Homilies from the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 13, have been uploaded to the Homilies page. The page can be accessed by clicking the Homilies link in the Menu bar located at the top of this page.

St. Alphonsus Annual Golf Outing at Arrowhead Golf Course. Details to follow.

The Men’s Golf League is looking for a few more golfers for the 2012 season. We golf on Tuesday nights at North Kent Golf Course for 18 weeks beginning May 1. The cost is $325, payable at the beginning of the season and includes green fees, cart, weekly prices, winners’ prizes and dinner on the last night. Interested golfers can call Bob Thiel at 451-3043 or email bthiel@catholicweb.com for additional information.

The Parish Office will be closed on Good Friday, April 6 and Easter Monday, April 9. The office will reopen on Tuesday, April 10.

Holy Week/Sacred Triduum

The Sacred Tirduum are the three liturgies that occur on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. These are the most important liturgies of the entire year (culminating with the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening).  The Church sees these three liturgies as one continuous celebration. They build on each other moving towards the celebration of Christ’s victory over death on Easter!

Holy Thursday- April 5 7:00pm

In our  Holy Thursday liturgy we remember what Jesus said and did at that Last Supper over two thousand years ago. We celebrate how Jesus instituted the Eucharist and showed how we are to live the Eucharist by washing his disciples feet and commanding them to do the same to others. We will be inviting everyone attending to have their feet ( or a foot) washed and then to wash the feet (or foot) of another person. You may bring a towel to the service if you wish. We will have towels available. (This is a voluntary action.) The Mass concludes with the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of reposition. Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament will take place until midnight.

Good Friday – April 6 Stations 12:30pm, Good Friday Service 7:00pm

Good Friday is the only day of the year we are not allowed to celebrate the Eucharist. There will be no Mass. We read the Passion according to John. We have prayers for the universal Church. We venerate the cross, remembering Christ’s death on the cross. We receive Holy Communion. We leave in silence. Good Friday is simple, stark and intense.

Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil – April 7 8:00pm

The Easter Vigil is the liturgy of liturgies. Here we begin the Easter season which continues  for seven weeks to the feast of Pentecost. We celebrate Christ’s victory over death through His Resurrection and we await in prayer and vigil for Him to return. The Easter Vigil is rich with symbol and rituals. We begin the service later in the evening as close to sunset as possible. This models the Jewish understanding of time, that the day begins at sunset, not sunrise. (According to Scripture the Resurrection occurred sometime between sunset on  Saturday and sunrise on Sunday.) We begin outside to bless the Easter fire while the church inside remains in darkness. For the first time we light the new Easter candle which is used throughout the year for baptisms, funerals and other celebrations. The church is filled with this Light of Christ! We then proclaim the magnificent story of God’s presence in our world: from creation to the Exodus to the Resurrection and His presence in our lives this day. New members to the church are baptized, confirmed and receive Jesus for the first time in the Eucharist. We all renew our baptismal promises to be faithful to Jesus. We laugh and we cry this night as we celebrate in song and word Jesus’ victory over sin and death and His resurrection in our lives! The great Easter Vigil is the root of all of our liturgical celebrations. Come and enjoy!

Lent is a spiritual journey to grow more into the likeness of Jesus Christ. By the threefold discipline of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the Church keeps Lent from Ash Wednesday until the evening of Holy Thursday. Join the St. Alphonsus Parish Community as we “Return to the Lord”. Our weekly themes during Lent include:

Additional information can be found at the Lent 2012 link on the Menu bar located at the top of this page.

St. Al’s Fish Fry was featured on WZZM Channel 13′s 11:00pm telecast on Friday, February 24. In case you missed it, you can see the video at this link. Join us for the next Fish Fry on Friday, March 2.

We need people for clean-up, busing tables, and Friday afternoon set-up. If you would like to help, please call Bob at 913-4403.

Starting on January 16, 2012, the gym in the Parish Center will open Monday-Friday from 7:30am to noon for people interested in having a dry, warm, and safe place to walk. Bring your tennis shoe. No street shoes please.

Everything you need to know about the 2012 Parish Auction can be found in the drop down Menu at the top of this page.

Save the date! Our Parish Auction is undergoing an entire revamping this year. You will want to mark your calendars now for February 18, 2012, for a night of fun, great food and community. If you would like to become part of our planning committee contact us at stalphonsusauction@gmail.com or Linda at 485-6507.