Welcome to St. Albert the Great

St. Albert the Great Parish has been forming the lives of disciples
through the Gospel of Christ Jesus in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties since 1962.

Registration Now Underway!

Join us for our Adult Faith Formation series, Symbolon, where you will not only discover the breadth and richness of our Catholic faith, but also how to live it in daily life. Presented by some of the most trusted Catholic teachers in the world, Symbolon is designed to help participants learn the “big picture” of the Catholic faith with the Creed as their guide. In the early Church, Christians described their Creed, their summary statement of faith, as the symbolon, the “seal” or “symbol of their faith”. Through video, facilitated discussion, and reflection, we'll delve into the mystery of the Catholic faith as well as some of the hard hitting questions many of us have about our faith. Join us the 3rd Tuesday of each month (4th Tuesday in November) from 7:00 - 8:45 PM in the parish auditorium for this incredible exploration into your Catholic faith. Monthly sessions begin September 20! Register today!

Symbolon Registration Form

For a complete list of dates and topics, click here.

Current Happenings

Message from Archbishop Chaput

"Combine easy access to guns with a culture that breeds resentment, self-focus, personal license and contempt for human life and the law, and what you get is what happened over the past weekend: the terrible shootings of innocent people by Nicholas Glenn and others. Taking away the guns – making them far more difficult to acquire – is the easy part, but it doesn’t begin to address the deeper moral and social dysfunctions of American urban life. Violence begins in the heart before the hand picks up a weapon. Violence is now part of the American Way from womb to tomb, and it should surprise no one when it hits home locally. I ask Catholics across the archdiocese to pray in the coming days for the victims of the weekend shootings and their families, and for leaders who can bring genuine peace to our community.”

+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia

Calling All Junior High Youth!

Our Junior High youth Ministry Program, Catholic Stewardship Initiative (CSI for Short), is gearing up for another sensational year. All youth in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade are eligible to participate. The group meets twice a month, the 2nd Sunday of the month for an Act of Mercy service project, and the 1st Friday of the Month, for fun and fellowship. Details about the program, including an event calendar and registration form, can be found on our CSI webapge. Check it out NOW! Join us for our first gathering on Sunday, October 9, from 1:00 - 2:30 PM in the parish hall.

Parish Pilgrimage for the Year of Mercy
St. Katharine Drexel Shrine, Bensalem, PA

In conjunction with the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Saint Albert the Great Parish will make a pilgrimage to the Holy Door of Mercy at the Shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel. The date is Saturday, October 29, 2016, from 10:30 to 2:30. The day will include a tour of the shrine, a visit to Saint Katharine’s resting place a movie about Saint Katharine Drexel, and perhaps a few games for the children. Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. Duncan along with Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions. There will be a cold lunch offered by a local caterer and the cost will be $17.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12 and children under 2, no charge. (The price is for admission and lunch.) The Shrine is in Bensalem, a short trip from St. Albert which you can travel to by car. Please indicate your intention to go on the sign-up sheets on the tables in the entrance ways of church, the caterer asks for a two week notice for the number of lunches. For more information, please call Len Cornwall 215-676-1209. The Jubilee Year of Mercy ends November 20 so don’t miss this wonderful day and an opportunity to walk through one of the six designated Holy Doors in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa of Calcutta a saint on September 5. This wonderful woman, who was considered by many to be a living saint when she was alive, has much to offer the Church in terms of inspiration for what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Below are two resources pertaining to the Church's newest saint. The first is a reflection that delves into the relationship between St. Teresa of Calcutta and St. John Paul II. The second contains a prayer that St. Teresa of Calcutta used with her sisters and a prayer of intercession to St. Teresa. In th words of St. Teresa, may we always remember that, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."

St. Albert the Great Young Adult Group

St. Albert the Great is forming a Young Adult Ministry for young adults 18 and older. So if you are just out of high school, twenty or thirty something, married or single, we'd love to have you be a part of this ground breaking ministry. If you'd like to be a part of this new ministry, have some ideas, or would like additional details, we'd love to hear from you. Just email us at the email below.

Our first social gathering will be held at Gearo's Grill, 1913 Welsh Rd, Philadelphia, on Saturday, October 1, starting at 6 PM. Must be 18 or older to attend. RSVP to stalbertsyam@gmail.com.

Abbeyfest 2016 Catholic Music Festival

Dalesford Abbey in Paoli, PA is hosting its 3rd annual Abbeyfest on Saturday, September 24, from 11 AM - 9:30 PM. Its a day filled with Faith, Music, Food & Family Festivities. All ages are welcome! In addition to the great music lineup featuring Sidewalk Prophets, Stars Go Dim, Josh Blakesley Band, Teresa Peterson, & Aly Aleigha, there will be crafts, games, and things for kids. The keynote speaker will be Jeff Cavins. The day will also feature religious items and food for sale as well as Confessions, Vigil mass, and Candlelight Adoration. It’s a great day to be with your family and celebrate your Catholic Faith. Please contact Rose Nihill via email for additional info. Tickets will be on sale at the back of the Church or at theabbeyfest.com.

Archbishop Chaput Addresses Youth at World Youth Day

Last week, Archbishop Chaput attended World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow with a delegation of nearly 100 youth and young adults from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and countless others from around the world. While in Poland, the Archbishop delivered a series of three catecheses for pilgrims. He often speaks from notes rather than a formal text. The outlines for his World Youth Day talks were recently published by CatholicPhilly.com and a link is being shared with you here.

Registration for CCD Due Now!

Registration for 2016 – 2017 program year is due now. The program is for students who will be entering into 1 through 6 grade this September. Visit our CCD page to download a registration packet. Registration packets are also available in the parish center.

If you'd have any questions, or require additional information, please contact Dennis M. Mueller at 215-947-3641 or via email.

The Joy of Love

Pope Francis' New Apostolic Exhortation

Pope Francis released an Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia (in English, “The Joy of Love”). Archbishop Chaput writes, "Amoris Laetitia is a serious and extensive reflection on Christian marriage. While it changes no Church teaching or discipline, it does stress the importance of pastoral sensitivity in dealing with the difficult situations many married couples today face. Pope Francis is skilled at analyzing the cultural forces that make Christian marriage a unique witness, and often a special challenge. His recognition of the importance of children and the value of adoption are great expressions of support for family life."

Bishop Robert Barron writes, "...Pope Francis wants the truths regarding marriage, sexuality, and family to be unambiguously declared, but that he also wants the Church’s ministers to reach out in mercy and compassion to those who struggle to incarnate those truths in their lives." He goes on to say that "[Amoris Laetitia] does indeed represent a deft and impressive balancing of the many and often contradictory interventions at the two Synods on the Family. As such, it will be of great service to many suffering souls who come to the Field Hospital."

Click here to read this new exhoration online or to download a copy in pdf format. The document is over 250 pages and Pope Francis cautions us to read it with patience and attention.

Additional resources are available from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Please consider sharing this latest work from Pope Francis with others.

Rachel's Vineyard

Rachel's Vineyard is a ministry of Priests for Life that helps individuals experience healing and peace following an abortion. Rachel's Vineyard conducts over 1000 retreats in 48 states and 57 countries. Married couples, mothers, fathers, grandparents and siblings of aborted children, as well as persons who have been involved in the abortion industry have come to Rachel's Vineyard in search of peace and inner healing. The weekend is a lot of work but yields a fruitful harvest for all who are willing to labor there. If you or someone you know has been effected by the pain of abortion, know there hope, help, and healing. For more information visit Rachel's Vineyard's website.

Catholic Charities Appeal 2016

In response to Pope Francis' challenge during the World Meeting of Families to make a difference in the world by living your Christian faith, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has launched it's most ambitious Catholic Charities Appeal ever. Gifts made to the Catholic Charities Appeal - A New Vision will provide support needed to nearly 180 beneficiaries. For a full list of beneficiaries click here. These beneficiaries of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia include diverse ministries and programs in five key areas:

Education
Social Services
Evangelization, Parish and Spiritual Life
Clergy
Mission Activities

So, "what about you?" Are you willing to be not just a difference maker, but the difference maker in the life of someone in need? For more information about the Catholic Charities Appeal - A New Vision visit the official Catholic Charities website.

Celebrating the Year of Mercy

December 8, 2015 begins a special Jubilee Year in the Church which will run from December 8, 2015 until November 20, 2016. Pope Francis declared this Jubilee Year as the Year of Mercy, and challenges Catholics to be Merciful Like the Father. There will be numerous activities and events planned by the Church, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and even St. Albert the Great Parish to allow everyone to celebrate, live, share, and immerse themselves in the mercy of God.

To celebrate the Year of Mercy, Ascension Press is releasing a video series highlighting the power of God's mercy. In this first video of the series, Jeff Cavins reflects on the role the Virgin Mary plays in salvation history. He follows the Ark of the Covenant through the Old Testament and shows how Jesus' birth fulfills the promise of mercy God gave his people. You may sign up to receive this free 4 part video series via email.

To help everyone understand what this year is all about, we have included a couple of resources below to prepare you for celebrating fully the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Holy Door Locations, Hours, and Contact Info
Archbishop Chaput's article on the Jubilee Year that was recently published in First Things, entitled, A Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Pope Francis' Papal Bull announcing the Year of Mercy.
A link to resources from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Click the official logo on this page to learn more about it's rich symbolism.
Official Archdiocesan Jubilee Year of Mercy Brochure
Year of Mercy FAQ Sheet