Saint Stephen Catholic Parish Our Lord Jesus Christ the King November 23rd, 2008 - Bulletin
		"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink."
		— Matthew 25:35

	Our Liturgical Week Monday, November 24 8:00 a.m. Fr. Walsh / Teofila Rodis Tuesday, November 25 8:00 a.m. Fr. Calegari / Kevin Lowe 11:00 a.m. Fr. Walsh / Grade 5 Mass Wednesday, November 26 8 :00 a.m. Fr. Murray / Caroline Slajer Thursday, November 27 9:30 a.m. Fr. Calegari / Marygrace Dunn Friday, November 28 8:00a.m. Fr. Walsh / Lourdes Torres Saturday, November 29 8:00 a.m. Fr. Murray / Andres Caunan and Beatriz Bingil 3:30 p.m. Fr. Murray / Reconciliation 4:30 p.m. Fr. Murray /_____________ Sunday, November 30 8:00 a.m. Fr. Sauer / ______________ 9:30 a.m. Fr. Walsh / For the Parish 11:30 a.m. Fr. Calegari / John Faliano 6:45 p.m. Fr. Calegari / _________________ Red indicates Mass intentions
	TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — I will rescue my scattered sheep (Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17). Psalm — The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want (Psalm 23). Second Reading — As in Adam all die, so too in Christ all shall be brought to life (1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28). Gospel — Whatever you did to the least ones, you did to me (Matthew 25:31-46). Thanksgiving Day Holiday Our Parish Office will be closed Thursday November 27 and Friday November 28. OUR WEEK AT A GLANCE Monday, November 24 50+ Club 12:30 p.m./Temp. Bldg. Religious Education 3:45 p.m./Parish Office Tuesday, November 25 Youth Group 6:00 p.m./Parish Office Grief Support Group 7:00 p.m./Parish Office Wednesday, November 26 Hot Lunch 11:45 a.m./Temp. Bldg. Thursday, November 27 Thanksgiving Day Holiday Friday, November 28 Gamblers Anonymous 8:00 p.m./Parish Office & EC Saturday, November 29 Bible Study 8:30 a.m./Marian Room Religious Education Family Day 8:30 a.m./Ext. Cntr. Sunday, November 30 Youth Group 4:00 p.m./Temp. Bldg. CHRIST, KING OF ALL On this, the final Sunday of the liturgical year, we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. By concluding the year with this feast we are proclaiming our faith that Jesus Christ is the one and only king over all seasons, all peoples, and all of creation. At the end of time as we know it, Christ's work of restoring all things to unity and harmony with their Creator God will be completed. This Sunday, when we claim Christ as both our Shepherd and our King, we recognize our own calling to participate in Christ's saving work by caring for those whom Jesus calls "the least ones" (Matthew 25:45). (c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. 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, Tim Lew, Miguel Mendoza, Maggie McDonald, Irin Mullen, 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. Dear Parishioners, November 23, 2008 The Car Raffle last Sunday got a lot of attention after the 9:30 Mass. It was a beautiful morning, warm and sunny, as Anne Zarate's name was drawn for the Grand Prize of a car or $10,000. Anne came to the stage and immediately opted for the cash prize. Caroline Zidek was delighted when I called to tell her she had won the Second Prize, a 32" HD television set. Caroline was in Napa caring for her elderly Mom when her name was drawn. John Coen was already looking younger when came up to claim the Third Prize, an arrangement of skin and body care lotions. Jim Cook sold two of the three winning tickets. I am deeply grateful to John Bruno and the Car Raffle team he put together. All 500 tickets were sold at $100 each. Thank you everybody! That most American of days is almost upon us: Thanksgiving. Rich in history and unique to all Americans, Thanksgiving is a story and celebration of survival. The pilgrims who managed to survive the year 1621 got together to celebrate a year's survival in a strange and alien land. The friendly native Americans they invited to join them brought deer and venison, ducks and geese and, of all things, turkey. So, it is turkey day! It's a story of survival, a story of harvest, a story of war and death, because at the end of the Civil War, it was Abraham Lincoln who designated a national holiday at Thanksgiving, that it might bring hope and healing. Survival. We have the same things both to celebrate and to worry about today: the economy, our jobs, our kid's education, healthcare, the war.... Like our ancestors in this country, we need hope and healing. During the month of November, we put out the list of those who had lost loved ones during the past year. We've lost people. We stop to give thanks for their lives, and we stop to give thanks that we are among those blessed. Blessed are those who mourn. Harvest. Time to count our gifts and blessings, to gather the gifts in our hearts and give thanks and praise for them. And so, the whole nation stops for thanksgiving. Even people who aren't believers give thanks on Thanksgiving Day. In some way they are thanking their Creator. I can't help but think of the epitaph on the atheist's tombstone: "All dressed up and no place to go." The Irish writer, George Bernard Shaw, was asked in London by a woman, "What denomination are you?" And he said, "I am an atheist, Madam, and I thank God every single day for it." Hope and Healing. Next Sunday, November 30, immediately after 11:30 Mass, we will have a special gospel reading and the anointing of the sick. Please be at the church immediately after Mass, at 12:30 for this special anointing. William Manchester's biography of John F. Kennedy was one of the first I had read. He described the scene at Dallas that fateful morning in these words: "When the raven of death arrived, the priest coming to anoint him, we knew he was gone." As a student of theology at the time, the imagery suggesting that anointing of the sick meant you were at death's door, shocked and offended me. Anointing is the sacrament of healing, the sacrament of getting better. It's a sacrament of hope. Its purpose is to make you better, and to prepare you to live the rest of your life closer to God. I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving. Your Pastor, Fr. Joe A Prayer at Thanksgiving Lord, with humble hearts we pray Your blessing this Thanksgiving Day And ask that at table place Where grateful folk say words of grace, That You will come to share the yield Your bounty gave to farm and field. We pray your love will bless, O Lord, Each hearth, each home, each festive board; And that your peace will come to stay Where candles glow, Thanksgiving Day. - Brian F. King A Child's Prayer at Thanksgiving Thank you God for all that grows, Thank you for the sky's rainbows, Thank you for the stars that shine, Thank you for these friends of mine, Thank you for the moon and sun, Thank you God for all you've done. - Anonymous Mark Your Calendar TODAY! Sunday November 23, 2008 - The Blood Mobile returns to St. Stephen. Your life saving pint is urgently needed. November 27, 2008 - Thanksgiving Day Mass at 9:30 a.m. here at St. Stephen. Join our very special Thanksgiving Day service and receive the gift of bread. November 30, 2008 - Last day to submit your vote for our 2009 Anchor Parishioners. December 7, 2008 - Men’s Club Annual Pancake Breakfast. This year’s breakfast will be held a the Janet Pomeroy Center. December 13, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. Simbang Gabi Commissioning and Mass that will take place at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Most Rev. George Niederauer, Archbishop of San Francisco will be the Principal Celebrant, to usher in Simbang Gabi, a novena of Masses held in several parishes starting Dec. 15. December 14, 2008 - Giving Day Final day to return your gifts for the St. Stephen Giving Tree to help make a child smile this Christmas. January 7, 2008 - Last day to turn in an application for next August’s St. Stephen School’s Kindergarten Class. January 24, 2009 – Final day to turn in register receipts for Lucky Store’s “Apples for Students” program and exchange them for education awards. January 24, 2009 – Walk for Life – West Coast 2009! Join upwards of 25,000 pro-lifers for the 5th Annual Walk for Life. To contact them or for more information go to: info@walkforlifewc.com or www.walkforlifewc.com. February 21, 2009 - The St. Stephen Women's Guild Live and Silent Auction, "A Night to Bond", will be held at the Olympic Club, Lakeside. OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS Weekly collection goal $ 8,000 Past weekend collection (8/10) $ 7,207 Year to Date Goal $160,000 Year to Date $138,522 Thank you! Your continued generosity to our Parish is critical and never goes unnoticed. Many, many thanks to our dedicated volunteers who sold all 500 tickets to our 2008 Grand Raffle over the last six weeks. They include: John Bruno (Team Captain) Jossie Abad Doris Becerra Kathleen Bruno Annemarie Conroy Nancy Crowley Helga D’Arcy Connie D’Aura Gavin Garzee Harry Glasser Pat Goudy Joanne Hayes-White Greg Holl Keith Kashevaroff Kevin Kern Lyndon Louie Jim Maciel Tony Maffe Brian McGovern Margaret O’Driscoll Deepak Patankar Sal Rizzo Jeff Rocca Ed Reidy, Jr. Alicia Silvia Congratulations to Helga D’Arcy, our number one sales person, who sold 26 percent of our tickets! A special thank you to our parishioners, school families and friends, who purchased our raffle tickets and helped make the 2008 Grand Raffle a fantastic success. Special Collection Next Weekend A second collection will be taken at all masses next weekend, November 29 and 30 for St. Vincent de Paul Conference (Local) "Let us not speak so much of charity - let us rather do it and let us help the poor!" - Frederick Ozanam Even the smallest contribution helps someone in need. We appreciate your generosity. Every day SVDP-San Francisco helps over 1,000 people trying to overcome poverty, homelessness, substance abuse and domestic violence. HOSPITALITY MINISTERS for the 9:30 a.m. mass. Today, Sunday, Nov. 23 - Stewardship Sunday, Nov. 30 - Youth Group Sunday, Dec. 7 - St. Vincent de Paul St. Stephen 50+ Club Our next meeting is tomorrow, Monday, November 24, at 12:30 p.m. We will meet in our Temporary Building. (Contact: Helga D’Arcy at 731-8211). Annual November Food Drive Our Annual November Food Drive for the poor and needy begins this week. Please limit your donations to dry, nonperishable items, (e.g. beans, rice, pasta). Bring dry foods to church and place your donation in boxes in back of the church. No eggs, produce or milk, please! Your donations will help make this holiday season a more joyous occasion for many families. St. Stephen Men’s Club Annual Pancake Breakfast SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2008 10:30a.m. at the Janet Pomeroy Center ADULTS $10 - CHILDREN (13 & UNDER) $5 For reservations, questions and/or to volunteer to help call Sean White at 415 260-7559. Please bring a new, unwrapped child’s toy(s) to benefit “Toys for Tots”. The San Francisco Fire Department will provide bins for collection. Thank You! Novena of Mass at Dawn (Simbang Gabi) at St. Stephen, Dec. 16-24 "...experience the spirituality that speaks to people of every ethnicity..." This centuries-old tradition of novena was first practiced in Spain and France. The Spanish missionaries brought the practice to the Philippines. The novena had its origin in the nine months our Lord was in the womb of His Blessed Mother from Incarnation to Nativity. At St. Stephen's 7 other parishes in the Deanery and beyond join us to host each day of the Novena. St. Stephen hosts on Dec. 16. On the morning of Dec. 24 Archbishop Niederauer will be the Principal Celebrant Please see the Bulletin Board for details.
	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 November 4 thru November 16 were: Chiara Olmes, Danielle Chuakay, Adrienne Tiña, Danielle Tioyao, LeoMcCaffrey, Megan Hallisy, Briana Tompkins, Aidan O’Driscoll, Jennifer Montemayor, Georgia Davey, Sergio Mungcal, Thomas Egan, Zachary Yiu, Mathew Pashby, Adam Barker, Kimberly Yan, and Marisa Pashby.
	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: ___________________________