The Fourth Sunday of Lent
Parish Bulletin for The Fourth Sunday of Lent
From The Font
...people preferred darkness to light...
It’s one of the sad realities of our human nature that some of us prefer the darkness to the light. That seems unthinkably insane, but it’s 100% true. Our minds and the complex reasoning by which we make decisions is influenced by innumerable factors. Some of those factors are self-interested. Some are altruistic or charitable or theoretical. Some are influenced by false information or misunderstandings. Some are based on ideas - good or bad - that come from our childhoods. Some come straight from the Lord or His angels. Some come from the devil and his angels. Some come from advertisers. Some come from petty feelings of offense and unforgiveness. This list could literally go on for pages! And because our human nature is so complex, we can’t allow ourselves to be naive and think that everybody thinks the same way or that any of our own decisions (or those of us others) can be explained in quick summary.
I say all this because more and more, our society is trying to put larger and larger groups into increasingly simplistic categories. I may disagree with someone’s opinion on politics and quickly label them a “maga” or a “liberal” or a “racist” or a “whatever-phobe.” Not only is that grossly uncharitable and dehumanizing, it’s stupid. Even if that person holds 50 opinions in common with Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders or Vlad Putin, that doesn’t say all that much about the person themselves.
Similarly, just because someone professes to love Jesus, that doesn’t mean they really do! And that’s true for us as well... It’s shockingly easy to profess the light and prefer the darkness... Even if 90% of my choices are aligned to Jesus, that’s no assurance of anything! As St John says, Jesus came to save and not to condemn! But he adds that those who are condemned, condemn themselves... by not seeking to align themselves 100% with Jesus.
Lent is an important time to be honest with ourselves and to focus on whatever aspects of ourselves (however small the percentage) don’t align with Jesus... Our human nature is always going to tempt us to prefer the darkness to the light and to oversimplify ourselves and others... Resist that temptation!!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Father doesn’t wear pink, Father wears rose… Honestly, I don’t really care, but it’s a fun bit.
I was talking with someone in Monroe at the Parish Mission I preached there this past week. It was just chit-chat when she mentioned that my cassock had a lot of buttons on it and that it must take a long time to get dressed… I casually mentioned that there were, in fact, 33 buttons - one for each year of the life of Jesus. That perked up a few other people who took interest and I continued to explain that the collar symbolizes the yoke of Christ (the same one which is easy and the burden light). I pointed out the symbolism of the 5 buttons on the sleeves (for the 5 Holy wounds) and a few other things. Someone asked about the giant belt loops at the back and I explained about the color code of priests, monsignors, etc. In years’ past, the cassock was like a military uniform. In a gathering of clergy, someone in the know could immediately tell if this guy was a seminarian, priest, bishop, monsignor, etc. You could tell if he had a doctorate or not. You might be able to tell other details as well like his theological expertise or religious order.
Much to my surprise, the folks were genuinely interested and we talked for several minutes about it. When they asked “what changed,” all I could say is that Pope Paul VI just threw the whole thing out without explanation… What more can we say? It’s a tragedy to abandon such a long-standing and useful system for no reason or benefit at all.
I’ve had the same kinds of conversations with people about other subtleties of Catholic practice. The rose vestments, for example, make much more sense when Lent is understood as it was prior to the 1960s: not as one six-week season, but as four components of a nine-week season. Pre-Lent (aka “Septuagesima”) began three Sundays before Ash Wednesday. Then Lent proper began on Ash Wednesday. “Passiontide” began the Sunday before Palm Sunday. And finally, the “Sacred Triuddum” began at Sundown on Holy Thursday (aka “Maundy Thursday”). In this longer context, Rose Sunday was a much needed relief and a preparation for the last two weeks of Lent which are more intense spiritually and liturgically.
The reasons the Church abandoned all these long-established practices are unknown. Pope Paul VI just did away with them… Of course, a future pope could re-establish them or something similar to them just as easily and so it behooves us to know our own history.
Whether or not it has any real practical effect, I believe strongly that knowing our stories as individuals, as families, as communities, and as a Church is essential for listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and making good decisions moving forward. So often we have the idea that we’re confronting problems and questions which are brand-new… In reality, we’re just living in a time of shocking ignorance of our own recent past… All it takes is for us to reject that mentality to discover riches beyond all telling!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard, Patrick Thomas, and Eva and R.L. Reynolds/L Bullard
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 5:30p No Mass
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Marie and John Johnson and Marion and Gertrude Roy & Alex Roy
- Wed 9:00a Special intentions of the family of Mathew Schmur
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30p In memory of .C.B. “Skipper” Jumonville/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of a Special Donor/Magoun
- Sun 9:30a Populo for the Living Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Agnes Gilfoil as requested by Angel Farlow
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/9 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil | N Ernst |
| 3/10 9:30a | MaryKatherine & Courtland | K Collins | None Scheduled |
| 3/16 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | C VanderVieren |
| 3/17 9:30a | Cooper and Maura | Youth | None Scheduled |
| 3/23 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow | M Ernst |
| 3/24 9:30a | Kathleen and Evelyn | D Ellerbee | None Scheduled |
Stewardship All that we have and all that we are comes from the Lord. “We are truly his handiwork,” says St. Paul in the second reading, “created in Christ Jesus to lead the life of good deeds which God prepared for us in advance.”
SECOND COLLECTION supports the Catholic Relief Services.
ENVELOPES FOR EASTER LILIES are on the table at the entrance of church.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| February Budget | $ 8,444 |
| February Income | $ 10,106 |
| February Expenses | $ 10,328 |
| March Budget | $ 10,555 |
| March 3 Collection | $ 2,990 |
| March Income To Date | $ 2,990 |
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
March 17 St Joseph Altar celebrated on Sunday following Mass
March 20 Pastoral Council meeting … 6 p.m.
March 30 Easter Egg Hunt on the Church Grounds at 10 a.m. (see notes elsewhere)
For Your Information:
LENTEN REGULATIONS. Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence, but not actually a Holy Day of Obligation. Specific to Good Friday, fasting day means that we do not eat meat and we have only one full meal. The other Fridays of the season of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. Abstaining from meat is meaningless for vegetarians, who must choose some other form of abstinence. Also, obviously, replacing meat with gourmet seafood is not in keeping with the spirit of Lent. The obligation to abstain binds Catholics 14 years and older. The obligation to fast binds Catholics from the age of 18 to 59. Those who are younger or older should freely embrace these disciplines, but should not endanger their health.
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.
PILGRIMAGE!... Fr Ryan is leading a Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome in Italy in September of 2024. ONLY 5 spots remain available. More information is available at HolyTravels.org/FrHumphriesItaly . Please pass the word around!
FORMED.ORG… FORMED 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
PASTORAL COUNCIL..will hold its regular meeting on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024 at 6:00 p.m in the Church Hall. Appointed members of the Council are: MaryKathryn Book, Kendra Collins, Norman Ernst, Jamie Howington, Jason Trichell and Shannon Wood.. Appointed as Trustees by the Bishop are Michel Lancaster and Cathy VanderVieren. Appointed by the pastor to serve as Finance Council 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.
EASTER EGG HUNT...on the church grounds on Saturday, March 30, at 10 a.m. Stephenie Marsh will give leadership to the event so please check with her to offer your assistance. We will need hard-boiled eggs that are dyed or plastic eggs with treats so your help is appreciated.
EASTER LILIES AND HOLY WEEK DECORATIONS ENVELOPES…there are envelopes on the table at the entrance of church which you can use to make donations “In Memory of…” or “In Honor of…” family and friends and contribute to the Easter Lilies and decorations for Holy Week. You can drop your envelope (or check with a notation that it is for flowers) in the collection basket or give it to Father Ryan or leave it at the office.
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES… This week, we will take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection. Your support for this collection aids victims of persecution and natural disasters, provides legal services to poor immigrants, and advocates for the powerless. Through your generosity, six Catholic agencies reveal Christ's love to the vulnerable refugee, the immigrant family, and those who are poor and marginalized. Please prayerfully consider contributing to The Catholic Relief Services Collection today.
SPECIAL EASTER COLLECTION... Our second collection on Easter Sunday is one of the two every year that is “tax-free” meaning that it is not assessed by the diocese because it’s meant to help defer some of the assessment we pay to the diocese for the clergy retirement and burial expenses. Any gift made to the second collection on Easter will stay 100% here at St Edward. Thanks in advance for your generosity!
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Levi Washington (March 10), Bobby Reynolds (March 12), Abby Ellerbee (March 12), Shannon Wood (March 15), Mary Trichell (March 16), Alyssa Oliver (March 17)
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 Pope Francis; 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, or otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn and Nap Book, Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Hannah Wood McCarty, Ed Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Sue & Mike Rome
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy
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), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Willetta and Mac Cagnolatti, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie and Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe and Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), 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,Chelsea Keene & Andrew Lewis, Emery and Kale Kirkland (Gilfoil), Calvin “Beans” and Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), James Albert Martin, Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), John Neill, Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents, MaryBeth and Steve, Randy Watts, Jr
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Marsh Wood
