23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
When I was in college, my parents insisted that I take a summer job. When I couldn’t find one, my dad put me to work with his construction company paving a canal in New Orleans.
During that summer, I came across one of Pope John Paul II’s books in which he tells the story of his own time working forced labor in construction under the Nazi’s. It was a profoundly moving and his insights and the way his faith gave meaning to his experience forced me to reconsider the way I thought about work in a way that has never really left me.
Now - and then - construction workers aren’t known for being polite, chaste, well-spoken or especially virtuous. That summer, I met a bunch of rough guys… But I also saw what a real work ethic does to someone. The lazy guys who showed up just to get a check and skipped out on overtime weren’t happy people. They were slaves to their situations and circumstances. Whereas, the guys who accepted where they were and worked hard and took pride in what they did were genuinely happy guys. Just like the Pope-to-be had learned in Poland, I learned in New Orleans, that Labor somehow ennobles us. Even if that labor isn’t necessarily fair or important or anything other than hard, labor has a way of ennobling us.
Later on, Pope John Paul II would write Laborem Exercens - on the Dignity of Human Labor. In it, he would say that it wasn’t by accident that Adam’s purpose was to till the Earth and that it wasn’t by accident that Adam’s punishment was still to till the earth, only without the same joy or sense of purpose.
St. Benedict took that kind of thinking to heart. When he established the greatest religious order in history, he insisted on only two things: ora et labora. Prayer and work. Every monk - according to St. Benedict - must put in six to eight hours of work, Monday through Saturday. It should be hard work - carpentry, gardening, stone-work… Only a few choir brothers were excused in order to maintain a constant vigil before the Lord in the chapel.
At Clear Creek Abbey in Eastern Oklahoma, where I make some of my retreats - the brothers fire up the organ at 4:30a to start the daily prayers. They go until 9pm with a dozen half hour breaks (praying without ceasing is serious work).
I’ve been an opponent of many of our national entitlement programs since my time as pastor of Nativity of the BVM in Campti where I saw first-hand what happens when people are told they don’t need to work. Before then, I had been a big supporter of the Great Society and the social safety nets. But it hurt my heart as a pastor to see my people sitting around all day doing nothing because if they worked or made too much money on the side, they would lose their benefits. The soul atrophies like a muscle in a cast. And people who are paid not to work… they don’t do well.
Work ennobles us. It gives us purpose. It allows us to see the fruit of our labors. It teaches us the value of delayed gratification. It teaches us patience and mental toughness. When we stop working - we get caught up in our minds. We get bored and we get addicted to entertainment and social media. In short, we begin to lose our humanity.
It’s ironic that labor day is a day of rest from our jobs. But it’s not a day of rest from our true work - the task of knowing, loving and serving God. The work of prayer never stops. The work of taking up our cross and following after Our Lord never stops.
Whatever work that we call our job or our career is not outside the reach of God. The Lord can use all things to our good and His glory and so we have to believe that our knowledge and love of God doesn’t grow only in this Church.
To the degree that we realize that God wants to use all things in life to sanctify us - to make us more like Him - to make us more fully human - we can find in our labor something truly worthy of the Lord.
Just as on religious feasts, the celebration points beyond this life to Heaven, so on this labor day, may our celebrations point beyond just the work that takes our time to the labor that ennobles us and humanizes us and that fulfills that earliest command to till the Earth and master the created world.
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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Sep 7-18 Fr Ryan on Pilgrimage with about 10 members of our parish. Please pray for them!
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Sep 13 No Traditional Latin Mass
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Sep 13 No Sunday Morning Catechism
For Your Information:
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.
A MESSAGE FROM FR ROBERT DORE, Pastor of St. Michael, Vicksburg
Dear friends in the Lord… A few weeks ago, when I left for vacation, I was experiencing some abdominal pain. The pain continued during that time along with a loss of appetite. When I arrived back home, I made an appointment with my doctor who ordered blood work and a CT scan of my abdomen. The scan revealed that I have a mass on my liver. He ordered a liver biopsy that revealed carcinoma. The final pathological results are not available. When they become available, I will be referred to an oncologist for treatment. I have no idea what the future holds, but I know your prayers, love, and support are with me as I make this journey. With love, prayers, and gratitude, Fr Robert
Please remember Fr Dore in your prayers, especially in the Holy Rosary!
EMPOWERING GOD’S CHILDREN Parish volunteers must be VIRTUS trained and go online regularly at 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.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- 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
- Mon NO MASS - Fr Ryan on Pilgrimage
- Tue NO MASS - Fr Ryan on Pilgrimage
- Wed NO MASS - Fr Ryan on Pilgrimage
- Thu NO MASS - Fr Ryan on Pilgrimage
- Fri NO MASS - Fr Ryan on Pilgrimage
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Beverly Lancaster (birth)/family
- Sun 8:00a No Traditional Latin Mass - Fr Ryan on Pilgrimage
- Sun 9:30a In memory of John C.B. “Skeezix” Jumonville/family
Altar Candles this week are burning for the the special intentions of the Wilks family
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Acolytes | Lector | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/5 | 5:30p | - | MA Gilfoil |
| 9/6 | 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, Daniel | C Guizerix |
| 9/12 | 5:30p | - | M Rome |
| 9/13 | 9:30a | Mary Katherine, Maura, & Elizabeth | D Hamilton |
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 30 Collection | $ 2,891 |
| August to Date | $15,298 |
STEWARDSHIP Am I my brother’s keeper? All three readings today suggest that for the christian steward the answer is “YES”!
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is our once monthly Building Fund collection.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Seth Dawson (Sep 6), Charlize Richardson (Sep 7), Kathleen Ellerbee (Sep 8), Kathleen Harris (Sep 8), Lori Sullivan (Sep 11), Dan Copes (Sep 12), Teres Saunier (Sep 12), Jojo Alabanzas (Sep 13)
Happy Anniversary to Sally and Bobby Reynolds (Sept 9)
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, 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.