Easter Challenge #7

Three (3) Reasons Why You Like St Albert's
1. We have a wonderful, friendly parish community. I feel like I know everybody! (and I can spot a newcomer!)
2. Father Joe. He is like a big kid, and I appreciate his joy and exuberance.
3. Jesus is PRESENT whenever I visit the church or Adoration chapel. I'm grateful to be able to be with Him.
 
What event/s in St Albert's do you like and why?
I have helped with many events at St. Albert's. The latest adventure was teaching the kindergarteners at TLC, where I usually have older children. It was SO MUCH FUN. The kids were bright and learning their faith. They surprised me with their knowledge. There were also lots of smiles and laughs. They were full of hope, innocence, trust, and life, and it gave me energy to be with them in their childlike simplicity.  
 
Share any fun, good, or inspirational stories about the parish 
I am deeply grateful for St. Albert’s—it has been a constant in my life, a place of refuge in both joy and sorrow. In 2020, I felt lost. At the start of the pandemic, we lost our baby, Maximilian, and my faith faltered. I doubted God’s presence, feeling invisible in my struggle. I believed that while others might mourn my loss of faith, no one would truly pursue me or help me find my way back. I felt alone. But I was wrong. Father, along with others from the parish, reached out, making time to listen, encourage, and remind me that I mattered. Their care and presence were unexpected, but what I needed. One moment in particular stands out to me. After the parish festival, a friend shared that people had asked about me—that someone was concerned and wanted to know how I was doing. I was surprised that anyone noticed my struggles or wondered if I was okay. It was a small gesture, but it moved me. I was seen. I was loved. My presence mattered. I do not understand suffering or life’s losses. God is God—I am not meant to understand all things. Still, He is present in it all, walking beside me. He notices when I stray and longs for me to return. And in His great love, He sends others to find us. He pursues us all, longing to love us deeply—if we allow ourselves to receive it. I am grateful for the community at St. Albert's.