Author: Father Albert

To The Glory of God (Despite the Failure of the Church)

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The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time    Liturgy Cat./ Abuse remarks     August 19, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  I will continue our Catechetical series on the Mass, but first, I have to say something. If you haven’t heard, this past week the Pennsylvania Grand Jury released a massive 900-page report on the abuse of children by priests in the Church in the state of Pennsylvania. It implicates many people over a long period of time, including powerful leaders and bishops in the Church. It. Is. Horrifying. Some of it is probably inaccurate, but enough is true...Read More

Why Make The Assumption?

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Homily for the The Solemnity of the Assumption                                         August 15, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  Why are we here? Why do we make such a big deal about celebrating Mary? In addition to today’s feast, we have so many others all dedicated to Mary. We are often accused of idol worship and neo-paganism because of this devotion. But we are unashamed because we know we do not worship Mary. Indeed, the fact is that everything we celebrate about Mary always points back to Jesus Christ. Mary is called the Mother of God because...Read More

Repentance, Rejoicing, Receiving, and Returning

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The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time      Liturgy Catechesis                  August 12, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia   Picking up from last week, we are going to continue our walk through the Mass starting with the Sign of the Cross and going up through the creed. Mass officially begins with the Sign of the Cross. Although this is a routine gesture, it is actually a very rich symbolic and sacramental action and could probably fill a whole homily by itself. It refers to the Trinity as a reminder that everything ultimately starts with the Trinity who created...Read More

It Is Good That We Are Here

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Homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration                                       August 6, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  “We possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” Once in college, I was on a silent retreat looking for some answers. Wandering around the grounds, I was a little anxious, which sometimes happens when you’re alone with yourself and no distractions for a while. I wanted something to focus...Read More

On The Way To Heaven

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The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time     Liturgy Catechesis                   August 5, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  [Before Mass Starts] As we mentioned last week, we will use this month to offer some basic catechesis on the Liturgy. This week we’ll start with what happens before Mass. Liturgy in general is a participation in a heavenly reality, a share in the eternal worship of God in heaven. So, it is highly symbolic, but is also a very real participation in this invisible reality. When a priest celebrates Mass, he is not just Father so-and-so, he is...Read More

More Than A Lesson

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Homily for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time                                              July 29, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  Do you believe in miracles? I don’t just mean great coincidences or beautiful, though totally natural moments like the birth of a child. I’m talking about defying the laws of nature, doing the impossible, miracles. Believe it or not, miracles are a necessary part of the Catholic faith. It’s not that everyone who wants to go to heaven has to perform miracles, but if we do not believe in them, then this whole thing is pointless. We all...Read More

St. Bridget, a Saint for a Time of Reform

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Homily for the Memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden July 23, 2018 St. Peter's, New Iberia Some thoughts in light of recent scandals in the Church, the continuing rise of feminism, and the need to reform the Church out of Love. Semper Reformandum, Semper in Caritate <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nn9KDdCDQLx_OB_upQnavk_HMntC0Ars/preview" width="400" height="80"></iframe>   [caption id="attachment_1438" align="aligncenter" width="237"] Sancta Brigida, ora pro nobis![/caption]

Working at Resting

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Homily for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time                                      July 22, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  Are you tired? I don’t mean wanting to crawl back into bed. I’m talking about a deeper weariness; a sense of being frayed and unable to find peace. Are you too tired to love? Loving someone can be exhausting, but when you have a primal resistance, a sense that you need to run away from love… then you are not just tired, you are truly weary. And when that happens, what do you do? When you are worn...Read More

The Gospel’s Dirty Word

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Homily for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time                                       July 15, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia    It’s true, I do like challenging people from the pulpit. Not because I like conflict or controversy – I don’t – but because it affects people. It moves them and it, hopefully, invites them to grow, to rise up to the challenge. For the last two weeks, I’ve been pretty blunt and challenging. It’s what the readings called for and what came in prayer. Well, what about this week? Jesus sends out his Apostles, he gives them...Read More
Via Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_thorns#/media/File:Christ_Carrying_the_Cross_1580.jpg

Daily Collection: Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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The Collect for the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time: [During Ordinary Time, the masses during the week use the same collect as the previous Sunday] "O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy, for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin you bestow eternal gladness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection This world is fallen. The sin of Adam and Eve affected all of...Read More