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.

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1 St. Stephen Parish SaintStephenSF.org 451 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco CA Church SaintStephenSchoolSF.org 401 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco School 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.

2 December 10, 2017 Advent Week 2 Prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts and in the hearts of those around us Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalm 85; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 In today s Gospel, we hear that a prophecy from Isaiah is being fulfilled by John the Baptist. John is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy two thousand years ago by preaching that Jesus was the Messiah, and pointing toward him in all of his words and actions. But preparing the way for the Lord was not just a task for John the Baptist it s a task for each one of us. Now it s our turn to prepare the way of the Lord in our own hearts as well as in the world around us. One of the most important things we can do this Advent season is to prepare our own heart to receive Jesus. The big question is: how do I do this? First and foremost, we must spend some time with Jesus in prayer. We can treat our prayer time like an appointment, setting aside some time each day to spend with God, even if it s only five or ten minutes. We can refrain from giving God the leftovers of our day, instead offering the first fruits of time when we re awake and alert. We might prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts by spending time reading Scripture, praying a rosary or praying in adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Whatever we do, it will help us prepare our hearts to receive Jesus. But our focus can t be only on self during this season of Advent. Just like John the Baptist, we want to prepare the way of the Lord in such a way that those around us might more easily be brought into an encounter with Jesus. John the Baptist, through his words and actions, was able to bring people into an encounter with the Lord; our words and actions can have the same effect if we re intentional about them. During this Advent season, we can take some time to talk to family, friends, co-workers, or classmates about the true meaning of Christmas. It may be a small action or a simple word from us that opens up the way of the Lord in that person s heart. Just like John, we should point to Jesus in all that we do and say. Be a witness for Christ. After all, we have all been called by name to a life of discipleship. As we journey together through this second week of Advent, may your week include some time for Jesus remembering the love he has for you and your family. Thank you for being with us in prayer today and have a blessed week. Father Tony * * * * * * LITURGY AND LIFE How can Advent help you to be holier as you prepare for the coming of the Lord? How does our parish provide ways for members to work for peace and justice? Is participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation among your plans for preparing for Christmas?

3 Monday, Dec. 11 8:00 a.m Margaret Farren (By: Sandra Fullerton) Tuesday, Dec. 12 8:00 a.m. Larry Lee Tucker (By: Margarita Solis-Tucker) Wednesday, Dec. 13 8:00 a.m. Doreen Aguirre Sp. Int. (By: Adele Caunan) Thursday, Dec. 14 8:00 a.m. Mila Espina (By: Dorothy Over) Friday, Dec. 15 8:00 a.m. Marygrace Dunn (By: Richard Dunn) Saturday, Dec. 16 8:00 a.m. Maureen Conley (By: Gonduglia Family) 3:30 p.m. Reconciliation 4:30 p.m. Denis O Connor (By: Rose O Connor ) Sunday, Dec. 17 8:00 a.m John C. Farrel (By: Malvina M. Farrell) 9:30 a.m. Marygrace Dunn (By: Richard Dunn) 11:30 a.m. Stacee Etcheber (By: Jim & Lisa Landers) 6:45 p.m. Michael & Eileen Cahalane (By: Deirdre Cahalene) Bold Indicates Mass Intentions TODAY S READINGS First Reading The rugged land shall be made a plain; the rough country, a broad valley (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11). Psalm Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation (Psalm 85). Second Reading Conduct yourselves in holiness, hastening the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:8-14). Gospel I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:1-8). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. Second Collections Next Weekend A second collection will be taken December 16 & 17 for: Archbishop s Annual Appeal Monday, Dec :00 p.m. 50+ Club/Hall 3:30 p.m. Faith Formation/Office Tuesday, Dec. 12 3:00 p.m. School Play Practice/Hall Wednesday, Dec. 13 7:00 p.m. SVDP Conf./Office Thursday, Dec. 14 3:00 p.m. School Play Practice/Hall Friday, Dec. 15 4:00 p.m. Christmas Party (private)/hall 7:00 p.m. GA Closed Meeting/EC Saturday, Dec :00 p.m. Christmas Party (private)/hall Sunday, Dec. 17 7:00 p.m. Adult Volleyball/Gym Our online website includes a community events calendar. Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2017 Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Mark 1:3 SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent; International Human Rights Day Monday: St. Damasus I Tuesday: Our Lady of Guadalupe; Hanukkah begins at sunset Wednesday: St. Lucy Thursday: St. John of the Cross Saturday: Las Posadas begins lease pray for the sick and P homebound of our community and for all those written in our book of the sick. May they know the healing touch of Jesus. Elena Amaya, Edileide Jose Barbosa, Larry Barbiere, Maureen Conley, Ed Cummings, Carol Dominguez, Eden Finn, Emma Lew, Al Gragnani, Marc Gutierres, Maria Matthews, Juan Pablo Grover-Paez, Nenita Sangalang, Anna Macalino Thompson, Betty Rodriguez, Jovita & Richard Thompson. Please call the office for names of people that we should pray for the month or should remain on this list longer

4 THE MISSING FIGURE IN THE NATIVITY SCENE A three-year-old was helping his mother unpack their nativity set. He announced each piece as he removed its tissue paper wrappings. Here s the donkey! he said. Here s a king and a camel! When he finally got to the tiny infant lying in a manger he proclaimed, Here s Baby Jesus in his car seat! Well, it wasn t a car seat, but that would be an easy mistake to make, wouldn t it? We all love nativity scenes. Baby Jesus in the manger... Mary and Joseph hovering reverently over the Holy Child... shepherds, wise men, assorted cattle, sheep and camels... and, of course, a donkey. But, as someone has noted, there is always one person missing from these nativity scenes. Have you ever seen John the Baptist in any of the nativity scenes? Louder than any Santa says, Ho, ho, ho, you would hear the automated voice of John the Baptist screaming, The Kingdom of Heaven is near. Has anyone noticed a figure like that in any of the nativity scenes that are traditional to our celebration of Christmas? Well, no. At least, I ve never seen a nativity scene featuring John the Baptist. Yet, on the second Sunday of Advent, we always encounter this strange lonely figure sounding his message out in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord. Stewardship: A Way of Life Sunday Collection: 12/3/17 $8,417 2nd Collection: Maintenance $2,276 We thank our parishioners who return their gifts with a loving and generous increase to God HOSPITALITY MINISTERS for our 9:30 a.m. Mass Today, Dec Mayra Chang Sunday, Dec Parish Council Sunday, Dec Ushers Please note! Coffee and donuts will not be served until the completion of mass. Christmas Schedule 2017 Simbang Gabi Dawn Mass, Dec 16-24, 6:00am 4th Sunday of Advent, Dec 24 Saturday Vigil : 4:30pm Sunday 8:00, 9:30, 11:30am (No 6:45pm mass) Christmas Eve, Dec 24 4:30pm Family Mass 10:00pm Vigil Mass of the Lord s Nativity (Prelude Music 9:30pm) Christmas Day, Dec 25 8:00, 9:30am Mass of the Lord s Nativity Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, Dec 31 (Regular Sunday Mass Schedule) Saturday Vigil : 4:30pm Sunday 8:00, 9:30, 11:30am, 6:45pm Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God & New Year s Day, Jan 1 9:30am Mass only Our Altar Server s Schedule This Weekend Saturday, Dec. 9 8:00 a.m. Niamh Concannon 4:30 p.m. Ava Boilard, Lauren Boilard, Michael McDonough Sunday, Dec. 10 8:00 a.m. Bryn Scheg, Caroline Wong, Claire Patankar, 9:30 p.m. Catherine Alcantara, Charlotte Davey, Evan O Driscoll 11:30 a.m. Beckett Andersen, Mikel Villamayor 6:45p.m. Olyvia Bankovitch, Daniela Cerrri, Aidan Flocchini Monday: Marissa Onken, Mericel Tao, Tuesday: Kevin Hernandez, Adrian Di Lena Wednesday: Eoghan Daly, Josh Pasby Thursday: Alyssa Fambrini, Olivia Schot Friday: Sarah Tuvo, Evelyn Ongpin Our special thanks to our student Altar Servers. 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 message through preaching, through the education and formation of our people, young and old, and through caring service and sensitive outreach to those in need Rev. Tony P. LaTorre, Pastor

5 JOKE OF THE WEEK A man who thought he was John the Baptist was disturbing the neighborhood. So, for public safety, he was forcefully taken to the psychiatric ward of a hospital. He was put in a room with another crazy patient. He immediately began his routine, I am John the Baptist! The Lord has sent me as the forerunner of Christ the Messiah! The other guy looked at him and declared, I am the Lord your God. I did not send you! WHAT ARE SWADDLING CLOTHES? A 6-year-old little girl, missing a front tooth, emerged from her Sunday school class with a grin on her face, a piece of candy and a new pencil in her hands. "Guess what?" she said to Mom, "I was the best listener today. I won the prize!" "That s wonderful," Mom replied. "How did you win?" "Miss Lynda read a story about baby Jesus then asked what Mary wrapped the baby Jesus in when she laid him in the manger." "Well, what did Mary wrap him in?" "Swaddling clothes," came the quick reply. "What are swaddling clothes?" Mom asked. "I don't know," she admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "I guess they're what ducks wear."(sometimes we treat Christmas like that; we know the answers, we know the story but we don't know the meaning behind those answers.) JESUS WAS BORN IN THE NORTH POLE? In a Family Circus cartoon, the little girl sits her baby brother on her lap and tells him the story of Christmas. According to her version: Jesus was born just in time for Christmas up at the North Pole surrounded by eight tiny reindeer and the Virgin Mary. Then Santa Claus showed up with lots of toys and stuff and some swaddling clothes. The three Wise men and elves all sang carols while the Little Drummer Boy and Scrooge helped Joseph trim the tree. In the meantime, Frosty the Snowman saw this star. We can appreciate her confusion. There is a lot to learn about Christmas. Who does the teaching in your home? Fire Safety for Holiday Decorating and Entertaining Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, space heater, fireplace or wood stove. Use products only for their intended purposes. Cooking stoves should not be used for heating the home, and space heaters are not for drying wet clothes. Have your heating system inspected by a qualified service professional at least once a year. Make sure all fuel-burning heating equipment is vented to the outside. Keep intake and output vents clean and clear of debris and dust. Install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning. Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. December :00 a.m. at St. Stephen Church 451 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco, CA Celebrant Schedule Sat Dec. 16 Most Rev. William Justice Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco Sun Dec. 17 Rev. Mark Taheny - St. Cecilia Mon Dec. 18 Rev. Francis Htun - Burmese Tue Dec. 19 Rev. Peter Tieng - St. Brendan Wed Dec. 20 Rev. William McCaint. - St. Finn Barr Thu Dec. 21 Rev. Ray Reyes - FAFNet Fri Dec. 22 Rev. Tom Hamilton - St. Gabriel Sat Dec. 23 Rev. Tony LaTorre - St. Stephen Sun Dec. 24 Most Rev. Salvatore Cordileone Archbishop of San Francisco Gospel Themes Dec. 16 " Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him" Dec. 17 I am the voice of one crying out in the desert" Dec. 18 The Angel appeared to Saint Joseph in a dream Dec. 19 Zechariah rendered speechless Dec. 20 The Annunciation Dec. 21 The Visitation Dec. 22 The Magnificat Dec. 23 The naming of John Dec. 24 The Annunciation " there was no room for them in the inn it points toward the reversal of values found in the figure of Jesus Christ and his message. From the moment of his birth, he belongs outside the realm of what is important and powerful in worldly terms So one aspect of becoming a Christian is having to leave behind what everyone else thinks and wants, the prevailing standards, in order to enter the light of the truth of our being, and aided by that light to find the right path " - from Jesus of Nazareth, The Infancy Narratives, Pope Benedict XVI

6 PASTORAL STAFF Rev. Tony P. LaTorre Pastor, ext.1001 Mrs. Sharon McCarthy Allen School Principal Carol P Cagalingan Parish Manager, ext.1003 carol@saintstephensf.org Rev. Mr. Olet Abad Rev. Mr. Rory Desmond Permanent Deacons Mary Molly Mullaney Faith Formation Coordinator, ext.1004 faithformation@saintstepehnsf.org Shay Ingelfinger Event Center Coordinator, ext.1007 donworthevents@saintstephensf.org Rhonda Smith Coordinator of Music & Liturgy, ext music@saintstepehnsf.org Jan Almeida Bookkeeper, ext.1005 Ed Prete Bulletin Editor, ext e.prete@saintstepehnsf.org ST STEPHEN PARISH ORGANIZATION/MINISTRY CONTACT PERSON Altar Servers Giovanna Hrvatin Altar Society Joan Leehane Bridge Group Helen Perlite Caritas Nellie Hizon Church Hospitality Mary Molly Mullaney Communion Ministers Rhonda Smith Faith Formation Mary Molly Mullaney Fifty Plus Club Helga D Arcy Finance Council Laura Birsinger Grief Support Clergy Lectors Rhonda Smith Liturgy Committee Fr. Tony Marriage Preparation Clergy Men s Club Andrew Hazard Music Rhonda Smith Parish Council Vicky Francisco RCIA Mary Molly Mullaney St. Stephen Book Club Veronica Wong St. Vincent de Paul Julie O Callaghan Ushers Bob Anthony Women s Guild Lydia Flocchini 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 or online at Name Address City/Zip Phone 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 Altar Society Children s Liturgy of the Word Choir Greeter/Usher Hospitality after Mass/Special Events Holy Communion Ministers to the Homebound Lector/Holy Communion Ministers Music/Choir

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8 The Choir will be singing at our Christmas Eve 4:30 p.m. Mass! Join our Family Choir this Christmas Eve! Children of the Family Choir will prepare a special prelude of songs to sing before the 4:30pm Mass on Christmas Eve. R E H E A R S A L S: Monday 12/11 from 5 6:30pm in the church (right after Faith Formation Classes) Sunday 12/17 from 10:30 11:30am in the Marian Room (after the 9:30am mass) All Are Welcome!!! Contact : ren.connoly@gmail. com CHRISTMAS FLOWERS Help care for elders. Thanks to support from the Retirement Fund for Religious, we are now in a much better position to care for our elders, writes a religious sisters. Your donation helps her religious community and hundreds of others provide for aging members and plan for long-term needs. Please give to next week s Retirement Fund for Religious collection (December 16-17). Thank you in advance for your generosity. WINTER SHELTER St Mary s Cathedral Gough Street December 16 and 17 For I was hungry and you fed me St. Stephen Parish is sponsoring two evenings of the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program at St. Mary s Cathedral. We are asked to provide a meal to 100 of our less fortunate brothers on Saturday, December 16 th and on Sunday, December 17 th at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral. They need 10 stews or casseroles for each night, each sufficient for 10 hungry men. We are also asked to provide servings of fruit (1 cup per person) or cookies. This is an opportunity for you and your children to serve together as a family during this Christmas season. Sign-up sheets and flyers are in the vestibule. As we prepare for the solemnity of Christmas, we look forward to the joy of the birth of Christ. We hope to express our joy by filling the church with a bountiful display of Poinsettias/Christmas flowers. If you would like to have one or more Poinsettia/ Christmas flower placed in the church in memory of loved ones, or to honor someone special, please fill out this form and return to the O Reilly Parish Office by: Thursday, December 21 I would like to have a Poinsettia /Christmas flower placed in the church in loving memory of: My name... My phone no. is... Enclosed is $15.00 to cover the cost of each Poinsettia/Christmas Flower