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April 7, 2019 Vol. 37 No. 35

St. Stephen’s Catholic Church 4601 Neely Avenue Midland, Texas 79707 (432) 520-7394 Fax (432) 520-7395

www.ststephensmidland.com

Rev. Rodney White, Pastor Assistant Pastor: Rev. Adam Droll & Rev. Freddy Perez

Deacons: Leonard Hendon, Luis Mata, Fidel Saldivar, Larry Salazar Sisters: Gertrudis Muñoz, Leonila Torres, Lupita Ibanez

Youth Director: Thomas Shows Director of Religious Education: Gretchen Lara

Music Director: Gabriel Salgado

NOMINATIONS – PARISH COUNCIL

ST. Stephen’s needs a few good men/women to serve on the Parish Council. We have positions openings. If you feel called to serve, please fill out a form on the table in the Church Foyer and place it in the box provided. If you do not feel called, but you know someone who could be great on the Council. Please submit their name (after getting their permission).

ELECCIONES - CONSEJO PARROQUIAL La iglesia necesita algunas buenas personas para servir en el Consejo Parroquial. Si se siente llamado a servir, por favor complete un formulario en la mesa en el foyer de la Iglesia y colóquelo en la cajita. Si quiere nominar a alguien que podría ser excelente en el Consejo, por favor inscriba los nombres (después de obtener su permiso).

Come join us for the Stations of the Cross every Friday in the

Main Church after 5:30 PM Mass

Lenten Dinners After the 5:30 PM Mass &

Stations of the Cross

April 12, 2019—Fish Fry by Women’s Organization & Knights of Columbus **

*Donations appreciated **MUST HAVE PR-PAID TICKETS. Tickets will be available after all Masses or at the Parish office.

You’re invited to St. Stephen’s Annual Fish Fry

Friday, April 12, 2019 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

In the Parish Hall

Sponsored by the Women’s Organization and the Knights of Columbus

Advance Tickets can be purchase from the

Women’s Organization after all Masses in the Foyer or at the Parish Office.

Cost is $10.00 per plate

Menu: Fried Cat Fish, Cole Slaw, French Fries, and Hush Puppies

Deadline to buy tickets is on Wednesday, April

10, 2019 before 12 Noon at the Parish Office.

**PLEASE NOTE: NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD at the door the night of the Fish Fry so that all ticket

holders may be served.**

For further information, please contact any Women’s Organization member or call the parish office at

432-520-7394.

LENTEN PENANCE SERVICES 2019 St. Ann’s (Midland) April 16, 2019 at 7:00 PM St. Joseph’s (Odessa) April 17, 2019 at 6:00 PM

2nd Year Philosophy at Conception Seminary Birthday: September 7, 1998

From: Midland, TX Parish: San Miguel Archangel

Favorite Food: Home Cooked Meals Likes Running, Singing and Watching College

Football PRAY FOR DAVID!

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ST. STEPHEN’S CONFESSION SCHEDULE

Monday - Tuesday - Thursday - Friday 6:45 am - 7:00 am; 12 noon - 12:15 pm; & 5:00 -

5:30 pm

Wednesday 6:45 a.m.-7 a.m.; 12 noon-12:15 p.m.;

5-5:30 p.m.; & 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Saturday 7:45 am - 8:00 am; 4:00 - 4:45 pm

Sunday 20 minutes prior to each Mass

And anytime, by appointment

New Hope Counseling 4400 N. Big Spring St

(432) 687-4673

Francis Hymel D.MIN, LPC, LMFT

Last Week’s Collection

Regular Deposit: $ 26,299.49 Other Income: $ 434.30 Catholic Relief Services: $ 5,287.63

Financial reports are available in the parish office.

Marriage Counseling, Children, Adolescence, Adults, & Families

This weekend’s special collection is for the poor of Midland as distributed by Helping Hands of Midland.

Please help. Thank you!

Sunday, April 7 - Fifth Sunday of Lent

Monday, April 8

Tuesday, April 9

Wednesday, April 10

Thursday, April 11

Friday, April 12

Saturday, April 13

Sunday, April 14 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

For the week of April 7, 2019

St. Stephen's is seeking a full-time accountant to prepare monthly journal entries, perform general account analysis and

reconciliations, including bank statements, and the necessary financial duties of our parish. Knowledge of QuickBooks/MS Office and an accounting background preferred. This is a full-time position with benefits. The applicant must have at least a Bachelor's degree in accounting or business (with accounting background). Please send a resume and professional references to RWhite@SanAngeloDiocese.org

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April 7 Sulema Bastin Joaquin Beltran Sandra Bonner Damian Cruz

Sean Diaz Tracey Jimenez Joseph Martinez

Santa Molina Angel Ramirez Angel Saenz

April 8 Vanessa Alvarado

Alan Carrillo Christian Flores David Hennig Amanda Matta

Antonio Rodriguez Sawn Vum

Abraham Zuniga

April 9 Alex Gonzalez Daniel Munoz Adriel Ramirez Elizabeth Smith

April 10 Jude Garcia

Mariel Hernandez M/M Edward Leps

Sonia Montano Hannah Munoz

Maddux Ontiveros Annabeth Villalobos

April 11 Elaine Barger

Nicole Dragisic Ervey Gomez Jr. Rosa Hermosillo Alexis Hernandez

Uvaldo Ramos Michael Repman

Domingo Reynosa Marissa Saldivar

April 12 Roy Bermea

Alylin Galindo Cesar Gonzalez

Melissa Gutierrez Sarah Lopez

Bianca Martinez Zoey Nunez Raul Pena

Michael Ripkowski Elaine Salgado Erika Vasquez

John Willis Luis Yanez

April 13 Jayden Cowell Hilda Garibay Gilbert Mattos Sisto Medrano Steve Murphy Fabian Rincon

Chasity Sanchez Derek Sanchez Liliana Vazquez

April 14 Rebecca Bermea

Rosemarie De la Rosa Linda Digennaro JoAnn Franco

Stephanie Gentry Lauren Lara Melissa Lara

Domenique Lujan Ofelia Pallanez Kevin Pickens

Berenice Romero Alexandra Saenz

Javen Trujillo

Martha Negrete, Jaelynn Garcia, Veronica Garcia, Jesse Julius Garcia, Alyss Munoz, Alejandro Munoz Jr, Avyel Munoz, Lara Family, Larry White, Josephine

Zambramo, Baby Braxton, Baby Israel Martinez, Ana Morin, Lalo Lujan, Ruth Alvarado, Jesus Munoz, Maria

Jesus Valdez, Pochito Cereceres, Eva Estrada, Blanca B., Betty Carrillo, Kim Walser, Jose Valles, Bea Herrera, Ashley McGeorge, Antonia Herrera, Benjamin Rodriguez, Luisa Hernandez de Guarche, Diane Amesquita, Dru Schelly, Pascuala Mendieta, Mark Clark, Potsy Sotelo, Jaelynn G. Garcia, Ramon Lara, Kathy Lee, Michael Perales, Fay Spangler, Fabian DeAnda Jr., Arturo & Maadi Rodriguez, Antonio Zuniga, Paul Medina, Ignacio Jr Villegas, Eva & Gustavo, Gael Hernandez, Sylvia Hernandez, Jaasiel Samayoa, Rosanne Martinez, Jimmy Marquez Family, Dolores HigginsFran Thetford, Gerald Thetford, Bob Breeze, Dragisic Family, Megan & Mallory Anthony, Chad Vecellio, Betty Macchietto, Larry & Pat White, Sandra White, Alberta Smith, Francis Botello, Lori Botello, Jorge Garcia, Ashley McGeorge, Kevin Hipler, Sonia McGeorge.

Email frontdesk.sscc@att.net or call the office at 520-7394 to be added to the prayer list! If someone needs to be removed from prayer list please contact the

office to remove request. Thank you!

Upcoming Ethics

April 8th at 6:30pm (Spanish) in St. Ann’s Annex (Midland) May 4th at 10:00am (English) in St Ann’s Parlor (Midland) May 13 at 6:30pm (Spanish) in St. Ann’s Annex (Midland)

For those of you that volunteer with CCD classes, Teachers, assistants, helpers, or with our Youth, Homeschool co-op, Cub Scouts, Vacation Bible School, Homebound & Hospital Eucharistic Ministers, YOU MUST, at least, have filled out a background check AND attend an Ethic’s workshop. To obtain a background check form please come by the Parish office or click on website: https://www.sanangelodiocese.org/background-checks

The Women’s Organization is having their general meeting this coming Monday, April 8, 2019, starting

with a meet & greet at 6:30 PM and the meeting starts at 7 PM in the Parlor. ALL ladies of St. Stephen’s are welcome to join our organization. For any information, please contact President Gloria May at 432-770-3314

St. Stephen’s Women’s

Organization

June 21-23, 2019

ALTAR SERVER NEWS We want to give special recognition to our St. Stephen’s Altar Servers We had 48 servers attend an advanced training last week. These servers demonstrated knowledge about our church and rituals that shows how much they have increased in skills. Many of them asked questions of Fr. Droll and Deacon Larry that were theological in nature. Their quest for answers and growth in the practice and

knowledge of our faith is inspirational for those of who work with them. We are so proud of this very special group of youth and their parents for their dedication and service to our parish. Please pray for our servers who will be participating in a half day retreat here at St. Stephen’s on Saturday May 4.

NOTICIAS PARA SERVIDOR DEL ALTAR Queremos dar un reconocimiento especial a nuestros servidores de altar de San Esteban. Tuvimos 48 servidores que asistieron a una capacitación avanzada la semana pasada. Estos servidores demostraron conocimiento sobre nuestra iglesia y rituales que muestran cuánto han aumentado sus habilidades. Muchos de ellos hicieron preguntas para Monsigor Droll y Deacon Larry que eran de naturaleza teológica. Su búsqueda de respuestas y el crecimiento en la práctica y el conocimiento de nuestra fe son inspiradores para quienes trabajan con ellos. Estamos muy orgullosos de este grupo tan especial de jóvenes y sus padres por su dedicación y servicio a nuestra parroquia.Oremos por nuestros servidores que participarán en un retiro aquí en St. Stephen's el sábado 4 de mayo.

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Youth News

PEEK AT THE MONTH…

April

7th – Life Teen “Fortified” @ Youth Building 6:00

5th – Youth provide Salads for Stations of the

Cross 12th—Youth provides desserts for Fish Fry 14th – Life Teen “Edified” @ Youth Building 6:00 19

th – Passion Play

21st – No Life Teen, Happy Easter!

26th – DYRT Retreat for Confirmation I

28th – Life Teen “Satisfied” @ Youth Building

6:00

Thomas Shows, Youth Director St. Stephen’s Catholic Church (432)-520-7394

Pizza Lunch Tuesday’s! Pizza Lunch: Come join us for

pizza lunch during your lunch

period! Pizza, chips, and a

drink provided for FREE.

This week in RCIA we will review our lessons on the Church, the Bible and the Sacraments as we

prepare to celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass and the resurrection of Our Lord. "RCIA" stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It's the process by which adults come into full communion with the Catholic Church. It's free, childcare is provided, we have a lot of fun and we always have something good to eat! If you have questions, feel free to email me at billberry100@aol.com.

RCIA News by Bill Berry

Youth Confirmation II—Important Dates to Remember

• April 17th—No Class

• April 24th—Parent & Sponsor Meeting @ 6:45pm

• May 9th—Confirmation Community Service Hours Due

• May 22nd—Confirmation Mass at 6:30 PM

Parents a copy of Baptismal, First Communion, & Sponsor Form should be turned into office ASAP.

Young Adults • 4/11 Jovenes Adultos Shema youth building 6:30

PM.

• 4/26 Easter BBQ Celebration for Young Adults for more information please call the Parish Office at 432-520-7394

Jovenes Adultos

Youth 1st Year Confirmation I—Important Dates to Remember

RETREAT: APRIL 26TH-28TH

Its OK to ASK for HELP!!

If you need to talk

to a priest please call the office at

432-520-7394

No CCD Classes for April 17th due to

Holy Week!

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V domingo de Cuaresma

7 de abril 2019

“En adelante no peques más”

Los escribas y los fariseos le trajeron a una “mujer” que había sido sorprendida en “pecado” y, poniéndola en medio de todos, dijeron a Jesús: “Maestro, esta “mujer” ha sido sorprendida en flagrante “pecado”. Moisés, EN LA LEY, nos ordenó apedrear a estas “mujeres”. Y tú, ¿qué dices?”. A veces nos creemos que no tenemos pecados y eso nos da la autoridad (fariseos y escribas) para opinar o juzgar a quien queramos, porque nos sentimos como “QUE SOMOS LA LEY” y lo que sabemos y decimos es verdad absoluta; juzgamos a los demás pero a nosotros mismos no, “Porque nos sentimos perfectos, solo nuestros puntos de vista, nuestras opiniones, el círculo que hemos creado, y todo lo que creemos es LEY”, ¿Soy de los creen que hemos sido elegidos por Dios con toda la LEY, para juzgar, acusar, señalar a los demás?, cuando alguien me muestra que estoy equivocado o que el punto de vista desde el cual estoy opinando es incorrecto, ¿Soy humilde para analizar y ver si estoy en lo correcto o no? o ¿Insisto en forzar para que se diga, pese a mi error, que yo tengo la razón?, ¿Entiendo que ante mis faltas, mis errores, mis equivocaciones, mis tentaciones, mis debilidades, el Señor entiende mi humanidad y Él me dice te perdono, no te condeno, aprende y no lo vuelvas a hacer, y sigue adelante? Los invito a que hagamos esta oración: Dios mío, mi Señor, en muchas ocasiones me siento con autoridad e intentó tomar tu lugar, me siento como el elegido, inmune, y empiezo a juzgar, criticar, señalar, condenar a quien yo quiera, perdóname esta falta, perdóname por esa actitud de querer tomar tu lugar, ayúdame a ser humilde y dejar todo en manos tuyas, y no tomar un lugar que no me corresponde, que salga de mi esa soberbia, esa insistencia de forzar y de querer mostrar a los demás que soy la verdad absoluta, cuando no lo soy, ni lo seré. Tu humildad y amor es enorme y siempre nos miras con misericordia, nos levantas y nos llevas adelante con amor.

Hermana Gertrudis Muñoz Mendieta I.C.A.S.

Avisos: • 9 de abril salón 8 clases de catequistas de 6:00 p.m.

a 7:00 p.m.

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Helping Hands of Midland 1301 Brinson Lane

(432) 520-8900

The call came through our helpline a while back from a man unable to pay his mortgage. His house was up for foreclosure. Our caseworker met with Antonio, a man in his mid-40’s. He suffered a major stroke 4 months previously that left him unable to work. Although he had been through extensive physical therapy to regain the motor skills he had lost, when we met with him we saw that there was still much paralysis in his face, and it was with great effort that he was able to speak – many of his words were slurred to the point of being unintelligible. He still had no use of his left hand. He had applied for disability, but as is typical of the first two or three efforts of trying to get disability insurance, he was denied. His wife had left her job when he first suffered the stroke, because he needed her at home to care for him. She was back at work when we met with Antonio, but the $10/hour wage she earned was not nearly enough to pay their expenses. She was barely able to cover utilities and put food on the table. They had fallen 3 months behind on their mortgage and were facing foreclosure. Antonio looked down at his crippled hand and with tears in his eyes, whispered: “Ma’am. I’ve tried putting in applications everywhere. Nobody wants me. Do you know what that feels like? I have always been able to take care of my family. Now I am useless. This is bad, ma’am. It’s really bad.” We enlisted the help of another agency and together we were able to bring his house payments current. We put him in touch with a local attorney who specializes in speeding up disability benefits. The law firm feels confident that they will be able to expedite the procedure. The process to receive the disability payments could still take some months, however, we will keep a watchful eye to help this couple get through this most difficult time. The watchful eye that we will keep over Antonio is possible because of you and your support of Helping Hands. God bless you for your compassion!

TWO-DAY PURSE SALE Many brand name purses will be on sale next Friday and Saturday, April 12 & 13 on the wall in our store for $10 each. Shop early for Easter!

www.helpinghandsmidland.com

Because we feel it is important that you know how and where your donations to Helping Hands are spent, here is what was done in the past week: Electric 4 families $ 888.49 Water 2 families $ 233.81 Rent 14 families $20,538.23 Medical 2 families $ 2,328.50 Home Repairs 1 family $ 3,504.99 TOTAL $27,494.02

Upcoming Baptismal Classes: Próximas clases bautismales

May 19th

English : 2:00 - 4:30 Spanish: 2:30 - 5:00

Please Call Office to Register (432) 520–7394. Por favor llame a la oficina parroquial para registrar.

If you are planning on celebrating your fifteenth birthday, starting in April there will be new requirements for a Quinceañera. For more information please come by office.

• Parents & Honoree must be practicing Catholics and registered

members of St. Stephen’s

• Honoree must have completed 2 yrs of Religious Education and

enrolled in confirmation classes

• Attend Youth Group/LifeTeen

• Attend Quinceañera Formation Class

Si planeas celebrar una fiesta de quince años, A partir de abril habrá nuevos requisitos para una quinceañera. Para obtener más información, por favor venga a la oficina.

• La familia debe ser católica y miembros de la parroquia de St. Stephen

• La quinceañera debe haber completado 2 años de educación religiosa y asistir a

clases de confirmación

• Asistir al grupo de jóvenes / LifeTeen

• Asistir a la clase de formación quinceañera.

QUINCEAÑERA FORMATION CLASS For those who have scheduled a Quinceañera celebration at our Parish, the Honoree and one of the parents MUST attend a formation Quinceañera class.

Classes are every 2nd

Saturday of the Month: April 13, 2019: 8:00 AM – 12 NOON in Spanish 1:00 PM – 3 PM in English May 11, 2019: 8:00 AM – 12 NOON 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Please call the Parish office, 520-7394, to pre-register.

CLASES DE FORMACIÓN QUINCEAÑERA

Para aquellos que han programado una celebración de quinceañera en nuestra parroquia, la quinceañera y uno de los padres DEBEN asistir a una clase de formación de quinceañera.

Las clases son cada 2do sábado del mes: 13 de abril de 2019: 8:00 a.m. a 12 del mediodía

en español 1:00 pm - 3 pm en inglés

11 de mayo de 2019: 8:00 a.m.-12 del mediodía. 1:00 pm - 3 pm en inglés Por favor llame a la oficina parroquial, 520-7394, para preinscribirse.