The Second Sunday in Lent
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
“Let us make three tents...”
This little aspect of the larger story of the Transfiguration can seem insignificant. Why does Peter want to build a tent? It goes back to the Jewish “Feast of Booths.”
The Feast of Booths, or Sukkot, is a joyful Jewish festival that offers rich insights into themes of gratitude, trust, and dwelling in God’s presence — values that resonate deeply with our faith.
Sukkot, celebrated in the fall (typically September or October), is one of the three pilgrimage feasts in Judaism, alongside Passover and Shavuot. Rooted in Scripture (Lv 23:33-43), it commemorates the Israelites’ 40-year journey through the desert after their liberation from Egypt. During this time, they lived in temporary shelters, or “booths” (“sukkot” in Hebrew, “tabernacles” in Greek), relying entirely on God’s providence — His manna from heaven, water from the rock, and protection from harm. The festival lasts seven days, followed by an eighth day of solemn celebration, known as Shemini Atzeret. Today, Jewish families build sukkot — simple structures with branches or reeds for roofs — where they eat meals, pray, and sometimes sleep, recalling God’s care for their ancestors.
At the heart of Sukkot is thanksgiving. The feast coincides with the harvest season, prompting gratitude for the earth’s bounty. Families wave the “four species” — a citron (etrog), palm branch (lulav), myrtle, and willow — symbolizing God’s gifts and the unity of His people. In ancient times, Sukkot was marked by grand celebrations in Jerusalem, with priests pouring water on the Temple altar, a ritual tied to prayers for rain and, symbolically, the outpouring of God’s Spirit. This water ceremony echoes in our Christian tradition, as Jesus, during Sukkot, declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (Jn 7:37), revealing Himself as the source of living water.
The sukkah’s fragility reminds us to trust not in material security but in God’s unwavering faithfulness. Just as the Israelites looked to the cloud of God’s presence by day and the pillar of fire by night, we look to the Eucharist, where Christ dwells with us, sustaining us on our pilgrimage.
Sukkot also foreshadows the unity of God’s people. The prophet Zechariah envisions a day when all nations will join Israel in celebrating this feast (Zech 14:16-19), a vision fulfilled in Christ, who gathers us into one family.
And so Simon Peter, surrounded by the cloud and after seeing this vision of the Moses, Elijah, and Jesus wants to build a sukkot as a way of giving joyful thanks to God for sending Jesus among them but also as a way or recognizing the presence of God in such a tangible way such that the Jews have not had since the Pillar of Cloud in the time of the Exodus.
As Catholics, it’s easy to see how we adopt the same attitude when we think about our Tabernacles which safeguard the Holy Eucharist, which is the true presence of Jesus, Himself.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of J C B “Chipper” Jumonville/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 9:00a In memory of a special donor/Magoun
- Tue No Mass
- Wed 9:00a St Joseph - Special Intention/Magoun
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Lee Rome/Lebeau
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Donald and Payton Trichell/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Norman Stephen Ernst/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/15 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren | M Rome |
| 3/16 9:30a | Cooper, Courtland, Michael | Youth-Thomas Meyers | - |
| 3/22 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks | C VAnderVieren |
| 3/23 9:30a | Thomas Meyers & Annie | M Lancaster | - |
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
- March 19 Pastoral Council meeting- 6 p.m. - Parish Hall
- March 28 Lenten Devotions - Stations of the Cross 5:30 p.m.
- March 28 Lenten Soup Supper - following 5:30 p.m. Stations and Mass
- April 19 Easter Egg Hunt for our children and their guests … 10 a.m. at church
For Your Information:
FORMED.ORG… 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 https://signup.formed.org
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. LENT. The Season of Lent is meant to be penitential. It’s meant to be a time of deliberate and conscious discomfort in order to shake up our normal ruts and clarify our attention to the Lord and His Sacrifice for us and for our sins.
Catholics aged 18 and up are obliged to abstain from meat on every Friday in the Lenten season. If your doctor advises otherwise, feel free to check in with Fr Ryan.
Finally, all Catholics are expected to “give something up” for Lent. As good as it might be to “do something extra” such as attend Daily Mass, say an extra Rosary, etc, Lent isn’t about doing something extra - it’s about giving something up. It’s a penitential season, not merely a virtuous one. As such, every Catholic from about the age of 14 should choose a food or activity which they generally enjoy and from which they can medically abstain for the entirety of Lent. As with all penances in the Church, Sundays are the Lord’s Day and fasting is not allowed! And so whatever you give up, you CAN have on Sunday.
LENTEN DEVOTIONS… On the Fridays of Lent, Confession is available at 5:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. followed by Mass. On March 28, and April 11, we will have a simple meat-free Lenten potluck after Stations and Mass as we have done in years’ past. Fr Ryan will make a hearty soup.
EASTER EGG HUNT….on the church grounds on Saturday, April 19, at 10 a.m. Stephenie Marsh assisted by Mary Katherine 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.
MOMS GROUP-VICKSBURG- Join us Sunday March 23rd at 4 pm for a Blessing Party! A Blessing Party’s main purpose is to provide prayers and encouragement to pregnant moms and baby and be a time of community and spiritual motherhood as women gather to bless mom and the beautiful gift of life she is growing and bringing into the world. Meeting will be held at the Mason residence, see email for address. Contact vicksburgcatholicmomsgroup@gmail.com with any questions.
Stewardship Peter, James, and John wanted to build a “booth” for Jesus and just stay on the mountain where His transfiguration took place. But, the Son of God, the Chosen One, knew that He must instead keep moving toward His Crucifiction. We, too, must rise from worship and do what we can to hasten the coming of the Kingdom.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| February Budget | $ 8,444 |
| February Collections | $ 14,190 |
| February Total Expenses | $ 10,915 |
| March Budget | $ 8,444 |
| March 9 Collection | $ 2,073 |
| March Collections To Date | $ 4,772 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Shannon Wood (March 15), Mary Trichell (March 16), Alyssa Oliver (March 17), Angel Farlow (March 20), Finley Nadeau (March 20)
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; 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, Norman and Marie Ernst, 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, Kenny and Betty Smith
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Nap and Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Caroline and Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Wayne Edwards, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Emily Fortenberry, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Callie Halback Hyams, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Randy Parker, John Neill, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu March, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
