Saint Stephen Catholic Parish Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time December 14th, 2008 - Bulletin
		Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
		— 1 Thessalonians 5:16

	Our Liturgical Week Monday, December 15 8:00 a.m. Fr. Walsh/Mary Feeney Tuesday, December 16 8:00 a.m. Fr. Calegari / May Kelly Wednesday, December 17 8 :00 a.m. Fr. Murray / John Armanini Thursday, December 18 8:00 a.m. Fr. Calegari / Emma Johnson Friday, December 19 8:00a.m. Fr. Walsh / Lorin Medlin Saturday, December 20 8:00 a.m. Fr. Murray / Marygrace Dunn 3:30 p.m. Fr. Murray / Reconciliation 4:30 p.m. Fr. Murray / Albina Klanjac Sunday, December 21 - Fourth Sunday in Advent 8:00 a.m. Fr. Calegari / Joseph Abraham 9:30 a.m. Fr. Sauer / For the Parish 11:30 a.m. Fr. /Walsh / Patrick J. Dowling 6:45 p.m. Fr. Murray / —————— Red indicates Mass intentions
	Please remember: Gloria Maciel Who recently died in the peace of Christ. Our sick and homebound are in continual need of our prayers, please remember them in prayer. TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — As a garden makes its growth spring up, so will God make justice spring up before all the nations (Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11). Psalm — My soul rejoices in my God (Luke 1:46-50, 53-54). Second Reading — Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). Gospel — I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord (John 1:6-8, 19-28). OUR WEEK AT A GLANCE Monday, December 15 Religious Education 3:45 p.m./Parish Office Tuesday, December 16 Youth Group 6:00 p.m./Parish Office Grief Support Group 7:00 p.m./Conf. Rm. Women’s Guild 7:00 p.m./Temp. Bldg. Wednesday, December 17 Sep. and Divorced Group 7:00 p.m./Ext. Center Thursday, December 18 RCIA Group 7:00 p.m./Conf. Rm. Friday, December 19 Gamblers Anonymous 8:00 p.m./Parish Office & EC Saturday, December 20 Bible Study 8:30 a.m./Marian Room Sunday, December 21 Youth Group 4:00 p.m./Temp. Bldg. REJOICE Isaiah proclaims truly good news to us! God's coming brings not sadness, guilt, fear, wrath, or condemnation. No, God's coming is a source of comfort and joy. Saying it once is not enough, for today's readings are full of joy. Mary's Magnificat substitutes for our psalm today, and our second reading encourages us to rejoice, to give thanks and praise. This is the root meaning of the Greek word for Eucharist. We are urged to rejoice and give thanks, because the coming of the Lord brings joy, healing, liberty, release, vindication. It makes the very earth spring up with new life! Good tidings! (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, December 14, 2008 A special seasonal THANK YOU to our Men's Club - helped and egged on by our Women's Guild - who dished up a scrumptious pancake breakfast last Sunday for some 300 hungry Cougars down at the Janet Pomeroy Center. Santa's appearance on the side made the day for our young parishioners. And a word of thanks to all who supported the SFPD 'Toys for Tots' truck which showed up as it does each year without fail. Many of our Irish families eventually made their way from the breakfast to the blessing and dedication of the new Irish football and hurling center at Treasure Island later in the day. What a day! Thanks to all who have supported our Advent Giving Tree program. It was very good to see the stars disappear so quickly this year, and the gifts come pouring in for the poor. And thank you for all the food items collected through St. Stephen School and through the bins in our church vestibule. All this shows that many of you are aware that the holiday season this year will not be a good one for many poor people in our City. Congratulations to our St. Stephen School students who put on a lovely seasonal program on Tuesday evening. The always very popular Kindergarten drama was beautifully done in the temporary Building, and was followed in the church by an inspiring concert from our students in grades 1 thru 8. In this time of darkness, our Catholic tradition is like a voice crying in the desert, inviting us to choose to look toward and bear witness to the Light. In this time when so many suffer, the prophet Isaiah reminds us that we, like him, have been anointed 'to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted...' Bringing glad tidings to the poor has as many faces as there are people in our parish who have been baptized and anointed by the Spirit to be a living witness to God's work. There is work to be done. God wants us to be instrumental in bringing him to those in need: to minister to the grieving; sit with the dying and comfort their families; serve on community boards for the homeless and help legislate on their behalf; teach good environmental practices to students etc.This 3rd Sunday of Advent invites all of us to respond in some meaningful and mature way to Christ's invitation. "Hear ye, Hear ye!" John the Baptist, giving testimony in the gospel today, sounds like the bailiff in a court of law calling the assembly to attention, announcing the arrival of the judge and the beginning of the trial. At the end of this gospel Jesus will be put on trial, found guilty and executed. We are called to give witness, and we are the ones on trial. The trial begins in today's segment of the gospel and the first witness, John the Baptist, has been called upon to give witness to Jesus: Jesus will give himself as bread for the hungry and living water for the thirsty; he who is the light of the world will open the eyes of the blind and, being life itself, he will raise Lazarus from the dead. What kind of living testimony and assurance are we preparing to give to a waiting Jesus? Your Pastor, Fr. Joe Winter's Advent Journey In this time of darkness, We choose to look toward the Light. In this time when so many suffer, We choose faith, not despair: We choose the work of compassionate love. As we move through Adven together, Hungry for transformation, for hope, Our steps themselves Transform us, nourish us. We are on constant pilgrimage, Moving to the heart of things, Reaching beyond what any one of us Can reach alone. The brightness of the Incarnation Guides us as we continue, With the promise of the Prince of Peace And the bright star in these dark nights. - Jane Deren Irish Senior Citizen Outreach Program Irish Mass, Luncheon & Senior Social Wednesday, December 17, 2008 United Irish Cultural Center 12 noon - Mass with Christmas Carols celebrated by Fr. Brendan McBride. Followed by lunch & entertainment with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Please RSVP to 415.752.6006 or admin@sfiipc.org Mark Your Calendar Today! 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. December 16 thru December 24. Simbang Gabi Mass will be celebrated in our church at 6:00 a.m. December 18, 2008 – Last day to order poinsettias to be placed in the church for Christmas. December 24, 2008 – Pope Benedict XVI offers Midnight Mass from the Vatican at 3:00 p.m. Another telecast features choral meditation and the Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve, from the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. at 7:00 p.m. These will be live telecasts carried on television station EWTN; Comcast channel 229. All times are Pacific. December 25, 2008 – The Pope’s Christmas Message to the World will be carried on EWTN at 7:00 p.m. (Encore December 26 at 2:00 p.m.) January 7, 2009 - 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. January 27, 2009 – 50+ Club trip to the River Rock Casino. Bus will leave at 1:00 p.m.; cost $25.00. Phone Betty Ganduglia at 650 589-0726 to reserve your space. 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) $ 6,167 Year to Date Goal $148,000 Year to Date $151,973 Thank you! Your continued generosity to our Parish is critical and never goes unnoticed. Novena of Mass at Dawn (Simbang Gabi) at St. Stephen, December 16-24 at 6:00 a.m., a spiritual preparation for Christmas. In Archbishop Niederauer's words, "...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 more information. List of Host Parishes: St. Anne of the Sunset, St. Brendan, St. Cecilia, St. Emydius, St. Finn Barr, St. Gabriel, Star of the Sea, and St. Stephen. 2008 Archbishops Annual Appeal If you wish to support the 2008 AAA and have not yet send in your contribution, please consider doing so during the next 17 days. We must meet our goal by December 31st. Please help. Our goal is $69,900 Your support for Archbishop Niederauer's work and ministry amounts to $50,067 at this time. We still have a balance of $19,833 to meet. St. Stephen Giving Tree All gifts will be distributed to Laguna Honda, St. Peter’s Parish and Martin de Porres Shelter. Your gift will probably be the only one many receive. HOSPITALITY MINISTERS for the 9:30 a.m. mass. Today, Sunday, Dec. 14 - Women’s Guild Sunday, Dec. 21 - Religious Ed Sunday, Dec. 28 - Cecelia Prete . POINSETTIAS As we prepare for the solemnity of Christmas, we look forward to the joy of the birth of Christ. We hope to express our joy by filling the church with a bountiful display of Poinsettias. If you would like to have one or more Poinsettia placed in the church in memory of loved ones, or to honor someone special, please fill out this form and return to the O’Reilly Parish Center by - Thursday, December 18. I would like to have a Poinsettia placed in the church in loving memory of: ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ I would like to have a Poinsettia placed in the church in honor of: ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ My name ____________________________________ My telephone # ____________________________________ Enclosed is $10.00 to cover the cost of each Poinsettia. St. Stephen Men’s Club RESERVE YOUR LUCKY SQUARE St. Stephen’s 26th Annual SUPER BOWL POOL! Lucky squares are now on sale. If you have questions, contact Marco Cerri at 650 303-2133. Proceeds from this fund raiser support all our CYO Athletics. “Thank you for opening the doors of your church and working with the congregation to make the (November 23) blood drives a success — I know it's a lot of planning, creativity, and hard work. Thanks to your hard work and dedication to saving lives, 23 people presented to donate and Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) collected an amazing 19! units of blood for the community. This means that the generosity of Saint Stephens has provided another tomorrow for 57 patients in the Bay Area. We appreciate the support of all who rolled up their sleeves for this vital cause. Please extend our gratitude to all participating donors for showing their support. Thanks again for all your efforts toward making the blood drive a success. You are a true community hero and we thank you for all your support.” Sincerely, Kelly Morrison - Blood Centers of the Pacific
	St. Stephen Altar Servers OOur special “thanks” to our student Altar Servers who faithfully continue to volunteer their time and talent to our parish. Our Altar Servers for December 1 thru December 7 were: Leo McCaffrey, Sean Kim, Zachary Yiu, Gavin Clark, Stefano Maffei, Matthew Birsinger, Justin Fernandez, Brianna Martin, Fiona Smith, Stephanie McCarthy, Jessica Battad, Sarah Schmitt, Jay Francisco, Billy O’Driscoll, Adam Barker, Jake Cleary, Brian Cleary, Christiaan Parnell, and Emilia Holl.
	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: ___________________________