August 22, 2021

Parish life Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time

08/22/2021

Faith Formation (Page 6)

Five Minute Jesus

( Page 8 )

Just a Word (Page 9)

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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.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, August 21st Vigil 5:30pm Denis & Cecilia Tyrer Sunday, August 22nd Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00am Patricia Ciarletta 10:00am George McDonald 12:00pm All Parishioners 5:00pm Robert Castro

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

Monday, August 23rd Weekday

12pm Annette Williams Tuesday, August 24th St. Bartholomew

12pm John Downs (Living) Wednesday, August 25th Weekday

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

12pm

Thanksgiving Thursday, August 26th Weekday

12pm

Friday, August 27th St. Monica’s

12:00pm

Mass Schedule

Anna Corra

Saturday, August 28th St. Augustine 12:00pm

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

Ramon Mella

Susana Acosta

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

Sanctuary Lamp This Week’s Sanctuary Lamp In Memory of Susana Acosta Offered by Maria Litrenta

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.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Julia Hidalgo, Cecilia Ochoa, Roseann Seacoor, Hugh Morgan, David Loring, Cira Christian, Andres Rodriguez, & all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Cecilia Rosado, Sonny Zanarias, Jr., Glenn Anderson, Jean Cullen & Mark Jacobson

Today’s Readings First Reading — Joshua challenges the Israelites to serve either the Lord or other gods. They choose the Lord (Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b).

Psalm — Taste and see the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 34).

Second Reading — Paul reflects on how husbands and wives should reverence and love each other (Ephesians 5:21-32 [2a, 25-32]).

Gospel — Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:60-69).

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: 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10; Ps 149:

1b-6a, 9b;Mt 23:13-22 Tuesday: Rv 21:9b-14; Ps 145:10-13,

17-18;Jn 1:45-51 Wednesday: 1 Thes 2:9-13; Ps 139:7-12ab; Mt 23:27-32 Thursday: 1 Thes 3:7-13; Ps 90:3-5a, 12-14,

17;Mt 24:42-51 Friday: 1 Thes 4:1-8; Ps 97:1, 2b, 5-6,

10-12;Mt 25:1-13 Saturday: 1 Thes 4:9-11; Ps 98:1, 7-9; Mt

25:14-30 Sunday: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8; Ps 15:2-5; Jas

1:17-18,21b-22, 27; Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

St. Stephen of Hungary School Pre-K Through 8th Grade Catholic Parochial School 408 East 82nd Street New York, NY 10028 212-288-1989 Fax: 212 517-5788 Principal Ms. Kelly Burke WWW.Saintstephenschool.org

STEPHEN OF

Interested in admissions to parish our school?

Admissions@saintstphenschool.org

SCHOOL

Mass Book 2022 Our mass book for calendar year 2022 will be available beginning Tuesday, September 7th, 2021 at 9AM.

Par � L�fe

Pope Francis never stops reminding us to care for our common home. There was a great online conference in It’s time for our Annual Back to School Drive!

July called Laudato Si and the U.S. catholic church. It was an opportunity for thousands of catholics to

As we do every year, we are collecting school supplies

attend forums showing us how to be an important

for the child and teen participants of

component in the global response to the ecological

Little Sisters of the Assumption’s Family Health Service!

challenges facing the world.

The Organization has requested the following items: If you would like to know more , please email us at -Binders

-Notebooks

greenteam@stelmo79.org and we would be more than

-Pens

-Pencils

happy to share details! In the meantime we hope you

-Gluesticks

-Color Pencils

are having a great and safe summer.. We look forward

-Markers

-Crayons

to seeing you in September, maybe you even consider

-Folders

-Looseleaf Paper

joining our team!

In the past some have donated backpacks, lunchboxes, and so much more! Every donation helps!

Please bring your donation to the front of St. Joseph’s Altar between August 21st - September 1st. Let’s help these kids have a fantastic school year!

pg. 5

K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation: • • •

• •

Please register early so that we can plan class sizes, assign catechists, and order supplies!

The new year kicks off with a Family Welcome Back Picnic on September 19 Each Sunday session, beginning October 3, will begin with participation in the 10am Mass, followed by grade level formation until 12noon.

You may register online at stelmo79.org, or in person at the Parish Center (406 East 80th St.) The Archdiocese of New York requires a minimum of two consecutive years of either Catholic School or Parish Religious Education prior to the reception of First Communion or Confirmation.

Adult Faith Formation: • • •

Have you ever said, “I wish I could update my religious education,” or “I wish I could deepen my faith,” or “I wish I could get to know some people in my parish?” If so, then Adult Faith Formation is for you!

Gather with other Catholics, and with those considering becoming Catholic, to learn more about our Catholic Faith in a communal setting over a cup of coffee or tea. Bring your questions and musings!

Beginning October 3, following the 12noon Mass and concluding at 3pm, in the Parish Center. Consider adding this to your fall calendar.

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?

All are welcome, and questions are encouraged!

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.

Volunteers

Want to learn more about your own faith while helping others to do the same? Catechists (those who share their faith with others) and assistants (with a variety of job descriptions) are needed in our K-8 Religious Education and our Adult Formation programs. Contact Maryann Tyrer at mtyrer@stelmo79.org to find out how your gifts and our needs might connect!

Five Minute Jesus Using the Gospel for Prayer – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 29, 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.

The Gospel according to Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. —For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. — So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile. “From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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

Tuesday When the Pharisees and scribes gather around Jesus, they only see what they perceive as a problem – the disciples not observing the Mosaic Law about the cleansing of one’s hands before eating. This passage follows Mark’s account of Jesus feeding the 5000, with five loaves and two fish, walking on water, and healing many people. And yet the religious leaders only see the negative. Do you sometimes see the “glass half empty,” and miss out on the good things happening around you? How might you open your eyes more fully to the wonders that God is doing?

Wednesday Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes as they “pay lip service” to the Law, while their hearts are far from God. Jesus reminds them, and us, of God’s commandment to love God and neighbor. Everything else is a means to that end. Do you sometimes misunderstand traditions, human precepts, and religious observances as ends in and of themselves, rather than means to deepen our love of God and neighbor?

Thursday Check on the status of your heart today. Is it far from God, or close to God? Are you seeking to grow in love of God and neighbor?

Friday Jesus cautions that many evils come from within one’s heart, rather than from an outside source. How might you examine your heart to see if any of these evil thoughts and actions lurk within? How might you begin to “clean house,” removing these from your heart, and replacing them with positive virtues, and with love?

Saturday In the last few weeks we reflected on Jesus’ gift of himself as our Bread of Life. There is a saying: You are what you eat. In other words, our input is reflected in our output. True for healthy food or junk food, and even more true for how we nourish our spirits and feed our hearts. Are you feeding your heart and soul with healthy nourishment? Are you feasting on the Living Word and the Bread of Life? We are offered these gifts every day at the Eucharist. Come and feast!

From the Pastor 08.22.21 The Archdiocese and COVID-19 As we approach Labor Day and the start of Fall, we also realize that our nation is facing yet another surge of Coronavirus cases. The cases are clustered in areas of the country where there are large numbers of unvaccinated people, and thus so far, we have been spared, but there are still plenty of people here in the Northeast who have avoided vaccination; enough to cause widespread illness, and a strain on our healthcare system with its overworked doctors and nurses.

The Coronavirus is not vanquished, nor will it be until the number of vaccinated people is so high it cannot spread. As people of faith who believe in the One who taught love of God and love of neighbor, we have a moral obligation to get vaccinated, not only to protect our own health but also that of our neighbor. However, not everyone who remains unvaccinated does so out of spite; some people are not vaccinated due to health issues. And of course, there are our children who cannot yet receive the vaccine. As a result we need more than just the vaccine Last week the Archdiocese of New York issued its guidelines to handle the problems posed by the delta variant.

• • • • •

Unvaccinated people are responsible for wearing a mask. Those who are vaccinated are also encouraged to do so, if so inclined.

Churches should maintain a physical distance section, for those who wish to practice social distancing, no matter what their vaccination status.

Church buildings should still be sanitized several times each week.

People should continue receiving communion in the hand and not on the tongue.

There will be no physical exchange of the sign of peace, communion from the chalice should not resume right now, and baptismal fonts and holy water stoups will remain empty.

Our state has begun to reintroduce restrictions to reduce the possibility of infection. Measures such as mandatory mask-wearing and proof of vaccination, are meeting with resistance on many fronts. In contrast, the guidelines of the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn are moderate in their tone and reasonable in their expectations.

Our parish has been following these guidelines for weeks, and thus I do not foresee any change in the way we worship, though many things, such as larger public gatherings and the way we conduct religious education, are still being finalized. Stay tuned for more information on these issues.

As I said in a previous column, vaccination is like voting. One shot might not seem like much, but together with millions of others, we can change our nation – even the world. So, vote the Coronavirus out of power. Get vaccinated. Wear masks and one day we will have our world back.

Father Baker

CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS 511510: Church of St. Monica/ St Elizabeth of Hungary / St Stephen of Hungary 406 East 80th Street, NYC., NY 10075 PHONE: 212 288-6250 CONTACT PERSON: Gladys Tejada/Office

SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION: August 22nd, 2021 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE PRINT 450 BULLETINS FOR THIS WEEK’S ISSUE