26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
September is traditionally devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows. That’s something that all Catholics used to know just like we know that Christmas is at the end of December.
It’s important to know about Our Lady of Sorrows. That’s the title of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is associated with her sufferings - first when She was told She would suffer by Simeon in the temple, then when She had to flee to Egypt, then when She & Joseph lost Jesus and found Him in the temple, then when She watched his crucifixion and death and finally when she went with another Joseph (of Arimathaea) to bury him in the tomb. All of that suffering - from the moment Jesus was born until after He died - Mary endured it. She suffered so much.
Nowadays, even Christians look at suffering as if it were something to be avoided (if you can) or minimized (if you can’t). Most of us see suffering as bad - even evil.
The reality is that suffering allows us to recognize our own faults. It allows us to see this world as it is. It provides clarity. It reveals us to ourselves. We can’t know someone and we can’t know ourselves until we face adversity, struggle, or emotional hardship.
And so, why do Christians care about being there for the sick and the dying? Because that moment of misery can be the most important moment of one’s life! Suffering is not good in itself, but it creates a way of understanding that can’t be found in a life of constant ease and luxury.
If any of us went through our entire lives without suffering at all and we died and we stood before the throne of God and He looked at us and offered us forgiveness for our sins... We would laugh in His face. “My life was perfect. Everything went my way. Practically speaking, I’m as much a god as you are... I don’t need anything from you! Everything already went my way.”
Suffering cuts through lies. It cuts through pride. It cuts through selfishness and grounds us in reality.
The little book that came out a few years ago called Tuesdays with Maury revealed this truth to a lot of people. It tells the story of a man who visited an old teacher who was dying of cancer. He went to see him every week for months as the old man got worse and worse. As he lost more and more, the teacher got wiser and more reflective. As he lost his ability to walk and then to bathe himself and then to get out of bed - the author couldn’t help but realize how meaningless things like TV or bickering or gossip really are. Who cares if uncle Fred cussed aunt Emmy fifty years ago...
Suffering reveals so much and that’s why Jesus chose to save the world by suffering. He could’ve wiggled his nose like Samatha on Bewitched. He could’ve snapped his fingers... He could’ve simply said a word like He did at the creation of the world in Genesis 1:1.
With all the power that this world can imagine, God chose to become a person and to suffer to redeem the world. His suffering gives our suffering meaning and power. Yes it still hurts. It’s still scary. It always will be. But as human beings, we need that.
Suffering is not something to avoid - it’s something to embrace and to thank God for even as you ask Him to take away the hardest parts. Jesus did that. In Gethsemane, He asked God to take the cup of suffering away from Him. But He added, let your will be done. St. Paul also asked that God would take away the thorn in his flesh - that one sin that he just couldn’t kick. As a priest, I ask God to make parts of my life easier, but I trust in the power of unanswered prayers and embrace whatever cross the Lord asks me to carry!
It’s ok to want to avoid suffering. It’s ok to ask God to keep you and your loved ones from suffering. It’s ok to ask God for an easy and blessed life. But if God loves us - He’s going to want us to get to heaven and to do that we’re going to need to suffer in this life. So when it comes, we embrace it. We ask the Holy Spirit for help. We ask the Church for help. But we embrace it and trust that God is using those trials and difficulties to open for us the doors to Heaven where there is no suffering - precisely because it is no longer needed!
Upcoming Events
-
Confessions every Fri & Sat ~5p until Mass and Sunday ~9a until Mass
-
Sunday Morning Catechism (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:30a Mass unless otherwise indicated
-
October 2 First Friday devotions after Mass
-
October 3-4 First Sunday Benediction at the conclusion of weekend Masses
-
October 10-11 Feast of St Edward the Confessor (Oct 13) celebrated
-
October 10 Saturday evening Potluck Social following Mass
-
October 16 Quarterly Mass with Anointing of the Sick
-
October 18 Living Rosary for our children and adults
For Your Information:
REQUIESCAT IN PACE The diocese of Jackson, MS announced this past week that Fr Robert Dore, pastor of St Michael’s in Vicksburg, has died following a very brief battle with cancer. Please remember him and his family and the people of St Michael the Archangel parish in your prayers.
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.
FIRST FRIDAY is October 2. 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 October 3-4 will conclude Masses as part of our larger program of Eucharistic Devotion.
OUR PARISH PATRONAL FEAST DAY will be celebrated at weekend Masses on October 10-11. St Edward’s feast day is October 13, but the Church allows us to replace the readings and prayers of a nearby Sunday if that Sunday is in Ordinary Time. Further, our Patronal Feast Day is a Solemnity for members of our parish which means you are morally obliged to celebrate!! Plan your steak, cake, or stinky cheese purchases accordingly.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Donald and Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Dan Fordice/Scott
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a For a special intention of the Guizerix family
- Wed 9:00a For a special birthday for Joseph Magoun/family
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Center) In memory of SeSe Holstead (death anni)/family
- Fri 5:30p For a special birthday for Thomas and John Aubrey Williams/Magoun
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Jackson Jumonville (death anni)/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a For healing for Patricia Guiteriz/family
Altar Candles this week are burning for special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Acolytes | Lector | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/26 | 5:30p | - | A Dawson |
| 9//27 | 9:30a | Annie, Thomas Meyers, Katelyn | J Howington |
| 10/3 | 5:30p | - | Farlow-VanderVieren |
| 10/4 | 9:30a | Finley & Ashlyn | M Lancaster |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
|---|---|
| August Budget | $ 12,500 |
| August Collections | $ 19,350 |
| August Expenses | $ 13,598 |
| September Budget | $ 10,000 |
| September 20 Collection | $ 3,325 |
| September to Date | $ 8,649 |
STEWARDSHIP The first son in today’s Gospel said he would do his father’s bidding, but did not. The second son balked at first, but then repented and did as he was asked. What service is God calling me to do? Which son am I more like?
THANK YOU!!!! As a result of your generosity, the collection to support Infirmed Priests which was taken last weekend totaled $8,145.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Blake Sullivan (Sept 26), Todd Spinks (Sep 27), Levi Hamilton (Sep 30), Katlyn Naya (Oct 2), Holly Bokros (Oct 5)
Happy Anniversary to Mariza and Enrique Paz (Oct 2), Sharyn and William Marsh (Oct 5)
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, Timmy Harris, Sylvester and Isabell Hernandez, 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.