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May 20, 2018 Vol. 36 No. 41

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

Dear Parishioners, One of the most critical and difficult lessons that any priest learns is that the Priest is not his own man. He lives a life a service for others and he lives in obedience to the Holy Spirit as expressed through the will of the Bishop.

It is in a sense of radical trust that I announce the upcoming reassignment of Fr. Timothy Hayter to serve as Parochial Vicar at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Parish in Odessa, effective July 2, 2018. This change of assignment surprised both Fr. Tim and myself as neither of us requested it. I am personally thankful to Fr. Tim for his service here at St. Stephen’s and I pray for a fruitful ministry for him in Odessa.

Secondly, I announce the arrival of two priests to join us in ministry here at St. Stephen’s effective July 2, 2018.

Fr. Adam Droll has served as Parochial Vicar at Holy Family in Abilene. Fr. Adam has been ordained three years and recently returned from further Spanish studies in Costa Rica.

Rev. Mr. Freddy Perez will be ordained to the priesthood on June 9, 2018 by Bishop Sis. He is a native of San Angelo and is fully bilingual. He recently graduated from Oblate School of Theology with a Masters in Divinity.

I’d like to thank Bishop Sis for his trust in our parish to help form these three priests for ministry in the Diocese.

In Christ’s Service, Fr. Rodney White

Queridos Parroquianos, Una de las lecciones más críticas y difíciles que cualquier sacerdote es aprender que el sacerdote no es su propio hombre. Se vive una vida de servicio por otros y vive en obediencia al Espíritu Santo expresado por la voluntad del Obispo.

Con confianza radical, anuncio el cambio de asignación de Padre Timoteo a servir como Vicario Parroquial en la Parroquia de St. Isabel Ana Seaton en Odessa, para el día 2 de Julio del presente año.

Este cambio fue una sorpresa para mí y también a Padre Timoteo, pues ninguno de nosotros solicitó el cambio. Quiero dar las gracias a Padre Timoteo por su servicio aquí a San Esteban, y ruego a Dios por un buen ministerio allí.

Y en Segundo lugar, anuncio la llegada de dos sacerdotes a servir aquí en San Esteban, para el día 2 de Julio del presente año.

Padre Adam Droll a servido como Vicario Parroquial en la Sagrada Familia en Abilene. Tiene 3 años de ordenado, recientemente ha regresado de estudiar español en Costa Rica.

Diacono Freddy Perez será ordenado al sacerdocio el nueve de junio. Creció en San Ángelo y español es su primera lengua. Recientemente se graduó en la Escuela Oblata de Teología con una Maestría en Divinidad.

Al servicio de Cristo, Padre Rodney White

Sunday, May 20 - Pentecost Sunday

Monday, May 21

Tuesday, May 22

Wednesday, May 23

Thursday, May 24

Friday, May 25

Saturday, May 26

Sunday, May 27

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Eucharistic Adoration Openings

TUES—THURS: 6AM FRIDAY: 1:00 PM & 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.

ST. STEPHEN’S CONFESSION SCHEDULE

Monday - Tuesday - Thursday - Friday 6:45 am - 7:00 am; 12 noon - 12:15 pm;

& 5:00 - 5:30 pm

Wednesday 6:45 a.m.-7 a.m.; 12 noon-12:15 p.m.;

5-5:30 p.m.; & 6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

Sunday 20 minutes prior to each Mass

And anytime, by appointment

For the week of May 20, 2018

Last Week’s Collection

Regular Collection: $ 29,587.17 Building Fund: $ 945.50 Other Income: $ 1794.56 Catholic Communications: $ 4,920.32

Financial reports are available in the parish office.

The month of May is a month dedicated to the

Blessed Virgin Mary, that is why we are praying the Holy Rosary at 6:30 p.m.

every day in the big church. Children are

invited to offer flowers to Mary. Rosary will be Bilingual.

Correction from May 13th Collection

Collections: $ 39,484.88 Building Fund: $ 175.00 Other Income: $ 1,381.89 Helping Hands $ 28,675.20

Financial reports are available in the parish office.

Upcoming Baptismal Classes:

June 3rd & 10th

English : 2:00 - 4:30 Spanish: 2:30 - 5:00

Please Call Parish Office to Register (432) 520–7394.

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May 20 Margaret Ayala Mariam Garcia Ruby Lerma

Joel Navarrete Jerry Poor Jr.

Abigail Rodriguez Janie Sotelo

Graciela Trejo Maria Zuniga

May 21 Christina Bryan Jaime Castillo Andrea Hain Carole Hain

Elizabeth Mardrid Thomas Navarrete Griselda Rodriguez

Sophie Sharum Dalia Tejeda

May 22 Lynne Almand William Berry Aimee Brizeth

Von Stephen Doria Erica Gonzalez

Clifford Hair M/M Stan Houk Adrian Lopez

Henry Natividad James Nyerges

Annabelle Rivera Aaron Sulak

Kimberly Torres Gloria Ybarra

May 23 Susana Cisneros

Juan Garza Juaquin Gonzales

Erica Raquel Rodriguez Hannah Stewart

Fran Thetford

May 24 Eduviges Aguirre Julian Escobedo

Celinda Hernandez Mary Medrano Rocio Monge

Angie Sanchez Melissa Tejada

May 25 Ricardo Barrera Jr.

Jaime Carrasco Daniel Cervantes

Jonah Garcia Yanely Hernandez

Rick Moreno Manessa Smith

Nicklaus Stewart Sofia Torres

Damian Vasquez Jr.

May 26 Carmen Barto Daniel Garcia

Jesse Galindo Bailee Kiowski Lauren Klein

Alexandria Leyva Ted Meade III Jaime Ramos

Maleny Ramos Maria Esther Reynosa

Neri Venegas

May 27 Jacob Boss

Mike Cardenas Lee Cardona

Waylon Corley Joseph Gallegos

Jaxen Hill M/M Charles Perry

Marisol Tellez, Albert Alvidrez, Maria Olga Tellez, Jenario Tellez, Ramona Isela Legarreta Ortega, Mike Levi, Bill Boyd, Teresa Kiser,

Lucas Alvarado, Pablo Talamantez, Baby Braxton Munoz, Baby Israel Martinez, Alyss Munoz, Alejandro Munoz Jr,

Avyel Munoz, Bonnie Marquez, Dayton Martinez, Jose Carmen Vasquez, Betty Compton, Manuel H., John A., Kandy K., Tonia C., Rachel S., Burdette Family, Isaiah V., Vanessa V., Anita P., Carlota W., Judy D., Alicia S., Jesse Julus Garcia, Max Molina, Bob Breese, Gerald Thetford, Fran Thetford, Art Meyer, Bee Meyer, Gina Angay, Pascuala Mendieta J., Richard A. Munoz, John Briggs, Valeria Patino, Kim Walser, Raelynn Natividad, Angela N., Jane Sue, Dean Teagarden, Joann Teagarden, Mark Clark, Potsy Sotelo, Jaelynn G. Garcia, Tommy Escamilla, 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, 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.

Email frontdesk.sscc@att.net 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!

New Hope Counseling 4400 N. Big Spring St

(432) 687-4673

Francis Hymel D.MIN, LPC, LMFT

Dear colleagues, May is Foster Care Month. We're delighted we have been able to update the St. Joseph Ministry resources with homily notes and Prayers of the Faithful specific to Mother's Day and Foster Care Month. You can find these liturgical resources here.

The Texas Bishops launched St. Joseph Ministry, a foster care initiative, to assist the state in recruiting and retaining foster families for the 30,000 children in its child welfare system. The TCCB has developed a parish toolkit to support you in discerning how your office or parish can engage.

While not everyone may be a foster parent, there are a multitude of ways to care for foster children and their families. The resource guide provides specific means of both direct and non-direct engagement, as well as a discernment process to assist parish leaders in determining what roles your parish might fill. The toolkit also includes resources and entities available statewide to collaborate with parishes and diocesan entities.

Please contact us at StJosephMinistry@txcatholic.org or 512-339-9882 if you have any questions or feedback about the St. Joseph’s Ministry. We will be producing more resources in the near future, so please keep an eye on our website!

Thank you for all you do for God’s people, and for your consideration of how your parish might provide even greater service to foster children and their families!

The 2018 Catholic Women’s Conference is coming July 27-28! Join 1500+ amazing Catholic Women in San Antonio. You are invited to join my group and receive a $15 discount! Register at CWCSanAntonio.com using my personalized code: m.hanelCWC18. See the flyer in the bulletin or contact Mary Hanel at (432)978-9311 for more information.

Marriage Counseling, Children, Adolescence, Adults, & Families

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Free Pizza! Thursday, May 24th

– Pizza lunch will be served from 11:30 – 1:30 in the youth

building...last ONE for FREE pizza come out and enjoy!

Youth News

As Christians, we belong to our families and the family of God. Baptism is how enter into the family of God. Do you

desire to be baptized? Would you like to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church? Are you a member of a Protestant denomination and you would like to learn more about the Catholic faith? If so, we invite you to join us for RCIA in August. "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. It's free, childcare is provided, we have a lot of fun and we always have something good to eat. RCIA will start in August. If you have questions, feel free to email me at billberry100@aol.com.

RCIA News by Bill Berry

Last week of Life Teen!

Come join us after Mass for games, fellowship, and a cookout!

Need to contact the Youth Director Thomas Shows, please call the parish office at (432) 520-7394 or email him at ststephensyouth@yahoo.com

If you are interested in volunteering

for Vacation Bible School please

contact Gretchen in the Parish

Office at (432) 520-7394

Send your kids on an impacting island adventure! June 18-22nd from 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon! $25.00 per child - At Shipwrecked VBS, kids discover how Jesus rescues us though life's storms. Shipwrecked is filled with incredible Bible-learning

experiences kids see, hear, touch, and even taste! Sciency-Fun Gismos, team-building games, cool Bible songs, and tasty treats are just a few of the standout activities that help faith flow into real life! Plus, we'll help kids discover how to see evidence of God in everyday life - something we call God sightings.

Come sign up for Vacation Bible School

Registration will be held in Parish Hall after all masses on Sunday, May 27th

There will be a Young Catholic Professionals Conference for the Diocese of San Angelo hosted here at St. Stephen’s in November. Please help support them in raising funds to cover speaker fees and other costs associated with the event.

Next weekend (May 27th) they will be selling tickets for brisket plates after the 8am, 1030am and 12:30pm Masses.

The brisket plates can then be picked up the following weekend, June 3rd, after the 8am, 10:30am, and 12:30pm

Masses. Each plate will be $10. Your support is much appreciated.

If you were unable to RSVP last week but still

want to attend the Graduation Mass

at 10:30 on May 27th,

please contact Thomas Shows

Summer Fun: Come join us on June 6th at Sherwood Family Aquatic Center from 6:00 – 9:00 as we join St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for a pool party!

20 de mayo 2018 ¡¡¡Domingo DE PENTECOSTES!!! (Solemnidad)

Por eso, como dice el Espíritu Santo: Si hoy escuchas su voz, no endurezcan sus corazones como cuando lo irritaron… y dije: Siempre andan extraviados sus corazones; no reconocen mis caminos. (Hb. 3, 7. 8. 10)

Dios llama constantemente a sus hijos, pero la condición de cada corazón determina el resultado. Dicen por ahí que el mayor pecado de una persona es vivir con un «corazón cerrado» y endurecido, un «corazón de piedra» y no de carne: un corazón obstinado y torcido, un corazón poco limpio. Quien vive «cerrado», no puede recibir el Espíritu de Dios; no puede dejarse guiar por el Espíritu de Jesús. Cuando nuestro corazón está «cerrado», nuestros ojos no ven, nuestros oídos no oyen. Vivimos separados de la vida, desconectados El mundo y las personas están «ahí fuera» y yo estoy «aquí dentro». Una frontera invisible nos separa del Espíritu de Dios que lo alienta todo; es imposible sentir la vida como la sentía Jesús. Sólo cuando nuestro corazón se abre, comenzamos a captarlo todo a la luz de Dios.

Cuando nuestro corazón está «cerrado», vivimos volcados sobre nosotros mismos, insensibles a la admiración y la acción de gracias. Dios nos parece un problema y no el Misterio que lo llena todo. Sólo cuando nuestro corazón se abre, comenzamos a intuir a ese Dios «en quien vivimos, nos movemos y existimos». Sólo entonces comenzamos a invocarlo como «Padre», con el mismo Espíritu de Jesús.

Cuando nuestro corazón está «cerrado», en nuestra vida no hay compasión. No sabemos sentir el sufrimiento de los demás. Vivimos indiferentes a los abusos e injusticias que destruyen la felicidad de tanta gente. Sólo cuando nuestro corazón se abre, empezamos a intuir con qué ternura y compasión mira Dios a las personas. Sólo entonces escuchamos la principal llamada de Jesús: «Sean compasivos como nuestro Padre».

San Pablo formuló de manera atractiva una convicción que se vivía entre los primeros cristianos: «El amor de Dios ha sido derramado en nuestros corazones por el Espíritu Santo que nos ha sido dado». ¿Lo podemos experimentar también hoy? Lo decisivo es abrir nuestro corazón.

Que nuestra oracion de hoy y de siempre al Espíritu Santo sea ésta:

«Danos un corazón nuevo, un corazón de carne, sensible y compasivo, un corazón transformado por Jesús».

Hermana Gertrudis Muñoz Mendieta I.C.A.S.

AVISOS: • 25 de mayo encuentro con matrimonios salón 11 de 7- 9 p.m.

• 26 de mayo encuentro de mujeres salón 1 y 2 de las 9 de la mañana a 12 del día.

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Próximas clases bautismales:

Junio 3 y 10

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:

Martes—Jueves: 6:00 AM Viernes: 1:00 PM & 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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We are very privileged at Helping Hands in that we are not bound by rules that limit how much we can spend on someone in need. We feel rules and limits often provide a graceful way of saying “no” even to legitimate needs. When, after careful scrutiny it is determined the request for help is truly legitimate, Helping Hands does everything possible to say YES. Once the bucket where we put your donations is empty, and only then, do we say NO to a legitimate need, regardless of the cost. Some cases where saying yes was costly: a man in his mid-40’s suffered three strokes. He was partially paralyzed and had difficulty with speech. We helped him with his rent and utilities for three months. His expenses ended up costing Helping Hands over $3,500, but we were thankful that we were able to pay it – the man did not have to worry about keeping a roof over his head while he learned to live with his handicap and eventually get his disability benefits. Likewise, the middle-aged woman who became afflicted with seizures: unable to work or to drive her car, she went through her entire life savings paying for utilities and medications while she waited for disability benefits. Finally she had no choice but to come to us for help. She told us that doing so was personally the most humiliating thing she had ever experienced – she had never dreamed of being in that situation. We joyfully helped her with utilities and medical bills for the two months it took for her first disability check to arrive. We worked on a case of an elderly woman whose daughter was in a car accident and had been hospitalized for several months. The rent on the daughter’s house had not been paid. The mother’s small social security check did not enable her to help financially, nor did she have room in her one bedroom apartment for the five children. The daughter’s rent was three months overdue, and while the landlord had been very patient, he needed money. Bringing her rent current cost us over $2,800, but we felt the money was well spent. Mom can heal and her children will be secure. We recently restored the electricity to the home of a man whose electricity had been cut off for owing $127.68. He was 92-years-old and had no one else to help him. Thank God we could! Are we frivolous in spending as much money as we do each week? No! Are we covering everyone with a legitimate need? Not hardly. There are many people out there who we cannot help because of our own monetary limitations. There are others who are either too proud to call us, or who, because of language or cultural limitation do not know how to reach us. We are very grateful to all of you who continue to support Helping Hands with your financial contributions and donations to our thrift store, that allow us to continue to help our neighbors in need in such a grand and glorious way. Thank you very much and PRAISE GOD FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Helping Hands

of Midland

1301 Brinson Lane

(432) 520-8900

www.helpinghandsmidland.com

Everyone is invited to the dedication of Historic Beginnings of San Angelo, honoring the Lady in Blue, Sister María de Jesús of Agreda, featuring a Marian Conference,

The Lady in Blue Musical Ballet, a spectacular program on the documentary film, and the unveiling of the statues of the Lady in Blue, a Jumano brave, and a Jumano girl child:

May 18th-20th, 2018, in San Angelo Guest speakers will include Vice-Postulator Fr. Stefano M. Cecchin, OFM, from Rome, Bishop

Michael Sis, Bishop Emeritus Michael Pfeifer, OMI, Fr. Edward Looney, Marilyn Fedewa, Dr. Gloria Dodd, Vic Payne-sculptor of statues, and Victor Mancilla-documentary producer. For

more information, please visit http://www.ladyinblue2018.com/or call 325-657-7099, or email LadyinBlueMaria@gmail.com

Todos están invitados a la dedicación de Comienzos Históricos de San Ángelo, honorando la Dama Azul, Sor María de Jesús de Ágreda, una Conferencia Mariana,

Ballet y Musical de la Dama Azul, un programa espectacular de la película documental, y la inauguración de las estatuas de la Dama Azul, un indio Jumano,

y una niña Jumana: 18-20 de Mayo de 2018, en San Ángelo

Pláticas serán presentadas por: Vice-Postulador Padre Stefano M. Cecchin, OFM, de Roma, Obispo Michael Sis, Obispo Emérito Michael Pfeifer, OMI, Padre Edward Looney, Marilyn Fedewa, Prof.a Gloria Dodd, Vic Payne-escultor de las estatuas, Victor Mancilla-productor de la película documental. Para más información, favor de visitar http://

www.ladyinblue2018.com/ o llamar a 325-657-7099, o mandar correo electrónico a LadyinBlueMaria@gmail.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:

Electric 1 family $ 127.68 Water 1 family $ 652.13 Rent 19 families $ 20,458.94 Home Repairs 1 family $ 244.50

Transportation 1 family $ 1,895.40 Medical 1 family $ 950.00 Total $ 24,328.65