The 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
"Jesus went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.”
In the modern world, usefulness is often the measure of goodness. Because of that, a lot of Christians tend to think of prayer in terms of usefulness...
Sometimes we think that prayer is letting God know what’s going on. But God knows what’s happening around us and inside of us better than we know ourselves. And surely Jesus didn’t need to spend hours and hours in prayer with God the Father because He needed info.
Sometimes we think that prayer is primarily about us... That its purpose is psychological or associated with something like mindfulness. But Jesus is God so He didn’t need adjustment psychologically by the Father in prayer.
There are plenty of other misunderstandings about prayer as well. The best way to clarify our thoughts on prayer is to look to Jesus.
From the beginning of His ministry, immediately after His Baptism in the Jordan, He immersed Himself in prayer. Jesus didn’t speak directly about His internal prayer life, but He devoted a lot of time to it. Most of the great saints also advocate for spending time with the Lord. The content of that time - whether it’s chock full of praise, thanksgiving, requests, etc doesn’t matter so much as the time itself.
We intuit that in our human relationships... A healthy marriage has at its core, a desire to spend time with each other. The most basic definition of friendship is “someone I want to spend time with.” Even something like a hobby is just something that we want to invest our time into.
Prayer isn’t about productivity or usefulness, it’s spending time with the Lord. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with filling that time with the Lord in the same way we fill that time with friends. If you’re a storyteller, tell stories to the Lord. If you’re a ponderer, ponder with the Lord. Prayer in the life of Jesus certainly overlaps, to some degree, what psychology nowadays would call “Quality Time.”
Just as we would be happy to spend hours with the ones we love, so we should grow as Christians to spend hours with the One we love.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
This Monday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. The Assumption is a non-Biblical event which is broadly recorded by Christian historians. It was defined in 1950 as a dogma, or a belief which Catholics must hold as true.
Remember that we believe that our Lady did not suffer from Original Sin but was conceived full of grace in the womb of her mother Anne. We call this the Immaculate Conception. What it means is that God’s supernatural life dwelt in her physically and spiritually from the very beginning of her existence, making her unique in Human history.
The detailed teaching of the Assumption is in the Catechism (¶966). Specifically, it says that Mary was taken to Heaven when the course of her earthly life was finished. It doesn’t specify whether Mary died and then was assumed into Heaven or whether she was assumed before she died. Pope St. John Paul II said, “The Mother is not superior to the Son who underwent death, giving it a new meaning and changing it into a means of salvation.” As with other events surrounding these mysteries of Faith, there are plenty of details we just don’t know.
In celebrating any Feast of Mary, we’re actually celebrating a Feast of Jesus. As an example, Mary remains faithful to her Son, following him even to the cross (Jn 19), where she experiences the fulfillment of Simeon’s prophecy at the Presentation in the Temple: “A sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Lk 2:35). Both of those events point beyond Mary to the truth of Jesus as Lord of all and the way in which we as disciples must be willing to follow after Him…
The Bible presents Mary as the first Christian disciple, so it is fitting that she would be the first to receive the blessings of following Christ. In the New Testament, Mary is presented as the first to hear God’s word and accept it at the annunciation (Lk 1). She responds to God’s word promptly by going in haste to help Elizabeth. She also describes herself as a servant of the Lord. Again, this is as much about the generosity and promises of Jesus as it is about what Mary did. The Assumption, too, points beyond Mary to the fact that Jesus intends to raise His disciples from the dead.
The Assumption also associated Our Lady with a very select group of individuals taken up into Heaven bodily: Jesus, Elijah, and the mysterious Enoch from Genesis. In this aspect, the mystery of the Assumption is, in a word, mysterious. We don’t know why our Lord raised Enoch or Elijah. We don’t know why He has sent Mary to so many places (c.f. LaSalette, Lourdes, Fatimá, Akita, Garabandal, etc) to deliver powerful messages of repentance, hope, and the Rosary. There’s quite a lot about the role of our Lady in the world that we just don’t know.
The Assumption draws together many of these mysteries into an event which was very consciously not witnessed by anyone. The Apostles took our Lady’s body to a remote cave in Ephesus to bury her. When they returned, her body was gone and the aroma of roses persisted. Everything else will remain unknown to us on this side of eternity…
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of George Magoun/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 5:30p Vigil of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary In memory of Leon Humphries
- Tue 9:00a Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary In memory of Wayne Magoun/family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Mary Ernst/Gustafson
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing & Rehab) In memory of Rosa & Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Mary Agnes York/P Gilfoil
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Thomas Trichell (death anni)/B Hayes
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Blanche and Skeeter Wilks
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lectors | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/12 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren | L Magoun |
| 8/13 9:30a | Kathleen and Evelyn | K Collins | None Scheduled |
| 8/19 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks | M Rome |
| 8/20 9:30a | Chandler and Annie | Youth - TBD | None Scheduled |
| 8/26 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book | C VanderViere |
| 8/27 9:30a | MaryKatherine and Courtland | D Ellerbee | None Scheduled |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Catechism and Donuts after Mass during the school year unless otherwise indicated
Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
August 13 Third Quarter Social – Back-to-School…in Church Hall following Sunday Mass August 15 Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother into heaven. Holy Day of Obligation …Mass of Vigil on Monday at 5:30 p.m. and Mass of the Day on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
- August 16 Pastoral Council meeting… 6 p.m. Church Hall
For Your Information:
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
PILGRIMAGE!... Fr Ryan is leading a Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome in Italy in September of 2024. There will be an informational (no obligation) meeting on August 30 in the Parish Hall. Fr Ryan can also answer any questions you have. A flyer is available at the back of the Church or via email from Fr Ryan. Please pass the word around!
FORMED.ORG… FORMED has an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
THIRD QUARTER SOCIAL…. is this Sunday, August 13 following the 9:30 a.m. Mass as our children and their families get back into the routine of the school year. Setting up the Hall, having the A/C going and cleaning up following the event will be handled by the Third Quarter (July, Aug, Sept) Social Committee - Betty and Kenny Smith and Shannon and Bart Wood, co-chairs, MaryKathryn Book, Kendra and Dave Collins, Connie and Dan Copes, Dana and Randy Dukes, Kaci and Norman Ernst, Lance and Stephenie Marsh, Susie and Terry Murphy, Peggy and Phil Scurria, Beth and Chip Sullivan.
MARYHILL RENEWAL CENTER… This weekend, August 12-13, we will take up a collection for our beloved Maryhill Renewal Center. Established in the 1940s by Bishop Charles P. Greco, Maryhill is used extensively by many seeking a spiritual and restful place to hold retreats and functions throughout the year. It continues to serve as the spiritual heart of the Diocese of Alexandria. Funds from this collection will be used for the ongoing maintenance of the structures and grounds in order to keep this sacred gift available to us. Please give generously.
PASTORAL COUNCIL... will hold its regular meeting on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2023 at 6:00 p.m in the Church Hall. Appointed members of the Council are: MaryKathryn Book, Kendra Collins, Norman Ernst, Jamie Howington, Louise Magoun, Jason Trichell and Shannon Wood.. Appointed as Trustees by the Bishop are Michel Lancaster and Cathy VanderVieren. Appointed by the pastor to serve as Finance Council Chair is Darryl Ellerbee. All members are requested to make a special effort to attend. Parishioners are encouraged to attend and contribute to the discussions.
ALTAR CANDLES… Anyone wishing to provide candles for the altar in honor of their loved one or in prayer for some intention may do so simply by asking. A small donation is recommended, but not required. A list of dates is in the sacristy and a date can be reserved up to one year in advance.
FUNDRAISING WITH GROCERY TICKETS... If you shop at Doug’s and do not already do so, you may want to save your grocery tickets and place them in the bag on the table at the entrance to church. The church will be given 1% of the total of combined purchases (excluding milk, cigarettes, and alcohol). Our thanks to the ANGEL who collects the tickets and prepares them to submit to Doug’s
REMINDER… The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15) is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. Masses will be on Monday at 5:30 p.m. and on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Stewardship “Elijah recognized the voice of God not in the strong and heavy wind, not in the earthquake, and not in the fire, but in a tiny whispering sound. May we find enough quiet in our clamorous world to hear His voice and discern what He is calling us to do and be.
THIS WEEK’S SECOND COLLECTION is to support our diocesean retreat center, Maryhill Renewal Center. Please be generous!
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-2023 | $ 2,111 |
| July Budget | $ 10,555 |
| July Income | $ 10,792 |
| July Expenses | $ 11,769 |
| August Budget | $ 8,444 |
| August 5-6 Collection | $ 2,456 |
| August Income To Date | $ 2,456 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Shannon and Bart Wood (Aug. 15), Sue and Mike Rome (Aug 19), Susan and Johnny Gilfoil (Aug 22)
In Our Daily Prayers…
PRAYERS FOR OUR FARMERS! O God, Source and Giver of all things, Who manifests Your infinite majesty, power and goodness in the earth about us, we giveYou honor and glory. For the sun and rain, for the manifold fruits of our fields,for the increase of our herds and flocks we thank You. For the enrichment of our souls with divine grace, we are grateful. Supreme Lord of the harvest, graciously accept us and the fruits of our toil, in union with Christ Your Son, as atonement for our sins, for the growth of Your Church, for peace and charity in our homes, for salvation to all. Amen.
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Pope Francis; Bishop Robert Marshall, and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, or otherwise in need of our prayers: Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, Bill Kennedy, Hannah Wood McCarty, Ed Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Sue & Mike Rome
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning, Keith Capdepon
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe and Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), Don Deweese, Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Dee Jones (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Cindy Mathieu (Wilks), Boyce Miller, John Neill, Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), George and Ann Shepherd, Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome),
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Marsh Wood
