The First Sunday of Lent

Feb 20

Thoughts from Fr. Ryan

This past week, news came from Rome and Illinois that one of my very favorite Catholic Americans, Archbishop Fulton J Sheen, originally of Peoria and later bishop of Rochester and then head of the Universal Society for the Propagation of the Faith (and Emmy-winning NBC presenter of Life is Worth Living) is FINALLY being advanced to the status of Beatus (Blessed) on his way, we hope and pray, to canonization as a Saint of the Church.

Bp Sheen was one of the most educated and, at the same time, down to Earth Catholic preachers of all time. I’ve modeled most of my preaching and writing on his style and method. He’s AMAZING!

And so, in his honor, I want to give you a few of his insights about the Gospel for this First Sunday in Lent.

Bp Sheen writes about the first temptation (turning stones into bread) in two ways across his writings. First, he talks about it as the Temptation of the Young. Satan tempted the hungry Jesus to command stones to become bread after 40 days of fasting. This temptation, he points out, targets the senses and passions, especially common in youth when impulses are strong and impulse control is weakest. It represents using power for self- gratification or popularity without the cross, turning Jesus into an "earthly Messiah" focused on welfare over redemption.

In that vein, Bp Sheen also writes about the first temptation as a kind of “Economic Shortcut.” He sees the first temptation as an economic appeal: Win people's loyalty by satisfying their material needs and providing "bread" (security, prosperity) as an end in itself, rather than through spiritual sacrifice. Jesus rejected this, replying, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

In the Second Temptation, Bp Sheen sees the Temptation of Pride which is most potent in Middle Age. Satan took Jesus to the parapet of the temple and urged Him to throw Himself down, quoting Scripture that angels would protect Him. Sheen saw this as a temptation to pride and egotism: Dazzle the crowds with marvels and miracles as a show of power, making a "name" for Himself without suffering. Miracles should point to spiritual truths, not be mere spectacles. Jesus responded, "You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test" (Matthew 4:7). Sheen linked this to middle age, when people seek recognition, power, or prestige (e.g., climbing social ladders). It avoids the humility of the cross by appealing to the mind's desire for admiration.

Continuing his “shortcuts” metaphor, Bp Sheen labels this second temptation as the “Miraculous Spectacle Shortcut” which again tries to separate evangelization and salvation from the Cross.

Finally, the Third Temptation Bp Sheen says is most challenging to the mature. From a high mountain, Satan offered Jesus all the world's kingdoms in exchange for worship. Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve’" (Matthew 4:10). Sheen associated this with later life, when fears of insecurity lead to hoarding possessions or control for "eternal" security. It idolizes things and power, rejecting God's sovereignty and the redemptive suffering of the cross.

Bp Sheen viewed this as a “political shortcut” or compromise - Gain dominion through alliances with worldly power, bypassing the sacrificial path.

Obviously, these two interpretations are meant for very different audiences and apply to different contexts, but I like to see them side by side because they show how simply and clearly Bp Sheen could take vastly complex and disparate contexts and apply scripture (complex in itself) to them in a way that can be explained in a very short essay.

He really was a special man and I hope to be able to share some more of his amazing insights as he makes his way “to the altars” - which is a traditional way of speaking about being canonized and recognized as a Saint of the Church.

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

Feb 25 Pastoral Council Meeting - 6:00p in the Hall
Feb 27 Friday in Lent - Stations of the Cross at 5:30p followed by Mass
Feb 27 Simple Lenten Meatless Potluck in the Hall after Stations and Mass

For Your Information:

LENT The Season of Lent is meant to be penitential. It’s meant to be a time of deliberate and conscious discomfort in order to shake up our normal ruts and clarify our attention to the Lord and His Sacrifice for us and for our sins.

Catholics aged 18 and up are obliged to abstain from meat on every Friday in the Lenten season. If your doctor advises otherwise, feel free to check in with Fr Ryan.
Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On Fasting Days, only one meal should be eaten and that meal should not include meat or meat broth. If your work is strenuous, you may take some extra food once or, at most, twice. That extra food should be genuinely necessary and should also exclude meat and meat products. If your doctor advises otherwise or if your medicine must be taken with food, exceptions can be made. Feel free to check in with Fr Ryan. Please note, ice cream before bed doesn’t count as medicine...
All Catholics are expected to “give something up” for Lent. As good as it might be to “do something extra” such as attend Daily Mass, say an extra Rosary, etc, Lent isn’t about doing something extra - it’s about giving something up. It’s a penitential season, not merely a virtuous one. As such, every Catholic from about the age of 14 should choose a food or activity which they generally enjoy and from which they can medically abstain for the entirety of Lent. As with all penances in the Church, Sundays are the Lord’s Day and fasting is not allowed! And so whatever you give up, you CAN have on Sunday.

LENTEN DEVOTIONS On the Fridays of Lent, Confession is available at 5:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. followed by Mass. On February 27, March 13, and March 27, we will have a simple meat-free Lenten potluck after Stations and Mass as we have done in years’ past. Fr Ryan will make a hearty soup. 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.

Mass Intentions for the Coming Week

Sat 5:30p In celebration of the Baptism of Annie Jane Bigelow/family
Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
Sun 9:30a For a special intention of the Guizerix family
Mon NO MASS
Tues 9:00a In memory of Brian Stamey/family
Wed 9:00a In memory of Thomas & Delia Trichell/Tracy Trichell
Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Kathleen Mills/Massey
Fri 5:30p In memory of C L Keene and Inez and C B DeMoss/family
Sat 5:30p In memory of Norman Stephen Ernst/ (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 deceased members of the Johnson and Roy families/family

Altar Candles this week are burning in memory of Philip and Nettie Scurria

Assistants at Holy Mass

Date	Servers	Lector(s)	EMHC(s)
2/21 5:30p	-	C VanderVieren	N Ernst
2/22 9:30a	Cooper and Courtland	A Oliver	-
2/28 5:30p	-	P Wilks	M Rome
3/1 9:30a	Annie, Thomas Meyers, & Katelyn	B Sullivan	-

Our Return to the Lord


Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026	$ 2,500
January Budget	$ 10,000
January Collections	$ 13,821
January Expenses	$ 11,284
February Budget	$ 10,000
February 15 Collection	$ 3,498
February to Date	$ 15,030

Stewardship What temptations lure us from the path of discipleship? Possessions? Pride? Power? Oh Lord, create for us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us!

SECOND COLLECTION Our second collection this weekend supports the Church in the Rural USA

Community Celebrations

Happy Birthday to Buddy Saunier (Feb 25)

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), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, 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

Fr. Ryan Humphries