Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
From The Font
“I urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received.”
In Christianity and in humanity in general, one size does not fit all. Some of us are brilliant thinkers and so we have a duty to put our minds at the Lord’s service. Others of us are artists or organizers or wealthy or whatever else and we have the duty to put those blessings at God’s service.
While we all share this fundamental duty toward the Lord in Justice, the “manner worthy” of one of us fulfilling that duty is going to look dramatically different than it would for another of us!
At times, that seems grossly unfair. To whom much is given, much is expected… And so one person can please God mightily with something as simple as making himself available to talk with people. St. Andre Bessette, for example, was a simple man of great faith. He has no great intellect or talents that the Monastery down the road needed, but he was able to be the gatekeeper. He set up a chair on the front porch of the gatehouse and after several years, the line to sit on the porch with this ‘simple’ man was hours long. He built one of the most beautiful Churches in the world by being faithful to sitting on the porch and visiting…
Compare him to one of the great minds of the 20th century - Pope St. John Paul II. John Paul’s ‘worth manner’ meant being hit by a truck, shot, serving as the second-longest ruling pope in history, writing thousands of pages of esoteric philosophy, and dying in the public spotlight. The outline of his life is pages and pages long.
Each of these two saints lived in a manner worthy of the call they received, but their lives couldn’t be more different.
So too, we mustn't waste time comparing our own lives and duties and service of God to another elses. We can certainly take as an example the lives of the Holy men and women in the Tradition of the Church and in the people we know - but those examples only serve to assist us, not to define us. The urging of St. Paul is to live in a manner worthy of the call that YOU have received, not in a manner consistent with the call others have received.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
By now, many of you will have read about the sudden and largely unexpected decision of Pope Francis to limit the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass. While the Holy Father claims to have done so in the interest of bringing unity to the Church, the immediate reaction around the world has been almost universally divisive. Papal documents are almost always drafted by a panel of experts rather than the Pope himself. That’s been true for the last several centuries. As such, we ought not to ascribe to the Holy Father directly whatever flaws in tone any document bearing his name might contain. Sadly, this document, titled Traditiones Custodes, is quite difficult to read. It tends to imply that all Catholics who express an interest in the traditional aspects of our Faith do so as an act of division or pride.
I’ve written my own thoughts on Facebook and have shared with a few specific parishioners more completely my concerns and the genuine sense of heartbreak and abandonment that I feel from His Holiness in this promulgation.
In my article in the bulletin last week, as a matter of complete coincidence, I wrote about the specific limitations of the Papal “charism” of Infallibility as last weeks’ bulletin was published on the anniversary of the publication of Vatican I.
I’d like to briefly extend my thoughts from that article in light of the events of this past week…
What do we do if we disagree with the Pope?
I’m not talking about Pope Francis preferring Pagliacci to Bach. I’m not talking about Pope John Paul’s preferences for modern art over the renaissance painters. I’m not talking about Pope Paul VI or Pope Benedict preferring to choose professors as bishops over canon lawyers or pastors. I’m asking what we do if the Pope says something as a legal act (as he has done in this de facto ban on the Old Mass) and we believe that he is in the wrong?
Well, there’s a lot to say here about the duty we have to respect our Pope, our Bishop and our Pastor. There’s much to say, too, about the role of obedience in the spiritual life. I’ve written and preached on these topics and, no doubt, they’ll come up again. The short answer to the short question is that disagreeing with the Pope is not that big of a deal.
The Pope has a limited purview in a certain and specific sphere of ideas. If I disagree with the Pope on a matter of, say, economics or medicine. So what?! Provided I express my disagreement with respect, there’s nothing wrong at all with that. In matters well outside the realm of religion, theology, morality and Church governance, the Pope is no more qualified to speak than is any bishop, priest, or well-meaning Christian. Provided that we disagree with respect and courtesy, we are free to express ourselves. That’s even more the case if we have specific expertise in the matters being discussed, eg epidemiology.
When our disagreement is within the realm of religion, we need to be more cautious, more deferential, and more prayerful. Most of what the Pope writes is not “infallible,” but it does come from the Chair of Peter and that calls for humility, prayerful discernment, and public restraint.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Agnes “Poche” and Bill Adams/Regan
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon No Mass
- Tue 9:00a In memory of May DiTomasso
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Racer and SeSe Holstead on their wedding anniversary/family
- Thurs 9:00a in memory of Kirby and Paul Fortenberry/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Father Ferre/Magoun
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 7/24 5:30p | None Scheduled | C Vandervieren |
| 7/25 9:00a | Chandler, Kathleen, and Maura | S Marsh |
| 7/31 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome |
| 8/1 9:00a | Preston and Evelyn | A Oliver |
| 8/7 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil |
| 8/8 9:00a | Chandler, Cooper, and Maura | D Ellerbee |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass at 5:30p
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall after the 9:00a Mass unless otherwise indicated
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Tuesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- July 27 Town Hall meeting with Mausoleum company representative - 5 p.m. - Parish Hall
- August 6 First Friday Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - 5:30 p.m.
- August 7 First Saturday Devotions to our Blessed Mother - Mass and Holy Hour - 9 a.m.
- August 15 Back to School Potluck Social - 3rd quarter social - following Sunday Mass
For Your Information:
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join with the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
PASTORAL COUNCIL.. met on Tuesday. MaryKathryn Book and Kendra Collins were welcomed to the board for the 2021-2024 term of office. They replace Ginny Marsh and Beth Sullivan who had completed a three year term and we give thanks for their service.
TOWN HALL MEETING...with Mausoleum Company representative, Paul Raymond, will be held on Tuesday, July 27, at 5 p.m. in the Church Hall. If you or your family is even remotely interested in this project, you are encouraged to attend to learn more about the concept.
BACK TO SCHOOL POTLUCK BRUNCH…Sunday, August 15, 2021, following Mass. The Third Quarter Social Committee will set up and be sure the A/C is on and the door open! Third Quarter (July, Aug, Sept) Social Committee - Betty and Kenny Smith, chairs, MaryKathryn Book, Kendra and Dave Collins, Connie and Dan Copes, Bruce and Kate Copes, Dana and Randy Dukes, Lance and Stephenie Marsh, Susie and Terry Murphy, Peggy and Phil Scurria, Beth and Chip Sullivan, Shannon and Bart Wood. Members of the committee should contact Betty to offer support.
ALTAR CANDLES… Anyone wishing to provide candles for the altar in honor of their loved one or in prayer for some intention may do so simply by asking. 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.
Stewardship “The hand of the Lord feeds us,” says the Psalmist, “he answers all our needs.” Both Elisha’s servant in the first reading and the disciples in the Gospel story who witnessed the feeding of the five thousand saw this happen and knew it to be true.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 | $ 2,111 |
| June Budget | $ 8,444 |
| June Income | $ 8,878 |
| June Expenses | $ 8,608 |
| July Budget | $ 8,444 |
| July 17/18 Collection | $ 1,770 |
| July Income To Date | $ 6,699 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Nap Book (July 26), Edmond Copes (July 30), Louise Magoun (Aug 2)
Happy Anniversary Robert and Renee Wood (July 30)
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 Holy Father Pope Francis and Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI; 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, or otherwise in need of our prayers: Harper Bedgood, Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Mary Ernst, Monique Florence, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Charlotte Marsh and Lance and Stephenie, Brittany and Brian McFall, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Sue & Mike Rome, Delia Trichell, and Don Wood
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning, Sharon Hansen of Gonzales
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Jenna Faye Allen (Florence), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Molly Corulla, Sara Cannon (Gilfoil), Truman and Diane Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Carol Dipert (Rome), Jared and Ainslie Oliver Duff, Tommy Dunning, Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Rob and Michael Ann Fortenberry, Thom Gilfoil, Charlotte Green, Kathy Garley Hanlon (Gilfoil), Rita Hargrave, Sharon Jackson (Wilks), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Cameron and Katie Murphy Murray, Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson, Lee and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Theresa and Albert Thom (Rome), Meg Keene Thomas, Elaine and James Trimble (Rome), Teresa Vidrine (Wilks), George and Katie Magoun Williams, Joe Yerger
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Emmy Lu Marsh, Maddie Oliver, Bailey Rome, Brice Wood
Those Catholics residing at Christian Acres, Louisiana Transitional Center for Women, and our local Detention Centers and for their families and loved ones.