The 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
"His mother and his brothers (ἀδελφοί) arrived.”
In ancient “near eastern cultures” (who lived in what we now call the “middle east”), families were clan-based. You generally married people who were part of your clan. And so it was very common for first and second cousins to marry. As such, it’s challenging to think about family relations in the clear-cut way that we do as modern people. The DNA distinction between a sibling and a cousin meant a lot less than the reality of who lives with me here in this house. The word that the New Testament uses for “brothers and sisters” is “adelphoi” (ἀδελφοί) which is best understood as “people of roughly my age and generation who grew up in the same house as me and who are related to me by blood.”
We know from historical sources that St. Joseph was a widower who was marrying Mary as his second wife. He had at least four children from his previous marriage who were all about Mary’s age (early adolescence, ~14) and who would have lived in the same house.
Of course, we know from Scripture that Mary had no children of her own before her marriage and that she did not bear further children after giving birth to Jesus.
Nothing about these statements was in any way controversial at basically any point in Christian history until the middle 1600s when a handful of European so-called “Protestant Christians” began to take umbrage with the idea that Mary remained a virgin before and after the birth of Jesus.
Honestly, it’s unclear why this is such a matter of concern for anyone - then or now. Basically any history book of the daily life of any ancient near eastern culture puts the “brothers and sisters of Jesus” in a clear and obvious context.
What’s more, the implications of the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary are very real and important for advancement in the spiritual life, but those implications are fairly deep theology and they don’t have a lot of practical implications for our daily spiritual lives... So why is the question of Mary’s perpetual virginity a matter of contention at all? It’s an oddity, but a relevant one given our place in the Bible Belt...
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
A priest friend sent me a text this week with a few words of Spanish in it and I replied “I have had ALL the Spanish that I want for a good long while!!! 😊”
I am SO HAPPY to be back from my travels. In all, I flew about 20,000 miles and hiked around 150 miles. Over my month away from Tallulah, I spoke (or tried to speak) four languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English) and dipped my toe into three others (Basque, Gallego, and Catalon). In all, I had three serious blisters and a brief but serious bout of insomnia, all of which only prevented me from hiking for one day out of 17. I was able to offer Mass and light candles for you in both Lourdes and Fátima.
While it was not a trip that I can say I was “excited” to go on, I do feel like it was what the Lord wanted from me and I’m incredibly thankful to have been able to answer that call.
Several times while I was away and chatting with people on the trail or in a cafe, they did a double take when I told them how small our Church parish is... Most were incredulous! They couldn’t believe a small parish like ours had a priest of its own and, moreso, that their priest could be up and gone for several weeks at a time. I shared with at least four people the same discernment that I’ve shared with you in the parish council and in the bulletin: God has given me an amazing parish community that comes with a lot of free time... If I CAN say “yes” to a pastoral request (from my parishioners or from someone else), I will. That discernment, which I stand by 100% and which has been a driving force in my time as pastor here, has led to some unexpected types of ministry. It’s taken me to Washington DC to consult for the International Commission for English in the Liturgy. It’s taken me on pilgrimage and sabbatical all over Europe. It’s gotten me to celebrate the Mass and offer the Sacraments regularly in Latin and occasionally in Spanish. It’s set me up with assignments in more than one diocese at one time (which is rarer and stranger than we realize). It’s given me the chance to minister to communities in Delhi, Monroe, Ruston, St Joe, Waterproof, Lake Providence, Vicksburg, Jackson, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and even Hanceville, Alabama. In sum, being open to pastoral generosity has drawn me out of my own comfort zone and been a way for the Holy Spirit to use me for His Glory.
Without setting up some type of silly self-help mantra based on my own limited experience, I do want to take the opportunity of these reflections to encourage and laud the value of being generous with your gifts and time... None of the things I’ve done have been successful because I’m so great and talented... I assure you!! The things which have been successful have been so because God used my presence and did the heavy lifting. It’s the same with all of us. If we make ourselves available to the Lord, we’re not saying that we have what it takes to fix other people - we’re simply trusting that God wants to work through us. Generosity is an act of trust in God rather than trust in ourselves... It’s a virtue which arises and grows from humility and faith, not self-assurance or personal qualifications.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard, Patrick Thomas, and Eva and R.L. Reynolds/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Inez and C.B. DeMoss and Claude DeMoss/family
- Thurs 9:00a In memory of Edgar Lancaster/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Mary Agnes York/P GIlfoil
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Thomas Trichell/Tommy
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of MaryAnne Gilfoil
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/8 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book | C VanderVieren |
| 6/9 9:30a | Cooper and Maura | D Ellerbee | - |
| 6/15 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | A Keene |
| 6/16 9:30a | Kathleen & Evelyn | Youth | - |
| 6/22 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow | M Ernst |
| 6/23 9:30a | Annie and Thomas Meyers | C Guizerix | - |
Stewardship Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden because of their disobedience. But, Jesus says in today’s Gospel that when we are obedient to God’s will–when we use our gifts to serve one another–we become part of His family. “Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me.”
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| May Budget | $ 8,444 |
| May Income | $ 8,572 |
| May Expenses | $ 11,940 |
| June Budget | $ 10,555 |
| June 1-2 Collection | $ 3,225 |
| June Income To Date | $ 3,225 |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
- June 16 Father’s Day
- June NO Pastoral Council this month
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 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
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Billy Marsh (June 8), MaryKathryn Book (June 13), Emily Ginn (June 14), Connie Copes (June 15), Margaret Gilfoil (June 16)
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; our 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), Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick and Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), David Cagnolatti, 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, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), Emery and Kale Kirkland (Gilfoil), Calvin “Beans” and Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), James Albert Martin, Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), John Neill, the family of Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Tuleta Sasser(Wilks), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Gannon Sims and Robbie Sims and Keri Post, 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, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood
