18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Maria Hayes • July 30, 2025

BACK TO SCHOOL!!!

This Sunday after the morning Masses, the school & parking lot will be filled once again with students, parents, & guardians coming back to school. Holy Family School & Preschool is holding its Back to School meetings. It’s a chance to reconnect with fellow classmates, meet new teachers, and be reminded of expectations. Many will bring in their school supplies and check out their classroom and desk. Some will get their cafeteria accounts started. No doubt, there will be a few checking out the new playground equipment. All the little details that are involved in getting a new school year up and running. I know the different school corporations in our area have slightly different start dates. HFS begins this Wednesday August 6th!


One of the first things we will do on Wednesday is gather together for Mass. In part, we always have Mass on Wednesdays and Fridays when school is in session. On the first day of school, we do push the start time back from 8a to 8:30a to give the teachers a few extra minutes on the first day to gather the children. But it’s important that we start with First Things First. Not only because this is a leadership principle for our Lighthouse certified, Leader in Me school, but because worship of God must always come first. There is no ‘first thing’ before God. All we are; all we have; all we can hope to be as human persons comes first from God. And so, all must be rooted in the first fact that we are created by a loving God in His Image & Likeness, who are made for love & communion with God and neighbor. There is no more perfect way to love, honor, & worship God than to “Do this [the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass] in memory of Me [Jesus]” (Luke 22:19). Why is it the best way? Because it is the specific way that Jesus, our Lord & Savior, instructed us. Can we love God – Father, Son, & Spirit – in lots of ways? Yes, and we should. But, we should first and foremost love & honor God – Father, Son, & Spirit – in the one most perfect way that He has told us to – the Mass. Why the Mass? Because it is the source & summit of our Christian Life. It is the perfect celebration of and participation in the re-presentation of Jesus Christ’s Paschal Mystery – His suffering, death, & resurrection – from which flows our faith, our hope, our love. It is in Christ’s Paschal Mystery that we can rejoice in salvation, forgiveness, and new life. It is from Christ’s Paschal Mystery that we can undertake any challenge with Christ in His Cross & Resurrection.


All of this is true on that first day of school. We undertake not just the education of the children’s minds, but the formation of their whole beings and the salvation of their souls in and through the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ. As we come back to school, this particular parish ministry of our school resumes its partnership with the parents and guardians of the students in their primary duty as first Catechist and formators in the Faith. We undertake the holy labor of not just handing on the precious knowledge accumulated through the ages of humankind in science, math, literature & the arts, but also the rich treasures of God’s own Revelation handed on (tradere – to hand on, the root for tradition) through Christ’s Catholic Church.


Yet, as important as it is to start our Back to School with Mass on Wednesday, is the importance of attending Mass every Sunday and Holy Day with and as a family. Not only does this fulfill God’s Command to ‘keep holy the Lord’s Day’, it reinforces, reaffirms, and recommits the whole family to true Worship of God each week. Resting in God’s peace and remembering who we are as God’s People. It is here together, that we receive the Gifts of God handed on to us in Scripture & Sacrament. It is here together as the Holy Family family.

Welcome back to school – welcome back to your place as God’s People!


Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God.

Holy Family, Learning God’s Plan for Salvation, Pray for us.

~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

By Carolyn Kannapel • September 11, 2025
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Parishioner Janice Starr Renn Passes Away

By Carolyn Kannapel • September 10, 2025
Janice Starr Renn, age 80, of New Albany, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 7, 2025. Janice was born in New Albany, Indiana, on February 20, 1945, to the late George W. Gilmore and Gertrude M. (Weinmann) Gilmore. She was a faithful member of Holy Family Catholic Church, New Albany, Indiana. Janice spent several years serving the American Legion Post #28. She enjoyed playing golf as a member of Valley View Golf Course and founding member of her local bunco club with friends and former classmates. Janice is preceded in death by her parents; her loving daughter, Kimberly; her grandchildren, Brad and Jill Camm; and her sister, Carol Miller-Gilmore. Janice is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Frank Renn; daughter, Deborah (Greg) Karem; her sister, Georgie and Mary Catherine; her brothers, Dennis, Eddie, Nelson (Cindy), and Tony (Martha); many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. 

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Carolyn Kannapel • September 4, 2025
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Carolyn Kannapel • August 29, 2025
Leo's Labor Day

Parishioner Charlotte E. Koch Passes Away

By Maria Hayes • August 19, 2025
Charlotte E. Koch, 86, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday August 12, 2025. She was the former Charlotte Cooper, born in Vine Grove, KY. to the late James and Laura Cooper. Charlotte was a registered nurse and worked at Floyd Memorial Hospital for over 35 years. She was a Red Hat Lady and a very active member of Holy Family Catholic Church where she volunteered for many of the parish ministries for over 55 years. Her passion however, was that she loved going to her many grandchildren’s events and attending New Albany High School basketball games. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson: Mason Brown. Charlotte is survived by her husband of 64 years: William P. Koch Jr., her children: Jeannine Michell(Steve), Steve Koch(Annette), Bill Koch(Shawn), Kevin Koch(Renee) and Michelle Kristiansen(Dave), her sisters: Lauren Hobbs(Ronnie) and Stephanie Clark(Kenny), 22 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

We’re Hiring: Director of Mission and Outreach

By Maria Hayes • August 10, 2025
Holy Family Catholic Parish in New Albany, Indiana, is seeking a Director of Mission and Outreach —a dynamic leader passionate about sharing the Gospel, welcoming others, and building a vibrant parish community. The Director of Mission and Outreach will work closely with our pastor to: Lead evangelization and hospitality efforts to welcome new members and engage the unchurched. Coordinate outreach ministries, volunteer opportunities, and parish service projects. Support pastoral care efforts such as Communion visits and ministry to the homebound. Foster spiritual growth and community life through small groups and parish-wide initiatives. This ministry role is an opportunity to bring our parish mission to life —forming intentional disciples, strengthening parish engagement, and extending Christ’s love beyond our walls. The ideal candidate is a practicing Catholic who is deeply committed to their faith, gifted in communication and organization, and eager to serve others. How to Apply: View the full job description here and send your resume and cover letter to Fr. Jeremy Gries at frgries@holyfamilynewalbany.org .  Please join us in praying that God will send the right person to serve in this vital ministry!

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Maria Hayes • August 7, 2025
Faith and Understanding

2025-2026 Sunday Missal Pre-Order

By Maria Hayes • July 30, 2025
Again this year, we are only pre-ordering Sunday missals. Missals will be distributed in November. Payment will be due at the time of pickup. Adult missals are $5 each, and children's missals are $8 each. (Adults and children in OCIA, children in 2nd Grade preparing for First Communion, and all Family Formation students will receive a missal in their classes and do not need to order one.) Pre-orders must be placed by Sunday, September 14, at bit.ly/4lS3VMH (case sensitive). We will contact you when the missals arrive to pick yours up and turn in your payment. Contact Kristina Seipel with questions at kseipel@holyfamilynewalbany.org or 812-944-8283, ext 4.

Magdalenes Fall Series Registration Open

By Maria Hayes • July 30, 2025
You're invited to join our women's ministry program! Magdalenes exists to provide a space for relationships to grow—with God and with others. Each night, a recorded "Voice of Influence" will present a topic related to our discipleship walk, followed by time for discussion and prayer. Father Jeremy will lead the final session live. Please register at the link below so we can ensure we have enough seats and snacks, and so we can send you all the necessary information. Gatherings are held on Mondays from 6-7 PM. Please save the following dates: September 8, 22, October 13, 27, November 10, and 24. Contact Kristina Seipel with questions at kseipel@holyfamilynewalbany.org or 812-944-8283, ext. 4. "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:9)

Apologetics Returns on September 2

By Maria Hayes • July 30, 2025
Often, as Catholics, we get asked questions about why we believe what we believe. People are searching for the truth, and sometimes this comes out as an argumentative question. As Catholic Christians, it is important that we know our faith, not only so we can defend it but also so that we can put it into practice in our daily lives. Join us on the first Tuesday of the month after Mass for Apologetics. We will dive into a “common question” topic, looking at Scripture and the Catechism. Save the date: September 2, November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3, April 7, and May 5. Apologetics meets from 6:45 to 7:45 pm in the Cafeteria. No RSVP is required. Contact Kristina Seipel at the parish office or kseipel@holyfamilynewalbany.org with questions. “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” (Archbishop Fulton Sheen)