PARISH POST
December 1 - December 7, 2022
Dear Lord, please allow me to embrace Advent in the way the Church intends: as a way to prepare for Your arrival. May everything I do–every gift I send, every party I attend, every meal I share–remind me to prepare space in my heart for You. Amen.
our mission: TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LOVE, SERVE, AND KNOW GOD AND ONE ANOTHER.
In This Issue:
WORSHIP
The Parish office will be closed for the Christmas Holiday the week of December 26th-30th and for New Year’s Day on Monday, January 2nd.
Advent & Christmas Concert
St. Albert is having an Advent/Christmas Concert Sunday, December 4th at 3 p.m. in the church. Music is provided by the St. Albert the Great Children and Adult Choirs and the Louisville Panpipes Flute Choir. (flutes, alto and bass flutes and piccolo)
Come celebrate the season listening to heavenly music and song!
Advent Schedule
Advent has a two-fold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight” (Universal Norms for the Liturgical Year)
Click Here to See the Schedule
Eucharistic Adoration:
Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday from noon-5 p.m. in the church.
Come spend some quiet time before our Lord to grow closer to him.
Things to do during Adoration: sit quietly and just be in the presence of God, pray the rosary, meditate using Holy Scripture, read some Advent reflections
Confessions
“Part of waiting for the Lord’s coming includes being ready. Sin and injustice weaken our readiness.
They rob us of joy. Advent seeks to restore this joy by our acts of repentance. Part of our preparation is the honest acknowledgement of all that is unloving, unfaithful, and unjust in our lives.” (Companion to the Calendar, LTP publ.)
Saturday, December 3rd 3:45 – 4:45p.m.
Saturday, December 10th 3:45 – 4:45p.m.
Thursday, December 15th 6:30p.m.
Advent/Christmas Concert Sunday, December 4th at 3 p.m. in the church.
Music provided by the St. Albert the Great Children and Adult Choirs and the Louisville Panpipes Flute Choir (flutes, alto and bass flutes and piccolo)
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Thursday, December 8th
Masses will be at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. (holy day of obligation) School Children will go to Mass at 9:45 a.m.
Blessing of the Child in the Womb
The Catholic Church has a Rite of Blessing for unborn children. This rite serves to publicly affirm the precious gift of human life and to embrace parents and families as they prepare to welcome the birth of a child. Fr. Dave will conduct the Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb in the Adoration Chapel right after all the Masses on December 10th & 11th. All expectant mothers and their families are encouraged to participate.
Gaudete Sunday – December 11th
The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete, or “rejoicing” Sunday. It is called this because of the first Latin word of the entrance antiphon (a sentence or two most often from the scriptures that can be sung at the beginning of Mass). The antiphon for the third Sunday of Advent is Philippians 4:4-3 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near.” The altars may be decorated with flowers and the priest may wear rose colored vestments instead of purple. We also light the rose colored candle in the Advent wreath signifying the anticipated joy of the birth of Christ.
Christmas Schedule
“The mystery of God becoming flesh in the life of Christ Jesus strikes the heart of Christian believers. So rich is this mystery of the Christian faith that Catholics take several weeks and multiple celebrations to ritually unfold this expression of God’s love.” (Companion to the Calendar, LTP publ)
Click Here to See Schedule
December 24th
5 p.m. with children’s choir and handbells – music starts at 4:30 p.m.
8 p.m. with flute and violin
Midnight Mass
with adult choir and string quartet – music starts at 11:30 p.m.
December 25th
10 a.m. with flute and violin.
We are not doing seating reservations for Christmas Masses this year.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
December 31st 5 p.m.
January 1st 8a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Epiphany Masses
January 7th 5 p.m.
January 8th 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
If you would like to offer up in prayer an intention at the Christmas Masses this year, envelopes are due by Sunday, December 11th.
Holiday Schedule for Weekly Bulletin and Parish Post
It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is just around the corner! With shortened weeks and office closures we have to make special arrangements for the printing and delivery of the bulletin. If you need to include your message in the Weekly Bulletin and Parish Post please make note of the following deadlines:
Announcements for the weekends of:
December 16-17 & 24-25 must be received by Sunday, December 11.
Dec 31-Jan 1 & January 7-8 must be received by Sunday, December 18.
*Email blasts will not be sent for individual announcements that miss the deadlines.
Bulletin Advertising Opportunities Available!
Sherry Montell representing Diocesan (our Bulletin Publisher) is diligently working on the advertising sales for our weekly bulletin this week. She is seeking new advertisers and sponsors, as there are spaces that need to be filled! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS, the bulletin is published weekly at no cost to the parish. Your ad and participation make the bulletin successful, and you are guaranteed to attract customers!
If interested, please contact Sherry directly at (614) 301-7444 (feel free to text). You may also reach her via email at smontell@diocesan.com
TITHES & OFFERINGS
Catholic Service Appeal
COMFORT MY PEOPLE
Our Parish Goal: $134,600
Each year we are invited to participate in the annual Catholic Services Appeal, which is an opportunity for each of us to support our brothers and sisters in Christ. Your prayers and generous support of the Appeal are continuing to make a difference in the Archdiocese of Louisville and right here in our parish. The fund supports more than 100 ministries, services, and programs offered by the Archdiocese. For information on the work of the Archdiocese of Louisville, or to donate online visit www.ArchLou.org/CSA.
A gift to the Catholic Services Appeal is a wonderful way to share our blessings with others and demonstrate our gratitude to God for all He has given!
RECEIVED AS OF November 27:
Cash & Check: $7,103.15
Online Giving: $7,122.50
Total Rcvd as of November 28th for FY 2022-23: $623,892.17
Needed Budget as of November 28th for FY 2022-23: $667,101.38
Total Over/Under Budget: ($43,209.21)
Thank you to all who have blessed St. Albert the Great with gifts of treasure! It is through your generosity that our parish is able to meet our financial obligations and continue God's work of supporting and serving our community and those in need.
HOW CAN I GIVE TO ST. ALBERT?
Use Online Giving (scan the featured QR code, visit www.stalbert.org, or download the Give+App--available free in Apple and Android app stores).
Text 877-254-4667 your gift amount and follow the prompts. Click here for more information about Text-to-Give.
Mail gifts of treasure to the Parish Office. Our mailing address is 1395 Girard Drive, Louisville, KY 40222.
Drop off donations to the Parish Office or leave securely in the black security mailbox located on the brick wall to the immediate left of the Parish Office entrance doors.
Planned Giving: Visit https://stalbert.org/giving for more information.
Please call 425-3940 with any questions about giving.
STOCK DONATIONS
Another way you can give to the Parish this Christmas is through gifts of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Please contact lbrunner@stalbert.org for more information about this type of donation.
Now is the perfect time to catch up on your tithing contributions for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year. If you have any questions about where you stand for this year's tithing please contact the parish office. Thank you!
LIFELONG FORMATION & EDUCATION
Baptism
Our next scheduled Baptisms are December 11 during the 10:30 am Mass, and January 22 at Noon. If your child needs to be baptized, please contact Cindy McKinley cmckinley@stalbert.org
PREP
PREP 6-7th Grade Class is hosting a Baby Shower for Mary and St. Joseph on December 11th during PREP collecting baby item donations for The Little Way Pregnancy Resource Center! All of our families are invited to participate!
Sprouts Ministry
Sprouts will host Breakfast with St. Nicholas on December 4th beginning at 11:30 am in Visitation Hall!
Sprouts Ministry is dedicated to “Growing Disciples” by connecting families with young children Preschool through age 7 through dynamic and fun-filled activities.
The Chosen Bible Study
Coming This Winter!
Jesus gives a sermon that turns the world upside down, and all 12 disciples are ready to follow him to the ends of the earth. Season Three picks up where we left off, and is the most emotional and consequential season of The Chosen to date.
Join us on Tuesday mornings from 10:00-11:30am in the St. Joseph Room, or evenings from 7:00-8:30pm in the Parish Life Complex. Starting date TBD.
SOCIAL CONCERNS
The Christmas Giving Tree
Thank you to everyone who has taken ornaments from our Christmas Giving Trees. All gifts must be returned by NOON on Sunday, December 4th. Please securely attach the ornament tag to the gift and follow the directions on the back of the ornament. Your gifts bring much joy to those in need this Christmas season. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Blackman at givingtree@stalbert.org or 502-974-5371.
Saint Vincent de Paul
In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist urges us to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” This is what Advent is all about, for we are called to help prepare the way of the Lord by making the real meaning of Christmas come alive in our own hearts, in our family and to reach out to those in need.
Is there a family you know who needs assistance? Please call the Society of St. Vincent de Paul so that together we can help the suffering and poor to celebrate Christmas.
PASTORAL CARE
Seasonal Flower Ministry
DECEMBER 3RD & 4TH
Let our parishioners know you care by bringing a flower to one of our ill, homebound or bereaved. Just choose a flower with name and card attached provided by your Pastoral Care Team and deliver. It’s that easy! Thanks for spreading the love!
Surviving the Holidays – Grief Ministry
If you have lost a loved one then you know how much grief impacts your life. You are invited to our “Surviving the Holidays” gathering on these dates.
Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 10:00am OR Thursday, Dec. 15 at 6:30 PM at Saint Bernadette Catholic Church, in the Parish Center.
Questions, please contact Sharon Schuhmann, sharons@stb2008.org 502 815-3103
SCHOOL
Trivia Night Volunteers Needed
We are looking for volunteers for Trivia Night, December 3rd. This is a huge fundraiser for SAAM, and we would appreciate your help to make this an amazing night. Sign up today!
The Viking Gala Raffle
When you’re together with family and friends this holiday season, don’t forget to tell them about our Viking Gala Napa Valley Trip Raffle! The raffle is open for anyone 21+ to purchase tickets!
Tickets are $30 and only 400 will be sold!
The winner will get a trip for two to Napa Valley California featuring round-trip airfare for two, a three-night stay at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, Bountiful Table Lunch for two at Joseph Phelps, a gift card for $150 for the Culinary Institute of America and a $100 America Express gift card for dining!! The trip package is valued at more than $4,000!
Drawing will take place at the Viking Gala on Saturday, Jan. 21. Need not be present to win!
COMMUNITY
Priest Variety Show
We are excited to bring back the Priest Variety Show! The show will be held Friday, February 3, 2023, at Saint Xavier High School and will feature priests from throughout the Archdiocese sharing their many talents. There will be singing, dancing, artwork and literary displays, culinary treats and even some clowning around!
Proceeds from this event will benefit the 2022 Catholic Services Appeal, funding over 100 programs and ministries throughout the Archdiocese. These programs would not be possible without the generosity of so many throughout our community.
Spread the word about this great night of fun and fellowship. We are expecting a sellout crowd of over 480 attendees. The Priest Variety Show will also be presented as a Facebook Live event!
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online by scanning the QR code with your phone. Handicap accessibility seating is available and guests should contact me at (502) 585-3291 to purchase tickets.
Thank you for your support. May God continue to bless you!
Can you help teach English to new neighbors?
The Beginning English class at the Catholic Charities language school (ESL) is in dire need of volunteers for three hours, once a week, from 9:30-12:30. You can volunteer as many days as you want. (Currently there is only one volunteer one day a week.) You will be working with adults who have an urgent need to learn English; how to fill out forms, identify letters and numbers, counting, how to ask questions in English, and other basic language skills we take for granted. Classes are small and are held Monday-Thursday. Christmas break and Spring break are days of no school. We will train you to help tutor new neighbors in English as a Second Language. No experience necessary.
Classes are combined, meaning participants will typically be speaking Kinyarwanda, Haitian Creole, Kiswahili, Spanish, Arabic, Pashto, and Dari. You do not need to know their language, only help them learn yours! Contact Lauren at lgoldener@archlou.org for info.