Future Members of St. Al’s Parish

The great feast of Christmas has once again reminded all of us of God’s tremendous love!  He sent His Son, Jesus, born of a Virgin, to show us the way home to our Father!  On January 10th we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and with this Feast, the Christmas season officially draws to a close.  From that day on, we begin, with Jesus, the journey to Jerusalem.  This Journey begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls on February 17th this year.  The Sacred Triduum, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are on April 1st through 3rd respectively and then the glorious celebration of Jesus’ victory over death on Easter Sunday is April 4th!

During these next few months the Catechists of the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Team and going to be working very intently with the 20 men and women who are seeking Baptism or full communion with the Catholic Church.  As a community of believers, I feel it very important that we support everyone in the RCIA program with our prayers as they enter into this final phase of their preparation.  I believe it is easier to pray for others when you can put a name to them so I am going to list the candidates as well as their instructors (Catechists):

 

CANDIDATES:

MATT BARNES	THERESA KOPP
AMY BOYD	ASHLEY MICHELA
SARAH CAMBLIN	KEVIN PALUCH
CHRISTIAN CHOE	BOB STEVENS
GREG DiCOSTANZO	JOHN STEWART
KAREN DILLENBECK	JUSTIN STEWART
TINICIA FIGUEROA	DEB VAN OORDT
JAMIE FULLER	DAN WHEELER
NICOLE HAVENER	RENEE YAGER
RICH HILL	JOHN YOWAISH

 

RCIA TEAM (CATECHISTS):

FR. ANDY THOMPSON	BOB KEENEY
DOUG CLARKE	JERI KEENEY
ED GOLDER	MAUREEN MALLEIS
MIKE HILLARY	MARILYN RUPINSKI
MIKE INGRAM

 

A couple of suggestions: (1) Cut this column out of your bulletin and tape it on the refrigerator or the bathroom mirror as a constant reminder to remember them in prayer. (2) If you wish, write a quick note to an individual or the group (% RCIA and Mike Hillary) letting them know that you are keeping them in prayer during these important days, and then drop it off at the rectory. (3) Add the RCIA candidates and Catechists to the daily prayers in the Memorial Mass Book.

THESE PRAYERS ARE A VERY POWERFUL AND COST EFFECTIVE INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY!!

Fr. Bernie Carlin, C.Ss.R.

Feast of the Holy Family

Dear St. Alphonsus family,

We celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. It comes right after the Solemnity of Christmas. Why? It is to remind us that it’s very easy for any of us to think that “incarnation” only means that God took on a human body. It is much more than that. In Jesus, God is united to all of us humans in the context of a real family.

Jesus spent 30 of his 33 years in the prayer, work and play of family life. It is a family composed of Joseph, Mary and Jesus, who go through many joys and sorrows, all all families do. There is little in the Scriptures devoted to Jesus’ first 30 years, but what we do have is very significant.

First of all, despite the cuddly image of our nativity scenes, the original Christmas was not so cozy. Mary is nine months pregnant anmd rides 75 miles on the back of a donkey over bumpy, dusty roads, and ends up being homeless and her baby is born in a stable full of dirty, smelly animals. Soon after the birth they have to pick up and flee for their lives, seeking asylum in a foreign land, Egypt. Twelve years later, the now adolescent son goes missing and is found by his parents in the Temple in Jerusalem. A very heated and emotional conversation follows.

Joseph is a saint, Mary is without sin, Jesus is God incarnate. Yet, they have so many challenges, difficulties, tense moments, and opportunities for misunderstanding. Welcome to real family life. They are faithful to their vocations, and God takes care of things. Welcome to trust in God. May we imitate the Holy Family!

Fr. Ed Vella, C.Ss.R.

St. Al’s Catholic Cancer Support Group – January 12

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.

Christmas 2009

Dear Parishioners,

What a year 2009 has been…

Our country’s economic crisis has cost many their livelihood.  It has altered lifestyles and placed a heavy burden on those constantly asking, “How are we going to manage this?”   

Amidst this trauma, the heart of our wonderful Parish continues to beat strongly. There is a vibrancy of change taking place, and all around us wonderful things are happening. These are just a few of the events that took place during this year.  To be honest, there are so many that if I were to mention all of them this letter would go on and on ad infinitum.  My fellow Redemptorists and I are so very grateful to all of you who give so much of your time to Al’s, to each other, and to those in need.

Here are some highlights of 2009.

 

• The autumn and the spring came together as Sister Bert stepped down after 25 years of great service to St. Al’s. She is pursuing her heart’s desires as AJ Setter takes over the reigns of the Social Justice Ministry.  Thank you, Bert. Welcome to the family, AJ.
• The Parish Picnic returned as Father Andy resurrected a past tradition. Our communal life continued to grow through parish breakfasts once a month and cooking classes introduced in the fall, both of which are helping to raise monies to facelift the cafeteria and kitchen.
•  The sacramental life of the parish grew as well.  Brother Dan Korn, C.Ss.R. gave a mission on Iconography and Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help.  A Mass of Hope for the Unemployed and those in Need took place followed by a three-day seminar and services for those seeking employment.  We also offered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. As 2009 comes to a close, plans are underway for a Parish Mission, March 7-11, 2010, A Lenten Walk with Christ: Our Mission through Life to Salvation. 
• In 2008, twenty-four couples graced our Church writing a covenant before God as they became husband and wife. In 2009, this number climbed to forty- eight.
• The Capital Campaign was launched and the physical nature of the Parish began to change.  In a year where personal financial need is enormous, the generosity of the Parish pushed pledges and donations toward a lofty two million dollars. We are not quite there yet, but this milestone is in sight.  Thank you all so very much for your support.  The Church has been the main recipient of the Campaign’s first phase.  A new roof, a gift of one generous parishioner; tuck pointing, the sealing of the towers and a new lightening rod system have all come together to seal and protect St. Al’s.  In 2010, projects are on the drawing board to continue to upgrade and care for our facilities.
• Catherine’s Health Center (renamed in 2009) has also gained early success with its campaign as well, and may be ready to begin renovations on the Lafayette wing of our former school building this spring.

2009 has been a difficult year. 2009 has also been a remarkable year. It is a year that has brought us together to feel the beating heart of our people and this Parish.

Recently, I was outside the Church when my friend, Caden, a four year old, came up to me and asked, “Father Denis, how old is Jesus?” I answered, “Caden, he is about 2009 years old, but no matter how old He is, He is still and always will be a baby born in Bethlehem to be our Savior.”

Caden’s question brings me to share this message I borrowed from a friend’s email: 

If you give up when it is winter
you will miss the promise of your spring,
the beauty of your summer,
and the fulfillment of your fall.
Please don’t let the pain of one season
destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don’t judge life by difficult times.
When trials come, seek to let them make you strong,
and let happiness keep you forever true;
sorrow makes one human, and failure humbles.
But let success make you grow.
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, and speak kindly.
Leave the rest to a baby
and allow God to keep you on the go.

Merry Christmas Everyone, Blessing in the New Year

Reconciliation – December 17

Dear Parishioners,

Please bear with me as I ponder some not too deep thoughts and meander my way through this  bulletin article as we head into the final days of preparation for Christmas.

Last week we got our first snow fall of the winter. As it fell continuously for several hours there was a certain beautry in it all. The snow might have caused some of us delays and headaches, but it covered us in a shining blanket of fresh, clean and white fluff. It didn’t last long in that pristine state but how terrifically beautiful it was. We aren’t always present to each other in godly and sublime love, but how awesome it is when we are. Those moments might be brief and fleeting but they lead us in hope and faith towards the possibilities we have in God’s love. It was only snow and we will get more. Our moments might also be few and hopefully not far between, and I believe God will give us more.

This week Thursday the parish will be celebrating Reconciliation together. As we gather in penance seeking forgiveness we might just be able to have one of those precious moments I mentioned about. God will grace us with his love and peace helping you and I reach out to each other and remind ourselvers how beautiful we truly are.

We all make mistakes, but we don’t come together on Thursday because of them. We come together because we have sinned. In our sinning we have hurt each other, offended God and have separated ourselves from God’s loving grace. Mistakes happen, sin is planned. By seeking out forgiveness, by participating with others like ourselves we renew and enter again into God’s plan. We seek forgiveness together in community so that we might live together as a community.

Last Sunday, I preached about praying for each other and placing one another at God’s feet trusting in His goodness and grace allowing God to heal us and free us fromn our resentments and anger and to be reconciled in and with God. Come join us this Thursday and during the remainder of Advent have your best ever Christmas.

See you there, for you are welcome!

Fr. Andy

Christmas Tree Lighting/Parish Potluck – December 19

Come join us for our Christmas Tree Lighting sing-a-long with our Adut and Youth Choirs and Parish Potluck on Saturday, December 19 following our 5:15 pm Mass. All will process out in song and gather around our Christmas Tree. Drop off a meat, pasta, salad, or dessert dish to pass in the cafeteria after 4:00 pm.

Parish Penance Service – December 17

There will be a Parish Penance Service with individual confessions on Thursday, December 17th at 7:00 pm in the church.

Marriage Prep Program

What is a Sacrament? “ A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.”

Intuitively, we all recognize what a sacrament is and hopefully we value them as indispensible aides as we walk our lifetime faith journey. A couple of the sacraments: Eucharist, Reconciliation, we can and should receive frequently, after just a brief period of reflection and preparation. Other Sacraments, namely Baptism and Matrimony and, of course, Confirmation, are received only once and require extended preparation of their participants or sponsors.

A fact that you might not be aware of is that many people here at St. Alphonsus Parish are involved in preparing their brothers and sisters for these key moments in their Faith life. During this past calendar year of 2009 there have been 47 weddings and 56 Baptisms (as of 11/29/09). In particular, the parish Priests rely on the very generous support of many volunteers in preparing couples for their wedding day. Over nearly the past 25 years, St. Alphonsus parish has been blessed by a very active and dedicated “Sponsor Couple Program.” Currently there are about 22 married couples that agree to meet with an assigned engaged couple. Drawing on their experience and following set guidelines of topics to cover, an engaged couple will usually meet three or four times with their assigned sponsor couple. A summary is then forwarded to the Priest working with the engaged couple and together they go over any final details. The overall program is designed to help the engaged couple recognize both their areas of strengths and weaknesses. We are very grateful to Tim & Mia Nowak who have facilitated this program, as well as met with engaged couples, for many years now. It is very understandable that after these many years they would like to “pass the torch” of being facilitators to another couple. We are in need of more married couples to assist in this program. If you feel that the Lord is calling you to become more involved in some dimension of the parish and if helping engaged couples to prepare for their wedding is something you would like to try doing, please phone the rectory for more information, no commitment, just information.
PLEASE GIVE THIS PRAYERFUL CONSIDERATION! WE NEED YOUR HELP!