First Sunday Of Advent 11/27/22

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: 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, November 26th Vigil

5:30pm Jozsef Tomahatsch

Sunday, November 27th First Sunday of Advent 8:00am Anna Corra 10:00am Victoria Gerlitz 12:00pm All Parishioners 5pm Walter & Mary Ferber

Monday, November 28th Advent Weekday 12pm Alice Ford

Tuesday, November 29th Advent Weekday 12pm Priests of St. Monica’s

Wednesday, November 30th St. Andrew 12pm Albert Blain

Thursday, December 1st Advent Weekday 12pm Francis Whearty

Friday, December 2nd Advent Weekday 12pm Juan Ayastury Litrenta (Living) & Rosa Olga Litrenta

Saturday, December 3rd St. Francis Xavier 12pm Purgatorial Society

For Mass Intentions, please visit the Parish Center

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK

Msgr. Leslie Ivers, Joe Grande, Steve Janec, Cindy Garnica Castro, Kathleen Roche, Jennie Marmo, and all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities

PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED

Terry Tejada, Eileen Janec, Kathleen Bohan, Msgr. Anthony Marchitelli & James Roche

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.

Baptism Announcement

Today, November 27th there will be a Baptism service at 1:30pm

At this service we will be baptizing:

Luca & Ava Velez

Please join us in congratulating:

Juan Velez & Helen Gurrera on their children’s new life in Christ

Bap sm Services are open for members of the parish to join in the welcoming of our newest members

Today’s Readings

First Reading — All the peoples shall stream toward the LORD’S house (Isaiah 2:1-5).

Psalm — We will rejoice as we go up to the Lord’s house (Psalm 122).

Second Reading — It is the hour to cast off the dark and clothe ourselves in the light (Romans 13:11-14).

Gospel — Stay awake! Be prepared! The Son of Man will come when you least expect (Matthew 24:37-44).

Readings for the Week

Monday: Is 4:2-6; Ps 122:1-9; Mt 8:5-11 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Lk 10:21-24

Wednesday: Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19:8-11; Mt 4:18-22 Thursday: Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Mt 7:21, 24-27 Friday: Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Mt 9:27-31 Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps 147:1-6; Mt 9:35 — 10:1, 5a, 6-8 Sunday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12

Sanctuary Lamp Bread & Wine

This Week’ Sanctuary Lamp In Memory of Andrew &

Zulma Power

Offered by Ana del Rio

This Week’s Bread & Wine

In Memory of Pedro Ant. Litrenta, Jr

Offered by Maria Litrenta

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 admissions to our parish school? admissions@saintstephenschool.org

Did You Know?

St. Stephen of Hungary School, the parish school of St. Monica, St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St. Stephen of Hungary Church, is a warm, welcoming community on East 82nd Street between First & York Avenues. Our campus features unique learning spaces. Our dedicated, experienced faculty work collaboratively to offer our students top-notch educational opportunities. We are now accepting applications for PreK 3 – Gr. 8.

Consider St. Stephen of Hungary School for your family!

www.saintstephenschool.org admissions@saintstephenschool.org

PRAYER

World AIDS Day takes place on the 1st of December each year. It is an opportunity for people worldwide, and especially the men and womenin Catholic health ministry who haveserved those living with HIV/AIDS,to unite in the fight against HIV, to continue to show support for people living with HIVand to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day.

And so we pray …

God of Promise, today we are mindful of our sisters and brothers suffering with HIV and AIDS. We ask your healing presence on millions of people living with the disease today; particularly the children who are infected or whohave been orphaned by the disease. Make of us a safe haven for those who are abandoned, discriminated against and rejected on account of their illness. Inspire us to speak out for a just distribution of health care and medical aid in this country and for generosity in sharing our resources with those struggling under the weight of this epidemic overseas.

As we begin our Advent celebration of waiting in hope for the birth of your Son, let us remember those across the world who wait in hope for a cure. Amen.

©The Catholic Health Association of the United States

Five Minute Jesus

Using the Gospel for Prayer – Second Sunday of Advent December 4, 2022

It is simple. Read the Gospel for the following Sunday slowly, reflecting on the story it tells. Consider the questions asked for each day. What conversion of mind, heart, and life might the Lord be asking of you? Make a resolution about how what you read and reflect upon might be lived that day. Thank God for speaking to you through this reflection.

Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy of carrying his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear the threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Monday, November 28

What word or words in this passage caught my attention? Comforted me? Challenged me? What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of me?

Tuesday, November 29

John was the “voice of one crying out in the desert.” When have I felt like a voice crying out and no one paying attention to me? When have I failed to use my voice when I should have, perhaps to defend someone wrongly accused or to point out an injustice? Do I feel comfortable doing this?

Wednesday, November 30

John’s call was “Repent, for the kingdom of God is as hand!” What sins am I struggling with in my life this Advent? What prevents me from acknowledging my sinfulness and relying on God’s mercy? How long has it been since I went to confession?

Thursday, December 1

Both John and Jesus use the example of a tree bearing good fruit as an image of a person who is living a life that that is pleasing to God. What do I consider the “good fruit” in my life to be? What “bad fruit” do I need to get rid of? What must I do to ensure that my tree produces good fruit?

Friday, December 2

John said he was not worth to carry Jesus’ sandals. How can I serve the Lord? How can I grow in humility and docility to the Lord’s will? Do you wonder if the Lord is calling you to be of service to your parish?

Saturday, December 3

The gospel describes John’s eccentricities with some detail. When was the last time you had locusts and wild honey as an appetizer? Who or what in your life do you write off as odd? How might God be present to you through them? Can the messenger put you off from the message?

From the Pastor 11.27.22 Lifetime Learning

There is a joke that priests and ministers tell one another that can be summed up like this: “Wanna get rid of mice in the rectory, and pigeons in the bell tower? (pause) Baptize and confirm them. You’ll never see them again!” (Cue the laughter) But sadly it is true. Because of the way in which we have “traditionally” done religious education, young people understand confirmation as a sort of graduation, after which religious education and spiritual formation are no longer needed. While that is sad, it is also tragic. I mean, who wants a doctor with an 8th grade science education operating on you? Who wants an accountant doing your taxes who only learned up to 8th grade math? And yet we allow kids to go on to high school and into adulthood to face all the challenging issues in life, with an 8th grade understanding of religious faith. No wonder they quickly drop it as inadequate. It is. But that is not the fault of the faith, it is the fault of the way we form the faithful.

It is difficult to break such patterns in the church, but here in this parish we are trying. You have probably heard us mention Theology Thursday. This is a year-long series of offerings geared to adults on topics pertaining to our faith and living it as adults. This fall we have had opportunities to grow spiritually: we had a four-week Bible study, a three-week discussion group on learning to listen and speak to one another in a divided world. And during Advent we shift gears and pray, listening to three women preachers open the stories we will hear during the Advent and Christmas season about the three “women of advent”: Mary, Elizabeth and Anna.

The spring schedule is beginning to shape up as well. The Bible study was so popular that we are doing another one, this time on Paul’s First letter to the Church in Corinth (First Corinthians to all you Bible Buffs!) There will be a book study in the spring, to piggyback on the success of last year’s book study of Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible. Around Lent we hope to have a series called Catholic Voices, where people will talk about what it is like to live their faith and their lives as Catholics; people’s whose voices we do not often hear.

These offerings are meant to challenge as well as to educate – to form as well as inform. You might not agree with everything said, and of course you might have a thing or two to say as well. That is alright! To engage in the questions of the faith, to ponder its mysteries and ask our question so we might plumb its depths; that is what an adult Catholic doe. Because while most of us might leave religious education as teenagers, faith learning should never end.

Father Baker

Women of Advent