Church of St Monica. St Elizabeth of Hungary. St Stephen of Hungary Church 413 East 79th Street

Transcription

1 ST STEPHEN OF HUNGARY SCHOOL 408 East 82nd Street Phone (212) Fax (212) New York, NY Early Bird 2's Program Pre-K 3-8th grade Caroline Walker Principal Website: PARISH STAFF Church of St Monica St Elizabeth of Hungary St Stephen of Hungary Church 413 East 79th Street PASTOR: Rev Donald C. Baker ASSOCIATES: Rev Joslin K. Jose Msgr Leslie Ivers Rev James Gavin OFM Cap ORGANIST & DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Mr. David Schaefer CANTOR & LEADER OF SONG : Mr. Joseph Neal PASTORAL ASSOCIATE: Ms. Maryann Tyrer mtyrer@stmonicanyc.org MASS SCHEDULE Sundays: 7:30 AM; 9:00 AM; 10:30 AM & 12 Noon (Principle Liturgy & Choir) Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM Weekdays: 7:30 AM & 12 NOON Saturdays: 12 NOON CONFESSIONS ARE HEARD AT 5 PM SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN CHURCH PREPARE THE WAY Saint John the Baptist appears on the scene today as Advent enters its second week. The mysterious consumer of locusts and wild honey, John echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah as he calls for repentance in the face of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. The rhythms of the Christian life are often confounding. Each year we meet the Baptist and hear his calls for repentance. Each year we see him pointing to the one who is coming after him, the Lord Jesus. Yet each year the words and actions of John the Baptist echo anew in our hearts, because we have fallen into old sinful traps again and again. Advent gives us the opportunity once again to turn away from our sinful ways and embrace the gospel way of life. John the Baptist invites us to prepare the way for the Lord, in whom we place our hope. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. Parish Center 406 East 80th Street New York, NY Tel: (212) Fax: (212) website: Sunday December 4th, 2016 UPCOMING EVENTS Feast of The Immaculate Conception Thursday, December 8th Is a Holy Day of Obligation VIGIL MASS Wednesday, December 7th 5:30 PM Thursday Masses 7:30 AM & 12 Noon PARISH CENTER OPEN AT 11 AM CHURCH HOURS OUR CHURCH IS OPEN MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY 7 AM 5 PM WEDNESDAY S 7 AM 4PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY According to Mass Schedule PARISH CENTER HOURS Monday 9 AM to 5 PM Tuesday 9 AM to 7 PM Wednesday 9 AM to 7PM Thursday 9 AM to 7 PM Saturday: 10 AM to 2 PM The Parish Center is closed on Friday & Sunday Parish Center will be closed for lunch daily from 1 PM to 2 PM - Visit and like our new Facebook page At Church of St Monica St Stephen of Hungary St Elizabeth of Hungary

2 TODAY S READINGS First Reading He shall bring justice for the afflicted; the earth shall overflow with the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1-10). Psalm Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever (Psalm 72). Second Reading Glorify God by living in harmony with one another, welcoming each other as Christ welcomed you (Romans 15:4-9). Gospel Produce good fruit worthy of your baptism; repent, for the reign of God is near (Matthew 3:1-12). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass 1969, 1981, 1997, International READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: I s 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Is 40:1-11; Ps 96:1-3, 10ac, 11-13; Mt 18:12-14 Wednesday: Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30 Thursday: Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38 Friday: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, Sunday: Is 35:1-6a, 10; Ps 146:6-10; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11 SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Tuesday: St. Nicholas Wednesday: St. Ambrose; Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Thursday: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Friday: St. Juan Diego Saturday: International Human Rights Day Remember your loved ones by dedicating in their honor this week s Bread & Wine / Sanctuary Lamp SANCTUARY LAMP For the Intentions of Mary O Neill Offered by Kitty O Donoghue BREAD & WINE For the Intentions of Anne Sweeny Offered by Kitty O Donoghue Page 2 SATURDAY December 3rd Vigil 5:30 PM Andrew Joseph SUNDAY December 4th Second Sunday of Advent 7:30 AM Theresa Buonomo 9:00 AM Carla Betina Litrenta (Living) 10:30 AM Theresa Lepore-Moore 12 NOON Parishioners of St Monica, St Elizabeth of Hungary & St Stephen of Hungary MONDAY December 5th Advent Weekday 7:30 AM Priests of St Monica s 12 NOON Frederick Stephens TUESDAY December 6th Advent Weekday 7:30 AM Souls In Purgatory 12 NOON Paul Galoppo WEDNESDAY December 7th St Ambrose 7:30 AM MaryJane Russo 12 NOON Majella Fleming 5:30 PM Joseph & Rose Zederosser THURSDAY December 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception 7:30 AM Joie Eiaw (Living) 12 NOON Margaret Donahue FRIDAY December 9th Advent Weekday 7:30 AM In Thanksgiving 12 NOON Werner Heitzel SATURDAY December 10th Advent Weekday 12 NOON Brian Thompson PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Please remember in your prayers James Baker, Kathy Baker, Rosemary Catalano, Fr Jim Gavin, Mary Rushka, Johana Cardona, Paula Ruiz AND ALL VICTIMS OF MILITARY ACTIVITY PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED James Bausano I ve gone to prepare a place for you. Please pray for our deceased parishioners and If you wish to add the names of your loved one to the prayer list, please notify the rectory: (212) or us at contact@stmonicanyc.org

3 Rosary After all weekday masses Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Every Friday after the Noon Mass to 3 PM, with Benediction following the Divine Mercy Chaplet Devotions Miraculous Medal on Mondays after each Mass Divine Mercy The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed each weekday afternoon at 3 PM Sacrament of Reconciliation: 5:00 PM on Saturdays Anytime by appointment BAPTISMS & MARRIAGES: Please call the Parish Center 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 Eucharist Minister to bring communion to them. THE DIVINE MERCY DEVOTION AT ST MONICA S An image of the Divine Mercy can be found along the west side wall of our beautiful church. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed Fridays at 3 PM.. PADRE PIO On December 15th at 7pm Mr. Anthony Fuina will be coming to our parish to give testimony to the action of Saint Pio of Petrelecina (Padre Pio). Mr Fuina is one of the miracles used in the canonization process for Padre Pio. It will be an evening of prayer and testimony, with an opportunity to venerate the relics of this holy man. Come and hear him speak and also speak about his work with children with cancer. The meeting will take place in St. Monica s church. CHURCH CHRISTMAS DECORATING VOLUNTEERS Please join us on Saturday afternoon, December 10th at 2:30 PM to help us beautify the Church of St Monica for Christmas. All are invited, but please contact the Parish Center to let us know you can help. Parish Christmas Bazaar For years St. Monica s has celebrated an annual Christmas Bazaar as a fundraiser for the parish. This year we went back to a two-day event, which offered food, baked goods, gifts, a flea market and a group of vendors who offered clothing and crafts for sale. Our School children decorated, the women of the parish baked, and so many people worked and sacrificed their time and their talent for that event. My deepest thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make our Christmas Bazaar the success that it was. Although I will leave the reporting of the final numbers to our parish manager, Mr. Michael Ward, this year s bazaar looks to be our most successful yet. Community Thanksgiving Dinner This was the second time I was privileged to attend the Community Thanksgiving Dinner held in St. Stephen of Hungary School auditorium on Thanksgiving Day. The team of dedicated volunteers fed 220 people and provided 30 take-out meals to members of the larger Yorkville community. My deepest thanks go out to all the people who worked and served. We should be justifiably proud that our parish continues to minister in this way to the whole Yorkville community. First Reconciliation This past Saturday at 1pm our second graders in both religious education and the parish school celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. The service took place at St. Monica s Church. Pray for our kids as they continue their journey of sacramental formation. Altar Servers Page 3 There will be an organizational meeting for everyone who wants to be an altar server on Saturday, December 10 th at 1pm at St. Monica s. All who filled out an application should attend. If you did not and still wish to, you can still come! The meeting will take about an hour. Advent 2016 Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus which means coming or arrival. In short it is that period of the Church year where we focus on the coming of Christ as a baby in Bethlehem, as the Messiah (chosen one) in his adult life, and as the Lord at the end of the world. Central to our observance of Advent is a wreath with four candles. The Advent Wreath originally comes from Germany and is a way to mark the passing of the season like a menorah that marks the days of Hanukkah, a candle is lit each week of the four-week season. The light grows the closer we get to Christmas. The color priests wear is purple - just like in Lent. That should clue us in that Advent, like Lent, is a time of preparation. You ll also note that three of the four candles on the Advent wreath are purple as well. But the candle that get lit on the third Sunday of Advent is pink. This is a throwback to the ancient practice of fasting during Advent like in Lent. After two weeks of fasting, people needed a break! So the third week the fasting was lifted; pink is the color that symbolizes that lighter discipline. To this day priests wear rose vestments on that day. Fr Baker From Your Pastor 12/4/2016

4 Page 4 Invitations, News, Thoughts and Prayers TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Did St. Francis of Assisi invent the Christmas crib? Not exactly, but his devotion to the Incarnation and his love for the poverty of the Christ Child certainly popularized this beloved custom. Long before Francis, it was a custom at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome to enshrine a rich image of Mary, gilded and bejewelled, embracing the child Jesus. This church was founded as a kind of home for the feast of Christmas in the fourth century. In 1223, Francis was ready to celebrate this feast in a new way. In the tiny city of Greccio, he asked friends to prepare a place where they could experience the poverty and suffering embraced by Christ in his birth. It was a living scene: an ox from the barn, an ass from the stable, and peasants standing in for shepherds and kings. The night of the celebration was beautiful, the weather was warm, and people came in crowds, bearing candles and singing hymns that echoed through the forest. Francis himself chanted the Gospel and preached. The custom spread quickly, and by the sixteenth century cribs were seasonal features not only in church, but in the home. On December 17, the liturgy begins to unfold the Lord s birth before us, and it s the right time to follow this beautiful tradition. In Germany, each night throughout Advent children prepare a bedding for the manger. At bedtime prayer, a child places a single straw in the manger for each act of devotion or virtue performed during the day. If the children are good, then the Christ child will have plenty of soft bedding when he is placed in the manger on Christmas. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. December 4th, 2016 Ongoing: December 4, 11, and 18 K-8 Religious Ed, 10:15-11:45am, Parish Center Adult Faith Formation, 10:15-11:45am, Parish Center, open to all adults; no registration needed, drop in any Sunday! RCIA, 1:30-3:30pm, Parish Center Family Question of the Week: Paul advises the Romans to "welcome one another as Christ welcomed you." How can your family welcome guests during the holiday season? YOUNG ADULT MASS WITH CARDINAL DOLAN You are invited to join the Office of Young Adult Outreach on Wednesday, December 7th, at St Patrick s Cathedral, 460 Madison Avenue, New York, NY for Mass with His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan. Adoration and Confessions will be availablefrom 6:30-7:30 p.m.. Mass begins at 7:30 p.m. Music by Matt Maher and Audrey Assad. There will be a social after the Mass. For more information, visit ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT...continues this week. based on Pastor Rick Warren s book, The Purpose of Christmas. Rick Warren is the author of the #1 New York Times best seller, The Purpose Driven Life. These presentations will be facilitated by our Sunday associate, Msgr. Leslie J. Ivers, who is the Director of Ongoing Formation of priests in the Archdiocese of New York. It continues to take place Tuesdays through Advent ( 12/6,12/13,12/20) from 7 8:30 PM at the Parish Center. RETIRED RELIGIOUS COLLECTION Next weekend s Second Collection is in support of all retired religious personnel in the Archdiocese of New York. This is an extremely important collection in support of those who have served us over the years. Please give generously. The Choir at St Monica, led by musical director David Schaefer, is happy to announce that the joy returns on Sunday, December 18th at 6 PM. Join us for a celebration of the sounds of the season, and the usual fun and surprises. Admission is free, but donations to help support the music ministry at St Monica s are greatly appreciated. VIP Tickets available ($100 each) including pre and post concert reception and reserved seating

5 Page 5 ST MONICA S JESSE TREE As we give thanks this month for the many blessings that we have received from God, we need to remember those who are less fortunate. Please drop off a new, unwrapped toy or gift for our Jesse Tree. at the St Joseph Altar. These gifts will then be donated to the Little Sisters of The Assumption in Harlem, and the Yorkville Common Pantry. The last day to donate will be Monday, December 19th. CHRISTMAS FLOWERS Help remember your loved ones, and help beautify our combined parishes of St Monica, St Stephen of Hungary and St Elizabeth of Hungary with a donation to our Christmas Flower offering. Write the names of your loved ones on the front of the envelope in the space provided and they will be prayed for this Christmas season. Envelopes can be put in the collection basket, or left at the St Monica parish rectory office.