Fr. Christopher Epplett | Pastor
Father Christopher Epplett is the pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish with a heart for evangelization. He has spent many years working in pastoral ministry in several parishes throughout the Grand Rapids diocese and Michigan. In leading the parish, Fr. Christopher hopes to instill a vision for a vibrant parish where we welcome our current members and invite new ones on the adventure of knowing Jesus Christ.
ENCOUNTER
WHEN WE ENCOUNTER JESUS,
IT CHANGES EVERYTHING
ENRICH
OUR ENCOUNTER IS ENRICHED WHEN WE ROOT OUR FAITH IN DEEP SOIL, LEARNING AND GROWING IN HOLINESS
ENGAGE
WE ENGAGE THOSE AROUND US BY SHARING ABOUT JESUS, DISCIPLE-MAKING AND BY ACTS OF CHARITY & JUSTICE
Parish Staff
Michelle Hatfield
Social Concerns Ministry
616-451-3043 Ext. 5304
mhatfield@stalphonsusgr.org
Mary Sutarik
Communications and Parish Engagement
616-451-3043
msutarik@stalphonsusgr.org
Mike Boelens
Maintenance
Carol Fedewa
Director of Worship & Evangelization
616-451-3043 Ext. 5305
cfedewa@stalphonsusgr.org
Catherine McKenzie & Kim Kayser
Administrative Assistants
616-451-3043 Ext. 5300
office@stalphonsusgr.org
Deacon John Falicki
Deacon
jfalicki@stalphonsusgr.org
Maureen Cromwell
Office of Faith Formation
616-451-3043 Ext. 5302
mcromwell@stalphonsusgr.org
Scott Schumaker
Maintenance Supervisor
616-451-3043 Ext. 5306
sschumaker@stalphonsusgr.org
Gabe Groh
Assistant Director of Worship
ggroh@stalphonsusgr.org
St. Alphonsus Parish Education Endowment Fund
The St. Alphonsus Parish Education Endowment was established in 1994 to provide for costs associated with the education of children at St. Alphonsus School not covered by the regular parish budget. The Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters and St. Alphonsus parishioners originally funded the Endowment through generous donations. The charter and scope of the Endowment was changed to include all educational endeavors in our parish when All Saints Academy was founded in 2008.
The Art Windows of St. Alphonsus Church
In 1919, St. Al’s Pastor Mathias Meyer, CSSR, placed an order for stained glass windows for the church. The original order included eight nave windows, twenty-one sanctuary and transept windows, and one “rear” window. Later, ten smaller additional windows were ordered. The smaller windows included three in the baptistery, two in the sanctuary, two in the vestibule, two transoms in transept, and one in the stairwell.
Our windows were designed and produced by the studios of F. X. Zettler, of Munich, Germany. Together, these thirty major windows and ten smaller ones throughout the church, make up an area of nearly three thousand square feet. The stained glass windows were installed in 1920, replacing the clear glass windows that were in place since 1909.
Stained glass is really not "stained". It's glass that's colored by adding different chemicals to glass in its molten state. Metallic oxides make the color: copper for ruby, manganese for purple, iron for green, etc. Flat sheets of glass of different colors are then cut into whatever shapes are needed for the design of the window. Strips of lead, the softest and heaviest common metal, hold the pieces together. It also resists the attacks of air, water, and pollution.
Details in the windows, such as faces, folds in clothes, and words of text, are painted on the glass with enamel made from ground glass and rust powder mixed with glue. This mixture is then fired in a kiln to bond the enamel to the glass before it's leaded.
Stained glass windows do wonderful things with light. Unlike a painting or a mosaic, which reflect the light, stained glass lets light pass through the artwork. The light is colored, refracted, and spread throughout each piece of glass. Stained glass changes with the light, reflecting not only the weather, but also the mood and feeling of the day.
All images copyright Ruth Parbel Photography
Diocese of Grand Rapids
The Diocese of Grand Rapids was established on May 19, 1882. The diocese comprises 11 counties of Western Michigan: Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Ottawa. The diocese serves 175,114 Catholics, and has 80 parishes and 31 schools.