The 3rd Sunday in Easter
From The Font
“...their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.”
When I used to visit classrooms to field questions from high schoolers, I would always get one or two kids who were self-declared atheists because they had really “thought it through.” Inevitably, their great criticism of the Lord Jesus was that He made it hard to believe in Him... And always, they were happy to argue “If Jesus was real, He would be visible and it would be obvious.”
As someone who actually “thought it through,” I found this argument to be genuinely childish. I say childish in part because it’s narcissistic - “I know better than God.” But it really is childish in the sense that kids assume that the direct and obvious path is the best one. In reality, we all come to understand that human nature sometimes requires cleverness and subtlety. Spouses need to show their love beyond just saying the words. Business deals aren’t always just about getting what’s written in the contract. We don’t always want or say what we need or think.
Jesus hides Himself both before and after His Death and Resurrection and He does so for many reasons. In the journey to Emmaus, Jesus doesn’t reveal Himself until the very end, in the spiritually significant act of “breaking of the bread.” Rather than simply show His miraculous body or work some supernatural sign, Jesus uses what they were already doing - discussing the day.
As Christians, we often misunderstand our role in sharing the good news as some kind of distinct and separate skillset. In reality, most of the best evangelists for Jesus aren’t weaving Bible verses or Saint quotations into undercover lectures - they’re sharing the ways in which their spiritual life plays itself out in their daily lives. The best evangelists for some lifestyle - like Veganism - simply share how veganism helped them out today. They’re excited about being vegan. The same with someone who is enthusiastic about their new shampoo or mazda or cat. When we believe in something, others can tell and they respond.
Jesus knows that about us and He uses it in the story today and He uses it in using us to share the Good News with others!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Within the Catholic spiritual tradition, retreat and pilgrimage are both highly regarded as especially valuable and even necessary.
Both have what we call human components alongside the more familiar spiritual components. When we say “human components,” we mean that both retreat and pilgrimage acknowledge our natural needs for rest, reflection, and stepping out of normal routines of life.
Priests are required to make at least one retreat of about five days each year. On that retreat, the priest should offer Mass and his ordinary prayers every day, but he should also read, exercise, and spend time in quiet reflection. As many of our folks who have attended an ACTS retreat can attest, retreats aren’t necessarily restful or relaxing... They can be, of course. But retreats are work and not play.
Pilgrimages are also a time for daily Mass and daily prayer. But, with a few exceptions, they are meant to be recreational... And I mean that word very deliberately, they’re meant to re-create. When we put ourselves into another culture and another way of seeing the world and even another language, we gain perspective on others and ourselves.
In this pilgrimage from which I just returned, I was in Italy. Despite our familiarity with some Italian foods and traditions here, Italy is a bizarre place. The culture there is anything but what we might expect. Italy is basically the only European country in which most people don’t speak at least a little English. The money culture is almost entirely cash-based - which is shockingly strange for us as Americans. The foods are delicious, but not what we typically think of as Italian cuisine. How often do we have spaghetti with olive oil and fried baby zucchini or a potato and Arugula pizza or a bit of veal in brown sauce with capers and black olives? Of course, that’s part of the point! If all we ate when we went on pilgrimage was the same food we eat here and all we saw were buildings and art we could see here, why go?
I say all this, because pilgrimage and retreat aren’t just for priests! All of us need what they offer. We need some quiet time. We need some time for reflection. And we need some restorative human moments beyond the spa or the hunting blind or the football game.
When I did all the research for those talks on stress last year, I was shocked at how few strategies Americans have for dealing with stress. Basically, we have pills... lots and lots of pills. We can pray or meditate. We can go on vacations (which are almost never restful). But usually, we default back to pills. But pills can’t address the source of our stress - which is a lack of human recreation...
For those who have gone on an ACTS retreat, I certainly want to encourage you to continue your journey with that community. For those who haven’t, consider it. For those who haven’t gone on a pilgrimage, consider it. I’m going to try to get another one to Europe together soon, but I also want to try and get together something cheaper and easier... Because we need it. We need that human recreation for our spiritual health and our sanity!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Alex “Boyzie” Jumonville (birth anniversary on 23rd)/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon No Mass
- Tues 9:00a In memory of Thomas Magoun/family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Kathleen Mills/Magoun
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Jason Jumonville (birth anniversary)/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Beverly Lancaster (death anniversary on 30th)/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Lee Rome (birth anniversary on 30th)/Kevin Collins
- 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 4/22 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard |
| 4/23 9:00a | Kathleen and Evelyn | D Ellerbee |
| 4/29 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome |
| 4/30 9:00a | Chandler and Annie | M Lancaster |
| 5/6 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren |
| 5/7 9:00a | MaryKatherine & Courtland | S Marsh |
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
May 7 First Holy Communion - 9 a.m. Mass - reception following; all are invited
- May 14 Recognition of our high school graduates - 9 a.m. Mass - reception following
- May 21 Second quarter social - Potluck Brunch - following 9 a.m. 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… FORMED has a collection of videos for Easter season that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/easter. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
POTLUCK BRUNCH …. May 21 following the 9 a.m. Mass. All faith family members are encouraged to participate.
Setting up the Hall and providing cleanup afterwards will the the Second Quarter (April, May, June) Social Committee consisting of Libby Bullard, Angel Farlow, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, MaryAnne Gilfoil, Terry and Andy Hall, Isabell Hernandez, Cindy and Jamie Howington, Ann Keene, Alyce and C.W. Keene, Frances Kennedy, Elizabeth and Paul Naya, Bobby Reynolds, Delia Trichell,and Cathy VanderVieren.
Stewardship The disciples on the road to Emmaus walked and talked with Jesus all day long, but it was not until they offered Him hospitality and He blessed and broke the bread that they recognized Him. Simple acts of loving kindness still reveal the presence of God in our midst.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| March Budget | $ 8,444 |
| March Income | $ 9,529 |
| March Expenses | $ 10,108 |
| April Budget | $ 10,555 |
| April 15-16 Collection | $ 3,820 |
| April Income To Date | $ 7,840 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Ann Keene (April 23), Norman Ernst II (April 27), Ginny Marsh (April 28)
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, MaryJane Johnson, Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Sue & Mike Rome, Delia Trichell
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), 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), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, John Neill, Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson (Wilks), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), 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
