Homily Rewind from St. Margaret Mary Church

Father Walsh highlights the Church's shift in healing practices, favoring anointing at the start of illness over the end. He then introduces the 2024 Bishop's Appeal, urging everyone to contribute.

Deacon Tommy appreciates St. Margaret Mary as a guiding light, underlining the significance of teaching with love. He also talks about Catholic Schools Week, praising the community and recognizing the positive influence of Catholic education.

Fr. Walsh challenges us to understand and appreciate the mysteries of our faith by using the tool that He has given to us…The Word of God.

Deacon Walt encourages everyone to hear God's call and emphasizes the importance of sharing the life-changing experience of encountering the living God.

Fr. Joshy encourages us to follow the example of the Magi by embodying their faith and good deeds. He urges us to leave behind worldly ways, embrace the path to Jesus, and deeply desire the Lord in order to have a meaningful experience of the Lord's epiphany.

Fr. Walsh encourages us to deepen our faith by going the extra mile in our lives. Attending Mass becomes a meaningful expression of this commitment. He highlights the ongoing need for God's love and grace to extend beyond personal spirituality to our entire country.

Fr. Paul recounts receiving a card that carried a profound message. The card, from God, expressed the gift of His only son, Jesus, as the ultimate Christmas present. The message conveyed the promise of Jesus being the Savior, providing love every day, granting eternal life, and ensuring constant care.

Fr. Joshy underscores the significance of not losing sight of Jesus amid the Christmas celebrations. He stresses that the birth of baby Jesus demands space in our hearts, highlighting that Jesus alone should be the reason for the season.

Deacon Tommy encourages us to bring the light of God into the world during Christmas. The call is to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in our families as the year progresses.

Fr. Joshy highlights the importance of joy during the Christmas season, encouraging everyone to rejoice in the Lord always. He explores the enduring joy rooted in faith, hope, and love, underscoring that true happiness lies in faithfulness to God rather than material wealth.

This Advent Fr. Walsh explains we are all called to "Bring One Back." We all have a responsibility to our friends and our family to share the light of Christ with them by encouraging them to live their faith in community with us all.

The First Sunday of Advent is all about hope. Deacon Dave encourages us to take the hope we hold in our hearts this Advent Season and share it with the world. We need to invite those close to us back to the full experience of our Church.

Christ will come again! Fr. Walsh tells us about the end times, and the return of Christ. He says we need to be ready and to live each day like it is our last.

We all need to prepare for the end of time. Fr. Joshy asks us how are we preparing? We are challenged to do the best with the gifts that we are given, it is with our best effort that we will receive our eternal rewards.

Be Humble. Be Watchful. Deacon Walt tells us that we need to be over-prepared for the end times, to do this we need to live out the Gospel constantly in our everyday lives.

Fr. Walsh asks us tonight, “What kind of leader are you?” He challenges us with a 3 fold challenge. 1.) To lead with a servant heart. 2.) To answer the call to become involved with our parish. 3.) To help with our Thanksgiving and Christmas Stores.

Jesus tells us we need to love God, but also we need to love our neighbor. Deacon Tommy challenges us, as we embark on this week of All Saints' and All Souls' days, that we need to remember those that came before us and continue to show the love that they have brought into this world.

"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God." Fr. Joshy tells us, we all belong to God because we are made in his image. We are all encouraged to give ourselves to God fully, in every aspect of our lives.

Why are we named St. Margaret Mary? Fr. Walsh tells us, if he had a choice, he would choose our patroness St. Margaret Mary. Her devotion to the heart of Jesus needs to inspire us all.

Fr. Walsh challenges us to participate in a process to help us navigate the direction of our parish in the coming years.

Make good choices! Deacon Bill tells us that we are all ingrained with what is right and wrong, and it is up to us to make good decisions. If we do make bad ones we can always be redeemed.

God loves each and every person. Fr. Walsh tells us our all merciful God welcomes us, no matter when we decide to come to Him.

"There is no peace without justice, and there can be no justice without forgiveness." Fr. Joshy tells us we need to forgive in order to be forgiven by God.

Fr. Walsh reminds us that this month focuses on the Season of Creation. He says we all need to be better stewards of our world. We all are called to be more careful to use the resources we have in a responsible way.

Jesus needs to be the center of everything we do. Deacon Tommy tells us we all have our cross to bear, but we will never carry our cross alone, we always have support in our community, our Church, and ultimately our God.