February 21, 2021

Parish life First Sunday of Lent

Feb . 21, 2021

Fr. Baker’s Six-Year End of Term Evaluation (Page 4)

From Our Music Director ( Page 4)

Lifelong Faith Formation (Page 6)

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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

Mass Intentions Saturday, February 20th Vigil 5:30pm Priests of St. Monica’s Sunday, February 21st First Sunday of Lent 8:00am 10:00am 12:00pm 5:00pm

Coles Phinizy Ann Albrezut All Parishioners Mary J. Kelly

Pastor: Rev. Donald C. Baker .......................... frdcab@stelmo79.org Rev. Msgr. Leslie J. Ivers ........................... msgrlivers@stelmo79.org Monday, February 22nd Weekend Associates: ...............................................Rev. Tony Ciorra Pastoral Associate: Ms. Maryann Tyrer ........ mtyrer@stelmo79.org The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle Pastoral Associate: Ms. Jasmine Gomez ..... jgomez@stelmo79.org Parish Manager: Mr. Michael Ward ............. mward@stelmo79.org Music Director: Mr. John Zupan .................... jzupan@stelmo79.org 12:00am Annette Williams Wedding Coordinator: Ms. Debbi Burdett . dbweddingsnyc@gmail.com Plant Manager: Guillermo Vanegas ......... gvanegas@stelmo79.org Tuesday, February 23rd Lenten Weekday Sacristan: Pedro Pizarro ................................ ppizarro@stelmo79.org Administrative Assistant: Gladys Tejada ..... gtejada@stelmo79.org 12:00pm Margarita Simanca (Living) Church Address: 413 East 79th Street, NY, NY 10075 Parish Center Address: 406 East 80th Street, NY, NY 10075 Wednesday, February 24th Lenten Weekday Tel: 212-288-6250 Fax: 212- 570-1562

Email: info@stelmo79.org

Our Offices are open: 12:00pm Pedro Ant. Litrenta, Jr. Monday ............................................................. 9am - 5pm Tuesday - Thursday ....................................... 9am - 7pm Friday .......................................................Closed Thursday, February 25th Lenten Weekday Saturday ................................................. 10am - 2pm

Sunday ..................................................... Closed 12:00 pm Joseph O’Mara (Living) Closed for Lunch Weekdays......................1pm - 2pm

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

Friday, February 26th Lenten Weekday

12:00 pm Robert McAuvic

Saturday, February 27th Lenten Weekday

Mass Schedule

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

12:00pm

Thanksgiving

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 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.

Bread & Wine This Week’s Bread & Wine In Memory of Pedro Ant. Litrenta, Jr. Offered by Maria Litrenta

Today’s Readings First Reading — I will set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth (Genesis 9:8-15).

Psalm — Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant (Psalm 25).

Second Reading — The water of the flood prefigured baptism, which saves you now (1 Peter 3:1822).

Gospel — Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the angels ministered to him (Mark 1:12-15) 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

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 Michael Berry, Pasquale Ionta, Patrick Funicane, James Mooney, Marcos Gonzalez, Mary Perocho, Ruth Nelson, Rev. Thomas Lynch, Marcia Power, Candy Villa & all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Julia Deegan, Raymond Timmey, Mary Jane Mercado, Ellen Lewis, Johanna Reynolds, Rev. Kevin O’Reilly, Rev. Carl Johnson, Flora Perez, Denise Johnson, Alexander Julian, Deogracias Ponce & Darwin Salguer

Readings for the Week Monday: 1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-3a, 4-6; Mt 16:13-19 Tuesday: Is 55:10-11; Ps 34:4-7, 16-19; Mt 6:7-15 Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; Lk 11:29-32 Thursday: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Ps 138:1-3, 7c-8; Mt 7:7-12 Friday: Ez 18:21-28; Ps 130:1-8; Mt 5:20-26 Saturday: Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Mt 5:43-48 Sunday: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ps 116:10,

15-19; Rom 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10

MUSIC IN THE LENTEN SEASON Lent is here. It is hard to believe that last year’s Lent began with a lockdown due to the coronovirus.

We sadly could not meet as a community to pray. We were intially not even allowed to sing! I remember the pastoral team meeting weekly to record daily and Sunday Masses to send out so we could all stay connected somehow. Now, it is a year later. We are congregating; although we are limited to 150 attendees per service. We can sing; but with masks and restrictions on the type of singing we use. The main thing is we are back in church praying together. And as vaccinations take place we look forward to the day when restrictions will be lifted and we can sing out to the heavens with one, unrestricted voice!

As we begin our Lenten jouney this year, we are reminded that we are to “repent and believe in the Gospel.” It is a time when we as a community come together to return to God with our whole heart. A time when we journey through this wonderful season of prayer and fasting. A time when we remember our baptismal call to continuing conversion. It is also a time when our RCIA candidates enter into their final stages before full reception on the Great Easter Vigil.

As we began on Ash Wednesday, our liturgy transformed. Our Gloria was omitted. The Gospel Alleluia was replaced by the acclamation, “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ King of endless glory”. Our joyous Alleluia won’t return until the Great Vigil. Even our memorial acclamation changed to, “Save us, Savoir of the world for by your cross and ressurection, you have set us free.” A reminder of the great Paschal Mystery.

When we returned to Mass last July, we had to change the way we sang. We began to sing more antiphons and refrains and left the verses to our cantor or choir to sing. We also had no recessional hymn going out. That has become more familiar to us all. So, the Lenten music will not seem that different. But there are two things that you will notice. One, the Penitential Act is heightened. We are asked to kneel (if we can) and pray in silence for a longer period before we sing Kyrie eléison – Christe eléison – Kyrie eléison. Two, the Mass parts – the Holy, the Memorial Acclamation, Amen and Lamb of God will be a simple chant with sparse accompaniment.

So as we journey through this season may our our antiphons, psalms and hymns help us to reflect and deepen of our own spiritual life. Some hymns will be familiar, some will be new. All are meant to draw us into the season on our way to the resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday.

Father Baker’s Six-Year End of Term Evaluation Pastors in the Archdiocese of New York are assigned to six-year terms of service. Father Baker has now completed his first six years here. The Archdiocese conducts an evaluation of the pastor and the parish at the end of each term.

Parishioners and staff who wish to do so may write letters with their own comments about our parish and the pastoral leadership of the parish. Please address your letters to:

The Office of Priest Personnel Archdiocese of New York 1011 First Avenue

New York, New York 10022 Letters should be received no later than February 28, 2021 Please note: Any correspondence received after the deadline will NOT be included in the evaluation process.

Parish Life Our Social Justice Ministry is partnering up with Thrive for Life to bring you: Let’s Pray!

An opportunity to pray vespers (evening prayer) with the Spiritual Mentors, Staff and formerly incarcerated people who make up the Thrive for Life Community! We will gather via Zoom every Wednesday in Lent.

Join us by registering on STELMO79.org A Possible Lenten Reflection Dear parishioners, I have integrated the Stations of the Cross with the Lives of the Saints in 2 ways: 1) I have offered a way in which you might contemplate each Station of the Cross with the saint whose portrait hangs below each Station. 2) I have offered insight into the life of each saint to demonstrate how each saint has shown his or her love for Jesus Christ who suffered and died for each one of us - by walking the walk! Each of these presentations is on our website under “Prayers & Devotions”. I am not quite finished with the presentation of all of the lives of the saints but hope to be shortly – Anne Sabatini As we enter the time of lent, what better time to remind ourselves of Pope’s Francis appeal to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path.

In June 2015 Pope Francis urged the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics and all people of good will to take urgent action against the injustice of climate change and the ecological crisis, to protect the poor and future generations. He issued his second encyclical Laudato Si’ (Praise Be to You).

The release was a historic event, as Pope Francis issued a powerful message on our moral responsibility to care for creation. It has the subtitle "on care for our common

home". In it, the pope critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action."

(As a reminder a papal encyclical is one of the highest forms of communication by the pope and usually deals with some aspect of Catholic teaching — clarifying, amplifying, condemning or promoting one or a number of issues. A papal encyclical historically is addressed to bishops and priests of a country or region or to all clergy.)

There are 7 Laudato Si’s Goals – LSG’s: Response to the Cry of the Earth – Response to the Cry of the Poor – Ecological Economics – Adoption of a Simple Lifestyle – Ecological Education – Ecological Spirituality – Emphasis of Community Involvement and Participation The Young Adult Ministry will host a talk entitled, A Life Worth Living: How the Ignatian Examen can Help Us Live with Intention At this virtual gathering, we will learn about what the Ignatian Examen is, its history and why it is still relevant today. Thursday, Feb. 25th at 7:00pm until 8:00pm Register by visiting STELMO79.org Social Media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have seemingly taken over the tech world but learning to navigate these platforms can be daunting. Join Pastoral Associate, Jasmine Gomez, on February 27th at 1pm for a brief virtual tutorial on some of the most popular social media platforms around. Register at STELMO79.org pg. 5

K-8 Parish Religious Education:

• We continue to meet online each Sunday morning at 10:15am. Zoom links are emailed each week to all registered families.

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. Learning more about your faith as an adult is an awesome Lenten commitment!

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.

At the Noon Mass on February 21, we will celebrate the RCIA Rite of Election with our catechumens (right), Ron Barth, Bob McCasky, and Alissa Cherry, when they will be “elected” – chosen – for the Easter Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist). On the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent, we will pray the Scrutinies with them, asking God to prepare their hearts for their baptismal commitment.

On the 2nd Sunday of Lent, we will pray the Penitential Rite with our candidates for Full Communion, Confirmation, and Eucharist at Pentecost. Our candidates (left) are Merrill Healy, Lauren Basit, and Brandon Bush.

“Christ will be your strength! Learn to know and follow him!”

FINDING HOPE AND PEACE IN A TIME OF TRANSITION – LENT 2021 Fridays in Lent – Each Friday in Lent, we offer the following: 12noon Mass, followed by Stations of the Cross, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and time for private Adoration until 3pm. At 3pm, members of the community pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which is followed by Solemn Benediction. All of this takes place in the church.

Every Friday, we offer Vespers (Evening Prayer of the Church) at 5:10pm in the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel (406 E. 80th St.) All are welcome to this lovely 20-minute service of psalms, prayers, song, and silence.

Saturdays in Lent – we will have Solemn Vespers (Evening Prayer of the Church) at 5pm in the church.

Confessions are also heard in the church during this time. The Vigil Mass for Sunday follows at 5:30pm.

Tuesdays in Lent - In response to the global pandemic, Pope Francis has written a wonderful book – Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future. Our Holy Father explores what this crisis can teach us about how to handle upheaval of any kind, and how, if we have the courage to change, we can emerge from the challenge better than before. Msgr. Ivers will lead us through an overview of this small but powerful book, with an emphasis on how it might be helpful in our personal lives, and in our parish community. We will also pray Vespers (Evening Prayer) at the beginning of each session. Join us for any or all of the three sessions, held on Tuesdays at 7pm in the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel (406 E. 80th St.) The sessions will be live, and will also be livestreamed on our website for those unable to attend in person. You will have the opportunity to email questions to Msgr. Ivers during the session. Pope Francis’ book is available in hardcover or as an e-book, wherever you purchase books. Reading the book in advance will enhance your experience of this series, but is not required in order to participate.

Part One: A Time to See Part Two: A Time to Choose Part Three: A Time to Act

Tuesday, March 2, 7pm Tuesday, March 9, 7pm Tuesday, March 16, 7pm

Wednesdays in Lent – The Social Justice Ministry in collaboration with Thrive For Life Prison Project invites you to pray Vespers on Wednesday nights during Lent via Zoom, starting Wednesday, February 17, 8-9pm. Register at STELMO79.org to receive the Zoom link.

Thursday, March 18 – Pope Francis declared this to be the Year of St. Joseph, (whose feast day is March 19). Join us in the chapel at 7pm for Evening Prayer and a special presentation on St. Joseph by Fr. Antonio Altamonte, chaplain at Lenox Hill Hospital. Live and livestreamed.

Here are the Church regulations for fasting and abstinence during Lent: - Everyone 14 years of age or older is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, all the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.

- Everyone 18 or older, and under 59 years of age, is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

- On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, only one full meatless meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted. - When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige.

Five Minute Jesus

Using the Gospel for Prayer – The 2nd Sunday in Lent – February 28, 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 9: 2-10 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter and James and John, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves and was transfigured before them. And his garments became shining and exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller upon earth can make white. And there appeared to them Elias with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he knew not what he said: for they were struck with fear. And there was a cloud overshadowing them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is my most beloved son; hear ye him. And immediately looking about, they saw no man anymore, but Jesus only with them. And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them not to tell any man what things they had seen, till the Son of man shall be risen again from the dead. And they kept the word to themselves; questioning together what that should mean, when he shall be risen from the dead.

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

Tuesday Though he had 12 Apostles, Jesus only brought 3 with him to the mountain top- Peter, James and John. Peter as we know becomes the founder of the Church, James one of the first to follow him and John, known as the beloved disciple. Can you identify 3 people that accompany or support you in your spiritual journey? Can you identify at least 1 person you support? Take a moment now to pray for all those who came to mind.

Wednesday In this Gospel, Jesus was transfigured. According to Merriam-Webster one way that transfiguration can be defined is as a change in form: Metamorphosis. Think back on your spiritual journey. Can you think of ways in which you have changed? Are there ways in which you hope to change this Lenten season? Take a moment now to ask God for the grace you need to make that change.

Thursday Peter and the disciples were shocked to see Moses and Elijah alongside Jesus. Can you recall a time when God completely surprised you? Thank God for that moment and use this as a reminder to stay open to God’s surprises.

Friday In this scripture, God tells the disciples to listen to Jesus. What is implied to you personally by God’s command that we listen to Jesus?

Saturday Despite not knowing what was meant by ‘rising from the dead’, the Apostles observed Jesus’ warning faithfully.

Many times, things are not always clear to us, yet we are called to trust and follow Christ. Where might Christ be leading you today?

From the Pastor 02.21.21 The Appeal In the Gospel we hear a powerful challenge, rooted in the example of Jesus, to work for justice, to work for healing, to work so that the reign of God might be experienced here and now in those we serve.

But how? In our work, in our dealings with others, in our homes and in our city, we have all experienced the limitations placed on our lives by the pandemic. Those limitations are social; we seldom gather in bars and restaurants, in the homes of family and friends; they are cultural; we wear masks covering our faces and follow norms which seemed absurd last year. They are even religious as one of the places so many still fear to visit, pray in, or support, is the parish church.

In the face of so many challenges, however, the work of the Catholic Church continues. One of the ways we can respond to the challenges made in the Gospel and in the example of Christ is to contribute to the Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal.

To support the appeal is of course to support the works the Appeal makes possible. What are they?

• The appeal supports parishes which struggle financially.

• It supports feeding programs and essential human services.

• It supports our Catholic schools and diocesan faith formation activities.

• It contributes to the education of new priests.

• It cares for retired priests.

• And it sets aside funds to continue to manage the CoVID-19 Crisis.

The total goal for the Archdiocese this year is $21 Million. Our parish goal is $98,000. It is in the light of the example of Jesus and the needs of the people of the Archdiocese in this time that I respectfully ask you support our parish in meeting its goal.

I am so aware that one of the limitations for many in this time of pandemic is financial. Many have lost work others are on reduced salaries. They cannot give. Which makes it all the more important for those who can to support the work this money supports.

It has always been my policy NOT to badger my parishioners about the appeal. While many of you have already received a letter from the Cardinal in my name concerning giving, and you are hearing about it from me now, this will be the only weekend I will speak of it from the pulpit.

Here at St. Monica-St. Elizabeth of Hungary – St. Stephen of Hungary, we have always made goal, or come in just underneath it. I am sure that this year, when so many are in need, we will rise to the challenge. Our participation is essential to the success of the campaign. There are envelopes in the back of the church with which you can make your pledge or one-time gift. You can go online and give. Information for that is in the bulletin. Together we can support the work of our Church during this troubling time and hopefully when it is over, we will emerge all the stronger. Thank you for your time and your support.

Father Baker (This is a slightly edited version of the talk that I gave at all the masses last week. I am informed by our Cardinal’s Appeal representative that already we are within 33% of goal (i.e., more than 1/3 of the way) with only 36 donors. Thank you to all who support the work of the Church in New York through the Appeal!)

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