October 24, 2021

Parish life Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

10/24/2021

Parish life (Page 5)

Faith Formation (Page 6)

Just a word ( Page 9)

Scan to eReader

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

Pastor: Rev. Donald C. Baker .......................... frdcab@stelmo79.org Rev. Msgr. Leslie J. Ivers ........................... msgrlivers@stelmo79.org Weekend Associates: ...............................................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 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 ............................................................. 9am - 5pm Tuesday - Thursday ....................................... 9am - 7pm Friday .......................................................Closed Saturday ................................................. 10am - 2pm Sunday ..................................................... Closed Closed for Lunch Weekdays......................1pm - 2pm

Mass Intentions

Saturday, October 23rd Vigil 5:30pm Jozsef Tomathasch Sunday, October 24th Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00am Walter Farley 10:00am Estrella & Felimon Flores 12:00pm All Parishioners 5:00pm Vincent Masuchi

Monday, October 25th Weekday 12:00pm Dr. Varnes Bellevue Tuesday, October 26th Weekday 12:00pm Theresa O’Keeffe Wednesday, October 27th Weekday 12:00pm Anna Corra Thursday, October 28th

Saints Simon & St. Jude 12:00pm Laura Soledad Litrenta (Living) Friday, October 29th Weekday 12:00pm Timothy J. & Agnes McCrohan

Saturday, October 30th Weekday 12:00pm Thanksgiving For Mass Intentions, please visit the Parish Center

Sanctuary Lamp

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

This Week’s Sanctuary Lamp In Memory of Jozsef Tomahatsch Offered by Bridgette Tomahatsch

Baptism Announcement

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.

Bread & Wine

This Week’s Bread & Wine In Memory of Jozsef Tomahatsch Offered by Bridgette Tomahatsch

Today, October 24th there will be a Baptism service during the 10AM Mass At this service we will be baptizing: Gabriel Liam England Please join us in congratulating: Christopher England & Christine Cisek on their child’s new life in Christ

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

Today’s Readings

First Reading — I will lead the people to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble (Jeremiah 31:7-9).

Psalm — The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy (Psalm 126).

Second Reading — It was not Christ who glorified himself, but rather the one who said to him: You are my son: this day I have begotten you (Hebrews 5:1-6).

Gospel — Immediately the blind man received his sight and followed Jesus on the way (Mark 10:46-52).

The English translation of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

Readings for the Week

Monday: Rom 8:12-17; Ps 68:2, 4, 6-7ab,

20-21;Lk 13:10-17 Tuesday: Rom 8:18-25; Ps 126:1b-6;

Lk 13:18-21 Wednesday: Rom 8:26-30; Ps 13:4-6; Lk 13:22-30 Thursday: Eph 2:19-22; Ps 19:2-5; Lk 6:12-16 Friday: Rom 9:1-5; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20;

Lk 14:1-6 Saturday: Rom 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29; Ps 94:12-13a,

14-15, 17-18; Lk 14:1, 7-11 Sunday: Dt 6:2-6; Ps 18:2-4, 47, 51;

Heb 7:23-28;Mk 12:28b-34

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Geraldine McCabe, Frank Simanca, Christine Flaherty, Claudia Pietro & all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Diane LoMonaco. Rev. Kazimirez Kowalski.

Rev. Owen Lafferty, James Neary, Mahesh Masur, Jennifer DeMello, Gabriella Petito, Lirika Buzhada & Edward Moreno

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?

admission s@saintstephenschool.org

Notice Regarding Parish Center Access: Father Baker’s column last week provided information about the work ongoing at the Parish Center to install the handicamp ramp, install an HVAC System, and the prep to install new windows in the Spring. Beginning Monday October 25th, the front door to the parish center will not be accessible. In order to access the Parish Center, please use the St Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel door. Office Hours remain the same, and there is a temporary doorbell installed at the chapel. We expect to be using the chapel for Parish Center access for the remainder of the calendar year

Par � L�fe Hello everyone! Today we want to briefly touch on the causes of global warming.

There are mainly 10 known causes, but some may be more relatable to our daily lives.

1) Transport and Vehicles: Transportation includes cars, planes, boats and trains, which rely mostly on fossil fuels. Sadly, burning fossil fuels releases carbon and other types of harmful gases into the atmosphere.

This makes transportation partly responsible for the greenhouse gases.

2) Waste : Because of the amount of packaging used and the short life cycle of products, so much garbage is created. A lot of items, waste and packaging isn't recyclable, which means it ends up in landfills. When the waste in landfills begins to decompose or break down it releases harmful gases into the atmosphere which contribute to global warming.

Our Young Adult Ministry (geared towards ages 18-39, but all are welcomed) will be hosting its first Wine & Cheese since pre-pandemic! Please join us on Sunday, October 31st, after the 5pm Mass for a glass of wine, some cheese and great conversation at the back of the church! It’s sure to be spook-tacular!

3) Consumerism: We all know that it is easy to buy any product at any time because of innovations in technology and manufacturing. So many products, such as electronics and clothing items are overproduced and not very sustainable. Consequently , more and more waste is created more than ever.

Other causes are : Overfishing, Industrialization, Farming, Oil Drilling, Power Plants, Deforestation, Oil and Gas This is such an important subject. As a Christian family, we should not be silent or indifferent . We need to care for our common home. pg. 5

K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation: •

• •

Sunday sessions run 11:11am to 11:55am on Zoom!. Zoom links are emailed to registered families each Friday. The timing of Religious Ed sessions allows your family to attend the Mass of your choice (in person or via Zoom). Participating in Sunday (or Saturday evening) Eucharist is an integral part of Religious Education in our parish! Our 10am Mass on Sunday is now a Family-Friendly Mass every Sunday!

We are accepting late registrations for the next few weeks. Please register online at stelmo79.org, or in person at the Parish Center (406 East 80th St.) You can now pay your fees online using a credit card.

First Penance is celebrated in December, so it is important to register your child now if they are eligible for First Communion this Spring. Our First Penance Family Retreat is coming up on November 6 at 10am! The Archdiocese of New York requires a minimum of two consecutive years of either Catholic School or Parish Religious Education prior to the reception of First Communion or Confirmation.

Adult Faith Formation: •

•

Gather with other Catholics, and with those considering becoming Catholic, to learn more about the Scriptures and our Catholic Faith in a communal setting over a cup of coffee or tea. Bring your questions and musings! Expand your knowledge of the Bible and church teaching in a friendly, non-judgmental environment. No long-term commitment – join us when you are able.

Each Sunday, following the 12noon Mass and concluding at 3pm, in the Parish Center. All materials provided. All are welcome!

Adult faith formation also benefits children and youth. An adult community whose faith is wellformed and lively will more effectively pass that faith on to the next generation. Moreover, the witness of adults actively continuing their own formation shows children and youth that growth in faith is lifelong and does not end upon reaching adulthood. (from Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1999.)

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). Or join us on Sundays in the Parish Center following the 12noon Mass.

Remembering the Deceased

Traditionally, our Church prays for all of our Faithful Departed throughout the month of November. Our parish Bereavement Ministry invites you to participate in any or all of the following parish ways to remember our loved ones.

St. Joseph Altar

Images and Names of Our Loved Ones

All are invited to place a framed photo of a deceased loved one on the St. Joseph Altar in St. Monica’s Church during the month of November. Simply bring your picture to the sacristy before or after Mass, and then you can take your picture home at the end of the month. Envelopes are also available for offerings – list your loved ones on the envelope and drop it in the collection. The envelopes will remain on our main altar throughout the month of November.

Memorial Mass

Prayers for All Victims of the Covid-19 Pandemic All Souls Day Tuesday, November 2, 6:30pm St. Monica’s Church If you have loved ones who have died from Covid-19 related causes, please submit their names on the parish website, or to the parish office, by Wednesday, October 27. We will then include these names in a Litany of Remembrance during this Mass.

Morning of Reflection

Facing the Holidays After the Loss of a Loved One Saturday, November 13, 9am – concludes with Noon Mass St. Monica’s Church If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season can be especially painful. Expectations, seasonal events, and the celebration of those around us often collide with our loss and sadness. Join us for this morning of prayer, reflection, and ritual. Find comfort and hope in our faith, and in practical suggestions for navigating the holiday season.

Please RSVP to the Parish Center or on the parish website by Tuesday, November 9 so we have enough supplies and refreshments for everyone.

Five Minute Jesus

Using the Gospel for Prayer – The 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 31, 2021 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 Mark 12:28-44 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, 'He is One and there is no other than he.' And 'to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself' is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Monday Was there something in this reading that spoke to you? Comforted you? Challenged you? What was it and why did it have this effect on you?

Tuesday What is the first of all commandments? Why do you think this is most important?

Wednesday How would you define “loving God”? How can you show love to God? Can you express this love today?

Thursday How would you define “love your neighbor”? How do you express it? Can you express that love today?

Friday Are you fulfilling these commandments? How can you love God more? How can you love your neighbor more?

Saturday What are the challenges to fulfilling these commandments? Take a moment now to ask the Holy Spirit for help and guidance in your effort to fulfill these commandments.

will return next week From the Pastor 10.24.21 Young Adults Welcome Before the Pandemic turned our city and our world upside down, our parish was known for the large number of young adult members. That was in large part due to the outreach made by our Pastoral Associate for Parish Life, Jasmine Gomez, and the music program under the leadership of our Music Director, John Zupan. As a result, we had many young adult lectors, Eucharistic ministers, even altar servers.

Because of the dislocations caused by the Pandemic, many of our younger adult members were forced to move. Our outreach to young adults had to stop, for how could we reach out to people who cannot even gather? Many of the online programs that we tried, fizzled; after spending all day working in front of a computer, not many young adults wanted to meet up in an online church.

However, the Pandemic is ebbing. People are returning to live worship. Here at St. Monica – St. Elizabeth of Hungary – St. Stephen of Hungary we are up to 70% of pre-Pandemic attendance. The interesting thing is that many of those attendees are new. And many of them are again young adults.

And so, we are beginning again. Sunday evening, October 31st we are restarting what was a regular occurrence before the Pandemic: our wine and cheese social. Following the 5pm Sunday mass, there will be the opportunity to gather in the rear of the church and enjoy a glass of wine (or something non-alcoholic), some cheese and get to know the many new people here. Even if you are reading this on Saturday evening or Sunday morning mass, stop by on Sunday evening around 6pm. Although it is a part of the young adult ministry, that does not mean that only young adults are invited! Everyone is welcome.

Parish Council One of the great blessings of my ministry here is to have an active Parish Council. Parish Councils were begun in the 1960s and are supposed to assist the pastor in the administration of the parish. Not every pastor wants them however, and not every pastor knows how to use one if he has one.

In every parish I have been the pastor of, I have sought to make of the council a Pastoral Planning Council: in other words, they are a group of people which identifies pastoral needs in the parish and then goes about identifying the resources and people to meet them. The listening sessions we had several years ago were organized by the council. The discussion groups around the movie Spotlight meant to help parishioners process the damning reports of sexual abuse in the Church were their project. Our Parish Council organizes the delivery of donated clothes to Goodwill and other agencies. It was a subcommittee of the Council that organized the wonderful reception following our patronal feast day mass at the end of September.

We will be soliciting for new members for the Council in the spring. Perhaps you have sought a way in which you could get involved in the parish, to work with others to make this place a truly Catholic Church, in which all are invited to find their spiritual home. Think about it. Pray about it. And then contact me or MaryBeth Whyte, our Parish Council president, for more information.

Father Baker

CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS 511510: Church of St. Monica/ St Elizabeth of Hungary / St Stephen of Hungary 406 East 80th Street, NYC., NY 10075 PHONE: 212 288-6250 CONTACT PERSON: Gladys Tejada/Office

SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION: October 24th, 2021 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE PRINT 450 BULLETINS FOR THIS WEEK’S ISSUE