St. Stephen Catholic Church
Spreading the Light of Jesus Christ
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Prayer to St. Joseph
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.
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Given the rising infection rate of COVID-19 in our area, Fr. Dermot has decided that we should once again move back to the main church for daily Mass. As of yesterday, August 25, daily Mass is now back in the church instead of the chapel.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. We kindly ask that if you are not vaccinated or have natural immunity, please continue to wear a mask on church property.
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Our church offices will be closed on Friday, September 3, and Monday, September 6, in observance of Labor Day. Further, daily Mass on Monday, September 6, will be at 10:00 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. Our offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 7. If you have an emergency and find yourself in need of a Roman Catholic priest, please call (813) 689-4900 and press 8. |
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Choir practices start on September 8, 2021. Choir practice will now be on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. If you are interested, please contact Deacon Mike Sweeney at (813) 689-4900 Ext. 3260 or dcnmike@ststephencatholic.org.
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Have you registered your child(ren) for Faith Formation?
Registration is open! Our classes begin in September and they are filling up! Please register today! To register, stop by the Office of Faith Formation, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can also download our registration forms from our parish website. Click here to download! For additional information, please contact our office at (813) 671-4434.
Register In Person
When you come to Mass this Sunday, stop by the Family Life Center to meet our Faith Formation Staff! They will be happy to help you to register your child(ren) for Faith Formation. They will be in the Family Life Center Gymnasium after the 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Masses!
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So that we do not forget our modern-day heroes, St. Stephen Catholic Church will once again be hosting the Annual Blue Mass, on Tuesday, September 7 at 6:00 p.m. We will be honoring those who continue to protect us as well as remember those heroes who have gone home to the Lord. We encourage you to invite first responders, doctors, nurses, police, fire and military personnel so that we can show them how much their service means to us as individuals and as a community. |
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Join us for a self-guided retreat day. The day will be built around praying the Liturgy of the Hours. We will be praying for world peace and in remembrance of the tragedy of 9/11 and in honor first responders, doctors, nurses, police, fire and military personnel. This Day of Prayer is a great way to pray for and thank those heroes in our lives as well as to pray for the well-being of our country. If we once again come together as One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, we can do great things to honor our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through Him and with Him, we can help to change the world.
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St. Vincent de Paul Annual Tea |
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Ladies and little ladies are invited to join us for a fun filled event. You may choose to invite your friends and family and be a table hostess or join someone else’s table. Come and enjoy entertainment by St. Stephen’s Catholic School music group. The cost to attend is $20 per person for an array of homemade goodies! Try your chance of winning one of the following raffle prizes: 55” Smart TV, iPad Air and a Magnolia and Vine Versa Purse.
Contact Arlene Stein for reservations or more information at (813) 245-1171 or arstein@outlook.com.
All of the proceeds benefit the ministry work of St. Vincent de Paul. If you cannot attend this event, please consider making an online donation. Please find the link below to do so!
For more information about being a hostess, click here!
If you cannot attend this event but would like to donate, click here!
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The Knights of Columbus is once again starting up the 2021 Fall Bowling League. This is a 10 week co-ed bowling league that will begin on September 12 and run through November 21, with a bye week on October 31. Parishioners must be 21 or older to participate. We bowl a three-game set on Sunday nights starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Alley of South Shore. The cost for each three-game set is $12.00 per person.
The league is open to existing league members, Columbiettes, Brother Knights and their families and friends. This means all members of the St. Stephen Parish! So come on out and have some fun!
If you do not have a full team of four bowlers do not worry. We will form new teams several days before the first night. Please let Mark Lovejoy know, at Lovejoy6951@gmail .com or (813) 495-3583, know no later than September 6. 2021, if you wish to participate.
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2021 Soccer Free Kick Challenge |
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The Knights of Columbus once again invite boys and girls ages nine to 14 to come out and participate in the 2021 Soccer Free Kick Challenge. Parents, please pick up the participation form from the School Office and return it no later than Wednesday, September 8 to the School Office. This allows time to complete the certificates and set up rosters. Forms may also be downloaded, click here!
The challenge is a “free kick” from 12 yards. Three practice kicks and 15 attempts to score five points (center), 10 points (bottom corners) or 20 points (top corners). In the event of a tie in the same age group there will be free kicks from 15 yards, three shots each until we have a winner.
During this challenging time it is also requested that each participant have a mask on, but may remove it during their time at the line. All judges will wear masks and we also ask that the six feet social distancing practice remain, unless you are together with immediate family members during the event. Chairs and tents may be brought if you choose. We will also have hand sanitizer available. Water and snacks provided.
We warmly welcome you to this year’s event and hope to see a good turn out from each age group boys and girls! When you arrive, please park along the road in the grass across from the field or in the school parking lot.
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Planning Funerals
Bereavement Ministry
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The Bereavement Ministry is excited to announce that our webpage, Funerals, has been updated to assist families with planning a Funeral or Memorial Mass for their loved one. The site walks the family through the whole process including Flowers, Hymns, First and Second Readings, Psalms, Gospels and Prayers of the Faithful. Many families have already used the site, and give it praise for its ease of use and clear explanations. Click here to check it out!
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Your spiritually adopted baby weighs over one pound now, and his mother can feel his movement. Before this time he was too small for her to feel. Although he swam with ease in his watery world, he needed to be big and strong enough to kick hard against the outside wall and dent it. We are midway through the pregnancy now. Your prayers have helped your baby’s mother continue with her pregnancy and seek the help she needs.
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.
For more information about spiritual adoption, click here!
For more information about the stages of development, click here!
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Our Lady of Fatima Pilgrim Statue |
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We have reached 97.19%
$374,438.12 pledged!
$339,229.06 paid!
Thank you!
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Help your parish serve in Christ’s name by donating.
"For it is in giving that we receive."
St. Francis of Assisi
Help your diocese reach 11 million by helping your parish reach $385,325.
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The clergy calendars for August and September are posted on the St. Stephen Catholic Church website. Click this link!
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Silver Rose Procession 2021 |
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Men's Club Scholarship Award Winner
Callie McCool
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Sanctuary Lamp
August 28 to September 3, 2021
The 50th Wedding Anniversary of
Daryl and Rockie Woods.
If you are interested in having the sanctuary lamp burn in honor or in memory of a loved one, please call (813) 689-4900.
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Friday, August 27
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. (church and livestreamed) Pray for Ada St. John (LIV).
Confessions (chapel) After the 8:30 am Mass till no one is in line.
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Saturday, August 28
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. (church and livestreamed) Pray for Nancy Shirina (LIV).
Funeral Mass 11:00 a.m. (church) Pray for the repose of the soul of Judy Kelly.
2:45 Confessions (chapel) till no one is in line.
4:30 p.m. (church) Pray for Judy Barchfield (RIP).
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Sunday, August 29
Mass (church)
7:30 a.m. Pray for Caroline Straughn (RIP).
11:30 a.m. (church and livestreamed) Pray for the parishioners.
5:30 p.m. Pray for Fred Thibault (RIP).
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Monday, August 30
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. (church and livestreamed) Pray for Anita Growkowski (LIV).
Confessions (chapel) After the 8:30 am Mass till no one is in line.
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Tuesday, August 31
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. (church and livestreamed) Pray for Cameron McGowen (RIP).
6:00 pm Confessions (chapel) till no one is in line.
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Wednesday, September 1
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. (church and livestreamed) Pray for vocations.
Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations (chapel)
After 8:30 Mass - 6:00 p.m.
Especially pray for our Seminarians Caleb and Christian.
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Thursday, September 2
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. (church and livestreamed) Pray for Ron Cibrone (RIP).
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Church Calendar of Events |
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See what is happening at your church!
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Facebook and Instagram
Parish: @ststephencatholicchurch
Lifeteen: @st.stephen_lifeteen
School: @sscsmustangs & @sscsfl.org
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