A Message From Our Pastor

Greetings!

Where Do Ashes Come From?

Catholics the world over are preparing for Lent, which we all know begins on Ash Wednesday. People everywhere are discerning what treats, creature comforts, or bad habits we should give up for Lent, and many of us are adjusting our schedules so we can get to church to get our ashes. And once in a great while someone might ask the priest, “Father, where do ashes come from?” The question that is more commonly asked is, “Father, what do I do with my palms from last year’s Palm Sunday?” 

Actually, the two questions are very much related. One of the customs in parishes is to collect the previous years’s palm branches prior to the start of Lent. Those branches are burned a day or two before the start of Lent, and then their ashes can be used on Ash Wednesday. So one year’s ashes were the palms from the previous year! 

This weekend at St. Alphonsus we will be collecting your old palm branches. Please deposit them in the marked basket in the narthex. Children and adults always seem to enjoy this tradition of recycling palm branches. But sometimes a person is a little embarrassed they can’t find the ones from last year, and they want to participate, so when they ask if they can borrow a palm branch… they’re asking for a frond.

The burning of palms isn’t an uber-important ritual, like the receiving of ashes, and is often done unceremoniously. But understanding this custom, and viewing it alongside the spiritual significance of the liturgical days of Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday, it can help us appreciate the Lenten journey of a Christian pilgrim.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, and the distribution and procession of palm branches recalls the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem when the crowds hailed Jesus as king. They cut branches off the palm trees and waved them in the air and laid them on the ground as Jesus entered the city riding on a colt. Palm Sunday, is also our entry into Holy Week, in which we follow Jesus from the parade of palms to Calvary. There we witness the Son of God die on the cross for our sins, and then on the third day we celebrate His Resurrection. 

The palms which hail Jesus as king on Palm Sunday are burned up so that their ashes can be used to mark us as sinners in need of redemption. Sin leads to death, and without Jesus maybe our fate would be as bleak as that of old palm branches. But because our Lenten journey carries us beyond the parade of palms, beyond the Cross of Calvary, to the Garden of Gethsemane on Easter Sunday morning, the mark of the ashes on our foreheads is not a sign of corruption and death; shaped in the form of a cross, they are a sign of resurrection and new life. 

As we receive the cross of ashes on Wednesday, we hear the minister say “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” This mark, then, moves us into the 40-day season of conversion of heart and spiritual growth, especially by employing the customary practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In this we unite our hearts and souls to Jesus so that our lives will be marked by His transforming love and resurrection.
Celebrate Sunday Mass at
St. Alphonsus!

In this Sunday's Gospel reading from Matthew 5:38–48, Jesus' command to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors particularly challenges us. Those who are called to the Kingdom of Heaven are to go beyond the way the world usually works and serve God’s kingdom here on earth. Differences and arguments can arise and these differences can lead to uncouth behavior. Jesus’ teaching says that retaliation is not the response of one called to holiness, even when the “other” becomes an enemy. Our way of life is to be a mirror of God’s perfection, and God’s perfection is manifested in God’s love which disengages hate and conquers the opposition.The next time a difference of opinions ensues in our homes or workplace, may we adhere to God’s wisdom which evokes unlimited forgiveness and boundless charity in the face of opposition.

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



Please bring your old palm branches to Mass this Sunday! You can also bring them to the rectory office on Monday. The old palms will be burned in preparation for Ash Wednesday.

The Stations of the Cross will be prayed every Friday during Lent at 7 PM, (except for March 24, which is Confirmation)

Next week, all parishioners in the Archdiocese of Chicago are invited to take part in the Disciple Maker Index survey. Your participation will help provide our pastor and parish ministerial leaders with a better understanding of where to focus efforts and energies to help you grow in your faith and achieve our parish’s mission. The link will be provided online starting Ash Wednesday and a limited amount of paper copies will be available in the Church. The DMI survey will be open for responses from February 22-March 31.

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.

Game Night!! - This Saturday February 18 at 7:00 PM
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 the 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!

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."   
  
For more information, to help with this event, and to RSVP, please contact Amy Keefner.

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!

Cleaning Angels Ministry- Thank you to all who volunteered last Saturday! Our next Cleaning Angels date will be Saturday April 1.

Our parish Lenten Fish Fry will be March 31. More details and pre-sale tickets will be available soon!
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!  

Get your tickets, sign up to volunteer and learn more about this amazing annual event here
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.
Questions? Contact Susan Combes

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.

Reflect on your faith with comfort from Scripture and the Saints with a free eBook from EWTN
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?
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!
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!

Holy Hour Praise and Adoration Next Friday at 7:30 PM
On Friday, February 24th, 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. Confessions will also be available! The hour will conclude with benediction, and fellowship at Lincoln Tap afterwards.
**Please note there will be no Adoration event in March**.


More Young Adult News
Volunteer with Young Catholic Professionals Chicago as they help Mother of America (in Little Village) revamp their Community Center at 2414 S. Albany Ave on Feb. 25th, 9:30-12:30. Lunch to follow at nearby place!
Knights Logo
Knights of Columbus

Next weekend 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!

Heroic Men Summit- Rising From the Ashes, Saturday March 11 Free online event, Join Dr. Edward Sri, Bishop Andrew Cozzens, and John Michael Lucido as they challenge our thoughts on the Eucharist and how we can see it as a source of transformation and power.
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!
Please join us on March 5 and help make this event a great success!
Around the Archdiocese



St. John Cantius, 825 N. Carpenter is hosting a fun Polka Mardi Gras event this Sunday Feb 19.

Friday March 3, Sr. Barbara Reid, OP president of Catholic Theological Union will speak at First Friday Club of Chicago.

2023 Cardinal Albert Meyer Lecture
On Thursday March 9 and Friday March 10, University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary will be hosting Rev. Msgr. Milam J. Joseph who will speak on An Immigrant Church: Stories of Encounter. This is a free event. Learn more and register here.

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.

Seminary Sprint March 10-11. This opportunity for college/post-college men is a 24-hour trip to Mundelein Seminary that allows participants to grow in fraternity and have time for prayer, while also exploring the beautiful grounds of the Seminary. There will be a chance to meet seminarians, play sports, have food, and hang out with the brothers. This trip is sponsored by the Vocation Office and free to participants.

Bishop Joseph Perry’s Catholic Men’s Forum April 15
All men of the Archdiocese are welcome to a morning with Bishop Perry to foster their spiritual journey. This is the 19th year of the forum hosted by Catholic Men Chicago Southland. The forum takes place on Saturday, April 15 at St. John Neuman Parish (St. Anne Church and Hall) 16801 Dixie Highway, Hazel Crest, Illinois. Program starts at 9:30 AM. Doors open at 8:30 AM. and includes a hot breakfast, forum discussion, and closing Mass. Program concludes around 1:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased online. Ticket purchase covers food expense and is a donation to Catholic Men Chicago Southland Apostolate. 
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.

Our weekly bulletin features many of the ways you can contribute to the vibrancy of St. Alphonsus parish.