The 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Feb 28

From the Scriptures

For every tree is known by its own fruit. American Catholicism was once summed up in a single pejorative phrase: “The laity are here to pray, pay, and obey.” Catholics were often—and rightly—accused by Protestants of believing without understanding or engaging in critical thought. This perception was worsened by the proliferation of spirituality books originally written for cloistered nuns. While it’s entirely appropriate for a cloistered nun to be uncritical of her abbess and to humbly obey every instruction she’s given, the vocation of the laity is not the same as that of a cloistered nun. The laity live with one foot in the Church and one foot in the world. We are uniquely challenged to apply the teachings of Jesus to professional life, child-rearing, home management, and everything else that comes with living in this modern world. A major part of that work—and that challenge—involves making judgments. Jesus tells us not to judge lest we be judged, but His clear implication is that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions about someone’s holiness or intentions. At the same time, He says every tree is known by its fruit. There is a place for drawing conclusions and making reasonable judgments. I don’t have to judge a person’s soul to decide I’ll keep my distance from them—especially if they’re flashing a knife at me! The judgment of souls is for God alone. But the judgment of the world? That’s for us. There’s no sin in choosing Kroger-brand yogurt over Fage because I judge it to be a better value. There’s no sin in deciding that a TV show is inappropriate for my family or that one priest’s sermons are more edifying for me than another’s. There’s no sin in reaching rational, considered conclusions. If I choose not to let my family watch a lewd TV show, that may be a wise judgment. But if I loudly opine about what kind of scumbag makes that show or what kind of sleaze watches it—well, that’s a very different kind of judgment. One is a tool our minds use to make good decisions; the other is a moralization based on limited information and a sense—conscious or unconscious—of self-superiority. To be clear, this Gospel message isn’t just about how we look at others—it’s also an essential tool for how we look at ourselves. With Lent right around the corner, we can observe our own souls based on the “fruit” we bear. If I find myself making a lot of moral judgments, that’s a signal something might be wrong. But if I see myself manifesting what St. Paul calls the Fruit of the Holy Spirit—love, peace, patience, kindness, modesty, self-control, and so on—then I have reason to stay on the same path.

Thoughts from Fr. Ryan

Happy Mardi Gras!! We have finally reached the end of Carnivale (“carne”=meat + “vale”=farewell) and so we’re ready to eat up all the sweets and treats in the house so as not to be tempted by them during the 40 days of fasting that lie ahead. One of the counterintuitive things about Lent is that the harder I make my penance, the easier it will be to keep it and to benefit from it. If I choose something relatively easy (like soda), then I only really think about it a few times a day. I may even finish a soda or two before I even realize Lent is happening and I’ve botched it up for the day... If I give up meat or TV or games on my phone, though... That’s going to require me to restructure whole aspects of my life for six weeks. And that restructuring is actually good for me... It causes me to look at parts of my life that are on auto-pilot and to ask whether I want or need to continue to have them in my life at all... This is why we do a spring cleaning or why a new doctor reevaluates our prescriptions. It’s why any good weight loss program begins with several weeks of intentional eating and a food diary. It’s why we do an examination of conscience before confession. Life is busy! A shocking amount of what we do is on auto-pilot. And that’s necessary to keep us sane when we’re in busy phases of life... but it’s not mentally healthy as a long-term strategy. Both our spiritual and our mental health demand we go off auto-pilot on a regular basis and make sure that we’re moving at a sustainable speed and along a good heading... A tough Lent is a profoundly good and healthy way to do that for me individually and within my relationships... For that reason, it’s not really ok to say “I’m going to do something extra instead of giving something up.” Giving something up is a different kind of spiritual exercise. It works different “spiritual muscles.” You can’t work your arm muscles by jogging and you can’t improve your cardio health by lifting weights. Sure, ANY exercise is better than none, but all exercises are not the same. Giving something up is an “ascetic” or “apophatic” spiritual exercise. It works those parts of ourselves that need to be reigned in and disciplined. It taps into the self-sacrificial aspects of love and focuses within. It specifically disrupts patterns of behavior which reinforce our excuses and our self-justifications for habits. Doing something extra is a “kataphatic” spiritual exercise. It works those parts of ourselves that want to express virtue from the inside outward. It taps into the more intellectual and builds up patterns of behavior which reinforce new habits. Both are good and just like physical exercise, any exercise is better than no exercise - but they’re not the same. The Church specifically tells us to fast and to give something up during Lent. We’re asked to engage those “muscles” that correspond to “ascetic” and “apophatic” spiritual exercises.

Ashes will be offered at Mass this Wednesday at 9a and 5:30p. I’ll hear confessions before both Masses and I am available to bring ashes to anyone who is homebound this week. Remember that Ash Wednesday is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation, but it is a great way to start Lent!

From the Saints

When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society. -- Pope John Paul II

Nothing can be compared to the great beauty and capabilities of a soul; however keen our intellects may be, they are as unable to comprehend them as to comprehend God, for, as He has told us, He created us in His own image and likeness. -- Saint Teresa of Avila

Mass Intentions for the Coming Week

Sat 5:30p In memory of Joe Farlow/Bullard
Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
Mon 9:00a In memory of Racer Holstead (death anni)/family
Tue No Mass
Wed 9:00a In memory of Leon Humphries
Wed 5:30p In memory of Mary Agnes York/D Ervin
Thu 9:00a In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
Fri 5:30p In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat and Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas & Eva & RL Reynolds
Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family

ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning in memory of Vicki Morelli

Assistants at Holy Mass

Date	Servers	Lector(s)	EMHC(s)
3/1 5:30p	None Scheduled	MA Gilfoil	A Keene
3/2 9:30a	Kathleen & Evelyn & Ashlyn	D Hamilton	-
3/8 5:30p	None Scheduled	M Rome	L Magoun
3/9 9:30a	Mary Katherine & Maura	J Howington	-

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

Mar 1-2 First Sunday Benediction following weekend Masses
Mar 2 Potluck Brunch to celebrate Mardi Gras - First Quarter Social - after Mass
Mar 5 Ash Wednesday (Not a Holy Day of Obligation) Mass at 9a & 5:30 p
March 8 Lenten Devotions - Stations of the Cross 5:30 p.m.

For Your Information:

FORMED.ORG… has an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out 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… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403. THE WORD AMONG US… The March edition can be found on the table at the back of the church.

FIRST QUARTER SOCIAL: The First Quarter (Jan, Feb, March) Social is this weekend following Sunday Mass. Margo Corulla and Darryl and Abby Ellerbee (co-chairs), Norman and Marie Ernst, Katherine Ernst Bedgood, Brian Johnson, Sidney and Mary Jane Johnson, Robbie and Tori Kivett, Brian and Brittany McFall, Ed Mills, Billy and Courtney Nadeau, Teddy and Alyssa Oliver, Mike and Sue Rome, Jason Trichell, Mary Trichell, and Levi Washington make up the committee.

FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION… MARCH 2…at the conclusion of all weekend Masses to improve Eucharistic Devotion and to understand what a gift we have in the Most Holy Eucharist.

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...
Finally, 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 March 14, March 28, and April 11, 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.

Stewardship the central theme for stewardship in today’s readings focuses on the idea of faithfully managing our gifts from God, particularly by prioritizing our relationship with Him above material possessions, as highlighted in Jesus' teaching about serving only one master (God or "mammon") and not worrying about worldly needs, as God will provide for us; essentially, demonstrating true stewardship through our actions and prioritizing spiritual wealth over material gain.

SECOND COLLECTION For our Building Fund

Our Return to the Lord


Weekly Budget FY 2023-2024	$ 2,111
January Budget	$ 8,444
January Collections	$ 9,518
January Total Expenses	$ 7,591
February Budget	$ 8,444
February 23 Collection	$ 4,365
February Collections To Date	$ 13,861

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.

Our Pope, Francis; 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, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. & Alyce Keene, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Alyssa Oliver, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Kenny and Betty Smith

Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Nap and Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Caroline and Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Wayne Edwards, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Emily Fortenberry, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Callie Halback Hyams, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Randy Parker, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), John Neill, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.

Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu March, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood

Fr. Ryan Humphries