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320 W. Garvey Ave. Monterey Park, CA 91754 Fourth Sunday “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” :59 of Advent December 20, 2015 Becoming like Mary We are in the final days of our Advent journey! Already four candles are lit. During the Advent season every year, we reflect on Mary. Mary, we can say, is the woman of Advent. Mary, Our Blessed Mother, is the one who shows us what faith is all about. We heard St. Elizabeth say in the this morning — Blessed are you who believed. That’s who Mary is! She is the first one who believed in the Word of . And when we think about the fig- ure of Mary, the person of Mary, that we find in the , we find that she is a model for us in our discipleship. Mary listened to the Word of God that came to her through the . She pondered God’s Word in her heart and she asked questions. How is this going to happen? We Fr. Leo Ortega, Pastor need to be like Mary, our Blessed Mother. Like Mary, we need to have this deep love for the Tel. (626) 573-0427 Word of God. We need to read the Gospels all the time — every day if we can. We need to listen E-mail: to God’s Word. We need to pray with the and ask questions: What does God’s Word mean for me in my personal life? Just as Mary did. How is this going to happen? How is what Jesus is [email protected] saying in the passage of the Gospel, how is that going to happen in my life? And we also need to website: ststephenmpk.org be ready to do whatever God is asking us to do. We need to say — as Mary did and as Jesus did Christina Arellano, Principal — Behold! I come to do your will, O God! We need to offer ourselves to serve God’s plan. We Tel. (626) 573-1716 should pray and say every day: Behold! I come to do your will! 119 S. Ramona Avenue, Monterey Park, CA 91754 The simplicity of Mary MASSES There’s a beautiful lesson in the life of Mary. Her life, when you think about it, Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM (English) her life is filled with silence and simplicity. Nobody knows about who she is. She didn’t make a big deal of who is as she was. All the events in her life that Sunday 7:00 AM (English) we read about —the Annunciation, the Visitation, and all the rest — they are in 9:00 AM (Spanish) a sense “off the radar.” They were silent events. Hidden. Nobody was there to 11:00 AM (English) see them or pay special attention to them. A beautiful lesson for us. Because most of the time that’s 2:00 PM (Indonesian) the reality of our lives. We all live simple and quiet lives. The good we can do, and we do, is seen Mon-Sat Daily : 8:30 AM and known just by a small circle of the closest people that are with us— in our families in our neigh- Perpetual Help Mass & Novena borhoods; and in the places where we work. The simplicity of our life must be the place where we are faithful to God’s will and imitate our Blessed Mother. But that simplicity of our daily life is Wednesday 6:30 PM where the new evangelization must happen. It’s not a matter of becoming. It’s a matter of being Friday 7:00 PM (Spanish) faithful to God in our simple, daily life. So the goal of our life is in the simplicity of our daily life Holy Days as announced try to become more and more like Jesus. So just like Jesus did, we have to learn from our mother Mary what it means to be a child of God. Don’t you think that Jesus learned many things from his PARISH OFFICE HOURS mother? That’s the way we all learn, from our mother and father. And Jesus was equal to us in eve- Monday thru Friday rything. So in the same way that he learned, we have a wonderful opportunity to look at Mary. To 9 am - 1 pm & 4 pm - 8 pm admire her. To learn from her. To listen to her. To know that she is always there for us that she Closed loves us so much. That she is a woman of faith. So that’s the way which this Advent and this Christ- 1 pm - 4 pm mas we can really become good children of God and be part of the family of God. So let’s ask Mary, our Blessed Mother, to help us to always be like her. To live with Jesus in our hearts and to Saturday share Jesus with everyone we meet and in everything we do. Then we all can have a wonderful 1 pm - 5 pm . A Christmas where the center is Jesus, Mary, and . A joyful and peaceful Christ- Sunday mas that we can share with our brothers and sisters, with our families, and with the whole world. Closed

“We are a diverse faith-community that strives to conform ourselves into the image of Christ in and through the power of the Holy Spirit, and nourished by The Word, Sacraments and Tradition to give glory to God and to be a light unto the nations.” —$1,080.00 Annual Greening of the Church —$414.00 Come and Join us as we prepare the December 12th & 13th —$7,396.27 Church for Christmas Second Collection— $1,890.00 Sunday, December 20th at 4 p.m.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Second Collection for 12/27—NONE

SECOND COLLECTION December 19th & 20th Christmas Church Flowers

Legion of Mary meets on Wednesdays at 5pm in Room 2. A Philippine Advent tradition returns to St. Stephen Followed by the Novena Mass at 6:30pm in the Church. With the special participation of Cardinal Roger Mahony as main celebrant on December 19 at 5:00 in the evening HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS Start your day early with a holy mass and then The Parish Office will be open on enjoy “Filipino power breakfast” at the hall after Thursday, December 24th from each . “Maghanda! Manalangin! Magsimba!” 9 am—5 pm The Parish Office will be closed Friday thru Sunday, CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS December 25th, 26th & 27th. DECEMBER 24TH, THURSDAY We will reopen on Monday, THE VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS December 28th with our regular office hours. 4:30 PM CHILDREN’S MASS 12:00 AM CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS

2016 Calendars DECEMBER 25TH, FRIDAY The 2016 calendars are now CHRISTMAS available in the Bookstore and in 9:00 AM SPANISH (MARIACHI MASS) the Parish Office. Calendars are 11:00 AM ENGLISH MASS available in English and Spanish. Quantities are limited. DECEMBER 26TH, SATURDAY Suggested donation $1.00. MEMORIAL OF SAINT STEPHEN MARTYR 5:00 PM MASS POTLUCK AFTER MASS ST. STEPHEN BOOKSTORE is open after each Mass, Saturday DECEMBER 31ST, THURSDAY and Sunday or by appointment. NEW YEAR’S EVE 12,000+ Gifts │ DVDs │ Books │ 5:30 PM BILINGUAL MASS │ Jewelry and accessories │ Rosaries │ Devotional and JANUARY 1, 2016, FRIDAY │ Religious Items Artwork. SOLEMNITY OF THE BLESSED MARY One stop shop for Catholic gifts and resources. Support our parish. Sup- NEW YEAR’S DAY port the Saint Stephen Bookstore. 10:00 AM ENGLISH MASS Llegando a ser como María Estamos en los últimos días de nuestro viaje de Adviento! Ya cuatro velas se encienden Durante el tiempo de Adviento cada año, reflexionamos sobre María. María, podemos decir, es la mujer de Adviento. María, Nuestra Madre Santísima, es el que nos muestra lo que la fe se trata. Escuchamos St. Elizabeth dice en el Evangelio de esta mañana - Bendita tú que creía. Eso es lo que María es! Ella es la primera persona que creyó en la Palabra de Jesucristo. Y cuando pensamos en la figura de María, la persona de María, que nos encontramos en los Evangelios, vemos que es un modelo para nosotros en nuestro discipulado. María escuchó la Palabra de Dios que vino a ella a través del Ángel Gabriel. Ella reflexionó sobre la Palabra de Dios en su corazón y ella hizo preguntas. ¿Cómo va a pasar? Tenemos que ser como María, nuestra Madre Santísima. Como María, tenemos que tener este pro- fundo amor por la Palabra de Dios. Tenemos que leer los Evangelios todo el tiempo - todos los días si podemos. Tenemos que escuchar la Palabra de Dios. Necesitamos orar con la Biblia y hacer preguntas: ¿Qué significa la palabra de Dios para mí en mi vida personal? Así como lo hizo María. ¿Cómo va a pasar? ¿Cómo es lo que Jesús está diciendo en el pasaje del Evangelio, ¿cómo es que va a suceder en mi vida? Y también tenemos que estar dispuestos a hacer lo que Dios nos pide que hagamos. Tene- mos que decir - como María y como lo hizo Jesús - ¡He aquí! Yo vengo a hacer tu voluntad, oh Dios! Tenemos que ofrecer a no- sotros mismos para servir el plan de Dios. Debemos orar y decir cada día: ¡He aquí! Yo vengo para hacer tu voluntad!

Decoración de la Iglesia HORARIOS DE NAVIDAD Venga y unase con nosotros para La Oficina Parroquial estrara abierta Preparar la Iglesia para la Navidad. el jueves, 24 de diciembre Domingo, 20 de diciembre a las 4:00 p.m. de las 9 am—5 pm La Oficina Parroquial estrara cerrada Calendario 2016 Los calendarios del 2016 ya están del viernes hasta domingo, disponibles en la librería y en la 25, 26 y 27 de diciembre. oficina parroquial. Calendarios

están disponibles en inglés y espa- Vamos a reabrir el lunes, ñol. Las cantidades son limitadas. Donación sugerida $1.00. 28 de diciembre con nuestra horas de oficina regulares.

CELEBRACIONES NAVIDEÑAS

Jueves, 24 de diciembre Vigilia de Navidad 4:30 PM (Misa de Niños) 11PM Misa de medianoche

Viernes, 25 de diciembre Natividad del Señor 9 AM (Mariachi, Español) LIBRERÍA DE SAN ESTEBAN Está abierta después de cada misa, 11 AM (Inglés) el Sábado y el Domingo o por cita.

Mas de 12,000 Regalos │ DVDs Sabado, 26 de diciembre │ Libros │ Biblias │ Joyeria y Ac- Fiesta de San Esteban cesorios │ Rosarios │ Novinas y Ar- 5 PM (Potluck despues de la Misa) tículos religiosos. Apoye a nuestra parroquia. Apoye al Librería de San Esteban Jueves, 31 de diciembre Víspera de Año Nuevo El Ministerio de Oración “Luz del Espirtu Santo” 5:30 PM (Bilingüe) Los invita a orar, alabar, glorificar al Señor y darle gracias por Viernes, 1° de enero todos Los beneficios recibidos cada dia de nuestra vida. Nos reunimos los Miercoles de 7pm a 9pm en el salon parroquial Fiesta de María, Madre de Dios de nuestra Iglesia San Esteban Martir. 10 AM (Inglés) WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS Frances Salaises, Kitty Carlucci, Rosie SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2015 Grego, Liza Anne Sesti, Nicholas Velarde, 5:00 pm Edgar Battad (D) Ana Nunez, Elaine Denery, Jose Galicia Sr., Connie Gonzales, Norma Salazar, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 Michlina Kubek, Maria Cervantes, Maria Gonzalez, Jeanine Greg- 7:00 am Adrian Erhard—Happy Birthday! ory, Peggy Jasso, Elena Dulay, Alex Vasquez, Armando Loo, An- 9:00 am Fernando Nunez (D) namae Koch, Rita Thoms, Elizabeth Dodge, Virginia Medina, Rita Victoria Elena Jacek (D) A. Durazo, Ernest Durazo, Rudy Barraza, Sally Sandoval, Emilia Amelia Barraza Rodriguez, Dominic, Jason, Rose Valdez, Antonia Castaneda, En accion de gracias por el Padre Leo y Padre Budi Natalia Castaneda, Kathy Garcia, Helen Lawrence, Sandy Aguiar, Maria Castillo, Frances Montez, Ramiro Sanchez, Judy Backer, 11:00 am Jose M. Yacat (D) Foa Lung (D) Josefina Peralta, Tom Lujan, Maria Ngan Fong Lung, Erin Gaf- Lisa Ong (D) frey, Virginia Miranda, Frances Mosqueda, John Jaurequi, Jeanine Mrs. Eva Tarantino (D) Lugo, Michael Alden Townsend, Mary Hernandez, Augie Koch, Natalia Orozco, Tisha Platt, Teresa Ycedo, Ruth Hernandez, Larry MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2015 Hernandez, Marge LaVenture, Debbie Koch Mark, Vic Pangani- 8:30 am Rodolfo Compeañ ban, Jack Sheehy, Concepcion Rodriguez, Anna Hernandez, Eliza- Alejandrina Ruiz de Compeañ beth Canadas, Maria Mazloom TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 8:30 am Maria Rodriguez (D) Prayer list will be updated on a monthly bases. If you would like to add a name or make changes to the above list. Please contact WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015 the parish office. 8:30 am Marissa Chavarria—Happy Birthday!

READINGS FOR THE WEEK 6:30 pm Victor Valdez—Happy Birthday! DECEMBER 20TH—DECEMBER 27TH

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015 Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 8:30 am St. Stephen Parishioners Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45 4:30 pm St. Stephen Parishioners Monday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a;

Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45 12:00 am St. Stephen Parishioners Tuesday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 Wednesday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10, 14; 9:00 am St. Stephen Parishioners Lk 1:57-66 11:00 am St. Stephen Parishioners Thursday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Lk 1:67-79 SATURDAY, , 2015 8:30 am Paul Martel (D) Friday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; :16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25]

Did You Know? Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Safety is key even when visiting Santa Claus Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12;

Visiting Santa Claus can be a grand and positive Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 childhood experience. However, some people who Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; seek to bring Santa to life in a child’s world are not Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] deserving of our trust. Make sure your child knows that there are special rules for Santa and that parents or guardians must Saturday: :8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, always be with the child when he or she visits Santa. One rule 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 to consider is encouraging your child to stand next to Santa or sit on the floor between his feet rather than sitting on his lap. Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28; For a copy of the VIRTUS® article “Safety for Children AND Ps 128:1-5 or Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; Col 3:12-21 Santa’s Helpers,” email: [email protected]. [12-17] or 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52