Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of Our Lord
From The Font
“Alleluia!”
Alleluia is a Hebrew word that means “Praise God.” It’s actually one of my Hebrew words that mean praise God. But Alleluia is the one we all know. Very few Christians go around humming songs entitled Tehilluy le'El or Baruch HaShem. The reason isn’t in the pronunciation, it’s in the psalms...
The early Christians loved the psalms. They sang them first to the Hebrew melodies. But they were easily adapted to be sung to Greek folk tunes and to Macedonian and Thracian and really any folk melody around the known world. Over time, certain melodies stuck and were written down to become what we call “Gregorian Chant.” Prior to Vatican II, the Psalms were hugely important at Mass. Basically every Mass had at least 7 specific psalmic references. The Psalms were part of basically every blessing and every ceremony. The Wedding ceremony included the reading or singing of psalms. The simple burial ceremony had four, one of which had to be sung. Everything from the blessing of the crops to the prayer against storms was chock full of
the psalms. Even today, right now, the Roman Missal says that hymns should only be sung when it’s not possible to chant the proper psalms...
I, for one, absolutely love the psalms. They come in all flavors of human emotion. From elation to devastation... From rage to curiosity... From high intellect to passionate disregard for self, the psalms really do contain the full gamut of the human psyche. One of the main reasons I tend to use the more traditional forms of our ceremonies is that they draw in the psalms.
Every Friday morning, every priest humbles himself by praying Ps 51: “My offenses truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done.”
But then Ps 46 settles that trepidation: “Be still, and know that I am God.” And Ps 27: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" The Psalms really are a treasure!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
I hope and pray that the joy of the Risen Lord is flooding your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Sometimes it’s hard to tell, especially if you gave up something sugary, that feeling may be a minor diabetic incident! But we’ll hope it’s the Lord!
Holiness is different for each of us... That’s part of the reason that the lives of the saints are such an important part of our faith. I may be a relatively introverted person who has an affinity for intellect and art, while you may be a relatively extroverted person who has an affinity for sports and games. Holiness for me is going to look very different than it is for you. What may be virtuous for me may not be for you. What may be prideful for me may not be for you. What may be encouraging and fulfilling spiritually for me may not be for you.
That’s by design! Before us, the Lord created Angels, every single one of whom was as different from every other as a cabbage is from a question mark! The Lord likes different. And so it is that we each have to seek the Lord in our own way... not because He doesn’t want to be found, but because no one else has ever been just like you or me. If you really want to get your inner philosopher worked up - how does any of us know what the other actually sees or thinks? What is green to you, may be purple to me. There’s literally no way we can tell! And so I have to seek the Lord because my eyes are the only eyes I have. I have to work to hear His voice, because my ears are often trained not on Him but on my own interests. I have to refocus my mind on Him because my mind is often overly focused on my own stuff.
That can seem daunting if we let it... It can be heavy to think that I have to figure out how to seek the Lord on my own. And it’s not entirely true. The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves and so He has given us teachings and rules and images and ideas which are universal to all of us. In particular, He’s given us worship which brings together our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls in a way that is both uniquely human and profoundly divine. We’re not in this alone and the Lord is not asking us to start from scratch. Still, we can’t just copy one another and we shouldn’t be concerned if my prayer life doesn’t look like yours.
St Francis of Assisi’s spiritual life couldn’t be more different than St. Ignatius of Loyola’s. St. Andre Bassett’s intellectual life couldn’t be more different than Pope Benedict’s. Fr. Ferre’s style of being a priest was pretty different from my own and both of us are totally different from Fr. Pat Murphy or Bp. Greco. And I expect all four of us were totally different from Pope John Paul or St. Augustine. Some Christians feel strongly, while others don’t. Some Christians thrive in silence, others don’t. Some Christians pray with brilliant and sophisticated words, others are simple. Some Christians experience Easter as a relief, others as a joy, others in an intellectual way, and others still as first and foremost a family event.
However this Easter finds you and yours, I hope and pray that the joy of the Risen Lord is central and fulfilling and wonderful!
Happy Easter!!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Darryl Ellerbee, Sr. (death)/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- NO WEEKDAY MASSES THIS WEEK AS FATHER RYAN IS AWAY FROM THE PARISH
- Sat 5:30p In memory of SeSe Holstead (birth anni) and Father Ferre (death anni)/Jumonville family
- Sun 9:30a 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) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/31 5:30p | Paschal Vigil | - | - |
| 4/1 9:30a | Thomas Myers Hamilton | C Guizerix | - |
| 4/6 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome | L Magoun |
| 4/7 9:30a | MaryKatherine & Courtland | Dana Hamilton | - |
| 4/13 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren | M Rome |
| 4/14 9:30a | Cooper & Maura | J Howington | - |
Stewardship Alleluia! Christ is risen and is victorious over sin and death! We are good stewards of our faith if, like St. Paul, we share this good news whenever and wherever we can.
ENVELOPES FOR EASTER LILIES are on the table at the entrance of church.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| February Budget | $ 8,444 |
| February Income | $ 10,106 |
| February Expenses | $ 10,328 |
| March Budget | $ 10,555 |
| March 24 Collection | $ 1,325 |
| March Income To Date | $ 8,855 |
Upcoming Events
- NO WEEK DAY MASSES….as Father Ryan is away from the parish
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
EASTER LILIES AND HOLY WEEK DECORATIONS ENVELOPES…there are envelopes on the table at the entrance of church which you can use to make donations “In Memory of…” or “In Honor of…” family and friends and contribute to the Easter Lilies and decorations for Holy Week. You can drop your envelope (or check with a notation that it is for flowers) in the collection basket or give it to Father Ryan or leave it at the office.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Harper Bedgood (April 2, 2012), Betty Smith (April 2), Carter Sullivan (April 2), Walker Sullivan (April 2), Henry Ellerbee (April 7), Ann Marie Marsh (April 8, 2013)
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), 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, Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), John Neill, 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
