Author: Father Albert

A Most Eloquent Sermon

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Homily for Solemnity of St. Joseph        March 19, 2018 Fr. Albert                                Catholic High School, New Iberia [Silence for 2.5 minutes] Did that make you uncomfortable? Are you afraid of the silence? Maybe it bothers you because you expect me to speak, to teach and preach and bring God to you. True, that is what I am called to do, but today is a fitting day to follow the example of a man much greater than I. What better day than this to quote St. Joseph, to let him speak first. And that’s...Read More

Under Pain of Obedience

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Homily for 4th Sun Lent, Year B                        March 18, 2018 Fr. Albert                                Sacred Heart, Baldwin What do you hear? When the Father’s voice echoes out in response to Jesus’ prayer, some in the crowd thought it was mere thunder. Jesus tells us that this voice is for our benefit, but what benefit is the sound of thunder? God speaks in many ways, all for our benefit, but if we do not know how to recognize it, if we have not the ability to listen, then what good is...Read More

Like Cockroaches in the Light

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Homily for 4th Sun Lent, Year B                        March 11, 2018 Fr. Albert                                St. Peter’s, New Iberia   [caption id="" align="alignright" width="320"] Photo: insightpest via Visualhunt / CC BY-SA[/caption] We’ve all seen it, when you turn on the lights in a room and cockroaches scatter to every dark corner they can find. They flee the light because they are afraid that we will find and destroy them. And they’re right; Most of us, if we’re not too afraid of them ourselves, will step on or spray any cockroach that...Read More

Consumed by Zeal or Stolen by Greed?

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Homily for 3rd Sun of Lent, Year B                        March 4, 2018 Fr. Albert                                St. Peter’s, New Iberia “Zeal for your house will consume me.” A mother protecting her children, an activist fighting for justice, an Olympic athlete with their sport of choice – these are all examples of zeal. But Jesus is zealous for what matters most: the love of God. His “Father’s house” is important not because it was a pretty awesome building, but because it was the necessary physical manifestation of the worship of God. But...Read More

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

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Today's Collect says: "O God, who have taught us to chasten our bodies for the healing of our souls, enable us, we pray, to abstain from all sins, and strengthen our hearts to carry out your loving commands. 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: Lent is especially the time to "chasten" our bodies, which means to subdue, restrain, or even punish them. But, we don't do it because we hate our bodies or ourselves. Our prayer even tells us that we do...Read More

Time to Adore!

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This week, I have no homily to offer. The reason why is that we have started a drive to restore Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration to the city of New Iberia. So, we had a guest priest, Fr. Michael Champagne preach the value of adoration. Perpetual Adoration will start Divine Mercy Sunday and continue, every day for... well, forever. If you're in or near New Iberia and want to sign up for one or more hours a week, call St. Peter's and let us know. We're looking for commitments of 1 year at a time. The adoration website will be up and running soon,...Read More

This Means War!

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Homily for 1st Sun of Lent, Year B Fr. Albert St. Peter’s, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/This-Means-War.wav"][/audio]   Baptism means battle. When someone is baptized, they join the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of God is at war. St. Peter hints at this when he explains that Baptism is “an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.” Notice that last part – the angels, authorities, and powers – that’s a reference to Jesus’ victory...Read More

Be Mine!

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Homily for Ash Wednesday Fr. Albert St. Peter’s, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Be-Mine.wav"][/audio]   Be Mine. Normally, candy hearts and cards with that message or others like is are exchanged on this day, February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Every 70 years or so, however, we find ourselves with a bit of a conflict as Ash Wednesday happens to land on the day typically marked by chocolates, fine dining, and a celebration of romantic love. For Catholics, this creates a rather stark contrast as we gather for a different kind of marking. And yet, it’s message is not so foreign to us. Be...Read More

An Inconvenient Love

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Homily for 6th Sun OT, Year B Fr. Albert St. Peter’s, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/An-Inconvenient-Love.wav"][/audio] How inconvenient is your charity? How much time or money are you willing to lose for the sake of another person? Just look at what happens to Jesus after he heals this man; It was impossible for him to enter a town openly. He knew that healing this man would only cause more trouble. For Jesus, this act of charity was a massive inconvenience. And so it can be with us. It’s annoying to be accosted by someone in need, especially by someone we don’t...Read More

To be Good or to be Holy?

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Homily for 5th Sun OT, Year B Fr. Albert St. Peter’s, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/To-be-Good-or-to-be-Holy.wav"][/audio]   [N.B. Homily is shortened due to in-parish Bishop's Services Appeal this weekend.] Holiness is not an option. Everything in heaven must be holy. In order to go to Heaven, you have to accept the Gospel. In order to fully accept the Gospel, you have to share that Gospel with others. And in order to share the Gospel well, you will need the authority that comes from being holy. Holiness is not an option. And holiness is not just being nice. It is not just...Read More