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Bulletin
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St. Albert the Great Parish
“O taste and see that the Lord is good” Ps 34.8
10 Prestwick Drive SE, Calgary, AB, Canada T2Z 4J6 Phone: 403 257 6054 Fax: 403 257 6072 Charitable Registration Number 107909939 RR0084
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15th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Isaiah 55:10 - 11 Romans 8:18 - 23 Matthew 13:1 - 23
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In today’s Gospel from Matthew, our Lord shares the Parable of the Sower who scatters seed on many different kinds of land. This is a wonderful analogy for the stewardship way of life, demonstrating the slow and steady, yet powerful effect this lifestyle will have on those who fully embrace it.
In this parable, some of the seeds land on a path where birds carry them off before they can begin to take root. Other seeds land on rocky ground with little soil. As soon as things begin to heat up, they get scorched and die. Then there are seeds that land on soil cluttered with thorns which choke the seeds just as they are beginning to grow strong.
Finally, there are seeds that land on deep and healthy soil. These seeds produce abundant fruit.
This is where the stewardship way of life comes in. When we give the best of our time, talent and treasure to serve God and others, we create lives filled with that rare “good soil” needed for the Kingdom of God to thrive.
How does this happen? Stewardship living removes the “rocks” of mistrust from our lives as we develop an unshakeable faith that God will always provide for our needs. It clears away the “thorns” of worldly ambition that make us self-centered, fill us with needless anxiety and stifle our focus on God. Stewardship living requires a deep reliance on the Word of God and the sacraments which continuously nourish and fertilize the soil of our lives.
Let us deepen our commitment to this way of life, allowing the Sower to do His work in us, slowly and steadily. The Master Gardner will surely produce miraculous fruits through us.
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Tue, July 18 @ 9:00 am Helen Alexander (INT) Tue, July 18 @ 11:00 pm Caitlin Hayes (INT) - Senior Care Centre Tue, July 18 @ 6:30 pm Caroline Ferero & Danna & Sara Mateus (INT) Wed, July 19 @ 9:00 am Theresa & Faustina (INT) Wed, Jul 19 @ 10:30 am Family of Colin Kellner (INT) - Senior Care Centre Wed, July 19 @ 6:30 pm Mateus Family (INT) Thu, July 20 @ 9:00 am Ron Stoley SR (RIP) Thu, July 20 @ 6:30 pm Alexander Fernandes (RIP) Fri, July 21 @ 9:00 am Carmen Toole & Family (INT) Fri, July 21 @ 6:30 pm Joni Winter (RIP) Sat, July 22 @ 9:00 am Faustina & Theresa (INT) Sat, July 22 @ 5:00 pm Adolf Smerdely (RIP) Sun, July 23 @ 9:00 am Roger Bougie (RIP) Sun, July 23 @ 11:00 am St. Albert the Great Community (INT) Sun, July 23 @ 5:00 pm Regelio Pineda Martin (RIP)
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Please note that the parish office Summer Hours are Monday through Friday 9:30 am – 12:30 pm.
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IMPORTANT DONATION INFORMATION
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFERS – when making donations by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) please put your full name in the memo line, and your address if it is the first time you are sending an EFT donation. We are receiving donations that only come in from the bank with a first name, and we do not know who it belongs to, or what it is for; donation, sacrament fee payment, etc. Also, you may have the same first and last name as another parishioner, and the address helps us correctly record the donation. Your full name and address ensures that we are recording the donation to the correct person for tax receipts at the end of the year.
DONATION ENVELOPES – we are encouraging parishioners to make donations electronically, however we can provide you with a box of donation envelopes and a sheet of labels to put on them, as the envelopes are not numbered. Please come to the parish office Monday through Friday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, and we can provide you with the box of envelopes and labels. If you do not want the labels, when using envelopes, please PRINT your full name and address on the envelope. If you only put your first name “John”, or your last name “Doe Family”, we do not know who to record the donation to and it gets recorded as loose.
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2023 TOGETHER IN ACTION CAMPAIGN
Our 2023 Together In Action goal is $78,445 and any surplus funds above our goal will go towards the repair of the main doors to the church. To date we have raised $39,212.11 towards our goal thanks to your generous contributions.
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REFUGEE FAMILY DONATION UPDATE
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The weekly Sunday Socials have been suspended until the fall. We will let you know when they will restart later this summer. Have a wonderful summer!
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SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
St. Albert the Great St. Vincent de Paul needs Soup 284 ml and Cookies 400 g. Please drop your donations in the St. Vincent de Paul box in the Narthex. Thank you for your support!
June 2023 Hampers
Hampers delivered 48 Number of Adults 95 Number of Children 62
We are anticipating a very busy summer for food hamper requests and your generous donations will go a long way in reducing food insecurity in our community.
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SATG 25th Anniversary Online Store is now available
You can find 25th Anniversary merchandise for purchase at this link .
The items are rounded either to the nearest $1, or $5 increment to fundraise for the parish (with the exception on the coffee mugs), with a donation to the parish adder at the checkout page. The first order will be placed on August 16. After August 16th, additional orders will be taken on the next run until October 20th with that next run delivered by November 10th so people can have a chance to have it for the Feast Day celebration on November 15th.
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CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
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St. Albert the Great Parish
“The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want…” (Psalm 23)
CGS is a Montessori based Catholic faith formation program where children can joyfully fall deeply in love with God through contemplation of Scripture and Liturgy. St. Albert the Great is happy to announce that we are going to be running 5 week programs starting in September until May on Saturday mornings depending on the interest and support of the community. The program is open to children from the ages of 3 to 6 years old.
To get this program going, we do need a few things. Some help we need would be: - Material making (woodwork, sewing)
- Volunteer Assistant (adult willing to complete a police check)
- Prayers
If you are interested to volunteer or to register, please email: larainne.friesen@gmail.com or schndersa@hotmail.com. Registration will start in the summer as space is limited to only 12 students maximum. Thank you for your support and we look forward to growing in faith with you and your child.
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A BIBLICAL WALK WITH THE BLESSED MOTHER COURSE
"Dr. Edward Sri's 8-week course on, 'A Biblical Walk With the Blessed Mother' will begin in September on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 9:00 PM over Zoom. Cost of the workbook is $42, and payment can be an e-transfer or cheque, made payable to:
Lucille Paplawski 548 Midridge Drive SE Calgary, AB T2X1B9
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PLEASE HELP US TELL THE STORY OF OUR PARISH
A small group of the faithful from St. Albert the Great Parish have taken on the mission to put together some recollections and archives going back to the very beginnings of our parish. Our history got away from us and we think that while we’re still able, we need to gather up our memories. We are reaching out to anyone who has been a part of our journey for the past 25 years to help document our past.
We’re not exactly sure of what this is all going to look like, but all stories and memories are important. Can you help us?
Your participation wouldn’t involve a huge time commitment. If you do like meetings and such, we’ve decided to gather once a month to add past events to a giant timeline. But, another way that you might participate is to write down your recollections…events that stick out in your memory or that were really important to your family. You might want to look through your boxes of photos and contribute those or a scan of those. There are many ways that your participation might be celebrated. Whether you walked in the front doors of our church when they first opened 20 years ago, or for the first time a few months ago, you are an important part of our history and we thank you for anything you might do. If you have something to share, please contact us at archives@stalbertthegreat.ca .
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"Because Christ hears and saves those who hope in Him, let us pray for . . . "
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Cemetery Masses with Bishop McGrattan
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Bishop McGrattan will celebrate Massses for the souls of the deceased buried at our Catholic cemeteries in Calgary and area. All are welcome! - Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 7pm at Mountain View Funeral Chapel (indoor)
- Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 7pm at Queen’s Park Cemetery (outdoor)
- Thursday, August 31, 2023, 7pm at St. Mary’s Cemetery (outdoor)
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A Pastoral Letter from CCCB
The Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has released a Pastoral Letter titled Living as Catholics in the Public Square: Freedom of Religion and Conscience in Canada. This timely document emphasizes the significance of freedom of religion and conscience in our democratic society and explores the role of Catholics in courageously living out their faith in the public square.
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Always Our Children - Aug 18-20
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The Courage & Encourage Apostolate of the Diocese will be hosting an “Encourage Weekend Camping Retreat” entitled: “Always Our Children" for parents, friends or anyone journeying with children or someone they know, experiencing their sexuality as same gender attraction. This weekend retreat is meant to provide a safe space for prayer, reflection, mediation and dialogue surrounded by the natural beauty and tranquility of the eastern slopes of the Rockies at Aspen Ranch Outdoor Education Centre, just over an hour north of Calgary. When: Friday, Aug. 18 to Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. Register by Friday July 7, 2023. For more information or to register, contact: info@aspenranchcanada.com
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2023 Angels on High at Boom Lake Trail
Join St. Gabriel's Parish (Chestermere) for a refreshing hike at Boom Trail on Saturday, August 26. Meeting point: Parking lot of Boom Trail at 9:30 am. The destination point is the lake. Remember to bring your lunch - the boulders all around the side of the lake make it a great spot to enjoy lunch and the view. No group camping this year. Registrations for the hike are coming up soon at saintgabrielparish.ca. Donations are welcome in support of St. Gabriel's Church building fund. More info
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List of Summer Retreats - Live In
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St. Francis Retreat Centre
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Sunday Bulletin shorts Today’s Gospel marks the beginning of the third long discourse given by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Over the next few weeks, the Gospel readings will consist of the entire 13th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, a lengthy teaching discourse.
Throughout this discourse, Jesus will offer several parables to illustrate for his listeners what he means by the kingdom of heaven. He begins with the parable of the sower, which appears rather straightforward—of course seeds grow best in good soil. Seeds that miss the soil, are sown on rocky ground, or are sown among other plants will not grow. The surprise in the parable is the enormous yield of the seed that is sown on good soil.
Jesus then explains his use of parables. Jesus seems to suggest that he uses parables to teach because the meanings of parables are not self-evident. The hearer must engage in some degree of reflection in order to comprehend the message of a parable. In this way, the medium—the parable—models the point of the parable of the sower. Those who are willing to engage themselves in the effort to understand will be rewarded by the discovery of the message and will bear fruit.
To bring home the point, Jesus interprets the parable of the sower to his disciples. The different types of soil in which the seeds are sown are metaphors for the disposition with which each individual hears the teaching about the kingdom of heaven. Some will be easily swayed away from the kingdom of heaven. Some will receive it for a time but will lose it when faced with difficulties. Some will hear the word but will then permit other cares to choke it out. Yet some will receive it well, and the seed will produce abundant fruit. (Source: Loyola Press) Resources for children Resources for children Billings Ovulation Method Basic Teacher Training Workshop Become an Accredited Billings Ovulation Method® teacher or for acquiring in depth knowledge of reproductive biology for personal or professional reasons. Prerequisite: Part 1 Basic Teacher training. When: Aug 11-13, St. Joseph's College, Edmonton | More info
Ascension App By the end of its launch day on June 26, 2023, the Ascension App was the #1 Bible app in the App Store, and #46 in all app categories, ahead of apps from Disney+, LinkedIn, and Zoom. The new Ascension App features full text of the Great Adventure Catholic Bible; Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) podcast and episode transcripts, The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) podcast and episode transcripts and over 1,000 commonly asked Catholic Bible questions answered by Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, and other Catholic authors. To download the Ascension App today: Link for App Store / iOS | Link for Google Play / Android
Cemetery Masses with the Bishop Bishop McGrattan will celebrate Masses for the souls of the deceased buried at our Catholic cemeteries in Calgary and area. All are welcome! - Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 7pm at Mountain View Funeral Chapel (indoor)
- Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 7pm at Queen’s Park Cemetery (outdoor)
- Thursday, August 31, 2023, 7pm at St. Mary’s Cemetery (outdoor)
Wanted: Part-time Administrative Assistant for Our Lady of the Rockies in Canmore Our Lady of the Rockies parish is currently seeking a qualified individual to join their team as a part-time Administrative Assistant. The ideal candidate will possess strong people skills, exceptional organizational abilities, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and great attention to detail. The position offers a competitive benefits package and opportunities for employee development. If you or someone you know might be interested in this opportunity, please share this information with them. Interested applicants should submit their resumes to careers@calgarydiocese.ca
Many opportunities to help Elizabeth House Elizabeth House is a life skills program and family-oriented home which welcomes at-risk pregnant and parenting women who need a safe place to live. Help Elizabeth House as volunteers in the following positions: Child care team; Fundraising Lead; Facility Maintenance (carpentry, handyfolks, renovation); and Marketing & Communications lead. More information at elizabethhousecalgary.ca
Wanted: Treasurer position for St. Vincent de Paul St. Vincent de Paul is currently seeking a dedicated individual to fill a volunteer position as Treasurer for their organization in Calgary. This role is essential in assisting with the governance of St. Vincent de Paul and ensuring its continued success. Click here for more information about the position or email evanjstrong@shaw.ca for more information.
Ignite & Ignite Junior AB - July 18-21 Ignite is a Catholic summer camp for teens grades 9 - 12 desiring to grow in holiness. It is an incredible week with excellent talks, amazing people, daily Mass, epic large group activities, Reconciliation, Adoration, praise and worship, and much more! You will grow in the knowledge of Christ and the Church and be empowered to go forward while striving to be a modern-day saint. July 18-21, 2023, St. Michael's Parish, Calgary. Ignite Junior AB (Gr 6-8) is also running simultaneously. Register here
Always Our Children - Aug 18-20 A camping retreat entitled: “Always Our Children" for parents, friends or anyone journeying with children or someone they know, experiencing their sexuality as same gender attraction. When: Fri, Aug. 18 to 20 - Aspen Ranch Outdoor Education Centre. More info or register The Great Big Beautiful World - Vacation Bible School Four-day, half-day Vacation Bible School for ages 7-11 with the theme "Great Big Beautiful World: Creation Care Kids - Living Laudato Si'." Through five Bible stories, children will be led on an awesome adventure through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Each day starts with relationship-building, joint worship, music, prayer, and a dramatic presentation of the Bible story. This program is enthusiastically Catholic and grounded in the Catholic teachings on creation and the Holy Father's encyclical. When: Aug 22-25, 2023 at FCJ Centre. Register here
Retrouvaille Weekend in September Retrouvaille is a retreat designed to infuse hope and facilitate healing for married couples in need. When: Sep 8 - 10, Calgary Area retreat | Contact 403-901-9582 or visit helpourmarriage.org
Career opportunities
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Summer 2023 Calendar Highlights
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