Category: Homilies

Homily for the Nativity of John the Baptist                                                   June 24, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  “Do you know who I am?” When asked with the wrong emphasis, it implies a sense of a person’s importance. The actor or politician who shouts this at someone reveals what they think of themselves… it belies an expectation of special treatment that comes with being famous. But, why should being famous change how we treat a person? Why do so many try so hard to become famous? Of course, not everyone actually wants to be movie-star famous, and...Read More

Homily for Corpus Christi                                                                              June 3, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  Flesh and Blood must die to pay for sin. When a mere mortal creature deliberately chooses to sin, to cut themselves off from the infinite, all-loving God, the consequence can only be death. It’s one reason sacrifice is so important right from the start of Genesis. Abel offers a sacrifice of flesh and blood, but Cain does not… and it is not acceptable. All the great covenants are sealed with a sacrifice of animals… a reminder that the price of...Read More

Homily for Trinity Sunday                                                                             May 27, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity. This doctrine matters. It should change you. This doctrine should be a radical and defining part of your life. Maybe that seems a bit counter-intuitive to you. The Trinity seems kind of obscure and hard to grasp, right? It is the teaching that there is one God who is Three Persons. It’s a mystery, we are told. It’s said to be a profound...Read More

Homily for the Ascension                                                                               May 12, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  What is your heritage? What is your ancestry? This has been a year of coincidences: Ash Wednesday and Valentines Day. Palm Sunday and the Annunciation. Easter and April Fools day. Now it is Ascension Sunday and, for the people of New Iberia, today is the day we celebrate our Spanish origins. It’s also Mother’s Day, a celebration of our heritage and ancestry in the direct and personal way of celebrating our mothers. And our heritage does matter. It is part...Read More

Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter                                April 22, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                              St. Peter’s, New Iberia  Do you belong? Do you belong to St. Peter’s parish? To the Church as a whole? Sure, many of you are registered parishioners and many of you contribute to the collection, but do you really belong? And it’s not like Fr. Blanda and I just want to brag about the numbers. Truly, this is a question that should matter to you more than anyone else. Because, well, Jesus is quite blunt about what it means for you...Read More