FEAST: DECEMBER 26
St. Stephen was one for the first seven deacons of the Church and the first Christian martyr. We find his story in Acts of the Apostles. Not long after Pentecost, Stephen was named a deacon to assist the Apostles. The Apostles needed men they could trust to run the day to day decisions of the community while they devoted themselves to spreading the Word. Stephen was arrested and was given a vision in front of the Jewish Sanhedren. Enraged, Stephen was stoned to death as Saul (later St. Paul) looked on in approval. He is the patron saint of deacons and stonemasons.
