October is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary.
Today is the Feast Our Lady of the Rosary.
The Battle of Lepanto and Our Lady of the Rosary
On October 7, 1571, a huge Turkish fleet prepared to attack Christian Europe. Genoa, Spain, and the Papal States formed an alliance called the Holy League to defend Christendom.The Holy League and the Turks engaged in a famous sea battle known as “The Battle of Lepanto.” The battle took place in the Gulf of Lepanto in Greece.At the time, Pope Pius V, a Dominican with a great love for Our Blessed Mother and the rosary, directed all of the faithful to pray the rosary. They all prayed specifically for the intention that the Christian fleet would defeat the Turkish fleet. Through Our Lady’s intercession, the Christians prevailed. The Holy League prevented Islam from spreading further into Christian Europe.
Included in this week's Newsletter:
- Columbus Day Dinner Hosted by Knights of Columbus - October 10
- Rosary Rally - 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
- 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
- Statue Restoration Ministry (located at St. Joseph) - October 13
- Heritage Fund Donations for September
- Mass Intention Book for 2027, January - June is Now Open
- Christmas Market Donation Drop Off - October 27
- Orange County Right to Life Banquet - November 1
- 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign through November 1
- Fall Dinner Dance Save the Date - November 14
- Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima Available to Borrow
- Bus Angel Sponsorships Being Accepted for 2027
- Community Events
Columbus Day Italian Dinner
Reserve Your Seats Today!
October 10, Two Seatings & Takeout Available
The Knights of Columbus will be holding their annual Italian Dinner on Saturday, October 10 with seatings at 3pm and 6pm.
Reservations are required.
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
Rosary Rally, this Saturday at Noon
Please join us in prayer! The intention for our Rosary Crusade is to pray for peace, for the conversion of sinners and for the reparation of many offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of our Heavenly Mother.
Give the Gift of Life!
Blood Drive this Sunday, October 11, 8am - 2pm
Sign ups are appreciated, walk-ins are welcome.
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.
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.
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
ALL PRODUCTS ARE GUARANTEED TO GROW, OR FREE REPLACEMENT.
Thank you for your support of the Apostleship of Prayer!
http://StephenChurchGardeningMinistry.fpfundraising.com
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.
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!
Christmas Market Donation Drop Off
Tuesday, October 27, 4-6pm, back entrance of the Parish Community Center.
We're gearing up for our annual Christmas Market and Craft Fair, planned for December 5 & 6.
Donations of gently used and new Christmas decor, artificial trees, wreaths, lights, nativities, village houses, as well as NEW non Christmas items for gifting are being accepted.
Donations of scratch-off tickets (any denomination), liquor and wine are needed for the Christmas Market Tricky Tray.
For more information, contact Theresa at smandra@optonline.net or 914-523-3996.
Special Donations for the Heritage Fund
$5,000 for September 2026
Thank you for your generous support of the ongoing improvements to our parish.
Your gifts help us care for our parish today and preserve it for future generations.
Every contribution, large or small, makes a difference and helps us continue building a strong and welcoming parish community.
We are truly grateful for your generosity and continued support. Please consider St. Stephen’s when making your tax-deductible charitable gifts this year.
Mass Intention Book for 2027
The Mass Intention Book for the first half of 2027 is now open. Please see the attachment below for procedures to request announced Masses. Up to four Mass intentions will be accepted for Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am Masses.
The suggested offering for weekend Masses is $20, weekday Masses, $15.
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.
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.
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.
Community Events for Parishioners
Often we are asked to promote events and activities happening in our area. Currently we have information about:
- Healing Weekend program at Mount Alvernia retreat center in Wappingers Falls, NY on October 9 to 11, 2026
- America Needs Fatima Living Rosary Rally - October 10
- Sensory Friendly Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - October 11
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Sponsored Bus Trip to Washington, DC - November 20 - 22
- Mobile Library Project