Hello St. Alphonsus,

Celebrate Sunday Mass at

St. Alphonsus!

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The connection between Jesus and his Father, between Jesus’ work and the work of the Father, is made clear in the Gospel. Jesus is in the Father, and God the Father is in Jesus. As God spoke his name to Moses, “I am,” so too Jesus speaks his name to his disciples: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” The revelation of the Trinity is completed in the passage that follows the reading, and it is the Gospel for next Sunday. Because Jesus goes away, the Father will send in Jesus’ name the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will continue the work of the Father and of Jesus.

Our parish school, Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts, will be celebrating a special May crowning Mass on Monday May 8 at the 8:30 AM Mass, with the school choir leading us in song. All parishioners are welcome to attend this tradition of honoring and crowning of the Virgin Mary as our queen.

Congratulations and God’s blessings on the children from the parish who will receive the Eucharist for the first time this weekend! They have prepared w/ their families, in classes and by celebrating Mass on Sundays. Special thank you to all our wonderful catechists who have helped them prepare. 

Daily prayer keeps you in good relationship with the LORD, and yourself.

Invite your friends/loved ones to Mass! Sunday Mass schedule in English is at 9 AM, 11 AM, and 5 PM. Mass in Spanish is at 12:30 PM.

Mass Readings for Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 7 Parish Bulletin

Volunteer at St. Alphonsus! Our Cleaning Angels Ministry will be serving our parish this Saturday, May 6 from 9–10:30 AM. All parishioners are invited to join us as we help to clean and beautify our Saint Alphonsus Church! It is our duty as good Catholics to be of service to our faith community and our local parish! All cleaning products provided; no online sign-up; simply come to the Church in the morning. 

If you would like to become more involved in various parish ministries, please complete a brief survey! We invite you to join us in responding to the vocational call of our shared baptism. Please consider the ways in which you may be generous with your time and talent for the sake of the Kingdom of God and the mission with St. Alphonsus. 

Our parish Knights of Columbus council hosts their monthly meeting Monday May 8 at 7:30 PM in the rectory Common Room. If you are a practicing Catholic man who is interested in the KoC, contact parishioner Carlos Medina.

Confessions are heard Saturday at 11 AM and Wednesday at 6:30 PM. Please note that there will no Reconciliation sacrament on Saturday, May 20 as all available priests will be at Holy Name Cathedral for the Ordination of the new Archdiocese of Chicago priests.

Soon to be ordained Father, Deacon Michael Mehringer will celebrate his first Mass as a priest on Sunday May 21 at the 9 AM Mass. Be sure to give Father Mehringer congrats!! There will be coffee and donuts afterwards in the church narthex.

A few neat throwback pics for those old enough to remember... Old Southport: Zum Deutschen Eck

Do you have upcoming exciting events that you would like to share with our St. Alphonsus Church and our parish school communities? You can share them here!

Did you know that you can view all upcoming church events on the calendar on our website? If your ministry has an event that you would like to host at St. Alphonsus, you can complete the Plan An Event form. Any inquiries can also be directed to the parish Office Manager, Mario Serrano.

Faith Formation News

Rev. Steven Bauer and our parish staff are always open to the faithful in assisting with your spiritual journey. May God bless us with patience and peace as we seek to live in harmony with one another and all creation!

Spring Your Kids into Totus Tuus Summer Camp

The Archdiocese is bringing the Totus Tuus summer camp back to St. Alphonsus, July 23-28. It’s like a week-long vacation Bible school, only way more fun and active.

This is a super fun camp that also helps children grow in their Catholic faith. And at $75 for a week of summer camp… how can you beat that? It’s currently limited to only 50 kids, and registration will fill.

Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 2:30 PM for students entering grades 1-6

Register Here!

Sunday – Thursday from 7 PM – 9:30 PM for middle school and high school students entering grades 7 – 12. Register Here!

Walking With Purpose- A Modern Woman's Guide to the Bible

Our women's bible study finished their session and will return in October 2023. A recent survey showed that all participants love the program and it helped grow their faith and relationships! Questions? Contact Susan Combes

The McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame is looking to hire a Digital Marketing specialist. For more info.  

May is the Month of Mary!

Honoring Mary

During the month of May, Our Mother, Mary is specially honored through devotions all around the world. Below are suggested resources to consider for faith formation with children & families. 

Why is May the Month of Mary? 

9 Ways to Celebrate the Month of Mary 

Honoring Mary in the Month of May with Kids  

Introducing Children to the Blessed Mother 

How to Celebrate Mary, Mother of the Church 

Mary Resources 

Young Adult Ministry

Service Event— Cradles to Crayons

Come join St. Alphonsus and St. Mary of the Lake’s young adult ministries at Cradle to Crayons on Saturday May 13th!

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. They supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities. As volunteers, we will process and package donations.

We will carpool from St. Alphonsus around 12 PM. Sign up at the form here!

Other Young Adult Events around the Archdiocese:

Young Catholic Professionals Chicago will be hosting a networking social on Tuesday May 9 at Joy District, 112 W. Hubbard. Meet and mingle with other young professionals from across the Chicagoland area and learn how YCP Chicago can empower both your professional and faith life. All young professionals in their 20s and 30s are welcome to attend!

Bishop Lombardo/Mission OLA is hosting their Vicariate III semi-monthly dinner for young adult Catholics on Tuesday May 9 at St. Hyacinth, 3636 W. Wolfram.

Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts

Help raise your voice to state legislators, so that thousands of children can continue receiving a great Catholic education in the future. Contacting your legislator is simple and takes less than one minute to complete. Let your legislators know you value the Illinois Invest In Kids Act, what it means to our 4,200 students from low-income and working-class families receiving these Tax Credit Scholarships, and ask them to #RemoveTheSunset!

Passed in 2017, the Illinois Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students from low-income and working-class families to attend their best-fit school. The program is a proven success with bipartisan voter support, awarding nearly 44,000 scholarships throughout the state. Despite its immense success, the Tax Credit Scholarship Program is a pilot program. It has a sunset clause which will end the program in 2023, unless our state lawmakers vote to extend the pilot or make the program permanent.

Many deserving students would not be able to attend our Catholic schools without these scholarships. Please join us now in our efforts to #RemoveTheSunset! Share the link with family and friends and help spread the word!

"Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3: 9-10)

What Does It Mean To Give First Fruits?

If you would like to learn more about living a stewardship way of life, please visit our section on giving on our website, or contact a member of our parish stewardship team by calling the rectory at 773-525-0709 or by emailing parish Director of Operations Daniel Szymanski.

Thank you and God bless you!

• Text sunday to 773-570-7600
• Click on the link you receive via text
• Fill in the information and click "Submit Form" to make your gift!

At the Athenaeum

Nicodemus- Now through May 14

“Now there was a man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, who came to Jesus at night…” -John 3:1

Based on the true story found in the gospel of John, Nicodemus is a contemporized retelling of the Biblical account, set in modern day. Nicodemus, an influential member of the clergy, meets Jesus face-to-face for the first time. That confrontation sets off a series of events that causes him to question his most foundational beliefs, and be a part of history’s biggest event.

The Pharisees were most criticized by Jesus for their virtue signaling. Their desire for praise from others motivated their every move. Jesus condemned their need for approval from men over their need for approval from God. In this contemporary retelling, Nicodemus takes a look at the way virtue signaling over dedication to God disrupts religious communities in the modern day. 

Living the Gospel of Life

Fully Alive Podcast

Click here to listen to the April episode in which Dawn Fitzpatrick, Senior Coordinator for Human Dignity and Solidarity for the Archdiocese of Chicago Respect Life office speaks with Mary Kate Zander, Executive Director of Illinois Right to Life, and parishioner at St. Alphonsus, about life issues in Illinois.

Blessing for Expectant Mothers/ Bendición en Español para las Madres Embarazadas

All are invited to St. Joseph Church at St. Oscar Romero Parish on Mother's Day for Mass and a special blessing of all mothers, especially expectant mothers, with Bishop Lombardo. Mass and the blessing will be in Spanish. See the flyer here for more details.

Por favor acompáñenos en la Iglesia de San José en la Parroquia de San Óscar Romero el Día de las Madres para una bendición especial para todas las madres, especialmente las madres embarazadas, con el obispo Lombardo.

ECHO Retreat

June 23 – 25 | Casa Iskali

Our Lady of Guadalupe Campus

9430 West Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 

ECHO is a dynamic and immersive Catholic retreat experience of St. John Paul II’s landmark teaching called the Theology of the Body. This year, ECHO Chicago is geared towards young adults. ECHO is not just an intellectual exercise, but a journey into the heart where we discover the “distant echo” of God’s plan for life and love from the very beginning.

Find more information here.

Around the Archdiocese

May 12^th- Mass and Holy Hour for an increase in vocations with Cardinal Cupich

On Friday, May 12th, the Vocation Office will be hosting a Mass and Eucharistic Holy Hour for Vocations, as well as to pray for those who will be ordained to the diaconate and priesthood. We invite you to come and pray for an increase in all vocations. The Mass and Holy Hour are open for all and will be held at Holy Name Cathedral (735 N. State St.) from 5:30 PM-7:00 PM. Cardinal Cupich will be the main celebrant along with priests, seminarians, religious, and the lay faithful from across the Archdiocese. Parking is available.

Golden Wedding Mass: Congratulations to all of the couples celebrating 50 years of marriage this year! The Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass is scheduled to be held Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 2:30 PM The mass will be celebrated at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60654. If you and your spouse would like to be honored, please register here.

Evenings with Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton : Five-part series with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry at the Tolton Heritage Center, 44 E. 41st St.; began March 8; upcoming session, May 10: "All Things Tolton"; free of charge; to register.

Chicago's Got Sisters : May 19-20; for young women interested in exploring religious life; includes visits to four convents and time to visit with sisters from several communities; also prayer, personal reflection, service, shared meals and conversation; overnight accommodations provided; to register; for more information, contact Sr. Jess Lambert.

St. Andrew Parish, 3546 N. Paulina are having their annual Baby and Children's Garage Sale on Saturday May 13. They are looking for volunteers to help! Learn more here.

In Francis and Benedict, the thread of the three theological virtues–Faith, Hope, and Love–can be found woven through their encyclical letters: All are invited for a free course on Mondays, through May 22, 6:30PM at St. Gregory the Great Gym Building, 1609 W. Gregory St. To register and more info