January 31, 2021

Parish life Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jan. 31 2021

What is Candlemas?

(Page 8)

PARISH EVENTS (February at a glance, Page 4)

CAN YOU GIVE JESUS FIVE MINUTES? (Page 8) Scan to eReader

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 Schedule

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

Mass Intentions Saturday, January 30th Vigil 5:30pm

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

Thanksgiving

Sunday, January 31st Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

8:00am

Paula Harvey

10:00am

The Lynch & The Morris Family

12:00pm

All Parishioners

5:00pm

Michellino Petito Monday, February 1st Weekday

12:00pm

Mr. & Mrs. Oge Bellevue Tuesday, February 2nd The Presentation of the Lord

12:00pm

Wednesday, February 3rd Weekday 12:00pm

Thanksgiving Thursday, February 4th Weekday

12:00 pm

Paul Dieppa

Friday, February 5th St. Agatha 12:00 pm

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

Kathleen Downes

Thanksgiving to St. Agata

Saturday, February 6th St. Paul Mikki & Companions

12:00pm

Souls in Purgatory

For Mass Intentions, please visit the Parish Center.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Bread & Wine

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

This Week’s Bread & Wine In Memory of Danilo Valero Offered by Luis Valero

Vespers (Evening Prayer) Every Friday at 5:10pm in the Chapel and live on-line 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 For all who are sick, especially those sick with the COVID-19 Virus, Marcos Gonzalez, Mary Perocho & Ruth Nelson All Victims of Military Activities PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Denise M. Johnson, Capitol Police Officers, Flora Perez, and Fr. Trent Watts

Today’s Readings First Reading — The Ninevites turn from their evil ways in response to Jonah’s message (Jonah 3:1-5, 10).

Psalm — Teach me your ways, O Lord (Psalm 25).

Second Reading — The world in its present form is passing away (1 Corinthians 7:29-31).

Gospel — Jesus proclaims, “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” The new disciples abandon their nets and follow him (Mark 1:14-20).

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 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22; Ps 117:1bc, 2;Mk 16:15-18 Tuesday: 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5; Ps 96:1-3, 7-8a,

10; Mk 3:31-35 Wednesday: Heb 10:11-18; Ps 110:1-4; Mk 4:1-20 Thursday: Heb 10:19-25; Ps 24:1-6; Mk 4:21-25 Heb 10:32-39; Ps 37:3-6, 23-24, 39-40; Friday: Mk 4:26-34 Saturday: Heb 11:1-2, 8-19; Lk 1:69-75; Mk 4:35-41

Parish Life Just a reminder, we will be having our monthly (still virtual meeting), this Thursday, Feb 4th. Please let us know if you like to participate by emailing greenteam@stelmo79.org We will be working on a few projects and would love to have you! On another note, despite much research, it seems that the single-use face masks are sadly not recyclable, so once used, just put them in the garbage bin. BUT PLEASE ONE BIG ASK, cut the ear loops with scissors before throwing them out to prevent entangling wildlife.

Some very sad pictures have been posted. THANKS! The Saints adorning the walls of our Church beg for acknowledgment. A series of short talks on each saint will be featured in the “Prayers & More” section of on our website at the end of January 2021. Please see the schedule below.

WEEK OF: February 1: St. Elizabeth Seton February 8: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini February 15: St. Teresa of Calcutta Feb 22: St. Francis of Assisi & St. Anthony of Padua

Our Social Justice Ministry, in collaboration with the Thrive for Life Prison Project, invites you to pray Vespers (evening prayer) every Wednesday in Lent at 8pm starting Ash Wednesday (2/17). Join us by registering at: HTTPS://BIT.LY/WeeklyPrayerHour

Have an idea or suggestion for social media content, or our website? Are you interested in snapping pictures that capture our lively parish?

Join the Digital Media Ministry by emailing Pastoral Associate for Parish Life, Jasmine Gomez at jgomez@stelmo79.org On Thursday, January 28th, the Young Adult Ministry hosted a talk entitled, Grounding Myself in the Word of God: How Lectio Divina can help you live with more joy!

The gathering was deeply prayerful and provided a great sense of community for our Parish’s Young Adults. The next talk will be hosted on Thursday, February 25th at 7pm and it will focus on the Ignatian Examen. You might be familiar with the speaker… here’s a hint: he runs this place ;) 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

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.

• Congratulations to our young people who celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the morning of January 31. May you continue to deepen your relationship with our God who is loving and merciful! We will continue to pray for you as you prepare for your First Holy Communion this April.

• FAMILY FAITH FORMATION via Zoom on Sunday, February 7, 10:15-11:30am. The whole family logs in once, and then participates in several family activities at home while on Zoom with other Religious Education families. Don’t miss this fun family event that will help your family prepare for Lent! All Religious Education families will receive the Zoom link. Email Maryann at mtyrer@stelmo79.org if you are not registered this year, but are interested in participating in this event.

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 New Year’s resolution!

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.

Congratulations to our current inquirers who celebrate the Rite of Acceptance and Welcome – an important step as they prepare now, as Catechumens (those preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist), and Candidates (those who are already baptized, but are either becoming Catholic, or are completing their Catholic Initiation), to celebrate Sacraments of Initiation during the Easter Season.

What is Candlemas?

If you count 40 days after the celebration of Christmas you reach February 2. Early on, the Church marked that day with a special feast and it is the final “baby Jesus” day in the liturgical calendar before the celebration of Lent.

The feast has many different names in the Roman Catholic Church. It has been called the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and, more familiarly, Candlemas. Each name highlights a different aspect of the feast that the Church celebrates.

First of all, it is called the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary on account of an ancient Mosaic law explained in Leviticus.

[If a woman conceives, and bears a child she shall be unclean] And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord, and make atonement for her; then she shall be clean. (Leviticus 12:6-7) Mary, being a faithful Jew, abided by the law and did what was required of her. After 40 days passed she approached the priest with the proper offering to be declared “clean.”

The liturgical celebration is also called the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and again corresponds to an ancient Jewish practice of presenting the first-born to God. Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours; nevertheless the first-born of man you shall redeem. (Numbers 18:15) As a result, Mary and Joseph brought with them Jesus, as St. Luke narrates, “And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’)” (Luke 2:22-23).

St. Luke narrates how, while at the Temple, the Holy Family encountered an old man named Simeon and what he said next constitutes the basis for why the feast is called Candlemas.

Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word,for my eyes have seen your salvation,which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32) Simeon declared that Jesus would be a “light,” and the Church developed a custom of lighting and blessing candles on this day. Historically the priest would bless all the candles used during Mass for the entire year. The congregation also received candles and the words of Simeon were repeated in song. The current Roman Missal has the following prayer that summarizes the symbolism.

O God, source and origin of all light, who on this day showed to the just man Simeon the light for revelation to the Gentiles, we humbly ask that, in answer to your people’s prayers, you may be pleased to sanctify with your blessing these candles, which we are eager to carry in praise of your name, so that, treading the path of virtue, we may reach that light which never fails.

Though not a holy day of obligation, it is a beautiful day in the Church’s calendar, one that signals the end of the “Christmas-Cycle” and looks forward to the light that will shatter all darkness at the Easter Vigil — when another candlelight service is performed in recognition that, “the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen” (Matthew 4:16). (source: https://aleteia.org/2018/02/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-beautiful-feast-of-candlemas/)

FIVE MINUTE JESUS Using the Gospel for Prayer – The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time FEBRUARY 7 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.

Mark 1:29-39 Gospel On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

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

Tuesday When Jesus restored the health of Simon’s mother-in-law, he also restored her spiritual health. Once healed she was able to serve those in need. How can I take time today to take care of my physical health so that I may help serve those in need in my community?

Wednesday Prioritizing prayer, Jesus rises early and goes to a quiet place to be alone with God. Through prayer Jesus gains strength from his heavenly Father. When in my busy life can I follow Jesus’ example and “slip away” for some time to pray today?

Thursday The sick and possessed in today’s Gospel were the marginalized of the time. They were shunned by their society and by their religion. They depended upon the charity of others to survive. Who are the marginalized today? How can I reach out and help them?

Friday Through prayer, Jesus becomes conscious of his mission – service. He calls his disciples to that mission.

How can I deepen my commitment to Jesus’ call of service today?

Saturday At the end of this passage Jesus makes known that he is here not just to heal but to proclaim the message of the kingdom of God – repent and believe the Good News! It is God’s kingdom that heals people, builds stronger communities, and speaks truth. In today’s tumultuous world, how can I proclaim this message to my community?

From the Pastor 01.31.21 Brothers and Sisters Many of us have complicated relationships with family members. Whether it is family history, differences in personality or politics, sometimes it is just difficult to get along. And yet, we would probably say that if they needed us, we would be there for them. Afterall, we are family.

One of Jesus’ central themes, in all his preaching and teaching, is that those who follow him are family. He calls us all brothers and sisters and teaches us to call God our father. For him that is not just empty rhetoric. He knows that we support our brothers and sisters. He just challenges us to see that family as bound, not by blood, but by baptism.

Indeed, in some passages in Scripture he challenges us to see everyone as family; the universal human family created by God. And he does that because he knows us; if we are ever to live his law of love of God and neighbor, we will only do it when we see others, even strangers, as one of us.

That law of love isn’t about emotion, but about action; it is not a noun, it is a verb. For this reason, from the very beginning, the Church has fed the poor. It has cared for the sick. It has fought ignorance with learning and challenged the strongest to respect and protect the weakest members of the human family.

We do this in many ways, but one concrete, organized way we have done it is through charity. For decades the Archdiocese of New York has organized support of its institutions and charitable works by means of an annual appeal. It is that time of the year when I announce the start of the Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal and encourage us all to give.

Our Goal this year is $98,500. In years past, we always made our goal. In the past couple of years however, we have come in just under it. Many who used to give say they give no longer because they cannot in good conscience give money to the Church. They will only use it to pay legal fees resulting from decades of child abuse.

While it is indeed true the Catholic Church has paid out millions as a result of its sins, it is important to remember that THAT money is paid by insurance companies – not by the Appeal.

The Appeal supports the work of Catholic Charities, so important in this time of economic hardship. It supports parishes which are now even more financially stricken due to that hardship. It supports Catholic Schools and pays for the education of our future priests. It cares for our retired priests and especially this year underwrites the work of the Archdiocese in dealing with the pandemic.

Next week I will speak at all the masses. Many of us will receive a solicitation from the Archdiocese in my name (in fact many already have). For those that do not, there will envelopes in the back of the church and of course the opportunity to give online (www.cardinalsappeal.org/donate). I encourage everyone to consider making a gift to the Appeal; even if it is only a little. Even if you never have before.

After that initial announcement you won’t hear much from me. I have always trusted that you know what you can give, and you also know why you give it; because, as Jesus preaches and our Church teaches, there is really only one law that matters; the law of Love. Love God. Love your neighbor. Why? Because God is our Father, and we are family.

Father Baker

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