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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Lent 2011:
Come to the Well
Each year, Lent offers us the chance to renew our commitment to Christ. We gather to pray for those who are preparing for baptism. Their witness should help us to ask ourselves, "How do I live out my baptism? How am I living as a disciple of the Lord?"
Christ offered Living Water, himself, to the Samaritan woman at the well. He offers us the same Living Water, and the chance to renew and refresh ourselves this Lent.
There are a wealth of options and opportunities, both in the parish and online, to help deepen your experience of Lent, 2011.
Lent traditions: Prayer, fasting and almsgiving
Learning: Programs to expand your knowledge of the faith
Celebrating: Ways to come closer to God through the sacraments
Reflecting: Ways to jump start or enhance your prayer life
Serving: Ways to join in service to others
Holy Week and Easter: Celebrating the"Crown of the Year"
Learning
Here at St. Alphonsus
Ten Minute Catechism - Ways to Pray
Catholicism 101 - Refresh and reconnect
Come to the Well - Small Faith Discussion Groups
Check out Lenten reading selections in the St. Alphonsus Bookstore
Around the Web
Pope Benedict XVI's Lenten Message
Busted Halo, a web magazine has an online Lenten Calendar
Lent Resources from Loyola Press, American Catholic, the United States Bishops
Fr. Robert Barron video on Lent
Pilgrimage with Jesus, weekly Lenten podcasts
Lenten Reading plans using the Fathers of the Church, and other saints
Free online course on the Passion of Christ in the Gospels
Celebrating
Daily Mass
Lent marks a time when many people make the commitment to attend daily Mass. 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 Lent might be a good time to try it. This guide provides a commonsense approach to this form of prayer.
Stations of the Cross
Each Friday during Lent, the Stations of the Cross are prayed at 6:30 PM in English and 7:00 PM in Spanish. This prayer allows us to meditate on Christ's Passion and death while walking the "Way of the Cross." It is a wonderful way to grow in one's knowledge of being a disciple of the Lord.
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.
Lent 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:
Wednesday from 6:30 –7:30 PM; Saturday from 11:00 to 11:45 AM. You can also make an appointment with one of the priests.A video guide in two parts: "Preparing" and "In the Confessional"
Reflecting
We have a number of excellent resources available on our Catholic Links page for daily prayer and reflection.
Online Lent retreats from Creighton, Sacred Space, using Ignatian spirituality, and the Spiritual Exercises in blog format.
Seven Last Words devotion
Multimedia Stations of the Cross
Praying Lent, a comprehensive guide from Creighton University Online Ministries
Lunchtime Examen, a way to find God's activity in your day
Live Lent Daily - a calendar with reflections for each day of Lent.
Serving
Here at St. Alphonsus
As a parish, we participate in Operation Rice Bowl, an outreach of Catholic Relief Services. Operation Rice Bowl raises funds for development in the Third World aimed at eliminating hunger and providing clean water.
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 Vince Meno. You can also volunteer with them 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.