St. Stephen Church News and Events

Baptisms:

Sick:

Deceased:

Cancellation of Wednesday Evening Mass: The Wednesday evening Mass is cancelled until further notice. The morning Mass will be held as usual.

Please Note: The Parish Center will be closed on December 31st, January 1st and January 2nd.

Bad Weather Conditions: If the schools in Harford County are closed or delayed due to bad weather, our morning Mass on WEEKDAYS will be cancelled.

Reminder to Parents: Should you have to leave the church with your child, the sound system in the church basement will allow you to listen to the Mass while tending to your child. An usher can show you the way to the church basement.

Welcome New Parishioners: Thomas & Jennifer Jones & family, Carolyn Coady, John Ward, Michael & Jill Sotaski, Brian & Jennifer Andrychowski & family, Matthew & Lauren Kirchner, Stephen & Dawn Snyder & son and Sara Spangler.

Small Church Communities: "A Place Where Everyone Belongs." Mark your calendar for Friday, January 30th at 7:00 pm in the school hall. All you need to bring with you is a desire to know, love and serve the Lord and each other.

Thank You! to the many generous volunteers and patrons who helped make the 2008 Christmas Bazaar a holiday success. Special thanks to the Boy Scouts for serving a delicious pancake breakfast. The Bazaar raised over $4,000 for St. Stephen school. A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

St. Francis de Sales Music Ministry will hold a Twelfth Night of Christmas Concert and Prayer on January 4th at 7:00 pm in the Worship Center. Light refreshments will be served in Kilduff Hall following the concert.

Baptism Preparation: Do you believe in raising your children in a Catholic environment? If your answer is "Yes," join our Baptismal preparation team as a hosting couple. Contact one of the present hosting couples for more information: Patty and Craig O'Brien at 410-877-0654, Mary and Bill Morgan at 410-877-3544, and Lisa and Tim Winter at 410-817-4430. If you are not already STAND trained, this will be provided.

Religious Education Classes will resume for grades 7 through 12 on Tuesday, January 6th. See you then!

Pauline Year: During this year dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of the birth of the Apostle Paul, Pope Benedict XVI has determined that special plenary indulgences may be gained provided that those wishing these treasures, a remission before God of the temporal punishment of sin, accomplished that which is necessary to obtain such gifts. These riches may be gained by visiting churches designated for this purpose during the Pauline Year. One such Church is St. Paul Catholic Church in Ellicott City. Visit www.archbalt.org and click on the Pauline Year image to learn more about obtaining a plenary indulgence during the Pauline Year, June 28, 2008 - June 28, 2009.

The Ronald J. Engle Memorial Scout Foundation is offering a $500 scholarship to Eagle Scouts of Harford county. The David S. Roddy Courage Award will be presented to a high school senior or college freshman who has completed his Eagle Project prior to December 1, 2008. For more information, visit their website at www.englefoundation.org. Application deadline is January 31, 2009.

St. Vincent De Paul Clothing Boxes: Please remember that the two St. Vincent de Paul donation boxes are for clothing only. Any other items left outside the donation boxes present a very untidy appearance and must be disposed of by parish personnel in our trash gondolas. Also, please place all clothing in a plastic bag no larger than 24 inches by 20 inches - no larger than a small kitchen trash bag. Lawn size garbage bags are too large to fit through the donation bin openings and must not be used. Thank you for your cooperation.

Friends of Mercy: "Single Again Friends" discussions are held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 until 9:00 pm at the Hiss United Methodist Church in Parkville. This is open to all single, separated, divorced and widowed people. For more information call Cathy at 410-931-1668. Information line at 410-893-4584 or visit our website www.friendsofmercy.org.

St. Stephen School Admissions: For more information about our school, please contact Mrs. Ginni Zachmeier at 410-592-7617.

St. Stephen School Annual Campaign for Our Students: Total Raised To Date: $20,000. Thank you to all who have already contributed to our Annual Campaign this year. We still need your financial support if you have not already done so. Your monetary donation is needed to keep us safe, warm, and energy efficient! Our goal is to raise money to pay for the replacement of the school's boiler and to fund other educational initiatives. Thank you for helping us keep all of our children warm and safe! God bless you for your generosity. For your convenience we have placed extra donation envelopes in the back of the church.

Closed For the Christmas Holidays: School will close Friday, December 19th at 12:15 pm for the Christmas Holidays. We will open again on Monday, January 5th.

Applications and Registrations: Presently we are accepting applications for the 2009-2010 school year. If you are interested in more information about our school, please contact Mrs. Ginni Zachmeier at 410-592-7617. St. Stephen School begins with Pre-K 3 and continues up through the 8th grade. The 3-year olds must be 3 by September 1, 2009. We will be contacting those on our waiting list in February to fill any openings we have.

Help Wanted! Assistant for After School Care from 3:00 until 4:30 pm daily. Must be 16 years of age and meet Safe Environment Guidelines. Please call Mrs. Vasta for more information at 410-592-7617.

Have a very Happy New Year! From the Administration, Faculty, Staff & Students of St. Stephen School.

Bon Secours Spiritual Center Events includes a New Year's Eve retreat on Thursday, December 31st from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. This day of reflection will provide an opportunity to envision the New Year with confidence and trust. The day will conclude with the celebration of the vigil for the Eucharist for New Year's Day. Cost is $50. To register for this event, please call 410-442-1320 or visit www.BonSecoursSpiritualCenter.org.

Washington DC March For Life: Thursday, January 22nd is the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. Please plan to participate in the March and show the new administration and our legislators that we will not tolerate abortion on demand, partial-birth abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter: Are we willing to have the faith of Mary in believing the angel? Do we have faith in our spouse that will give us the strength to make our Sacrament holy? The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends are February 8th - 10th, 2009 and August 8th - 10th, 2009. For more information or to register, call toll free 1-877-558-LOVE (5683) or visit our website at http://wwme.net.

Respect Life Programs: Pregnant, need help? Call the Gabriel Project at 1-800-ANGEL-OK. Suffering from Post-Abortion Stress? Call Project Rachel at 1-800-286-4224.

Mark Your Calendars! The Saint John's Bible is to be exhibited at the Walters Art Gallery from February 15th through May 20th, 2009. This Bible is the first handcrafted Bible commissioned by a Benedictine abbey in more than 500 years. It is handwritten and illuminated on calfskin using quills and hand-ground pigment in a process that rivals the most ancient of manuscripts and this is a work of art and faith not to be missed! For information, go to www.thewalters.org.

Always Our Children/Encourage Support Group is offering support to parents who may be dealing with concerns that present themselves when a son or daughter informs them of a homosexual orientation. Our Catholic Bishops state: "You need not face this painful time alone, without human assistance or God's grace. The Church can be an instrument of both help and healing." Parents confronting these issues for the first time, as well as those who may have journeyed through them, are welcome. The group meets on the 4th Monday of each month from 7:30 until 9:00 pm at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel meeting room, 719 Maiden Choice Lane. For information, call Pat at 410-433-1610 or 410-302-4641.

Ladies of Charity October distribution of funds received from the poor boxes and other contributions: $50 - Adalanta Familia, Anna's House, Birthright, Christopher's Place, Franciscan Ctr., Harford Hospice, Inc., Helping Hands-Food Pantry, Hezekiah Movement, House of Ruth, Joppa-Edgewood FISH, Marian House, Parish Partnership-St. John/St. James-Henry LA, Pregnancy Ctr., Sharing Table Community Kitchen, St. Stephen's Youth Building, St. Steven's-Kenya. $100 - Beans/Bread, Meals on Wheels, Our Daily Bread. November distribution: $50 - Adalanta Familia, Anna's House, Birthright, Christopher's Place, Franciscan Ctr., Harford Hospice, Inc., Hezekiah Movement, Joppa-Edgewood FISH, Marian House, Parish Partnership-St. John/St. James-Henry LA, Pregnancy Ctr., Sharing Table Community Kitchen, St. Stephen's Youth Building, St. Steven's-Kenya. $100 - Anna's House, Beans/Bread, Helping Hands-Food Pantry, House of Ruth, Little Sisters of the Poor, Meals on Wheels, My Sister's Place, Our Daily Bread, Sarah's Hope, Sharing Table. The next Ladies of Charity meeting will be held on January 14th at 1:00 pm in the church basement.Sarah's Hope,

Looking for Smilers: If you can smile and say "Good Morning!" you're a perfect candidate for the Greeting Ministry! The parish is looking for volunteers willing to smile and greet fellow parishioners for 20 minutes before Mass. We are hoping to expand our numbers and hope you will consider helping out. The commitment is easy, one Sunday Mass every fourth week, and you will find it rewarding to meet so many fellow parishioners. If you are interested, please call Diane Endlich, 410-676-4143.

Retired? Working But Hunting For a Ministry to Help Others in Need? Seafarers visit Baltimore in over 2,000 ships every year. They are lonely, timid, poor, needing a helping hand, and a welcome. Jesus said, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." There is a great need for Catholic laiety to volunteer once a week or once every two weeks to drive a car from the seafarers center to the ships in port and pick up seafarers to bring them to the Stella Maris Center in Dundalk next to St. Rita's Church. Call Msgr John FitzGerald at 443-690-2447 to inquire.

Charismatic Prayer Meeting: Held weekly on Wednesdays at 7:45 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Registration: The use of Church Envelopes is the responsible way to support your Parish. Please register at the Parish Center to receive your Church envelopes.

Baptism: Baptisms are held every Sunday at 1:45 PM. Please call the Parish Center at 410-592-7071 for information, to register for Baptism classes and to schedule a Baptism. Parents must be registered members of St. Stephen's Parish. At least one sponsor (Godparent) must be a practicing Catholic. Both sponsors (Godparents) must be Christian. Parents and Godparents must attend the Baptism preparation Program.

Weddings: If you plan to be married by a priest or deacon affiliated with St. Stephen, you should be a registered parishioner. However, if you wish to use the church building for your wedding and you are not a registered parishioner, you may do so only if you provide your own priest or deacon and have him contact the priests at St. Stephen for permission. Please call the Parish Center at 410-592-7071 for information and to schedule a Wedding. Arrangements must be made at least six months in advance.

Ministry to the Sick: Ministry to the Sick Please notify the Rectory at 410-592-7071 when a member of the parish is in the hospital, or is unable to attend Mass and wishes to receive Holy Communion.

The Pregnancy Center, Inc. is associated with Catholic Charities and is located at 7311 Harford Road. For crisis situations and questions regarding pregnancy please phone 410-426-9992.

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