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December 2021
Dear St. Stephen’s Parishioners:
What a difference a year makes! While we are still navigating many aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic and safety protocols, we are grateful that Christmas Masses this year will be fairly normal! As you recall, last year we were still in the “reservation” phase of our re-opening and thanks largely to the behind-the-scenes work of parish staff with the invaluable assistance of our ushers and greeters, we were able to celebrate the blessed birth of Jesus as a parish family.
This year, the reservation system is behind us, and we will have Christmas and New Year’s Day Masses at the following times:
Friday, December 24: Christmas Eve
4 p.m. Mass – Church 4 p.m. Mass – Gym
6 p.m. Mass – Church
Saturday, December 25: Christmas Day
12 a.m. – Midnight Mass in Church
8 a.m., 10 a.m., & 12 noon – Mass in Church
**Note: there will be no 5 p.m. Anticipatory Mass**
Sunday, December 26: Feast of the Holy Family
Regular Sunday Mass Schedule (7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m.)
Saturday, January 1, 2022: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (As it falls on Saturday, this is not a Holy Day of Obligation)
9 a.m. – Mass
**Note: there will be no 5 p.m. Anticipatory Mass**
As we did last year, we are including a way for you to update your contact and interest information through the enclosed envelope. Please note any changes you may have.
Your continued generous support of our parish in the last year is greatly appreciated. With more and more in-person activities and events, our parish expenses are increasing (particularly utilities) and, of course, there will be no Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which was so helpful to us last year.
Additionally, with the closure of St. Stephen-St. Edward School by the Archdiocese of New York, the parish
must now absorb expenses previously paid by the school (school share of maintenance, insurance, landscaping, etc.). Our fundraising efforts have also increased, but it is support from our generous parishioners that makes St. Stephen’s our home in worship and community in faith. Please consider an end-of-year donation to help support our parish in its many ministries and works, infrastructure upkeep and maintenance. Electronic giving is also available on the parish website: www.ststephenchurchwarwick.org. We are most grateful for anything you may give.
In closing, we would like to wish you and your families a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. As we celebrate
the birth of our Savior, we give thanks for His continued presence in the Blessed Eucharist and in our lives. Stay safe in your travels and in your gatherings this holiday season.
God Bless You All,
Fr. Jack Arlotta, Pastor Fr. Reynor Santiago, Parochial Vicar
“And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” – Luke 2:10
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