Pastor’s Column

ROE v WADE OVERTURNED

On June 24, this past Friday, on which coincided the feasts of the Sacred Heart and the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the Supreme Court overturned the disastrous and horrifying decision of almost fifty years ago to “recognize” a constitutional right to abortion.

I never thought that this would happen in my lifetime, and – even though we were anticipating such a decision since the leak regarding it some weeks ago – I will freely admit that the news still somehow took me by surprise and brought tears to my eyes.

The National Right to Life estimates over 63 million abortions in the United States since Roe v Wade was established in 1973. As far as I understand, these statistics always refer only to surgical abortions; it is impossible to know the death toll brought about by the so-called “contraceptive” pill, the so-called “morning after” pill, and other chemically induced abortions (e.g. mifepristone and misoprostol).

The road towards justice for the unborn, particularly in a state such as California, is still a long and uncertain one. Please continue to pray!

PS. Thank you to all the men that kept watch over the church on Friday night in the face of credible threats of violence against Catholic Churches across the nation.

PIG ROAST (UPDATE WITH SCHEDULE)

Update 6/26: Event coordinators will be available after all Sunday Masses in the courtyard to register volunteers for the event!

Join us for a fun filled day as we gather to celebrate the patron of our parish, St. Stephen the First Martyr, and the finding of his relics. This year, we’ll have our very first chili cook off! We’re hosting the pig roast on a Saturday because the Sunday schedule has so many Masses now. The schedule:

3:00 pm Solemn High Mass

4:45 pm Welcome & Announcements

5:00 pm Dinner

6:00 pm Dessert

7:00 pm Square Dancing

9:00 pm Final clean up

For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Gloria and Fernando Santana 916-832-2811.