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Celebrate Sunday Mass at St. Alphonsus!
Hello St. Alphonsus,
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1856, the Feast of the Sacred Heart became a universal feast. St. John Paul II, a great devotee of the Sacred Heart, said, “This feast reminds us of the mystery of the love of God for the people of all times.”
In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus proclaims "Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me", and admonishes against blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Daily prayer keeps you in good relationship with the LORD, and yourself.
Invite your friends/loved ones to Mass! Sunday Mass schedule is at 9 AM, 11 AM, and 5 PM in English. Mass in Spanish is at 12:30 PM.
Mass Readings for Tenth Sunday In Ordinary Time
June 9 Parish Bulletin
Priest Convocation — June 18-20
The priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago will be gathering this summer with Cardinal Cupich for a few days of prayer, conversation, meetings, renewal, and priestly fraternity. As a result, instead of Masses on those days, St. Alphonsus will hold liturgical services with the Liturgy of the Word and distribution of Holy Communion. On Wednesday evening, June 19th, immediately following the Communion Service, we will still have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. This service will be led by Mr. James Bratager, a formally instituted Acolyte and candidate in the permanent Diaconate formation program for the Archdiocese, who will be ordained next spring. The 8:30 AM services on Tuesday and Thursday, June 18 and 20 respectively, will be led by our Pastoral Associate Brooks Robinson or a member of a religious order. Please pray for the priests or our diocese, and especially Fr. Raya and Fr. Bauer, that the Convocation be a time of refreshment and growth.
Confessions are heard Saturdays at 11 AM and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.
Volunteer with our Cleaning Angels Ministry!
All parishioners are invited to join us on Saturday, June 22 from 9 AM to 10:30 AM as we help to clean and beautify our Saint Alphonsus campus! It is our duty as good Catholics to be of service to our faith community and our local parish! No online sign-up; simply come to the church in the morning with charitable hearts! Contact coordinator Kelly Lovewell for questions.
Our Walking With Purpose women's Bible study group returns next Tuesday, June 11. Please see the flyer in this newsletter and contact coordinator Susan Combes for questions!
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Calling All Graduates!
All 2024 Graduates are invited to receive a Special Blessing during our 9 AM and 11 AM Masses this Sunday, June 9th! Whether you just graduated Kindergarten, College, or anywhere in between, you are welcome!!
Receive your blessing and then join us for...
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FREE Parish Breakfast!
The faithful are warmly invited to our next breakfast date after Mass this Sunday, June 9! ALL are invited to stay after Mass to enjoy pancakes, eggs, and delicious treats. Meet fellow parishioners and learn how to get involved in our community!
We Need Volunteers!
Help us serve breakfast and get first dibs on the food! Shifts are 2 hours each. Contact Emily or Sign up Here.
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SVdP Donations Drive
Join us THIS Sunday, June 9, from 8:30 AM- 2 PM for our parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society's Donation Drive! Now is the time to start setting aside items to help us help our neighbors in need. All donated items stock the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift stores located in the Chicago area. There will be a trailer in our St. Alphonsus parking lot accepting donations. Please click here for full details.
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Book Study
Fridays, 6 PM—7:30 PM
NOW thru June 21st
in Rectory Common Room
How do you fight distraction in prayer? What role does the devil play in your prayer life, and what does God want to accomplish in your soul?
Join us for a Study reading, The Devil in the Castle!
Fridays, 6 PM-7:30 PM, Now through June 21, in the Rectory
PLEASE arrive by 6:15 PM, otherwise the front door will be locked and we may not hear the bell.
Each week we will discuss a chapter and watch a video from the author as he dives deeper into the spiritual riches of St. Teresa of Avila. Pick up the book on your own and join us as we work through it!
Questions? Contact Emily Ember
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Lectio Series- Salvation
Starting Monday, June 24
Every Sunday we confess that Jesus "for our Salvation came down from Heaven." But have you ever wondered what this means?
Beginning Monday, June 24th at 7 PM, we will set out to explore these and related questions using the FORMED Lectio series on Salvation.
To sign up, costs, location, or for other questions, please contact pastoral associate, Brooks Robinson, MDiv, MTS
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Follow Our Socials!
Our parish is stepping up our social media game! Click the logos above to stay on top of everything happening at St. Alphonsus.
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Safe Families for Children
Calling all Runners!!! We're creating a St. Alphonsus 5k team for the 2nd annual "Footsteps for Families" 5k, benefitting Safe Families Greater Chicago! Virtual runners welcome! There's also a 1-mile-walk option for anyone interested. PLEASE JOIN OUR TEAM!!! Use your running talents to support vulnerable children and families in our community!
8:30 AM, Saturday, June 29, 2024
Virtual Race ~or~ In-Person Race in Rolling Meadows, IL
Register here!!
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Eucharistic Revival
What is a Eucharistic Revival?
The Revival is “a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery” of our Eucharistic Lord and to recognize the wondrous gift God has given us: Himself! The Lord desires to heal our broken hearts. Let us draw near to Him in the Eucharist.
Ready to be a part of something life-changing?
Jesus needs each one of us to be his hands and feet throughout this Eucharistic Revival. Below are some ways you can help bring about the grassroots renewal our world so desperately needs. We’re so glad to have you as a part of this movement!
Come experience this historic Eucharistic event for ALL the faithful, as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage officially makes its way through Chicago on its way to Indianapolis for the Eucharistic Congress. The event will include Mass, a Eucharistic Procession, and a social afterwards.
Learn more about the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage
Learn more about all of the Chicago events during the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage here
Register for any of the Chicago area events
If you have prayer intentions you would like to have carried by the Perpetual Pilgrims (the core group of pilgrims traveling the entire route), you may submit your prayer intentions here.
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Aquinas 101: The Eucharist
Our friends at the Thomistic Institute have developed an excellent five-part, video-based course on the Holy Eucharist. You can access it for free today 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!
Visit our Linktree
Eucharistic Revival at St. Alphonsus
Friday, June 28 | 6:30-10:00 PM
We're super excited that St. Alphonsus gets to host a portion of this pilgrimage and we're looking for volunteers to help make it an amazing experience for all those attending. Please consider lending some time to this event by signing up at the link here!
Sign up to volunteer here!
Our next Praise and Adoration event takes place on Friday, June 21.
Sacrament Series: Eucharist on Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 PM
"Take this all of you and eat of it, this is my Body given up for you". These words, the apex of the Liturgy, are intrinsically tied to the Eucharist which is the focus of the next entry in our monthly Sacraments Series. The Catholic Church teaches that the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present in the Eucharist and yet a staggering number of American Catholics do not believe in this core tenet of Catholicism which has led to the current episcopal efforts to reverse this trend through the ongoing Eucharistic Revival.
As we explore the Sacrament which is the "source and summit of the Christian Life" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324-1327) we are joined by Fr. Mikuczewski, SJ as our guest lecturer. Alongside a Master's of Divinity, Fr. Mikuczewski is a visiting lecturer on bioethics at Loyola University's Stritch School of Medicine with a PhD in healthcare ethics as well as a Master's of Science in biotechnology with a focus on protein engineering and genetics. This event will be held in the second floor common room of the rectory. Doors will open at 7 PM and the talk will begin at 7:30 PM.
Weekly Philosophy Forum meetings continue every Tuesday at 7 PM.
Visit our website for the readings and more info!
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Faith Formation News
Rev. Steven Bauer and our parish staff are always available to help the faithful on their spiritual journey. May God bless us all with patience and peace as we seek to live in harmony with one another and all creation!
Men's Group
St. Alphonsus Men’s Group meets Thursday nights to pray the liturgy of the hours, have fellowship, and to propose challenging topics to discuss.
We meet every Thursday night at 7 PM in the rectory. Food and drinks provided. All men are welcome, with most men being in their 20s and 30s. Access can be gained at the west facing rectory door in the parking lot. For questions or more information, contact us here!
NGCI Conference
July 31- August 1, 2024
Loyola University
A conference for parish leaders, initiation ministers, and regional or diocesan trainers, the National Gathering on Christian Initiation® explores the theoretical and practical aspects of initiation ministry. Through interactive sessions, meetings, and prayer opportunities, participants will understand more deeply that the vision of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the vision of the parish as a community of disciples. Find more information and register here.
Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House
Variety of individual and group retreats; offerings include evening, day and weekend retreats; 420 W. County Line Road, Barrington; all welcome; for more information or to register, visit at jesuitretreat.org or call (847) 381-1261.
Five Ways to Celebrate Jesus' Sacred Heart This Month
Word on Fire article on the Boss: It's Hard to Be A Saint in the City
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"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!
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Stock Donations: A Tax-Savvy Way to Support St. Alphonsus
Please help us cover our increased operating costs by considering a direct gift of securities or mutual funds. You can reduce or eliminate federal capital gains taxes on the transfer. You may also be entitled to a federal income tax charitable deduction based on the fair market value of the securities at the time of the transfer. For more information about donating stock or securities, please contact your financial advisor. To make a stock donation to St. Alphonsus, please click here and complete the electronic Letter of Intention form. Once you have submitted the form, you will receive a confirmation email with detailed instructions for you to complete your gift. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Whitehead, Archdiocese of Chicago.
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This Sunday, June 9, all parishes in the Archdiocese will take up a special collection for Priests' Health and Retirement. Priests play a significant role in the personal and spiritual lives of many, providing counsel and guidance when you need it most. Please consider thanking them for their ministry and service to the Church by making a donation at Mass or here. | |
Around the Archdiocese
Upcoming Summer Events at St. Gregory's Hall, 5545 N. Paulina
Immaculate Heart Painting Workshop, Saturday, June 8, 11AM-3PM
Join artist-in-residence Sarah Crow for a one-day workshop using traditional oil painting techniques to create a small reproduction of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
USML- Harmony in Action Series
Listening and Discernment
June 8, 2024
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
(Synodality) Emphasize the importance of listening and discernment in synodal process. Provides practical tools and strategies for fostering dialogue, consensus – building and discernment within the Church community.
Location: St. Giles, 1045 Columbian Ave., Oak Park, IL
This is a Free workshop, for more info and to register
Cardinal Cupich's recent letter about Summer Safety in our city of Chicago.
Catholics are sometimes divided on how to respond to pride month. Here are four helpful guidelines for a balanced, faithful response.
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