About St. Alphonsus · Grand Rapids, Michigan
St. Alphonsus Parish is a Catholic parish in the North End of Grand Rapids, Michigan, established in 1888 by Bishop Henry Joseph Richter and entrusted to the Redemptorist Fathers. The parish serves the Grand Rapids North Deanery of the Diocese of Grand Rapids and remains a community oriented around Eucharistic worship, faith formation, youth discipleship, and direct service to neighbors in need. Today the parish is led by Fr. Christopher T. Epplett and runs a Food and Clothing Center, a mobile food truck ministry, St. Gianna's No Cost Baby Boutique, and a Faith Formation program in addition to its weekend and weekday Mass schedule.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- St. Alphonsus (St. Alphonsus Liguori)
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher T. Epplett
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
St. Alphonsus is a community that explicitly centers its life on Sunday worship and then sends parishioners out to share Jesus through acts of charity and justice. The parish combines a strong liturgical life — daily and weekend Mass, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, and a livestreamed Sunday Mass — with hands-on outreach including a Food and Clothing Center, a monthly mobile food truck serving around 5,000 pounds of food, a Thanksgiving Meal program for low-income and senior neighbors, and St. Gianna's No Cost Baby Boutique. There is also room to grow through Faith Formation, youth and young-adult groups (high school Bible study and the Upper Room young adult group), Knights of Columbus, and the parish's Co-Mission discipleship track.
Mass times at St. Alphonsus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:30–5:15 p.m.
- Tuesday 6:00–6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday 4:30–5:15 p.m.
- Thursday 11:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
- Friday 11:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
- By appointment (call parish office at 616-451-3043)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 6:00–7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday 4:30 p.m. (Exposition)
About St. Alphonsus Parish
St. Alphonsus Parish is a Catholic community in the North End of Grand Rapids, Michigan, founded in 1888 and now part of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. The parish is led by Fr. Christopher T. Epplett and describes its mission as offering 'transformational encounters with Jesus' through Encounter, Enrich, and Engage — gathering for worship, rooting faith more deeply, and going out to share Jesus through charity and disciple-making. Parishioners register as members through the parish office or online, and new visitors are warmly welcomed.
Parish History
The parish was created in 1888 when Bishop Henry Joseph Richter divided the overcrowded St. Andrew's Cathedral parish to serve the north and east of Grand Rapids, including parts of Grand Rapids, Ada, and Plainfield townships. Bishop Richter secured land in the Fifth Ward on East Leonard Street for a future church, school, and orphan asylum, and entrusted the new parish to the Redemptorist Fathers of the St. Louis Province. The Very Rev. William Loewekamp, Provincial, and Fr. Theodore Lamy arrived in August 1888; the community moved into a rented house at 41 King Court on September 1, 1888, and the first Masses were celebrated at the unfinished asylum on September 2, 1888, with Fr. Loewekamp preaching on the text, 'Build a house for the Lord, and He will build a house for you.' Sunday and holy day Masses were held at Finn's Hall until the new buildings were ready.
School and Church Buildings
The cornerstone of the parochial school was laid October 14, 1888 and the school was dedicated on January 6, 1889. As the parish and school grew, planning began in 1905 for a new church building; the current church was consecrated on December 22, 1909. The church and school have been remodeled several times since, and the parish convent was converted to low-cost housing in recent years. The school lineage continues today as part of All Saints Academy, one of whose four founding parishes is St. Alphonsus.
- School cornerstone laid: October 14, 1888
- School dedicated and opened: January 6, 1889 (formal classes September 2, 1889, 180 students)
- New church consecrated: December 22, 1909
- St. Alphonsus School is a founding parish school of All Saints Academy
Pastoral Leadership and Parish Staff
St. Alphonsus is currently pastored by Rev. Christopher T. Epplett. Deacon John Falicki assists with Marriage and Pastoral Care. The lay staff team includes a Director of Worship, a Youth Evangelization & Discipleship Director (who also serves as Co-Mission Director), an Evangelization & Discipleship / Co-Mission Director, two Administrative Assistants, and a Facilities Manager.
- Pastor: Rev. Christopher T. Epplett — [email protected]
- Deacon John Falicki — Marriage & Pastoral Care — [email protected]
- Gabe Groh — Director of Worship — [email protected]
- Whitney Doane — Youth Evangelization & Discipleship / Co-Mission Director — [email protected]
- Carol Fedewa — Evangelization & Discipleship / Co-Mission Director — 616-451-3043 Ext. 5305 — [email protected]
- Catherine McKenzie & Kim Kayser — Administrative Assistants — 616-451-3043 Ext. 5300 — [email protected]
- Mike Boelens — Facilities Manager — 616-451-3043 Ext. 5306
Liturgical Ministries
St. Alphonsus invites parishioners to serve at Mass in a variety of liturgical roles. The Director of Worship, Gabe Groh, coordinates volunteers for the parish's worship life.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers
- Ushers
- Musicians
- Sacristans
- Funeral Sacristans
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Faith Formation program for parish children and youth; details of 2026–27 offerings are announced on the parish website. The parish also supports a Co-Mission discipleship track, jointly led by two co-directors, that emphasizes encountering Jesus, being enriched in faith, and being sent out in mission.
- Faith Formation — 2026–27 offerings to be announced
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic — contact Fr. Christopher Epplett
- Co-Mission discipleship track led by Whitney Doane and Carol Fedewa
Parish Life Ministries
Parish Life Ministries gather parishioners around study, fellowship, and fraternal service. Programs are designed for teens, young adults, and men of the parish, and are coordinated through the parish office and lay leaders.
- High School Bible Study — 9th–12th graders, Wednesdays 4:45–6:00 p.m. — contact Whitney Doane ([email protected])
- The Upper Room Young Adult Group — ages 21–35, Tuesdays 7:30 p.m.
- Knights of Columbus — meets second Wednesday of the month in the Parish Center; men age 18+ welcome — contact Katie Cronin, [email protected] / 616-481-7640
Christian Service & Outreach
Christian Service at St. Alphonsus reaches out to neighbors facing food insecurity, the needs of new parents and infants, and seniors at Thanksgiving. Several programs are volunteer-driven and open to the broader community.
- Food and Clothing Center — open Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; closed Friday
- Mobile Food Truck — distributes ~5,000 lbs of food, first Tuesday of the month April–October, 3:45–5:00 p.m. (volunteers welcome; under-12 must be with adult)
- Thanksgiving Meal — hot Thanksgiving morning meal for low-income and senior apartment residents; volunteers needed to prep, cook, assemble, and deliver
- St. Gianna's No Cost Baby Boutique — 1400 Plainfield Ave NE; open Tue noon–3:00 p.m. and Thu 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; free infant/toddler items, safety classes, in-home pregnancy counseling, and parent support groups
Becoming Catholic & Sacraments
Those interested in becoming Catholic or learning more about the Catholic faith are invited to contact Fr. Christopher Epplett directly at [email protected]. The parish also prepares couples for marriage (through Deacon John Falicki) and offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the listed times or by appointment.
- RCIA — contact Fr. Christopher Epplett, [email protected]
- Marriage preparation — contact Deacon John Falicki, [email protected]
- Reconciliation by appointment — parish office, 616-451-3043
Visit, Register, and Contact
Visitors and newcomers can register as parishioners online through the parish website or by contacting the parish office. The parish office is reachable by phone at 616-451-3043 (fax 616-913-4411) and by email at [email protected]. The Diocese of Grand Rapids lists St. Alphonsus as part of its Grand Rapids North Deanery in Kent County, and notes that the worship site is handicapped accessible.
- Address: 224 Carrier St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
- Phone: 616-451-3043 — Fax: 616-913-4411
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stalphonsusgr.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StAlphonsusGR/
- Diocese: Grand Rapids North Deanery, Kent County
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Theodore (Theo.) Lamy, C.Ss.R.1888–
First superior and founding pastor; arrived with Fr. Terrence Clarke and Brother John in August 1888 to take charge of the new parish for the Redemptorist Fathers of the St. Louis Province.