The 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
This Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I’m a big fan of MLK. He was a fine pastor. He was a pretty decent writer and philosopher. I hear he made some mistakes and even failed in virtue from time to time… I can’t be surprised - all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We don’t really remember him for his personal virtues, though. His ideas weren’t fresh or original. As a thinker, he took his intellectual cues from others in the Civil Right Movement and, as a pastor, he turned to the Bible for most of his great inspiration and much of his sense of language. And good on him for doing that! That’s what makes him a preacher rather than just an agitator or a pundit (as we see on modern cable news). Dr. King’s words rang so true because they weren’t merely thoughts of justice or goodness in this world - they were religious and spiritual and oriented toward eternity and they came in the form of sermons rather than lectures or rallies.
The real reasons we remember and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr is precisely this preaching and, of course, his assassination.
The man was an incredible preacher. I don’t just say public speaker - but preacher. An orator has a set of skills and techniques, all of which a preacher needs. But a preacher also has to have a certain openness to the Holy Spirit and a kind of Bob-Ross courage to move the sermon in an unexpected direction without any real sense of the point in doing so. I can’t count how many of my best sermons got good about the same time I lost my place on the paper in front of me!
MLK’s most famous speech is undoubtedly his “I have a dream speech.” What few people know is that the “I have a dream speech” looked very different on paper. In fact, the most famous line in that speech was preceded by long, meandering paragraphs of contrived ideas and theological arguments. People were getting bored and he saw that. And then, he found his hook and gave one of the greatest improvised sermons in modern history.
Dr. King’s gift - like all sincere Christians - wasn’t what he expected it to be. He wanted to be a good pastor and he wanted to leave the world a better place for his kids. Sadly - or maybe blessedly - he became an icon not for his study or intellect but for a few iconic moments.
Some folks would dismiss him and the entire Civil Rights era as a closed chapter of history… And there’s merit to parts of that argument. The Civil Rights era is indeed over. Modern racial debates have little to do with genuine rights and much to do with faux moral outrage and power brokering.
Racial equality today in the US bears little or no resemblance to Dr. King’s designs and would probably disgust the man who hoped for a day when men would be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
On the other hand, the intellectual content of the Civil Rights Era stands in opposition to the inane clamor of the political left, it also recalls the genuine humanity of those who have faced and do face real persecution. I’m not thinking of the silly wokesters who believe that anyone who says something they don’t want to hear is oppressing them. I say, let them be oppressed!
No, I’m thinking of those like our Tallulah donut shop owners from Cambodia who are fighting an uphill fight for their little boy with special needs. I’m thinking of families here in town who have become so accustomed to welfare that they don’t even consider pursuing work after high school and suffer a poverty of purpose - which is far worse than a need for things. I’m thinking of people whose legal status is unsure and unclear. I’m thinking of people to whom we have the opportunity to show Christian charity in our day-to-day lives.
Dr King’s sermon wasn’t just about race. It wasn’t some absurd lecture on Marxist class-divisions. It was about the core American Dream - the simple desire to be given a place where hard work, audacity, and a willingness to risk failure can result in not just financial success, but familial stability and happiness.
MLK day is not and should not be just a day of remembrance or of racial division. Dr. King’s dream was the American dream writ true to life.
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
Jan 21 Pastoral Council Meeting at 6 pm in the Parish Hall
Jan 31/Feb1 Blessing of Throats following each Mass
Feb 8 NO LATIN MASS, 9:30a Mass as usual
Feb 15 First Quarter Social - Mardi Gras theme for Potluck Brunch following Sunday Mass
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 5:30p for prayer and supper. Everyone is invited. Contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator for more information.
MAUSOLEUM Construction will begin in Summer 2026. 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 to call the church office.
SUNDAY MASS INTENTIONS are now available for request. In the past, the Sunday Morning Mass was not available for personal or requested intentions as the Church requires that at least one Sunday Mass be offered for the entirety of the Parish. With the new Latin Mass, Fr Ryan is able to offer other Sunday Mass for whatever intention you may wish to request.
FIRST QUARTER SOCIAL Potluck Brunch will be in the Church Hall on February 15 following the 9:30am Mass. Margo Corulla and Darryl & Abby Ellerbee will serve as co-chairs. Other committee members include Norman and Marie Ernst, Brian Johnson, Sidney and Mary Jane Johnson, Robbie and Tori Kivett, Brian and Brittany McFall, Ed Mills, Billy and Courtney Nadeau, Teddy and Alyssa Oliver, Mike and Sue Rome, Jason Trichell, Mary Trichell, Levi Washington. Mark your calendars and plan to join in the Mardi Gras celebration.
SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND (January 25, 2026) for the Catholic missionaries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including the educational costs of seminarians and permanent deacons in Brazil and the funds to bring the sacraments to inmates in Ecuador’s most dangerous prisons.
ANGEL TREE 2025 co-chairs Dana Dukes and Dana Hamilton report that through the generosity of the Faith Family of St Edward the Confessor, we made a difference at Christmas in the lives of 23 children (ages 1-21) from five families, five residents of a Community Home, and one elderly grandmother. In addition to the purchased gifts given by parishioners, we had cash gifts with which a ham and assorted foodstuffs were provided to each family. Additionally, personal care items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, etc. were included along with a religious themed, age appropriate book. “The Danas” report that they were the big winners of the project as they have received some really touching phone calls of appreciation!!!
BLESSING OF THROATS for the intercession of St Blaise will be offered after all Masses on the weekend of January 31/February 1. The Feast of St Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, occurs on Feb 3. St Blaise is the patron saint of all ailments of the throat and the blessing with candles is a tradition going back to the 3rd century.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Eva Reynolds (death anni)/Bullard
- 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 Howington & Bolton families
- Mon NO MASS
- Tues 9:00a For special intentions of the Guizerix family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Craig Stamm/Booth
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Kathleen Mills (anni of death)/Crothers (Legacy Nursing Home)
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Joe Farlow/Bullard
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard (birth anni)/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Margaret Magoun/family
Altar Candles this week are burning in memory of Becky, Beverly, and Edgar Lancaster
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/17 5:30p | - | L Bullard | N/A |
| 1/18 9:30a | Cooper, Courtland | Youth-Jammal | - |
| 1/24 5:30p | - | A Dawson | N/A |
| 1/25 9:30a | Annie, Thomas Meyers, & Katelyn | D Hamilton | - |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| December Budget | $ 10,000 |
| December Collections | $ 26,843 |
| December Expenses | $ 10,227 |
| January Budget | $ 10,000 |
| January 11 Collection | $ 3,524 |
| Collections To Date | $ 6,655 |
Stewardship
Today’s responsorial Psalm is the theme song of the good steward: “Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.” May I, too, stand ready to offer myself and my gifts in the service of God.
NEXT WEEKEND’S SECOND COLLECTION is to support the Church in Latin America.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Paul Naya (Jan 18), Renee Wood (Jan 18), Mary Jane Johnson (Jan 22), Brice Wood (Jan 22), Travis Hamilton (Jan 24), and Johnna Riddick (Jan 26)
Happy Anniversary to Kaci and Norman Ernst (Jan 21), Johnna and Stephen Riddick (Jan 24)
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, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, 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, Phillip and Peggy Scurria, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Craig Cox, Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan, Alex, and Palmer Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Patricia Lively (Wilks), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Jimmy Hopson(Wilks), Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Boyce Miller,Mike Morelli, Cole Norris, Randy Parker, Russell and Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Curt and Brianne Rome, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, 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, Chandler Wood
