March 15, 2020

Third Sunday of Lent

March 15, 2020

SAINT REFLEXION (Page 3)

JUST A WORD from your Pastor ((Pages 5-6))

MINISTRIES UPDATE (Page 4)

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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 welcome and 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, life style, nationality, economic status & age, we endeavor to live as a community of faith and 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 Rev. Msgr. Leslie J. Ivers ........................... msgrlivers@stelmo79.org Weekend Associates: ........... Rev. Jim O’Shea and Rev. Tony Ciorra Pastoral Associate: Ms. Maryann Tyrer ........ mtyrer@stelmo79.org Pastoral Associate: Ms. Jasmine Gomez ..... jgomez@stelmo79.org Parish Manager: Mr. Michael Ward ............. mward@stelmo79.org Music Director: Mr. John Zupan .................... jzupan@stelmo79.org Wedding Coordinator: Ms. Debbi Burdett . dbweddingsnyc@gmail.com Plant Manager: Guillermo Vanegas ......... gvanegas@stelmo79.org Sacristan: Pedro Pizarro ................................ ppizarro@stelmo79.org Administrative Assistant: Gladys Tejada ..... gtejada@stelmo79.org Church Address: 413 East 79th Street, NY, NY 10075 Parish Center Address: 406 East 80th Street, NY, NY 10075 Tel: 212-288-6250 Fax: 212- 570-1562 Email: info@stelmo79.org Our Offices are open: Monday ............................................................. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesday - Thursday ....................................... 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Friday ....................................................... Closed Saturday ................................................. 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Sunday ..................................................... Closed Closed for Lunch Weekdays......................1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Mass Schedule Daily Mass: Mon-Sat, 12 noon Saturday Vigil: 5:30pm Sunday: 8am, 10am, 12pm, 5pm Confessions: Saturdays at 5pm or by appointment

Mass Intentions Saturday, March 14h, Vigil 5:30 pm

Jean Talamo

Sunday, March 15th, Third Sunday of Lent 8:00 am

Lincoln Werden

10:00 am

Lama & Radice Family

12:00 pm All Parishioners 5:00 pm Peter Felix McAleer

Monday, March 16th Lenten Weekday 12:00pm Brian Thompson

Tuesday, March 17th Lenten Weekday 12:00pm William & Mary Mitchell

Wednesday, March 18th Lenten Weekday 12:00pm Arnulfo Reyes

Thursday, March 19th St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary 12:00pm

Adam Armetta

Friday, March 20th Lenten Weekday 12:00pm Kathleen M. Reddington

Visit us at: www.stelmo79.org Follow us on social media by searching STELMO79

Saturday, March 21st Lenten Weekday 12:00pm Ann Fruncale For Mass Intentions, please visit the Parish Center.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Every Friday after the Noon Mass to 3:00 pm.

Devotions Miraculous Medal on Mondays after each Mass

Divine Mercy The Divine Mercy Chaplet is Prayed each Friday Afternoon at 3:00 pm.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturdays at 5pm or by appointment

Baptisms & Marriages: Please call the rectory office for more information.

Communion for the Homebound: If you know of anyone who cannot attend church because of illness or age, and world like to have communion brought to them, please contact the Parish office, so that we can arrange for a Eucharistic Minister to bring communion to them.

Please remember in your prayers PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Kelly Nordhal, Cassie Foley, Lillian Banks, Bill Banks, James Quinn, Judith Baron & Jean Stephens All victims of military activity PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Please pray for our deceased parishioners & family members: Richard Zaloum, Richard Baldwin, Rosario Inzerillo, William Hogan, Jake Comfort, Glen Allen & Albert Walsh

Treasures of our Tradition March 19

Joseph, someone once joked, was indeed the perfect husband: the only major character in Jesus’ story who never utters a word! But the Gospel recounts and the liturgy celebrates his silent witness of faithfilled deeds: “With a husband’s love he cherished Mary, the Virgin Mother of God; with fatherly care he watched over Jesus” (Preface of Saint Joseph, Sacramentary). Catholic devotion, therefore, hails him as patron-protector of the universal Church. Some cultures set a festive “Saint Joseph’s Table,” welcoming the poor and strangers to feast with family and friends. Tradition keeps today as the anniversary of his death, which we presume was peaceful, with Jesus and Mary present.

Thus, Catholics invoke Joseph as Patron of a Happy Death. Descended from David’s house, which God finished “building” through Joseph’s provision of a home for Mary and Jesus, he was, fittingly, a carpenter by trade; thus, patron of workers. Spring, nature’s rebirth, begins between his feast and Annunciation (March 25), appropriately, since Joseph’s silent obedience and Mary’s “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38) usher in humanity’s spiritual rebirth.

—Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co

Today’s Readings

First Reading — When the people grumbled to Moses for water in the desert, the Lord heard and brought forth water from the rock for all to drink (Exodus 17:3-7).

Psalm — If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts (Psalm 95).

Second Reading — God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:1-2, 5-8).

Gospel — Ask, and you will be given living water so that you will never thirst again (John 4:5-42 [5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42]) The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

Readings for the week

Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15b; Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; Lk 4:24-30 Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43; Ps 25:4-51b, 6, 7bc, 8-9; Mt 18:21-35 Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9; Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; Mt 5:17-19 Thursday: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29;

Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22; Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a Friday: Hos 14:2-10; Ps 81:6c-11ab, 14, 17; Mk 12:28-34 Saturday: Hos 6:1-6; Ps 51:3-4, 18-21ab; Lk 18:9-14 Sunday: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23:1-6;

Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41[1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38]

St. Stephen of Hungary School Pre-K through 8th Grade Catholic Parochial School 408 East 82nd St., New York, NY 10028 (212) 288-1989 • Fax: (212) 517-5788 Principal: Ms. Kelly Burke www.saintstephenschool.org Interested in admissions to our parish school? admissions@saintstephenschool.org

AINTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

This series is featured in our bulletin at least once a month and focuses on the lives of the Saints whose images adorn our beautiful church.

SAINT MONICA (332-387) August 27

She had smiles for the neighbors, though her husband found her religion and the charity it inspired annoying. She made tearful prayers in private for a son, outwardly self-assured but, as his mother knew, inwardly restless, and

whose girlfriend of a dozen years had borne his child out of wedlock. Though not the first or last such mother and son, Monica and Augustine are the Church’s most famous, so we keep their feast days back to back, with Monica’s, fittingly, first. To Rome she followed Augustine, then to Milan, where years of prayer—and nagging—finally bore fruit in his conversion by Saint Ambrose.

For six months, mother and son enjoyed the blessing of rediscovering each other. Just in time! On the way home to North Africa, Monica took sick and died near Rome. No child who has mourned a parent can read, unmoved, Augustine’s tender account, in his Confessions, of Monica’s last days.

—Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Our English Conversation Program is being done in collaboration with Catholic Charities and is one of our Social Justice Ministry Team’s 2020 Initiatives. Our volunteers met in January for an informational session and then met again on February 27th for training. The training was provided by Catholic Charities and covered an array of topics like coaching strategies and cultural competency. The next step is the matching process. Our volunteers will be matched with a partner and will begin meeting when and where is convenient for them. We are thrilled that 15 people answered this call!

Our Young Adult Ministry (ages 18-35) sponsored a screening of Netflix’ The Two Popes on Friday, February 28th. We laughed, enjoyed pizza

and fellowship. Following the screening, this happy bunch was invited to listen

to the introductory episode of the Parish’s new Podcast, “St Elmo on 79th”!

A good time was had by all ツ

Our social media accounts not only keep you informed on the happenings and goings of this Parish, but the accounts are also used as a platform to explain our Catholic traditions. Additionally, our followers get to see some of what happens behind the scenes AND even we currently have a competition going on! The prize? Our reusable bag with the Parish logo on it! The bags are currently sold out (will be in stock again soon) but we have some for our competition winners! There are many perks to following us! Search STELMO79 on all platforms to connect with us.

Reducing waste sent to landfill is a big part of caring for our common home. In

our contemporary world, there is really no such thing as throwing something

“away”. Every “away” is someone else’s “here”. But how can we make it

easier for ourselves to do the right thing? Now there’s a mobile app, created by

the NYC Department of Sanitation, to answer that question.

The “DonateNYC” app will tell you where you can donate goods such as

appliances, automotive supplies, baby care products, books, building products,

camping and outdoor equipment, cleaning products, clothing, accessories, and more! So next time you’re thinking about getting rid of that “thing” that’s taking up space in your apartment, please check out the DonateNYC app and do the right thing for the environment. The app is available for iPhone and Android phones, on the App Store or Google Play.

Our Senior Ministry will host its monthly Potluck Luncheon on Friday, March 20th.

We will gather for the noon Mass and then head to the Angelo Room for a tasty lunch, fellowship and a movie screening of “Francis: A Pope of His Word”!

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP by calling the Parish Administrative Assistant, Gladys Tejada at 212-288-6250. Please note that though this event is sponsored by our Senior Ministry, all are welcomed! by our Senior Ministry, all are welcomed!

Just a Word

from your Pastor March 15th, 2020 Virus Fears IT is one of the more frustrating parts of columns such as these is that they are written a week and a half before publication. Those who are signed up with our social media platforms will probably have more recent information. According to the Center for Disease Control, the Coronavirus is spread in two ways: Person-to-person spread The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).

Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Is important to remember that while the Coronavirus is a healthcare concern, it is not Ebola. The vast majority of people who get it suffer flu-like symptoms and then recover. People who have compromised immune systems, or underlying health conditions are far more at risk. It is for their sake, as much as it is for our own health, that we take measures to inhibit the spread of the virus.

It is clear that we cannot avoid being exposed to other people’s germs. To put into practice the above CDC guidelines fully would mean avoiding subways, buses, planes, walking on the streets, shopping in stores, eating in restaurants. We would not be able to engage in any physical contact with one another, or even be in close proximity. In the “hot areas” of the world where the Coronavirus has spread widely, such measures are being employed. At least as of this writing, March 2, 2020, such practices have not been introduced in New York.

All of this impacts us in a particular way as people of Catholic faith. Catholics are sacramental people. For us, God is embodied. God comes to us not only in Word, but in Sacraments which we share. That means we encounter, experience and worship God as a community. We gather. We greet. We hold food in our hands and place it into the hands of another (or on their tongue!) we share a cup. And most importantly we sit together, sometimes cheek by jowl, in a room for an hour and breathe each other’s air.

People have asked me what measures we are taking as a Church to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. As the pastor of an Archdiocesan parish, I am guided by the counsel of the Archbishop and his representatives.

At the time of this writing, that counsel (as of 02.28.2020) is simple:

Alert your parishioners to use common sense by: • Practicing good hygiene; • Avoiding close contact with others, especially if suffering from a cold or flu; • Employing a verbal greeting with a smile and a nod rather than a physical handshake.

What does this mean? I interpret this to mean several things: •

If you are not feeling well, stay home. It is Church teaching that if you are ill, the

obligation to attend mass is lifted. We don’t want you getting worse, nor infecting

others, whatever the illness.

•

When you cough or sneeze do so into the crook of your elbow rather than in your

hands.

•

Use hand sanitizer often and wash your hands a lot. Until you can do either of these

things, avoid touching your face, lips or nose. That is how we infect ourselves.

Regarding participation at mass: •

At the Sign of Peace:

o

Do not feel you have to shake a person’s hand, kiss or embrace them. A smile, a

nod, a wave, a bow, a “Namaste” – like hand gesture: all of these are already

used by parishioners who, especially during flu season, do not wish to shake

hands. It is not meant to be insulting or offensive and should not be taken as such.

•

At Communion:

o

The reception of communion is perhaps the mass at its most embodied. Every

time I place communion on the tongue, my hand is mere centimeters from

someone’s nose and mouth. Communion in the hand offers less bodily contact.

However, Catholics have the right to receive communion on the tongue if they

prefer. Until that right is altered or changed, I would ask you to consider

receiving communion in the hand.

o

The cup is always a neuralgic point for Catholics. Listen to Jesus’ words: “Take this

all of you and drink from it”. It is the teaching of the Catholic Church that “Holy

Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it takes place under both kinds”. For

these reasons (and many others) we offer the cup at every mass where there are

sufficient ministers to do so reverently. However, it is also Catholic teaching that

we receive the WHOLE Christ even when we receive him under the form of

bread alone. It is not necessary to receive from the cup. Thus, be prudent. If you

are feeling unwell, do not receive from the cup. When we are advised by the

Archdiocese to stop distributing communion under the form of wine we will.

Our eucharistic ministers will be receiving a separate email from me with more specific guidelines as to how we can avoid the spread of germs. They are already provided with hand sanitizer which many make use of both before and after distribution of communion.

I hope this email informs you and somewhat reassures you that we are taking the Coronavirus seriously as a Church and as a parish. IF there are any changes in these procedures and recommendations, I will inform you in the following ways: 1) social media. 2) parish announcements on Sunday, 3) printed material such as this bulletin. Social media will be the fastest, and so I recommend that you “like” us on Facebook, or “friend” us on Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat.

We don’t know how long the Coronavirus will be a problem. But the Church has survived far worse – and has done it for 2,000 years. We will get through this. Be prudent, be calm, and “do not be afraid”. – Jesus said that too. Good words to meditate upon in these anxious times.

Father Baker

Five Minute Jesus Using the Gospel for Prayer – Third Sunday of Lent - March 15, 2020 It’s simple. 1. Read the Gospel for the following Sunday slowly, reflecting on the story it tells. 2. Reflect on the questions assigned for each day. 3. Make some resolution about how what you read can be lived that day. 4. Then thank God for speaking to you through this reflection.

The Gospel according to John 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a,40-42 * Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water.

Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” —For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans. — Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”

Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.

God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one speaking with you.” Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him. When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” *Note: this is the shorter version of the Gospel; you might hear the longer one read at mass.

Sunday Was there something in this reading that spoke to me? Comforted me? Challenged me? What was it? Why did it have this effect on me?

Monday The Gospel says that Jesus was in Samaria. He sat down at a well about noon. He chatted up a woman. He asked her to give him a drink. And offered her one – living water. It may not seem so to us, but everything Jesus does would be scandalous in his day. How do I feel about Jesus acting so scandalously? And more importantly, why did he? What power is there in scandal?

Tuesday Jesus and the woman get into a debate about religion. Who is right – her people or Jesus’ people? How did Jesus handle that debate?

What can I learn from his answer? Nowadays we try to avoid any discussion of religion, why? Why am I afraid to share my faith with others?

Wednesday Jesus insists that all true worshipers worship “in spirit and truth”. He says this to counter the old idea that God expects people to worship only on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, or only on Mount Gerazim for the Samarians. Do Jesus’ words challenge this woman’s understanding of her faith? Do they challenge mine? If so, how?

Thursday The words Aramaic word Messiah and the Greek word Christ mean the same thing: Anointed One. It refers to the ancient custom of choosing a priest or prophet or king by pouring oil on their head: anointing them. Jesus calls himself the Christ – God’s Chosen One. We call ourselves Christians – Literally, “little Christs”. This means we are chosen ones as well. How do I understand being chosen by God? When did that happen for me? How do I live that out? If not why not?

Friday The end of the Gospel states that many of the Samaritans came to believe in him. Why? Did it have something to do with that living water? With the way Jesus handled their religious differences? With the way Jesus acted so scandalously yet in that revealed himself to be God’s Chosen One? What did they hear that was so compelling? And is it compelling for me? Does Jesus’ scandalous behavior that day challenge me? And if so how?

K-8 Religious Education •

In session March 15 and 22, 10:15-11:45am in the Parish Center.

•

Not in session on March 29, April 5, and April 12. We resume on April 19.

Adult Faith Formation •

Sundays 10:15-11:45am, and Thursdays 7-8:30pm in the Parish Center – all are welcome!

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) Congratulations to Bal and Brad who, accompanied by their sponsors, Tom and Johanna, joined over 300 other catechumens from around the Archdiocese at the Rite of Election on March 1st. There, the Cardinal declared the catechumens to be the “Elect of God,” chosen for the Easter Sacraments! On the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent (March 15, 22, and 29), our Elect, Bal Das and Brad Ludwin, will participate in the Scrutinies at our noon Mass here at our parish. We will pray with them that God will free them from sin and the power of evil, and strengthen them as they make their final preparations for the Easter Sacraments.

LENT AND HOLY WEEK Thursdays in Lent - March 19, 26, April 2 •

Adult Scripture Discussion - 7-8:30pm in the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel (in the Parish Center)

Fridays in Lent –March 20, 27, April 3 •

Stations of the Cross following the 12noon Mass in the Church

•

(Every Friday) Spoken Vespers at 5:10pm in the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel (in the Parish Center)

Saturdays in Lent –14, 21, 28, April 4 •

Sung Vespers at 5pm in the Church before the 5:30pm Vigil Mass

Sundays in Lent –15, 22 only •

Adult Scripture Discussion – 10:15-11:45am in the Parish Center

Living Stations of the Cross – Friday, March 20, 7pm in the church •

Presented by the 7th & 8th graders of St. Stephen of Hungary School – ALL ARE WELCOME!

Passion (Palm) Sunday •

Regular Mass Schedule April 4th & 5th. The 5:30pm Mass on April 4th will be a Family Mass

Reconciliation Monday – April 6th – all Archdiocesan churches, including ours, will hear confessions in the church from 3-8pm. Confessions are also heard every Saturday at 5pm in the church.

April 9 – Holy Thursday •

Tenebrae Service at 9am, with Confessions following, in the Church

•

Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30pm; Eucharistic Procession to the Parish Center Chapel, which will

remain open until Midnight; Night Prayer at 11:45pm April 10 – Good Friday •

Tenebrae Service at 9am, with Confessions following, in the Church

•

Stations of the Cross at 12noon and at 7:30pm in the Church

•

Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm in the Church

April 11 – Holy Saturday •

Tenebrae Service at 9am, with Confessions following, in the Church

•

Blessing of Easter Baskets at 3pm in the Church

•

The Great Easter Vigil at 7:30pm – begins in front of the Church

April 12 – Easter Sunday – Masses at 8am, 10am, and 12noon (no 5pm Mass on Easter)

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