Church of St. Ephrem 929 Bay Ridge Parkway ⬧ Brooklyn, New York 11228 Stephrembklyn Stephremparish-Brooklyn
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Church of St. Ephrem 929 Bay Ridge Parkway ⬧ Brooklyn, New York 11228 www.stephremparish-brooklyn.org stephrembklyn stephremparish-brooklyn Parish Staff October 18, 2020 Twenty-Nineth Sunday in Ordinary Time Very Rev. Robert B. Adamo, V. F., KCHS, 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 Sr. Mary Ann Ambrose, C.S.J., Director of Faith Formation Mr. Thomas Marchesiello, Director of Music/Liturgy Deacon Kevin McLaughlin, Permanent Deacon Mr. Craig Mercado, Academy Principal Sr. Ann Martha Ondreicka, O.P., Director of the Spirituality Center Mrs. Lisa Pinsky, Parish Secretary Deacon Anthony Stucchio, Permanent Deacon Faith Formation Office Rectory Office Spirituality Center Third Floor of Academy 935 Bay Ridge Parkway 929 Bay Ridge Parkway 718-745-7486 718-833-1010 718-921-9518 [email protected] Online registration for Faith Fax 718-921-5232 Formation Class through the Parish Website St. Ephrem Catholic Academy 924 74th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11228 ⧫718-833-1440 ⧫ www.stephremcatholicacademy.org Schedule of Masses Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM Baptism Sunday 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12 Noon and 5:00 PM Parents should call the rectory to make an appointment. Weekdays Monday through Friday 7:00 AM & 8:45 AM Please note that there are no baptisms during the season of Saturday 8:45 AM Lent. Rectory Office Hours Marriage Monday—Thursday: 9:00 AM—12 Noon The Sacrament of Marriage requires a time of serious spiritual 1:00 PM—5:00 PM preparation. Couples should make arrangements for their Friday: 9:00 AM— 12 Noon marriage at least six months before the date of the wedding by 1:00 PM—4:00 PM making an appointment with a priest or deacon. Please log on Saturday No Office Hours to www.pre-cana.org for complete information about Sunday No Office Hours marriage preparation in the Diocese. Parish Registration Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) All are welcomed and invited to register at the Parish Office and Saturday 3:30 –4:30 PM. participate in our parish. By appointment for all other times. Devotions Anointing of the Sick/Communion Miraculous Medal Novena, Mondays following the 8:45 AM Mass To make arrangements for communion to be brought to any Recitation of the Rosary at 8:15 AM before weekly morning Mass. parishioner who is seriously ill or confined to the house, or if Divine Mercy Chaplet every Friday following the 8:45 AM Mass they wish to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following Sick. To see a particular Staff Member, please call for an the 8:45 AM Mass and Benediction at 12:30 PM. appointment. Our Mission Statement 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. PASTOR’S LETTER Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 18, 2020 “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Matthew 22:15-21 Dear Parishioners: As we continue to follow and witness Jesus’ activities in Jerusalem, today we do not have a parable (as we had several weeks in a row). Instead, today we hear about a verbal fighting match between Jesus and the Herodians and Pharisees, enemies themselves. But a common threat, Jesus, has united these two competitors. The Herodians and the Pharisees scheme together to trap Jesus with a clever riddle. If the Pharisees and Herodians were upset by Jesus before, by the opening of today’s gospel, they are incensed. Jesus has just finished telling three very pointed parables all aimed at them. At the end of the parable of the two sons, he told the religious leaders, “Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.” After the parable of the tenants he warned, “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” And then, finally, in the parable of the wedding feast, it seems the chief priests and Pharisees are associated with the invited guests who refuse to attend. After the king in the parable becomes enraged, not only are these guests killed, their city is also burnt. We might wonder, didn’t Jesus know he was poking a hornets’ nest? Jesus’ message is too important to water down to avoid offending others. He “speaks truth to power” and though his life will soon be forfeited, his voice is not silenced. In the modern, rather individualistic world in which we live, there is a temptation to believe that what we have, we have earned. My possessions are mine, a result of my own hard work or that of others, such as family. But today’s gospel is a good reminder that all we have is from God. As such, we should not and cannot be hoarders of God’s good gifts. Jesus calls us to an entirely new way of thinking. We return to be fed at the table of His Word and at the table of His Eucharist so often in part because we need to be reminded of this way of thinking when we are so immersed in the world with its ways. Any resources we have are truly not our own. Even what we acquired through our own labor and efforts cannot be taken with us when we pass on from this life. As I often say, “caskets don’t have pockets.” Let us die to the notion of possessions – what is mine versus yours – and let us instead engage in a lifestyle of discipleship, which shares what we have with the least among us. In that way we will be living the paschal mystery. In the Good Shepherd, 2 Faith Formation Religious Education Are You Willing to Help ‘Plant the Seeds of Faith?’ Would you consider being a Catechist —one who journeys with others, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Catechists not only teach the faith but witness the faith. Our parish has been blessed for decades with many volunteer catechists who have been wonderful teachers of the faith to the children of our parish. We are in need of more generous adults to join us! Due to the Pandemic we must have smaller class sizes (currently virtually) and we need adults willing to help sit with classes when we gather in church (four times throughout the year). All volunteers must be VIRTUS Trained Today we are looking for the next generation of catechists! We are looking for YOU! Listen to Cardinal Blaise Cupich and those in the Diocese of Chicago share the joy and enthusiasm of what it means to be a catechist. Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C4yt1tduWk Talk to S. Mary Ann to learn more how you can help! E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] PARISH NEWS God’s Blessings on the Young Adults of our parish who received the Sacrament of Confirmation Saturday, October 17, 2020 3 Faith Formation Religious Education 4 PARISH NEWS Congratulations Sister Patricia Maris Tully, CSJ Celebrating her 75th Jubilee Residing at St. Ephrem Convent God Bless You! We have resumed our regular Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12 Noon & 5:00 PM Daily Mass: Monday through Friday: 7:00 AM & 8:45 AM Confessions: Saturday at 3:30 PM Announced Masses Available Mass Intentions for There are 78 Weekday Masses Available September, 2020 (Monday through Saturday) 7:00 AM Masses—44 are available. to 8:45 AM Masses—34 are available. December 31, 2020 There are 11 Weekend Masses Available 5:00 PM Saturday Vigil—11 are available. 8:00 AM Sunday—2 are available. Are available. 10:00 AM Sunday—1 are available. 12 Noon Sunday—1 are available. Mass Intention request to: [email protected] or Calling the Rectory Office Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 12 Noon & 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Friday’s 9:00 AM to 12 Noon You can make your Mass Intention Offering through our website at the “Ways to Give” tab or by mail. 5 PARISH NEWS 2020 October Autumn Calendar Raffle Each registered family will be receiving this calendar in the mail. Please support our parish fundraiser! $10 Per Ticket 31 Chances to Win! 8 Chances to Win $100 4 Chances to Win $75 18 Chances to Win $50 And The Grand Prize of $1,000 Good Luck! 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Winner Winner Winner Winner Winner Winner Winner Pasquale Noreen Elizabeth Sally Mr. & Mrs. The Rodgers Michael Arcieri Sloan Mendoza Diaz Fugowski Family Mathieson October Month of the Rosary Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary The Rosary is prayed Monday—Saturday 8:15 AM in the Church And Live-Streamed through our parish website Each evening at 7:00 PM Please share and join us! 6 Reopening of our Church for Liturgical Celebrations —Stages 2 & 3 as of June 18, 2020 GUIDELINES FOR REOPENING THE CHURCHES FOR LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS Stage 2: Limited Capacity of 25% for Daily Mass 7:00 AM & 8:45 AM.