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Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 15, 2022

From The Font

“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Some parts of the Gospels are tricky because they are so specifically challenging. Other parts are hard because of cultural or philosophical differences between the Biblical Jews and us. And some passages are hard to apply because they are so broad and even generic that they seem to conflict with other teachings of Jesus.

Luke 6:32, for example, says “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” And yet here, Jesus tells us that what is of no value is suddenly primary…

And, we have to be honest, there are more than a few moments in Scripture that work like this… They are part of the reason that we, as Catholics, don’t rely on the Bible alone for our understanding of Christianity.

To understand these apparent conflicts, we have to remember a few things. First, the Bible isn’t one book. It’s many books written to different audiences by many authors each of which was inspired by the Holy Spirit but not dictated to by the Holy Spirit. So the Biblical authors used their own talents, foibles, and best judgment to bring the Lord’s inspiration to the written word.

Second, we have to remember that in writing, the audience is the first and most important consideration!

In this apparent contradiction, for example, Jesus in John’s Gospel is speaking to the Apostles alone whereas Jesus in Luke’s Gospel is speaking to the crowd. And so it is true that loving one another isn’t necessarily good enough for all of us to think of ourselves as righteous. AND it’s true that when people look to the Bishops of the Church and see that they are in disagreement or that they dislike one another, they question whether or not these men are in fact disciples of the Lord.

There’s a reason that Biblical Scholarship is one of the hardest academic disciplines in the Church. Studying texts written across 1400 years in six or so languages isn’t easy. We, as Catholics, should read and study the Bible because the Lord speaks through it! But we should also be wary of mistaking casual or personal understanding with religious truth.

Thoughts from Fr. Ryan

Well I am ecstatic to report that I have been reappointed by Bishop Marshall to another term of six years here in Tallulah! Honestly, the first six years flew by…

Personally, for me, this parish has been a place of profound healing after several ordeals with less-than-saintly leadership in past assignments. And I cannot express my appreciation and thanks enough to all of you for your constant love, support, encouragement, and helpful criticism!

I wrote in my letter asking the Bishop to “re-up” me that I’m a “good fit” here in Tallulah. While I’ve had to learn and re-learn some skills and I’ve had to adjust my attitude toward certain things, the mores and mindset of Northeast Louisiana fits with my way of seeing the world and I think my own quirks and idiosyncrasies aren’t too difficult for the fine people of Tallulah (and Vicksburg) to assimilate and engage.

This past weekend, I specifically asked everyone to consider writing me a letter or an email or a note or a memo or even a haiku if that’s your thing. I would like to get your thoughts on how we’re doing… Specifically, I'd like to understand what’s going well and what’s not. Are you (and your family) growing in Faith? Are you holier than you were six years ago? Are you happier? What would you like to see at Church? What builds up your faith? What knocks it down? What am I doing that is a help or a hindrance? To what should I be giving more or less priority? Are you interested in anything in the spiritual life that we’re not offering? Is something missing? Should I livestream more? Should I teach more? Is there a topic you’d like to see a presentation on?

In sum, I’m looking to make use of the added time that we have together. I understand that for most of us, our wants with regard to Church are fairly straightforward: we want Church to start on time, give us a sense of nearness to the Lord, engage us with a sermon of reasonable length and complexity, give us something practical to do and make us feel like the time we’ve spent there was worth it. We want our experiences at the Church or in the Hall to be relatively consistent and we want to know that Father is available if we need him. If I’m off-base with this assessment, I hope one of you will correct me!! But that’s what I’ve tried to do here at St. Edward. And now that we have some more time together, I’d like to see us continue to improve on what we’ve got - not with massive changes and upendings, but with incremental progress and deliberate, considered choices.

Just to be clear - I’m not now nor have I ever been of the opinion that I, as pastor, should be the one to decide on all things. Anyone who has thoughts on anything is welcome to share them. I genuinely want your thoughts, criticisms, ideas, and input. While I know St Edward and Tallulah pretty well now, we are a community that only works if we’re all open, honest and truthful.

So please consider sending me a letter or an email (or a haiku). I will keep them 100% private and confidential. I’m not looking to stir anything up, I just really want to know what you want!

Mass Intentions for the Coming Week

  • Sat 5:30p In memory of Dale 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 deceased members of the Regan, Adams, and Weimer families/Sug
  • Thu 9:00a In memory of Lee Rome/P Gilfoil
  • Fri 5:30p In memory of Dorothy Neill/Gustafson
  • Sat 5:30p In memory of Michael Mills/Mills & Thompson
  • 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)
5/14 5:30p None Scheduled A Keene
5/15 9:00a Chandler, Kathleen, Maura Youth-Courtland & MaryKatherine
5/21 5:30p None Scheduled C VanderVieren
5/22 9:00a Preston, Cortland, Evelyn D Ellerbee
5/28 5:30p None Scheduled P Wilks
5/29 9:00a Cooper & Maura M Lancaster

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 15 Senior’s Mass for Youth Sunday followed by a parish wide reception

  • May 17 Pastoral Council Meeting … 6 p.m. in Church Hall

  • May 18 Wednesday Evening Catechism … 6 p.m. in Church Hall … Death and Dying issues

  • May 20 Quarterly Healing Mass … 5:30 P.M.

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.

YOUTH MASS - MAY 15…9 a.m. Mass and we are honoring our high school graduate, CAROLINE MARSH. Following Mass, we are having a reception to honor Caroline. Please join us in the Church Hall.

PASTORAL COUNCIL..will hold its regular meeting on TUESDAY, MAY 17, at 6:00 p.m in the Church Center. 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…MAY 18 In the Church Hall at 6 p.m. Fr. Ryan was specifically asked to give this talk and to cover some of the moral issues that arise at the end of life (e.g. living wills, ventilators, “pulling the plug,” etc) and the practical issues that arise after death (funeral planning, do ashes need to be buried, etc). Father will cover the topics both practically and with reference to the moral teaching of the Church. Father will answer questions after the talk. Guests are welcome!

QUARTERLY HEALING MASS … MAY 20…HEALING MASS… Every few months, our usual Friday evening Daily Mass is offered especially for the sick parishioners of our parish and Father offers the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for those of advanced age or those suffering serious health conditions.

Our Return to the Lord
Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 $ 2,111
April Budget $ 8,444
April Income $ 8,532
April Expenses $ 9,717
May Budget $ 10,555
May 8 collecltion $ 2,521
May Income To Date $ 4,471

Stewardship In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives His disciples– and us– a new commandment: “Love one another.” Good stewards who spend their time and talents in service to others are well on their way to fulfilling this commandment.

Let us Rejoice in the Lord!

Happy Birthday Eddie Mills (May 14)

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), 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), John and Carlyle Ashly Hoogland, 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