Author: Father Albert

Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Advent: Rejoice!

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3rd Sunday of Advent, B                                                                                December 13, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/lNXlwOj7IVg ♫Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you O Israel♫. That joyful refrain is from one of the best known hymns in the Christian tradition. And it is a great time to sing it since today is Gaudete Sunday, Latin word that means “rejoice.” That’s why I am wearing this bright color, because rose vestments represent great joy. The Lord is near, our salvation is at hand, and our anticipation is building. And the longer we’ve waited, the greater our joy....Read More

Pastor Column: Winter Ember Days

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From the bulletin of December 13, 2020           We’ll pause temporarily on our journey through Rerum Novarum to remember an ancient practice called the “Ember Days.” You may remember that we’ve observed these before. The Ember Days are a traditional time of prayer and fasting connected to each season of the year. The idea is to sanctify – to make holy – each  season. While not as popular now, the practice of fasting has always been a central part of the Christian call to holiness. It purifies our attachment to food, reminds us of the fact that many go without,...Read More

Homily for the Immaculate Conception: What Mary Knows

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Immaculate Conception                                                                                  December 8, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/qx3mpYP2VNg Mary, did you know? If you’re not familiar, that is the title of a popular song that circulates around this time of year. After centuries of being almost anti-Marian, it is encouraging to see many protestants take another look at Mary with the affection that we hear in this song. It makes for some pretty music and many people want to hear it at Church and while they’re out and about during this run up to Christmas. For all its merits, however, what...Read More

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent: Why Wait?

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2nd Sunday of Advent, B                                                                               December 6, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/_xhplRF-n6E Why wait? It’s been a tough year, why wait to have the Christmas parties? Why not have the gifts now? It’s been a tough twenty centuries, why does God wait? Why has it taken more than 2000 years for Jesus to come again and just put an end to this mess of a world? Peter addresses that question in our second reading. His answer is simple: God waits so that we have time to repent. St. Peter tells us that...Read More

Pastor Column: Rerum Novarum IV

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From the bulletin of December 6, 2020      Last week, we saw that it was wrong to assume that different “classes” of society are naturally hostile to each other. Pope Leo XIII instead suggested that each member of society learnt o recognize their shared interest in the common good of society and that each remember the duties they owe to the rest. In this regard, the Church can serve as an intermediary by reminding each of their role in contributing to the good of all.      Taking up the typical distinction of worker and owner, the pope explains that workers...Read More

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent: Journey or Destination?

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1st Sunday of Advent, B                                                                                November 29, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/yVT9H1--wTw “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” You’ve probably heard that in conversation or on TV, or perhaps read it on cards and inspirational placards. As a reminder to take our time and enjoy things on our way through life, it speaks to an important truth. Yet, taken at face value, it is actually quite wrong and dangerously so. When you apply it to life as a whole, the saying can leave a person in existential dread, wondering...Read More

Pastor’s Column: Rerum Novarum III

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From the bulletin of November 29, 2020      Last week, in our walkthrough of his document Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII finished explaining why the denial of private property would not help society to flourish more and then set out to provide his own solution. Of course, this is a letter written by the pope to the whole world, which means it can’t get into specifics and particular situations, but it can give us the main idea and principles we need to apply in our own situation. It may not surprise you to know that Leo says “no practical solution...Read More

Homily for Christ the King: Try To Take Over The World

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Christ the King, A                                                                                          November 22, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/Lzj5ANflSsQ Since today is such a special feast, what do you want to do today? The same thing we do every day, try to take over the world. That’s a reference to a favorite cartoon from childhood, one that just resurfaced this week. If you work from a Christian understanding of conquest, it’s actually a great answer. Now, words like conquest, empire and destruction probably don’t sound like Christian ideas. Yet, these are important themes for this solemn feast. The same God-man...Read More

Pastor’s Column: Rerum Novarum II

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From the bulletin of November 22, 2020      We continue our journey through the landmark document Rerum Novarum this week by picking back up on the theme of private property. When Pope Leo XIII defends the right to private property, he also acknowledges an important principle that will continue to develop in the Church’s social teaching. He writes, “The fact that God has given the earth for the use and enjoyment of the whole human race can in no way be a bar to the owning of private property.”  We see here what becomes known as the Universal Destination of...Read More

Homily for the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, A: The Master’s Joy

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33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                                  November 15, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/OgEIf095Evg I always loved and hated talents shows. Loved them because I got to see unexpected abilities and surprising creativity from friends and classmates. Hated them because I never felt like I had a talent worth sharing and felt bad for not being able to contribute. Whenever we hear this parable, I suspect that many people feel something similar. The parable even uses the word “talent,” which is actually where we get the word from. Originally it was a measurement of...Read More