Updated on August 9th, 2017
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BLESSING OF FLOWERS will take place at the 7:00 PM Vigil Vesper/Liturgy on Monday, August 14 and at the 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy on August 15. It is customary to bless flowers on the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
PARISH REGISTRATION FORMS In this week’s bulletin you will find a St. Stephen’s Cathedral Registration Form. All parishioners, even if you are a parishioner from day 1 are kindly asked to fill out the form. We are updating our parish census in order to better serve the parishioners. There are many reasons to update and here are two immediate concerns. We want to know the names of all the children (infants, pre-school, elementary, junior-high and high school) so we can see that all parish children are registered. Also a concern is to get the names of all the young adults (18-39) so we can develop a program for them. Please put your registration form in the box on the table in the back of the church by Sunday, September 3. Thank you.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO SAN XAVIER DEL BAC MISSION & ST. MELANY BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH, TUCSON Our August Jubilee event will take place on Saturday, August 19 and will be a day pilgrimage to San Xavier del Bac Mission and St. Melany Church in Tucson. We will depart from Phoenix at 7:30 AM and arrive back in Phoenix at approximately 9:00 PM. St. Melany’s Parish will be providing lunch for us when we arrive there after our tour of San Xavier Mission. There will be a $20.00 donation which will be used to give a donation to the mission for the tour and to help defray the cost of gasoline for trip. The $20.00 donation will be for all adults and children 13 years and older. (The $20.00 donation does not include dinner at the restaurant after the Vigil Vesper/Liturgy prior to our departure to Phoenix.) If you are willing to drive, please sign the sign-up sheet. If you are paying your donation by check please make your check to Rev. Joseph Hutsko. All parishioners are welcome to attend and if someone might have difficulty paying the donation please see Fr. Joe. Brochures and schedules are on the table at the entrance to church. To register, sign the sign-up sheet in church or email Fr. Joe at huts1009@gmail.com by Sunday, August 13.
50TH JUBILEE SEPTEMBER EVENT: POSTER & ESSAY CONTEST
On Sunday, September 17 (Catechetical Sunday) the posters and essays about the ECF student’s Patron Saint will be judged after the 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy at ECF class. Everyone should have received the instructional flyer. We have placed flyers on the table at the entrance to church. All posters and written essays must be submitted by September 10 to the appropriate Group Catechists.
ICON PAINTING WORKSHOP: OCTOBER 13-15
This 3-day course in the ancient technique of icon writing in the Byzantine tradition will be offered at St. Stephen’s on October 13-15, 2017. No art background is needed to participate. The instructor, Very Rev. Elias L. Rafaj, will teach the many steps of paint layering, and each individual student will complete an icon by the end of the workshop. Beginners and advanced students are welcome.
Daily Schedule of Classes
Friday 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
Cost is $150.00 per person and payment is due by October 1. Checks payable to Icon Workshop - St Stephen Byzantine Cathedral. For credit card payments and registration, contact Fr. Diodoro at rectorss@eparchyofphoenix.org.
50TH JUBILEE & GCU OCTOBER EVENT: FALL FESTIVAL & HAYRIDE ON THE PARISH GROUNDS
No, Fall is not in the air yet. It’s not even close, but we are in the process of planning a Fall Festival and Hayride event here at our parish on Saturday, October 28 after the 4 PM Vesper/Liturgy (approximately 5:30 PM). It will be a wonderful event and details will be coming soon from the GCU and the Parish 50th Jubilee Committee. We a planning to have a hay ride, food to purchase, a beer garden, outside seating on the patio, a bonfire within a fire ring, a raffle, trunk or treat for the young ones, and other items. Please make sure to mark this event on your calendars at home.
ST. STEPHEN EASTERN CHRISTIAN FORMATION PROGRAM OPEN HOUSE
All catechists, parents, and children (pre-school to high school age) are invited to an information session concerning our 2017-1018 Catechetical Year on Sunday, September 10 following the 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy. Deacon John Montalvo will be the Director of our Parish ECF.
REGISTRATION FOR ECF CLASSES FOR 2017 - 2018
ECF Classes begin on Catechetical Sunday, September 17. Deacon John Montalvo will be the ECF Director for our parish. Open registration takes place from Sunday, July 23 to Sunday, August 20. Registration forms are on the table at the entrance to church. We ask parents to register their children so we can order the correct number of books for students and teachers.
YOUNG ADULT GROUP
Our parish is forming a Young Adult Group (ages 18-39) where we will come together to pray, study, do service projects and social activities. Singles and married couples in are encouraged to attend. We will meet on Saturday, August 12 at 9:00 AM in church.
FISH FRYS ARE BACK! Mark your calendar for the the first Fridays of October, November and December. The food is delicious and the fellowship is fantastic. Every parishioner’s help is needed to continue making this a spiritual and financial success year after year. Bless you for attending and for giving your assistance to our annual community-building parish activity.
DONATE CAKE MIXES AND ICING
At each Fish Fry we offer a wonderful assortment of desserts. Please drop off your donation of cake mixes and icing in the Parish Hall kitchen. Our goal is to have 100 cake and icing mixes by September 30. Thank you! It is never too early to start asking for help and we hope that more of you can devote some of your time and talent to helping with the various aspects of the Fish Frys. This is a big undertaking and we need more help with the days of preparation and also help on the day of event itself --- and, very importantly, we will need help with clean-up. We ask that you consider giving some of your time and talent to help keep the Fish Frys successful fundraisers for our parish.
Coming Events – Mark Your Calendars Now
Saturday, August 12- Young Adult Group Gathering in Church at 9:00 AM
Sunday, August 13- Parish Finance Council Meeting in Parish Conference Room after 9 AM Liturgy
Saturday, August 19- Pilgrimage to San Xavier del Bac Mission & St. Melany Church in Tucson - Departing at 7:30 AM from St. Stephen Cathedral Parking Lot
Tuesday, August 22- Life in Christ Class at 6:30 PM in Parish Conference Room
Saturday, August 26- Marriage Prep Class at 1:00 PM in Parish Conference Room
Sunday, August 27- 50th Anniversary of Ordination of Archpriest David Petras
Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM followed by Jubilee Luncheon
Sunday, September 10- ECF Open House for Parents, Students & Catechists
Sunday, September 17-Catechetical Sunday: ECF Classes Begin / Poster & Essay Contest
Friday, October 13 – Sunday October 15: Parish 50th Jubilee Event - Icon Workshop of the Holy Protection of Mother of God by Fr. Elias Rafai
Saturday, October 28 - GCU & 50th Jubilee Hayride & Fall Festival after 4 PM Divine Liturgy