Fourth Sunday of Easter...Christ Welcomes You!

Memorare to Saint Joseph

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the

Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession was left unassisted.

Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not O

Guardian of the Redeemer my humble

supplication, but in your bounty, hear

and answer me. Amen.

Holy Communion Lines Will Return Soon!

Beginning May 3, 2021, we ask that you walk up to receive Holy Communion at all WEEKDAY Masses. This does not apply to the weekend Masses. However, starting Pentecost weekend, May 22-23, 2021, we will begin Holy Communion lines for all weekday and weekend Masses.

Here is what to do…

You will process up on your own, row by row.

There will not be Hospitality Ministers to guide you.

You will keep your mask on until you get to Clergy or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

Please take your mask off to receive Holy Communion.

Place you mask back on and return to your seat.

Thank you. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we begin to safely get back to normal procedures. Please be on the lookout for more information as we begin to communicate the new protocols.

Lifting the Dispensation

As of Pentecost weekend, May 22 and 23, 2021, Bishop Parkes will have lifted the dispensation. This means that those who are able to go out in public will not have their obligation to attend Mass excused any longer. Please continue to read the weekly Cornerstone and bulletin. Details about the new COVID-19 protocols for Pentecost will be released in May.

Additional Parking

As we begin to welcome more people back to Mass, please take note of these additional parking opportunities. Additional parking is located in the school parking lot. There is a covered walkway which leads straight to the church (the blue line on the map which starts at the school and goes to the church). Additional parking is also located on the south side of the church. You will proceed past the chapel and take the unpaved path into the grass parking lot.

Get to Know Your Future Priest

Deacon Israel “Izzie” Hernandez will share his journey to the priesthood during a Facebook Live on Monday, May 10, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. on the Diocese of St. Petersburg’s Facebook page: facebook.com/diostpete. Listen to his vocation story and participate in a live Q&A.

Deacon Hernandez will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 15, 2021.

Fr. Israel "Izzie" Hernandez will serve the community of St. Stephen.

Mass of Healing

Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle

For those who seek healing from various forms of abuse, along with their families and friends. You are welcome to join Bishop Parkes for a Mass of Healing for Victims of Abuse.

Opportunities for prayer with a priest or conversation with the diocese's Victim Assistance Coordinator, Mr. John Lambert, will be available following the Mass.

Thursday Night Bible Study

April 29 – July 15, 2021

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Facilitator: Bob Ward

Lectio: The Case for Jesus - Augustine Institute

In this new Lectio study, Dr. Brant Pitre draws evidence from both early Christian and non-Christian writings attesting to the authenticity, authorship, and dating of the Gospels, and he gives an in-depth look at the gospel accounts of Jesus’s Crucifixion,

Resurrection, and the proclamation of Jesus’s divinity.

Ten (10) 2-hour classes in the Faith Formation Conference Room.

Due to social distancing restrictions, the number of participants is limited.

Registration Fee: $10.00

To register or for additional information please contact Sue Haines

at the Office of Faith Formation at (813) 671-4434.

Tribunal Annulment Workshop

Very Rev. Joseph L. Waters, J.C.L. Tribunal, Judicial Vicar

Filing a Petition for a Declaration of Nullity

April 28, 2021

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Family Life Center Rooms 2 and 3

For petitioners and others who are curious about the process of seeking a Declaration of Nullity. This workshop is tremendously helpful to petitioners, parish clergy and staff who assist persons with petitions, and anyone who is interested in learning about the process.

Participants are requested to register so we can plan appropriately for social distancing.

Register online at https://ststephencatholic.org/marriage-divorce-and-remarriage or call the church office at (813) 689-4900.

Training Session

April 24, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Training sessions for our adults.

If you have questions, please contact Peggy Augensen at (813) 654-3664.

Retreat Opportunity for Women

May 8, 2021

USF Catholic Student Center, 13005 N 50th St., Tampa, FL 33617

Women 21-35 years old.

Come join us for a Young Adult Women’s mini retreat! This half-day retreat will include the recitation of the Holy Rosary, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Lectio Divina and time for sharing in small groups. Retreat will be given by Father Xavy Castro, Chaplain of Tampa Catholic. Lunch will cost $10 and will be catered from Chick-fil-A!

27th Annual Golf Tournament

Join GRCC on the golf course for a day filled with fun, friends, and food.

Get in on the action!

May 1, 2021

Summerfield Crossings Golf Club

13050 Summerfield Blvd

Riverview, Fl 33579

The midway of vendors, including food samples, located around the putting green area will be open to the public from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Both golfers and non-golfers are welcome!

The Bryan Hindman Electric Ball Drop will take place at 12:30 p.m. The lucky person who purchases the ball that lands closest to the pin will receive 60% of the funds if present (or 50% if not present). Last year's winner took home over $1,000! After the Ball Drop, the tournament opening celebration will kick-off with a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. It will be a Chamber of Commerce Day! These festivities are open to the public.

For your change to win BIG with the Bryan Hindman Electric Ball Drop, to purchase a Wagon of Cheer raffle ticket or to inquire about Sponsorship Opportunities contact (813) 234-5944 or email Gabby at Events@RiverviewChamber.com today!

Walk For Life

April 2 to May 9, 2021

Due to continuing COVID -19 restrictions, the Foundations of Life Walk/Run for Life2021 will be virtual again this year. Virtual means that you can walk for life anywhere! Participate in our contest, organize a team/group walk, challenge others or get sponsors to pledge online!

This walk will benefit the foundations of Life Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas Knights Women's Center, Perinatal ComfortCare, and Project Rachel.

Place your $10.00 Pre-Registration with Foundations of Life.

Includes T-Shirt and Baby Feet. Checks: make payable to Catholic Charities

6515 N. Armenia Ave. Tampa 33604. Credit Card: call Foundations of Life (813) 631-4393 or go online to foundationsofLife.org.

Respect Life Minitstry

Your spiritually adopted baby has been quite active over the past month. Already your baby is 10,000 times bigger than at conception. Your baby has developed the foundations of her brain, spinal cord, and nervous system by the 20^th day. Her heart began to beat on the 21^st day, pumping blood through its own circulatory system and the blood type can be different from her mother’s. Your baby is most vulnerable during the next month of being aborted. Pray that the Lord of Life might move the heart of her mother to give her the most precious gift of all - - the gift of life.

SPIRITUAL ADOPTION PRAYER

Pray this simple prayer daily for mothers in unplanned and difficult pregnancies.

Lord Jesus, we love you very much. We ask You to bless and protect all unborn

children in their mothers' wombs. Help us to see that although these babies are hidden

from our sight, they are not hidden from God.

Amen.

Lawn Maintenance Ministry

Join us, if you are 18 and older, on Saturdays to provide lawn care for the parish!

August 24, 2021 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (on average it takes two hours).

Tasks include blowing leaves, pulling weeds, clipping edges, picking up trash, and mowing the lawn. Please bring your own equipment. If you do not have equipment, then others often bring more to share. If you are willing to help, you are very welcome!

If you are interested, please contact Tom Doyle, tom@ststephencatholic.org.

Food Pantry

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to those in need.

Food is distributed each Friday from 7:30 to 1:00 p.m.

Please contact SVDP@ststephencatholic.org for information.

Annual Pastoral Appeal

$274,066.58 pledged!

Thank you!

‌

Can you sacrifice something

for the Father?

Follow in the footsteps of Christ!

The next time you are in the Chick-fil-A line, or ordering your daily Starbucks coffee, can you give that up? Once, or maybe twice? Encourage your family and friends to do the same! We are all in this together.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Please find an envelope on the right wall of the narthex. Help your diocese to reach 11 million by helping your parish reach $385,325!

Financial Summary

Click here to download the St. Stephen Parish Financial Summary as of January 31, 2021.

Thank You!

Catholic Charities thanks you for participating in the Easter Basket of Plenty Drive.

“We are grateful to all the parishes who made it possible for the children of San Jose Mission and San Juan Diego Mission to receive wonderful Easter baskets this Easter."

- Maggie Rogers, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc.

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.

Looking for a daily relationship with God?

Magnificat

Magnificat is a spiritual guide to help you develop your prayer life, and grow in your spiritual life. Your children can also participate with MagnifiKid! Right now, Magnificat is promoting the edition "Nine days with Saint Joseph."

Any Magnificat has an order form. Fill it out and mail it. Or share the order form with a friend and encourage them to order one!

If you do not have a current Magnificat, please visit https://us.magnificat.net/.

Daily Subscriptions

There are daily catholic

e-newsletters. Every morning you can receive

a quote and reflection.

Get this inspiration today!

Subscribe by visiting a website and entering your email address. For example, there is the Catholic Company, and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

https://www.morningoffering.com

https://www.usccb.org/subscribe/email

Or find other options!