28th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Thoughts from Fr. Ryan

The story goes that in the summer of 1065, in Westminster, England, King Edward was attending the dedication of one of the many Churches he had paid to have built, this one in honor of St. John the Evangelist. During the festivities, an older man approached the king and asked for alms. The king didn’t have any coins on him, so he called for the almoner - a court official who takes care of people who are looking for alms. But, the almoner couldn’t be located, so Edward, really not wanting to miss an opportunity to give alms at a religious feast, gave the man the ring off his finger - a golden band with a huge blue sapphire.

Around the same time, in the Holy Land, two Englishmen were on pilgrimage and were lost. They were getting nervous because the sun was starting to set and it was very dangerous to be on the road at night in that place. They come across a “band of youths in bright raiment (clothing).” Their leader was an old man dressed in white with a reassuring smile. He asked them three questions:

What creed and birth are you?
Of what kingdom and king?
What do you seek?

They identified themselves as English Christians, under the authority of King Edward of England, and on pilgrimage for repentance of their sin.

The little guy seemed to recognize the name Edward and he led them safely to a roadside inn. As they were eating supper, the little guy handed the pilgrims a ring with a huge blue sapphire on it and told them that he was John the Evangelist. He said that he knows their king and loves him, and that he wants these two to head straight home and give the ring back to Edward with the message that he will die and go to heaven in six months time.

This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of our Parish Patron, St. Edward the Confessor, King of England in the middle of the 11th century. He died in 1066. He was the last of the Danish Kings, not counting his incompetent successor who lost the kingdom to the French invaders from Brittany (hence “Britian”) at the famous Battle of Hastings.

The story of the ring is one of many miraculous stories associated with Edward the Confessor. He was a fine king and administrator and was famously devout in his personal life… But that’s not really why he is officially a saint. After he died, his tomb became strongly associated with miracles. Strongly associated! We’re blessed to have an actual relic of Edward in the Church!

The reason we care about the feasts of saints is simple enough. The saints reveal to us, in a concrete way, how the Christian faith works. There are saints who were parents, saints who were widows, saints who were teachers, saints who were intellectuals, saints who were respected socially, saints who had really hard lives, saints who were martyred, saints who were priests, saints who were American, and, saints who lived and worked in Louisiana

We look to the saints and we develop special relationships with those saints who help us by their example and by their prayers to put into practice the Christian Faith in our lives… For each of us, there are saints who we feel relate to our experience of living out our Christian Faith.

In a patronal saint, we're specifically asking them to pray for our parish and to pray for us that we might find in our local Church all that we need to grow in holiness. We need blessings and crosses. We need the Sacraments and the teaching of the Church. We need people that encourage us and people who challenge us. As a miracle worker, Edward is an especially good patron…

Edward’s ring - adorned with a huge Sapphire - eventually made its way into the center of the cross which is attached the very tip-top of the Royal Crown which was most recently seen at the coronation of King Charles III who was crowned in Westminster Abbey about 50 feet from the miraculous tomb which contains the rest of our patron saint’s remains…

Upcoming Events

Confessions every Fri & Sat ~5p until Mass and Sunday ~9a until Mass
Sunday Morning Catechism (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:30a Mass unless otherwise indicated
October 10-11 Feast of St Edward the Confessor (Oct 13) celebrated
October 10 Saturday evening Potluck Social following Mass
October 16 Quarterly Healing Mass with Anointing of the Sick
October 18 Living Rosary for our children and adults
October 21 Pastoral Council meeting - 6pm in the Parish Hall

For Your Information:

ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30p for prayer and supper. Everyone is welcome. Contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator for more information.

FORMED.ORG has weekly features 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

MAUSOLEUM construction is expected to begin in the next two months. If you have any questions or you know of anyone else interested in making a purchase, please encourage them to call the church office for additional information.

OUR PARISH PATRONAL FEAST DAY will be celebrated at weekend Masses this weekend (Oct 10-11). St Edward’s feast day is October 13, but the Church allows us to replace the readings and prayers of a nearby Sunday if that Sunday is in Ordinary Time. Further, our Patronal Feast Day is a Solemnity for members of our parish which means you are morally obliged to celebrate!! Plan your steak, cake, or stinky cheese purchases accordingly.

HOLY MASS WITH ANOINTING OF THE SICK will be offered on Friday, October 16, at the usual 5:30p time. After the Sermon, Father Ryan will offer the sacrament to those who are in need due to ongoing illnesses or age.

THE LIVING ROSARY will take the place of Sunday Morning Catechism on Sunday, October 18. Many thanks to Louise Magoun who has prepared the script and coached the children. All little ones are welcome to participate. As each Hail Mary is prayed, one of our little ones will take the “bead” from the the large rosary and present it to Our Lady. All are encouraged to join us!

PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING will be held on Wednesday, October 21 at 6p in the Church Hall. Members of the Council are: Margo Corulla, Kathleen Ellerbee, Norman Ernst, Christi McEacharn, Elizabeth Naya, Mike Rome. Trustees are Michael Lancaster and Cathy VanderVieren. Finance 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.

THE PARADE OF SAINTS will take place on Sunday, November 1 in place of Sunday Morning Catechism. All children are encouraged to dress up as a saint and to memorize a sentence or two about that saint to tell Father when he introduces them in the hall during Coffee and Donuts. Afterward, all are encouraged to drive down to the old cemetery (appx 3 mins) for the blessing of the graves for All Souls’ Day. Both of these activities will provide parents an excellent opportunity to talk with their kids about earthly life, eternal life, and the reality of earthly death. All are encouraged to attend!

Mass Intentions for the Coming Week

Sat 5:30p In memory of deceased members of the Larpenter and Rome families
Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
Sun 9:30a In memory of Edgar Lancaster (death anni)/family
Mon NOMASS
Tue 9:00a In memory of Alex “Bubba” Jumonville (birth anni)/family
Wed 9:00a For a special intention of the Guizerix family
Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Center) In memory of Rosa & Gus Gremshell & May DiTomasso
Fri 5:30p In memory of Delia and Thomas Trichell/T Trichell
Sat 5:30p In memory of Vicki Morelli (birth anni)/family
Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
Sun 9:30a In memory of Terry Murphy (birth anni)/family

Altar Candles this week are burning in memory of Vicki Morelli

Assistants at Holy Mass

		Acolytes	Lector
10/10	5:30p	-	MA Gilfoil
10/11	9:30a	Kathleen & Evelyn	S Marsh
10/17	5:30p	-	M Rome
10/18	9:30a	MaryKatherine & Maura	Youth

Our Return to the Lord

Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026	$ 2,500
Sept Budget	$ 10,000
Sept Collections	$ 10,139
Sept Expenses	$ TBD
October Budget	$ 10,000
October 4 collection	$ 3,940
October to Date	$ 3,940

STEWARDSHIP In today’s second reading, St. Paul thanks the Philippians for being willing to share in his hardships and promises that God, in turn, will fully supply all their needs. Our God truly cannot be outdone in generosity!

Community Celebrations

Happy Birthday to Marsh Wood (Oct 11), Sidney Johnson (Oct 13), Kenny Smith (Oct 14), and William Marsh (Oct 16)

In Our Daily Prayers…

For our Pope, Leo XIV, 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, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Ann Claire Fordice and her children, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Timmy Harris, Sylvester and Isabell Hernandez, Brian Johnson, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Phillip and Peggy Scurria, Sug Regan, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan, Mary Trichell

Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Carl Bryant (Wilks), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, Donna Fulton (Ellerbee), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan, Alex, and Palmer Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, family of Wade Hargrave, Ricky Hendrix (Howington), Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Andrew and Chelsea Keene-Lewis, Kerry and Todd LaBiche(M Gilfoil), Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Jessica McCoy (Reynolds), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Mike Morelli, Randy Parker, Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Curt and Brianne Rome, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Debbie Kedrick Sims, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.

Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Will Richardson, Chandler Wood

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.