st. stephen parish€¦ · 2nd collection (svdp): $ 1,864 today’s readings first reading — i...
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St. Stephen Parish SaintStephenSF.org | 451 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco CA 94132 | Church 415 681-2444 StStephenSchoolSF.org | 401 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco 94132 | School 415 664-8331
Weekday Mass: 8:00 a.m. Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30 p.m. or by appt. Vigil Mass Saturday 4:30 p.m., Sunday Mass 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 a.m. & 6:45 p.m.
The Eighteen Sunday in Ordinary Time
How wonderfully God provides for the needs of his people. In today’s first reading, God generously responds to the complaints of the people he has mi-raculously freed from slavery, by providing daily rations of quail and manna – in a desert! He gives them just as much as they need, when they need it, in-viting them to trust in him to fulfill every necessity, every day.
More than one thousand years later, Jesus explains to the crowd that he is the bread of life – the answer to every need. He is the one who fulfills every ne-cessity, every day, for he is food that endures for eternal life.
We have much in common with both the Israelites who wandered in the de-sert, and with the crowds who were fed by Jesus and later sought him out, looking for more. Whether we live in a bustling city, in a suburb or in the re-motest rural area, we face deserts in our own lives – difficult times when we seem to be lost or facing impossible challenges.
Jesus reminds us, as he reminded the people of his time, that we need to rely for strength and nourishment on food that is “imperishable” – food that will feed our souls and bring us eternal life. This is not unlike Saint Paul’s message to the Ephesians, that they must no longer live as the Gen-tiles do, in the futility of their minds … you should put away the old self … and be renewed in the spirit of your minds. Paul, of course, is speaking not just of how we think, but how we live. And liv-ing in the Christian community means celebrating and partaking of the Eucharist, the sacrament which forms and transforms us to live in this world and the next.
As the crowds did, and the Ephesians did, let us seek Jesus and rely on him when we need any-thing. He is the one sent by God to bring life to the world – and to help us through the desert jour-ney of this life.
Blessings!
Fr. Tony
LITURGY AND LIFE • When has God given you something that you have later grumbled about?
• Which things that will perish divert your attention from what brings eternal life?
Additional Reflections from our Scripture
We need spiritual nourishment from the word of God and from the Holy Eucharist: In the Holy Mass, the Church offers us two types of bread: a) the Bread of Life, contained in God’s Word and b) the Bread of Life, contained in the Holy Eucharist. Unfortunately, many of us come to Mass every week only to present on the altar our earthly needs without accepting spiritual nourishment by properly receiving God’s Word and the Holy Eucharist. Let us nourish our souls with this Heav-enly manna and carry Jesus to our homes and workplaces, radiating his love, mercy and compas-sion all around us. It is perhaps the plainness and ordinariness of the consecrated Bread and Wine and their easy availability in our Churches that sometimes prevent some of us from appreciating the great gift of God in the Holy Eucharist. But we should not take for granted the Divine gener-osity that provides these gifts so readily and gratuitously by sharing in the Bread of Life simply as a matter of habit and without showing due attention and proper respect.
HOSPITALITY MINISTERS for our 9:30 a.m. Mass
Today, Aug. 05 - Carol & Parish Staff Sunday, Aug. 12 - Francie Pasquini Sunday, Aug. 19 - Cecelia Prete
Monday, Aug.6 8:00 a.m. † Vera Brennan Greely (By: Joan & Dan Leehane) Tuesday, Aug. 7 8:00 a.m. † Lena Fambrini (By: Claudio & Giovanna Hrvatin)
Wednesday, Aug. 8 8:00 a.m. † Peter Ganduglia (By: Betty Ganduglia)
Thursday, Aug. 9 8:0 a.m. † Marcelina Salvador (By: Maria Barzoloski)
Friday, Aug. 10 8:00 a.m. † Dan Linehan (By: Rose Linehan)
Saturday, Aug. 11
8:00 a.m. St. Stephen Parishioners Sp. Int. (By: Fr. Tony) 4:30 p.m. † Dermot O’Neil (By: Michael Graham)
Sunday, Aug. 12 8:00 a.m † Alfred Barzoloski (By: Maria Barzoloski)
9:30 a.m. † James Jim Hennessy (By: Tom&Nancy McGarvey & Family)
11:30 a.m. † Virgina Davey (By: Mary Kozuch)
6:45 p.m. † Brandon Borbeck (By: Hank & Vicki Hansel)
Bold Indicates Mass Intentions
Our Mission Statement We are a Catholic Community that is called by God to follow Jesus Christ. We believe that we are called to worship God together, to lead God's people along the path of hope laid down by Jesus, to share his message through preaching, through the education and formation of our people, young and old, and through caring service and sensitive outreach to those in need Rev. Tony P. LaTorre, Pastor
P lease pray for the sick and home-bound of our community and for all
those written in our book of the sick. May they know the healing touch of Jesus.
Jean Alga, Elena Amaya, Edileide Jose Barbosa, Larry Barbiere, Ed Cummings, Emma Lew,
Lawrence Lee, Carol Dominguez, Kenneth Fambrini, Eden Finn, Al Gragnani, Marc Gutierres, Juan Pablo Grover-Paez, Maria Matthews,
Nenita Sangalang, Anna Macalino Thompson, Betty Rodriguez, Joel Rivera, Jovita & Richard Thompson.
Monday, Aug. 6 5:45 p.m. SF Juniors Volleyball/Gym 7:00 p.m. Liturgy Committee Mtg./Rectory Tuesday, Aug.7 1:00 p.m. School Uniform Sale/Hall 5:45 p.m. SF Juniors Volleyball/Gym Wednesday, Aug. 8 5:45 p.m. SF Juniors Volleyball/Gym 7:00 p.m. St. Vincent De Paul Conf./Conf. Rm. Thursday, Aug. 9 5:45 p.m. SF Juniors Volleyball/Gym Friday, Aug. 10 5:45 p.m. SF Juniors Volleyball/Gym 7:00 p.m. GA Meeting/EC Saturday, Aug. 11 8:00 a.m. “A Grand Day”/EC 9:00 a.m. Book Club Sunday, Aug. 12 7:00 p.m. Adult Volleyball/Gym
Our online website includes a community events calendar.
Stewardship: A Way of Life Sunday Collection: 07/29/18 $ 5,745 2nd Collection (SVDP): $ 1,864
TODAY’S READINGS
First Reading — I will rain down bread from heaven for you (Exodus 16:2-4,12-15).
Psalm — The Lord gave them bread from heaven (Psalm 78).
Second Reading — Put on the new self that has been created in God’s way (Ephesians 4:17, 20-24).
Gospel — Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst (John 6:24-35). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
STRENGTHENED BY THE BREAD OF LIFE
Today we resume the “Bread of Life” discourse from John’s Gospel that began two weeks ago. He makes reference to the Jews’ ancestors who ate man-na in the desert. These days we would think primarily of Israel wandering in the desert, but faithful Jews would also have known the story of Elijah that we hear today. Strengthened by food and drink in the desert, the angel of the Lord sends him on his forty-day and forty-night journey (the biblical number for a preparation time). Like the food given to Elijah in the desert, Jesus tells his listeners that he is bread for the life of the world. It is very important that we not stop listening to Jesus after his promise of eternal life—a marvelous promise, but this “reward” is not the only reason we feast on the Bread of Life. We also come to the table to be made strong for the journey of mis-sion, that the whole world might have life in the full-ness of Christ. We are compelled, if we have eaten of the bread of life, to go forth in service to all. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.
“A Grand Day” A special “day camp” for St. Stephen Grandparents and their Grandchildren
to come together and have fun.
DATE: Saturday, August 11, 2018 TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: St. Stephen Parish O’Reilly Center 451 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco
Must register in advance. Registration forms are available in back of and parish office.
Contact Mary Molly Mullaney in the parish office with any questions. Phone: (415) 681-2444 x4 or e-mail [email protected]
9:00 a.m. – Gathering with donuts, coffee and juice
9:30 a.m.- 12 noon Day Camp Activities-(songs, games, crafts) 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. – Light Lunch provided
No Charge
Gratitude . . . .
The story is told of two old friends who bumped into one another on the street one day. One of them looked forlorn, almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, "What has the world done to you, my old friend?" The sad fellow said, "Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, an uncle died and left me $40,000." "That's a lot of money." "But, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew, died, and left me $85,000 free and clear." "Sounds like you've been blessed...." "You don't understand!" he inter-rupted. "Last week my great aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million." Now he was really confused. "Then, why do you look so glum?" "This week ... nothing!" Gratitude is something that you only feel when a gift is truly appreciated. To-day’s Gospel describes Jesus correcting the wrong attitude of his listeners who had gathered around him with wrong motive of getting another free lunch.
Whom Do We Trust? Actor Tony Randall, famous for his role as Felix in The Odd Couple, once had an experi-ence that surely was the inspiration for a current credit card commercial. Randall was in a jewelry store in New York City. The store's owner recognized him and became very ex-cited. He declared that Randall was his all-time favorite actor. What a treat it would be for his wife, the man said, if she could talk to the Tony Randall. Randall graciously agreed. So, the man called his wife, and Randall had a short, pleasant conversation with her as she gushed on and on about how wonderful he was. Finally, Randall came to the point of his visit to the jewelry store. There was a gold necklace in the window that had caught his eye. He'd like to buy it. Would the store accept a personal check? The store
owner hesitated, then asked, "Do you have any identification?" Recognition only goes so far. The store owner was ready to idolize Tony Randall; he wasn't ready to trust him. You see where this is leading, don't you? Is it possible for people to come in this House today and worship Jesus--but still not trust him with their lives?
Jesus, The Giver AND The Gift! Jesus not only gives the Bread of Life (John 6:11, 27) -- He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 48). The Giver and the Gift are one and the same. As the Bread of Life from Heaven, Jesus claims that only he can satisfy man’s spiritual hunger. While bodily food helps us to stay alive in this world, spiritual food sustains and de-velops our supernatural life which will last forever in heaven. Through God's infinite love we are given, in the Blessed Eucharist, the very Author of the gifts of Faith and sanctifying grace. Thus, the Eucharist is not a mere "symbol" of Jesus; rather, it is a Sacramental sign of Jesus’ Real Bodily Presence in his glorified risen Body. This Bread of Life -- which is Jesus himself -- gives mankind a new relationship with God, a relation-ship of trust, obedience and love.
EATING WELL Most Americans eat well. To have three square meals a day is not uncommon. Indeed, many eat five or six times a day, if coffee breaks, evening snacks and other times of eating are counted, in addition to breakfast, lunch, and supper. Drive through a town of any consequence and count the number of fast food places and restaurants that are found. At some corners of major roads or along a block or two of a busy thoroughfare you may find five to ten feeding establishments. It is not uncommon to find in close proximity McDonald's, Burger King, Burger Chef, Arby's, Subway, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Dairy Queen, Long John Silver's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell as well as lesser-known or local look-a-like fast food establishments. Go into a major supermarket and count the variety of products that are similar. The only discernible difference often is in the trade name. Whole aisles will be filled with a vast array of cereals. Another aisle will be filled with competing brands of soft drinks: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Roy-al Crown, 7 Up, and lesser known or store brands. Try to find in the same area a religious bookstore. Compare the size of the religious book and supply store with the supermarket. It does not appear that people are as eager to be fed spiritually as they are to be fed physically! In John 6, Jesus takes the preoccupation of the crowds with food and drink as an occasion to move from physical eating and drinking to the more important needs of the spirit. Nourishment is needed for spiritual life and growth.
A Modern Good Samaritan A few years ago, the news media carried the story of a modern-day Good Samaritan who packed his
car each day with dozens of homemade sandwiches and traveled to the inner city to distribute them to home-less and otherwise needy people. Eventually, those who benefited from his generosity became familiar with the Samaritan’s customary route and began to congregate on certain corners at a specific time each day to wait for their daily gift of food. Today’s Gospel describes such a scene where people who had been sumptuously fed on the previous day by Jesus came searching for him for another free meal.
St. Stephen Catholic Book Club Our Book Club is open to anyone interested in reading and discussing books with inherent or implied Christian themes. We meet the second Saturday of the month, 9:00-10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room at the parish offices, or in a member’s home. Contact Mary Molly for more info. Here are the books we will be reading: August 2018 – “Kisses From Katie” by Katie Davis Majors. A story of relentless love and redemption, about a teenager’s call to volunteer at an orphanage in Africa and end-ing up adopting 8 children before she’s 21 years old. September 2018 – “I've Been Thinking: Reflec-tions, Prayers, and Meditations for A Meaningful Life” by Maria Shriver. A book of reflections for those seeking wisdom, guidance, encouragement, and inspiration on the road to a meaningful life.
Registration now open for Faith Formation
for Students attending non-Catholic Schools in grades 1st through 8th
St. Stephen’s religious education program is now open for enrollment for the coming Fall semester. . For more information, please call Mary Molly Mullaney at St. Ste-phen Parish Office (415) 681-2444, x4 or on-line: [email protected]
Register online (use bar code, or visit our webpage for a link to the Google Form). If you prefer to use a paper form they are available in the vestibule or parish office Online form:
https://goo.gl/forms/96ETsGRfaIDHWPW72
Interested in Becoming Catholic? If you, or someone you know, may be interested in the Catholic Faith, or have been Baptized but never finished receiving the Sacraments of First Communion or Confir-mation, you are encouraged to contact Mary Molly in the parish office to learn more about what our parish has to offer. Please call or email Mary Molly Mullaney, office phone: (415) 681-244 ext. 4 or email:
Volunteer Opportunity with Faith Formation Program
Do you like working with youth and teaching the Catho-lic Faith? The St. Stephen Parish Faith Formation pro-gram and Children’s Liturgy needs volunteer teachers for this coming school year. Faith Formation meets on Monday afternoons, 4:00-5:15pm. The Children’s Liturgy is at the 9:30 Mass on Sundays. Please contact Mary Molly Mullaney in the parish office if you are interested in helping out or just want more information. Phone: (415) 681-2444 x4
E-mail: [email protected]
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time August 5, 2018 Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life.
— John 6:27a
* * * * * SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Monday: The Transfiguration of the Lord Tuesday: St. Sixtus II and Companions;
St. Cajetan Wednesday: St. Dominic Thursday: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Friday: St. Lawrence Saturday: St. Clare
* * * * *
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION In 1794, a young Irishwoman befriended two widows aboard ship while emigrating to America. They bought a house in Philadelphia and began to live a community life under the direction of a priest. Soon they relocated to Washington. There, the “pious ladies,” as the neighbors called them, were asked by their priest friend, by then the president of Georgetown University, to begin a religious community. In 1799 they established a branch of the Visit-ation Order founded by Saint Jane de Chantal and Saint Francis de Sales in the 1620s. The unique vision of this order followed a sensible rou-tine, less arduous and more flexible than most traditions, and also accepted widows and older women. Amazingly, this American outpost of the Visitation began without reference to the “rule” of the Order. Most of the European convents had been lost under the “reign of terror,” and the rules and customs of the community could not be obtained. A copy of the rule was discovered in 1812, and in 1816 the pope offi-cially established the monastery. By then, some French nuns had regrouped, and they sent a habit and cross to be copied. (No religious wore the habit in public in the United States until after the Civil War.) From the beginning, the Georgetown nuns had an educational mission, even though they discovered in the “rule” that such work was officially off-limits for the contemplative life. In America, the nuns depended on a school for their livelihood, so the rule was adapted. Today, the Academy of the Visitation is a thriving example of excellence in Catholic education, and the adja-cent monastery is the oldest monastic foundation in the orig-inal thirteen United States.
—Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
* * * * * *
NO HARSHNESS Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.—St. John Kanty
* * * * * *
SING YOUR SONG Alas for those who never sing, but die with their music within them. -Oliver Wendell Holmes
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PASTORAL STAFF
Rev. Tony P. LaTorre Pastor, ext.1
Mrs. Sharon McCarthy Allen School Principal
Carol P Cagalingan Parish Manager, ext. 3
Rev. Mr. Olet Abad Rev. Mr. Rory Desmond
Permanent Deacons
Mary Molly Mullaney Faith Formation Coordinator, ext. 4 [email protected]
Shay Ingelfinger Event Center Coordinator, ext.7
Rhonda Smith Coordinator of Music & Liturgy, ext. 8
Teresa Devincenzi Bookkeeper, ext.5
Ed Prete Bulletin Editor, ext. 6
ST STEPHEN PARISH 2017-2018
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 Andrew Hazard
• Music Rhonda Smith • Parish Council Vicky Francisco
• RCIA Mary Molly Mullaney
• St. Stephen Book Club Mary Molly Mullaney
• St. Vincent de Paul Julie O’Callaghan
• Ushers Bob Anthony
• Women’s Guild Lydia Flocchini
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 Homebound • Lector/Holy Communion Ministers • Music/Choir
Please send me Sunday Envelopes (encircle): Yes No (Default is to send weekly Sunday envelopes to New Parishioners)