GENERAL MASS SCHEDULE

The rosary is prayed 30 minutes before each Mass.

8:00 am DAILY MASS: MON. – SAT.

Tuesdays: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena after Mass

Fridays: Sacred Heart Novena after Mass

5:30 pm SATURDAY VIGIL MASS

9:30 am SUNDAY MASS

HOLY DAYS: 8:00 am & 6:00 pm (no vigil)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

All Grades are online using: “My Catholic

Faith Delivered: Faith and Life online”

CONFESSION:

Saturday 5:00 pm— 5:15 pm; Sunday 9:00 am—9:15 am;

or by appointment.

WEDDINGS:

Please contact Father at least 6 months before proposed wedding date to begin

the required preparation process.

FUNERALS:

Notify Father before contacting the funeral home.

BAPTISMS:

Parents must attend a seminar before the baptism of their first child. Godparents who have never attended a seminar must also attend. Please contact the parish office for

further details.

BAPTISM SEMINARS

SCAN THE QR CODE TO BE CONNECTED TO OUR ONLINE GIVING FORM

Fr. Peter Akpoghiran, Pastor (for emergency use only: 703-895-5709)

Fr. Peter’s St. Mark Office Hours:

Mondays -- 9 am - 12 noon

Wednesdays -- 1 pm - 4 pm

or by appointment

Rosary Crain, Secretary

504-431-8505 (parish office) 504-431-8506 (FAX)

Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. . . . . . 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

St. Mark Office email…….stmarkama@arch-no.org

Mary Loup, PCL………………...504-289-2900

PCL email……………………. mloup@arch-no.org

St. Mark website………………www.stmarkama.com

Facebook………..St. Mark Catholic Church Ama, LA

In 931BCE, the Kingdom of Israel that had been ruled by Kings David and Solomon is split into parts after a bitter civil war. The northern half of the area retains the name “Kingdom of Israel,” and the southern area becomes known as the “Kingdom of Judah.” Today’s first reading. Amos 7:12-15, takes place during the time of the divided kingdoms. The prophet Amos is from Ju-dah in the south, but God calls him to deliver His message to the people of Israel in the north. As Amaziah’s negative reaction to Amos indicates, the peo-ple of the divided kingdoms do not like each other. After the division, the peo-ple of Judah refuse to allow the people of Israel to enter into the Temple. So, in order to have a place to worship, the people of Israel build a shrine in the

city of Bethel. Amaziah is the chief priest at this shrine; he orders Amos to leave Bethel and go back to Judah for two reasons: (1) the people of Judah are not welcome in Bethel, and especially not welcome at the shrine, and (2) they do not want to hear Amos’ warning: “Stop exploiting the poor and giving God only lip-service, or else a disas-ter will befall you.”

Before Amos, prophets are trained professionals known as cultic prophets. Either their parents dedicate them to God when they are children and they are raised in a shrine as a member of the priest’s family (Samuel & Eli), or they are apprenticed to an established prophet (Elisha & Elijah). [Note:

The prophet and his apprentices, or a group of cultic prophets in the same location are

called a “company of prophets.”] Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and Nathan are exam-ples of cultic prophets who faithfully and accurately deliver God’s messages. However, by Amos’ time (about 750 BCE) many of the cultic prophets are cor-rupt. Some cultic prophets “set up shop” a shrines or other holy places where they can deliver God’s word to the people who come to pray, offer sacrifice, and seek counsel; others become advisers to the kings. These professional prophets earn their living by prophesying. Because they know that people are more generous when they hear “good news,” many professional or “paid” prophets give in to the temptation to tell the people “what they want to hear” instead of relaying God’s message accurately. This is especially true of the prophets on the royal payroll who must appease the king in order to keep their lucrative positions. These “prophets for profit” become spokespersons for the king, rather than for God. Thus, God calls a different type of prophet-- know as charismatic prophets--to speak for Him and only for Him.

Amos is the first of the of the charismatic prophets. [A charism is a gift or

grace that benefits others.] These prophets are not trained professionals. They are ordinary people who receive a special call by God to speak in His name. Many of the charismatic prophets are reluctant to answer God’s call because they know that they will be very unpopular when they deliver the true word of

God. So, to help them, God gives them a charism--which is the ability and strength to continue to deliver His message--even when it is not well received. Thus, Amos is quick to correct Ama-ziah’s assumption that he is a “professional” prophet. Amos says that he has neither trained nor is he paid for speaking God’s word; rather he has two very ordinary professions--he is a shepherd and a “dresser” of sycamore trees [a “dresser” must pierce the husks of CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 COLUMN 2

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ripe fruit on a sycamore tree

Dutch Kappel, Dolena Robert, Carol Jones, Sam Granier, Monica Schexnaydre,

Audrey Zeringue, Dana Jones, Gay-Lynn Folse, Morris Zeringue, Gaye Webre, Sandra Cortez,

Ernest Webre, Diane Triche, Joyce King, Easton Owen, Glenna Smith, Vanessa Johnson,

Juli Zeringue, Elsie Sandolph, Larry Landry, Troy Pintado, Kerri Breaux, Hilton Landry,

Linda Caminata, Mende Ford, Babette Robert, Haley Dufrene, Ken Oberle, Mabry Laviolette, Daryl Riddle, Al Luquette, Debbie Luquette,

Donald Hare, Jr., Sylvia Isidore, Randy Lauve, Lacy Robert, Fr. Peter Rogers, S.J.

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL THE PARISH OFFICE TO ADD NAMES TO THE PRAYER REQUEST LIST, OR TO REMOVE NAMES FROM THE LIST.

LET US PRAY:

That through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor we will be spared damage to life and prop- erty during the hurricane season.

SANCTUARY LAMP IN LOVING MEMORY OF:

(7/18-24) by St. Mark Parish

MASS INTENTIONS: JULY 12-18

CHURCH SUPPORT

July 3-4 . . . $2,522.00 (total) (in church $2,4720.00 + online $50.00)

SANCTUARY LAMP IN LOVING MEMORY OF:

(7/11-17) by Barbara & Charles Gaubert

TUESDAY 8:00 AM:

Special Intention

MONDAY 8:00 AM:

Dick & Ethel Vial by Patsye Lunk

SATURDAY 5:30 PM:

Parishioners of St. Mark

THURSDAY 8:00 AM:

Gerald Borne by Randy Caire

SATURDAY 8:00 AM:

Robert Ward by Barbara & Charles Gaubert

SUNDAY 9:30 AM

Hazel Webre by Ernest & Shirley Webre

Quinsen Matherne by Barbara & Charles Gaubert

Gwen Robert Louis Robert by Babette Robert

Erna & Floyd Bailey, Jr. by Mary & Charles Bailey

Janet & Darrel Bonvillain by Sandra Ward

Angelina Nucito by Marjory & Myra

Because of covid, we were not able to have a reception when Fr. Peter arrived as Pastor. So, come to the Fr. Cote Center for an informal

“meet and greet” during our fundraiser.

Father Peter will be pulling the winning raffle tickets at 11:00am.

$8

WEDNESDAY 8:00 AM:

Sr. Ann (living) by Randy Caire

FRIDAY 8:00 AM:

Marie Claire Kerth by Lillian Wegmann

This statue--designed according to the description of Fatima visionary St. Lucia--has been traveling around the world since 1947.

LANDRY LUMBER

& SUPPLY CO., INC.

P.O. Box 86 - 400 SUGARHOUSE RD

LULING, LA 70070

(985) 785-6776 - 785-6365 - FAX 785-6784 12125 Highway 90

.

Luling, LA

(985) 785-0610 .

winn-dixie.com

13413 Hwy. 90 Boutte, LA 985-785-2431

14074 RIVER ROAD / DESTREHAN, LA 70047

985-764-0001

Dr. Jack Moreau, Jr.

CLINIC HOURS

MONDAY thru FRIDAY: 8 AM to 6 PM

SATURDAY: 8 AM to 12 PM

207 5th Street, Luling, LA 70070 (985) 785-6011

Scott J. Cefalu, DDS Dominic Calato, DDS

Three Generations of Quality & Trust

Bulletin Memorial

$5 a month

$50 a year

Information is on our website: www.stmarkama.com

August 1st

is the deadline for students to complete their online lessons through chapter 25.

the sycamore fruit (Middle Eastern

variety) so that it will ripen properly]. Because of his faith in God, Amos leaves the security of his home and jobs to go into an area where he is not welcome in order to deliver God’s “tough love” message to the people of Israel: repent, reform, and return to God--or else suffer the consequences.

In the Gospel, Mark 6:7-13, the Twelve apostles find themselves in a situation similar to that of Amos. They are ordinary people with ordinary jobs (fishermen, tax collector)

whom Jesus sends to preach repentance, drive out demons, and cure the sick. Although they have seen Jesus do these things, they have had no formal training to do them on their own. Therefore, Jesus gives them the gift of his authority over evil to help them carry out their first mission. The word

“apostle” means “one who is sent.” By sending the Twelve on this mission, Jesus gives them the opportunity to learn the spir-itual and practical lessons they will need to be Apostles.

Spiritually, the Apostles need faith in God. If they are

able to leave all material goods behind them and put their trust in God alone, then God will share His power with them--enabling them to preach, overcome evil, and restore physical and spiritual health. By sending them on mission, Jesus teach-es them to trust in God’s power, protection, and love.

Practically, the Apostles need to remain focused on their mission. If they are welcome, they stay, proclaim God’s word and do God’s will. If they are not welcome, they move on. Jesus explains that they will not always succeed. Not everyone will listen to them, but they must keep their own faith strong, focus on God, and keep teaching the Good News. Jesus sends them out in pairs so that they can support one another and be examples of the cooperation and community that are the foun-dation of God’s Kingdom.

Jesus’ lessons about faith, focus, sup-port, cooperation, and community are as im-portant for us as they were for the Apostles.

December 7, 1943 - July 3, 2021

Everything St. Mark Parish asked Milton to do, he did willingly and well. He will be greatly missed.

Next weekend, the Archdiocese of New Orleans will take up the 137

th annual National Black and Indian Mission

collection, which has a direct impact in our own Archdio-cese as we benefit locally from grants funded by the col-lection. This collection helps build the church in African American, Native American and Alaska Native communi-ties from coast to coast.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Peter & Rosemary Kapesis

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Francois & Emma Schexnaydre

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Louis Robert

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Gwen Robert

by Randy, Karen & Kayleigh

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Cleomene & Virgie Loup Linda L. Rousseau

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Randy Barnes by Elaine & Jessica

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Leonard & Stella Troxler

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Luke & Odile Robert

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Lucille, Ellis & Lillian Friloux

by Babette

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Arnie, Mary & Lamar Landry

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Robert Ward by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Miss Mary Robert Newton Robert, Sr.

by Cantrelle Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Lawrence, Earline & Troy Gaubert, Jr.

Judith G. Zeringue by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Irene & Daniel De Bautte

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Louverther Boudoin Irving Pierre, Jr.

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Merrill Whittaker, Sr. Vernon Keller

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Trudy Plaisance

Forever in our Hearts

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Taylor Friloux

by Dot & Chalky Friloux

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Alfred E. Walters

Patricia D. Walters

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Hazel & Willard Crain Rita & Jack Jackman

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Laura McHale Betty & Ronald Cantrelle, Sr.

by Cantrelle Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Larry Nicholas

by Wife, Children & Grandchildren

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Murphy Robert Lucien & Edith Robert

by Marjory Robert

IN LOVING MEMORY OF AnnaLea & Irby Petit, Sr. Irby Petit, Jr. & Irby Petit III Loretta & Ulrich Muller Barbara & Roger Mair by Susie & Ernest Muller

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Lena & Rodney Breaux

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Vernona“Cooney”Thibodaux Noland & Ora Berthelot Russell Comardelle, Sr.

by Shelbi & Caison

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Rusty & Irma Dubroca

Forever in our Hearts

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Allen, Althea, & Jimmie Jolly Linda Royes

by Al & Althea Alcock

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Skipper Petit

by Elsie Petit & Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Emmit & Nora Robert

by Jack, Dawn & Jackson Landry

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Inez Kerth

by Lillian Wegmann

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Elise Andrews Charles Andrews

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Debbie F. Petit

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Karen Cassagne

by Family

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Eleanore “Ella” & Amos Frickey

by Rosary & Jesse

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

“Lefty” Wegmann

by Lillian Wegmann

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Irby Petit, Sr. Irby Petit, Jr.

Irby Petit III

by Kerry Petit

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Lois & Stella Petit

by Children

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Joan M. Thiry Janis Riebling Jean Bruneau

by Rosary & Jesse

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Nicholas & Rena Weber Allen “Red” & Gladys Petit John & Flossie McEvoy Percy “Bilo” Weber by John McEvoy