Saint Stephen Catholic Parish 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 5th, 2008 - Bulletin
		Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.--
		— Philippians 4:6

	Our Liturgical Week Monday, October 6th 7:00 a.m. Fr. Methodius 8:00 a.m. Fr. Walsh / Lorin and Paul Medlin Tuesday, October 7th 7:00 a.m. Fr. Methodius 8:00 a.m. Fr. Calegari / John Molinari Wednesday, October 8th 8:00 a.m. Fr. Murray / Thursday, October 9th 7:00 a.m. Fr. Methodius 8:00 a.m. Fr. Calegari / Emma Johnson Friday, October 10th 7:00 a.m. Fr. Methodius 8:00 a.m. Fr. Walsh Saturday, October 11th 8:00 a.m. Fr. Murray / Semiramis Virondeau :30 p.m. Fr. Calegari / Reconciliation 4:30 p.m. Fr. Calegari / Harry Clifford Sunday, October 12th - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 a.m. Fr. Methodius 9:30 a.m. Fr. Murray / For the Parish 11:30 a.m. Fr. Calegari 6:45 p.m. Fr. Calegari Red indicates Mass intentions
	TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — The vineyard of the LORD is the house of Israel; the people of Judah are the LORD's cherished plant (Isaiah 5:1-7). Psalm — The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel (Psalm 80). Second Reading — God's peace will guard your hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-9). Gospel — The kingdom of God will be given to those who will produce its fruit (Matthew 21:33-43) OUR WEEK AT A GLANCE Monday, October 6th Religious Education 3:45 p.m./Parish Office Men’s Club 6:45 p.m./Temp. Bldg. Tuesday, October 7th Youth Group 6:00 p.m./Parish Office Neighborhood Imp. Comm. 7:00 p.m./Temp. Bldg. Wednesday, October 8th Hot Lunch 11:45 a.m./Temp. Bldg. St. Vincent de Paul Conf. 7:30 p.m./Parish Office Thursday, October 9th RCIA 7:00 p.m./Conference Room Friday, October 10th Gamblers Anonymous 8:00 p.m./Parish Office & EC Saturday, October 11th Bible Study 8:30 a.m./Marian Room Sunday, October 12th Youth Group 4:00 p.m./Temp. Bldg. SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Respect Life Sunday Monday: St. Bruno Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher Tuesday: Our Lady of the Rosary Wednesday: Yom Kippur (Jewish day of atonement) begins at sunset Thursday: St. Denis and his companions St. John Leonardi Peace First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others. —Thomas à Kempis Please pray for the sick and homebound of our community, for all those in the book of the sick. May they know the healing touch of Jesus. William Applegate, Natividad Austria, Elena Carr, Mario Cid, Kevin Cleary, David Douglas, Betty Francesconi, Art Hazlett, Mary Elizabeth Henry, Nellie Jocson, Elizabeth Kauss, Lola Lommori, Larry Lee, Tim Lew, Maggie McDonald, Renato Meneses Jr., Irin Mullen, Bob O’Malley, Mercy Newman, Stephanie Patty, Joyce Peterson, Sister Pat Phelan, Marsha Potolo, James Roach, Delores Robinson, Ian Taylor, Robert Thoel, Loretta Tribulato, Maria Elena Varela, Richard Voyles, and Mary Windrow. TRUE FRUITFULNESS Whatever you possess, and however fruitful your activities, regard them all as worthless without the inward certainty and experience of Jesus' love. -- from The Cloud of Unknowing, fourteenth century Dear Parishioners, October 5, 2008 An overdue thanks to the many St. Stephen parents and students who took part in the Coastal Clean Up 2008 at Ocean Beach two Saturdays ago, September 20th. They were among 3,000 volunteers at the beach, making it the largest clean up to date. A fun time was had by all! I enjoyed the St. Vincent de Paul Walk for the Poor around Lake Merced last Saturday morning . It was a beautiful morning and many joggers and other walkers were out and about. We began with Mass for the 200 or so participants at dawn in the Sunset Boulevard and Lakeshore Drive parking lot at 7:00 a.m. About a dozen St. Stephen parishioners (excluding seven 8th graders) joined in the walk at eight o'clock just as the morning fog was burning off. My two walking companions set a brisk pace and we captured the Lake in just under an hour. This St. Vincent de Paul initiative greatly increased the resources available for its outreach to the City's poor. As an Irishman, I feel some sympathy for those tenants in today's gospel parable. Of course, I don't agree with their violence, but I am a product of my history. The struggle of the Irish people for four hundred years was not about religion. It was about land. In the seventeenth century the English authorities dispossessed the Irish farmers of their land and handed it over to English and Scottish settlers. These happened to be Protestants. That is where the religious problem came in. The original Irish owners became tenants, while many of the new owners eventually became absentee landlords, squeezing the tenants for higher rents in order to maintain their lavish lifestyles in London. This provoked constant tension between the owners and the tenants, which often led to bloodshed - just as we find in today's parable. This parable invites us to reflect on our relationship with God. In a certain way, God has leased to us this world, indeed our very lives, and has made an agreement with us. We call it a "covenant." You shall be my people, and I will be your God. God, the maker of heaven and earth, is the vineyard owner; we are his tenants. The vineyard is a symbol of our lives. Just as wine is the product of the vineyard, so the gift of life in this world is supposed to intoxicate our minds and hearts with gratitude to God for his gifts - life, family, friends, faith.... I want to say a big thanks to all who have purchased car raffle tickets - and to thank especially those who are out there selling them. Finally, I want to acknowledge the many parishioners who responded to my recent letter about the Archbishop's Annual Appeal. Thank you so much! Your Pastor, Fr. Joe Women's Dignity "My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside." (Isaiah 5:1) Most likely the "friend" in today's first reading was a man. In third world countries today it is women who are the planters and growers for their families. Here is an apposite quotation from the late Pope John Paul II: "Unfortunately, we are heirs to a history that has conditioned us to a remarkable extent. In every time and place, this conditioning has been an obstacle to the progress of women. Women's dignity has often been unacknowledged and their prerogatives misrepresented; they have often been relegated to the margins of society and even reduced to servitude. This has resulted in a spiritual impoverishment of humanity." (Letter of Pope John Paul to Women, June 29, 1995) A Carmelite Prayer Lord Jesus, in the days of your ministry, you listened to women and followed their counsel. You sent a women to tell the news of your resurrection to your followers. Grant us the insight to let the fruits of your Holy Spirit flow freely through every member of the people of God, so that we may all share in the life you have gained for us. We ask this through the intercession of all your saints who died longing for the coming of your reign on earth. Amen. ("A Sunday Psalter" - Carmelites ofIndianapolis, 1993) 2008 Archbishops Annual Appeal - Our Goal $69,900 Your support for Archbishop Niederauer's work and ministry amounts to $34,600 at this time. We still have a balance of $35,300 to meet. Save Your Lucky Receipts! Lucky Stores "Apples for Students" program is running now through January 24, 2009. St. Stephen School will collect register receipts and exchange them for educational awards. Please save your receipts (big or small) and place them in the specially marked box in the vestibule of o u r c h u r c h (within 7 days of your purchase please). Ask your friends and neighbors too! Contact Alicia Pashby with your questions at (650) 992-0247. Mark Your Calendar October 11, 2008 - Eco-Fair sponsored by the SFPUC at the Southeast Treatment Plant. October 18, 2008 - Widowed, Separated & Divorced Annual Diner Gala! Lakeside Café, 2529 Ocean Av., San Francisco, call 415 566-4230 or 650 992-3657. October 22, 2008 - The first annual benefit dinner for AM 1260 KSFB Radio at St. Mary’s Cathedral Conference Center. Call 415 269-8620 for details. October 24 thru October 26 - Widowed, Separated & Divorced Weekend at Vallombrosa Retreat Center in Menlo Park. www:geocities.com/sanjosebe/ November 8 & 9, 2008 – Women’s Guild Bake Sale November 22, 2008 - “Sunset Style” 2008 Women’s Guild Fashion Show, 11:00 a.m., The Olympic Club Lakeside. OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS Weekly collection goal $ 8,000 Past weekend collection (9/28) $ 6,139 Year to Date Goal $104,000 Year to Date $89,885 Thank you! Your continued generosity to our Parish is critical and never goes unnoticed. St. Stephen Women’s Guild Plan now to participate in and enjoy our special events this fall season. Book Sale St. Stephen School invites all of the church community to our annual book sale Sunday Oct. 26 through Friday Oct. 30 in the school library. Great books for all ages are available. Shop early for great Christmas gifts and help our school at the same time. For more information contact Caroline McGrillen at 415 337-1365. Bake Sale Our Fall Bake Sale is a few weeks away! Be ready for special treats to start off your holiday season on November 8th and 9th. If any parishioners would like to contribute to our bake sale, contact Sandra Fullerton @ 415 334 -2950. Fashion Show Tickets The St. Stephen Women's Guild Fashion Show will be held this year on November 22nd at the Olympic Club. Tickets are $75.00 for the lunch and show. Please call Annette Rocca for tickets at 415 239-8926 or Susana Wassmer at 415 337-9277. St. Stephen 50+ Club Our next meeting is October 27, 2008, at 12:30 p.m. (There will not be a meeting on the second Monday of October, Columbus Day) We will meet in our new Temporary Building located in the parking lot south of our rectory. (Contact Helga D’Arcy 415 731-8211). Future Adventure What: Trip to River Rock Casino When: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Where: Bus will be in front of our church Time: 1:00 p.m. (Return approx. 9:30) p.m.) Cost: $25.00 Reservations: Call Helga D’Arcy at 415 731-8211 HOSPITALITY MINISTERS for the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Today, Sunday, Oct. 5 - Ophelia Cabatic Sunday, Oct. 12 - Louise Fambrini Sunday, Oct. 19 - Mila Rayos Hurry, join the fun! 2008 GRAND RAFFLE Proceeds Benefit St. Stephen Church 1st Prize: 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 Or $10,000! 2nd Prize: 32” High Definition TV 3rd Prize: Relax Now Skin Products Donation: One Ticket - $100. Raffle limited to 500 tickets. Drawing on November 16, 2008, following the 9:30 a.m. Mass. For ticket information call 415 681-2444 ext 29 or online at development@SaintStephenSF.org. Stewardship by the Book In the Gospel today, the owner of the vineyard sent messengers to collect his share of the harvest from the tenant farmers, but there was not a single good steward on the property. God is the owner; we are the tenants. What sort of stewards are we. ART CLASSES OFFERED Explore, learn and enjoy the wonderful world of art. Classes are offered for adults and children. It will be a relaxing, fun and great learning experience. Call Grainne at 415 664-7502 or online at grainneryle@hotmail.com.
	St. Stephen Altar Servers Our special “thanks” to our student Altar Servers who faithfully continue to volunteer their time and talent to our parish. Our Altar Servers for September 22 thru September 28 were: Nicole Patricio, Phillip Simmons, Billy O’Driscoll, Cassie Sigua, Brianna Martin, Graham Gilleran, Sergio Mungcal, Justin Fernandez, Danielle Tioyao, Gavin Clark, Catherine Pabalan, Casey Stuart, Emilia Holl, Peter Goudy, Leo McCaffrey, Patrick Newland, Matthew Kozuch, Jenny Martin, Brian Cleary, Kimberly Yan, Danny Casey, Zachary Yiu, Jake Cleary, Janelle Labiaga, and Erin Lithgow.
	e-Contributions makes giving easy! e-Contributions allows St. Stephen to accept regular and special contributions via the Internet. Log onto www.e-paluch.com for details.
	ST STEPHEN PARISH 2008-2009 ORGANIZATION/MINISTRY CONTACT PERSON Altar Servers Mrs. Katya Minnick Altar Society Helen Perlite Bridge Group Helen Perlite Choir Director Angela Zullinger Church Hospitality Veronica Wong Fifty Plus Club Helga D'Arcy Finance Council Dan Linehan Grief Support Ruby Buffin Lectors T.J. Perlite Liturgy Committee Ruby Buffin Marriage Preparation Clergy Men's Club Tony Maffei Music Director Griselda MacDonald Parish Council Patrick Smith Religious Education Veronica Wong RCIA Ruby Buffin Stewardship Kathleen Bruno St Vincent de Paul Julie O'Callaghan Ushers Bob Anthony Women's Guild Fionnuala McElligott Youth Group Christian Fernandez
	Parish Council Information If you would like to contact the Parish Council regarding our upcoming meetings please deliver your message to the Parish Center, or you may telephone or send an email to the following Parish Council members: Patty Murphy at (415) 681-3543 or mac4murph@gmail.com Patrick Smith at (415) 759-6731 or wearepatkat@sbcglobal.net
	Eucharistic Ministers/Lectors Check our web site to review your assignments. www.saintstephenSF.org.
	Bulletin Announcements Send your bulletin announcements via e-mail to: Bulletin@SaintStephenSF.org
	Our warmest welcome to all who celebrate with us. Our warmest welcome to all who celebrate with us. If you are new to our parish, we invite you to register and learn more about our many parish ministries and organizations. You may phone the Parish Center at 681-2444, complete this form and return it to the Parish Center; drop it in the collection basket during mass or register online at: www.ststephenSF.org! Our parishioners receive the weekly newspaper “Catholic San Francisco.”   Name: ___________________________________ Address: _________________________________ Telephone: ______________________________ E-mail address: ___________________________