Hello St. Alphonsus,

Celebrate Sunday Mass at

St. Alphonsus!

Jesus is the gate for his sheep in this Sunday's Gospel. This fourth Sunday of the Easter season is sometimes called Good Shepherd Sunday. Through the metaphors of the readings, Jesus tells the faithful that those who follow him and his way will find abundant life. He identifies himself both as the shepherd and the gate. The shepherds who are faithful to him are the ones whom the sheep (Jesus’ disciples) should follow.

Christian leaders follow the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by being faithful to him and by being a good shepherd.

This Sunday is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Please pray for all discerning their vocation, whether as religious or layperson, we all have a vocation!

For young men and women;

That God may give them the gift of understanding to discern their

service in the Church, the priesthood, diaconate, or consecrated life;

And for the gift of courage to follow His call.

We pray to the Lord. . .

For young people;

That they may know the personal love of the Lord for them

and respond with open and generous hearts.

We pray to the Lord. . .

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.

Mass Readings for Fourth Sunday of Easter

April 30 Parish Bulletin

This Friday April 28 at 7:30 PM, St. Alphonsus hosts a Holy Hour/Adoration. 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 afterwards!

Our Friends Through Faith Adult Social Group fosters essential faith-filled connections and builds our St. Alphonsus community through fellowship and fun. 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 are creating small groups, charity/service opportunities, outings and friendships out of this community and would love more parishioners joining us. If you'd like more information, please email Amy We meet the last Sunday of every month following the 11 AM mass in the Rectory. To register for this Sunday's April 30th gathering, please email Amy Keefner.

Volunteer at St. Alphonsus!

Our Cleaning Angels Ministry will be serving our parish on Saturday, May 6 from 9–10:30 AM. All parishioners are invited to join us 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 cleaning products provided; no online sign-up; simply come to the Church in the morning. 

Our parish Knights of Columbus council hosts their monthly meeting Monday May 8 at 7:30 PM in the rectory Common Room. For more information, contact parishioner Carlos Medina.

Confessions are heard Saturday at 11 AM and Wednesday at 6:30 PM.

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!

Did you know that you can view all upcoming church events on the calendar on our website? If your ministry has an event that you would like to host at St. Alphonsus, you can complete the Plan An Event form. Any inquiries can also be directed to the parish Office Manager, Mario Serrano.

Faith Formation News

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!

Spring Your Kids into Totus Tuus Summer Camp

The Archdiocese is bringing the Totus Tuus summer camp back to St. Alphonsus, July 23-28. It’s like a week-long vacation Bible school, only way more fun and active.

This is a super fun camp that also helps children grow in their Catholic faith. And at $75 for a week of summer camp… how can you beat that? It’s currently limited to only 50 kids, and registration will fill.

Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 2:30 PM for students entering grades 1-6

Sunday – Thursday from 7 PM – 9:30 PM for middle school and high school students entering grades 7 – 12. You can register here

Walking With Purpose- A Modern Woman's Guide to the Bible

Join us at St. Alphonsus this Spring 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! 

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.

Our Beholding Your King bible study group meets Tuesdays from 9:30—11 AM and 6:30—8 PM. Questions? Contact Susan Combes

Our Reality: Integral Ecology

Thursday May 4 from 10 AM- 11:30 AM

We live in a world where division and separation seem to be part of life. However, this is an illusion. Reality is that we live in a spiritual world where we are all inter-connected. Join through Zoom as participants reflect on our common home (our "ecos") and begin to celebrate our "integral ecology"! Every word we say, everything we do affects everything, everywhere!

May is Mental Health Month. The McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame invites all to join an upcoming webinar on May 4 at 11 AM. Sponsored by the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health, this panel considers how the Church can better accompany persons and families living w/ the experience of mental illness.

"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!

At the Athenaeum

Nicodemus- Now through May 14

“Now there was a man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, who came to Jesus at night…” -John 3:1

Based on the true story found in the gospel of John, Nicodemus is a contemporized retelling of the Biblical account, set in modern day. Nicodemus, an influential member of the clergy, meets Jesus face-to-face for the first time. That confrontation sets off a series of events that causes him to question his most foundational beliefs, and be a part of history’s biggest event.

The Pharisees were most criticized by Jesus for their virtue signaling. Their desire for praise from others motivated their every move. Jesus condemned their need for approval from men over their need for approval from God. In this contemporary retelling, Nicodemus takes a look at the way virtue signaling over dedication to God disrupts religious communities in the modern day. 

Living the Gospel of Life

Mass for Life

April 30 | 10:30 AM

Holy Name Cathedral 

735 N. State St. Chicago, IL 60654 

Join us in praying for the sanctity of life and the closing of the Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign with a mass celebrated by Bishop Bartosic. All are welcome!

ECHO Retreat

June 23 – 25 | Casa Iskali

Our Lady of Guadalupe Campus

9430 West Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 

ECHO is a dynamic and immersive Catholic retreat experience of St. John Paul II’s landmark teaching called the Theology of the Body. This year, ECHO Chicago is geared towards young adults. ECHO is not just an intellectual exercise, but a journey into the heart where we discover the “distant echo” of God’s plan for life and love from the very beginning.

Find more information here.

Around the Archdiocese

The 8th Annual St. Matthias School’s Friends of the Craft is this Saturday, April 29th at the DANK Haus. Bring your friends and neighbors to sample the best craft beers and ciders from 16 local breweries, while enjoying great music, food, wine, raffles, and a silent auction. The silent auction will be available for bids on the website even if you don't attend the event. All proceeds go to support of St. Matthias School. There will also be a 50/50 and swag at the event. Tickets are available at the discounted pre-event price of $75 each and sure to sell out.

Young Catholic Professionals Chicago will be hosting a networking social on Tuesday May 9 at Joy District, 112 W. Hubbard. Meet and mingle with other young professionals from across the Chicagoland area and learn how YCP Chicago can empower both your professional and faith life. All young professionals in their 20s and 30s are welcome to attend!

A Happy Death: Monastic Wisdom for the End of Life, Benedictine monks offer spiritual wisdom and practical counsel to address the ultimate questions. Saturday April 29 at 10 AM. This is a free event.

Evenings with Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton : Five-part series with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry at the Tolton Heritage Center, 44 E. 41st St.; began March 8; upcoming sessions are May 3 4-6 PM.: "Embodying Forgiveness"; May 10: "All Things Tolton"; free of charge; to register.

Chicago's Got Sisters : May 19-20; for young women interested in exploring religious life; includes visits to four convents and time to visit with sisters from several communities; also prayer, personal reflection, service, shared meals and conversation; overnight accommodations provided; to register; for more information, contact Sr. Jess Lambert.

St. Andrew Parish, 3546 N. Paulina are having their annual Baby and Children's Garage Sale on Saturday May 13. They are looking for volunteers to help! Learn more here.

In Francis and Benedict, the thread of the three theological virtues–Faith, Hope, and Love–can be found woven through their encyclical letters: All are invited for a free course on Mondays, through May 22, 6:30PM at St. Gregory the Great Gym Building, 1609 W. Gregory St. To register and more info