Archdiocese of Atlanta has been asked to participate in the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) sponsored by the Catholic Leadership Institute. (CLI)  The Institute has been conducting surveys in many dioceses throughout the United States. CLI stated, “being a Christian has been a challenge in every age of the Church.  This happens because what the Church believes about God and salvation is almost never in concert with how a society or culture understands itself, let alone how it may (or may not) address such things as life after death or eternity.  These, of course, are not the only things we believe; but they are vital to understanding almost everything that we do believe as how we live the Catholic-Christian Faith.”

CLI further noted that, “in every age, Christians believe they have a responsibility to be the best disciple of their Lord and Savior as they can be.  They may not be perfect (even the saints were not perfect), but all Christians are called to holiness.  This remains central to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council of the mid-1960s because holiness is an integral part of what it means to have received the Sacrament of Baptism.”

CLI also indicated that, “The Disciple Maker Index allows you to assess how you may be doing both in your discipleship of Christ as well as in your spiritual growth.  By doing this assessment in the survey like Disciple Maker Index, it gives the leadership of your parish valuable insights into discovering ways that they can use to help make you, as parishioners, better Christian disciples.  This, in turn, can assist you in finding the joy of being a Catholic-Christian which may help others to discover their faith in God, too.”

We are presently in the midst of the Disciple Maker Index survey, which will remain open until Sunday, April 6th.  You can click the link below to participate. We have been assured by CLI that all your responses are completely confidential.  No member of our Parish staff or our leadership team will ever have access to your individual answers.   The survey is estimated by CLI to take about fifteen minutes.

www.saintbrigid/survey

If you have any questions about the survey or if you have any issues in taking it, please contact Jim Shields at jrsx5@bellsouth.net or 770-330-9844.   CLI and the Archdiocese of Atlanta hope that your participation will help you grow in your knowledge and understanding of our faith.

This Monday, March 17th, we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.  Major parades take place on this day in New York, Savannah, Atlanta, and other cities, celebrating the life and contributions of Saint Patrick to the Catholic faith and to Irish culture.  It is a special day for Monsignor Marren and many other priests who were born in Ireland and who faithfully serve the Archdiocese of Atlanta.  The media publication “Stubhill News” reported that Pope Francis urged Catholics, on this day, to “keep St. Patrick in St. Patrick’s Day”.  He criticized the commercialism and excess revelry which has gradually become part of the day.

Saint Patrick joins Saint Brigid as one of the patron saints of Ireland.  Saint Patrick was a priest and later became a bishop in the fifth century.  As a youth, he lived in Britain, was kidnapped and taken to Ireland where he lived as a servant.  After about six years, he escaped and went back to Britain.  He later returned to Ireland as a missionary and taught the people about the Christian God and prepared many of them for baptism and entrance into the Catholic Church.

Saint Patrick is traditionally associated with the shamrock, a three-leaf clover.  He made use of it to teach about the Trinity (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  Saint Patrick worked tirelessly in his ministry and won a very special place in the hearts of the Irish people.

The following “St. Patrick’s Prayer” provided by the media outlet “Irish Central” reflects the spiritual focus of this great saint:

May the strength of God pilot us.
May the power of God preserve us.
May the wisdom of God instruct us.
May the hand of God protect us.
May the way of God direct us.
May the shield of God defend us.
May the host of God guard us,
Against the snares of the evil ones,
Against the temptations of the world.
May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us!
May Christ be over all!
May thy salvation, Lord, Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and evermore.  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that Saint Patrick prayed for perseverance to be a faithful witness to the Gospel as he embraced the mission and ministry of Christ.  As we know, we are in the midst of the season of Lent.  During this special time, we are challenged in the spirit of Saint Patrick to persevere in our desire to embrace a spirit of sacrifice, renewal, and repentance as we continue on our Lenten journey of faith, and as we wait to celebrate the Easter Resurrection of Jesus.

This week we will offer a two-day Lenten Parish Mission on Monday, March 10^th and Tuesday, March 11^th.  The mission will be presented by Fr. Joel Martin, O.S.B., an experienced retreat master and mission leader from Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama.  His theme will be: “Lent: A Path to Spiritual Growth”.  We will offer morning and evening sessions.  Fr. Joel will encourage us to use this time to get closer to the Lord’s loving embrace, and more fully live and boldly proclaim our Catholic faith.

A Parish Mission can be viewed as an opportunity for spiritual healing, renewal, and reconciliation.  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.

As we know, during the season of Lent we are challenged in a special way to acknowledge our sins and shortcomings and seek God’s mercy.  We will offer additional times and dates to provide us with a great opportunity to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  The Sacrament is also available by appointment.  We can examine our conscience and acknowledge the ways in which we may have compromised our spiritual integrity.

At times, we need to be reminded that the Sacrament is here to heal, not to condemn.  It is here to get us closer to the Lord who loves us.  As previously noted, Pope Francis stated, “In confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.”  Our Holy Father also reminded us that, “Confession is the sacrament of the tenderness of God, his way of embracing us.”  He urged those who have been away from the Sacrament to be not afraid to reach out to the Lord who will receive you with open arms.

During the Lenten season, we will have additional priests available to serve as instruments of the Lord’s pardon, mercy, and forgiveness, and to help us experience spiritual joy in our hearts.  Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we can more effectively embrace the right spiritual course as we cleanse our souls and prepare for the commemoration of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Details concerning the Mission and information concerning opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, can be obtained from the Parish bulletin, as well as from the Parish office and website.  I hope that you will prayerfully consider participating in the Parish Mission and avail yourself of great opportunities to enhance your spiritual life during this special season of Lent.

Next Wednesday in the Church year is Ash Wednesday. It is a day of fasting and abstinence.  Guidelines concerning fasting and abstinence are included in our Parish bulletin and on our Parish website.  Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of people as a reminder of human mortality, and as a sign of repentance and contrition.  It marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is the time, approximating forty days of reflection and penance leading up to Easter.  Many people will attend Church on this day to receive ashes as they strive to enter into the spirit of the season.

During this special time in the Church year, we are encouraged to strive to unite our hearts with the Lord in a very substantive way.  We can therefore turn to God and seek spiritual renewal in heart, mind and body through the disciplines of Lent: prayer, almsgiving, and fasting if we are physically able.  In a recent address as reported in the media outlet, “Catholic News Agency”, Pope Francis noted that these three pillars form a “movement of openness and self-emptying in which we cast out the idols that weigh us down, the attachments that imprison us.”

Pope Francis reminded the faithful that Lent is a time to strive in a special way to spiritually renew our lives.  We can respond to the challenge to truly strive to turn away from sin and toward the living God, and we can avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  The sacrament is not here to punish us, but rather to get us closer to the God who loves us.  It is here to heal, not to condemn, and to get us back on track spiritually.  We will provide many opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Lenten season, including several morning and evening sessions.  In addition, we will continue to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation by appointment.

As an aid to our Lenten journey, a schedule of important dates, events and liturgies during Lent and during Holy Week can be found on the Parish website.  During this journey, we are challenged to go beyond our comfort zones and experience the love and mercy of the Lord in a very profound way.  Please take every opportunity to avail yourself of this special time of grace as we prepare to celebrate the Easter Resurrection of Our Lord.

As a parish community, we are blessed to be a part of the vibrant Archdiocese of Atlanta.  The archdiocese shares in the mission of the universal Church.  One way it does this is through the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. 

This weekend we initiate discussion of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal for 2025 at our Masses.   The theme of the Appeal is “We Are One Body in Christ.”  At this time, Catholics are invited to make a significant pledge so that we can meet the spiritual, educational, and temporal needs of our parishes and our people.

Archbishop Hartmayer stated, “The Annual Appeal provides an opportunity for us to put our faith into action by putting the gifts with which the Lord has blessed us in the service of others.   As the main source of funding for all the ministerial, outreach, education, formation, and discipleship work of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, your sacrificial gift-giving allows us to continue the work of Christ throughout our Archdiocese.”

Specifically, a substantial portion of our contributions to the Appeal provide funds that go to the training and support of future happy, holy, and healthy priests needed to serve the Church of tomorrow.  We are blessed to have a newly ordained priest who benefited directly from the Appeal, Fr. Colin Patrick, serving in our parish.  Our contributions are also used for the training and formation of permanent deacons and others in religious life.  Through your generosity and your prayers, vocations are being embraced as we go forth in service of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.

In addition, the Appeal supports Catholic Charities, which continues to make a focused effort to assist homeless military veterans in the Atlanta area and in other local areas and to help stabilize their lives with housing and employment assistance.  The Appeal also supports priest retirement programs as well as other Archdiocesan pastoral outreach, education, and formation programs that serve our Parish as well as our larger Church community.

We invite you to prayerfully consider making a pledge to the 2025 Appeal and ask you to give generously and sacrificially.  We thank all who have already given them via the mail or online.  For those who have not yet contributed, we ask you to make a commitment using a pledge envelope that will be provided during Mass this weekend.  Information about the Appeal has been provided in the Church Bulletin and on the Parish website.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, we are challenged to respond in faith to this invitation and request.  Your continued generosity is truly appreciated.

Thank you for all you do to support our Church community.

On Saturday, February 1st, we celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Brigid, the patron saint of our Parish.  She was an Irish Christian nun and joined Saint Patrick as one of the patron saints of Ireland.  She is traditionally associated with the Cross of Saint Brigid.  This cross is made from reeds or straw and is often placed in homes for blessing and protection.  Saint Brigid is known for her extraordinary spirituality.  She worked tirelessly to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She traveled widely throughout Ireland, founding many convents and fostering vocation awareness.  Saint Brigid organized communal consecrated religious life for the women of Ireland.  Her focus on communal prayer and work attracted many followers.  She played a major role in making Ireland a Christian nation.  Many would travel long distances to seek her spiritual advice and counsel.  Many were led to the faith through her words and example, and she can serve as a wonderful model for us.

Saint Brigid is associated with Christian charity and is celebrated for her generosity to those in need.  It was said that she could not bear to see anyone cold or hungry since she truly believed that Christ dwelt in every person.  She strived to work with the less fortunate with love and compassion.  Her love of God and love of neighbor were obvious to all who knew her. Catholic education also was a great priority for her.  Saint Brigid strived to see that the Catholic faith was taught clearly and thoroughly.  She founded several schools and is regarded as the patron saint of students.

The following “Prayer to Saint Brigid” reflects the spirituality of her life:

Brigid: you were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious,
And may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all god has made.
Brigid, you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body, and spirit.
Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are strongly encouraged to make a conscious effort to celebrate the life and legacy of this great saint.

This week we celebrate National Catholic Schools Week, with the theme of “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community”. It is hosted by the National Catholic Education Association, (NCAE).  The organization states, “Catholic Schools have an irreplaceable role in the Church’s evangelizing mission.  Building on the central goal of Catholic schools to form saints, Catholic schools teach and embrace the whole person, body, mind and spirit.  The fact that all members of a Catholic school community share the Christian vision of faith that Christ is the foundation of Catholic education is what unites the school as a faith-filled community.”  NCAE also notes that, “While faith is the binding element in Catholic schools, the Church reiterates that parents are the first teachers of their children.  Holding this tenet, Catholic school communities expand beyond the walls of school buildings to envelop the family as an integral part of the school community.  Together teachers, administrators, staff, students and parents fuel the light of faith by integrating culture with faith and faith with living.”
Catholic education has always been a priority for the Catholic bishops of our nation.  For many years, Catholic schools had been staffed primarily by nuns, religious brothers, and priests.  They are now staffed primarily by lay teachers who truly view teaching as their vocation.  These teachers strive to educate and form students who will embrace and spread the faith.  We are blessed to have such dedicated men and women teaching our students.

This Sunday we also focus on the work of the Mustard Seed Communities (MSC).  Mustard Seed was founded by Msgr. Gregory Ramkissoon, a Catholic priest in Jamaica.  MSC started in Jamaica and expanded to Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Africa.  It cares for several hundred children with special physical and mental health needs, many of whom have been abandoned.  Pope Francis stated, “We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished, and protected.” Mustard Seed strives to love and protect the most vulnerable of our children.  It strives to focus on these children as gifts from God.  MSC also manages a number of community outreach programs to combat poverty and provide educational opportunities to local populations.

Saint Brigid Parish supports MSC primarily through its spiritual and financial assistance.  Our parishioners also participate in mission trips to assist in the construction of appropriate housing for the children in need.  Some of our parishioners have also adopted children from various communities of Mustard Seed.  Representatives of MSC will be available after the Masses this weekend to answer questions about the Community and the work it does.  Please prayerfully consider supporting MSC as we stand united with the least of our brothers and sisters.

Our Holy Father Pope Francis has spoken often and eloquently about the value of human life and the dignity of the human person.  As reported in the media outlet, “National Catholic Register”, he stated that “in all its phases and at any age, human life is always sacred.  Every child who, rather than being born, is condemned unjustly to be aborted, bears the face of Jesus Christ, bears the face of the Lord, who even before he was born, and then just after birth, experienced the world’s rejection.”

As Catholics, we are called to respect the fundamental dignity of the human person and hope to see that dignity be granted to all of God’s children, including our preborn brothers and sisters.  This support for the fundamental dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life will be emphasized on Saturday, January 25th at a special Mass for the Preborn at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.  At the Mass, we will be reminded about how all of God’s children deserve our love and support, and that we should pray that God will change the hearts and minds of those who fail to value the gift of life.

The following prayer titled “Children are a Gift” provided by “Priests for Life” reflects our concern for the value of life.

God, You are the source of all Life.  At the beginning of history, You gave us the command to be fertile and multiply.
You call us to be generous in cooperating with You in bringing forth new life, new children for Your kingdom and Your glory.
We rejoice, O God, in the gift and privilege that You give Your sons and daughters to welcome new life from You and to cooperate with You in receiving, cherishing, and nurturing that new life.
Bless all parents, Lord, and help those who are afraid to be parents.  Dispel their fears, give them confidence, and fill their hearts with the awareness that children are a gift from You.
May we always reverence that gift, knowing that we can neither demand it nor discard it.  May we be found faithful stewards of creation, beginning with the children You entrust not only to their parents but to the protection and care of us all.
We pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, Our Holy Father Pope Francis has challenged us to bear witness not only to the value and sacredness of the preborn but also to the elderly and the physically and mentally ill.  He also asked us to be compassionate toward those suffering from the painful trauma of abortion and to pray for their healing.

This Sunday marks the end of our Christmas Season as we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  The sacrament of Baptism serves as the gateway to the other sacraments.  Jesus began his public ministry after being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.

Then this coming Saturday, January 18^th, we begin the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  During this week, our bishops ask us to unite in prayer with our Christian brothers and sisters.  Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, spoke of the bond of unity and sharing that should mark the lives of all Christians.  He has issued a call for unity focused on love, as reported by the media outlet “Catholic News Service,” stating, “Only a love that becomes gratuitous service, only the love Jesus taught and embodied, will bring separated Christians closer to one another.”  Pope Francis also noted that “Prayer for unity is the primary responsibility in our journey together.  And it is a sacred responsibility because it means being in communion with the Lord, who prayed above all to the Father for unity.”

Unity was also an important part of the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he sought to unite all people through a message of love.  Our nation celebrates the legacy of Dr. King, and we honor him in a special way on Monday, January 20^th.  We honor him for his work in promoting the fundamental dignity of the human person regardless of skin color.  He first served the Lord as an eloquent and effective preacher.  Then the Lord called him to lead a great struggle against the grave injustice of racial inequality.  At great risk to his personal safety and that of his family, he humbly responded in faith and worked tirelessly to lead the struggle for civil rights in this country.  He focused on a message of love, stating, “I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

In honoring the legacy of Dr. King, we recognize the great strides that our country has made in overcoming the racial injustices of the past as many hearts and minds have been changed.  We also realize that much still needs to be done to heal the wounds and divisions that continue to exist.  People of goodwill need to strive to further enhance the dignity of the human person and foster a true sense of unity.

As we reflect on the profound words of Pope Francis and Dr. King, and as we continue in this New Year, we are invited to pray that hearts and minds will continue to be changed and that a true sense of harmony and unity will be embraced.

The Parish office is closed for the Martin Luther King Jr.  Memorial Holiday, January 20th, 2024.

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.  On this day, we focus on the wise men, the Magi who were guided by a star while on a difficult journey to encounter the Lord.  They faced many risks and obstacles on their journey.  These risks and obstacles included the danger inherent in traveling on a difficult and arduous journey.  They probably battled the hot blazing sun by day and the freezing cold at night.  They were probably, at times, hungry, frustrated, and tempted to turn back.  Yet, they persevered on their journey to encounter Christ.

Like the wise men, Pope Francis reminded us that we are also on a journey, a journey of faith.  As reported in the media outlet, “Catholic News Service”, he stated, “Let us set out anew from God; let us seek from him the courage not to lose heart in the face of difficulties, the strength to surmount all obstacles.”  He further noted, “We need to let ourselves walk in friendship with the Lord, we need his love to sustain us, and the light of his word to guide us, like a star in the night.”

As we reflect on these words, and as we continue our faith journey, we may encounter obstacles in the form of friends, co-workers and even loved ones who subject us to ridicule because we dare to further search for the Lord in our lives.  In addition, we may encounter those in our society who do not want to include a place for the Lord in our marriages, in our homes, or in our schools.  We may also have to deal with our own pride, stubbornness, and selfishness which may be serious obstacles for us.

Fortunately, like the wise men, we do not undertake our spiritual journey alone.  Like these wise men, we are part of a community, a family of faith.  We journey and persevere as a community of faith despite the risks and obstacles that we may encounter on a daily basis.   As a community of faith, we can assist each other in overcoming the many obstacles we face.  We need each other’s guidance; we need each other’s support; we need each other’s encouragement; we need each other’s prayers.

Pope Francis has challenged us, as Catholics, to be a more integral part of the Church in the past.  He spoke of the need for community, the bond of unity and sharing that should mark the lives of all Christians on their spiritual journey.  He encouraged the faithful to embrace “the joy to live in harmonious communion.”

As we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, and as the New Year progresses, we are invited to heed the words of Pope Francis and strive to further encounter the Lord in some profound and personal way.

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has challenged us to strive for spiritual unity and for the strengthening of families by following the example of the Holy Family, especially in these difficult and uncertain times.

Then, this coming Wednesday, we begin the New Year, and we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Pope Francis also has encouraged the faithful to look to Mary as a model, and to follow her example of holiness.  As reported in the media outlet, “Catholic News Agency”, he stated, “The New Year begins under the sign of the Holy Mother of God, under the sign of the Mother.”  He noted, “We need mothers, women who look at the world not to exploit it, but so that it can have life.” He also challenged the faithful to take a more spiritual focus to the New Year, in the midst of the many temptations of the secular world.

This hope for a more spiritual focus is reflected in the following “A New Year’s Prayer” by an anonymous author:

May God make your year a happy one.
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
 But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
 But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
 Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.   Amen.

As we begin the New Year, and as we reflect on this prayer, many of us make resolutions to renew or revitalize our lives in certain ways.  We may resolve to lose weight, or exercise more frequently, or be more punctual.  But we can also consider ways that we can renew or revitalize our lives spiritually.  One way we can embrace spiritual renewal is by praying each day, especially as a family if circumstances permit.  It may be before meals.  It may be at a certain time in the day.  Most of us are busy people, with different schedules, often going in different directions within our family unit.  So, it may require some discipline and structure to make the time to pray together but hopefully it will be spiritually beneficial.

On behalf of Msgr. Marren, Fr. Bill, Fr. Colin, our Deacons, and staff, we wish you and your families many spiritual blessings in the year to come.

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.

Your donation allows us to invite dynamic speakers like Dr. Hunt to  Saint Brigid.   Thank you for your contribution.

This Sunday begins the Season of Advent.  It 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.  As reported in the media publication, “Vatican News”, Our Holy Father Pope Francis focused on the importance of spiritual preparation during Advent.  He noted that it is with “affection-filled expectation that we also want to prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus at Christmas.  Let us carefully prepare the house of the heart, so that it may be orderly and hospitable.”

As we reflect on these words of Our Holy Father, and as we begin our Advent Season, we are pleased to sponsor an Advent Parish Mission presented by Dr. Allen Hunt.  He is a well-known author and former radio host who converted to the Catholic faith in 2008.  Dr. Hunt is also a dynamic speaker and conference leader who focuses on enhancing the spiritual life of those who wish to grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Christian life.

A Parish Mission can be viewed as an opportunity for spiritual reflection and conversion.  It also can provide an opportunity to change hearts and transform lives as we renew and strengthen our relationship with Our Lord.

At this special time, we are urged to remain watchful and vigilant as we wait in joyful anticipation for the coming of the Lord.  This Christmas we are invited to give the Lord the gift of a pure heart by being spiritually prepared for His coming.  During the Mission, Dr. Hunt will speak about more fully understanding and appreciating the Eucharist and the joy we experience as we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child.  He will also focus on the hope-filled meaning of Advent.

There will be time for prayer and reflection.  The message of Dr. Hunt should resonate with all people of goodwill including families, young adults, and teens.

We invite you to come to this Mission.  Please invite your friends, especially those Catholics who may have been away from the Church for some time and for some reason.  Through God’s grace, you may be instrumental in getting your friends to return to the precious faith we love and cherish.

The Advent Mission will take place on Monday, December 9th, and Tuesday, December 10th, with morning or afternoon sessions for your convenience.  There will be a light reception on Monday in Corbett Hall after the Holy Day Mass at 5:00 PM.

We invite you to participate in the Parish Mission and avail yourself of this special time of grace.

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