Snup's View From the Back Pew: St. Jude the Apostle

Hello! I went adventuring this weekend and went to St. Jude the Apostle in Jacksonville AR. It is right outside the Air Force base. The church was dedicated in 1983. It's mostly square but kind of a wonky square. 8 am Mass was packed. I'm guessing the Church holds about 400 people and it was near capacity.

Music was provided a piano and a choir.
Music:
Opening: Holy Holy Holy
Offertory: You Alone
Communion: If You Love Me
Closing: Sing a Joyful Song

Homily:
Father started off his homily with some PSAs. Be sure to get a bulletin as it has lots of information in it. (Here's a tip Father, if you have the bulletins available before Mass...people will get them...of course they might read them during your homily so it's a catch-22) Don't let your kids go the bathroom alone. The parish can't afford the plumbing bills (wow) The cry room is for little kids. Don't get mad when the ushers tell you can't go in there. I told them to not let you in. Don't write to the Bishop over it on second thought go ahead (really? writing the Bishop over this? ) Also next weekend is the collection for the Military Diocese.

Nineteen Sundays ago Jesus set His sights on Jerusalem. These past few weeks are the strongest readings in the 3 year cycle. We are about to get into the gloom and dire end of the world in the upcoming weeks. We hardly got into Luke. This is a story unique to Luke and shows what it means to be a disciple. Luke uses contrasts to get his point across. The ending is different than what we think. In Chap 18, the rich synagogue person couldn't do what Jesus told him (Father did say who he was but I can't remember) Jesus did not go to his house. Zaccichus was a crook and unjust. The crowd is judgemental, aloof and jealous. Jesus goes to Zaccihus' house. Followers are so close to Jerusalem but there are obstacles. There are 2 steps to being a disciple: wanting to see Jesus and going to look for Him and making changes to restore justice and set what is wrong right. Zaccihus was listening and did not need to be told what he needed to do. Jesus stays with Justice. Jesus in Luke is still looking. Don't be that group of people who who don't get it. There is no middle ground. Differences is concern for justice and something else (I hit my head before Mass...its a bit foggy). Zaccihus shows us how to make Jesus welcome and to come down from our faults that keeps us from joy and Christ.

The Apostles' Creed was used instead of the Nicene Creed. Eucharistic Prayer III was used but there were no bells. And of course, there was hand holding at the Our Father.

This is the 3rd church I've been to in Little Rock. When the priests says "The Lord be with You" and we all reply "And with your Spirit" everyone (but yours truly) is gesturing back to the priest. It's odd.

I was initially concerned I would not know the music in this diocese. I have nothing to fear. I have seen the Gather, Worship and Breaking Bread books. I'm all good. :)

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