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St. Stephen's Catholic Church
4601 Neely Avenue
Midland, Texas 79707
(432) 520-7394 -
CLICK HERE /Como apoyar
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Your Ongoing Giving is Deeply Appreciated
We recognize as we welcome back everyone to mass as the phase two gathering protocols provide a relaxation of the previous mandatory requirements such as face masks, which are strongly encouraged but now optional. That many families are still adjusting to the changes and have been longing for normalcy. To read more about the phase two Covid-19 Gathering Protocols issued by our Bishop, click HERE.
While we are in transition, we are all ready to have the pandemic well past us. Our weekly collections must also continue to sustain our operations and care for the Church. Your giving still matters. Over 90% of our operating budget comes from your donations. We as a parish need your support.
For many of you, your weekly donations traveled with you as you attended Sunday Mass. Understandably the pandemic prevented many from coming to mass for many months. We encourage you to either mail in your weekly donation or better yet, CLICK HERE to sign up for recurring giving online. I realize we live in difficult times. However, I ask you to continue your generous support of St. Stephen's Catholic Church.
Please prayerfully consider making a donation today to support your Parish.
Always remember – You are the Church. You are the Body of Christ.
With profound gratitude,
Fr. Rodney, Fr. Kevin & The St. Stephen's Administration
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For Catholics, September is the month of Our Lady of Sorrows, immediately following August’s devotion to the Immaculate Heart, and preceding October’s devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary, September is an ideal time to strengthen our prayer life and to ask for intercession from Our Lady.
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Dear St. Stephen's Community,
The Bishop has released an update to announce the Diocese of San Angelo will be moving to Phase Two for COVID Protocols on May 8, 2021:
Diocese of San Angelo Enters Phase Two
Dear friends in Christ,
As you know, the current conditions of the coronavirus pandemic in West Texas include lower rates of active cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Therefore, public liturgies in the Diocese of San Angelo will move to the more relaxed Phase Two Protocols on May 8, 2021.
In our new Phase Two Protocols for Public Liturgies, the changes can be summarized as follows:
- Facemasks for attendees are not mandated but are strongly encouraged.
- Every pew may now be used.
- The social distance requirement of six feet is now reduced to three feet.
Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation:
The general dispensation from attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation expires on the weekend of Pentecost Sunday, May 23, 2021. Catholics in the Diocese of San Angelo are dispensed from the obligation ONLY if they:
- are age 65 or over, or
- are caring for the sick, or
- are sick, including those who have tested positive for the coronavirus and those who have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus, regardless of how well they feel, or
- have underlying health conditions, or
- are truly and sincerely fearful that they may contract the coronavirus. A true and sincere fear is one that has prevented a person from attending non-required activities, such as eating at a restaurant, gatherings with family and friends, attending a movie theater, etc.
Those who do not meet any of the above criteria are obligated to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. This obligation is not satisfied by watching a virtual or livestreamed Mass.
Accommodations for Maintaining Phase One Protocols:
While the Diocese of San Angelo will utilize the more relaxed Phase Two Protocols for Public Liturgies, each parish or mission cluster is encouraged to offer at least one opportunity for people to attend Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation with adherence to Phase One Protocols. This will accommodate those who are uncomfortable with or leery of the more relaxed Phase Two Protocols.
Phase One Protocols include 6-foot social distance between non-family groups, skipping every other pew, and wearing facemasks.
Options for Phase One Protocol accommodations:
- Celebrate a separate liturgy that has full Phase One Protocols in place.
- Reserve an appropriate section within the church or parish facilities that will practice Phase One Protocols.
- Designate one of the churches or missions in a cluster to use full Phase One Protocols while the others have relaxed protocols.
- Utilize any other appropriate manner to accommodate those individuals who are not comfortable with the Phase Two Protocols.
The pastor will decide how to offer these liturgies in a way that will work best for his community.
Even considering the current improved coronavirus conditions, all of the Phase One Protocols are still available for use as needed in the judgment of the pastor. Furthermore, in any given parish or area, if a new flareup of the coronavirus occurs, then the parish should move back to a more restrictive option from the Phase One Protocols of December 18, 2020.
You may find the complete set of new Phase Two Protocols in the coronavirus section of our diocesan website at www.sanangelodiocese.org. I encourage those over the age of 16 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for the sake of public health in view of the common good of society.
May the Holy Spirit help us to revive our participation in the sacraments and to reengage people in active parish life. I am sincerely grateful to all who have been helping in the implementation of our coronavirus protocols, especially our priests, deacons, and other parish leaders.
In the joy of Christ’s service,
Most Rev. Michael J. Sis
Bishop of San Angelo
April 29, 2021La Diócesis de San Angelo entra en la Fase Dos
Queridos amigos en Cristo,
Como saben, las condiciones actuales de la pandemia de coronavirus en el oeste de Texas incluyen tasas más bajas de casos activos, hospitalizaciones y muertes. Por lo tanto, las liturgias públicas en la Diócesis de San Angelo pasarán a los Protocolos de la Fase Dos más relajados el 8 de mayo de 2021.
En nuestros nuevos Protocolos de la Fase Dos para Liturgias Públicas, los cambios se pueden resumir de la siguiente manera:
Las mascarillas para los asistentes no son obligatorias, pero se recomiendan encarecidamente.
Ahora se pueden usar todos los bancos.
El requisito de distancia social de seis pies ahora se reduce a tres pies.
Domingos y Festivos de Obligación:
La dispensa general de asistir a Misa los domingos y días festivos de obligación expira el fin de semana del domingo de Pentecostés, 23 de mayo de 2021. Los católicos en la Diócesis de San Angelo están dispensados de la obligación SÓLO si:
tiene 65 años o más, o
están cuidando a los enfermos, o
están enfermos, incluidos aquellos que han dado positivo por el coronavirus y aquellos que han tenido contacto cercano con alguien que ha dado positivo por el coronavirus, independientemente de lo bien que se sientan, o
tiene condiciones de salud subyacentes, o
Temen verdadera y sinceramente que puedan contraer el coronavirus. Un miedo verdadero y sincero es aquel que ha impedido que una persona asista a actividades no obligatorias, como comer en un restaurante, reuniones con familiares y amigos, asistir a una sala de cine, etc.
Aquellos que no cumplan con ninguno de los criterios anteriores están obligados a asistir a misa los domingos y días festivos de obligación. Esta obligación no se satisface viendo una misa virtual o transmitida en vivo.
Adaptaciones para mantener los protocolos de la fase uno:
Si bien la Diócesis de San Angelo utilizará los Protocolos de la Fase Dos para las Liturgias Públicas más relajados, se alienta a cada parroquia o grupo misionero a ofrecer al menos una oportunidad para que las personas asistan a Misa los domingos o días festivos de obligación con el cumplimiento de los Protocolos de la Fase Uno. Esto se adaptará a aquellos que se sientan incómodos o recelosos de los Protocolos de la Fase Dos, que son más relajados.
Los Protocolos de la Fase Uno incluyen una distancia social de 6 pies entre grupos que no son familiares, saltarse cada dos bancas y usar máscaras faciales.
Opciones para adaptaciones del Protocolo de la Fase Uno:
Celebre una liturgia separada que tenga todos los Protocolos de la Fase Uno en su lugar.
Reserve una sección apropiada dentro de las instalaciones de la iglesia o parroquia que practicará los Protocolos de la Fase Uno.
Designe una de las iglesias o misiones en un grupo para usar los Protocolos completos de la Fase Uno mientras que las otras tienen protocolos relajados.
Utilice cualquier otra forma apropiada para acomodar a aquellas personas que no se sientan cómodas con los Protocolos de la Fase Dos.
El pastor decidirá cómo ofrecer estas liturgias de la manera que funcione mejor para su comunidad.
Incluso considerando las condiciones mejoradas actuales del coronavirus, todos los Protocolos de la Fase Uno todavía están disponibles para su uso según sea necesario a juicio del pastor. Además, en cualquier parroquia o área dada, si ocurre un nuevo brote del coronavirus, entonces la parroquia debería regresar a una opción más restrictiva de los Protocolos de la Fase Uno del 18 de diciembre de 2020.
Puede encontrar el conjunto completo de los nuevos Protocolos de la Fase Dos en la sección de coronavirus de nuestro sitio web diocesano en www.sanangelodiocese.org.
Animo a los mayores de 16 años a recibir la vacuna COVID-19 por el bien de la salud pública en vista del bien común de la sociedad.
Que el Espíritu Santo nos ayude a revivir nuestra participación en los sacramentos y a volver a involucrar a las personas en la vida parroquial activa. Estoy sinceramente agradecido a todos los que han estado ayudando en la implementación de nuestros protocolos de coronavirus, especialmente a nuestros sacerdotes, diáconos y otros líderes parroquiales.
En el gozo del servicio de Cristo,
Reverendísimo Michael J. Sis
Obispo de San Angelo
29 de abril de 2021
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DOCUMENT RELEASED FROM DIOCESE ON PHASE TWO
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Document Realeased on Phase Two Gathering Protocols
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Today's Readings / Lecturas Del Día
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Reading I Ezr 1:1-6Responsorial Psalm 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6Gospel Lk 8:16-18
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Lectura I Esd 1, 1-6Salmo Responsorial Del Salmo 125Evangelio Lc 8, 16-18
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