Hello St. Alphonsus,

Vielen Dank for a Wunderbar Oktoberfest!

Our annual Oktoberfest weekend has come to an end. Some of you may be heaving sighs of relief at that, some of you might already be gearing up for next year! Whatever your feelings may be, ours is one of immense gratitude. This past weekend was a huge success and raised necessary funds to help our parish, school, and community. We could not have asked for better weather for our Gemütlichkeit and the turnout was spektakulär. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who lent their time and talent to ensure Oktoberfest was a success. We truly could not have achieved this without you. We especially want to thank all our volunteers – you are the backbone of Oktoberfest, and without your help, Oktoberfest wouldn’t 

happen. We look forward to celebrating YOU at the Volunteer Party soon.

Thank you to all of our families and parishioners who attended the Fest. We hope you had as much fun as we did, especially at Kinderfest! This was our best Kinderfest ever, and it made us so happy to see the kids (and some adults) playing and enjoying the train and activities. We love when our school community and parish community come together and celebrate 

being a part of St. Alphonsus, and we are blessed that you all are a part of our Gemeinschaft!

So, vielen Dank an alle for your support and prayers, and we look forward to an even better Oktoberfest next year! Prost!  

Celebrate Sunday Mass at St. Alphonsus!

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

Invite your friends/loved ones to Mass! 

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus poses a question to the chief priests and elders on the meaning of obedience. The parable explores how actions are stronger than words.

Mass Readings for Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time



October 1 Parish Bulletin

Our parish is happy to announce that we will begin offering Saturday morning Mass at 8:30 AM starting October 7.

Praise and Adoration This Friday Sept. 29 at 7:30 PM

Spend time with our Lord in praise and adoration in the church. We'll spend the first 15 minutes in silent adoration, and then our musicians will lead worship in song. Confession will also be available! The hour will conclude with benediction, and we will gather for fellowship at Lincoln Tap after!

This Sunday at the 5 PM Mass, we pray for and honor our Knights of Columbus council for their Officer Installation! For more information about our St. Alphonsus KoC council, contact parishioner Ray San Agustin.

This week's paper bulletin at Mass has one error. We will NOT be having Men's Group Adoration next Friday October 6 at 7:30 PM. We will continue the first Friday Adoration in November.

St. Francis Blessing of Pets- Wednesday October 4 at 2 PM in St. Alphonsus/AACA parking lot. 5:30 PM on Veranda before 6 PM Mass.

Donate Shoes for Refugees

Our St. Vincent DePaul chapter is accepting shoe donations for all the refugees currently staying at the Chicago Police District on Addison near Halsted. You will find bins marked for the shoe collections at the back of the church and at the rectory. There is a particular need for children’s shoes at this time. Shoes dropped off at the rectory should be done during regular business hours. Thank you for your kind generosity! In lieu of shoe donations, you can also support our St. Vincent dePaul chapter with a monetary gift.

Cub Scout Registration Open Through October 6

Registration for scouting with Pack 3889 is open for all participants grades 1-5 for the 2023/2024 year. Register here. We have many fun adventures planned and we are in need of a parent Den Leader for our 3rd Grade Bears Den! We would love you to give Scouting a try! Please contact the Pack with any questions! Thank you 

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.

Living the Gospel of Life!

In October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is designated as Respect Life Sunday. We consider more deeply why every human life is valuable and reflect on how to build a culture that protects life from conception to natural death.

Support The Baby Bottle Project!

This October, our parish will be participating in The Baby Bottle Project benefiting Aid for Women. Aid for Women was founded over 42 years ago on the faith and teachings of the Catholic Church. Aid for Women operates four pregnancy resource centers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Services include pregnancy tests, ultrasound exams and confidential counseling. Aid for Women’s residential programs, Heather’s House and Monica’s House, help women whose decision to choose life is further complicated by lack of adequate housing.

Please take a Baby Bottle home with you this weekend. Fill it with your spare change and return it to church in October. The bottles may be found at the exits as you leave Mass. Thank you! 

Step Up For Life 2023- 5K and Wiffleball Tournament Saturday Oct. 14

Every year, friends of the Women's Center come together to support life and to create and foster our pro-life community. YOU are invited to be a part of this year's event!

Project Rachel is a diocese network of specially trained priests, religious, counselors, and laypersons who provide a team response of care for those suffering in the aftermath of abortion. 

Flyer in English 

en Español

Walking with Moms in Need is a response to Pope Francis’ repeated challenge for Catholic parishes and communities "walk in the shoes" of local pregnant and parenting women in need. To join this effort, please contact Raymund Pingoy, Senior Coordinator of OHDS Respect Life and Chastity Education.

Help pass the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act

Join USCCB in telling the EEOC to leave abortion out of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act!

"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!

Faith Formation News

Register Your Child(ren) for Religious Education! 

Classes have started for our RE program. You can still register for our Religious Education program for the 2023-2024 school year for grades 1st-8th on Tuesday nights at 6:15 PM.

Religious Education Needs Y-O-U!

Are you looking for a deeply meaningful way to serve your community? Do you want to be inspired and challenged to grow in your faith? Do you want to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of the youth? We’d love to have you join our team!

Catechists are needed each Tuesday from 6:00-7:30 PM now through early May to share our Catholic faith with the young people of St. Alphonsus parish. 

In particular, we would love to have a team of more than 12 catechists, particularly in grades 4th - 8th. If you know any adults interested - please have them contact Oksana Kuzma.

Are You Ready To Become Catholic?

Registration is open for The Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.) Each year we are blessed with several individuals who desire to enter and learn more about the Catholic faith. The RCIA program is the study of the Catholic Faith and the process of introduction into the faith community. If you or someone you know is interested in taking the class, please contact our pastoral associate, Brooks Robinson.

Walking With Purpose

Come as you are. You are welcome here!

Make authentic connections with other women; refuel and refresh; Learn more about God

The Touching the Divine bible study focuses on qualities of Jesus revealed through the Gospel of John. This study draws us into a deeper, loving relationship with Jesus as we reflect on His life and personality.

St. Alphonsus Women's Bible Study is on Tuesdays w/ two sessions, one at 9:30 AM and the other at 6:30 PM. Questions? Contact Susan Combes

Men's Group

St. Alphonsus Men’s group meets Thursday nights to pray the liturgy of the hours, have fellowship, and to propose challenging topics to discuss. 

We meet every Thursday night at 7 PM in the rectory. Food and drinks provided. All men are welcome, with most men being in their 20s and 30s. Access can be gained at the west facing rectory door in the parking lot. For questions or more information, contact us here!

Young Adult Ministry

Don’t forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter to make sure you’re in the know of all of our upcoming events!

September YAM Newsletter, upcoming events, County Line Orchard Day trip, and more!

Trivia Night!

Are you the friend whose schtick is sharing random factoids? Or, the one with the most fun party conversations? Well, calling all you trivia fans and friends, alike, to come join us, in the St. Alphonsus' Festival Hall (basement), on Saturday October 21st from 5 PM-8 PM because St. Al’s YAM Trivia is back!

Early Bird cost of tickets is $20 per person (it is a fundraiser! ). Teams of 5-6 people can register individually or together. For anyone registering as a team, simply list the names of everyone in the "Comments" section of the GiveCentral link, during your purchase. Light refreshments, beer and wine are included in the event cost. We will have prizes for 3rd, 2nd and 1st place winning teams. Don't know anyone or don't have 6 people on your team? Fear not! You may also register individually or in a smaller group (2-4 people). We will assign you to a team. All are welcome!



***Please note: pre-registration with payment through the GiveCentral link is required to attend. No walk-ups will be allowed since we have teams.

If trivia isn’t your thing, but still want to join us, consider volunteering as well!

For bonus points to your team’s final score, bring 2 unopened, unexpired, non-perishable food items! All items will be donated to Nourishing Hope- the Lakeview food pantry! They especially need pastas, jams and jellies, canned beans, rice, and canned goods with pop-tops!

For any questions or concerns, please reach out to the YAM social team!

Learn more and sign up here!

More Young Adult Events Around the Archdiocese

Join YCP Chicago and Catholic Charities Junior Board on Tuesday, October 10th for an Executive Speaker Series event, featuring Michael Monticello, Managing Director at CIBC and Board Chair of Catholic Charities.

Young adults in their 20s and 30s from ALL industries are invited to this free event, where you will learn insights about the integration of faith and work and network with other young Catholic professionals from the Chicagoland area over complimentary beer, wine, and appetizers

Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts

Click on the logos for more info about Grandparents Day next Friday Oct 6 and Rocket Run Oct 12-13!

Around the Archdiocese

Quigley Days is designed for high schoolers ages 13-18 who desire to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, build brotherhood, and learn about and discern the priesthood. Join Fr. Tim and some of our seminarians for our first Quigley Days of the year on September 30 from 9 AM – 2 PM. Mass and adoration at St. James in Arlington Heights, then lunch and Paintball Explosion in East Dundee. Please register here if you would like to attend. Contact Katie Hazen with any questions.

All senior citizens are invited to a Growing In Grace gathering on Saturday September 30 at 9:30 AM at St. Clement.

Can't get enough of Oktoberfest? St. Benedict, 2215 W. Irving Park is hosting their Fest this weekend, Sept. 29-Oct 1.

St. Edward Parish, 4350 W. Sunnyside, will be hosting their Autumn Fest on Saturday, October 7. Kick off Autumn with a bash celebrating Mass, serving food and live entertainment from Dave Weld & the Imperial Flames.

Need some space for prayer and spiritual refreshment? Trying to figure out what God has in store for you? Or, most importantly, discerning religious life? All women are invited to Come and See on October 27 to 29 in Justice, Illinois and allow God to speak to your heart. He is waiting!

The NIght Ministry Associate Board presents their Night Lights gala benefit on Thursday Oct 5 from 6 to 9 PM at Marshall’s Landing at the Merchandise Mart! Enjoy dinner, drinks, a silent auction, and more.

The night’s proceeds will go to support two of their Youth Programs: Interim, which offers short-term housing for young people, and Parenting with Purpose, which offers long-term housing for young mothers and their children.

Get your tickets online