Celebrate Sunday Mass at St. Alphonsus!
Pope Francis celebrated his 85th birthday this Friday Dec. 17! St. Alphonsus wishes the Holy Father a happy birthday and many blessings in the year ahead.
This Friday also marked the beginning of the "O antiphons" sung since at least the 8th century during evening prayer in the final days of Advent leading to Christmas.
"O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!"
St. Alphonsus has released our Annual Report for the fiscal year 2020-2021, which is a financial report for both parish and school that aims to briefly summarize the work of faith formation, education, sacramental preparation, evangelization, outreach and community building. You can view here and on our website. It is also in this weekend's Dec. 19 parish bulletin.
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.
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 will not be having online sign-up for Christmas liturgies. All worshippers are advised to please arrive early to secure a spot at your preferred pew!
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 ** A portion of the 9 AM will have readings in German.**
Sunday, Dec. 26, the Most Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph; Regular Sunday Mass Schedule
New Year's Mass Schedule:
New Year's Eve Friday, Dec. 31 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM
New Year's Day, Saturday, Jan. 1 10:00 AM
Christmas time is almost here. We've seen church families band together to help and support one another. During the holiday season, we extend a warm welcome to the visiting families and friends of our members, and to all of our guests. Your donations during the holiday season to St. Alphonsus are needed and greatly appreciated. You can make a Christmas donation on GiveCentral or you can text Joyful to (773) 570-7600.
Service Opportunity
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 this morning 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. The online sign-up is now closed; simply come to the church to help!
The choir is back this Christmas, bringing tidings of comfort and joy!
A choir of six singers will be joined by trumpet, organ, and kettle drums at all liturgies, with the addition of harp on Christmas Eve! You will participate in beloved carols, as well as hear arrangements of lesser-known carols by John Rutter. Polyphonic settings from the Renaissance will offer prayerful solemnity to our celebrations. Whether you attend Christmas Eve (4, 6, and 11 PM), or Christmas Day (9, 11 AM.), you will experience a full program of music! (Music begins a half-hour beforehand on Christmas Eve). If you would like to make a special donation to St. Alphonsus to help us defray the costs of providing Christmas music, you can on GiveCentral here..
Men's Evening prayers group (Vespers) continue on Wednesdays from 8:30 to 9 PM in the church sanctuary.
Serve St. Alphonsus as an Usher We are in need of ushers for the Christmas Eve and Day Masses. There is a sign-up posted on the main table in the narthex of the Church. Contact John Meindl for any questions.
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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Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
A night of original content put together in Music and Art to express the creative genius of each individual act. While each individual possesses within them this genius - it is the Creator that they point to. The one whom has given them their creativity to express their heart and share their art. Culminating in the highest form of emotional expression is the rest of the heart of the Artist and it's audience. This Saturday, December 18 at 7 PM
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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!
All young adults are encouraged to sign up for the Catholic Sports Bowling League! They will bowl four consecutive Mondays, beginning on January 10. Pricing is just $55 for all four weeks, including shoes! Sign up individually or with a friend!
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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!
The Office of Lifelong Formation developed a series of virtual Advent Retreats. We hope everyone have been faithfully enjoying their efforts!
The Bible in A Year
Make your resolution now! Start your year off by diving into Scripture. A popular option is Ascension's Bible in a Year Podcast hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz and featuring Jeff Cavins. They guide guests through the Bible in 365 episodes, starting January 1st.
Each 20-25 minute episode includes:
- two to three scripture readings
- a reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz
- and guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word.
Made For More w/ Christopher West & Mike Mangione
Brought to you by St. Edwards Parish, St. Mary of the Angels, & The Cor Project
April 5, 2022 at 7 PM in St. Alphonsus Church
MADE FOR MORE is an inspired blend of teaching, live music, and art that taps the deepest desires of the human heart revealing their ultimate purpose and goal. Want to be inspired by beauty and the wisdom of the Church? Join Christopher West and Mike Mangione as they offer a vision of the Gospel like you’ve never heard through the lens of Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.
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. **WWP will be taking a break and will resume on Tuesday January 18.**
Sign Up to Download a Free E-Book of Ignatian Spirituality. To celebrate the Ignatian Year 2021-2022, the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius’ conversion, 26 contributors have come together to create a free e-book of Ignatian prayers, poems, reflections and illustrations entitled “Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: Through the Year with Ignatian Spirituality.”
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Alphonsus Academy
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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AACA Christmas Celebration Concerts
After being unable to last year, our AACA school joyfully celebrated the season with their annual Christmas concerts on Thursday, December 16! Due to safety precautions related to the pandemic, things were switched up this year and four separate celebrations were spread throughout the day rather than one big customary one. Our 1/2 day preschoolers celebrated in the Festival Hall starting at 10:30 AM, full day PK and Kindergarten at 2 PM, 5th through 8th graders caroled outside from 5:15 to 5:50 PM, w/ hot cocoa for the crowd generously donated from our neighbor restaurant S&G, 3000 N. Lincoln, and finally our AACA Student Council, intermediate and advanced band, and our 1st through 4th grade classes performed at 6 PM in the Church. It was a great show! Big thank you to all our caring AACA teachers who helped with the production. A special thanks to our Director of Arts Integration, Rebecca Manuel for all her behind the scenes work to make this event a success! We even forgive Fr. Bauer for his corny “Elfis Presley” joke… ha ha! You can watch the recording on our parish YouTube channel .
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Around the Archdiocese
Mundelein Seminary's third-year theologians passed a major milestone in their formation by signing the Oath of Fidelity and Profession of Faith as they prepare to be ordained to the transitional diaconate in the spring. Learn more here
Vocations Merchandise
The Vocations Office is facilitating the sale of some new archdiocesan swag. If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer gift for someone (or yourself) and want to support vocations check it out.
Witness to the sanctity of life at the youth rally where Junior High and High School teens will be inspired by powerful testimonies, receive pro-life training, hear from an educational pro-life speaker, and pray for life with praise and worship. Held at the site of the March for Life Chicago Convention (Hilton Hotel — 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago), doors will open January 8 at 8 AM. The youth rally is 9 – 11:30 AM. followed by time for lunch, the march in downtown Chicago and then Mass for Life at 4 PM. Cost for the youth rally is $15 per person; the Convention and Mass are free. Visit the site for more details.
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.
Vocations Silent Retreat – January 5 – 8, 2022
The Vocation Office is inviting young men who are high school seniors, college students and young professionals to a silent retreat at the Joseph and Mary Retreat House January 5 – 8, 2022 to help guide them in their discernment of a vocation. Meals are included. There will be time for individual meetings with a priest, Holy Hour and Mass each day. Check the flyer here and you can use this registration link. For further information contact Sharon Porter at shporter@archchicago.org.
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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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Hermana Angelica Oyarzo, SSpS, Hermana Misionera del Espíritu Santo, ofrece una reflexión para la cuarta semana de Adviento.
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Community News
"We love you, Chicago, but something has to change.” A message from our neighbor across the street, Heritage Bikes & Coffee, after a burglar smashed their store's front window to steal a high-end bike. Although our Chicago police are doing their best, please be careful and mindful of your surroundings as stories of local area vandalism, car-jackings and robberies are increasing.
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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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