second Sunday of lent ~ march 12, 2017

St. Stephen Protomartyr Church www.ststephendp.org ~ 847-824-2026

Rev. Noel Reyes, Pastor Rev. Ronald Paulino, RCJ

2ndSundayofLentDearFriendsandParishioners,

MaytheLordofPeaceandourcertainhopebewithyouall!WebeganourLentenobservanceonAshWednesdayandourMotherChurchremindedusto

commitourselvestothreespiritualdisciplinesofprayer,fastingandalmsgiving.Ihavebeenre lectingontheunderlyingmeaningofthesepracticesandI’vecometorealizethatthereisoneimportantatti-tudethathastobethefoundationofourLentenobservance.Faithfulnessistheword.

ItiseasytomakearesolutionthatIwouldspendmoretimeinprayerduringtheholyseasonhowevermyexperienceisrealisticenoughtotellmethatitiseasytogiveupmytimeforprayerfortheactivitiesthatarealsouseful,importantandentertaining.WouldIremainfaithfultomycommitmenttoprayersoastodeepenmyfriendshipwithGod?

ItisalsoeasytomakearesolutiontofastandtoabstainfromfoodandsomebehaviorthatoftentakesmyfocusawayfromwhatisGospelcentered.TrueenoughthatmypatienceisalsochallengedandIcontinuetoask:HowcanIkeepmy idelitytothepracticeoffastingandabstinence?

Then,asIcommitmyselftoalmsgiving,Ire lectedonmymotivationforcharity.AmIcharitablebecauseIfeelgoodinbeingone?OrisitsimplyanobligationthatIoughttodoaspartofmyresponsetowhatthechurchinvitesustodo.Ismyconsciousnessoftheneedsofthepoorandthedisenfran-chisedushermetoamuchdeeperunderstandingofjustice?FaithfulnesstothedisciplinesofLentenobservanceisanattitudethatmakesustrustfullyontheworkofGodinuseachday.OurprayerismeaningfulbecauseGodmakesitmeaningful.Ourfastingisspirituallyful illingbecauseGod illsinourheartwithHispresence.AlmsgivingmakesourheartrejoicewhenoursharingofgoodscomefromthegenerositythatisinspiredbyGodwithinus.Again,allthesethings inditsful illmentwhenwecommitourselvesfullytoGodinthespiritoftrustthatallwedoisinspiredbytheOnewholovesus.

SohowcanwemakeourEasterpreparationmeaningful?Iwillsayitagain!Pray,fastandgivealms.Butpraywithoutceasing.Fastnotwiththeintentionoffeelingthesacri icesofitratherdoitforthesakeoferadicatingfromwithinourheartsadeepseatedsenseofegocentrism.GodcanonlyenterintoourheartswhenweacceptHimandwhenweallowGodtopenetrateourheartsevenduringthemomentofourbrokenness.

Soasaresponse,Iaskyoutodomoreactsofcharityespeciallytothosewhochoosenottore-ciprocatewhatyouhavedoneforthem.ExamineyourconsciencethatyoumaydiscernproperlywhatisgoodandbadsoastointensifyyourpersonalmomentwiththeLord.Rememberthatouralmsgivinghasthepowertochangeourheartforthegood.AlmsgivingdirectsourattentiontothefaceofGod–whoisthepoor,whoistheabandoned,whoisthediscriminatedagainstandsomeonewholivesinthemarginsofsociety.Lentenseasonisindeedamomentofgrace.

BeforeIforget,IwouldliketothankthefundraisingcommitteewhoputtogetherourparishplayinFebruary.Iacknowledgetheireffortaswellastheteamworkthatwasinvolvedduringthepro-cess.Iamawarethatthewholeproductionentailsalotofpatienceandcreativity–theydemonstratedforusGod’sgiftofunityandcamaraderieamongthepeopleoftheparish.Thankyouforyourdedica-tion.

Finally,wewillcontinuetobringforwardourofferingduringourSundayMassesforthecomingweekends.ItisawaytobringintoourconsciousnessourmotivationandourintentionwhilewegivebacktoGodtheblessingsthatHebestowedonus.ItismeaningfulthatwealsoofferourhearttotheLordtogetherwiththefruitsofourlabor.TheLentenspiritualactivitiesareintheissuesofourbulle-tin.Pleasecomeandparticipate.Theyaregoodforourspiritualdeepening.Letuscontinuetojourneytogetherinthisholyseason.Iwillseeyounextweekend.

SincerelyinChristandMary,Fr.Noel

Masses, Intentions & Liturgies

Liturgical Ministries Schedule PRESIDER LECTOR LEADER OF SONG COMMUNION MINISTERS MINISTERS OF CARE ALTAR SERVERS

March 18 5:00 PM Rev. Noel Reyes

P Galla R Morales

Cantor M Serrano D Sierminski C Wojnar B Stancato

B Veslino C Escobar G Stauder

March 19 8:30 AM Rev. Noel Reyes

S Fortier Sr F Rolfes, SLW

Cantor L Bahamon J Kozlik K Krutz M Niemiec

Lee Manor - L Bahamon R Bahamon K Krutz B Zabielski

R Ranola

March 19 10:00 AM Rev. Ronald Paulino, RCJ

L Giovanni A Zagorski

Folk Choir G Balut L Gallichio M Bilodeau C Mendoza J Bilodeau T Ring J Gallichio M Ungaro

M Suriano K Figueroa S Suriano C Janzen

March 19 12:00 PM Rev. Ronald Paulino, RCJ

M Perez M Gomez

Spanish Choir L Bahamon I Fajardo R Bahamon T Castro M Fernandez F Castro M Hernandez

C Avalos J Ibarra L Reyna

Pray for the Sick and the Homebound

MONDAY, MARCH 13 REQUESTED BY: 8:00am Alena Thomas, special intention Carmel Thomas

TUESDAY, MARCH 14 8:00am Djhoanna Solano, birthday Family Dr & Mrs. Preodor Marge Kopec †Karen Macuras Jim Szczesniak

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

6:00pm Filippo Ma. Verde, birthday

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

8:00am For Vocations to Priestly & Religious Life

FRIDAY, MARCH 17 8:00am For the Release from Captivity

SATURDAY, MARCH 18 8:00am For the Respect for Life 5:00pm Divine Mercy Group, in thanksgiving †Rev Joseph Grembla David & Cathy Karr †Laverne Reilly Merle Jean Towne

SUNDAY, MARCH 19 8:30am †Daniel Konczyk Family 10:00am Maria De Pasquale, surgery Family †Lorraine Curran Joy Joseph †Marion & Dick Vana Family 12:00pm †Maria Avalos Sergio Avalos †Jesus Orozco Family

Lorraine Forbes Claro Dulay Marty Vece Mark Gelinas

Alex Rodriguez Michael Kramer Tom Niemczyk Jim Niemczyk Michael Fudala Jose Camarillo Judy Waring Phil Scherer

Marge Kopec Norman Kozlowski

Ed Degenhardt Vernon Jonasson

Ana Carrasco Nancy Cole

Josephine Samborski Mark Pawelski

Carmela Anderson Vicki Foy

Virginia “Ginny” Schetter Maria De Pasquale

Please pray for our sister in Christ who was born to eternal life:

Kay Kleczewski

Grant eternal rest unto her O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon

her, and through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP for Fiscal Year July 2016 - June 2017 3/5/17 Budgeted Actual Last Year Sunday Collection $7,000 $6,367 $6,960 Electronic Giving $569 Ash Wednesday $2,478 $1,650 Other Income $6,000 $2,611 $5,932 RE Children’s Collection $101 $165 For Week $13,000 $12,126 $14,707 Surplus (Deficit) for Week ($874) Surplus (Deficit) for Year ($12,475) Central/Eastern Europe $435 $1,976

Have you remembered St. Stephen Protomartyr

in your will?

Weekly Parish Events/Eventos Parroquiales

DATE/EVENT LOCATION

Monday, March 13, 2017 6:00pm Parish Faith Formation 6:30pm Grupo de Oración 7:00pm Baptismal Prep Class (sign up req) 7:30pm Charismatic Choir Rehearsal

Gym & Mezydlo Chapel Parish Center Church

Tuesday, March 14, 2017 2:00pm Culinaires Meeting 6:30pm Finance Council Meeting 7:00pm Folk Choir Rehearsal Via Crucis Meeting with Youth Marriage Info Night Meeting

Guadalupe Room Parish Center Music Room Church Parish Center

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 6:30pm Traditional/Fil-American Choir Grupo de Oracion

Music Room Church

Thursday, March 16, 2017 1:00pm HandMades 7:00pm Sol Azteca

Santa Maria Gym

Friday, March 17, 2017 1:00pm Golden Hearts 7:00pm Hispanic Choir Stations of the Cross

Gym Music Room Church

Saturday, March 18, 2017 9:00am Polish School 3:00pm Divine Mercy Retreat 6:30pm Bingo

School Mezydlo Room Gym

Sunday, March 19, 2017 10:00am Religious Education

School

Combined language Stations of the Cross coordinating ministries

March 17 - Ministers of Care, Bereavement & Fundraising Committee

March 24 - Catechists from Spanish RE program, Ushers & Parish Council

March 31 - Lectors, Culinaires, HandMades & Finance Council

April 7 - Marieth - choirs, Sol Azteca, Youth Group & Soup and Bread Night for the Poor

Via crucis y coordinadores

17 de Marzo- Ministros de los enfermos, Comité de Recaudación de Fondos

24 de Marzo- Catequistas en Español, Ujieres, Concilio Parroquial

31 de Marzo- Lectores, Culinarios, Handmades, Concilio de Finansas

7 de Abril- Coros, Sol Azteca, Grupo de Jovenes & (NOCHE DE SOPA Y PAN)

Parish Faith Formation Monday, March 13th

In the gym

6:00pm Light refreshments 6:30pm Session begins

Formación de Fe Parroquial Lunes 13 de marzo

Gimnasio

6:00pm Refrescos ligeros 6:30pm Sesión

Novena to St Joseph

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt

before the throne of God. I place in you all

my interests and desires.

Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession,

and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer

my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for me. Amen

SECOND WEEK OF LENT ENCOUNTER NUTRITION

We encounter Evelina in Zambia as she and other mothers in her community learn new ways to provide nutritious meals for their growing children and families. How do we ensure that those who are hungry have not only food but true nourishment?

Visit crsricebowl.org for more.

SEGUNDA SEMANA DE CUARESMA

UN ENCUENTRO CON LA NUTRICIÓN Nos encontramos con Evelina en Zambia. Ella y otras madres en su comunidad aprenden nue-vas formas de proporcionar comidas nutritivas para sus familias. ¿Podemos garantizar que los que tienen hambre tengan no sólo alimentos, sino una verdadera nutrición?

Visite crsplatodearroz.org para más información.

Children’s Backpack Ministry

Please keep filling our Blue Box in the back of church. It is a beautiful thing to see it overflowing. If you are unable to shop for us, you can put a check, marked for "Backpack" in an envelope and drop it in the Sunday collection basket. Currently we need to stock up on the following items: Soup, Pudding, Canned Fruit, Canned Vegetables, Vienna Little Sausages, Mac - n - Cheese, Raisins and other snack food. As a congregation we are so blessed to have this opportunity to follow Jesus' call to serve one another.

Thank you! Peace & Justice Ministry

NovenaaSanJose OhSanJose,cuyapro-teccionestangrande,tanpo-derosaye icazanteeltronodeDios,envuestrasmanosen-tregotodosmisinteresesymisdeseos. OhSanJose,asistidmeconvuestrapoderosainterce-sion.Obtenedparamı,devues-

troDivinoHijo,NuestroSenor,todaslasbendicio-nesespiritualesquenecesito.A indeque,habiendoconseguido,aquıenlatierra,laayudadevuestropodercelestial,puedaofrecermigratitudyhomena-je,alPadremasAmoroso. OhSanJose,nuncamecansaredecontempla-rosconelNinoJesusdormidoenvuestrosbrazos.NomeatrevoaacercarmemientraselNinoreposasobrevuestrocorazon.Abrazadlefuertementeenminombre;ydepartemıa,besadsu inaydelicadaCa-becita.Luego,suplicadlequemedevuelvaesebesoalahorademiultimosuspiro.SanJose,patrondelosmoribundos,rogadpornosotros.Amen.

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Church News & Events // Eventos y Noticias Parroquiales

ANNOUNCEMENTS**BaptismalPrepClassisthisMonday,March13that7pmintheParishCenter.Calltheof icetosignup.

**MarriageInfoNightisthisTuesday,March14that7pmintheParishCenter.Calltheof icetosignup.

**FinanceCouncilMeetingwillbeonTues-day,March14that6:30pmintheParishCen-ter.

**ConfessionwillbeavailableonWednes-daysat5pminchurch.

AVISOS PARROQUIALES **ClasedePreparacionBautismalestapro-gramadaparaelLunes,13demarzoalas7pmenelCentroParroquial.PorfavorllamealaO icinaparainscribirse **LanochedeinformacionparaMatrimonioseselmartes,14demarzoalas7pmenenCen-troParroquial.PorfavorllamaralaO icinapararegistrarse **HabranConfesionestodoslosmiercolesa

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Communal Gospel Reading and Reflection

Please mark your calendar for the Communal Gospel Reading and Reflection on March 29th and 30th. We will read the Gospel according to Saint Mark. Our goal is to be familiar with one entire Gospel Book and to call our consciousness to the direction that God wants us to be as an individual and as a community. Towards the end of the reading, we will divide ourselves into various groups in order to share our reflections with each other, and from there, discern the promptings of the Spirit of God in us. All are strongly encouraged to participate and to dedicate extra time for us to be more familiar to the Word of God. As Jesus said in the Gospel reading during the first Sunday of Lent, "It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." Mt.4:4 You may also mark your calendar on the 31st of March for our communal movie review and reflection. We will watch the movie "Silence." Since it is a movie with some graphic scenes and an intense plot, I encourage the fami-lies who have younger children, to discern if you are willing to explain and to expand for them the meaning of the images that you will encounter during the movie viewing. Since our society is challenged by modernism and individualistic cultural domination, it is rather ap-propriate during the season of Lent that we come as a community to reflect together on the significance of our profession of faith as rooted in our trust in God. Please consider your participation as a support to our communal campaign in bringing back the value of our Christian faith.

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PARISH OFFICE STAFF: Rev. Noel Reyes Pastor Rev. Ronald Paulino, RCJ Associate Pastor Bill Warmouth Deacon Tony Towey Deacon Don Telposky RTD Deacon Sr. Alma Rosa Huerta Rel. Ed. Coordinator Toni Olague Rel. Ed. Assistant Marieth Quintero Music Director Phyllis Rotondo Bookkeeper Noreen Johnson Parish Secretary Ezequiel Teran Receptionist Daniel Roldan Weekend Help Andrzej Kasprzyk Maintenance

PARISH CONTACT 1253 Everett Ave. 847-824-2026 Des Plaines, Illinois 60018 847-824-3842 (fax) OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday - Friday 8:30-12 & 1-5PM Saturday 9:00AM to 1:00PM Sunday & Monday Closed CHURCH: 1280 Prospect Ave., Des Plaines, Illinois 60018 WEBSITE: www.ststephendp.org EMAIL: sspasst@sbcglobal.net

MASS SCHEDULE Weekdays: 8:00AM - M, T, TH, F, S OLPH Devotion 5:45pm - W Week Evening: 6:00 PM - W Vigil Mass Sat: 5:00PM Sundays: 8:30AM & 10:00AM 12:00 PM - Spanish COMMUNAL MORNING PRAYER (Lent) Mon-Sat 7:30AM CONFESSIONS: Saturday 4:00-4:30PM, Wednesday at 5pm and by appointment.

BAPTISMS/BAUTISMOS: Call the office to make arrangements three months in ad-vance./ Hable a la oficina con tres meses de anticipación para hacer los arreglos. WEDDINGS/BODAS: Call the office to make arrangements at least six months in advance./ Hable a la oficina con seis meses de anticipación para hacer arreglos. QUINCEAÑERAS: Call the office to make arrangements at least six months in advance./ Hable a la oficina con seis meses de anticipación para hacer los arreglos.

Lenten Schedule

MORNING PRAYER Week days at 7:30am

STATIONS OF THE CROSS Every Friday during Lent at 7:00pm  

Communal Gospel Reflection Wed, March 29th & Thurs, March 30th at 7pm

Movie Night Friday, March 31st at 8pm Shadow Stations Friday, April 7 at 7pm

HORARIO PARA CUARESMA

Oración de la mañana Durante la semana a las 7:30am  

VIA CRUCIS Cada viernes de Cuaresma a las 7:00pm

Encuentro Parroquial en Español Sabado, 25 de marzo a las 8 y 3pm

Viacrucis en Sombras Viernes, 7 de abril a las 7pm

St. Joseph’s Mass Monday, March 20th 6:00pm Mass

St. Joseph’s Table will follow

Bring a meatless dish to share for our potluck

** There will be no 8am Mass this day.

Mesa de San José

Misa: Lune, 20 de Marzo a las 6:00pm Almuerzo despues de la Misa.

Traer un platillo sin carne

**No Habra misa de 8:00am