Celebrate Sunday Mass at St. Alphonsus!
We celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family this Sunday, December 26th, the day after the arrival of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In 1921, Pope Benedict XV established the feast to present the Holy Family as the ideal model for Catholic families everywhere and remind us of why we celebrate Christmas. It is the arrival of new life, God becoming flesh. Christmas is a special season for families of all shapes and sizes - so it’s fitting that the day after Christ’s birth, we celebrate His family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. While they don’t say much in the Gospels (Joseph is perfectly silent the whole time!), their witness as a family of grace is a perfect example for us: focused wholly on God, doing His will, and loving one another.
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 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.
Sunday, Dec. 26, the Most Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph; Regular Sunday 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
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.
The Christmas Eve Midnight Mass music program will be repeated on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 2 at the 9 AM and 11 AM Masses. 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.
Saturday Jan. 29 and Sunday Jan. 30, plans are in the works for an Ice Sculpting showcase presented by Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce. This will be in the area where the Christmas tree currently stands near the St. Alphonsus veranda. More details will be available next year!
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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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!
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.
Join Indoor Volleyball League at St. Alphonsus, Feb. 17 to April 28
Join us for our annual indoor volleyball league starting February 17th! Teams will play a total of 8 games each over the course of 11 weeks. Games will be Thursday nights beginning at 7:45 PM. You can sign up as an individual, or with 1 or 2 friends. Register before early bird pricing ends on January 21st!
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 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
Empower Illinois’ tax credit scholarship application for the upcoming school year (2022-23) opens on Wednesday, January 12 at 6:30 PM. See a new video message featuring Cardinal Cupich and Catholic school families speaking in support of tax credit scholarships. The State of Illinois “Invest in Kids” Tax Credit Scholarship (TCS) Program includes a provision for tax credit scholarships – those who contribute to the program will receive a credit of 75 percent of their donation toward their state of Illinois income taxes and may choose which non-public school receives the scholarship. As Cardinal Cupich notes in the video, your donations will not only lower your tax bill, they can potentially increase your refund, all while providing a high-quality Catholic education to children from lower-income families. This year, the archdiocese raised more than $11.5 million through the TCS program to provide scholarships for 2,100 children from low-income families. With more than 4,700 children remaining on the scholarship waitlist, we are hopeful to increase donations through a generous 2-for-1 match that ends on Feb. 28 for the next school year. The 2-for-1 match applies only to archdiocesan Catholic schools (independent schools are not eligible). Our Catholic schools are beacons of hope for so many families during these challenging times. Please consider contributing to the TCS and gaining the benefits of a state tax credit, and share the video message with others. To learn more about donating to a tax credit scholarship visit archchicago.org/DonateTCS, email Clare Sullivan at csullivan@archchicago.org or call (312) 534-2617
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Around the Archdiocese
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.
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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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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