The 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
“Job spoke, saying: ‘Is not man's life on earth a drudgery?’”
Job isn’t necessary being a downer here, he’s actually being a bit of a theologian. Why was man, specifically man, made by God? For what purpose? Well, God set man the purpose of tilling the earth. When Adam and Eve were cast from the Garden of Eden, the specific punishment that God set for man was that he would have the same purpose in life, but that it would be hard. Specifically, in Gen 3, God says to Adam: “cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life... By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.”
And so, biblically, man’s life on earth can be fairly described as a drudgery. So much of Job (and of Scripture in general) is deeply dependent on context. The general story of Job is one of the oldest parts of the Old Testament. The story of Job was probably being passed around campfires in 1500 BC. But the Book of Job is one of the last books of the Old Testament to be written down. It’s probably from the 100s or 200s BC. Why so late? Well, the author is taking a very old story and using it to wrap some pretty intense spiritual wisdom. Job’s story is a struggle we all face! From time to time, we all feel like isn’t blessing us the way we think He should. From time to time, we all feel like our friends aren’t supporting us. From time to time, we all feel in the dumps and that life is unbearably hard.
The author of the Book of Job is putting that deep, human feeling in its spiritual context. Job’s speeches are layer upon layer of spiritual depth. Just in our first reading today, we have images of slavery and what modern psychologists would call existential dread. And these images aren’t just rambled onto the page... They’re wrapped in human images like an employee waiting on his paycheck which aren’t random, but connected to the Jewish Law and moral system in ways only scholars will be able to point out to us.
Of course, there is someone else who can help us see these connections: the Holy Spirit! This is a good reminder that we should always read scripture in the context of prayer and especially asking the Lord for wisdom and understanding.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Ash Wednesday is right around the corner! Already! I can’t believe it. It really snuck up on us.
In the Church, we have two liturgical calendars that interconnect to make each year utterly unique. The “Sanctoral” calendar goes Jan-Dec and is all about the Saints, hence “sanctoral.” The “Seasonal” calendar goes Advent >> Christmas >> Epiphany >> Ordinary Time >> Lent >> Easter >> Pentecost >> Ordinary Time. The Traditional Calendar actually has several more seasons including a pre-Lent, quarterly “Ember Days,” and “Rogation Days” in Autumn.
The way in which each Season and the saints common to it cycle through the week and the secular holidays and the changing events of the world is meant to form a kind of small-scale drama which reveals to those of us paying attention the way in which the Lord wants us to see the world at large.
As Christians, we are not meant to chase the meaningless drama of the world. There’s no real adventure in careerism, politics, the accumulation of wealth, popularity, etc. The real adventure is getting to Heaven and finding in Jesus the love, peace, patience, joy, etc that He offers. The real adventure is fundamentally supernatural. And the Liturgical calendar is meant to reveal that to us in a symbolic and ever changing way.
That’s why I’m such a big fan of odd little traditions like Epiphany Chalk and the Burning of the Greens. There are, in fact, hundreds of those kinds of little traditions. Each of them helps to get our heads out of the world and into the Lord.
For example, there is a bonfire tradition associated with the birth of St. John the Baptist. Scripture says John was six months older than Jesus and so we celebrate his birthday on June 24, six months before Christmas. As Christmas is one of the longest nights of the year, John’s Birthday is one of the shortest. And so there’s a tradition of building a huge bonfire on that night, which symbolizes the time at which the length of the night will begin to increase… The bonfire is blessed with Holy Water and is accompanied by a party as we prepare ourselves to fight against the night which will get longer and longer until Christmas when it will begin to shorten thanks to the power of the Christ Child…
Now, is that mostly an excuse for a party… of course it is! But so are birthdays and basically every “reason” that we party. But the fact that we frame in our minds this or that reason matters. Thinking about the natural world in terms of the power of light and darkness is helpful for us as humans… And the less we remind ourselves of the little ways in which this world reflects the spiritual drama of our lives, the more detached we become from who we truly are. We get gender theory and tiktok.
The way in which we perceive the world matters and, as Christians, the Liturgical Calendar is an incredible assistant to understanding our world and the adventure of living in it as we await the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of MaryAgnes York/P Gilfoil
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 5:30p No Mass
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Leon Humphries
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Nettie and Philip Scurria/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of deceased members of Regan, Adams, and Weimers/S Regan
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Becky Lancaster (birth anni is 11th)/family
- Sun 9:30a Populo for the Living Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES… Anyone wishing to provide candles for the altar in honor of their loved one or in prayer for some intention may do so simply by asking. A small donation is recommended, but not required. A list of dates is in the sacristy and a date can be reserved up to one year in advance.
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/3 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow | Norman Ernst |
| 2/4 9:30a | Chandler and Annie | M Lancaster | None Scheduled |
| 2/10 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil | C VanderVien |
| 2/11 9:30a | MaryKathrine & Courtland | S Marsh | None Scheduled |
| 2/17 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome | M Ernst |
| 2/18 9:30a | Cooper and Maura | Youth | None Scheduled |
Stewardship Like St. Paul in the second reading, the good steward can say, “I do all that I do for the sake of the gospel in the hope of having a share in its blessings.”
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is our once-monthly building fund collection.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| December Budget | $ 10,555 |
| December income | $ 15,444 |
| December Expenses | $ 10,483 |
| January Budget | $ 8,444 |
| January 28 collection | $ 1,207 |
| January Income To Date | $ 9,575 |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Catechism with Coffee and Donuts after Mass unless otherwise indicated
- Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p
Feb 3/4 First Sunday Benediction
- Feb 3/4 Blessing of throats
- Feb 11 First Quarter Social — Mardi Gras potluck brunch – following 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.
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
FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION…FEBRUARY 3 …. at the conclusion of weekend Masses as part of our larger program to improve Eucharistic Devotion and to understand what a gift we have in the Most Holy Eucharist.
FIRST QUARTER SOCIAL …. Mark your calendars to join next Sunday, February 11, in the Church Hall following Mass for Potluck Brunch. The First Quarter (Jan, Feb, March) committee to decorate and clean up consists of Margo Corulla and Darryl and Abby Ellerbee (co-chairs), Norman and Marie Ernst, Katherine Ernst, Brian Johnson, Sidney and Mary Jane Johnson, Robbie and Tori Kivett, Ed Mills, Billy and Courtney Nadeau, Teddy and Alyssa Oliver, Mike and Sue Rome, Jason Trichell, Mary Trichell, Levi Washington
VICKSBURG CATHOLIC MOMS GROUP…..Calling all Moms!! Whether you have toddlers or your chicks have flown the coop, Catholic Moms Group is for you! We will be having our next meeting celebrating our 2nd Annual Anniversary Monday February 12th at 6 pm in Glynn Hall. We hope to see you there, even if it's for the first time!! More information contact Brittany McFall or Kathleen Harris at vicksburgcatholicmomsgroup@gmail.com, or visit our BRAND NEW Facebook page: Vicksburg Catholic Moms Group.
EMPOWERING GOD’S CHILDREN… parish volunteers must be VIRTUS trained and go online regularly at virtus.org for the latest training bulletins. Any questions or issues can be reported to the office. Printed resources are available on the table at the entrance to the Church.
- “Protecting our Children, Understanding and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse” includes Resources and Contact Numbers for reporting abuse.
- “Protecting God’s Children, Teaching Touching Safety Quick Reference Guide”
The Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Minors and The Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Priests, Deacons, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff, and Volunteers are available in the Safe Environment section of the diocesan website at DioceseAlex.org or a copy may be requested from the Safe Environment Office (318) 445-2401.
PLEDGE TO HEAL...If you or a family member has been abused or victimized by a representative of the Catholic church or a member of the clergy, please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. Dr. Lee Kneipp, Clinical Psychologist, Victim Assistance Coordinator, Diocese of Alexandria encourages those persons to come forward and speak out. Dr. Kneipp is establishing support groups in the central Louisiana area for victims and family members. The focus of these groups is to further emotional and spiritual healing as an adjunct to therapy, in an atmosphere of others who understand the pain, betrayal, and fear associated with abuse. Dr. Kneipp can be reached at 318-542-9805. All calls are confidential.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Susan Gilfoil (Feb 3), Blanche Wilks (Feb 5), Stephenie E. Marsh (Feb 6)
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, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe and Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), 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), Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Ralph Harris (Gilfoil), Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Dee Jones (Keene), Calvin “Beans” and Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Cindy Mathieu (Wilks), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), John Neill, Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Walter and Vivian Scott, Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents, MaryBeth and Steve
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
