April 18, 2021 – Third Sunday of Easter

  1. Prayer Service for Victims/Survivors of Abuse:  April is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. Kentucky, for the second year in a row, continues to lead the nation in child abuse and neglect, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In a country so prosperous and so affluent and so scientifically and electronically advanced, we suffer from a huge disease—the children of our country need our help. So many are neglected, mistreated, starved and unloved. As well as being anti-abortion, let us work to improve the quality of life for Kentucky children after they are born. Join the faithful in prayer and action to bring about real change. Read up on how to spot neglect and be active, report abuse. The Church is the Body of Christ. All members of the Church are linked to one another. We all have a responsibility to ensure the safety of children in our parishes, schools, families, and our local community. Five ways to help keep children safe are 1). Develop appropriate and loving relationships with your children; 2). Teach your children safety and healthy boundaries; 3). Know who has access to your children; 4). Learn the warning signs of abuse; 5). Report abuse to appropriate authorities. Promise, Protect, Pledge and Pray. We must be active and diligent. Locally, you may call law enforcement. (270-687-8888 / or 270-685-8444) or the Kentucky Child Abuse Hotline (toll-free: 1-877-KYSAFE1; 1-877-597-2331).  https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth/ 

  2. Bishop Medley will be leading a prayer service for victims/survivors of abuse on Monday, April 19, at 6:00 pm, here at Saint Stephen. This event will be livestreamed at ststephen.org. Several area parishes and schools are placing blue pinwheels and signs in their yard to bring awareness to the victims of child abuse as well. Pray for protection and healing for all impacted by child-abuse.

  3.  Spring Clean-up Day is Saturday, April 24, 8:00am—12:00 noon. It’s time to spruce up our Cathedral campus. Bring rakes, gloves, tools for planting, mulching, etc.  Even if you can come for an hour, that would be great!  This is a

    wonderful opportunity for a small commitment of your time and talent!! Meet for coffee and donuts in the parking lot behind the rectory garage, where Jeff Payne, our Director of Buildings & Grounds will “dish out” the assignments! Recall that old Chinese proverb: “Many hands make light work!”

  4. Candidates for First Communion: what a wonderful day it is for the entire parish as our youngsters receive Jesus for the first time under the form of bread (unfortunately, because of Covid they will not be able to receive under the form of wine), on

    Sunday, April 25, at the 11:00 Mass. As they receive the Body of Christ for the first time, it’s a great opportunity for all of us to realize what a spiritual treasure we have in the Sacrament of Eucharist. The bread becoming “really and truly the Body of Christ“.  I invite you to pray for our first communicants and their families, and our faith community—may we never take this sustaining gift for granted.

  5. Five ways to celebrate the Easter season: 1) Celebrate the entire season of Easter. Maintain a spirit of festive joy these days and weeks leading up to the Feast of Pentecost on the 23rd of May. 2) While each Sunday of the entire Church Year is meant to be a day of rest, a mini Easter celebration all its own, make sure the Sundays of the Easter season are special: not a time to catch up on work but a time to participate in Eucharist, a time to relax, re-create, read a book, spend time with your family, visit loved ones/friends. Allow Sunday to refresh your spirit! 3) Stations of the Resurrection: A little known Catholic devotion called the Via Lucis (the Way of Light); through the stations, we walk with Jesus after the Resurrection and learn from his interactions with the apostles and other disciples. 4) Plant a Mary Garden (small or large): A Mary Garden is quite simply a garden planted in honor of Mary. It can, but does not have to, have a statue of Mary in the garden. 5) Throw a Pentecost party! Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, a day upon which we emphasize the workings of God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit can give us new spiritual vigor, move us in a new direction, give us new strength for dealing with old problems, confirm our faith when we face new difficulties. Wear red! Taken from an article by
    Colleen Pressprich