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December 6th, 2020 Vol. 39 No. 18

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. Freddy Perez

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

Music Director: Gabriel Salgado Youth Director: Crystal Villareal

While the #igivecatholic platform is closed for donations, you can still support our Parish's campaign by donating on online at the parish website by clicking on the Giving button or

by sending an offline gift of cash or check to the parish office making sure to note this is for the #iGiveCatholic project. Thank you for making a difference, for giving back, and Giving

Catholic. #GivingTuesday was a most generous day! Every gift made an impact! Thanks to the amazing support of everyone who donated to St. Stephen's for our #iGiveCatholic campaign this

year, we raised OVER $46,000 for OUR PARISH!

I just want to thank you again for your generosity. May God bless you for the many other ways you helped the campaign, whether that was by sharing a post on social media or forwarding an

email, you helped spread the word to your friends and family! But most importantly thank you for joining me in praying for God to bless our efforts. When we come together in intention and pray it

is powerful! God always answers prayer and we cannot out do his generosity!

With overwhelming awe in the goodness and generosity of our great God and the beautiful people of our community who contributed in many different ways to this campaign I thank you again!

Sincerest Regards and God's Blessings!

Mandy Trevino

Parish Business Manager

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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, December 7th - St. Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor of the Church 7:00 am †Kendra Delashaw by Anthony Percifull 5:30 pm †Mildred Qualls by family

Tuesday, December 8th - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 7:00 am 5:30 pm Diego Garcia by Gloria Oetting

Wednesday, December 9th - Advent Wednesday 7:00 am 5:30 pm Fr. Paul Halladay by Family

Thursday, December 10th - Advent Weekday 7:00 am 5:30 pm Friday, December 11th - Advent Weekday 7:00 am Isaac Michael Sokolowski (HB) by Parents 5:30 pm Saturday, December 12th - Our Lady of Guadalupe 8:00 am

5:00 pm Brandon Lopez by Gloria Oetting

December 13th– 3rd Sunday of Advent 9:00 am †Mary Borrego by Daughter Val Trejo 12:00 pm (SPANISH)

5:00 pm Monica Perales by family

Last Week’s Collection

*Collections/Mailed in/Dropped off:

Regular Deposit $ 13,741.25 Other Income $ 2,948.00** Second Collections $ 1,784.58*

Collections/SSCC & DOSA

Websites: Regular Deposit $14,180.00 Other Income $2,940.00 Second Collections $1,495.00*

**Includes contributions for:

#iGiveCatholic Campaign

*Includes contributions for: Christmas Flowers, Food for the

Poor, Helping Hands & Retirement for Religious

Mass Intentions For the week of December 6th, 2020

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December 6 Lisa Berry

Brittany Castillo Sarah Elizabeth

Dehlinger Alberto Garcia Jr. Jessica Gonzalez Mario Gutierrez Helen Murray Terri Padilla

Augustus Schwalbach Beatrice Terry Sonia Torres

December 7 Jesus Armendariz Julissa Bustillos Liam Carrasco

Michael Elizondo Christopher Garcia

Cruz Marquez Monty McLane Mayra Perez

Santiago Rayos Erica Sanchez

Marnell Santonil Bobby Toscano

Bianca Villanueva Ana Villegas

December 8 Janie Balderrama

Elias Fuentes Carolina Goytia

Nicole Mejia Kayla Mendieta Zyra Rodriguez

Reynaldo Sanchez Margaret Slevin

December 9 Joseph Baca Ilda Cuevas Nolan Egely

Olga Enriquez Emily Garcia

Kaime Gonzalez Mario Gonzalez

Jon Prince Jacob Reyes Cruz Sanchez Cierra Urias

December 10 Sylvia Aguirre

Cyprian Caudle Sebastian Giraldo Nayeli Hernandez

Mike Hill Clarissia Lynn

Stephanie Lyon Robert Montferrand Francisco Navarrete

Cruz Rubio III Manuel Valerio Jr.

December 11 Guadalupe Alanis Rocio Gonzalez Marybell Lerma Harriet Lyson

Celine Maldonado Carol Mata

Sandra Montoya Kassandra Mora

Kaleb Nunez Matthew Portillo

Gumaro Ruvalcaba Fabian Talamantes

Aaron Urias

December 12 Madison Calhoun Dennise Garcia

Eng Khia Keaton Mark Kinzer

Evan Lujan Jorge Martinez

Nicole Ortiz Jeanette Padilla

Lupe Reyes Lorenzo Salazar

Cary Wilger

December 13 Diego Acosta Paula Aguirre

Robin Alvarado Paul Bill

Hector Carrasco Mark Dehlinger Erica Gomez

Francisco Gomez Criss Kohl

Justin Lassetter Lucia Lopez

Jessica Lujan Lynda Muller

Jesse Sandoval Annabella Capri Willis

Olivia Anzures, Maria Esther Estrada, Felix Munoz ll, Jose Martinez Jr. ,Precious Medires, Julian Rodriguez, Ruth Alvardo, Burdette Family, Vasquez Family, Isaiah V., Carlota V., Rod T., Judy D., Mary Helen Smith, Candace Rosas. A.J Garrett, Dolores Higgins, Alexia Aguirre, Larry White, Arthur Garcia, Domingo Carrizales, Colter Marcum, Joe Teagarden,

Raul Lujan, Adamari Rosas, Gloria K, Magdalena Mendoza, Stella Torres, Alma Garcia, Joe Teagarden, Dayton Martinez, Natalie Gamboa, Ruby Morales, Alfonso Marquez, Avery King Jr., Dora Lopez, Mary Bryan, Elida Rodriguez, Mendoza Family, Christian Molina, Claudia Molina, Valerie C., Cory & baby Javier, Andy Stone, Daniel & Alicia, Isaiah V., Julia G, Julia H. ,Jerome Hoelscher, Margaret Rios, Erick Baeza, Oscsar Gonzalez, Ana Gallegos, Rosa Reyes, Ema Saucedo, Kenny D, Nike R, Rosie Sanchez, Terri Florez, Maria Rodriguez, Sharon Stuard, Laura, Jesse Pena, Teresa Pena, baby Noah Kai Russell , Maris Brown, Emma Valdez, Yolanda Rodriguez, Tommy Lee, Nancy Damico, Elia Ramirez, Ramirez Daughter, Larry White, Gracias Jiron, Bob Breeze, Ana Laura Alvarado Moreno, Patricia White.

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!

Our Lady of Guadalupe will be here at St. Stephens Catholic

Church December 12th at 6am singing Las Mananitas.

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe estará aquí en la Iglesia

Católica St. Stephens el 12 de diciembre a las 6 am cantando

Las Mananitas.

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Youth News

The Brothers of Mount Carmel Hermitage will not be able to sell their

products this year in the Church because of COVID. However any help you can give them by your donations or by buying their products through their website is greatly appreciated.

They assure you of their prayers and please do not forget them in your charity during this difficult time.

http://www.carmelitehermits.org/

index.htm

Calm My Mind Prayer Merciful God, thank you that I am never alone,

your presence calms the troubled sea of my life and speaks peace to my soul. When I am filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my studies, would you calm my fears and fill my mind with

your peace. Give me assurance that you are working everything for my good and your glory. May your love be the passion in my heart. May

your joy be my strength when times are hard. May your presence be my peace that overflows. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Amen.

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Upcoming Baptismal Classes: Próximas clases bautismales

December 6th , 2020 / 6 de diciembre del 2020

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.

If you’re interested in volunteering please sign up for your areas of interest and

visit: ststephensmidland.com/volunteer

Light of the World Prayer Creator God, thank you that you are the light of the world, guiding my steps on your path. Help me to recognize every student I teach as your precious child.

May you guide me into the most helpful words and actions with your wisdom. Hear my prayer Lord, and help me to

teach effectively. May you, the God of all grace, who has called me into eternal glory by Christ Jesus, make me holy,

strong and filled with peace. To you be glory and honor, forever and ever. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy

Spirit, Amen.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholics in the Diocese of San Angelo

are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days

of obligation until further notice.

Thank you very much, Bishop Michael Sis

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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: Last Week Year-to-Date Electric 4 families $1,089.06 $66,544.27 Water 3 families $1,074.47 $32,893.49 Rent 21 families $ 27,970.36 $1,445,802.81 Medical 1 family $3,000.00 $18,349.70 Total $33,133.89 $1,563.590.27

Helping Hands of Midland 1301 Brinson Lane

(432) 520-8900

In the numbers above we have listed not only what we have done in each of the listed categories last week, but also what has been spent year-to-date in each of those categories. At the beginning of January we will run a full accounting of what was spent in each of all of our categories. It is clear to see that this has been an extremely challenging year. We are deeply appreciative to all of you

who have made this possible through your unending generosity and care for the poor through Helping Hands.

We received a call today from a concerned friend who heard that Helping Hands was not able to

help those in need anymore. We laughed incredulously when we heard that, but then, putting ourselves in the shoes of those calling our helpline; we can certainly understand why some people

may think we are not helping.

This morning, Monday, November 30, we received 76 phone calls on our helpline from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Those are non-duplicated calls (in other words, different people calling each time in that 4½ hour period). Some of them said that they have called before…one person as many as 4 times

and she has yet to hear back from us.

We understand her frustration. But she is no more desperate than the other 75 people who called in that short period of time. We are challenged to sift through those calls (plus those yet to come in today) and choose which ones (usually between 5-7 clients) we feel to be the most urgent. It is a

call that none of our caseworkers like to make. If we could we would gladly help every single person who came to us with a legitimate need.

Of the calls we have received so far, the overwhelming vast majority are from people suffering in one way or another from the pandemic. Either they have been quarantined or hospitalized with

COVID and unable to work or they have lost their jobs entirely or their hours have been cut to the point where they can no longer afford to pay their rent. The decisions on who to help are painful ones that the caseworkers must make each day. We have never seen times like this in Midland

before and we pray that we see better days soon.

The sole purpose of Helping Hands, the only reason this organization exists is to help those in need. The day that we no longer help will be the day that we no longer exist. And that day will come when you are no longer there to support us through your charitable donations. God bless you for all

that you have done for us, and for those in need. You have truly blessed all of us!

This is just a reminder that our store will be closed from December 24th until January 2. During that time we will not have our trucks at St. Stephen’s for donations.

LAST WEEK TO VOTE FOR HELPING HANDS TO BE YOUR FAVORITE PERMIAN BASIN

CHARITY. Log into www.city.bank/communityrewards anytime until Dec. 15 and vote for Helping Hands under

Basic Human Needs category. You can vote once every hour. The top three winners in each category will receive a monetary rewards ranging from $7,000 to $500 courtesy of City Bank. Please

vote as often as you can!