The Sixth Sunday of Easter
From The Font
"In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.”
More than any other idea in Christianity, God’s supposed indifference has become universally identified with the teaching of Jesus. The idea that God doesn’t judge, but merely accepts is very appealing. It derives from the widely-held Calvinist misunderstanding of salvation which Calvin believed was a function of Divine predestination rather than a real judgment of Faith lived in holiness of life. Because modern Calvinists generally do not believe that the manner of life we lead matters much so long as the person has personal Faith in Jesus, it’s an easy leap to believe that the moral life doesn’t really matter at all...
These thoughts have consequences. And so most Americans are happy to call themselves Christians even though most Americans don’t attend any regular church service, don’t claim a a particular religious tradition, and don’t know much of anything about Christianity except that Jesus is sweet as candy and He forgives everyone whether they want to be forgiven or not and that basically everybody goes to Heaven...
The reality is that God shows no partiality in OFFERING forgiveness, mercy, love, and eternal life... Anyone at all can come to the Lord regardless of their circumstances or their past choices. BUT the offer has terms and conditions. Forgiveness and mercy and salvation aren’t automatic. They come at a price and they require us to reject our sins and to repent of our selfishness and to humble ourselves before the Lord and to embrace Faith in our 1. minds, 2. hearts, 3. choices, 4. and priorities...
God is anything but indifferent! Love can never be indifferent! Love is willing the good of the other, not just their convenience or preference. Calvin repudiated his own ideas later in life, but somehow they remain the foundation of American evangelical Protestantism, especially Southern Baptist Christianity and the idea of “being saved” (which was invented in the last two centuries) is synonymous in the common mind with modern Christianity. Thoughts have consequences and we must be especially careful not to be infected with this idea in particular. God shows no partiality, but neither is He disinterested or His mercy automatic.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Our parish this year will have two Masses for First Holy Communion. I want to congratulate Hazel and Candler who will make their First Holy Communion today. And we also congratulate Max, Ian, and Frankie who will make their First Holy Communion on Wednesday at a Mass in Spanish attended by many of their families (some of whom are coming all the way from Mexico).
As much value as there is in unity and doing everything together, the reality of the world is that unity is not necessarily uniformity. Sometimes, something as simple as language can make a powerful difference in the way we experience faith. I’m certainly no linguist nor is my Spanish something to applaud, but it’s a blessing to be able to offer something which is simultaneously so simple and so valuable.
In many ways, it echoes the Holy Eucharist itself. Jesus chooses to be present in the form of bread. It’s painfully simple. Water, flour, and salt. That’s it. Wine, too, is simple. Water, fruit, sugar, yeast. Even the act of receiving Holy Communion is simple. We open our mouths and Jesus enters us and we chew and swallow just as we have been doing from infancy. But the effects of something so simple are far beyond what we can comprehend or imagine!
God - who is infinite - makes Himself finite (which is beyond our understanding) in order to risk profanation so that we can experience union with Him in our profoundly limited way... It’s an act of love which we literally have nothing to compare it to. It’s divine Love!
Nuestra parroquia este año tendrá dos Misas para la Primera Comunión. Quiero felicitar a Hazel y Candler quienes hoy harán su Primera Comunión. Y también felicitamos a Max, Ian y Frankie quienes harán su Primera Comunión el miércoles en una Misa en español a la que asistirán muchas de sus familias (algunas de las cuales vienen desde México).
Por mucho valor que tenga la unidad y hacer todo juntos, la realidad del mundo es que la unidad no es necesariamente uniformidad. A veces, algo tan simple como el lenguaje puede marcar una poderosa diferencia en la forma en que experimentamos la fe. Ciertamente no soy un lingüista ni mi español es algo digno de aplaudir, pero es una bendición poder ofrecer algo que es a la vez tan simple y tan valioso.
En muchos sentidos, hace eco de la Sagrada Eucaristía misma. Jesús elige estar presente en forma de pan. Es simple. Agua, harina y sal. Eso es todo. El vino también es simple. Agua, fruta, azúcar, levadura. Incluso el acto de recibir la Sagrada Comunión es sencillo. Abrimos la boca y Jesús entra en nosotros y tragamos tal como lo venimos haciendo desde pequeños. ¡Pero los efectos de algo tan simple están mucho más allá de lo que podemos comprender o imaginar!
Dios, que es infinito, se hace finito (lo que escapa a nuestra comprensión) para correr el riesgo de ser profanado, para que podamos experimentar la unión con Él en nuestro modo profundamente limitado... Es un acto de amor que, literalmente, no tenemos nada con qué compararlo. ¡Es Amor divino!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of J.E.”Boyzie” Jumonville (death anni)/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon No Mass
- Tue 9:00a In memory of deceased members of Regan, Adams, and Weimer families/Regan
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Lee Rome/LeBeau
- Thu 5:30p In memory of Gus and Rosa Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30p In memory of MaryAgnes York/P Gilfoil
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Fred Wyly/Magoun
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for Living Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of MaryAnne Gilfoil
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/4 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | A Keene |
| 5/5 9:30a | MaryKatherine & Courtland | S Marsh | - |
| 5/11 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil | M Ernst |
| 5/12 9:30a | Cooper & Maura | A Oliver | - |
| 5/18 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome | L Magoun |
| 5/19 9:30a | Kathleen & Evelyn | Youth | - |
Stewardship Jesus’ commandment is that His disciples love one another, even to the point of laying down their lives, if necessary. What gifts of myself–my skills and talents, my time and resources–will best demonstrate my love for God’s people?
SECOND COLLECTION … this weekend is our once monthly Building Fund collection.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| March Budget | $ 10,555 |
| March Income | $ 16,474 |
| March Expenses | $ 10,693 |
| April Budget | $ 8,444 |
| April 28 Collection | $ 1,388 |
| April Income To Date | $ 11,058 |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
- May 5 First Holy Communion followed by a reception in the Church Hall for our Faith Family
- May 11 Potluck Supper in Hall following Mass to honor Charlize Richardson...see notes below
- May 14 Pastoral Council meeting - 6 p.m. - Parish 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. More information is available at HolyTravels.org/FrHumphriesItaly . 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
THE WORD AMONG US… a monthly publication serving as a daily devotional guide, can be found on the table at the entrance of church. The May edition has arrived. Please feel free to take a copy to use in your daily prayer life. In addition to the daily scripture and meditation, there are interesting theme focused articles for study.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION… will be celebrated for Hazel Bedgood and Candler Hamilton this Sunday, May 5, at the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Following Mass, we will have a reception in the Church Hall to afford everyone an opportunity to congratulate our Communicants. Additionally, on May 8, Max Paz of our faith family and Franco Mendoza and Ian Rodriguez from Vicksburg will make their First Communion at a Mass celebrated in Spanish. A family celebration in Vicksburg is planned afterward.
GRADUATION CELEBRATION… for Charlize Richardson, granddaughter of Blanche and Skeeter Wilks, who is graduating from St Frederick High School. The Saturday evening Mass group is organizing a potluck supper in the Church Hall and invite you to join in on Saturday, May 11, 2024 following Mass
PASTORAL COUNCIL... will hold its regular meeting on TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024 at 6:00 p.m in the Church Hall. Appointed members of the Council are: MaryKathryn Book, Kendra Collins, Norman Ernst, Jamie Howington, 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.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Hunter Sullivan (May 4), Father Ryan Humphries (May 6), Skipper Guizerix (May 11), Mary Anne Gilfoil (May 13)
In Our Daily Prayers…
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: MaryKathryn and Nap Book, Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Hannah Wood McCarty, Ed Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Sue & Mike Rome
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy
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), David Cagnolatti, Willetta and Mac Cagnolatti, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie and Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe and Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Gail Gilfoil Graugnard, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Ralph Harris (Gilfoil), Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Chelsea Keene & Andrew Lewis, Emery and Kale Kirkland (Gilfoil), Calvin “Beans” and Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), James Albert Martin, Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), John Neill, the family of Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Tuleta Sasser(Wilks), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents, MaryBeth and Steve, Randy Watts, Jr
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, 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
