July 26, 2020

Seventeenth Sunday In Ordinary

July 26, 2020

Music Ministry (PAGE 4)

JUST A WORD from your Pastor ((Page 9))

MINISTRIES UPDATE (Page 5)

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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 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, July 25th, Vigil

5:30 pm

Michael Del Vecchio

Sunday, July 26th, Seventeenth Sunday

Pastor: Rev. Donald C. Baker .......................... frdcab@stelmo79.org Rev. Msgr. Leslie J. Ivers ........................... msgrlivers@stelmo79.org Weekend Associates: ........... Rev. Jim O’Shea and 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

In Ordinary Time

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

12:00 pm

Our Offices are open: Monday ............................................................. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesday - Thursday ....................................... 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Friday .......................................................Closed

8:00 am Megan, Matthew, Sarah & Ryan (Living) 10:00 am

5:00 pm

Lucia Roman

Monday, July 27th Weekday Anna Corra

Tuesday, July 28th Weekday

12:00 pm

Beatrice O’Carroll

Wednesday, July 29th St. Martha

12:00 pm Maureen & Kevin Walsh (Living)

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

Thursday, July 30th Weekday

12:00 pm

Visit us at: www.stelmo79.org Follow us on social media by searching STELMO79

Rose Ferrara

12:00 pm All Parishioners

Saturday ................................................. 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Closed for Lunch Weekdays......................1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Mackensy Walsh (Living)

Friday, July 31st St. Ignatius Loyola

12:00 pm

12:00 pm

Mary Herdiech

Saturday, August 1st St. Alphonsus Liguori

Doreen Carrick

For Mass Intentions, please visit the Parish Center.

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Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Every Friday after the Noon Mass to 3:00 pm.

Devotions Miraculous Medal on Mondays after each Mass

Divine Mercy The Divine Mercy Chaplet is Prayed each Friday Afternoon at 3:00 pm.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturdays at 5pm or by appointment

Baptisms & Marriages:

Treasures of our Tradition A SHARE IN GOD’S KINGDOM Today concludes a three-week series of Gospel texts in which we have listened to a total of seven parables about the Kingdom. The believer is asked to consider the request that God made of Solomon in today’s first reading: “Ask something of me and I will give it to you” (1 Kings 3:5).

Today’s parables about the treasure buried in the field and the pearl of great price should prompt us to answer, “A share in your kingdom, O God!” Today we discover that the kingdom of God is beyond value, a priceless treasure.

Unfortunately, our culture bombards us with things that it believes are priceless treasures—the bigger and better SUVs, anti-aging and anti-balding creams and salves, miracle diets, and so much more. Having a share in God’s kingdom and helping to bring about that kingdom are the greatest treasures that we can ever hope to gain.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

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.

Please remember in your prayers PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Cabrera-Diaz Family

Today’s Readings First Reading — Solomon prays for an understanding heart (1 Kings 3:5, 7-12).

Psalm — Lord, I love your commands (Psalm 119).

Second Reading — All things work for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28-30).

Gospel — The one who knows of the kingdom of heaven brings new and old from the storeroom (Matthew 13:44-52 [44-46]).

All victims of military activity

The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for

PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED

Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved

Please pray for our deceased parishioners & family members: Luz Maria Mendez, Robert Atkinson, Judy Baron, Mimi Simon, Deacon Robert Jarmik & Theresa Muldey

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Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the

Readings for the week Monday: Jer 13:1-11; Dt 32:18-21; Mt 13:31-35 Tuesday: Jer 14:17-22; Ps 79:8, 9, 11, 13; Mt 13:36-43 Wednesday: Jer 15:10, 16-21; Ps 34:2-11; Jn 11:19-27

or Lk 10:38-42 Thursday: Jer 18:1-6; Ps 146:1b-6ab; Mt 13:47-53 Friday: Jer 26:1-9; Ps 69:5, 8-10, 14; Mt 13:54-58 Saturday: Jer 26:11-16, 24; Ps 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34; Mt 14:1-12 Sunday: Is 55:1-3; Ps 145:8-9, 15-18;

Rom 8:35, 37-39; Mt 14:13-21

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St. Stephen of Hungary School Pre-K through 8th Grade Catholic Parochial School 408 East 82nd St., New York, NY 10028 (212) 288-1989 • Fax: (212) 517-5788 Principal: Ms. Kelly Burke www.saintstephenschool.org Interested in admissions to our parish school? admissions@saintstephenschool.org

THE MUSIC MINISTRY Here at St. Monica – St. Elizabeth of Hungary – St. Stephen of Hungary our music ministry is a vital and integral part of our praying community. To be a part of the music ministry means acting as leaders of sung prayer. We become a musical ensemble that gives our assembly the confidence to sing with full voice. Our mission is to enhance each liturgy and create a shared prayer environment.

Adult Choir – meets on Wednesday evenings from 7 pm – 8:30 pm in the church with a optional pickup rehearsal on Saturdays at 3pm. The choir sings for the 12 noon Mass on Sundays from September through May as well as Christmas and Holy Week/Easter. In addition, the choir performs at the Christmas and Spring concerts with our chamber ensemble. For info: adultchoir@stelmo79.org

Children’s Choir – meets on Wednesday afternoons from 4 pm – 5pm in the chapel of St. Stephen of Hungary School. The children sing for the Family Mass on the 1st Saturdays of the month at 5:30 pm. They also sing for Advent, Christmas & Lent. In addition, the choir performs at the Christmas and Spring concerts with our chamber ensemble. For info: childrenschoir@stelmo79.org

Contemporary Ensemble – this is a newly formed group that sings at our 5 pm Contemporary Mass. The Mass is accompanied by piano and bass. The group meets at 4:15 pm before each Mass to rehearse. This ensemble is geared towards our young adults in the parish. If you are not a singer but play an instrument and wish to share your time and talents playing, no worries, there is a place for you as well. For info: contemporaryensemble@stelmo79.org

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On June 30th at 7:30pm, our Young Adult Ministry (ages 18-39) in collaboration with the Senior Ministry, will host a discussion on the film Selma! Register for the virtual discussion by visiting our website: stelmo79.org by July 29th.

This film viewing and discussion is the second in a series that is dedicated to the topic of Race and Racism.

Confessions happen every Saturday in the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel (408 East 80th St.) from 5-5:30pm and by appointment.

Contact our Parish office if you would like more information.

St. Monica’s Green Team went virtual! Their first-ever Zoom meeting was on Thursday, July 23, at 6:30 pm. They discussed the upcoming Season of Creation (September 1 to October 4) and what we as a parish can do to celebrate. If you would like to participate in the next meeting, please send an email to GreenTeam@stelmo79.org, and you will be sent a Zoom invitation.

The Green Team, also known as the Care for Our Common Home ministry, works to protect the natural world in accordance with the teachings of Pope Francis.

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Sacramental Celebrations that were postponed in the Spring have been rescheduled as follows: • St. Stephen of Hungary 1st Communion – Saturday, September 19, 10am o Rehearsals will be during school days • Parish Religious Ed and Caedmon 1st Communion – Sunday, September 20, at the 10am Mass o Rehearsal for candidates and a parent– Thursday, September 17, 4pm • Confirmation for SSH group and parish group – Sunday, October 4, 2pm o Rehearsal for candidates and sponsors – Saturday, Oct. 3 at 10am

K-8 Religious Education • K-8 Religious Education will be online (via ZOOM) this Fall! We hope this will make it easier for your children to participate regularly, and allay your fears about the COVID-19 pandemic. We simply do not have the space to allow for necessary social distancing. No ZOOM account is necessary - you will be sent a link to connect each Sunday morning. All you need is internet access and a tablet or computer. This method of delivery has been approved by the Archdiocese of New York and by our pastor and will fulfill all Archdiocesan and parish requirements.

• Registration is now open. You may download the form on our website, complete it, attach a check, and mail it in, OR, you may register in person and pay fees at the parish center. New registrations must include a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate.

• Once you have completed registration, you will be notified of the dates when you can pick up your child’s textbook and support materials. Parent meetings will be offered in September via ZOOM. • The first K-8 Religious Education session is Sunday, October 4, 2020, at 10:15am. Registration must be completed by October 1. We hope the delayed start will allow everyone to settle in at school and prepare for the new religious education format.

Sacramental Preparation for Children and Teens • First Penance, First Communion, Confirmation o The Archdiocese of New York requires two years of either Catholic School or Parish Religious Education immediately before the reception of First Communion (2nd grade or up) or Confirmation (8th grade or up). o First Penance and First Communion have an at-home component that is to be completed in addition to regular attendance in Religious Education.

Adult Faith Formation – open to all adults!

• Sunday Morning Scripture Discussions resume on October 18, 10:15-11:45am at the Parish Center • Friday Evening Prayer year round in the chapel at 5:10pm each week – all are welcome Adults who are thinking about becoming Catholic, or Catholic adults who are missing First Communion and/or Confirmation - contact Maryann Tyrer, Pastoral Associate, to discuss our adult initiation process. You can begin the process any time throughout the year.

Want to volunteer? Many different opportunities are available, with various time commitments – Contact Maryann to discuss how your gifts might meet our needs.

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BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY

We are launching a new ministry here at the parish this fall for anyone who has lost a loved one over the past couple of years. Programming will begin in November, but we need to begin now to recruit and form a team for this ministry. If you feel God calling you to assist those who are grieving, to listen to their stories with compassion and affirmation, please contact Maryann Tyrer for further discussion. No prior experience is needed, although it would be welcomed. The Archdiocese will provide training once we have formed a team.

VOLUNTEER

OPPORTUNITIES

Contact Maryann Tyrer at mtyrer@stelmo79.org if you are interested in learning more about any of the following opportunities to get involved in our Lifelong Faith Formation programs. Training and resources provided – no experience needed. Screening and background check required.

• Catechists and assistants for elementary and junior high aged students and families– teach our faith online (for now) and in person (once it’s safe to gather in groups.) Usually Sunday mornings.

• Assistants and discussion group leaders for adult faith formation and adult sacramental formation (RCIA) – assist lead catechists and facilitate small group discussions. These groups meet in person, practicing social distancing. Sunday mornings, Saturdays, or weeknight evenings.

• Hospitality assistants (will begin once social distancing rules have loosened) – assist with set up, refreshments, and clean up for Lifelong Faith Formation events (both adult and family.) Sunday mornings, Saturdays, or weeknight evenings.

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Five Minute Jesus Using the Gospel for Prayer – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 2, 2020 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 Matthew 14:13-21 When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over— twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men,not counting women and children.

Sunday 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?

Monday The Gospel says that Jesus went off to a deserted place after the death of John the Baptist. In Matthew’s Gospel, John’s mission is to prepare the way for Jesus. John is dead; the implication is that Jesus is next! Why did Jesus leave? Was he sad? Was he afraid? If I were in his shoes, what would my reaction be? And what would I do?

Would I also retreat?

Tuesday After Jesus left, the Gospel says the crowds followed him. Clearly Jesus cannot get much down time! His life is very much like ours. Between the quarantine, remote learning and working from home, that careful division between home and work, family and school has all but dissolved. When I am home at night and I get a work call, or have to help my child learn when I would normally be taking “me” time, how do I normally react? How does Jesus react? And why? (PS: It is a cop-out to say that the answer is because he is God and I am not!)

Wednesday The Gospel says that Jesus was “moved with pity” for the crowds of people that followed him. There is a reason Matthew mentions that. He offers Jesus as an example of how God sees us all. When we see crowds of hungry, needy people – on TV, in the news or maybe even in our city, what are we moved with? Why? Thursday As part of his care for the crowds Jesus “heals” them. What does that word mean for us? Does it mean merely physical healing, or something deeper? Can forgiveness be healing? Can acceptance be healing? Can love given and shared be healing? If so, have I ever been healed by someone? When was it? And how was I changed?

Friday Matthew’s gospel presents the feeding of over 5,000 people as a miracle; nevertheless, it was a miracle that was rooted in the generosity of someone giving five loaves of bread and two fish. God can clearly work miracles; but to feed people even God depends on generosity. What does that say about being generous. Have I ever felt called to be generous in a situation? How did I respond? (PS: Generosity is not limited to money; time and talents are also ways we are generous)

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From your Pastor July 26th, 2020 One of the hidden gems of our church is the organ. Installed by Hall Organ Company ca. 1931, and rebuilt by Timothy Fink & Co. in the 1990s, the rebuilding went through several phases as funds became available, but sadly was never completed.

Moreover, at the time the sanctuary was painted in the early 2000’s the pipes were not properly protected. Dust from sanding and from scraping entered the pipes. Many are clogged, and no longer play. This also limits what we can do with this instrument.

We first really noticed this when auditioning for a new music director. Our previous Music Director, David Schaefer, was adept at playing to the strengths of the instrument and arranging workarounds for the shortcomings of the organ. He could make our organ sound beautiful. Those who auditioned, however, quickly pointed out problems.

When John Zupan was hired, the organ and its repair/renovation/completion was part of the position as Music Director. While John has been busy building up the choir and the larger program, he has had his eye on the organ. Fundamental to its repair was to hire a company that would maintain the organ in its current state and be able to do the necessary work to repair and complete it. Earlier this month we retained the services of Foley-Baker, Inc., an organ company out of Connecticut. They will maintain our instrument and have devised a plan for the necessary work.

This work of course will be expensive and will take time. In this time of economic distress, I do not think it will begin immediately.

Perhaps we will do it in phases as money becomes available. However, don’t be surprised if sometime in the next 12 months you hear more about this project from John Zupan. The organ is part of the patrimony of our parish church – we look forward to the day when it can once again “sing” with its full voice!

Vespers – what is that?

Many Catholics believe that the Catholic Church does one thing: mass. Even services that do not involve the consecration of bread and wine and its distribution as the Body and Blood of Christ (Which is what the mass is) get called mass. Frequently young couples preparing for marriage, when I ask them if they want a wedding mass or a wedding service, will ask, “What is the difference?” It is understandable. The one contact that most Catholics have with church is Sunday mass.

However, the Church has different types of services that it offers throughout the week and the year. One type of service is called the Liturgy of the Hours. The root if this service is, interestingly enough, not Christian, but Jewish. Jews pray at various times of the day.

Using psalms, the sacred scriptures, and spiritual songs and prayers, this prayer at various hours of the day was understood to “make the day holy”, by offering to God our work and rest. Jesus was Jewish, and so prayed like this as well. The first Christians adapted this pattern of prayer and, building upon this Jewish foundation, developed a series of short prayer services, rooted in various parts of the day, so that our whole day might be dedicated to God. After the fall of the Roman Empire (yes that long ago!) the Liturgy of the Hours because the work of monks and nuns in monasteries and convents. The cultural image we have of monks and nuns chanting in Latin in their monasteries comes from their practice of celebrating these services. A shorter, simpler version Liturgy of the Hours was developed for priests who did not live in monasteries (the Breviary), and after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s the Church called for a version for all people to be able to use, so that the ancient tradition of praying at times of the day might be opened up once again to everyone.

We here at St. Monica – St. Elizabeth of Hungary – St. Stephen of Hungary offer one of these services every Friday evening at 5:10pm in the parish center chapel at 406 E 80th St. It is called Vespers after the Latin word for “evening” or “evening star” due to the tradition of beginning Vespers when the first star could be seen in the evening sky. Our service of Vespers takes about 20 minutes. It is largely spoken (no chanting nuns or monks here!) but it is a peaceful way to “shift gears” and enter into the different rhythm of the weekend. As part of the service we spend approximately 5 minutes in silent, contemplative prayer as well.

All are invited to come and learn this way of praying! It is different than a mass; smaller, shorter, quieter, and more focused on personal prayer. It takes a bit of learning to use the prayer book, and to gain some comfort with the rhythm of the psalms. But for those who regularly attend, it has become a part of their weekly prayer life and their spirituality as Catholics.

Father Baker

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