Saint Stephen Catholic Parish The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph December 28th, 2008 - Bulletin
		My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all the peoples.
		— Luke 2:30-31

	Our Liturgical Week Monday, December 29 8:00 a.m. Fr. Walsh / Beatriz Bingil & Andres Caunan Tuesday, December 30 8:00 a.m. Fr. Calegari / Margaret Beitling Wednesday, December 31 8 :00 a.m. Fr. Murray / Tito C. Bingil Thursday, January 1 9:30 a.m. Fr. Walsh / Guillermo Ramos Friday, January 2 8:00a.m. Fr. Calegari / Emmanuel Beitsayadeh Saturday, January 3 8:00 a.m. Fr. Murray / Lorin & Paul Medlin 3:30 p.m. Fr. Walsh / Reconciliation 4:30 p.m. Fr. Walsh / __ __ __ __ __ Sunday, January 4 - The Epiphany of the Lord 8:00 a.m. Fr. Walsh / Conchetta Bonnici 9:30 a.m. Fr. Murray / For the Parish 11:30 a.m. Fr. Calegari / Jack Carpentier 2:30 p.m. WKICU Mass 6:45 p.m. Fr. Calegari / __ __ __ __ __ Red indicates Mass intentions
	TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — Those who honor their parents will be greatly blessed and will atone for sins (Sirach 3:2-7,12-14) or Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3. Psalm — Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways (Psalm 128). Second Reading — Live a life of heartfelt love; be thankful; do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:12-21 [12-17]). Gospel — The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom (Luke 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]). Special Collection - Next Weekend A second collection will be taken at all masses next weekend, January 3 and 4 for for St. Stephen Buildings; Maintenance & Repair. OUR WEEK AT A GLANCE Monday, December 29 Tuesday, December 30 Youth Group 6:00 p.m./Parish Office Grief Support Group 7:00 p.m./Conf. Rm. Wednesday, December 31 Thursday, January 1 New Years Day Holiday/Office Closed Friday, January 2 Office Closed Gamblers Anonymous 8:00 p.m./Parish Office & EC Saturday, January 3 Bible Study 8:30 a.m./Marian Room Sunday, January 4 WKICU Fellowship 2:30 p.m./Temp. Bldg Youth Group 4:00 p.m./Temp. Bldg. SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Monday: Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas St. Thomas Becket Tuesday: Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas Wednesday: Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas St. Sylvester I New Year's Eve Thursday: The Octave Day of Christmas The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God World Day of Prayer for Peace New Year's Day Friday: St. Basil the Great and St.Gregory Nazianzen First Friday Saturday: The Most Holy Name of Jesus First Saturday 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, George O’Brien, 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 28, 2008 These dog days of after Christmas are quiet at the parish. The very quietness of the building site reminds me to thank all of you who continue to support our new Parish Center. Your sacrificial generosity, your patience and your waiting will be rewarded. And here's a final curtain call to those of you who have not yet made your contribution to our Archbishop's Annual Appeal for 2008. We are $19,000 short and only three days off the deadline..... It's time for me to thank so many people who helped to make our Christmas a spiritual experience for all who came to us. Thank you - Eucharistic ministers and lectors, musicians and ushers, celebrants and deacons and altar servers. Thank you - sacristans, church decorators and cleaners. Thank you - altar society, liturgy committee, helpers and teen group. My special thanks to those who coordinated the various liturgical ministries. Thank you all for your generosity to our parish this Christmas. Jesus was still in diapers when his parents brought him to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord and offer sacrifice in thanksgiving. That's when two very senior citizens spot them. People age differently; some grow in fear, some in bitterness, but the most fortunate blossom into graciousness. It's possible all three ran through the hearts of old Simeon and Anna. We barely know anything about them. Only two facts are given us; Anna lost her husband after only seven years, and Simeon had been told he wouldn't see death until he'd seen the Messiah with his own two eyes. Probably their eyes had dimmed and their ears were no longer as sharp. One thing seems to have held firm: they both were attuned to picking up the scent. Two old watchdogs, waiting. Now their waiting was about to be rewarded. Much of our lives entails waiting. And while we wait we begin to wonder. Sometimes, without warning, we ask "What is it all about?" Sometimes it happens at the end of the day. Sometimes it stretches over a longer period, going on for weeks or months. Or perhaps it comes to some as the final companion of life. People continue to kill each other in our city streets. Our young are looked on with fear and suspicion. Anyone else that is different - with distrust, if not hostility. We need a different way of seeing, a fresh vision, a new voice, a different scent to pick up on. Simeon and Anna could smell God in unexpected places, like that infant in diapers restless in the arms of a tired looking young couple. That odd, old, other couple are models for us: to search for God, to wait patiently. On this Feast of the Holy Family may I invite all of you to enjoy this day with your families....and with the Lord. Your Pastor, Fr. Joe Old Men, Like Simeon Old men move me. The way courage is asked of them to walk. The way they still wear hats and tip them for a lady. How their collars stand out from their thin necks. How they are careful to balance their heads. How they do not complain but, if you ask, might say, "Most horrible!" and grin. How they wear Hush Puppies, walk silently, practicing to be ghosts. How their hair grows so white and thin lying on their frail skulls like light. How they are alone, their spindle fingers make gestures, speak in silence. How their mouths work, remembering. How their eyes, their eyes look far, far off, seeing something I do not yet know what. Norah Pollard Women - Like Anna and Mary "Unfortunately, we are heirs to a history which 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 II to Women - June 29, 1995) "Sadly, the continued reality is that women maintain higher rates of poverty despite the fact that the vast majority of the world's work is performed and completed by women. Despite many obstacles, women persevere and often provide the foundation for family life and revitalization of a community. In 3rd world countries it is women who are often the planters and growers for their families." (Catholic Relief Services) Mark Your Calendar 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. Immaculate Heart Radio Tune in to 1260 AM, 24 hours a day, for inspirational and educational programming. This is the only Catholic Radio in the Bay Area. HOSPITALITY MINISTERS for the 9:30 a.m. mass. Today, Sunday, Dec. 28 - Cecelia Prete Sunday, Jan. 4 - Youth Group Sunday, Jan. 11 - Just Fools St. Stephen 50+ Club Our next meeting is Monday, January 12 at 12:30p.m. We will meet in our Temporary Building. (Contact: Helga D’Arcy at 731-8211). OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS Weekly collection goal $ 8,000 Past weekend collection (8/10) $ 6,375 Year to Date Goal $200,000 Year to Date $165,082 Thank you! Your continued generosity to our Parish is critical and never goes unnoticed. November 2008 Stewardship, A Way of Life Thank you for your generous support of our parish.. Income This Year Last Year Collections/Sacraments $39,097 e-contributions/Collections $ 3,173 Monthly Maintenance $ 2,669 Other Unrestricted $ 11,225 Total $56,164 $37,556 Expenses Salaries & Benefits $29,390 Heating, Lighting & Power $ 1,589 Water & Wastewater $ 915 Refuse $ 1,938 Telephone $ 981 Property Maintenance $ 4,306 Worship & Parish Life $ 5,101 General & Administration $ 1,847 Total $46,067 $42,744 Net $10,097 ($5,188) Annual Appeal 2008 - Thru November 30, 2008 Goal $69,900 Pledges $48,937, 70% of goal Donors to AAA 177, Registered Parishioners 1081 Amount we are short of our goal: $20,963. 2009 Church Calendars Calendars for 2009, complements of Duggan’s Serra Family Mortuaries, are available in the back of the church. You are welcome to take more than one. POINSETTIAS The church has been adorned with poinsettias in Loving Memory of: Robert Alford & Lucille Turri Al Ambrose Anna Asdrubale Martin & Bertha Barzoloski Kathleen Dunn Brand Mel Campbell Lena Cella Mario Cella Adriana Choy Harry F. Clifford Francesco Conti Robert Conti Tarsilla Conti Charles J. Conlon JoAnn Clark Cook Mrs. Day John Andrew Debono Carole Deeb Angel de Jesus Justa de Jesus Rod de Jesus Shirley Dickensheet Anne Dito Deborah Doyle Florence Doyle Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Toledo R. Dulay Julia Dunn Margaret Jennett Dunn Richard Dunn Kathleen & Kingsley Eaton Kenneth A. Eaton Jerry C. Fitzgerald Pete Ganduglia Virginia Mary Gearhart Gisin Family Peter Granero Joan Granger Greely Families Alma Gross Ivan Gross Patricia Lynn Hanus Thomas C. Henry Henry & Anna Hillesheim Janet Horilleno Tito Horilleno Chester & Stelle Jarnatowski Emma Johnson Mr. & Mrs. George Kamena Janet & Michael Kelly Peggy Kenny Marie & George Kerwin Kirby Family Jana Klanjac Martin & Theresa Kyne Pearl & Frank LaBelle Jane Loretta Lawler Leehane Families Dominic M. Leonardini Christie Linehan Patrick Linehan Lola Lommori Mary Catherine Loney Mark William Loney Mary Looney Mr. & Mrs. Dino Lucci Domenic & Faustina Luscri Leo T. McCarthy Louis & Paul Melcher Daniel Murphy Family Raymond Nelson Clifford Noonan Ethel Jennett Noonan Evelyn Olsen Frances & Martin Osmundson Joseph Palace, Jr. Millie Perez Daniel M. Pommon Mary Porter Margaret J. Quigley Luigi A. Raffetto Mary Raffetto Karen M. Reidy James T. Rodman Adriano Rosano Frank M. Ryan Aurora & Guillermo Salvador Efron Salvador Marcelina Salvador Alice Sanderson Lorraine Saulpaugh Alfred & Florence Schneider Mrs. Irene Schoenfeld E. Philip Soderstrom Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Turri Josephine Marie Stender Dan & Jane Sullivan Rosa Veronello Semiramis Virondeau The Avani Family Vivian Family Dolores Von Holt Fred Von Holt Michael Walsh Robert F. Walsh Vera Whelan Jimmy Williams Cecilia Witt And in honor of: Aviani Family Ann Barrios Children & Grandchildren of Anthony Lou & Lana Bulis-Lou Clifford Family Mary & James Finn Frank & Mary Glynn Mary Elizabeth Henry Priests at St. Stephens Helen Mariscotti Sheila McCarthy Alene and Charlie Meyers & Family Mrs. Ellen Stalder Robert, Kyle & Kevin Reidy Jesse Tribulato Loretta Tribulato
	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 December 15 thru 21 were: Adrienne Tiña, Gino Gandolfo, Thomas McGovern, Jay Francisco, Mikayla Minnick, Logan White, Emilia Holl, Kira McPolin, Adriana Suarez, Tony Suarez, Kimberly Yan, Danny Casey, Marisa Pashby, Michael Desmond, Mathew Pashby, Erin Lithgow, and Sergio Mungcal.
	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: ___________________________