Educational Ministries

Adult Education -Periodically, special programs and classes are offered for adults. Check the Sunday bulletin for details.

Baptism - Call the Religious Education office (671-4434) to make an appointment. We also have a class parents must attend before their children can be baptized. If you have attended these classes in the past, it will be determine if it is necessary for you to repeat them, and we will advise when the next classes will be held. When you are ready the for the Baptism, call to arrange the date.

OCIA - (Order of Chrisitan Initiation of Adults) Adults who desire more information about the Catholic Church, and perhaps seek membership, are instruced through the OCIA program. We have classes year-round. Contact Rosie Bridges at 671-4434 for more information.

Religious Education - Religious Education families who wish to enroll children in one of our programs are asked to call or stop by the R.E. Office Monday-Thursday, between 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (671-4434). We offer classes for preschool children through Middle School. Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation is held at various times throughout the year. Middle School Youth Group events take place one Friday night a month at the church building, and at least one Sunday afternoon a month at the ROC Center (Youth Center).

Respect Life - This group promotes an active respect for human life at all ages and stages. With much prayer, we work to maintain sensitivity and awareness of current human life issues, i.e. abortion, euthanasia, and ethical medical treatment and advances. Please join us in our monthly prayer vigils at a local abortion clinic and in supporting two of our local crisis pregnancy centers. We meet almost monthly, usually the third Saturday of the month. For more information contact Tammy Earl at sixearls@earthlink.net or phone 600-3109.

Vocations - The Vocations Committee's goal is to educate and assist the ST. STephen Community in the fostering of vocatiaons to the religious life. The committee performs and adminsters a variety of functions consistent with guidance provided by the Diocesan Office for Vocations. Among the activities that are planned and carried out are:

Adopt a seminarian - A program in which St. Stephen School children, and children attending the Religious Education Program as well as daily mass participants "adopt" one of our seminarians that are in formation for the Catholic priesthood. This involves; prayer, correspondence, and small remembrances all done in behalf of the adopted candidate for the priesthood.

Weekly Holy Hour on Wednesday mornings, after the morning Mass, with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction to foster St. Stephen and diocesan vocations. Distributing the diocesan month prayer calendars to allow parishioners to pray for all the priests and seminarians of the diocese on their "special day".

Vocations Awareness Week (early January) - Involves St. Stephen participation in diocesan-wide activities carried out to foster an awareness of the need for religious vocations and the process for discerning a calling. Program is particulary targeted to 11 year olds and 11th Graders.

Clergy Appreciation Day - A parish wide potluck dinner held in proximity to Vocations Awareness Week; is a chance for the St. Stephen Community to say "thank you" to our clergy (Priest and Deacons) for their dedicated service to our community faith needs and to promote vocations awareness.