Homily for Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious (Year C - 11/17/2025)

This Sunday, we mark the end of the liturgical year with the great Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The Church, in her infinite wisdom, has given us the month of November, in which we remember and pray for our faithful departed, to reflect and take stock of our own lives this past year. And today’s reading from the First Book of Maccabees, in a way, guides us in our reflection through the lens of Jewish people, who were persecuted under the rule of the Seleucid kings who attempted to suppress Judaism in Palestine in the second century B.C. (USCCB.org).

We hear in the first reading that the king “authorized them to introduce the way of living of the Gentiles.” We hear how many of the Jewish people “abandoned the holy covenant” with God, “allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.” Even more blasphemous was how “many children of Israel were in favor of [the king’s religion]” and how “they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.” In a way, they were like the “blind man” in today’s Gospel who sat by the roadside on the way to Jericho.

My sisters and brothers in Christ, how have we “abandoned the holy covenant” that we made with God through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, the covenant to love God above all and to obey his commandments. How have we submitted ourselves to “wrongdoings” by allowing ourselves to fall to temptation and sin? Worst of all, what idols have we allowed to infiltrate our hearts, which is the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corin. 3:16-17 and 6:19-20)? How have we become blind to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is always knocking on the door of our hearts, who is always “approaching” us so that we can come to know him and have “life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)?

However, it is never too late with God. As Sister Clare Crockett once said, “It’s not how you start that makes you a Saint, but how you finish. It’s not who you were, it’s who you decide to become.” Therefore, as we also heard in the first reading, let us be like the “many in Israel [who] were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food or to profane the holy covenant. . .” Let us be like the blind man, in today’s Gospel, who had the courage, in the face of being rebuked by others, to cry out to our Lord and our God, saying: “Jesus. . . have pity on me!” Because when we turn to God with humble and contrite hearts, we will find Jesus waiting to say to us, “What do you want me to do for you?” And when we come to him in faith, especially here at the altar of the Lord in the celebration of the Eucharist, Jesus will save us from the afflictions that separate us from his love and mercy and restore us as beloved sons and daughters of our Father in heaven.

And so, my sisters and brothers in Christ, as we wind down the liturgical year and look ahead to Advent and the start of the new liturgical year, let us find strength in the Eucharist and resolve to go in peace, glorify the Lord by our lives.

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111725.cfm

Reflecting on the Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation (11/8/2025) (UPDATED 11/17/2025)

On Saturday, Theresa and I went for a brisk walk with 70+ friends as part of the Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation for the Laudato Si Movement in Texas. Our good friends, the Carrizales, invited us to join them on this pilgrimage and we were blessed that we accepted their invitation. While many of our group rode the Capital Metro monorail (some as far as Leander) to Brush Square, we did our part by carpooling.

We got to Brush Square before our group and as we were waiting and chatting, we saw individuals from the Austin Bicycle Meals roll through the park passing out meals to the homeless present at the park. This is a similar concept to Mobile Loaves and Fishes and, as I learned from Karen (pictured below talking with one of the Austin Bicycle Meals folds), they go around during cold days of winter to pass out blankets to the homeless as well. This group is certainly living out God's Commandment to love our neighbor and adhering to Jesus' teaching on "The Judgment of Nations" in Matthew, Chapter 25.

When the rest of our group arrived to Brush Square, via the monorail, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many folks from my home parish of Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church. I was asked to lead us in prayer with this prayer:

Good & Gracious God, we acknowledge the sacredness of this land, where cotton was sold and traded. We remember that the soil brought forth life. We give thanks for the ancient earth that nurtured generations and provided for all living things.

We also come with heavy hearts, remembering the legacy of injustice and pain woven into the history of how the cotton was grown. We lift up the souls of all who were forced to labor to grow the cotton, whose bodies and spirits were broken for a harvest that was not their own. May their memory be honored, and may their spirits find peace.

Let us find healing here from the suffering this land has absorbed. Let the memory of exploitation be replaced by a new legacy of respect and reverence for all life.

Inspire us to become good stewards of all land.

Guide our hands to work with justice and our hearts to beat with compassion.

May future harvests of cotton be symbols of reconciliation and new beginnings, rather than echoes of past harm.

Let us all be grateful for the gifts of the earth and the beauty of creation, and commit to protecting its resources for all generations to come. 

May peace and justice surround us on this sacred ground. Amen.

After the prayer, we started our walk to the next location. As we walked past the homeless, my heart ached for them. I noticed immediately that they were next to a construction site so not only do they have to contend with pollution from vehicles but the dust and noise from the construction site.

We walked the 9 blocks or so, along Trinity, to Waterloo Park. I drive by this park every day on the way home from work but I have never walked through it until now. As we descended from the street leave to the park below, I noticed right away how much cooler it was with all the foliage. Here is why Waterloo Park a sign of hope:

Waller Creek runs through the park which has been “challenged by intense development. Herons perch on drain pipes . . . sunfish and goldfish swim in polluted runoff. Turtles poke up between Styrofoam cups, and saplings bend under sodden trash bags” but Waterloo Greenway is working on creek restoration and helping “connect all people to nature.” Waterloo was designed and built to provide “equitable access” to people with disabilities as well.

As we walked through Waterloo Park, I was struck with the thought of how we take for granted the ability to just turn on the faucet and have cleaning water flow forth from the faucet and how so many people, here in Austin, TX, do not have access to this most basic of needs, let alone countries that do not have access to clean water. Every day, as I drive to and from work, I cannot help but wonder how much strain we are putting on our natural resources with every building, high-rise, etc. that we build.

After we said our prayer, we continued our pilgrimage to the State Capitol. These excerpts from Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si', struck me as it relates to governance and the care of our "common home," particularly the one about courageous politicians. I pray that we have such politicians and leaders in our government - local, state, national, and international.

“Unless citizens control political power – national, regional and municipal – it will not be possible to control damage to the environment.” (LS 179) 

“[P]olicies related to climate change and environmental protection cannot be altered with every change of government.” (LS 181)

“If [politicians] are courageous, they will attest to their God-given dignity and leave behind a testimony of selfless responsibility.” (LS 181)

“Social problems must be addressed by community networks and not simply by the sum of individual good deeds.” (LS 219)

While at the Capitol, we walked to the Texas African-American History Memorial. This is why the memorial is a sign of hope:

From slavery to freedom, struggle to triumph, the monument honors the many contributions of African Americans in Texas and depicts iconic events. “African-American Texans have contributed to the state’s culture, and have gained prominence in a host of fields. Despite the tremendous challenges posed by the institution of slavery, Jim Crow segregation and discrimination, African-Americans overcame and continue to overcome great obstacles to make a place for themselves in the Lone Star State, and are an essential part of Texas history, life and culture.”

As we said our prayer and spent some time in quiet reflection, I thought of all the homeless people we saw along the pilgrimage and how many of them were African-American. Their struggle is still ongoing even in 2025 and it is heart-breaking.

Finally, was we made our way through the sea of people attending the Texas Book Festival to Saint Mary Cathedral Bishops' Hall, it struck me how there exists two worlds in downtown Austin. As we gathered in Bishops' Hall, our leader reminded us of how blessed we are to be able to go home to homes with air conditioning and how many people cannot escape the Texas heat.

We ended at Saint Mary Cathedral where I had the blessed opportunity to serve at the Vigil Mass with Fr. Doug Jeffers.  During Mass, I looked out at my fellow pilgrims in the pews and reflected how we prayed at the various stops and took time to reflect on how we can be better stewards of God's Creation. We enjoyed a late meal and shared graces from the Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation.

God certainly blessed us with a beautiful day to spend outside and enjoy the marvel of His Creation - our "common home."

UPDATED (11/17/2025) Excerpts from "Dilexi Te" - Pope Leo XIV's Apostolic Exhortation on Love for the Poor

Resources:

• Video: What is Integral Ecology?
• The Corporal Works of Mercy
• Article: In the Heart of Austin, Signs of God’s Creation and Hope

Homily for Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church (Year C - 11/10/2025)

When I teach Baptism classes, I remind the parents that they, not the Church, are the formators of their children’s Catholic faith because of their role as leaders of their “domestic church.” Then, as I go through the Rite of Baptism with them, I emphasize to them this question that the priest or deacon will ask them: “In asking for Baptism for your child, you are undertaking the responsibility of raising him (her) in the faith, so that, keeping God’s commandments, he (she) may love the Lord and her neighbor as Christ has taught us. Do you understand this responsibility?” Of course, their answer should be “We do.”

I then share with them this verse from the Gospel of Matthew (18:2-6): “[Jesus] called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. [And here is the hinge. . .] Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Sounds familiar? It should because we just heard a similar account in the Gospel of Luke. 

My sisters and brothers in Christ, when we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of God - and, as the Catechism states, we “are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed” (1285).

Today’s saint, Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church, “was dedicated to the preservation of the teachings handed down once for all from the Apostles. His greatest triumph was the Ecumenical Council. . . held in Chalcedon. There, the Council Fathers recognised and re-affirmed the truth of the union of two natures – divine and human – in the one Person of Jesus Christ. Leo himself had proclaimed this truth in a letter. . . [and when it] was read at Chalcedon, the Council Fathers cried out ‘Peter has spoken through Leo!’” (Vatican News).

Now, for most of us, we “spread and defend the faith” starting with our own family. Through the Sacrament of Marriage, husband and wife are called to live out their Catholic faith in such a way that when others see them, they see Jesus self-sacrificing, selfless love for his bride - the Church. And should God bless them with children, parents have the responsibility to pass on their Catholic faith to their children and “defend the faith” when necessary by guiding their children on the right path but, at the very least, to not lead their children away from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is certainly a challenge for all Catholic parents striving to raise their children in our secularized society. However, Catholic parents should never feel that they have to do it on their own because, as we heard in the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, “the Spirit of the Lord fills the world, is all-embracing. . .” Parents only need to turn to God in prayer in the words of the Apostles to Jesus: "Increase our faith."

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111025.cfm

Homily for Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time (Year C - 11/3/2025)

Good morning. One of the things that I struggled with growing up was my mom’s idea of “you scratch my back, I scratch your back.” For example, when we first moved to Houston in 1990, my aunt and her family let us stay with them at their house until my parents were able to buy and fix up our house. For many years after that, she would often remind us of this when she wanted us to do something for my aunt or her family. In other words, it is our turn to “scratch their backs” because they “scratched our back” when our family needed help.

You see, in my own mind, I believed that my aunt helped our family out of the goodness of her heart and because we were family, not because she was expecting anything back in return from us. I believe that is the message that our Lord Jesus Christ is teaching us in today’s Gospel when he said to the Pharisee: “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, [and here is the key] in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.” What does Jesus tell us to do instead: “Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

This was how Saint Martin de Porres lived his life in service of God and his people. From Franciscan Media: “When Martin de Porres was 12, his mother apprenticed him to a barber-surgeon. Martin learned how to cut hair and also how to draw blood - a standard medical treatment then - care for wounds, and prepare and administer medicines. . . After a few years in this medical apostolate, Martin de Porres applied to the Dominicans to be a “lay helper,” not feeling himself worthy to be a religious brother. After nine years, the example of his prayer and penance, charity and humility, led the community to request him to make full religious profession. Many of his nights were spent in prayer and penitential practices; his days were filled with nursing the sick and caring for the poor. It was particularly impressive that he treated all people regardless of their color, race, or status. He was instrumental in founding an orphanage, took care of slaves brought from Africa, and managed the daily alms of the priory with practicality, as well as generosity.”

My sisters and brothers in Christ, we are stewards of everything that we have - our time, talent, and treasure, including our very lives. We can never repay God’s generosity, yet our Lord and our God, who is loving and merciful, continuously pours out abundant blessings upon us without expecting anything in return, except for us to be in a relationship with Him. Let us take to heart Jesus’ lessons in “humility and charitable generosity. . . seek neither honor nor reward” for our reward will be at the “resurrection of the righteous” in the kingdom of heaven.

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110325.cfm

Homily for Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time (Year C - 10/27/2025)

Good morning. At the start of Jesus’ public ministry, he “came to Nazareth. . . into the synagogue on the sabbath day. . . He unrolled the scroll [of the prophet Isaiah] and found the passage where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.’ Rolling up the scroll he handed it back to the attendant and sat down and. . . said to them, ‘Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:16-21).

This brings us to today’s Gospel and Jesus’ healing of the woman who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. Jesus keeps his promises. He “proclaimed liberty to captives” and “let the oppressed go free” when he said to her: “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” You see, she was so burdened by a spirit speaking lies to her for eighteen years that she “was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.” How many times in our lives have we been burdened by the lies of the Evil One, the Prince of Lies and Deception, that we are not able to see ourselves with the dignity of being a beloved sons and daughters of our Father in heaven, of God who created us in his loving image and after his likeness?

This is not God’s loving plan for us as Saint Paul tells us in today’s first reading: “. . .you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’” For God so loved us that He sent his only Begotten Son (John 3:16) to “proclaim liberty” to us who are held captive by temptations and oppressed by sin and let us go free. Jesus comes to us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in his Presence in the Eucharist, and sends his Spirit to us to bear witness to us that “we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ.”

That is our dignity as a Christian, as a follower of Christ, as beloved sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. This dignity gives our suffering meaning because if “we suffer with [Christ]. . . we may also be glorified with him,” and be able to “at once [stand] up straight and [glorify] God” by our lives, just like the woman did after Jesus freed her. As so, my sisters and brothers in Christ, when we receive our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, in a few moments from now, let us ask our Lord and our God to set us free of our “infirmity” so that we no longer bent over but “stand up straight,” glorying the Lord by our lives.

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102725.cfm

Homily for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C - 10/26/2025)

A few years ago, at a General Audience, Pope Francis encouraged busy Catholics to say the “Jesus Prayer” throughout the day. This prayer of the heart is repeated with faith, saying: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” As you may have noticed, the “words of the Jesus Prayer are themselves based on Scriptural texts, one verse of which we just heard proclaimed in today’s Gospel: “the cry for mercy of the [tax collector, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner']” (Luke 18:14).

It is suggested that “[we] can work on saying this prayer with each breath: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,” as we breathe in, “have mercy on me, a sinner,” as we breathe out.  We can say this aloud, silently with the words on our lips, or silently in our hearts. . . [concentrating] on Jesus, forgetting all else, both joys and sorrows” (The Jesus Prayer, 10/24/2025). The “Jesus Prayer” is a daily reminder for us to “[rejoice] always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will for God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). 

This prayer of the heart is also a reminder that we are sinners in need of a savior: “God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love he had for us, even when were were dead in our transgressions [and sins], brought us to life with Christ, raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:1,4-6). And, as we heard in today’s second reading from Saint Paul to Timothy: “the Lord stood by me and gave me strength. . . And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

When we repeat the “Jesus Prayer” with faith, it gives us hope because we know in our hearts that the “Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint. The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens,” precisely because God is merciful and calls us into a relationship with Him. Our Catholic faith is an encounter with God who not only died on the Cross for our salvation but is present with us here and now in the Eucharist because He loves us. That is our story! It is a story that we must share with others so they too can encounter love and have hope of eternal life because, when we walk together in faith and shine forth the light of Christ, we bring hope to others.

I am a convert to the Catholic faith and, since my Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate, my wife and I have been preparing young couples for the Sacrament of Marriage. I share my conversion story in our CALLED TO BE ONE Marriage Class. Recently, one of the young men that we prepared for marriage shared this good news with me: “Hi Deacon! Earlier this year, on Easter, I was baptized into the Church after finishing OCIA. Your conversion story has always stuck with me and served as an inspiration. Has brought wonderful joy and peace into my life that I’m eternally grateful for” (E.H., 10/21/2025).

My sisters and brothers in Christ, if the story of my life in Christ can touch the life of this young man, just imagine what we can do together through the Catholic Services Appeal? Imagine how many children we can help to grow in their love for God through their Catholic education? Imagine how many young men we can help to answer God’s call to them to become priests of our Lord Jesus Christ? Imagine how many young men and women we can help to become devoted and faithful consecrated, religious sisters and brothers for Holy Mother Church? “Together we bring hope.” It starts with our families and, through our participation in this year’s Catholic Services Appeal, we can bring hope to our parish community and beyond and “set the world of fire” (Saint Catherine of Siena) with God’s love. Remember this as you listen to Father speak and discern how God is calling you to participate in the Catholic Services Appeal.

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102625.cfm

Click to listen: https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/homily-for-the-thirtieth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c-10262025/

Deacons Retreat (October 17-19, 2025)

I look forward to my annual deacon retreat every October at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center. The facilities are topnotch and the meals are superb.

It was wonderful to pray Morning and Evening Prayers, attend Mass in the beautiful Adoration Chapel, and spend a Holy Hour in Adoration of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

We also had a lot of time to rest and relax from our toil. I explored the grounds of the retreat center while praying the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. After all, October is the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary.

Thank you, Dcn. Barry, for another great retreat and, especially, for our wonderful speaker - Dr. Roland Millare, from the St. John Paul II Foundation. It was a beautiful message on the Eucharist and our marriage and diakonia.

Previous reflections:

Deacon Retreat 2022 (Part 1)

Deacon Retreat 2022 (Part 2)

Deacon Retreat 2022 (Part 3)

Reflecting on the Deacons Retreat (Oct. 20-22, 2023)

Faith, the Path that Leads to Jesus Christ

Deacons Retreat (October 17-19, 2025)