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, 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:
Note: Please go to page 10 for our Holiday Schedule
Monday & Wednesday................................. . 9am - 4pm
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
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 28th Vigil
5:30pm Cinthia Morel
Sunday, January 29th
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8:00am Maria Goris
10:00am Catherine Dilon
12:00pm All Parishioners
5pm Nine Souls of Lima
Monday, January 30th Weekday
12pm Merillyn Stephen
Tuesday, January 31st St. John Bosco 12pm John McKessy
Wednesday, February 1st Weekday
12pm Mr. & Mrs. Orge Bellevue
Thursday, February 2nd
The Presentation of the Lord
12pm Christopher Walsh
Friday, February 3rd Weekday
12pm Kathleen M. Reddington
Saturday, February 4th Weekday
12pm Purgatorial Society
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.
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
Joanna Jack, Rev. Thomas Fenlon, Rev. Peter Bonventre, Cindy Garnica Castro, Madeline Tipton, Jennie Marmo and all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities
PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Rev. Karl Bauer, Rev. Salvatore Ricardi, Deacon Arthur Cuccia, Mike Ward, Sr. Suzanne LaChapelle, Maureen Crean, Wanda Denome, Patricia Roche & Leilani Waldman
Today’s Readings
First Reading — You humble of the land, seek justice and humility, and the Lord will be your protection (Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13).
Psalm — The Lord blesses the humble and gives them the heavenly kingdom (Psalm 146).
Second Reading — God chose the weak of the world, those who count for nothing, so that whoever boasts should boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
Gospel — Jesus taught from the mountain: Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:1-12a).
Readings for the Week
Monday: Heb 11:32-40; Ps 31:20-24; Mk 5:1-20
Tuesday: Heb 12:1-4; Ps 22:26b-28, 30-32; Mk 5:21-43
Wednesday: Heb 12:4-7, 11-15; Ps 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18a; Mk 6:1-6
Thursday: Mal 3:1-4; Ps 24:7-10; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40 [22-32]
Friday: Heb 13:1-8; Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9; Mk 6:14-29
Saturday: Heb 13:15-17, 20-21; Ps 23:1-6; Mk 6:30-34
Sunday: Is 58:7-10; Ps 112:4-9; 1 Cor \ 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16
Bread & Wine
In Memory of Christopher Walsh
This Week’s Bread & Wine Offered by Kitty O’DonoghueOne Church: Best Practices for Resisting Catholic Polarization Lecture on Thursday, Feb. 16th @ 7pm
St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers
St. Joseph’s Seminary and College in Yonkers will be hosting an evening lecture entitled One Church: Best Practices for Resisting Catholic Polarization, with Dr. Charles Camosy, a nationally recognized Catholic moral theologian, and the Seminary’s Msgr. Michael J Curran Fellow in Moral Theology.
Date and Time: Thursday, February 16th at 7:00 pm.
Location: St. Joseph’s Seminary Prayer Hall and online via Zoom.
Tickets: $25
More Information and registration:
OneChurchLectureSJSDrCamosy-tickets.eventbrite.com
Questions: sjsacademics@dunwoodie.edu or 914-968-6200 x8145
Join us for our Family Mass at 5:30pm on Saturday, February 4 – the highlight of our Catholic Schools Week Celebration!
Parish Pilgrimage to Greece with Fr. Anthony Ciorra, IVD In the Footsteps of Paul the Apostle
October 3-13, 2023
(Oct. 3-16 with optional Rome extension)
Blessing of Throats will be offered in the Church during the noon Mass on Friday, February 3, and at Vespers at 5:10pm February 3 in the Parish Center Chapel.
Bereavement Ministry
Our Seasons of Hope support group series continues on February 1, 8, and 15. We meet in the Parish Center, 7-8:30pm. Anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one is welcome to join us for prayer, discussion, and group support. Contact Maryann at mtyrer@stelmo79.org for info.
Join us for an unforgettable tour via air, sea, and land to many of the places where St. Paul preached and established Christian communities in the first century. Enjoy Mediterranean scenery and cuisine. Visit the Acropolis, Mykanos, the House of Mary in Ephesus, the cave in Patmos where John wrote the Book of Revelation, Santorini, and the monasteries of Meteora. The optional Rome Excursion will allow you to pray at the tomb of St. Paul, tour the Vatican museums, and explore the catacombs.
You can access the tour brochure at
https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1127331
Contact Maryann Tyrer for more info at mtyrer@stelmo79.org
Register with a refundable deposit in January and save $100!
Save the date – Young Adult Wine and Cheese (Mardi Gras style!) after the 5pm Mass on Sunday, February 19 in the Church!
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation:
• Participation in Sunday (or Saturday evening) Eucharist is an integral part of Religious Education for all ages in our parish. Children’s Liturgy of the Word is on hold for the next month or so, due to renovation work in the sacristy.
• K-8 Religious Education meets at 11:10am in the Parish Center
• No Religious Ed Sessions on Jan. 29 or Feb 5.
• Catechist Breakfast (prayer, planning, continuing formation, fellowship) at 10:30am, Sunday, January 29, in the Angelo Room – for all Religious Education Volunteers
• Family Faith Formation, Saturday, February 4, 2-5pm in the Parish Center. For K-8 children (parish and school) FAMILIES – interactive lessons, crafts, fun and fellowship to prepare us for the upcoming season of Lent. All children attending must be accompanied by at least one adult – but this is a family event, so the whole family is welcome to come and learn about our faith together!
• Upcoming – Family Faith Formation, Saturday, March 4, 2-5pm in the Church – this event will focus on the Eucharist, and is the Family Retreat for all First Communion Candidates (parish and school) – all K-8 families are invited as well, but this is required for all who will be celebrating First Communion this Spring!
Sacramental Preparation for Children & Teens
• Please remember that the Archdiocese requires two years of Religious Education or Catholic School prior to the celebration of First Penance/First Communion (2nd grade or older), and prior to the celebration of Confirmation (8th grade or older).
Adult Sacraments of Initiation (RCIA)
• Have you ever thought about becoming Catholic? Do you have a lot of questions about Catholicism? Or are you a baptized Catholic who has not yet celebrated First Communion or Confirmation? You, and your questions, are warmly welcomed! Come and share the journey with others. Please contact Maryann Tyrer at mtyrer@stelmo79.org to discuss our adult initiation process (commonly known as the RCIA). Join us on Sundays at 1:15pm in the Parish Center.
Adult Faith Formation Opportunities
• On Sundays, open and ongoing Adult Faith Formation takes place in the Parish Center after the noon Mass. We gather between 1:00 and 1:30pm for coffee, tea, and fellowship, then 1:30-3pm for a facilitated discussion of the Sunday Scriptures and the themes of Catholic Teaching that flow from those Scriptures. Drop in any time or participate regularly!
• Men’s Bible Study – our Group of Guys meet on Tuesdays at 12noon in the Parish Center – Please register online at stelmo79.org, or call 212-288-6250 so we have a head count to prepare materials.
The feast of the Presentation of the Lord, February 2, is a hinge upon which we pivot our gaze from Christmas and the Incarnation to Easter and Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.
This day falls 40 days after Christmas, and in the older liturgical calendars, the Presentation of the Lord closed the Christmas season (it now concludes with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord). The roots of this feast are found in Scripture, which tells of Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the Temple to follow Jewish law.
The law prescribed two rites following a birth. In one, the new mother was to offer a sacrifice of a lamb and a dove in thanksgiving for a safe delivery (those who were poor, like Mary and Joseph, were allowed to offer two doves, which they did). This offering was also intended for the purification of the mother and it took place 40 days after the birth of a male (80 days after the birth of a female).
In the other rite, which was to symbolically offer the new child to the Lord, the parents presented the child in the Temple and then ransomed him or her with money. In what must be one of the great paradoxes in history, Mary and Joseph “redeemed” Jesus with the traditional five shekels. See images of the Temple as it looked in Jesus' time in this part of our virtual tour of the Holy Land. The text here explains more about the use of coins and animals in the Temple economy. The celebration of this feast began in the ancient Church it appears to have begun in the fourth century, and was celebrated as the culmination of the Christmas season during the Middle Ages. The Scriptural accounts of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple tell of the meeting with Simeon, the aged man who had been promised by God that he would see the Messiah before his own death. Along with the prophetess Anna, Simeon represents the hope of devout Jews who were waiting for God’s rule.
Simeon recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, and, after giving thanks to God, makes a prophecy to Mary. His words call to mind the suffering that Jesus will endure for our redemption, and the confusion and sorrow that go with it. The ancient Church used this scene to transition from celebrating Jesus’ Incarnation to preparing to enter the Paschal Mystery in the Lenten and Easter seasons. This feast was always celebrated with candles (and used to be known as Candlemas) because of Simeon’s recognition that in the person of Jesus, God has given us salvation - “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people, Israel.”
On this feast of the presentation of the Lord, let us join Simeon in recognizing our salvation in Jesus, the light of the world!
You are invited to bring your personal candles that you use for prayer to be blessed at the noon Mass on Thursday, February 2.
Article source:
https://faith.nd.edu/s/1210/faith/interior.aspx?sid=1210&gid=609&pgid=23501&cid=45396&ecid=45396&crid=0
FIVE MINUTE JESUS
Using the Gospel for Prayer – The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 5, 2023
It’s simple. 1. Read the Gospel for the following Sunday slowly, reflecting on the story it tells. 2. Reflect on the question s 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 Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
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
Salt has unique, God-given qualities or gifts – as both a preservative and as a seasoning. These gifts are what makes salt - salt, and without these gifts salt becomes useless. In today's gospel, Jesus challenges us to recognize our own unique, God-given gifts. What are my intrinsic talents which can help preserve and spread the message of Christ?
Wednesday
Light is useful in its expansiveness. Even lampshades don't hide light but rather focus it or spread it out. How can I be expansive in expressing the will of God in the world?
Thursday Light does not only allow us to see. Light also allows us to be seen. As I try to share God’s message, do I act in ways which are a worthy example to others? How can I not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk?
Friday
“You are the light of the world.” Jesus asks us not to hide the light we received at our baptism. Our job as Christians is not only to strive for personal holiness, but also to touch the lives of everyone around us. Is there someone I know who may be in a dark place? Is there some small way I can share my light with them today?
Saturday
To be salt and light in today’s polarized world can be a challenge. With social injustice all around us, where do we start? Well, the Beatitudes from last week’s gospel is a good place to begin. Today, how do I humbly become a witness not just in words but in deeds? Who around me needs my gifts? Who around me needs help finding the light?
