Tag: Priesthood

Being the Bad Guy for Love: Homily for the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                                   September 10, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/LDdfIRPwomE There are many things I love about being a priest: Mass, confessions, baptisms, weddings, flying in a helicopter to bless the crops from above… the fun stuff that only a priest gets to do, things that help people, often in ways I get to see first-hand. It’s why there’s joy even in the sadder stuff like anointings of the sick and funerals. As with anything worth doing, these can get old and sometimes stress makes it harder to see the joy,...Read More

The Authority of a Father: Homily for 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
11th Sunday of Ordinary Time, A                                                                               June 18, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/hRhiLEarpgY “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Who do you think are these laborers he’s talking about? What are we praying for more of? If you think it’s “priests,” you’re not wrong. After all, Jesus immediately follows this with appointing 12 Apostles and giving them authority to be his laborers. Pray for vocations. I know there are young men in this parish right now...Read More

Freely Called To Happiness: Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter, A

Posted on by Father Albert
4th Sunday of Easter, A                                                                                               April 30, 2023Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/OZnsMHx4ppg “Do you know what I love about no longer being a Christian? I can do whatever I want!” I saw that in an online forum for ex-Christians to support each other after leaving. What I find interesting about that claim is what isn’t said directly. This appeal to freedom is built on a deeper belief that that kind of freedom is what will make you happy. You know what, that online commentor probably experienced Christianity as a religion of restrictions, shame, and...Read More

Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday: The Point of the Power

Posted on by Father Albert
Divine Mercy Sunday                                                                                                 April 24, 2022Fr. Alexander Albert                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/Z1VOiVY0vNk What’s the point? Of this passage I mean. If, as so many people say, that we can just confess our sins directly to God, why would Jesus bother to give his Apostles the authority to forgive sins? “Whoever’s sins you forgive are forgiven them, but don’t worry about it because they can just confess directly to me and so you’ll never use this power.” Is that what people think Jesus is doing here? Of course not! There...Read More

Homily for Holy Thursday: The Authority to Love, Triduum pt 1.

Posted on by Father Albert
Mass of the Lord's Supper                  Part 1 of Triduum 2022                                  April 14, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette [See part 2 here] [See part 3 here] https://youtu.be/tzTHradX2h0 What is freedom? What is authority? What is power? As we enter into the most sacred time of the year – the Paschal Triduum – I return to my custom of offering a prolonged reflection on a theme. Over these three homilies – today, tomorrow, and for Easter – we will, with God’s help, explore the meaning of freedom and authority. And it starts right here with...Read More

Homily for the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time: The Offering That Counts

Posted on by Father Albert
32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, B                                                                 November 7, 2021Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/l4a-ELiF_rE “What can I possibly offer? I don’t have much money, influence, or talent, what difference will it make?” Have you ever asked yourself that question? Maybe when you read some bad news or perhaps when challenged to serve our community or God’s Church? I know I have. I think most people face some version of that doubt. Well, then I have good news. Jesus doesn’t care how successful your efforts are, he only cares that you give what you do have. “This poor...Read More

Homily for the Sacred Heart of Jesus on my 5th Anniversary: A Real Love

Posted on by Father Albert
Sacred Heart of Jesus, B                     5th Anniversary of Ordination                         June 11, 2021Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/wtPxYLspLDs Five years ago today, and very nearly to the hour, I was ordained a priest in a different Church named St. John the Evangelist. It was our Cathedral, and it was the first priestly ordination in the diocese for our new bishop, Douglas Deshotel. There’s a reason for the specificity and it’s not because I think I’m special. My ordination is not about me. It is the concrete manifestation of God’s ongoing love for us. This...Read More

Pastor Column: Preaching the Word of God

Posted on by Father Albert
From the bulletin of May 2, 2021      Our first encyclical from Pope Benedict XV is called Humani Generis Redemptionem, published in 1917. Translated, that title means “the Redemption of the Human Race.” The pope begins the encyclical by quoting St. Paul (Rom 10:17), “ Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” This sets up the primary theme of the letter, which in proper preaching of the Gospel to the world. Right away, Pope Benedict notes that there are more preachers of the word than ever before, but that the “state...Read More

Homily for Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Accepting Perfection

Posted on by Father Albert
Mass of the Lord's Supper                  Part 1 of Triduum 2021                                  April 1, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette https://youtu.be/Tpp30vmuNUg Good vs. Evil, Obedience, Freedom, Hope, Perfection. These were the themes of our Lenten journey through the fundamentals, a journey that ended with us crucifying Christ this past Sunday. But now we begin a different journey. Lent is over, but tonight begins the Triduum. It is a single liturgy that spans three days, a continual act of worship that takes us through the Last Supper, Christ’s death, and then to his resurrection. So the homilies...Read More