The 4th Sunday of Easter
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
“...when they heard this, they were cut to the heart”
One of my professors in Seminary often said that “the Gospel well read is the sermon half preached.” In fact, I have dozens of clever little quotes and tricks for preaching. And over the course of the last 25 years or so that I’ve been in full-time Catholic ministry, I’ve become a quite passable preacher, if I may say so myself.
But the skills of preaching are not as important as they may seem. In fact, even the content of a sermon or a talk or even a homily is not as important as it may seem, so long as it is not erroneous and doesn’t have false teaching.
The most important aspect of the sermon isn’t to do with the preacher at all, it’s to do with the listener and that listener’s openness to the Holy Spirit.
One of the most amazing sermons I’ve ever heard was given by a priest with a painfully thick accent that I had to focus all of my attention to understand. “GEEE-ZUUUUS EESH CAHHHWLEEENK JYOOU TO BE DEH SAEENTZZZ UHF ZEH NEXTUH MILL-ANY-OOM!” It’s not the most insightful idea and the preacher was sitting in a chair and reading from the paper with no eye contact. He had a lot of personal credibility being the Pope… But the real driving force was my own prayer life.
In my own life as a priest, I’ve prepared some theologically and spiritually brilliant sermons. Not essays, but real, Holy-Spirit-moving-in-my-heart sermons that I was SURE would change the world. And I have riffed some improvised sermons without any real thought or preparation; I have spoken to old and young, sophisticated and down-to-earth, very religious and basically pagan, enthusiastic and apathetic… And the one universal reality across the board is that what I expect to resonate with certain individuals or groups never does.
It’s not that I can’t read the room, it’s that none of us really knows what’s going on in each others’ hearts. And none of us can know or predict how or when the Holy Spirit will use that interior life to reveal the Love and Mercy of God to someone. By extension, we never know how the Holy Spirit will use what we’re going through to reveal the Lord to us! That’s why a sentence or a story or an idea in a sermon can be so moving to us. It’s the same reason that a passage of scripture can be so powerful in one moment despite being something we’ve read before without noticing it.
I say this to reinforce a few important ideas. One, we can improve our own experience of Church and Sunday Mass by preparing ourselves spiritually. Yes, there’s value in intellectual preparation, but there’s more value in prayerful preparation. Take some quiet time for prayer at home. Arrive 15 minutes early and sit quietly while consciously asking the Lord to help you open your heart and hear Him speaking to you. Close your eyes and listen rather than following along in the missal.
Two, Christianity is not a private, solo religion. The Lord created a community and established the Church for a reason. None of us can advance in our faith alone. The Lord uses us to challenge and improve one another.
Three, modern Christianity is far too cerebral - meaning brain- or intellect-focused. Christianity is a supernatural and mystical religion. The so-called Mysteries of Faith aren’t problems or puzzles to be solved, they are beautiful and wondrous objects d’art to be appreciated and moved by. Yes, there’s an intellectual component, but Christianity is less about understanding than it is about love of God and neighbor which, itself, comes from letting the Lord transform our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
I DON’T say any of this to let myself off the hook if a sermon doesn’t speak to you or move you. A great sermon is a powerful thing! But even a stinker of a sermon delivered badly can transform our lives if we let the Lord use it. Remember the passage about the seeds being thrown onto the path, the rocky soil, and the good soil. The seed is fertile! But the soil is the determining factor. And that is something YOU CAN CONTROL!! You can make this Sunday powerful and transformative!
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- May 1 First Friday Devotions and Benediction - after 5:30pm Mass
- May 3 First Sunday Benediction - after Weekend Masses
For Your Information:
FIRST FRIDAY is MAY 1. Father will offer Devotions and Eucharistic Benediction at the end of Mass. Make a special devotion to the Sacred Heart and attend first Friday devotions for nine consecutive months.
FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION for the weekend of MAY 2-3 will conclude Masses as part of our larger program of Eucharistic Devotion.
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
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.
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, LA 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.
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 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
- Mon NO MASS
- Tues 9:00a In memory of Jason Jumonville/family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Beverly Lancaster/family
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Lee Rome (birth anni)/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, & Eva & R L Reynolds/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of J. E. “Boyzie” Jumonville (death anni)/family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/25 5:30p | - | A Dawson | C Vandervieren |
| 4/26 9:30a | MaryKatherine, Maura, Elizabeth | M Lancaster | - |
| 5/2 5:30p | - | A Farlow | A Keene |
| 5/3 9:30a | Cooper & Courtland | S Marsh | - |
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 19 Collection | $ 2,982 |
| April to Date | $ 6,580 |
Stewardship Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Good stewards are grateful for the gift of life and joyfully share their abundance with others.
SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND supports Catholic Home Missions and is used to strengthen Catholic communities in the U. S. Much of the Diocese of Alexandria is considered to be missions.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Norman Ernst II (April 27), Ginny Marsh (Apr 28), Daniel Mason (Apr 30), May Ann Alcomendras (May 2)
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
