Throughout Lent we will be journeying with the book of Acts, remembering our common story in the Christian Faith, preparing for the renewal of our faith lives on Easter Sunday.

Acts 6:1-7

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists

complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily

distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and

said, ‘It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables.

Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the

Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote

ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.’ What they said pleased the whole community,

and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip,

Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these

men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.