April 2, 2017

Fifth Sunday of Lent Ez 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45

Our readings today go straight to the heart of our Catholic Christian faith. They speak of death, and new life in Christ. In the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel we heard: Thus says the Lord God: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel.

In the Gospel reading, the stone has been rolled back from the tomb of poor Lazarus. Christ commanded that he be released from all that bound him up, and then set him free.

What does this mean for us, living out our lives as we do in 2017?

It leads us to this question: What guides your approach to life – the defeats of the past or the hope of the future? For thus says the Lord through the prophet Isaiah: Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not. See, I am doing something new! (43:18-19). God wants us to see things afresh – not in our usual ways, but rather in ways that are ever-new.

How can we see things anew in our own lives? How can we look at things with a new perspec-tive? One way to begin is to examine those elements in our lives that drag us down, that make us feel defeated.

Extreme pessimism. Endless comparisons of ourselves to others. Passive resignation to our lot in life – our “fate.” These types of attitudes can dominate our thoughts and prevent us from see-ing things the way God wants us to see them.

Easter, which we will celebrate in a couple of weeks, is the religious and theological statement that, for the Christian, there is no ultimate defeat. To be sure, we will suffer temporary setbacks. But defeat? No. Because of Christ's Easter resurrection, we can never be totally defeated. All that is re-quired of us is to believe in God’s promises, and let our faith in him replace our own lack of faith in ourselves.

Jesus offers us hope today. Christ can roll back the imprisoning stones that entomb our hearts. It's time to let go of our doubts and defeatism and go free because God wants us, like poor Lazarus, to be free, happy and joyous. He wants us to walk in the glorious freedom of the sons and daughters of God. This Easter, let God do something new within you. The Resurrection is God’s promise that we can have a new life.

Next week we begin the holiest of our Christian week’s when we gather on Palm (Passion) Sunday. We will gather in larger numbers, have special processions, bless palms, hear the Palm Sun-day Passion and move forward, in faith, towards the greatest of feast days – Easter Sunday. May the last week of your Lenten Journey be the most fruitful and prayerful as you continue, with all of us – towards Easter Day. Thanks for praying with us today.

Father Tony

HOSPITALITY MINISTERS for our 9:30 a.m. Mass

Today, Apr. 2 - Bob Anthony Team Sunday, Apr. 9 - Volunteer Sunday, Apr. 16 - Easter Egg Hunt

Our Liturgical Week

Monday, Apr. 3 8:00 a.m. †Loren, Dorothy & Paul Medlin (By: Jane Medlin)ˑ Tuesday, Apr. 4 8:00 a.m Souls in Purgatory (Mrs. C Mariano)

Wednesday, Apr. 5 8:00 a. m . Souls in Purgatory (Mrs. C Mariano)

Thursday, Apr. 6 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Stations of the Cross

Friday, Apr. 7 8:00 a.m. †Loren, Dorothy & Paul Medlin (By: Jane Medlin)ˑ

Saturday, Apr. 8

8:00 a.m †Sandra Rovetti (Dorina Rovetti) 3:30 a.m. Reconciliation 4:30 p.m. †John Faliano (By: Faliano Family) Sunday, Apr. 9

8:00 a.m. †Antonio Austria (By: Rosita Austria) 9:30 a. m. †Patrick & Elizabeth Moriarty (By: Kirwan Family) 11:30 a.m. †Eric, Aida & Myrna Tan (By: Letty Pamplona)

6:45 p.m. † Joseph Montalbano (By: Gayle Montalbano)

FAMILY As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live. — John Paul II

P lease pray for the sick and homebound of our

community and for all those written in our book of the sick. May they know the healing touch of Jesus.

Larry Barbiere, Edileide Jose Barbosa, Carol Dominguez, Eden Finn, Emma Lew,

Al Gragnani, Maria Matthews, Nenita Sangalang, Juan Pablo Grover-Paez,

Jovita & Richard Thompson, and Patricia Sullivan.

Second Collection Next Weekend A second collection will be taken at all masses April 8 and 9 for

Building Loan Payment

St Stephen Events Calendar

Monday All Day Play Rehearsal/ Hall 3:30 p.m. Faith Formation/Church & Offices 7:00 p.m. Liturgy Comm. Mtg./Rectory

Tuesday All Day School Play Rehearsal/Hall 12:00 p.m. School Lunch/Hall 7:00 p.m. Men’s Club/Hall

Wednesday All Day School Play Rehearsal/ Hall 12:00 p.m. School Lunch/Hall 6:00 p.m. First Communion Class/Church & Hall 7:00 p.m. RCIA/Parish Office 7:30 p.m. On Eagle’s Wings/EC

Thursday All Day School Play/ Hall 12:00 p.m. School Lunch/Hall 7:30 p.m. Young Adult Bible Study/Comm. Room

Friday All Day School Play/Hall 7:30 p.m. G.A. Closed Meeting/EC

Saturday All Day School Play/Hall Sunday All Day School Play/Hall 7:00 p.m. Adult Vollyball/Gym

(Contact our office for more information)

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — Thus says the LORD GOD: I will open your graves, have you rise from them, and settle you on your land. (Ezekiel 37:12-14). Psalm — With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption (Psalm 130). Second Reading — If Christ is in you, the spirit is alive even if the body is dead because of sin (Romans 8:8-11). Gospel — Lazarus, dead for four days, came out of his tomb when Jesus called his name. Many of those who had seen what had happened began to believe in Jesus (John 11:1-45 [3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45]).

2017 ANNUAL APPEAL “In Progress - thru Mar. 28, 2017”

A reminder, that our Annual Appeal tax this year is $93,428.00. We ask that you pray over your donation and give according to your means. The total received to date is $25,630.00, leaving a balance of $67,798. We thank the following households for their participation in this year’s appeal. (Fr. Tony)

Mrs. Dorothy Arata Mr. and Mrs. Paul Au

Mr. and Mrs. John Azevedo Ms. Maria Baja

Mrs. Maria Barzoloski Mr. and Mrs. Moises Bau sta, Jr

Dr. Richard L. Blake Mr. Clemence Blondo

Mr. and Mrs. James Brady Mrs. Maria E. Brooks

Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Bruneman Mr. and Mrs. John Bruno

Mrs. Nancy Buckley Mr. and Mrs. Carlos R. Cajilig, Jr.

Mrs. Be y Carley Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cassinelli

Miss Adelaida R. Caunan Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Cayabyab Mr. and Mrs. Graziano Cerchiai

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Champagne Mr. Nelson Chen and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Yata

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cleary Ms. Patricia Cloonan

Mr. James F. Cook Mr. and Mrs. Bartley Davey Mr. and Mrs. Robert Defea

Mr. and Mrs. Arsenio Del Rosario Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Delucchi

Mr. and Mrs. Domenico Di Grande Ms. Irene Dobbins

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Duffy Mr. and Mrs. John J. Duggan Mr. and Mrs. David Dulany Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dunn

Ms. Marie a Escalona Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Fambrini Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Fernandez Mr. and Mrs. Primo Fernandez Dr. and Mrs. Albert Frietzsche

Ms. Be y Ganduglia Mr. and Mrs. Richard Garcia-Kennedy

Mr. and Mrs. Gavin D. Garzee Mrs. Elinor Ga o

Mrs. Linda Grimes Mr. and Mrs. Roberto Guzman

Ms. Joanne Hayes-White Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hazard

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Heissenbu el Mrs. Claire Holl

NOTE: There may be a delay in posting your AAA gift in our bulletin due to changes in Archdiocese procedures .

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Jarnutowski Ms. Cynthia G. Kelly Mrs. Elizabeth Knaus

Rev. Tony La Torre Mr. Paul Laveroni

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Leach Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Leehane

Ms. Margareta Lim Mr. and Mrs. Dan Linehan

Mr. and Mrs. Ma hew Lobre Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Lou

Mr. and Mrs. Warren Lubich Mrs. Marilyn Maloney and Mr. Con Maloney

Mrs. and Mrs. Ralph Mapson Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Mazzola

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin J. McDonough Mr. Daniel McGarry and Mrs. Courtney Cassinelli

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Meyers Dr. Charles Miller

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Morello Ms. Ma lda Morey

Mr. and Mrs. Remigius Ojong Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Parini

Ms. Lisa Perez Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Phair

Mr. and Mrs. James Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Francis E. Prete Mr. and Mrs. Ma hew Quane

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ramos Dr. and Mrs. Mariano Rayos

Mr. and Mrs. John Ritchie Mrs. Eileen Rodman

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ryan Mr. Guido J. Salomone

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel M. Salvemini Ms. Debra A. Schneider

Ms. Deborah Lobo Ms. Lutzie E. So o

Ms. Louise Stagnaro Mr. and Mrs. Peter Stephans

Mrs. Jane Storseter Mr. Noli Tamase

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence W. Teshara Mr. John Thomas

Mr. and Mrs. Gary R. Torres Mrs. Milagros Ubungen

Mr. and Mrs. George Vella Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Villamayor

Mr. and Mrs. Reynaldo Ysi

Want to contribute to a specific need? Please take a look at our wish list!

St Stephen Pastor Wish List

1. Fifty New Monthly Donors ($100/month)

2. New Rectory Garage Doors ($7,400)

3. Replace Church Sound System ($44,000)

4. New Carpet Installation ($75,000)

5. Paint Church Interior ($100,000) Want to make a difference? Contact Fr. Tony at FatherTony@SaintStephenSF.org.

Thank you!

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Palm Sunday

Reconciliation, Saturday 3:30-4:15pm Vigil Mass (Saturday) 4:30pm 8:00, 9:30, 11:30am & 6:45pm

Holy Week Masses 8:00am (Mon., Tue., Wed.)

Holy Thursday (No morning Mass)

Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:30pm Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament

until 10pm

Good Friday (No morning Mass)

Stations of the Cross, 12:00pm Spiritual Reflection, 12:30pm

Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord, 1:30pm

The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (No morning Mass or Reconciliation)

Vigil Mass, 8:00pm

Easter Sunday 8:00, 9:30, 11:30am & 6:45pm

Easter Egg Hunt following 9:30am Mass

NOTE! • There will be no confessions on Holy Saturday, but confessions will be available on Good Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. • Also, this year a 6:45 p.m. mass will be celebrated on Easter Sunday

MADAGASCAR JR. TICKETS

Don't miss Saint Stephen School’s magical production of the “Madagascar Jr.”

Friday, April 7 at 7:00 p. m. Saturday, April 8 at 7:00 p. m Sunday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m.

at Donworth Hall! Our students will dazzle you with their amazing performances! Ticket order forms are on the school website or email

katyjomc@comcast.net . Thank you for supporting our Drama Program!

INSTALLATION OF ALTAR SERVERS We congratulate our newest group of Altar Servers who have stepped forward to serve their church and Lord at the altar. They are being officially installed at today’s 9:30 Mass. Thank you!

Catherine Alcantara Madison Alves Beckett Andersen Tessa Bankovitch Ava Boilard Niamh Concannon Benjamin Corvi Alexander Martin

ATTENTION LECTORS: Lectors scheduled during the Holy Week Ser-vices, including Palm Sunday, are asked to pick-up your practice copies in the vestibule or in the Parish Center during the week. Thank you (Father Tony)

Maryanna Mangibuyat Sean Mueck

Evan O’Driscoll Bryn Scheg

Patrick Schmitt Megan Stecher Nils Wallace

PASTORAL STAFF

Rev. Tony P. LaTorre Pastor ext.25

fathertony@saintstephensf.org

Rev. Mr. Rory Desmond

Permanent Deacon

Rhonda Smith Coordinator of Music & Liturgy ext. 32

Mary Molly Mullaney

Faith Formation Coordinator ext.27

Mrs. Sharon McCarthy Allen School Principal

Jim Cook

Parish Manager ext.23

Shay Ingelfinger Event Center Coordinator ext.33

Jan Almeida

Bookkeeper ext.29

ST STEPHEN PARISH 2016-2017

ORGANIZATION/MINISTRY CONTACT PERSON

• Altar Servers Giovanna Hrvatin

• Altar Society Joan Leehane

• Bridge Group Helen Perlite

• Caritas Nellie Hizon

• Church Hospitality Mary Molly Mullaney

• Communion Ministers Rhonda Smith

• Faith Formation Mary Molly Mullaney

• Fifty Plus Club Helga D’Arcy • Finance Council Laura Birsinger

• Grief Support Clergy

• Lectors Rhonda Smith

• Liturgy Committee Fr. Tony

• Marriage Preparation Clergy

• Men’s Club John Bankovitch

• Music Rhonda Smith • Parish Council Vicky Francisco

• RCIA Mary Molly Mullaney

• St. Stephen Book Club Veronica Wong

• St. Vincent de Paul Julie O’Callaghan

• Ushers Bob Anthony

• Women’s Guild Daniela Franco & Maira Hallinan

Our warmest welcome to all who celebrate with us.

You can sign up or update your information by completing this form & placing it in the collection basket, by mailing it to the Parish Office, by phone at 681-2444 or online at www.saintstephensf.org!

Name ______________________________________ Address ___________________________________

City/Zip _____________________ Phone ________________________ Email _____________________

Our parishioners receive the Archdiocese weekly newspaper “Catholic San Francisco.” I am interested in assisting with the Parish in the following way(s):

• Acolyte/Altar Service • Altar Society • Children’s Liturgy of the Word Choir • Greeter/Usher • Hospitality after Mass/Special Events

• Holy Communion Ministers to the Home-bound

• Lector/Holy Communion Ministers • Music/Choir

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Our Altar Servers Our special “thanks” to our student Altar Servers who faithfully continue to volunteer their time and tal-ent to our parish. Our Altar Servers for March 20 thru 26 were:

— Weekday Masses —

Gino Andrini, Mikel Villamayorn, Evelyn Ongpin, Olivia Schot, Lauren Schneider, Bianca Hallinan, Mericel Tao, Adrian Di Lena, Cooper Andersen, Elena Gandolfo, Christopher Oropeza,

Zachary Ferdon, Aidan Flocchini, Erin Scheg and Drew Phillips.

— Weekend Masses —

Charlotte Davey, Mikel Villamayorn, Molly Linehan, Lauren Schneider, Olyvia Bankovitch, Erin Scheg, Santino Franco, Melissa Hua, Lauren Boilard, Hannah Morello, Cian O’Donoghue,

Mateo Guzman and Miguel Guzman.

Thank You!

Easter Flowers

As we prepare for the solemnity of Easter, we look forward to the joy of the Resurrection. We hope to express our joy by filling our church with a bountiful display of Easter flowers. Help us cover the cost of our flowers by making a $15 donation (per name) in memory of loved ones, or to honor someone special. Please

fill out this form and return it to the O’Reilly Parish Office not later than Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

I would like to have Easter flowers placed in the church in loving memory of:

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I would like to have Easter flowers placed in the church in honor of:

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My name

………………………………… My telephone # ……………

Enclosed is my donation of $............