St. Stephen Parish February 22, 2015 First Sunday of Lent

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he re- mained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Sa- tan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been ar- rested, Jesus came to Gali- lee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 1:12 - 15

Our Mission Statement We are a Catholic Community that is called by God to follow Jesus Christ. We believe that we are called to worship God together, to lead God's people along the path of hope laid down by Jesus, to share his mes- sage through preaching, through the education and formation of our people, young and old, and through car- ing service and sensitive outreach to those in need Rev. Paul F. Warren - Pastor

Weekday Mass: 8:00 a.m. Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30 p.m. or by appt. Vigil Mass: (Saturday) 4:30 p.m. | Sunday Mass: 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 a.m. & 6:45 p.m.

SaintStephenSF.org | 451 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco CA 94132 | Church 681-2444 Fax 681-7843 School 664-8331 Our Liturgical Week St Stephen Events Calendar

Monday, Feb. 23 Monday 8:00 a.m. Fr. Strange:Francisco Beltran Sp. Int. 12:00 p.m. 50+ Club/Hall

Tuesday, Feb. 24 3:30 p.m. Faith Formation/Parish Office 8:00 a.m. Fr. Warren:†John Perlite Tuesday

Wednesday Feb. 25 6:30 p.m. Lent Soup Supper/Hall 8:00 a.m. Fr. Warren:†Evelyn Silvia Wednesday

Thursday, Feb. 26 11:30 a.m. School Lunch/Hall 8:00 a.m. Fr. Strange:†Carl Johnson 5:30 p.m. 1st Reconciliation/Church

Friday, Feb. 27 Thursday 3:00 p.m. Jr. Choir Practice/Church 8:00 a.m. Fr. Grosskopf:†Joseph Muscat

Saturday, Feb. 28 6:30 p.m. Youth Group/Parish Office 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice/Church 8:00 a.m. Fr. Strange:†Marygrace Dunn 3:30 p.m. Fr. Grosskopf:Reconciliation Friday 4:30 p.m. Fr. Grosskopf:Ray & Elvie Ysip Sp. Int. 7:00 p.m. GA Meeting/Parish Office & EC

Sunday, Mar. 1 Sunday 8:00 a.m. Fr. Warren:†Evelyn Sivia 5:00 p.m. Youth Group/Gym 9:30 a.m. Fr. Strange:†Lorin & Paul Mendlin 5:30 p.m. Birthday Event/Hall 11:30 a.m. Fr. Warren:†Barry Prescott 7:00 p.m. Adult Volleyball/Gym

6:45 p.m. Fr. Strange:†Ernest & Dorothy (contact our office for more information) Rychwalski

First Sunday of Lent Bold Indicates Mass Intentions February 22, 2015

Please remember: Your ways, O LORD, make Beverly D’Angelo known to me; teach me your paths. Therese Guilfoy — Psalm 25:4

Who recently died in the peace of Christ. Our SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES sick and homebound are in continual need of our Sunday: First Sunday of Lent; prayers, please remember them daily. Rite of Election; TODAY’S READINGS Rite of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion; First Reading — I will set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the Rite of Sending; earth (Genesis 9:8-15). Washington’s Birthday Psalm — Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to Monday: St. Polycarp; those who keep your covenant (Psalm 25). Julian Calendar Lent begins Second Reading — The water of the flood prefig- Friday: Abstinence ured baptism, which saves you now (1 Peter 3:18- Please pray for the sick and 22). homebound of our community Gospel — Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the an- and for all those written in our gels ministered to him (Mark 1:12-15) book of the sick. May they know the healing touch

of Jesus. Special Collection Larry Barbiere, Karen Bruneman, Eden Finn, Next Weekend Paz Diaz Dierks, Carol Dominguez, Al Gragnani, Helen Hart, Emma Hock, Honora Lowe, A second collection will be taken at all masses next Albert Chris Magie, Maria Matthews, weekend, February 28 and March 1 for: Juan Pablo Grover-Paez, Dorothy Medlin

St. Stephen Building Maintenance & Repair and Patricia Sullivan.

Dear Parishioners of St. Stephen;

Welcome to Lent.

Since the Second Vatican Council, Lent has retrieved its original focus on the catechu- menate. Those seeking baptism and entrance into our faith community (catechumens) at Easter spent these days prior to Easter reflecting on the Gospel and deepening their prayer. The faith community joined them, and moved by their process, looked more intently at their own journey of faith. That’s the origin of Lent.

We have not had an RCIA this year. There are no catechumens seeking baptism in our parish. While unfortunate on one level, it encourages each of us to be our own cate- chumens this year. We are on the Lenten journey toward the renewal of our own baptismal promises made at Easter.

When I was young Lent was about what you didn’t do: don’t eat candy, don’t smoke, don’t drink. Give up something. Spiritual discipline is still important. And so we are reminded of the three classic methods of keeping the 40 days which retain their perennial significance: fasting, prayer, and alms- giving.

While it is still valuable to focus on deepening our prayer, fasting, and providing alms for the poor, this could be a time to rediscover who we are as followers of Jesus Christ. Does being a Christian matter? Does it make a difference that I am a baptized follower of Jesus Christ? Is my life changed at all by the mission to live out my baptismal commitment?

Jesus was all about reconciliation. He created bridges for all people, challenging those customs and regulations that built walls and separated people one from another. He wanted us to see one another as brothers and sisters under the one God and Father who cherishes all of us, no matter what political or even religious persuasion we claim. He especially reached out to those who suffer not just from physical illness but from exclusion and unjust judgment.

Our Lenten series this year, Islam: A Christian Perspective, is one effort to understand Moslems as beloved sons and daughters of God. History has witnessed such terrible divisions between Christians and Moslems. That division and those hostile feelings have only deepened in recent years. Perhaps it is at an all-time high. However, it is one thing to resist terrorism and fight fundamentalism wherever it is found; it is quite another to paint a whole religion with a broad brush of judgment and hatred. The answer to overcome this division and strive toward reconciliation is found in education, educa- tion, education! Here is an opportunity to increase our knowledge and understanding of this ancient and wonderful religion. What does learning about Islam have to do with our own Lenten spiritual journey? Come and see.

Beginning this Tuesday, February 24, please consider joining us for this exciting and important Lenten series. Make a soup and share with your fellow parishioners.

Wishing you and your family God’s continued blessings, I am sincerely yours in Christ, your pastor

Father Paul F. Warren

* * * * * * * * *

Operation Rice Bowl St Stephen’s is participating in Operation Rice Bowl (ORB) again this year. ORB is a way to support the work of Catholic Relief Services, the official in- ternational humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. CRS alleviates suffering and provide assistance to people in need in more than 100 coun- tries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. During Lent, Operation Rice Bowl calls us to pray with our families and faith communities; fast in soli- darity with those who hunger. Please pick up your Operation Rice Bowl/Calendar from the back of the church. Return your Rice Bowl on Palm Sunday. (Deacon Rory)

HOSPITALITY MINISTERS for our 9:30 a.m. Mass

Today - St. Vincent De Paul Sunday, Mar. 1 - Faith Formation Sunday, Mar. 8 - Women’s Guild

Each Sunday following the 9:30 am Mass, we enjoy a time of community building as we share conversation over coffee and donuts. It costs about $100.00 to provide this refreshment, while the donations to offset our costs come to about $30.00. If everyone would contribute a little, it would greatly help support this important activ- ity. while lessening the financial impact on the parish.

February 19, 2015 Dear Father Warren, Deacon Desmond and all our friends at St. Stephen’s Church and School, It is with deep gratitude that we thank you for welcoming us into your Parish last Sunday to share in the liturgy with you and to receive all the beautiful gifts you gathered for Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor. Our Mother, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, said that “Thoughtfulness is the beginning of great sanctity”; and Jesus Himself receives your gifts with great delight and blesses you abundantly. Special thanks to you dear 3rd graders for your active participation in learning about the life and works of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and for choosing to share in our works of love in serving Jesus in the poorest amongst the poor. Never forget dear little ones that Jesus Himself has said “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me”. What you gave to the poor, you gave to Jesus! We hope that sometime in the future we may have the privilege of directly serving Jesus in His poor with you at our soup kitchen or summer camp or some other service together. Keep the joy of loving Jesus burning in your hearts and continue to share that joy with everyone you meet, beginning with the members of your own family. Our gratitude is our prayers for you. Please pray for us! Gratefully in Jesus Sr. Jose Liom.c. Missionaries of Charity 55 Sadowa Street San Francisco, CA 94112 LENTEN REGULATIONS TODAY!!!!! ABSTINENCE: Everyone fourteen years of age and older is bound to ab- stain from meat on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday.

FAST: Everyone eighteen years of age and older but under the age of sixty is also bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Fri- day. On these two days, the law of fast allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food during the day, so long as this does not constitute another full meal. Drinking liquids during the day is permitted. When health or ability to work would be seri- ously affected, the law does not oblige.

St. Stephen Altar Servers Our special “thanks” to our student Altar Servers who faithfully continue to volunteer their time and talent to our parish. Our Altar Servers for February 9 thru 15 were:

— Weekday Masses —

Lauren Schneider, Frankie Ryan, Vincent Francisco, Adrian Fullerton, Giovanna Franco, Genevieve Davey, Grace Scheg, Gerard Tiña, Kerry Fitzgerald and Collin Ritchie.

— Weekend Masses —

Stephen Wong, Collin Ritchie, Kerry Fitzgerald, Patrick Martin, Elena Gandolfo, Alfonso Reodica, Christopher Oropeza, Esmeralda Ramirez, Antonio Maffei, Aaron Chen, Ashlyn Onken and Adrian Fullerton. Thank You!

PASTORAL STAFF ST STEPHEN PARISH 2014-2015

Rev. Paul F. Warren ORGANIZATION/MINISTRY CONTACT PERSON

Pastor

• Altar Servers Giovanna Hrvatin Rev. J. Michael Strange S.S. • Altar Society Helen Perlite Retired - In Residence • Bridge Group Helen Perlite Rev. Mr. Gary West • Caritas Nellie Hizon Rev. Mr. Rory Desmond • Church Hospitality Veronica Wong Permanent Deacon • Communion Ministers Janelle O’Malley

Veronica Wong • Faith Formation Veronica Wong Faith Formation Coordinator • Fifty Plus Club Helga D’Arcy

Janelle O’Malley • Finance Council Laura Birsinger Coordinator of Liturgy & Music • Grief Support Clergy

• Lectors Janelle O’Malley Mrs. Sharon McCarthy Allen • Liturgy Committee Janelle O’Malley School Principal • Marriage Preparation Clergy

Jim Cook • Men’s Club Bill Chiang Parish Manager • Music Janelle O’Malley

Shay Ingelfinger • Parish Council Margie Curran Event Center Coordinator • RCIA Veronica Wong

Christian Fernandez • St. Stephen Book Club Veronica Wong Youth Minister • St. Vincent de Paul Julie O’Callaghan • Ushers Bob Anthony Jan Almeida • Women’s Guild Sylvia Flores- Bookkeeper Komarmy • Youth Group Christian Fernandez

Our warmest welcome to all who celebrate with us.

You can sign up or update your information by completing this form & placing it in the collection basket, by mailing it to the Parish Office, by phone at 681-2444 or online at www.saintstephensf.org!

Name ______Address ______

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Our parishioners receive the Archdiocese weekly newspaper “Catholic San Francisco.”

I am interested in assisting with the Parish in the following way(s):

• Acolyte/Altar Service • Holy Communion Ministers to the Home- • Altar Society • Children’s Liturgy of the Word Choir bound • Greeter/Usher • Lector/Holy Communion Ministers • Hospitality after Mass/Special Events • Music/Choir

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