30th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
There’s a tendency in our modern American world to see a conflict between commandments and love.
The idea is that love is all about the warm and fuzzies and acceptance and good vibes whereas ANYthing else is opposed to love. Any judgment about someone’s choices is opposed to love. Any challenge to someone’s opinion is opposed to love. Any confrontation at all is somehow opposed to love. Even fundamental human and social virtues like honesty, justice, and courage are opposed to love if someone’s feelings get hurt… Of course, we only need a moment of consideration to recognize that something which is opposed to every other good and noble aspect of our humanity cannot be a good thing and therefore this modern ideal of love cannot be anything good or noble…
The definition of love is “willing” the good of the beloved. If I love you, I want what is truly good for you and I want it so much that I am willing to take action - even sacrificial action. If I notice your car has a low tire, love demands I point it out to you. That’s not likely to get anyone upset, though. If I notice something embarrassing, love demands that I tell you about it, lest you be humiliated… Now that can ruffle feathers… If you’re putting yourself in danger, love demands that I DO what I can for your good, even if that gets you quite upset.
The obvious question, though, is what is good for you? And that question isn’t about warm and fuzzies or acceptance - it’s a question rooted in the truth of who you are. It’s rooted in your human nature and in your divine destiny as a chosen one of God.
That’s why the commandments of God and loving God aren’t separable.
To truly love God is to TRUST that He is telling us the truth about ourselves AND that He wants what is best for us and that His instructions and demands ARE what’s best for us. That’s what faith is…
Kids don’t like it when mom and dad say that sharing is what’s best for us. The same when we get a little older and mom and dad say that truth-telling is best for us. The same when we get older still and we discover for ourselves that honesty and loyalty may cost us but that they are worth every cost. We could think of a hundred examples where we’re told something is certain in some way and it seems counterintuitive but doing right by someone else ends up being better for us.
When it comes to the commandments of God, there’s a counterintuitive aspect as well. What is the best way to love myself? It’s by loving God and loving my neighbor before myself in that order… And how do we love God? By obeying His commands - even if those commands interfere with what we might call loving feelings toward Christ and His Church.
Why? Because God and God alone knows us completely. He knows what makes us work and what does us harm. He knows our human nature and He knows our limitations.
I like the example of a car. A typical SUV engine takes gas and not diesel. Why? Because the people who built it know what’s best for it. My tires take 42 pounds of pressure and not 35. Why? Because the people who designed them and built them made it that way. Why does the front door of the house open in rather than out? Why does the microwave blink the time after a power outage? Because someone made it that way.
And so when we think about ourselves… We can’t decide what is good or bad, what is right or wrong without looking to one who made us and trusting His direction for the proper operation of ourselves.
Genuine love can’t be opposed to commandments because real love wants what is really good for the other. Sometimes that’s easy and it’s all smiles and other times love is hard and it demands for us to trust that the Lord knows what is best for me and for those I love even if it doesn’t feel like it.
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
-
Nov 1 Parade of Saints following Sunday Mass in the Parish Hall.
-
Nov 1 Blessing of Graves for All Soul’s Day following the Parade of Saints - Silver Cross cemetery first followed by Memorial Park
-
Nov 15 Altar Server Training, optional, following Sunday Morning Catechism
-
Nov 22 Potluck Brunch following 9:30 Mass. Mark your calendar and plan to join in this faith family event to give thanks for our many blessings.
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.
ALTAR SEVER TRAINING will be available on Sunday Nov 15. It will last about 25 mins and is optional. Students who have never served should plan to attend. Students who have never attended a training should plan to attend. Other students are welcome to attend for a refresher… If a student is interested in serving, but not sure, they are welcome to come as well and see what it’s like. If needed, Father will schedule more.
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 Silver Cross (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!
POTLUCK BRUNCH will be on November 22 following the 9:30 Mass to celebrate Thanksgiving. ALL are encouraged to participate. The Fourth Quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec) Social Committee who will give leadership to the event consists of Skeeter and Blanche Wilks, and Louise Magoun chair, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Sherry Lynn and Timmy Harris, Michael Lancaster, Billy and Ginny Marsh, William and Sharyn Marsh, Hannah McCartney, Sug Regan, Skipper and Christy Guizerix.
CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY CHOIR CANTATA practice has begun at First Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon. They are looking for additional voices to join in “joyful song”!! Michael Lancaster and Mike Rome from our faith family are participating and can answer any questions you might have if you think you would like to join in.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Lillie “MaMe” Jumonville/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Deceased members of the Roy and Johnson families
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Thomas and Delia Trichell/B Hayes
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Center) In memory of Rosa & Gus Gremshell & May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Dan Fordice/Scott
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, & Eva & R L Reynolds
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a For a special intention of the Guizerix family
Altar Candles this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Acolytes | Lector | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/24 | 5:30p | - | P Wilks |
| 10/25 | 9:30a | Cooper & Courtland | A Oliver |
| 10/31 | 5:30p | - | A Dawson |
| 11/1 | 9:30a | Annie & volunteer | B Sullivan |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
|---|---|
| Sept Budget | $ 10,000 |
| Sept Collections | $ 20,253 |
| Sept Expenses | $ 12,270 |
| October Budget | $ 10,000 |
| October 18 collection | $ 3,311 |
| October to Date | $ 9,370 |
STEWARDSHIP We fulfill the commandment to love our neighbor when we exercise good stewardship–joyfully sharing our gifts of life, abilities, and resources to meet our neighbor’s needs.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Tori Kivett (Oct 25), Mariza Paz (Oct 26), Thomas Miller (Oct 26), Elizabeth Naya (Oct 28), Hannah McCarty (Oct 30), Patsy Lemoine (Oct 30), and Richard Lemoine (Nov 1)
Happy Anniversary toCourtney and Billy Nadeau (Oct 24)
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), Lil Lancaster, 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), Christopher Weems & Patrina & Bruce Weems, 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.