St. Al’s Cooking Class – December 14

This month’s focus is all about holiday entertaining for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Whether attending a party or hosting one, we’ll share recipes and tips for preparing great dishes that will get you out of the kitchen in time to enjoy the party.

Register to join us Monday, December 14 from 6:00-7:45 pm in the St. Al’s kitchen. John Frey will teach us how to make a festive cocktail and a variety of hors d’oeuvres. Linda Parker will be on hand to show us some ideas for making meat skewers. Kathleen Saunders will finish it all off with a delicious cheesecake. You can taste it all for a class fee of $10. Contact Dayna Bearss at gdriders@att.net or 365-1988 to reserve your seat. Reservations must be made by December 9. The $10 fee will be collected at the door.

Parish Breakfast – December 13

Our next parish breakfast will be Sunday, December 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  We will be serving French toast, bacon, eggs, fruit, toast and beverages. Adults are $6, kids 3-10 $3 and there is a new family rate of $15. Remember all proceeds are donated to parish improvements. Maybe Santa Claus will even make an appearance.

Arts and Environment Chairperson

We need a person to plan, design and decorate our church for its various liturgical seasons. Contact Lori Martin at 913-4408 or email lmartin@catholicweb.com

Advent

Dear St. Alphonsus family,

Advent (from the Latin word “adventus”, meaning “coming”) is a liturgical season of the Christian church, this year of almost four weeks. It is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.  In other words, it is the period immediately before Christmas. We begin a new liturgical year. You will note the violet-blue-rose colors throughout our church and the beautiful Advent Wreath.

The Latin word “adventus” is the translation of the Greek word “parousia”, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming of Christ. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a two-fold reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah, as well as the waiting of Christians today for the Second Coming of Christ. It is a season of HOPE.  Rejoice and be glad.  It is NOT a sad time!

As you read this, I am preaching a Redemptorist Parish Mission at St. Joseph’s parish  in Maybee, MI (administered by Fr. Rich Luberti, CSsR), in conjunction with it’s sister parish of St. Patrick’s in Carleton, MI.  Please pray for its success.  It runs November 29 – December 4.

Remember, the Lord comes to us at all times, in all ways.  Be glad!

Fr. Ed Vella, C.Ss.R.

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Parishioners,

I woke this morning as the sun was rising and casting its beauty on the Church. Because of the sun and the beauty of the day, I headed out the door in shorts and a sweatshirt. Big mistake!!  It was 32 degrees outside.

In the yard of the little church across Leonard Street, was frost, marvelous in its appearance as the rising sun glistened upon the crystals of the ice on the ground.  As I drove towards Alpine, most of the trees were bare and their leaves scattered all over the ground.  A few trees held onto their golden yellow leaves, but they too were beginning to die on their branches. 

As I crossed the Ann Street Bridge, over the Grand, one of the symbols of the oncoming winter appeared to be on the river. As I looked east, the water appeared like frozen glass as if a thin covering of ice was on the river. But my eyes were deceiving me as I noticed two ducks were swimming on the water.  The trees along the banks of the Grand were mostly bare and all signs of winter were dressing the Earth.

We, here in the North, are accustomed to the four changes of the seasons each year.  The Earth takes on different looks each time these mysteries take place.  In the winter, we are exposed to the colder temperatures and the snows that paint the land white, the Earth appears to be asleep.  In the spring, the Earth awakens and life begins to grow and colors change from dormant to newness.  Summer months bring the fullness of life to the surrounding areas.  The Lake becomes a destination for all to enjoy its beauty and its gifted pleasures.  Then fall arrives and everything begins to change.  A Monet-like change takes place as the Earth begins to settle down for its long winter’s nap.

Have you ever considered the beauty of the ever-changing Earth to be a reminder of God’s presence and His difference among us?  We create the differences in God because of the way we go about our daily lives and His presence among us is an indication of how we live in an ever- changing world.  God’s love for us never changes, but our relationship with Him changes as our lives change.  If there is harmony in us, there is peace between the Father and ourselves.  If things begin to change, uneasiness comes among us and we see God’s presence differently as we become more dependent upon Him.

The beauty of the Earth is that it has the capacity to show us these different faces, but God’s face never changes; His presence is always there. The beauty of God’s presence is that it is constant because His love for us doesn’t change no matter what the circumstance. 

As we prepare to be grateful, let us thank God for His presence and His love.  They are as wonderful and as beautiful as this Earth He gave us to live on.
 
Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
Fr. Denis and the Staff and Redemptorist Community of Saint Alphonsus Parish

St. Al’s Catholic Cancer Support Group – December 8

St. Alphonsus Catholic support group is a ministry of faith support through prayer and inspiration for adults who have cancer, are cancer survivors, or who are caregivers of a loved one who has cancer. You do not have to be Catholic to attend. All are welcome.

Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in the Carrier Crest Building, 205 Carrier St. NE.  The next meeting is December 8  and the topic will be “Hope and Despair through Cancer.” Contact Br. Andy Patin, C.Ss.R. at 616-913-4413.

Capital Campaign Memorials and Construction Photos

This holiday season, we remember in a special way the many members of the St. Alphonsus Parish community who designated our capital campaign to receive memorial contributions in their name:

Jay DemeesterGeorge Dewey Leona Douthett Helen Evans Marguerite Firlik Blaze Gruszka Robert Hay David Holtzlander Stanley Jarosz Martha Jason

Fred KampDeana Kamsickas Jerome Kamsickas Patricia Merdzinski Roger Miller Patrick O’Brien Lucy O’Rourke Al Pack Lucille Page Roger Papke

Steve PokoraFr. Turk Rooney, C.Ss.R. Henry Rosloniec Stella Spetoskey Robert Stratford Bob Taylor Suzanne Tobin Irene Walenga Mary Weed Byron Zeilbeck

Through the prayers and support of everyone in our parish community, and the financial contributions of nearly 550 donors and families, totalling more than $1.8 million, we are making great progress on our Capital Campaign. Click on the photo thumbnails to see a full size photo.

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