Sacramental Life
*Baptism*
Arrangements: Call Rectory.
Required Preparations: One class session...
2nd Sunday of month at 1:00pm in Rectory.
Baptism: 3rd Sunday of the month at 12:00pm.
*Reconciliation*
Saturday: 3:45pm to 4:15pm.
Seasonal Services: Announced in Bulletin.
*Anointing of Sick/Eucharist*
Arrangements: Call Rectory if someone is
sick or housebound or if a visit is desired.
*Marriage*
Arrangements: Must be made DIRECTLY
with a priest or deacon of the parish.
Only individually registered parishioners
of one year or more are eligible
to be married here. This includes anyone
still living at home with parents
who should register individually as adult parishioners.
*Sacramental Policy*
Any family not bringing their children
consistently to Sunday Eucharist would
risk
the child's ability to receive the
Sacraments of Initiation at the usual time.
Such a
situation would occasion a postponement
of reception until a later date,
when evidence
of a consistent
Catholic lifestyle becomes evident
on the part of the family or young adult.
*The Rectory Office*
Parish Secretary:
Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm.
Office Closed all Holydays of Obligation
and all National, Legal Holidays.
*Parish Membership*
Moving INTO Parish: Please register at
Rectory AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Moving WITHIN or OUT of Parish:
Please notify the Rectory
of change of address/phone.
Please remember St. Stephen's Church
in your Will or Estate Planning.
There are financial benefits
to do so while still alive and,
in death, the
spiritual reward
of helping to continue the Church's
mission of preaching Jesus Christ.
For more
information, please contact the rectory.
*Funeral Policy*
Anyone currently registered or living within
the parish boundaries are eligible for
funeral
rites at St. Stephen's.
Anyone living in a nursing home who was/is
a registered member is
eligible for
funeral rites at St. Stephen's.
These are the only criteria for
arranging
funeral rites in the parish.
First Penance/Reconciliation takes place in the winter of the second grade. Two years of instruction are required.
First Communion is celebrated on first Saturday of May in the second grade. Two years of instruction are required.
The sacrament of Confirmation is administered in 7th grade. Two years of instruction (grades 6 & 7) are required. Confirmation is usually scheduled in the spring. The exact date varies from year to year. A meeting is held with the parents and candidates for Confirmation to explain the necessity and importance of practicing the faith as an essential step in the direction of receiving this sacrament.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.):
For those wishing to become Catholics, the R.C.I.A. is a process for preparing and welcoming new members into the Catholic Church. The process begins with a period of inquiry in late summer, and reaches a climax at the Easter Vigil the following year at which time new members are baptized or received into full communion with the Church. After Easter, there is a period of follow-up to encourage deeper development of the faith. Anyone interested in participating should contact the Rectory for details.
Ministry to the Sick:
To arrange for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and/or the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, please call the Rectory. Holy Communion is brought to the sick and housebound each month, and on a weekly basis whenever possible. If you know of anyone who would like to receive these sacraments, please notify the Rectory at (856) 662-9338.
OUR PARISH FAMILY INVITES ALL OF
ITS MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE FULLY
IN OUR
SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL LIFE.
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