The 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
“A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.”
We have very little of the speech of John the Baptist, but it’s all quite poetic. John must’ve been a fascinating character… This phrase of his is particularly interesting because he seems to understand quite a bit about the nature of time itself. John clearly says about Jesus, who is his cousin, “I did not know him.” Of course, Jesus would’ve known John in a familial way, but John implies that He didn’t know Jesus was the Lamb of God or that He (Jesus) existed before him (John).
St. John the Evangelist - who wrote this Gospel and who is not the same man as John the Baptist - is also a poetic writer and thinker. St. John the Evangelist tends to choose those passages from the preaching of Jesus which are more philosophical and require more time for thought and digestion. Many modern Christians hold to the idea that the teachings of Jesus were simple and that any complexity in them is “of man.” But that way of thinking is simply false! Jesus raised many deep and profound questions about all sorts of complex ideas and there’s a genuine human desire to understand and to know the mysteries of the universe. Much of the Old Testament is what we call “Wisdom Literature” in that it asks deep questions about human nature, God’s designs, the inherent contradiction between God’s power and the presence of evil… On and on the deep questions arise.
As we read scripture, we want to recall that everything we read has a depth to it. Even a simple moral lesson about honoring our fathers and mothers contains nearly bottomless room for meditation and profound consideration. An old professor of mine wrote a whole book on two verses of Revelation!
Philosophy and deep thinking are not contrary to the simple and direct teachings of Jesus. They are built into that teaching and they surround it. Surely, a simple moral lesson IS a simple moral lesson. But the human nature that lesson is addressing and our situations as we read that lesson offer the Holy Spirit room to move and to give us the gifts of Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
After a longer than average Advent and a shorter than average Christmas, we’re back in Ordinary Time already anticipating the Carnivale and, soon after, Lent and Easter.
Partly, we’re anticipating them because the stores are putting out decorations, but our modern world is obsessed with “what’s next?!?” It’s, honestly, a dangerous way of living… It’s akin to the habit a lot of us have of taking video with our phones rather than actually living in a moment… When our attention is over-focused on the past and the future, we miss the present. That’s not to say that recording video or anticipating something is bad or even problematic.. But the more attention we give to what was and what could be, the less we are able to enjoy and appreciate what is. Modern scientists theorize that the massive increase in depression which plagues our nation is strongly associated with the inability to appreciate or enjoy the present.
Social Media has made it infinitely worse! Our kids and some of us adults as well have gotten in the habit of posting to social media about some event and then constantly checking the metrics of the post… Do people like it? How many? What are the comments? And by the end of the event, those metrics are what we’ve really cared about. Maybe the concert or the meal or the football game gave us an emotional high or a boost of dopamine, but the metrics were the takeaway.
Even the simple act of taking our phones out of our pockets and putting them on the table during supper creates a destructive psychological effect. Scientists have demonstrated that just seeing our phones spurs distracted thoughts and reduces the pleasure of conversation and real human interaction.
And, of course, the constant availability of digital distraction also robs us of those moments of quiet which naturally arise in the course of our lives. How many of us take those 3-5 minute gaps in our days that we have while the trail passes or while we’re in line at the store to waste time on the phone? Maybe it’s a game or a quick check on the news or the weather. That’s fine, but those gaps are actually really important for our mental health! Those moments are when our brain surfaces nagging thoughts or quirky realizations or memories that our subconscious is trying to process. Those gaps are the time our brain uses to be amused at a memory transitioning from short-term to long-term memory. Those gaps are where we appreciate the little joys in life or whine to ourselves about little annoyances. Without those momentary thoughts, our minds deteriorate and we can build up massive wells of anxiety, stress, undifferentiated emotional insecurity, and all sorts of things that pills can’t really cure.
The simplest and best solution for mental health is very alike the simplest and best solution for physical health. For our bodies, we should eat real, nutritious food in reasonable amounts and do functional exercises - easy enough. For mental health, we should feel our feelings, think our thoughts, and confront whatever anxieties or concerns arise in our minds. Distractions have their value and their place, but the American obsession with constant distraction is bad news.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Father Ferre/Mills-Thompson
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Eva Reynolds (death)/Bullard
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Mary DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30p in memory of Thomas Trichell/Tommy
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Lee Rome/Lancaster
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Pat Gilfoil on his 80th birthday
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Keene |
| 1/5 9:00a | Henry, MaryKatherine, Maura | Youth-Preston |
| 1/21 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil |
| 1/22 9:00a | Chandler and Annie | K Collins |
| 1/28 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome |
| 1/29 9:00a | Courtland and Preston | C Guizerix |
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
Jan 17 Pastoral Council Meeting – Parish Hall – 6 p.m.
- Feb 19 Mark your calendar – Mardi Gras Potluck BRUNCH after the 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.
FORMED.ORG… Pope Benedict was a remarkable man, a saintly priest, and his significance intellectually is hard to overstate. FORMED has a collection of videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/pope-benedict-xvi. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
PASTORAL COUNCIL..will hold its regular meeting on TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 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.
FIRST SOCIAL COMMITTEE: Our First Quarter Social will celebrate Mardi Gras on Sunday, February 19, 2023 following Mass. Please mark your calendar and join in a Potluck BRUNCH. The First Quarter (Jan, Feb, March) Committee: Margo Corulla and Darryl and Abby Ellerbee (co-chairs), Norman and Marie Ernst, Katherine Ernst Bedgood, Brian Johnson, Sidney and Mary Jane Johnson, Robbie and Tori Kivett, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Billy and Courtney Nadeau, Teddy and Alyssa Oliver, Mike and Sue Rome, Jason Trichell, Mary Trichell, Levi Washington
SAINTS ALIVE, ANGELS AT WORK… Thanks to everyone who contributed so generously to the Burning of the Greens event last Saturday. As always, the Queen’s Soup was tasty as were the “sides”; and, we’ve never met a King Cake that wasn’t delicious!!!
Stewardship Today’s responsorial Psalm is the theme song of the good steward: “Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.” May I, too, stand ready to offer myself and my gifts in the service of God.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| Decemer Budget | $ 8,444 |
| December Income | $ 23,452 |
| December Expenses | $ 9,083 |
| January Budget | $ 10,555 |
| January 8 Collection | $ 1,485 |
| January Income To Date | $ 3,251 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Pat Gilfoil (Jan 15), Paul Naya (Jan 18), Renee Wood (Jan 18), Mary Jane Johnson (Jan 22), Brice Wood (Jan 22), Travis Hamilton (Jan 24, 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 Holy Father 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: Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, 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), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Jami Cook (Wilks), Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), Don Deweese, Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Melissa Jennings (Gilfoil & Keene), Dee Jones (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson (Wilks), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Albert Thom (Rome), Thomas Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Joe Yerger, Mary Agnes Gilfoil York
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Marsh Wood
