St. Stephen Catholic Church

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Lenten Mission: March 8-10

Join Father Joseph Benedict as he presents a Lenten Mission about Salvation. Father Benedict will celebrate Mass with us March 6-7 and present 3 nights of mission March 8-10. Join us at 7pm nightly.

·Monday – Genesis: Order From Chaos. While Adam and Eve committed the original sin, we are broken as well and yearn for redemption which can only come to Christ. Come and learn how Christ brings order into the chaos of sin.

·Tuesday – The Beatitudes: Entering God’s Kingdom. The Beatitudes are a rich source of moral wisdom which bring about a new ordering in the Kingdom of God. Let God bring order into your chaotic life. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered tonight. There will be priests available from neighboring parishes.

·Wednesday – The Church as the Transformative Community. We will continue to explore the redemptive action of God within the sacramental life of the church. Come at 7 pm for the Mass and an evening of spiritual enrichment.

Babysitting is available. Refreshments will be served Monday and Wednesday.

After studying engineering and physics, Father Benedict worked for a number of years in industry as a design engineer. He did his theological studies at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University completing Masters Degrees in Divinity and Theology. He was ordained for the Diocese of San Jose, California, in 1997. He is currently engaged in fulltime studies as a doctoral candidate on Catholic Moral Theology at Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.

Fish Frys & Stations of the Cross

Every Friday in Lent

·Fish Fry—4:30pm-7pm (take out and drive through available)

·Stations of the Cross—7pm

Lenten Regulations

To assist in promoting a common observance of penance during the season of Lent, the following Lenten penitential regulations are issued for the Diocese of St. Petersburg for 2010:

ASH WEDNESDAY & GOOD FRIDAY are days of FAST.

On days of fast, one full meal and two lesser meals are allowed. Eating between meals is not permitted. Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are bound to fast.

ASH WEDNESDAY & ALL OF THE FRIDAYS OF LENT, including GOOD FRIDAY, are also days of ABSTINENCE.

On days of abstinence, meat may not be taken. The law of abstinence binds all Catholics fourteen years of age or older.

If members of the faithful are unable to observe the fast and abstinence regulations because of ill health or other reasons, they are urged to practice other forms of penance and self-denial suitable to their condition.

Looking Toward Our Future …
Faithful, Grateful, Hopeful

This year we are excited to continue planning the future of our Church, the shape of our ministries and our future buildings. In order to accomplish this task, we rely on the Lord who truly is the Shepherd of our parish. To that end, please pray this prayer for our parish’s Strategic Planning each day at home and before each parish meeting. If you have any suggestions or comments to help us with our plan, please click on the Building Updates link on the left side of our web site and send them to us. May Christ renew our parish!

Lord God, help us to build a Church, not only of brick and mortar, but of living stones, Your holy people, a family of faith, hope, and love. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may have the wisdom and insight, courage and strength to know and follow Your holy will and grow together in Christ. May we be one in mind and heart as we build a house of prayer worthy in which to gather and give You glory and praise for generations to come. Amen.