The 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.”
In some parables, Jesus is very careful to make sure that the events of the story are commonplace. In others, He describes a scene that would be utterly bizarre. The story of the Prodigal Son begins with one of the more bizarre setups in all of His teaching.
In the ancient world, “liquid capital” was a profound rarity. There was coinage and money and even something vaguely akin to banking for a very small number of super-rich people. But the setup here is functionally a son asking his father for the deed to property that he, the son, intends to sell off for cash and then go and live the high life anywhere-but-here. It’s beyond the scope of our fancy new adolescent narcissism culture… In fact, many of those listening were probably deeply appalled at the younger son from the first. Imagine a similar story in a sermon where the first thing that a character does is choke a puppy to death…
As modern Christians who know how the story ends, we tend to judge the Older Brother as the bad guy and to have compassion on the younger brother. And that’s clearly the moral of the story. But the SETUP of the story is designed to make that realization at the end all the more intense. The setup is that the prodigal is the worst possible human being you can be (except for people who clip their toenails on airplanes).
When we’re reading scripture, we certainly do it from the point of view of Christianity. Most of us are reading scripture for personal spiritual growth - not scholarship - and so that’s fine! But it’s essential to keep in mind that nothing is included at random. In the story of the prodigal, Jesus could’ve set the story up with the son stealing or cheating or whatever. But He chooses to set the story up as a gross disrespect and a rejection of family loyalty.
As you’re praying with the story, don’t slide over details like that. There are pearls of wisdom to be had there!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
The time is finally here for us to get back in the hall on Sunday mornings with a donut and a cup of coffee or juice for our version of CCD. Our program here relies heavily upon our parents and our families to take the short talks that I give and use them to get your kids through their religious education. Our program isn’t innovative really…
At every point in our Catholic history, primary religious education has been the purview of the family. It happens with grace before meals. It happens with mom and dad and grandma and grandpa choosing to tell the story of Jonah and the whale or even stories about Mother Teresa to our kids. It happens when our little ones ask questions about God… or about life or death or where babies come from… Primary education is about priority and example… What mom and dad think is important, the little ones will think is important. What mom and dad choose to do (not so much what they say), the little ones will choose to do.
CCD (which is technically a group to join rather than a program or class) was always envisioned as a finishing school of religious education. Whether they start the parish’s religious education program early or late, no classroom can do much to instill the fundamental religious priorities or virtues that are going to get someone into Heaven! CCD was created to answer questions like “if I’m running late to Mass, how late is too late?” (Answer: you have to be there before the veil is removed from the chalice right after the intercessions. ) CCD can teach kids the text of certain prayers, but it can’t instill the intent to pray or to believe. Its focus is the content of Faith rather than the core of it.
And, honestly, that’s why I was so insistent when i got here that our families - even those without kids in the house - come on Sunday mornings to my little talks. It’s why I’m bribing you with donuts! There’s no doubt that the content of Faith matters, but the core of Faith matters so much more! I understand thoroughly the content of Tao and Hinduism and Islam, but that understanding doesn’t make me a good Hindu or Moslem. I don’t believe what those faiths believe to be true. In the same way, there are plenty of Catholics who have a working knowledge of Catholicism, but who don’t REALLY believe what we believe. And a lot of that is because of mediocre CCD classes which encouraged parents to hand over their responsibility for religious education to someone else. That’s a strategy of parenting that has been proven to fail.
What has been proven to work is that mom and dad need to be engaged with setting the example and giving priority to religious activities when the kids are young. When they reach puberty or so, the kids will begin to differentiate psychologically and to rebel a bit. That’s fine! That’s when the content of faith is best learned. They’re ready to argue with it and to disagree a bit. That’s fine! When that adolescent phase ends (anywhere between 18-30), then they’ll have all the tools they need to take Faith into their own hands. That’s what our program here is designed to provide for.
I hope to see lots of y’all there this Sunday!
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
- Tue NO MASS
- Wed NO MASS
- Thurs 9:00a In memory of May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Cougan Fulton/Lancaster
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Jackie Jumonville/Family
- 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 9/3 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow |
| 9/4 9:00a | Chandler, AnneMarie, Maura | Beth Sullivan |
| 9/10 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil |
| 9/11 9:00a | Preston, Cortland, Evelyn | A Keene |
| 9/17 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome |
| 9/18 9:00a | Cooper and Maura | Youth |
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
September 11 Sunday Morning Catechism will begin
- September 20 Pastoral Council Meeting – Parish Hall – 6 p.m.
- September 21 Wednesday Evening Catechism – Parish Hall – 6 p.m.
- October 2 Potluck Brunch (third quarter social group acting as hosts) - after Sun Mass
For Your Information:
UN-ASSESSED COLLECTION NEXT SUNDAY Twice a year, the diocese allows us a 100% untaxed collection to help us offset the subsidies we pay to the chancery. One of those collections is on Easter Sunday and the other is next weekend. All monies given next weekend will be kept 100% at St. Edward. Thanks in advance for your generosity.
PRAYERS FOR OUR FARMERS! Father’s digital rain gauge topped 15” in the past two weeks. Many of our farmers are facing damaged or ruined crops. Please, in charity, pray for them, their families, and our community as we all confront an already difficult financial situation made worse by difficult weather.
O God, Source and Giver of all things, Who manifests Your infinite majesty, power and goodness in the earth about us, we give You honor and glory. …For the sun and rain, for the manifold fruits of our fields,for the increase of our herds and flocks we thank You. For the enrichment of our souls with divine grace, we are grateful. Supreme Lord of the harvest, graciously accept us and the fruits of our toil, in union with Christ Your Son, as atonement for our sins, for the growth of Your Church, for peace and charity in our homes, for salvation to all. Amen.
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, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 at 6:00 p.m in the Church Hall. Appointed members of the Council are: MaryKathryn Book, Kendra Collins, Norman Ernst, Louise Magoun, Jason Trichell 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.
POTLUCK BRUNCH on October 2, 2022 following Sunday Mass.Third Quarter (July, Aug, Sept) Social Committee - Shannon and Bart Wood and Betty and Kenny Smith, co-chairs, MaryKathryn Book, Kendra and Dave Collins, Connie and Dan Copes, Bruce and Kate Copes, Dana and Randy Dukes, Lance and Stephenie Marsh, Susie and Terry Murphy, Peggy and Phil Scurria, Beth and Chip Sullivan, All are encouraged to join in this faith family event.
PRAYER FOR HURRICANE SEASON… O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude; you are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control. The Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season, we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son in our behalf so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a stormless eternity awaits us. Amen (Fr. Al Volpe, Cameron Parish, LA, originally dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Audrey in 1957)
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 | $ 2,111 |
| August Budget | $ 8,444 |
| August Income | $ 9,993 |
| August Expenses | $ 11,352 |
| September Budget | $ 8,444 |
| September 3-4 Collection | $ 1,965 |
| September Income To Date | $ 1,965 |
Stewardship We can hear God speaking to us today in the words of the father to his elder son: “You are with me always, and everything I have is yours.” What is my response to such remarkable generosity? Do I give joyfully and generously as God gives to me?
SECOND COLLECTION Our second collection is dedicated to the work of Catholic University of America
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Lori Sullivan (Sept 11), Dan Copes (Sept 12), Bruin Johnson (Sept 18, 2002)
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, Mary Ernst, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, 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), Marie Farlow Bellard, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Kevin and AnnaBeth Collins (Book), Diane Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), Don Deweese, 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), Vance Sullivan and grandmother, Judy Sullivan, Meg Keene Thomas, Lucy Thomason (gr-dau of Bentley Curry)(Book), Gabby Trejos (Wilks), 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, Maddie Oliver Bridges, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Brice Wood, Marsh Wood
For the repose of the souls of Truman Collins and Paul Wayne Tranchina (Rome) who died this week.
