September 5, 2021

Parish life

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

09/05/2021

Faith Formation (Page 6)

Five Minute Jesus

( Page 8 )

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.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, September 4th Vigil 5:30pm Ann Reynolds Sunday, September 5th Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00am Claire Hollander 10:00am Chino Quaradegini 12:00pm All Parishioners 5:00pm Deborah Sottosanti

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

Monday, September 6th Weekday

9am Giselle Peña

Tuesday, September 7th Weekday

12pm Maria Teresita Litrenta (Living) Wednesday, September 8th The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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

12pm

Joseph Williams, Jr.

Thursday, September 9th St. Peter Claver 12pm

Annette Williams Friday, September 10th Weekday

12:00pm

Jose Cedeño

Saturday, September 11th Weekday 12:00pm

Werner Hertzel

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 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 Julia Hidalgo, David Loring, Cira Christian, Andres Rodriguez, & all those ill with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus and all Victims of Military Activities PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Rev. Richard Seagraves, Rev. Charles Smasrsh, Rob Gilbert, Brandon Ward, Tina Paleo, Pilar Rovira, Margaret T. Grossi, Pauline Mazza,Glenn Anderson, Jean Cullen & Mark Jacobson

Baptism Announcement Today, September 5th, there will be a

Baptism service at 1:30pm

At this service we will be baptizing: 1.Siena Valentina Tymon 2.Fiona Emmi Biggins

Please join us in congratulating: 1. Kevin W. Tymon & Erica Sieni 2.Luke J. Biggins & Kaci A. Higgins 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 — Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God (Isaiah 35:47a).

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

Second Reading — Show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ (James 2:1-5).

Gospel — Jesus makes the deaf hear and the mute speak (Mark 7:31-37).

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: Col 1:24 — 2:3; Ps 62:6-7, 9; Lk

6:6-11, or,for Labor Day, any

readings from the Mass“For the

Blessing of Human Labor,” nos.907-911 Tuesday: Col 2:6-15; Ps 145:1b-2, 8-11; Lk 6:12-19 Wednesday: Mi 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30; Ps 13:6

Mt 1:1-16, 18-23 [18-23] Thursday: Col 3:12-17; Ps 150:1b-6; Lk 6:27-38 Friday: 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14; Ps 16:1b-2a, 5,

7-8, 11;Lk 6:39-42 Saturday: 1 Tm 1:15-17; Ps 113:1b-7; Lk 6:43-49 Sunday: Is 50:5-9a; Ps 116:1-6, 8-9;

Jas 2:14-18;Mk 8:27-35

St. Stephen of Hungary School Pre-K Through 8th Grade Catholic Parochial School 408 East 82nd Street New York, NY 10028 212-288-1989 Fax: 212 517-5788 Principal Ms. Kelly Burke WWW.Saintstephenschool.org

STEPHEN OF

Interested in admissions to parish our school?

Admissions@saintstphenschool.org

SCHOOL

Mass Book 2022 Our mass book for calendar year 2022 will be available beginning Tuesday, September 7th, 2021 at 9AM.

Par � L�fe Our Annual Back to

The Green Team will be back next week with another

School Drive was a

installment and more information on their projects!

total Success! The staff from Little Sisters of the Assumption collected the items this past Thursday and they will be distributed to families in the coming weeks. Big thanks to all those who contributed to our drive! If you missed it, fear not! We will host our Annual Food Drive and Toy Drive in the coming months and will share with you more opportunities to give to fellow New Yorkers.

CALL FOR VIDEOS!!!

Our Annual Parish Feast Day Reception will be hosted on Sunday, September 26th, after the noon mass. In an effort to celebrate our parish, putting out a call for

The Green Team is taking a break this week but we thought to provide you with some tips to be more environmentally friendly!

1. Take notes electronically 2. Reduce Meat Consumption 3. Opt out of Junk Mail ( simply by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT) 4. Nix Bottled Water 5. Power down lights & appliances when not in

videos! What should this video entail? It should include your name, when you joined our Parish and what this Parish community means to you! Perhaps you enjoy the homilies, the liturgical music (and/or the concerts) perhaps it’s the faith sharing at Adult Faith Formation or what you have learned in Religious Education! Even if it is just the good conversation at a Wine and Cheese or the connection with our team, we want to hear from you! Grab your phone and film in a quiet place at home or the church if you prefer and send your video to Pastoral Associate at Parish Life, Jasmine Gomez: jgomez@stelmo79.org

use

pg. 5

K-8 Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation: •

• • • •

Please register as soon as possible so that we can plan class sizes, assign catechists, and order supplies!

The new year kicks off with a Family Welcome Back Picnic on September 19 Sunday sessions begin October 3 at 10:15am You may register online at stelmo79.org, or in person at the Parish Center (406 East 80th St.) 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: • • •

Have you ever said, “I wish I could update my religious education,” or “I wish I could deepen my faith,” or “I wish I could get to know some people in my parish?” If so, then Adult Faith Formation is for you!

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 H ope – 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.

FIVE MINUTE JESUS Using the Gospel for Prayer – The Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 12, 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 8:27-35 Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

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 In today’s gospel we hear Jesus referred to as “Christ” and what the cost of following him will be.

How can I increase my willingness to accept that cost each day?

Wednesday To Peter, Jesus, the Christ was the one who would come and create an army that would free Israel from Roman rule. However, he comes to find that Jesus came to establish God’s reign by selfsacrificing love, not force. Who is Jesus to me?

Thursday How does Jesus’s example of self-sacrificing love affect the choices I make in my daily life?

Friday In establishing God’s kingdom on earth, Jesus wants equality for all races and people. Do I forget that Jesus was not white but a dark-skinned peace activist? How does that affect the way I approach social justice in my community?

Saturday In my life, what are my crosses that burden me down?

From the Pastor 09.05.2021 Ropes in Church One of the signs that things were, are changing in our struggle with the Coronavirus was the elimination of separation barriers in our church’s pews. For a year we had, first masking tape and then roping which sought to separate us the required 6 feet.

This past spring, we eliminated the roping, save for in the rear of the church. People were relieved, and truth be told, most people don’t seem to be paying much attention to physical distancing, even in the areas where the ropes remain.

However, the other day a parishioner wrote me, worried that the reappearance of ropes in the front of the church signaled a return to mandatory social distancing. I responded that while there are now ropes in one part of the front section of the church, it has nothing to do with the virus. It is yet another headache.

If you look up over the section of the front left side of the church at the upper windows (the “clerestory” windows for architecture buffs) you’ll see the problem: water damage has begun to eat away at the plaster and paint around the window. We have identified about 3-4 other spots in the roof where this is occurring. The other day a piece of the plaster fell away, and so until we can repair whatever is wrong, that section will remain roped off.

This is not happy news. If there is water damage on the inside, that can only mean that there is a problem with the exterior of the church. We have obtained the services of a company that is going to do a thorough investigation of the roof and the pointing. We expect that in the coming months we will receive a series of recommendations, ranging from a partial repair (if possible) to a full repointing and replacement of the roof (if necessary).

Anyone who has ever been on a coop board or had to deal with building repairs knows things like repointing and roofing are time-consuming and costly. Bur because we believe that repairs should be done right, we will be guided by these recommendations.

I am sure most of you are thinking, “well at least we have the money!” due to the sale of air rights in 2018. That is not wrong. However, depending on how involved the repairs must be, repointing the church and replacing the roof will put a considerable dent in our finances for years to come. It could delay the renovation of the parish hall still further and limit our ability to grow our ministries as we recover from the outlay of monies we would have kept invested.

I know. Not happy news. But this is all still in the early stages. Our parish manager, Mike Ward, and I will keep all of you informed of the results of the investigation, and what our next steps will be.

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 5th, 2021 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE PRINT 450 BULLETINS FOR THIS WEEK’S ISSUE