Fourth Sunday of Advent
From The Font
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb…”
There are at least two dozen common ways to interpret this passage. One of the lesser known but more spiritually deep ways is to think of Mary here as the Church (who bears Christ to us in both a visible and an invisible way) and to think of ourselves as Elizabeth. Elizabeth bears within her a saint-in-the-making. That saint within recognizes the Lord and lets us know in our hearts and in our very bodies! Elizabeth - who is well along in her pregnancy - would've experienced a thousand kicks from her unborn baby and yet she is able to identify that THIS kick is not just a random muscle action but a leap of joy.
In this way of thinking, we should stop and ask ourselves how our own bodies can speak to us and how we can pay more attention to it… St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote and taught extensively about the many ways that our inner spiritual lives affect our bodies. For some of us, we find joy in doing the right thing or overcoming a temptation to sin. For some of us, we might find ourselves with butterflies in our stomachs when we know we’ve made the wrong choice. Some of us might find that our faces turn red when we lie or get embarrassed.
Amazingly, medical science has found the same thing. They even have a complicated name for it: “psychosomatic interaction.” Medicine has also found that simple acts like folding one’s hands while praying, kneeling, or - get a load of this - fidgeting with beads can reduce anxiety and even help us make good decisions… Imagine what St. Simon Stock or St. Dominic would say…
The relationship between body, soul, mind, and strength shouldn’t be anything new for us as Christians, but we live in a world which doesn’t believe in truth or reason and even Christians are affected by that. Today’s Gospel is a good reaffirmation of that connection between mind, spirit, and body. It’s also an affirmation of the Catholic way of thinking about Christinaity in which the words we say, the postures and gestures with which we say them, and the outward accoutrement really does matter… Our faith is a human faith and so it must be both spiritual and physical.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Welcome to those who are visiting or are back from school! So many of our Christmas songs share the sentiment that Christmas is the time of year for being with the ones that you love. And there’s a lot of truth to that. Christmas is deeply tied to family - the feast of the Nativity is really the feast of the establishment of the Holy Family. We know from science and from faith that Jesus’ incarnation takes place at his conception in the womb of the Blessed Virgin at the Annunciation.
And family is worth thinking about this time of year… Now more than ever, families are dissolving. Sharp disagreements between generations over ideologies and politics… The radical cultural change in which manners and courtesy and humility toward one’s elders are devalued… The dangerous idea that family isn’t about blood, but about those you choose… Even the oft-disproven idea that nothing matters except our choices is dissolving the single most valuable and important social construct that we have in our world. The family isn’t just an accident of time or place. It’s not just something that we choose or select. The family is the very living image of God, Himself. It’s an image of the Holy Trinity.
The Book of Genesis paints a fascinating and confusing picture of creation. It says “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” At first, that’s simple: God made us like Himself. Easy peasy. But notice all the confusing pronouns and verb agreements… God refers to Himself in the plural - “let us… our likeness.”
And He refers to mankind in both the singular and in the plural. “He created him… male and female He created them…” That’s not just bad English - it’s intentional in the original Hebrew.
God is one and singular, but He is not alone. There is only one God and yet He exists - insofar as we can comprehend His existence - as three divine persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. To be made in His image and likeness is to be an individual and a part of a deliberate, ordered, necessary communion. I am me, but I’m also part of a family. I may live in another town. I may vote differently, think differently, believe differently, disagree with grandma and even hate my brother or my uncle or - gasp - the family goldfish Smiley… but I’m still part of that family. What’s more, the Virtue of Faith and the Virtue of Hope remind me that God doesn’t do anything by accident. I’m not part of my family just because… They are the stage upon which my life will play out. They made me who I am, for better or worse.
Of course, all families are unique and each and every one will, from time to time, put the fun in dysfunctional… But none of that is accidental. Our love, like God’s love, isn’t simple or easy or clean… And yet we know as human beings that love is worth it. Real love is high and low, it’s passionate and mundane, it’s big and it’s little, it’s heavy and it’s light. So is the love of a family.
And so I hope and pray this Christmas is all of those things and, in being those things, it will be an opportunity for not just joy, but for growth and improvement as individuals and as families. Merry Christmas!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue: 9:00a NO MASS
- Wed 9:00a In memory of J.E. “Boyzie” Jumonville/family
- Thu 9:00a In memory of C.L. Keene/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Paul VanderVieren/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Eva Reynolds/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) |
|---|---|---|
| 12/18 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren |
| 12/19 9:00a | Preston, Cortland, Evelyn | Youth |
| 12/25 5:30p | None Scheduled | B Sullivan |
| 12/26 9:00a | Volunteers | A Keene |
| 1/1 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard |
| 1/2 9:00a | Volunteers | A Keene |
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
- Dec 19 Birthday Party for Jesus following Sunday Mass
- Dec 24,25,26 Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Vigil for Sunday & Sunday… Two obligations for Mass - attendance due to Christmas falling on Saturday….see elsewhere in bulletin for schedule.
- Jan 1 New Year’s Day
- Jan 8 Saturday - following 5:30 p.m. Mass - Burning of the Greens and Soup Supper. See notes elsewhere.
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 the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
POINSETTIAS AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS… There are envelopes on the table at the entrance of church which you can use to make donations “ in memory of…” or “in honor of…” family and friends and contribute to the poinsettias and decorations for the Advent and Christmas season. You can drop your envelope (or check with a notation that it is for flowers) in the collection basket or give it to Father Ryan or leave it at the office.
2022 CALENDARS can be found at the entrance of church and you are invited to take at least one so that you share with your family the significant days in the life of the church. Feel free to take more than one calendar and take one to your office location as well.
2022 STEWARDSHIP ENVELOPE SETS are on a table at the entrance of church. If you do not see a box with your name and would like to have a set of envelopes, please advise Father Ryan or the Church Office.
CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY, VIGIL OF SUNDAY, AND SUNDAY MASS this year as Christmas falls on Saturday, we have an obligation to attend Mass at least twice in a 39 hour time frame.
For Christmas, Mass will be offered at St. Edward Mass Intention
- Christmas Eve (Friday) 6 p.m. Lector: MA Gilfoil Paul VanderVieren
- Christmas Day (Saturday) 9 a.m. (LATIN) Priest’s Intention
- Christmas Day (Saturday) 11 a.m. Lector: Volunteer Joseph Testa
For Sunday (Dec 26), Mass will be offered at St Edward
- Saturday 5:30 p.m. Lector: B Sullivan Eva Reynolds
- Sunday 9:00 a.m. Lector: A Keene Faith Family
DEALING WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY AS A CHRISTIAN has become increasingly important to all of us. Beginning on January 4, Fr. Ryan will host a monthly workshop on Dealing with Stress & Anxiety as a Christian. The workshops are open to the public and free. They will last from about 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. and will be scheduled for every first Tuesday in 2022 except for June and December. Most of the workshops will feature outside speakers and all will include concrete strategies and advice for dealing with stress and anxiety in the wake of the last two years.
BURNING OF THE GREENS will occur following the 5:30 p.m. Mass and will be on the grounds of the Church Hall on January 8, 2022, the Saturday following the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). Please bring your live greenery left from Christmas as we use it to begin our Carnivale season leading up to Mardi Gras. Also, bring an appetite for Queen’s Soup as we will have supper following. More info to follow!
Stewardship The Gospel today tells of the Virgin Mary, pregnant herself, hurrying off to help her cousin, Elizabeth. The model of good stewardship, she who had given herself to bear the Savior gave her time and love to others as well.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 | $ 2,111 |
| November Budget | $ 8,444 |
| November Income | $ 9,408 |
| November Expenses | $ 8,896 |
| December Budget | $ 8,444 |
| December 11/12 collection | $ 2,503 |
| December To Date | $ 5,156 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Bart Wood (Dec 19), Robbie Kivett (Dec 25),Thomas Myers Hamilton (Dec 25, 2013), Emmy Lou Marsh (Dec 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.
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: Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Mary Ernst, Monique Florence, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Charlotte Marsh and Lance and Stephenie, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Sue & Mike Rome, Delia Trichell, and Don Wood
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Jenna Faye Allen (Florence), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Molly Corulla, Sara Cannon (Gilfoil), Truman and Diane Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Tommy Dunning, Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, April Franklin (Wilks), Cogan Fulton (Ellerbee), Thom Gilfoil, Charlotte Green, Kathy Garley Hanlon (Gilfoil), Rita Hargrave, Carroll Holmes and family (Keene), Lyn and Calvin Lisonbee (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson (Wilks), John and Martha Rogan, Bailey, Lee, and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Theresa and Albert Thom (Rome), Meg Keene Thomas, Lucy Thomason (gr-dau of Bentley Curry)(Book), Elaine and James Trimble (Rome), Joe Yerger
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Calli Ezell, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Emmy Lu Marsh, Maddie Oliver, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Brice Wood, Marsh Wood