Flocknote

Included in this week's Newsletter:

Children's Choir Rehearsal - September 30
Adult Choir Rehearsal - September 30
Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue Restored and in Church for October
Four Seasons Kids Christmas in October
October is Respect Life Month - Fill a Baby Bottle with Loose Change
First Friday Adoration - October 2
Blessing of Animals - October 3
Orange County Life Chain - October 4
Statue Restoration Ministry (located at St. Joseph) - October 6
Mass Intention Book for 2027 Opens - October 7
Columbus Day Dinner Hosted by Knights of Columbus - October 10
Blood Drive - October 11
Women's Sodality Meeting - October 12
Our Lady of Fatima Mass & Candlelight Procession - October 13
Apostleship of Prayer Fall Bulb Plant Sale - through October 15
Community Garden Donation Tracker Hits a Milestone!
Orange County Right to Life Banquet - November 1
40 Days for Life Fall Campaign through November 1
OCIA for Adults and Teens
Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima Available to Borrow
Bus Angel Sponsorships Being Accepted for 2027
Community Events

Calling all Children and Adults!

Considering Making Joyful Noise to the LORD!

No experience is necessary. The Children's Choir is open to children in grades 1 - 9 and will meet on Wednesdays in the Church from 4:15 - 5pm.

Adults of the parish are invited to join the 9am Choir. No experience is necessary. Adult Choir rehearsal is on Wednesdays from 6:45pm - 8:15pm.

For more information, contact Andrew Hoben at 845-986-4028 or musicdirector@ststephenchurchwarwick.org.

Newly Restored Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue

During the month of October, this Sacred Heart of Jesus statue will be on the left side of the church (Tabernacle side). You are invited to make a visit the statue and pick up a prayer card to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

This statue was lovingly and carefully restored by the St. Stephen Statue Ministry group. We are most grateful for the care the members have given to restore and preserve this statue, and many others!

The Statue Restoration Ministry now meets each Tuesday from 6-7:30pm at St. Joseph, Florida in the Convent. All are welcome!

Four Seasons Kids Christmas in October

Giving Tree
Four Seasons Kids’ annual Christmas in October Giving Tree is now up in the atrium! Please consider taking a stocking ornament from the tree and purchasing the clothing items listed on the back for a local child experiencing clothing insecurity. Donations can be returned to the Parish Center by Friday, October 30. Thank you for helping Four Seasons Kids provide warm winter clothing to children in our community this season.

October is Respect Life Month!

Please take an empty baby bottle from the bassinet in the atrium and fill it with spare change during October, saying a prayer for life as you drop in your change.

At the end of the month, please return it to the parish office, or to an usher at Mass. Money collected goes to MyChoice Pregnancy Care Center and supports women in crisis pregnancies. Thank you for your support!

Blessing of Animals - October 3, Noon

All pets and their caretakers are invited to gather for a special blessing at St. Stephen's Church this Saturday, October 3, at 12pm.

Please join us at this beloved annual tradition honoring St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of the Environment and Ecology. Please be sure pets are properly secured

on leashes or in cages.

Orange County Life Chain

Sunday, October 4, 2- 3:30pm

Please join Orange County Right to Life on Sunday, October 4 from 2 - 3:30pm on Route 211 in Middletown for the annual Life Chain.

The LIFE CHAIN is a peaceful and prayerful public witness where pro-life participants stand for 90 minutes praying for our nation and for an end to abortion. It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the Church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception until natural death. This is great pro life event for the whole family to participate in as we are visible witnesses to our community of the truth about abortion, hope in the midst of despair and God's mercy. There will be three monitors and three stations:Station 1: In front of Red LobsterStation 2: In front of Hobby LobbyStation 3: In front of Shop Rite

MONITORS WITH POSTERS AND OTHER INFORMATION WILL BE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ROUTE 211 ONLY. PLEASE RESPECT THE DIRECTIONS OF THE MONITORS. Please do not stand on the north side of Route 211.
For more information please contact Jennifer at (845) 500-6776

Columbus Day Italian Dinner

October 10, Two Seatings

The Knights of Columbus will be holding their annual Italian Dinner on Saturday, October 10 with seatings at 3pm and 6pm.

Reservations are required by Wednesday, October 7.

Please use the link below to sign up or contact the Parish Office.

Cost - Adults 11 and up - $25

Children 4-10 - $10, Age 3 and under, free

Questions? 914-588-4419

Sign up for Italian Dinner - October 10, 2026

Give the Gift of Life!

Blood Drive, Sunday, October 11, 8am - 2pm

Sign ups are appreciated, walk-ins are welcome.

Blood Drive Appointments

Women's Sodality Meeting - October 12

St. Stephen Women's Sodality will meet Monday, October 12 at 2pm in the Parish Center, Msgr Corrigan Hall. We will pray the Holy Rosary with special intentions. The agenda will be to prepare for Harvest Bake Sale October 24-25 after all Masses. All new members are welcome. For more info call: Carolyn at 845-986-3917.

Fall 2026 Bulb Sale - Apostleship of Prayer

Please visit our online store for a wide assortment of bulbs for Fall planting. Make the planning of your garden easy this year with this collection! This great mix of various spring-blooming bulbs will fill your garden with numerous vibrant colors. These different bulbs will bloom at various times through the spring season, giving you loads of color to add to your favorite vase.
For every purchase, the Apostleship of Prayer receives 40 per cent of the price, so this fundraiser is a huge help to our ministry!
Our online store is open until October 15th. Bulb orders start to ship in early October.
ALL PRODUCTS ARE GUARANTEED TO GROW, OR FREE REPLACEMENT.
Thank you for your support of the Apostleship of Prayer!
http://StephenChurchGardeningMinistry.fpfundraising.com

Mass Intention Book for 2027

The Mass Intention Book for the first half of 2027 opens on Wednesday, October 7. Please see the attachment below for procedures to request announced Masses.

Mass Intentions 2027 (3) (4).docx

Our Lady of Fatima

Mass & Candlelight Rosary Procession

Tuesday, October 13, at 5:30pm will be the final Our Lady of Fatima Mass and Rosary Candlelight Procession in 2026. The Prayer Intention Boxes are placed in the Church vestibule and in the Parish Community Center for your special intentions. There are new Our Lady of Fatima Intention envelopes available in Church and PCC and your free-will offering for these intentions is voluntary.

Your Prayer Intentions will be placed on the altar.

There is Still Time to Join OCIA

Learn about the Catholic Faith!

Are you, or someone you know, interested in becoming Catholic?
Or are you a baptized Catholic who would like to complete the Sacraments of Initiation?
Do you have a child who needs their Baptism, Confirmation or First Holy Communion but are past the typical age they received them?

OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a journey of faith and formation for adults who want to learn more about the Catholic faith and, for those who are ready, receive the Sacraments of Initiation.

If you’re interested, please complete the sign up below to receive more information or call the Faith Formation Office at St. Stephen's Parish at 845-986-2231. There is no obligation to commit by signing up—this is simply an opportunity to learn more and ask questions.

Our Faith Formation team will reach out to you within one day of your submission.

We look forward to connecting with you and accompanying you on your journey of faith!

Sign up for OCIA for Teens and Children Program

Sign up for OCIA

Orange County Right To Life 53rd Annual Banquet

Place: Knights of Columbus Hall

18 Hallock Drive, Washingtonville

Date: Sunday, November 1st, 2pm

Price: $50/Adult $35/Student

Book a Table of 8-10 save $5 per person

For Reservations & Questions

Call: Jennifer (845)500-6776

Through November 1
The 2026 40 Days for Life Fall campaign will run through November 1. This is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful, prayerful presence in front of abortion businesses.

We especially need people on Mondays between the hours of 11am - 4pm but other times are helpful as well.

For more information about the campaign or to schedule an hour of prayer you may call Wendy Wood 845-820-4366 or Mary Vecchio 917-817-9174, or visit: https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/newburgh.

Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady visited three children in 1917 in Fatima, Portugal, and spoke to them of the importance of praying the Rosary. Bring our parish's beautiful statue home and let our Blessed Mother lead your family closer to her Son, Jesus, through praying and meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.

To sign-up, please call the Parish Office at 845-986-4028.

Senior Bus Angel Sponsorships Needed for 2027
Please consider sponsoring the Dial-A-Bus to help our local seniors attend the 11:00 AM Mass on Sundays at St. Stephen.
Sponsorships are being accepted for 2027.
If you would like to sponsor the Angel Bus for a month, please call the Parish Office 986-4028. One month's sponsorship is $100.