Please join the Saint Alphonsus Book Club on Monday, June 29th, as we discuss Elizabeth Street by Laurie Fabiano. Based on true events, this historical, multigenerational novel traces the life of Giovanna, a young Italian immigrant, whose family triumphed over the infamous Black Hand in 1900’s New York. Our meeting begins promptly at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall, but please feel free to come early for a chat. For more details, contact Joan Wolff at [email protected]. Until then, happy reading!

Happy anniversary to Monsignor Michael McCulken, who is celebrating his Golden Jubilee. In just one year, Monsignor has already become such an important part of our parish family. Thank you for sharing your vocation, your care, and your love for Christ with our community. Celebrate with us on Sunday, May 31st, at noon for a Mass of Thanksgiving, followed by an outdoor reception.

The annual Saint Alphonsus Memorial Day Mass will be held at 9:00AM on Monday, May 25th. The names of loved ones lost in war will be read aloud prior to the Mass as part of the flag ceremony. The names are published in the Mass booklet. If you wish to include the name of a loved one lost in war, please complete the following information and email it to [email protected].

Effective May 4th, the Parish Office hours will be Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.  This change of schedule will allow our parish and missionary staff to attend the 9:00 am daily Mass, united in prayer with one another and for the mission of our parish.

Click the title above to read an article by Catholic Philly covering our new program, Nourish for Caregivers, here at Saint Alphonsus. Our parish will be one of five Nourish groups in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia—two of which, also in Montgomery County, were started by Amy Juarez. Our Nourish group will meet on the third Thursday of each month from 3:00–4:15 PM in the church narthex meeting room. Each gathering will focus on a faith‑based caregiving topic.

The Tuesday Morning Bible Study Group (BSG) invites our parishioners and friends from other parishes to join us each Tuesday morning from 7:30 AM to 8:45 AM to increase our faith and fellowship by learning the Bible. We are currently studying the Ascension series “The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation.” No prior Bible Study experience or skills necessary, simply an eagerness to hear our Lord’s Word and grow in your faith with your brothers and sisters. The best time to join was last week; the next best time is this week. Whenever you are ready, we welcome you to join us on this faith journey. For more information click the title above!

HTN (Helping Thy Neighbor) Ministry is now collecting furniture for needy families for their Spring session. Furniture especially needed: bedroom dressers, chests, and nightstands (no mirrors), kitchen/dining room tables and chairs; living room chairs (no recliners), living room sofas and loveseats, coffee and end tables. Please contact Helping Thy Neighbor: phone 215-346-6416 or email to [email protected] if you have any items you would like to donate. Someone will return your call/email and arrange pick up of your items. Thank you for your support.

Parishioners are invited to borrow our new Saint DVDs from the library: I Am With You: A Documentary on Saint Carlo Acutis and Sanctity Within Reach: Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati. This is an inspiring opportunity to grow in faith through the witness of these modern saints! Click the title above to reserve your week.

The Saint Alphonsus Chamber Ensemble would like to invite instrumental players to join our group. We provide accompaniment music during Mass. The ensemble practices 2-3 Sunday afternoons a month from Sept to June. All players from junior high age through adult are welcome. Please contact Jennifer Nemeth-Seay ([email protected]) for more information.

Our Spring session is scheduled for Friday, March 13th, evening, and Sunday, March 14th. Friday evening is an informal hour to get to know the married and soon-to-be married couples participating, and typically lasts from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM. Saturday's session is from 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM and includes discussions and interactive sessions to help engaged couples with a deeper understanding of marriage and each other. Click the title above for more information and to register!

The Health and Wellness Ministry would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated volunteers who have given their time and energy to support our ministry. Your compassion and commitment make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and blessed Christmas filled with peace, health, and happiness. Look for an announcement in the new year for an upcoming event for our volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please reach out via email to [email protected] by clicking the title above!

If you haven’t already, please mail back or drop off your completed census form. Even if you believe nothing has changed, it helps us keep accurate records and is vital to our operations as a parish community. If you have not yet received your census letter in the mail, please contact the Rectory Office as we may have outdated information!

Please join us on Monday, December 15th as we discuss The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber. Best friends, one a pastor (Peter) and the other a bartender (Hank), agree to switch their very different jobs until Christmas Eve. The results are surprising! Please note: this meeting is our annual Christmas Party & Pollyanna and will not take place in the Parish Hall. For more details, contact Joan Wolff at [email protected]. Until then, happy reading!

The Saint Alphonsus Health and Wellness Ministry will be hosting a program on Healthy Habits for the Holidays on Monday, December 1st, at 6:30PM in the Narthex. Learn important tips for ways to stay healthy during the holiday season. Take advantage of this exciting program! Contact the Rectory Office via email at [email protected] or via phone at 215-646-4600 to save your spot.

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers for making this year’s Book Fair a success—especially our Book Fair Chairs, Maryanne Burgmann and Donna Ierardi, for their leadership and hard work. We’re grateful for everyone who helped, visited, or supported the fair in any way.  Thanks to your generosity, the portion we receive from the sales will help us purchase new books for our parish library and the Kids’ Corner. If you didn’t get a chance to visit, missed something, or want to browse hundreds of additional titles—including many for adults—you can still order online by clicking the title above!

If you haven’t already, please mail back or drop off your completed census form. Even if you believe nothing has changed, it helps us keep accurate records and is vital to our operations as a parish community. If you have not yet received your census letter in the mail, please contact the Rectory Office as we may have outdated information!

Please join us on Monday, November 24th as we discuss Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion by Wendy Suzuki. Using the premise that anxiety is “a key component of our ability to live optimally”, a preeminent neurologist offers ways to harness anxiety for good, stop the negativity, and welcome joy into our lives. Seems a perfect read for the busy holiday season. For more details, contact Joan Wolff at [email protected]. Until then, happy reading!

We’re excited to announce the grand reopening of our parish library on Sunday, November 2, after all Masses! Come explore our beautiful new library shelves now located in the narthex, filled with inspiring Catholic books for all ages and interests. Our entire collection has been added to a convenient online catalog, making it easier than ever to browse and borrow.

This Saturday, November 1st, Saint Alphonsus Parish will celebrate our annual Mass of Remembrance at 5:00 PM for all the souls of the faithful departed. We ask that you consider bringing a framed picture of any of your loved ones who have died this past year to be put in a special place in the church, where it would remain until the end of November. In this way, the whole parish will be reminded of your loved one and be united in prayer for all those who have died. If you do bring a picture, please be sure to include your name on the back of the frame. Mass will conclude with light refreshments and fellowship. To assist with our planning, it would be helpful if you could contact the rectory ([email protected] or 215-646-4600).

Join us this Saturday, November 1st, at 9:00 AM Mass as we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day of obligation.