The 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Imagine, if you will, the early days of Christianity. There are alternating periods of peace and of persecution. Christians are preaching a message that is strongly at odds with most of the world - and it’s a small world. Most people will never travel more than 40 or 50 miles. Most will only ever hear music, stories, and even names from our local community. Every now and then, a traveling entertainer will pass through town. Even city folk will be provincial and uncultured by any standard that we comprehend. Most people’s lives will be the daily grind of work and precious time spent with family. Faith is THE centerpiece of life - and it’s a short life. Most folks will die before 50. Life is short and hard. Even a small cut that gets infected or a simple fever can kill you in a week…
And then, one day, one of your fellow Christians tells you that folks with eye problems have been visiting an underground cemetery to pray at the tomb of some dead girl… Well, the Romans don’t pray for the dead. They decorate the tombs to show off their wealth, but they only visit them rarely. It’s even a little dangerous to go into some of these catacombs… They’re not marked or labeled and so if you get lost and your lamp burns out, you’re as likely as not to die before anyone finds you… And yet your friend tells you that people who pray at this tomb of this girl find their eyes healed of all sorts of things. Even people who prayed with the bones stolen from the tomb were healed! A few months later, someone else tells you about a bishop who heals throats…
It’s hard for us to imagine how insane that must’ve sounded. Why eyes? Why throats? Why bones?
I can write the same kind of story for things like Holy Water or Brown Scapulars or the Miraculous Medal. At some point, we’re left simply to acknowledge that the Lord has chosen to use certain physical things for certain spiritual effects. Surely, a hundred books have been written to explain or argue some theological blah blah blah… At the end of the day, though, the question isn’t so much “why” as it is “how.” Why ever God chose to use the bones of the saints - which we call “relics” - to bring about certain kinds of healing, He has! Why ever God chose to use St. Blaise to heal throats rather than whole heads or just Sinus Infections, He has! Why ever God chose to use Holy Water or the Brown Scapular or the Miraculous Medal, He has chosen to use them and the wisest response is to take advantage of the gift and say thank you.
To be fair, it’s not as outlandish as it may seem. The use of oil, for example, was strongly connected to God’s blessing. The Jews sacrificed food and considered that food specially sacred. The Jews, in fact, considered many specially consecrated items to be sacred (aka “holy”, aka “set apart for God”).
This weekend, we have the blessing of throats at the end of Mass. The blessing involves two long candles and a simple prayer from the priest: “Through the intercession of St. Blaise Bishop and Martyr, may God deliver you from every ailment of the throat and every other illness.” It’s a simple prayer. As to why God uses St Blaise or where the tradition of the candles comes from, I honestly have no good answer. I don't know WHY relics or Holy Water or the Latin Language or the Rosary or the Brown Scapular have special power in spiritual matters… I just don’t. I don’t know WHY, but I absolutely know that God has given us these gifts and we ought to take full advantage of them every chance we get!
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
Jan 31/Feb1 Blessing of Throats following each Mass
Feb 2-13 Fr Ryan out of town, no daily Masses. Sat 5:30p & Sun 9:30a as usual, NO LATIN MASS
Feb 15 First Quarter Social - Mardi Gras theme for Potluck Brunch following Sunday Mass
For Your Information:
APPOLOGIES to those who had Masses scheduled to be offered during the ice storm. Rest assured, those Masses will be rescheduled and will be offered as soon as possible! Thanks for understanding!
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.
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.
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.
EMPOWERING GOD’S CHILDREN Parish volunteers must be VIRTUS trained and go online regularly at Virtus.org for the latest training bulletins. Any questions or issues can be reported to the office. Printed resources are available on the table at the entrance to the Church: “Protecting our Children, Understanding and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse” includes Resources and Contact Numbers for reporting abuse; “Protecting God’s Children, Teaching Touching Safety Quick Reference Guide”; The Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Minors and The Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Priests, Deacons, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff, and Volunteers are available in the Safe Environment section of the diocesan website at DioceseAlex.org or a copy may be requested from the Safe Environment Office (318) 445-2401.
PLEDGE TO HEAL If you or a family member has been abused or victimized by a representative of the Catholic church or a member of the clergy, please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. Dr. Lee Kneipp, Clinical Psychologist, Victim Assistance Coordinator, Diocese of Alexandria encourages those persons to come forward and speak out. Dr. Kneipp is establishing support groups in the central Louisiana area for victims and family members. The focus of these groups is to further emotional and spiritual healing as an adjunct to therapy, in an atmosphere of others who understand the pain, betrayal, and fear associated with abuse. Dr. Kneipp can be reached at 318-542-9805. All calls are confidential.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Donald and Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In celebration of Brendan McFall
- Mon-Fri NO MASS
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, & Eva & RL Reynolds/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) NO MASS
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
Altar Candles this week are burning in memory of Vicki Morelli
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/31 5:30p | - | A Farlow | (flu season) |
| 2/1 9:30a | Michael, Finley, & Ashlyn | M Lancaster | - |
| 2/7 5:30p | - | MA Gilfoil | (flu season) |
| 2/8 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, Daniel M | S Marsh | - |
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 25 Cancelled due to Weather | $ 00 |
| January to Date | $ 10,100 |
Stewardship Blessed are they who are what they are and do what they do for the sake of the kingdom! The Gospel today assures good stewards that their suffering and their service on behalf of the Kingdom will be rewarded.
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is our once monthly Building Fund collection.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Brendan McFall (Feb 1), Evelyn Kivett (Feb 2), Hazel Bedgood (Feb 2), Susan Gilfoil (Feb 3), Blanche Wilks (Feb 5), Stephenie Marsh (Feb 6)
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, Donna Fulton (Ellerbee), 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
