22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Satan is a name we don’t hear much anymore. Nowadays many scholars and even some clergy TRY to argue that he’s not real. But: “The devil’s greatest success was to convince the world that he does not exist.” An enemy who doesn’t know he is at war is an enemy already beaten.
The Gospel tells us that to do the work of Satan, we don’t have to sacrifice animals and light black candles. Satan’s way is simpler: Jesus tells Peter You are thinking not as God does, but as men do.
Are all of us then being used by Satan? Certainly not! But when we start to decide that my way of thinking trumps God’s then things don’t go well. We end up deciding that the Church’s is just one opinion among many and that being a Christian is whatever I want it to be. It’s when we get into this kind of thinking that we give the devil room to move - not necessarily to possess us - but to convince us that we know better than God. To stroke our egos. To build up our pride. To tell us that serving or kneeling is for the weak and not the “spiritually mature” people like me.
Why talk about Satan at all, though? First, to combat his successful advertising campaign and to assure you, from personal experience, that Satan, the devil, is not a fairy tale, is not a myth, is not a joke or a movie, Satan is real and is active in this country and in this world. Second, to make sure that we all know that there is a spiritual battle taking place and it is not small and it is not confined to monks and nuns.
The thing is, when we confront that reality honestly and directly, we have no need to fear. The battle is already won. Our concern should be to stay on the winning side - not to pretend the battle isn’t taking place. The Lord is with us!
Paradoxically, the Lord tells us the way to victory is not through power or force of arms, but through the humble acceptance of suffering and trials in this world… How bizarre! Satan is the cause of a lot of our struggles…
It’s human greed, for example, inspired and compounded by the devil that makes it hard for us to make ends meet. It’s human arrogance and the desire for power that make our political systems unjust. It’s human lust and jealousy, encouraged by the devil, that cause baseless troubles in our marriages and relationships. It’s human self- interest, perhaps the devil’s greatest tool, that causes us to miss or ignore the needs of others - even those we love. The devil is the reason that we struggle to overcome our human nature through the teaching of Jesus and the Grace of the Holy Spirit…
And despite all of that, the Lord tells us that our victory over the devil is to be found not with a weapon or even an Angel, but by taking up our Cross and following Jesus in His Passion and suffering.
If we didn’t have living examples from our daily life of how adversity strengthens us (sports training, overcoming bullies, etc) then we would be hard pressed to believe these words of Jesus. But human nature cannot hide itself from us. We men and women are hard wired to grow from difficulty and hardships. We know that luxury is dangerous to us. There’s a stunning amount of evidence that is continuously being gathered about just how unhealthy - physically and mentally - comfortable living is for us. Fasting, it turns out, is absolutely essential for physical health. So is strenuous exercise and exposure to cold and heat. We need mild sunburns. Refined sugar is apparently worse for us than smoking. Social Media may be the single most toxic drug ever created.
And the clear response is simply to live in less luxury… Fast on a regular basis… Eat real food that isn't processed. They won’t taste as good, but that’s ok. Because every little suffering - even something as small as passing on a spoonful of sugar with your coffee or a candy bar - is a small opportunity to take up our cross and be that much nearer to Jesus on the Cross. As Mary said at Fatima, we should offer up these little sufferings for our sins and in reparation for the sins of the world.
As with all truly human things, taking up our cross is not merely necessary for us spiritually. It turns out, and both science and history agree, that it’s necessary for us mentally, emotionally, and physically. It’s necessary for us as individuals, as friends, as families, and even as a broader community…
Upcoming Events
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Confessions every Fri & Sat ~5p until Mass and Sunday ~9a until Mass
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Sunday Morning Catechism (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:30a Mass unless otherwise indicated
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Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
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Sept 4 First Friday Devotions
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Sept 5-6 First Sunday Benediction following Masses
For Your Information:
SUNDAY MORNING CATECHISM will resume on Sunday, August 23, following the 9:30a Mass in the Hall. Although the program talks are prepared for parents of our children, anyone is welcome to attend and have lots of their own questions answered! Carbohydrates and coffee are provided!!!
ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30p for prayer and supper. Everyone is welcome. Contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator for more information.
FORMED.ORG has weekly features at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at https://signup.formed.org
MAUSOLEUM construction is expected to begin in the next two months. If you have any questions or you know of anyone else interested in making a purchase, please encourage them to call the church office for additional information.
EMAILED BULLETINS are being sent out by a new service called ButtonDown. The bulletins may be sent to your spam folder as common with bulk emails. If you are not receiving the bulletin as usual, please check your spam folder. You can also sign up again via the form on our website at SaintEdwardTallulah.church
FIRST FRIDAY is September 4. Father will offer Devotions and Eucharistic Benediction at the end of Mass. Make a special devotion to the Sacred Heart and attend first Friday devotions for nine consecutive months.
FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION for the weekend of September 5-6 will conclude Masses as part of our larger program of Eucharistic Devotion.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of deceased members of the Lapentier and Rome families
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Madeline Howington/family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tues 9:00a Thanksgiving for having been a part of the St Edward Faith Family for 50 years/Rome
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Thomas and Delia Trichell/Family
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Jim Jumonville/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Russell Petersen/Rome
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Becky, Beverly, and Edgar Lancaster/family
Altar Candles this week are burning inThanksgiving for the Faith Family of St Edward as requested by the Rome family.
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Acolytes | Lector | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/29 | 5:30p | - | Farlow/VanderVerien |
| 8/30 | 9:30a | Michael, Finley, and Ashlyn | A Oliver |
| 9/5 | 5:30p | - | MA Gilfoil |
| 9/6 | 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, Daniel | C Guizerix |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
|---|---|
| July Budget | $ 10,000 |
| July Collections | $ 10,920 |
| July Expenses | $ 10,378 |
| August Budget | $ 12,500 |
| August 23 Collection | $ 4,589 |
| August to Date | $ 12,407 |
STEWARDSHIP In today’s second reading, St. Paul exhorts the Romans to total stewardship. Brothers and sisters he urges, “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God.”
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Dana Hamilton (Aug 30), Chandler Wood (Aug 31), Sug Regan (Sept 4), Seth Dawson (Sep 6)
Happy Anniversary to Kendra & Dave Collins (Aug 29)
In Our Daily Prayers…
For our Pope, Leo XIV, our 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, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Ann Claire Fordice and her children, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Phillip and Peggy Scurria, Sug Regan, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan, Mary Trichell
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, Donna Fulton (Ellerbee), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan, Alex, and Palmer Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Andrew and Chelsea Keene-Lewis, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Jessica McCoy (Reynolds), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Mike Morelli, Randy Parker, Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Curt and Brianne Rome, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Debbie Kedrick Sims, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Will Richardson, Chandler Wood
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.