Christmas Message From Our Pastor

Many families have lots of wonderful Christmas traditions that often span a few generations. We love these traditions because it helps us feel grounded and

connected as an extended family, even if relatives aren’t able to see each other at other times of the year. Whether our family’s Christmas traditions are sentimental or religious in nature, they bring light into our hearts.

One of my family’s German traditions is to hide a small glass pickle ornament somewhere on the Christmas tree. Whoever finds it receives an extra specially-designated gift that’s under the tree. Unfortunately because I was color blind, I was never able to be the first one to find it. I didn’t mind so much because I was actually more interested in the Pfeffernüsse, German gingerbread cookies that only grow at Christmas. Featuring both a silent letter ‘p’ and an umlaut, it’s a word that is pfu-pfu-pfün to say, and a cookie even more fun to eat! Plus, I always knew where to find them!  

Such family traditions help us feel loved, a part of something special – tradition is often where we find our identity, and sometimes drawing on nostalgia makes our hearts feel warmth and light. And in a deeper sense, Christmas traditions can make us feel drawn into something deeper, a sublime awareness that we are being drawn into a beautiful mystery that is greater than ourselves. Which is can happen when we sincerely contemplate the manger. 

As we come to adore the Christchild sleeping in the hay, as we gaze into the Nativity scene, a profound meditation to ask ourselves is how well do we associate the coming of Jesus into the world with the birth of heavenly peace into our hearts?

Many Catholics enjoy the tradition of erecting a Nativity Scene in their homes, but the invitation is to see it as more than just cute figurines reminding us of a story from long ago. It’s meant to be a living light that shines into our homes, our families, and our hearts. But in a frenetic and increasingly secularized culture, we have to be more intentional about looking to find the heavenly peace that is eager to draw us in, this day and every day. And so the image on our Christmas bulletin cover should not be seen as a nice picture drawn by one of our students, but as an invitation to reflect and pray. During the busyness of our lives, do we make the spiritual effort to make our hearts as peaceful, warm, soft and welcoming as the manger?  

Because God’s grace sometimes comes to us in the guise of a silent love letter, the inherent beauty of a sleeping baby invites us to listen attentively and find the special gift of love. The discovery and embrace of this love is sweet. After we have tasted it, our souls not only desire it, but have the capacity to hold onto it, and always be refreshed by Christ’s love whenever we return to Him in the Mass. What begins in the manger is fulfilled at the Altar. And renewed. The Prince of Peace becomes the Bread of Life. Mysteries that move us into silent contemplation when we approach them, not merely as symbols or images, but as living encounters with the Author of Life, the Artist of Love, and the Architect of Beauty. 

It is the hope and prayer of myself and all the staff and faculty of our parish and school that your celebration of Christmas be a joyful time of spiritual renewal, peace and love.  

God bless you all, and Merry Christmas!

Rev. Steven Bauer

Pastor

Christmas Greetings From St. Alphonsus!

Let Us All Rejoice in the Lord,

for Our Savior Has Been Born in the World!

Today, True Peace has Come Down to Us from Heaven 

Entrance Antiphon for Midnight Mass

Christmas reminds us that our deepest hungers, thirsts, desires, and needs are ultimately satisfied by divine grace, mercy, and love.

Weekend & Christmas Mass Schedule: 

Dec. 24th, the 4th Sunday of Advent

9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:30 PM -- these Masses are for the 4th Sunday of Advent and will utilize those readings.

Dec. 24th, Christmas Eve

4:00 PM, 6:00 PM -- Vigil Masses for Nativity of the Lord 

11:00 PM -- Midnight Mass for the Nativity of the Lord

**the choir will perform sacred Christmas music, motets, and carols starting 30 min before each liturgy. Please be sure to arrive early, as the 4 PM and 6 PM Christmas Masses fill up quickly.

Dec. 25th, Christmas Day

9:00 AM and 11:00 AM -- Masses for the Nativity of the Lord

** The 9 AM will have some prayers and a reading in German; the 11 AM will have some of the prayers and a reading in Spanish. 

New Year's Mass Schedule: 

Dec. 31st, Sunday Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family 

Regular Sunday Mass Schedule (9, 11, 12:30, and 5 PM)

Jan 1st, New Year's Day 

10 AM -- Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 

Mass Readings for The Nativity of the Lord

December 25 Parish Bulletin

The rectory office will be closed on December 25 and 26. We will reopen on Wednesday, December 27.

The side moat entrance construction has been completed and these doors are once again accessible!

Make Your Christmas Offering!

Christmas time is 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. Thank you and God's blessings to you this season! We pray that your 2024 year is full of peace, joy, and gratitude.

If you would like to make a special donation to St. Alphonsus to help us defray the costs of decorating our church and providing Christmas music, you can on GiveCentral for our Christmas Flowers and Music fund..