St Stephen Roman Catholic Church

CCD children and Teachers at a party in the Parish Hall.

At  St. Stephen  we not only  encourage complete  obedience to the Church's Teaching about life from the first moment of  conception,  but we love and encourage our families to  participate fully in every aspect of the Parish Life.  Children are a great treasure for the Church and the parish.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA SHRINE

Our Lady of Fatima  has been a central  part of the spiritual life of St. Stephen parish  since  this devotion and apparition was approved by the Church  in the early  20th century.  This  image of Our Lady is very old and dear to all Parishioners.  Here it is decorated for the Christmas Season.  We have Novena to Our Lady of Fatima every Saturday  after  morning Mass.

Christmas Eve, 2006. The shepherd with his small sheep.

Most years  the children of the Parish  re-present  a living Nativity scene after the Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve. 

FIRST COMMUNION

Most  years we have  our First Communion  on the  Feast  of Corpus Chrisri,  when  we celebrate  the  greatest  gift if God,  theMost Holy Eucharist.

Facade of St. Stephen Church at Sunset

We are so  fortunate here in Pensacola especially during the  Fall  months  when we enjoy  most beautiful,  and often,  spectacular sunsets.  Here we see our beautiful  neo-romanesque  Church  in such a setting.

Fr. Pérez and Spiritual Children at Legion of Mary Retreat

Every  Fall,  usually in November,  Fr. Pérez  preaches a  two and a half  day retreat for the Legionaries  of Mary at Sacred Heart Monastery in Mobile.  Anyone who is interested in coming is welcome.  Call the Parish or the Monastery in order to find out the schedule.

Our Lady of Good Counsel , Gennazzano

I took this  on one of my many pilgrimages to Our Lady's  Shrine in the  hill town of Genazzano  outside of Rome.  This picture  miraculously  came  floating form the Heavens  borne by Angels.  Though it is surrounded  by adornments there is actually nothing holding the picture to the wall.  It is painted on stone and still has its  beautiful colors  centuries after it came.  Traditions  in Albania  also maintain that the picture was taken by Angels  from there on the same day.  It  was saved  from destruction by the Turks who conquered  Albania.   

St. Joseph Shrine at Christmas 2007

St.  Joseph,  putative Father of  OurLord, Jesus Christ,  and  Most Chaste Spouse of the Blessed Virgin, has  a central place in St.  stephen Parish and its Sanctuary just as he has a central role in the economy of Salvation by the Providdence of God.

Statue of the Blessed Mother is Crowned on Mother's Day

Father and Lt. Neal Simpson, USAF - Acolyte

Father  encourages the  adult  men of the Parish  to serve at the Altar.  Oftentimes  we   can find father and son both serving at the same Mass,  a very touching and beautiful expression of our Catholic Faith. 

Father and the wonderful Dominican Nuns of St. Jude's Monastery in Marbury,

St.  Jude's  Monastery  in Marbury,  Alabama  near Montgomery was the first  Monastery of cloistered Nuns  founded for  black  girls,  under the tutelage of  the great Achbishop of  Mobile, His Grace,  T. J.  Toolen.  St. Stephen's  Church  was consecrated by him, too.  Young women are  highly encouraged  to seek God's  will in discerning a vocation to the Religious Life.

THE GREGORIAN MASS Of ALL AGES

One  of the special features of St. Stephen's  is the celebration of the memorial Rite of the Mass  in the ancient  Rites  of  the  Liturgy,  the Gregorian or Tridentine Rite of the Mass.  Here  Father's  25th  anniversry Mass.

ST. STEPHEN PARISH HALL

The Parish Hall is often decorated for different functions, of which there are many here.  This was for Fr. Pérez's  Twenty-fifth Anniversary celebration.

FOOD !

One of the features of St. Stephen's  is  its  many receptions and covered-dish  suppers and luncheons.  There is no better in town!  Hope you come join us !

FATHER'S CAKE

The Ladies'  Society,  which in in charge of all entertainment,  did a splendid  job  with arranging  this  beautiful  cake  for Father's  25th anniversary,  which features his chalice,  designed by him and  created by  expert artisans in Rome.

FR. PEREZ SPEAKS IN THE HALL

A  word of thanks to all...  The stage in the parish Hall has been witness to many a function and social  in the life of the Parish. 

HOLY NAME PRESIDENT, JOSEPH CALLEWAERT

Mr. Joseph Callewaert,  known author,  originally from the beautiful Europen country of Belgium,  is the President of the Holy Name  Society of St.  Stephen. Here he offers  a few words  of praise to Father on his anniversary.

HIS EXCELLENCY, BISHOP RICARD AND FR. PEREZ

Bishop Ricard  warmly embraces  Father and thanks him for his faithful service to the Diocese and to St.  Stephen.

FATHER AND THE BISHOP

Father  reciprocates  His Excellency's  warm words to him at the celebration.

PRESBYTEROI

The Bishop and Fr.  Pérez  with some of the local  Priests  present for this celebration.  All Priets  are always  warmly and enthusiastically welcomed at St.  Stephen.  Here they are special !

HOLY MASS

The Liturgy is  the center and life of St.  Stephen Parish.

RECESSIONAL

Guest  Fr.  Sergius Di Martini   assists  Fr.  Pérez  as his Arch-Priest.

FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

THE FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART IS USUALLY CELEBRATED AT ST.  STEPHEN WITH GREAT  CEREMONY.  HERE WE SEE MRS.  NELLIE NARCISO AND MRS.  ANITA BRIDGES  PREPARING THE SPECIAL SHRINE  FOR THE SACRED HEART. 

SPECIAL SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART FOR HIS FEAST

SHRINE OF ST. STEPHEN

DR.  RICHARD HYLAND AND SON,  MICHAEL,  PLACE  NEW ENGRAVED PAVERS  AROUND  THE SHRINE OF ST.  STEPHEN.  THE MEMBERS OF THE HOLY  NAME SOCIETY  PERFORM  A LOT OF SERVICES FOR THE PARISH.  IF YOU WISH TO HAVE AN ENGRAVED PAVER IN YOUR NAME OR MEMORY OF SOMEONE CALL FR. PEREZ  AT THE PARISH  OFFICE.

SANCTUARY OF ST. STEPHEN CHURCH

THE SANCTUARY OF ST.  STEPHEN CHURCH BOASTS  A MAGNIFICENT  HAND CARVED  SPANISH WOODEN CRUCIFIX AND  ANTIQUE STATUES AS WELL AS  SOME BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MARBLES.  IT IS,  IN FACT,  ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES IN PENSACOLA.  IT ALSO FEATURES  A  RARE  ART DECO STYLE  IN CHURCHES ON THE INSIDE AND  A NEO-ROMANESQUE  LOOK ON THE OUTSIDE.

CHRISTMAS AT ST. STEPHEN'S

IT  SI NOT UNUSUAL  FOR ST.  NICHOLAS TO DROP BY ST. STEPHEN  ON HIS  CHRISTMAS EVE JOURNEY THROUGHOUT THE LAND  AND  VISIT THE CHILDREN, HERE  SHOWN  PROTRAYING THE NATIVITY.

LT. BREDON MICHAEL KIMEL,USMC

Lt. Bredon Michael Kimel  lauds  Fr.  Pérez, whom he calls :  "My friend...forever in my heart,"  for his  special role in his spiritual life and growth at St. Stephen's.  Bredon is now  at Corpus  Christi, NAS  at flight school.  We wish him many blessings  along with all our Military Parishioners and friends.

FATHER PEREZ AND HIS MARINE SONS

Many young  military  men and women make their way to St. Stephen at one time or another and partake fully in the Parish and Liturgical life of St. Stepehn.  Here we have 1 Lt.  Matthew Colier and 2 Lt.  Bredon Michael Kimel  serving on the Altar at Mass with Father.    At St. Stephen we encourage  adult men  to serve as Acolytes on the Altar.  This very important role in the Sacred Liturgy is  not  just for little boys  it is more properly  for men.

NEW ORLEANS PILGRIMAGE - OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR

Conrado Tona  serves as Acolyte  at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt  Succor who has come to the swift  assistance of our Parish on  numerous occasions.

NEW ORLEANS PILGRIMAGE - SEPTEMBER 2007

Parishioners  gather around  Father at the High Altar of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt  Succor in New Orleans.  Under this title Our Lady is the Patroness of both New Orleans  and Louisiana. 

CHURCH OF ST. STEPHEN IN NEW ORLEANS

Of  course  while on our New Orleans pilgrimage  we stopped  at our sister parish,  St.  Stephen.  Here we  catch a glimpse  of the steeple.  It makes us  hunger  for  our  planned  baptistery and bell tower. Any donors?  Give Fr.  Pérez  call. 

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

Here  we  see  Our  Lady's  image  on the new  litter  designed and built  by  William ("Wild  Bill") Polakiewicz for  the Rosary Rally  we  held  on Saturday,  October 10, 2009,  in conjunction to the many  others  held  in the United  States  and  also the Vatican  where  His  Holiness,  Pope  Benedict XVI, lead the Rosary  with university  students  throughout the world.  Only  through  prayer  and  in answering the call to  holiness, penance and prayer of  Our  Lady at Fatima  will  our  Nation and the World  have true  peace and  justice for all.   

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

ONE PRIEST A-MILKING !

Father  takes  care  of  his  sheep,  well,  even  the goats!