A very happy and blessed Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers! Thank you  for your gentle  and loving ways as you care for our families. Thank you for giving us life and bringing us into this world. Thank you for always being there in times of sickness and worry and crises. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Thank you for being YOU, Moms!  We love you! And may  God bless you and surround you with His deep peace and love always!

Next Sunday (the 20) at the 9:00 am Mass we will honor our High School Seniors during the liturgy. After Mass we will dedicate the special cross made from tiles created by our students and staff from the last year our St. Al’s School was open.  This cross will hang in the stairwell between the 2nd and 3rd floors in our Parish Center.

Also next Sunday is our parish breakfast and we invite all members of the parish to come and enjoy a FREE BREAKFAST in honor of our graduating seniors and all  the wonderful people of St. Al’s! This morning will be a great time for us all to gather and remember our parish school, tell stories, enjoy good food, and make new memories about St. Al’s! Do come one and all!

I want to thank  you for your contributions to CSA 2011 through the yellow envelopes. We have finally paid off the 2011 balance! Thank you for your sacrifices and generosity!

Now we can concentrate on the CSA 2012. Thanks to those who have already made a pledge or contribution.  Blank pledge cards are available at the exists of the church or use the ones you received in the mailing. It would be great if we could get most of this done before summer comes. The CSA does reach many poor people in our western Michigan area and many programs and ministries are funded through the CSA. Again, I thank you for your generosity and sacrifices to the CSA as well as to St. Alphonsus Parish!

May our Mother of Perpetual Help keep us close to her Son Jesus.

Gratefully, Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.

Congratulations to 27 of our children who are making their First Holy Communion this weekend during the 11:00 am Sunday Mass. This is the first of many times they will have the honor of receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. I pray they come to Mass every weekend and let Jesus fill them with His love and joy! Thanks to their parents for fulfilling their baptismal promises in being the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith. Your children will follow your example, parents. May they always  be grateful for your love and devotion in sharing your faith and passing it on to them. God bless you all!

Next Sunday after the 11: 00 am Mass we will have  our May crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary statue in front of the church. May is a special month to honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus. This could be a month for us to reflect on our devotion to Mary and the important role model she is for our faith in Jesus.

In the May-June issue of Liguorian (our Redemptorist publication) there is a wonderful little reflection written by Rev.  Matthew Allman, CSsR. I would like to quote a couple paragraphs:

            “Mary can help us when we want to get our balance right. (Understanding the divine and human natures of Jesus.) No one could know the humanity of Jesus better than  the Mother who nursed him at the beginning of his life. And no one could know Christ’s divinity better that the woman who conceived him as a  virgin.

            Mary’s close relationship with her Son from the moment of his conception to his resurrected glory makes her the best director we could ask for when we want an authentic perceptive on Christ, the one person with two natures. So may our Mother of Perpetual Help correct our sight if it has  grown faulty, and may she lead us to her Son as we become new creations.”

Those are good words to ponder. Pray the rosary while you reflect upon them.

Joyfully, Fr. Pat, CSsR

By now many folks have noticed the chill in the air when they come into church. Two weeks ago our church steam boiler died. And there is no resurrection for that boiler. It cannot be repaired. So, we are looking at all our options as to the best heating system for the church, the costs involved, and the time-table to have a heating system ready by autumn. We will keep you informed of our progress and the decisions that we must make in a timely fashion.  In the meantime just bring a sweater on these chilly mornings. (Thank heavens the boiler lasted as long as it did…….we got 35 years out of a 25 year old system.)

Last Monday in the mail I received my CSA So Faith May Flourish  envelope. I presume that all registered parishioners also received their pledge cards and letters. Again, I believe that if we all do our part, no matter how large or small, the parish can make its goal of $ 124,533. Please try to return your pledge or donation as soon as possible, either by mail or by placing it in the offertory collection. THANK YOU for your generosity not only to the programs of the Diocese, but also to St. Al’s parish through your regular offertory contributions and the Capital Campaign  gifts. God bless you for your sacrifices and giving.

Remember that next Sunday, May 6 we will be having First Communions for 27 of our children during the 11:00 AM Mass. Pray for these children and their parents at this wonderful moment in their faith development.

On Sunday May 13, after the 11:00 AM Mass we will have our May crowning of the Blessed Virgin. May is that special month to practice  our devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. St. Alphonsus reminded us Redemptorists to “go to Jesus through Mary!”  Good advice.

Have a joyful week and pray for your fellow parishioners!

Gratefully, Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.

PALS (Parishioners Actively Loving and Serving) is a wonderful ministry here in our parish. It is an opportunity for a one-on-one meeting with a fellow parishioner in need of assistance. At all our masses this weekend, Ann Lepech and Jayne Cotten will tell us more about this ministry to the needy among our fellow parishioners and how we can bring Christ to them. Thank you, Jayne and Ann, for your guidance and direction of this special outreach ministry in St. Al’s.

Another way we can reach out to help the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves is through Catholic Charities of West Michigan. More than 20, 000 families are touched directly by Catholic Charities and over 200,000 people are fed and clothed through diocesan-affiliated agencies.

When all the parishes of the diocese join together and pool their resources, then more people are assisted and helped. All this is accomplished through the Catholic Services Appeal So Faith May Flourish. Each parish in the diocese is assessed based on their income. St. Alphonsus’s assessment for the CSA 2012 campaign is $124,533. This is almost 12% of our parish’s assessable income. It is through your pledges and donations that our parish contributes to the CSA. What is not generated by these means is compensated through our ordinary parish expense.

Please read all the materials you will receive in the mail during this week. And then trust the Spirit to guide you in making your pledge/donation to the CSA. I am confident that together we as a parish can make our goal. It is my hope that more parishioners will join this effort. No offering is too small or insignificant. But with more of us joining the effort, great things can be accomplished. (By the way, we Redemptorists also make a pledge/donation to the CSA. I will not ask anything of you that we are not willing to do as well.)

Commitment weekend is April 28-29 during which we are asked to return our pledges, donations, envelopes. I ask that we try to do this as close to this weekend as possible and that will save more follow-ups and mailings.

THANK YOU all for your continued generosity to our own beloved parish of St. Al’s. And thank you for your willingness to reach beyond our own parish to meet the needs of the wider diocese and church through out the world.

God bless you with the Easter peace and joy of the Risen Lord!

Gratefully, Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.

I want to say again a big THANK YOU to all our choirs and musicians for a beautiful Holy Week! Our spirits were lifted up and we heard such lovely music…..what a delight!

And the decorations are so delightful as well…….all the hours that our volunteers put in arranging and decorating is fantastic. THANK YOU to this dedicated group of people. And THANKS to all the other liturgical ministers too: ushers, servers, sacristans, lectors, and eucharistic ministers. Bless you all.

The annual Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) is kicking off the  weekend of April 21-22.  All parishioners will receive in the mail  during the week  an appeal letter from Bishop Hurley (along with a letter from myself), a brochure, pledge/gift card, and return envelope.

The CSA is vital to the mission of the church here in the Grand Rapids Diocese and in the universal needs of the church. Catholic Charities of West Michigan touches so many social programs for the needy and the poor in our local area. Catechesis, Evangelization, Family, Youth and Young Adult Ministries provide ongoing training  for these important faith formation needs. Catholic School Scholarships are funded by the CSA. And the list goes on of the programs and services funded by the CSA. I ask you to read the CSA brochure for the full listing of these wonderful ministries.

Our St. Alphonsus Parish CSA assessment for 2012  is $124,533.  This assessment is based upon our offertory income and donation income ($1,047,612). This amounts to almost 12% of our parish’s assessable income. It is through your generous pledges that we must make this assessment. What is not generated through pledges is made up by taking it out of our parish income. I understand that many people do not pledge or make a donation, but we need to work together for the sake of the parish and the diocese and the wider needs of the church here in West Michigan and through out the world.  No parish can do it alone and through the CSA we can assist one another.

After all parishioners receive their information on the mail the week of April 22, you are asked to make your pledges/donations on Commitment Weekend of April 28-29. More information will be forthcoming as to follow-up weekends and our progress as a parish.

Prayerfully consider your donation to the CSA “So Faith May Flourish” here and beyond. I know that our gracious God will bless our efforts. Thank you all for your continued generosity of your time, talents, and treasure for the good of all!

Pray for each other daily.

Gratefully, Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.

This Thursday evening, March 29, we will have our Lenten Penance Service at 7:00 PM. All the Redemptorist priests will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is a peaceful atmosphere with the Examination of Conscience displayed on the screen during the entire evening. Gentle music floats in the background to provide a soothing atmosphere for folks to quietly look into their hearts for areas that need reconciling. Come and experience the healing presence of Jesus in this wonderful Sacrament.

Next Sunday of course is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. As we take the palm branches we are reminded of how fickle we can be in our relationship with Jesus. Sometimes we wave the branches and yell “Hosanna” to Jesus and say we love Him and will follow Him. And then, as on Good Friday, we yell “Crucify Him” and betray Him with our selfish actions and hatred.  Place the palm branch in your home and let it remind you how great is the love of Jesus for you. Let it remind you how faithful your love must be for Jesus.

On Holy Thursday this year we are inviting the congregation to be involved in the washing of feet. Several stations around the church will be provided where parishioners may wash feet of others and in turn have their foot washed. We want to imitate the example that Jesus gave us when He washed the feet of His disciples. It is a simple act of humble service, done without fanfare, in a community setting of the followers of Jesus.

Take some quiet time this week to thank the Lord for your blessings.

Gratefully, Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.

Last Sunday I witnessed a wonderful display of our young people’s faith. Our young people preparing to receive the Sacrament of  Confirmation later this year had put together displays of the saints they have chosen for their Confirmation name. Each student dressed in the clothing of their saint, had visual boards made with sayings and biographies of the saint. And each student gave a verbal presentation of his/her saint with particulars about the life, spiritual growth, personal vision, and mission in the church.

I was impressed by our students’ knowledge of these saints and their attachment to this saint as their Confirmation name. Congratulations to our young people (and their catechists) on their “Saints Alive” presentation.  May you continue to growth in your faith and be the living saints of the church.

Holy Week is only two weeks away. This year during the Holy Thursday liturgy I would like to do something that we did many years ago. When it comes time during the liturgy to have the washing of the feet, I am inviting anyone who would like to wash feet of others or to have their foot washed. The mandate of Jesus was “as I have done for you, so must you do for one another.”  This was an example of service for one another. How fitting that more people have the opportunity to do  this simple act of washing feet . We will have several stations around the church and invite people to partake in this humble act. We will provide towels for those who may wish to participate.

I have witnessed young children washing the feet of their parents, strangers doing it for others, seniors doing it for young folks, spouses washing their spouse’s feet. It is humbling. It is gentle. It is giving. It is serving as Jesus did and taught us.

Grow with your faith this week through the dark times into the light of Jesus’ love for you.

Hopefully, Fr. Pat, CSSR

In a few days we will celebrate the feast days of three remarkable saints of the church.

Thursday, March 15 is the feast of St. Clement Hofbauer, a Redemptorist. St. Clement had the mission of bringing the Redemptorists out of Italy and over the Alps into Poland and Austria. He opened St. Beno’s in Warsaw, the first Redemptorist house in Poland. It was the scene of a very fruitful apostolate, including a vibrant ministry to young people. Clement then took the Redemptorists to Vienna, Austria. From these humble roots in 1832 the Redemptorists came to America and began working with Native Americans (in northwestern Michigan, Arber Croce) and other frontier people along with a few scattered pockets of German speaking pioneers in the  far-flung diocese of Cincinnati. In 1839 the Redemptorists accepted the parish of St. Philomena in Pittsburgh, PA.  Our foundations grew as more CSSR arrived from Europe to work with German immigrants in parish settings in Rochester, NY and Baltimore. The Redemptorists kept establishing parishes, preaching missions and spreading across the entire country. Our St. Alphonsus parish here in Grand Rapids was founded in August 1888.

Saturday, March 17 is the feast of St. Patrick, the wonderful missionary to Ireland. Patrick had very humble beginnings, even being sold as a slave and taken to Ireland. After escaping, he studied in Britain and became a priest and then went back to Ireland, the land of his captivity. He worked among the Druids and pagans and embedded the Christian faith in the Celtic people. Patrick embraced the Celtic notions of nature and finding God in all the wonders of creation and Christianized these natural understandings. The simple shamrock with three leaves is only one illustration of Patrick’s to teach about the Trinity.

Monday, March 19 is the feast of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. Little is known about Joseph in the scriptures. He is the Patron of Workers, Patron of a Happy Death, and a model of humble service. Joseph took Mary as his wife under doubtful circumstances, trusting that God was involved. Joseph protected Mary and the child Jesus as they became refugees fleeing for their very lives from Herod. Joseph is a model of trust in God’s providence and serving quietly behind the scenes.

Our Catholic traditions have such great blessings in the legacies of these three saints. We would do well to spend some moments reflecting upon their examples.

May St. Clement, St. Patrick and St. Joseph guide us on our journeys to sainthood!

Joyfully, Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.

Do you ever want to just shut off the TV, the phone, the computer, the ipods and tell the world to leave you alone? We are surrounded constantly by negative news and turmoil in the world and it  can be over whelming at times. I believe we need to seek some solace and peace and ground ourselves in the presence of a gentle God. One of my favorite prayers is from St. Theresa of Liseaux: 

                                    May today there be peace within.

            May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

            May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

                        May you use those gifts that you have received,

                        and pass on the love that has been given to you.

            May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.

            Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul

                        the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

                                    It is there for each and every one of us.

Spend some quiet time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and pray this beautiful prayer. Or sit in a quiet place at home. Or take a break during lunch time and go to your car or an alone spot. Or say it at night after things have calmed down. Or early in the morning with the first cup of coffee. The Lord will listen anytime, any place.

Have a peaceful week and pray for your fellow parishioners.

Prayerfully,

Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.

WOW! What a night we had at our Parish Auction, “A Night at the Oscars” last Saturday evening. It was a great outpouring of that St. Alphonsus spirit of giving and having a great time. So much time and effort went into making the evening a success, not only financially but more importantly in having so many of us come together and really enjoy one another’s company.

The decorations and the food were just plain awesome! Again, so many people gave of their time and skills to set-up, decorate, bake, cook, serve and staff tables. I saw a lot of smiles on people’s faces and heard much laughter. For me personally it was a wonderful evening of getting to know parishioners, familiar faces and many new ones. I always knew there was a warmth about St. Al’s, but last Saturday night just highlighted it in such a beautiful way.

So THANKS to all who donated items for the silent and live auctions. THANKS to all who bid on items and bought raffle tickets. THANKS to all who volunteered in any fashion. THANKS to all who donated almost $2,500 for new vestments for the church.

THANKS to all who came and to all who supported the evening by your prayers and contributions.

And special THANKS to Linda Parker who oversaw the whole project. You kept the vision of  “A Night at the Oscars” in front of us and encouraged others to use their gifts and talents  for the good of St. Al’s.  We fed off your energy and enthusiasm, Linda, and wonderful things resulted from so many good people sharing of themselves.

God bless you all. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And let’s keep the spirit moving!

Gratefully,

Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.