First Sunday of Lent
From The Font
“You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve.”
It’s impossible to argue that we haven’t lost much of our sense of what “worship” is in the last seventy-five years. Holy Mass nowadays is so casual and the atmosphere is so relaxed, that talking in Church, dressing down for Mass, and even the use of phones and handheld games at Mass doesn’t seem entirely out of place as it certainly did in years’ past.
I wonder, then, if that loss of the “Sense of the Sacred” which Pope Benedict spoke about constantly hasn’t had a direct effect upon the way that we think about idolatry and the first of the Ten Commandments.
Surely, no one reading this is likely to have set up a literal pagan altar at home. I doubt we’re secretly Hindu or that we chanted the Hymn to Bacchus at Saturnalia… But how many of us prioritize other things before our eternal salvation? How many of us would miss Mass or a Holy Day of Obligation to get the crops in? How many of us would knowingly choose to do what Jesus teaches us not to do if we believe we have a good reason for it? How many of us opted for a seafood feast on Ash Wednesday or are planning one for Good Friday? How many of us regularly put our jobs, our various recreation, our love for LSU or the Saints before our religious obligations? How many of us put our personal sense of pride above the need we have for a regular confession?
All of these questions are lifted straight from a standard-issue confession pamphlet! Each of them comes from an honest reading of the first of the Ten Commandments.
I certainly don’t write this to wag the finger or assign condemnation! Rather, these are the kinds of questions that any and every Christian should be asking ourselves all the time. These are the kinds of questions that are going to decide whether we spend eternity in Heaven or Hell!
Just as an honest parent has to ask whether they’re making the right calls about their kids and an honest employee has to ask if they’re making the right calls about their work, so an honest Christian has to ask if they’re living the Christian Life that Jesus has taught. As Lent begins, let’s have the courage to ask them!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Lent is a great gift to us as Catholics. Especially in light of the last few years. The evils in the world aren’t necessarily a direct result of sin or moral evil, but it should call us to reflect and pray.
The season of Lent isn’t really about just being somber and self-flagellating. Acts of Penance like fasting aren’t meant to turn our eyes inward, they’re meant to turn our eyes outward from ourselves to the Lord and to our neighbors. The two aspects of Lent - penance and reflection - compliment each other. By looking inward and taking responsibility for my own sins, my own weakness, my own laziness, my own self-centeredness, etc, I can, in a sense, take possession of myself as I am. And then, in penance, I can offer myself, the good and the bad, to the Lord and to my neighbors.
That two-fold process is freeing because it means we don’t need to expend any energy convincing ourselves or the Lord of anything which isn’t already true and real. Am I lazy in prayer? Then I can admit that to the Lord and even to my neighbor and every sermon I hear about prayer then becomes an encouragement rather than a condemnation or an accusation. Also, the work of prayer becomes something that I can do for the Lord rather than being something that reminds me of my weakness or failure. If I have sinned, then I’m all too happy to admit it because I trust that God will forgive and that I can step forward in His love!
Lent also gives us an excuse, not that we need it, to start afresh. If you’re feeling embarrassed about having to say “Bless me Father, it’s been five years since my last confession,” Lent transforms that statement from an indictment to a proclamation… It makes us free to admit that I have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God and makes it all the more praiseworthy for us to get going.
One of the most moving things I’ve ever witnessed is when a newcomer at an AA meeting realizes that others there sympathize with their shame. “I missed my daughter’s birthday because I was drunk.” That kind of statement is cause for shame. But in a meeting, it becomes a cause for hope… “and because I missed that party, I realized that Alcohol was my master… It was my rock bottom and I started the program the next day!” Now, that cause for shame is a cause for thankfulness and hope.
I experience the same kind of thing in confession when the frame of mind changes from “I hate having to share my shame with a priest” to “I failed, but God is so much bigger than my failure.”
Lent is our chance to experience that shift in perspective every year and, as we were robbed of most of Lent last year, we need it now more than ever. Let’s make this Lent a real gift to ourselves and to the Lord!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/P Gilfoil
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Buford and Paul Fortenberry/family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of May DiTomasso
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Dorothy Neill/Gustafson
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
- 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 3/5 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks |
| 3/6 9:00a | Caroline, Cooper, Maura | S Marsh |
| 3/12 5:30p | None Scheduled | MB Book |
| 3/13 9:00a | Henry & Mary Katherine | C Guizerix |
| 3/19 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil |
| 3/20 9:00a | Chandler, Kathleen, Maura | Youth |
Upcoming Events
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Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass at 5:30p
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Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall after the 9:00a Mass unless otherwise indicated
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Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Tuesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
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March 11 Way of the Cross Lenten devotion followed by Mass - 5:30 p.m.
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March 11 (Mar 25 and Apr 8), Lenten education opportunity - see notes on last page
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March 14 Town Hall Meeting for a “State of St. Edward report - 6 p.m. Church Hall. All parishioners are encouraged to attend and participate
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.
LENT has arrived ! All Catholics 18 and older are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. All Catholics 14 and older are obliged to abstain from meat on Fridays of Lent. Further, all Catholics should plan some penance (not just doing something extra) as a way of uniting ourselves with Our Lord’s death on the cross. Lent is a time for sober self-reflection, for prayer, for fasting, for works of mercy, and for redoubling our efforts to grow in the knowledge and love of God. To that end, St. Edward will offer a shared Way of the Cross on Friday evenings at 5:30p followed by Mass. On Mar 11, Mar 25 and Apr 8, immediately following the evening Mass, Fr. Ryan will host a meatless potluck (in which he will provide a hearty soup) and show a religious film. All are certainly welcome to attend.
TOWN HALL MEETING for a “State of St. Edward” report. Monday, March 14, 2022 - 6 p.m. Church Hall. All parishioners are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate! Fr. Ryan will be giving a report on our parish finances as well as several small and not-so-small projects that we’ll be working on over the summer. All are encouraged to attend. The meeting will include an open Q&A for Fr. Ryan.
EMPOWERING GOD’S CHILDREN… parish volunteers must be VIRTUS trained and go online regularly at www.virtus.org for the latest training bulletins. Any questions or issues can be reported to the office. Printed resources are available on the table at the entrance to the Church. “Protecting our Children, Understanding and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse” includes Resources and Contact Numbers for reporting abuse. “Protecting God’s Children, Teaching Touching Safety Quick Reference Guide” The Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Minors and The Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Priests, Deacons, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff, and Volunteers are available in the Safe Environment section of the diocesan website at DioceseAlex.org or a copy may be requested from the Safe Environment Office (318) 445-2401.
PLEDGE TO HEAL...If you or a family member has been abused or victimized by a representative of the Catholic church or a member of the clergy, please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. Dr. Lee Kneipp, Clinical Psychologist, Victim Assistance Coordinator, Diocese of Alexandria encourages those persons to come forward and speak out. Dr. Kneipp is establishing support groups in the central Louisiana area for victims and family members. The focus of these groups is to further emotional and spiritual healing as an adjunct to therapy, in an atmosphere of others who understand the pain, betrayal, and fear associated with abuse. Dr. Kneipp can be reached at 318-542-9805. All calls are confidential.
JESUS, GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH MISSION This week, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings at 6:30p, Fr. Ryan is preaching the parish mission at Jesus, Good Shepherd Church in Monroe. All are welcome to attend.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 | $ 2,111 |
| January Budget | $ 10,555 |
| January Income | $ 13,438 |
| January Expenses | $ 9,811 |
| February Budget | $ 8,444 |
| February 26/27 collection | $ 2,461 |
| February Income To Date | $ 8,691 |
Stewardship Today’s first reading describes the offering of first fruits the people of Israel were to present to the Lord in thanksgiving for their deliverance from Egypt and the gift of the promised land. Is my offering at today’s Mass an appropriate response to the many blessings the Lord has given me?
Second Collection Our Second Collection this weekend is our once a month Building Fund collection.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Levi Washington (March 10), Bobby Reynolds (March 12), Abby Ellerbee (March 12), Shannon Wood (March 15)
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 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, 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, Emily Chancellor (C Copes), Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Molly Corulla, Truman and Diane Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Don Deweese, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Ashley and Chuck Edwards (Keene), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Charlotte Green, Kathy Garley Hanlon (Gilfoil), Rita Hargrave, Melissa Jennings (Gilfoil & 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), Bailey, Lee, and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Albert Thom (Rome), Meg Keene Thomas, Lucy Thomason (gr-dau of Bentley Curry)(Book), Elaine 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