for us to enjoy our lives and our freedom.  They were prematurely separated from family members and friends, and a grateful nation pays them homage and respect.

The following prayer of remembrance by Micah Klug, was provided by the media outlet “Home Faith Family” for this special day.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded to truly appreciate our precious faith and freedom which we should never take for granted.  This is especially important in these difficult and uncertain times when we have witnessed dramatic changes in the fabric of our society and our world over the last few years.  These changes were due primarily to the wars in Ukraine and Israel, tensions with Russia and China and other nations, concerns over immigration policies and a rapid increase in crime and illegal drugs in many of our large cities and even in many of our small rural areas.  Such changes have caused us to view our faith and our freedom in a different light and made us more acutely aware of the reality that there are events and circumstances that are beyond our control.

Dear God,
on this day we offer this special prayer of remembrance
for all those who have given their lives in service to our nation.
We thank You for the courage and strength they showed in defending our freedoms,
and we remember them with admiration and gratitude.
Please bless their families with comfort and peace
as they think about the ones they love on this day.
In Your name.  Amen.

As we consider these changes, and as we celebrate this day and take time for picnics and various forms of recreation, we are encouraged to also make time for prayer.  We can join our brothers and sisters who pray for the repose of the souls of these men and women who have gone before us.  In addition, we can pray for stability in our nation, and we can continue to pray for peace in our world, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts.