Celebrate Sunday Mass at St. Alphonsus!
Daily prayer keeps you in good relationship with the LORD, and yourself.
Life must be protected and defended! Please pray for our Supreme Court and women everywhere as arguments continued this week in Dobbs v. Jackson, a historic case that directly challenges Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.
Wednesday, Dec. 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass times will be at 8:30 AM and at 6:00 PM. Following the 6 PM, from 7-9:30 PM, there will be adoration, rosary, and praise and worship/benediction at 9:30 PM in honor of the feast day.
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.
The Archdiocese of Chicago has issued a statement that, in accordance with the city, masks will now be required at all liturgies, including Masses. You can read the statement here.
St. Alphonsus have limited quantity free Word on Fire and Little Blue Book Advent reflection books to help you keep the season as well as 2022 calendars available at Mass this Sunday.
Christmas Mass Schedule:
Christmas Eve Friday, Dec. 24 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 11:00 PM
Christmas Day, the Nativity of the Lord Saturday, Dec. 25 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
Sunday, Dec. 26, the Most Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph; Regular Sunday Mass Schedule
Men's Evening prayers group (Vespers) continue on Wednesdays from 8:30 to 9 PM in the church sanctuary.
Knights of Columbus Food Drive- Our parish Knights council will be hosting their monthly food drive this Saturday December 4 from 10 AM– Noon in support of Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. The drive takes place in the St. Alphonsus parking lot near the garage. Donations of nonperishable food items can also be placed in the labeled bins in the vestibules of the church. Thank you for your generosity!
Sunday, December 12th, the Church will honor Mary in the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, remembering the day when an image of her appeared on the cloak of St. Juan Diego, a humble Aztec farmer, in 1531. The miracle sparked a massive conversion of the indigenous peoples to the Catholic faith and ended the Aztec rituals of human sacrifice. She is honored as the patroness of Mexico, of the Americas, and venerated as the Patroness of the Unborn. Our parish will celebrate by holding Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 12:30 PM which will be followed by a Fiesta in the Festival Hall at 1:30 PM. A daily Novena is prayed at 7 PM now through Dec 11, except on Sunday, where the novena will be prayed following the 12:30 Mass. All are invited! Please support our fund to offset costs of flowers to decorate the Mary altar. Thank You!!
Service Opportunities
In anticipation of our Christmas liturgies, St. Alphonsus Cleaning Angels ministry are looking for volunteers to help clean and beautify our Church! This service project will take place on Saturday, December 18 from 9 AM to 11 AM. Come and help out your church! This will involve basic cleaning such as wiping the pews, vacuuming and more. We all know St. Alphonsus is a spacious church and caring hearts and hands are needed.
Want to get in that Christmas spirit? Mission of Our Lady of the Angels, 3814 W. Iowa St, are looking for volunteers to help pack toy bags next week or the week after during the week! Check out the time slots here , Please E-mail Sr. Stephanie with any questions.
Boy Scouts Wreath Sale; The St. Alphonsus Scout Troop 889 are selling wreaths again this season. Get your own home ready for the holidays, plus these make great gifts for family and friends! Each item purchased also funds the planting of an evergreen seedling in one of our National and State Forests. Go to www.giftitforward.com, enter fundraising code tr889il001, and find your favorite wreath, centerpiece, holiday door spray, or mini tree! Thank you from all our Scouts!
It's the Year of St. Joseph. Let us remember to celebrate a saint the Holy Father called a beloved, tender, accepting and courageous father. Find resources here
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!
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St. Alphonsus Giving Tree
Our Giving Tree is now up in the narthex of the church! St. Alphonsus will be taking part in the annual Celebration of Giving. Grab any number of tags and return your gift(s) to church on Sunday or you may drop off at the rectory office during business hours. This wonderful service project annually 'makes Christmas' for hundreds of those less fortunate. Our Giving Tree will be in support of recipients of Catholic Charities and the Women's Center.
Thank you for your generosity; these gifts are possibly the only ones they will receive this upcoming Christmas!
The parish office will also be open this Saturday Dec. 4 and on Dec. 11 from 9 AM to Noon to better accommodate those wishing to drop off their Giving Tree gifts.
The Giving Tree will be extended to next Sunday Dec. 12! The absolute last day St. Alphonsus can accept gifts would be Wednesday Dec 15, as we could not guarantee delivery to the recipient by Christmas after that date.
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Young Adult Ministry
St. Alphonsus has a vibrant young adult community! Be sure to check out our Facebook page for service opportunities and other future events!
Join St. Alphonsus YAM and Young Catholic Professionals Chicago on Saturday, December 11th for the St. Joseph Saturday Retreat! St. Joseph
Saturday is a FREE half-day retreat (open to all young adults in their 20s and 30s), where young adults are encouraged to “look upon work with the eyes of faith” and see God’s presence in their vocations and professional lives. The retreat will include talks, group discussion, and prayer, and it will be a time to reflect on the life of YCP's patron saint, St. Joseph the Worker. Register now at https://bit.ly/ycpretreat21
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Faith Formation
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!
Walking With Purpose- A Modern Woman's Guide to the Bible
Join us at St. Alphonsus this Winter on Tuesdays as we help you enjoy a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ, nurtured through personal Bible study and small group discussions created just for women! Walking with Purpose meetings are from 9:30-11 AM and 6:30-8:30 PM. Contact Susan Combes for more information.
Christmas w/ The Chosen: The Messengers in Theaters
Continuing through Friday Dec. 10, The Chosen has a new movie now playing at 3 Chicago area movie theaters! The incredibly popular series on the life of Jesus, The Chosen, filmed a surprise Christmas episode that tells the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. This is a great way to gather together with family and/or friends and to talk about the importance of the witnesses to faith in our lives.
An interview with the creator, Dallas Jenkins, was published by Religious News Service and was printed in several publications including the Washington Post and America Magazine. To read the interview about how this film came about and why the theater release, visit here. To find out how to get your tickets click here. And to explore The Chosen and how to download the app, visit their website.
Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House - Advent Day of Reflection for Men & Women
Dec. 16, 2021 at 9 AM to 3 PM (cost: $30-$60)
Fr. Michael and Mary bring you A Cup of Christmas Tea: Stories, Poems, Songs & Traditions of this most beloved season of the year. This is a day to soften the heart and open your spirit to the soulful, creative celebration of the Word made flesh, the birth of our Savior. Virtual and in-person options are available.
The Christmas Story: By No Means a “Fairy Tale!
Dec. 10, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (cost: $40)
Dan Cheely, prominent Chicago attorney and Director of Stewardship, Catechesis and Evangelization at St. Mary of the Angels Parish will speak on the little known historical and astronomical clues buttressing the Christian belief in the historical reality of the Nativity of our Lord. Hosted by The Catholic Citizens of Illinois. Click here for details.
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Alphonsus Academy
Our parish school, Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts, are beginning preparation for their biggest annual fundraiser Art & Soul, which will be held on April 2, 2022. If you are a school parent, this is your chance to help out! Learn more here.
If you are planning to send Christmas cards this year or create personalized Christmas gifts, a great way to save money and help raise money for AACA is by ordering through www.minted.com with the promo code FUNDRAISEALPHONSUS. You will receive 20% off your purchase and Minted will donate 15% of all sales back to AACA. The promo code and savings/giveback are all year round.
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Living Peace and Justice
XVI Annual Posada: Seeking Immigration Reform
Friday, December 17 from 11:00 AM – 12:30 pm
Join together with other witnesses in walking and praying in solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers who — as the Holy Family sought a place to stay — have been knocking on the doors for legislative shelter, or “Posada,” year after year, even during a pandemic. This year Pastoral Migratoria from the Archdiocese of New York will join us simultaneously to elevate our voices for immigration reform.
The 24th annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice's theme—Imagining a Path Forward: Reflection. Reckoning. Kinship.—invited attendees to consider the ways in which the pandemic has exacerbated and laid bare injustices in the world, and to take action in ways that center the needs of the most vulnerable and builds a deeper sense of kinship and community.
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Around the Archdiocese
On Sunday, Dec. 12, Queen of All Saints Basilica, 6280 N. Sauganash Ave will be hosting The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting service for the loss of a child. The gathering begins at 6:45 PM. and includes a short service, readings and music. At 7:00 PM. local time, family and friends around the globe unite in lighting candles for one hour to honor the memories of any child of any age who has died. All are welcome to participate in part or all of the service, which will also be livestreamed on their parish website.
The Institute for Diaconal Studies (IDS) invites all men who feel the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit to attend an Exploring the Diaconate session. It is a time to pray, discuss, and learn more about the discernment process and the formation program that aspirants and candidates pursue. Please join us, with your wives, if married, as we explore the potential of a vocation, engage in dialogue and pray in search of the next step. All are welcome to attend any of the sessions.
College Seminary with the Archdiocese of Chicago: A Guide for Discerners and Parents
The Archdiocese of Chicago sponsors eligible young men to discern their priestly vocation and complete their college degree at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota on the campus of the University of Saint Thomas. Here is a Q&A flyer that addresses many common questions.
Who Will Fill These Shoes? Dec. 28 Young men ages 13–20, as well as their parents and priests, are invited to this annual event hosted at Mundelein Seminary to learn more about the priesthood and vocations.
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Community News
This Saturday Dec. 4 from 6-10 PM our neighbors at Beermiscuous, 2812 N. Lincoln, will be hosting a fundraiser for South Side Mutual Aid. They’ll be accepting cash donations along with donations of sanitary items, food, school supplies, and coats/winter wear.
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When we plan our weekly giving, and set this money aside first, we demonstrate the great importance that God and the support of the Gospel have in our lives.
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Our weekly bulletin features many of the ways you can contribute to the vibrancy of St. Alphonsus parish.
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