Church of Saint Monica Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Saint Stephen of Hungary 413 East 79 th St., New York, NY 10075 Church Offices and Parish Center: 406 East 80 th St., New York, NY 10075 (212) 288-6250 Fax: (212) 570-1562 Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 17th, 2017 Office Hours Our Offices are open: Mo. 9am 5pm Tu.-Th. 9am 7pm Fri. Closed Sat. 10am -2pm Sun. Closed Our offices close for lunch: 1pm 2pm daily Parish Staff Pastor Rev. Donald C. Baker frdcab@stmonicanyc.org Associates: Rev. Msgr. Leslie J Ivers msgrlivers@stmonicanyc,org Rev. Joslin K. Jose frjoslin@stmonicanyc.org Pastoral Associate: Ms. Maryann Tyrer mtyrer@stmonicanyc.org Parish Manager: Mr. Michael Ward mward@stmonicanyc.org Interim Music Director: Ms. Lora Cohan lcohan@stmonicanyc.org Cantor: Mr. Joseph Neal Wedding Coordinator: Ms. Debbi Burdett DBweddingsnyc@gmail.com Mass Schedule Saturday: 12:00pm Saturday Vigil: 5:30pm Sunday: 7:30am 9:00am 10:30am 12:00pm 5:00pm Monday Friday: 7:30 & 12:00pm Confessions: Saturday 5:00 5:30pm and by appointment Our church is open: 7am 4pm daily for private prayer St. Stephen of Hungary School Pre-K through 8 th Grade Catholic Parochial School 408 East 82 nd St., New York, NY 10028 (212) 288-1989 Fax: (212) 517 5788 Ms. Caroline Walker www.saintstephenschool.org Principal: Interested in admissions to our parish school? admissions@saintstephenschool.org
TODAY S READINGS First Reading -- As a garden makes its growth spring up, so will GOD make justice spring up before all the nations (Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11). Psalm -- My soul rejoices in my God (Luke 1:46-50, 53-54). Second Reading -- Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). Gospel -- I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord (John 1:6-8, 19-28). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass (c) 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25 Tuesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25 Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6; Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45 Friday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56 Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lk 1:57-66 Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38 SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Thursday: Saturday: Third Sunday of Advent St. Peter Canisius; Winter begins St. John of Kanty PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Bridget Murray, Donald Fitzgerald, Patricia McGuire-Randt, Larry Eivens, John Gambino, Donald Fitzgerald & Gerhard Goede, Please pray for our deceased parishioners and family members SATURDAY December 16th Vigil 5:30 PM Brian Thompson SUNDAY December 17th Third Sunday of Advent 7:30 AM Maria Mota 9:00 AM Frances Marzek 10:30 AM Mary & Walter Ferber 12 NOON Parishioners of St Monica, St Elizabeth of Hungary, St Stephen of Hungary 5:00 PM Joseph & Rose Zedrosser MONDAY 7:30AM 12NOON December 18th Late Advent Marie Greene Deirdre Le Fevair TUESDAY December 19th Late Advent 7:30 AM Kavanaugh Family 12 NOON Thanksgiving to St. Agata WEDNESDAY December 20th Late Advent 7:30 AM Alt Family 12 NOON Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Finn THURSDAY 7:30AM 12NOON FRIDAY 7:30AM 12NOON SATURDAY December 21st Late Advent Anderson Family Stephen Geosits December 22nd Late Advent Magdalena & Raimund Perz Maria Mota December 23rd Late Advent 12 NOON Mary, Matthew Tscherne & Family PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Please remember in your prayers Fr. Peter Colapietro, Fr. Jim Gavin, Rosemary Catalano, Sotero Matta, James Baker, Kathleen Reddington, Bette Dewing, Ed Lucas, Benjamin Soleo, Roger & Franklin White, Manuel Cuenca, Edgardo Halagao, John Healey, John Shegina, Tobias Bustamante, Victor Worizid, James Leung, Raymond Feeley, Broley Gus, Frank Krescanko, Luis Gonzalez AND ALL VICTIMS OF MILITARY ACTIVITY If you wish to add the name of a loved one to the prayer list, please notify the parish center: (212) 288-6250
Sunday, Dec. 17 K-8 Religious Education and Adult Faith Formation 10:15-11:45am. No K-8 Religious Ed, Adult Faith Formation, or RCIA on Dec. 24 and 31. All sessions resume on January 7. Catechist Assistants and Greeters Needed Can you give us two hours of your time a couple of Sundays a month? We need some extra adults to help with our larger classes, and to mind the front door of the parish center during Religious Education. Safe Environment training will be provided. Middle School Catechist needed! We are grateful to Anh Duong for her awesome service, but she is moving away, and we need a catechist to work with our small but dynamic middle school group beginning in January. Maryann will provide training at your convenience. Considering becoming Catholic? Catholic adult but not yet confirmed? Contact Maryann to continue your faith journey with our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or Adult Confirmation processes. All events are held in the Parish Center, 406 East 80 th Street, unless otherwise specified. Contact our Pastoral Associate, Maryann Tyrer, with questions or to sign up for any of these events or programs. E-mail mtyrer@stmonicanyc.org Attention All Young Adults On New Year s Eve, we will have a champagne reception in the church following the 5pm Mass. Let s worship together, and then toast the New Year before heading out to holiday parties.
Discover the Trail of Martin Luther The Reformation in Germany Hosted by Father Donald C. Baker September 12 22, 2018 11 days 14 meals included Highlights... Mainz Worms Gutenberg Museum Erfurt Wartburg Castle Lutherhaus Eisleben Dresden Leipzig St. Thomas Church Wittenberg St. Mary s Church Berlin For information contact Maryann Tyrer Pastoral Associate St. Monica St. Elizabeth of Hungary St. Stephen of Hungary mtyrer@stmonicanyc.org 212-288-6250 Holiday Mass Schedules Masses for the 4 th Sunday of Advent: Saturday, Dec. 23 at 5:30pm, and Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am, and 12noon (no 5pm Mass!) Masses for Christmas (a Holy Day of Obligation): Sunday, Dec. 24 at 5:30pm Vigil (Family Mass), Monday, Dec. 25 at Midnight, 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am, and 12noon Masses for the Feast of the Holy Family (the Sunday after Christmas): Saturday, Dec. 30 at 5:30pm, and Sunday, Dec. 31 at 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am, 12noon, and 5pm Masses for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: Monday, January 1 at 9am
SPECIAL DEVOTIONS 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 Friday afternoon at 3 PM Sacrament of Reconciliation: 5:00 PM on Saturdays Anytime by appointment 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. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Last week, we looked at a form of nativity scene called a presipio, characterized by framing the crèche of Jesus with a vast array of personalities and a rich geographical context. The tradition was carried to the New World, and finds very rich expression in Latin America today. While in Europe the presepio was reserved mostly to the homes of wealthy nobles and great churches, in Latin America it was claimed by the poor and expressed the skills of native artisans. In Mexico, you can still find clay figures in every village market. In a way, the native people took the religion of Spanish rule and baptized it with their Indian culture by surrounding the crib of Jesus with local geography and people. In Brazil, where Christmas falls in summer, the figure of the baby Jesus is wrapped in gold and gems, and set on a hillside surrounded by flowers and animals of all kinds. Sometimes there is a double presepio, presenting both Nativity and Crucifixion. In some places in Latin America, even non-religious people take care to have a presepio in the home, sometimes dedicating one whole room in the house or apartment to the scene. Some cities have markets where people from the countryside sell plants and figurines. In Cuzco, churches and families provide hot chocolate for the children of the poor who come down to help create the nativity scenes. In Paraguay, the baby Jesus grows--the small infant who arrives on Christmas Eve is replaced at New Year with a toddler Jesus who holds in one hand the globe and in the other a cross. Few Christmas traditions have the vitality and variety of presepios and crèches honoring the Nativity. --Rev. James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co. THANKSGIVING On Thanksgiving Day, the 9th Annual Thanksgiving dinner was held in St. Stephen of Hungary Auditorium. The day was a huge success! We could not have done it with out the generous of our local merchants and organizations, including: Ottomanelli s Morton & Williams D Agostino s Gracie Mews Diner Three Star Diner Eva s Garden Shop CERTS (Community Emergency Relief Team) Glaser s Bake Shop Fairway Two Little Red Hens Big John s Moving Company Le Pain Quotidien Agata & Valentina East 82nd Street Greenmarket Tony s Farm /Deli St. Stephen School Students Students from St. Vincent Ferrer All Our Friends & Neighbors in the Community Also, Thank You To all parishioners who donated to and volunteered for this event.
We are looking for volunteers to decorate the Church for Christmas for the 3rd Weekend of Advent. A decorating session will be held Friday, December 22nd at 6pm If interested, please call the Parish office to sign up. St. Monica's Girl Scouts Dear Parishioners, Your Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts would like to thank you for supporting our fund raising event for Caney Creek High School in Texas and the Girl Scouts of the Caribe. You helped us raise $1,200 which we were able to split equally between the two causes. Your generosity will help many young adults and sister scouts enjoy their holidays a little bit more. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Fondly, Barbara, Christina, Amber, Chloe, Kiera, Kit, Marilyn, Mercedes, Molly.
From Your Pastor December 17th, 2017 Rejoice! I am told that many New Yorkers are bird watchers. They travel all over the city to catch a glimpse of birds (Goldfinches? Black Throated Green Warblers?) that show up in our city s parks. Well if you keep your eyes open today you yourself will be glimpse a rare bird - a rose breasted priest! Indeed, this sighting happens only twice a year on the 3 rd Sunday of Advent and the 4 th Sunday of Lent. On these days, the Church asks her priests and deacons to wear rose (pink)-colored vestments. Originally, Advent was a forty-day feast of penance and preparation for Christmas, (just as Lent is for Easter) beginning after the feast of St. Martin on November 11 th. Abstinence from meat and dairy was a part of this fast, as well as other penitential practices. But six weeks is a long time. So, in both seasons, a week was established where the disciplines were lightened, and people could relax before the final plunge into the penitential preparation for Christmas or Easter. These weeks became the third week of Advent and fourth week of Lent. Churches were decorated with different colors throughout the year to tell people where they were in the Church s liturgical year. The color for both Advent and Lent was purple a color associated with royalty due to the cost of purple dye. Thus, during the weeks of lighter fasting and penance, the color was lightened, from deep purple to a lighter rose color. Although Lent still retains its fasting and abstinence, Advent s focus is now expectation and hope. The only remnants of the older penitential emphasis are in folk customs like the dinner of the seven fishes Italians eat on Christmas Eve (fish no meat). However, the lighting of the rose-colored candle on Advent wreath remains a powerful visual sign, that the time of waiting is almost over and the celebration of Christmas is at hand. Officially, the Sundays of Advent all have names. The names come from the first word in the official responsorial psalm that is supposed to be sung at the start of mass. The name of the third Sunday in Advent is Gaudete Sunday. It comes from the response for the Psalm which is Rejoice(Gaudete) in the Lord always again I say rejoice (which actually comes from Philippians 4:4 6). By the way, did you know that there are official psalms that we are supposed to sing at the start of mass? There are. Hymns, which we normally sing, are permitted by the Church however the norm is this psalm, which is called the Introit. The only time we normally hear the Introit is the Entrance Antiphon used at daily mass. It is that little phrase the priest reads before he says, In the name of the Father and of the Son.... and all make the sign of the cross at the start of mass. I am very aware of these Introits. I have been hearing them all week. For although you will see me wearing rose vestments this weekend, as I am writing this I am on retreat with the Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Southern Indiana. It has been for me what Advent should be for everyone a time of restful preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Rejoice! Christmas is almost here. May you all find a bit of that rest in the coming week! Father Baker
COVER SHEET CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS 511510: Church of St. Monica/ St Elizabeth of Hungary / St Stephen of Hungary 406 East 80 th Street, NYC., NY 10075 PHONE: 212 288-6250 CONTACT PERSON: Office SOFTWARE: Windows XP Professional Microsoft Word 2010 Adobe Acrobat X Microsoft Publisher PRINTER: Adobe PDF NUMBER OF PAGES: Cover + 6 content pages + this page = 8 (8-S-JL) SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION: December 17th, 2017 TRANSMISSION TIME: SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Please use this copy for print