St. Stephen Catholic church 2491 James River Turnpike, Ona, WV 25545 (304) 743-3234 Reverend Paul Yuenger WEB SITE: www.ststephens1.com E MAIL: ststephens@suddenlinkmail.com OUR MISSION STATEMENT St Stephen Catholic Church, as a family of believers, is committed to pray, to teach, to study and to share our gifts and talent with those whose lives we touch daily. The mission of our Parish is to proclaim the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to build a loving, caring community. MASS SCHEDULE Tuesday 7:30 A.M. Friday 7:30 A.M. Sunday 11:30 A.M. CONFESSION Thursday 5:00-6:00 P.M. THE MOST HOLY TRINITY May 22, 2016 PARISH COMMITTEE & GROUP CHAIRS Pastoral Council....... Chris Martin Finance Council....... Eucharist....... Clara Schulte Liturgy... Jean Valdes Liturgy... Sister Mary Grace Barile RCIA............ David Warner Christian Service...... Co-chairperson... Beckie Mohn Faith Outreach... Patrick Grace Music Director... Marieanne Cordle Education Director... Christine Anderson C.W.I.T.... Marge Carpenter WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS If you would like to become member of our parish, please remove this portion of the page and fill out the following information. You may place it in the collection basket, mail it, or bring it to the parish office M F between 8:30 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. WELCOME! Mass for Rex and Martha Newby OFFICE HOURS 8:30 A.M. 2:30 P.M. Monday through Friday OFFICE STAFF Carol Nowak Date: E Mail: Name: Address: Home Phone: Cell:
MUSIC GATHERING Holy, Holy, Holy 209 PSALM 8 O Lord our God, how wonderful Your name in all the earth! Pg. 175 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Pg. 175 PREPARATION Abba! Father 536 COMMUNION Celtic Communion Choir All My Days 592 SENDING FORTH All Praise and Glad Thanksgiving 712 CONTRIBUTIONS PARISH SCHEDULES Envelopes Loose May 15, 2016 $ 1408.00 $ 300.50 Social Concerns $ 60.00 Maintenance $ 30.00 Peter s Pence $ 97.00 Total $ 1895.50 May 22, 2016 HOST Alan & Charlene Hawkins CROSS BEARER Jim Adkins READERS Andy Footo, Martha Newby ALTAR SERVERS COMMUNION Bunny Boone, Mary Raines, Stacey Fischer, Nico Orsini, Cindy Gonsowski KITCHEN HOSPITALITY Carl & Kris Decker DOUGHNUT PICKUP Marge & Dale Carpenter COLLECTION COUNTERS Bruce Boone, Rick Sang WATER PLANTS John & Joyce Moore May 29, 2016 HOST John and Joyce Moore CROSS BEARER Volunteer needed READERS Bil Neal, Joyce Moore ALTAR SERVERS COMMUNION George Gonsowski, Martha Newby, Mary Crytzer, Beckie Mohn, Chris Adkins KITCHEN HOSPITALITY Angie & Kristen Footo DOUGHNUT PICKUP Richard Sang COLLECTION COUNTERS Chris Martin, Beckie Mohn WATER PLANTS Beckie Mohn A Family Perspective by Bud Ozar The words of Jesus in today s gospel, I have many things to say to you, but you cannot hear them now. could have been said by any parent. It can be frustrating because our desire to guide is often misinterpreted or poorly received. We cannot program our children. We can only teach, lead and trust the Spirit of truth will guide them.
CALENDAR SUNDAY, May 22 Adult Catechesis 11:00-11:15 A.M. Mass 11:30 A.M. Rex and Martha Newby MONDAY, May 23 TUESDAY, May 24 Mass 7:30 A.M. Linda and Edwin Ore AA 8:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY, May 25 St. Bede the Venerable, St. Gregory VII, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi THURSDAY, May 26 Confessions 5:00-6:00 P.M. St. Philip Neri FRIDAY, May 27 Mass 7:30 A.M. Chris Martin St. Augustine of Canterbury SATURDAY, May 28 Blessed Virgin Mary SUNDAY, May 29 Mass 11:30 A.M. Nicola and Vickie Orsini Please keep in your Prayers Chris Martin Audrey Cheke Tom Ferris Jim Rudersdorg Splendid Sites and Shrines of Spain and Portugal Including Lourdes with Fr. Godwin Olugeami and Fr. Paul Yuenger (12 days) Nov.7 to Nov.18,2016 All Inclusive Trip Cost $3,295.00 For more info. contact: Susan Prendergast at Select International Tours 800-842-4842 If you would like to add a friend or loved one to our prayer list, the PRAYER BOOK can be found on the round table in the lobby. susan@select-intl.com selectinternationaltours.com St. Stephen has available Masses for your intentions. Envelopes can be found in the lobby. Just fill out the information and drop envelope in the collection basket or turn it into the office. May 29, 2016 The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ MISSIONARY COOPERATIVE The Benedictine Fathers of Saint Vincent Archabbey Latrobe, Pa. will be with us this year asking for our prayers and alms for their missions in Brazil and Taiwan and for the many foreign Seminarians who study at St. Vincent preparing to expand the mission endeavors of all of their home countries. Please be generous and help them reach out to the world. This way you can become part of their mission of mercy and salvation. The visit will be next Sunday, May 29, 2016. READING I Genesis 14:18-20 READING II 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 GOSPEL Luke 9:11b-17 Page 3
Ask the Pastor Why do we celebrate the Ascension on Sunday when the Vatican and other diocese celebrate it on Thursday? There are several parts to the answer. In the United States several provinces of dioceses celebrate Ascension on Thursday which is exactly 40 days after Easter. Other provinces of dioceses have transferred the celebration to what might be called the 7 th Sunday of Easter. Part of the reason for the discrepancy is the understanding of what Scripture means when it uses the number 40. For many years, people took the number to be a literal number of days or years. Many scholars today would argue that the 40 does not represent a specific number of days or years but an extended period of time. For example, 40 days would mean longer than a single lunar cycle, which is the month used by the Hebrews calendar. Thus whether the number of days is 40 or 43 some argue it is close enough. Another rational for moving the feast to Sunday is that in the US culture Holy Days have increasingly been ignored by the Catholic population. Thus the moving of the celebration to Sunday could be seen as a capitulation to the realities of our culture and doing so allows people to celebrate this feast. Peace and Love Fr. Paul 46th Ecumenical Scripture Workshop The Diocesan Religious Unity Office announces the 46th Ecumenical Scripture Workshop, to be held at John XXIII Pastoral Center June 20-24. Registration information is available in our parish, or by contacting the Office of Religious Unity at the diocesan offices (304) 925-2864. The brochure can be found on the announcement board in the vestibule. Topic: EVIL Human and Otherwise! Please prayerfully consider donating to our local food pantry, E.C.C.H.O. Pantry items needed: Peanut Butter and Jelly, Crackers... Granola bars, fruit cups, pudding cups, applesauce, easy mac and cheese, fruit snacks, instant oatmeal, breakfast bars, microwavable pasta or soup, raisins, pretzels, popcorn. Items can be placed in the hallway coat closet. If you know of someone that is home-bound please contact the parish office so we can send them the weekly bulletin and Fr. Paul can pay them a visit. PENTECOST PROMISE 2016-2017 If you forgot to return your ministry sheet last week, please mail it or put it in the office mail slot ASAP. Your ministry for St. Stephen Parish is greatly appreciated! Catholic Sharing Appeal 2016 Each Spring, the Catholic Sharing Appeal unites us in our common mission as disciples offering us an opportunity to support our neighbors and Church throughout WV in a tangible manner. I would like to ask all of you to consider making a gift to the 2016 CSA. For more information on this important diocesan appeal, please visit www.dwc.org/csa
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Cycle C In the first reading from Proverbs we hear a personification of Wisdom, often referred to as the Holy Spirit. Present before the worlds were created. In the second reading we hear that the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us In the Gospel Jesus says, Everything that the Father has is mine. In this he is equating himself to the Father. The Trinity is not explicit in the Scriptures but it is clearly there in the readings when properly understood. When we think of God do we think in Trinitarian terms? When we pray to God do we have a particular person of the trinity we think of? Do we pray only to the Father? Do we pray only to the Son? How often do we pray to the Holy Spirit? Jesus said to baptize people in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. At the climax of the mass when the cup and paten are elevated prior to the great Amen we pray through him, with him and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours Almighty Father. We clearly have a Trinitarian faith, let us appreciate this revelation provided to us by Scriptures, even if it is difficult to understand and articulate. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Cycle C In the first reading we hear that, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, for the blessing of Abram. As Christians we see this as a forerunner of the Eucharistic celebration. Paul in the second reading confirms the importance of the real presence of Christ. While some say this is merely figurative or that the mass didn t exist until centuries later, it is clear Paul takes this to be quite literal and of significance. In the Gospel we have Jesus feeding the multitude, Jesus continues to feed us with his Body and Blood each week. I remember when speaking of the real presence one person telling me it isn t possible for Jesus to do that. I said if Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, as we professed last week, are you telling me that God cannot do whatever God chooses to do? The Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is among the earliest teachings of the church and is affirmed today still by the Orthodox and Catholics alike. Some protestant churches even use the similar language even though they do not adhere to the same understanding. Jesus gave himself on the cross and continues to reach out and nourish his disciples with an abundance of grace through the Eucharist. Offering Envelopes Please clearly print your name and the amount of your contribution on your envelope to ensure you are given the proper credit. Thank you! Just a friendly Reminder: When leaving Mass please try to pick up any trash or bulletins left in chairs. We must remember this is God s house and a place of worship that must be kept clean. Thank you! Bulletin Deadline Please turn in your information by Friday, one week in advance, at 8 A.M.
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