The Feast of St Edward the Confessor, Patron of our Parish
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
The story goes that in the summer of 1065, in Westminster, England, King Edward was attending the dedication of one of the many Churches he had paid to have built, this one in honor of St. John the Evangelist. During the festivities, an older man approached the king and asked for alms. The king didn’t have any coins on him, so he called for the almoner - a court official who takes care of people who are looking for alms. But, the almoner couldn’t be located, so Edward, really not wanting to miss an opportunity to give alms at a religious feast, gave the man the ring off his finger - a golden band with a huge blue sapphire.
Around the same time, in the Holy Land, two Englishmen were on pilgrimage and were lost. They were getting nervous because the sun was starting to set and it was very dangerous to be on the road at night in that place. They come across a “band of youths in bright raiment (clothing).” Their leader was an old man dressed in white with a reassuring smile. He asked them three questions:
\1. What creed and birth are you?
\2. Of what kingdom and king?
\3. What do you seek?
They identified themselves as English Christians, under the authority of King Edward of England, and on pilgrimage for repentance of their sin.
The little guy seemed to recognize the name Edward and he led them safely to a roadside inn. As they were eating supper, the little guy handed the pilgrims a ring with a huge blue sapphire on it and told them that he was John the Evangelist. He said that he knows their king and loves him, and that he wants these two to head straight home and give the ring back to Edward with the message that he will die and go to heaven in six months time.
This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of our Parish Patron, St. Edward the Confessor, King of England in the middle of the 11th century. He died in 1066. He was the last of the Danish Kings, not counting his incompetent successor who lost the kingdom to the French invaders from Brittany (hence “Britian”) at the famous Battle of Hastings.
The story of the ring is one of many miraculous stories associated with Edward the Confessor. He was a fine king and administrator and was famously devout in his personal life… But that’s not really why he is officially a saint. After he died, his tomb became strongly associated with miracles. Strongly associated! We’re blessed to have an actual relic of Edward in the Church!
The reason we care about the feasts of saints is simple enough. The saints reveal to us, in a concrete way, how the Christian faith works. There are saints who were parents, saints who were widows, saints who were teachers, saints who were intellectuals, saints who were respected socially, saints who had really hard lives, saints who were martyred, saints who were priests, saints who were American, and, saints who lived and worked in Louisiana
We look to the saints and we develop special relationships with those saints who help us by their example and by their prayers to put into practice the Christian Faith in our lives… For each of us, there are saints who we feel relate to our experience of living out our Christian Faith.
In a patronal saint, we're specifically asking them to pray for our parish and to pray for us that we might find in our local Church all that we need to grow in holiness. We need blessings and crosses. We need the Sacraments and the teaching of the Church. We need people that encourage us and people who challenge us. As a miracle worker, Edward is an especially good patron…
Edward’s ring - adorned with a huge Sapphire - eventually made its way into the center of the cross which is attached the very tip-top of the Royal Crown which was most recently seen at the coronation of King Charles III who was crowned in Westminster Abbey about 50 feet from the miraculous tomb which contains the rest of our patron saint’s remains…
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30 pm For a special intention of Charlotte Booth
- Sun 8:00 am (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30 am In memory of Edgar Lancaster/family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00 am In memory of A E Jumonville/family
- Wed 9:00 am In memory of Kathleen Mills/Massey
- Thu 9:00 am In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30 pm In memory of Joe Farlow/Bullard
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, and Eva & R L Reynolds/family
- Sun 9:30 am In memory of Vicki Morelli/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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/11 5:30p | - | L Bullard | M Rome |
| 10/12 9:30a | Annie/Thomas Meyers/Katelyn | C Guizerix | - |
| 10/18 5:30p | - | A Dawson | C VanderVieren |
| 10/19 9:30a | Michael, Finley, Ashlyn | Youth - | - |
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
- Oct 11/12 Feast of St Edward the Confessor. Saturday potluck following Sat 5:30 pm Mass
- Oct 14 Pastoral Council meeting in Parish Hall at 6 p.m.
- Oct 17 Quarterly Healing Mass on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
- Oct 20-23 No daily Masses as Fr Ryan will be on Retreat.
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 Construction on the Mausoleum will begin in late Spring 2026. It is possible to purchase spaces at any time. 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.
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
FEAST OF SAINT EDWARD THE CONFESSOR Our Patronal Feast day is October 13. We will celebrate our patronal saint at all Mass on the weekend of October 11-12. Additionally, will have a Saturday evening potluck supper following Mass at the Church Hall. All are invited to join in this celebration.
PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING on Wed, October 15, 2025 at 6:00 p.m in the Church Hall. Members of the Council are: Kathleen Ellerbee, Norman Ernst, Jamie Howington, Elizabeth Naya, Mike Rome, and Shannon Wood. Financial Trustees are Michel Lancaster and Cathy VanderVieren. Finance 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.
JOIN US FOR THE ROSARY BEFORE MASS on Saturdays and Tuesdays. About half an hour before Mass, the community will informally pray the rosary together. Feel free to come to Mass a few minutes early and honor our Lady with her most recommended devotion.
PRAYER FOR HURRICANE SEASON Our Father in Heaven through the intercession of our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us during the Hurricane Season from all harm. Protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hastened to help us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
(Hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30)
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| September Budget | $ 10,000 |
| September Collections | $ 20,180 |
| September Expenses | $ TBD |
| October Budget | $ 10,000 |
| October 5 Collection | $ 4,478 |
| October Collections To Date | $ 4,478 |
Stewardship In the Gospels, Jesus healed ten lepers. Only one (10% ), came back to say thank you. I, too, have received many blessings from the Lord–indeed all I am and all I have is gift! How and how often have I remembered to thank Him?
SECOND COLLECTION is for Special Ministries of the Diocese.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Marsh Wood (Oct 11), Sidney Johnson (Oct 13), Kenny Smith (Oct 14), William Marsh (Oct 16), Kathleen Oliver Kelley (Oct 17), Charlotte Marsh (Oct 18)
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, Anna and John Luke Bigelow, 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), Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan and Alex Gilfoil, 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, John Kurfiss (Watts), 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, Russell and Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, 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
