Altar Guild
The object of the Guild is the sanctification of the Altar Server by teaching him that to serve in the Sanctuary is a great religious privilege, by instructing him the manner of observing the rites and ceremonies of the Church according to the rubrics and to the decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Rites and the interpretations of the most generally accepted authorities, and by encouraging him to understand the meaning and the purpose of the ceremonies in which he takes part. So now, with my whole heart, I offer myself to Jesus Christ to fight under His colors. St. John Berchmans, Patron Saint of Altar Servers History The St. Stephen Altar Guild started in England in March, 1905, by Fr. Hamilton MacDonald, with the permission of the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Bourne. In November, 1906, Pope St. Pius X recognized and blessed the Guild. On February 19th, 1934, Pope Pius XI allowed the Guild to spread worldwide. The Guild was brought to St. Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church in 2003 by Fr. John Berg of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. Membership A young man is accepted in to the Guild after First Communion in a provisional status
Chesterton Society
History The Sacramento Chesterton Society met for the first time at St. Stephen’s in June of 2012, as a local chapter of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton (www.Chesterton.org). It is a group of people who enjoy reading and discussing the writings of G.K. Chesterton, while getting together for fellowship, conversation, and refreshments. There is no formal membership roster, no initiation fee or membership dues – all are welcome to attend. The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it was found difficult and left untried. G. K. Chesterton Format On the second Tuesday of each month, after the 6 pm Mass at St. Stephen’s, the meeting begins in classroom 2 with an informal social time of potluck snacks and drinks until about 7:30. We then settle in to discuss the reading for the month from roughly 7:30 pm to 9 pm. Everyone is welcome, and everyone can have a chance to talk if they want to, but nobody is required to speak. It is a convivial atmosphere where friendships are formed, thoughts are shared, and the Catholic Faith is upheld. What sort of thing did Chesterton write? Chesterton is hard to classify as a writer. He considered
Choir
Since the founding of St. Stephen the First Martyr Church, the St. Stephen’s Choir has worked to honor and glorify God through music. Choir members sing for the 1:00 pm Sunday Mass, first-class feasts, weddings, Requiems, and various other liturgies throughout the year. The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings and immediately before each sung Mass to prepare full Gregorian propers, Gregorian or polyphonic ordinaries, sacred motets, and traditional hymns as appropriate for that liturgy. Choir members range from relative newcomers to professional musicians, but they are united by their desire to serve God in His holy liturgies. Instruction for the Youth Children interested in becoming choir members receive thorough musical formation based on the Kodály method, Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory, and other curricula. Several levels of classes meet on Thursday afternoons for children ages 4 thru high school. Many families come for classes and stay well into the evening, even bringing a picnic dinner. Parents have the opportunity to socialize as their children make friends and play together. Each summer, the parish offers a Chant Camp for children ages 8-18. Campers receive three days of instruction from highly qualified musicians on how to read Gregorian chant notation and sing
Coffee & Donuts
Each Sunday, after the 7 am, 8:30 am, and 10 am Masses, our hospitality team provides a simple treat of coffee, donuts and friendly conversation in Classroom 1. It is a small way to bring parishioners together, share kindness and start the day in fellowship. All the profits go towards the St. Bernadette Fund, which supports our parishioners in financial distress. Building on the experience of several earlier versions of this effort, the current Coffee and Donuts group began in July of 2024, in the interest of serving our community. It is open to everyone: families and their children, long-time members of the parish, visitors and newcomers, who would like a place to make new friendships and catch up with old acquaintances. Behind the scenes, the group handles practical tasks like picking up the donuts, making and serving coffee, setting up the serving tables, and staying afterwards for cleanup. These small acts of service create a warm and friendly environment where people of all ages can gather, converse, encourage one another, and invite others into ministries and church events. Whether you love serving others, meeting new friends, or just sharing a good cup of coffee, we’d love to have you
Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom High School Co-op
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom is a homeschool cooperative that operates as a parish ministry at St. Stephen the First Martyr. It offers Catholic homeschooling parents support and resources to fulfill their obligation as primary educators of their children. The mission of the Co-op is to provide the benefits of classroom instruction to students, especially for subjects that may be difficult to teach at home, particularly math and science.The curriculum is based on the needs of its enrolled families. Instruction is provided by the priests of St. Stephen’s, credentialed teachers, and parents of the co-op in their areas of expertise. The parents of the co-op meet early in the summer to decide what classes will be offered the next year. As a co-op our main priorities are to have high school religion taught by our priests, to be a support network for local homeschooling families, and to keep the cost as reasonable as possible. We have at least one fundraiser a semester to cover the cost of our High School Graduation Celebration the first Friday in June, to acquire supplies for our students and classes, and to provide financial grants to families that request them. OLSW Co-op meets at St.
Rosa Mystica
History Founded in 2003 by Sue McGrath, the Rosa Mystica Girls’ Society aims to teach the traditional arts of sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet for young girls ages 9 – 13. What began as a small group has transformed, through many graces, into one of the St. Stephen’s largest ministries. With a strong devotion to Our Lord and his Blessed Mother at its core, nourished by the sacraments and inspired by talks from our priests for continued spiritual formation, the real hope of the society is to encourage the girls’ growth beyond honing their craft, to form virtuous and compassionate young women with strong bonds of friendship with their peers in the parish. Purpose Led by talented volunteers, the girls focus on learning a single skill through the season, crafting handmade baby items – washcloths, hats, toys, burp cloths and baby quilts. These lovingly made gifts are then presented in thoughtful baskets, complete with additional clothing, diapers and other items to bring comfort and joy to new mothers and their infants. Each year Rosa Mystica delivers over seventy-five baskets to Bishop Gallego’s Maternity Home, a safe haven that houses and supports expectant mothers during and after pregnancy, setting them and
Troops of Saint George
The Troops of Saint George is a fraternal Catholic nonprofit apostolate for priests, men, and young men looking for a life of adventure coupled with virtue. Initially founded in 2013 by Catholic author and professor, Dr. Taylor Marshall, we have become a collection of troops throughout the country. Our Troop 750 meets on the second Saturday of each month. All young men ages six through eighteen are welcome to join. For more information, please refer to our website at: http://tsgtroop750.org. The parent organization website can be reached here: https://troopsofsaintgeorge.org/. The Law of the Troops The Troops of Saint George Law was written by Saint Peter (cf. 1 Peter 2:17), our first Pope: The Motto: Parati Semper The motto of the Troops of Saint George is “Parati Semper”, which also comes from Saint Peter, our first Pope: “But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being prepared always (parati semper) to satisfy everyone that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). The Oath The Troops of Saint George Oath was written by the Apostle Paul (cf. 1 Timothy 4:12) and defines the five traits of the man who seeks to be a disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ by patterning his
Youth Group
The St. Stephen’s Youth Group meets twice a month during the academic year, generally on second and fourth Friday, in the evening. Its primary purpose is the continuing Catholic education of high school students in our parish. The secondary purpose of the group is to help the youth form and keep good Catholic friendships amongst one another. The group assists at the evening Mass, afterwards moving to one of the classrooms for a short meal and social time. Then one of the priests, usually Fr Curtis, gives a talk, somewhere between thirty and sixty minutes. Finally, the members enjoy a common activity, usually lasting about an hour. 6:00 PM Mass 7:00 PM Dinner 7:45 PM Conference by a Priest 8:45 PM Activity 9:30 PM Departure Lectures Lectures have featured topics such as the spiritual life, apologetics, the Sacred Scriptures, explanations of the Holy Mass, moral theology, literature, cautions about some of the dangers posed by modern life (e.g. social media), and vocations. Love follows knowledge. St. Thomas Aquinas Activities Several times during the course of the year, the members go off campus (usually on a Saturday). Previous examples include ice skating, bowling, and hiking. Normal activities include Jenga, charades, telestrations, pictionary, bunco, volleyball, and
