Page 2 April 8, 2018 Vol. 36 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. Timothy Hayter Deacons: Leonard Hendon, Luis Mata, Fidel Saldivar, Larry Salazar Sisters: Gertrudis Muñoz, Leonila Torres Youth Director: Thomas Shows Director of Religious Education: Gretchen Lara Music Director: Gabriel Salgado Marriage Jubilee 2018 - All couples who are celebrating their 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, and above wedding anniversaries (Church Marriage, not civil marriage) in the calendar year of 2018 are invited to the Diocesan Marriage Jubilee bilingual celebration on May 6, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Angelo. Families and friends are invited to accompany our jubilarians to this celebration. Renewal of vows will take place within the Mass. This celebration will conclude with a reception in the Cathedral gymnasium, to which all are invited. For registration information, please contact Parish Office with Gladys Qualls. The deadline to register for this celebration is Monday, April 23, 2018. Easter Greetings! As we begin the Second Week of Easter, we are reminded by the Gospel reading from John that Jesus intentionally and insistently brought peace to his disciples as He entered the locked room they were hidden in, after His resurrection, and said to them twice “Peace be with you.” He then said "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Not only did Christ want to reassure His disciples and grant them fully the peace of the resurrection, but He sends them to share His mercy for His people by giving them the ability and permission to forgive sins. This points to the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) in which Christ actively forgives through His priests who carry on the mission given by Christ to His apostles. In the confessional Christ is present through His priests showing His divine mercy and forgiveness. This matches up well with Divine Mercy Sunday in which we celebrate the powerful image and message of Divine Mercy which the Lord has given us through Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska in Poland in the 1930’s. This message and image simply verifies and brings to life what we already know through Sacred Scripture and through the tradition and teachings of the Church. Below are three excerpts. The first is from St. Faustina’s diary. The second is a quote from Saint Pope John Paul II who is also from Poland and who canonized St. Faustina. The third quote is from Pope Benedict XVI in a 2008 address. My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. … Let no soul fear to draw near to Me. … It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary, no. 699) This was precisely the time when those ideologies of evil, nazism and communism, were taking shape. Sister Faustina became the herald of the one message capable of off-setting the evil of those ideologies, that fact that God is mercy—the truth of the merciful Christ. And for this reason, when I was called to the See of Peter, I felt impelled to pass on those experiences of a fellow Pole that deserve a place in the treasury of the universal Church. ~ Bl. Pope John Paul II, Memory and Identity (2005) Mercy is the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God, the Face with which he revealed himself in the Old Covenant and fully in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of creative and redemptive Love. May this merciful love also shine on the face of the Church and show itself through the sacraments, in particular that of Reconciliation, and in works of charity, both communitarian and individual. May all that the Church says and does manifest the mercy God feels for man. ~Pope Benedict XVI, Regina Caeli address, March 30, 2008 In Christ, Fr. Timothy Hayter
Transcript
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April 8, 2018 Vol. 36 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. Timothy Hayter
Deacons: Leonard Hendon, Luis Mata, Fidel Saldivar, Larry Salazar Sisters: Gertrudis Muñoz, Leonila Torres
Youth Director: Thomas Shows Director of Religious Education: Gretchen Lara
Music Director: Gabriel Salgado
Marriage Jubilee 2018 - All couples who are celebrating their 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, and above wedding anniversaries (Church Marriage, not civil marriage) in the calendar year of 2018 are invited to the Diocesan Marriage Jubilee bilingual celebration on May 6, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Angelo. Families and friends are invited to accompany our jubilarians to this celebration. Renewal of vows will take place within the Mass. This celebration will conclude with a reception in the Cathedral gymnasium, to which all are invited. For registration information, please contact Parish Office
with Gladys Qualls. The deadline to register for this celebration is Monday, April 23, 2018.
Easter Greetings!
As we begin the Second Week of Easter, we are reminded by the Gospel reading from John that Jesus intentionally and insistently brought peace to his disciples as He entered the locked room they were hidden in, after His resurrection, and said to them twice “Peace be with you.” He then said "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Not only did Christ want to reassure His disciples and grant them fully the peace of the resurrection, but He sends them to share His mercy for His people by giving them the ability and permission to forgive sins. This points to the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) in which Christ actively forgives through His priests who carry on the mission given by Christ to His apostles. In the confessional Christ is present through His priests showing His divine mercy and forgiveness.
This matches up well with Divine Mercy Sunday in which we celebrate the powerful image and message of Divine Mercy which the Lord has given us through Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska in Poland in the 1930’s. This message and image simply verifies and brings to life what we already know through Sacred Scripture and through the tradition and teachings of the Church. Below are three excerpts. The first is from St. Faustina’s diary. The second is a quote from Saint Pope John Paul II who is also from Poland and who canonized St. Faustina. The third quote is from Pope Benedict XVI in a 2008 address.
My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. … Let no soul fear to draw near to Me. … It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary, no. 699)
This was precisely the time when those ideologies of evil, nazism and communism, were taking shape. Sister Faustina became the herald of the one message capable of off-setting the evil of those ideologies, that fact that God is mercy—the truth of the merciful Christ. And for this reason, when I was called to the See of Peter, I felt impelled to pass on those experiences of a fellow Pole that deserve a place in the treasury of the universal Church. ~ Bl. Pope John Paul II, Memory and Identity (2005)
Mercy is the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God, the Face with which he revealed himself in the Old Covenant and fully in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of creative and redemptive Love. May this merciful love also shine on the face of the Church and show itself through the sacraments, in particular that of Reconciliation, and in works of charity, both communitarian and individual. May all that the Church says and does manifest the mercy God feels for man. ~Pope Benedict XVI, Regina Caeli address, March 30, 2008
In Christ, Fr. Timothy Hayter
Upcoming Baptismal Classes:
April 8th & 15th
English : 2:00 - 4:30 Spanish: 2:30 - 5:00
Please Call Parish Office to Register (432) 520–7394.
Sunday, April 8 - Second Sunday of Easter
Monday, April 9 - The Annunciation of The Lord
Tuesday, April 10
Wednesday, April 11
Thursday, April 12
Friday, April 13
Saturday, April 14
Sunday, April 15 - Third Sunday of Easter
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The Women’s Organization is having their general meeting this coming Monday,
April 9, 2018 , 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 Ilda Cuevas at 432-557-8896.
St. Stephen’s Women’s
Organization
Eucharistic Adoration Openings
THURSDAY: 11:00 AM FRIDAY: 2:00 AM
Please prayerfully consider signing up to spend an hour with our Lord in adoration! Call Linda Foster (habla español) at 432-559-8888 for information.
God’s mercy is greater than your abortion. He wants to heal you...Will you let Him? Find God’s mercy at a Rachel Weekend Retreat,and let Him
heal you. Our next Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat is April 27-29 in the Lubbock Area. Confidential contact: [email protected] and 806-577-5912.
Last Week’s Collection
Collections: $ 38,451.27 Building Fund: $ 20.00 Other Income: $ 574.67 For The Poor $ 27,868.71 Holy Land Collection: $ 2,565.76
Financial reports are available in the parish office.
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April 8 Vanessa Alvarado
Alan Carrillo Christian Flores David Hennig Jose J. Reyes
Antonio Rodriguez Sawn Vum
Abraham Zuniga
April 9 Jeremy Lysinger
Daniel Munoz Adriel Ramirez Elizabeth Smith
April 10 Jude Garcia
Mariel Hernandez Mr & Mrs Edward Leps
Sonia Montano Hannah Munoz
Maddux Ontiveros Abel Salazar
Annabeth Villalobos Susan Williams
April 11 Elaine Barger
Nicole Dragisic Ervey Gomez Jr Rosa Hermosillo Michael Repman
Domingo Reynosa Marissa Saldivar
April 12 Roy Bermea Martha Finol
Aylin Mondragon Cesar Gonzalez
Sarah Lopez Bianca Martinez
Zoey Nunez Raul Pena
Elaine Salgado Phyliss Schaefer Erika Vasquez
Beatrice Wiesman John Willis Luis Yanez
April 13 Jayden Cowell Carlos Galindo Hilda Garibay Gilbert Mattos Sisto Medrano Steven Murphy Liliana Vazquez
April 14 Rebecca Bermea
Rosemarie DeLaRosa Linda Digennaro JoAnn Franco
Stephanie Gentry Lauren Lara Melissa Lara
Domenique Lujan Ofelia Pallanez Kevin Pickens
Berenice Romero Alexandra Saenz
Javen Trujillo
April 15 Mike Braskett
Ginger Hartman Alena Lara
Bertha Mata Selena Montanez Robert Morales Andric Ortega Julian Rubio
Laura Salinas
Yasmin Smith, Stephen Henderson, Eddie L., Selena G., Gary Miller, Gloria Abella, Maria A. Colmenero, Erica Colmenero, Sam Gibbs,
Antonia Avila, Jeanette Dragisic, Eddie Martinez, Robert Quiroz, Emma Valdez, Juan Musquiz, Victor
Madrid, Kenneth Jones, Dean Teagarden, Tom Torres, Irene Cisneros, Mary Esparza, Tommy Lee Rivera, Margaret Lopez, Bea Herrera, Sergio Patino, Delma Lerma, Arthur Rios, Beatrice Pacheco, Ralph Lujan, Ryan Munoz, Charlie Flower, Larry White, Gary Rodriguez, Fr. Ted Pfeifer, OMI, Hilda Guerrero, Leila Vega, Emma Valdez, Mary Madrid, Albert Madrid, Pablo Talamantez, Baby Braxton Munoz, Baby Israel Martinez, Carolina Pirela, Lalo Lujan, June Foresygh, Suzie Brideweser, Maria Hernandez, Simon Arevalo, Adrian Ayala, Phillip Sorrel, Alyss Munoz, Alejandro Munoz Jr, Avyel Munoz, Maria Luisa Rodriguez, Inez Rodriguez, Josefina Alvarez, Bartolo Rodea, Evans Family, Rachel S., Burdette Family, Isaiah V., Vanessa V., Anita P., Carlota W., Judy D., Alicia S., Jesse Julus Garcia, Betty Compton, Maunel Hernandez, Corina Pena, Filemon R. Ortega, Clarissa Ortega, Ricky Montes, Luke M. Prementine, Zaylin Ortegon, Teresa Kiser, Mike Levi, Mark Clark, Potsy Sotelo, Jaelynn G. Garcia, Mingo Lujan, Ramon Munoz.
Email [email protected] or call the office at 520-7394 to be added to the prayer list!
Please join us on April 11th from 9:30-11:00 am in Room 2 for a 3-4 week study on forgiveness, something we all need help with. We will be using the book “Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody.” Please contact Mary at 978-9311 or JoAnn at 559-2658 if you are interested or need more information Books will be $3.00. You will need to read the first chapter before we meet. We look forward to seeing you.
Annual
Dance
Seminar MARK YOUR CALENDAR TODAY
AND PLAN TO JOIN US!! YOU CAN LEARN TO DANCE, TOO!!
April 14, 2018 St. Stephen’s Ballroom
Sponsored by Midland-Odessa Dance Club
Questions Call 432-638-3707
Dance...Dance...Dance The Night Away
Music by “Dusty Creek Band” All are Welcome on April 14,
2018 from 7:00-10:00 pm Cost: $10.00 per person
St. Stephen’s Ball room (Midland) BYO “Snacks for your table” NO
ALCOHOL ALLOWED Sponsored by Midland Odessa
Dance Club Questions??? Call 432-638-3707
Club Dance
St. Stephen’s Catholic Church 4601 Neely
Gloria Denman Ballroom DATE/TIME: SATURDAY, April 21, 2018/7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. COST/ATTIRE: $30.00 per person/Casual BAND: “Emily & the Rumba Kings” (Variety) CATERER: Felix Buenrostro with Catering Express MENU: Lasagna al forno, chicken piccata with noodles, vegetable medley, Caesar salad, garlic bread, lemon cream cake, chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, tea and water.
Please remember to make advance reservations, if possible, for this dance so that we may have an accurate count for our wonderful caterer!
NO ALCOHOL MAY BE BROUGHT INTO THE BALLROOM BY INDIVIDUALS
**NOTE: NO BYOB is allowed due to change in church policy. Reservations may be mailed to Club Dance, P. O. Box 7421, Midland, TX 79708. Reservation deadline is Wednesday, April 18, 2018. For more information, please contact our Reservations Coordinator at: [email protected].
Last weekend we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and the Rite of Initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass. Jesus is risen! Our catechumens and candidates received the Sacraments of Initiation (baptism, confirmation,
and Holy Eucharist) and entered into full communion with the Church. What a blessing! They are now neophytes for one year.
We are very blessed to have a talented, dedicated, and all-around wonderful RCIA team. They have met weekly since last August to journey in faith with our dear catechumens and candidates.
We dedicate this RCIA year to our very dear friend and fellow RCIA team member Louise Wiles. We love you and miss you so very much. A Special Thank You to: Father Rodney and Father Tim (they attended meetings, taught lessons, prayed over us, and help lead us all along the way); Gladys Qualls and the St. Stephen’s Women’s Organization (they fed our group before the Easter Vigil Mass); and Felipe Lazos (he is a work horse and joyfully did the behind-the-scenes jobs none of us wanted to do). Anne Hobbs, Paz Carrizales, and Mary Hanel for leading the hospitality team and making sure we were fed each week! Teachers: Father Rodney; Father Tim; Deacon Luis Mata; Mike Sweeney; and Bill Berry. Hospitality Team: Anne Hobbs; Paz Carrizales; Mary Hanel; Gayle Fincher; Gail Zertuche; Jesse Zertuche; Ann Carrillo; Angela Eriamiantoe; Elicela Olivas; Maria Hernandez; Felipe Lazos; Lupita Molinar; Grace Parson; Adrian Ramirez; Maria Ramirez; Elaine Nguyen; Ciria Flores;
Childcare Team: Debbie Sanchez; Julie Gomez; Chelsea Pena; Rosa Pena; Office Team: Robert Morales; Blanca Levario; Angel Ramirez; Maria Rodriguez; Kathy Wells; Nikki Sanchez; and Gretchen Lara, Gladys Qualls, Veronica Galindo, Alejandra Castorena Table Team: Lisa Berry; Vince Lynskey; Melinda Bujnoch; Xavier Carrillo; Harold Lenfesty; Sergio Carrillo; Bonnie Carrillo; Tim Speer; Gina Speer; Michelle Rodriguez; Steve Rodriguez; Kim Foster; Billy Foster; Pat Lee; Jerry Lee; Robert Martinez; Cecelia Reyes; Cynthia Lazos; Betty Terrell; George Ulmo; Summer Ulmo; Paul Miranda; Tina Miranda; Noe Garza; Helen Garza; Eddie Dutchover; Liza Dutchover; Carmen Lopez; Tom Wurster; Florinda Gomez; Paul Aguirre; Sylvia Aguirre; Reynaldo Sanchez; and Diane Sanchez. Prayer Team: Father Rodney and Father Tim; Deacon Luis Mata; Mike Sweeney; Bill Berry; Gladys Qualls; Felipe Lazos; Anne Hobbs; Paz Carrizales; Mary Hanel; Gayle Fincher; Gail Zertuche; Jesse Zertuche; Ann Carrillo; Angela Eriamiantoe; Elicela Olivas; Maria Hernandez; Felipe Lazos; Lupita Molinar; Grace Parson; Adrian Ramirez; Maria Ramirez; Elaine Nguyen; Bonnie Carrillo; Ciria Flores; Debbie Sanchez; Julie Gomez; Chelsea Pena; Rosa Pena; Robert Morales; Blanca Levario; Angel Ramirez; Maria Rodriguez; Kathy Wells; Nikki Sanchez; Gretchen Lara; Lisa Berry; Vince Lynskey; Melinda Bujnoch; Xavier Carrillo; Harold Lenfesty; Sergio Carrillo; Yvonne Carrillo; Tim Speer; Gina Speer; Michelle Rodriguez; Steve Rodriguez; Kim Foster; Billy Foster; Pat Lee; Jerry Lee; Robert Martinez; Cecelia Reyes; Cynthia Lazos; Betty Terrell; George Ulmo; Summer Ulmo; Paul Miranda; Tina Miranda; Noe Garza; Helen Garza; Eddie Dutchover; Liza Dutchover; Carmen Lopez; Tom Wurster; Florinda Gomez; Paul Aguirre; Sylvia Aguirre; Reynaldo Sanchez; and Diane Sanchez.
RCIA met weekly for eight months. During our weekly meetings, we studied 34 in-depth lessons on the foundational teachings of the Catholic Church, we studied 38 Saints of the Day, and we celebrated eight Rites. Our journey included learning detailed information about Jesus and His Church, but the journey was not about only learning information. It was about conversion and transformation. We are leaving our old ways and following our Lord Jesus Christ - that's conversion. We are no longer who we were when this journey started. We have become Catholic Christians, members of the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church - that's transformation. Praise God! Is God calling you into full communion with His Church? Our next RCIA journey begins in August 2018. "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 by receiving their Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism; Confirmation; and Holy Eucharist). It's free, childcare is provided, we have a lot of fun, and we always have something good to eat. If you have questions or would like to register, please email me at [email protected].
3SEGUNDO DOMINGO DE PASCUA “ FIESTA DE LA DIVINA MISERICORDIA” 8 de abril 2018.
En el año 2000 el Papa San Juan Pablo II canonizó a Santa Faustina y durante la ceremonia declaró que cada segundo domingo de Pascua se celebraría en toda la Iglesia el Domingo de la “Divina Misericordia.” Todos estamos llamados a ser escritores vivos del Evangelio, portadores de la Buena Noticia a todo hombre y mujer de hoy”, señaló el Papa en su homilía. Y precisó que “lo podemos hacer realizando las obras de misericordia corporales y espirituales, que son el estilo de vida del cristiano”. Señaló que “ser apóstoles de misericordia significa tocar y acariciar sus llagas, presentes también hoy en el cuerpo y en el alma de muchos hermanos y hermanas suyos. Al curar estas heridas, confesamos a Jesús, lo hacemos presente y vivo; permitimos a otros que toquen su misericordia y que lo reconozcan como «Señor y Dios»”. “Ser portadores de su paz: esta es la misión confiada a la Iglesia en el día de Pascua. Hemos nacido en Cristo como instrumentos de reconciliación, para llevar a todos el perdón del Padre, para revelar su rostro de amor único en los signos de la misericordia”, dijo. “Pidamos la gracia –exhortó el Pontífice– de no cansarnos nunca de acudir a la misericordia del Padre y de llevarla al mundo; pidamos ser nosotros mismos misericordiosos, para difundir en todas partes la fuerza del Evangelio”. El Pontífice dijo asimismo que “la tierra polaca ha tenido dos grandes hijos en Santa Faustina Kowalska y San Juan Pablo II, ambos apóstoles de la Divina Misericordia” El Papa Francisco concluyó animando a que “estas palabras y sobre todo los ejemplos de vida de estos dos luminosos testimonios inspiren siempre vuestro generoso esfuerzo”. PAPA FRANCISCO.
Hermana Gertrudis Muñoz Mendieta I.C.A.S.
AVISOS:
• 10 de abril reunión de lectores de 7:00 -9:00 p.m. salón 8 • 12 de abril reunión de ministros extraordinarios de comunión salón 8 de 7:00- 9:00 p.m.
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Próximas clases bautismales:
April 4th & 11th
Ingles : 2:00 - 4:30 Español : 2:30 - 5:00
Por favor llame a la oficina parroquial para registrar (432) 520–7394. Si usted no ha recibido certificado de bautismo de su hijo por favor venir por la oficina con una identificación para obtener el certificado de su hijo.
ADORACIÓN DEL SANTÍSIMO Personas interesadas en pasar una hora con El Santísimo en Adoración una vez por semana, durante las siguientes horas:
Jueves: 11:00 AM Viernes: 2:00 AM
Si El Señor te esta llamando para pasar una hora con El acompañándolo, comuníquese con Linda Foster (habla
Español) al 432-559-8888.
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Saint Teresa of Calcutta was once criticized for placing too much emphasis on charity, and not enough on fighting the social injustices that causes many of the poor to be in the situation they face daily. She responded, “I have said that we take care of one person. Then, if we can, we take care of another. We never cure multitudes. Our vocation is to love each person God brings to us today. Love, tenderness and compassion are real justice. Justice without love is not justice. Love without justice is not love. Often we hear it said that we pamper our poor too much. No one has pampered them except God Himself. It is good that there is at least one religious congregation that pampers the poor. There are more than enough people to pamper the rich.” We pamper the poor when we treat them with the same measure of respect and dignity that we would reserve for the rich. The elderly couple that is left destitute because of medical bills; the young mother abandoned by her husband and left with no immediate means of support; the man who paid for the crime he committed against society and is now out of prison trying to make amends and straighten out his life; all deserve our love and our compassion. Please join us in helping them, one person at a time.
Helping Hands
of Midland
1301 Brinson Lane
(432) 520-8900 www.helpinghandsmidland.com
Free Pizza! Thursday, April 12th
– Pizza lunch will be served from 11:30 – 1:30
in the youth building.
Youth News
LifeTeen Tonight! We will also meet next week on April 15. Last day to sign up for Steubenville!
Youth Confirmation II Important Dates to Remember
April 28th—Confirmation Community Service Hours Due
May 9th—Confirmation Rehearsal for Candidate & Sponsor at 7PM
May 16th—Confirmation Mass at 6:30 PM
Only ONE week to sign up for Steubenville Lonestar! If you are interested in attending the high school Steubenville youth conference this summer from June 22-23, then please come to
the office and fill out a diocesan liability form and $50 deposit. We have very limited space
available. $300 total for the trip, deadline to register is April 15. We will have fundraising
events to benefit the teens who are registered starting soon, so sign up quick!
Remind App: Want up to date information on what’s going on with the youth group? Join the St. Stephen’s Youth
Group on the Remind App! Text @kkf8f to 81010 and you will be signed up to receive our updates.
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 5 families $ 1,387.13
Water 5 families $ 449.43 Rent 19 families $19,520.64 Medical 3 families $ 3,627.67 TOTAL $25,034.87
