Community Groups
Altar Society
What is an "Altar Society"?
Yes, we have one here at St. Al’s!
Early Days
In early 1900’s Spokane, St. Aloysius Gonzaga parish needed volunteers to clean the church, sew and repair vestments, decorate the sanctuary, and maintain all the vessels and linens used in the celebration of Mass.
The women of the parish formed our first Altar Society to organize and accomplish all the tasks whiletheir children were in school and husbands away at jobs or war. For decades, up to 100 women took turns in shifts to chip candle wax off the floors and altars, hem cassocks and albs, launder and iron altar linens, arrange homegrown flowers, polish metal, dust and wax all the wood pews and furniture, and mop the floors beneath them.
As career fields opened to women, active Altar Society membership and activities declined.
The Altar Society Today
In the 21st century, the Altar Society has fewer hands but no less devotion to supporting the care of the altar and all materials related to the celebration of Mass. The parish now employs sacristans and custodians who attend to the daily hands-on workload. Members still pitch in on Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas to adorn the sanctuary, moving hundreds of flowers into place.
We assist with laundering and ironing dozens of purificators and hand towels every week.
Fundraising Efforts
Our active members focus on raising funds through:
- • Annual bake sale in Autumn
- • Monthly lunch/bingo for seniors (joint venture with Knights of Columbus)
- • Dues and donations
The proceeds help purchase and maintain:
- • new vestments & linens
- • dry cleaning services
- • server albs
- • lectionaries & lectionary shelf
- • sanctuary floral displays
Our Altar Society also helps support a sacristan position, the church Preservation Fund, and special projects requested by the pastor.
Membership and Meetings
We warmly welcome both parish women and men to join us!
- Meetings:
- • 11:00 a.m.
- • Second Tuesday of each month (September-May)
- • O’Malley Hall, church basement
We have published a Centennial Cookbook with recipes from the past and present. It is fun and entertaining, with over 100 recipes, stories, and photos (For only $5.00). You may purchase one by calling Mary Kay at 509-487-4632.
Centennial Cookbook
Join Us
Are you interested in joining the Altar Society? We would love to welcome you to our group.
Young Adult Ministry
A community for post-college adults in their 20's & 30's
Looking for a way to get involved with people your own age?
St. Al’s Young Adult Ministry is an active, easy-going community of folks encouraging each other in our walk with Christ. We’re all in our 20’s & 30’s and we hold multiple events every month. Friends, Fun, and Jesus. What more could you want?
Please join us for our weekly Tuesday gathering from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Beginning January 6, meetings will take place in O’Malley Hall. Any questions? Reach out to the Parish Young Adult Coordinator, Fr. Jack Bentz, SJ – bentzj@gonzaga.edu.
Contact Us
St. Al’s Young Adult Ministry Coordinator
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal service organization that offers unlimited opportunities for its members and families. Founded on the principle of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism, the main objective of the Knights is to aid the Church, develop fellowship, and perform charitable, educational, and patriotic works.
Location and Time
The parish is supported by St. Aloysius Council No. 15143, chartered on October 12, 2010. The council holds its business meetings in O’Malley Hall on the second Tuesday of the month. The officer’s meeting is held on the fourth Saturday of the month at 8:00 a.m. in the Antonian room at the parish center (south end of building).
St. Aloysius Council No. 15143 is located at: 330 E Boone Ave, Spokane WA, 99202
Requirements to Join
You must be a practicing Catholic man, at least 18 years of age.
Resources
Contact Us
Quilting
St. Al's Best Kept Secret
Monday mornings these folks enthusiastically get together in O’Malley Hall and produce 2 finished quilts each week.
These quilts are donated to charities, schools and community centers. If you would like to help iron, cut, sew, pin, etc. (no experience necessary) come on down to O’Malley Hall!
Details
- Men are welcome.
- Other folks from the community are welcome.
- Some come in and setup irons, cutting tables, sewing machines and frames at 7AM. Some go to 8AM Mass.
- At 8:30 they share a light breakfast, prayer and then begin working. It is quite an impressive operation. They also need remnant material cut up, large pieces of material (especially sheets) for backing, light blankets for filler and yarn for final ties.
