Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Maria Hayes • April 14, 2025

Blessed Palm Sunday to you. As we enter into to this Holy Week, I invite you to truly make it holy. Yes, I know you still have to go to work and school, the grocery and gas station, but really try to quiet down and cut out all those things that are not truly necessary. And we know the difference. Necessary means required to be done, needed, essential. Maybe one of the best exercises we can engage in this week, is to really evaluate the words & actions of our lives in terms of necessary and unnecessary. If the purpose of our life, our birth, our daily struggle, our sufferings, our successes, our whole life is to know, love, and serve God in this life so as to be with Him forever in the next, we must figure out here and now, what is necessary. Use the added holiness of this week to prayerfully discern over the various pursuits of your life in terms of necessity. For this week, set aside those things that are not necessary so as to be more faithful & focused upon that which is truly necessary. Allow this week to unite you to the necessity of your Catholic Christian Faith, of the Sacrifice of Christ, of His immense Love & Mercy, of our need for God in a godless world. If Lent is Catholic Christians at their best, then Holy Week should necessarily be Catholic Christians fully for Christ.


For much of the world and most people, this is just another week. They will go along as if nothing in particular is happening. They will follow their normal routines, engage in their normal activities, pursue their normal professions. Will that be us as well? Is this going to be Wholly a week for Christ and therefore a Holy Week, or will we just make a whole in our normal endeavors to admit Christ’s cross for a moment or to rejoice in the empty hole in the ground, known as tomb. If your faith is more than words upon our lips or a few pious thoughts from time to time, it should be manifest itself in the whole of your life, especially as we enter into Holy Week.


We all engage in unnecessary endeavors. I do to! Some unnecessary pursuits could, maybe should, just be abandoned altogether. Yet, unnecessary does not always mean unimportant. There could be unnecessary pursuits given the greater religious significance of this week, that simply allow those unnecessary pursuits to take their proper place, so as to justly recognized the real priority and right relationship with God, neighbor, and self. And learning to know the difference between distractions and definitives will help make you Holy.

 

Lenten Adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist

Didn’t sign up? Don’t worry. Just Show up & Pray!


 

Holy Week Schedule


Tuesday Mass at 8a 

Tuesday Stations of the Cross at 6:30p

 

Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7p 

  • Altar of Repose & time for quiet prayer with Christ in DAC until 10p
  • Compline & Night Prayer in community in DAC at 10p

 

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion at 3p

 

Saturday Confessions in the Garden from 8a to 10a

(in the church confessional if weather is incremental)

 

Saturday Easter Vigil with Sacraments of Initiation at 8:55p

 

Sunday Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection at 8a and 10:30a

[No Sunday 6p Mass]


Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God.

Holy Family, Led by the Holy Spirit to the Lord’s Suffering, Death, & Resurrection, 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

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Maria Hayes • July 30, 2025
BACK TO SCHOOL!!!

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)