Parish Staff Church of St. Ephrem 929 Bay Ridge Parkway Brooklyn, New York 11228 Sunday, October 15, 2017 Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Rev. Robert B. Adamo, KHS, Pastor Rev. Msgr. Peter V. Kain, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Anthony S. Chanan, Parochial Vicar Mr. Robert Cote, Youth Minister Mrs. Michele James, Business Manager Rev. Msgr. Theophilus Joseph, Parochial Vicar Ms. Eileen Maguire, Director of Faith Formation Mr. Thomas Marchesiello, Director of Music/Liturgy Deacon Kevin McLaughlin, Permanent Deacon Mr. Craig Mercado, School Principal Sr. Ann Martha Ondreicka, O.P., Director of the Spirituality Center Mrs. Lisa Pinsky, Parish Secretary Mr. Thomas J. Sbordone, Christian Awareness Program/Pastoral Care Deacon Anthony Stucchio, Permanent Deacon Rectory Office Spirituality Center Christian Awareness Program Faith Formation Office 929 Bay Ridge Parkway 935 Bay Ridge Parkway 929 Bay Ridge Parkway Office in School Room 307 718-833-1010 718-921-9518 718-833-1143 718-745-7486 Fax 718-921-5232 stephremreligioused@gmail.com St. Ephrem School 924 74th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11228 718-833-1440 Fax 718-745-5301 www.stephremschool.org Schedule of Masses Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12 Noon, & 5:00 PM Weekdays 7:00 AM & 8:45 AM Rectory Office Hours Monday Friday: 9:00 AM 12 Noon 1:00 PM 8:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM Sunday No Office Hours Parish Registration All are welcomed and invited to register at the Parish Office and participate in our parish. Devotions Miraculous Medal Novena, Mondays following the 8:45 AM Mass Recitation of the Rosary at 8:15 AM before weekly morning Mass. Divine Mercy Chaplet every Friday at 3:00 PM First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following the 8:45 AM Mass and Benediction at 12:30 PM. Our Mission Statement Baptism Parents should call the rectory to make an appointment. Please note that there are no baptisms during the season of Lent. Marriage The Sacrament of Marriage requires a time of serious spiritual preparation. Couples should make arrangements for their marriage at least six months before the date of the wedding by making an appointment with a priest or deacon. Please log on to www.pre-cana.org for complete information about marriage preparation in the Diocese. Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) Saturday 3:30 4:30 PM. By appointment for all other times. Anointing of the Sick/Communion To make arrangements for communion to be brought to any parishioner who is seriously ill or confined to the house, or if they wish to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. To see a particular Staff Member, please call for an appointment. We, the parish family of St. Ephrem, baptized into the life of Jesus Christ and nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, strive to be a welcoming and responsive Roman Catholic faith community. Together we are committed to put our faith into action by: Responding to the spiritual and physical needs of the community through service and charity. Reaching out to those who are searching for a faith community, including the young and those seeking to re-kindle their relationship with God. Reaching out to all without distinction. Passing on our faith and traditions through teaching by word and example. Connecting to where people are on their faith journey. Actively participating in the worship, sacrament and devotional life of the church.
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 15, 2017 Invite to the Wedding feast whomever you find. For the third Sunday in a row Jesus seems to be purposely provoking the chief priests and elders of the people into angry retaliation for his words of judgment. Jesus is relentless in the message of these parables because of what is at stake: living in the kingdom of heaven, receiving a judgment for fullness of Life, sharing in the drive wedding feast. Actually, Jesus is purposely provoking all of us-not to angry retaliation in response to his judgment, but to change our lives so that we might embrace Life itself. Many are invited. Only those who respond appropriately are chosen. Our very Life depends on it. Even when we refuse to come, our King continually sends out invitations to us. God is relentless in calling us to live in the kingdom of heaven and participate in the divine wedding feast. This reminds us of how much God wants to share divine Life and salvation, even at the risk of the Son being killed. God s banquet of Life is worth any cost to God. IT ought to be worth any cost to us. While none of us would be so foolish as to refuse, for example, an invitation to a state dinner or relatives wedding reception, we do often refuse God s many invitations that are far more important. We are invited, for example, to the Eucharistic feast every Sunday. WE come, but do we truly participate in this banquet? We are invited to a feast of generosity through many opportunities to share our gifts with others less fortunate than ourselves. Do we willing donate time, energy, resources to others? We are invited to a feast of relationships within family, workplace, and neighborhood. Do we share our values and spirituality with others? Which is the feast we choose? Will we come? During this Year of Vocations in the Diocese of Brooklyn, we are praying that we open our ears and hearts to the Lord, that we would answer the invitation by the Lord, and to respond to the needs of the parish and church. Today, we are collecting the CALLED BY NAME cards of those who have identified to extend an invitation to and consider a religious vocation as a priest, deacon, brother or sister in our church. Let us all pray, especially the Prayer for Vocations, so that the Lord will open the hearts of many to respond to the invitation. In the Good Shepard, Fr. Robert October 8, 2017 260 Envelopes $ 8,823.00 Hurricane Maria $ 3,659.00 We Share (Online Giving) 40 Families $220.00 Mass Attendance 581 Thank you for your generosity to St. Ephrem Parish! Generations of Faith continues across the Diocese! Generations of Faith Campaign Update as of September 16th at St. Ephrem R.C. Church Campaign Goal $980,000 Total Pledged $1,068,619.00 Total Payments to Date by $703,162.43 Parishioners Total # Donors 195 Total Funds To Be Returned to Parish to Date $305,589.22 On behalf of the parish, and all of the volunteers who helped with Generations of Faith thank you for your prayers and support of this historic effort! While we have completed our campaign, many parishioners are choosing to make their pledge payments to Generations of Faith automatically through online giving! Enroll in online giving today! Follow These Easy Steps: 1. Visit: www.cfbq.org/pledge 2. Enter banking or credit card information 3. Confirm your payment method, reference and contact information 4. Welcome! You are now enrolled for easy, convenient and free online payments! What if I need help setting up an online account so that I can pay my pledge? To provide this service, we have partnered with Faith Direct, a leading online provider for the Church. Should you need help enrolling or if you do not have an email address, please contact them at (866) 507-8757. If you have further questions, call Catholic Foundation at (718) 965-7375, ext. 2210 and they will assist you further. 2
Saturday, October 14th 8:45 AM Ann Militello 5:00 PM Anthony & Jean Nunziato Anita & Richard Krische Anthony Castaldo Doris Meyer & Eleanor Koebele Susan Ronan Sunday, October 15th 8:00 AM Joseph Colandrea 10:00 AM Anthony Magaldi 12 Noon Richard Ondreicka (14 years) 5:00 PM For the People of St. Ephrem Monday, October 16th 7:00 AM Marie Rukaniec 8:45 AM Carmen Rodriguez Tuesday, October 17th 7:00 AM William Watson 8:45 AM Rosemarie Vojik (8th Anniversary) Wednesday, October 18th 7:00 AM Victoria Balsamo 8:45 AM Josephine Magnavito Thursday, October 19th 7:00 AM For the People of St. Ephrem 8:45 PM Theresa Offitto I would like to thank all those generous individuals who have made a pledge to the 2017 Annual Catholic Appeal at St. Ephrem Parish. If you are still considering your donation, please complete a donation envelope at the entrances of the church so that we can reach our goal! Fr. Robert Adamo Amount per Week (approximately) Total Pledge Amount for 2017 Daily Sacrifice $125 $1,000 $20 $62.50 $500 $10 $31.25 $250 $5 $15.63 $100 $2 $6.25 $50 $1 $3.13 $25 $0.50 Once again we ask to consider making a gift to the 2017 Annual Catholic Appeal. If 100 parishioners pledge $131 each to the 2017 Annual Catholic Appeal, we will exceed our goal The 2017 Annual Catholic Appeal, Live in Faith Give in Love, helps support the daily work of our Church throughout Brooklyn and Queens in ways no one parish can accomplish alone by supporting the following ministries: Friday, October 20th 7:00 AM Victoria Balsamo 8:45 AM Margaret James Saturday, October 21st 8:45 AM Vito Buffa, Angela Buffa & Vince Buffa 5:00 PM Michael Sloan Joseph Mondiello George Warren George Tabeek Ann McClellan Sunday, October 22nd 8:00 AM Sarah Ferrara 10:00 AM Georgianna Brander 12 Noon In Honor of St. Michael 5:00 PM For the People of St. Ephrem The Bread & Wine In Loving Memory of Louis Thomas Tuorto Requested by: His loving sons Greg & Paul Bring your needs before the Lord! Healing Mass Thursday, October 19th 7:30 PM Msgr. Theo, Celebrant Our Parish Goal: $104,459.00 All monies collected over goal is returned to St. Ephrem Parish 237 Donors Amount Pledged: $96,272.00 Paid to Date: $91,307.00 Reached 92.16% of Goal Thank you for your continued generosity we are now over 92% of goal!!!! Just a few more and we will achieve our goal!! 3
YOUTH MINISTRY PARISH NEWS Memorial Opportunity Youth Group (Grades 6-9) Sunday, October 15th at 6:00 PM in the Rectory Meeting Room Family Game Night All Families are invited. Friday, October 20th at 7:00 PM in the Msgr. Peter V. Kain Hall Join us for one night or for every event. For more information please email: stephremyouthministry@gmail.com @stephremyouth Please see brochure in the church HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Bishop Kearney High School Sunday, October 29th 12 Noon to 1:30 PM RSVP at www.bishopkearneyhs.org/openhouse St. Joseph by-the-sea High School Sunday, October 15th for Girls, 1 PM to 4:00 PM Sunday, October 22nd for Boys, 1 PM to 4:00 PM Fontbonne Hall Academy Saturday, October 21st 12:30 to 3:30 PM Registration & information: www.fontbonne.org Saint Saviour High School Sunday, October 22nd 12 Noon to 2:00 PM RSVP online: stsaviour.org/admissions Xavier High School Saturday, October 21st 11:30 AM 4:00 PM Registration: www.xavierhs.org/inquire 4 Ciboria The vessel in which the Blessed Sacrament is kept for distribution and in the Tabernacle. The above Ciboria is handmade in Spain by the Molina Company, of precious metal. You may like to Memorialize a Ciboria in memory of a loved one or a family name, for $1,500.00 each. Handbells Over the past several years our Sunday masses and special liturgies have been enriched with the addition of our Children s Handbell Choir under the direction of Mr. Tom Marchesiello. We are so fortunate that the handbell choir continues to attract children from our parish who really enjoy volunteering to attend the weekly rehearsals and liturgies, all for the greater praise of our God. We started the Handbell choir with inexpensive bells, which frequently break and can t be repaired, we feel now is the time to invest in a better quality bell that will both look and sound professional and hold up for years to come. We are looking for donors who want to help keep our parish children involved in our wonderful music ministry here at St. Ephrem s Church. The purchase price of over 20 new bells, stands to hold the bells and the carrying case to store the bells is $3,000. We are hoping to purchase the new bells in time for this Christmas season. Memorial opportunities to remember your loved ones are available. If you are interested in participating in this fundraising campaign, please contact the Rectory Office. Through your generosity we will dignify our worship by engaging our youth in sharing their time and talent here at St. Ephrem s!
DEVOTIONS & SPIRITUALITY CENTER During the Month of October, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, please join us in praying the Rosary at 8:15 AM & 7:00 PM In our church Monday through Friday. St. Ephrem is hosting its Annual Christmas Fair Sunday, December 3, 2017 If you are a vendor who sells only new merchandise, then we are the place! If you bring your own table $25.00. To rent a table $50.00. For information: deeb1326@aol.com St. Vincent de Paul Society will be here on Saturday, October 21st 9 to 11:45 AM, in the parking lot on 74th Street. All types of clean usable clothing, blankets and towels will be accepted. New York Blood Center will host a Blood Drive Sunday, October 22nd 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM For your convenience the Mobile Blood Bus will be in front of the Church. A representative will welcome and assist you in donating blood. Spirituality Center A Retreat with Pope Francis Tuesday, October 17th at 1 PM. Session 3 The Church is a Field Hospital. Bereavement Support Group Monday, October 16th at 7:00 PM Exploring the Sunday Readings Thursday, October 19th at 10: 00 AM All are welcome! Spiritual Direction Sister Ann Martha (718) 921-9518 Earthquake Special Second Collections October 28 & 29 For Mexico Earthquake Victims You will be able to assist our brothers and sisters through your generosity. There will be a special second collection taken up at all our Masses these weekends to help Catholic Charities in the Disaster Relief. St. Ephrem Friendship Club All Seniors 55 years and older are invited to join us on Wednesday s in the Msgr. Peter V. Kain Hall 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Doors open at 10:30) Do you enjoy playing cards, bingo, join in the 50/50, or just talk to your new friends, even bring your own friends for a table of your own. We look forward to your company!!! St. Vincent de Paul Gives Back St. Ephrem s could share in the profits. For donated cars, trucks or vans, running or not. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will give back to our church $50/$100 per vehicle. Maybe you don t have a vehicle, but a family member, friend or neighbor has an old or neglected vehicle in their driveway that they would like to dispose of. Call the Society of St. Vincent de Paul 5 at 718-491-2525. Thank you for your participation
YEAR OF VOCATIONS CALLED BY NAME A campaign to raise awareness and promote vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. There will be CALLED BY NAME cards in the Church. Parishioners are asked to prayerfully consider the names of any young person who might show interest in a religious vocation. Next weekend please place the CALLED BY NAME cards in the collection basket. Pray for vocations! YEAR OF VOCATIONS DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN 2017-2018 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go an bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. John 15:16 Welcome Fr. Sean Suckiel Vocations Director for the Diocese of Brooklyn Next weekend we welcome Fr. Sean to St. Ephrem, who will celebrate the 10:00 AM Mass and Con-celebrate and Preach at the 12 Noon Mass. What a wonderful gift to have our Vocations Director be with us and share the wonderful news about vocations in our Diocese, especially during this Year of Vocations! Silver Circle Support the Retired IHM Sisters For information please contact: Sister Mary Jane at (718) 833-1555 Permanent Diaconate Information Sessions Information for men who feel called to the permanent diaconate will be held: Diocesan Office 310 Prospect Park West Brooklyn, New York 11215 Monday, October 16th 7:00 9:00 PM Sunday, November 11th 10:00 AM-12 Noon Monday, November 27th 7:00 9:00 PM To attend one of these above sessions, men must first have spoken with Fr. Robert, the Pastor, and register for the desired date Serve one another in love. Galatians 5: 13 6 PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS ] Lord of the Harvest, we petition you as you have instructed us to ask for more laborers to serve in the vineyard of your Church. You have told us that the harvest is rich and laborers are few and we experience this great need in the face of the challenge of the New Evangelization. We ask the Holy Spirit to inspire young men and women to seriously consider vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Help all of us to be effective instruments to encourage and support those whom you are calling to serve and lead the Church of Brooklyn and Queens in the future. Lord, you told the Apostles to put out into the deep. We ask for the grace and courage to respond to your call as we pray and work for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, Amen.