25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 9/24/23

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: Maryann Tyrer ...................mtyrer@stelmo79.org

Pastoral Associate: Taryn Tonelli......................ttonelli@stelmo79.org

Music Director: 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, 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

Mass Intentions

Saturday, September 23rd Vigil 23rd

5:30pm T heresa Vasquez Theresa

Sunday, September 24th Sunday, 24th

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinar y Time Fifth in Ordinary Time

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

8:00am Rober ta Chapey (Living)

8:00am Roberta

10:00am Juan Matos 10:00am Juan Matos

12:00pm All Parishioners

12:00pm All Parishioners 5pm Patricia Dias Patricia Dias

Monday, September 25th Weekday 25th

12pm Joseph C. Collete, Kiara C. Collete, Kiara & Madeline Frias (Living) & Madeline Frias

Tuesday, September 26th Weekday 26th

12pm Jeremiath O’Donoghue

Wednesday, September 27th 27th

St. Vincent de Paul 12pm Dr. Maria Litrenta (Living) 12pm Dr. Maria Litrenta

T hur sday, September 28th Weekday Thursday, September 28th Weekday 12pm William Bur ns William Burns

Friday, September 29th St. Michael 29th St. Michael 12pm Nancy Bossidy Nancy

Saturday, September 30th St. Jer ome 30th St. Jerome 12pm Adele Ivers Adele Ivers

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

Hang Mooi, Marylin Atkinson, Drew Kindred, Celeste Consenza, Michelle Netus, Aicardo Vargas, Jerry Schwegman, Judith Farber, Camille Madonna, Caroline Yurkutat, Christopher Elliot Lewis, Danielle Boros, Linda Clarke, Bruno Franco Adame, Michael Reilly, Marcelle Ferrier, all those ill and Victims of Military activities

PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED

Sharon Sheldon, Robert Anello, Adalberto Velez, David Schaefer & Jennie Wachowicz

Baptism Announcement

Today, September 24th there will be Baptism service at 10am Mass

At this service we will be baptizing:

Zenith Tigerlily Lutero Diaz

Please join us in congratulating: Hans J. Diaz & Katrina D. Lutero

on their child’s new life in Christ

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

Weekly Readings & Observances

Readings for the week of September 24, 2023

Sunday: Is 55:6-9/Ps 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 (18a) Phil 1:20c-24, 27a/Mt 20:1-16a

Monday: Ezr 1:1-6/Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6/Lk

8:16-18

Tuesday: Ezr 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20/Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5/Lk 8:19-21

Wednesday: Ezr 9:5-9/Tb 13:2, 3-4a, 4befghn, 7-8/Lk 9:1-6

Thursday: Hg 1:1-8/Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b/Lk

9:7-9

Friday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12a/Ps 138:12ab, 2cde-3, 4-5/Jn 1:47-51

Saturday: Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a/Jer 31:10, 11-12ab, 13/Lk

9:43b-45

Next Sunday: Ez 18:25-28/Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9, (6a)/Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5/Mt 21:28-32

Observances for the week of September 24, 2023

Sunday: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Priesthood Sunday

Monday:

Tuesday: Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs

Wednesday: St. Vincent de Paul, Priest

Thursday: St. Wenceslaus, Martyr; St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs

Friday: Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

Saturday: St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Next Sunday: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Respect Life Sunday

©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

Wednesdays, Sept 27, Oct 4, 11, 18 6:30-8:00pm in the Parish Center (406 East 80th Street)

Open to anyone who has lost a close friend or family member.Each session includes prayer, reflection, discussion, and mutual support. All are welcome, even if you’ve attended past series.Please RSVP to Maryann at mtyrer@stelmo79.org, or call 212-2886250 to register.

Happy Parish Feast Day!

Be a part of the Seson of Creation!

Blessing of Animals –Sunday, October 1, 4pm, on the Church steps. Bring your pets!

Green Team Meeting –Tuesdays, October 3, 6:30pm in the Parish Center –all are welcome to join and help to plan and execute events and inititatives!

Laudato o Si Film Screening and Discussion –Saturday, October 7 at 7pm in the St. Stephen School Auditorium.

Laudato o Si Prayer Walk in Central Park –Sunday, October 14, after the noon Mass.

Theology Thursday –Care for God’s Creation –presented by Liz Philippe –Thursday, November 16, 6:30-8pm in the Parish Center.

Contact us at greenteam@stelmo79.org.

Blessing of Animals

Sunday, October 1, 2023,at 4pm, on the steps of St. Monica Church. All Animals and Human Companions are Welcome!

Twenty-fifth h Sunday y in n Ordinary y Time

K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation: Registeronline NOWat https://www.stelmo79.org/reled-k8.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word resumes during the 10am Mass on Sunday, October 1st. Young children (the content is geared to ages 3 or 4 up until 1st or 2nd grade) begin Mass with their families, and then are brought to the Ward’s Room (off the sacristy) during the Liturgy of the Word andreturn to their families during the Preparation of the Gifts. This helps them to participate in the Mass at an age-appropriate level.

K-8 Religious Education sessions resume on Sunday, October 1st at 11:10am in the Parish Center.

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

Adult Faith Formation, every Sunday following the noon Mass, begins on October 1st. Come to the Parish Center (406 East 80th Street) for refreshments and a facilitated discussion of the Sunday Scriptures. We end at 3pm. All adults are welcome!

Theology Thursdaysbegin on October 5thwith a 4-week course onThe Apostles Creed by Fr. Baker, in the Parish Center, 6:30-8:30pm –October 5, 12, 19, 26. The Apostles Creed is in the Rosary, is an option at Mass, and is one of the central prayers most of us learn as children. Come and explore its meaning! This is an Archdiocesan Formation Course butis open to the public. However, registration is required as seating is limited! Please pre-register on the parish website or call the parish office.

Group of Guys Men’s Faith Sharing group meets every Tuesday at 12noon in the Parish Center, and all men are welcome to join.

Attention Business Owners, Professionals, Self Employed and Families!

Bulletin Advertising Opportunities Available!

Janet Axtell from LPi is working on securing new ads for the advertisement section of our bulletin. We need your help! Please consider purchasing an ad. Your ad and participation makes our bulletin successful, and you attract customers! Print and Digital ad options!

Our parish bulletin is one of our main communication tools to our parish members. It provides inspirational wo rds from Father, Mass intentions, news, and events for the week ahead. We are thankful that this crucial communication piece is provided to our parish at no cost thanks to the generous advertising support of our parishioners and community-minded businesses. Please let us know if you can help. Sponsors of our bulletin recognize the tremendous value of connecting with our Church family, who in turn respond by supporting our sponsors!

Advertisements can be purchased for a business, a family, a charity, in Memory of a Loved One, or to support the Church or a community service organization like emergency pregnancy counseling, etc. If you would like to run an ad or would like more information, please call Janet Axtell. Robin can be reached directly at (619) 787-3528 or via e-mail to jaxtell@4lpi.com .

Thank you !

CHOIR NEWS2023-24

This is an open call for any of our parishioners to join ourAdult Choir, Children’s Choir,or Contemporary Ensemble.

Have you ever thought about being more involved at Mass? Do you like to sing? Then why not think about joining the Adult or Children’s Choirs here at STELMO. By being involved in one of the choirs you get to experience Mass on a whole new level. You get to contribute more of yourself by offering your gift of song with others that love to sing. By being in the choir you learn about music. By being in the choir you help make the Mass more beautiful through song.

ADULT CHOIR

rehearses on Wednesday evenings in the church from 7 – 8:30PM. sings on Sundays for the 12 PM Mass each week. is open to high school students on up.

THE CHILDREN’S CHOIR

rehearses on Wednesday afternoons in the church from4-5 PM. sings at the Family Mass on the first Sunday (the 5:30 PM Vigil Mass)of each month. (October – June)

And sings at the 10 AM Family Friendly Mass on the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month. (October – June)

The Children’s Choir is open to 2nd graders up to 8 th graders in our parishand in our SSOH School.

Both our choirs will perform at our annual Christmas & and Spring Concerts.

CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE

rehearses on Sunday afternoons before the 5 PM Sunday Mass sings at the Sunday 5 PM ContemporaryMass open to instrumentalists as well

If you ever thought about singing(or playing)in the choir,now is the time to try!

For more information on our choirs, please contact our Director of Music, John Zupan at jzupan@stelmo79.org. Or visit our parish website www.stelmo79.org/minisitries for more information. “He who sings prays twice” –St. Augustine

you get to

learn

the Mass more

Five Minute Jesus Using the Gospel for Prayer – Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 1, 2023

It is simple. Read the Gospel for next Sunday slowly, reflecting on the story it tells. Consider the questions asked each day. What conversion of heart, mind, and life might the Lord be asking of you at this moment of your life? Make a resolution about how your reflection of God’s Word might be lived out that day Thank God for speaking to you throughyour reflection

Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his fathers will? They answered, ‘T he first.’ Jesus said to them:”Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

Monday, September 25

What word or words in this passage caught my attention? Comforted me or challenged me? Perhaps you might want to write them down and reflect on them during the week. What conversion of mind and heart might God be asking of me?

Tuesday, September 26

Jesus’ parable reminds us of how easy it is to say an initial “yes” when fervor is high, failure seems unlikely, and the future looks good. But time passes and enthusiasm cools. Have I ever felt that my faith was becoming lukewarm? When that happens, what must I do to rekindle that fervor to live the Gospel message each day?

Wednesday, September 27

One way to meditate on the parables is to place yourself in the story and see where you might fit in. What person in the narrative might you be? Do I identify more with the first or second son in Jesus’ parable? Do I feel frustration or relief at this gospel passage?

Thursday, September 28

Do I identify more with the chief priests and elders that Jesus addresses, or the tax collectors and prostitutes whose place in the kingdom he affirms? Why do you think that is?

Friday, September 29

How would my behavior change if I reorient myself toward others and away from myself? What could I do this week that I hadn’t planned to do and for whom?

Saturday, September 30

Confronted by the polarization in our world, our country, and even in the Church, we need to remember what this parable tells us: that the door to God’s kingdom is never closed. All are welcome. How does this truth help me to be more open to the needs of the multitude of migrants who come to our country and our city looking to rebuild their lives?

Just a Word

From the Pastor 09.24.2023

Our Parish Feast Day Catholics who are “plugged in” as it were, know that, just like our world has a calendar with months and seasons, just as our has a calendar with holidays, our Catholic Church year, Christmas, and Easter, is meant to teach us the central truth of our faith: the birth, life, death, s on which we remember people whose lives are examples of how that faith has been lived out through the centuries. They are the saints. According to Church teaching, Saint pray for us in heaven, and a re examples for us on earth. That is, they model ways in which the faith is lived. Some are nuns and monks, priests and even a few are popes! But many are laywomen and men, meant to inspire us to follow their example as we all foll and they are asked to es that bear their name.

On this day we celebrate the three saints whose parishes merged in 2015 to create our one parish. While many people are aware o f their names, most do not know who they are, and thus do not know why they are so honored… And why they should be remembered by us. Happy Feast Day!!!

St. Monica (ca.331-87)

In the fourth century, the Roman Empire was in decline. Even though it stretched from Scotland to the Middle East, Germanic tribes North Africa

They to his

At school in Carthage and later in Rome, he lived in a wildlife, had at least one child out of wedlock. at this point had become a Manichean, yet another pagan religion. Monica was incensed but

troublesome children! She is remembered in our parish as the patron saint of our current church building, built by the Irish of Yorkville in 1882.

St. Stephen of Hungary (ca.975-1038)

n his e ands, Hungary, established dioceses and monasteries, supported the clergy, and abolished pagan customs and beliefs. Stephen had a great concern for his people, and it is said he would go out in disguise and distribute alms to the poor. He is remembered in our parish by the St. Stephen of Hungary School, th century. St. Stephen was merged with St. Monica in 2015, but the school has remained open and grown in the following years. In the school chapel (the former parish church) there is a large sta inedglass window which depicts Stephen of Hungary receiving the crown from the Blessed Mother herself! That is not historical of course

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231)

what is now Slovakia, was betrothed at the age of 4 to the future Baron of Thuringia, Ludwig. Their marriage, to the poor.

with yet more gold and precious objects that she would sell to give alms to the poor, her husband’s barons stopped her and while others, eventually made her way to Eisenach and in 1228 became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. Despite many hardships and failing health, she worked in a Hospice she founded, and of New York

-Hungarian Empire from which they came, and the Yorkville in which they found themselves. While the Elizabeth is remembered by the parish with the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel in the parish center on East 80th St. depicted around its edges.

Father Baker