1. REGISTER IN YOUR PARISH
Call the parish office (in
the rectory), 784-6464, or drop in for a form M-F, 8:30-4:30. Even
if you expect to be here for a short time you need to register. Registration helps us recognize you and allows your parish to carry
out its responsibilities toward you. If you have grown up in a
parish, you still need to register once you have reached adulthood,
either here or wherever you are. Your parents' registration and
your alumni status with the school do not automatically register you
in the parish. You have to do it yourself.
Responsible membership in a parish means giving back to God and your faith community material support according to your means and participation in parish activities.
If you should leave the parish, please let the parish secretary know, and provide a forwarding address.
2. THERE'S MORE . . .
The parish exists for the spiritual
good of the incarnate Body of Christ, the Church. "A
parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful established on a stable
basis within a particular [arch/diocesan] church; the pastoral care of
the parish is entrusted to a pastor as its own shepherd under the
authority of the diocesan [arch]bishop." (CCC 2179)
"It is the place where all the faithful can be gathered together for the Sunday
celebration of the Eucharist. The parish initiates the Christian people into
the ordinary expression of the liturgical life: it gathers them
together in this celebration; it teaches Christ's saving doctrine; it
practices the charity of the Lord in good works and brotherly love." (CJC 515) "You cannot pray at home as at Church, where there is a
great multitude, where exclamations are cried out to God as from
one great heart, and where there is something more: the union
of minds, the accord of souls, the bond of charity, the prayers of
the priests." ( St. John Chrysostom, quoted in CCC 2179)
The Church establishes parishes to serve the Catholics of a specific area (a few are set aside for specific groups of persons, such as an ethnic group or university students). If you live within that area or group, you should attend that church and register in that parish. However, it is no longer strictly required that you belong to the church in whose parish you make your home. If you attend another parish church regularly, you ought to register there.
Registration is required in most parishes for marriage, baptism, preparation for other sacraments, and other matters. Not being registered allows you to slip through the cracks. Some people seem to like this, but then are disconcerted when they discover that the parish doesn't know them when they come to the church with a need. Registration gives your parish a better chance to serve you.
Some object to registering because they think that one's religious life is altogether private. Without an explicit registration, the parish can little serve a person. For example, the priest is obliged under canon law not to confer baptism on the child of non-practicing parents. Registration indicates a level of practice, so parishes require registration. Registration allows us to contact you at times to inform you of matters that would be of benefit to you, whether spiritual or obviously religious in nature, or social, that is, spiritually relational and fun. In a Church that teaches the stewardship of all that a provident God has bestowed upon us, we believe that it is a religious benefit to be offered opportunities to participate in support of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
3. MASS DAILY
In the Lord's Prayer we ask God our
gracious Father to provide us with all that we need to sustain our mortal
and spiritual life. Above all, we ask daily for the Bread of Life,
the Eucharist, which is Christ, our Lord, Himself. At St.
Alphonsus we cultivate the practice of Mass every day as well as on Sundays.
During the liturgical seasons of Advent and Lent we are able
to offer daily Mass in the early evening as well as in the morning.
4. OUR CHAPEL
Our parish maintains an adoration chapel, available daily
for prayer. Parishioners are encouraged to devote an hour a week
(sign up in the parish office), and to drop in anytime for visits. We maintain
a collection of spiritual readings featuring a variety from the
Catholic tradition for adults and children, and have rosaries available; all
are for use in the chapel (they cannot be checked out). Because
of security concerns, one needs to use the combination lock to
open the door—the combination is available in the parish office.
5. SACRIFICIAL GIVING
of time, abilities, and
material support according to one's means is the stewardship asked
of Catholics to provide the parish faith community with resources
to fulfill its responsibilities. Giving is an important religious act
for the giver as a return to God for all He has given.
Youth and children are encouraged to develop their skills and abilities through giving service in the parish.
6. VOLUNTEERING & JOINING PARISH ORGANIZATIONS & ACTIVITIES
It is always nice to receive a personal invitation to a group,
but, since you know best your time and talents, you usually need to
be the one who is willing to make your availability known to
those who are asking for volunteers or inviting folks to join in
various projects, classes, service, etc. Standing committees,
organizations, and programs are listed on the front of the parish weekly
bulletin.
Youth and children are welcome to participate as appropriate to their age and abilities.
7. READ THE PARISH BULLETIN EVERY WEEK