The 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Today, September the 28th, is the birthday of the first Bishop of our Diocese, The Most Reverend Auguste Marie Martin, D.D. He died in 1875. Our own Fr. Chad Partain wrote a fascinating and exhaustive biography of this great man which is available through the Diocese.
Martian came to Natchitoches in 1853. He was responsible for ministering to all of North Louisiana. So, if you draw a line from about Leesville to Oakdale to St. Francisville, Bp. Martin had everything north of it.
When he got here, there were 3-6 priests in the entire area. One of the first things he did was to go back to France and recruit. He managed to convince about 10 priests and seminarians to come back with him. They lasted less than 10 years. By 1860, the bishop had to go back to France for more recruiting. At that time priests were “riding circuits” on horseback. They rode from town to town on a monthly schedule offering Mass in small chapels or in private homes. By the time the War Between the States was raging, the Bishop finally had his footing and was able to establish some parishes with resident pastors in Hydropolis (~Marksville), Shreveport and Monroe.
The story is long and complex and summarizing it isn’t easy. But the first Bishop of our diocese had very little to work with and the people were not especially cooperative. (Can you imagine, the people of Natchitoches or Marksville being uncooperative? Shocking!) Even so, the Bishop remained faithful, focused and dedicated. Our situation now looks more and more like his situation then…
The general populace of our area (Tallulah AND the entire South-central “Bible Belt” of the United States) are generally Christian but antagonistic toward Catholicism specifically. We have too few priests and many of those that we have failed to inspire. We have the greatest gift on the planet as Catholics. We have Jesus, Himself, sacramentally present in the Holy Eucharist! We have his teaching which can heal minds far more effectively than Psychotherapy, Xanax, and Instagram combined. We have a supernatural purpose. We have beautiful liturgy, sacred chant, and mystical teaching that has been proven to be effective across cultures, languages, locations, and centuries.
The biggest difference between us and Bp. Martin is that he was unafraid to offer people the fullness of the Catholic Faith. He was unafraid to tell people that contraception is toxic for marriages. He was unafraid to tell people that homosexuality is disordered and that acting on that disorder is always sinful. He was unafraid to say that following Jesus is hard… and painful… and demanding… and isn’t merely a part of our lives. Many of our clergy today are afraid of those teachings.
But I have good news! Throughout all of human and Church history, the clergy have, at times, been weak as many are now. But the Holy Spirit isn’t limited by anyone or anything. When the clergy have been weak, the Holy Spirit has raised up lay people who love the Lord to preach the truth to those who want to find the freedom it promises. In fact, the greatest revivals in our Church - both universally and locally - have been led not by the clergy but by lay people seeking to serve the Lord in their lives.
As we remember our first Bishop, let us all ask the Holy Spirit to raise up among us clergy and laity alike unafraid to preach Jesus in His full glory!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of Donald and Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 8:00 am (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30 am In memory of deceased members of the Bolton and Howington families/J Howington
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00 am In memory of Joseph Magoun (birth anni)/family
- Wed 9:00 am In memory of Lillie “SeSe” Holstead (death anni)/family
- Thu 9:00 am In memory of Jackie Jumonville (death anni)/family
- Fri 5:30 pm In memory of Father Ferre (Ordination anni)/friends
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of Skeezix Jumonville (death anni)/family
- Sun 9:30 am In celebration of John Aubry and Thomas Dale Williams (birth anni)/Magoun
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Blanche and Prentiss Wilks
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/27 5:30p | - | C VanderVieren | N Ernst |
| 9/28 9:30a | MaryKatherine, Maura, Elizabeth | K Collins | - |
| 10/4 5:30p | - | P Wilks | A Keene |
| 10/5 9:30a | Cooper and Courtland | D Ellerbee | - |
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 3 First Friday devotions after 5:30 pm Mass
- Oct 4/5 First Sunday Benediction after all Masses
- Oct 5 Living Rosary presented by our school children following Sunday Mass
- Oct 11/12 Feast of St Edward the Confessor. Saturday potluck on following 5:30 pm 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 5:30 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
FIRST FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Benediction following 5:30 p.m. Mass.
FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION at the conclusion of weekend Masses October 4/5 as part of our larger program to enhance Eucharistic Devotion and to understand what a gift we have in the Most Holy Eucharist.
LIVING ROSARY As we celebrate October as the month of the Holy Rosary, our children will lead us in a Living Rosary following Mass on Sunday, October 5,.
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.
Our Return to the Lord
Stewardship The sin of the rich man in today’s parable was not that he was rich, but that he failed to share his wealth with the beggar at his gate. He knew Lazarus, perhaps walked by him every time he came in or out, but did nothing to relieve his suffering. Is there a Lazarus in my life? What am I doing to help?
* ALL of last weekend’s collection for retired priests is shown in the total collection.
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| August Budget | $ 10,000 |
| August Collections | $ 17,705 |
| August Total Expenses | $ 11,647 |
| September Budget | $ 10,000 |
| September 21 collection * | $ 7,883 |
| September Collections To Date | $ 15,365 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Levi Hamilton (Sept 30), Susie Murphy (Oct 1), Katelyn Naya (Oct 2)
Happy Anniversary Mariza and Enrique Paz (Oct 2), Sharyn and William Marsh (Oct 5)
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 Bigalow, 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), Mike Coullard (Oliver), Gene Cox, the family of Marla Evans Cummins, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, 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
