On a quiet block in Bensenville, just west of Chicago's O'Hare corridor, St. Alexis Roman Catholic Church stands at 400 West Wood Avenue as one of the most visibly bilingual Catholic parishes in DuPage County. Mass is celebrated every day of the week, with prayers rising in both English and Spanish from the same altar. The parish mission is short and specific: the St. Alexis family is a community blessed by God with a diversity of cultures and languages, and the parish reaches out to all, inviting them to gather at the table of the Lord as one people.
The Mass Schedule: English and Spanish Every Day of the Week
St. Alexis runs a seven-day schedule of Masses and Communion services that allows virtually anyone in the neighborhood to find a liturgy in their language.
English Mass Schedule
- Monday and Friday: 7:30 am Communion Service
- Tuesday and Thursday: 7:30 am Mass
- Saturday: 4:00 pm (anticipated Sunday Mass)
- Sunday: 9:30 am
Horario de Misas en Español
- Miércoles y viernes: 9:00 am
- Sábado: 6:00 pm
- Domingo: 8:00 am y 11:00 am
Music is led by two separate directors. Edgar Catzin directs the English choir for the 4:00 pm and 9:30 am Masses. Miguel Cabral directs the Spanish music at the 11:00 am Mass, supported by a Spanish choir whose other branches serve the 8:00 am and 6:00 pm Masses.
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish also keeps the Eucharist exposed for prayer. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held in the church on Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, and in the chapel on Mondays and Fridays from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
The Seven Sacraments at St. Alexis
The whole liturgical life of the parish revolves around the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Each is celebrated regularly at St. Alexis, with preparation tailored for both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families.
Baptism
Baptisms are celebrated on two Saturdays each month. The First Saturday at 10:00 am is set aside for Spanish baptisms, and the Last Saturday at 10:00 am is the English celebration. Arrangements should be made at least three months in advance, and parents meet with a priest and attend a baptismal class beforehand. For children aged seven or older, the office gives specific guidance on a longer catechumenate-style preparation.
The baptismal rite uses the symbols the Catholic Church has used for centuries: water poured in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the anointing with chrism oil; the baptismal candle lit from the Easter candle; and the white garment that marks the baptized as inheritors of Christ's victory over death. In an emergency, any person with the right intention may baptize, pouring water while saying the sacramental words.
Eucharist (First Communion)
The parish teaches that the Risen Jesus is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist - not a symbol but a real presence - and that the priest, through the power of his ordination and the action of the Holy Spirit, brings about the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. First Communion preparation follows the diocesan requirement of a full two years of catechesis.
Confirmation
Confirmation is ordinarily received by eighth-grade CCD students, with a bishop (usually arriving at Easter) administering the sacrament. Adults preparing through the parish RCIA program are also confirmed. The parish teaches that Confirmation perfects baptismal grace, roots the confirmed more deeply in divine filiation, strengthens the bond with the Church, and equips them to bear witness to the Christian faith in word and deed.
Penance (Reconciliation)
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, in the church during the same hour as Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, or by appointment with a priest. The parish emphasizes the four movements of confession: contrition, confession of sins to a priest, acceptance of absolution, and a renewed commitment to live a Christian life.
Anointing of the Sick
The Anointing of the Sick is no longer treated at St. Alexis as a sacrament reserved for the final moments of life. The parish teaches that it can be administered to anyone struggling with an illness, ideally in a communal celebration, and that the grace infused through the rite is the reminder of God's eternal presence in human suffering. For those facing death and in need of last rites, the parish office number is staffed for emergencies.
St. Alexis is also one of the few parishes in the region to house a relic of St. Peregrine, the patron saint of those suffering from cancer. The relic was given to the parish by Fr. Chris Krymski, O.S.M., director of the National Shrine of St. Peregrine and associate pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica Parish in Chicago. Anyone wishing to receive prayers and a blessing with the relic may ask Fr. Jesus before or after Mass.
Marriage
The parish asks engaged couples to begin the marriage preparation process at least six months in advance, and to bring a copy of their baptismal certificate when they first contact the office. The Catholic teaching on marriage is stated plainly: marriage is a covenantal union modeled on the covenant between God and his people, a bond that, like the covenant between Christ and the Church, is intended to be lifelong and indissoluble.
Holy Orders
Men discerning a vocation to the diaconate or priesthood are invited to speak with Fr. Jesus. The parish teaches the three degrees of Holy Orders (episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate) and explains that ordination imprints an indelible sacramental character, conferring the grace and spiritual power to celebrate the Church's sacraments.
Becoming Catholic: The RCIA Journey
For adults who have never been baptized, and for Christians baptized in another denomination who seek full communion with the Catholic Church, St. Alexis runs the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). The parish offers the process in both English and Spanish (RICA in Spanish), with separate directors for each language track.
RCIA proceeds through several stages. The Pre-Catechumenate, also called the Period of Inquiry, is the time of initial seeking and reflection. The Rite of Initiation formally accepts new members into the worshipping community. The Catechumenate is the longest stage, a season of formation in scripture, doctrine, and the life of the Church. At the Rite of Election, catechumens and candidates are chosen by the bishop to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter. The Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist - are conferred at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. Finally, the period of Mystagogy is a time of reflection and celebration in the weeks after reception, a time to go deeper into the mystery of the faith as a new member of the Catholic community.
The RCIA team includes sponsors who walk alongside the inquirers, sharing their faith and offering the community support that the process requires.
Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation
St. Alexis runs a year-round Religious Education program for the children of the parish, working with families to prepare students for First Communion and Confirmation. The parish follows the diocesan requirement of two full years of preparation before the reception of a sacrament. Older children who have not yet been baptized or made their First Communion are guided through a tailored preparation track by the Religious Education office.
The Religious Education program is administered by Deacon Sergio Gonzalez and coordinated by Claudia Rodriguez. Parents can download diocesan guidelines on First Communion preparation and a parent guide on understanding and preventing child sexual abuse from the Religious Education pages of the parish.
A Parish of Ministries
The parish frames its ministry life under a simple heading: Together in Faith. The groups fall into two main tracks - Spanish-language ministries and English-language ministries - reflecting the bilingual character of the parish.
Spanish-Language Ministries
- Sagrada Familia (Holy Family)
- Alfa (Alpha)
- Grupo de Oración Unidos en el Señor, a prayer group for studying scripture and strengthening faith, led by Deacon Sergio
- Coro del Steven (8:00 am Spanish choir)
- Coro del Sr. Miguel Cabral (11:00 am Spanish choir)
- Coro del Sr. Santiago González o el Sr. Harry (6:00 pm Saturday Spanish choir)
- Caballeros de Colón
- RICA (RCIA in Spanish)
- Grupo de Mamás, a Spanish mothers' group that gathers to pray the rosary, sew, crochet, and share conversation
- Lectores (Lectors)
- Legión de María
- Ministros Eucarísticos (Eucharistic Ministers)
- Apóstoles de la Divina Misericordia (Apostles of Divine Mercy)
- Ujieres (Ushers)
- Grupo Familia, Fe, y Esperanza, a Spanish prayer group focused on strengthening families
- La Perseverancia, a parent group that meets while their adolescents attend Encuentros Juveniles and their younger children are cared for
- Grupo de Jóvenes, a group for tweens, teens, and young adults
English-Language Ministries
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- English Choir, open to anyone who wants to use their musical talent in service of the Lord
- Lectors / Eucharistic Ministers
- RCIA, led by Sonia and Jesus Bonilla
- Ushers
- Religious Education
- Youth Ministry
- Alpha
- Divine Mercy
- Knights of Columbus
The Spanish-track Eucharistic Ministers, known as Ministros de Eucaristía, are formed in a Spanish-language preparation led by Fr. Jesus. Their vocation is to assist in the distribution of the Eucharist during Mass and in the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
Anyone with an idea for a new parish ministry is invited to contact the parish office. The parish also points parishioners outward to social-justice works, including visiting the homebound, serving the poor, volunteering at food pantries, and supporting the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
The Knights of Columbus Council #17359
St. Alexis is home to Knights of Columbus Council #17359, named for the four principles of the order: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. The council is open to Catholic men interested in helping those in need, serving the parish, growing in faith, and supporting their families through the Knights' insurance program. Information about joining the council is available from the rectory.
The Patron of Beggars and Pilgrims: The Story of Saint Alexis
The parish takes its name from a fifth-century saint whose feast day falls on July 17. Saint Alexis was the only son of a rich Roman senator. From his good Christian parents he learned to be charitable to the poor, and though his parents had chosen a wealthy bride for him and he consented to the marriage, on his wedding day he obtained his wife's permission to leave her for God. Disguised as a beggar, he traveled east to Syria and lived for seventeen years in great poverty near a Church of Our Lady.
After those seventeen years, a picture of the Blessed Mother spoke to the people and called him the man of God. When fame reached him - the very last thing he wanted - he fled back to Rome and came to his own parents' house as an unknown beggar. They did not recognize him, but they took him in out of their kindness to the poor. In a corner under the stairs, Saint Alexis lived another seventeen years, going out only to pray in church and to teach little children about God. The servants of his household were often very cruel to him, though he could have ended all the suffering with a single word. After his death, his family found a note on his body that revealed who he was and described his life of penance from his wedding day forward.
The parish draws the lesson directly from the saint's life: appearances are not what matters to the Lord, but rather the holy fire burning within the heart and soul of the faithful.
The People Who Run the Parish
The parish is served by a small, bilingual pastoral team.
- Pastor: Rev. Jesus Trinidad Oliveros
- Deacons: Sergio Gonzalez and Anthony Holmes
- Religious Education Administrator: Deacon Sergio Gonzalez, with Claudia Rodriguez as Religious Education Secretary
- Office Administrator: Isabel Zuno
- Bookkeeper: Jill Tierney
- English Music Director: Edgar Catzin (4:00 pm and 9:30 am Masses)
- Spanish Music Director: Miguel Cabral (11:00 am Mass)
- OCIA (RCIA) Directors for English: Sonia and Jesus Bonilla
- Media Administrator: Kayla Zamora
Three parishioners serve in named pastoral roles for the wider community: Carmen coordinates Ministers of Communion for the Sick; Lucero coordinates Weddings and Sweet 16 celebrations; Sonia G. coordinates Funerals.
Office, Location, and Staying Connected
The rectory office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (Monday evening hours from 6:00 to 7:00 pm are reserved for the Spanish-speaking community), and on Friday from 9:00 am to noon. The office is closed on weekends.
The parish's weekly bulletin is published regularly and is available in PDF form. The bulletin carries the announcements, prayer intentions, Mass schedules, and faith-formation notices that knit the parish together from week to week. The full parish calendar, including Mass times, OCIA classes, faith formation sessions, prayer groups, and adoration hours, is available.
Mass is livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel, and recordings of homilies and parish events are posted there as well. The parish also maintains a Facebook page for ongoing news.
Giving to St. Alexis
The parish offers secure online giving through a dedicated giving portal. Donations can be made at any time, set up as recurring gifts scheduled to coincide with a donor's pay period, credited to a tax statement at year-end, and even made anonymously. The platform accepts credit and debit cards, allowing parishioners to take advantage of card rewards while keeping bank account information entered directly into the secure giving platform rather than shared with the parish office.
To set up an account, a parishioner creates a user ID and password, enters personal and address information, confirms the account by email, and then logs in to enter bank details and schedule donations to the Sunday collection and other parish funds. Anyone with questions can contact the parish office.
Becoming a Member of the Parish
Anyone wishing to register as a parishioner at St. Alexis can do so through the Parish Membership Form. A Spanish-language Forma de Registro is also available. Membership is the starting point for full participation in the sacramental life, the ministries, and the community of St. Alexis.