Lent

Ash Wednesday

February 22nd is Ash Wednesday and Masses will be at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. St. Albert School students will attend Mass at 9:45 a.m.

Fasting and Abstinence

Both Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (April 7) are days of abstinence (no meat for those 14 and older) and fasting (for ages 18-59, one main meal with two lighter meals which if added together would not exceed the main meal in quantity). In addition, during Lent, all Fridays are days of abstinence from meat.

Confessions: Saturday, March 11th 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 28th 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Eucharistic Adoration: every Wednesday from noon-5 p.m. in the church.

Stations of the Cross: every Friday (including Good Friday) at 7:00 p.m. in the church.

Taize Lenten Prayer Service: Sunday, February 26th at 7 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary

Music during Lent

During the season of Lent you will notice that there is no organ music before or after Mass. During Lent, musical instruments are suggested to be used solely to support congregational singing. The exception to this is the 4th Sunday of Lent, commonly known as Laetare (lay tah ray) Sunday, translated as Joyful Sunday. Laetare Sunday is a little break in our penitential season. Rose vestments may be used and flowers can be used in decorating the altar area. (this year, the 4th Sunday of Lent is March 18/19)

During the season of Lent, there are some chants that are used to set this season apart for us musically. We speak the “I confess” (Confiteor) prayer and follow it with the Greek chant, Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison which means Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord, Have mercy. We chant the Our Father. The Lamb of God is sung in Latin – the Agnus Dei. (pronounced Ah nus Day ee) Singing some of our chants in Greek, English and Latin during the season of Lent marks this season with a sense of solemnity.

2023 Black and Indian Mission Collection

The weekend of February 25-26, we will take up the annual Black and Indian Mission Collection. This Collection exists to help diocesan communities preach the Gospel of Jesus among the African American, Native American, and Alaskan Native people of God. Your donations help fund parish-based catechetical programs, support teacher and catechist professional development, encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and create diocesan structures, such as our own archdiocesan Office of Multicultural Ministry, that support ministry and evangelization in these diverse ethnic communities.

Catholic Service Appeal

COMFORT MY PEOPLE

Our Parish Goal: $134,600

Thanks to those who have already responded with a gift to the 2022 Catholic Services Appeal. To date we have raised $124,934, 93% of our goal. Please consider making a gift to the Catholic Services Appeal this season of Advent. Gifts may be made through our parish office or online visit www.ArchLou.org/CSA.

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. 

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!

Director of Children’s Ministry

St. Albert the Great is seeking an individual to join our team to oversee our Children’s ministries. The Director will oversee the children’s Sacraments, our PREP program and coordinate various other ministries with regard to the children of the Parish and school.

The interested candidate should possess a Bachelor’s in Religious Education, Theology or a related field and be a practicing Catholic.

If interested in joining our Formation team, please send resume to Laura Graven lgraven@stalbert.org

Baptism 

Our next scheduled Baptisms are April 23 at Noon. If your child needs to be baptized, please contact the Parish Office 502-425-3940. 

First Reconciliation 

Family Rehearsal will be held March 7 at 6:30 pm in the Church! The Nursery is available for younger siblings RSVP to dkoeberlein@stalbert.org

PREP

PREP will NOT meet next Sunday, February 19 in honor of our holiday.

National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC)

Is coming to Indy this November 16-18th for those in 9-12 grades in the Fall of ‘23!!  The cost will be $170 if you register before March 31st!  (St. Albert will pay $300 toward your fee and CEF pays $100) NCYC is a powerfully unique 3-day experience of prayer, community (with thousands of teens!), service and empowerment for Catholic teenagers of high school age. NCYC is the premiere Catholic youth event on a national scale that gathers people from all across America for a life-changing encounter with Christ! Contact Deacon Mark Preischel at mpreischel@stalbert.org before March 31 (price goes up after that).

Loaves & Fishes

Thank You!

Loaves & Fishes spring collection rotation will be the following: 

• March: Sr. Visitor

• April: St. Ignatius, April 

• May: EACM, May 

• June: St. Vincent de Paul

St. John’s Drive

Last Call! Weekend of February 18th and 19th

Drive for homeless men visiting St. John’s Center

For men who are outside in every kind of weather who are in need of:

• Ponchos (multipacks are good)

• Mens boxers (small, medium, large)

• Disposable razors

• Spray deodorants

Please put new articles in the basket in the back of church or in gathering space marked for St. John Center.

Saint Vincent de Paul

In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us by saying: “You must be perfected as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

By your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul you indeed perfect yourself as you fulfill the commands of Jesus to love more than just those who love you.

Markey’s Group

Markey’s Group is a gathering of St. Albert Parishioners who share a common bond due to the death of a spouse. The group is named after one of its founding members who saw the need for an opportunity for individuals who have experienced the loss of a spouse to gather in a relaxed social atmosphere for an evening of friendship and sharing. 

The group meets once a month on the third Tuesday for dinner and conversation. Our next dinner meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 21st at 4:30 pm. We will meet in the back of St. Albert’s Church and proceed to Bravo’s for dinner at 5:00pm. For more information, contact Mike Ahrens at 836-7847.

Ministry to the Sick Training Program

Have you ever considered becoming more active in ministering to the sick but are uncertain where to begin?

The Arch Lou Family Ministries Office is offering a six-part Training Program to help anyone learn how to better help out in this important ministry for those who minister to the sick in hospitals, nursing homes, or to the homebound.

Training takes place at the Maloney Center at 1200 South Shelby Street on Fridays, 10:00 am - 12 noon. Cost is $10 per session

• March 10, Introduction to Pastoral Care

• March 17, Pastoral Communications Skills

• March 24, Prayer

• March 31, Understanding Loss & Grief

• April 14, Self Awareness/Boundaries

• April 21, Taking Communion to Sick/Homebound

To register or for more information, contact Denise Puckett at (502) 636-0296 or dpuckett@archlou.org.

NAMI Family Support Group

The group provides a safe space for family 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, February 26th (PLC). Please share with friends and family outside the parish. Contact blair.mcbride.ky@gmail.com or gllm3112@gmail.com

Alumni Spotlight

We are excited to share that St. Albert graduate and Assumption High School senior, Josie Deye, has been named a National Merit Finalist this week!  Josie will be honored at the 2023 Salute to Catholic School Alumni dinner in March with the Father John H. Morgan Scholarship sponsored by the Catholic Education Foundation. Josie will receive a $9500 grant to the college of her choice.

Open Wide Our Hearts

THE ENDURING CALL TO LOVE - A PASTORAL LETTER AGAINST RACISM

Wednesday, March 1st | 7:00-8:30pm

at St. Bernadette Catholic Church

The Region VII parishes present an evening with Archbishop Shelton Fabre. Join us for a presentation on the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral letter, Open Wide Our Hearts. Archbishop Shelton will share the Spirit behind the Document, lay leadership will present The Reality Today, and then the Archbishop will inspire The Hope for the Future.

For more information contact Sharon Schumann at 502-815-3103.