apr 25th bulletin

Parish life Fourth Sunday of Easter

Apr. 25, 2021

From the Pastor (Page 9)

School Information ( Page 4)

Faith Formation ( Page 6)

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Mission Statement

Mass Schedule

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.

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

Mass Intentions

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 Our Offices are open:

Monday ............................................................. 9am - 5pm Tuesday - Thursday ....................................... 9am - 7pm Friday .......................................................Closed Saturday ................................................. 10am - 2pm Sunday ..................................................... Closed Closed for Lunch Weekdays......................1pm - 2pm

Saturday, April 24th Vigil 5:30pm Mary J. Reilly Sunday, April 25th Fourth Sunday of Easter 8:00am Ashok Kasliwal (Living) 10:00am Richard Pardo 12:00pm All Parishioners 5:00pm Maria Sanchez

Monday, April 26th Easter Weekday 12:00pm Keith Lexa Tuesday, April 27th Easter Weekday 12:00pm Anna Corra Wednesday, April 28th Easter Weekday 12:00pm Anne Keating Thursday, April 29th St. Catherine of Siena 12:00pm Angela & Joseph Uddo

Friday, April 30th Easter Weekday

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

12:00pm Thanksgiving to St. Agata Saturday, May 1st Easter Weekday 12:00pm Fr. Donald C. Baker (61st Birthday) For Mass Intentions, please visit the Parish Center.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Every Friday after the Noon Mass until 3pm in the church and live on-line Devotions Miraculous Medal on Mondays after Mass in the church and live on-line Divine Mercy Prayed every Friday at 3pm in the church and live on-line Vespers (Evening Prayer) Every Friday at 5:10pm in the Chapel and live on-line

Baptism Announcement Today, there will be a Baptism service at 10AM Mass At this Mass we will be baptizing: Jeremy Lerma Please join us in congratulating: Jason D. Lerma & Anne M. Galangi on their child’s new life in Christ Baptism Services are open for members of the parish to join in the welcoming of our newest members

Sanctuary Lamp This Week’s Sanctuary Lamp In Memory of Pasquale Ionta

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays at 5pm or by appointment Anointing of the sick Every third Saturday of the Month after the noon Mass.

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 would 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 Eileen Sullivan, Michael Berry, Roseanne Seacur, Maria Ionta, Donna Menegaz, Zita Zilverman, Eilee Ford, Nancy Dorsinville, Nancy Hermann,Joan McKeagney, George & Magie Samra, Andres Rodriguez, Jasmine Gomez, James Mooney, & all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities

Offered by Donna Menegaz

Today’s Readings First Reading — There is no salvation through anyone else (Acts 4:8-12).

Psalm — The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone (Psalm 118).

Second Reading — See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God (1 John 3:1-2).

Gospel — The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11-18).

The English translation of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

Readings for the Week

Monday: Acts 11:1-18; Ps 42:2-3; 43:3, 4; Jn 10:1-10 Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26; Ps 87:1b-7; Jn 10:22-30 Wednesday: Acts 12:24 — 13:5a; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Jn 12:44-50 Thursday: Acts 13:13-25: Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27; Jn 13:16-20 Friday: Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2:6-11ab; Jn 14:1-6 PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Saturday: Acts 13:44-52; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 14:7-14 Maritza Gavidia, Msgr. Richard Guastella, Rev. Joseph or (for the memorial) Gn 1:26 — 2:3 or Henchey, Louis Rich, Irene Huszar, Louis Schmidt,

Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24; Ps 90:2-4, 12-14, Msgr. Francis Boyle, Rafael Romero, Edward J. More- 16; Mt 13:54-58 no, Emil De Spirito, Nora Hickey & Pasquale Ionta Sunday: Acts 9:26-31; Ps 22:26-28, 30-32;

1 Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15:1-8

THE GOOD SHEPHERD The difference between the good shepherd and the hired hand is the difference between life and death. Unlike a hired hand who only works for pay and would run away at the first sign of difficulty, Jesus is a good shepherd who willingly lays down his life for his sheep. The good shepherd draws the sheep near to him. They belong to him—not as a possession that can be discarded, but as precious ones who are assured that they can rely on his care and protection. The sheep owe their very lives to the shepherd. Without him, they will be scattered and left on their own in what is often a dangerous world.

BECOMING GOOD SHEEP No sheep with any sense would wander off and leave the fold. The shepherd provides food and safety. Away from the fold, the sheep risks death in the jaws of wolves or starvation in the desert. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and invites us to be good sheep. Jesus has experienced the best and the worst of all that life has in store. He has known the simple joys and the deep disappointments of life; he has known temptation, anxiety, and fatigue.

Jesus walks ahead of us, leading the way. We may be tempted to wander away, lured by temporary pleasures and tempted by the illusion of something better over the horizon. In the noise of daily life, surrounded by messages that compete with God and God’s ways, it is easy to become distracted from what is important and lasting. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, invites us to be good sheep who are so close to him that we hear and recognize his voice. As good sheep, we are called to follow the voice of the Shepherd, trusting that he will guide us to the best pasture, where we can thrive.

K-8 Parish Religious Education:

Religious Education continues to meet online each Sunday morning at 10:15am. Zoom links are emailed each week to all registered families.

We pray for our children who celebrated their First Communion on April 24, and for our teens who will be celebrating their Confirmation on April 25. May God shower them with many blessings!

Adult Faith Formation:

Our Sunday morning Adult Faith Formation, an informal discussion of the Sunday Scriptures, led by a facilitator, is open to all. We meet on Sundays 10:15 to 11:30am, in the Parish Center. Social distancing and face masks are required. Please join us! No registration is required – you can drop in any Sunday.

Adult Sacraments of Initiation (RCIA):

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 options are available for face-to-face or Zoom meetings.

Parish Retreat Opportunity:

Fr. Tony Ciorra IVD will be leading a Parish Day of Reflection in the church on Saturday, May 8th. We will begin with coffee at 8:30am, and conclude with the 12noon Mass. We will reflect on the theme of “Finding Hope and Peace in a Time of Transition.” Register on our website, or call the Parish Office to save your spot!

Icon Painting Workshop

Reverend Peter Pearson, professional iconographer and teacher, returns May 3-7, 2021 to lead us in painting this icon of St. Joseph. We will gather in the Angelo Room (observing safe distancing and wearing masks) each evening of the week, 6:30-9pm. The $250 fee covers all the materials (board, brushes, paints, and tools) that you will need to paint your own icon, as well as the expert instruction of Reverend Peter Pearson.

No experience or artistic ability needed – you’ll be guided through each step. Don’t miss out on this annual opportunity! Contact Maryann at mtyrer@stelmo79.org to save your spot, or register on our website at www.stelmo79.org

The Church has one essential task — to pray and to teach how to pray.

If you were able to be a part of our Easter Vigil this past April 3, either in person or virtually, you might have noticed that the three adults (Ron, Bob, and Alissa) who were baptized and confirmed at that Mass immediately led us in the General Intercessions.

Drawing on the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, and on the General Instruction to the Roman Missal, the U.S. Bishops tell us: “The baptized faithful who form the congregation are called…. to exercise their baptismal priesthood in prayer for the Church, the world and all in need during the General Intercessions.” (https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/themass/ministries-and-roles-within-the-liturgical-assembly-at-mass)

During his weekly Wednesday audience on April 14, 2021, Pope Francis offered the following: The Church is a great school of prayer. Many of us learned how to whisper our first prayers on our parents’ or grandparents’ laps. We might, perhaps, cherish the memory of our mommy and daddy who taught us to say our prayers before going to bed….This is good to remember.

The life of a parish and every Christian community is marked by liturgical moments and moments of community prayer. We become aware that the gift we received with simplicity in infancy is a great heritage, a rich inheritance and that the experience of prayer is worth deepening more and more….And the breath of faith is prayer: we grow in faith inasmuch as we learn to pray. After certain passages in life, we become aware that without faith we could not have made it and that our strength was prayer—not only personal prayer, but also that of our brothers and sisters, and of the community that accompanied and supported us, of the people who know us, of the people we ask to pray for us.

And this is the Church’s essential task: to pray and to teach how to pray. To transmit the lamp of faith and the oil of prayer from generation to generation…. Without faith everything collapses; and without prayer faith is extinguished. Faith and prayer together. There is no other alternative. For this reason, the Church, as the house and school of communion, is the house and school of faith and prayer. (excerpted from https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/04/14/pope-francis-general-audience-prayer-faith-240439)

As we move through this joyful, 50-day season of Easter, perhaps the following reflection may help us to renew our baptismal commitment to prayer, which Pope Francis calls “the breath of faith.”

• • • • •

What are my earliest memories of family members praying? Of being taught prayers? Of praying with my family? Who has taught me to pray?

Have others asked me to pray for them? How do I respond to their request? Do I ever ask others to pray for me? If not, why not?

When have the prayers of others sustained me through crises? When has the prayer of others been an inspiration to me?

What is my favorite way to pray? What is my favorite place to pray? Have I tried a new way of praying lately? How might I grow my prayer life?

Have I ever taught someone else how to pray? What advice might I give to someone who asks for guidance on how to pray?

Five Minute Jesus

Using the Gospel for Prayer – Fifth Sunday of Easter May 2, 2021 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

Jn 15:1-8 Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want, and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Monday, April 26th Was there something in this reading that spoke to me? Comforted me? Challenged me? Why did it have this effect on me?

Tuesday, April 27th There are few sights more amazing than a vineyard. Acres and acres of vines. All the same height, rising up poles and then out on wires so that their fruit can hang and grow ripe. So different from the wild vine which might grow among tree branches or up a rock wall, whose grapes remain small and often sour. The difference? Pruning. Jesus knows this and says what is true of the vine, is true of us. Are there things in my life which keep me from bearing fruit?

Resentments, judgments that keep me from growing straight and tall in spirit if not body? Where do I need pruning?

Wednesday, April 28th Jesus gives us help in answering yesterday’s question: he says we are already pruned because of his word, spoken to us.

In this he reveals something crucially important; God’s word isn’t just spoken to INform us; it is spoken to FORM us; it is meant for change. Have I ever heard God’s Word, spoken to ME? And did it change me? If so, how? If not, my did I resist that call to change, to grow?

Thursday, April 29th Jesus is clear that our relationship with him is intimate and essential; we are connected to him; like branches to the vine.

But how? Do I feel connected to Jesus? Jesus says he is connected to us. Maybe we are just not aware of the connection.

Where have I been aware of my connection to Jesus; where and when have I felt part of the vine? Where have I drawn life from my faith and expressed it fruitfully?

Friday, April 30th He says that those who do not remain connected to him are like branches broken off from the vine; they wither. Have I ever experienced times in my life when I felt cut off from family, friends, even God? What was that like? What kind of fruit did I produce in my life then? How did I reconnect? How can I help others who are cut off from their faith do the same?

Saturday, May 1st “Ask for whatever you want, and it will be done for you” Many people see passages like this in scripture and say, “This is not true. I asked for something and did not get it.” Perhaps the emphasis in this is not the getting but the wanting.

What do we want? TRULY want? What is truly best for us? Only God knows that. When Jesus’ words remain in us, they affect not just what we know but what we want. How have I allowed God’s word, met in the Scriptures, the prayers and rituals of mass; in the sacraments and sermons we hear at mass, to “remain” in me? To affect me? To Effect change in my life? Has what I want changed because of my faith? What do I truly want?

From the Pastor 04.25.21 On Fishers and Fish “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.”

My father used to say this. He was sharply critical of the way government thought that throwing money at the poor would solve things. He said it only made them dependent. He was not wrong. But many people also benefit from such programs, and their children, who by definition are ‘dependents’, benefit even more. Moreover, as critical as my father was of “government hand-outs” I do not think he would have been so dismissive of programs like the GI Bill, which many of his generation benefitted from and which built the post-war middle class, or the Marshall Plan, which kept Europe from falling behind the Iron Curtain.

So, charity is necessary. But he had a point: The goal of charity should be to support the person so that they can make the necessary changes in their life, so that eventually they will not need the charity. However, to do that, a person not only needs resources. They also need a society and a culture that supports that change. If a poor person has no access to good education, cannot buy or rent decent housing even when they can afford it, and thus can’t find or keep a good job, it is not surprising they remain poor. They are trapped in an unjust system.

Thus, it is justice that enables people to move out of poverty, ignorance and unemployment.

This past weekend we had Jenn Petersen speak about International Justice Mission, which is a way in which Christians of all stripes are working for that justice. I hope you were able to hear her powerful words, spoken after the homilies on that Sunday. If not, you can see them on our website stelmo79.org.

For centuries we Catholics have depended upon our religious communities, on sisters and friars to do the works of charity and to work for justice for the world’s poor and oppressed. They still do that work, and still need our support. But increasingly the struggle for justice is falling on our shoulders. From time to time, we will hear from people like Jenn, who invite us to consider getting involved in other ways, so that, even if we do not have the money ourselves to be charitable, we can still work for a more just world.

For if charity is the fish, justice is the fishing school.

My Evaluation SO many of you have asked, I thought I would let you know that I had my evaluation this past Wednesday. Thank you for all your letters. Their recommendation is that I remain here for six more years. There is only a recommendation, however. I will not know the final decision until the Cardinal sends me my (re)appointment letter. As soon as I get it I will let you all know. It should be here sometime in May. Father Baker

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