We are family!

A message of love and solidarity.

Here at Saint Stephen Parish, we will never stop living and promoting our Catholic Faith!

Each day we will post news, initiatives and information that is important to all of us as a parish family.

We are going to use, to the best of our ability and creativity, the means that this era of technology offers us, to stay connected with our brothers and sisters because “We are family”.

That is the title of the brief posts you’ll find on our web page or on the Parish Facebook page. Since we are a bilingual community, everything will be posted in the two languages, you just need to scroll down the page to find the English post. So, log on to www.ststephenparish.org each day and let us stay connected with each other.

Feel free also to comment and sent suggestions that may be helpful, thanks.

Altar Servers Invited Back

After a hiatus of several years, we would like to have our young people resume their role of serving at Mass.

This is a great privilege in assisting the priest as he brings Jesus down from Heaven into our parish churches.

This service is open to boys and girls who have served in the past or who would like to serve now. You must have received your First Communion to be eligible and you must be available to fulfill your assigned Masses.

Training will be provided. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Drummey at classes on Sunday,

Helping the St. Vincent de Paul Society

We know that many of you gave up things during Lent that may have saved you some money. Some of that money has been used in past years to help different charities, like the Rice Bowl program, the Bethany project to help prisoners, the Pro-Life movement, etc.

How about this time donating the money you saved by denying yourself certain pleasures to the St. Vincent de Paul Society? The SVDP does a wonderful job helping the most needy among us. This is the way we try to respond to our call to help the poor here at Saint Stephen's

Faith Formation in the Fall

Religious Education in English and Spanish for the young people in our Parish, especially for those receiving First Communion and Confirmation, will begin on Sun-day,

 September 17th, at 10:15 a.m. for grades 1 to 6 and at 11:45 for grades 7 to 10.

Registration forms will be going out shortly or you can scan the QR code here to sign up on line. If you have any questions, please call Mr. Drummey at (508) 875-4788.

Baptisms and Marriages

Two great Sacraments that God has given to His Church are the sacraments of Marriage and Baptism. We encourage those who are planning to get married to contact one of our priests for an initial meeting at least six months prior to the wedding date you have in mind. And for newborn babies, bring them to the fountain of Baptism as soon as possible to give them the greatest gift of all — the grace to become children of God.

Baptism begins our journey to Heaven. We cannot receive any of the other Sacraments without having been baptized. It is imperative that parents not neglect to have their children baptized shortly after birth.

On the steps of Saint Paul: A Pilgrimage to Greece, Ephesus and Greek Isles Cruise.

Join Father Paco, the Angel Connection Group and fellow Parishioners and friends for an unbelievable Pilgrimage that will include the First Christian Communities formed by Saint Paul, the House of the Blessed Mother in Ephesus, a relaxing cruise to the Greek Islands, Athens, Santorini, and much more.

September 9 to the 19, 2025 $ 5,783 per person from Boston (based on double occupancy) For Reservation and more information go to: 206tours.com/angelconnection

From now until March 15th, Knights of Columbus Council 87 of Framingham is helping the American Red Cross

to collect blood for those in need. You are invited to join them at a Red Cross blood drive or donation center.

Please use the Bloodlink below to sign up. Once you have done so, you will be given an appointment at the nearest Red Cross donation center.

Your Bloodlink ID is 1713 and your reference number is 1380501:

https://rcblood.org/3ZvgBzp

Remember, hospital patients are counting on us, so spread the word, bring a friend, make an appointment and donate together, and then celebrate your accomplishment by knowing that you have helped someone in need.

Thank you on behalf of the patients you may have touched.

Communion/Confirmation

Classes for Adults

Classes for adults who have not received

First Communion or Confirmation will be held on nine Wednesday evenings, from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m., in the meeting room in the basement of the Parish Office, beginning on March 12th and continuing until Confirmation on May 22nd.

You can sign up by calling (508) 875-4788. If you were baptized elsewhere, please bring your certificate.

 May 14 — Penance Service and Individual Confession

 May 20 — Confirmation Rehearsal. 7:00 p.m.

May 22 — Confirmation Mass with

Bishop Robert Reed, 7:00 p.m

The Promise of Jesus to Saint Faustina

While celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy today, consider these words which Jesus spoke in 1936 to St. Faustina, the Polish nun who first revealed the vast treasury of Jesus’ grace and mercy:

“My daughter, tell the world about my inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day, the very depths of my tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of my Mercy.

The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day, all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.

Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of my most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate my love and mercy throughout eternity.

The Feast of Mercy emerged from my very depths of tenderness. It is my desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have

peace until it turns to the Fount of my Mercy.”

Prayer for Our Catechumens

and Our Confirmandi

Please say the following prayer for the seven persons who were welcomed into the Church at the Easter Vigil and also for the 60 adults and high schoolers who will receive Confirmation on May 22nd. Our prayers can be of great importance to them.

Let us pray for all those who have received the Sacraments of Initiation, whose spiritual lives lie ahead of them, that they may go forward with open and receptive minds to meet their future, that they may learn to accept themselves and not lose heart, and that they will be courageous witnesses to the love and message of Jesus Christ.

We pray that they may be generous and honest toward their parents and all those they meet, that they will not write off the older generation but honor the achievements of the past, and, above all, that they will be faithful to their friends and unselfish in love.

We pray further that they will not fall for the temptations of our immoral culture and indulge in what is cheap and futile, that they may not ruin their own lives or the lives of others in the pursuit of the false gods of our time, but will be ready to make this world a better place in which to live.

We urge them to place their faith and trust in the one, true God and pray often for His grace and guidance.

We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, our

risen Lord and Savior. Amen.

May: Month dedicated to our Blessed Mother.

May is traditionally dedicated to foster devotion to Our Blessed Mother Mary. We encourage you to pray the Rosary as a family and teach this beautiful prayer to your children and grand children.

First Communion Next Saturday Our annual celebration of the First Holy Communion for more than 70 children will take place next Saturday, May 10th, at 10:a.m. in English and 12:00 p.m. in Spanish. We invite your prayers for the children and their families, that weekly Mass and Communion will be an important part of their lives.

The First Communicants will also participate in the May Procession and Crowning of Mary at the 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Masses on Sunday, May 11th

A Prayer for Pope Leo XIV

Heavenly Father, you have raised your servant, Pope Leo XIV, to the Chair of St. Peter. Pour out your abundant blessings upon him.

Through him, guide your Pilgrim Church along the path to Heaven. Grant him wisdom to discern your will, courage to fulfill it, and charity to shepherd your people with the heart of Christ. In this time of transition, bring peace to troubled hearts, joy to those who suffer, and hope to the despairing. May he be a faithful successor to St. Peter, a humble servant of your Word, and a fearless herald of your Divine Mercy and Truth. Strengthen him with the grace of the Holy Spirit, that he may lead the Church in unity, holiness, and fidelity.

We entrust him to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the prayers of all the saints. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confirmation on Thursday Night

— Bishop Robert

Reed will return to St. Stephen Church next Thursday, May 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to 29 teenagers and 28 adults. Many thanks to the catechists who spent months preparing the Confirmandi and to their parents and sponsors who supported them on their journey.

We pray that those to be confirmed will take the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord) and put them into practice in their everyday lives as they give witness to Jesus and His message of salvation.

“Will Only a Few People Be Saved?”

Jesus was asked this question and responded that we must “enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and restricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14).

People have debated for centuries about what Jesus meant by “many” and “few.” No one knows. What we do know, however, is that we want to be among the few. How can we do that? Well, for one thing, we can keep the Ten Commandments, as Jesus told the rich young man who wanted to know what he had to do to get to Heaven.

The Commandments explain in more detail what Jesus called the two great commandments. First, we must love God with all our hearts, all our minds, and all our souls. Second, we must love our neighbor at ourselves.

If you were to ask people if they expect to go to Heaven, many would respond in the affirmative. If you ask them why, they will say, “Because I’m a good person. I shop for my elderly neighbor, I help out at a homeless shelter, I coach youth sports, etc.”

But that’s only the second great commandment — to love our neighbor. What about the first great command-ment — to love God above everything and everyone else?

Does helping other people make up for neglecting God? Does coaching sports on Sunday morning make up for not going to Mass? We would say no.

A good person should first of all be a “Godperson.” The two should go hand in hand, always putting God first in our lives and others second. Then we can be sure of being saved.

Visits and Holy Communion to the sick and homebound.

As Catholics, if we have the misfortune to end up being sick for a while, or in recovery; one of the most comforting things for us is, to be able to watch Mass on TV, and that is why we continue to broadcast our Masses that you may follow each weekend by linking to our webpage and, most of all, to receive Holy Communion. If you hap-pen to know any of our Parishioners to be in this situation, please, call the office and notify us about it. One of our Priests, Deacons or Extraordinary Minister of Communion will be more than happy to visit your relative and bring him/her Holy Communion. Please, let us know!