Third Sunday of Easter | St. Edward Catholic Church, Tallulah

From The Font

“When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea…”

“Jesus said… Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

Normally, we wouldn’t see these two parts of today’s Gospel as connected. The translation can be misleading. The important connection is actually in Peter’s wardrobe… No really! First, we need to know that the ancient Jewish equivalent of sweat pants was just a tunic that was secured by a belt. It could be converted from a loose gown to something like coveralls with clever folding and rearranging the belt.

So, when Simon Peter begins today’s Gospel, he’s “lightly clad.” That means he was wearing some type of underpants and was not wearing his tunic or his belt. Dressed like this, he swims to Jesus.

Then, Jesus confronts Simon about what happened in the High Priests’ Courtyard and asks Simon three times “do you love me?” Simon answers “yes” with intensity. Then Jesus says, “you used to ~dress~ GIRD yourself and go where you wanted but [now]... someone else will ~dress~ GIRD you and lead you where you do not want to go.” To Gird, is to strap on a belt or a restraint (like chains).

Simon begins without a belt binding him to any obligation. But the full proof of his love of Jesus will be shown when Peter is bound with chains and led to Caesar in Rome to be Martyred!

For Peter, this message is very specific and intense. But we, also, hear these words of Jesus. If we love the Lord, we have to be willing to be led by Him into parts of our lives that we might prefer to avoid… If the Lord asks me to share my Faith, I may prefer not to, but if I love the Lord, then I have to be willing to be led “where [I] do not want to go.” If I love the Lord, then I have to be willing to let someone else GIRD me and I have to be willing to let myself be bound to DOING what the Love of Jesus in my Heart demands.

I love these weird little details of the Bible!

Thoughts from Fr. Ryan

It’s a big week for eight of our young Catholics!

On Sunday, Harper Bedgood, Travis Hamilton, Thomas Myers Hamilton, and Gabriel Paz will receive First Holy Communion!

Then, on Wednesday, Preston Collins, Henry Elerbee, Caroline Marsh, and Chandler Wood will be confirmed by Bishop Robert Marshall!

The Sacraments of Initiation are certainly about becoming fully a part of the Catholic Church. But that’s easy to misunderstand as something akin to becoming part of a social club or a sorority… The Catholic Church is the mystical body of Jesus Christ on Earth. Membership in the Church isn’t about dues or opportunities, it’s about union with Jesus and about access to the Sacraments.

What our young people experience this week is a visceral reminder to each of us that our membership in the Church is no small matter! Being part of the Church isn’t about being on a list somewhere or getting customized envelopes or a birthday card. It’s about Grace! It’s about Sacramental Grace. As a part of the Church, we benefit from the prayers of many souls. We benefit from the example of the Saints and of the local community. We benefit from access to the Holy Eucharist and to Holy Communion, to Confession, and to Anointing of the Sick.

We also benefit from the duties and obligations which are given to us by the Lord not as a burden, but as a clear direction and purpose. In the commands and teachings of Jesus, we are directed toward our highest human good and we are protected from our human faults and from demonic attack. In the moral teaching of the Church, we’re relieved of the need to consider all matters for ourselves and we’re relieved of the conceit that we would even be able to!

Even beyond these benefits of being part of the Church, there’s the supernatural, Sacramental Grace that comes from incorporation into Christ. There are so many things we can’t perceive in our limited lives on Earth. We can’t understand the spiritual warfare happening all around us. We can’t comprehend the effects of sin and the damage it causes. We can’t know how much good comes from my choice to act on the little impulse the Lord puts in my heart and we can’t know how much damage comes from my fear to act on it. As part of the Church, though, we are instructed and directed by the Liturgy and the Catechism and the gentle movement of the Holy Spirit in hearts activated by a good sermon or a blessed moment of prayer or a reading at Mass or even a random comment from someone.

Finally, we can’t ignore the fact that the Lord uses people of all sorts, but that it’s easier for us to perceive Him at work when we’re thinking about him! Just as reading a book about healthy lifestyle improves physical health, thinking about the Lord and attending Mass regularly and confessing frequently improves our spiritual health. The Church improves that even further by assuring us of true spiritual things rather than mere pop-spirituality…

And so congratulations to all our young people who gain these benefits this week!

Mass Intentions for the Coming Week

Sat 5:30p In memory of Lee Rome/K Collins
Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
Mon NO MASS
Tue 9:00a In memory of J.E. “Boyzie” Jumonville/family
Wed 5:30p In honor of our Confirmation candidates and their families
Thu 9:00a In memory of John Johnson/family
Fri 5:30p In memory of Cogan Fulton/Lancaster
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 in honor of our young people who are making First Communion and being Confirmed.

Assistants at Holy Mass

Date	Servers	Lector(s)
4/30 5:30p	None Scheduled	MA Gilfoil
5/1 9:00a	Caroline, Cooper, Maura	S Marsh
5/7 5:30p	None Scheduled	MK Book
5/8 9:00a	Henry and MaryKatherine	S Marsh
5/14 5:30p	None Scheduled	M Rome
5/15 9:00a	Chandler, Kathleen, Maura	Youth

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
May 1 First Holy Communion for four of our children followed by a parish wide reception
May 3 Workshop on Dealing with Stress & Anxiety as a Christian. 6 p.m. Parish Hall.
May 4 Confirmation for four of our youth followed by a parish wide Potluck Supper
May 6 First Friday Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - 5:30 p.m.
May 7 First Saturday Devotions to our Blessed Mother - Mass and Holy Hour - 9 a.m.
May 8 Mother’s Day
May 15 Senior’s Mass for Youth Sunday followed by a parish wide reception

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.

FIRST COMMUNION… Sunday, May 1 during the 9 a.m. Mass. Join us as we celebrate four of our young children: Harper Bedgood, Travis Hamilton, Thomas Myers Hamilton, and Gabriel Paz.

STRESS AND ANXIETY WORKSHOP…MAY 3… 6:00 p.m. - Church Hall. Workshop on Dealing with Stress & Anxiety as a Christian. Open to the public.

CONFIRMATION… will take place at a special Mass on Wednesday, May 4 at 6 p.m. with Bishop Marshall. All are very welcome to attend. The ceremony will be followed by our quarterly pot-luck social. Please pray for our soon-to-be-confirmed: Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Caroline Marsh, and Chandler Wood.

SECOND QUARTER SOCIAL will be a Potluck Supper for all of our faith family on WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 following Confirmation of four of our youth. Please mark your calendars and plan to bring a dish and participate to celebrate Caroline, Preston, Henry, and Chandler. The Second Quarter (April, May, June) Social Committee - Libby Bullard (Chairperson), Angel Farlow, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, MaryAnne Gilfoil, Terry and Andy Hall, Isabell Hernandez, Ann Keene, Alyce and C.W. Keene, Bobby Reynolds, Delia Trichell, and Cathy VanderVieren will set up the Hall, have the A/C on, and tidy up afterwards.

FIRST FRIDAY… MAY 6… Mass and Benediction at 5:30 p.m. Please consider making a special devotion to the Sacred Heart by attending first Friday devotions for nine consecutive months.

FIRST SATURDAY… MAY 7… Mass and Benediction at 9 a.m. Our Lady of Fatima called for special devotions to be offered on the first Saturday of each month. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

ST PAUL’S CATHOLIC MOM’S GROUP… MAY 7 (Saturday) … at ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TALLULAH … MASS at 9 a.m. … Next meeting for the whole family. Mass followed by coffee and doughnuts. Come join us as we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Mother's Day weekend! Have questions? Contact Kathleen Harris or Brittany McFall at Vicksburgcatholicmomsgroup@gmail.com.

Our Return to the Lord


Weekly Budget FY 2020-21	$ 2,111
March Budget	$ 8,444
March Income	$ 9,143
March Expenses	$ 8,404
April Budget	$ 8,444
April 23/24 collection	$ 2,487
April Income To Date	$ 8,531

Stewardship In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells Peter again and again, “If you love Me, feed my sheep.” He says the same to each of us, “If you love Me, use the gifts I have given you to serve your brothers and sisters.”

SECOND COLLECTION Is for our once-a-month Building Fund.

Let us Rejoice in the Lord!

Happy Birthday Hunter Sullivan (May 4), Father Ryan Humphries (May 6), Colin Donham (May 7)

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: Libby Bullard, Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Mary Ernst, Monique Florence, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Jamie and Cindy Howingston, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Terry Murphy, Sug Regan, 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, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), 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, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Melissa Jennings (Gilfoil & Keene), Dee Jones (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, and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Beverly Sibille (Gilfoil), Albert Thom (Rome), Meg Keene Thomas, Lucy Thomason (gr-dau of Bentley Curry)(Book), Paul Wayne and LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Elaine Trimble (Rome), Joe Yerger

Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Emmy Lu Marsh, Maddie Oliver Bridges, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Brice Wood, Marsh Wood