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.
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Bishop Parkes will Consecrate the Diocese of St. Petersburg to St. Joseph on May 1, 2021.
You are invited to join Bishop Gregory Parkes as he consecrates the Diocese of St. Petersburg to St. Joseph on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle.
This 30 minute prayer service will start at 12:00 p.m.
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Holy Communion Lines Return
Next Week
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Beginning May 3, 2021, Monday, 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.
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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. |
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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.
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First Holy Communion
May 1 and 8, 2021
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For the first two Saturdays in May, we as a faith community will celebrate the children of our parish receiving Eucharist for the first time. There will be 155 children who will be nourished on Christ’s Body and Blood to strengthen them spiritually on their journey as young disciples. The children of St. Stephen will receive their Savior Jesus Christ for the very first time in the Eucharist. The joy and innocence of these beautiful amazing children of God shines so brightly on their special day.
We, as adults, teach our children many things, but they learn most from our attitude and example rather than our words. What are the youth of this parish learning from us about living the Catholic faith?
As the children from our parish rejoice in their first experience of receiving the Eucharist, it is good for us more mature followers of Jesus Christ to ask: are we still excited when we receive Holy Communion? Has it become just a habit or do we still long to eat the flesh of the Son of Man?
As our children are strengthened by the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist, are we still living our life as a dignified Temples of the Holy Spirit?
God Bless,
Fr. Dermot
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On May 9, 2021, there will be a complementary Mother’s Day breakfast. We have an awesome team of volunteers from the St. Stephen Men's Club and Knights of Columbus that will prepare and serve the food. The Community for Women and the Columbiettes will decorate for our mothers. We will be serving a delicious breakfast that will include eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, pancakes and more. This breakfast will be offered after the 7:30 a.m. Mass and 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 9. These events will be located in the Family Life Center gymnasium. Our seating plan will include the appropriate social distancing given by the CDC guidelines. Every mother who attends will receive not only food and a warm welcome, but also a little token to show them how special they are. They will also receive a special blessing! Please invite your mother and bring the whole family! |
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May 8 and 9, 2021
We welcome all the children to be part of May Crowning. Mary will be crowned at every Mass: 4:30 p.m., 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30a.m and 5:30 p.m. Each child will be provided with a flower to take up to our Blessed Mother. Please arrive with your child at the front of the church 10 minutes prior to Mass to line up and process in. After the Mass, the children will be able to take a flower to their mother.
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Would you open your home to welcome our Blessed Mother for a week’s stay? The Legion of Mary is sponsoring the Pilgrim Virgin statue to travel among the homes of our St. Stephen parishioners. Our Immaculate Mother would love to visit and pray with you and your family, bringing you her peace and consolation. For more information, or to reserve your visit, please call Betty at (813) 390-0896. |
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Thursday Night Bible Study |
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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.
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We are currently forming a Young Adult Group to help build a community of Catholics who share a common faith and enjoy meeting new people. We participate in regularly scheduled events, including socials, small group Bible studies, volunteer opportunities, and more.
If you are looking to meet new people in the community while growing in your faith and partaking in group activities, please reach out to Eddie Gemma at eddie@ststephencatholic.org or find us on Facebook at St. Stephen Young Adult Group.
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Our mission is to exercise and play basketball while we fellowship with other men in the church. The Men’s Parish Basketball Night is on Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This night is for men who are 35 and older. With COVID-19 protocols still in place, the limited number of players is 15. Please join us on Thursdays in the Family Life Center. |
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This fellowship of men and women share their experience, strength and hope with each other, that they solve their common challenges and help others to recover from alcoholism. Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Portable 2. Please feel free to join us and contact AA@ststephencatholic.org. |
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Retreat Opportunity for Women
USF Catholic Student Center
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May 8, 2021
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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!
Register by May 3rd at this link: https://bit.ly/3sFttRn. If you have any questions contact Kristina at (786) 897-9669.
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Mother's Day Retreat
Diocese of St. Petersburg
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This retreat is for all who long for motherhood. Whether you are experiencing primary or secondary infertility, miscarriage or loss, adiagnosis or unexplained, and everything in between. This retreat is for you.
Join us for live and pre-recorded talks that explore belonging: to Christ, in marriage, and in our communities.
If you are carrying the cross of infertility, you are not alone.
Free registration: www.springinthedeset.org.
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3rd Annual Marian Congress
Diocese of St. Petersburg
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This year’s Marian Congress is May 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This year it is virtual and the theme is “Mary Welcomes You With Open Arms.” This event will help us to imitate our Blessed
Mother’s heart of hospitality.
The keynote speaker is Father Chris Alar, MIC, National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. There is no cost to participate. At 11:30 a.m., Bishop Gregory Parkes will celebrate Mass and lead participants in a renewal of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. All are encouraged to participate virtually.
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Get to Know Your Future Priest
Diocese of St. Petersburg
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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.
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Villa Madonna School Alumni Association |
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The Salesian Sisters have launched the Villa Madonna School Alumni Association. We welcome students who attended or graduated from Villa Madonna, St. Joseph, Christ the King, or ANY SALESIAN school along with parents, teachers, and school staff. Please go to villamadonnaschool.com (alumni tab top right) to learn more or call Cynthia Spano at (813) 833-4883.
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$277,322.23 pledged!
Thank you!
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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!
We get closer to the goal every day, thank you!
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St. Stephen Catholic Church
We have Part-Time openings at the Parish.
Maintenance ( 2 Part-Time Positions)
Tom@ststephencatholic.org.
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Looking for a daily relationship with God? |
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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!
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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.
Or find other options!
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Apps
There are also catholic apps which facilitate devotion. These apps share daily prayers, the saint of the day, prayers, daily readings, and much more.
Download today!
A good app to download is Laudate. Simply go to your app store and search Laudate, then download.
It's free!
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How do you engage with God on a daily basis?
Your fellow parishioners would love to know!
Email communications@ststephencatholic.org.
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Facebook and Instagram
Parish: @ststephencatholicchurch
Lifeteen: @st.stephen_lifeteen
School: @sscsmustangs & @sscsfl.org
Encourage others to subscribe to the Cornerstone!
Share this link below with your family & friends!
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Annual Field Trip to
Nature’s Classroom
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Sanctuary Lamp
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, April 30
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. Pray for Lloyd and Thelma McLaughlin (RIP).
Confessions (chapel)
After the 8:30 am Mass till no one is in line.
1:00 p.m. Visitation 2:00 p.m. Memorial Mass (church)
Pray for the repose of the soul of Richard Skidmore.
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Saturday, May 1
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. Pray for Jim Lott (RIP).
2:45 Confessions (chapel) till no one is in line.
4:30 p.m. Pray for the parishioners.
Today, we pray for all of the children who are receiving their First Holy Communion.
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Sunday, May 2
Mass (Church)
7:30 a.m. Pray for Marie and Louie Bergeron (RIP).
11:30 a.m. Pray for Gail Sherman (RIP).
5:30 p.m. Pray for Clare Thatcher (LIV).
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Monday, May 3
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. Pray for Jimmy Burger (RIP).
Confessions (chapel)
After the 8:30 am Mass till no one is in line.
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Tuesday, May 4
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. Pray for the deceased members of the Aufiero and Cipriani families (RIP).
6:00 pm Confessions (chapel) till no one is in line.
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Wednesday, May 5
Mass (church)
Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations (chapel)
After 8:30 Mass - 6:00 p.m.
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Thursday, May 6
Mass (church)
8:30 a.m. Pray for Armani Alicea (RIP).
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