SAINT STEPHEN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

Transcription

1 April 22, 2018 World Day of Prayer for Vocations SAINT STEPHEN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY We re Moved by the Spirit 1441 West Oakwood Road Oak Creek, WI Pastoral Office: Phone: (414) Hours: M,T, W, Th: 9:00A- 3:30P Closed on Friday Pastor: Rev. Robert Kacalo x222 Deacon: Stan Lowe Director of Liturgy and Music: Lynda Trani x263 Director of Family Life Center: Parish Secretary: Jennifer Moscatello Maintenance Supervisor: Joe Kosobucki Mass Schedule: Tuesday - Friday 8:00 am Saturday 4:30 pm Sunday 8:30 am & 10:30 am Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30 pm or by appointment Baptism Parish membership is required. Baptismal preparation for parents and sponsors is held the second Sunday of each month. Preregistration is required. Baptisms are held once each month. Contact the Parish Office for more information. Marriage Parish membership is required. Arrangements need to be made a minimum of six months prior to the wedding date. Please contact Fr. Robert for more information. Anointing of the Sick Please contact the Parish Office Be sure to visit and Like our Facebook Page: St. Stephen s Catholic Church Come Join Us! We would love to officially welcome you into our family. Registration packets are available at the information center.

2 P A R I S H N E W S March Special Collections Summary Wk Project Amt. 4 Women s Resources 11 Open Door Cafe 18 Burn the Mortgage 25 Palm Sunday UPCOMING PREP SCHEDULE Wednesday, April 25 6:05-7:35 pm 4-8 Wednesday, May 2 6:05-7:35 pm K-3 (Last Class) Wednesday, May 9 6:05-7:35 pm 4-8 (Last Class) Saturday, May 12 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Confirmation Candidate Retreat St. Stephen $210 $282 $221 $156 ARE YOU OR SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW IN NEED OF PRAYERS? The Prayer Network Ministry consists of parishioners who offer part of their prayer time to pray on the behalf of the parish and individuals. Prayer intentions can be made known by calling St. Stephen Parish Office at or ludziela@wi.rr.com. Catholic Stewardship Appeal Thus far we have received gifts in the amount of $11,965 toward our goal of $25,000 for the Catholic Stewardship Appeal. 101 parishioners have made a gift to date. Please remember that we all have a responsibility to support the Appeal. It s not the size of the gift that matters but the amount of love that it is given with. May the Holy Spirit guide you in determining your sacrificial gift for this year s Appeal. March Financials March YTD Stewardship Income $38,825 $331,467 Less Expenses $35,099 $294,154 Surplus/Deficit $3,726 $37,212 Mortgage Income $10,008 $101,942 Actual Payment $14,246 $113,968 Surplus/Deficit $4,237 -$12,026 Parish Council Member Elections Each Spring the parish is called to pray, reflect and identify parish council members. The role of council is to fulfill the pastoral Mission of Jesus and church, advise the pastor, and build a community of disciples who recognize their baptismal lives of holiness. Parish Council meetings take place once a month and last about an hour long. Nominations will take place the weekend of May 19/20 and elections will be held the weekend of June 2/3. Save the Date! Rose Sale Sponsored by Human Concerns Saturday & Sunday Mary 12-13th Mother s Day Weekend All proceeds will go to the Milwaukee Chapter of WI Right to Life Summer Time Notice Reminder St. Stephens Blood Drive is Thursday June 28, :00pm-7:00pm Please call Be.A.Hero to schedule an appointment or Versiti.org (this is the Blood Center of Wisconsin s new Website). Help Save Lives! New Opportunity If anyone would like to begin a New Chapter of St. Stephens Health Ministry Committee please contact the Parish Office.

3 W H A T S H A P P E N I N G Thank you to Ted and Kathy Bosch in their final year of chairing our parish fish fries. Many thanks! Thank you also to the many volunteers who donated their time, hard work, and dedication to making the fish fry a success. Delicious food was enjoyed by many and friendly service was provided to all. Looking forward to next year! We will be seeking one or two individuals or team to coordinate next years event. If you are visiting us today, we would like to extend a warm welcome not only as our guests, but as Guests of God. We are so glad you joined us and hope that you leave us today with the peace of God inside you. Be sure to visit and Like our Facebook Page: St. Stephen s Catholic Church! Stay up to date with events and view photos of past events. Pope Francis has announced that the 2018 World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be celebrated on Sunday, April 22. This year marks the 55 th Anniversary. The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publically fulfill the Lord s instruction to: Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). This day we concentrate our attention not only on vocation to the ordained ministries, but also to religious life in all its forms, to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes of service, to missionary life, and the mission of the people. On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, pray for a flourishing of all vocations in the Church, that God will bless the Church with an abundance of holy priests, religious sisters, brothers, deacons and holy marriages. Keep also in your prayers all Catholics struggling to discern their vocationsespecially for young people to trust in God s faithfulness to them as they search for a deeper meaning in life. Parents, teachers and youth ministers should encourage children and teens to respond to God s call. We are all called to a life of holiness through our baptism. Let us continue to journey in faith, encourage others to discern their calling, and affirm their devotion. Readings for the Week of April 22, 2018 Sunday: ACTS 4:8-12, 1 JN 3:1-2, JN 10:11-18 Monday: ACTS 11:1-18, PS 42:2-3; 43:3, 4, JN 10:1-10 Tuesday: ACTS 11:19-26, JN 10:22-30 Wednesday: 1 PT 5:5B-14, MK 16:15-20 Thursday: ACTS 13:13-25, JN 13:16-20 Friday: ACTS 13:26-33, JN 14:1-6 Saturday: ACTS 13:44-52, JN 14:7-14 Next Sunday: ACTS 9:26-31, 1 JN 3:18-24, JN 15:1-8

4 Mass Intentions Tuesday, April 24 8:00 am Michael Siettman Wednesday, April 25 8:00 am Sr. Germaine Lichtle, CSA Thursday, April 26 8:00 am Sr. Mary Neff, CSA Friday, April 27 8:00 am Paul & Audrey Skornia Saturday, April 28 4:30 pm In Remembrance of Anna Janicek Sunday, April 29 8:30 am For the People 10:30 am Norman & Marcella Lampe Sunday Funny Many folks want to serve God, But only as advisers. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Monday, April 23 Nothing Scheduled at this time Tuesday, April 24 10:00 am Food Pantry & Clothing Bank (FLC) 6:00 pm Building & Grounds Mtg. (MR) Wednesday, April 25 6:05 pm PREP - 4-8; 1st Communion Rehearsal (Church) Thursday, April 26 10:00 am Food Pantry & Clothing Bank (FLC) 6:00 pm Choir Rehearsal (Church) Friday, April 27 Nothing Scheduled at this time Saturday, April 28 4:30 pm mass 1st Holy Communion After mass Strawberry Pre-Sale & Mother s Day Flowers Sunday, April 29 9:30 am Patriotic Rosary by Knights of Columbus (church) 10:30 am mass 1st Holy Communion Before & after all masses Strawberry Pre-Sale & Mother s Day Flowers

5 Fourth Sunday of Easter World Day of Prayer for Vocations April 22, 2018 The fourth Sunday of Easter is also called Good Shepherd Sunday. Unless we consider this chapter in the greater context of John s Gospel, we will miss the radical nature of the statement Jesus makes when he declares himself to be the Good Shepherd. In the portion of the chapter that we hear proclaimed today, Jesus describes his relationship with his followers as similar to the relationship between a good shepherd and his sheep. As a good shepherd will risk and lay down his life in order to protect his sheep, Jesus willingly sacrifices himself for the sake of his sheep. Jesus contrasts the actions of the good shepherd with the actions of the hired shepherd who abandons the sheep in the face of danger. In the verses following Jesus' teaching, we learn that the Pharisees and the other religious leaders understand that Jesus is referring to them when he describes the hired shepherds. The concern of a good shepherd for his sheep is part of the shepherd s job. Jesus says, however, that the actions of the good shepherd are based upon the relationship that develops between the shepherd and the sheep. This is at the heart of the difference between the good shepherd and the hired shepherd. The good shepherd knows the sheep and therefore acts out of love. For the Good Shepherd, this is never simply part of a job; this love-in-action is integral to his identity. As the sheep are known by the Good Shepherd, the Father knows Jesus and Jesus knows the Father. There is an essential unity between the Father and the Son. The freedom with which Jesus acts when he lays down his life is rooted in the unity that he shares with his Father. In this context, Jesus also refers to others with whom he shares a relationship. By this reference, John probably understands the eventual inclusion of the Gentiles in the Christian community. Our modern ears hear this as a reference to Christian unity. The work of ecumenism is to restore unity among all Christians so that we form one flock under one shepherd, as God desires.

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