First Sunday of Advent

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, 12/3/2023

Theology Thursday

(pg 5)

Five Minute Jesus

(pg 11)

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Mission Statement

The Roman Catholic Parish of St. Monica, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Stephen of Hungary opens its doors to embrace all in our community.

We strive through worship, hospitality, and service to receive those seeking a spiritual home.

In the midst of diversity of thought, lifestyle, nationality, economic status, and age, we endeavor to live as a community of faith. We invite you to join our family: a family seeking to know and love Jesus Christ!

Parish Staff

Pastor: Rev. Donald C. Baker .................... frdcab@stelmo79.org Parish Manager: Jennifer DeSpirito................jdespirito@stelmo79.org Sacristan: Pedro Pizarro..........................ppizarro@stelmo79.org Administrative Assistant: Gladys Tejada........gtejada@stelmo79.org Pastoral Associate: Taryn Tonelli.............ttonelli@stelmo79.org Pastoral Associate: Maryann Tyrer..........mtyrer@stelmo79.org Plant Manager: Guillermo Vanegas...gvanegas@stelmo79.org Music Director: John Zupan.....................jzupan@stelmo79.org

Mass Intentions

Saturday, December 2, Vigil

5:30 PM - Angela, Beatrice, and Regina Downes

Sunday, December 3, First Sunday of Advent

8:00 AM - Roberta Chapey (Living) 10:00 AM - Juan Ayastury Litrenta (Living) 12:00 PM - All Parishioners 5:00 PM - John and Mary Lynch (Living) Monday, December 4, Advent Weekday 12:00 PM - Carla Betina Litrenta (Living) Tuesday, December 5, Advent Weekday 12:00 PM - Thanksgiving Wednesday, December 6, Advent Weekday 12:00 PM - Priest of St. Monica’s Thursday, December 7, St. Ambrose 12:00 PM - Souls in Purgatory 5:30 PM - Priests of St. Monica’s Friday, December 8,

Weekend Associate: ...........................Rev. Anthony Ciorra, IVD Weekend Associate: ..................................Rev. Edward Beck, CP

The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary

Wedding Coordinator: Debbi Burdett....dbweddingsnyc@gmail.com

Saturday, December 9, Advent Vigil 12 PM - Clara Fleischer

Mass Schedule

Daily Mass: Mon - Sat, 12:00 PM Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM Sunday: 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, 5:00 PM Confessions: Saturdays at 5:00 PM* (*or by appointment)

Contact

Church Address: 413 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075 Parish Center: 406 East 80th Street, New York NY 10075 Tel: 212-288-6250 Fax: 212-570-1562 Email: info@stelmo79.org Parish Office Hours Monday & Wednesday..............................9 AM - 4 PM Tuesday & Thursday ................................. 9 AM - 7 PM Friday ......................................................... Closed Saturday ................................................10 AM - 2 PM Sunday ....................................................... Closed Closed for Lunch Weekdays from 1 - 2 PM

stelmo79.org

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@STELMO79

12:00 PM - Andrew Lawler

Prayers for the Sick: Regina Moscoso Rosemary Keating Christine Cullen Jose Vasquez Madeleine Tipton Neil O’Carroll Harry Rabonwitz Marylin Atkinson Michelle Netus Jerry Schwegman Judith Farber Mary O’Connor Lynch Danielle Boros Michael Reilly Marcelle Ferrier and all victims of military activities

Prayers for the Deceased:

Zita C. Polymenopoulos Rafael Parra Gregoria Espinal Eugene Flynn and all victims of the Middle East

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Every Friday after the 12:00 PM Mass until 3:00 PM in the church and live online Devotions Miraculous Medal on Mondays after Mass in the church and live online Divine Mercy Every Friday at 3:00 PM in the church and live online Vespers (Evening Prayer) Every Friday at 5:10 PM in the chapel and live online Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays at 5:00 PM or by appointment Anointing of the Sick Every third Saturday of the month after the 12:00 PM Mass Baptisms & Marriages Please call the rectory office for more.

Communion for the Homebound: If you know of anyone who cannot attend church because of illness/age and would like to have communion brought to them, please contact the parish office for arrangements.

Weekly Readings & Observances Readings for the week of December 3, 2023

Sunday:

Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7/Ps 80:2-3, 1516, 18-19 (4)/1 Cor 1:3-9/Mk 13:33-37 Monday: Is 2:1-5/Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9/Mt 8:5-11 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17/Lk 10:21-24 Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6/Mt 15:29-37 Thursday: Is 26:1-6/Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 2527a/Mt 7:21, 24-27 Friday: Gn 3:9-15, 20/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4/Eph 1:3-6, 11-12/Lk 1:26-38 Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26/Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/ Mt 9:35—10:1, 5a, 6-8 Next Sunday: Is 40:1-5, 9-11/Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 (8)/2 Pt 3:8-14/Mk 1:1-8 Observances for the week of December 3, 2023 Sunday: Monday:

1st Sunday of Advent St. John Damascene, Priest, and Doctor of the Church

Tuesday: Wednesday: St. Nicholas, Bishop Thursday: St. Ambrose, Bishop, and Doctor of the Church Friday: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Saturday: St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin Next Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Advent

Baptism Announcement

©LPi

On December 3rd at 1:30 PM, we will be baptizing:

Juliet June Crowley Juliet Madeline Cabrera Kaia Demarquet Bogart Please join us in congratulating

Steven Crowley and Shannon Cleven Joseph E. Cabrera and Joan C. Kerecz Daniel R. Bogart and Christina S. Demarquet

on their child’s new life in Christ

Baptism Services are open to all members of the parish.

Annual ChristmasConcert 7 INTERESTED IN

JOIN US FOR A MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6!

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Your Advent Wreath

December 7 – 7:00 PM, Parish Center Update on the Synodal Process Maryann Tyrer will review what has already occurred in the Synodal Process that Pope Francis began in our Church in 2021 and let us know what’s next. While some are delighted with the process, others are disappointed with or worried about it, but it’s a process that has had a profound impact on our Church.

Pope Francis has called for us to continue “in the synodal way” in our parishes, so let’s look at how we can do that!

December 14 & 21 – 7:00 PM, Church Advent Vespers – Justice in the Kingdom Joins us in the church for sung Advent Vespers with guest preachers!

Watch our website and bulletin for more details. *Please pray for our parish and school children who will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on December 9!

An advent wreath can be simple. A bit of real or faux greenery on a plate with four votive candles will work. If you cannot find three purple and one pink candle, use ribbon at the base of white candles.

The important thing is to gather as a family to take a few moments in the business of the holidays to prepare spiritually as you count down to Christmas.

Start with the Advent Wreath Blessing “Dear Jesus, as we light the candle(s) on this Advent wreath, may the light of your presence bring joy to our hearts. Bless our family and our friends, and be with all those who are in need this holiday season. Amen.”

The First Week of Advent: December 3, 2023 *light the first purple candle Scripture Reflection: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined."

Isaiah 9:2 *pause pause for reflection reflection re Advent Wreath Prayer: Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what’s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. Amen.

Source: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/advent/ advent-wreath-prayers.html

First Sunday of Advent K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation: •

Children’s Liturgy of the Word during the 10am Mass on Sundays

o We are still looking for volunteers to train as leaders and assistants!

Please contact Maryann at mtyrer@stelmo79.org if you are interested. o No session December 24 or 31.

• •

K-8 Religious Education sessions have resumed at 11:10am in the Parish Center.

Registrations are still being accepted for this year.

No K-8 Religious Education sessions on December 24 or 31.

Adult Sacraments of Initiation (RCIA): •

Have you ever thought about becoming Catholic? Or are you a baptized Catholic who has not yet celebrated First Communion or Confirmation? You, and your questions, are warmly welcomed! Come and share the journey with others. Please contact Maryann Tyrer at mtyrer@stelmo79.org to discuss our adult initiation process (commonly known as the RCIA).

Join the process at any time in the year.

Adult Faith Formation Opportunities •

Join us for Adult Faith Formation every Sunday following the noon Mass. Come to the Parish Center (406 East 80th Street) for refreshments and a facilitated discussion of the Sunday Scriptures. We end at 3pm. All adults are welcome! (Please note, there will be no sessions on 12/24 or 12/31.)

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Our “Group of Guys” Men’s Faith Sharing Group meets every Tuesday at 12noon in the Parish Center, and all men are welcome to join.

Did you know?

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The word “Advent” means “coming” or “arriving.” During this season of preparation for Christmas, we reflect on Christ’s advent in history over 2000 years ago as a human being in space and time; in mystery in our daily lives, embodied in us and our neighbors, experienced in the sacraments, and known in our hearts through prayer; and in majesty when Christ will return in glory at the end of time.

Living Our Faith

Simple practices, such as lighting an Advent wreath, can engage a family in the season.

Simple Observances Allow for Advent Reflection Greetings!

Each year as November winds down it seems like our family calendar winds up. I have come to realize that a simple family Advent is best for us. Here are some ideas if you, like us, want a simple, meaningful Advent: The Advent wreath: This classic tradition helps my family honor the season of waiting. Before dinner, we light the candles on the Advent wreath, sing “Come, Lord Jesus,” and pray for a few moments. Sometimes our prayer is silent; at other times, we follow a guide to Advent prayer. Our children lead the prayer. Sometimes we make a wreath, and other times we retrieve our artificial wreath. A friend rolls her candles from beeswax sheets dyed rose and violet, and even as teenagers, her children look forward to this each year. If you commit to crafting, the key to keeping it simple is making sure that you enjoy the process and not only the product.

Presence is truly a gift.

Emmanuel: God is with us.

Prayer table or prayer shelf: Incorporate into your home a small table or shelf with elements of the season. You can place a statue of Mary, a holy card, or an empty manger on it to offer a visual cue about the season throughout your day.

The Rosary: The time before a baby is born is one of waiting. As we contemplate the special birth to come, we

might choose the Rosary, a prayer that has been a tool for reflection and meditation on the lives of Jesus and Mary for many years. The family could pray a decade daily or the Rosary weekly. It is okay if children’s bodies are not particularly settled during this, or if teenagers have slumped shoulders or rolled eyes. It is part of your family’s stage of life. God does not expect perfection from us, and we should not expect perfection from our little ones. Your children will learn more from watching you than from being corrected.

Receive the sacrament of reconciliation: Receiving God’s mercy and forgiveness is a great way to get our hearts ready to receive him at Christmas. Afterward, the family goes out for ice cream to remind the children that God is always ready to forgive us, but sometimes we need to celebrate it.

Books: Gather high-quality children’s books from your home library or local library to read together. Some books should be explicitly Christmas- or Advent-themed; I love to read The Clown of God, by Tomie dePaola, each Advent, although I have yet to do so without crying. Books that demonstrate the values of generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and understanding could be incorporated. The time dedicated to reading these books will be part of your Advent message: that presence is truly a gift. Emmanuel: God-is-with-us.

In keeping the season simple and ref lective, we are reminded that God chose to come to us as a small baby. The simple gift of presence changed the whole world.

Text by Kathryn Ball-Boruff. Illustration by Laura James. © 2023 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 3949 South Racine Avenue,

Carols, cookies, & C ocoa JOIN US FOR A PARISH TRADITION! St. Monica’s Church *Please bring your favorite cookies to share to the church between 2:30-3:15 pm!*

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17; 3PM JZ

pen to par s oners t r gra e an p t e pageant ll e presente at t e am l ass 30 on e em er 2 2023. or more n ormat on s t

stelmo79.org/2023pageant

Parishioners Association

Looking ahead to December 10, 2023: the Second Sunday of Advent It’s simple. Read the Gospel for next Sunday slowly, reflecting on the story it tells. Consider the questions asked each day. What conversion of heart, mind, and life might the Lord be asking of you at this moment? Reflect on how you might live out God’s Word each day.

MARK 1: 1-8 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Monday, December 4 Which words or phrases caught your attention? Which comforted or challenged you?

Tuesday, December 5 If you were to meet John the Baptist as Mark described him, what might be your reaction to him?

Would you go out to him in the desert? Why or why not?

Wednesday, December 6 John preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Are there sins that you’d like to ask God for forgiveness? Is there anything keeping you from the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Thursday, December 7 Prophets throughout history are unpopular people and are often persecuted. What is it about their message that makes people want to silence them? Does John’s message make you feel uncomfortable? How so?

Friday, December 8 Recall your own baptism, or the baptism of a loved one. In baptism we are cleansed from sin; given new birth by water and the Holy Spirit and welcomed into the people of God. What does that mean for you in your life today?

Saturday, December 9 What might you need to do in your own life to prepare the way of the Lord? What is one small step you could make this week?

DECEMBER 3, 2023 On November 19th, I participated in the annual Interfaith Service at Temple Shaaray Tefila down the street on E 79th. We were all asked to speak. I thought you might want to read what I said: Friday (November 17th) I was in Washington DC. Our school had received an award from the US Department of Education, and the principal and I went there to receive it. We traveled by train, which meant leaving from Union Station.

Easier said than done. Union Station was sealed off, as hundreds of people protested Israel’s attack on Gaza. Listening to the speakers, the anguish of people mourning the deaths of so many civilians, and the cries for a new intifada, I was overwhelmed. I felt compassion for those who were mourning. I was angry that no matter how many peace conferences convened, treaties negotiated, or agreements signed, we always seem to end up back in the same place. I was afraid that things were spiraling out of control, and I could not imagine what it must be like to experience all of this as a Jew or a Muslim.

Especially since as people of faith we know that war and violence do not express what we believe – they violate it. I am told that one of the 99 names of God in Islam is “Peace” and thus peace is of God’s essence and peacemaking essential to those who would submit to God’s will. Judaism has the rich tradition of Tikkun Olam; the healing of the world by establishing justice and fostering shalom. And Christianity is rooted in the life and teachings of a man who called for forgiveness, challenged people to “turn the other cheek” and went willingly to his death. Not because he preached passivity, but because he knew that there was something – no, someone – more powerful than the injustice, hatred, and fear, which wraps itself around our world in this dark Autumn of 2023.

We were asked to come to this service and share something from our own traditions, and I will in a moment, but I could not help but think about everyone else’s traditions as well. For we all have resources to guide us through these dark times.

Peacemaking, healing, and forgiveness. They are gifts; talents if you will, that are innate to being a Christian, a Muslim, or a Jew. Apropos talents: The word originally meant an amount of money. It gains much of its modern meaning because of the story I wish to share. It comes from Jesus. The Christians here will note that it has been edited for time – but hopefully not for content.

Jesus said, “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, . . . (and) . . . to another one, … He who had received the five talents went … and traded with them, and he made five … more… But he who had received the one talent … hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master … came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, … saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant (Then)… he … who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I … hid your talent. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So, take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.”

I know. Jesus could be hard. But it is important to understand what the “IT” was that he referred to when he started with, “it will be like” – that “It” is the kingdom – that place where peace reigns, the world is healed and forgiveness results in the reconciliation of all. No matter who we are this evening we all believe in it – we all yearn for it – and Jesus reminds us that we will always end up right back where we are now unless we use those talents our traditions give us. Because when we do, the kingdom reveals itself here and now, bringing light to all this darkness.

Rabbi Joel, I want to thank you and all the members of Sharaay Tefila for giving us the opportunity once again to come together and celebrate Thanksgiving in these dark times. Because as frightening as the darkness might be, it is really a coward. Darkness always flees as soon as the light shows up. As we stand here with you and by you, together we are light in that darkness. And that is reason to give thanks.

- Father Baker