EXHALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
September 14, 2003

September 13, 2003 thru September 21, 2003
SUNDAY MASSES: September 13 and 14

WEEKDAY SCHEDULE: September 15 - 19

SUNDAY MASSES: September 20 and 21

Scripture Readings
Today: Sept. 14: Nm 21, 4b-9;Phil 2,6-11; Jn 3, 13-17
Monday, Sept. 15: 1 Tm 2, 1-8; Jn 19, 25-27
Tuesday, Sept. 16: 1 Tm 3, 1-13; Lk 7, 11-17
Wednesday, Sept 17: 1 Tm 3, 14-16; Lk 7, 31-35
Thursday, Sept. 18: 1 Tm 4, 112-16; Lk 7, 36-50
Friday, Sept 19: 1 Tm 6, 2-12; Lk 8, 1-3
Saturday, Sept. 20: 1Tm 6, 13-16; Lk 8, 4-15

REFLECTING THROUGHOUT THE WEEK

Assembly & Faith-Sharing Groups
How do you distinguish between the inevitable crosses within authentic living from the kind of suffering that is needless?
How does your belief in Jesus enable you to face the inevitable crosses in your life with hope?
What crosses in your life have been exalted?
What cross have you been avoiding but which needs to be taken up with a confident faith and hope?

Hospitality Ministers
Consider how hospitality mediates the hope of exaltation to those “emptied [and] humbled. . . To the point of death” (second reading).

Music Ministers
How does your music ministry lead you to confrontation with the cross? How does this confrontation lead you to glory?

Altar Ministers
Consider how your service empties you and unites you to Jesus the perfect “emptied. . . slave” (second reading). How has your service led you to share in his glory.

Lectors
Proclaiming on this feast implies that you have lived the cross and witnessed exaltation arising out of it. Is this so for you?

Eucharistic Ministers
Call to mind someone who is burdened with a cross and foresees no exaltation. How might you be his or her eucharistic food?

Liturgical Press, St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321, Copyright 2002 by The Order of St. Benedict, Inc. Published by The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota,. Reprinted with permission.

BAPTISM PREPARATION - Baptism preparation sessions are available here at St. Albert. We encourage parents who are expecting a child in the near future to sign up for a session. These sessions will take place on the fourth Sunday of each month at 1:00 PM. Please call Sister Jean Rene to begin the process.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OR ADULTS (RCIA) - Our parish will soon begin a new journey into the faith for those interested in joining our Catholic family. During this time, those interested will come together for Catholic information sessions and sharing of their faith experiences with one another. If you know adults who would like to join the church or are just interested in learning the faith, please inform them about this opportunity and encourage them to call Sr. Jean Rene at (412)884-7744. All of us, as parishioners, are responsible for spreading the Good News of Jesus.

COMING EVENTS

Spaghetti Dinner will be held at St. Norbert’s on September 28, 2003 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Adults $6.00, Children twelve and under, $3.00.

“Surviving and Thriving After Divorce” - an eight-week support group for those facing divorce will meet Wednesday evenings beginning October 15th. For more information or to schedule the required pre-admission interview, call 412-456-6999 by October 6th.

Bishop McDowell students participated in a robotics program over the summer. They learned to build and program robots constructed from Legos. Students will continue this program throughout the school year and enter competition in December and April.

Fourth and Fifth Grade Students are participating in a butterfly migration project. Students are making butterflies that will be sent to a school in Mexico to simulate actual butterfly migration. Students will track butterfly migratory progress on a website until the butterflies reach their final destinations in Mexico. In the spring, when butterflies begin their journey north to the U.S. and Canada, students in Mexico will return the student-made butterflies to Bishop McDowell students.

Bishop McDowell School Calendar Party will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2003, at the Wendell Inn. Come enjoy a relaxing, social afternoon with friends, good food, a super Chinese auction, door prizes, a 50/50 raffle and great fun! Doors open 12:30 PM, lunch will be served at 1:30 PM. Admission tickets are $12.00 per person. (tickets will not be sold at the door). To host a table, to purchase tickets, or for more information, contact Diane Zielinski at (412)881-5908.

CELEBRATING CATECHETICAL SUNDAY: “SOWERS OF GOD’S PEACE” Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated nationwide next Sunday, September 21st. St. Albert the Great Parish will observe this special day with a rite of commissioning for our Catechists at the 9:00 AM Mass. Families are encouraged to attend and celebrate with us. The work of these Catechists, who are volunteers, is vital to the life of the Church. This celebration gives us a chance to recognize the importance of those who share their faith and guide the adults, families, children and youth of our parish on their journey of faith. The Catechists will be in the Narthex of the church after Mass. Be sure to stop and say hello to these very special people. Coffee and donuts will be served after Mass.

Our CCD program needs teachers and aides. If you would like to help, please call Rosina at 412-884-8282

1/2 WAY TO ST. PATRICK’S DAY - Join our parish for a dinner and concert with Cahal Dunne on Saturday, October 4th. Dinner will be served at 6:30 with entertainment beginning at 8:00. Tickets at $20 each are on sale after mass and are available at the rectory. Come celebrate and support the parish!

PLEASE, if you know of any house-bound or shut-in who would like to have communion brought to them, please call the rectory with the information.

LADIES OF CHARITY - QUILTING SESSION - Will be held on Monday, September 29, 2003, at 11:00 AM.

THE CHRISTIAN MOTHERS will be having a card party on Friday, September 26th at 12:00 PM in Hannon Hall. Call Ruth at (412) 882-7743.

Basket of Cheer Family Life Council is accepting donations for a basket of cheer. The basket will be used as part of the October 4th Cahal Dunne fund raiser. Donations may be left at the rectory.