Pentecost Sunday 5/28/2023

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, May 27th Vigil

5:30pm John & Carmel Sherry

Sunday, May 28th Pentecost Sunday

8:00am Peter Sammut, Gregory Fenech & Joseph Zarafa

10:00am Maria Encarnacion Litrenta

12:00pm All Parishioners

5pm Brendan McCauliff

Monday, May 29th The Blessed Virgin

Mary, Mother of the Church

9am John O’Connell

Tuesday, May 30th Weekday

12pm Thanksgiving to St. Agata

Wednesday, May 31st

St. Phillip & St. James

12pmMichael Walsh

Thursday, June 1st St. Justin

12pm Robert E. Mullin

Friday, June 2nd Weekday

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

12pm Albert Alt

Saturday, June 3rd St. Charles Lwanga

12pm Purgatorial Society

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK

Gloria Velez, Rosalba Paniagua, Roberto & Gloria Garcia, Albert del Rosario, Ashley Wilson, Bruno Franco Adame, Susan Bacerra, Michael Reilly, Dorothy Condon, Marcelle Ferrier, Joanna Jack, Cindy Garnica Castro and all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities

PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED

Mike Ward, Rosemary Moran, Eduardo Fernandez, Andy Hernandez, Fr. Bernard Heter, Anna Napolitano, Robert Anello, Agata Torrisi, Josephine Downey, Marita Knel, Susan Lasmier, Chrissy MacDonalds & Godfrey Fantastico

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.

Sanctuary Lamp

This Week’ Sanctuary Lamp

In Memory of Maria Encarnacion Litrenta

Offered by Maria Litrenta

Weekly Readings & Observances

Readings for the week of May 28, 2023

Sunday: Vigil: Gn 11:1-9 or Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b or Ez 37:1-14 or Jl 3:1-5/

104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-28, 29, 30

30)/Rom 8:22-27/Jn 7:37-39

Vigil: Gn 11:1-9/Ex 19:38a, 16-20b/Ez 37:1-14/Jl 3:1-5/

104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-28, 29, 30

30)/Rom 8:22-27/Jn 7:37-39 Day: Acts 2:1-11/Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 (see 30)/1 Cor 12:3b7, 12-13/ Jn 20:19-23

Monday: Gn 3:9-15, 20 or Acts 1:12-14/Ps

87:1-2, 3 and 5, 6-7/Jn 19:25-34

Tuesday: Sir 35:1-12/Ps 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 and 23/Mk 10:28-31

Wednesday: Zep 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16/Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6/Lk 1:39-56

Thursday: Sir 42:15-25/Ps 33:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9/Mk 10:46-52

Friday: Sir 44:1, 9-13/Ps 96:10, 11-12, 13/ Mk 11:11-26

Saturday: Sir 51:12cd-20/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11/ Mk 11:27-33

Next Sunday: Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9/Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 (52b)/2 Cor 13:11-13/Jn

3:16-18

Observances for the week of May 28, 2023

Sunday: Pentecost Sunday

Monday: Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church; Memorial Day

Tuesday: World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Wednesday: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Thursday: St. Justin, Martyr

Friday: Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs

Saturday: St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

Next Sunday: The Most Holy Trinity

Bread & Wine

This Week’s Bread & Wine

In Memory of Michael Walsh

Offered by Bridget Tomatsch

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. Allyson Genova-Hall

www.saintstephenschool.org

Interested in admission to our parish school? admissions@saintstephenschool.org

Mass Intention for Michael J. (Mike) Ward

June 4th, 2023 the 12pm mass will be offered in memory of Mike Ward.

All are welcome to attend.

Our parish Green Team invites you to celebrate World Environment Day and to help plan our fall Season of Creation activities.

Please join us in the parish center on Tuesday, June 6, at 6:30pm.

wonderful time, as Mother’s Day approaches, to assist the vulnerable mothers and children of East Harlem!

To donate or pledge online, go to https://littlesistersfamily.org, and click on “donate.” Where it says “designate my gift to a specific program,” click on “The Daisy Fund.”

If you prefer, checks payable to “LSA Family Health Service,” with “Daisy Fund” in the memo section, may be mailed to LSA Family Health Service, 333 East 115th Street, New York, NY 10029.

Thank you for your continued generosity!

Save the Date: Senior Spring Luncheon

Friday, June 16, following the noon Mass. Join us for great food, conversation, and trivia games!

Please RSVP on our website (stelmo79.org) or call the office at 212-288-6250!

There will be a 9am Mass on Memorial Day, May 29, after which the church will close. The Parish Center will also be closed on Monday, May 29.

Pentecost Sunday

K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation:

• Family Faith Formation Picnic Sunday, June 4, 1:30-3:30pm, St. Stephen School Play Yard. Open to this year’s Religious Ed families, and all families who will be registering for next year! Bring the whole family, a picnic blanket, and a picnic lunch for your family. We will provide lemonade and snacks, activities, and games. In-person registration for next year will also be available. All current and new families are welcome!

• 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 in Sunday (or Saturday evening) Mass as a family is expected, and is 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.

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 fall. 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 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.

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

Parish Religious Education Registration is now open online!

• Go to our website, stelmo79.org, and click on the registration link

• Complete a registration for each child

• Make payment online with a credit card, or drop off a check at the parish center (payable to “St. Monica Church” and marked for religious education.)

• In-person registration is also available at the parish center.

• New registrations must be accompanied by a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate.

• All registrations completed and paid by July 4 will be at the current fee scale. Registrations/payments received after July 4 will be at an increased rate.

• Please remember that the Archdiocese of New York requires a minimum of two years of religious education (or Catholic School) prior to the reception of First Communion, and two additional years prior to the reception of Confirmation. Ideally children are enrolled for all of Kindergarten through 8th grade.

• First Penance and First Communion are normally celebrated in second grade, and Confirmation during eighth grade.

• Religious Education is offered on Sunday mornings between the 10am and 12noon Masses. Participation in Sunday (or Saturday evening) Eucharist as a family is expected, as it is an essential part of faith formation!

• Please contact Maryann Tyrer, Pastoral Associate for Christian Formation, at mtyrer@stelmo79.org with any questions.

Religious Education Family Picnic

• Open to all current and new families in our K-8 Religious Education Program!

• Sunday, June 4, 1:30-3:30pm

• St. Stephen School Play Yard (408 East 82nd Street)

• Bring the entire family (well behaved dogs are welcome, too!)

• Bring a blanket and a picnic lunch for your family

• We will provide lemonade, water, snacks, games, and activities

• Rain or shine, as the pavilion is covered, and we can move inside if the weather is bad

• If you haven’t registered yet for next year, you can take care of that during the picnic!

• This is our final event until we resume in the fall, so don’t miss this opportunity to have fun with other families in the program!

The Pentecost Sequence

Pentecost is the culmination of the Easter season and the celebration of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Christ. As part of the day’s liturgy, the sequence Veni, Sancte Spiritus, or “Come, Holy Spirit,” is prayed. This sequence is part of a number of hymns/ poems that were composed in the Middle Ages.

The sequence, which is from the Latin sequentia, meaning “that which follows,” was originally written to follow the Gospel Acclamation or Alleluia. The sequence was intended to extend and therefore emphasize the message of the Gospel Acclamation verse. The sequence also had a practical application: it offered musical accompaniment for an extended procession by the deacon with the Book of the Gospels. By the twelfth century, hundreds of these sequences were sung during Mass. The pre– and post–Vatican II reforms changed the order of the sequence so that it now is prayed before the Gospel Acclamation.

The number of sequences in the liturgy has been reduced to four: Victimae Paschali Laudes on Easter; Veni, Sancte Spiritus on Pentecost; Lauda Sion Salvatorem on Corpus Christi; and Stabat Mater on the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, September 15. The use of two of these sequences, the Victimae Paschali Laudes and Veni, Sancte Spiritus, is mandatory in the liturgy. Veni, Sancte Spiritus is a beautiful hymn/poem that can be prayed to the Holy Spirit, any day of the year.

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

And from your celestial home

Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!

Come, source of all our store!

Come, within our bosoms shine.

You, of comforters the best; You, the soul’s most welcome guest; Sweet refreshment here below; In our labor, rest most sweet; Grateful coolness in the heat;

Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine, Shine within these hearts of yours, And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, we have naught, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill. Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew; Wash the stains of guilt away: Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray. On the faithful, who adore And confess you, evermore

In your sevenfold gift descend; Give them virtue’s sure reward; Give them your salvation, Lord; Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia.

Connecting the Liturgy with Our Lives © 2019 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications. 800-933-1800; www.LTP.org. Text by Kathy Kuczka. Art by James B. Janknegt. The translation of Veni, Sancte Spiritus is taken from The Roman Missal approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States © 1964 by the National Catholic Welfare Conference, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to publish granted by the Archdiocese of Chicago on October 25, 2018.

In the Pentecost Sequence, Veni, Sancte Spiritus, we pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit.

CATHOLIC BIBLE SUMMIT

SATURDAY JUNE 3 2023

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Iona University, New Rochelle

“The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

John 6:63

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY INCLUDE:

Mass with Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan

Church Father Interpretation of New Testament Passages on the Eucharist Most Rev. Joseph A. Espaillat, II Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of New York

Master of Ceremonies Sr. Cora Caeli, SV

Keynote Address

Dr. Michael Barber

Professor of Scripture and Theology, Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology

Eucharistic Adoration with Fr. Kareem Smith

Music provided by Jonna and Bailey

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit adnybiblesummit.eventbrite.com

Five Minute Jesus

Using the Gospel for Prayer - The Most Holy Trinity Sunday June 4, 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 John 3: 16-18

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son.

Monday, May 29

Today’s Gospel tells us about God the Father and God the Son. What can I learn from these two persons of the Holy Trinity? How are they different?

Tuesday, May 30

John’s Gospel begins with the most well-known verse in the Bible - a one sentence summary of the Gospel. Think of the first phrase, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son...” How can I share God’s love with the world? How am I willing to give of myself in love?

Wednesday, May 31

John goes on, “...so that everyone who believes in him... might have eternal life.” Think beyond the literal level; think deeply. What do these words mean to me?

Thursday, June 1

John 3:16-18 tells us how we can be saved. Reflect on these words. What must I do to be saved?

Friday, June 2

How can I show my thanks to God for sending Jesus to save me? How can I make my gift for others in charity?

Saturday, June 3

God has a positive purpose for mankind. What was God’s original purpose in sending his Son? How did this sacrifice save me? What conversion of heart, mind, and life is the Lord asking of me? How can I engage the broader culture in faith?

Just a Word

From the Pastor 05.28.23

The Hole Next Door

The construction project on the corner began years before my arrival at St. Monica’s. Extell had been buying up the buildings between 79th and 80th on First Avenue for years, biding its time until the last hold outs left or were willing to sell. The walkups and businesses were torn down in 2018-19 to make way for what was then projected to be two tall apartment towers linked at their base, with an anchor tenant rumored to be either a school or a supermarket. That project was delayed due to a disagreement with a neighboring building’s owner, and so while the old buildings were gone, the new one could not be begun. That dispute was finally settled, but then the pandemic came, and all bets were off.

In the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, plans for apartment buildings were shelved, but the Hospital for Special Surgery, looking to expand, stepped in. Their plan is to build a tower, in which their outpatient services and other offices would be housed. Once this plan was in place, construction commenced . . .

. . . and the rest is history. For those of us living in the immediate neighborhood, the dust, the pounding of jackhammers and the traffic each morning as dump trucks line up to take away the excavated rock and debris has been trying. However, for those of us who worship at St. Monica’s, the long excavation has offered us years of glorious light, especially in the afternoons when the western sun shines through the stained-glass windows unencumbered by neighboring buildings.

We have long known that that beautiful light would one day be dimmed. The construction company has informed us that the excavation is wrapping up this week. They will then finish work on the foundation, and the new building will begin to rise. Before that happens however, they will construct a temporary structure along the west side of the church to protect it and its windows. It will also dim them, and we will begin to get an idea of how the windows will look once the building is complete.

The windows will not be totally dark, even after construction. There will be a space between our church and the new building, and some light will enter. But the beautiful sunlight will be gone. This was inevitable, and the tradeoff with the sale of air rights which made the construction possible, also makes everything we do both here in the parish and in the school possible, through the endowments we established with that money.

Several people have asked that since we received so much money through the lase of the air rights, why not artificially illumine the west windows so that we always see them as we do now? While this is a real possibility, and we will investigate it, the church façade, the church roofs, and the parish hall beneath St. Monica’s are all far more pressing needs. Any money we have earmarked for capital improvements will go to them first.

Memorial Day

The way our bulletins are prepared I am writing this in the middle of May. Still, it is the first three-day weekend of the summer season, and already many of us are off to their beach clubs and vacation homes, opening things up and getting ready for the summer. On behalf of everyone here, I wish you a happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Father Baker