The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Sunday in Passiontide)
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
“Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.”
There is a powerful pragmatism that comes from direct contact with the reality of life. Vocations and avocations like parenting, farming, hunting, and doctoring as well as harsh circumstances like poverty all bring us into close contact with the brutal truths of life and death and wipe away any romanticism about them.
As much as Mary and Martha love and trust Jesus, they reply to His command with unease. Even though they have seen Jesus work miracles on several occasions and know His true nature, they can’t help themselves from pointing out this essential detail about tombs and graveyards.
There is a spiritual analog here as well which has been pointed out by many excellent theologians and preachers and which St John is certainly implying in the subtext of the Gospel reading. Namely, the parallel between death and sin. After Lazarus is raised and he comes hopping out of the tomb with his hands, feet and face bound up, Jesus says “Unbind (Λύσατε) that man, and let him go free (ὑπάγειν).”
The same image works shockingly well with our understanding of the Sacrament of Confession. When one of us hasn’t been to confession often enough, that person will often find it increasingly difficult to go to confession, even if they don’t have any sins which they consider to be embarrassing or humiliating.
That person will say to themselves - metaphorically - “there will be a stench!” “I don’t want to admit that it’s been 6 months or a year” since I’ve been to confession. Easier just to let sleeping dogs lie.”
To continue the analogy, Confession, itself, is easy. You go in, say “Bless me Father, for I have sinned, it’s been [however long] since my last confession.” “I did this or that so many times or with such and such a frequency.” The priest proposes a penance and you say the act of Contrition (helpfully printed on a poster and on a card). Then, the priest gives you absolution and invites you, as Jesus invites Lazarus, to go forth in peace. Of course, like Lazarus’ return to life, the forgiveness demands a certain willingness to unbind ourselves and to make changes in life so that we can walk with the Lord and not merely hop out of the tomb.
Confession is certainly not dependent upon bringing about justice or fixing the situations that my sin may or may not have caused… But there is a sense in which the Sacrament of Reconciliation demands that we reconcile ourselves to the Lord, the Church, and our neighbors.
Anyone who’s ever been hurt by someone knows that some wounds can be salved and others can’t. Sometimes I can make things right with someone I hurt and other times, the best thing is to stay away. This is, ultimately, why the Church has never proposed that Confessors should instruct Penitents to “make things right.” The Confessional is not about justice, it’s about mercy. We go to confession because sin is death and forgiveness is resurrection. The consequences of our sin, metaphorically seen in today’s Gospel as the burial bindings, aren’t washed away by forgiveness. The effects of my sin may weigh me down even if my soul is alive in Jesus.
And so we NEED - we really NEED - to go to confession often so as to be able to work to shed those symbolic burial bindings and to walk freely as Jesus commands Lazarus to do.
Thanks be to God for Mary and Martha. They symbolize both the whole Church AND the Spiritual Life. Mary is symbolic of the contemplative, inner spiritual life powered by her posture of sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to him. She has chosen the better part as John says elsewhere. Martha is the busy one who is doing the work and thus represents the active, outer spiritual life in which we love the Lord and our neighbor in living the Virtues, Spiritual Exercises, Evangelization, and living the Christian Life day to day.
Both our personal spiritual lives and the Church are necessary if we want to fulfill the Lord’s command to be unbound and to walk freely in His Holy Name.
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
- March 25 Holy Day of Obligation (Feast of the Assumption). Mass: Tue 5:30p, Wed 9a & 5:30p
- March 25 Pastoral Council meeting (Rescheduled) 6pm in the Parish Hall
- March 27 Lenten Potluck following Stations of the Cross and Mass in Parish Hall (see below)
- April 4 Easter Egg Hunt on Church grounds at 10 a.m. for parishioners and guests
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.
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 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
VICKSBURG CATHOLIC MOMS GROUP is continuing study on Marian virtues this Sunday, March 22nd at 3p at St. Michael's Education Building. Now is a great time to jump in the study, please join in!
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.
St. Francis of Assisi Church in Waterproof invites you to participate in the Jubilee Year of St. Francis which marks the 800th anniversary of his death. To commemorate, a plenary indulgence is available to those who visit a church dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis in Waterproof is inviting anyone to come, as individuals or groups, during this year. The church has received a relic of St. Francis. Pilgrims can sign the pilgrim book, receive a holy card of St. Francis, venerate the relic, and obtain a plenary indulgence. Please contact Fr. Taylor (stjosephinstjoe@gmail.com or 318-766-3565) to arrange a visit.
EASTER EGG HUNT will be held on Holy Saturday, April 4 at 10a.m. on our church grounds. Stephenie Marsh is organizing the event . Please check with her to offer your assistance. We will need lots of plastic eggs with treats or hard boiled dyed eggs so your help is appreciated.
EASTER FLOWER ENVELOPES will be available in the next week or two to offset the purchase of Easter Lillies. Donations can be made in honor of someone by indicating that intention on the envelope.
EASTER SPECIAL COLLECTION The second collection on Easter Sunday is not assessed by the diocese in order to offset various parish expenses. This collection is a great opportunity to make a donation which will be retained 100% locally. Please be prayerfully generous.
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 Norman Stephen Ernst (death anni)/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Payton Trichell (death anni)/family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Craig Stamm & Angela Canizaro/Boothe
- Wed 9:00a Holy Day of Obligation…..In memory of Delia & Thomas Trichell/B Hayes
- Wed 5:30p Holy Day of Obligation….For a special intention of the Guizerix family
- Thu 9:00a (at Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Byran Stamey/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Madeline Howington (death anniversary)/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Gail Graugnard & MaryAgnes York/P Gilfoil
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of JCB “Skipper” Jumonville/family
Altar Candles this week are burning in memory of Joe Farlow
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/21 5:30p | - | A Farlow | N Ernst |
| 3/22 9:30a | MaryKatherine, Maura, & Elizabeth | D Ellerbee | - |
| 3/28 5:30p | - | MA Gilfoil | A Keene |
| 3/29 9:30a | Cooper & Courtland | C Guizerix | - |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| February Budget | $ 10,000 |
| February Collections | $ 18,734 |
| February Expenses | $ 9,427 |
| March Budget | $ 12,500 |
| March 15 Collection | $ 2,133 |
| March to Date | $ 9,743 |
Stewardship When Jesus heard about the illness of His friend, Lazarus, He responded. “This illness is not to end in death; rather, it is for God’s glory, that through it the Son of God may be glorified.” Every aspect of our lives–our gifts as well as our sufferigs–ca, if surrendered to Christ, lead to blessing for ourselves and others.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Briana Clark (Mar 22), Brooks Jammal (Mar 23), Gabby Spinks (Mar 26), Cooper Ellerbee (Mar 27), Terry Hall (March 27), Dana Dukes (March 28), Teddy Oliver (Mar 28)
Happy Anniversary to Alyce and C.W. Keene (March 21)
In Our Daily Prayers…
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, 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
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.
