March 17, 2023
This Sunday's Gospel
Fr Ed invites us to prepare for Sunday Mass by reading and reflecting upon the upcoming Gospel. Click the image for the Sunday readings from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. There you will also find an audio version, video reflection, Spanish version and a way to receive daily readings in your email.
Please RSVP at https://sstm.breezechms.com/form/f667b067298839
Special Event for Confirmed Teens
“Feed the Fire” is a two-night event for Confirmed High School Teens! Our second evening is on March 19th from 6:30-8:30PM in the SSTM social hall. Come join us for food, fellowship, and fun! Teens are welcome to bring a friend! (*All Teens attending must be Confirmed Catholics)
Give Up a Saturday for Lent - March 25
8:30 AM - 2:30 PM (Includes 8:30 AM Mass) Join us in sprucing up our campus in preparation for Easter! Let our transformed campus reflect the transformation of our souls this Lent! Come for a few hours or all day. Meet in the Social Hall. Questions? Email Mike Pitardi at mikepitardi@gmail.com or call Kim at 253-631-1940 ext 129. Important details include: Optional Mass at 8:30 AM! Pray together, then work together! We have both indoor and outdoor projects. Please bring your labeled yard tools (especially wheelbarrows). Free lunch provided! Sign-up by clicking the image above or fill out one of the cards found in the pews.
The Importance of Divine Mercy
Jesus said to St. Faustina “Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy.”(Diary of St. Faustina 301)
Jesus wants us to know how to access His infinite mercy for ourselves, our loved ones, and for the whole world. Look for Tuesday afternoon emails from the parish on how to pray for and receive Divine Mercy according to Jesus’ communications to St. Faustina. You can link to this week’s message about the origin and meaning of the Divine Mercy Image by clicking on the picture.
Teaching Mass with Fr Ed
This month, Fr Ed focuses on the Liturgy of the Word. Click the image above for the video of his teaching.
Jericho Walk Saturday, April 1st, 12:00 Noon
Help us surround the Cedar River Clinic block with silent Christian Prayer.
We will begin with prayer, walk seven times around the block, and end with a prayer and the blowing of horns. Meet across the street from Cedar River Clinic near the Taco Time. Be sure not to take up prime parking spots for their customers. For More Information, Contact: Mary Kasprzyk 19jmj54@comcast.net, (253) 217-6817.
We will begin with prayer, walk seven times around the block, and end with a prayer and the blowing of horns. Meet across the street from Cedar River Clinic near the Taco Time. Be sure not to take up prime parking spots for their customers. For More Information, Contact: Mary Kasprzyk 19jmj54@comcast.net, (253) 217-6817.
An Important Note from Fr. Tom Vandenberg
Many of you will not know me, but I feel close to you the people of St. Stephan the Martyr Parish because I frequently assisted Fr. Ed a few years back. What I share today does not give me joy, but
I want you to know that I have been diagnosed with a stage 4 small cell carcinoma. I would not have known had not something suspicious been detected
when I had a Cat-scan to find a kidney stone. After a biopsy, a Pet-scan revealed the cancer had spread
to my bones. An MRI showed it had not gone to my brain. (This didn’t surprise me as no one had ever found anything there before). I am half way through my chemo treatments and am doing well. One negative side effect is that this compromises my immune system, so I need to avoid large crowds and be more careful around people. All I ask of you is your prayer that I remain strong in faith, hope and love during this time, and that you love the people in your life that need your love. Knowing you are doing that will give true joy to my heart.
With my love,
Father Tom
I want you to know that I have been diagnosed with a stage 4 small cell carcinoma. I would not have known had not something suspicious been detected
when I had a Cat-scan to find a kidney stone. After a biopsy, a Pet-scan revealed the cancer had spread
to my bones. An MRI showed it had not gone to my brain. (This didn’t surprise me as no one had ever found anything there before). I am half way through my chemo treatments and am doing well. One negative side effect is that this compromises my immune system, so I need to avoid large crowds and be more careful around people. All I ask of you is your prayer that I remain strong in faith, hope and love during this time, and that you love the people in your life that need your love. Knowing you are doing that will give true joy to my heart.
With my love,
Father Tom
Friday Fish Fry and Stations of the Cross
Join us for the Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Fry on Fridays during Lent at 5:15 PM in the social hall, and Stations of the Cross in the church at 7:00 PM with contemplative music at 6:45 PM.
Daytime Stations of the Cross on Tuesdays
All ages are invited to join in praying the Stations of the Cross at 11:45 AM on Tuesdays during Lent in the church.
Videos and Materials from our Parish Mission with Fr James Blount Available Online
Click the image above to access recorded livestreams of the Mass and conferences from the Parish Mission. Downloadable PDF are available as well.
Food Bank/Pantry
The Food Pantry served 50 families last week with your generous donations. The Pantry could use peanut butter, canned meats, and pancake mix donations. Our client numbers are increasing as anticipated due to budget cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Program nationwide, and we registered 8 new families last week alone. Thank you for being so supportive!
Grief Ministry
If you are grieving the death of a loved one, come find strength and compassion with the St. Stephen’s Virtual Grief Support Group this Sunday, March 19th from 1:00-2:30 PM. Our topic will be “Pain, Pain Go Away.” For more information and to register, please contact Sharon Rasmussen at srasmussen910@yahoo.com. “God comforts us in all our troubles so that we will be able to comfort others.” 2 Corinthians 1, 4
Young Catholic Professionals Launch
The newly established Seattle chapter of Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) invites young adults to get involved in our ministry focused on Working in Witness for Christ in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Join us as we celebrate this momentous occasion. All Catholic professionals young and “young at heart” are invited to join us at 7:00pm on March 25th at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Seattle. RSVP requested. Follow us @ycpseattle on Facebook and Instagram for more details. Learn more about YCP at www.youngcatholicprofessionals.org
Early Palm Sunday and Easter Bulletin Deadlines
Attention Bulletin contributors: please submit your content by Thursday, March 23rd for the Palm Sunday (April 2nd) edition, and by Thursday, March 30th for the Easter Sunday (April 9th) edition. Thanks!
Fire Alarm Testing!
Testing of the fire alarm/sprinkler system is scheduled for Wednesday, March 29 from 7:30 am until 3:00 pm. This will involve the noise of the alarm, so please keep this in mind when scheduling meetings, etc. on this day.
A Simple Plan for Lent: KISS and the 1-1-1 Plan
This plan by Father James Shafer, uses an acronym to help you stay focused during Lent: Keep • It • Simple • Sinner. The best Lent is one in which we enter the season wholeheartedly. All too often, people either take on too much or don’t take on enough. The solution is to simplify our disciplines, focus our intentions and concentrate more clearly on our spiritual goals. To keep it simple this Lent, try the 1+1+1 Plan: One sin, One add-in, One give-up. To learn how it works, visit https://www.simplycatholic.com/a-simple-plan-for-lent-kiss-and-the-1-1-1-plan/
Partners In the Gospel Update
As announced in January, the Archdiocese is going through a pastoral planning process that will involve all parishes in a dialogue and discernment of how best to fulfill our mission as Catholic Christians. Partners in Gospel is a strategic pastoral planning effort taking place across the Archdiocese of Seattle to re-invigorate and renew our local Catholic Church. Today we face many realities that impact parish life and make it difficult to fully live out our mission. This archdiocesan-wide renewal effort, led by the Holy Spirit and grounded in prayer, will help us better support vibrant, sustainable, mission-focused parish communities across the entire Archdiocese of Seattle. To learn more about Partners in the Gospel, please visit archseattle.org/Partners or ststephenslife.com/partners-in-the-gospel
St Stephen's is Livestreaming on Vimeo!
Our livestream broadcasts have been upgraded with the addition of the video hosting service, Vimeo. Click the image or visit https://www.ststephenslife.com/holy-mass-live-stream where you can enjoy Mass and devotions live, within a media player right on our parish website (yes, you can expand to full screen). Want to watch yesterday's Mass? In our new Vimeo player the liturgy won't be interrupted with commercials! Still a big Facebook or YouTube fan? No worries; our liturgies will continue to be simulcast to those platforms as well.
Want to Learn More?
Click the image on the left to see our weekly bulletins