Easter Sunday, Our Lord’s Resurrection
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
I hope and pray that the joy of the Risen Lord is flooding your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Sometimes it’s hard to tell, especially if you gave up something sugary, that feeling may be a minor diabetic incident! But we’ll hope it’s the Lord!
Holiness is different for each of us... That’s part of the reason that the lives of the saints are such an important part of our faith. I may be a relatively introverted person who has an affinity for intellect and art, while you may be a relatively extroverted person who has an affinity for sports and games. Holiness for me is going to look very different than it is for you. What may be virtuous for me may not be for you. What may be prideful for me may not be for you. What may be encouraging and fulfilling spiritually for me may not be for you.
That’s by design! Before us, the Lord created Angels, every single one of whom was as different from every other as a cabbage is from a question mark! The Lord likes different. And so it is that we each have to seek the Lord as the individuals He made us to be... not because He doesn’t want to be found, but because no one else has ever been just like you or me.
If you really want to get your inner philosopher worked up - how does any of us know what the other actually sees or thinks? What is green to you, may be purple to me. There’s literally no way we can tell! And so I have to seek the Lord because my eyes are the only eyes I have. I have to work to hear His voice, because my ears are often trained not on Him but on my own interests. I have to refocus my mind on Him because my mind is often overly focused on my own stuff.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t right and wrong ways to seek the Lord Jesus and to live our human lives! It can seem daunting if we let it... It can be heavy to think that I have to figure out how to seek the Lord on my own. And it’s not entirely true. The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves and so He has given us teachings and rules and images and ideas which are universal to all of us. In particular, He’s given us worship which brings together our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls in a way that is both uniquely human and profoundly divine. We’re not in this alone and the Lord is not asking us to start from scratch. Still, we can’t just copy one another and we shouldn’t be concerned if my prayer life doesn’t look like yours.
St Francis of Assisi’s spiritual life couldn’t be more different than St. Ignatius of Loyola’s. St. Andre Bassett’s intellectual life couldn’t be more different than Pope Benedict’s. Fr. Ferre’s style of being a priest was pretty different from my own and both of us are totally different from Fr. Pat Murphy or Bp. Greco. And I expect all four of us were totally different from Pope John Paul or St. Augustine. Some Christians feel emotions strongly, while others don’t. Some Christians thrive in silence, others don’t. Some Christians pray with brilliant and sophisticated words, others’ prayers are simple. Some Christians experience Easter as a relief from the discipline of Lent, others experience it as a joy, others in an intellectual way, and others still as first and foremost a family event. Some Christians prefer Lent to Easter and so this week is the end of their favorite time of year.
However this Easter finds you and yours, I hope and pray that the joy of the Risen Lord is fulfilling and wonderful! I pray that all of you reading these words have made spiritual progress and are enthusiastic to journey with the Lord through this Easter season from the Tomb to the Field of the Ascension to the Upper Room of Pentecost!
Happy Easter!!
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
For Your Information:
THANK YOU so much to all who have helped make this Holy Week so lovely!! Thank you to our musicians! Thank you to our lectors! Thank you to our servers! Thank you to the decorators, florists, and cleaner-upers! Thank you to our organizers! Thank you to those who attended Mass on Holy Thursday, services on Good Friday and the Paschal Vigil. THANK YOU so very, very much!! --FrR
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.
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 FLOWER ENVELOPES are available, through this weekend, at the entrance of church. 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. NOTE: to avoid confusion, you can also give your donation directly to Fr Ryan or to Ann and let them know you wish to direct it to this special collection.
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 8:00p In memory of SeSe Holstead/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Darryl Ellerbee, Sr. /family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Carol Folk LaHitte/P Lancaster
- Wed 9:00a For healing and peace for Pat Guizerix/family
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Joe Farlow/Bellard
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard and RL Reynolds/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Gertrude Roy/Johnson
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Vicki Morelli
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4 8:00p | Elizabeth, Daniel, Michael | M Rome, et al | A Keene |
| 4/5 9:30a | Annie, Thomas Meyers, Katelyn | D Hamilton | - |
| 4/11 5:30p | - | C VanderVieren | M Ernst |
| 4/12 9:30a | Michael, Finley, Ashlyn | J Howington | - |
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 29 Collection | $2,783 |
| March to Date | $15,698 |
Stewardship Very early in the morning after the sabbath, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with precious oils. The reward of this good and conscientious steward was to be the first to know that Jesus had been raised from the dead! Alleluia!.
EASTER SECOND COLLECTION supports the Fund for Infirm Priests and is NOT ASSESSED by the Diocese but rather remains in our parish.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Abigail Mason (Apr 6), Henry Ellerbee (Apr 7), Annie Marsh (Apr 8), Michael Lancaster (Apr 13)
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, Maggie Reynolds Guillory, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Tyrel Jacobs, 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), 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
