Dear Saint Stephen the Martyr parishioners,
May the peace of Christ be with you this day and every day. Continue reading below for opportunities to get involved, upcoming events, preparing for Mass this weekend, and more news. God bless!
Growing Closer to Christ this Lent: Prayer
In the Family Activities for Lent email sent earlier this week, we are encouraged to let this Lenten season be a time to practice prayer - to spend time with Jesus and truly build a relationship with Him. Prayer isn't meant to be a scary task we feel forced to do. Prayer is an invitation from our loving Father to spend time with Him, to share our hearts, our struggles, our desires, and our fears with Him.
Find the email here: stephen.flocknote.com/note/15754282
Get Involved: Your Parish Family Needs You!
Funeral Lunch Ministry Coordinator(s) Needed
We are needing some assistance with our Funeral Lunch Ministry. We are praying and inviting “you” to consider helping to “coordinate/co-coordinate” this ministry as needed. When families lose a loved one, our entire parish family surrounds them with support and continued comfort. This ministry is vital to the healing process for our families. If we can, we would like a team of people who can help coordinate the servers and call those who will provide side dishes. We have an extensive list of volunteers for serving and sides, but we are needing a few people to step forward to “coordinate” the luncheon by making some phone calls and being at the luncheon on the day of the funeral. With several people on the coordination team, we can meet the needs of our families. Together this ministry will be the hands and feet of our Lord.
Can you help us?
Yes, I will step forward to coordinate/co-coordinate this Ministry
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Add me to the list for serving and bringing a side
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I'd like more information - please have someone contact me
- View Details
Support Martyr Mission
If you have questions, please contact Catiana Urrutia at 402-861-4541 or c.urrutia@stephen.org. Visit stephen.org/mission for more information.
View more opportunities to serve your faith community and get involved at stephen.org/connect.
Upcoming
Register your child(ren) today!
$50 per child. Space is limited. Current 3-year-olds (potty-trained) through incoming 6th graders are welcome!
This Totally Catholic VBS is filled with awesome Bible-learning experiences kids see, hear, and touch! Sciency-Fun Gizmos™, team-building games, unforgettable 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.
Volunteers are needed to make VBS happen!
Station Leaders and Youth Volunteers are the core of our Monumental VBS. Will you consider helping? Sign up below.
*Adults-If you sign up as a station leader, you may waive the cost of one child attending VBS. Please use the code "StaLdr" in the registration form in the payment section. Completing the Adult Station Leader form is required also.
Registration is now open for the Teaching Discernment seminar in May!
Father Gallagher will share the teaching pedagogy he has developed for instructing others in the Fourteen Rules for the Discernment of Spirits and will assist participants to find their way as competent teachers of these invaluable tools for daily spiritual life. Register early! Space is limited.
Collection For Ukraine
This weekend is the USCCB Collection to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, which will allow the faithful to give critical and timely humanitarian aid to the victims of war in Ukraine.
Bring your donation to Mass this weekend and place it in the 2nd Collection Basket or make a donation now online.
More Ways You Can Help!
- As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, we as a Catholic community can pray and reach out specifically to the Ukrainian Catholic Church whose existence was outlawed the last time Russia ruled Ukraine. Click here to learn more about the Church in Ukraine.
- The Ukrainian Catholic Church has its own liturgy. It looks different from the Mass you see here at St. Stephen the Martyr, but actually would fulfill your Sunday obligation. You can attend a Ukrainian Catholic Liturgy here in Omaha at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church.
- Omaha’s local Ukrainian Catholic Church is gathering a Ukrainian War Victim Relief Fund which will purchase urgently needed medical supplies. Click here to learn more or donate.
We Are Hiring!
Sacrament and Event Assistant
We have an immediate part-time opening for a Sacrament and Event Assistant in the Religious Education Department. This position will assist logistics of Youth Sacraments, summer programs (VBS and Totus Tuus), and RE Events. This person must be a practicing Catholic with strong communication and organization skills. We are looking for a team player who wants to help children come to know Jesus Christ and His Church. Learn more at stephen.org/sacrament-event-assistant
Director of Parish Operations
Help us find our next Director of Parish Operations! The Director serves as a key member of the pastor’s Leadership Team and oversees and directs a broad range of responsibilities to provide the necessary support and infrastructure for the mission of the parish to thrive. This person is responsible for overall leadership and direction of the parish operations team, including staff and volunteers, engaged in administration, development, communications, maintenance, and care of buildings and grounds, and information technology. Learn more at tephen.org/director-of-parish-operations
Facilities Manager
We also have an immediate opening for a full-time facilities manager responsible for the comprehensive care of all parish facilities and grounds. Applicants should have a strong working knowledge of heating and cooling, electrical, plumbing, and all aspects of facility maintenance including safety, flooring, custodial services, vendor and volunteer management, and capital improvement projects. Applicants should be practicing Catholic, have strong customer service skills, and five-to-ten years of experience managing and maintaining large facilities. Please send a cover letter stating your interest and qualifications for the position, a current resume, and two or three references including names and contact information to Father David Belt at d.belt@stephen.org.
Journey of Faith
As you heard a few weeks ago, Archbishop George Lucas has invited Catholics on a three-year journey to meet the challenges of a changing world. Over the next 18-months, parish leaders, pastors, and pastoral planners will work together to come up with new directions for parishes and schools in our Archdiocese. As part of your own journey and our journey as a faith community, beginning this weekend, we will recite the Journey of Faith Prayer below before Sunday Mass, along with the Vocations prayer. We will pray together this prayer until the planning process is completed later this year. Prayer cards will be available in the pews.
Journey of Faith Prayer
Lord and Giver of Life,
we ask for your guidance
as we journey to discover your plan
for our parishes and schools.
Change can bring about great excitement;
it can also be the source of anxiety and fear.
Help us to move forward with faith, courage and confidence.
Give us open minds and clarity
as we discern your will for a promising future.
May Jesus, the constant companion of the Church since Pentecost,
help us to accept the challenges of loving service
in new and invigorating ways.
May Mary, Mother of the Church,
encourage our efforts to listen and learn.
In the beginning, you hovered over the waters,
giving birth to your plan for creation.
You were present to the People of Israel,
speaking to them, teaching them,
and guiding them. Be present with us now,
and give us your light to see the way.
Amen.
Learn more at journeyoffaith.org
This Weekend
Third Sunday of Lent
In our Gospel for this weekend’s liturgies, the crowd is trying to provoke Jesus by pointing to the current episode of Roman cruelty to the Jews. Jesus will not show hatred for the enemy. Instead, he insists that the death of the body should not be feared. Even though the Roman army could kill the Jews, Jesus tells them that the death of the spirit is the real horror, and those who do not repent stand in danger of spiritual death. Read more of Father Dave's Pastor Message in the bulletin.
On the Calendar
Saturday, March 19th
- Rosary Devotion to Saint Joseph - 7:45 AM in the Worship Space
- Mass - 8:15 AM in the Worship Space
- Confession - 3:30 to 4:45 PM in the Reconciliation Rooms inside the Adoration Chapel
- Mass - 5 PM in the Worship Space
Sunday, March 20th
- Mass - 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 10:30 AM
- Donuts & Coffee - after Mass in the Dining Room
- Adoration & Vespers - 4-5 PM in the Worship Space
- Mass - 6 PM in the Worship Space
During the week & upcoming
- Confession: Tuesday, March 22, 5:30-6:30 PM in the Reconciliation Rooms inside the Adoration Chapel
- Stations of the Cross: Friday, March 25 at 6 PM in the Worship Space
- KOC Fish Fry: Friday, March 25, 5-8 PM in the Dining Room
See more of what is on the calendar at stephen.org/calendar.
How can we pray for you this week?
You can reply directly to this email (which creates a private comment), or click the blue Reply button below to leave a public comment so that others may pray for you too!