Author: Father Albert

Blessedness Of The Gods

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4th Sun OT, Year A January 29, 2017 Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Blessedness-Of-The-Gods.wav"][/audio]   Like a god! We could almost say that the word for “blessed” could be translated like that. For the ancient Greeks, the word that Jesus uses here – makarios – was primarily used to describe their gods. Only the gods were fortunate enough to be immortal, to be able to escape the inevitability of death and the sorrow it brings. Only the gods could be truly happy, fortunate, and blessed. But not so for Jesus. You have heard the beatitudes so...Read More

Adoptive Providence

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Pro-Life Mass January 24, 2017 1 Kings 17:10-16        Ps 139       1 John 3:14-18         Matt 25:31-46 Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Adoptive-Providence.wav"][/audio]   Providence is a funny thing. The invisible hand of God directing all things to work according to an inscrutable divine plan. We are told by Jesus that not even a hair on our head is uncounted. Paul says that everything is to the benefit of those who love the Lord. And yet, there is so much wrong with this world. So many who, through no fault of their own, find...Read More

Our Exile

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3rd Sunday OT, Year A January 22, 2017 Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/our-exile.wav"][/audio] “Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” After this, our exile… this curious little phrase comes from the back half of the prayer Hail Holy Queen, a prayer we have all heard and said. But what does “our exile” mean? Add to that another commonly heard phrase from our Gospel “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” What is “our exile” and what...Read More

Ordinary

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2nd Sunday OT, Year A Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ordinary.wav"][/audio]   The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. That is what we celebrate today: Ordinary Time. After several weeks of Advent and Christmas, and just before the even longer period of Lent and Easter, we have this chunk of time that we call “Ordinary.” Why? Is it just that, besides Christmas and Easter, the rest of the year seems plain?  “We don’t really have a great name for this, so let’ s just call it ‘ordinary’.” Not quite. You see, when the Church uses the word...Read More

Seeking and Giving

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Epiphany Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Seeking-and-Giving.wav"][/audio] Epiphany means revelation or manifestation. God reveals himself to the world in today’s feast. 2000 years later, Jesus Christ is still the most well-known man in history and the founder of the world’s largest religion. Many people, however, look at Mohammed or Buddha or Abraham and think that Jesus is just like them. They too are historical figures who founded large religions. What makes Jesus different? What makes Christianity right? What makes the Catholic Church right? There are many reasons that Jesus Christ is unique, but consider this one: prophecy....Read More

A Blessed Year

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Mary, Mother of God Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/A-Blessed-Year.wav"][/audio] On the first day of the year, the first reading from scripture that we hear is God commanding his priest to bless his people. But what does a that even mean? “Blessing” is one of those words we use so much that we aren’t actually sure how to define it. We see three petitions in this blessing that point us to its deepest meaning. Blessing is a broad theme deeply embedded in Scripture, but we can focus on one key aspect: relationship. “The Lord bless you...Read More

Should We Feast While The World Burns?

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Christmas Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Christmas_2016.wav"][/audio]   Why? Why are you here? Family? Tradition? Because the Church says so? A mixture perhaps? It sure is an interesting phenomenon, though. A bunch of Americans sitting in a comfortable Church listening to me talk all because 2000 years ago a poor Jewish woman had a baby that she put in a manger for a crib. Of course, that Child was and is the savior of the world. God has become man, our King is here among us, and we sing Joy to the World! Such a happy...Read More

St. Joseph: The Silent Teacher

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4th Sunday Advent, Year A Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/St.-Joseph-The-Silent-Teacher.wav"][/audio]   Finally! Now the Church is ready to talk about Christmas and the baby Jesus! In just seven days, we will officially begin the Christmas season and rejoice that our God, infinite, omniscient, and eternal, chose to become a tiny child, born in a manger. The one who could not be killed or harmed chose to place himself at risk of infant mortality, poverty, and even Herod’s murderous obsession with preserving his kingship. This loving God left his own protection up to the poor carpenter...Read More

Are You Offended?

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3rd Sunday Advent, Year A Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Are-You-Offended.wav"][/audio] “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” The blind see again, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, who would be offended at that? Perhaps, if John were not the greatest man “among those born of woman,” he might. After all, while Jesus’ popularity is increasing and hundreds of people are benefiting from his miracles, John is languishing away in prison. John was the one who introduced Jesus to the public and it’s safe to say that John’s preaching made...Read More