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St. Albert the Great Parish
“O taste and see that the Lord is good” Ps 34.8
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3rd SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 15th, 2024
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Click for Sunday's Readings
Gospel Reading: Luke 3:10-18
John the Baptist teaches the path of repentance and announces Christ.
Family Connection
The theme of the season of Advent is sometimes described as a period of waiting for the birth of Jesus. However, today's Gospel reading suggests something different. John the Baptist did not tell the crowds to wait for the Messiah. He told them to prepare for the Messiah through acts of repentance. If Advent is a time of waiting, it is not the sitting in the doctor's office kind of waiting. It is a busy time of preparation, more like the waiting we might do when preparing for dinner guests. Our challenge is to not make this season a frenzied time, but rather a time of joyful anticipation and making ready for God who comes to dwell among us and changes our lives with the gift of salvation.
As you gather as a family, talk about the preparations your family is making during the season of Advent. Reflect together on these activities, not only on what you are doing but why you are choosing to do these things. Read together today's Gospel, Luke 3:10-18. Consider how Advent is a time for making ourselves ready to receive Jesus in our lives. Could your family make some changes in your Advent activities so that each person is well prepared to celebrate the gift of salvation at Christmas? Conclude in prayer together that your family will be able to live the spirit of Advent. Sing together an Advent song, such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” or pray together today's second reading, Philippians 4:4-7, as you light the third candle on your Advent wreath.
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Office Hours: Mon - Fri: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Closed for lunch from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM | Closed all Statutory Holidays Christmas & New Year Hours Listed Below
Pastor: Fr. Andrew Maruszczak, SDS
Assoc. Pastor: Fr. Krzysztof Sobanski, SDS
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Weekly Mass TUE | WED | THUR | FRI 9:00 AM, 6:30 PM
Saturday Mass 9:00 AM Sat 5:00 PM (Anticipatory)
Sunday Mass 9:00 AM | 11:30 AM | 5:00 PM
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Confession TUE | WED | THUR | FRI 9:30 AM, 7:00 PM | SAT 3:30 PM Adoration Friday 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
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We anticipate very high attendance at 4:00pm, 7:00pm and 9:00pm Mass on Christmas Eve and 11:30am on Christmas Day. For the safety of all, we must enforce our church capacity which means we may have to lock the doors to the church once we reach that capacity.
To avoid disappointment, please arrive early or consider attending one of the other Mass times where the attendance is much lower: Christmas Day at Midnight, 9:00am, 2:00pm and 5:00pm.
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DONATION INFORMATION NEEDED:
Thank you for your donations in support of St. Albert the Great Parish. Help me record your donations correctly so I can issue your tax receipts. I need : FULL NAME, COMPLETE ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL CODE, AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. Due to postal strike, we will email out all the 2024 tax receipts after the end of the year.
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NOT ABLE TO MAKE YOUR PARISH DONATION ONLINE?
If you are unable to make your regular contributions online, we can provide envelopes. For 2025 and onward will we no longer be providing numbered envelopes, we will provide a box of envelopes and pre-made address labels with your information for you to attach.
To order envelopes please call the office so we can verify your address and arrange pickup from our welcome desk at one of our weekend Masses or from the main office during the week.
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This special day remind us of our call to walk in solidarity with marginalized communities in southern Mexico, providing vital support for education, healthcare, and sustainable development. Let us come together to share hope and transform lives through our generosity.
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The Diocese thanks you for the prayers, support, and assistance you have offered for the funeral of our beloved Bishop Henry. The prayers for Bishop Henry were beautifully celebrated on Monday and Tuesday this week.
Prayer
Lord, hear our prayers.
By raising your Son from the dead, you have given us faith.
Strengthen our hope that Frederick, our brother,
will share in his resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
R/. Amen.
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"Because Christ hears and saves those who hope in Him, let us pray for . . . "
To have a name added or removed, please email secretary@stalbertthegreat.ca and provide the name of the person you would like to add and how long you would like them to remain on the Prayer Board. The Prayer Board is intended for any living person requiring prayers.
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AVAILABILITY: January & February dates are open for booking.
Our parish serves over 9000 families, intentions are limited to two per family within the three-month period. Thank you for honoring this system. Contact the office with questions.
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2025 Relic Tour - SAVE THE DATE!
St Albert the Great will be hosting the relics of St. Jean de Brebeuf and St. Kateri Tekakwitha for public veneration on Saturday, January 4th. This is the first time the relics will visit Western Canada from the Canadian Martyrs Shrine in Ontario. There will be a 9am Mass followed by a talk and veneration throughout the day. Bishop McGrattan will celebrate 5pm Mass that evening, and veneration will continue until 8pm.
St.Jean de Brebeuf was a Jesuit missionary known for his gentleness and kindness. He lived among the Huron nation for 15 years, and composed the first Canadian Christmas hymn, Huron Carol. He is the secondary patron saint of Canada. St.Kateri Tekakwitha is the first indigenous person to be canonized a saint and is known as the "Lily of the Mohawks." The purpose of this relic tour is so Canadians can have an encounter with these great saints, and receive special graces for themselves and their families. We will have more information and details in the upcoming weeks, so please save the date of January 4th.
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How to use TipTapPay, the quick and easy way to donate. - Wait for a steady light, if the lights are flashing the system is not ready
- Tap your card, you will hear 1 beep if your card was read successfully
- A second single beep, means the transaction has been completed
- 2 fast beeps, the transaction was not completed, you can try again
- 3 fast beeps, the card was declined, you can try again/use different card
- For a tax receipt, you must scan the QR Code & complete all information.
Located on the left side of the Narthex as you enter the Church.
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SATG is participating in the Winter Clothing Drive again this year.
Any and All donations of NEW or Gently used winter wear (Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Jackets, Snow Pants, Snow Suites, Winter Socks etc.) are being accepted! Please drop into the donation box located in the Narthex near the welcome desk.
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PARISH MINISTRIES & GROUPS
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SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
SVP CHRISTMAS HAMPER PROGRAM
WE ARE READY ‘TEAM ST. ALBERT THE GREAT’! This is the weekend that the bulk of our Christmas hampers will be delivered and we are SO excited!
Imagine the anticipation of those families and for at least a short time, a sense of relief.
"Charity is the cement that binds communities to God and persons to one another". ― St. Vincent de Paul
Thank you everyone! Many volunteers have stepped forward with their time and energy to make this a success. Next week we will provide final numbers for our Christmas Hamper Program 2024.
May God bless our amazing community.
ATTENTION DONORS!!
Donors, please consider switching the delivery of your tax receipt from Canada Post to email. If you do, please email svdp.satg.donations@gmail.com You will receive a confirmation email of the switch.
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Next two sessions are December 14 & 28th
Join us in the St Albert room after 9:00 am Holy Mass.
Bring your brother, son, father, buddy.
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This is the last weekend for Children's liturgy before Christmas break.
Resuming January 11/12th, 2025
To Register your child or to volunteer with this ministry.
Please visit:
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JOIN us Dec 17th
For our last Arts and Crafts Session of the year.
Resuming January 14th.
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OTHER NEWS & EVENTS
Notices in this section have been approved by the parish office, if you would like to have something added to the e-bulletin please email bulletin@stalbertthegreat.ca
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If you are in need of a Sunday Missal we are sold out, but you can pick one up from St. Anthony's Parish (near Chinook Mall)
Please call their secretary Heather at (403) 252-1137 to arrange pickup from the office.
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Rorate Caeli: Novena Masses in Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary Join us at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rockies for a series of special Novena Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From December 16 to December 24, we gather in prayer and devotion, seeking Mary's intercession as we prepare for the joyous celebration of Christ's birth. Mass Schedule: - Dec 16–20: 7:00 PM
- Dec 21: 8:00 AM
- Dec 23: 7:00 PM
- Dec 24: 8:00 AM
Come, experience the beauty of this sacred tradition, and deepen your faith as we await the coming of our Savior. All are welcome!
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For the complete list of Diocesan News & Events click:
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