PARISH POST

December 8 - December 14, 2022

Heavenly Father, heal my heart during this season of Advent. Help me to love more fully. To forgive more generously. To wait more patiently for Christmas, embracing each day and hour knowing the joy that awaits. In Your name I pray. Amen.

our mission: TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LOVE, SERVE, AND KNOW GOD AND ONE ANOTHER.

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.

Rite for the Blessing of a 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 and 11th.  All expectant mothers and their families are encouraged to participate.  For more information please contact Laura Sullivan at lsullivan@stalbert.org.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception 

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mass is a holy day of obligation. Mass will be offered at 7:00p.m. 

While many think the Immaculate Conception refers to Jesus’s conception by the Virgin Mary, it actually honors the way in which the Virgin Mary herself was conceived. At the moment of her conception, she not only was protected from contracting original sin but also personal sin; and was chosen to be the Mother of Jesus. Praying the rosary is another way to honor the day.

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 10th 3:45 – 4:45p.m.

Thursday, December 15th 6:30p.m.

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 December 4:

Cash & Check: $27,868.50

Online Giving: $19,167.00

Total Rcvd as of December 5th for FY 2022-23: $670,927.67

Needed Budget as of December 5th for FY 2022-23: $697,424.17

Total Over/Under Budget: ($26,496.50)

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?

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

Healing Retreat 2022 

Come experience the healing power of Our Lord through prayer, song, the Word and Adoration.  Mark your calendars! Join the collaboration between King Ministry, Incarnation, St. Paul & the Divine Mercy Syro-Malabar Catholic Communities in Louisville for a powerful healing retreat. Three evenings in December at the Incarnation campus located at 2229 Lower Hunters Trace. 

Friday,  December 16   4:30pm — 8:00pm. 

Saturday,  December 17   3:30pm — 8:00pm. 

Sunday,  December 18   2:30pm — 7:30pm.   

Visit www.facebook.com/Incarnation.Church.ArchLou.org or call the parish office at 502-447-2013 or Fr. Leo Payyappilly, OFM Conv. at 502-356-7741 for more information. 

Adult Christian Enrichment 2023 

SESSIONS ON ZOOM

Thursdays 7:00 - 8:30 pm OR Fridays 10:00 - 11:30 am

This year we are exploring challenges presented in Scriptures relating to Faith, the Church, and the World today.  Join us. Call Lynnette LeGette 502-802-5966 to register (no fee) and receive the link to the class. 

January

5-6 Basics of Faith

12-13 Looking for Truth in the Wrong Places

19-20 Compassion

26-27 The Living Jesus in the Life of the Church

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 Giving Tree

The Social Concerns Committee would like to thank everyone who gave so generously to the Christmas Giving Tree. We had over 470 ornaments on the trees representing five organizations from Louisville to Eastern Kentucky and several items on an Amazon Wish List. Your generosity allowed us to distribute gifts to many lonely or poor in our community. Your gifts bring much joy to the young and old this Christmas season, those who would otherwise receive little to nothing. Many thanks also to everyone who helped sort and deliver the gifts. We could not do this project without you!

Saint Vincent de Paul

In this weekend's Gospel Jesus tells us that the good news can be seen, touched felt and heard through the lives of God’s people. We are now charged to take up the ministry of Jesus’s, but we can’t just ask people to take our word for it; our actions must speak for us.


Since Christmas is a time of love and gift giving, please share in Jesus' ministry by giving a gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul so that those who are poor can know the good news of Jesus.


PASTORAL CARE

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

NAMI Family Support Group

The group provides a safe and confidential space for parents, family members and friends of people with mental health conditions to discuss their loved ones mental health while receiving knowledge, encouragement and support. The next meeting is Sunday, December 11th (PLC). Please share with friends and family outside the parish. Contact blair.mcbride.ky@gmail.com 

SCHOOL

The Viking Gala Bourbon Pull

Help us stock the Lanning Paints Bourbon Pull by donating a bottle of bourbon! It's always a crowd favorite at the Viking Gala presented by JW Services!


Email gala@stalbert.org or reach out to Ann Kalayil Abrams or Beth Mudd Spalding - to arrange pick up of your donation!


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!

THANK YOU & GOD BLESS OUR COMMUNITY!