17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 7/30/2023

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 07/30/2023 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Parish life Just a word

11) Faith Formation

Page 6) The Roman Catholic Parish of St. Monica St. Elizabeth of Hungary St. Stephen of Hungary Scan to eReader Five Minute Jesus

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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 familya family seeking to know and love Jesus Christ.

Parish Staff

Pastor: Rev. Donald C. Baker ............................ frdcab@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

Mass Intentions

Saturday, Jul y 29th Vigil Saturday, July 29th

Church Address : 413 East 79th Street, NYC 10075

Parish Center: 406 East 80th Street, NY, NY 10075

Tel: 212-288-6250 Fax: 212- 570-1562

Email: info@stelmo79.org

Our Ofﬁces are open:

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

5:30pm Ann McCrohan

Sunday, Jul y 30th July 30th

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinar y Time

Seventeenth in Ordinary Time

8:00am Ir ma Gutier rez Irma Gutierrez

10:00am Tony Caravello

10:00am Caravello

12:00pm All Parishioners

5pm Godfrey Fantastico Fantastico

Monday, Jul y 31st St. Ignatius Loyola July 31st St. Ignatius Loyola

12pm Rober ta Chapey (Living) Roberta

Tuesday, August 1st August 1st

St. Alphonsus Liguori St.

12pm Luz Elida Amparo Galindo Luz Elida Galindo

Wednesday, August 2nd Weekday 2nd

12pm Sharon K avanaugh Sharon Kavanaugh

T hur sday, August 3rd Weekday Thursday, 3rd

12pm John Mackessy

Friday, August 4th St. John Vianney 4th St.

12pm Catherine Grazzia Catherine Grazzia

Saturday, August 5th Weekday 5th

12pm Purg atorial Society Purgatorial Society

July 30, 2023

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our culture seems more polarized and divided than ever. Into this wounded situation, our Catholic faith has a healing remedy to offer: the gift of wisdom. When the Lord offers to give King Solomon anything the monarch desires, he requests “an understanding heart” (1 Kings 3:9). In his polarized situation, the King doesn’t ask for power to defeat his enemies. He asks for a wise and understanding heart to judge right from wrong. This wisdom is elevated and fulfilled in Jesus who teaches us to bring forth “both the new and the old” (Matthew 13:52).

In our fractured society, we Christians should stop pining for political power to crush our perceived enemies. That often just makes things worse. Rather, it’s much more useful to beg for the grace of true wisdom which transcends both sides of the aisle. This places us in a fresh position from which we can help our culture see what is true and good across the ideological spectrum. Sometimes we’ll look like liberals (e.g., in our love for the poor and marginalized) and other times like conservatives (e.g., in our sexual ethics and views on religious freedom). Because this wisdom is free from ideological narrowness, it will help to heal these painful fractures. Lord Jesus, this week, pour into us your healing wisdom.

— Father John Muir ©LPi

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

Rosalba Paniagua, Caroline Yurkutat, Christopher Elliot Lewis, Maurine Lynch, Danielle Boros, Linda Clarke, Mary O’Connor Lynch, Bruno Franco Adame, Susan Bacerra, Michael Reilly, Dorothy Condon, Marcelle Ferrier, Joanna Jack, all those ill and Victims of Military activities

PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED

Proceso Lopez, Mary Reginio, Thomas Acheson, Margaret Biggs, John Paul Chihorek, William Bahr, Juzefa Rezgiene, Michael P. Keating, Eugene Flynn, Lorraine Vaccari, Michele Chigrinsky & Marie Sheridan

Weekly Readings & Observances

Readings for the week of July 30, 2023

Sunday: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12/Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130

(97a)/Rom 8:28-30/ Mt 13:44-52 or 13:44-46

Monday: Ex 32:15-24, 30-34/Ps

106:19-20, 21-22, 23/Mt 13:31-35

Tuesday: Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28/Ps

103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13/Mt 13:36-43

Wednesday: Ex 34:29-35/Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 9/Mt 13:44-46

Thursday: Ex 40:16-21, 34-38/Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11/Mt 13:47-53

Friday: Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37/ Ps 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab/Mt 13:54-58

Saturday: Lv 25:1, 8-17/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8/Mt 14:1-12

Next Sunday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14/Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9/2 Pt 1:16-19/Mt 17:1-9

Observances for the week of July 30, 2023

Sunday: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Monday: St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

Tuesday: St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Wednesday: St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop; St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest

Thursday:

Friday: St. John Vianney, Priest

Saturday: The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major

Next Sunday: The Transﬁguration of the Lord

©LPi

St. Stephen of Hungary School (SSHS) offers a life changing education through a supportive, nurturing and faith-filled environment. Educating the whole child through a growth mindset, students are challenged to think critically and creatively while solving complex, real world issues in our everchanging global community.

Consider this:

Overall proficiency in Math and ELA as per the New York State Exams and in MAP Growth Subject Assessments (Kindergarten – Grade 8) ranks SSHS in the top 5 percent of schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the top 15 percentile nationally.

The Class of 2023 has received close to $1 million in merit scholarships at highly-rated high schools in the metropolitan area, including Regis High School, Convent of the Sacred Heart and Marymount School. Our dedicated and highly committed faculty work collaboratively in preparing students to be passionate leaders and life-long learners. Our campus features unique learning spaces including outdoor classrooms in our rooftop garden & turfed play yard. With a dedicated Parents Association and active SSHS Foundation, our community is truly a gem on the Upper East Side.

Choosing the right school for your children is one of the most important gifts you can bestow on them. For more information about applying to SSHS, your parish school, please email jdickson@saintstephenschool.org

FINDING OUR WAY IN THE CHURCH OF TODAY AND TOMORROW

Thank you to all of those who participated in Fr. Dugan’s seminar this summer. Please note, there is no seminar on Monday, July 31st. We wish Fr. Dugan a safe trip home, and look forward to his visit again next summer!

Is God calling you to be a catechist?

Volunteers are needed to help to pass on the faith to the next generation of children and teens, to help form adults who are preparing for sacraments, and to assist with adult faith sharing. No experience needed – all training and materials are provided. Current openings include: Lead Catechists (pre-school, middle school and adult are most urgent), Assistant Catechists (can be high school students or adults), and Program Assistants (door and hall monitors, youth ministry chaperones, and special event assistants.) Contact Maryann at mtyrer@stelmo79.org to learn more!

Shopping for School Supplies?

Pick up something for our Annual School Supply Drive for the families in East Harlem served by the Little Sisters of the Assumption, which runs AUGUST 19-27. Please bring NEW backpacks and school supplies for K-12 students to the church only between August 19th and August 27. Thank you as always for your annual generosity!

K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation:

Registration online for next year is now open at https://www.stelmo79.org/reled-k8.

Please remember that two years of religious education or Catholic school participation is required for reception of First Communion (in 2nd grade or older), or for Confirmation (8th grade or older.) Ideally, children are also enrolled in religious education during the “inbetween years” and not just for sacramental preparation.

Participation onSunday (or Saturday evening) Mass as a familyis expected andis an essential part of faith formation and sacramental preparation!We schedule Religious Education in between Masses to make it easy to participate in Sunday Mass.

Sessions resume with our Welcome Back Family Picnic on September 17!

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? 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).

Adult Faith Formation Opportunities

Our Sunday afternoon Adult Faith Formation will resume in the fallwith an Open House on September 10. Use our 5-Minute Jesus as a way of preparing for each Sunday’s Scriptures throughout the summer. 5-Minute Jesus can be found every week in the bulletin, on our website, and on our social media platforms (stelmo79).

Men’s Faith Sharing –our Group of Guys meetson Tuesdays at 12noonin the Parish Center– Please register online at stelmo79.org orcall 212-288-6250 so we have a head count to prepare materials.This group will continue to meet through the summer.

Theology Thursdays will resume in the fall with more Adult Faith Formation opportunities.Keep Thursday evenings clear beginning September21–we will have lots of classes, discussions, and programs happening throughout the year!

Help Wanted! Catechists, assistants, and other volunteers needed for Sunday morning K-8 Religious Education, for Children’s Liturgy of the Word during the 10am Sunday Mass, for High School Youth Ministry (1st Saturdays after the Family Mass), and for Adult Faith Formation and Adult Initiation (Sunday afternoons). Email Maryann at mtyrer@stelmo79.org to inquire!

Seventeenth h Sunday y in n Ordinary y Time

Save e the e date…

Our parish staff is hard at work preparing for next year, and every June we meet to set calendar dates for the upcoming fall and spring. As your family prepares for the upcoming months, you may wish to add these Sunday afternoon dates to your family schedule.

Adult Initiation and Adult FaithFormation Open House – Sunday, September 10, 1-3pm – Come to the Parish Center after the noon Mass for coffee and donuts and find out about our Adult Initiation process (for those who wish to become Catholic, or to complete their Catholic Sacraments – also known as The RCIA Process), and the many other opportunities for adults to learn more about their faith and to share their faith with other adults.

Welcome Back Picnic for K-8 Religious Education Families – Sunday, September 17, 1:30-3:30pm – Every year we kick off our religious education year with a family picnic, games, crafts, and an opportunity to get to know other religious education families, as well as a chance to pick up the year’s books and supplies.

Parish Feast Day and International Food Festival – Sunday, September 24, 12noon Mass to 3pm – One of our biggest parish events – you don’t want to miss out on this festive Mass, followed by a sharing of food from many different cultures! Plan to bring a tray to share of some finger food that represents your ethnic or cultural heritage - and get to know your fellow parishioners as we celebrate the rich diversity of our wonderful parish.

Dates for 2023-2024 Children and Teen Sacraments:

First Penance Family Retreat: Saturday, November 18, 2-5pm in the church

FIRST PENANCE: Saturday, December 9, 10am in the church

First Communion Family Retreat: Saturday, March 2, 2-5pm in the church

FIRST COMMUNION Masses: Saturday, April 20, 10am (SSH School) and 2pm (Parish & Caedmon), in the church

Confirmation Retreats: Parish Religious Education, Saturday, March 9, 1-5pm in the Parish Center.

SSH School, Friday, March 15, during the school day

CONFIRMATION Mass with Bishop Whalen: Sunday, April 28, 2pm in the church

St. Ignatius: Founder of the Jesuits (FeastDay July 31)

Nearly 500 years ago, Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight. In the wake of an injury he sustained in battle, Ignatius came to study the lives of the saints, and carefully examined the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Uncertain of the path on which his own life would proceed, he found peace and discovered meaningful direction in his own deep reflections. Ignatius ultimately came to the enlightened realization that his life was to be measured in things far greater than riches, honor, and fame. Inspired by the life stories of the saints and transformed by Jesus’ lasting example, he devoted his life’s energy and purpose to the service of God and others. Ignatius eventually established an order within the Catholic tradition, a religious community he called the Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits.

This I Believe: The Creed

This I Believe, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization that encourages people from all walks of life to write, share, and discuss essays about their core beliefs. Selected essays were heard on National Public Radio for a few years and then carried on satellite and public radio shows for several years following. Many essays can be read on thisIbelieve.org, or heard on a weekly podcast. The project was based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow. Murrow created the series at a time when America was divided and worried about the Cold War, McCarthyism, and racial tensions. He hoped that hearing the core beliefs of others would help Americans come together by finding common ground.

As the faithful profess their faith in the Creed at Mass, they state the common ground of their beliefs. Across the globe, the faithful come from many cultures and backgrounds and pursue varied livelihoods and recreational activities, but unity is apparent as they profess their common beliefs in the Creed.

The word creed comes from the Latin word credo, meaning “I believe.” Credo may be derived from a word that means “trust” or “to give trust.” As the faithful profess the Creed, they are uttering the beliefs in which they have entrusted themselves.

The first creeds came in the form of a question-and-answer dialogue with people who were about to be baptized. This type of dialogue is still carried out before Baptism as well as with the entire community in the renewal of baptismal promises on Easter Sunday.

Proclaimed just prior to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Creed sums up the faith heard in the readings and reminds the assembly of their unity before they process to the banquet of the Lord.

The Nicene Creed, the creed most often proclaimed during Mass, is a combination of the creeds

that originated at the Council of Nicaea (325) and the Council of Constantinople (381). The Apostles’ Creed, formerly reserved for Masses with children, also may be said at Mass, especially during Easter Time.

As the Creed is professed, may we become a people united in faith, hope, and love for the life of the world.

48 Connecting

Photo © John Zich. Permission to publish granted by the Archdiocese of Chicago on October 25, 2018. The Creed sums up the faith and is a reminder of the unity present in the gathering of the faithful.

FIVE MINUTE JESUS

Using the Gospel for Prayer – The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord August 6, 2023

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.

Gospel Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

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

Today’s passage is truly frightening and awesome. The disciples see Jesus revealed in all his divine glory. Peter realizes the moment and says, ‘it is good for us to be here’. What would my reaction be?

Wednesday

The voice of God resounded “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." We are all called to listen. But that can only happen with an open heart warmed by God’s love. How can I keep my heart open and receptive?

Thursday

The use of light and darkness is important. Light reveals what is in the shadows. We are given the light of Christ at Baptism. Can I feel the presence of God’s light from within? How does that feel?

Friday

Transfiguration is where the divine and the human meet. If we open ourselves to God’s love we can be transfigured from within. When I look at others, can I remain open to their potential for transfiguration?

Saturday

Have I ever had a ‘mountain top’ experience? If so, what was it? What blessings has it brought me? Can an everyday, small moment be a mountain top experience if I remain open to God’s Word?