Pope Francis prayed for the victims of a deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria as the Catholic Near East Welfare Association launched an emergency fundraising effort to shelter survivors in northern Syria.

More in this article.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver recently lost two priests who touched the hearts of those they knew. Here are tributes we received for Father Oscar Pauwels, OMI, and Father Rufin Mika. Please read all about them in this wonderful article.

https://bccatholic.ca/voices/in-memoriam-two-beloved-priests

The Life in the Spirit Seminars are designed as an introduction to a life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. They provide an opportunity for people to learn more about that life, and to be helped in taking the first steps of a new relationship with the Lord.

For those who are not Christians, this can serve as an introduction to Christianity and a time to make a first commitment to Jesus Christ. For those who are already Christians, they offer help in finding a fuller release of the Holy Spirit to live a deeper Christian life.

The seminars are a series of talks and discussions which take place over a period of seven weeks. But more than a series of courses or lectures, the Life in the Spirit Seminars are a chance for Christians who have found a fuller life in the Holy Spirit to come together with people who want to know more about that life, to share with them, and to help them take the first steps of a new life themselves.

ST STEPHEN’S PARISH INVITES YOU: TO A LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR:

Every Thursday from 7pm to 9pm: it starts on February 16 and ends on March 30, 2023:

February 16 – Talk 1 – God’s Love
February 23 – Talk 2 – Salvation
March 2 – Talk 3 – New Life
March 9 – Talk 4 – Receiving God’s Gift
March 16 – Talk 5 – Praying for Baptism in the Holy Spirit March 23 – Talk 6 – Growth
March 30 – Talk 7 & Mass – Transformation in Christ

Registration is now closed, thank you for your interest.

This FREE one-hour webinar will introduce you to the study guide and how it may be used in various settings. The event hosted by the Archdiocese of Vancouver is designed for clergy, religious, diocesan, or parish staff and volunteers, educators, members of the Catholic Women’s League or Knights of Columbus, and anyone who wishes to learn more about human trafficking. This event will be held on on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Learn more and register at beholdvancouver.org/events.

Join this monthly Mass and vigil to pray for respect for all human life from its beginning to its natural end every first Saturday of the month from Feb. 4 at St. Anthony’s Parish, West Vancouver at 9:00 a.m. Learn more at beholdvancouver.org/events.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver invites all parishioners for a dialogue about topics of mental health through a Catholic lens, facilitated by a mental health professional equipped to answer your questions.

The four topics on the following dates will be:
Jan. 25 – Session 1: Introduction – PJ Lewis
Feb. 15 – Session 2: Mental health – Denis Boyd
Mar. 22 – Session 3: Mental illness – PJ Lewis
Apr. 26 – Session 4: Self-care – Denis Boyd
Time: 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Locations: Online or in-person at Saint Mary Parish, Vancouver; Saint Patrick Parish, Maple Ridge; Christ the Redeemer, West Vancouver; Good Shepherd Church, Surrey.

Facilitators: Denis Boyd and PJ Lewis.
​​​​​​Learn more and register at beholdvancouver.org/events.

“To everyone in our local Church’s Asian Catholic community who is celebrating the Lunar New Year, I offer my prayerful best wishes for the Year of the Rabbit! In many cultures, the rabbit is a symbol of love, tenderness, and peace.”

Full text of Archbishop Miller’s message is here: https://rcav.org/announcements/13201

Your prayers are requested for Marta Brisco, Claire Christie, Andy Demeule, Maria Dos Santos, Joan Dowling, Brandon Fairleigh, Rose Gill, Mark Hamilton, Wade Kaczkielo, Frank Kilian, Gretchen Mostardi, Margaret Ng, Ariel Nonan, Diego Nunez, Mary Catherine O’Sullivan, Jeannette Oulette, Desi Santos, Tony Tadey, Maria Villarroel, Jarrod Wiesner, Karl Winterstein.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver is hosting this seminar: This FREE one-hour webinar will introduce you to the study guide and how it may be used in various settings. The event hosted by the Archdiocese of Vancouver is designed for clergy, religious, diocesan, or parish staff and volunteers, educators, members of the Catholic Women’s League or Knights of Columbus, and anyone who wishes to learn more about human trafficking. This event will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Learn more and register at beholdvancouver.org/events.

The St Stephen’s FOOD BOX is now available to receive your gifts! Please remember the needy in our community, especially at this time of year. You may drop off your donations of non-perishable items inside the main door of the church. Thank you for your generosity & kindness in 2022.

Welcome the Chinese New Year with a Eucharistic Celebration with Archbishop Miller. Join this Chinese New Year’s Eucharistic celebration with Archbishop Miller on Jan. 22, 2023 (Sunday), at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Coquitlam, at 3:00 p.m. The parish is at 315 Walker Street in Coquitlam, BC V3K 5P7.

All are welcome.

Schedule of Holy Masses at St. Stephen’s Parish:

2022 December 24 ( Saturday): 9:00 a.m. – Saturday Mass

CHRISTMAS EVE – THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD – (HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION)
December 24 (Saturday) CHRISTMAS EVE
4:30 p.m;
12:00 midnight. (Christmas Carols begin at 11:30 p.m. – come early to get parking.)

CHRISTMAS DAY – THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
December 25 (Sunday)
8:30 a.m;
10:30 a.m.
No Evening Mass

CHRISTMAS WEEK
December 26 (Monday) – FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN – 9:00 a.m. Mass
December 27-30 (Tuesday – Friday) – 8:30 a.m.
December 31 (Saturday) – 9:00 a.m. – Saturday Mass

From Fr. Mark and the entire Staff of St. Stephens Parish, a Merry Christmas to all!

As the year comes to a close, this is a gentle reminder to all to kindly make your pledge & donation to this year’s Project Advance campaign before December 31st, 2022, if you have not done so already. Cheques are payable to “Project Advance”. Thank you for your support and generosity.

Join the Archdiocese of Vancouver for the Archbishop’s Annual Mass for Life on Dec. 28, 2022, Feast of the Holy Innocents at Holy Rosary Cathedral. Rosary at 11:30 a.m. Mass at 12:10 p.m. The Cathedral is at 646 Richards Street in downtownVancouver.

https://beholdvancouver.org/events/archbishop-s-annual-mass-for-life-2

Join this Chinese New Year’s Eucharistic celebration with Archbishop Miller on Jan. 22, 2023 at Our Lady of Fatima parish, Coquitlam at 3:00 p.m. Learn more and register at beholdvancouver.org/events.