Christmas - The Nativity of Our Lord
From The Font
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.”
Whether we read these words with the voice of Linus in our heads or just with the memory of Christmas last year, they’re all too easy to set aside because of familiarity… But these words of the Angel at Christmas are profoundly and deeply consoling if we read them with prayer and an open heart.
Do not be afraid! Do not be anxious! Do not be weighed down by concerns about finances or health or family troubles or politics or anything else big or small! Do not be afraid about what you’ll give or get at Christmas, do not be afraid about who will be a judge on The Voice, do not be afraid of World War III.
But why not? Because God is real! God is not a fairy tale. God is not a private belief. God is not real only for believers (that’s Tinkerbell). God is, in fact and in truth, real and actual. And God sent His Son among us as a savior Who established a Church and Sacraments and Rites and Teachings. There’s no question that individuals within that Church have failed and fallen short and, in doing so, have done harm to the faith of others! Jesus knew that would happen and so He, Himself, chose a doofus for one of His own Apostles - Judas. The Church was established for us and we are, all of us, doofuses from time to time! We are, all of us, selfish and unloving from time to time. Hence the constant message of Jesus about our own need to be forgiven by God.
And so we don’t need to be afraid. Sure, we might have to endure some suffering in this life. That’s a human constant at every moment in our history. Suffering is hard, but if we direct it toward our betterment, it can improve us. Athletes know that strength requires some physical suffering. Emotion and mental suffering can give us internal strength and empathy for others. The Good News that the Angel is talking about is that God intends, through Jesus, to use that suffering alongside His Grace to free us from fear of death and to give our daily trials meaning and purpose. The Good News is that nothing can separate us from the love and the joy of God our Savior!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Merry Christmas!!
With shocking speed, 2022 has come and gone and Christmas is upon us.
In particular this year, my heart goes to the people in England and the UK who woke up and ate their Family Christmas meals with heavy hearts because the Queen Mum has died and this will be the first year in their lives that they weren’t able to hear her Christmas address. Fittingly, her last Christmas speech was a tribute to her late Husband Phillip who had just died. She began with moving words: “Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones.”
In the past three years, basically all of us have lost much that we cared about. Most of us lost loved ones in ordinary fashion but some of us also lost loved ones to COVID or adverse reactions to the vaccines. We’ve also suffered financially, culturally, and even civilizationally. There is, in our human nature, a need to mourn and to be sad when we experience loss. There’s no real value in rushing that experience or in denying it. And, for whatever reason, those trials seem all the more intense at Christmas time. This is supposed to be a time to celebrate childlike innocence and family togetherness and yet, for some, it’s the hardest time of the year.
And that can lead us away from Faith, especially if we try to short circuit our own human need to mourn or to grieve losses and sufferings. Those same trials, though, can lead us into Faith if we face them and even embrace them. Life can be hard, but God is good and merciful and full of love to all who call on Him from their hearts.
This season of Christmas is certainly a time for childlike innocence. It’s a time for family traditions and for joy and togetherness. But it’s also a time for religious engagement. It’s a time to be in awe of the way in which God brought about the Church and our salvation. Why send a baby? Why not a warrior as much of the Old Testament seemed to predict? Of course, we could ask why Mary has chosen little children to be the receivers of the miracles and messages of her apparitions. Why Lucia and Bernadette? Why not a king or a broadcast mogul?
At the least, why didn’t God choose someone who could get the word out more quickly? Our world is all about the rush and yet God is content to move slowly and to “think in centuries” as the saying goes. These are good questions to ponder. There’s not an easy or obvious answer, but they’re great ways to engage our religious Faith and to spur us on in prayer. There are hundreds of little details in the Christmas Story that we could consider and dig into. Why was the inn full? Did God do that on purpose? Why, though? And why a manger? Why Shepherds and Magi from Persia? Why Egypt? Christmas really is a wonderful opportunity for thought, prayer and engagement.
I hope we can all use some of our holiday as a holyday!
Merry Christmas!!
The queen’s 2021 Speech can be found online at https://bit.ly/3Vhh1W2
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 6:00p In memory of Eva Reynolds/Bullard
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Sun 10:30a For Stacy Mestayer (Traditional Latin Mass)
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Joseph Testa (birth)/Magoun
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Paul VanderVieren (death)/family
- Thu 9:00a In memory of May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30p in memory of Payton Trichell/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Angel Farlow
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 12/24 6:00p | Kathleen, MaryKatherine & Chandler | B Sullivan |
| 12/25 9:00a | None Scheduled | A Farlow |
| 12/31 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard |
| 1/1 9:00a | Cooper and Maura | C VanderVieren |
| 1/7 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book |
| 1/8 9:00a | Kathleen and Evelyn | D Ellerbee |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass at 5:30p
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall after the 9:00a Mass unless otherwise indicated
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Tuesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day …. regular weekend times for Mass …5:30 p Sat; 9 a Sun
- Jan 7 Burning of the Greens on Saturday following Mass. All are invited to come and enjoy Queen’s Soup and King Cake in the Church Hall.
- Feb 19 Mark your calendar – Mardi Gras Brunch after the Sunday Mass
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.
FORMED.ORG… Check out FORMED’s Advent Page! (https://watch.formed.org/advent-and-christmas) They’ve got a ton of great content for all ages! Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS AND DECORATIONS… Thanks to all who have helped out with our Christmas Decor so far! Those wishing to donate to our Christmas Poinsettias fund can find envelopes at the back of the Church. Thank you for your generosity!
SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day) MASSES ….are the regular weekend schedule of Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
BURNING OF THE GREENS… on Saturday, January 7, 2023 will mark the Epiphany of the Lord and the end of Christmas time. As Carnivale season begins, following Saturday Mass, we will have supper in the Hall with Queen’s Soup and the blessing of the King Cakes! Plan to join in the festivities!!!
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 | $ 2,111 |
| Novemer Budget | $ 8,444 |
| November Income | $ 8,375 |
| November Expenses | $ 11,785 |
| December Budget | $ 8,444 |
| December 17-18 Collection | $ 8,179 |
| December Income To Date | $ 14,078 |
Stewardship For unto us is born this day a Savior! In response to so great a love, only the gift of my whole self will do. You have given us Yourself, dear Lord, in love and thanksgiving, I commit myself afresh to you.
SECOND COLLECTION is dedicated to Church Vocations. Please be generous.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Robbie Kivett (Dec 25), Thomas Myers Hamilton (Dec 25)
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 Holy Father Pope Francis and Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI; 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, Mary Ernst, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Sue & Mike Rome, Delia Trichell, and Don Wood
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning
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), Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Jami Cook (Wilks), Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), Don Deweese, Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Ashley and Chuck Edwards (Keene), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), Charlotte Green, Carol Drawe Guidry (Gilfoil & Keene), Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Melissa Jennings (Gilfoil & Keene), Dee Jones (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson (Wilks), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Albert Thom (Rome), LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Joe Yerger
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Marsh Wood
