The 3rd Sunday of Easter
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
We have two really neat saints on the calendar for this week.
Tuesday is the feast of Anselm of Canterbury, he was one of the first Bishops to be brought in after King Edward the Confessor’s regime was upended at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Our Patron saint’s stinker of a successor destroyed the entire royal line within a year of St. Edward’s death. The Danish line of English kings ended and the Britain kings (from Brittany, France) took over. They didn’t trust the English clergy, especially with Edward the Confessor’s grave being a major miracle factory and so they imported a pile of French monks to be Bishops and run the Church in England.
One of the very first of those was a Benedictine monk at the Monastery in Bec, France who was actually born in Italy: Anselm of Aosta. What the British Kings didn’t expect was that Anselm was a brilliant and saintly bishop who had zero interest in rolling over to whatever the King wanted. Anselm became the bishop of Canterbury in 1093. Four years later, he was exiled for the first time. Anselm got the Pope involved and managed to get a few years back in his cathedral before he was exiled again. He died in exile in 1109. Sadly, the British Kings never found a comfortable medium with the Pope and despite some good years, England was just back and forth with vicious and violent religious persecution from this point forward. Even today, England is one of the only nations on the planet without religious tolerance in government - there are numerous so-called Acts of Tolerance and yet all Catholics are automatically removed from the line of succession!
The other fascinating saint this week is St. George the Dragonslayer on Thursday. St George’s story is hazy in the historical record. There’s no doubt he lived in the mid-200s in what is now central Turkey. He was a Roman Soldier who was born as a Christian in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). When his parents died, he joined the Roman legions and was killed during one of the persecutions of Diocletian - a particularly brilliant administrator who used the rising Christian “cult” to his political advantage through persecution and scape-goating.
George’s early life was a pretty standard story… But in the 1200s, an Italian wrote a story called “The Golden Legend.” In that story, before George was martyred, he was sent to a small city in Libya which was being harassed by a dragon! (Think “flying, winged snake” rather than the Welsh idea of a flying brontosaurus with fire-breath.) The people of the city were bribing the dragon with daily payoffs of livestock… One day the dragon demanded humans be sacrificed to him. In stepped George, the Christian warrior, who slays the dragon with a lance named “Ascalon” (a name Winston Churchill used for his personal aircraft during WWII). After George defeated the dragon, the whole town immediately became Christian and everyone there lived happily ever after. George, though, went on to help others. In literature and in life, George died as martyr by Diocletian’s order.
That plot of the story was timeless. It was, of course, a staple of medieval literature known as the “Knight Errant” which referred to a wandering, often masterless or landless warrior/hero who roamed the land (or frontier), righting wrongs, slaying evils (literal dragons or metaphorical ones like bandits/oppressors), protecting the innocent, and then typically moving on once the job is done. The term "errant" literally means "wandering" or "roving." The archetype is alive and well today. Clint Eastwood’s Westerns (including the amazing Unforgiven) are based on the same stereotype as are Akira Kurosawa’s best pictures and the ultra-violent stories of Jack Reacher on TV right now.
With St George, no one’s really trying to claim it’s a true story, but that doesn’t make it any less wonder-ful. On the contrary, it’s what Christian fiction should be. There’s no reason that whoever writes the next great fiction series doesn’t make it a story of Christ triumphing over the devil in just the same way that George triumphs over the dragon!
All the same, George was a real saint and martyr, he is the real patron of England and of soldiers, and he is worth celebrating on Thursday.
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:
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.
PASTORAL VISITS, HOUSE BLESSINGS, and SUPPER INVITATIONS Father Ryan is more than happy to visit you or your loved one for any reason in your home, in the hospital, in the nursing home, or wherever as needed. Please call or text him directly to make arrangements.
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.
FUNDRAISING WITH GROCERY TICKETS If you shop at Doug’s and do not already do so, please save your receipts and place them in the box on the table at the back of the Church. The church receives 1% of the total of combined purchases (excluding milk, cigarettes, and alcohol). Our thanks to the ANGEL who collects the tickets and prepares them to submit to Doug’s!
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.
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.
ALTAR CANDLES Anyone wishing to provide candles for the altar in honor of their loved one or in prayer for some intention may speak to Fr Ryan, Ann Keene, or Cathy Vandevieren. A small donation is recommended, but not required. A list of dates is in the sacristy and a date can be reserved up to one year in advance.
PASTORAL VISITS, HOUSE BLESSINGS, and SUPPER INVITATIONS Father Ryan is more than happy to visit you or your loved one for any reason in your home, in the hospital, in the nursing home, or wherever as needed. Please call or text him directly to make arrangements.
EMERGENCIES & ANOINTING OF THE SICK As Catholics, we believe that the moment of death is incredibly important! If you or someone you love is seriously ill or experiences a life-threatening accident, please call or text a priest! Emergency anointings are a great help to the sick and injured and they are a great support to the family and friends waiting nervously. Fr Ryan’s mobile number is on his business card in the Church and on the insert of the weekly bulletin. Don’t hesitate to call day or night!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- 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 Marleigh Bullard/family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tues 9:00a Special intention of the Guizerix family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Delia Trichell (death anni)/T Trichell
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Alex “Bubba” Jumonville/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of deceased members of the Bolton and Howington families
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, & Eva and R L Reynolds
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a For healing for Pat Guizerix/family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of the Keene family
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/18 5:30p | - | P Wilks | C VanderVieren |
| 4/19 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, & Daniel | Youth-MaryKatherine | - |
| 4/25 5:30p | - | A Dawson | N Ernst |
| 4/26 9:30a | MaryKatherine, Maura, Elizabeth | M Lancaster | - |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| March Budget | $ 12,500 |
| March Collections | $ 16,282 |
| March Expenses | $ 11,160 |
| April Budget | $ 10,000 |
| April 12 Collection | $ 2,242 |
| April to Date | $ 4,598 |
Stewardship The disciples on the road to Emmaus walked and talked with Jesus all day long, but it was not until they offered Him hospitality and He blessed and broke the bread that they recognized Him. Simple acts of loving kindness still reveal the presence of God in our midst.
SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND supports Catholic Home Missions.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Ann Claire Fordice (Apr 20), Marie Ernst (Apr 21), Ann Keene (Apr 23), Norman Ernst II (April 27)
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, 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
