The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
The sudden death by assassination of Charlie Kirk was heartbreaking for many of us this week. I certainly want to encourage you to pray for the repose of his soul and the consolation of his wife Erica and their two children. We also pray both for the conversion of the assassin, but also that justice may be done upon him or her. While we pray that God would have mercy upon the criminal, we, as Catholics, do not necessarily praise or recommend that mercy be shown by the civil justice system…
That can seem shocking! It can seem shocking, too, when we first learn that Catholic teaching about politics is not compatible with pacifism, conscientious objectors, or being soft on crime. It should be obvious, though. Jesus was clear that when He told Pilate that what authority he, Pilate, had been given had been given to him by God. And we can’t forget that Jesus taught unambiguously that we must render unto Cæsar what is Cæsar’s and unto God what is God’s.
This Thursday evening, in St Joseph at the Walking Pig, Fr Taylor is hosting “Theology on Tap” - a kind of informal lesson and Q&A time - at which I’ll be speaking on the subject of “The Separation of Church and State.” The topic was requested by one of Fr Taylor’s parishioners and I was asked to speak because I’ve spent a lot of time studying political philosophy both before and after ordination to the Priesthood.
The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk illustrates the wisdom of our Catholic perspective powerfully. The very short version of my talk is that the Constitution, in its First Amendment, does not call for a separation of Church and State. Rather, that text says that the State must not adopt an official Church or otherwise deny the free exercise of religion. That text is an acknowledgement that “the people” - who are ostensibly the governors of this nation established “by the people and for the people” - will have a diverse set of beliefs. This diversity will make a singular state Church practically impossible. As such, each individual or group must be absolutely free to exercise their religion in all its requirements: beliefs, worship, moral demands, etc.
The only limitations that can reasonably be placed by the state upon religion are those which realistically and severely interfere with the individual rights which are owed to all citizens… For example, a religion like Islam, which directly calls for acts of terrorism by believers, can be rightly forbidden… Even when a novel religion which is a thinly veiled excuse for illegal activity (c.f. Rastafarianism or Thor Worship) has to be given the benefit of the doubt and its adherents given the freedom to practice their beliefs as freely as possible.
All of that is what the Constitution has to say and it doesn’t really paint the picture of the absolute separation of Church and State that we see talked about.
The Catholic point of view broadly speaking gives room for my specific interpretation of the First Amendment. Catholic political philosophy begins with the principle of “Subsidiarity.” In brief, subsidiarity is handing issues in the local-est way possible. SO if there’s a fight among the kids, mom and dad should handle it. If there’s a problem in the neighborhood, let’s try and solve it amongst ourselves. If we can’t address it, then let’s not jump to the Supreme Court, let’s handle things in the most local way we can. In that way, we tend to have less need for oversight and liaisons and complicated structures and laws. The people of Florida don’t need to be held accountable for laws about driving in snow and the people of Alaska don’t need to worry about following laws against poaching Alligators in swamps... That’s what the 10th Amendment is trying to hammer home.
Further, Catholics understand that populations can’t exist without religions. If they try artificially to remove Christianity from a state government, for example, it will be replaced by something. In our modern case, materialism, “wokeness,” and Liberalism (with a capital L) are just religions pretending not to be… There’s lots more, but you’ll need to join us at the Walking Pig at 6pm on Thursday night to hear it!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of JCB “Skeezix” Jumonville (birth anni)/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 R L Reynolds (death anni)/family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00 am In memory of Joan Hennesssey Koestler (birth anni)/Boothe
- Wed 9:00 am In memory of AJS “Jackie” Jumonville (birth anni)/family
- Thu 9:00 am In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30 pm In memory of Thomas and Delia Trichell/T Trichell
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of Pat & Marlie Bullard, Patrick Thomas, and Eva & R L Reynolds/family
- Sun 9:30 am In memory of deceased members of Roy and Johnson families/ S Johnson
Altar Candles this week are burning in memory of Becky, Beverly, and Edgar Lancaster
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/13 5:30p | - | M A Gilfoil | A Keene |
| 9/14 9:30a | Michael, Finley, Ashlyn | B Sullivan | - |
| 9/20 5:30p | - | M Rome | M Ernst |
| 9/21 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, Daniel M | Youth - Courtland | - |
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
- Sept 21 Tax-Free Second Collection (more info to come)
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 We have reached the end of our sales period for the Mausoleum. It will, of course, be possible to purchase spaces in the future, 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. THE WORD AMONG US The September edition can be found on the table in front of the choir. If you would like to add this devotional help to your library of aids, please feel free to take a copy.
SECOND COLLECTION FOR CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA Founded in 1887 by the U. S Bishops, this is the national university of the Catholic Church educating seminarians, religious, bishops and laity to advance the dialogue between faith and reason.
TAX-FREE COLLECTION Next weekend, September 21, 2025, our second collection will remain in the parish without the usual diocesan assessment/tax. That means 100% of what is given in the second collection next week will remain here in the Parish. Please be prayerfully generous.
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
Our Return to the Lord
Stewardship We hear God speaking to us in the words of the father to his elder son. “You are with me always, and everything I have is yours.” What is my response to such remarkable generosity? Do I give joyfully and generously as God gives to me?
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend supports Catholic University of America.
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| August Budget | $ 10,000 |
| August Collections | $ 17,705 |
| August Total Expenses | $ 11,647 |
| September Budget | $ 10,000 |
| September 7 collection | $ 4,612 |
| September Collections To Date | $ 4,612 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday to Gabriel Paz (Sept 15), and Ann Claire Fordice (Sept 15), Bruin Johnson (Sept 18), Chris Cagnolatti (Sept 21)
Happy Anniversary to Isabell and Sylvester Hernandez (Sept 23), Peggy and Phillip Scurria (Sept 23)
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
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, 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), Mike Coullard (Oliver), Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummins, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, 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, David Peterson, 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
