St. Stephen Parish. December 5, 2010 The Second Sunday of Advent Browning Road Pennsauken, NJ 08109

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1 St. Stephen Parish 6300 Browning Road Pennsauken, NJ Pastoral Staff Reverend Daniel M. Rocco, Pastor Reverend Thomas Kiely, In Residence Permanent Deacon Ernest Picknally Permanent Deacon Anthony Cioe Sister Bernadette Mary Leahy, SSJ Mrs. Patricia Higgins, Principal Mrs. Adeline Gramlich, CRE Parish Contact Information Rectory: (856) Fax: (856) Convent: (856) School: (856) Website: December 5, 2010 The Second Sunday of Advent Mass Schedule Daily: Monday thru Friday 9:00am Weekend Obligation: Saturday 4:30pm (Reconciliation 3:45pm 4:15pm) Sunday 9:00am & 10:30am Children s Liturgy: 3 rd 9:00am Holy Days: 9:00am & 7:00pm 7:00pm Vigil Miraculous Medal Novena Every Thursday after 9am Mass. Eucharistic Exposition First Friday from 9:30am 7pm. Baptism Call the Rectory for arrangements. Required Preparation is 1 class, 2 nd Noon. Baptism 3 rd Sunday of Noon. Anointing of the Sick/Eucharist Upon request after the 4:30pm Mass in the Chapel. Prior notification is necessary by calling the rectory Monday Friday. Also call the Rectory if someone is sick or housebound. Marriage arrangements must be made with a priest 1 year in advance. Only individually registered parishioners of one year or more are eligible to be married here and includes anyone still living at home with parents who should register individually. Rectory Office Hours Monday thru Friday 9am 4:30pm Our Mission Statement Saint Stephen Parish is a Catholic Faith Community called by God through Baptism. Our mission is to live the Gospel by loving and serving all our brothers and sisters. Parish Membership Moving INTO the parish all are asked to register as soon as possible. Moving WITHIN or OUT kindly notify rectory of changes. Please consider remembering St. Stephen s in your Will or Estate Planning. There are financial benefits to do so while still alive and, in death, the spiritual reward of helping to continue the Church s mission of preaching Jesus Christ. R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Anyone interested in becoming Catholic is invited to become part of the RCIA. This process begins with a journey of faith that culminates in full communion with the Church through Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. This process is open to those who are not baptized, to those who have been baptized in other Christian denominations, or to baptized Catholics who have never received catechetical instruction or received Confirmation and First Communion. Further information is available by calling the Rectory. Our Parish Family invites all of its members to participate fully in our spiritual and social life.

2 Page Two Family or Friends having a Mass celebrated for a loved one are encouraged to participate by bringing the gifts of bread and wine to the Priest at Mass. Please be in the church 10 minutes prior to Mass and identify yourselves to one of the Ushers. Per Diocesan Policy: One (1) Mass Intention limit per Mass except for 10:30am on Sunday, which now has a maximum of four (4) intentions. The 2011 Mass Book is open for intentions within one (1) year of today. MONDAY December 6, :00am Sr. Cyrilla Hood, SSJ r/b Dorothea Dodds TUESDAY 9:00am 7:00pm WEDNESDAY 9:00am 7:00pm December 7, 2010 (7pm Vigil for Holy Day) Mary Jo Stedrak r/b Family Doris McDaniel (1 year anniversary) r/b The Rotondo Family December 8, 2010 (Immaculate Conception) The Moton Family r/b The Mattera Family People of the Parish Living & Deceased THURSDAY December 9, :00am+Novena Donald McCormick r/b Kenneth Robinson FRIDAY December 10, :00am Marion Borregine (1 year anniversary) r/b Family SATURDAY December 11, :30pm Mary Rotondo r/b Matt & Pat Petronis SUNDAY December 12, :00am John J. Heininger, Jr. (1 year anniversary) r/b Family 10:30am Mary Jo Stedrak r/b Family William Yambo r/b Carmen Febus & Family Deannie Guggino r/b The Haas Family The Sanctuary Candle this week is In Memory of Mary Jo Stedrak. If you would like to contribute to the burning of a Sanctuary Candle in memory of a loved one, you may call the Rectory. Cost is $10. November 20/21, 2010 Attendance/Collection 748 / $6,821 November 21/22, 2009 Attendance/Collection 607/ $5,603 November 27/28, 2010 Attendance/Collection 586 / $5,240 November 28/29, 2009 Attendance/Collection 621/ $4,945 Budgeted Weekly Collection: $5,673 Actual Y T D Weekly Average: $5,656 Next Diocesan Special Collection: December 12, 2010: Religious Retirement Automatic E Giving St. Stephen Parish is providing Electronic Giving, or egiving, as a simple, secure and convenient method for making contributions. The egiving option is being used by churches throughout the country and works similar to online bill paying. You may logon to to set up your account. Please call the Rectory to let us know if your family member is in the hospital or homebound so that we may bring them Communion. This week remember to pray for: Rose Alessandroni, Victor Ambruso, Dolly Angelastro, Evelyn Capoccetta, Dorothy Coyle, Margaret Cummings, Patricia DeLorenzo, Esther DeMarco, Marie DiFrank, Patricia Domer, Joe Flacco, Vilma Gambino, Thomas Holmes Sr., Rita Insley, Ben Johnson, Donna Krawchuk, Harry Lavall, Sandy Lepo, Joann Lunsford, Vincent Marchese, Harry Mayer, Francis McCann, Dorothy McPeak, Marie Melchiorre, John Meyer, Mark Newell, Jennifer Osborn, Edith Parrissi, Cassandra Pendtleton, Rita Picciano, Rosemarie Rosolia, Raphael Rubin, William Sauer, Carmella Scrivani, Steven Stepanavage, Mary Terzini, Lillian Tomarchio, Daniel Topper, Adelaide Travia, Margaret Trifaro, Helen Villanueva, John Vindick, Anthony Vocale, Rita Weingard. If you know that someone on the above sick list is no longer in need of prayers, please contact the rectory office at , ext.6 so that we may remove their name. Thank you. Ministry Schedule for December 11/12 (Monthly Schedules are also posted on our website) Saturday, 4:30pm Altar Servers: The Norths, M. Hicks EM s: T. Veneziani, T. Scavuzzo, A. Knight, Sr. Eleanora, M. Nieves Lectors: P. Tryson, L. Heininger Sunday, 9:00am Altar Servers: T. Albert, S. Caban, W. McHugh EM s: S. Marano, L. McHugh, M. Miller, T. Modzier, R. Davis Lectors: The Luthmans Sunday, 10:30am Altar Servers: R. Arroliga, M. Hobbs, H. Atchison EM s: The Tutwilers, W. Delfin, L. D Alessandro, L. Solano Lectors: C. Otto, M. Turan The 2010 Christmas Giving Tree This year we are asking that you take an ornament from the Giving Tree in exchange for a toy. This year s Giving Tree will benefit the children of St. Bart s Church in Camden. The ornaments were made by the 7 th & 8 th graders from our School & CCD program. They are the symbols from the Jesse Tree. These symbols are like a family tree, showing Jesus ancestry. Please wrap these presents and attach a tag noting the information you have gotten from the ornament. The last day for the Giving Tree will be December 17 th. The gifts will be collected on a daily basis. Thank you and God Bless You, Mrs. Higgins & Mrs. Gramlich

3 Page Three This St. Stephen Parish 12/6 Mon 9am Mass, 1pm Bible Study 12/7 Tue 9am Mass, 7pm Vigil/Rosary, 7pm PTA Board, 7:30pm Book Club 12/8 Wed Immaculate Conception 9am Mass, 6:15pm CCD, 7pm Mass 12/9 Thur 9am Mass/Novena, 7pm Finance Council, 7:15pm Choir 12/10 Friday 9am Mass 12/11 Saturday 9am Men s Prayer Group, 3:45pm Confession, 4:30pm Mass 12/12 Sunday 9am Mass, 10:30am Mass Weekly: Every 1pm Monthly: Every First 7pm (Next: Jan. 5) All in the Stonegate Conference Room All ladies in the parish, and friends are welcome. Please contact Eileen Heide at heides@comcast.net or call (856) if you have any questions. Hope to see you there! Art & Environment Ministry Anyone interested in donating flowers for the altar to mark an Anniversary, Christening or Memorial Mass may contact Maria Haas at Anyone who would like to make a donation for a tree to honor a deceased love one or would like to join the A & E Ministry may call Maria at the number above. Tuesday Night Rosary Please join us every Tuesday at 7:00pm in the church in response to Our Lady of Fatima s request to pray the rosary for peace in the world. St. Stephen s Prayer Line The Prayer Line belongs to you. If you need someone to pray for you, you are at the right place. Contact Mary for December requests. Be joyful in hope. Patient in difficulty. Faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 Ministry of Greeting & Hospitality Anyone interested in joining the Ministry of Greeters, those who welcome parishioners and visitors to Mass every Sunday, is asked to call Mary Ann Meloni at Men of St. Stephen s New Time 9am! Please join us for our Men s Scripture/Prayer Group. We now meet every Saturday morning at 9am for one half hour in the Rectory Basement Meeting Room. Info: Joe Fagan Youth Enjoying Service!!! The St. Stephen's Youth Group is here to help our Senior neighbors! If you need assistance with weeding, raking or planting your garden this year, please call on us to help! Leave your name and phone number with Cindy at the Rectory (856) , ext. 6 and we will set up a time to help. Young Adult Ministry News "And they shall name him Emmanuel which means 'God is with us'" Matt 1:23 This Advent, join other young adults (22 35, married & single), in a series that explores the different ways God is with us in our world. All programs (with the exception of the service site) will take place at Christ our Light in Cherry Hill, NJ. Tues, Dec 7th: (7 8:30) God in the poor. Come and hear the reflections by a guest speaker who lived & worked at a Honduran orphanage. Sat, Dec 11th: (9 2:30) God in service to others. Join us in service with St. Joseph's carpenter society in Camden. We'll be working on site at abandoned houses. Tues, Dec 14th: (7 8:30) God in our daily journeys. Where do we go from here? Come to any/all sessions. ~ St. Stephen s C.S. Lewis Book Club! We are reading and discussing the works of this cornerstone Christian author and theologian. No previous experience necessary! Join us every Tuesday at 7:30pm in the Rectory for a discussion of The Screwtape Letters. All are welcome! Any questions, call: Tricia Gardner at Got Scrip? Scrip a gift to St. Stephen s! Thank you to everyone who has been participating in our Scrip Program. Every time you purchase Scrip (gift cards) you are giving to the fund that pays the Stephen School subsidy. If every active parish family bought just ONE gift card each week we could earn $20,000/year! To date our profit of $3500 was earned with just families participating in the program. Imagine what we could do with more participation! Please consider buying Scrip before you buy! Our Nursing Home Ministry Thank you for your support of the residents of Cooper River West with your prayers and donations of religious articles in the box in the church vestibule. Parishioners are needed to join us on Wednesdays from 10am to Noon to bring the residents from their rooms to the Mass/Prayer Service. Eucharistic Ministers are also encouraged to serve at the Nursing Home. Prayerfully consider volunteering for one Wednesday a month. Call or us for more info: Lonnie & Mary Sharon (856) or Monacofamily4@comcast.net Bereavement Committee News The Bereavement Committee is seeking volunteers to help minister to those who ve recently lost loved ones. If you would like to join this special ministry, please call Joy Bowman at (856)

4 Page Four The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary A Holy Day of Obligation Advent & Christmas, 2010 Tuesday, December 7th at 7pm (Vigil) Wednesday, December 8th at 9am and 7pm The Rectory & all Diocesan Offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 8th. Thank You! To the North, Modzier & Black families for lighting the Advent Candles the weekend of Nov. 27/28. Additional Thanks! For the generous response from the St. Stephen Community for the first food collection on Nov. 28 th. This collection will continue at every Mass every Sunday because of the need of food in our area. To prepare for the Lord s coming, people asked John the Baptist what could they do. John replied, Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise. (Luke 3:11). In this spirit, St. Stephen School recently had a coat drive and the Social Justice Ministry will continue the food drive. We give thanks for your response to this call of the Gospel. (We still need volunteers after the 9am & 10:30am Masses to collect the food). Evening of Reflection Dec. 15 th Please plan to join the parish community December 15 th at 7:00PM for an evening of reflection and reconciliation. EMs & Lectors Meeting Dec. 15 th There will be a meeting for all Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers on December 15th at 6:30PM in the church prior to the 7:00 PM Reconciliation Evening of Reflection. Free Holiday Concert! Have Yourself a Musical Holiday Evening Presented by the Collingswood Community Chorus under the direction of Dale Carey. Tuesday December 14 th before 7:28pm Scottish Rite Auditorium For more information call (856) Yes, it is FREE! The Christmas Angel A play presented by actor Gina Smith Sunday, Dec. 5 2pm Reconciliation Evening of Reflection: Wednesday, Dec. 7pm Christmas Eve Vigil Masses: 4pm Children s Mass, 5:30pm & 10pm Christmas Day Masses: 9am & 10:30am Saint Stephen Parish Presents A Christmas Play: THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL Sunday, December 5, 2 PM in the Church A Spiritual Drama in One Act: The Christmas Angel The Christmas Angel is a story about what one of the angels saw that Holy Night. You will hear the story of what went on behind the scenes of Bethlehem s streets and the skies over the Bethlehem s fields. Presenter: Gina Smith, a professional actor Perfect Christmas Play for the Whole Family! Mark Your Calendars!!!!

5 Page Five Parish Pastoral Council Minutes November 17, 2010 Members Present: Fr. Rocco, Joey Scavuzzo, Chris Hearn, Joe Haas, Deacon Anthony Cioe, Jack Mattera (School Board), Katy Fagan, Rich Cesta, and Terry Modzier,. Ex Officio members Present: Sr. Bernadette Leahy SSJ, Sr. Ruthann O'Mara, SSJ Opening prayer by Fr. Rocco Meeting called to order at 7:05 pm Minutes from October 20, 2010 read and approved by Council members. Old Business: Financial Report Routine report review from meeting of 11/11/10. Costs are being reduced where ever possible through out the parish. Pot Luck Dinner The event on Saturday 10/23/10 was an overwhelming success. The amount of food contributed was very generous and so delicious! Thank you to everyone who participated in this sharing meal for our parish. New Business: Ministry Organizational Chart remains in the process of reorganization. Clarifications of Councils, Boards, and Ministries will assist in the understanding of "chain of command" and responsibilities. Council: official body of lawmakers; Board: a group or association of persons organized for a special responsibility (as the management of a business or institution); Ministry: the office, duties, or functions of a minister; the period of service or office. Once the chart is completed, and approved by Fr. Rocco, it will be published in the bulletin. Commemorating Mr. Gilbride There will be a mass commemorating Mr. Gilbride, and the dedication of the stained glass panel in the vestibule of the church. The Gilbride family will be contacted to coordinate the date. Once obtained, the details will be shared with the parish. Stonegate II As reported in the Finance Council minutes, various aspects of the project are being reviewed. Fr. Rocco will make the decision on whether to move forward with this project at this time. Parish Pastoral Council The charter will be reviewed to clarify the terms of office for the Council members. With the addition of two new members, there is still a need for one to two additional members. Fr. Rocco and the Council are anticipating the final decision from parishioners that have been contacted for membership. Holiday giving Tree This annual project will be under the management of the Life Formation Board, and as such the 7th and 8th grade students, along with a group of CCD students, will be working on this as a "Service Project". Details to follow. PTA Project As reported by Jack Mattera, from the School Board, the PTA is interested in initiating a "Bricks" project as a fund raiser. The majority of Council members approve the concept, with the understanding that additional details are required before the final approval is determined by Council. Recognizing and Honoring Volunteers The details will be discussed at the next PPC meeting. Council anticipates initiating this program in the early part of Meeting 9:00 pm. Closing prayer by Fr. Rocco Next PPC meeting: Thursday December 16, 2010 in Rectory Basement Meeting Room. Respectfully submitted, Terry Modzier