The 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
From the Scriptures
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ ‘Here I am,’ I said; ‘send me!’”
The idea of “being sent” is, in Catholicism nowadays, almost always associated with a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, but Vatican II was very specific in saying that every Christian has a particular, specific, and direct ‘call to holiness’ from God, Himself. We read last week that the Lord knit together each of us in our individual mother’s womb. Each of us is unique and especially created in the image and likeness of God. As such, each of us is called by God to some purpose and mission within the broader community of the Church. For many, that mission will be family life and the education of our children in the ways of Faith. For others, that call may be as a teacher, nurse, doctor, therapist, or other so-called helping profession in which we serve our fellow man in his or her journey toward Faith and, we hope, eternal life. For yet others, that call may lead to a religious vocation. For still others, the call may be more dramatic and may involve some work in the public eye like that of Mother Theresa or St. Thomas More.
Whatever our specific call from God may be and however long it takes us to get a sense of what it is, the attitude modeled by Isaiah is really the point of the passage. It’s a point I've stolen for one of the chief themes of my time here in Tallulah: “Lord, if YOU make clear what YOU want me to do, then I’ll muster the courage to do it!” Isaiah’s willingness to be sent is the attitude that all Christians are called to have.
We don’t volunteer for the work of the Lord because we believe we’re best qualified or most adept or have better ideas than others, we volunteer because God is God and if I’m willing to serve Him, He’ll bring more good from my willingness than I ever could from my talents… So many Catholics today hesitate to share faith, witness to others, or volunteer at Church because we’re afraid that we’re not the best suited for the task… But the Lord has never chosen the best suited - just look at the apostles… not the best and the brightest! The Lord doesn’t choose the qualified, He qualifies and uses the chosen. Crazy as it seems, in weakness, we are made strong.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Our Lady of Lourdes - whom we celebrate this Tuesday - is one of the best known devotions in the Catholic Church. The city of Lourdes is located along the border with Spain and is famous for its healing waters. The place is a bizarre mix of deep, real spiritual places and what can only be described as a kind of Las-Vegas-ization of the apparition of our Lady.
The walk from the hotels to the Basilica is all neon lights and discounts on candles in the shapes of body parts and the strangest kind of advertisements (“only Hindi-speaking shop in town”). It can be off-putting.
At the same time, the Rosary said\sung by candle-light and the shocking number of sick people along-side people assisting the sick is moving. The grotto and, especially, the Church is Incarnational theology made tangible. The place is remarkable in so many ways.
Even more than the modern experience of Lourdes, though, the apparition is worth remembering and reconsidering often. Our Lady appeared at Lourdes in 1858. It was the third appearance of Our Lady in France in as many decades and these three marked the first major internationally-recognized mystical events since Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531…
At Rue du Bac, Catherine Labouré received the Miraculous Medal from Our Lady along with concerns and warnings about the coming years. At Mount Sous-Les Baisses (AKA La Salette), Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud found Mary weeping because of the disrespect shown to the Lord's Day and to the Lord's name. It was to them that the Secret of LaSalette was entrusted. Pope St. Pius IX eagerly requested the text of that secret. Finally, at Lourdes, Our Lady appeared to a girl named Bernadette Soubirous and declared herself the Immaculate Conception, which confirmed the Vatican dogmatic declaration only a few years earlier. As before, Our Lady expressed concern about the coming years and advised prayer and repentance.
With the stage set by these big three French appearances, Our Lady finally appeared at Fatima in 1917 with the three secrets and the great miracle which took place on St. Edward the Confessor’s feast day (Oct 13).
The consequences of these mystical events were universally considered as portents for our age until the late 1960s when they fell out of fashion and were, to use a modern concept, “canceled” by progressive clergy.
We would do well to un-cancel our Lady’s messages and pay special attention to them. Our Lord sent Our Lady to us as a warning and as an aid for living as a Christian in these days. Only a great fool would set a novel ideology before a miraculous appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us!
From the Saints
From this grotto I issue a special call to women. Appearing here, Mary entrusted her message to a young girl, as if to emphasize the special mission of women in our own time, tempted as it is by materialism and secularism: to be in today’s society a witness of those essential values which are seen only with the eyes of the heart. To you, women, falls the task of being sentinels of the Invisible! I appeal urgently to all of you, dear brother and sisters, to do everything in your power to ensure that life, each and every life, will be respected from conception to its natural end. Life is a sacred gift, and no one can presume to be its master.
-- Pope St John Paul II in Lourdes 2004
It is significant that, during the first apparition to Bernadette, Mary begins the encounter with the sign of the Cross. More than a simple sign, it is an initiation into the mysteries of the faith that Bernadette receives from Mary. The sign of the Cross is a kind of synthesis of our faith, for it tells how much God loves us; it tells us that there is a love in this world that is stronger than death, stronger than our weaknesses and sins. The power of love is stronger than the evil which threatens us. It is this mystery of the universality of God’s love for men that Mary came to reveal here, in Lourdes. She invites all people of good will, all those who suffer in heart or body, to raise their eyes towards the Cross of Jesus, so as to discover there the source of life, the source of salvation.
-- Pope Benedict XVI in Lourdes 2008
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Donald and Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 9:00a In memory of Becky Lancaster (birth)/family
- Tue No Mass
- Wed 9:00a For the special intentions of the family of Matthew Schnur
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Delia Thomas Trichell/Tommy Legacy
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Gail G Gaugnard/Nettles family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat and Marleigh Bullard and Eva and R.L. Reynolds
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning in memory of Vicki Morelli
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/8 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Keene | C VanderVieren |
| 2/9 9:30a | MaryKatherine & Maura | D Ellerbee | - |
| 2/15 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | M Ernst |
| 2/16 9:30a | Courtland, Michael, Cooper | Youth - | - |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- Feb 12 Town Hall meeting - 6 p.m. - Church Hall – see notes elsewhere
- Feb 19 Pastoral Council Meeting - 6 p.m. - Church Hall
- Mar 2 Potluck Brunch to celebrate Mardi Gras - First Quarter Social - after Mass
For Your Information:
TOWN HALL MEETING... WED, FEB 12, 6PM... The Bishop has asked for all parishes to organize a few town hall meetings in order to gather info about parishioner needs, our human resources, and what we want/need/expect in the future. If you are all able to attend, please do so. Father has promised to keep the meeting as close to one hour as possible. THANKS!!
FORMED.ORG… 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 https://signup.formed.org
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. THE WORD AMONG US… Pick up the February copy at the entrance of church for your daily meditation.
FIRST QUARTER SOCIAL: The First Quarter (Jan, Feb, March) Social Committee will organize a Potluck Brunch for March 2 following Sunday Mass. 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, Brian and Brittany McFall, Ed Mills, Billy and Courtney Nadeau, Teddy and Alyssa Oliver, Mike and Sue Rome, Jason Trichell, Mary Trichell, and Levi Washington make up the committee. Mark your calendars and plan to join in the Mardi Gras fun!
Stewardship In today’s readings, both Isaiah and Peter hear the call of God and feel themselves unworth. But, reassured by the Lord, both answer and follow. Do I hear the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send?” Am I prepared to answer “Here I am. Send me?”
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| January Budget | $ 8,444 |
| January Collections | $ 9,518 |
| January Total Expenses | $ 7,591 |
| February Budget | $ 8,444 |
| February 2 Collection | $ 2,509 |
| February Collections To Date | $ 2,509 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Mike Rome (Feb 14), Tim Harris (Feb 15)
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, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Courtland Collins, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. & Alyce Keene, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Alyssa Oliver, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Kenny and Betty Smith
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Nap and Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Caroline and Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Wayne Edwards, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Emily Fortenberry, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Ralph Harris (Gilfoil), Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Callie Halback Hyams, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Randy Parker, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), John Neill, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
Our sympathy: to the family of Bobbe Cox who died on Friday
