AlbertTIMES / 2020 St. Albert the Great Church, Sun Prairie, WI www.saintalberts.org

What’s Up?

Lenten Regulations ...... pg.2 Ash Wednesday Schedule ...... pg.2 Mass Schedules ...... pg.2

Liturgical Ministry Notes from Cecile ...... pg.3 Altar Server Training ...... pg.3 Music Ministry Needs ...... pg.3

Pastoral Ministry Baptism Preparation & Dates ..... pg.4 Care Team Ministry ...... pg.4 RCIA ...... pg.4 Circle of Friends ...... pg.4 Pastoral Visits ...... pg.4 Marriage Preparation ...... pg.7

Faith Formation/Youth Religious Education ...... pg.5 Youth Ministry ...... pg.5 Confirmation ...... pg.5 First Communion ...... pg.5 Lenten Small Groups ...... pg.5 NCYC ...... pg.5 Frassati Fest ...... pg.6 Vacation Bible School ...... pg.6

Outreach & Special Events Pro-Life ...... pg.3 Youth Ministry Fish Fry ...... pg.5 Love Begins Here ...... pg.6 Albertfest 2020 ...... pg.6

Parish Life Baptisms ...... pg.7 Deaths ...... pg.7 Marriage Prep ...... pg.7 Formed.org ...... pg.7

St. Albert the Great Parish Mission Statement

We, the Catholic Christian Community of St. Albert the Great, strive to see all is holy, to know, to love, and to serve God and others. Lent Lenten Liturgies, Lent is the penitential season of the Sacraments & Devotions Church’s year. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with the Stations of the Cross & Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Benediction Thursday. Lent has six Sundays. Thursdays, 6:00 PM The sixth is called Passion or Palm (March 5th, 12th, 26th and April 2nd) Sunday and marks the beginning of (No Stations of the Cross on March 19th) . Daily Mass Schedule Traditionally, the Lenten season is Tuesdays, 12:10 PM a time of penance throughout the Catholic Church. Lent is a season in Wednesdays, 8:30 AM which prayer, the reception of the sacraments, charity and almsgiving are Thursdays, 8:30 AM emphasized. Fast and abstinence are to be observed on Ash Wednesday Friday, 8:30 AM and . All the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. Reconciliation (Confession) Check our website The Easter Triduum three days begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. It commemorates the Lord’s passion Eucharistic Adoration and death on Good Friday; reaches its high point at the ; and Saturdays, 5:00-6:00 PM (February 29th, March 7th, 14th, 21st & ends on Easter Sunday. Then, the joyful Easter Season of 50 days begins. 28th; April 4th)

Communal Penance Service

Lenten Regulations Thursday, March 19th, 6:00 PM St. Albert the Great The following regulations for Lent

are defined by the Catholic Church: Tuesday, March 24th, 7:00 PM Sacred Hearts, Sun Prairie † Catholics who are 14 and older are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, March 25th, 7:00 PM St. Olaf, DeForest Wednesday, all Fridays in Lent and Good Friday. Holy Thursday † In addition to abstaining from meat, Catholics from age 18-59 are to April 9th fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Those who are bound to Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:00 PM this regulation may eat only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs. Good Friday No solid food should be eaten between meals. April 10th Prayer Service, 8:30 AM † Easter Duty Obligation: After they have received their First Solemn Liturgy, 1:00 PM Communion, Catholics are bound by the obligation of receiving Holy Church will remain open until 3 PM for private devotion Communion at least once per year. This precept should be fulfilled during the Easter Season. Catholics are also bound to confess serious (mortal) sins at least once a year, but this is not limited to the Lenten/ April 11th Easter Season. Blessing of Easter Food, 11:00 AM Easter Vigil Service, 7:30 PM (No Confessions)

Ash Wednesday Easter Sunday Ashes will be distributed at all Masses April 12th on Wednesday, February 26th: Masses: 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM 8:30 AM Mass 12:10 PM Mass 6:00 PM Mass

2 AlbertTIMES Volume 17, No. 1 A publication of St. Albert the Great, Sun Prairie, WI

Liturgy & Music

Cecile Gregory 837-3798

2020 Lenten Season We have recently emerged from the beauty of the Christmas season, and are slowly beginning to notice the lengthening days … ever increasing light to accompany us on the journey home from school or work. The robins have already arrived, and by now many of us have begun hearing the warm, resonant sounds of the great horned owls … whose nesting and egg-laying occurs in the cold of January and February! That should inspire hope for those who long for the coming of warmer weather. Pro-Life Ministry Lent is about to begin, and affords us much time to hope for the On January 22, 2020, our nation observed the 47th beauty of Spring and new life in the Lord of Life. anniversary of the infamous court decision which “allows” for the killing of infants within the womb— Ash Wednesday is on February 26th, and throughout the abortion. On January 21, 2020 we received the Lenten season St. Albert the Great offers special opportunities following profound proclamation from President for communal and private prayer. On four Thursdays in Lent Donald J. Trump … a balm to those across the fruited all are invited to come as we gather together to share in the brief plain who continue to work, pray and sacrifice to end pilgrimage of the Way of the Cross. The four dates for this abortion and all assaults on innocent human life. beautiful meditation on the sufferings of Christ at Calvary are: March 5th, 12th, 26th; April 2nd. The stations begin at 6 PM “Every person—the born and unborn, the poor, the and end shortly after 6:30 PM. Please join us as we walk, pray downcast, the disabled, the infirm, and the elderly— and sing the meditations at each of the 14 Stations of Christ’s has inherent value. Although each journey is different, Passion. (Due to the Communal Penance Service, no Stations of no life is without worth or is inconsequential; the the Cross on March 19th.) rights of all people must be defended. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our Nation proudly and Eucharistic Adoration is available until 1:00 PM after 12:10 strongly reaffirms our commitment to protect the PM Mass on Tuesdays; until 10 AM after 8:30 AM Mass on precious gift of life at every stage, from conception to Fridays; until 6:00 PM after all Saturday 4:00 PM Masses natural death.” throughout Lent. Please consider volunteering to assist one of the numerous pro-life organizations in our area. Stand up Music Ministry Needs to the shredding of human dignity, the Our Choir rehearses on Wednesday commoditization of human life … the killing for evenings at 6:30 PM, and prior to convenience. Support the women who may be each of the three weekend Masses. considering abortion. Adoption is truly a beautiful Do YOU have vocal or option! Pray for the men, women and children who instrumental musical skills that live with grief of having participated in an abortion or could contribute to the beauty of our who are now grieving the loss of a sibling to this Liturgies? We are preparing for Lent and the Easter Season at assault on human existence. We offer many books, this time. Cantors play a very important leadership role, and pamphlets and DVD’s on every possible life issue, free we are in need of more strong vocal leaders. If you have the to be checked out. Look for the bookshelf with the skills and interest, please contact Cecile at 837-3798. beautiful statue of Mother Mary gazing into the eyes of her beloved child, Jesus Christ! Let us pray to end abortion, euthanasia, infanticide and assisted suicide. Training for New Altar Servers We are very much in need of additional new altar servers. Now is the time to come forth if you have a desire to serve in this ministry! Fifth Graders through adults of any age are invited to join. Children serving with their older siblings or parents make wonderful ministry teams. Training is scheduled for two consecutive Saturdays. New altar servers are asked to attend both training sessions: February 29th and March 7th from 1:30-3:00 PM. Please contact Cecile if you wish to join.

AlbertTIMES 3

Pastoral Ministers Deacon Joseph Stafford Joanna Rogers 837-3798 Baptism Preparation

Attendance at a Baptism Prep session Care Team Ministry is required before the Baptism of the What is the Care Team Ministry? The Care Team is made first child in the family. Both parents up of trained volunteers from St. Albert Parish. The Care are expected to attend, so it is best if Team Ministry compassionately serves individuals, couples you find someone who would be glad and intergenerational households of our parish. It is a to look after your child/ren. Baptism neighbor to neighbor ministry. The Care Team can provide Prep sessions are held from 7-8:30 PM rest and relief for primary caregivers. They can stay with the on Monday nights, six times per year loved one for a couple of hours so the caregiver can run in the gathering area/narthex. Please errands, perform chores, sleep or just enjoy a break by use the upper parking lot entrance meeting friends for lunch. The team can provide friendly visits and phone calls (Door 8) on the church side of the to individuals that are homebound. Care Team members are also happy to run building. Thank you. Our next Prep errands, or help with reading, sorting and organizing correspondence. There is Sessions are scheduled for April 6th no charge to the individual or family for the assistance provided by the Care and June 1st. Team. All Care Team contacts are confidential. If you have a need for assistance from the Care Team - or if you are interested in joining the Care Team—please contact Joanna at 837-3798. Baptism Weekends

Baptisms are celebrated once a month RCIA—Rite of Christian usually after Saturday 4:00 PM and Sunday 10:30 AM Masses. The next Initiation of Adults few available Baptism dates are: Lent, historically the time of final preparation March 15 for candidates who are called to become full April 18/19 members of our Church, is traditionally a busy May 9/10 time for our candidates. On the first Sunday of June 13/14

Lent, March 1st, candidates celebrate two rites: To schedule a Baptism, or for more The Rite of Sending will take place at the 10:30 information/questions, please contact Mass at St. Alberts, to offer approval and Joanna 837-3798. Thank you. support of candidates who choose to move forward in the RCIA process with the Rite of Election. The Rite of Election, when candidates from all over the diocese gather with Bishop Hying, at St. John’s Church in Waunakee, Circle of occurs at 3 PM the same day. It celebrates Friends God’s call of each adult who approaches the Easter sacraments—Baptism and/or We generally meet on Confirmation and Eucharist for the first time. the second Wednesdays

Please keep our Catechumen, Tommy Lee, — in of the month in the your prayers throughout Lent, as he prepares to Fireplace Room at church to discuss a be baptized at the Easter Vigil on April 11th. book or movie together. All are Thank you. welcome! Our selection for March 8th is the book, “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah. Selections are subject to change. Future sections Pastoral Visits to the Elderly, Hospitalized or Homebound TBD. Keep current by checking our If you, or someone you know, is unable to make it to Mass on a regular basis and parish website. We hope to see you would like communion brought to the home, please contact Joanna to schedule a there! time for a pastoral visit. Pastoral visits to the hospitals are also available if we know someone is to be hospitalized. If you would appreciate a visit, please tell the admissions staff that you are a member of St. Albert the Great Parish. If you wish to receive the Sacrament of Anointing, contact the Parish Office.

4 AlbertTIMES A publication of St. Albert the Great, Sun Prairie, WI

Religious Education Youth Ministry News

Lauren Wiese This winter has been jam-packed with fun and we have had wonderful Brenda Schmidt opportunities to draw closer to God! 837-3798 Our middle school and high school youth have enjoyed our winter drop-in nights, playing games, praying together, and learning more about our Religious Education Catholic faith. We also offered a few Important Upcoming Dates: service opportunities this winter, March 7th First Communion Meeting #2 including cookie and Christmas card March 14th Confirmation Retreat decorating for local homeless shelters, April 19th Confirmation Rehearsal and a Valentine’s Day party at our April 25th First Communion Retreat local retirement communities. It has April 25/26th First Communion been rewarding to witness the Holy April 29th Confirmation Spirit working through the youth and to see their joy while serving others. Please Pray for those preparing for their First Communion and Confirmation. This spring, we have nearly 50 children preparing to receive their First Communion on April 25th & 26th. Receiving this Sacrament of initiation is an important milestone in the Christian journey, so please pray for the children during their time of faith formation to receive our Lord in the Holy Eucharist for the first In January, we offered our first time! Family, Faith & Fun Night. We had a

We also have over 40 youth that have been preparing over the last two years for great turn out for a night of games, Confirmation. On April 29th, these youth will receive special gifts of the Holy crafts, pizza, bingo and friendship. Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please pray that through their We are looking forward to hosting Confirmation, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, they will develop a more more of these events in the future! intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and an increased ability to practice and Thank you to all the volunteers who evangelize their Catholic faith in every aspect of their lives. helped make it a success! Middle & High School Small Lenten NCYC Groups 2019 In partnership with Sacred Hearts, we are offering In November, a Lenten small groups for both middle and high school few of our youth. We will be reading and discussing Lent: One parish’s youth Day at a Time for Catholic Teens by Katie Prejean headed to McGrady and Tommy McGrady. The small groups will Indianapolis, reflect on the daily readings, pray together, and practice lectio divina throughout Indiana for the the Lenten season. Middle school youth (grades 6-8) will meet from 6:30-7:30 National PM. High School youth (grades 9-12) will meet on the same nights from 8-9 Catholic Youth PM. You should plan having their book prior to our first meeting on February Conference. 18th. Dates are: February 18th, March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 31st and April 7th. NCYC is a great experience for our Please contact Lauren for more information. youth because it allows them to meet thousands of other Catholic youth Youth Ministry Fish Fry … from around the country at the largest gathering of Catholic youth anywhere On February 28th & March 20th come to the Round Table in the U.S.! More the 23,000 where the Knights of Columbus will be helping us put on a attendees celebrate their Catholic faith Fish Fry Fundraiser for our Youth Ministry Program. as they share in daily Mass, talks, and Volunteers are also needed! Both youth and adult volunteers workshops on faith. It is a great are needed to work these Fish Fries and bake desserts. You opportunity to encounter Christ and can sign up to help on our website www.saintalberts.org or contact Lauren. experience the Church in a unique and awesome way!

AlbertTIMES 5 Frassati Fest 2020 Frassati Fest is a three-day experience of catechesis, prayer, friendship, reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration. This year, St. Albert Church brought eleven high school teens to the retreat. It was an inspiring weekend of growth and reflection. We had a lot of fun getting to know one another and reflect on our faith. Bishop Hying Albertfest 2020 ~ even surprised us by celebrating Mass and speaking with us on Saturday night! Celebrating Our Love Begins Here Mission Trips 52nd Anniversary! Middle school and high school youth—join us at Love Begins Here (LBH) this summer! LBH is a program Mark your calendars … Albertfest that provides middle and high school youth with an is July 17th-19th. This year’s opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ in a life festival plans are already changing way through local mission trips where they underway. We are all looking live in Catholic community and continue Jesus’ work forward to our parish community on earth. Please register using the link found on our website! coming together and having a little Act fast—spots are limited! https://saintalberts.org/summer-mission-trip fun!

High School LBH (current 9-12th grades): June 28-July 3 in Janesville How Can You Help?

Middle School LBH (current 6-8 grades): July 19-22 in Ashton Raffle sponsorships are now available. 30,000 tickets will be We are also looking for adult lead missionaries! If you are 21 years or printed this year. If you would like older and are passionate about your Catholic faith, working with teens and to become a raffle sponsor, there service work, we want you! Please reach out to Lauren if you are interested. are forms in the narthex, available online on the Albertfest tab on the Follow our Instagram page @stalbertyouthmin for information on youth St. Albert website or you an email ministry events! Michelle Perko at 837-3798. Vacation Bible School 2020 Rocky Railway: Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through

Once again, St. Albert the Great will be hosting a week-long Vacation Bible School event. This will be held August 10th-14th. This year’s theme is “Rocky Railway: Jesus’ power pulls us through”. Children entering 1st grade through 5th grade are invited to attend, while older children and adults are encouraged to volunteer. Join us for five fun-filled days! During VBS, kids discover through life’s ups and downs that Jesus’ power pulls us through. Kids participating in memorable Bible-learning activities, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, engage in snack-eating experiences, take part in one-of-a-kind Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them to trust Jesus, and test out or create Sciency-Fun gizmos they’ll take home and play with all summer long. Plus, kids will learn to look for evidence of God all around them through something called God Sightings. Each day concludes with the Rocky Wrap-Up that gets everyone involved in living what they’ve learned.

Calling All Volunteers! Volunteering for VBS summer will be a rewarding experience that allows you to share in the excitement of youth so please consider helping out during the week. Volunteering is open to anyone Grades 6 and up, including adults. The link to sign-up will be posted closer to the event.

Thank you in advance for your dedication to helping our youth grow in Faith! See the Registration form on the St. Albert the Great website. Any other questions can be directed to Brenda at [email protected].

6 AlbertTIMES A publication of St. Albert the Great, Sun Prairie, WI Marriage Prep at St. Albert’s

The custom at St. Albert’s Parish is that couples seeking marriage need to be registered members of the parish for a minimum of six months, or have November 16, 2019 parents who are registered members **Hailey Diane Brecklin, daughter of here, before a wedding date will be Adam and Sarah added to the parish calendar. November 19, 2019 Additional information can be found **Dora Esther Sambou, daughter of by clicking on the sacraments tab on Paul & Catherine our parish website, **Matthew Paul Gibba, son of www.saintalberts.org. Other elements Paul & Catherine Sambou of the preparation process include Margaret “Muggsy” Crawford November 30, 2019 November 26, 2019 meeting with a FOCCUS sponsor **Lorelei Elinora Penza, daughter of couple, and participation in two Christopher & Kimberly John (Jack) Louis McMahon diocesan Marriage Prep Days. December 15, 2019 December 6, 2019 Typically, we ask that you allow a **Harrison Gabe Green, son of minimum of six months to complete Sharon K. Meier Matthew & Rachael the preparation process, once you are December 24, 2019 eligible to set your wedding date. January 12, 2020 Please contact Joanna with any **Grace Clare Giese, daughter of Dorothy May Schmitt Matthew & Rachael January 17, 2020 questions and to schedule an initial meeting. January 19, 2020 Stella M. Weisensel **Margaret Virginia Kruse, daughter January 28, 2020 FORMED.ORG: The of David & Meredith **Maria Cecilia Ferreira Terracina, Catholic Faith On Demand daughter of Mike & Lissa Did you know St. Albert the Great has **Edison James Russell, son of purchased a subscription to formed.org Ryan and Molly for all of our parishioners? Diving into **Gabriel Jerome Rohmeyer, son of the beauty of the Faith has never been Aloysius & Amy easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet connected device.

Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies … there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church. If you haven’t taken advantage of this incredible resource, please give it a try. You won’t be disappointed! We have used many of these videos in our Adult Religious Education classes, bible studies, and in the Children’s Religious Education and Sacramental preparation programs.

Signing up is easy.  Visit formed.org  Click “Sign Up”.  Select “I Belong to a Parish or Organization”. Select St. Albert the Great  Enter your email. That is it! Now you can view or listen to over 4,000 titles on almost any device. Enjoy! AlbertTIMES 7 Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving

When I was first in parish work, I remember the parish priest talking with the schoolchildren about the topic of Lent and prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. He asked them if any of them knew what fasting was. After a very long wait, one student raised his hand and said, "It is what I do when my Mom is mad at me. I run really fast!" The adults in the assembly burst into laughter.

Laughter is good. However, the Lenten devotions of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are very serious practices for us as we prepare to celebrate the Easter mysteries.

As our catechumens prepare for the Easter sacraments, we are called by the Church to model what it means to be Catholic Christians. We are called, especially during this Lenten season, to pray, fast, and give from the wealth we have to those who need our assistance.

This season is not merely a season of obligation to act more intently as God calls us to act; it is a season of opportunity to practice the foundation of our faith more attentively: prayer, fasting, almsgiving. ~ Author, Dean Daniels

8 AlbertTIMES A publication of St. Albert the Great, Sun Prairie, WI