The 4th Sunday of Lent
From The Font
“Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.”
The Jews originally didn’t have any kind of understanding of an afterlife. The blessings of God were equal to the good things of life and those things that went wrong (illness, natural disaster, etc) were understood as punishment from God.
As the Jews matured a bit, God gradually revealed Himself to them and His plan for their souls. By the time of Isaiah the prophet, some hints were to be seen that God would extend His blessing beyond the confines of this lifetime. By the time of Jesus, God had thoroughly revealed the fact of eternal life.
Jesus revealed many of the details of it, specifically, the notion of eternal life as reward for virtue. Still, some Jews and even some early Christians believed that the details of this life were a direct representation of God’s reward and\or punishment… We have to remember, though, that Jesus is very clear that salvation demands that we take up our cross and follow Him Who suffered and died for us!
In the 1800s, especially in the United States, a large group of Protestant Christians reclaimed this heretical idea as if it were new. The early Methodists preached a “Gospel of Prosperity” wherein a faithful Christian should expect only blessings from God. They saw any “negative” experience in this life as God’s retribution for sin. Faulty as it was, it was mostly harmless… Until the late 1900s when it became popular again with the so-called TeleEvangelists… These buffoons went on TV and preached that God would bless with material prosperity and “good” health anyone who donated money to their so-called “Ministry.” This tripe translated into plenty of expensive watches and private jets, but it surely didn’t translate into holiness of life or eternal salvation.
Almost every time someone claims to have some brilliant, “new” insight into Christianity, they’re just discovering an old error with a new label… But Americans do love a new label!
Simply put, our reward is in Heaven. Thanks be to God for the pleasant gifts He gives us and thanks be to God, too, for the difficult ones which will lead us to eternal life!!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Father doesn’t wear pink, Father wears rose… Honestly, I don’t really care, but it’s a fun bit.
I was talking with someone in Monroe at the Parish Mission I preached there this past week. It was just chit-chat when she mentioned that my cassock had a lot of buttons on it and that it must take a long time to get dressed… I casually mentioned that there were, in fact, 33 buttons - one for each year of the life of Jesus. That perked up a few other people who took interest and I continued to explain that the collar symbolizes the yoke of Christ (the same one which is easy and the burden light). I pointed out the symbolism of the 5 buttons on the sleeves (for the 5 Holy wounds) and a few other things. Someone asked about the giant belt loops at the back and I explained about the color code of priests, monsignors, etc. In years’ past, the cassock was like a military uniform. In a gathering of clergy, someone in the know could immediately tell if this guy was a seminarian, priest, bishop, monsignor, etc. You could tell if he had a doctorate or not. You might be able to tell other details as well like his theological expertise or religious order.
Much to my surprise, the folks were genuinely interested and we talked for several minutes about it. When they asked “what changed,” all I could say is that Pope Paul VI just threw the whole thing out without explanation… What more can we say? It’s a tragedy to abandon such a long-standing and useful system for no reason or benefit at all.
I’ve had the same kinds of conversations with people about other subtleties of Catholic practice. The rose vestments, for example, make much more sense when Lent is understood as it was prior to the 1960s: not as one six-week season, but as four components of a nine-week season. Pre-Lent (aka “Septuagesima”) began three Sundays before Ash Wednesday. Then Lent proper began on Ash Wednesday. “Passiontide” began the Sunday before Palm Sunday. And finally, the “Sacred Triuddum” began at Sundown on Holy Thursday (aka “Maundy Thursday”). In this longer context, Rose Sunday was a much needed relief and a preparation for the last two weeks of Lent which are more intense spiritually and liturgically.
The reasons the Church abandoned all these long-established practices are unknown. Pope Paul VI just did away with them… Of course, a future pope could re-establish them or something similar to them just as easily and so it behooves us to know our own history.
Whether or not it has any real practical effect, I believe strongly that knowing our stories as individuals, as families, as communities, and as a Church is essential for listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and making good decisions moving forward. So often we have the idea that we’re confronting problems and questions which are brand-new… In reality, we’re just living in a time of shocking ignorance of our own recent past… All it takes is for us to reject that mentality to discover riches beyond all telling!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Darryl Ellerbee, Sr. (birth)/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon No Mass
- Tue 9:00a For a special intention of the Magoun family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Norman S Ernst/family
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Mary Agnes Gilfoil York/P Gilfoil
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/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 Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 3/18 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren |
| 4/19 9:00a | Kathleen and Evelyn | Youth-Chandler & MaryKatherine |
| 3/25 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks |
| 3/26 9:00a | Henry, MaryKatherine, and Maura | K Collins |
| 4/1 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book |
| 4/2 9:00a | Chandler and Annie | 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
March 21 Pastoral Council Meeting – Parish Hall – 6 p.m.
- April 8 Easter Egg Hunt - Church Hall at 10 a.m. (see notes elsewhere in bulletin)
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… FORMED has a collection of videos for Lent that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/lent. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
PASTORAL COUNCIL..will hold its regular meeting on TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2023 at 6:00 p.m in the Church Hall. Appointed members of the Council are: MaryKathryn Book, Kendra Collins, Norman Ernst, Louise Magoun, Jason Trichell and Blanche Wilks. 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.
EASTER FLOWER CONTRIBUTIONS…there are envelopes on the table at the entrance of church if you would like to contribute to the Holy Week and Easter Sunday decorations and lilies. Please be sure to include if your gift is In Honor or In Memory of someone.
EASTER EGG HUNT… on the church grounds on Saturday, April 8, at 10 a.m. Stephenie Marsh is giving leadership to the event so please check with her to offer your assistance. We will need hard–boiled eggs that are dyed or plastic eggs with treats so your help is appreciated.
CONGRATULATIONS….. Tallulah Academy Yearbook Elections were held last week. Kudos to PRESTON COLLINS (Miss TA, and Belle), HENRY ELLERBEE (Beau), CHANDLER WOOD (Best Personality, Most School Spirit and Eleventh Grade Favorite), KATHLEEN ELLERBEE (Funniest), and COOPER ELLERBEE (Most Loyal Trojan Fan and Eighth Grade Favorite).
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| February Budget | $ 8,444 |
| February Income | $ 8,788 |
| February Expenses | $ 9,571 |
| March Budget | $ 8,444 |
| March 11-12 Collection | $ 2,376 |
| March Income To Date | $ 4,978 |
Stewardship The blind man was willing to let Jesus minister to him and willingly did all Jesus asked of him. The Pharisees were more resistant to His message, spending their time and energy to disprove the miracle. Which am I more like, the man born blind or the Pharisees?
Second Collection this weekend is in support of the Catholic Relief Services.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Angel Farlow (March 20), Finley Nadeau (March 20)
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; 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, Terry and Andy Hall, MaryJane Johnson, Bill Kennedy, Ed 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 and Carolyn Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Jami Cook (Wilks), Elaine Coyle (Regan), 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, Melissa Jennings (Gilfoil & Keene), Dee Jones (Keene), Averyell Kessler (Lancaster), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, John Neill, Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson (Wilks), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy),Tuleta Sasser (Wilks), Albert Thom (Rome), Barbara Thomas (Gilfoil), Tommy Trichell, 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
