Author: Father Albert

Homily for the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time: Divine Death

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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   November 6, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/SLdTWkFzuq4 As many of you know, my Grandfather Jules passed away earlier this year. I’m grateful for all the prayers you’ve offered for him and my family. One thing I could always count on when visiting my grandfather was that he would get on some rant or other about the Catholic faith and what Catholics need to learn or do… a trait you may find familiar… Anyway, one of the stories he told me (more than once) involved...Read More

Pastor Column: Pope St. John XXIII

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[Note: This is not the Sunday Homily. It is an article for the bulletin of Oct 30, 2022]      Although Pope Pius XII wrote many other encyclicals, most of those focused on specific historical events - things like missions in Africa, conflict in Hungary, anniversaries of various events, and some canonizations. As he aged, Pius XII slowed down a little. In 1954 he fell gravely ill and considered abdication. He frequently relied on a few close colleagues to continue the work of the Church, though he did continue to address the public and respond to specific questions. One of the...Read More

Homily for the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time: Real Repentance

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31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                    October 30, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/xssUEkvlg5U Repentance, Reparation, and Charity. Last week, we heard the parable of the arrogant pharisee and the repentant tax collector. We focused then on the journey from being the arrogant pharisee in the parable to becoming like St. Paul, confident in his own salvation. A journey that starts with recognizing our pride and conceit, goes through repentance, and culminates in humble service. But what is repentance, really? The tax collector in the parable prays for mercy and admits...Read More

Pastor Column: Queenship of Mary

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[N.B. This is not the Sunday Homily. It is an article for the bulletin of October 23, 2022]      Our next letter from Pope Pius XII is on the Queenship of Mary, titled Ad Caeli Reginam(Latin for ‘to the Queen of Heaven”), published in 1954. Recall that it was Pius XII who formally declared the Assumption of Mary into heaven to be a dogma. Following up on that declaration, the pope decided to offer a reflection on the power and influence of Mary as an intercessor in heaven. As always, his teaching on this is not some new idea, but...Read More

Homily for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time: The Most Dangerous Thing

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   October 23, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/eO2TW99OllY “At least I’m not like…” If your thought, your sentence begins with those words, you’ve probably already messed up. As straightforward as this parable is, it’s one of the easiest for people to misapply. Millennia of Christian influence on culture has made it so that we too quickly identify ourselves with the tax collector. Just because we hear the word ‘pharisee’ so often, we assume we know what it means. And all too often we instinctively follow...Read More

Pastor Column: Mediator Dei VII

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[N.B. This is not the Sunday Homily, it is an article for the bulletin of Oct 16, 2022]        Last week we began to look at the practical guidelines provided by Pope Pius XII for fostering a greater appreciation of the liturgy. In addition to things like adoration and the rosary, the pope reminds us of the value of frequent confession. He also urges “that as many as possible, not only of the clergy but of the laity... take part in monthly days of recollection and in retreats of longer duration made with a view to growing in virtue.” A...Read More

Homily for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time: The Word of God

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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   October 16, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/wfNXcYoe0ok “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Maybe that’s too abstract. Let’s try this, if Jesus were to appear right here, standing before you the same way I am, what would he find? Would you, for example, be able to tell him about what you’ve just heard in the readings? After all, those readings were from God’s word and as St. Paul tells Timothy in our second reading, “all Scripture is inspired...Read More

Pastor Column: Mediator Dei VI

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[N.B. This is not the Sunday Homily. It is an article from the bulletin of October 9, 2022]      All liturgy - that includes Mass, the Sacraments, the Liturgy of the Hours, adoration - points us to the mysteries of Jesus Christ and helps us take part in those mysteries which redeem and sanctify us. To do this, the liturgy has seasons which point us to different aspects of these mysteries. At this point in the letter (around paragraph 154) Pope Pius XII starts to highlight these seasons briefly.      Advent is the start of the Liturgical year and, according...Read More

Homily for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Faith That Saves

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28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                   October 9, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/asAMCTLUiWI “Your faith has saved you.” Has it? Has your faith saved you? Maybe that’s a strange question for Catholics to hear, reminiscent of the protestant who inquires “have you been saved?” And yet, it is a worthy question. The fact that Jesus says it to some and not to others leaves us wondering what is the fate of those who have not been told this. Just last week we considered what faith is and isn’t, acknowledging that...Read More

Pastor Column: Mediator Dei V

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[Note: This is not the Sunday Homily. It is an article for the bulletin of October 2, 2022]      After last week’s financial report, we return to our journey through Mediator Dei by Pope Pius XII, written in 1947. We left off with the pope’s reminder to spend time in personal prayer after the Mass. Again, I encourage everyone to make this a regular practice and to observe reverence inside the Church so that people can pray (you can talk in the vestibule/foyer, just try not to talk in the middle of the Church).      Now Pope Pius moves onto...Read More