Testimonials

• Dear Parishioners:

There are many ways we can share the good news of our Lord, Jesus Christ who died so that we may have everlasting life. 

Approximately seven years ago, my wife and I were blessed with our first child.  Since that time, our family has expanded to three beautiful children.  Despite ups and downs, God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams.  We will never be able to repay Him for the blessings He has bestowed upon us, but we are committed to sharing the good news of our Lord, Jesus Christ with our children, family, friends, and co-workers. 
Last summer, when Monsignor Donn expressed a need for Catechism teachers for our parish youth, we decided to help.  After all, we owe everything to God and what better way to evangelize than to share our faith with our parish’s young people.  Our initial thoughts centered on the fact that our youth are our future, and considering the broken world that we live in and the need for religious education, more now than ever, teaching Catechism would be a very small sacrifice that our family could live with. 

While some of our initial thoughts for starting this endeavor did not change over time, what we quickly learned is that me leading Catechism classes (along with several other parishioners who volunteer their time and have been doing so a lot longer than me) is no sacrifice at all.  In fact, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences that I/we have ever encountered.  

Since August, I have had the privilege of leading our Eighth-grade youth on Sunday mornings as they begin their journey toward Confirmation.  The Saint Albert’s staff, Liz Brooks and Brenda Schmidt, have made leading these classes very enjoyable and extremely low stress.  The curriculum being taught to our youth is top notch.  Each Sunday in which I participate in Mass and lead class, I feel on top of the world (I am sure my wife appreciates my good mood too). 

Furthermore, I must humbly admit that the students are not the only ones who have been learning.  I have learned a great deal about our Catholic faith by preparing for and leading the Eighth graders during these Sunday morning gatherings.  I have also learned a great deal from the students.  As a result, I have been able to share things that I have learned with my wife, children, family, friends, and co-workers. 

As we conclude our classes until next fall, I do; however, have one big regret.  That is, my family and I should have started this endeavor a long time ago.  After all, without God we are merely dust and to dust we shall return.   

In closing, I leave you with one final thought.  What can you do (big or small) to share the good news of our Lord, Jesus Christ with those around you? 

-  Al R
 

• My grade school education was eight years at a Catholic School,, where we started each day with Mass. We were taught classes in religion using the Baltiore Catechism.  We had some stories from the Bible-Garden of Eden (original sin), Moses and the Ten Commandments, and others.  From the New Testament- was The Birth of Jesus, John the Baptist, and more.  We never actually studied the Bible. As an adult I had an understanding of the history of my church and my learning of my faith was complete.. 

        
        I have found this past year that meeting every week with other's to read and discuss                Sunday's readings has told me that I need to spend more time learning what the                      message of the readings are.. A Biblical Walk Through Christ's Passion, with the Old                  Testament's passages foretelling of the New Teastament was inspirational.  I want to              do more studying and learning what the Old Testament tells us and apply those l                    lessons to my life..
        -Ruth F
 

• "Everyone should watch Fr. Alar's videos on the Mass. They are wonderful!"