Celebrate Sunday Mass at
St. Alphonsus!
Greetings!
In this Sunday's Gospel, Matthew continues the Sermon on the Mount with a three part instruction by Jesus on the Way of Life in the kingdom of heaven. Today’s reading is part one and deals with the Law. Part two deals with worship and religious practice and contains the Lord’s Prayer. Part three deals with trusting God and deeds of loving service to our neighbor.
Please pray for all affected by the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey! Catholic Relief Services are currently providing emergency assistance.
Daily prayer keeps you in good relationship with the LORD, and yourself.
Volunteer with our Cleaning Angels Ministry! This Saturday February 11 from 9 AM to 10:30 AM 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 volunteers will meet in the Church. Thank you SO MUCH for helping our Church stay beautiful!
This Sunday at the 9 AM Mass, our parish Boy Scout Troops/Packs will honored as part of Scout Sunday celebration. For more info about the Scouting program at St. Alphonsus, please contact Tom Brusstar.
This weekend is the Annual Catholic Appeal. The theme, Walking On The Road With Jesus, is inspired by Pope Francis' call to the entire Church to become "synodal", that is, to journey together with the Lord prompted by the Holy Spirit.
In addition to providing for ministries and services throughout the archdiocese, the Appeal also funds services that are of great help here at St. Alphonsus. For example, Appeal funds help support various expenses such as Facilities and Maintenance, Administrative, and Legal and Canonical support. As we contemplate God’s many gifts to us, we should also reflect on our gratitude. Your financial support for the work of our parish, our archdiocese, and the Church throughout the world is one way to express this gratitude. Please give what you can to the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal. Be sure to designate St. Alphonsus-Chicago when making an online gift.
The observances of National Marriage Week (February 7-14) and World Marriage Day (Sunday, February 12) are an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family. The theme for 2023 is “Marriage...One Flesh, Given & Received.” Celebrate National Marriage Week with these resources
Men's Evening prayers group (Vespers) continue on Wednesdays from 8:15 to 9 PM in the chapel.
Friends Through Faith- Monthly Social
Do you know the names of the familiar faces you see each week at Mass? Do you feel you're missing a sense of community after leaving Church?
The newly formed Friends Through Faith Adult Social Group hopes to foster these essential faith-filled connections and build our St. Alphonsus community through fellowship and fun starting with a gathering --continental breakfast, cocktails, coffee, and tea--on Sunday, February 26th following the 11 AM Mass. Connecting with other parishioners can lead to lasting friendships, fruitful ministries, or even just a friendly wave and smile the next time you attend Mass. We hope to create small service groups, outings and friendships out of this community.
Our Catholic tradition teaches that human beings grow and achieve fulfillment in community. Pope Francis says, "No one saves oneself. The community is essential."
Safe Families For Children Ministry Please join us for New Volunteer Training on Saturday March 11th, here at St. Alphonsus! FREE light breakfast and lunch included!
Volunteer roles covered in training:
- "Host Family" - host local children in your home for short periods of time
- "Family Friend" - provide volunteer babysitting or transportation for host families and local families in crisis situations
Safe Families for Children is a national, Christian nonprofit which connects local families in crisis with "safe families" who volunteer to watch their children while parent(s) get back on their feet. This is a great opportunity to show Christ's love and compassion for local families, often young single moms with no support system, in a tangible and meaningful way.
We are in need of:
- Baby/toddler clothes sizes: 9mo, 18mo, 4T/4, 5/6
- All genders/sizes shoes & boots
- New or slightly-used small/medium stuffed animals
If you can help provide any of these items (or equivalent gift card), please either leave the items in the narthex/parish office Safe Families donation bins, or reach out to safefamiliesstals@gmail.com to coordinate a drop-off time. Thank you for your generosity!
This Saturday is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick. This free EWTN Original Documentary interweaves the story of St. Bernadette, the visionary of Lourdes, with an examination of the numerous miraculous occurrences that take place in the small French town every year.
How are you planning to reflect and grow this Lent?
As we begin to prepare for the season of Lent this year, we encourage you to continue your journey by joining us on Ash Wednesday!
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Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts
Art & Soul Fundraiser— Friday March 10
Tickets are now on sale for our parish school’s biggest fundraiser, Art & Soul, which will take place Friday March 10 at Rockwell on the River, 3057 N. Rockwell. The gala includes a silent and live auction, dinner, dancing, and a paddle raise for a specific project benefiting all our students. “Plant the Seed for Tomorrow” is the theme this year! Volunteers needed!
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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- Women’s Group at St. Alphonsus— Tuesday mornings and evenings 9:30-11 AM or 6:30-8 PM.
Come as you are. You are welcome here. Make authentic connections with other women! Refuel and Refresh! Learn more about God!
We live in a self-centered culture that all too often leaves us feeling empty and dissatisfied. A fuller view of God and His glory is the perfect antidote— find this during our journey through the Beholding Your King Bible study.
We’ll study King David, select psalms, the temple, and many Old Testament prophets and see the ways in which they all point to the coming King of Kings, Jesus Christ. This Nine-Lesson Bible study is the second part of a two-part series and is ideally completed after Beholding His Glory.
Living as Ambassadors for Christ: Lenten Retreat for Catechists February 25
Catechists are invited to join in reflecting on Ash Wednesday’s call to be “Ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5: 20) in light of Pope Francis’ letter Laudato Si’, together with its Action Platform. Discover yourself as part of the global movement of people of all faiths listening and responding to the cries of Earth and its people. Find yourself drawn into Lent involved in transforming the world into the communion of love announced and made present by Jesus. Go into the rest of Lent celebrating that you are offering a future full of hope to generations that follow. The retreat is Zoom only on Saturday, February 25 from 9 – 11:45 AM. Cost is $20. For more information and to register.
CURSO BIBLICO PARA LECTORES:
Viernes 17 y Sabado 18 de Febrero 2023
Caminando con los Patriarcas y los Profetas en la Cuaresma.
Curso Consta de 9 Horas
Facilitador: Fr. Sergio Mena Mena, vicario parroquial en SOAR
Lugar: PARROQUIA SN OSCAR ARNULFO ROMERO, BARRIO DE LAS EMPACADORAS. (CURSO SE DARA EN LA IGL. DE SAN MIGUEL)
St. Michael CHURCH: 4825 S. Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
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Stewardship at St. Alphonsus
"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?
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!
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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!
Saint Social this Saturday Feb 11- Young adults across the Archdiocese of Chicago periodically celebrate feast days at rotating parishes. All are encouraged to meet more of your brothers and sisters in Christ at the next Saint Social, at St. Mary of the Angels, 1850 N. Hermitage, this Saturday February 11th celebrating Our Lady of Lourdes. Mass will be held at Noon with a social, including food and drinks, taking place afterwards in the Museum Room.
Galentine's Day Wine and Craft Night!- This Wednesday Feb 15 from 7:30 PM-9:30 PM, come join the ladies of St. Al’s YAM for a Galentines Day celebration! They will be gathering in the rectory’s second floor common room at 7:30 (following Wednesday night mass and adoration). Please bring a bottle of wine or a snack with you to share, as well as a craft to work on. (Ex: knitting, sewing, painting, whatever your heart desires). Come have a cozy night and meet new ladies in the community for this fun night of friendship! (Please note: this event is restricted to women) Contact us here for more info!
Come one come all to our Young Adult Ministry Game Night! This event will be a “stock the bar” theme. To gain admittance, please bring a beverage you enjoy (alcoholic or not - beer, seltzers, wine, soda, or soda water) to enjoy and leave behind to help us stock our YAM drink supply for future events.
We will have tables set up in festival hall (the large gathering space under the church) and board games, card games, puzzles, and bingo for everyone to enjoy. Please consider joining us for a night of fun that will help us supply drinks at future YAM events!
More Young Adult News
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Knights of Columbus
FEB 24-25 (first Friday of Lent) - OVERNIGHT MEN'S RETREAT led by our Knights' Chaplain & Associate Pastor of St. Alphonsus, Fr. Patrick Gorman at Joseph & Mary Retreat House, University St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, IL; sign up here! The men's retreat will begin with 7:00PM dinner on FRI, FEB 24 & conclude after lunch on SAT, FEB 25. Suggested donation of $128 includes FRI evening dinner, one night's stay in individual room, breakfast & lunch. Opportunity to pray, to socialize and enjoy the beautiful campus of USML; retreat will include visit St. Maximilian Kolbe National Shrine. Open to Knights & Parishioners. For carpool, email Paul Gillespie.
SUN, FEB 26th, 1 PM-4 PM, BASKETBALL FREE-THROW CONTEST - 3rd grade thru 8th grade, girls & boys; come for the fun! Families are welcome to register their children, at no cost, at this link here
Knights of Columbus Basketballs for each division's winner! Supply-chain issues resolved for this year! Regional Tourney on March 4 at St. Josaphat. Volunteers Needed (Knights, Adults, Teens), please sign-up here!
Update on Br. Jay White - Jay has successfully moved back to temporary housing in Southern California & is doing well at the moment. The Schell Family have launched a Go Fund Me page for Jay. Brian writes, "If any of you would like to donate or repost on your social media - that would be great! Please see the link here. Have a blessed new year!"
THANK YOU, St. Alphonsus Knights, for the donation of winter coats to the St. Alphonsus Parish St. Vincent dePaul Society! Congratulations to the St. Vincent dePaul Society on collecting & distributing over 40,800 winter coats in North America this winter!!
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At the Athenaeum Theater
Popular Celtic Rock band, Scythian, will be coming to Chicago! The show will be on Sunday, March 5 at 6 PM at the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture and will feature Chicago's own The Great Whiskey Project as well as the Trinity School of Irish Dance.
Scythian is a dynamic and talented musical group that has been entertaining audiences all over the world with their unique blend of traditional Celtic, Balkan, and American roots music. Their high-energy shows are a feast for the ears, and we are confident that you will enjoy every moment of the concert.
Dan Fedoryka, of Scythian, will be speaking on his faith as a touring musician in a virtual Q&A session. Details to come!
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Around the Archdiocese
Old St. Patricks, 700 W. Adams will be hosting a speaker and discussion series, At the Crossroads, concerning questions on race, neighborhoods, and church life. The first discussion takes place next Wednesday Feb. 15. For more info and to register.
Vocations Opportunities
Quigley Days February 25: The next Quigley Days for high school-age men will take place February 25 from 9 AM – 2 PM Join Fr. Tim Monahan and some of the seminarians for a tour and Mass at St. Hyacinth Basilica, and then an afternoon of games and lunch at Whirlyball. Transportation will be provided to and from Mother of the Americas and Mary Seat of Wisdom. Space is limited.
Online Lenten Discernment Group: During Lent, Fr. Tim Monahan will host an online discernment group for participants to learn more about the priesthood and the life of a priest. Meetings will take place on Zoom from 8:30 - 9:30 PM on Wednesdays from March 1 - April 5. Once registered, participants will receive the Zoom link and materials for the meeting. Reach out to Katie Hazen with any questions.
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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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