Daily Prayer for Priest O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church ... give us holy priests. You yourself maintain them in holiness.
O Divine and Great High Priest, may the power of Your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect them from the devil's traps and snares, which are continually being set for the souls of priests.
May the power of Your Mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring the naught all that might tarnish the sanctity of priest, for You can do all things. - St. Faustina (Diary, 1052)
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My Dear People,
The Epiphany of Our Lord celebrates the Divine and human nature of Jesus Christ, the King. Even in the stable, Our Lord was beginning His reign here on Earth. Saving one soul at a time through His Cross and Resurrection, begins in the Manger. No wonder the Angels were singing, “Glory to God in the Highest”. They were given a knowing of the glorious end of the mission of Jesus, even as an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.
This Christ Child will place all powers and principalities under His feet at some future time. We see in the Gospel today, the Three Kings placing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh before Our Lord. These treasures represent the three gifts given to all of us at our Baptism. We were all anointed to be priest, prophet and king. These are our Baptismal roles. All baptized Christians are called to assist Our Lord in spreading the Kingdom of God. Whether we are single, married, or serving as a priest or religious, we are to minister to the Word. All nations need to hear God’s Word preached to them. That is one mission given to us at the Baptism font. Like the Shepherds filled with joy, may we give glory to the Lord in our words and deeds.
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
May we always protect the Word of God given in our hearts at Baptism.
My Dear People,
Emmanuel translates, “God with us”. What a beautiful reminder that Our Father in Heaven never leaves us, even when we abandon Him. Jesus, present in all the tabernacles of the world, reigns in our midst. The Holy Spirit comes to live in our very soul. How blessed are we to have the Trinity come to dwell with us.
In the manger, the Virgin presents Her Child to us. As we draw close to the stable of Our Lord, may we have a great desire to embrace Him with great love. Such intense love, Our Lady has for Her Son Jesus. Mary teaches us how to cradle the Child Jesus in the manger of our hearts. Pray to be open to Emmanuel in our midst. Ask Our Blessed Mother to teach you how to welcome the Saviour in our presence.
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
As our celebration of Christmas draws nearer, may we be more deeply aware that every gift is from God, and He alone is the owner and ruler of all things.
Eight Day Novena prayer to the Christ Child
O Holy Son of God, You became a man, in order to make yourself known by mankind. But where is the love that men give to you in return?
You have given your Precious Blood to save our souls. Why then is that man is so ungrateful for such a gift? And I, too, have returned such ingratitude.
I love you, O precious Infant in the Manger, O Word Incarnate, make me grateful for Your Infinite and Divine Mercy. Allow me to look upon You in the crib surrounded by such simple gifts of nature. Grant that I may always have the desire to be so pure and simple of heart. AMEN…
(1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be to be prayed after each novena offering)
Be Pure And Simple As The Holy Shepherds.
My Dear People,
Gaudete Sunday reminds us that we are to “rejoice” because the Lord’s coming is at hand. In a very  short while, we will behold Our Saviour in the manger. Jesus comes to save us from our sins. As a child wrapped in swaddling clothes, Jesus reaches out to all of us. Who could reject a little infant, warm and inviting? This warm welcome from Our Saviour is extended to all mankind. This Christmas, take time to come before the Christ Child. Even better yet, pray the eight day novena to the Infant in the Manger as a preparation for Christmas. In this beautiful novena, ask Jesus to reign in your home and heart. What better way to begin the New Year, than to have the Child Jesus living in the stable of your heart. Like the Holy Shepherds, be pure and simple. Your Christmas can then be one to remember for years to come.
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
May we always welcome the Child Jesus into the manger of our heart and soul. Come Lord Jesus, Come!
Eight Day Novena prayer to the Christ Child
O Holy Son of God, You became a man, in order to make yourself known by mankind. But where is the love that men give to you in return?
You have given your Precious Blood to save our souls. Why then is that man is so ungrateful for such a gift? And I, too, have returned such ingratitude.
I love you, O precious Infant in the Manger, O Word Incarnate, make me grateful for Your Infinite and Divine Mercy. Allow me to look upon You in the crib surrounded by such simple gifts of nature. Grant that I may always have the desire to be so pure and simple of heart. AMEN…
(1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be to be prayed after each novena offering)
My Dear People,
“O Come O Come Emmanuel” is the cry of the Advent Season. We begin the Church’s new year with the first Sunday of Advent this week. Longing for the coming of the Messiah, the Jewish nation anticipated His arrival. The scriptures were clear about His origin. Born in Bethlehem from the royal line of King David, He would rule with strength and peace. All nations will stream to the Lord’s mountain. The Anointed One will come to rule all peoples. It will be a time of peace unlike any other age. As we move toward the time of Jesus’ birth, take time to meditate on His coming. Hunger for His presence. There is no better time for worship than in the adoration chapel. Renew your commitment to Our Lord in weekly adoration. “Come let us ADORE Him!” Christ the Lord…
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
May we put God first on our Christmas list, planning ways that we can give time, talent and treasure back to the Lord who has given us all that we have.
My Dear People,
 Christ the King The feast of Christ the King is the capstone of the Easter event. Every year, at the conclusion of the Church’s year, we look forward to crowning Jesus Christ, King of All Nations. We recognize that someday He will return to claim from the devil what was taken from Adam and Eve; and ultimately from us as well. The great deceiver, who has temporal power now, will be cast into the depths of hell, and locked up for a period of time.
In the end, Christ will have all power, glory and honor. If we have died with Him, we shall also rise and reign with Him. As we prayed in the responsorial psalm this Sunday. “Let us go rejoicing to the House of the Lord!” May your New Year’s resolution this season, include giving Christ the King first place in your heart and your home. Come Lord Jesus, COME!
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
May we serve Jesus, Our King, with love and gratitude, generously offering our gifts to help build up the Kingdom of God here on earth.
My Dear People,
Don’t Be Confused With The End of Time and the End of All Time
“See that you are not deceived…” is the admonition given in the Gospel this week. The question was posed to Jesus, when will the end of time occur? Jesus tell His Disciples signs will take place before the “end of time”. This is not to be confused with the end of the world, or the end of all time. Jesus states, “there will be wars and rumors of wars, and many nations will be at odds with each other.” A false Messiah will appear on the scene saying that he is the one the nations have longed for. Earthquakes, famines, plaques, and awesome sights will take place. It will be a time of great turmoil. Christians will be hated, jailed, and persecuted all on behalf of the Holy Name.
“Do not be afraid, Jesus, tells us, for the Holy Spirit will speak through us at that time.” All of this must take place in order for the reign of peace to take place. So we are not to be depressed or sad when these things happen. Stand up straight and look toward the Heavens for the Lord. He has conquered sin and death. “Maranatha” Come Lord Jesus Come.
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
May we always remember those who need the help and support this parish community can give through our combined gifts of time, talent and treasure.
My Dear People,
 Purgatory It has been the glorious tradition of the Catholic Church to pray for the dead, particularly our own family members. We know that we all sin. We lack perfect contrition for our sin. And so, when we die, everyone with the exception of Our Blessed Mother, carries the stain of sin into eternity. There are no shadows in Heaven, because we are immersed in the Light and Beauty of God. God the Father is merciful. We have the opportunity to have “burned” from our souls, any remaining stain of sin. Purgatory is God’s merciful gift to us.
Poor souls found there cannot sin nor pray for themselves. That’s where we come into the picture. Our prayers, masses, rosaries, novenas, indulgences, and sacrifices are what “lift up” the poor souls in Purgatory. PLEASE, please remember to pray and sacrifice daily for the deceased members of your family. Your “prayer relief” is the greatest treasure they can receive in their state of being purified. We pray each month at the poor souls mass, for all of your prayer intentions. Please make praying for the dead, a daily habit in your life. When you and I find ourselves in Purgatory, after our own death, it is then that we will thank God for all the prayers we will receive on our behalf.
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
May we always be eager to pray for the repose of the poor souls in purgatory.
Fr. Mark Bozada – What Can You Learn From Zacchaeus?
My Dear People,
Zacchaeus was a known sinner in Jesus’ day. He was a chief tax collector who embezzled money from his peers. Since he worked for the Roman government collecting taxes, he was greatly despised by his contemporaries. When Jesus came to eat at the home of Zaccheaus, the crowd began to grumble, “Who is this Jesus who dines with public sinners?” In response, Zaccheaus does not become defensive, but rather he is repentant. “I shall repay what I owe four times over the amount.” Jesus’ Divine Mercy had touched Zaccheaus’s heart to the core. No longer was he measuring affection in terms of wealth, but in Our Lord’s forgiveness.
How we can learn from Zaccheaus’s conversion! “Jesus declares that salvation has come to this descendant of Abraham.” For the Son of Man has come to save what was lost. We need to be found by Jesus, for like Zaccheaus, we too were once lost. Now we are “found.” There is no faster way to “be found” by Jesus except in the confessional. Please make confession regular in your own lives. Jesus waits for us there.
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
May we joyfully share the abundant gifts God has given to us with others.
My Dear People,
 Beg For Divine Mercy God’s Divine Mercy is a gift. It flows from the Holy Wounds of Jesus Christ from the Cross. Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity are extended to us so that we might be freed from eternal damnation. When the tax collector begs for Divine Mercy, God the Father lavishly pours it over the sinner. Luke’s Gospel reminds us that God Our Father in Heaven is generous with His Gifts. He asks only for our humility and obedience in return. The tax collector surrenders himself to God. Therefore, God grants the sinner His forgiveness. In the process, the tax collector is lifted up to God with great joy.
Angels and saints rejoice in heaven over repentant sinners. Self-righteousness suffocates Divine Mercy. We must be careful not to compare ourselves to others, otherwise we might fall into the same trap as the Pharisees. Seek the Lord. Call to Him. Pray to remain obedient and humble in God’s eyes. Rejoice in His love for you. He will never abandon you. His Mercy first forever.
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
May we kneel before God everyday, humbly recognizing that everything we have is a gift. May we ask God to guide us in the ways we use and share His gifts to us.
My Dear People,
 St. Rose Philippine Duchesne St. Rose Philippine Duchesne was born in Grenoble, France during the French Revolution. She had a great desire to leave France and serve the Native American population in America. As a Madame of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she came to serve at their academy in St. Charles, MO and in Florissant, MO. It wasn’t until the end of her life that she got her wish to serve the Indian community in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. It was at that mission, that this great Saint and patron of St. Louis, MO became known as the “saint who prays ALWAYS.”
The Indian children would place leaves and sticks upon her feet as she knelt to pray at night, to see if she would stop and to take a break. Eight hours later the next day, they would find the twigs in exactly the same place as they had left them the previous night before, undisturbed. What a great witness for the Church, to have such a dedicated lover of Jesus constantly in prayer. Today’s Gospel from Luke teaches us that we are to be persistent in our prayer. Would anyone accuse you of praying constantly to Our Lord? What a great accusation that would be. Ceaseless prayer should be the goal of all Christians. Ask God for a prayerful heart. He will give you your hearts desire.
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
May we be persistent in our prayer and sacrifice, even when it is not convenient.
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