ALTernative LITurgies: Abounding Grace in Chicagoland Living Rooms

Every month in the Chicagoland area, a group of young adults gathers to pray, talk, listen, and break bread together. These Alternative Liturgies, or Alt-Lit for short, take place in the living rooms of participants and rotate from apartment to apartment. While it is uncertain exactly when these gatherings began, they were revived in 2017 and have been a constant source of spiritual nourishment for participants ever since. The size of the gatherings vary from just a handful of folks to up to 25 participants, but no matter how many are able to gather each month, each participant-led liturgy takes on the creative personality of that month’s host. 

“Alt-Lit feels like a communion,” shared Kascha Sanor, one of the monthly participants. It’s predominantly woman-led and it’s a queer and trans-affirming space. We really are church together, and I think that’s one of the reasons why it feels as sacred as it is.” 

Though named Alternative Liturgy, Kascha and fellow participant Claire Erlenborn were clear that what they do at Alt-Lit is still a foundational part of their Catholic faith.  “I think it’s an alternative way for us to practice our faith, it’s not that it’s an alternative belief to the Catholic tradition,” Kascha reflected. “It’s just a way for us to more fully and more honestly practice. And I think the more we can complicate what it means to be a practicing Catholic, the more each person belongs, and I love that we get to kind of like do that together while still attending our parishes, while still being in professional ministry, like while still being very dedicated in various degrees to the ‘uppercase-C’ Church.” 

Claire added that Alt-Lit is “a place that’s calling me to be a better version of myself. It’s a replenishing of the soul that gives me a lot of hope in the Church. There’s never been an Alt-Lit that I’ve gone to that I felt worse after.”

Whether placing photos of deceased loved ones on an Ofrenda for All Souls Day, or singing carols through the streets of Chicago for Las Posadas, the Alt-Lit community leans on the Liturgical Calendar to discern what shape their gathering takes each month. And the friendship that has blossomed from the consistent gatherings has inspired participants to show up for each other in other ways, too, at celebrations like birthdays and weddings and in civil actions like protests and mutual aid events. Alt-Lit has “kind of seeped into the way that we belong to each other beyond Sunday evenings,” shared Kascha, “and in the next three to five years I only see that commitment growing.”

When asked about the significance of Alt-Lit in their lives, participants Kascha and Claire couldn’t say enough. Claire began: “I’ve never been in a space where both my talents can be lauded, and my brokenness cared for in such an affirming way. I think that comes from that consistent dedication to community that all of us have.” 

“It’s very clear to me,” added Kascha, “who I’m called to be when I’m surrounded by this community. I think being able to show up to Alt-Lit both as a facilitator preaching and saying some prophetic things, but then also the following month as a participant who’s listening and bringing some weariness, has really helped me feel whole in it. It just reminds me what it means to be a place of refuge and a place of sending forth at the same time.”

Though the community that the participants of Alt-Lit have built is clearly a special one, Claire and Kascha were quick to share that it’s something that can be done anywhere. “I think the beauty of it is– it’s really simple,” said Claire. “Get a couple readings, talk about what you think about them, and then eat soup together!” 

“I think the hardest part of doing something like this,” added Kascha, “is just deciding that you’re sacred enough to facilitate a moment with such spiritual meaning for the people around you. The hardest obstacle is just believing you’re capable and worthy of doing something like this. But you are! I promise, you are!” 

Inspired by the story of the Alt-Lit community? Do you feel compelled to start your own monthly gatherings? Reach out to martha@futurechurch.org for suggestions, resources, or inspiration to get started!