Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time | St. Edward Catholic Church, Tallulah

From The Font

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”

These words from the prophecy of Jeremiah form perhaps the most humanly intimate and consoling image in all of scripture. God tells us that He personally formed each of us in the wombs of our individual mothers from an idea so perfectly loved and so intimately understood in God’s mind that the idea cannot be distinguished from our very souls. It’s one of the deepest and most profound statements about the relationship between flesh and spirit that exists in any religious text or writing in the world and at the same time, it’s immediately understandable and visceral. God’s knowledge of me is my soul. My soul is indistinguishable from God’s love for me and His plan for me and His mercy for me. I exist, flesh and spirit, because God maintains me in His Divine Mind.

Philosophy can be very off-putting. It can seem meaninglessly complex and unnecessary. We tend to think of it as the intellectual rambling of self-important people. And, trust me - one of my degrees is in philosophy - lots of philosophy is exactly the intellectual rambling of self- important people. But philosophy is really just a way of cataloging ideas so that we can understand how things and ways of thinking are connected. Theology works in much the same way.

The philosophy which underlies these simple words from Jeremiah can be expressed with insider lingo like ‘ontology’ and ‘hylomorphism’ or it can be understood in very immediate and very human images like that of a kindly Father knitting together a child in a mother’s womb.

While both the complex and the intimate have their place in the Church and in getting people to Heaven, there’s a wisdom in seeking out those biblical images that speak to you personally. The image of God forming you in your mother’s womb probably moves you. So might other passages about God’s concern for us, Jesus’ love for us, the Holy Spirit’s activity among us, Mary’s tenderness, Paul’s courage, Peter’s human foibles, Jonah’s nerves, Job’s steadfastness, Elijah’s intensity, Daniel’s Mic drops or John’s nickname - “Beloved Disciple” - which is there to allow us to insert ourselves into the story. If it moves you, stick with it! The Lord gave us the Bible for good reasons!

Thoughts from Fr. Ryan

Our first month of workshops on Dealing with Stress and Anxiety as a Christian was wildly successful. Nearly one third of our parish attended one of the two talks I gave which functioned as an overview of the way that our brains process stress and the specific tools that our Faith give us to deal with it: Prayer, Knowledge of God, Knowledge of Self, Penance & Fasting, Works of Mercy, and the Christian Community.

This Tuesday, Shawn Wheat, a professor of Nursing at NSU in Natchitoches will be traveling in to address misconceptions, myths and errors that cause us unneeded stress and anxiety. Shawn is a remarkable woman and an incredible Catholic. She grew up in New Orleans and has spent most of her adult life in Natchitoches where she works at the college. Her husband is a practicing psychiatrist with years of in-the-field experience. Shawn is also the proud and loving mother of two kids. She and I have also been in a book club together for over ten years, so it’s safe to say that I trust her completely.

As many of you know, this topic of mental health is near and dear to my heart. It’s a serious source of problems for many of us here in Tallulah and here at St. Edward in particular. But it doesn’t have to be! So many of our problems come not from the actual stressors in our lives, but from our unwillingness to face them and deal with them. This month’s presentation, in particular, is one that Catholics struggle with and which can and should be both enlightening and freeing to hear!

The presentation will be in the parish hall on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 6pm. It is, of course, free and you’re welcome to invite anyone you’d like, regardless of their Church affiliation.

Several of you have asked me about the recording of the previous talk. Live recording of my presentation did not go very well. It was just too much to try and do on my own. As such, I’m in the process of recording that talk in my office, so that it can be easily understood and so that the slides are easy to see. It’s a learning process, but it should be completed in a week or two. I’m also reworking the parish website to make the videos easier to find and to watch. In the meantime, I ask and recommend your prayers for those in need:

Lord, our God, you graciously chose St. Dymphna as patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders. She is thus an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who ask for her intercession. Please grant, Lord, through the prayers of this pure youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all suffering such trials, and especially those for whom we pray.

We beg you, Lord, to hear the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant all those for whom we pray patience in their sufferings and resignation to your divine will. Please fill them with hope, and grant them the relief and cure they so much desire. We ask this through Christ our Lord who suffered agony in the garden.

Amen

Mass Intentions for the Coming Week

Sat 5:30p In memory of Racer Holstead/family
Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
Mon NO MASS
Tue 9:00a In memory of C.L. Keene and Inez and C.B. DeMoss/Keene
Wed 9:00a In memory of Kirby and Paul Fortenberry/A Fortenberry
Thu 9:00a In memory of Rosa Gremshell
Fri 5:30p In memory of Michael Mills/Mills-Thompson
Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/P Gilfoil
Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish

ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of C. L. Keene and Inez and C.B. DeMoss

Assistants at Holy Mass

Date	Servers	Lector(s)
1/29 5:30p	Non Scheduled	MK Book
1/30 9:00a	Preston, Evelyn, Courtland	S Marsh
2/5 5:30p	None Scheduled	C VanderVieren
2/6 9:00a	Caroline, Cooper, Maura	C Guizerix
2/12 5:30p	None Scheduled	MA Gilfoil
2/13 9:00a	Henry & MaryKatherine	B Sullivan

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
Feb 1 Workshop #2 - Dealing with Stress & Anxiety as a Christian. Open to the public and free - 6:00 p.m.
Feb 2 First Communion Class - 6 p.m. Church Hall
Feb 4 First Friday Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - 5:30 p.m. Church Hall
Feb 5 First Saturday Devotions to our Blessed Mother - Mass and Holy Hour - 9 a.m.
Feb 5 & 6 Blessing of Throats for St Blaise feast day at all Masses
Feb 6 Confirmation Class - 5:30 p.m. Church Hall
Feb 9 Wednesday Night Catechism - 6 p.m. Church Hall. Topic: The Glorious Mysteries
Feb 18 Quarterly Healing Mass - 5:30 p.m. Church
Feb 27 First Quarter Social to celebrate Mardi Gras 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 the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.

DEALING WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY AS A CHRISTIAN has become increasingly important to all of us. Session 2 on Tuesday, February 1 is open to the public and free. The session will last about an hour and begins at 6:00 p.m. Subsequent sessions 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.

FIRST FRIDAY…FEBRUARY 4 ...Holy Hour and Mass....5:30 p.m. ...make a special devotion to the Sacred Heart and attend first Friday devotions for nine consecutive months.

FIRST SATURDAY …FEBRUARY 5 … Mass and Holy Hour … 9 a.m. Our Lady of Fatima called for special devotions to be offered on the first Saturday of each month. Father Ryan will offer Mass on the first Saturday of each month in the Church. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

FIRST QUARTER SOCIAL - MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION…Potluck Brunch on Sunday, February 27 following Mass. First Quarter (Jan, Feb, March) group is 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, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Billy and Courtney Nadeau, Teddy and Alyssa Oliver, Mike and Sue Rome, Jason Trichell, Mary Trichell, Levi Washington.

ALTAR SOCIETY DUES PAYABLE FOR 2022…All ladies of the faith family of St. Edward are considered members of the Altar Society which is responsible for the needs of the altar such as candles, wine, hosts, altar cloths and linens and decorations. It is now time to pay your $10 dues for 2022 and there are envelopes at the entrance of the church for your convenience. You may return your envelope in the collection basket or to the church office.

Our Return to the Lord


Weekly Budget FY 2020-21	$ 2,111
December Budget	$ 8,444
December Income	$ 11,897
December Expenses	$ 9,174
January Budget	$ 10,555
January 22/23 collection	$ 4,685
January To Date	$ 11,396

Stewardship Jeremiah declares that the Lord knew him before he was born and dedicated and appointed him to his role as prophet even before he drew breath. We, too, are known and sent by the Lord. What deeds of love and service are mine to perform?

Let us Rejoice in the Lord!

Happy Birthday Courtland Jude Collins (Jan 29, 2010), Brennan McFall (Feb 1), Hazel Bedgood (Feb 2, 2016), Evelyn Grace Kivett (Feb 2, 2011), Dorothy Dyer (Feb 3), Susan Gilfoil (Feb 3), Blanche Wilks (Feb 5), Stephenie E. Marsh (Feb 6)

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), Judy and Danny Beard (Keene), Marie Farlow Bellard, Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Molly Corulla, Sara Cannon (Gilfoil), Truman and Diane Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Amelia Florence Cowart and her family (Florence), Don Deweese, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Tommy Dunning, Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty 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), Saldana Family (Book), 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, Callie Ezell, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Emmy Lu Marsh, Maddie Oliver Bridges, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Brice Wood, Marsh Wood