CORPUS CHRISTI The solemnity of the Lord's Most Precious Body and Blood SAINT STEPHEN CATHOLIC CHURCH EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN The Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time Parish Office: Saturday, June 17: Corpus Christi (vigil) 723 Rosewood Avenue SE 3:30p.m. Confession East Grand Rapids, MI 49506 4:30p.m. Parishioners of St. Stephen P: 616.243.8998 - F: 616.245.7360

Sunday, June 18: Corpus Christi Www.StStephenParish.com

Deut. 8:2-3, 14b-16a; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; Jn. 6:51-58 Pastor: Fr. Scott Nolan 8:30a.m. Keegan & Cole Stenstrom [email protected], ext. 215 10:30a.m. †Edith Nemesi Monday, June 19: St. Romuald Business & Tuition Manager: Lora Bennett 2 Corinthians 1:1-17; Matthew 5:1-12 [email protected], ext. 203

8:30a.m. †Armando & †Estella Flores Administrative Assistant: Max Farrell Tuesday, June 20 - Fr. Scott’s Birthday! [email protected], ext. 201 2 Corinthians 8:1-9; Matthew 5:43-48 8:30a.m. †Maria Elena Abundis Director of Faith Formation 5:30p.m. Confession and Youth Ministry: Brittany Renne Wednesday, June 21: St. Aloysius Gonzaga [email protected], ext. 205

2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18 Director of Music Ministry: Todd Wilkie 8:30a.m. †Gilbert Segovia, Sr. [email protected], ext. 211 Thurs., June 22: Sts. John Fisher & Thomas More 2 Corinthians 11:1-11; Matthew 6:7-15 Friday, June 23 School Office: Deut. 7:6-11; 1 Jn. 4:7-16; Matt. 11:25-30 740 Gladstone Drive SE 8:30a.m. †Dan Mulvihill East Grand Rapids, MI 49506 Saturday, June 24: Twelfth Sunday (vigil) P: 616-243-8998 - F: 616-245-7360 3:30p.m. Confession www.StStephenSchoolGR.com

4:30p.m. †Gilbert Segovia, Sr. Principal: Cindy Thomas Sunday, June 25: 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time [email protected] Jer. 20:10-13; Rom. 5:12-15; Matt. 10:26-33 8:30a.m. Newly-ordained Permanent Deacons Administrative Assistant: Monica McGuire [email protected], ext 206 10:30a.m. Parishioners of Saint Stephen

Maintenance: Jon Lang Our Sacrificial Giving [email protected], ext 212 Weekend of June 10 & 11 Weekly Collections Budget: $ 12,398 Sacramental Information: Actual Collection: $ 9,106 Anointing of the Sick: Please notify the parish office Deficit: $ 3,292 Church Fiscal Year-To-Date of sick, homebound, or hospitalized parishioners. Budgeted Collections: $ 619,904 Baptism: Please contact the Parish Office to schedule Actual Collections: $ 654,902 the date for your child’s baptism. Parents who are Surplus: $ 34,998 baptizing their first child must attend a baptismal class. Christian Initiation of Adults: Please contact the Coordinator of Faith Formation if you are interested in becoming Catholic. Marriage: Please contact the Parish Office at least six

(6) months prior to the intended date. Pre-Cana is re- quired for all those entering into the Sacrament of

Matrimony. CSA 2017 Goal: $111,000.00 Confession Schedule: Tuesdays 5:30 - 6:30p.m., Pledges: $112,795.00 (OVER goal -- THANK YOU!) Saturdays 3:30 - 4:15p.m. unless otherwise noted. Families: 274 of 465 (58.9%) MOST HOLY BODY & BLOOD OF CHRIST GATHER HYMNAL pg. 1089 JUNE 18, 2017

We have told Him our burdens and now we are thanking Him for our blessings. I have heard the saying many times From the desk of “what if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you Father Scott Nolan thanked God for today?”. Kind of a scary thought, yet say- ing thank you can be such a simple thing. Every night at Dear friends in Christ, dinner, my family shares one thing we are thankful for that day. Often times it is something very simple, but some times it can be powerful thing to hear the words. Now on Today we celebrate Father’s Day, a beautiful annual to tip #3: celebration of the importance and role of fathers in our lives. Pope Francis reminds us that, “Every family needs a father.” (4 February 2015). Our dear fathers, Tip #3: Prepare for Temptations remember these words, take them to heart and As we continue to pray and grow in our relationship with God we continue to live by them. Every family needs a father. might began to notice sins and struggles that seem to get in the way of us knowing Him more fully. These sins and temptations Jesus taught us to call God our Father; he invited us are a great thing to bring up in prayer. Jesus wants to be in a closer relationship with you so He is more than willing to help into his own relationship with the Father. And so we you remove anything that stands in the way of your relationship use the privileged language of Jesus each and every with Him. time we pray the “Our Father”, each and every time we make the sign of the cross. In the Gospel of Listen, this is not always an easy conversation to have. It’s diffi- cult to admit that we aren’t perfect and that we do a lot of things Luke we hear the story of the “prodigal son,” or we regret but turning to God is the first step to overcoming perhaps we could more appropriately call it the story those habits, addictions, and pitfalls. By talking to Jesus about of the merciful father. “What dignity and what your sins and asking for the grace to overcome them you’ll begin tenderness there is in the expectation of that father, to see how merciful and patient He is. If you’re struggling with who stands at the door of the house waiting for his sin and want to ask God for help here are a few things to start doing: son to return!” (Pope Francis). In this story of the merciful father, Jesus reveals to us what God the  Go to Confession. Whoa whoa whoa before Father is like, how the Father loves all of us. And what you say, “I can’t do that. I haven’t been in forever an incredible love it is! and I wouldn’t know what to do” recognize that if you are holding on to sins and regret then you’re Dear fathers, all of us who are fathers are invited into not living your best life. God wants you to live free that same kind of love of God the Father. We are from guilt, shame and regret. Go to confession, called to show our families the kind of tenderness, leave those sins in the past and get a clean slate. firmness, mercy, patience, and love that God shows to Trust me you’ll feel incredible! If you are afraid of His People. This is a lofty vocation, and that’s part of going to confession or you don’t remember what what makes today’s celebration of Fathers’ Day so to do here is a great blog to help you out. important.  Don’t beat yourself up. Nobody’s perfect. I’m sure even Pope Francis has had to go to the chapel Let us, all of us, commit ourselves again to praying for some days and pray “Lord help me overcome the fathers in our lives. these sins that I’m struggling with.” Trust me that you’ll only lose the battle to sin when you stop Yours in Christ, showing up to fight. Certainly our temptations may not go away overnight but if we persevere in prayer we will find that we are steadily moving Fr. Scott Nolan closer to God and His Will. In summary, If you’re praying you’re winning! SAINT STEPHEN CATHOLIC CHURCH EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

Happy Birthday Fr. Scott!! Tuesday, June 20

The Employment and Resource Network-St. Robert Want to reach the school office Roundtable will meet on Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 this summer? We’ll be responding a.m.on June 21, July 5 and July 19. The ministry is to calls and emails as able! open to all people in employment transition. Most Phone: (616) 243-8998 x206 members are in the 35-55 yrs age group, although E-mail: [email protected] there are folks older and younger. Happy Summer!

It is entering its 9th year and ispleased to have four The West Catholic Class of 1977 will be holding their 40th class reunion on Saturday September 23, job coaches that have help hundreds of people 2017. If you have not been contacted please email transition into new employment since we first started Mary Ann at [email protected]. in 2008. On Wednesday, June 21 at 7 p.m., Most Rev. David For more information, contact Bill Weitzel at Walkowiak, bishop of Grand Rapids, will be ordaining the [email protected] Diocese’ first class of permanent deacons in 11 years. Join us at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew or watch live online on the diocesan website or Facebook page. Men from the Diocese are invited to the Lowell Campus of the Franciscan Life Process Center on July Retrouvaille Jubilee Mass – Retrouvaille is cele- 19th from 9:00 am - 5pm for a one day retreat. Led brating 20 years of ministry in our diocese! All, espe- by Rev. Msgr. Gus Ancona, this special day includes cially any couples who have attended a healing week- presentations, meditation & prayer time, opportunity end in the past 20 years, together with your families, for Confession and the celebration of Mass. are invited to attend the Jubilee Mass, which will be celebrated by Bishop Walkowiak at the Cathedral of Transportation from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish St. Andrew on Sunday, June 25 at 3:00 p.m. and will in Grand Rapids has been arranged if needed. coincide with the closing of the Retrouvaille Mideast Regional Conference, being hosted in Grand Rapids. To register, please go to www.lifeprocesscenter.org For more information, contact Tony and Julie Gessner and click on “Events”. at [email protected] or (616) 752-7004. For more info on Retrouvaille, visit The W.A.R. on Women Becky McDonald, founder of www.helpourmarriage.org. Women at Risk, will speak at a private reception on Thurs., June 22, at 7 pm at the W.A.R. Chest STRENGTHENED IN FAITH: A day for families with Boutique in Wyoming, sharing her experiences children, youth or adults with disabilities and special working with victims of human trafficking who were needs will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at St. never given any “choice” and experienced forced Robert of Newminster Church in Ada. The even will abortions. McDonald will explain how her begin at 1:00p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 4:30p.m. organization works to lift at-risk women to lives of with a pizza dinner to follow. David and Mercedes Riz- dignity. Sponsored by Grand Rapids Right to Life, this zo will give a presentation for the parents. Concur- event is $5 per person and will include refreshments rently, those with disabilities and their siblings will be and an opportunity to shop the W.A.R. store. To able to participate in fun activities! The event is free purchase tickets contact 616-532- to all families. For more information or to register, 2300 or [email protected]. For more information please contact the Parish Office at (616) 243-8998 ext visit www.grrtl.org/event/war. 201 or [email protected]. MOST HOLY BODY & BLOOD OF CHRIST GATHER HYMNAL pg. 1089 JUNE 18, 2017 THE CATHOLIC BIBLICAL SCHOOL OF MICHIGAN is Eucharistic opening a class here at St. Stephen! Thursday evening Ministers Lectors Servers classes will meet from September to May and will Saturday, June 24 study the entire Bible in 4 years. Faculty members — 4:30p.m. Mass all experienced teachers who are deeply devoted to N. Mulvihill M. Donnelly T. LeeBall their Catholic faith—hold graduate degrees in Catho- M. Fowler F. Hart P. Hart B. Fowler lic theology. CBSM Students and staff will visit our parish Sunday, June 25 during all Masses this weekend (June 3-4) to intro- 8:30a.m. Mass duce the program. Those interested in learning more N. Rauch D. Rauch J. Portinga about the program are invited to attend one Infor- K. Abbs J. Klein M. Voss I. Hollern mation Night(held June 7, July 19, & August 9, at 7pm). Brochures are found at www.cbsmich.org. 10:30a.m. Mass C. Dugan J. LaVille C. Shadowens DO YOU NEED A RIDE TO MASS? The St. Stephen N. LaBine K. Shadowens N. Konkle

Knights of Columbus are available to assist parishion- G. LaBine

ers in need of transportation to/from Mass, as well as Please ensure you sign in in the Sacristy upon your arrival to to bring the Eucharist to our sick and homebound. Mass. If you are unable to fill your assigned role, please request Please contact Grand Knight Kingman Davis with re- a sub. It is your responsibility to ensure your open position is filled. Thank you for your continued dedication to these quests at (616) 334-7584 or [email protected]. ministries.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Doyle Law, LLC See the full ad on the back of the bulletin. Please patronize all our sponsors who make it possible for the bulletin to be provided without cost to our parish.