Get Ready for Fall 2012!

There is a lot to celebrate this coming fall. So much that it's hard to contain all the excitement in just one simple article. So here is a quick look at what the fall of 2012 has in store for our parish and the Church. From here we'll continue to share the enthusiasm with more fun articles, presentations, celebrations, announcements, games and more! So as your family returns from the Labor Day break, keep an eye open for more information about these special occasions that God has blessed us with.

A Year of Faith - October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013
Here's a cool fact: This year is the 50th anniversary of Vatican II, and 50 years ago the first church was built at our current parish location! Last fall, Pope Benedict XVI has asked the faithful throughout the world to learn more about our faith and explore the documents of Vatican II for a period that will be recognized as a Year of Faith. So from October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013, we'll celebrate the year with a variety of programming and events! Are you ready to explore a Year of Faith?

Parish Retreat: "Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi!" - Thursday, September 11, October 4 & 11
To prepare for a Year of Faith, the parish will offer a three-evening retreat on Thursdays beginning September 27. The retreat will offer a spiritual journey as we explore our faith together with prayer, witnesses and even a few fun games. So let's take a few moments as a parish community to dig into the heart of what we believe and how that is made manifest into our daily life. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, September 27, October 4 and 11. We'll meet in the narthex from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

New Facilities Opening - this October
Seems like yesterday that the constructions crews moved in and parishioners came together to help pack up campus buildings and prepare for renovations to begin. We've come a long way and have worked very hard to see the fruit of our efforts fulfill the increasing needs of our growing faith community. We will still have some more to reach to fully pay for this project, but because of our great efforts we can begin to use the facilities this fall as we continue to serve others and grow in faith. This October, we're going to have an opportunity to feature our newly renovated campus once all buildings opened back up to the public. You'll be able to take tours and hear some of the history from when the campus was first purchased and how much it has grown. Stay tune for announcements of when buildings are once again accessible and when we will explore them together.

Fruitful Harvest 2012 - October through December
Fruitful Harvest is a way which the faithful from our diocese have helped provide for a number of programs that sustain various efforts including catechesis and programming, retirement of priests, vocation outreach, Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, school trusts, and additional assistance offered for various parish projects. It is a way in which our gifts impact St. Alphonsus Liguori and beyond. Since the campaign's beginning in 1984 this diocesan appeal has become a primary fundraiser where families renew pledges and gifts every two years. It has been so successful, that the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, like very few others, eliminated assessments on parish revenues. This campaign will also serve huge effort for the parish to help fully pay for the facility renovations project. With much of the building project paid for, there is still a loan that was used to cover costs. Over the next few weeks, and through October, we'll share how Fruitful Harvest will help our parish while supporting the Local Church that is essential to the continued success of all faith communities across our diocese.

A look back at more than 50 years of St. Alphonsus Liguori
Did you know that Saint Alphonsus Liguori parish came to its current home at 1870 West Oak Street exactly 50 years ago? Its very beginning started in 1945 as a mission parish when the first Mass was celebrated inside the living room of a family's home near the village. It wasn't an easy journey for this small Catholic community of about dozen people, but they grew and eventually ended up where we currently celebrate the Sacraments today. Fifty years later, our efforts as stewards have helped serve our families and community as well as build upon the land to create what is our beautiful campus today. The story of our parish is AMAZING and a true witness of how families came together in faith and love. Throughout the coming weeks, we're going to share stories about the history of our parish along with photos from the past and even an interview from one of the members of that very first family that opened up their home for Mass. At opening celebrations for the new facilities, we're going to create a small display for your family to take a look back at where our roots began and what we've achieved thanks to the blessings from our Heavenly Father!

40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration - Sunday, October 28 to Tuesday, October 30
Each week we celebrate the Eucharistic at Mass, the source and submit of our faith. Along with many other activities happening at the parish, 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration will be an excellent time to come together as a parish family giving thanksgiving for the many blessings we are celebrating, or to bring our prayers to the Lord and ask for guidance, healing or whatever our hearts are speaking. Try and make 40 Hours a part of all these fall festivities as we keep Christ the center of it all!

If that isn't enough excitement already ... don't forget that our amazing ministries are back in motion this fall and have some additional events in store for your family. See the September preview for a look at more happenings beginning next month.

View September Preview