Sacraments

Baptisms

Baptisms are generally done once a month during the 10:30 Sunday Mass
Baptismal Application

Reconciliation

Saturdays 3:00 – 3:45pm St. Stephen
Sundays 9:30 – 10:15am St. Stephen
Sundays 10:00 – 10:30am OLGC
First Fridays 6:30 – 7:00pm OLGC
or by Appointment

Eucharistic Adoration

Tuesdays 4:45 – 5:45pm St. Stephen
Thursdays 7:00 – 8:00am St. Henry
First Fridays 8:00 – 9:00pm OLGC

Marriage

Please contact the parish office a minimum of six months before the date of the Wedding.

Click here to view and download the Wedding Guide for St. Stephen, St. Henry and Our Lady of Good Counsel

Learn about live-streaming your wedding at St. Stephen.

Click here for Old Testament Readings
Click here for Responsorial Psalm Readings
Click here for New Testament Readings
Click here for Gospel Readings
Click here for Prayer of the Faithful Readings – J1
Click here for Prayer of the Faithful Readings – J2

Funerals

Old Testament Readings
83-Job I know that my Redeemer lives.pdf
84-Wis He accepted them as a holocaust.pdf 
85-Wis A blameless life is a ripe old age.pdf
86-Isa The Lord God will destroy death for ever.pdf
87-Lam It is good to wait in silence for the Lord God to save.pdf
88-Dan Of those who lie sleeping ..pdf
89-Mac It is good and holy to think of the dead rising again.pdf 

New Testament Readings
90-Acts God has appointed Jesus to judge everyone.pdf
91-Rom  We will be saved from God’s anger.pdf
92-Rom There grace abounded all the more.pdf
93-Rom  Let us walk inthe newness of life.pdf
94-Rom  The redemption of our bodies.pdf
95-Rom Who can come between us and the love of Christ.pdf
96-Rom  We belong to the Lord.pdf
97-Cor All will be brought to life in Christ.pdf
98-Cor Death is swallowed up in victory.pdf
98a-Cor What is seen is transitory.pdf
99-Cor We have an everlasting home in heaven.pdf
100-Phil Jesus will transfigure these.pdf
101-Thess We shall stay with the Lord forever.pdf
102-Tim If we have died with him, we shall live with him.pdf
103-John We shall see God as he really is.pdf
104-John We have passed from death to life.pdf
105-Rev Happy are those who die in the Lord.pdf
106-Rev The dead have been judged according to their works.pdf
107-Rev There will be no more death.pdf

Gospel Readings
128-Matt Your reward will be great in heaven.pdf
129-Matt Come to me.pdf
130-Matt Look the bridegroom comes.pdf
131-Matt Come, you whom my Father has blessed.pdf
132-Mark Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.pdf
133-Luke Young man, I say to you, arise.pdf
134-Luke  Be prepared.pdf
135-Luke Today you will be with me in paradise.pdf
136-Luke Father I put my life in your hands.pdf
137-Luke Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..pdf
137a-John Whoever hears my words. ..pdf
138-John All who believe in the Son will have eternal life.pdf
139-John All who eat this bread will live forever.pdf
140-John I am the resurrection and the life.pdf
141-John Lazarus, come out.pdf
142-John If a grain of wheat fall on the ground.pdf
143-John  There are many rooms in my Father’s house.pdf
144-John I want those you have given me to be where I am.pdf
144a-John Jesus bowed his head.pdf

Responsorial Psalms
108-RP   The Lord is my shepherd.pdf
109-RP To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.pdf
110-RP The Lord is my light and my salvation.pdf
111-RP My soul is thirsting for the living God.pdf
112-RP My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.pdf
113-RP The Lord is kind and merciful.pdf
114-RP I will walk in the presence of the Lord.pdf
115-RP Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.pdf
116-RP Out of the depths, I cry to you, Lord.pdf
117-RP O Lord, hear my prayer.pdf

Prayers of the Faithful
A-Prayer-Faithful.pdf
B-Prayer-Faithful.pdf

Sacraments Overview

The celebration of the Sacraments is at the heart of Good Shepherd’s parish life. Nothing is more important than the preparation (catechesis) and celebration of these special gifts. Participation in the sacraments brings us closer to Our Blessed Lord thereby strengthening our role as disciples of Jesus Christ.

A brief overview of the Sacraments follows with a complete description under the individual titles

• Sacraments of Christian Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist – These Sacraments lay the foundation of every Catholic life.
• Sacraments of Healing – Penance (Reconciliation/Confession) and Anointing of the Sick
• Sacraments at the Service and Mission of the Faithful – Holy Orders and Matrimony
• The Sacraments, instituted by Christ, touch al the stages and all the important moments of Christian life.
The Sacraments form an organic whole in which each particular Sacrament has its own vital place with the Holy Eucharist occupying a unique place as the “Sacrament of Sacraments.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1210 – 121)
• Baptism is always the first Sacrament received and is necessary for the reception of all other Sacraments. In Baptism we are born of water and the Holy Spirit and welcomed into the Catholic Church. Baptism is administered only once.
• The Sacraments of Initiation and Service are celebrated with members of the faith community, family and friends present.
• Non-Catholics, whether Baptized in another Christian faith or not Baptized, are invited to participate in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and receive, after proper catechesis, all the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
• Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and Matrimony require catechesis/preparation before reception.
• The Holy Eucharist and Penance require catechesis/preparation before first reception and are then received regularly.
• For information concerning preparation for reception of the following Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist and first Penance (Reconciliation), please contact our Director of Religious Education at 504-899-1378.

Note: All information contained in the section that describes each of the seven sacraments is taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each paragraph is preceded with it’s paragraph number from the CCC.