Today is the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. For centuries we as Catholics celebrated this Feast on Jan. 6, but the decision was made a number of years ago (at least in the United States) to celebrate the Epiphany on the Sunday which falls between Jan. 2 and Jan. 8.

 “Epiphany” means “manifestation.” It is on this day that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is revealed as the light of all nations. Officially Christmas is not over. In fact, the recommendation of the Church is that on this day those who display a crèche, a nativity or manger scene, should replace the shepherd and sheep with the Magi and their likely animals on which they traveled as well as their gifts. However, that is all secondary to the real meaning of this day.

 At Christmas the Messiah Jesus was revealed to the shepherds, who were Jewish. But on this day the Lord is revealed to all nations and to the Gentiles (represented by the Magi). We are all familiar with the star the Magi followed, but we need to understand all that is happening and what it means. This all represents the Light of Christ, a Light which today we honor and commemorate. We are called to be the Light of Christ right now to those around us and those with whom we come in contact. That way we can be the disciples Christ wants us to be.

 The poet William Cullen Bryant captures the significance of the star the Magi followed very well when he wrote, “O Father, may that Holy Star, Grow every year more bright, And send its glorious beams afar, To fill the world with light.”
 
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Office Hours:  Mon - Fri: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM 

Pastor:  Fr. Andrew Maruszczak, SDS  

Phone:  (403) 257-6054  Ext: 222

Email:  pastor@stalbertthegreat.ca 

Assoc. Pastor:  Fr. Krzysztof Sobanski, SDS 

Phone:  (403) 257-6054  Ext: 230

Deacon:  John Walsh  john.walsh@calgarydiocese.ca

Deacon:  Joseph Gingco  joseph.gingco@calgarydiocese.ca

Fr. Andrew & Fr. Chris will be away January 13th through to 21st for their annual Salvatorian meeting.

There will be NO DAILY Mass (morning or evening) or Confessions on January 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th or 21st.  

On January 18th there will be no 9:00AM Mass.

Will have a visiting priest for January 18th, 3:30PM Confessions and Sunday Anticipatory Mass at 5PM

Will have a visiting priest for January 19th 9:00AM, 11:30AM & 5:00PM Masses.

Masses will resume on regular schedule January 22nd.

If you have any questions, please contact the office.

The Calgary Diocese is aware that the federal government has announced its intention to amend the Income Tax Act to extend the 2024 charitable donation deadline to February 28, 2025. However, please note this change has not yet been passed into legislation.  Therefore, December 31, 2024, remains the final day to ensure donors receive a 2024 charitable tax credit. To avoid any potential disruption in the event the proposed legislation is not enacted, the Diocese recommend donors make their donations as follows:

Any donations received on or after Jan 1, 2025, will apply to the 2025 tax year. 

Monthly contributions can be made online anytime, and it's easy to set up. Please visit our website: Donations - St Albert The Great to get started. 

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. 

To request a Mass intention please visit the parish office downstairs during office hours, call  403-257-6054 or email  secretary@stalbertthegreat.ca  

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.

This week we would like to CELEBRATE ALL St. Albert the Great Parish Volunteers who assisted throughout the month of December. 

From our Music Ministry, Decorating Team, Welcome Ministry, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Linen Care Team, Youth Group, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women's League, Sunday Social Team, Pew Cleaners, St. Vincent de Paul, Pastoral Care, RCIA & to those silent individuals who helped salt and shovel the walkways and in other ways. 

From all of us here at SATG Thank You for everything that you do! May God continue to bless you and your acts of service.

Please say a prayer of thanksgiving for them and the wonderful work that they do as volunteers.

SATG is proud to be the host of a major event: The veneration of the relics of  St Jean de Brebeuf and St Kateri Tekakwitha.  This is a rare opportunity to encounter these saints who dwell in Heaven and see God face-to-face. Catholics have always held that veneration is not worship, but is a way to honour and draw near to the saints: we can entrust our petitions to them since they are with God (Wisdom 3:1). Throughout Christian history relics have been venerated and people have pilgrimaged to pray with them.  We can expect spiritual and physical healings, and more importantly, a renewal of faith and of our personal relationship with God.

You will have the opportunity to spend a moment before the relics in personal prayer. You can bring your prayer intentions on a written piece of paper and leave them in a basket, which will later be brought back to the Canadian Martyrs Shrine. You can also press your holy cards, rosary, or medals to the reliquaries and bring them home as spiritual keepsakes (and third-class relics).

"God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them." (Acts 19: 11-12)

For more information about the Canadian Tour please visit:

The Seeds of the Word Community's 2025 Lectio Divina Compendium is out! The Seeds will be selling the Compendium, as well as their baked and homemade goods after Masses on the weekend of January 11th and 12th. The Lectio Divina Compendium is a book that helps you to grow in your relationship with God through daily meditation and prayer with the Word of God, following the daily readings. Proceeds from these sales help support our mission of Evangelization through making the Word of God accessible to everyone. We accept cash, debit, and credit card. Thank you for your generous support of our Community and its mission in spreading the Word of God!

Camilla, Clara and Katrina have been settling into their new life in Canada. This Christmas was especially meaningful as it was the first in many years that they were not alone.  They have expressed deep gratitude for the warmth and support of their new church family. 

Camilla is now ready to find stable employment and has begun her job search. With experience in dental, medical, and pharmacy administration, as well as housekeeping and cleaning, she brings valuable skills and is eager to contribute to her new community. Her English is steadily improving, and she is excited about the opportunity to work.

If you or someone you know can help connect them with job opportunities or offer guidance in their search, please reach out. Your support can truly make a difference in helping this family build a brighter future in Canada. We ask for your prayers, that they may find fruitful employment. 

For more information or to offer assistance, 

please contact satgrefugee@gmail.com

Thank you for your kindness and generosity!

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.

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

Have you heard someone talk about Vatican II and wonder what it said? Have you ever felt like your knowledge of Catholicism was superficial? If so this podcast is for you. The Second Vatican Council documents are the things that are most talked about in Catholic discussions for how little they are read and this podcast seeks to change that. 2025 is the 60th anniversary of the close of the council, so a perfect time to go over all the documents with light commentary. this podcast will cover it all through 365 episodes in 2025.

To access the podcast please click here. 

The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) Board of Trustees has set Friday, January 31, 2025, as the date of a by-election to fill two vacant trustee positions in Wards 4 and 7 and Wards 11 and 12. This by-election is required by the Education Act and is an opportunity to ensure Trustee representation for all wards in the City of Calgary. Eligible voters include Canadian citizens aged 18 or older as of January 31, 2025, residing in Wards 4 and 7 and 11 and 12, who share the Catholic faith.