St. Alphonsus Church

Our Anniversary Year

The parish of St. Alphonsus was founded in 1882, one hundred and twenty-five years ago. During the year beginning August 1, 2007 (the feast of St. Alphonsus) we will celebrate our rich heritage as well as enjoy the excitement of our present growth and development. It will also be the year we hope to finish the restoration of our beautiful church.

The Anniversary committee has planned a number of wonderful events which we hope will engage every member of the parish.

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125 Years of History

St. Alphonsus was founded in 1882 by Redemptorist priests to serve Germans who had moved outside what was then the Chicago city limits after the Great Fire. Originally it was a mission of St. Michael's in Old Town, but it quickly became a parish in its own right. The school was also founded in that first year. Within 15 years, the parish had built two churches - the original wooden one and the Gothic landmark we know today - as well as a school, convent and rectory.

Today the parish retains its German roots while reflecting the vibrant Lakeview neighborhood of which it is a part. Since 2000, it has been administered by priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The story of St. Alphonsus spans most of the history of Chicago and is part of the lives of thousands and thousands of families. Click here for a slide show of pictures from our past. Click here for information about sharing your "St. Al Story." Check back soon to see the stories that we are collecting.

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Anniversary Calendar

Click here for our Anniversary calendar. Check back for more events as they are scheduled.

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Special Liturgies and Spiritual Events

We will be celebrating five special liturgies this year:

August 4 and 5 - The Feast of St. Alphonsus and the Kickoff for the Anniversary Year. Reception after each weekend mass.
September 30 - A Welcome Back to former parishioners and their families at the 10:30 AM mass. Followed by brunch at our Oktoberfest.
December 8 - The Anniversary mass with Cardinal Francis George at 5:30 PM, followed by a reception.
January 27 - A celebration of our school for alumni and teachers, as well as the present students and faculty at 10:30 AM.
April (date to be determined) - A Welcome Back to the Redemptorists.

In addition, we look forward to a special celebration to mark the completion of the restoration of the church.

During the Fifth Week of Lent, from Sunday, March 9 to Wednesday, March 12, we will have a Parish Mission.

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Anniversary Gala

We are planning a wonderful Anniversary Gala on Friday, May 2, at the Metropolitan Club in the Sears Tower at 7:00 PM. This will be a glorious evening of music, dancing, and memories. Check back soon for more information and how to purchase tickets.

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125 Service Hour Challenge

St. Alphonsus has always been known for its impact on the local community. To commemorate our anniversary year, we are organizing a 125 Service Hour Challenge. Parishioners, young and old, are encouraged to give 125 hours in service this year to the parish and Alphonsus Academy and Center for the Arts community, as well as throughout Chicagoland.

To sign up for the Challenge, go to our Volunteer page. You can keep track of your own hours and see the total hours for the parish.

Click here for information, including dozens of agencies and events. Click here for a calendar of upcoming service opportunities.

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Community Events

We will be celebrating here at home as well as at sporting venues throughout Chicagoland. Join with parishioners, friends and families at these exciting events.

Fill out the survey, telling us what interests you! Download it here, save it to your computer and email it back to Cristina Mercader.

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Becoming a Banner Sponsor

You can show your support and affection for St. Alphonsus by sponsoring one of our street banners. Information about ordering will be here soon!

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