The Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
"Jesus summoned the Twelve... and gave them authority over unclean spirits.”
Authority has a lot of different contexts. Police and judges have a certain kind of authority. Parents have a different kind. Specialists and experts have another kind. Property owners or business leaders have yet another kind.
All of these authorities are in the realm of the visible world. The Catholic Church has a lot of experience with the question of authority in the non-visible, supernatural world. Unfortunately, Protestant Christians - who have a very different and deficient idea of authority - claim a lot of knowledge and muddy its meaning.
Supernatural authority derives entirely from Jesus who is “Lord (Lat. Dominus Eng. Ruler) of all Creation.” As a practical matter, Jesus gave to Peter the Keys to the Kingdom and told him (and the Apostles) to appoint successors and, in doing so, to give them authority over the Church, Her members (us), and various supernatural realms.
And so through the hierarchy of Holy Orders, the Lord (through the Church) gives authority over the visible and the invisible world.
At various moments in history and in various places, authority over the visible world can look quite different. But the spiritual authority of the Church and of her clergy has been the same since the beginning.
While the dramatic expression of that authority is seen in the rites of Exorcism and so-called Spiritual Warfare, the more ordinary expression is seen in the confection of the Sacraments and in the blessing of people, objects, and places. This ordinary spiritual authority given to the Church by Jesus is incredibly important! It exposes us to the Grace of God as He intends us to receive it. Each of the Sacraments and the blessings of the Church operates on both a human and supernatural level to engage our whole selves (Heart, Soul, Mind, Strength). Private prayers (and non-Catholic services) operate without the authority given to Peter and so they lack the surety and holistic engagement of what we can call “the proper” prayers of the Church. Personal prayer is very important, but it rightly functions in concert with and as an accompaniment to the authoritative prayers of the Church...
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
This Sunday, the 15th of July, is the feast day of Saint Bonaventure who is the greatest of the Franciscan intellectuals. When we think of truly brilliant saints who made massive contributions to the intellectual wealth of humanity, the top of the list is St. Thomas Aquinas. He was probably on par with Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, and Albert Einstein in terms of intellect and contribution.
St. Bonaventure was also incredible. But he had the misfortune of living at the same time that Aquinas did. He also had the misfortune of being just a bit older and not having access to the “lost” texts of Aristotle which Thomas Aquinas analyzed so brilliantly. Even so, it’s a bit like taking the stage with Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Luciano Pavarotti… It doesn’t matter how good you are, some people can’t be upstaged!
Even so, St. Bonaventure was an important and noteworthy saint. He received his name directly from St Francis of Assisi. As a young boy, Bonaventure was sickly and when Francis was traveling through his village, the saint prayed over the boy and received a vision of his ‘career’ as a religious brother. Francis exclaimed “O Buona ventura!” which means something like “O blessed destiny” or “O blessed fortune.”
Bonaventure later joined the Franciscans and went to Paris to study where he and St. Thomas Aquinas met. They both had many saintly friends including King-Saint Louis IX. After finishing his studies, Bonaventure wrote a detailed biography of St. Francis and was promptly elected head of the entire Franciscan Order.
He served in that role for many years until several Pope tried to make him a bishop. After a lot of trying and frantic letters from Rome, Bonaventure finally consented to being named the Cardinal Bishop of Albino just outside of Rome. He was an important theologian and advisor to Kings and Popes and bigwigs of all sorts.
Whereas Thomas Aquinas was unquestionably smarter and made a larger impact on the total intellectual history of humanity, Bonaventure was more influential and had a far greater human impact in his day.
He wrote this wonderful prayer to the Holy Spirit:
Lord Jesus, as God's Spirit came down and rested upon you, May the same Spirit rest on us, Bestowing his sevenfold gifts. First, grant us the gift of understanding, By which your precepts may enlighten our minds. Second, grant us counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness. Third, grant us courage, by which we may ward off the enemy's attacks. Fourth, grant us knowledge, by which we can distinguish good from evil. Fifth, grant us piety, by which we may acquire compassionate hearts. Sixth, grant us fear, by which we may draw back from evil and submit to what is good. Seventh, grant us wisdom, that we may taste fully the life-giving sweetness of your love. Amen!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In honor of a special birthday/Magoun
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Patrick Thomas (birth date)/Bullard
- Wed 9:00a For the special intentions of family of Matthew Schnur family
- Thurs 9:00a In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Mary Agnes York/P Gilfoil
- Sat 5:30p In memory of E. J. “Jim” Jumonville/family
- 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 Cathy VanderVieren
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/13 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren | N Ernst |
| 7/14 9:30a | Kathleen and Evelyn | M Lancaster | - |
| 7/20 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks | C VanderVieren |
| 7/21 9:30a | Annie and volunteer | Youth | - |
| 7/27 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book | A Keene |
| 7/28 9:30a | MaryKatherine and Courtland | S Marsh | - |
Stewardship Today’s readings are about being chosen and sent. The prophet Amos was chosen by the Lord and sent to use his talents for the people of God. The Gospel recounts the story of the sending of the twelve disciples; and, in the second reading, St Paul reminds us that we, too, are chosen. For what have I been chosen? To whom have I been sent?
THIS WEEKEND’S SECOND COLLECTION will be for the Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| June Budget | $ 10,555 |
| June Income | $ 11,402 |
| July Budget | $ 8,444 |
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
- July 17 Pastoral Council meeting - 6 p.m. - Parish Hall
- July 19 Quarterly Healing Mass - 5:30 p. m.
For Your Information:
WELCOME... to the extended families of the REYNOLDS, NEUROTH, and TRYON Families. We are always so happy to welcome them to Tallulah for their annual event.
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… 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
PASTORAL COUNCIL... as we begin a new administrative year in the church, we would like to thank MaryKathryn Book and Kendra Collins for their service to our faith family. Both are rotating off the board after serving for three years. New members appointed to the Board for a three year term will be Kathleen Ellerbee (youth member) and Mike Rome.
The Council will hold its regular meeting on WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2024 at 6:00 p.m in the Church Hall. Other members of the Council are: Norman Ernst, Jamie Howington, Jason Trichell and Shannon Wood. Michel Lancaster and Cathy VanderVieren have been appointed as Financial Trustees. Darryl Ellerbee is our chair for financial matters. All members are requested to make a special effort to attend. Parishioners are encouraged to attend and contribute to the discussions.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Luke Aucoin (July 15)Sue Rome (July 16), Caroline Marsh (July 19), Kendra Collins (July 21)
In Our Daily Prayers…
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
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, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. & Alyce Keene, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Hannah McCarty, Ed Mills, Terry & Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome
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 & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), David Cagnolatti, Willetta and Mac Cagnolatti, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe & 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” & 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, family of Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Gannon Sims, Robbie Sims, 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, Marsh Wood
