Introducing St. Stephen's Lenten Hope
St. Stephen’s Catholic Community is introducing a new opportunity for parishioners to lend a hand to fellow parishioners in these unprecedented times of need. The project, Lenten Hope, invites parishioners to nominate those facing hardship to receive prayers and a gift from St. Stephen’s. Here’s what you need to know.
Program Details: Through Lenten Hope, parishioners can nominate fellow parishioners (click here) in need, anonymously. The Parish will collect monetary donations (click here) from now until March 21, 2021. Essential items will be collected over the weekend of March 6 and 7. The distribution of gifts and a prayer service will be held on the evening of March 23, 2021.
To nominate: To nominate a person or family who has been negatively affected by the pandemic, please click here to fill out a nomination form. It is a requirement to be a parishioner of St. Stephen’s to make a nomination, but it is not a requirement for the nominee to be affiliated with St. Stephen’s. Nominees will not be given names of those who’ve nominated them. Nomination forms are due in full by March 14, 2021.
Nominees: Nominees will be called by a staff member of St. Stephen’s the week of March 15 and be informed a parishioner of St. Stephen’s has anonymously nominated them to receive a gift of support from our Parish. They will also be told about the prayer service happening at the same time as the gift pick-up. Prayer intentions will be collected over the phone or written on a card at the time of pick-up.
Monetary Donations: The Church will begin accepting monetary donations starting now until March 21. Donations can be mailed to the Parish office, dropped in the collections basket, or placed in the drop box located inside Parish door #7. Please note the donation is for Lenten Hope. Donations can also be made online via the Church’s Vanco site here.. Please select ‘Lenten Hope – Alms Giving’ under Parish Outreach. A second collection for the Lenten Hope program will occur during weekend Mass March 13th and 14th.
Essential Items: Items will be collected at Mass the weekend of March 6 and 7, for distribution to the nominees on pick-up day. Donations can also be dropped off at the Parish office. Acceptable items include non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products, baby food, diapers, and wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, laundry soap, fabric softener sheets, and dish soap. Please do not give clothing items.
Prayer Service Participants: All are welcome to participate and pray at our Lenten Hope Prayer Service on March 23 from 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Additional prayer service details will be shared as the event gets closer.
"I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor?" Mother Teresa