The 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”
Christianity is not a faith of naive optimism or positivity. Our Jewish ancestors constantly suffered and struggled against their own human nature. Our Lord and Savior died on a Cross and told us that our salvation depends upon us following Him in that suffering and death. Nothing about that aligns with the modern, almost toxic positivity that we hear from non-Catholics preaching a Gospel of Prosperity (Benny Hinn, Joel Olsteen, Rick Warren, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer) or from Catholics desperate to repeat the word “Mercy” and to ignore the Church’s teaching (Fr James Martin, Michael Sean Winters, Sr. Simone Campbell).
It takes a conscious effort to ignore the Lord in order to espouse their errors, especially in light of how clearly our Lord speaks in today’s Gospel. The Lord Jesus did not come to help everyone get along however we’d like. He did not come so that we can all be together on whatever page we’d like to get together on…
Jesus came to save souls by establishing a visible, Sacramental Church with Himself as the Head. Sometimes, saving souls is best accomplished by words of encouragement. At other times, it requires words of exhortation or admonishment or confrontation.
The problem arises when someone begins to believe that salvation is automatic… The Gospel of Prosperity folks believe in a version of Calvin’s Predestination which means that everyone who wants to go to Heaven does… The Catholic folks believe in a heresy called Universal Salvation in which everyone “moves on” regardless of their faith or sanctity. Either way, it’s a Satanic lie meant to run out the clock on people who would rather take the broad path that leads to destruction (Mt 7:13).
Positivity is an important part of our human nature. Optimism is a good thing! But Faith is far, far better than either of them because it builds on them to give us strength that we need to go beyond what either could do on its own. When we face struggles, it’s not positivity that we need, it’s life-giving Faith in Jesus Christ!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
This Monday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. The Assumption is a non-Biblical event which is broadly recorded by Christian historians. It was defined in 1950 as a dogma, or a belief which Catholics must hold as true.
Remember that we believe that our Lady did not suffer from Original Sin but was conceived full of grace in the womb of her mother Anne. We call this the Immaculate Conception. What it means is that God’s supernatural life dwelt in her physically and spiritually from the very beginning of her existence, making her unique in Human history.
The detailed teaching of the Assumption is in the Catechism (¶966). Specifically, it says that Mary was taken to Heaven when the course of her earthly life was finished. It doesn’t specify whether Mary died and then was assumed into Heaven or whether she was assumed before she died. Pope St. John Paul II said, “The Mother is not superior to the Son who underwent death, giving it a new meaning and changing it into a means of salvation.” As with other events surrounding these mysteries of Faith, there are plenty of details we just don’t know.
In celebrating any Feast of Mary, we’re actually celebrating a Feast of Jesus. As an example, Mary remains faithful to her Son, following him even to the cross (Jn 19), where she experiences the fulfillment of Simeon’s prophecy at the Presentation in the Temple: “A sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Lk 2:35). Both of those events point beyond Mary to the truth of Jesus as Lord of all and the way in which we as disciples must be willing to follow after Him…
The Bible presents Mary as the first Christian disciple, so it is fitting that she would be the first to receive the blessings of following Christ. In the New Testament, Mary is presented as the first to hear God’s word and accept it at the annunciation (Lk 1). She responds to God’s word promptly by going in haste to help Elizabeth. She also describes herself as a servant of the Lord. Again, this is as much about the generosity and promises of Jesus as it is about what Mary did. The Assumption, too, points beyond Mary to the fact that Jesus intends to raise His disciples from the dead.
The Assumption also associated our Lady with a a very select group of individuals taken up into Heaven bodily: Jesus, Elijah, and the mysterious Enoch from Genesis. In this aspect, the mystery of the Assumption is, in a word, mysterious. We don’t know why our Lord raised Enoch or Elijah. We don’t know why He has sent Mary to so many places (c.f. LaSalette, Lourdes, Fatimá, Akita, Garabandal, etc) to deliver powerful messages of repentance, hope, and the Rosary. There’s quite a lot about the role of our Lady in the world that we just don’t know.
The Assumption draws together many of these mysteries into an event which was very consciously not witnessed by anyone. The Apostles took our Lady’s body to a remote cave in Ephesus to bury her. When they returned, her body was gone and the aroma of roses persisted. Everything else will remain unknown to us on this side of eternity…
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS - ASSUMPTION IS NOT A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION THIS YEAR
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Lee Rome/E Lebeau
- Wed 9:00a In memory of May DiTomasso
- Thurs 9:00a In memory of Lee Rome/K Collins
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Thomas Trichell/family
- Sat 5:30p In honor of Mike and Sue Rome on the occasion of their 50th anniversary
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Blanche and Skeeter Wilks
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 8/13 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book |
| 8/14 9:00a | Preston, Cortland, Evelyn | S Marsh |
| 8/20 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks |
| 8/21 9:00a | Cooper and Maura | Youth |
| 8/27 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard |
| 8/28 9:00a | Henry and MaryKatherine | A Oliver |
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
August 15 The Assumption of the Blessed Mother is NOT a holy day of obligation this year
- August 16 Pastoral Council Meeting – Parish Hall – 6 p.m.
- August 17 Wednesday Evening Catechism - Parish Hall - 6 p.m.
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.
PASTORAL COUNCIL..will hold its regular meeting on TUESDAY, AUGUST 16 at 6:00 p.m in the Church Hall. Newly appointed members of the Council are Norman Ernst and Jason Trichell. They join four other members: MaryKathryn Book, Kendra Collins, Louise Magoun, 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.
GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY…MIKE and SUE ROME will celebrate their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary this month. The Rosary group and the Saturday night Mass group are organizing a Potluck Supper to be held after Mass on Saturday, August 20, 2022 in the Church Hall to celebrate with Mike and Sue. Everyone is invited to join in the occasion!
PRAYER FOR HURRICANE SEASON… .Our Father in Heaven through the intercession of our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us during the Hurricane Season from all harm. Protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hastened to help us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 | $ 2,111 |
| July Budget | $ 10,555 |
| July Income | $ 10,849 |
| July Expenses | $ 11,185 |
| August Budget | $ 8,444 |
| August 6/7 Collection | $ 2,649 |
| August Income To Date | $ 2,649 |
Stewardship In today’s second reading, St. Paul encourages us not to grow weary or lose heart, but to persevere in following Jesus. Our willingness to give of ourselves, even in the face of conflict and division, is one way to measure our discipleship.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Teri Wilson (Aug 17), Kim Donham (Aug 19), Elizabeth Crothers (Aug 21)
Happy Anniversary Shannon & Bart Wood (Aug 15), Sue & Mike Rome (Aug 19), Susan & Johnny Gilfoil (Aug 22)
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 and Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI; 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, Marie, Norman, and Mary Ernst, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Jamie and Cindy Howingston, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Sug Regan, 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), Jenna Faye Allen (Florence), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Judy and Danny Beard (Keene), Marie Farlow Bellard, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Kevin and AnnaBeth Collins (Book), Truman and Diane Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), Don Deweese, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Ashley and Chuck Edwards (Keene), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), John and Carlyle Ashly Hoogland, Melissa Jennings (Gilfoil & Keene), Dee Jones (Keene), Lyn and Calvin Lisonbee (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson (Wilks), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Albert Thom (Rome), Janice Spencer and family (Wilks), Meg Keene Thomas, Lucy Thomason (gr-dau of Bentley Curry)(Book), Gabby Trejos (Wilks), Paul Wayne and LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Elaine Trimble (Rome), Joe Yerger
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Maddie Oliver Bridges, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Brice Wood, Marsh Wood.
