It has been over 20 years since our parish community undertook a pastoral planning initiative. The last time was under the direction of the Archdiocese as part of a diocesan wide initiatve among parishes. Over the last two years the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) has been gathering information and assessing the current strengths and needs of the parish in order to create a new pastoral action plan for the parish. As part of this process, the PPC has undertaking the creation of a new Mission Statement for the parish that will help to direct our parish planning efforts. The new Parish Mission Statement reads as follows:

Saint Albert the Great Parish is a Catholic Community united in our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Body of Christ, we are committed to building a vibrant parish family where the Word of God is proclaimed, studied, and integrated into daily living. Our worship, in Word and Sacrament, celebrates the presence of God in our midst. We witness the Gospel through our actions of care and concerns for those around us. We take the time to discuss the gifts and needs of our parish and develop lay leadership accordingly.

This Mission Statement will serve as the focal point for all of the goals and initiatives the PPC develops in the months ahead. We ask the parish community to pray for the PPC as it strives to meet the needs of our parish family and plans for the vibrant future of our parish.

Pope Francis' 2019 Lenten Message is available for viewing at the link below. http://w2.vatican.va/content/vatican/it.html

Our Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for Saturday, March 30 from 9 am to 2 pm. Please go to RedCrossBlood.org and enter the Sponsor Code StAlbertH (or Zip Code 19006) to find our Drive and schedule your donation. You can also email Scott and Laura Allen at SATGBloodDrive@gmail.com and we can assist you with scheduling your donation.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. The Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood components, all from generous volunteer donors. But supply can’t always meet demand because only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly. Each new donor helps the Red Cross meet patient needs - Donate March 30!

Save the Date: June 24 - 28, 2019! This year's theme is Roar - Life Is Wild. God Is Good!. Roar is an epic African adventure that engages the whole herd. At Roar, kids explore God’s goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life. They'll participate in adventurous Bible learning activities where the stories of our faith are brought to life, sing great worship songs, play teamwork-building games, make and create delicious treats, and memorable crafts to help them remember the lessons learned in VBS. For more information and a registration form visit our VBS Webpage today!

Join us at St. Albert the Great Church, 212 Welsh Road, in Huntingdon Valley, on April 6, from 8 AM to 1 PM for our annual indoor flea market; a bargain hunter's paradise! It's thee place to buy, sell, bargain, and enjoy a nice outing with family and friends. New and gently used treasures await. Shop early with roughly 50 vendors for the best selection! Hot dogs, beverages, and other assorted menu items available for refreshment. Proceeds benefit Knights of Columbus Council 7925. Table rentals are $18.00 ea. or two for $35.00. For information on table rentals for vendors, please contact Ray McLaughlin at 215-512-1729. Setup and breakdown for this event is a great opportunity for youth in need of service hours too.

Father Kapaun, a Catholic Army Chaplain during the Korean War, and and Medal of Honor Recipient, left a lasting impact on the world by living a life of virtue. His life and example serve as inspiration for Kapaun's Men; men guided by the Holy Spirit and inspired by the witness of Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun. Kapaun’s Men unites men in prayer, formation and discussion in order to courageously respond to God’s universal call to holiness and become better husbands, fathers, leaders and friends.

This Lent, men of the parish are invited to participate in Kapaun's Men Virtue Series, a 7-part video series with accompanying workbook that dives into the virtues as exemplified by Father Kapaun. Men from many walks of life help us to understand what virtue can look like in men's lives today and encourage us to put it into practice. The videos and materials are available on FORMED.ORG. Haven't subscribed to FORMED.ORG yet? Use the link to sign up for free today!

The series is free and begins March 1. Men of the parish can participate in one of three ways:

• Join other men for weekly discussion of the material and video series on Friday mornings from 6:45 - 7:45 AM in the rectory basement (enter via the garage entrance). Our time together will include fellowship and time to pray with and for each other.
• Can't make Friday mornings? Join our online discussion group at FORMED.ORG where a brief reflection on that week's video will be posted along with a question (or two) for online discussion. We'll even include a weekly challenge for you to work on so that you may grow in your relationship with the Lord and those you love.
• or Gathering a few of of your buddies at your home during Lent to work through this series instead, just contact Dennis M. Mueller at 215-947-3641 for details on how to set up your own home study.

Spirituality of the Saints for Today's Hectic Life. Join us this Lent as we explore the spirituality of three incredible saints whose lives can serve as a source of inspiration for those seeking to grow in holiness in a world with competing and conflicting interests. The series begins on March 4, where guest speaker, Paul A. Fisher, MA, LPC, will present on the spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux. Part two will be held on March 25, with Rev. Thomas F. Dailey, O.S.F.S., presenting on the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales. The series will conclude on April 1, with Rev. Christopher Redcay providing insight into the discernment of spirits in tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The series will be conducted in the Holy Family Chapel beginning at 7 PM each evening. Save the dates. More information coming soon!

The Catholic Church in America just completed Vocation Awareness Week, a time when we focus on vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Here in the Archdiocese, over 1000 students in our religious education programs and Catholic grade schools participated in Meet & Greet Webinars with some of our Philadelphia seminarians. These webinars gave students insights into how a young man discerns his vocation and listens for the voice of call in their lives.

Parishes throughout the Archdiocese also just launched Called By Name initiative, asking parishioners to prayerfully look from within their own parishes for men who they believe have the qualities of a good and holy priest.

We are blessed in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with numerous examples of these good and holy men, who God has called to the priesthood. The Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood, in partnership with Joyful Films, is excited to launch a new video about one such priest whose compassion, understanding, and empathy characterize his. Fr. Douglas McKay, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1982. Following various parish assignments, Fr. Doug founded Our House Ministries in the Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia in 1997 and currently still serves as Chaplain. As 'the living and transparent image of Christ the priest' (JPII), Fr. Doug uses the power of prayer and the sacraments in his outreach to those who are struggling with addition.

We invite you to watch and see how Fr. Doug has received and transmitted the mercy, forgiveness, and love of God in his ministry. In this time when there is so much bad news reported about priests and bishops, it is important to be renewed in the power that our Lord Jesus works through the ordained priest, wonderfully exemplified by Fr. Doug.