St. Alphonsus Catholic Church 210 E. Logan, Lemont Parish Office 630-257-2414 Fax 630-257-2476 Religious Education Office 630-257-2371 School Office 630-783-2220 20W145 Davey Road Website: www.st-als.org E-mail: [email protected]Office Temporarily Closed Business Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 am - 4 pm Friday 8 am– 2 pm Weekend Mass Schedule All Masses Suspended until further notice Holy Days to be announced Eucharistic Adoration No Adoration until further notice Sacramental Life Reconciliation Suspended Baptism Baptisms are usually celebrated the second and third Sundays of every month. No Baptisms during Lent Marriage Prospective bride and groom must be registered parishioners for at least 6 months before a wedding date may be scheduled Sick and Homebound Contact the office, 257-2414, to receive a visit from a Minister of Care All visits suspended. ST. ALPHONSUS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Est. 1867
Transcript
The Ascension of the Lord 1 May 24, 2020
St. Alphonsus Catholic Church 210 E. Logan, Lemont
Parish Office 630-257-2414 Fax 630-257-2476 Religious Education Office 630-257-2371 School Office 630-783-2220 20W145 Davey Road Website: www.st-als.org E-mail: [email protected]
Office Temporarily Closed
Business Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 am - 4 pm
Friday 8 am– 2 pm
Weekend Mass Schedule All Masses Suspended until further notice
Holy Days to be announced
Eucharistic Adoration
No Adoration until further notice
Sacramental Life
Reconciliation Suspended
Baptism Baptisms are usually celebrated the second
and third Sundays of every month. No Baptisms during Lent
Marriage Prospective bride and groom must be
registered parishioners for at least 6 months before a wedding date may be scheduled
Sick and Homebound Contact the office, 257-2414,
to receive a visit from a Minister of Care All visits suspended.
ST. ALPHONSUS C A T H O L I C
C O M M U N I T Y Est. 1867
The Ascension of the Lord 2 May 24, 2020
From Father Brian’s Desk
St. Alphonsus Catholic Church
Parish Registration
Everyone 18 years and older should register for the parish.
To register, please call the Parish Office at 257-2414 or
you can register online at www.st-als.org
Parish Staff Pastor
Fr. Brian Ardagh Associate Pastor Fr. Tom Hoffman
Resident Fr. Robert Rohrich Weekend Celebrant
Fr. Lou Zake Diaconal Ministry Deacon Gib Ende
Deacon Bill Lubben Deacon Terry McGuire
Deacon Dan Rittenhouse Director of Religious Education
Kevin Cody Admin. Assistant for Religious Ed.
Lynn Houser School Principal
Robert Priest Pastoral Associate Linda O’Connor
Office Coordinators Barbara Betley
Melanie Terrazas Accountant Carol Levas
Music Director Joseph Martorano
SPRED: Carol Levas
Parish Pastoral Council Members
Mike Bruno Bill Doherty Diane Kaye
Deborah Kornacker Sharon Kostes
Roy Tam Terese Turner
James Zuccarelli
Gradual Reopening Plan for St. Alphonsus Church As you may have heard on the news, Cardinal Cupich has announced that he is ready to begin the first phases of reopening the Catholic Churches of the Archdiocese of Chicago on a limited basis. These first phases are for the celebration of the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Funerals and Matrimony. However, those sacraments are limited to only 10 people in the church building and there are a number of guidelines. We are in the process of forming a Parish Reopening Leadership Team to organize our efforts. We will need volunteers to assist in the effort. I have included a letter in this bulletin to explain the Reopening Plan for St. Alphonsus Church. Memorial Day On Monday, May 25th, we celebrate Memorial Day. It is a time in which we remember, pray and give thanks for those who served and sacrificed their lives for our country. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this Memorial Day will be very unusual. We will post a Memorial Day Mass video on our parish website, st-als.org, our Facebook page and our YouTube channel. Here is a beautiful prayer that really captures the idea of this celebration: O God, as we recall those who have made sacrifices for the freedoms we enjoy every day, we think of how they have followed the path of your son, Jesus Christ. Please keep our servicemen and women in your prayers. Protect them with your grace and your presence as they work for our protection. We also pray for their families. We ask for your blessings to fill their homes, and we pray your peace, support, and strength will fill their lives. May the members of our armed forces be supplied with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord's guidance to help them accomplish each task. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Renew My Church As I mentioned in previous Pastor Columns, St. Alphonsus and St. Patrick parishes are still encouraged by the Archdiocese of Chicago to make decisions about the future. Both Fr. Kurt Boras of St. Patrick Church and I have been asked to invite parishioners to offer their opinions on a new parish name. One possibility that was presented to us is: “Ss. Alphonsus and Patrick Parish”. We believe that this is an appropriate title because it keeps the rich tradition and history of both parishes alive. Also, our combined St. Alphonsus/St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School is named in the same fashion. If you think that Ss. Alphonsus and Patrick Parish is an appropriate title or you would prefer something else, please call the Parish Office at (630) 257-2414 or email us at [email protected] and let us know. The next step that we will present will be the new Mass Schedule for both St. Alphonsus and St. Patrick church sites. Priesthood Anniversaries In last week’s Pastor Column, I congratulated the priests in the Lemont area for their years of ministry. I totally forgot to mention Fr. Bob Gielow for his 49 years of priesthood service. To Fr. Gielow and all those who serve our communities – Ad Multos Annos (Many Happy Years)!
The Ascension of the Lord 3 May 24, 2020
Dear St. Alphonsus Parishioners, I pray that you and your loved ones are healthy. As you may have seen in the news or on our parish website, Cardinal Cupich recently shared a multi-phased plan for reopening churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Specifically, Phase I allows for parishes to reopen for Baptisms, Reconciliation, Weddings and Funerals with a limit of 10 attendees. Phase IA allows for parishes to possibly reopen for private prayer or adoration with a limit of 10 attendees. Phase II allows for reopening for weekday and weekend Masses for larger groups depending on the guidelines from the state and the capacity of the church building. Our St. Alphonsus Reopening Plan It is important for everyone to understand that our efforts will prioritize the safety and well-being of all while maintaining reverence for the sacraments and liturgical practices. I am assembling a Parish Reopening Leadership Team to lead our efforts. Together, we will attend required training from the Archdiocese to ensure that our parish reopening plan conforms to the guidelines developed by the Archdiocese in collaboration with civil and healthcare authorities. We will also receive a starter kit of protective and cleaning supplies, as well as guidance on purchasing/maintaining supplies on an ongoing basis. Timing for Our Reopening As I mentioned, the Parish Reopening Leadership Team members and I will undergo required training. Once we complete the training, we will need to complete the reopening certification process to be approved by the Archdiocese of Chicago. Following our training and certification approval, we will only open our church once the Reopening Leadership Team and I feel confident that we are totally prepared for the celebration of the sacraments in a safe environment. Volunteers Needed We will need volunteers to assist with various aspects of our parish reopening plan. However, leadership team members and volunteers must not be part of a “vulnerable population” (that is, not over the age of 65; no underlying medical condition such as diabetes; lung disease; undergoing cancer treatment, etc.). I ask that those who are willing to assist are younger than 65 years of age and are healthy (with no underlying health conditions) to consider assisting with one of three reopening teams: Set-up team
Sample duties include: ensuring that all supplies needed for each sacramental celebration/gathering are ready for use, entrances and exits are marked and propped physically open prior to attendees’ arrival/departure, etc.
Greeting team Sample duties include: assisting in managing the flow of congregants as they enter the church, making sure attendees use hand sanitizer upon entering, are wearing a mask and are reminded not to enter if ill; directing people to appropriate seating/waiting areas, etc.
Cleaning team Sample duties include: maintaining and cleaning essential and trafficked areas of the church before and after celebrations. Masks and gloves will be provided (if you do not have your own) and approved cleaning/disinfecting supplies.
The Parish Reopening Leadership Team and I will make sure that all volunteers are properly trained. If you are able and willing to volunteer, please call the Parish Office at (630) 257-2414 or send us a message at [email protected]. May God grant you peace during this difficult time and we pray that we will soon gather together to celebrate our faith as a community of believers! Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Brian Ardagh
The Ascension of the Lord 4 May 24, 2020
Religious Education Update
Kevin Cody, DRE, 630-257-2371, [email protected], www.st-als.org/rel-edu
Warmer weather is here, and with the Ascension of Our Lord we set our sights skyward. Here is an idea for a simple and fun family activity this weekend. Make or purchase solution for blowing bubbles. As you watch the bubbles float up and away, talk about how we believe in things that we cannot see, such as the power of love and forgiveness. Give thanks to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit: “Thank you God for the gift of your son, Jesus, and for sending us your Spirit. Help us to follow you no matter where the wind blows, each and every day. Amen.”
CONFIRMATION & FIRST COMMUNION As of May 18th, we have no news related to plans on celebrating these sacraments. We will send email blasts as soon as we get information.
THE ASCENSION – A SOURCE OF HOPE Last Thursday and this weekend we celebrate the Ascension. Christ’s Ascension is a source of great hope for Christians. In the Nicene Creed, we profess our belief in Jesus’ Ascension when we say, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” When Jesus rose from the dead, he conquered sin and death; when he ascended into heaven, he began a new life with God in the world of the divine. The Ascension is a mystery of our faith. It is a reminder of the power of God, and it fills us with the hope that, one day, all believers will be welcomed into eternal life with Christ. In these days of our lives being radically changed by the pandemic, we hold on to hope that when our state fully reopens that it will not simply be a return to a former way of life, but the start of a renewed life that has a greater awareness of the presence of the divine in this world.
MASS & ME GOSPEL REFLECTION QUESTIONS John 17:1-11a: This weekend’s Gospel passage illustrates for us how much Jesus loves his friends. In this prayer, from the Last Supper, Jesus prays that his friends will experience the same unity with God that he has. To better engage your child in the Mass on TV, discuss the following questions together: • What did you like about the Mass? • What is your favorite way to pray? • What kinds of prayers do you pray when you’re happy? What about when you’re worried or sad? • How do you pray for your friends (as Jesus did in this passage)? As a family? What new way(s) might you try?
HAVE FUN SAYING THE ROSARY (No, really!) Blogger Sarah Reinhard admits that she has a love-hate relationship with the Rosary. It’s not so different from how she feels about exercise. She sees how they both yield good — sometimes even great! — results, but they also need an investment of time and effort. She asks herself, “If I am struggling with it, how am I supposed to get my kids to do it willing-ly?” She offers the following resources to help you to introduce the children in your life to the rosary…and maybe plant the seeds of a lifelong devotion!
Learn Together – The first step is to learn how. Go to TeachingCatholicKids.com and search for 13 Tips For Praying the Rosary With Kids.
Keep Them Moving – while you pray. One idea is Rosary Hopscotch that you can find at http://johnsonfamilytoday.blogspot.com/2012/09/rosary-hopscotch.html.
Do a Rosary Craft – There are kits available. An easy and inexpensive way for young kids to craft Rosaries is using pipe cleaners & beads. For instructions, go to https://www.reallifeathome.com/rosary-craft-for-kids/. Sarah concedes that mak-ing a craft doesn’t equal praying a rosary…but taking the time to make something with your hands can make you more interested in what the thing you’re making is used for. Tap into that!
The Ascension of the Lord 5 May 24, 2020
25th Anniversary
Thank you Fr. Brian for all you have done for us. May God Bless You!
The Ascension of the Lord 6 May 24, 2020
Let’s Fill the Shelves… Food Pantry Update Thank you for your continued support of our local food pantries. Each month we will feature a “product of the month” which is usually a special request from the pantries. Currently the Food Pantry has requested monetary donations only. You may mail your donations to: Bethany Lutheran Church, 500 Lemont St., Lemont or to United Methodist Church, 25 W Custer St., Lemont. Any monetary food pantry donations received at the Office will be forwarded to these pantries. Your kindness and generosity are much appreciated.
Weekly Offering
May 17 & May 18 Week’s Need $ 12,869.00 Sunday Collection $ 4,590.00 EFT $ Online Giving $ 1,185.00 Surplus (Deficit) $ (7,094.00) Last Year’s Weekly Collection $ 7,495.00 Fiscal Year to Date Surplus (Deficit) $ 27,753.90
While Mass is suspended, you can donate online at st-als.org or drop
off or mail your donation to the Parish Office at
210 E. Logan St. Lemont, IL 60439
Thank you for your support. We are grateful to everyone who has continued to support their
Parish during these challenging times.
Maybe now is the time to consider Electronic Fund Transfer!
Electronic Fund Transfer, (EFT), is the process of automatically having your contribution offering transferred from your checking or saving account to St. Alphonsus’ account.
What will EFT do for you? • No more check writing • No more remembering your envelope • No more looking for the correct currency • Automated record keeping
What will EFT do for St. Al’s?
• Your offering arrives even when you are not able to attend mass
• You help us simplify our record keeping • We are better able to plan and budget
To sign up for Electronic Fund Transfer, you may call the Office to have a an EFT form mailed to you. The form is also available on our website www.st-als.org. Return the completed request form by mail or drop it off at the Parish Office, 210 E. Logan St. Lemont, IL 60439. If your financial situation changes, you may change or stop your payment at any time. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Parish office at 630-257-2414.
St. Alphonsus Bulletin is a weekly publication of St. Alphonsus Catholic Community of Lemont, Illinois. All rights reserved. Printing by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc., Schiller Park, Illinois.
While Masses are suspended, we all miss our church and our fellow parishioners. To help us feel connected, each week you may watch Sunday Mass from here at St. Alphonsus by visiting our website at www.st-als.org, our Facebook Page or on our YouTube channel. For daily Mass, our website has a link to Mass with Bishop Barron. You may also watch Sunday Mass from the Archdiocese of Chicago at www.archchicago.org or on WLS-TV ABC Channel 7. Mass from Mercy Home is shown on Sunday mornings at 9:30am on WGN-TV Channel 9.
"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices." -Harry S. Truman
The Ascension of the Lord 7 May 24, 2020
“TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON AND A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN.”
“A Time to be Born through Baptism” — “A Time to Love in Holy Matrimony” — “A Time to Heal” — Names will remain on the prayer list for two months. Please contact the office if you need to change, add, or extend a prayer request.
“A Time of War” —
“A Time to Die” — The military and innocent civilians who have died in the war. Please keep all these listed, and their families, in your prayers.
Jordan Skrobot Gerry Malak Brayden Edward Dennis Cerniuk
Pat Perkey Norman Kwak Bob Priest Linda Heeg
Kris Bechtel Ralph Shroyer Ed Schafer Jeff Schikora
Peggy Kelly Eva Mossman
Scott Bosco, USA, Kuwait Christopher Durkovic, USA, Korea Joshua Plucinski, US Air Force, Germany Abraham Moore, US Navy Jacob Christine, US Navy, Iraq Andrew J. Bosko, Jr., USN, with the Green Berets in Eric Tucker, USA, Afghanistan Saudi Arabia And all who serve our country
Readings for The Ascension of the Lord A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles Acts 1:1–11 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
Responsorial Psalm - Ps 47:2–3, 6–7, 8–9 R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul the Ephesians Eph 1:17–23 Brothers and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Mt 28:16–20 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
The Ascension of the Lord 9 May 24, 2020
Saturday, May 23 Bernard Kucharski -Wife Charlotte Suda – Family Gene Bozych – Becky & Joe Vucko Anita Bromberek - Walker Family Sunday, May 24 John Oras – Bev & Paul Malak Dolores Budzinski - Donna & Jim Berent Blessings for Fran & Joe Bialek on 40th Wedding Anniversary - Family William Kerfin, Sr. – Kerfin Family Anna Renc - Family John & Josephine Salbego - Barb & Bob Salbego Parishioners of St. Alphonsus
Mass Intentions *(Fr. Brian will remember these intentions in his prayers.) Saturday, May 30 Pedro Escobedo - Carmen Wallace Bernard Kucharski – Wife Mary Irene Schafer – Dowiarz Family Fran Urban – Bev & Paul Malak Sunday, May 31 Edward Berent – Donna & Jim Berent Scott Newling – Bev & Paul Malak Vincent Gilio - MaryAnne & Bill Doherty Joseph Florczak – Family Mary Martin – Lynn Houser Jerry Noga – Wife Joanne Rohrich – Fr. Brian Ardagh Robert Bromberek - Donna Baranoski Parishioners of St. Alphonsus
Information is constantly updating and changing. To stay updated on the latest information regarding St. Alphonsus Parish you may:
Visit our website: www.st-als.org Like us on our Facebook page
Monday, May 25 Parishioners of St. Alphonsus Tuesday, May 26 Ed Sobeck – Barb & Don Betley Wednesday, May 27 Merrily Szantor - MaryAnne & Bill Doherty Thursday, May 28 Robert Bromberek - Judy Reedy Friday, May 29 Annabelle Santucci - Gnatek Family
Fr. Brian will remember all Mass intentions during his private prayers.
If you would like to change the date of an existing intention, or to request a new Mass intention, please leave a message at the Parish Office at 630-257-2414.
Lemont Clergy Offers Assistance
The Lemont Christian Churches are teaming up to support the needs of our Lemont neighbors. We already have supported our families in need of food assistance through the Lemont Food Pantries. As of now, because of safety concerns, the Lemont Food Pantries are only accepting financial donations. If you would like to donate to the Lemont Food Pantries, you may donate directly to them or drop off a donation at our St. Alphonsus Parish Office. The Lemont Clergy Association also realizes that some families are now in need of financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are in need of financial support at this time, you can reach out by emailing [email protected]. If you are able to financially support this fund, please make a donation designated to "Lemont Support”.
The Ascension of the Lord 10 May 24, 2020
CHURCH NAME & NUMBER — Saint Alphonsus #512066 ADDRESS — 210 East Logan Lemont, IL 60439 PHONE — 630-257-2414 CONTACT PERSON — Barb Betley SOFTWARE — Publisher 2010 Adobe Acrobat X Windows 10 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 10 INCLUDING THIS SHEET
SUNDAY DATE OF BULLETIN — May 24, 2020 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Only print 50 copies. If there are any questions or problems, please call. Thanks for your help.
