The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
From The Font
The dogma of the Assumption teaches that at the end of her time on earth, Mary was taken up - body and soul - into heaven. There, she sits at the right hand of Jesus, as Queen of Heaven and Earth. The frequent complaint about this Dogma which has been believed by the Church since the very beginning but which was only codified by extraordinary Papal decree in 1950, is that it’s not explicit in the Bible. The foundation, though, is certainly rooted in Scripture, specifically in Rev 12.
The woman in Rev 12 is identified as Mary, the one “who brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron... [the one] caught up to God and his throne.” Rev 12 also uses language that reveals the woman to be Daughter Zion, the Queen-Bride of Israel, and the Mother of the Church. Solomon’s bride in the Song of Solomon is similarly described (Songs 6:10). John drives this point home by telling us that the woman wears a crown of twelve stars, an obvious symbol of the twelve tribes of Israel who are also “signs” of the twelve Apostles who, themselves, represent the “new Israel.”
Just as Daughter Zion was a symbol of the chosen people of God—Israel—the woman in Revelation is also a symbol of the new people of God, the Church. Paul, in language quite similar to Revelation, called the Church “the Jerusalem above… our mother.” He also calls the Church the Bride of Christ (Gal 4:26; Eph 5:31–32). Likewise, John referred to the Church as a “Lady” (II Jn:5). The woman of Revelation, however, is more than an allegory for the Church. She is its mother with “offspring” in addition to the one male child to whom she gives birth. And those children are described in Revelation as those who believe in Jesus.
So Mary is Daughter Zion, the Woman who gave birth to the world’s Savior. She is the New Eve and is thus free from the shadow of sin and its consequences which includes the long-term separation of soul and body that the rest of us experience as we wait for the resurrection of the body at the end of time. Mary has been taken up into heaven by God to join her Son in the place He prepared for her. And in that place, as Christ the King’s mother, she sits at His right hand, wearing the crown of the Queen Mother. Other foreshadowings are in the Old Testament in the persons of Enoch and Elijah.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Next week, we get back to our Sunday Morning routine of donuts and coffee and a short presentation on Our Faith so that we’re ready to teach our kids and grandkids what they need to know to grow in the knowledge and love of God.
It’s impossible to overstate how important the Faith of the parents and grandparents is to the young. For kids - even kids who have aged to the belief that they don’t need any oversight at all - “normal” is whatever they grow up knowing. My nephews don’t think mask mandates are insane, they’re too young to know how bizarre such a thing is and so they adapt and overcome.
When it comes to Faith, little things like prayer before meals, a family prayer at bedtime, the choice as a family to share some small penance for a very clear reason (like the upcoming day of fasting for those who have suffered or died from COVID that our governor has requested) have a profound effect on the way that kids see the world. I still remember Lent as a little boy and how my mother took it seriously. I remember, too, how my father and my non-Catholic grandparents really didn’t get what Lent was or why we were doing it. Their disinterest had a huge effect upon my own lack of care for religious practice as a child and a teenager. Parents and grandparents in our part of the world have a tremendous impact upon the Faith of the young, far more than we typically realize or acknowledge.
That’s one of the primary reasons that I moved us away from a classroom-based approach to religious instruction and toward a more family-based approach. I know it’s more work for mom and dad and grandma and grandpa. But religious education is far more than dogmas and bible verses… The real lessons that matter - the lessons that will stick through adolescence, college, and the immaturity of youth - are the lessons about priority and practice. If mom and dad go to confession, the kids will go and will keep going. If mom and dad pray before meals, so will the kids - whether they remember the specific prayer or not. If mom and dad face struggle and hardship by visiting the church and praying, so will the kids. If mom and dad go to Church no matter what… If mom and dad take Lent seriously… If mom and dad show generosity to the poor… If mom and dad visit the sick… If mom and dad honor their own fathers and mothers… so will the kids.
By passing the work of religious education back onto you as parents and grandparents, I’m undermining a common and dangerous Catholic attitude that religion belongs at Church and that only the priest really needs to believe and\or live it. Hopefully, parents and\or grandparents are using the books (that we provide free of charge) to go over the short (3-6 pages) weekly lessons which start a dialogue between adult and child. Some families have texted me into the evening to ask an unexpected question that came up on the ride home from Sunday Mass or from the quick review of that Sunday’s lesson. I hope to have that happen more and more as families make religious practice a priority in the home and beyond it! THANK YOU to those who have already done so and THANK YOU to those who intend to do so this year!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Wayne Magoun/family
- 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 Father Ferre/Mills-Thompson
- Thurs 9:00a in memory of Thomas Trichell/Tommy
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/Lancaster
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Fred Wyly/Magoun
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Blanche & Skeeter Wilks
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 8/14 5:30p | None Scheduled | Mike Rome |
| 8/15 9:00a | Henry and Mary Katherine | Caroline & Kathleen |
| 8/21 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow |
| 8/22 9:00a | Chandler, Kathleen, and Maura | B Sullivan |
| 8/28 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks |
| 8/29 9:00a | Preston and Evelyn | C Guizerix |
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
- August 15 Back to School Potluck Social - 3rd quarter social - following Sunday Mass
- August 17 Pastoral Council Meeting – Parish Hall – 6 p.m.
- August 18 Wednesday Night Catechism -- Parish Hall -- 6 pm
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.
BACK TO SCHOOL POTLUCK BRUNCH... Sunday, August 15, 2021, for brunch following Mass. The Third Quarter Social Committee will set up and be sure the A/C is on and the door open! Thanks to 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.
PASTORAL COUNCIL... will hold its regular meeting on TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, at 6:00 p.m in the Church Hall. Appointed members of the Council: MaryKathryn Book, Kendra Collins, MaryAnne Gilfoil, Louise Magoun, Levi Washington, and Blanche Wilks. Appointed as Trustees by the Bishop are Michel Lancaster and Cathy VanderVieren. Appointed by the pastor to serve as Finance Council Chair is Darryl Ellerbee. All members are requested to make a special effort to attend. Parishioners are encouraged to attend and contribute to the discussions.
WEDNESDAY EVENING CATECHISM... WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, In the Church Hall at 6 p.m. Father will answer questions after each talk. Guests are welcome!
MASS INTENTION REQUESTS... If you would like to have a Mass or Masses offered for a Special Intention (in Memory, in Honor, a birthday, anniversary, etc) you should contact the Church Office with the date you would like as well as the Intention. The usual Mass stipend offering is $5 per Mass. What a nice gift to give to the person who “has everything”!!!
FUND RAISING WITH GROCERY TICKETS... If you shop at Doug’s and do not already do so, you may want to save your grocery tickets and place them in the bag on the table at the entrance to church. The church will be given 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.
ARE YOU INTERESTED, OR KNOW OF ANYONE INTERESTED... in a piano that is in the Church Hall. Originally, the piano belonged to Pearl Luckett, grandmother of Abby Wood Ellerbee, and was given to the church when Pearl’s household was dispersed. If you are interested, please contact the Church Office. Also, there is a dining table and 3 straight back chairs that are looking for a new home as well as two wing back chairs (one gold and one hunter green)….again, contact the Office if interested.
Stewardship “Those who seek the Lord want for no good thing.” say the Psalms. But then St Paul reminds us that, thus blessed by the Lord, the good steward should “give thanks to God the Father always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2021-2022 | $ 2,111 |
| July Budget | $ 8,444 |
| July Income | $ 7,574 |
| July Expenses | $ 9,001 |
| August Budget | $ 8,444 |
| August 7/8 Collection | $ 2,530 |
| August Income To Date | $ 4,453 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Teri Wilson (Aug 17), Kim Donham (Aug 19), Elizabeth Crothers (Aug 21)
Happy Anniversary Shannon and Bart Wood (Aug. 15), Sue and Mike Rome (Aug 19), Susan and Johnny Gilfoil (Aug 22)
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, 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, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Brice Wood, Marsh Wood
Those Catholics residing at Christian Acres, Louisiana Transitional Center for Women, and our local Detention Centers and for their families and loved ones.