3rd Week of Lent...A note from the Pastor

3rd Week of Lent

A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR:

Dear beautiful children of God,

This past February, 6045 attended Sunday Masses at St. Stephen, thankfully in that month we did not have one single reported case of COVID-19 because of Mass attendance. I want to publicly thank our maintenance people who tirelessly have worked to keep us all safe by their sanitizing of the Church in between Masses. I also want to thank each of you for being so understanding and caring for each other. It will be great when we do not have to wear masks to church anymore, but that time has not yet come. When it does come, I think we should have a parish picnic and a ceremonial burning of our masks, while we shake one another’s hands and wish peace to the other.

Please continue to be patient with me and the other ministers in the Church, we are trying our best, even while at times making mistakes. You may have noticed that we have more people back at Mass especially the 4:30 pm vigil and 9:30 and 11:30 am, please sit no more than 6 feet apart from the other people in the pew. Our pews are huge, and we should never just have three people in a big pew. Four groups of parishioners can comfortably fit in the center pews while keeping social distancing.

I thought this would have all been over by last Easter, boy was I wrong. I do hope and pray that we will be back to a more normal setting in out Church sometime this summer. In the meantime, keep the faith, share the faith and be safe out there.

Peace and joy,

Fr. Dermot

Holy Week

Coming to Mass during Holy Week? Here's what you need to know...

Palm Sunday - There will be no procession into the church. Parishioners are invited to "Bring Your Own Palms" and be seated as if attending a regular Sunday Mass.

Daily Mass - There is no daily Mass or morning prayer from Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday.

Holy Thursday - There will not be a procession at the end of Mass on Holy Thursday. The priests and altar servers will process to the FLC, while the choir sings in the church. Once the clergy leave the FLC, the faithful are invited to travel to the FLC to reverence our Lord.

Veneration of the Cross - There will be no Adoration of the Holy Cross during the liturgy, Fr. Dermot will reverence the cross on behalf of the parishioners.

Easter Sunday - There will be no 5:30pm Mass on Easter Sunday. Seating will begin in the church with overflow going into the Family Life Center. Church doors will close five minutes before Mass starts. Those arriving after the doors close should proceed directly to the Family Life Center.

Thank you all for patience and understanding during these unique and challenging times as we work to maintain a welcoming yet safe environment for all who worship.

Looking for a new job?

St. Stephen Catholic Church

We have Part-Time openings at the Parish.

Maintenance ( 2 Part-Time Positions)

If interested, download the application and email to

Tom@ststephencatholic.org.

Stewardship

St. Vincent de Paul ~Lenten Food Drive

The SVdP trailer will be in front of the FLC beginning March 6 through March 14.

The following items are needed:

Peanut Butter *** Most needed

Canned Meat *** Most needed

Canned Green Beans

Canned Corn

Macaroni & Cheese

Dry Pastas

And, we can always use paper grocery bags. If you would like to donate but are not able to get to the trailer, you can make a donation at the SVdP website

svdpriverviewfl.org

Thank you and God bless you during this Lenten Season.