The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Merry Christmas!!
Or if you’re reading this on the weekend - happy last days of Advent!
Advent flew by this year and, for me at least, it made it a little challenging to feel ready for Christmas, no matter how much Pumpkin Spice I may or may not have consumed! Still, one of my favorite things about Catholicism is the tension between sameness and difference. Last year December pre-Christmas felt long, this year it felt short... I have the same fake tree, but different decorations around it.
Lots of our Faith is meant to be the same every time. Sunday Mass, for example, should be very consistent - it’s a ritual. Rituals that change are, by definition, not rituals. Our liturgical calendar is basically the same every year, but this year December 8 was December 9... There are little variations. Advent can be long or short depending on what day of the week is the 25th. Carnivale is the same way. Ash Wednesday can be as early as February 4 or as late as March 10... That means that we can be well done with Lent, Holy Week and Easter before April or we can still be in the midst of it as we’re getting ready for Senior Graduation.
Of course, the big difference year to year isn’t the calendar or the prayers, it’s us. We change every year. In the last 12 months, we’ve had some ups and some downs. We may have lost loved ones. Hopefully, we’ve made some strides in prayer and virtue. Maybe we’ve identified and confronted some of our unvirtuous habits. Maybe because of stress or life-changes, we’ve picked up some new bad habits. Whatever the case, we’re different than we were and so there’s fresh value and purpose in doing the same things the same way every year. This can be really challenging in our modern world which wants to see everything change all the time... That’s part of the reason personal growth is so challenging in our society. When the standards keep changing, meeting them or surpassing them doesn’t mean anything! In the same way, if Advent or Christmas or Lent or Easter are different every year, then how can I get a sense of my personal growth?
In Advent, for instance, we’re thinking about waiting, patience, hope, and trust in God. At Christmas, we’re thinking about joy, peace, and God’s goodness. If we keep thinking about those same things at the same time, then next year, I can ask myself if I am more patient in December 2025 than I was in 2024... But if things randomly change up, how can we take stock of these big picture kinds of things?
Of course, there’s more to our Faith and to these feasts than just psychology, self-awareness, and personal growth! There’s a profound spiritual component that we need year after year. There’s an intellectual component that we need. There’s a family component and an emotional component and a dozen other pieces of ourselves that benefit from the holy-day season... But it speaks volumes to me that all of these components come together in the midst of this wonderful tension between same-ness and different-ness. It’s a very human tension and one that we shouldn’t shy away from. We need both parts to make the most of this blessed time!
And so, on behalf of all of the wonderful people here at St Edward, Merry Christmas!!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb...
The first person on this plant to recognize Jesus was John the Baptist in his mother’s womb. That fact one of the most bizarre and wonderful gems of Christianity. It’s so bizarre, we can be basically assured that it’s true. Who would make up something like that? And the fact that John, in the womb, was the first to recognize Jesus introduces into Christianity, from literally the first moment the question of recognizing God... Of course, we know in hindsight that God intended to hide Himself throughout the course of Jesus’ coming to our world and from the time of His death and Resurrection until the Second Coming.
The amazing Bishop and writer Fulton Sheen once pointed out that “The world might have expected the Son of God to be born—if He was to be born at all—in an inn. A stable would be the last place in the world where one would have looked for Him. Divinity is always where one least expects to find it.”
The question of why God hides Himself from our senses is a good topic for another bulletin. But the fact that He does shapes our religion. So much of Christianity is about mastering our pride and our animalistic instincts. We are not taught to be self-reliant and ambitious. Rather, Christians are told to listen quietly for the voice of the Lord speaking through the child born in a quiet cave in a backwoods town in a backward and insignificant country in a desert that no one cared much about until oil became a thing.
It’s hard to imagine a quieter - literally and metaphorically - voice than that of Jesus one that first Christmas. It harkens back to the story of Elijah who flees to a cave after he defeats the prophets of Jezebel. Elijah is given food by an angel and sent to a hidden place. As he’s sleeping, an angel tells him to look out from the cave. When he looks out, he’s confronted by a storm, an earthquake, and a fire. As these pass, he’s taken aback by a powerful silence and a small whisper of a voice. It’s in the whispering voice that Elijah recognizes the Holy Spirit.
In much the same way, we as Christians can look for the Lord in the hustle and the bustle of daily life. But the Holy Spirit is not in the 24 hour news network. The Lord is not behind a screen. He can’t be found in entertainment or work. It’s only by listening to the Lord in quiet prayer that we are able to recognize and understand what God wants to say to us. John the Baptist recognized Jesus hidden in Mary’s womb. So much of our lives as Christians is an effort to so quiet our hearts that we can do the same.
As we consider the silence of the Christmas Creche, may we find the stillness that we need to recognize Jesus speaking to us from it!
From the Saints
“My prayer for you is that when Christ comes to you in Christmas, He may find in you a warm home, warm love like that of a heartful of love, like that of a simple shepherd who was the first one chosen to see Christ.” -- St. Teresa of Calcutta
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” -- The Gospel of St John, chapter 1
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Marleigh & Pat Bullard, Patrick Thomas, Eva and R L Reynolds/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 9:00a In memory of C. L. Keene/family
- Tue 5:30p Pro Populo for the Faith Family of St Edward the Confessor - Christmas Eve
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Eva Reynolds (birth)/Bullard - Christmas Day
- Wed 10:30a For Stacy Mestayer/Fr Ryan Traditional Latin Mass
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Thomas and Delia Trichell/Tommy at Legacy Nursing
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Joseph Testa (birth)/Magoun
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Paul VanderVieren/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/21 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | M Rome |
| 12/22 9:30a | Michael M, Maura, Cooper | J Howington | - |
| 12/28 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | C VanderVieren |
| 12/29 9:30a | Kathleen & Evelyn | M Lancaster | - |
Stewardship The Gospel today tells of the Virgin Mary, pregnant herself, hurrying off to help her cousin, Elizabeth. The model of good stewardship, she who had given herself to bear the Savior gave her time and love to others as well.
SECOND COLLECTION AT CHRISTMAS is dedicated to Church Vocations for the education and formation of our priests. Through the Church Vocations collections, your generosity and prayers allow the church to continue to provide priests, sisters and brothers to serve our spiritual and physical needs. Please give generously.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| Novembeer Budget | $ 8,444 |
| November Income | $ 9,187 |
| November Expenses | $ 11,235 |
| December Budget | $ 10,555 |
| December 15 Collection | $ 1,997 |
| December Income To Date | $ 6,244 |
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
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p
- Dec 24 Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord … 5:30 p.m. Mass (Carols at 5 p.m.)
- Dec 25 Nativity of the Lord … 9 a.m. Mass, 10:30 a.m. Traditional Latin Mass
- Dec 31 Vigil of Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God….5:30 p.m. Mass
- Jan 1 Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God … 9 a.m. Mass
For Your Information:
Our CHRISTMAS EVE schedule is similar to last year. Mass will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24. We will not have confessions available before Mass. We will have Christmas Carols from about 5:00 p.m. Seating usually becomes tight by the time Mass has begun, so please consider arriving early to pray and enjoy the caroling. On CHRISTMAS DAY Father Ryan will offer two Masses.
Mass in English will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Christmas Day. We will not have any gathering, catechesis, or donuts on Christmas Day.
Mass in Latin will begin around 10:30 a.m. and will be a “Low Mass.” For those unfamiliar with the Latin Mass, booklets will be available and Father’s sermon will most certainly be in English.
Daily Masses for the rest of the week will remain as usual.
Our MAUSOLEUM project is now underway. We are in the pre-sales phase where those who are interested in any way are asked to give us your name and mailing address so that the company can judge if there is sufficient interest to complete the project and so that they can send preliminary information. (Signing up is not an obligation to buy.) If you would like to sign up, you can do so at any Mass or by contacting us via email at the address listed on the inside page of the bulletin. Thanks!
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… 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
FLOWER FUND… envelopes can be found on the table at the entrance of church for you to make donations to the fund for poinsettias and other decorations for the Advent and Christmas season. Or, you can use a plain envelope for cash or a check with “Flowers” in the memo area and put those in the collection basket.
2025 CALENDARS… are on the table at the entrance. We have enough for each family to have more than one if you like. (hint…it is handy to have one at home and one at work to be reminded of church special dates!)
2025 STEWARDSHIP ENVELOPES... 2025 envelopes can be found at the entrance of church. Please sign your name on the register and indicate the number on the box of envelopes that you take.
ANGEL TREE… to late-comers who wanted to participate in the Angel Tree project but did not get to select an Angel… it is not too late to be part of the project!!! We still need monetary donations to purchase the food items to give each family in our project a basket of foods for a Christmas meal. You can put a cash gift in an envelope marked “Angel Tree” and put it in the collection basket or put a check with “Angel Tree” in the memo line in the collection.
MEMORIAL SERVICE….for VICKIE ERNST MORELLI, sister of Norman Ernst and aunt of Stephenie, Katherine, Courtney, and Norm will be on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 12 noon at St Edward the Confessor, Tallulah. Vickie died earlier in December and had considered St. Edward as a home parish. Following the service, our faith family will serve lunch for the family in our Church Hall. Beth Sullivan will give leadership to the lunch plans. If you would like to assist, please notify Beth, Father Ryan or the church office.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Christy Guizerix (Dec 22), Robbie Kivett (Dec 25), Thomas Myers Hamilton (Dec 25), Emmy Lou Marsh (Dec 27)
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 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, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Kenny and Betty Smith
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), 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), Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe & Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Wayne EdwardsMike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), 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, 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, John Neill, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), 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
