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: Deacon Larry Salazar Director of Religious Education: Gretchen Lara
Music Director: Gabriel Salgado
Dear Parishioners,
I hope everyone is having a nice Christmas. Yes, that is right. Christmas lasts for eight days as we celebrate the coming of the Lord among us! One of the things we call to mind in this time is that Jesus came into a human family, and was raised by Mary and Joseph. This Sunday we celebrate the “Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph” for that reason, and we are reminded of the importance of family.
Regardless of our family situation, family is essential for us. The scripture readings for this Sunday reflect this. Particularly, the second reading, which comes from St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians (3: 12-21), deals with some key elements in our relationships with one another. Paul points to the need for “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another,” and he asks them above all to “put on love,” “the bond of perfection.” He also encourages them to let the peace of Christ control their hearts, “the peace into which you were also called in one body.” In the midst of this Paul calls his audience to be thankful to God the Father.
Love, forgiveness, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and thankfulness, along with the other virtues Paul speaks of begin in the family. If all members of a family strive to live out these virtues it brings us peace because we are fulfilling the way God created each of us to live so that we may do the good. Living in this way also provides necessary support to those around us and allows us to help bring about the good in ourselves and in one another. We cannot control whether those in our family or around us act in this way. We only have control over ourselves, and this control begins in being rooted in the peace of Christ. May the Holy Family be our example and our consolation, and may we find peace in Christ. God bless you and your family.
Next weekend’s special collection is for the poor of Midland as distributed by Helping Hands of Midland.
Please help. Thank you!
The Parish Office will be closed on Monday,
January 1st & Tuesday, January 2nd and will
resume normal business hours on Wednesday,
January 3, 2018.
Mass Times For
Sunday, December 31, 2017 8AM—ENGLISH
10:30 PM—ENGLISH 12:30 PM—SPANISH
5 PM—ENGLISH 7 PM—SPANISH
New Year’s Day January 1, 2017 7 AM—ENGLISH
12:15 PM—ENGLISH 5:30 PM—ENGLISH
Page 4
December 31 Issaias Chavez Julia Chavez
Cesar Cordova Marlie Davis Jayla Garcia
Janeth Moreno Jesus Ramos Jane Russell Teresa Sailler Andy Torres
January 1 Levan Aguilar
Modesto Armendariz Paz Carrizales
Lucero Contreras Fred Herrera
Jennifer L. Humphries Alexavier Miranda
Rylan Montes Gloria Parson
Valerie Saucedo Robert Sharum
Jimena Silva Brock Thompson
Floyd White
January 2 Renda Breithaupt Jose A. Cisneros Jonathan Farmer
Jacob Klein Oscar Lujan Jr.
Sui Mang Ancel Mariscal
Viviana Martinez Ruben Mata Laura Ochoa
Carolina Ramos Jennet Yanez
January 3 Jessi Carrasco
Kirsten J. Guerra Socorro Lopez
Amerissa Olivarez Lilliana Reyes
John Thibodeaux Sylvia Villalba
January 4 Ramon Borunda Alex Cheramie Fudy Flores III Suzette Flores Eusvio Galaviz
Claire Hardeman Judy Hardy
Armando Saenz Jamie Schwalbach Yvonne Valenzuela
Selma Vasquez
January 5 Dora Barrera
Elizabeth Boss Marcus Flores Maria Garza
Esben Hernandez Alina H. Mondragon
Luz Lee Juan Rodriguez
Brian Tagle Elsa Torres
Francisco Vargas Jr. Ramon Yanez
January 6 Jose Baeza
James Carrasco Javier Dominguez
Eli Garcia Eric Gomez
Carlos Hermosillo Gene Lopez
Diane Mendoza Angela Montez
Mia Padilla Mark Perez
Destiny Rodriguez Teela Sierra
Jennika Vidana
January 7 Lindsey Aguirre
Edie Almand Breanna Cason Elizabeth Evans
Cesar Flores Rolando Flores Javier Florez
Veronica Garcia Manuel Gonzales III Danette HidalgoSolis Kimberley Martinez
Seanah Mireles Guillermo Morales Angel O. Juarez
Marie Orozco Ernesto Trillo Jr.
Crystal Willis Cynthia Wolfe
Hey teens in 6th-12th grade! You are so valuable and so important to the body of Christ! Come and find out why on Wednesday, January 17th from 7-8 pm in the Parish Hall here at St. Stephens. Your spirit will be uplifted as Dr. Doris Jones shares with you how special you are to the heart of GOD! You are sure to laugh as she encourages you to be “bold and courageous” just as Joshua was instructed by God! Parents, we invite you to join us as well! This could be the start of a great conversation with your child! We hope to see you there!
Dr. Doris Jones is a Licensed Clinical Christian counselor that currently serves as the Restoration Director for The Life Center. She has worked with clients as young as three years old and has more than ten years of experience in counseling. She has an Advanced Certification as a Family Crisis and Abuse therapist.
Paola Hinojos, Ryan Pina, Kaely Munoz, Castillo Family, Deacon Mike Medina, Mo Dominguez, Elizabeth McChesney, Jacqueline Murphree, Qualls Family, Felly Camagong & Family, Janie Sotelo, Melinda Sanchez, MaryLu Perrez, Kim Waltzer, Gina Gonzalez, Braxton Munoz, Dylan Wilson, Sam Gibbs, Alyss Munoz, Alejandro Munoz Jr, Veronica Gomez-Calvo, Delaney Diaz, Raul Dominguez, Avyel Munoz, Rachel S., Burdette Family, Inez Laing, Monica Vasquez, Jason Martinez, Guadalupe Rios, Alfonso Marquez, Isaiah V., Vanessa V., Anita P., Carlota W., Judy D., Alicia F., Jesse Julus Garcia, Mendoza Family, Martha Munoz, Sergio Patino, Aurora Reyes, Monica Vasquez, Eva Madrid, Roy Alvarez, Gary Rodriguez, Martha Munoz, Lydia Jimenez, Jesus Chavez Jr., Mark Clark, Eva Talamantez, Potsy Sotelo, Jaelynn G. Garcia, Randy & Jennifer White & Family, Louis & Betty Macchietto & Family, Larry & Pat White & Family, Heath, Sarah, & Baby Girl Logan Ruth, Maria Luisa Rodriguez, Inez Rodriguez, Josefina Alvarez, Avila Family, Fierro Family, Andrew Madrid, Fran Thetford, Gabriel Kadir, Gerald Thetford, Margaret Robson, Betty Compton, David Rucker, Delia Carrasco, Patty White, Jeff Smith, Pearl Abalos, Francisco Rodriguez Medina, Carmen Lopez, Martin Sosa, Evangelina Rodriguez, Bea Herrera, Ricky Montes, Rafael Gonzales Jr., Monica Cabrera, Joe Munoz III, Anita Morin, Anthony Garcia, Janie Sainz, Tommy Levario, Dr. Karen Leung & Santa Rosa Fire Victims, Donita Schlegal.
Email [email protected] or call the office at 520-7394 to be added to the prayer list!
Page 5
MERRY CHRISTMAS! This week in RCIA we will enjoy a visual pilgrimage to the Holy Land by Mike Sweeney - you don't want to miss it! Mike and his wife, Susan, went to the Holy Land a few years
ago with Steve Ray and Mike has a wonderful presentation.
RCIA News by Bill Berry
Altar Server Training For Spanish and English Mass
Servers
Deacon Lorenzo Salazar will be offering this training for both English and Spanish
servers. This is a must for all servers – whether you are new or experienced. Training is ongoing and required for all servers. We will have pizza after the training.
When: Monday, January 22 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm Where: Sanctuary of the Church
If you have questions, please contact: Anne Hobbs 432-934-3192 Cindy Lujan 806-392-3714 Bianca Gonzales 432-894-9554
Eucharistic Adoration Schedule
The Blessed Sacrament will be reposed Thursday, December 21st after the 5:30 pm Mass
for the Christmas Holiday. Eucharistic Adoration will resume following the 7 a.m. Mass
on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018.
Have a safe and blessed Christmas Holiday and a Happy New Year!
St. Stephen’s Cub Scout Troop Come Join Us!
Scouting develops character,
leadership, communication skills and good citizenship.
Who: Any boy in 1st—4th grade When: Tuesdays at 6:00 pm—7:00 pm Where: St. Stephen’s Youth Building
Questions contact Cory Listner at 432-296-0695
*We are looking at restarting a Boy Scout Troop to have a troop for our boys to feed into from Cub
Scouts. If you are interested in being a Scoutmaster, please contact Cory.
Club Dance St. Stephen’s Catholic Church,
4601 Neely Ave Gloria Denman Ballroom
DATE/TIME: SUNDAY, “NEW YEAR’S EVE” December 31, 2017/8:00 p.m. – Midnight COST/ATTIRE: $25.00 per person/”Festive” BAND: “Larry Johnson Show” (Variety) CATERER: NO MEAL MENU: Dancers are encouraged to bring
snacks for their table. CLUB DANCE will provide Wine,
Tea, Water and Coffee.
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 Thursday, December 28, 2017. For more information, please contact our Reservations Coordinator at: [email protected].
CCD classes will resume
Monday Classes: January 8th at
6:30pm-7:45pm
Wednesday Classes: January 10th at 5:30pm-6:45pm (K-6th)
La Navidad se centra en el niño que nace en Belén. Pero la fiesta de hoy nos invita a levantar la vista y mirar a su alrededor, a los que le rodean. Son María y José. Pero también habría primos y primas, tíos y tías. Son la familia de Jesús. Fue en el seno de su familia donde tuvo lugar la verdadera encarnación de Dios. Allí fue donde Dios asumió totalmente la condición humana. La familia la hacemos las personas que la formamos, es aquí en familia donde se da la capacidad de quererse, de amarse, de perdonarse, de reconciliarse, de estar abiertas a compartir la vida con otras familias. La familia está cambiando. Es normal. Pueden cambiar las formas de establecerse los vínculos entre las personas. Puede cambiar el hecho de que todos vivan en la misma casa o que vivan separados. Pero al final, hay un vínculo clave en la familia: el amor. Ése es el vínculo que mantiene y mantendrá viva a la familia. Ése fue el vínculo que Jesús aprendió a valorar en su familia. Allí descubrió que es más fuerte incluso que los lazos de la sangre. Por eso, luego, más tarde, habló de Dios como el Padre, el Abbá que reúne a todos sus hijos en torno a la mesa común. Y para que entendiésemos la relación que nos une a Dios nos dijo que éramos sus hijos y él nuestro Padre. Hoy nos toca a nosotros asumir la realidad concreta de nuestras familias, con sus luces y sus sombras, y seguir partiendo de ellas para construir el reino, la gran familia de Dios. Es nuestra responsabilidad fortalecer todo lo que podamos el vínculo del amor, que rompe las barreras de la sangre, de la raza, etc. y nos une a todos en una única familia. Hoy, como a Jesús, nos toca a nosotros encarnarnos en nuestra realidad concreta y construir la familia de Dios aquí y ahora.
Hermana Gertrudis Muñoz Mendieta I.C.A.S.
El Santísimo Sacramento será reposado debido las vacaciones de Navidad empezando el jueves 21 de diciembre después de la Misa de las 5:30 PM hasta después de la misa de las 7:00 AM el martes 2 de
enero.
Espero que tengan una feliz y bendita Navidad
Page 6
Entrenamiento Para Monaguillos
En Español y Ingles
El Diacono Lorenzo Salazar estará entrenando a los Monaguillos de ingles y español. Este es un requisito para todos los monaguillos - Nuevo o con
experiencia. Entrenamiento es requerida para todo los mo-naguillos. Tendremos pizza después de el entrenamiento. Si tienes preguntas, por favor llama a: Anne Hobbs 432-934-3192; Cindy Lujan 806-392-3714; o Bianca Gonzales 432-894-9554
Cuando: Lunes 22 de Enero A que hora: 6:00- 8:00 p.m. Donde: En el Santuario
Próximas clases bautismales:
Enero 7th & 14th Febrero 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.
Page 7
A letter received recently that we would like to share: Hello again, Thank you for what you wrote a couple of weeks ago regarding the people who stand on the street corners of Midland soliciting hand-outs. I’m compelled to help but I’m never sure what is the best thing to do. My preference is to contribute to agencies – such as Helping Hands (and others) – that assist these people. Surely many of these folks are indeed out of work and are in need of a hand-out. But at the same time you hear stories that frankly ruin it for them. Stories like I heard recently where a man was holding a sign “will work for food,” so he was offered work to help clear a field. He didn’t want to do that kind of work. Or another where the lady admitted that she makes $80,000 a year on the street corner -- tax–free. Or yet another who declined an offer of groceries because she preferred to have cash. I was standing behind a young woman recently in a Stripes store. She had left her corner post and was at the counter purchasing a pack of cigarettes and a scratch-off lottery card. It’s not for us to judge these people or whether it is right or wrong to give them some cash. That’s up to every individual’s conscience. But it surely is confusing to me – especially with so many help-wanted signs in Midland right now. Of course you have to be qualified and willing to get a job. I get it. So as for me, I’ll just keep donating to my favorite charities and be thankful for volunteers who assist those in need. What you wrote was helpful, and I’ve decided to jot down the contact information for those agencies, make copies, and hand those out to the street beggars – maybe with a few bucks. In the meantime, enclosed is a donation from my husband and I but I have a request: I prefer you take it and divide it among your steady volunteers such as yourself – the few that are always thee. Divided up, it might not be much but hopefully shows a small token of appreciation for kind-hearted people such as yourselves. Merry Christmas and God Bless! Your Pal, Lavonna Thanks, Lavonna. We appreciate the many generous donations you make to Helping Hands, however do not be offended if we prefer to use the money to help the poor of Midland. Our volunteers are blessed to be able to take care of themselves and there are so many people out there with legitimate needs that could use the help. Handing out phone numbers of agencies, cans of food or even offering to buy one of these people a meal is always preferable to handing out cash. God bless you for your generosity!
We wish everyone a safe and prosperous New Year! In celebration of the holiday our thrift store will be closed Tuesday, January 2. We will reopen on
Friday, Jan. 5.
Helping Hands
of Midland
1301 Brinson Lane
(432) 520-8900
Because we feel it is important that you know how and where your donations to Helping Hands are spent, here is what was done last week:
Electric 5 families $ 1,092.14 Water 3 families $ 1,648.13 Rent 16 families $22,510.13 Transportation 1 family $ 562.50 Total $25,812.90 www.helpinghandsmidland.com
