May you have: A world of wishes at your command, God and his angels close to hand, Friends and family their love impart, And Irish blessings in your heart!

St. Joseph’s Day

March 19th is the traditional date for the Solemnity of St. Joseph. This year since it falls on a Sunday during Lent, the liturgical celebration is

Transferred to Monday, March 20th. St. Joseph is honored for his role in family life with Mary and Jesus.  He is the patron saint of the universal church, fathers and workers, especially carpenters.

St. Joseph Prayer Cards will be available on the ledge in the gathering space. Please take one and pray for the needs of your family. 

On Sunday, March 19th, from 7-8 p.m.  we will  be having an hour of adoration which will include the St. Joseph Litany as well as some prayers for fathers and families.  All are welcome to spend some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.  

Lent

Fasting and Abstinence

Good Friday (April 7) is a day 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.

Come, let us Adore Jesus

IN A SPECIAL WAY BY SPENDING SOME TIME WITH HIM IN EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Sunday, March 19th 7-8 p.m.

Includes St. Joseph’s Litany and Prayers for fathers on St. Joseph’s Day

Saturday, March 25th 9:30–10:30 a.m.

Includes rosary and prayers for mothers and families on this Feast Day of the Annunciation, when Mary said yes to being the mother of Jesus. Families of all ages are welcome. Coffee, donuts and juice after adoration.

Tuesday, March 28th 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Adoration and Confession

Easter Mass Intentions

If you would like to offer up in prayer an intention at the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Masses this year, envelopes are due by Sunday, April 2nd. 

2023 Catholic Relief Services Collection 

This weekend of March 18th & 19th our parish will take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection. Funds from this Collection support six national and international relief agencies that provide food to the hungry, support displaced refugees, and bring Christ's love and mercy to vulnerable people here and abroad. Please give generously to the collection. Learn more about the collection at www.usccb.org/catholic-relief. 

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 $131,453, 98% 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

We have some great news to share! It’s with pleasure that we announce Sr. Sarah Cathleen Yungwirth, OSB, has accepted the position of Director of Children’s Ministry and will be joining the St. Albert parish staff on June 1, 2023.

She will be handling the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP), Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, as well as other elements of children’s ministry such as Children’s Liturgy of the Word and Sprouts.

She has a love of young people and the Catholic faith and will be an asset to our parish and school community. Please welcome Sr. Sarah!

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. 

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 

Please pray for our First Grade students as they will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation the first time on March 23rd. Grandparents’ Day for PREP students is Sunday, March 19th, and for the weekday school students on Wednesday, March 22nd. (PREP Grandparents should meet in the cafeteria at 9:00am. School Grandparents should meet students at 8:15am in the gathering space at the back of church) 

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

We collected $749.70 in food and $323 in hygiene for Sister Visitor. Thanks again for your GREAT spirit of giving! Our next collection will benefit the St. Ignatius Food Pantry and held the weekend of April 1st & 2nd.

Lenten Tree

MARCH 10 – MARCH 26, 2023

The Lenten Tree is an annual gift-giving event which presents the parish with the opportunity to express our appreciation to our retired religious for their service and commitment to the Catholic Church. St. Albert the Great Parish families purchase personal care items which are given to show our love to over 400 religious from various organizations, including the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, the Little Sisters of the Poor and the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and Mount St. Joseph in Owensboro, KY.

The Lenten Tree will be set up in the gathering space and filled with paper crosses starting on Friday, March 10. The crosses share the wish list from each religious organization/home. Please consider taking a cross from the tree and purchasing a few of the items listed. Please return all items to gathering space in a bag/box with the cross securely attached no later than NOON, Sunday, March 26, 2023.

The Social Concerns Committee sincerely appreciates the St. Albert the Great Parish Community for caring for our retired religious who give so much to our communities! Please email or call Marie Gould at mcgould@bellsouth.net or 502-439-9830 with questions.

Collection for the Piarist Community of Applachia *with a twist*

Benefits The Piarist Community of Appalachia. 

Saturday, March 25, 2023, 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

*The list of needs this year is different from the previous years due to overwhelming response to the flood victims in recent months and limited storage space. 

ITEMS REQUESTED AND DESPERATELY NEEDED:

• Cleaning supplies

• Toiletries

• School Supplies

• Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

Note: No clothes or household furnishings are currently needed. They are not an approved food pantry and, therefore, cannot accept food items.

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, March 25th for short 2 hour periods to assist in packing boxes and loading them onto the truck for transport.

Please call Cathy Roux (502-594-0974) if you have questions or would like to volunteer. This is a GREAT opportunity for charity and service during Lent!

Saint Vincent de Paul

In this week's Gospel, as Jesus gives sight to the blind man. Through grace we are also transformed from not seeing to seeing and then Jesus sends us to help others see and to believe.

Your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul brings joy, peace, forgiveness, mercy and kindness to the hurting hearts of the poor.

Save the Date! Red Cross Blood Drive

SUNDAY, APRIL 30th 

8AM - 12:30PM IN THE PLC

You have the power to save a life in your hands and “pay forward” your gratitude for good health! 

The Social Concerns Team and the St. Albert school are sponsoring our quarterly Red Cross blood drive in the Parish Life Complex on Sunday 4/30/23 from 8am until 12:30pm. 

Markey’s Group

The next gathering of Markey’s Group will take place on Tuesday, March 21st. This month we will be dining at Aspen Creek, 302 Bullitt Ln. We will meet at 4:30pm in the entryway of church and then carpool to the restaurant. Markey’s group is a long-standing gathering of those who have experienced the loss of a spouse. The goal of our outings is to enjoy an evening of good company and fine dining. We choose a location for dinner each month, thus providing an opportunity to enjoy a variety of culinary treats. For more information, contact Mike Ahrens at 836-7847.

Special Disciples of Jesus Mass 

All Special Needs family and friends are invited to Mass at St. Margaret Mary on March 19th at 3pm; the Mass will be shorter and geared towards our children. Your family will be welcomed with open arms and will meet other families in similar situations. For questions, more information or if you would like to help in this ministry, please contact Tara Mattingly at 502-690-2851 or tmattingly@stmm.org.

Upcoming Mass Schedule: Apr 16 | May 21 | Jun 25

Retreat for the chronically ill and their caregivers 

A Maranatha Retreat, designed for those who are chronically ill and their caregivers, will be held May 13 at the Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Dr., from 9a.m. to 6 p.m.

The retreat will offer spiritual presentations, small-group sharing, time for meditation and the opportunity to take part in various sacraments. It will be offered to 10 individuals living with chronic illnesses and 10 caregivers. A few examples of serious health conditions are cancer, diabetes, heart or lung disease, stroke, anxiety and depression.

The retreat is free, but registration is required. To register, contact Denise Puckett in the Family Ministries Office at 636-0296 or dpuckett@archlou.org.

Free Annual Spring Cleaning Event 

Join us on Saturday, April 8th from 9-11:00am for a free recycle, shred, donate, dispose event! This free neighborhood event is hosted by RE Solutions (8712 Bayberry Place) in partnership with the City of Plantation and several non profit agencies (WaterStep, Twice Blessed Bargains, Free2Hope) to allow surrounding neighbors the opportunity to do a little spring cleaning and a lot of giving back through donations! Coffee and donuts will be provided, drive through option available! 

Summer Picnic

Don’t miss the fun! Summer Picnic is the third weekend in June. To join the Picnic Committee, captain a booth or help with set up contact Chris Boehnlein christopher@familyrealty.com.