October 4, 2020

Twenty Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time

Oct. 4, 2020

JUST A WORD From our Pastor (Page 9)

Confirmation 2020

(Page 7)

FIVE MINUTES JESUS (Page 8)

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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. 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

Mass Intentions

Saturday,October 3rd, Vigil

5:30 pm

8:00 am

10:00 am

Closed for Lunch Weekdays......................1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

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

Mass Schedule

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

Megan, Matthew, Sarah & Ryan (Living)

Emory B. Strilkauskas

12:00 pm All Parishioners 5:00 pm

Mary O’Donoghue

Monday, October 5th Weekday

12:00 pm

Mary Foley Measom

Tuesday, October 6th Weekday

12:00 pm

Thanksgiving to St. Agata

Wednesday, October 7th

Our Lady of the Rosary 12:00 pm Thanksgiving

Tuesday - Thursday ....................................... 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

Sunday ..................................................... Closed

Monday ............................................................. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday ................................................. 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sunday, October 4th Twenty Seven Sunday In Ordinary Time

Our Offices are open:

Friday ....................................................... Closed

Denis Tyrer

Thursday, October 8th Weekday

12:00 pm

Priests of St. Monica’s

Friday, October 9th Weekday

12:00 pm

Giselle Peña

Saturday, October 10th Weekday

12:00 pm

Edward Ford

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.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Frank Penepento, Desire Parke, Matthew D’Ortona, Lirika Buzhala, Kip Silverman, Mona Gilsenaine, Joanne Jack, Jennifer Garcia, Lucille Clats & Desiree Park, Maria Jose PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Neil Petti, Rocio Garcia, John Gilsenaine, Frank Moloney, John Morgan, Hernan Restrepo Judy Baron & Robert Castro

Treasures of our Tradition October 4 When Franco Zeffirelli’s Brother Sun, Sister Moon was released (1972), people were shocked by the movie’s graphic nudity in the dramatic conversion scene. Son of a wealthy merchant, Francis’ aimless adolescence ended when a failed military expedition led to his imprisonment and complete breakdown. Once home, Francis rediscovered God in the beauty of nature and the ugliness of human suffering, caring for lepers, praying in the little church of San Damiano, whose crucified Jesus he heard calling, “Repair my house, Francis, which is falling into ruins.” Francis sold his possessions—and his father’s—to fulfill this command. When his father objected, Francis disrobed: “I return the clothes, your name, and all you gave me: God alone is my Father now.” Later, the pope would dream of a ragged friar stretching forth a single hand to prop up the crumbling papal Cathedral of Saint John Lateran. Francis indeed helped rebuild the universal Church, founding the Friars Minor (Franciscans), dying at a young forty-four, bearing the stigmata of the Christ whose living icon he remains—in the Church and far beyond it.

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

Today’s Readings First Reading — The vineyard of the LORD is the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7).

Psalm — The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel (Psalm 80).

Second Reading — God’s peace will guard your hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-9).

Gospel — The kingdom of God will be given to those who will produce its fruit (Matthew 21:33-43).

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: Gal 1:6-12; Ps 111:1b-2, 7-9, 10c; Lk 10:25-37 Tuesday: Gal 1:13-24; Ps 139:1b-3, 13-15; Lk 10:38-42 Wednesday: Gal 2:1-2, 7-14; Ps 117:1bc, 2; Lk 11:1-4 Thursday: Gal 3:1-5; Lk 1:69-75; Lk 11:5-13 Friday: Gal 3:7-14; Ps 111:1b-6; Lk 11:15-26 Saturday: Gal 3:22-29; Ps 105:2-7; Lk 11:27-28 Sunday: Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Phil 4:12-14, 19-20;

Mt 22:1-14 [1-10]

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

Parish Life The Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi has traditionally meant that animals are blessed on our church’s steps. Due to social distancing restrictions, we will not be blessing animals this year. Below is a blessing you can say safely at home:

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures.

You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land.

You inspired Saint Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters.

We ask you to bless this beloved creature.

By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan.

May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures!

Amen

Generally, our seniors are retired members of our community who have time during the day to worship, to meet and discuss God’s Word, to share stories of God’s faithfulness in their lives and to articulate their needs and aspirations presently. If lively conversation, film viewings and community is what you are looking for, this is a sure fit! Contact the group at Seniorministry@stelmo79.org The next virtual meeting is on October 16th!

Did you know that you can contribute to our social media feed? Please contact Pastoral Associate for Parish Life, Jasmine Gomez at jgomez@ stelmo79.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 ELIZABETH ANN SETON (1774-1821) Feast Day: January 4th Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was the first native born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Born two years before the American Revolution, Elizabeth grew up in the upper class of New York society. She was a prolific reader, and read everything from the Bible to contemporary novels. In spite of her high society background, Elizabeth's early life was quiet, simple, and often lonely. As she grew a little older, the Bible was to become her continual instruction, support and comfort -and she would continue to love the Scriptures for the rest of her life. In 1794, Elizabeth married the wealthy young William Seton, with whom she was deeply in love.

The first years of their marriage were happy and prosperous. Elizabeth wrote in her diary at first autumn, "My own home at twenty-the world-that and heaven too-quite impossible."

This time of Elizabeth's life was to be a brief moment of earthly happiness before the many deaths and partings she was to suffer. Within four years, William's father died, leaving the young couple in charge of William's seven half brothers and sisters, as well as the family's importing business. Events moved quickly from there with devastating effect. Both William's business and health failed. He was finally forced to file a petition of bankruptcy and, in a final attempt to save William's health, the Setons sailed for Italy, where William had business friends.

Unfortunately, William died of tuberculosis while in Italy. Elizabeth's one consolation was that he had recently awakened to the things of God. The many enforced separations from dear ones by death and distance served to draw Elizabeth's heart to God and eternity. The accepting and embracing of God's will - "The Will," as she called it - would be a keynote in her spiritual life. Elizabeth's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church.

In Italy, Elizabeth captivated everyone by her kindness, patience, good sense, wit, and courtesy. During this time Elizabeth became interested in the Catholic Faith and, over a period of months, her Italian friends guided her in Catholic instruction. Elizabeth's desire for the Bread of Life was to be a strong force leading her to the Catholic Church. Having lost her mother at an early age, Elizabeth felt great comfort in the idea that the Blessed Virgin was truly her mother. She asked the Blessed Virgin to guide her to the True Faith and officially joined the Catholic Church in 1805.

At the suggestion of the president of St. Mary's College in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth started a school in that city. The school had originally been secular but once news of her entrance to Catholicism spread, several girls were removed from her school. It was then Seton, and two other young women who helped her in her work, began plans for a Sisterhood. They established the first free Catholic school in America. When the young community adopted their rule, they made provisions for Elizabeth to continue raising her children.

On March 25, 1809, Elizabeth Seton pronounced her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, binding for one year. From that time, she was called Mother Seton.

Although Mother Seton became afflicted with tuberculosis, she continued to guide her children. The Rule of the Sisterhood was formally ratified in 1812. It was based upon the Rule St. Vincent de Paul had written for his Daughters of Charity in France. By 1818, in addition to their first school, the sisters had established two orphanages and another school. Today, six groups of sisters can trace their origins to Mother Seton's initial foundation.

Seton's favorite prayer was the 23rd Psalm and she developed a deep devotion to the Eucharist, Sacred Scripture, and the Virgin Mary. For the last three years of her life, Elizabeth felt that God was getting ready to call her, and this gave her great joy. Mother Seton died in 1821 at the age of 46, only sixteen years after becoming a Catholic. She was beatified by Pope John XXIII on March 17, 1963 and was canonized on September 14, 1975

by Pope Paul VI. — https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=180

K-8 Parish Religious Education:

BEGINS THIS WEEKEND!!

Our program will be online via Zoom this Fall, and begins on Sunday, October 4 at 10:15am. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP. You can register via our website (www.stelmo79.org), or download the forms there and deliver them with payment at the Parish Center (406 East 80th Street.) The Archdiocese of New York requires two years of either Catholic School or Parish Religious Education before the reception of First Communion or Confirmation.

Adult Faith Formation:

Our Sunday morning Scripture Discussions will resume on Sunday, October 18 at 10:15pm in our Parish Center (with masks and social distancing). You are invited to join us any Sunday to learn more about your faith, and how the Sunday Mass Scripture readings can be a guide for living our faith in today’s world. No registration required.

Adult Sacraments of Initiation:

If you have ever thought about becoming Catholic, or if you are a baptized Catholic who has not yet celebrated First Communion or Confirmation, please contact Maryann Tyrer at mtyrer@ stelmo79.org to discuss our adult initiation process (commonly known as the RCIA). You can begin this process at any time throughout the year, and no commitment is required during the initial phase of Inquiry. Face to face gatherings (with masks and social distancing) will begin on October 18 immediately following the 12noon Mass.

PARISH OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS Offsite – Serve as a prayer partner for someone preparing for a Sacrament of Initiation this year Onsite – in person – Service as a discussion leader or sponsor for our RCIA program, serve as a hospitality assistant for our Lifelong Faith Formation events throughout the year, or serve as a member of our new Bereavement Ministry team.

Contact Maryann Tyrer at mtyrer@stelmo79.org or 212-288-6250 to discuss how your gifts and talents could meet our needs and opportunities here at the parish. No experience needed, as all training and materials will be provided.

Bereavement Ministry – Save the dates: • •

Memorial Mass for Covid-19 victims – Monday, November 2 at 6:30pm in the church.

Morning of Reflection – “Facing the Holidays After the Loss of a Loved One” – Saturday, November 14, 10am – concluding with the 12noon Mass – in the church.

Congratulations

to our youth who will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation this Sunday afternoon!

PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Leo Berman Colin Feangall Kenny Lucas Joaquin Rizzi Maddox Jake Shepard ST. STEPHEN OF HUNGARY SCHOOL Amelia Anne Bardi Aidan Joseph Brennan Magnolia Grace Butler Emily Carbone William Hayes Casson Veronica Grace Charles Brogan Patrick Lewis DeCerto Lauren Clare Hernandez Doros Ethan Lucas Francisco Esparrago Christopher James Ganly Olivia Marie Ganly Alasha Blue Hartl Catherine Lily Jebaily John Ahuia Kanne Brandon Alex Marzan Samanth Jo-Anna Maschi Jacobo Merino-Fernandez Lauren Elizabeth Mischel Lenin Nicholas Mota-Garcia Joseph Michael Reagan Sophia Alexiz Toscano Benjamin John Winograd ST. JOHN BAPTISTE PARISH Christian Asaro Shannon Isabella Jimenez Julia Rachael Ledgister Aiden Patrick O’Hara Luke Papadakis Chloe Melinda Tasolides

FIVE MINUTE JESUS Using the Gospel for Prayer – The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time OCTOBER 4 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.

Gospel

Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’

They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

Today’s parable offers us two things: 1.

The opportunity of how we use our time, talents and treasure to build the kingdom of God here on earth.

2.

The obligation that we must bear the fruit of forgiveness and mercy.

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

Monday God has called us to produce good fruits in his vineyard. In the aftermath of the recent fires, storms and hurricanes how faithfully am I using my gifts to help others?

Tuesday Jesus said that whatever we do to the least of his brothers and sisters we do it to him (cf. Mt 25:40). How is our society treating our suffering brothers and sisters in in this time of a global pandemic?

Wednesday Jesus came unto his own and his own did not receive him. What did Jesus do in response to his being rejected by the people? As you read the story what thoughts and feelings stir in you?

Thursday Every one of us has been given a vineyard by God. Our families, our communities, our work, our church, our environment are all parts of our vineyard. God does not exclude anyone from their vineyard. People exclude themselves by failing to tend the vineyard they have been given. How do we tend to our vineyard today? How do we reach out to others to make them feel included?

Friday Jesus came as man and knew human labor. By his toil he sanctified the lives all around him showing them a way to be more virtuous. How do you see that toil as apostolic call today? How do you return the work of your hands?

Saturday If Jesus returned today and told us the same parable, would it be as relevant? What do you think the reaction be from our society would be? What is your own a personal reaction?

From your Pastor October 4th, 2020 In this strange year of CoVID-19, many of the things that our parish would normally be offering are not taking place.

So, I thought I would take the opportunity to use this column from time to time to explain and give some informational background to some of the things that are.

Confirmation – What’s that?

This Sunday at 2pm, Bishop Edmund Whalen, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New will visit the parish to confirm 32 students, both from our church and St. Jean Baptiste, as well as St. Stephen of Hungary School. They should have been confirmed last spring, but the pandemic cancelled this celebration. These former 8th graders are now in their various high schools but are returning here for the celebration. We are so happy that we are finally able to celebrate with them.

But some might ask, what is the big deal? Many young adults who are preparing for marriage are not confirmed. And that makes sense due to the way most people understand Confirmation. Most people explain it as that moment where we say yes to the promises made for us by our parents at our baptism. That is the way our Protestant sisters and brothers understand it; some even call it Affirmation of Baptism. Others see it as a rite of Christian maturity, a kind of Bar/Bat Mizvah of the New Covenant established in Jesus. The emphasis is on our action. And many are not interested in doing this.

For Catholics, however, the answer is more complicated. And that is because for us, Confirmation is a Sacrament. For Catholics, Sacramentare not primarily our work but God’s. They are places where God promises to be present and at work in our lives. Originally there was no one set list of them. Around the 5th century AD however, the number was fixed at 7. Baptism (birth), Marriage (adulthood) Sacrament of the Sick/Last Rites (Times of Illness and at death), Confession/ Reconciliation (whenever we sin) Eucharist/Communion (weekly). The Sacrament of Holy Orders (Ordination) provides the Church with the people who celebrate these sacraments for us. You can see that sacraments accompany us throughout life’s stages. . . .But wait. There are only six sacraments above. Where is Confirmation? Great question. I left it out because Confirmation was originally part of the Sacrament of Baptism.

Ever since that first Pentecost (Acts 2:1-11) with its wind, tongues of fire and special effects worthy of a Hollywood Blockbuster, the “Holy Spirit” experienced by Christians in their communities was an indicator as to their membership in the New Covenant established in the death of Jesus. In various parts of the New Testament (e.g. Acts 8:4-20; Hebrews 6:1-6) it stated that it was the Apostles who shared this Spirit with the people they baptized. They would be washed, then the Apostles would “lay hands on them” and pray that the Spirit be given to them. That would usually (but not always) happen at the same time.

This reflected what was going on in the early Church. People would be prepared for Baptism, studying for years. Then on the night before Easter, they would be baptized, be confirmed, and receive communion for the first time. (Come to the Easter Vigil this year, and you will see us do this with adults). But very soon the only people left to be baptized were children. Baptizing them was not the problem. But the period of education beforehand was. How do you prepare a baby for a life of faith and service in the Church?

This is where the Church in the East (Orthodox) and the Church in the West (Catholic) differ. The Orthodox Church continues the ancient pattern outlined above. IN one service the priest baptizes the child confirms it (Called Chrismation by them because the child is anointed with holy oil, called Chrism. We do this as well in Confirmation) and with a tiny little spoon, gives the baby its first communion! The Roman Catholic Church, however, went a different way. Confirmation was delayed until after a period of education. In this way it could still be the bishop, as successor of the apostles, who would confirm. In this way the link with the larger Church was expressed. To this day, even though often priests are given the permission to confirm (like at the Easter Vigil and during the Easter Season) most Catholics still expect to see the bishop come to celebrate the sacrament.

For most of the Church’s history, Communion was received only after Confirmation. However, in 1910 Pope Pius X, because he wanted children to receive communion, changed not only the age of reception of communion but the order of receiving the sacraments. This is why to this day, in Roman Catholic Churches children 7 years old (the “age of reason”) receive First Communion and then later on in their teenage years, Confirmation.

This pattern has a certain logic – the period between Baptism and Marriage is a long one; now there are two other sacramental celebrations which mark childhood and the teenage years. These celebrations have come to be seen as rites of passage. Confirmation becomes a kind of graduation from religious education, as if an eighth-grade religious education prepares us for all the complex issues of faith and life we face as adults!

But that is what happens when we see Confirmation as primarily something we do. But because it is a Sacrament, it is not; it is something that God does. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church (PP. 1302-1303) The Church teaches that Con-

firmation roots us in that relation where we call God our Father, unites us more deeply to Christ, increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us, perfects our bond with the Church and strengthens us to live, defend and share our faith.

Wow. If God is so active in the Sacrament, why is it then that after Confirmation, so many young people stop practicing their faith? Perhaps because so many of us still see it as an achievement rather than a gift. Confirmation is not graduation from anything; if anything, it is graduation to something; or perhaps better put it is an invitation; by God to live adult lives of faith. To do that we need to continue serving, continue worshiping and continue learning. When we do that, we live in the community formed by that Spirit. We might not see the special effects of that first Pentecost, but we experience the effects. In fact, we ARE the effects.

Father Baker

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