The 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
What does it mean for Sirach to say “The LORD is a God of justice?” What does it mean for St. Paul to tell Timothy that the Lord, the Just Judge, will award a crown to the righteous? What does it mean for Jesus to say that the Tax Collector is justified, but the Pharisee isn’t?
In law, justice is either about the law, itself, being far and equal or about the law being applied fairly and equally to all. In the pop philosophy of modern politics, justice is a bit fuzzier and situations are only just if I get my way. In philosophy more broadly, justice is about each one getting what he or she needs to thrive.
But in Christianity, Justice has a few contexts.
Justice is an aspect of God’s perfection - He knows His creation and His Justice provides for each according to its potential, purpose and perfection.
Justice is also a VIRTUE to be practiced as a habit in which you and I owe a duty to God, neighbor and self. I show justice to God when I worship Him. I show justice to my neighbor through honesty, fairness, and generosity. I show justice to myself in much the same way.
Justice is also an aspect of the end of each of our lives as we are JUDGED into Heaven or Hell by the Lord… That judgment is based upon our attitudes regarding personal sin, upon our religious practice and understanding, and upon our Faith, properly speaking.
But perhaps the most important aspect of Justice is that God, through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus has superseded His own justice by showing Mercy - which we cannot earn and cannot even begin to understand.
In a perfectly just society, there is no mercy. You do the crime, you do the time. That’s justice. In a perfectly just society, there is no reconciliation, no compassionate mediation of the rule, nothing. But Jesus offers us mercy, which changes everything. It SHOULD also change our attitude toward our own sins and failings.
In a just world, there is no incentive to confess or repent. With a merciful God, there is nothing but incentive to go to confession. What’s the risk - that some random priest will silently judge? Who cares!
In a just world, there is no incentive to do better. With a merciful God, the past can be consigned to the past.
The example of the humble sinner saying to the Lord again and again: 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner' is the kind of example that should be FREEING to us. Don’t buy into the temptation to say “well, this isn’t a sin for me.” If it’s a sin, it’s a sin! And if I don't acknowledge that, then I’m risking Hell! And for what?
As some of you know, I’ve been on a fitness journey for the past few years. I started at the little gym by the nursing home. On my first day there, this guy came in... 5ft nothing, ~400lbs. Bless him, he was clearly unsure what to do. He rode the bike for 5mins until he was breathing hard. Then he went to 2 or 3 machines. He was clearly lost, but he was TRYING! If I had had any idea how to help him, I would've! At the time, I was entirely new to exercise and so all I could do was watch. Now, three years later, I understand what he needed to do. I still think about him and I genuinely hope that he’s gained the knowledge and understanding he needs. But he’s got the attitude - and in many ways, that matters more.
The tax collector’s prayer isn’t sophisticated. He’s not worried about profound theology. But his attitude is everything! And in many ways, that’s what really makes justice what it is. There might be 100 ways to be fair in a given situation, but the attitude of justice is what really matters in terms of Faith. In the same way, we might see 100 ways for Jesus to be more fair to us. But the Lord is the perfection of that attitude of justice and regardless of our own notions, He is always working in our best interest. And so the best thing we can do is adopt the attitude of the humble sinner and ask the Lord for mercy.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30 pm In honor of Andrew Magoun/family
- Sun 8:00 am (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30 am In memory of deceased members of the Roy and Johnson families/S Johnson
- Mon NO MASS
- Wed 9:00 am In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Thu 9:00 am In memory of Rosa & Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30 pm In memory of Donald and Payton Trichell/family
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of Mary Agnes York and Gail Graugnard/P Gilfoil
- Sun 9:30 am In memory of Becky, Beverly, and Edgar Lancaster/family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Blanche and Prentiss Wilks
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/25 5:30p | - | A Farlow | M Ernst |
| 10/26 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, Daniel | D Hamilton | - |
| 11/1 5:30p | - | MA Gilfoil | N Ernst |
| 11/2 9:30a | MaryKatherine, Maura, Elizabeth | J Howington | - |
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
- Oct 31 (Fri) Halloween. Mass of All Saints 5:30 p.m.
- Nov 1/2 - Weekend Masses are the Feast of All Souls’ Day
- Nov 1 (Sat) Blessing of the Graves at both cemeteries beginning at Silver Cross at 10:30a
For Your 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
ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join in prayer. For more information, contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator.
MAUSOLEUM Construction on the Mausoleum will begin in late Spring 2026. It is possible to purchase spaces at any time. Our sales representative, Garth Daniels, can be reached at (318) 295-4409. If you have any questions or you know of anyone else interested in making a purchase, please encourage them to speak with Garth or call the church office.
PARISH CENSUS CAN BE FILLED OUT ONLINE This entire month we’re trying to get everyone to fill out a census page. Even if you’re not a parishioner and only come to Mass here on occasion, we’d love to be able to be in touch with you! You can fill out one of the sheets at the back of the Church OR you can go to https://www.saintedwardtallulah.church/census
JOIN US FOR THE ROSARY BEFORE MASS on Saturdays and Tuesdays. About half an hour before Mass, the community will informally pray the rosary together. Feel free to come to Mass a few minutes early and honor our Lady with her most recommended devotion.
ANGEL TREE 2025… Dana Hamilton and Dana Dukes who will give leadership to our Angel Tree 2025 project are beginning their search for families who are in need of help with children for the upcoming Christmas season. If you know of such a family, would you provide the name of the adult responsible for the children and a contact number to either the chairperson or the church office so that additional information can be obtained. For those who may be new to the Angel Tree project, we usually provide an article of clothing and a toy, personal items such as toothbrush, hair brush, etc and a religious book for each child in a chosen family and additionally provide a food basket for the family.
FOURTH QUARTER SOCIAL is scheduled for Sunday, November 23 following Mass! Mark your calendar and plan to bring your favorite potluck dish as we celebrate Thanksgiving. The Committee is composed of Skeeter and Blanche Wilks, and Louise Magoun chair persons, and 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.
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 (Hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30)
Stewardship
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| September Budget | $ 10,000 |
| September Collections | $ 20,135 |
| September Expenses | $ 10,115 |
| October Budget | $ 10,000 |
| October 19 Collection | $ 3,021 |
| October Collections To Date | $ 10,089 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Tori Kivett (Oct 25), Mariza Paz (Oct 26)Elizabeth Naya (Oct 28), Hannah McCarty (Oct 31), Don Wood (Nov 1), Bill Nadeau (Nov 2)
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.
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, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Anna and John Luke Bigelow, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Caroline and Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan and Alex Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Family/Friends of Cynthia Hicks, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Patricia Lively (Wilks), Lonnie Hollowell (Naya), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller,Cole Norris, Randy Parker, Russell and Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Sara and Jess Shields (Keene), 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, EmmyLu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
