Fourth Sunday of Easter 4/30/2023

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 familya 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 Associate: .................................... Rev. Anthony Ciorra, IVD

Weekend Associate:...............................................Rev. Edward Beck, CP

Pastoral Associate: Ms. Maryann Tyrer ........ mtyrer@stelmo79.org

Music Director: Mr. John Zupan .................... jzupan@stelmo79.org

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

Parish Manager: Jennifer DeSpirito.............................jdespirito@stelmo79.org

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, NYC 10075

Parish Center: 406 East 80th Street, NY, NY 10075

Tel: 212-288-6250 Fax: 212- 570-1562

Email: info@stelmo79.org

Our Offices are open:

Monday & Wednesday 9am - 4pm

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

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

Saturday ................................................. 10am - 2pm

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

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

Mass Intentions

Saturday, April 29th Vigil Saturday, 29th

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

5:30pm Gloria Laferlita & Guy Lamarche

5:30pm Gloria Laferlita & Guy Lamarche

Sunday, April 30th Sunday, 30th

Four th Sunday of Easter Fourth of Easter

8:00am Leilani Waldmann

10:00am Marg aret & Andrew DiCarlo

10:00am Margaret & Andrew DiCarlo

12:00pm All Parishioners

12:00pm All Parishioners

5pm Lillian & Ralph Ag oglia, Lillian & Agoglia, Stephen & Josephine Maschi & Maschi

Monday, May 1st Easter Weekday 1st Easter

12pm Francisca Garcia Francisca Garcia

Tuesday, May 2nd St. Athanasius 2nd St. Athanasius

12pm Allan Rosteing Allan

Wednesday, May 3rd 3rd

St. Phillip & St. James St. & St.

12pm Elizabeth Paparello

12pm Elizabeth Paparello

T hur sday, May 4th Easter Weekday Thursday, 4th Easter

12pm Rober ta Chapey (Living) 12pm Roberta Chapey (Living)

Friday, May 5th Easter Weekday 5th Easter

12pm T he Conzelman Family The Conzelman (Living & Dec.) &

Saturday, May 6th Easter Weekday 6th Easter

12pm Purg atorial Society Purgatorial

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK

Albert del Rosario, Felix Carrasco, Bessie McKenna, Ashley Wilson, Bruno Franco Adame, Alex Greco, Janet Gholfi, Barbara Tummolo, Uriel Cuartas, Teody Zanarias, Susan Bacerra, Michael Reilly, Dorothy Condon, Marcelle Ferrier, Joanna Jack, Cindy Garnica Castro and all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities

PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED

Rosemary Moran, Eduardo Fernandez, Andy Hernandez, Fr. Bernard Heter, Anna Napolitano, Robert Anello, Agata Torrisi, Josephine Downey, Marita Knel, Susan Lasmier, Chrissy MacDonalds & Godfrey Fantastico

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

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.

Sanctuary Lamp

This Week’ Sanctuary Lamp

Intentions for Maureen

Kiernan

Weekly Readings & Observances

Readings for the week of April 30, 2023

Sunday: Acts 2:14a, 36-41/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 (1)/1 Pt 2:20b-25/Jn 10:1-10

Monday: Acts 11:1-18/Ps 42:2-3; 43:3, 4/Jn 10:11-18

Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26/Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7/Jn 10:22-30

Wednesday: 1 Cor 15:1-8/Ps 19:2-3, 4-5/Jn 14:6-14

Thursday: Acts 13:13-25/Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27/Jn 13:16-20

Friday: Acts 13:26-33/Ps 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab/Jn 14:1-6

Saturday: Acts 13:44-52/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4/Jn 14:7-14

Next Sunday: Acts 6:1-7/Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 (22)/1 Pt 2:4-9/Jn 14:1-12

Observances for the week of April 30, 2023

Sunday: 4th Sunday of Easter

Monday: St. Joseph the Worker

Tuesday: St. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Wednesday: Sts. Philip and James, Apostles

Thursday: National Day of Prayer

Friday: Cinco de Mayo

Saturday:

Next Sunday: 5th Sunday of Easter

©LPi

Offered by Kitty

O’Donoghue

Bread & Wine

This Week’s Bread & Wine

Intentions for Francis Ryan

Offered by Kitty

O’Donoghue

May God bless you and guide you on every step of your faith journey. Congratulations to all candidates for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Pondering the Mysteries

After traveling somewhere, I love to look at the photos taken that portray the culture, rituals, and symbols of the places and people visited. These photos not only help me to remember the trip, but also allow me to reflect on where I have traveled, how the journey affected me, what experiences moved me, and the difference the journey made in my life.

After receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, our newly initiated members enter a time in which they reflect on their faith. This process of reflection, which is called mystagogy, helps them deepen their understanding of their experience. In the ancient Church, it was a way of teaching not only the newly initiated, but the whole community about the mysteries of faith.

Mystagogy isn’t only for the newly initiated. This way of reflecting can assist anyone in understanding their faith in new ways. The following questions will help individuals reflect mystagocially after participating in Mass:

• What did you see, feel, or hear?

• What one word or phrase captured your attention?

• What did you remember most?

• What symbol spoke to you and why?

• What did that symbol mean to you?

• What did that word or symbol or ritual say to you about God, the Church, yourself?

• How did the symbol change or challenge your perspective?

Recently, a visitor recounted his experience at Mass, and without knowing it, he revealed how he had reflected mystagogically on the liturgy. A lawyer who was all too familiar with criminal punishment, he said that he was struck by the petition in the Prayer of the Faithful for those on death row. The prayer spoke to him about the abundance of God’s love and motivated

him to seek a deeper understanding of the Catholic Church’s stance on capital punishment. His perspective about who Catholics are and what we believe was challenged and changed.

Mystagogy shows us how the liturgy teaches, reinforcing a key concept of the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy: “Although the liturgy is above all things the worship of the divine majesty, it likewise contains rich instruction for the faithful” (33).

To discover what the liturgy teaches about faith, it is essential that the faithful arrive at Mass with eyes and ears wide open, with attentiveness and presence, ready to be amazed, challenged, and changed.

Connecting the Liturgy with Our Lives © 2019 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications. 800-933-1800; www.LTP.org. Text by Kathy Kuczka.

Photo © John Zich. Permission to publish granted by the Archdiocese of Chicago on October 25, 2018.

By reflecting on the symbols that are part of the liturgy, the faithful allow the mysteries of the faith to penetrate them.

Five Minute Jesus

Using the Gospel for Prayer –Fifth Sunday of Easter May 7, 2023

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 - John 14:1-12

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father."

Monday May 1st

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?

Tuesday May 2nd

This week we are with Jesus on the night before he dies. He is reassuring his disciples that they will not be abandoned by him. That he will in fact always welcome them into his “Father’s House”. Have you ever felt abandoned by God? If so when? What or who welcomed you back into Jesus’ Father’s House?

Wednesday May 3rd

An ancient Hindu proverb goes: “All know the way – few walk it.” Jesus reveals himself as the Way. How do we understand this? How is Jesus a “way” for us? And if we can express what his way is, do we walk it? If not, why not?

Thursday May 4th

Jesus proclaims that “no one comes to the Father except through me”. This sounds exclusive, and condemnatory of everyone who does not follow his Way. And yet this is the same Jesus who says that his law, his way, is Love, and that he has come to give life. How do you reconcile these two different faces of Jesus? Is it possible for someone to follow his way, yet not know Jesus’ name? How aware are you of when you are walking in his Way?

Friday May 5th

Jesus says to Philip that he reveals the Father. That is in fact his mission; to make “The Father” known, so that through him people might have a real relationship with him. For many this is reassuring. For others the word “father” is filled with abusive domineering memories from childhood, or experiences with priests who of course are referred to as “Father” How important is is for you that God is called Father? What other images of God do we have that communicate the love and protection, the faithfulness and support that Jesus seeks to communicate with this image of God as Father? How do those images make God known to you? How do they help you make God known to others?

Saturday May 6th

Jesus offers as proof of who he is and his relationship with the Father, his “Works”. In the Gospel they function like signs –that is something that points to a reality beyond itself. We all have faith because people have shared their experience of God with us; and it has become our own. But sooner or later we encounter “signs” pointing to the truth of what we believe. What have those signs been in my life? Were they a parent, a friend, a teacher, a nun, or a priest? Were they life events? What signs have we seen that God is active in our lives? And how have we reacted to them?

Just a Word

From the Pastor 04.30.23

Façade and Roof Update

Those of us who worship regularly here hardly even notice it, but I get questions from neighbors and visitors all the time. “What is that scaffolding for? When did you put it up? HOW LONG WILL IT STAY THERE?” I can understand neighbors’ concerns. Older neighbors express fear walking past our church, especially at dusk, when it is difficult to see who might be lurking under the scaffolding. It seems to be just one more example of those interminable “sheds” erected due to Local Law 11 and its requirement that owners regularly repair and maintain building façades. Inspectors identify a problem, and up go the scaffolds. Then they stay there, ostensibly to protect pedestrians while the interminable repairs continue.

The scaffolding was erected following a 2021 building inspection in preparation for the repair and replacement our church’s roofs. Weathering had eaten away at our church’s spires. Pieces of the façade had come loose and sat in place due only to inertia and gravity. The pointing was worn, windows and frames cracked. For months there has been a display board in the back of the church wh ich depicts some of the problems found.

The scaffolding went up in early 2022. At that time, we had a choice. We could have decided to repair the church’s façade but remove the spires and much of the decorative stonework. That would have also been much cheaper. But we decided that our church should not just be repaired but restored. Since then, workers have removed stones, disassembled the spires, repointed the bricks, and most importantly, ordered pieces of the façade which can no longer be used, to be remade.

The work on the façade is almost complete. We are waiting for the fabrication of those missing pieces. On April 19th we were told that this process would still take 8-10 weeks. This would place their arrival towards the end of June. Once they are in place, the rest of the work will quickly be completed, and we are looking for the removal of the scaffolding sometime during the summer. Of course, six months ago we were told it would be removed in April! So, we will have to wait and see. But it is the fabrication process that is now holding up completion. We hold out hope that before too much longer, our church’s face, much improved after “having work done”, will be even more beautiful for many years to come.

But what about the problems with the church’s roofs? They still exist. At the outset of the façade repair, we put patches where needed but the leaks remain.

The problems begin with the roofs themselves. There are three roofs on our church. The two side roofs are typical waterproof membrane and tar (think the flat roofs on most NYC apartment buildings) the main roof, however, is slate tiles. The two side roofs need full replacement. We are not sure about the main slate roof. We believe it can be repaired and won’t have to be replaced (that would be ruinously expensive). But a final decision on that still needs to be made.

The real problem is financing the repair. Most people know that we sold the air rights over our church in 2018. With that money, our former Parish Manager Mike Ward and I set up investment accounts both with the Archdiocese and privately, to ensure the administration and maintenance of the parish. One account was a Capital Improvement account. This contained money we could draw from to do the jobs around the parish we included in the parish renewal plan we presented to the Archdiocese in the fall of 2015. That plan is largely complete save for one item: the parish hall. Its renovation was slated to begin in 2022, but the money allocated for that necessary project has had to be redirected for the repair of the façade and roof.

Between the Capital Improvement Account and our private investments, we should have enough to complete the façade. However, the roofs will be a problem. To “raid” our other investment accounts would give us the money, but it would damage our music programs, our religious education and other outreach. All of that is financed from the money we receive from those investments. That I will not permit. So, we will see! Both our new Parish Manager, Jenn DeSpirito and I will keep you all posted.

Fr. Baker