May 26, 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 US Catholic Bishops. There you will also find an audio version, video reflection, Spanish version and a way to receive daily readings in your email.
Women's Retreat Saturday, June 3,
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM - Registration Deadline May 30!
Topic: Abide in My Love: We invite you for a day of Refreshment and Renewal as we reflect and rejoice in how to remain in Jesus’ Love and Joy! Spend time in fellowship, discussion, and prayer as you:
○ Reflect on how to Abide in the Love and Joy of Christ, as the Vine, and We as the Branches! (John 15: 4-7 & 9-11).
○ Reflect on how to Abide in the Love and Joy of Christ, as the Vine, and We as the Branches! (John 15: 4-7 & 9-11).
○ Rejoice how we as Disciples are pressed down through suffering, but ultimately, the fruits of that, can be turned into the Wine of the Kingdom! (John 2: 1-12).
Our featured speaker is Dr. Sarah Bartel, a moral theologian, co-host of Enduring Love Radio on Sacred Heart Radio, and co-editor of A Catechism for Family Life. Sarah and her husband Nathan are the founders of www.canafeast.com, supporting online Catholic marriage enrichment.
All are encouraged to attend 8:30 am Mass in the Church. Check-in will take place at 9:15 in the Social Hall. Registration Fee: $35 - Includes light breakfast, lunch, snacks and materials.
To Register online with a card, go click the image above or by check see paper forms in the Church Narthex.
Our featured speaker is Dr. Sarah Bartel, a moral theologian, co-host of Enduring Love Radio on Sacred Heart Radio, and co-editor of A Catechism for Family Life. Sarah and her husband Nathan are the founders of www.canafeast.com, supporting online Catholic marriage enrichment.
All are encouraged to attend 8:30 am Mass in the Church. Check-in will take place at 9:15 in the Social Hall. Registration Fee: $35 - Includes light breakfast, lunch, snacks and materials.
To Register online with a card, go click the image above or by check see paper forms in the Church Narthex.
This Sunday's Live-stream Mass will be the 5:00 PM Confirmation celebration.
Pray for the Holy Spirit!
The powerful gifts of the Holy Spirit bring supernatural life to the church and to each one of us who prays for His coming. Fr. Ed invites you to join the whole parish in praying a novena to the Holy Spirit for the following prayer intentions: our youth, our Confirmandi, the renewal of our parish, the Seattle Archdiocese Partners in the Gospel initiative, your personal reception of the 7 holy gifts. You can find the novena here: Novena Holy Spirit 2023.pdf (ecatholic.com)
Invitation to Confirmation
Every baptized person has access to the Holy Spirit, even more so those who are Confirmed in the Holy Spirit. Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate and support our youth and adult Confirmandi at the Confirmation Mass with Bishop Elizondo on Sunday, May 28that 5 PM. This is also a great time to pray for a personal renewal of the Holy Spirit in your own life.
Pentecost at St Stephen's
Please help us with our Pentecost Celebration at St. Stephen’s. Sign up here https://ststephens.flocknote.com/signup/123221 Thank you!
Memorial Day Closure
The buildings will be closed for the Memorial Day Holiday. Adoration will be the normal schedule with entry via the side chapel door using the code. The church will open at 5:30pm and then be closed approximately 30 minutes after the 6:30pm Mass.
Temporary Livestream Schedule Change
Please note that the regular Sunday livestream broadcast time will be changed this Sunday, May 28th from the 8:30am Mass to the 5:00pm Pentecost, Confirmation Mass. Next weekend, the livestream time will be moved from the Sunday, 8:30am Mass to the 5:00pm Vigil Mass on Saturday, July 3rd. The schedule will return to regular time on Sunday, June 11th at 8:30am.
Position Opening: Pastoral Assistant for Sacramental Preparation for Baptism and Marriage
St. Stephen’s is recruiting for a 20-hour/week staff member to welcome families and new couples into the sacraments of Baptism and Marriage. They will guide parishioners through preparation, paperwork, and reception of the sacraments. This work requires communicating with authority, clarity, and empathy; administering processes with efficiency and professionalism; and developing and leading accountable volunteers. This person will need to implement parish and canonical policies in a spirit of hospitality and evangelism. For the right candidate, their love of our Lord, faith, and church will be evident. They will value our collegial working environment, spirit-led leadership, and the call to work as a part of a community of disciples, called on a mission to bring the transforming light of Christ to others. Salaried position, 20 hours weekly. Range: $21,320-22,360. Benefits include paid vacation and sick leave. No medical or dental benefits. If you are interested in exploring this position, contact Anne Merklin at amerklin@ststephenslife.com or or 253-480-7108 ext. 126.
Knights of Columbus Faith in Action Dinner
Saturday June 17, 6:30 to 9:30 PM
Knights of Columbus Council 13374 cordially invites you to a “Faith in Action” Dinner. Net proceeds will support council’s “Faith in Action” programs including Coats for Kids, Global Wheelchair Mission, Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP), and Terrific Tuesday Meals. This year’s dinner features the Honduras Mission Building Fund. Knights will be selling tickets after all weekend Masses. The dinner is a great way to celebrate Father’s Day a little early (the dinner is the evening before Father’s Day) Location: Social Hall Serving: Roast Pork Tenderloin and Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Cost: $25.00 each or $40 per couple, Children 11 & Under: $15.00
Knights of Columbus Council 13374 cordially invites you to a “Faith in Action” Dinner. Net proceeds will support council’s “Faith in Action” programs including Coats for Kids, Global Wheelchair Mission, Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP), and Terrific Tuesday Meals. This year’s dinner features the Honduras Mission Building Fund. Knights will be selling tickets after all weekend Masses. The dinner is a great way to celebrate Father’s Day a little early (the dinner is the evening before Father’s Day) Location: Social Hall Serving: Roast Pork Tenderloin and Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Cost: $25.00 each or $40 per couple, Children 11 & Under: $15.00
Annual Catholic Appeal Update
Thank you to all who continue to give generously to the Annual Catholic Appeal as well as through your prayers and participation in ministry and mission of St. Stephen the Martyr your Annual Appeal gift online. We know Your efforts make so many things possible for our parish and the wider church throughout Western Washington. We want to ask you this year to please consider giving many of you are still comfortable writing a check or inserting cash in the envelope for us to send to the Archdiocese and we greatly appreciate your generosity and consistency over many years. As we strive to make giving to the Annual Appeal more secure, safer, faster, and efficient for our staff, we want you to consider making your gift online at www.archseattle.org/GiveACA
Youth: Steubenville NW Registration Open
All teens between 9-12th grade (including those entering 9th grade this coming fall) are invited to the Steubenville NW Conference in Spokane (July 14-16, 2023). The theme for this year’s conference is Refuge. The conference is an amazing opportunity for our youth to deepen their Catholic faith. The absolute last day to register is Friday, June 9th! Contact Shannon (SBattles@ststephenslife.com) or Michael (mjoseph@ststephenslife.com) for registration and information.
Upcoming Funerals
1.Funeral for Sheila Martin will be Thursday June 1st at 10:00. (Please note time). Viewing at 9:00. Reception following funeral. 8:30 Mass will be canceled that morning.
2. Funeral for Joy Egbejimba will be Saturday June 3rd at 11:00. No reception. Rosary will be Friday night June 2nd at 6:00p in the chapel.
Safe Environment at St Stephen the Martyr
The Safe Environment Team is updating our volunteer records. We ask volunteers who work with minors or vulnerable adults to take a one-time class. Every three years a new background check and short online training is required. Please take a moment to log into www.virtusonline.org to see if you need to update your file. Any updates need to be completed by May 26. Thank you very much.
If you need to take a class, or just want to learn more about how to keep our children safer, please join us on Tuesday, May 30 at 6:30 pm. Please register at www.virtusonline.org for more information contact Beth Nieva at bnieva@ststephenslife.com
Northwest Pro-Life Conference
You’re invited to the Northwest Pro-Life Conference! On June 24, 2023, life affirming organizations from around the northwest are coming together to host the first annual Northwest Pro-Life Conference. Not only will we be celebrating the anniversary of the Dobbs V Jackson Supreme Court case and the fall of abortion nationwide, but also taking the next step in making abortion unthinkable and unavailable right here in the northwest! The Northwest Pro-Life Conference will prepare attendees to encounter women facing unplanned pregnancies, defend their pro-life position, lobby our legislators, and more! With speakers from organizations like Students for Life of America, Human Life of Washington, Abortion Survivors Network, and Human Life Alliance you will gain the tools and make the connections to find out how you fit into this monumental time. Join us this summer to become a champion for life!
Register at www.nwprolifeconference.org.
Register at www.nwprolifeconference.org.
You Are Welcome
to come and adore Jesus.
To learn more click the image and visit https://ststephenslife.com/eucharistic-adoration
Support World Youth Day Pilgrims
We appreciate your prayers and support as they discern how God is calling them. If you would like to help defray the cost of travel for some poor college students you can drop off a donation in the office (marked for WYD 2023) or make an online deposit here. Thank you! https://ststephenslife.com/young-adult-world-youth-day-pilgrimage
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
At all Masses last weekend Fr. Ed taught about the heart and summit of the Mass – The Eucharistic Prayer – the New Covenant between God and his people during which the Real Presence of Jesus comes to us in the Holy Eucharist. You can find a summary of last weekend’s teaching here: Eucharistic Prayer
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?
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