THE PARISH MESSENGER December 11t8, 2016. Fourth Sunday of Advent St. Stephen Martyr 2436 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20037

An Oasis in the City – a diverse, welcoming Catholic community. Dedicated to beautiful worship, spiritual growth, and caring. Serving Foggy Bottom and the West End since 1867.

Our Christmas and New Year Telephone: 202.785.0982 Gift to You! Fax: 202.785.1574 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ststephenmartyrdc.org OFFICE HOURS

Monday-Friday: 9:30am-5:30pm. MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil 5:30pm Sunday 9:00am, 11:00am, 12:30pm & 5:30pm Mon/Wed/Friday 6:30am & 12:10pm Tuesday/Thursday 12:10pm & 5:30pm Saturday 12:10pm CONFESSION Monday-Friday 11:30am--12:00pm Saturday 4:30pm--5:15pm CLERGY Rev. Msgr. Paul M. Dudziak, D. Min...... Pastor [email protected] Rev. Klaus J. Sirianni……… Parochial Vicar & George Washington Hospital Chaplain Deacon John Liu: [email protected] Permanent Deacon, Stephen Ministry Coordinator, Nursing Home & GW Hospital Chaplain STAFF Maria Cristina Peano Office Manager David Brake Accountant Raphael Kadio Facilities & Maintenance MUSIC Neil Weston Director of Music Grace Srinivasan…………………………Cantor Mary Corso ...... 5:30pm Sunday Mass Cantor EL SHADDAI CHARISMATIC GROUP Ricky Lopez: 202-716-2509………….Coordinator Ernie Ragunton:………………..Asst. Coordinator Nida Hernandez Wage: 202-460-6004….Secretary Rosie Plata:…………………………….Treasurer

GW CATHOLICS—202-676-6855 Rev. Adam Park, Chaplain: [email protected] Ms. Julie Cilano, Campus Minister: [email protected] HOLIDAY MASS SCHEDULE BAPTISM: Please contact the parish office.

MARRIAGE: Please review guidelines on our Christmas Eve: website & contact our Clergy at least six months Carols with the St. Stephen Martyr Choir at 6pm prior to the desired wedding date. All must com- Solemn Mass at 6:30pm plete an approved Marriage Preparation Program Carols with the El Shaddai Choir at 8:30pm CARE OF THE SICK: Visits to the sick and home-bound are made regularly. Please contact Mass at 9:00pm one of the priests or the parish office. Christmas Day: 9:00am & 11:00am

TV MASS FOR HOMEBOUND: New Year's Eve: 5:30pm Every Sunday at 10:30am on WDCW-50. Please confirm channels with your TV provider. New Year's Day: 9:00am & 11:00am PAGE 2 THE PARISH MESSENGER December 18, 2016 PARISH UPDATES

CALENDAR OF EVENTS , 2016Mass Intentions

Monday Prayer Group Monday, December 19 December 19, 2016 at 3:00 pm 6:30am ±Rev. Matthew E. Thompson Fr. Sirianni 11:30am Confession Prayer with Sant’Egidio 12:10pm Msgr. Dudziak Thursday, December 22 at 6:00 pm Tuesday, December 20 11:30am Confession Msgr. Dudziak will be out of town this weekend. 12:10pm Luis Obispo Fr. Sirianni He will be back Monday evening 5:30pm Msgr. Dudziak

Wednesday, December 21 If you would like to send greetings to Msgr. Langfeld St. Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor of the Church you can mail it to: 6:30am ±Msgr. Kenneth Roeltgen Fr. Sirianni 11:30am Confession Little Sisters of the Poor 12:10pm ±Luz de Guzman Msgr. Dudziak

Jeanne Jugan Residence Thursday, December 22 Attn: Msgr. Paul Langsfeld 11:30am Confession 4200 Harewood Road, NE 12:10pm Fr. Sirianni 5:30pm ±Romeo Fajardo Fr. Kemp Washington, DC 20017-1511

Friday, December 23 PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY St. John of Kanty, Priest Sponsored for All by El Shaddai. 6:30am Msgr. Dudziak Sunday , December 18th from 2pm to 5pm 11:30am Confession in the Parish Hall. 12:10pm Vanessa Cadevilla-Peano Fr. Sirianni

There will be food offered by the birthday Saturday, December 24 Celebrants in the month of December; Vigil Mass for The Nativity of the Lord ( Christmas) singing Christmas carols and dancing from 6:30pm ±Members of the Farcasanu Fmly Msgr. Dudziak each group; and giving Christmas gifts for 9:00pm ±Members of the Bottea Fmly Fr. Sirianni the kids Sunday, December 25 Br. Nicholas cordially invites you to his ordination as The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) deacon on Monday, January 7, 2017 at 10:00 am at 9:00am Pro Populo Fr. Sirianni Whitefriars Hall. 11:00am ±Mia Lahovari Msgr. Dudziak 1600 Webster St NW Washington, DC 20017 “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). Weekend of December 11th, 2016

CONGRATULATIONS! Sunday Offertory Collection $6,929.94 We congratulate Grace Srinivasan and Ianthe Marini of Daily Masses, Vigil Lights, Misc. $5,361.38 our choir for their performances in The Messiah at the Poor Box $120.00 Friends of the Music Ministry $920.00 Kennedy Center. The Washington Post said the Maryland Concert Choir “covered itself with glory” Total $16,225.79

We are deeply grateful to those who remember St. Stephen FRIENDS OF THE MUSIC MINISTRY Martyr in their wills. It is the bequests we have received which have kept our Parish functioning. Thank You in the Lord's Name. On the Champagne Dessert Party Second Sunday of each month we offer a Special Mass at the 11am Liturgy for our Benefactors.

In the Rectory, Friday, January 6th, FAITH DIRECT: Don’t forget to include St. Stephen’s in your starting at 7PM for the donors planning. One of the best ways to ensure that the parish receives the who have contributed $500 and up. support needed is “egiving” through Faith Direct. You will receive a Welcome to bring three guests. letter inviting you to enroll. Please consider enrolling today at: www.faithdirect.net or 1-866-507-8757. Our parish code is DC576. PAGE 3 THE PARISH MESSENGER December 18, 2016

Visit FindthePerfectGift.org to Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center find Christmas resources across the Archdiocese of A Catholic retreat house, is a true oasis just outside the Washington. Nation’s Capital. We invite you to encounter Christ in a per- sonal and life-changing way through our programs. Take advantage of our one day or weekend spiritual retreats. Prepare for a lifetime with our marriage preparation program. Trans- form your marriage with one of our enrichment programs. Gift of Appreciated Stock January 05 - Regnum Christi Women’s Retreat Weekend. At this time of the year parishioners and January 07 - The Newlywed Program: Managing the Balance friends sometimes like to give the Parish Between Work and Family. gifts of appreciated stock, taking the full January 27 - Men’s 3 days Spiritual Exercises Retreat Weekend & Young Men’s Retreat. charitable deduction while avoiding capital gains for securities owned for more than a 7007 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817. www.ourladyofbethesda.org or call 301-365-0612. year. If you would like to arrange such a gift, please contact the secretary of Steve Adult & Family Rally and Mass for Life Friday, January 27 Brady, our Financial Advisor. Her secre- Cathedral of St. Matthew tary’s name is Frankie Porter. 1725 Rhode Island Ave. NW 9:00 a.m. - Rally & 10:00 a.m. - Mass Phone #: 202-861-4421 Plan to join other parishioners from across [email protected] the Archdiocese of Washington on the morning of the annual March for Life. All are welcome! Gifts may be given to the Parish or Keynote speakers: Mary and Seamus Hasson specified for the Friends of the Music Celebrant: Most Rev. Mario Dorsonville, auxiliary Homilist: Msgr. Wilfrid Parent, pastor of St. Elizabeth's Ministry. 2017 Youth Rally and Mass for Life Verizon Center DC Armory 601 F Street NW 2001 East Capitol Street, SE Washington, DC Washington, DC

EPIPHANY PARTY Schedule: 7:00 am – Doors Open 6:30 am – Doors Open Sunday, January 8th. Coordinators Needed. Since Elsa 7:30 am – Rally Begins 7:30 am – Rally Begins 8:00 am – Confessions 7:30 am – Confessions Thompson is no longer with us, we need a coordinating team 9:30 am – Mass 9:30 am – Mass to put on our annual Epiphany Pot Luck. Having the Party After Mass, join us on the National Mall for the National March depends upon a new team coming forward. Our maintenance for Life! man sets up the tables and chairs. Regulars assist with wine. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Fr Sirianni provides his German spiced wine. People bring On Saturday, January 14, the Archdiocese of Washington will great food, which Msgr. also adds to. But we do need some celebrate the national recognition of Rev. Dr Martin Luther coordinators to work with us, decorate the tables, arrange the King, Jr. with our annual liturgy celebrated this year at St. food, etc. Please let Msgr. Paul know if you (and some friends) Thomas More Parish, 4275 4th Street SW, Washington, DC. can coordinate this event and keep a valued tradition going. The 5:00 pm Mass will be preceded by a concert and a ([email protected]; 202-785-0982) Veneration of the Relics of the African Saints. Music will be provided by the Archdiocesan Gospel Mass Choir. Angel Tree Catholic Charities Christmas Gift Program

Help families in need during the holiday season Make a monetary donation that will go towards purchasing 12/18/16: 7:30pm Mass (NO 10:00pm) gifts for children on the list. Masses will resume on Sunday, January 22, 2017 with the 2 Visit http://donatechristmas.catholiccharitiesdc.org/ regular Masses: 7:30pm and 10:00pm. PAGE 4 THE PARISH MESSENGER December 18, 2016

Pope makes humanitarian appeal for urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to do everything possible to end the war in his country, to protect civilians and to ensure humanitarian agencies can deliver emergency aid to the people. Syria’s SANA news agency reported Assad met on December 12 with new Cardinal Mario Zenari, the papal to Syria, and that the Cardi- nal delivered a letter from the Pope. The news of the cardinal’s meeting came on the day that the Syrian military announced it gained control of 99 percent of the former opposition enclave in eastern Aleppo, signal- ing an impending end to the rebels’ four-year hold over parts of the city. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is urging those fighting in Aleppo to do all they can to pro- tect and spare civilian lives. The ICRC said in a statement on Tuesday that thousands of people with no part in the violence “have literally nowhere safe to run.” ICRC says a deepening humanitarian catastrophe and further loss of life can be averted only if the basic rules of warfare — and of humanity — are applied. Retaking Aleppo would be Assad’s biggest victory yet in the civil war. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm “over reports of atrocities against a large number of civilians” in the city. On Monday, the Vatican confirmed the news of Cardinal Zenari’s meeting, saying in a statement that “in naming Archbishop Mario Zenari to the , the Holy Father sought to show a particular sign of affection for the beloved Syrian people, so sorely tried in recent years.” “In a letter sent through the new cardinal,” the Vatican statement said, “Pope Francis expressed again his appeal to Assad and to the international community for an end to the to the vio- lence” and for a “peaceful resolution of hostilities, condemning all forms of extremism and terrorism from what- ever quarter they may come.” The Pope also asked Assad “to ensure that international humanitarian law is fully respected with regard to the protection of the civilians and access to humanitarian aid.” After reciting the Angelus prayer on December 11 with people in St Peter’s Square, the Pope said that he is close in prayer to the people of Aleppo. “We must not forget that Aleppo is a city and that there are people there: families, children, elderly, sick,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have become used to the war and destruction, but we must not forget that Syria is a country full of history, culture and faith. We cannot allow this to be negated by war, which is a pile of abuse and falsity.”