Pentecost Sunday
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
The General Rubrics for the pre-Vatican II Mass had a dozen or so paragraphs telling the priest what to do if a Eucharistic Miracle occurred during Mass. If the host was taken by an angel... do this. If the host or chalice floated above the altar... do that.
Our faith is very consciously supernatural. Before we used the rather blah phrase “spiritual life” - all the books talked about prayer, fasting, morals, and whatnot as the “supernatural life.”
We believe that the Holy Spirit is actively engaged in our daily lives. This is important because a lot of modern Christians do not believe it. Lots of modern Christians believe that prayer and fasting and sin and whatnot aren’t really that important. They say that if you’re saved, you’re saved.
But we don’t believe that at all. The Holy Spirit is an essential Advocate. Jesus promised to remain with us always. He didn’t just do His work and go - we continue to need Him.
The most essential principle of Christian life is “Lord, what do you want me to do NOW?” The virtue of docility - of REALLY wanting to know what the Lord wants from me NOW - is what faith in the Holy Spirit looks like.
This is why St Paul talks about Spiritual Gifts and, as we heard a few weeks ago, the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Lord continues to be active in our lives. If we’re saved and done, then miracles don’t really mean anything... Neither does prayer... Or moral living... Or much of anything really... Why would Jesus need to send an advocate? Why would the apostles need to heal anyone or speak in tongues?
Really, if we think it through, the only reason that anything supernatural would’ve happened after the Resurrection is if the Holy Spirit is really active throughout the life of us as Christians... Our world is full of the supernatural! From angels and demons to the grace of the sacraments and of prayer and fasting, the choices we make and our reflections upon them matter. And because they matter, Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to advocate for us and to provide direction and instruction.
Think about something really small... What shoes should I wear today? Should I pray about that? Does God care about what shoes I wear? Well, Jesus says that God literally numbers the hairs on our head, so “yes” God does care about my shoe choice. Is my shoe choice going to be the deciding factor between Heaven and Hell - I hope not... BUT, why shouldn’t I involve the Lord in my life as much as I can…? at every level?
It’s obvious when it comes to something big. What if I’m offered some unbelievable job in Hawaii? Should I ask the Lord for direction in that decision?
This actually happened to me a few years ago. I was offered an assignment as the chaplain for a small community on O’ahu or Maui. I would be expected to say the Latin Mass a few times a week at a chapel on a very wealthy part of the island. The rest of my time would be free and I would be paid really well. Seriously. I prayed about it for a few days and I never felt like it was what the Lord wanted at all, so I passed. The Holy Spirit was at work in that. If I had said yes to that, I definitely wouldn’t be here in NELA paradise.
In my own life, I can say the same thing for standing by the truth of the faith in several incidents over my 20 years of priesthood. Who knows that the Lord wanted me to do here or in Delhi/Tallulah or what plans He has for me in the future.
I can’t overstate how important it is for us to understand and live our faith that we take seriously the supernaturality of the world and of the Church. The problem with the rat race - as Lily Tomlin famously said - is that whether you win or lose, you’re still a rat. If we misunderstand this world as just a Darwinian series of coincidences and random chances, we will lose entirely what Christianity is! We can’t be saved and that’s it. The Holy Spirit is among us as a living advocate to guide us to the Father and to unite us to Jesus Christ. Our prayers, our fasting, our moral lives, and our engagement with the grace of the Sacraments is how we live that Faith in the Holy Spirit day by day.
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- June 1 Pilgrimage to St Francis, Waterproof (RESCHEDULED)
- June 7 Second Quarter Social - Potluck Brunch following 9:30a Mass Mark Your Calendars
For Your Information:
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION Between this Sunday and last Saturday, three little ones from our parish received their First Holy Communion. We are so excited for these little ones and their families. Let’s all pray for them!
PILGRIMAGE RESCHEDULED TO ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI, Waterproof, LA to Monday, June 1. Anyone interested in participating is invited to meet at the Church parking lot for 10a. We will carpool to reduce the number of vehicles. Fr. Taylor Reynolds will offer Mass at 11a, and, following Mass, the group will pray the Rosary. On the return to Tallulah, Dutch-treat lunch is planned in St Joseph.This is to honor the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis and is an official Jubilee Year devotion. Louise Magoun is serving as the coordinator and she can be contacted by text or phone at 318-341-2403.
SECOND QUARTER SOCIAL will be a potluck Brunch on Sunday, June 7 following the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Everyone is invited to attend and celebrate the beginning of Summer. Get out your recipes and find something interesting to prepare and share!!! The Second Quarter (April, May, June) Social Committee is chaired by Cathy VanderVieren and includes Libby Bullard, Angel Farlow, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, MaryAnne Gilfoil, Terry and Andy Hall, Isabell Hernandez, Cindy and Jamie Howington, Ann Keene, Alyce and C.W. Keene, Frances Kennedy, Elizabeth and Paul Naya, and Bobby Reynolds.
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.
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
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.
ATTENTION ST EDWARD YOUTH Mrs. Dana Hamilton has volunteered to organize several events, trips, and activities for teens from grades 6-12. She will be calling a meeting soon (probably on a Sunday). If you are interested in helping her or your children are interested in participating, please touch base with Dana or let Fr Ryan know. More info is forthcoming.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Delia and Thomas Trichell/B Hayes
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In celebration of the birthday of Brittany McFall/family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tues 9:00a In memory of deceased members of the Roy and Johnson families
- Wed 9:00a For the special intention of healing for Lori by Sullivan family
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Fri 5:30p For a special intention of the Guizerix family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of George and Margaret Magoun/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Jason Jumonville (anni of death)/family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/23 5:30p | - | C VanderVieren | M Rome |
| 5/24 9:30a | Kathleen, Daniel, & Evelyn | B Sullivan | - |
| 5/30 5:30p | - | P Wilks | N Ernst |
| 5/31 9:30a | MaryKatherine, Maura, Elizabeth | K Collins | - |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| April Budget | $ 10,000 |
| April Collections | $ 17,278 |
| April Expenses | $ 14,838 |
| May Budget | $ 12,500 |
| May 17 Collection | $ 2,953 |
| May to Date | $ 11,763 |
Stewardship
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Dave Collins (May 24) Brittany McFall (May 25), Chris Guizerix (May 25), Anna Ginn Bigelow (May 29), Mary Kathryn Marsh (May 29)
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, Ann Claire Fordice and her children, 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), the Brad Bourgeois Family, Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), 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, Maggie Reynolds Guillory, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Patricia Lively (Wilks), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Jimmy Hopson(Wilks), Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Andrew and Chelsea Keene-Lewis, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Mike Morelli, Cole Norris, Randy Parker, 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
