Monday, December 26, 2024 at 6 PM175th Anniversary Please join us for Mass on the Feast of St. Stephen, Protomartyr on December 26, 2024 to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the founding of our parish. The Mass will also be the celebration of the Permanent Diaconate, so many of our permanent deacons will be present with their families. Saint Stephen Parish was erected in 1849 by Bishop Antoine Blanc, who invited the Vincentians (Congregation of the Mission) to administer the parish. After outgrowing the original small church built in 1851, the parish made plans to erect a new church on a design worthy of its present needs and of the future prospects of the parish. On November 21, 1871, the cornerstone of this church was laid by Archbishop Napoléon-Joseph Perché. Construction was … [Read more...]

Phyllis Treigle | Trey Cassels| Melissa Brocato Louis Hackett | Patrick Tuck | Brian Morgan The Basilica Choir Sunday, December 15 at 4:00pm. Admission is free, but a freewill offering will be accepted to support the upcoming restoration of the organ. … [Read more...]

Holy Day of Obligation Monday, December 9, 2024 6:30am at St. Henry Church 12:00 noon at the Basilica of St. Stephen The dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:  The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin (Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 1854: DS 2803). This doctrine was revealed through the Scriptures (Mary was “the absolute fullness of grace”) and the long Sacred Tradition of the Church.  But it was finally declared as dogma on December 8, 1954, exactly nine months before the celebration of the birth of Mary on September 8. The doctrine is quite … [Read more...]

The St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to thank everyone for your help in providing Thanksgiving Baskets to FORTY needy families in our parish. Thank you for your GENEROUS support! … [Read more...]

Traditionally, the Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion. In November, we remember the Holy Souls in Purgatory – faithful Christians who have died and gone before us but who still must atone for their sins. The time they spend in Purgatory cleanses them so that they may enter Heaven free from all effects of sin. Praying for the dead, especially for those we have known, is a requirement of Christian charity. Our own prayers and sacrifices can be offered up to relieve their suffering. The following prayer, among others, can be incorporated into our daily prayers during this month: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. A plenary indulgence, … [Read more...]

Jesus recounted the following to St. Margaret Mary, and this devotion has been recognized by the Church: “To all those who, during nine months on end, will receive Holy Communion on the first Fridays of every month.  I promise the Grace of final perseverance. They will not die in My disgrace, but will receive the Sacraments (if necessary), and My Heart will be sure shelter for them in that extreme moment.” The First Friday promises of our Lord to St. Margaret Mary: 1.  I will give them graces necessary for their state of life. 2.  I will establish peace in their houses. 3.  I will comfort them in all their afflictions. 4.  I will be their strength during life and during death. 5.  I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings. 6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the … [Read more...]

First Holy Communion classes begin on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 9:15am in the Rectory. Confirmation classes begin on Sunday, November 3, 2024 after the 10:30am Mass in the Rectory. Please contact the rectory office to register so we can ensure we have sufficient teaching materials for each student. Please contact Msgr. Nalty directly if you or someone you know is interested in coming into full communion with the Catholic Church through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. … [Read more...]

October 6 at 11:45 am Feast Day - October 4 Many of the stories that surround the life of St. Francis of Assisi deal with his love for animals. Part of his appreciation of the environment is expressed in his Canticle of the Sun, a poem written in Umbrian Italian in perhaps 1224 which expresses a love and appreciation of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Mother Earth, Brother Fire, etc. and all of God's creations personified in their fundamental forms.  Francis' attitude towards the natural world, while poetically expressed, was conventionally Christian. He believed that the world was created good and beautiful by God but suffers a need for redemption because of the primordial sin of man. He preached the universal ability and duty of all creatures to praise God (a common theme in the Psalms) … [Read more...]

September 18, 2024 5 pm – 6:30 pm As we do every year, Archbishop Aymond has asked that each parish offer the Sacrament of Confession on the nearest Wednesday to the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. This year that date is September 18, 2024. … [Read more...]

September 21-22, 2024 Attention all married couples: We invite you to a weekend getaway designed to bless and enrich your faith and your marriage at the beautiful St. Joseph Abbey in Covington. You and your spouse will spend time growing closer through inspiring talks, private couple time, individual prayer time, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and the celebration of the Mass! Through God’s grace, you will walk away with a renewed strength and a deeper commitment to each other and to God. To register for your relaxing and rejuvenating retreat, visit FaithandMarriage.org. A suggested donation is requested but not required. Cost should never be a reason why a couple cannot make a weekend! Scholarships are available! If you have any questions, please call (504) … [Read more...]