Liturgies
- Weekend Mass Times:
- Saturday: 5:30 PM (English)
- Sunday: 7:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:00 PM (English)
- 12:15 PM (Spanish)
- 9:15 AM (First Sunday of the month only - German)
- Weekday Mass Times:
- Monday: 8:30 AM (English)
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM (English)
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM (English)
- Thursday: 8:30 AM (English)
- Friday: 8:30 AM (English)
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Advent 2011:
Living With Christ and In Christ
We often think of Advent as a time of remembering what it was like to await the Messiah. That memory can indeed help us to take up the real work of Advent - asking Christ to help us conform our lives to the life of the Kingdom, and living in expectation of the coming of Christ in his glory.
In a sermon in 1964, Joseph Ratzinger preached about this season and our stance "with Christ":
It is Advent. All our answers remain fragmentary. The first thing we have to accept is, ever and again, the reality of an enduring Advent. If we do that, we shall begin to realize that the borderline between"before Christ" and "after Christ" does not run through historical time, in an outward sense, and cannot be drawn on any map; it runs through our own hearts. Insofar as we are living on a basis of selfishness, of egoism, then even today we are "before Christ." But in this time of Advent, let us ask the Lord to grant that we may live less and less "before Christ," and certainly not "after Christ," but truly with Christ and in Christ: with him who is indeed Christ yesterday, today, and forever.
Plan to take advantage of the many ways that you can prepare your heart for the Lord to come in this holy season.
Making a wreath and using it to pray
Praying: During Advent and beyond
Learning, including Scripture: Drawing closer to the Lord in the Word
Celebrating: Ways to come closer to God through the sacraments
Reflecting: Ways to jump start or enhance your spiritual life
Advent with children
Serving: Ways to join in service to others
Creative Shopping: Gift ideas that help others to live
Your Advent Wreath
You can make an Advent wreath very easily with an evergreen wreath, four small candleholders and three violet and one rose candle. If you would like to have a permanent wreath that becomes part of your holiday traditions, look in our Amazon store for a variety of wreaths.
You can buy just the right colors of candles at Waxman at 3044 N. Lincoln Ave. They have what you need, including the perfect shade of violet.
Light the wreath each evening right before your evening meal, even if you are dining solo.
Light one violet candle each evening for the first week of Advent.
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Pray You are the light of life. Come, Lord Jesus!
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Pray We wait for you with hope. Come, Lord Jesus!
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Pray You are our joy and salvation. Come, Lord Jesus!
Pray Our hearts are glad and rejoice. You have come to meet us. Come again in glory, Lord Jesus!
Resources for Prayer
Daily Reflections
Take a Blue Book from church. These short daily reflections are a good way to keep the meaning of the season in your consciousness.
Be Vigilant: Daily Meditations for Advent is an e-book available for $.99
Daily Prayer with the Church
A regular rhythm of prayer keeps one close to Christ. These links provide resources for Advent and beyond.
The Angelus is a wonderful prayer to learn during Advent, and to continue afterwards. At dawn, noon and evening, we are invited to meditate for a moment on the miracle of the Incarnation, and our response to God's grace.
Scripture and Other Ways to Deepen Faith
Scripture
Many voice the desire to read the Bible, but don't know where to begin. This guide to the 'great stories of Scripture' leads up to the coming of Christ. Read one a day through Advent, and reflect on the story of salvation as told to us in the Old Testament. These passages will give you the outline and 'flavor' of the Hebrew Scriptures, which you can fill in with your own reading.
In this new liturgical year, we'll be hearing primarily from the Gospel of Mark. You can reflect on the Gospel, with questions and FAQs for each chapter by using 75 Days With Mark. (This was originally posted in the form of a blog. Just go to the first entry to begin.)
More spiritual reading
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Check out Advent reading (and listening) selections in the St. Alphonsus Bookstore
Advent resources from Loyola Press, American Catholic, Catholic.org
Fr. Robert Barron recordings and reflections on Advent
Celebrating
Daily Mass
Advent is often a time of increased busy-ness rather than prayerful reflection. Many find that a commitment to attend daily Mass helps put some calm in the day. Weekday masses at St. Alphonsus are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8:30 AM and Wednesday at 6:00 PM. Daily mass lasts only about a half an hour. If the times here don't mesh well with your schedule, check out options near where you work, especially at lunch time. In downtown Chicago, St. Peter's, Holy Name Cathedral and Old St. Pat's are all accessible.
One excellent preparation for mass, to make it more meaningful, is to read the Scripture readings ahead of time.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Each Wednesday, after the 6:00 PM mass, we begin a Holy Hour of Eucharistic adoration. People come to spend some time with the Lord, in prayer and meditation. Many enjoy the silence and chance to speak directly to the Lord in prayer. If you have never experienced this form of prayer, this Advent might be a good time to try it.
Penance and Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation offers a wonderful opportunity to explore and pray over the ways in which we have broken relationships or have failed. God's presence assures forgiveness and offers us the grace of a new beginning on the path.
Advent is a traditional time to 'take stock' and discover the ways in which we can turn more fully toward the Lord. It is a great season in which to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
The sacrament is Reconciliation is regularly offered twice each week:
You can also make an appointment with one of the priests.
Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 PM
Saturday from 11:00 to 11:45 AMA video guide in two parts: "Preparing" and "In the Confessional"
Print guide to confession
Reflecting
Advent Women's Retreat on December 3. Sr. Kathryn Jean Hermes, fsp will lead a retreat on "The Eight Steps to Inner Peace."
Longing for Light on December 3. An Advent retreat day at Loyola University directed by Fr. John Cusick and Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ.Advent Day of Reflection and Reconciliaton on December 10 with Fr. Richard Fragomeni at Our Lady of Pompei Shrine.
Online Advent Retreats from Loyola Press, Creighton University, Sacred Space, and the Spiritual Exercises in blog format.
Lunchtime Examen, a way to find God's activity in your day
Online Advent Calendars
Planning Advent for your children
- Perhaps one would like to be 'in charge' of the Advent wreath.
- You can think about making ornaments for a Jesse Tree
- Perhaps older children can help younger ones with an Advent calendar.
It is a bit counter-productive to add lots of new activities to your holiday routine. A way to begin the season would be to inventory what really makes a positive difference in your family and what is just 'activity clutter.'
De-clutter and then look at the spiritual meaning of the season. Pick one activity that will really be appealing to your children.
Jennifer Fulwiler has good suggestions for 24 ways to keep Advent with children.
Check out the St. Alphonsus book store for more resources for families.
Serving
Here at St. Alphonsus
As a parish, our Giving Tree provides the chance to help 'make Christmas' for families and individuals in need. Take a tag from the tree to buy a gift for someone from a family who is being helped by Catholic Charities, for a homeless youth through the Night Ministry, for a client at Lakeview Pantry, or a resident at Marah's.
Check out other parish opportunities, which are ongoing through the year.
Around our neighborhood
The Night Ministry serves homeless youth in the Lakeview neighborhood. You can volunteer to help make sack dinners through St. Alphonsus by contacting Jessica Sirois and Bobby Schaefer. You can also volunteer with The Night Ministry directly.
Volunteering for the Greater Chicago Food Depository: Volunteers are needed, especially with high demand! Family friendly volunteer opportunities are also available once a month.
Volunteer at the Women's Center , a pro-life ministry devoted to helping women in problem pregnancies. They have three counseling offices in the Chicago area. Each year their counselors help approximately 5,000 women and their families.
Lakeview Pantry is on the St. Alphonsus campus. They welcome both donations and volunteer support. Contact Erin.
Aquinas Literacy Center is looking for ESL volunteers to teach English to adult learners. Volunteers tutor for about 90 minutes a week. All training is provided.
Lincoln Park Community Shelter assists those living on the streets in our neighborhood. Their programs meet immediate needs and work toward moving clients to permanent housing. More information about ways to volunteer is
available on their web site.Ronald McDonald House in Lincoln Park serves families and children seeking treatment at Children's Hospital. They need volunteers for a variety of activities. For an application and more information, go to their web site.
Creative Shopping that Helps Others
Places to buy Fair Trade items and gifts that benefit others
Monastery Greetings - A clearinghouse of goods made by various monasteries of men and women.
When you give Fair Trade goods, you know that the producers receive a fair return and can support their families. You can find beautiful Fair Trade items at the following sites:
Ten Thousand Villages - Beautiful Fair Trade gifts from around the world
Serrv - Gifts from all over the world; an agency of Catholic Relief Services
Tree of Life Imports - Colorful and beautiful crafts from Latin America.
Another option is to make a donation in someone's name. Two excellent choices are:
Heifer - You can 'buy an animal' to give to a friend or family member. That animal goes to form a breeding pair in a place in need.