St. Stephen Catholic church

2491 James River Turnpike, Ona, WV 25545

(304) 743-3234

Reverend Paul Yuenger WEB SITE: www.ststephens1.com E MAIL: ststephens@suddenlinkmail.com

PARISH COMMITTEE & GROUP CHAIRS

WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS

If you would like to become member of our parish, please remove this portion of the page and fill out the following information. You may place it in the collection basket, mail it, or bring it to the parish office

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OUR MISSION STATEMENT

St Stephen Catholic Church, as a family of believers, is committed to pray, to teach, to study and to share our gifts and talent with those whose lives we touch daily. The mission of our Parish is to proclaim the Gospel of

Our Lord Jesus Christ and to build a loving, caring community.

Pastoral Council ….…….....…...... Chris Martin

Finance Council….…….....…......

Eucharist ………….…….....…..... Clara Schulte

Liturgy …………………..............… Jean Valdes

Liturgy ........................... Sister Mary Grace Barile

RCIA ..................…...….......….... David Warner

Christian Service ….......…….....

Co-chairperson ........................... Beckie Mohn

Faith Outreach ........................... Patrick Grace

Music Director ……………..... Marieanne Cordle

Education Director ……….... Christine Anderson

C.W.I.T. ……........................... Marge Carpenter

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

February 28, 2016

Special Intention Mass for

Sid and Karen Fragale

MASS SCHEDULE

Tuesday 7:30 A.M.

Friday 7:30 A.M.

Sunday 11:30 A.M.

CONFESSION

Thursday 5:00 - 6:00 P.M.

OFFICE HOURS 8:30 A.M.—2:30 P.M. Monday through Friday

OFFICE STAFF Alyssa Morabito & Carol Nowak

PARISH SCHEDULES CONTRIBUTIONS

February 28, 2016

A Family Perspective by Bud Ozar

The owner of the fig tree was impatient because the tree did not live up to his expectations. In families there are those who don’t live up to our expectations. Imitate the gardener and give them more time and help. Don’t cut them our of your life. Love asks us to be connected, not productive.

GATHERING In These Days of Lenten Journey (vs. 1 & 3) 130

PSALM 103 The Lord is Kind and Merciful Pg. 80

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Pg. 81

PREPARATION Unless a Grain of Wheat 509 COMMUNION Create in Me Choir

SENDING FORTH I Heard the Voice of Jesus 460

MUSIC

March 6, 2016 February 21, 2016

HOST

Alan and Charlene Hawkins

CROSS BEARER

Jim Adkins

READERS

Jane Lake, Bil Neal

COMMUNION

Barbara Hultin, Chris Martin, Clara W. Schulte, Rex Newby, Andy Footo

ALTAR SERVERS

KITCHEN HOSPITALITY

Angie and Kristen Footo

DOUGHNUT PICKUP

Linda and Trey Bedway

COLLECTION COUNTERS

Pauletta Lyzenga, Cheryl Warden

WATER PLANTS

Pauletta Lyzenga

HOST

John and Joyce Moore

CROSS BEARER

John Moore

READERS

Joyce Moore, Dave Warner

COMMUNION

Dave Warner, Michael Smith, George Gonsowski, Christine Adkins, Melanie Ague Beckett

ALTAR SERVERS

KITCHEN HOSPITALITY

Cindy and George Gonsowski

DOUGHNUT PICKUP

Mary and Chris Crytzer

COLLECTION COUNTERS

Bruce Boone, Rick Sang

WATER PLANTS

Volunteer needed

Regular Collection

$ 1583.75

Maintenance

$ 40.00

Social Concerns

$ 12.00

Mass Stipends

$ 50.00

Church in Central-

Eastern Europe

$ 5.00

_______________________

Total $ 1690.75

SUNDAY, February 28

Adult Catechesis 11:10-11:20 A.M.

Mass 11:30 A.M. Special Intention

Sid and Karen Fragale

Special Collection for

Diocesan Priests’ Retirement Fund

MONDAY, February 29

TUESDAY, March 1

Mass 7:30 A.M. Special Intention

Louis and Mary Fischer

AA 8:00 P.M.

WEDNESDAY, March 2

Choir 7:00 P.M.

THURSDAY, March 3

Confessions 5:00-6:00 P.M.

Liturgy Meeting 6:30 P.M.

St. Katharine Drexel

FRIDAY, March 4

Mass 7:30 A.M. Special Intention

George and Cindy Gonsowski

St. Casimir

SATURDAY, March 5

SUNDAY, March 6

Adult Catechesis 11:10-11:20 A.M.

Mass 11:30 A.M.

Special Intention

Grace Gosselin

CALENDAR

Page 3

Just a friendly Reminder:

When leaving Mass please try to pick up any trash or bulletins left in chairs. We must remember this is God’s house and a place of worship that must be kept clean.

Thank you!

March 6, 2016

READING I Joshua 5:9a, 10-12

READING II 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

GOSPEL Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

If you know of someone that is home-bound please contact the parish office so we can send them the weekly bulletin and Fr. Paul can pay them a visit.

Please prayerfully consider donating to our local food pantry, E.C.C.H.O. Pantry items needed: canned goods, corn, soups, mixed vegetables, fruits, hot dog sauce, spaghetti sauce, boxed

baking goods, cereals and dried beans. Household items: pillows, blankets, comforters, sheets, small

appliances, kitchen utensils, and cooking items. Personal care items: toothpaste, deodorant, soap,

and shampoo are always in need.

Items can be placed in the hallway coat closet.

Rice Bowl Collection

Rice bowls will be handed out on Ash Wednesday. They will also be available in the vestibule each Sunday and will be collected on Palm Sunday.

If you would like to add a friend or loved one to our prayer list, the PRAYER BOOK can be found on the

Please keep in your Prayers

Jim Hultin

Chris Martin

Audrey Cheke

Tom Ferris

Jim Rudersdorg

Sunday, March 6 at 3:00 P.M.

St. Stephen

Sunday, March 13 at 3:00 P.M O.L.O.F.

Lenten Retreat

Fr. Godwin, Chaplain of St. Mary’s Medical Center, will present a Lenten retreat sponsored by Catholic Daughters of the Americas on Saturday,

March 12.

Registration is at 9:30 A.M. and the retreat ends at 3:00 P.M.

Place: Sacred Heart Catholic Church

2015 Adams Ave., Huntington, WV

Cost: $10 per person which includes lunch.

Everyone is welcome!

Adult Catechesis

Our Catholic faith teaches: Through the priest’s reciting the Eucharistic prayer invoking the Holy Spirit to come down upon the elements and repeating the words Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, “This is my body. Take and eat. This is my blood. Take and drink,” (Mark 14: 22-24) the host and the wine are transformed into Jesus’ body and blood. The process is known, theologically as transubstantiation.

The literal meaning is that “one substance (or essence) becomes another.” What are called accidental properties color and taste remain. Jesus’ words in scripture are crystal clear about this: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you do not have life in you. My flesh is real food, my blood is real drink” (John 6:53, 55). While transubstantiation describes an instantaneous change, “Real Presence” describes the effect of that change. Pope Francis recently reiterated that all Catholics are bound to believe in the Real Presence.

The Faith Outreach Committee

Stations of the Cross

Our Lady of Fatima

Stations with the School Children:

Fridays during Lent at 2:30 P.M.

Friday, March 4 at 7:00 P.M.

Friday March 11 at 7:00 P.M.

Friday, March 18 at 7:00 P.M.

Friday, March 25 at Noon

Please join us!

Catholic Daughters of the Americas

Meeting: Tuesday, March 1, 2016

11:30 A.M. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Please bring your brown bag lunch. Plans for the National Convention to be discussed.

Request newborn baby donations for Lily’s Place.

Catholic Relief Services Collection

Next week, our parish will take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection. This collection supports six Catholic agencies that touch more than 100 million lives around the world. The funds from this collection help provide food to the hungry, support to displaced refugees, and Christ’s love and respect to all people. Please give generously to The Catholic Relief Services and help Jesus in disguise.

Bulletin Information

Please turn in your information by Friday, one week in advance, at 8 A.M.

Thank you!

Our Lady of Fatima Church & Parish School

Lenten Fish Dinners

Fridays February 12th—March 18th

5:00 P.M.—7:00 P.M.

$10.00 Adults; Children 4 to 12 $7.00

Family of 4 or more $30.00

Third Sunday in Lent

We have in the first reading the calling of Moses. Here was a man who was a criminal in Egypt and had fled for his life. Yet God gave him a special mission. Do we base our paying attention to God’s word based upon who it is that is preaching? Do we discount the words of truth because we do not like what is said or the person who is delivering God’s word?

The second reading has Paul telling us to not grumble as some of the Israelites did. We have heard that pride goes before the fall, here he challenges us that whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.

The people Jesus is talking to in the Gospel are pointing fingers at others and saying they were great sinners. Jesus reminds us that we need to keep our own house in order. Pointing fingers does not serve a positive ending. Jesus reminds us if we do not repent, we will all perish. Let us during this Lenten season focus on keeping our own house in order before we worry about others.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

In the first reading we hear that the Lord loves us so much that even though we deserve condemnation He will remove our guilt and punishment once we have repented.

In the second reading we hear, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” God desires not punishment and condemnation but a positive relationship. Punishments are not seen as retribution but encouragement for reformation of our lives. Lent calls us to turn from our sins and seek God’s forgiveness.

In the Gospel we have two sons. One admits his mistakes and asks forgiveness, the other didn’t do anything wrong but holds a grudge against his father and brother because of the brother’s acceptance back into the family after a wayward life. What grudges are we holding against God or our brothers and sisters? Do we welcome everyone back or do we want “justice” first?

Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy

“Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly. Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession.”

St. Isidore of Seville

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