26th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9/25/2022

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

Plant Manager: Guillermo Vanegas ......... gvanegas@stelmo79.org

Sacristan: Pedro Pizarro ................................ ppizarro@stelmo79.org

Administrative Assistant: Gladys Tejada ..... gtejada@stelmo79.org

Mass Intentions

Saturday, September 24th Vigil

5:30pm Patrick O’Sullivan

Sunday, September 25th

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

8:00am Msgr. Ferdiando Berardi 10:00am Syed Hussain 12:00pm For All Parishioners 5pm Kathleen Rommelesbacker

Monday, September 26th Weekday 12pm Jeremiah O’Donoghue

Tuesday, September 27th St. Vincent de Paul 12pm Dr. Maria Marta Litrenta (Living)

Wednesday, September 28th Weekday 12pm Anna Corra

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

Thursday, September 29th St. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael 12pm Souls in Purgatory

Friday, September 30th St. Jerome 12pm Adele Ivers

Saturday, October 1st St. Therese of the Child Jesus 12pm Purgatorial Society

For Mass Intentions, please visit the Parish Center

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

Baptism Announcement

Today, September 25th there will be a Baptism service at 10am Mass At this service we will be baptizing:

Even M. Lewis & Grace R. Lewis

Please join us in congratulating: Mikel Gen Ross & Jason Lewis 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 — Woe to the complacent. Their wanton revelry shall be done away with (Amos 6:1a, 4-7).

Psalm — Praise the Lord, my soul! (Psalm 146).

Anointing of the sick

Every third Saturday of the Month after the noon Mass.

Second Reading — Compete well for the faith. Keep the commandment until the appearance of the Lord Jesus (1 Timothy 6:11-16).

Gospel — The parable of Lazarus and the rich man(Luke 16:19-31).

Please call the rectory office for more information.

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 Elizabeth McCormack, Sandra Kenny, Kiana O’Brien, Msgr. Leslie Ivers and all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities

PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Frank Tanzella, Cynthia Maskiell, Kathleen Bohan, Queen Elizabeth II, Barbara O’Carroll, Barbara Sova, Michael Pizzola, Archbishop Weakland, Sophie Twarog, Tommy Olino & Allan Kornblun

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: Jb 1:6-22; Ps 17:1bcd-3, 6-7; Lk 9:46-50

Tuesday: Jb 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23; Ps 88:2-8; Lk 9:51-56

Wednesday: Jb 9:1-12, 14-16; Ps 88:10bc-15; Lk 9:57-62

Thursday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12a; Ps 138:1-5; Jn 1:47-51

Friday: Jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5; Ps 139:1-3, 7-10,13-14ab; Lk 10:13-16

Saturday: Jb 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17; Ps 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130; Lk 10:17-24

Sunday: Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Ps 95:1-2, 6-9; 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk 17:5-10

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturdays at 5pm or by appointment

Eucharistic Procession through the Streets of Manhattan — On Oct. 11, all Catholics are invited to join in a Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Manhattan as part of the National Eucharistic Revival and celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council. It will begin with Mass at 4:30 pm at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on W. 51 st Street and 10th Avenue. After Mass, we will process to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where there will be adoration and benediction by Cardinal Dolan, concluding at 6:30 pm. The procession is being sponsored by the annual Principled Entrepreneurship Conference of the Napa Institute. All are invited to join priests, religious and faithful to accompany Jesus through the heart of Manhattan and renew our city!

StElmo Men’s Bible Study

406 East 80th St. NYC 10075

Tuesdays at 6PM

The purpose of this study is to form a group of guys to accompany each other in faith. Our study is based on three areas of focus:

1) knowing and following Jesus more deeply.

2) growing in understanding of sacred scripture as the Word of God.

3) evangelization as modeled by the Master for us to evangelize in our own lives.

Contact one of us You are invited to join this GOG (Group of Guys) by contacting:

Tony Yerex: 912-220-7329 tangoyan44@gmail.com

Michael Viccari, 917-842-8465 mvaccari0527@gmail.com

Bob Flanigan, 917-439-7620 Flaniganrobert@gmail.com

K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation:

ParticipationonSunday (or Saturday evening) Eucharist is an integral part of Religious Education for all ages in our parish.

The 10am Sunday Mass is our Family Friendly Mass, focusingon families with children.

o On the 1st and 3rd Sundays, we offer Children’s Liturgy of the Word for ages 3-7. During Mass, our young children will be called forth and brought to the sacristy for scripture, reflection, and prayers, and will return to their families at the offertory.

o On the 2nd and 4th Sundays, music is led by our Children’s Choir, and children of all ages will be called forth for a Children’s Homily . Registration for Fall 2022 remainsopen. Register online at stelmo79.org, or at the parish center. We returnto weekly in-person sessions on Sunday, October 2, 11:10-11:55am, in the parish center.

Sacramental Preparationfor Children & Teens

Please remember that the Archdiocese requires two years of Religious Education or Catholic School prior to the celebration of First Penance/First Communion (2nd gradeor older), and prior to the celebration of Confirmation (8th gradeor older). New enrollments this fall will be eligible to receive sacraments in 2024.

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 Tyrerat mtyrer@stelmo79.org to discuss our adult initiation process (commonly known as the RCIA).

Adult Faith Formation Opportunities

Much like our neighborhood, our faith is always under construction! Join other Catholics as we seek to build on our childhood formation in the faith.

On Sundays, open and ongoing Adult Faith Formation takes place in the Parish Center after the noon Mass. We gather between 1:00 and 1:30pm for Food and Fellowship, then 1:30-3pm for a facilitated discussion of the Sunday Scriptures and the themes of Catholic Teaching that flow from those Scriptures. Drop in any time, or come regularly, beginning October 2.

On Thursdays, we gather 7-8:30pm in the Parish Center for Theology Thursdays. This collection of mini-series on various topicsbegins on October 6 with a 4-part series on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, presented by Fr. Baker.

FIVE MINUTE JESUS

Using the Gospel for Prayer

October 2, 2022 – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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 Luke 17: 5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. "Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

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

“Increase our faith.” Clearly, the disciples felt lacking and wanted reassurance from Jesus. They recognized that faith is a gift from God. Do we seek the same reassurances as well? What does it mean to increase our faith? What does an increase in faith mean to me?

Wednesday

The disciples felt that if they had great faith, then they could accomplish great things. And although Jesus makes extraordinary demands, he is not expecting unshakable faith or spectacular accomplishments. Jesus truly wants us to experience God’s grace. For through God’s grace alone can we accomplish great things. Today, ponder how I can let God’s grace fill me up so I can be of service to those around me.

Thursday

In today’s troubled world filled with war, famine, and drought, it is easy to lose faith. It is easy to despair. But Jesus tells us that if we have the faith of a mustard seed, it is enough. Jesus assures us that even though we, too, are tiny, great things can happen. Today how can I get out of my own way and let God work through me?

Friday

The disciples had it right – faith is a gift of God. And we can increase our faith in very concrete ways. Obviously, time spent in prayer is paramount. Being more active in church ministry is another. We can further deepen our faith by spending time with people whom we believe to have great faith. Today think of someone that is faith-filled. How can I reach out to them? Spend time with them? How can we increase our faith together?

Saturday

We grow in faith as we act in faith. Faith means believing even when the outcome seems in doubt. At times when I am in doubt, do I let God in? Today, I’ll reflect on a time when I lost faith. Was I able to find God’s grace to help me through that difficult time?

Just a Word

From the Pastor 09.25.22

A Crisis in the Making

As most of us know, the governors of certain southern states have been shipping busloads of asylum and refuge-seekers to northern states and cities. These people come fleeing abusive governments, violent drug cartels and blinding poverty due to economic corruption. While the political dynamics of this shirking of responsibility on the part of the governors is complex, the needs of these people are simple: they need food, shelter, clothing and a way to rebuild their lives, and the lives of their children.

Catholic Charities, in cooperation with city agencies has risen to meet the challenge, but the need is great. Certain parishes, St. Teresa’s on the Lower East Side, and Ascension on the Upper West Side have made facilities available for the distribution of clothing and services. Our parish has long had an association with the Little Sisters of the Assumption in East Harlem. LSA Family Health Service, founded in 1958 by the Sisters, has long served the people of this changing community. Many of the migrants have found their way to the Sisters desperate for clothing and help with their small children.

Were our parish hall renovated, we too could provide a space to Catholic Charities in this neighborhood to help. However, due to the need to repair the façade of St. Monica Church and the ongoing difficulties surrounding the sale of St. Elizabeth’s we simply do not have the money to renovate the parish hall.

However, as a parish we can still help. In one weekend, LSA Family Health Services was cleaned out of clothing and supplies. They desperately need more and are reaching out to us for help.

They need children’s and men’s clothing, diaper bags, strollers for children.

WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT THESE ITEMS HERE . They need them now, and unfortunately the people who volunteer to pick up these items are not always available.

PLEASE EITHER ORDER THESE ITEMS ONLINE, or have them sent to the following address: LSA Family Health Service 333 East 115th St. New York, NY 10029

Attn: Trish Gough

Or simply bring them yourself to the same address.

Our motivation in this action isn’t political. It is Biblical: Read the Gospel of Matthew 25:31-46. Here is the pertinent part:

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Father Baker