St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Giving Tree at St. Stephen Protomartyr Church, which ended Nov. 19. We collected personal care items for St. Martha's Hall for Abused Women & Children and non-perishables for the St. Trinity-St. Stephen-CCBF Food Pantry.

The Giving Trees at Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. John the Baptist churches are available Nov. 26 through December 10.

IHM Tree benefits the Carondelet Community Betterment Foundation. Needs are shampoo, soap, body wash, razoars, deodorant, fabric softener, detergent, dryer sheets, toothpaste, toothbrushes. Please place donations for the IHM tree in the back of IHM Church.

SJB Tree benefits neighborhood families in need, determined by the SJB SVDP conference. Needs are monetary donations and Walmart gift cards. These donations can be placed in the collection at any of our three churches, in an envelope marked “SJB Giving Tree.

Our Advent Bible study groups are using the Six Weeks in the Bible series “Mary: Jesus' Mother — and Ours." The study began Nov. 8, but feel free to join at any time. There are two options: 1) in the IHM rectory meeting room on Wednesdays,10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. , or 2) in the SJB cafeteria on Wednesdays, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. There is no session on Nov. 22;  we will end on Dec. 20. Contact Deacon Dana at 314-477-6635 with questions.

Join us for worship on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8:

• 6:30 a.m. at SJB Church
• 8 a.m. at SSP Church (live-streamed)
• 7 p.m. at IHM Church, with the Seasonal Choir

Ladies, you are all invited to Advent by Candlelight on Dec. 10 at the Fr. Keaney Center on the IHM campus. It is a beautiful, quiet evening of spiritual nourishment. We will share dessert, coffee, tea, wine, conversation, and companionship. Our guest speaker this year is Sister Cathy Doherty. Online reservations are closed. Please call Gina Joly at 314-450-6233 with questions.

All are welcome to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Several confessors will be available.

Most of the church decorating will happen in the afternoon of Dec. 17 at St. Stephen and Immaculate Heart of Mary churches and in the morning of Dec. 18 at St. John the Baptist church. Decorations will be finalized in the afternoon of Dec. 24.

Our Christmas Novenas are observed nightly from Dec. 17 through Dec. 23 at SSP Church. They begin at 7 p.m. and last approximately 30 minutes. The meditative service consists of music and prayers focusing on each of the O Antiphons. More information here.

Christmas Eve

• December 24, 4 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Church
• December 24, 5 p.m. at St. Stephen Protomartyr Church (adult and children's choirs sing at 4:40 p.m.)
• December 24, 10 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church

Christmas Day

• December 25, 8 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church
• December 25, 10 a.m. at St. Stephen Protomartyr Church

Join us in worship on the feast of our parish's patron at 8 a.m. at SSP Church. Later, at 2 p.m., we will be celebrating a feast-day party in the SSP Parish Hall. Bring your favorite board-games!

Join us for worship on the feast of Mary, Mother of God at one of two times:

• Vigil Mass on Dec. 31, 11:55 p.m. at IHM Church
• Jan. 1, 8 a.m., at IHM Church, with the Seasonal Choir