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September 12th, 2021 Vol. 40 No. 6

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. Kevin Lenius

Deacons: Leonard Hendon, Luis Mata, Fidel Saldivar, Larry Salazar Director of Religious Education: Gretchen Lara

Music Director: Gabriel Salgado Youth Director: Crystal Villareal

Alaska Missionary Visit Coming up on the weekend of September 18/19, we welcome Deacon Les Maiman from the mission Diocese of Fairbanks in Alaska. The Northern Missions of Alaska is the largest geographic diocese in the United States with only seventeen priests, compounded by Alaska’s vast distances and the isolation of the Catholic communities from access to roads. Amongst the poorest dioceses in the nation, only 8 of its 46 parishes and missions are capable of financial self-support. Deacon Les will share the site story of the Catholics living in the missions of Northern Alaska at each of our Masses, and invite our prayerful consideration to helping his bishop provide for the proper pastoral and sacramental care of our far northern sisters and brothers.

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ST. STEPHEN’S CONFESSION

SCHEDULE

Monday - Friday 6:45 am - 7:00 am & 5:00 -

5:30 pm

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

pm

Sunday 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.; 11:15

a.m. - 11:45 a.m.; 4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Anytime by appointment.

Monday, September 13th– St. John Chrysostom, Bishop & Doctor of the Church 7:00 am Steve Oetting by Family 5:30 pm Petra Velasquez by Family

Tuesday, September 14th– The Exaltation of the Holy Cross 7:00 am In Thanksgiving by Gilda Mosely 5:30 pm Laura ter Haar– Dorado (HB) by Family Wednesday, September 15th– Our Lady of Sorrows

7:00 am †Vangie Garibay by Olga 5:30 pm Steve & Gloria Oetting (Wedding Anniv.) by Family

Thursday, September 16th– St. Cornelius, Pope, & Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs 7:00am †Dr. Mark Lowery by Fr. Rodney White 5:30pm In Thanksgiving by Molinar Family Friday, September 17th– St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop & Doctor of the Church 7:00am †David Gobert by Family 5:30pm †Mary Bryan by Family Saturday, September 18th 8:00 am Alena & Ralph Crivello by Family 5:00pm †Kevin Lee Garcia by Mom

September 19th– 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9:00am †Steven Lee Waldron by Mom & Sister 12:00pm †Irene Trujillo Aceves by Raquel Rodriguez

Last Week’s Collection Collections/Mailed in/Dropped off:

Regular Deposit $12,701.34 Other Income $2,302.50 Second Collections $6,746.98*

*Includes contributions for: College & University Campus Ministries & Helping Hands

Mass Intentions For the week of September 12th, 2021

Upcoming Baptismal Classes: Próximas clases bautismales

October 10, 2021 /

10 de octubre del 2021 English : 2:00 - 4:30pm Español: 2:30 - 5:00pm

Please come by the Office and present a Driver’s License to

Register

Por favor vengan a la oficina parroquial y presenten la licencia para registrarse.

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September 12 Andrea DeSpain Mark Martinez

Gianna Mendoza Christopher Nguyen

Eladio Perez Kiara Ramirez

Gregory Robichaud Esteban Rodriguez

Tina Rodriguez Georgina Salinas Lynda Sanchez Yadira Sanchez

Linda Sloan Jessica Tavarez

Maryhelen Urtado Everardo Villegas Jennifer Woodruff

September 13

Aldo Aranda Yuliana Castillo Israel Fuentes

Americo Galindo Mike Gonzales Diane Grenvik Jimmy Juarez Andres Munoz Victoria Nanez

Steven Rodriguez Robert Romero

Mark Seidenberg

September 14 Suzanne Alvarez

Carlos Armendariz Bill Berry

Sawyer Burleson Alfredo Chaparro

Aline Fuselier Martha Huerta

Mitchell Mendez Ruben Ornelas Miguel Padilla

Aracely Talamantez Osvaldo Tarango

Sebastian Vasquez Veronica Vasquez

September 15 Isabela Amalla

Anastacio Leonhardi Albert Lopez Elpidio Perez

Lorena Valenzuela Lupe Villanueva

September 16 Avery Desparrois Lucy Dominguez Alberto Garcia

Eloy Licon Victoria Licon Heidy Porras

Russell Sailler Karen Salinas

Kendra Salinas Nate Sentena

Mike Williams

September 17 Bridget Caudle Paul Dehlinger Jose Jimenez

Johnathan Lopez Yuliana Martinez Alberto Mendez Gabriel Payan

Marcos Rodriguez Lisa Sanchez

Benjamin Sasser Nicholes Sasser Bernice Trevizo

September 18 Bryan Adams

Sofia Armendariz Paige Boyd

Amir Carrasco Emily Gifford

Hannah Hardeman David Johnson Donna Kollar Toni Orozco

MaryFrances Reed Yaniri Rodriguez Isabella Sarabia

Pablo Talamantez Alyssa White

September 19 Cesar Aranda

Daniella Baeza Phyllis Bechner

Yolanda Jimenez Jade Mariscal Perla Martinez

Jonathan Montes Anna Morales Rachel Rodelo Robert Sharum Luis Terrazas

Amanda Ochoa, Betty Macchietto, Alicia, Randy, Isaiah, Cassie, Larry & Pat White, Cody and Megan Anthony, Renee Dove ,Tracy Culler ,Britt Fisk ,Jennifer Galyean, Gavino Flores Almaguer, Homero Pando Levario, Mary Borrego, Facundo Borrego & Loved ones, Juan Musquis, Yolanda Rodriguez, Alfred Garcia, Eva Garcia, Yulisa Garcia, Rudolfo & Lorena Armendariz, Katherine Shapira, Michael Gomez, †Joaquina Riveros Lozano, Michael Jackson, Manh Tran, Mika V.,

Johnny V., Randal B., Heriberto Gardea,Leah Wheeler, +Ezriah Rolfe Brown, Nilang Patel, Jaden Patel, Stella Patel, Manh Tran, +Michael Jackson, Pete and Laura, Lorraine Chavez, Micah Villa, Bob Berridge, Michelle Hogan, Mae Col & Family, Sandra Pendergrass & Family, Heather M., Alvaro C., Domingo Carrizales, Clarissa Espudo, Rudy Valdez, Sr., Rudy Valdez, Jr. and the Valdez Family, Daiga Garza & baby, Emma Valdez, Juan Musquis, Mike Jernigan, Maddalyn Bailey Hall, Heather & Josh Hall, Chris Holguin, Chito Villa & Family, Nissy Teagarden, Annie Teagarden, Dan & Kim Rusceetti, Diane Archibeque, Steve Oetting, Chris Holguin

Email Frontdesk@ststephensmidland.com 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!

Envíe un correo electrónico a frontdesk.sscc@att.net o llame a la

oficina al 520-7394 para ser incluido en la lista de oración! Si alguien necesita ser removido de la lista de oración, por favor comuníquese con

la oficina. Gracias!

RCIA NEWS We are excited about RCIA starting Tuesday, September 14 at 6:45 PM – 8:45 PM, in room 11 for Spanish and in the Parlor for English, no childcare will be provided. Would you like to learn about the faith of Catholic Christianity? Are you interested in becoming a full member of the Catholic Church? Do you need your Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation)? Then RCIA is for you! RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation for adults, and it is a journey of exploration and initiation into the Catholic Church. RCIA is a fun, safe, faith-building discovery of Jesus Christ and the Church he started. RCIA will change your life. It will bring you closer to Jesus. Is God calling you? The Catholic Church welcomes you! “RCIA” stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It is the process by which adults come into full communion with the Catholic Church. It’s free, we have a lot of fun. If you are interested in RCIA or know someone who needs their Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation) we would love to have you join us! All you have to do is send an email to billberry100@aol.com for more information (English) or vb.jaquez@outlook.com for Spanish or call the parish office or in person at 432-520-7394. Also, if you are interested in serving on the Team RCIA, please let us know. Estamos entusiasmados con RICA , Rito de Iniciación cristiana para adultos, a partir del Martes 14 de septiembre a las 6:45 PM – 8:45 PM, en el salón 11 Español e Inglés en el salón Parlor, no se proporcionará cuidado de niños. Es gratis; ¿nos divertiremos mucho y aprenderemos mucho y aprenderemos de nuestra fe católica? ¿Estas interesado en convertirte miembro de la Iglesia? Necesitas de ti sacramentos (Bautismo, Eucaristia y Confirmación) no has sido Bautizado o eres bautizado protestante y deseas conocer mas de la fe católica. RCIA es para ti! ¿Es un Viaje de exploración y te da la iniciación adentro de Iglesia católica, RCIA, es cuidadoso, construye tan fe y descubres a Cristo Jesús, cambiara tu vida, Dios te ha llamado? ¡La Iglesia católica teda la Bienvenida a ti! Te Esperamos. Envía un correo Electrónico a vb.jaquez@outlook.com en Español o al Billberry100@aol.com en Ingles, comunica a la ofician parroquial o en persona al 432-520-7394.

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Youth News

Altar Server Training For New and Experienced Youth

All youth that have received their First Holy Communion are eligible and invited to become part of our Altar Server Ministry. This is a beautiful ministry for female and male youth. We are grateful for the dedication of those who are presently part of this special ministry and we are inviting all youth who may have an interest to join us. We provide initial and ongoing training for all our servers. Deacon Lorenzo Salazar will be providing training for both English and Spanish mass servers. Servers are very important to our Sunday and Special Liturgical Celebrations. There is always pizza after every training. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to attend. The fall 2021 trainings are as follows: Monday, September 13 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Sanctuary of the Church Monday, October 4 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Sanctuary of the Church Monday, November 1 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Sanctuary of the Church For additional information or questions please contact: Anne Hobbs Daniel Lujan 432-934-3192 432-235-9774 behobbs47@gmail.com daniel@mudsmith.com Todos los jóvenes que han recibido su Primera Comunión son elegibles e invitados a formar parte de nuestro Ministerio del Servidor del Altar. Este es un hermoso ministerio para jóvenes femeninos y masculinos. Estamos agradecidos por la dedicación de aquellos que actualmente forman parte de este ministerio especial y estamos invitando a todos los jóvenes que puedan tener un interés a unirse a nosotros. Proporcionamos capacitación inicial y continua para todos nuestros servidores. El diácono Lorenzo Salazar proporcionará capacitación para servidores masivos en inglés y español. Los servidores son muy importantes para nuestras celebraciones litúrgicas dominicales y especiales. Siempre hay pizza después de cada entrenamiento. Los padres siempre son bienvenidos y se les anima a asistir. Los entrenamientos de otoño de 2021 son los siguientes: Lunes 13 de septiembre de :30 pm a 8:30 pm Santuario de la Iglesia Lunes, 4 de octubre 6:30 pm a 8:30 pm Santuario de la Iglesia Lunes, 1 de noviembre 6:30 pm a 8:30 pm Santuario de la Iglesia Para obtener información adicional o preguntas, póngase en contacto con: Anne Hobbs Daniel Lujan 432-934-3192 432-235-9774 behobbs47@gmail.com daniel@mudsmith.com

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Parousia The Bible and the Mass Location: Parlor at Stephens Catholic Church Date: September 8, 2021 Time: 9:30am-11:00am Presented by: St. Stephens morning bible class Registration: call the church office Contact Name: Joann, Kat Phone: (432)559-2658 (Joann) (432) 638-2722 (Kat)

“In the Gospel of Matthew 6:33, the Lord says, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,” and all of our earthly needs will be provided for according to God’s plan. This verse reminds me of how God has provided for my education through the sacrifices of the people of the Diocese of San Angelo. Your financial generosity towards seminarian education shows me that God is always there, providing for all that I need and guiding my path. Thank you for being a part of God's mission in preparing future priests for our great Diocese of San Angelo! I ask that you please continue to pray for me as I will be praying for you.” – Humberto Diaz, 1st year Theology, Notre Dame Seminary On the weekend of September 25-26, all churches in our diocese will take up a special collection for the benefit of Seminarian Education in the Diocese of San Angelo. Our contributions to this collection will help to provide for the formation and education of seminarians in the Diocese of San Angelo. Donations for special collections can be made by donating online at www.sanangelodiocese.org/special-collections. Some of you may feel called to do more to help sustain seminarian education in our diocese. The Diocese of San Angelo has established the Seminarian Burse Endowment Fund, which is a permanent fund separate from the Diocese of San Angelo operating budget. The sole intention of this endowment is to provide a perpetual source of funding for seminarian formation and education. The principal amount of the gift remains intact and is invested for long-term growth. Our goal is to fully fund our Seminarian Burse so that we can support a significant number of seminarians for our diocese in perpetuity. If you are interested in learning more about the Seminarian Burse, please contact Mercedez Rassi at mrassi@sanangelodiocese.org or 325-651-3717. If you would like to follow the seminarians in their journey, search San Angelo Vocations on Facebook and Instagram! "En el Evangelio de Mateo 6:33, el Señor dice,"busca primero su reino y su justicia ", y todas nuestras necesidades terrenales serán satisfechas de acuerdo con el plan de Dios. Este versículo me recuerda cómo Dios ha provisto para mi educación a través de los sacrificios de la gente de la Diócesis de San Angelo. Su generosidad financiera hacia la educación seminarista me muestra que Dios siempre está ahí, proveyendo todo lo que necesito y guiando mi camino. ¡Gracias por ser parte de la misión de Dios en la preparación de futuros sacerdotes para nuestra gran Diócesis de San Angelo! Les pido que sigan orando por mí, ya que yo estaré orando por ustedes ". - Humberto Díaz, 1er año de Teología, Seminario de Notre Dame El fin de semana del 26 al 27 de septiembre, todas las iglesias de nuestra diócesis realizarán una colecta especial en beneficio para la Educación de Seminaristas de la Diócesis de San Angelo. Nuestras contribuciones de la colecta ayudarán a proveer para la formación y educación de los seminaristas en la Diócesis de San Angelo. Las donaciones para colecciones especiales pueden realizarse mediante haciendo una donación en línea en www.sanangelodiocese.org/special-collections. Algunos de ustedes pueden sentirse llamados a hacer más para ayudar a mantener la educación de los seminaristas en nuestra diócesis. En 2019, la Diócesis de San Angelo estableció el Fondo de Dotación para Educación de Seminaristas, que es un fondo permanente separado del presupuesto operativo de la Diócesis de San Angelo. La única intención de esta dotación es para proporcionar una fuente perpetua de financiación para la formación y educación de seminaristas. El monto principal de la donación permanece intacto y se invierte para el crecimiento a largo plazo. Nuestro objetivo es financiar completamente nuestro Fondo de Dotación para que podamos apoyar una cantidad significativa de seminaristas en nuestra diócesis a perpetuidad. Si usted está interesado en aprender más sobre nuestro Fondo de Dotación para Educación de Seminaristas, comuníquese con Mercedez Rassi en mrassi@sanangelodiocese.org o 325-651-3717. Si desea seguir a los seminaristas en su camino, busque Vocaciones de San Angelo en Facebook e Instagram!

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www.helpinghandsmidland.com

Because we feel it is important that you know how and where your dona-tions to Helping Hands are spent, here is what was done in the past week:

Electric 4 families $ 843.98 Water 1 family $ 776.88 Rent 18 families $ 18,288.38 Total $ 19,909.24

Helping Hands of Midland

1301 Brinson Lane Midland Tx.

(432) 520-8900

We are often asked how we can continue, day after day, to work with the poor, the sick and the marginalized. It must be such depressing work. How do we keep from getting burned out? Well, the answer to that is simple. We do NOT deal with the poor, the sick and the marginalized. We deal with Fidel, who suffered a stroke 6 weeks ago that resulted in partial paralysis of his left arm and facial muscles. He obviously cannot return to work without some time to heal but rent and utilities are due. We deal with Francine, whose husband recently left her and the 3 kids when his income could no longer sustain them. Panic set in and he fled. Same with Greg, whose wife left him and the kids to search for a life a bit more meaningful. While he has a job, he now has the responsibility of daycare and learning to be a mom as well as a dad. Sarah is an 82-year-old woman with no family here, who can barely afford her rent on her social security income but was saddled with an electric bill this summer that she could not afford. John had his hours and pay cut when his company started cutting back. He still has his job however his income has been diminished to the point where he cannot meet the basic financial obligations of rent and utilities. He prays for work to pick up. Susanna is a server at an upscale restaurant in Midland but again, with Covid there are not as many people eating out and that has affected her paycheck. Juan manages on his disability to pay for his apartment, food, and utilities however he needs orthopedic shoes to help him walk. He cannot afford the extra $300 to cover that expense and is looking at the possibility of going back into a wheelchair or a walker without the shoes. We refuse to see the people we help as poor, sick, or marginalized, for to stereotype these people is to drain them of their individuality. We strive each day at Helping Hands to look at our clients in the context of their lives. Rather than casting judgment or assigning labels to them we will take the time to walk in their shoes and feel their pain, their insecurities, their fears. And in doing so we hope to be able to offer relief and hopefully some good counsel to get them through their troubling times. We thank all of you for the financial support that allows us to make that possible. God bless you!

EXCELLENCE IN GIVING COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY We just earned the Excellence in Giving Transparency Certificate by submitting 175 strategy, leadership, financial, and impact data to @NonprofitAnalytics. Review our cost-effectiveness at https://analytics.excellenceingiving.com/overview/helping-hands-of-midland/

SEPTEMBER TRUCK SCHEDULE Our truck will at St. Ann’s next Saturday, September 18, from 9 am until 1 pm to pick up your donations. We thank the Knights of Columbus for taking on this responsibility.

Families need your help today! You can help. When you give, you provide immediate assistance to our Haitian sisters and brothers desperate to survive the devasting situation. CRS is preparing to help families affected by the earthquake meet there immediate needs for relief and long term recovery. HOW TO HELP:

• Donate online crs.org/supporthaiti

• Donate by phone1-877-HELP-CRS

• Donate by check : Haiti Response, Catholic Relief Services, P.O Box

17090, Baltimore, Maryland 21297-0303 Un poderoso terremoto sacudio Haiti. Las familias necesitan su ayuda hoy. Usted puede ayudar. Cuando usted da, usted proporciona asistencia inmediata a nuestras hermanas y hermanos haitianos desesperados por sobrevivir esta devastadora situacion. CRS se esta preparando para ayudar a las familias afectadas por el terremoto y a satisfacer sus necesidades inmediatas de ayuda y recuperacion a largo plazo COMO AYUDAR:

• Donar en linea: crs.org/supporthaiti

• Donar por telefono 1-877-HELP-CRS

• Donar con cheque Respuesta a Haiti, Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, Maryland 21297-0303

Adult Confirmation Classes for those Catholics who have been baptized and are above High School age, 18 years and older: Those candidates who also need to receive First Communion will receive it in the same ceremony. These classes are NOT for those who need to receive Baptism or Reception into Full Communion. Classes will begin on Thursday, September 30, 2021 through November 18, 2021 from 7:00 PM - 9 :00 PM in room 1 & 2 for English speakers and in room 5 for Spanish speakers. If you're interested in attending the classes, please contact our Parish at 432-520-7394 or via email gladys@ststephensmidland.com. PS. A COPY OF YOUR BAPTISM CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED TO TURN IN 1ST OR 2ND DAY OF CLASS (WITHOUT FAIL AND NO EXCEPTIONS). Se invita a todos los adultos, que han sido bautizados. mayores de 18 años que necesiten los sacramentos de Primera Comunión y Confirmación a una formación que iniciará el 30de septiembre y concluíra el 18 de noviembre de 2021, la formación se llevará a cabo s de 7:00 PM a 9:00 PM en el salón 1& 2 (Ingles) y salón 5 (Español) en la parroquia de San Esteban. Los que estén interesados favor de pasar a la oficina a inscribirse 432-520-7394, email gladys@ststephensmidland.com. Gracias. PS. SE REQUIERE UNA COPIA DE SU CERTIFICADO DE BAUTISMO EN EL 1ER O 2º DÍA DE CLASE (SIN FALTA Y SIN EXCEPCIONES