Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, when Mary and Joseph brought their infant Son to the Temple in obedience to the laws of their Jewish faith.  This is a beautiful, and in many ways, mysterious feast — and one that is filled with lessons for a stewardship way of life.
 
Our Gospel passage from Luke, recounting the details of the Presentation, teaches us a stewardship lesson through the example of St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother, the “Holy Parents.”  Even knowing their Son was God, they still carefully observed the faith practices of their day bringing him to the temple “to present Him to the Lord just as it is written in the law of the Lord.”  Later in the passage we read that, “When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to their own town of Nazareth.”  The Holy Parents were good stewards of their child, teaching Him to live in obedience to the practices of their faith from his infancy and throughout His “growing up” years.
 
Those of us entrusted with the care of children, whether our own children, godchildren, nieces, and nephews, grandchildren, or students, have a vital role to play in the faith formation of these young ones.  We, like the Holy Parents, must steward these children well, forming them in the faith by both instruction and example throughout their lives.
 
What a privilege and high calling we have as Christian stewards.  Let us take these stewardship lessons to heart and present our gifts and our young ones joyfully to the Lord.
 
 ©Catholic Stewardship Consultants| www.CatholicSteward.com

JOIN US on Sunday Feb 2nd, at our 5:00PM Holy Mass as we host the Religious in our Community and celebrate The Feast Day of The Presentation of the Lord & The World Day of Consecrated Life with a candle Mass celebrated by Bishop McGrattan.

The call to Consecrated life is a profound gift to both the individual, the communities of Consecrated life, and the broader faith community of the local Church. Within our Diocese, we are blessed to have celibate Consecrated persons, each living out their unique vocations with deep devotion to the Lord in imitation of His Gospel way of life and the spirituality of their institutes. These include Religious Brothers and Priests, Religious Sisters, a Diocesan Hermit, other Consecrated men and women, as well as candidates for Consecrated Virginity.

Consecrated life is a way of profound love and service to Christ and His Church. Through their commitment to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to their particular call from God, they contribute uniquely to the life of the local and universal Church. Their dedication not only deepens their own spiritual life but also enriches our Diocese with their witness of faith, service, and prayer. We are deeply grateful for their presence, which continually inspires and strengthens our Catholic community.

You are welcome to join the various Consecrated persons in their celebration on February 2nd every year, where their shared commitment to Christ is honoured during the World Day for Consecrated Life.

To find out more information about Consecrated Life please watch this video: https://youtu.be/URWr2KI3yK8

or email Sr. Dianne Turner, Assistant Vocations Director at the Office of Vocations, or call 403-218-5504.  

We are excited to introduce the Sacred Grace initiative, inviting civilly married couples in our Diocese to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic Church. As part of the Diocesan Pastoral Renewal during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, this special celebration will be presided over by Bishop William T. McGrattan on Saturday, Sep 13, 2025, at 1:30 pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Info sessions on how to participate will be available in the following dates/location:

 Learn more: https://www.catholicyyc.ca/sacredgrace.html

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.

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:

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 these please contact the office. 

This week's greatest needs are.

Donors, if you have requested emailed tax receipts you should have received them on January 27 and/or January 28.  The remaining tax receipts requested via Canada Post will be mailed by February 3, 2025.

The following pertains to SVP donations only: To mitigate the impact of the Canada Post mail stoppage, the CRA has extended the deadline for making donations eligible for the 2024 tax year, until February 28, 2025.  For any donations received in January and February of 2025, a separate tax receipt for these months will be sent before the end of March 2025, and you can decide which year to apply these to.

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

Jubilee of Teenagers sign up by 31 January 2025.
Teenagers aged 12-17 are invited to Rome for the Jubilee of Teenagers from April 25-27, 2025. Experience a pilgrimage to the Holy Door, the Via Lucis prayer, musical celebrations, and Mass with the Holy Father, featuring the Sacrament of Confirmation for some participants.

Young adults aged 18-35 are invited to the 2025 Jubilee of Youth in Rome from July 28 to August 3. Celebrate this special event with Holy Mass, artistic and spiritual activities, music, testimonies, and a Vigil with the Holy Father at Tor Vergata, Rome.