September 26, 2021

Parish life Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

09/26/2021

Parish Life (Page 5)

Five Minute Jesus

( Page 8)

Just a word (Page 9)

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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.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, September 25th Vigil 5:30pm Peter McKenna

Sunday, September 26th Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00am Lou Bommetei 10:00am Maria Litrenta (Bday-Living) 12:00pm All Parishioners 5:00pm Jeremiah O’Donoghue

Parish Staff

Pastor: Rev. Donald C. Baker .......................... frdcab@stelmo79.org Monday, September 27th St. Vincent de Paul Rev. Msgr. Leslie J. Ivers ........................... msgrlivers@stelmo79.org 12pm Anna Corra Weekend Associates: ...............................................Rev. Tony Ciorra Pastoral Associate: Ms. Maryann Tyrer ........ mtyrer@stelmo79.org Pastoral Associate: Ms. Jasmine Gomez ..... jgomez@stelmo79.org Tuesday, September 28th Weekday Parish Manager: Mr. Michael Ward ............. mward@stelmo79.org 12pm Daryl Valero Music Director: Mr. John Zupan .................... jzupan@stelmo79.org Wedding Coordinator: Ms. Debbi Burdett . dbweddingsnyc@gmail.com Wednesday, September 29th Plant Manager: Guillermo Vanegas ......... gvanegas@stelmo79.org Sacristan: Pedro Pizarro ................................ ppizarro@stelmo79.org St. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael Administrative Assistant: Gladys Tejada ..... gtejada@stelmo79.org 12pm Mary J. Reilly 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 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 30th St, Jerome 12pm Adele Ivers Friday, October 1st St. Therese of the Child Jesus 12:00pm

Genevieve Suhovsky Littmann

Saturday, September 25th Weekday 12:00pm

Eileen Lyons

For Mass Intentions, please visit the Parish Center

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Juliana Lango, Zita Silverman, Gerard Breslin, Andy McGillicuddy, Nereyda & Fran Rodriguez & all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Andreas Marinos, David Loring, Adelina Alvez-Carrera, Nimia Concepcion, Millicent D’Angelo & Rob Gilbert

Baptism Announcement

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Every Friday after the Noon Mass until 3pm in the church and live on-line

Today, there will be a Baptism at the 10AM Mass At this service we will be baptizing:

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 Intentions for Rita Coyne Offered by Kitty O’Donoghue

Ines Lee-Lai Please join us in congratulating: Edward Chi Lai & Soeun Lee 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 — Moses said, “Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!” (Numbers 11:25-29).

Psalm — The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart (Psalm 19).

Second Reading — Come now, you rich. The wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud (James 5:1-6).

Gospel — Whoever is not against us is for us (Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48).

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: Zec 8:1-8; Ps 102:16-21, 29, 22-23; Lk 9:46-50 Tuesday: Zec 8:20-23; Ps 87:1b-7; Lk 9:51-56 Wednesday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12a;

Ps 138:1-5; Jn 1:47-51 Thursday: Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12; Ps 19:8-11; Lk 10:1-12 Friday: Bar 1:15-22; Ps 79:1b-5, 8-9; Lk 10:13-16 Saturday: Bar 4:5-12, 27-29; Ps 69:33-37;

Mt 18:1-5, 10 Sunday: Gn 2:18-24; Ps 128:1-6; Heb 2:9-11;

Mk 10:2-16 [2-12]

Sanctuary Lamp

This Week’s Sanctuary Lamp Intentions for Mary Joyce Offered by Kitty O’Donghue

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

Par � L�fe Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held in the church every Friday after the noon Mass until 3pm and concludes with the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Also on Fridays, Vespers (Evening Prayer) is prayed at 5:10pm in the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel (408 East 80th Street). If you are unable to attend in person, you can always join us online! All Masses and Devotions are streamed live on STELMO79.org

Hello everyone!..

Time is flying by and we can’t believe it is already the end of September! We hope you had a good summer.

Are you ready for our second ‘Walk in the Park’ next Saturday, Oct 2nd ? We would love for you to join!

Young, old , strollers, pets, everyone is welcome. It will be a nice walk with no steps this time!

We will meet at 11 am at the North-West side of 79th

Our Media Ministry is actively recruiting! If you are interested in helping us with

Street and this time we will be holding a sign, so that you can’t miss us.

the livestream cameras, taking pictures for our social media

The feast day of St Francis of Assisi is Oct 04th. He is

accounts or if you have ideas

the patron saint of animals and the environment,

about posts (even if just a

because he loved all creatures. This is what we are

meme) please contact Jasmine

trying to do as well. We want to care for our common

Gomez at Jgomez@stelmo79.org She will be happy to

home – the earth. As we will admire some beautiful

connect with you and train you!

spots in Central Park, we will have time to simply be grateful.

Our Media Ministry helps people stay connected with us online and it is needed now more than everPlease join us!

See you next week! Any questions, please email us at greenteam@stelmo79.org

pg. 5

K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation: •

• • •

Sunday sessions begin October 3 at 11:11am on Zoom! We conclude at 11:55am. This timing 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!

Please register ASAP online at stelmo79.org, or in person at the Parish Center (406 East 80th St.) First Penance is celebrated in December, so it is important to register your child now if they are eligible for First Communion this Spring.

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 our Catholic Faith in a communal setting over a cup of coffee or tea. Bring your questions and musings!

Beginning October 3, following the 12noon Mass and concluding at 3pm, in the Parish Center. Consider adding this to your fall calendar.

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).

Volunteers

Want to learn more about your own faith while helping others to do the same? Catechists (those who share their faith with others) and assistants (with a variety of job descriptions) are needed in our K-8 Religious Education and our Adult Formation programs. Contact Maryann Tyrer at mtyrer@stelmo79.org to find out how your gifts and our needs might connect!

Bereavement Ministry

Have you suffered a significant loss recently? Are you struggling with grief?

Are you trying to make sense of it all in the light of faith?

You don’t have to carry this burden alone. You are invited to Seasons of Hope – a group prayer and discussion series that will meet on Wednesdays in the Parish Center, 7-8:30pm, September 15 through October 20.

Contact Maryann at mtyrer@stelmo79.org, or call the Parish Center for more info, or to sign up. It’s not too late to join the current series.

• • • • • • • • • •

If you have ever said, “I wish I could get to know some people in my parish.”

If you have ever thought, “There are some things I really don’t know about Catholicism.”

If you have ever wondered, “How could I deepen my faith?”

If you’d like to have a better experience when you go to Mass…

If you have questions about your faith or about the Bible or the Church…

If you have never been baptized…

If you were baptized in another Christian faith…

If you were baptized in the Catholic faith, but never Confirmed…

If you have celebrated all your sacraments, but would like to update your understanding of the faith…

If you just don’t know where to find a good cup of coffee or tea after the 12noon Mass on Sunday…

Begins Sunday, October 3 In the Parish Center (406 E. 80th Street) Following the 12noon Mass (or about 1:15pm) Ends at 3pm ALL ARE WELCOME, and we’ll have the coffee and tea ready for you!

FIVE MINUTE JESUS Using the Gospel for Prayer – The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time October 3, 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.

Gospel Mark 10:2-16 The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

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 A happy marriage is a gift from God. However, not all marriages are fortunate to realize this gift. Is there someone I know who may need prayers for a successful marriage? Can I pray for them today? Am I the person in need of prayers?

Wednesday Today, divorce has directly and indirectly affected so many of us. Is there someone I know who is affected by divorce, either directly or indirectly, who may need an ear to listen?

Thursday Jesus reminds us of God’s plan for marriage: a relationship built on faithfulness and love. Expanding on this ideal, how can I be more loving and compassionate to all God’s children?

Friday God does not want us to be alone. God created us to be with one another. Today violence, hate, sexism and racism divide us and separate us from one another. Is there someone I know that is lonely to whom I can reach out today and share God’s light and love, to bring us closer to each other?

Saturday In Jesus’ time, children had few rights. They were generally overlooked by society. That is precisely why Jesus blesses the children. They are vulnerable. Is there a way for me to reach out to the vulnerable in my community today? How can I be of help to them?

From the Pastor 09.26.21 A family Friendly Church Six years ago, this past August, St. Monica’s St. Elizabeth’s and St. Stephen’s were merged. I was assigned to oversee the merger. Shortly after I arrived, a parishioner approached me about resurrecting the custom from St. Stephen’s of a mass where families were welcome. When I responded that every mass should be family friendly, the person pointed out that while that might be true in the abstract the reality was far different, and that if I were to try out a family mass, I would see what happened.

We started a monthly family mass in 2016 at the 5:30pm Saturday vigil mass. That mass, with its pre-covid attendance of about 150 grew to over 300 on family mass nights. Why? Well, while children-oriented sermons were important, and of course it helped that we served pizza after mass. But when I asked people, they all said it was because they felt welcome there with their children and did not have to feel embarrassed if their children acted like, well children.

It is difficult to be a parent with small children. Children do not always behave. They have needs and don’t understand why those needs can’t be met NOW. Parents must walk the line between caving into a child’s every demand and insisting that the child learn to wait. That can lead to messy confrontations, melt downs and bad behavior. Parishioners with small children of course know this. But the rest of us? Sometimes we can forget.

The month of October is designated every year by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops as pro-life month.

Many Catholics dislike that term, because all too often the pro-life movement focuses on issues at the beginning or end of life. But a true understanding of the term pro-life is to see our Church’s commitment to the fulness of life at ALL its stages. It is rooted in the mission of Jesus who says, “I have come so that you might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). It is a church where all people are encouraged to see one another as brothers and sisters of Jesus and of one another (Mark 3:34-35), and to encourage one another to live their faith and life fully. Thus, a pro-life church is one where children are celebrated, relationships are supported, and families welcomed.

One way we do this is by seeing that our children are formed in the faith. That can’t happen without the mass.

That is why we celebrate weekly mass on Wednesdays for children of our parish school, St. Stephen of Hungary. That is why starting on the first Saturday of October, we will resume a monthly family mass, albeit for the time being without the pizza, and why starting in October we will be celebrating the 10 am Sunday mass as a mass which is “family-friendly” – that is, one where that welcome to family is made explicit. We will be moving religious education to a time immediately following the 10 am mass, so parents can go to mass and then bring their kids to class. We will bring children forward for the homily, and our growing children’s choir will sing on the 2nd and 4th Sundays.

While I stand by what I said to that St. Stephen’s parishioner so many years ago, I also know that children won’t practice their faith as adults if we don’t practice with them when they are children, and thus need masses where they and their families can feel comfortable. Even as Mike Ward and I make decisions concerning the parish assets so that financial future of both church and school are secure, all of us have a hand in shaping the future of our parish community. And we see that future in the families who increasingly make this place their parish home.

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: September 26th, 2021 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE PRINT 450 BULLETINS FOR THIS WEEK’S ISSUE