Message from Faith Formation

Welcome Back to Faith Formation! Our goal this year is to help your child learn and “FALL IN LOVE” with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We hope on this journey your child will make a personal, heartfelt choice to become a lifelong Disciple of Jesus!
 
Our Faith Formation Program is here to support parents in their children’s Catholic education (Pre-K4 through 8th Grade) who do not attend a Catholic School. Parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. We all want our children to have a strong faith that will help them through difficulties in life. Some of the ways your family can grow in faith is to attend weekly Mass, go to Reconciliation, pray together and speak about your faith at home.
 
For this 2021-2022 school year classes will be in person. We offer a Home Base Program if that may work best for your family. Please visit our website for more information at https://ststephencatholic.org/faith.
 
We are so grateful for our volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kim Davis at Kim@ststephencatholic.org. We welcome you to be part of our Parish Faith Formation team.
 
If you have any questions or concerns, you are always welcome to contact our Faith Formation office at (813) 671-4434. You are also more than welcome to stop by our office during our office hours, Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We are located at the east wing of the St. Stephen Catholic School building.
 
Thank you for the faith foundation you have already given to your children and may God bless you for continuing to educate your children in our treasured Catholic faith.

40 Days for Life starts on September 22 and lasts until October 31. Please pray for the unborn and for an end to abortion. St. Stephen Catholic Church will host Pro-Life Rosary Decades every Sunday in October at the 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses. Please show up fifteen minutes prior to the morning Masses on the Sundays in October. Further, you can participate by joining the Life Chain on October 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. We will be on the sidewalk in front of the church property on Boyette Road. Please wear a pink or blue
t-shirt and signs will be provided. You can also participate by participating in the prayer vigil which will happen on October 9 at 2010 E. Fletcher Avenue in Tampa, FL from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact
respect_life@ststephencatholic.org.

For more information, click here!

At the weekend Masses on October 2 and 3, please donate/place kids’ socks or underwear (all new in package) in the giant basket in the narthex of the church. Gift cards to Target or Walmart may also be donated. If you donate a gift card, please designate and place in a donation envelope and place in one of the collection boxes at the main church entrance. 
So that we have even distribution of sizes please follow the following guidelines when you make your purchases:
Last Name w/ Letters              Underwear Size 
A-C                                                       4-5
D-H                                                      6
I-N                                                        8
0-T                                                       10
U-Z                                                       12

For more information, click here!

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Blessing of Animals will take place on October 2 at 10:00 a.m. The blessing will take place outside of the chapel. Bring your family and your pet(s). Your animal will receive a blessing and you will receive a blessed metal and a prayer card! For more information, click here!

We invite you to pray about becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. For further information regarding requirements and training, please contact Marty Diebold at (813) 695-2145 or mdfl3303@yahoo.com. Our next training session will be October 2 following the 8:30 a.m. Mass. For more information, click here.