Church of St. Ephrem 929 Bay Ridge Parkway ⬧ Brooklyn, New York 11228 Stephrembklyn St

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Church of St. Ephrem 929 Bay Ridge Parkway ⬧ Brooklyn, New York 11228 www.stephremparish-brooklyn.org stephrembklyn St. Ephrem Catholic Church Dyker Heights

Parish Staff March 7, 2021

Very Rev. Robert B. Adamo, V. F., KCHS, Pastor Third Sunday of Lent 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 Rectory Office Spirituality Center Faith Formation Office 929 Bay Ridge Parkway 935 Bay Ridge Parkway Third Floor of Academy 718-745-7486 718-833-1010 718-921-9518 [email protected] Fax 718-921-5232 St. Ephrem Catholic Academy 924 74th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11228 ⧫ 718-833-1440 ⧫ www.stephremcatholicacademy.org

Schedule of Masses Baptism Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM Parents should call the rectory to make an appointment. Sunday 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12 Noon and 5:00 PM Please note that there are no baptisms during the season of Weekdays Monday through Friday 7:00 AM & 8:45 AM Lent. Saturday 8:45 AM

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 marriage preparation in the Diocese. Sunday No Office Hours Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) Parish Registration Saturday 3:30 –4:30 PM. All are welcomed and invited to register at the Parish Office and By appointment for all other times. participate in our parish.

Devotions Anointing of the Sick/Communion To make arrangements for communion to be brought to any Miraculous Medal Novena, Mondays following the 8:45 AM Mass parishioner who is seriously ill or confined to the house, Recitation of the Rosary at 8:15 AM before weekly morning Mass. or if they wish to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing Divine Mercy Chaplet every Friday following the 8:45 AM Mass of the Sick. To see a particular Staff Member, please call First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following for an appointment. the 8:45 AM Mass and Benediction at 12:30 PM. 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.

Third Sunday of Lent

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

John 2: 13-25

Dear Parishioners:

In today’s gospel we are watching Jesus drive the money changers and the merchants from the temple. John’s gospel, Jesus’ cleansing of the temple is at the beginning of the gospel instead of the end, where the other gospels have placed it. We find within the account another revelation of who Jesus is as the true temple of the Lord-a temple that, even when destroyed, will be raised “in three days.”

By his “parable in action,” Jesus momentarily terminates the temple worship, reclaims it from chaos and commerce, and cleanses the privileged piece of creation that is his Father’s house of prayer. No doubt a few hours later the tables were again in place, animals led back in, coins exchanged – with plenty to talk about!

Yet the disturbing Jesus does not disappear from the scene; he has more “table turning” to do. He stays to answer the criticism of his opponents who can see no further than the temple built over forty-six years by human hands or who refuse to imagine or tolerate any alternatives to the religious practices and institutions that they consider faultless and unchangeable. In this Jesus stands in the line of the Hebrew prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and Amos, who angrily and zealously denounced triumphalism and authoritarianism in worship. Jesus, too, will suffer the fate of so many prophets before and after him: rejection, persecution, even death. Jesus dares to name himself as the new and living temple in which the divine presence dwells. Ultimately, the sanctuary of his body will be destroyed in his passion and death, only to be raised again in three days. It is only after these events that his disciples will remember and understand Jesus’s words.

For us who are living stones in the temple of Christ’s Body, Lent is also a time for cleansing the deep personal sanctuary of our hearts, for driving out of our lives whatever clutters our discipleship, blocks our ears to the word of God and the prophets, and distracts us from trading justly and lovingly with the gifts God has given us.

In the Good Shepherd,

Sign-Up and Be Part of the Group at Celebrating the www.stephremparish-brooklyn.org Sacrament of Reconciliation

A new feature of our Parish Website offers the ability Please remember the children of our parish in prayer to email those who sign-up to be part of the group. as they will be celebrating the Sacrament of What are the advantages to being ‘Part of the Group?’ Reconciliation for the first In short—Communication! Even if you are already time throughout the month registered parishioners, “Sign-Up” and be in the loop! of March. May they How do you sign-up? always trust the mercy of Go to the site above! In the God in their lives. right hand corner, click on the Their journey continues as blue box that says, “Sign-Up.” they prepare to receive Follow the prompts and com- First Holy Communion at plete the entire form. Be sure Mass on April 24th & 25th to click on what you are al- and May 1st & 2nd at the ready involved in and what you 5:00 p.m., 10:00 a.m. and might like to get involved in— 12:00 Noon Masses. then look for mail from us.

The Annual Catholic Appeal seeks to raise a minimum of Each year St. Ephrem $8 million to provide pro- and the Diocese of Brooklyn engage in the Annual Catholic Appeal which grams and ministries supports Catholic programs throughout Brooklyn and Queens and affects the lives throughout the Diocese and of countless individuals and families living in our neighborhoods in addition to support the local efforts of benefiting our parish. parishes like ours. How Does Our Parish Benefit? The goal at St. Ephrem In order for our parish to function, we need well trained priests and deacons who is $104,198.00 can celebrate the sacraments and administer the parish. Without the $2.5 Million from the Appeal allocated to vocations, we would not have the clergy our parish Once we exceed our goal, needs. we will then receive 100% Our Children are the future of our parish and we are called to support them as of all funds raised above they grow in faith. The Appeal provides funding which supports every parish this figure directly back to religious education program as well as tuition assistance to those seeking our parish. Catholic Education at Catholic Academies and Schools. Over $2 million from the Appeal is invested in the faith of our children in addition to also providing adult faith formation. Instruction programs for lay people, including those in For questions regarding the our own parish, provide training in ministries such as Eucharistic Ministers and Annual Catholic Appeal, Lectors or prepare others for sacraments. or to schedule an appointment to make a gift to the The Appeal also provides the salaries for the trained Youth Ministers working in parishes throughout Brooklyn and Queens. $150,000 each year from our parish, please contact the donations sustains the Youth Ministry Initiative, which has been supported by Parish Office Generations of Faith, ensuring that young people encounter Christ through the 718-434-2090 Church, forming life-long bonds of faith which will sustain our parishes for years to come. WE ARE

Christ Himself has called all of us to care for those among us in need, but as one THE CHURCH, parish we lack the time, space, skills and volunteers that it takes to address the needs of our brothers and sisters who need our help. This is why, through the TOGETHER Annual Catholic Appeal, our parish supports the work of Catholic Charities and Catholic Migration Services which receive a total of $1.4 million from the Appeal. Together we are able to welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, feed the hungry and shelter the homeless in the name of our Church.

In our efforts to spread the Gospel of Christ we also have a responsibility as Catholics to minister to those who are ill, students in high schools and colleges as well as those who are imprisoned, just as Christ directed us to. The Appeal provides $1.9 million to ensure that chaplains bring the sacraments of the church to those who are ill, imprisoned or are studying in high school and college.

Why is my participation important?

As followers of Jesus here at St. Ephrem, we understand our responsibility to our parish implies a responsibility to the diocese which unites us together with the entire Catholic community as the one body of Christ.

When one part of the body does not participate, the entire body suffers and makes it harder to function. Likewise, your participation in this Appeal, over and above your regular Sunday offering, will determine the ability of Our Lady of Refuge to faithfully support the mission of Christ while also providing the needed support we receive as one parish, which is part of the larger Catholic Church.

The ACA 2021 video can be found on our website at www.stephremparish-brooklyn.org and our Facebook page at: St. Ephrem Catholic Church Dyker Heights.

What is next for the Annual Catholic Appeal and how can we help? Please join with us to respond as the Church of Christ together in Brooklyn and Queens through a pledge to the Annual Catholic Appeal today at AnnualCatholicAppeal.org or text ACA to 917-336-1255. Be sure to mention St. Ephrem.

Thank you and God bless you.

Mass Intentions for the week of March 7, 2021

Our regular Mass Schedule has resumed with a Limited Capacity of 50% at each Mass. A Reservation to attend is necessary through our parish website or by calling the Rectory Office.

The 8:45 AM Mass, the Saturday 5:00 PM Mass and the Sunday, 10:00 AM Mass are being live streamed through our parish website. Please share and join us!

Did You Know? Saturday, March 6th Spiritual Communion

8:45 AM Joseph & Mary Patterson The most common reason for making an Act of 5:00 PM Marie Cogan Bernstein Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend William Delorenzo Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our John Gillen, Sr. desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us Millicent Patterson avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive

Sunday, March 7th Holy Communion worthily.

8:00 AM Valerie F. Patterson Spiritual Communion Prayer 10:00 AM Michele Lepore 12 Noon Paulette Badalamenti My Jesus, I believe that you are present 5:00 PM For the People of St. Ephrem Parish in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire Monday, March 8th to receive you in my soul. 7:00 AM Joseph & Mary Patterson Since I cannot at this moment 8:45 AM Brigid O’Kane receive you sacramentally, Tuesday, March 9th come at least spiritually into my heart.

7:00 AM Millicent Patterson I embrace you as if you were already 8:45 AM Luigi Aragona There and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Wednesday, March 10th Amen. 7:00 AM Valerie F. Patterson 8:45 AM Lucy & Edwin McGuirk About the author: Archdiocese of New York

Thursday, March 11th

7:00 AM Jane Hickey 8:45 AM Intentions of Pat Watt

Friday, March 12th 7:00 AM Millicent Patterson 8:45 AM Valerie F. Patterson

Saturday, March 13th

8:45 AM Joseph & Mary Patterson

5:00 PM Frank Valenza Millicent Patterson

Sunday, March 14th

8:00 AM Barbara McNeil 10:00 AM James Francis Patrick Ryan 12 Noon Anthony Bagnato 5:00 PM For the People of St. Ephrem Parish

5 St. Ephrem Sports Program News Baseball & Softball Season Registration Registration is Open to Boys & Girls Ages 5 years to 14 years February 28, 2021 134 Envelopes $3,200.00 Black & Native American Missions Registration Fee: 74 Envelopes $895.00 Instructional - $100.00 We Share (Online Giving) 40 Donors $1,152.85 Comptetive - $130.00 Mass Attendance 359 3rd Child Free 835 Families Registered and Receive Envelopes Uniform Cost: If you are able to send in your weekly donation or Shirt - $25.00 enroll in the secure online donation through our Parish website it would be greatly appreciated. Pants - $25.00 Thank you for those who mailed in your donation or signed up for online giving! Information &Application available at: To learn more about ways to give, visit our parish www.stephremparish-brooklyn.org/Sports website at: www.stephremparish-brooklyn.org

Have Questions - Call: Thank you for your generosity Sylvester J. Sichenze 917.692.1367 John Lavelle 718.440.2245 or to St. Ephrem Parish! John Reilly 347.225.4286 How will our Parish Benefit?

St. Ephrem Parish Goal is: $104,198.00 2021 You may notice that our parish goal has been reduced. This Lucky March is a result that our weekly collections have gone down due Calendar Raffle to less attendance at weekly Masses. Once we exceed our goal, then we will receive 100% of all funds raised above March 1st Mrs. DiMeglio goal. Last year we did not achieve our goal.

Mrs. Linda Vellucci St. Ephrem Parish Goal $104,198.00 March 2nd Number of Donors 18 March 3rd Jennifer Chartrand Amount Pledged $19,980.00 March 4th Marie Milea Paid to Date $10,265.00

Thank You! March 5th Michael Pasipanki WE ARE THE CHURCH, TOGETHER!

St. Ephrem Centennial Campaign Our Church, Our Prayers, Our Legacy

As of March 3, 2021 Parish Goal $1.25 Million Number of Donors 242 Amount Pledged $1,367,062.64 Paid to Date $739,991.12 Percent of Goal 109%

Thank You for your Generosity!

Saint Ephrem, pray for us!

6 A Year Dedicated to St. Joseph COVID-19 Protocols Continue

December 8, 2020—December 8, 2021 Guidelines for Opened Churches for Liturgical Celebrations The Sisters of St. Joseph Our Parish continues to follow the guidelines The Maxims of Perfection put forth from the State, City and Diocese

The Maxims were written by a Jesuit Church will remain open for Personal and Private Priest, Jean Pierre Medaille, SJ who Prayer Monday through Saturday until 2:00 PM.

founded the Sisters of St. Joseph in Limited Capacity of 50% for Sunday Mass 1650 in LePuy, France. while still maintaining Social Distancing The Maxims are a guide that have been used by the Saturday Vigil at 5:00 pm & Sisters of St. Joseph throughout the world—from Sunday at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12 Noon & 5:00 pm LePuy, France to Brooklyn, New York and beyond! Reservations to attend are necessary through our parish website: www.stephremparish-brooklyn.org As a postulant and novice, they were something we (Mass Times Tab) or by calling the Rectory Office. spent a lot of time with in study and prayer. Some stick with you and you see them lived out. Perhaps one Church will remain open for Personal and Private Prayer on Sunday’s until 2PM. of the ironic things I remember about the Maxim is when I was a postulant. I became very ill with some “I give you a new commandment: Love one Another. kind of flu or virus and was delirious with a fever. S. As I have loved you, so you also should love one Lucy Blyskal, the Mistress of Novices, came to my another. This is how all will know that you room to take my temperature. Sitting in the chair near are my disciples; if you love one another.” my bed she waited for the appropriate time to remove John 13:34-35 the thermometer from my mouth—and continued to Holy Communion read the Maxims. Lucy would never lose a moment to It is strongly recommended that the faithful receive instill the love and tradition of the congregation. Holy Communion in the hand. This is for the safety Needless to say, there is not much I remember during of those receiving Holy Communion and of the the three or four days of that high fever—but I do minister of Holy Communion. remember: “Interpret all things in the most favorable Please open the palm of your hand so that the Host sense.” (Maxim 52) will be allowed to “fall” (reverently) into your hands to avoid any physical contact. Please disinfect hands There are 100 Maxims! The Maxims are divided into before receiving Holy Communion. four areas: Spirituality, Relationship with God, The communicant should come before the Minister of Relationship with Others and Relationship with Self. Communion with the mask on for the dialogue (“The Body of Christ, Amen.'') and then, moving to the In this ‘Year of St. Joseph’ I invite you to explore the side, lower the mask and consume the Eucharist Maxims and how they might guide your own life. The and replace the mask. Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida (our cousins) has created a wonderful resource for you to Confessions share in the Maxims. In addition to the Maxim, there The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Satur- are scripture passages and reflection questions to give day’s at 3:30 PM, by the Divine Mercy Chapel. The you resources to incorporate the Maxims into your priest will be in the confessional and we ask that the prayer life. penitent sit in the pew that is indicated. You MUST wear a face covering or mask and practice social dis-

tancing (6 Feet apart). I am grateful to the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida for this wonderful opportunity for Mass will continue to be Live-Streamed through our website: www.stephremparish-brooklyn.org each of us. On March 13th Bishop DiMarzio https://ssjfl.org/maxims-of-perfection dispensed the faithful of the Diocese of Brooklyn from Sunday/Holy Day Mass obligation until further notice.

St. Ephrem Parish Faith Formation News!

Children’s Faith Formation Confirmation Proximate Preparation

Faith Formation Outdoor Office Hours For ALL Confirmation 2021 Candidates

Tuesdays and Thursdays Sunday, March 7th 11:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday Classes Begin - Check SadlierConnect 74th Street to the left of the main School Entrance. for Link to GoogleMeet. Candidates are assigned to a specific group.

Children’s Faith Formation Schedule Link for Google Meet will be sent to you in your

SadlierConnect Portal—Check Messages. March 3 Virtual Class with Catechist 10 3:30 p.m. Gathering in the Church Hybrid Blended Retreat 17 Virtual Class with Catechist Called to Mercy continues in the spring! 24 Virtual Class with Catechist Any difficulty, contact S. Mary Ann at: 31 Holy Week—No Class [email protected]

April 7 Easter Week—No Class 14 Virtual Class with Catechist Proximate Preparation for First Penance and First Holy Communion 21 Virtual Class with Catechist Early Bird Registration Begins! The dates for Proximate Preparation are as follows: 28 Virtual Class with Catechist Saturday, March 6th, 13th, 27th & April 17th

May The children are organized in three groups: 5 Virtual Class with Catechist 12 3:30 p.m. Gathering in the Church Group A (Receiving Communion at 5:00 p.m.) 19 Virtual Class with Catechist Meet on the above dates at 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 26 Virtual Class with Catechist Group B (Receiving Communion at 10:00 a.m.) Early Bird Registration begins on April 21st and Meet on the above dates at 11:35 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. continues through June 30th. Be sure to take Group C (Receiving Communion at 12:00 Noon) advantage of substantial savings! Registration Meet on the above dates at 12:10 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. takes place on-line.

“Families are the first place We Gather with GoogleMeet! where the values of love and fraternity, togetherness The email you received on and sharing, concern and February 25th contains the same link for each week we care for others are lived out meet. Please save the link! and handed on.”

Fratelli Tutti (No. 114)

9 Confirmation for Teens and Adults and the RCIA Process

Confirmation of Adults

Adults who have been baptized Catholic and have received First Holy Communion but have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation are invited to participate in Adult Confirmation Classes.

Diocese of Brooklyn Deanery 9 is sponsoring classes for adults who desire to receive Confirmation.

Our Deanery consists of seven parishes: Our Lady of Angels, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Andrew the Apostle, St. Anselm, St. Bernadette, St. Ephrem and St. Patrick

Classes Meet via Google Meet Wednesdays: April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12 and 19 We are happy to announce 7:00 p.m.—8:30 p.m. You will need internet access and a computer. Most Reverend $13 Fee for materials that will be provided. Raymond F. Chappetto, D.D., V.G. You must be committed to the program.

Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn Important!

will confer the Any adult interested must contact S. Mary Ann via email before March 20 to set-up an appointment. Sacrament of Confirmation upon [email protected] the Teens of our Parish You must provide a copy of your Baptism and Communion Certificate. Thursday, November 11, 2021

Group 1 at 2:30 p.m S. Mary Ann will register you for the program.

Those who successfully complete the course will be Group 2 at 4:30 p.m. confirmed at St. Ephrem on Sunday, May 23rd.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

The R.C.I.A. is designed for adults who have Please Note: never been baptized, perhaps been baptized To be accepted as a candidate for Confirmation, in another faith, or baptized Catholic but you must be fully participating in the never received Eucharist and Confirmation. Parish Preparation Program which includes: This is an opportunity to explore life in the Proximate Preparation (Sunday), the Hybrid Catholic Community, have a companion on Blended Retreat and regular Religion/Faith your faith journey, prepare for the Formation Classes (Academy and/or Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, and/or Eucharist, and Confirmation). Religious Education). If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the RCIA call S. Mary Ann at 718-745-7486 or email: [email protected]

10 A Bit of This and That. . . St. Ephrem Catholic Academy News!

A Prayer for Putting on a Face Mask

Creator God, as I prepare to go into the world help me to see the sacramental nature of wearing of this cloth. Let it be a tangible and visible way of living love for my neighbors, as I love myself.

Christ Jesus, since my lips will be covered, Violence cannot be overcome with violence. uncover my heart, that people would see my smile in St. Ephrem Catholic Academy the crinkles around my eyes. Since my voice may be muffled, help me to speak clearly, not only with my First-ever Online Raffle! words, but with my actions. So many great prizes to choose from -

Holy Spirit, as the elastic touches my 4 different tiers of prizes! ears, remind me to listen carefully and Tickets will be sold until March 15th. caringly to all those I meet. May this simple piece of cloth be shield Drawing to be held and banner, and may each breath Friday, March 19th at 7:00 p.m. that it holds, be filled with Your love. In Your name and in that love, I pray. Amen. Drawing for all prizes will be held

Rev. Richard Bott, Moderator on a Live YouTube stream. Presbyterian Church of Canada You don’t have to tune into win!

For more information or to purchase Raffle Chances go to: https://go.rallyup.com/stephrem

Good luck everyone and thanks for supporting us through this difficult year!

2021-2022 Financial Aid Applications Now Open!

For more information, go to go www.futuresineducation.org Families can apply by going to Scholarships and Apply Now!

Justice Notes

“In those days, God delivered all these commandments”

Exodus 20:1

In today’s first Reading, we hear again the Ten Commandments that God gives to Moses on Mt. Sinai in FAITH BOOK order to help the Israelites live in relationship with God and others, rightly and peacefully; a moral code. Seems Third Sunday in Lent easy enough. Well, maybe not so easy, since in Sunday, March 7, 2021 subsequent texts, the Israelites add legislative codes that Exodus 20: 1-17; Psalm 19; I Cor. 1: 22-25; John 2: 13-25 include rules for caring for the poor, forgiving debts, welcoming the stranger, and stewardship of the land. From today’s Genesis reading:

These rules, for how those who are most vulnerable Jesus answered and said to them, should be treated, are included in three Legislative Codes “Destroy this temple and in three days in the Old Testament: the Covenant Code (Exodus 21:1- I will raise it up.” 23:33), the Law of Holiness (Leviticus 17:1-26.46), and the Deuteronomic Code (Deuteronomy 4:44-26:19). The Reflection: Codes exist as guides to right worship and living. Okay, things are pretty much now spelled out. During Lent we are invited to fasting, prayer and almsgiving. We don’t perform these works to earn Apparently not. Because, if the Israelites were following the rules, we would not have the testimonies of the God’s pleasure, or admittance into God’s presence. prophets, such as Hosea, Isaiah, and Amos, who condemn We already have that through what Jesus has done for injustice done to the poor as a sign of Israel’s us. Rather, our Lenten practices help us see and unfaithfulness. Throughout the Old Testament: the respond to those too hungry to fast; too scattered to peoples’ faithfulness is judged not only by faithfulness to pray and too poor to give alms. God but also by their treatment of the widow, orphan, So we ask ourselves: migrant, and those who are poor. We see examples of this in Hosea 4, Isaiah 1; 5; 32; 58, Jeremiah 5; 7; 9; 34, • Do my Lenten observances make me more Ezekiel 18:5; 22; 34; Amos 5:7-17; 8; and Micah 2. Each sensitive to those in need? describes the result when leaders fail to follow God’s commandments, including those on social justice. For • Who are they and how shall I respond to them? example, the prophecy of Amos about the fall of the northern kingdom was tied to his criticism of the misuse and hoarding of wealth by the upper class while the poorest suffered (5:7-8:6). What makes a person observe God’s rules or choose to ignore them? Spring Ahead One Hour on 3/14!

Sister Joan Chittister, in her book, “The Ten Commandments: Laws of the Heart,” (Orbis, 2006, 11-12) Daylight Savings Reminder writes that the Ten Commandments are “an adventure in Set your clocks ahead one hour on March 14, 2021 human growth. We are not so much convicted by them as we are to be transformed by them. . .All the Sinai Tablets on the walls of all the courtrooms in the land will not assure us of justice in the courts if we do not have hearts already shaped by what the sculptures signify.”

We have to live the commandments with our hearts--that is the transformation and the difference.

Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director, Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC

12 Our Lenten Journey 2021 Begins . . . As we are all well aware, our world is very different today. The COVID-19 Pandemic continues and, therefore, requires a few adaptations as we move into our Lenten Journey. We ask that you be sure to refer to our bulletin and website for updates.

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR Stations of the Cross LENTEN BOOKLET? Fridays of Lent Visit: After 8:45 a.m. Mass in Church. https://stephremparish- brooklyn.org/lent-2021 7:00 p.m. LiveStream Only! The Church will NOT be open in the evening. Here is a glimpse of what is available for you to use as resources during your Lenten Journey.

1. There are numerous links to neighboring parishes, the Vatican, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Loyola Press, Creighton University and more.

2. Movies: Meet S. Clare Crockett, a young woman from Derry, Ireland, whose life took a very different path after an unexpected trip (pilgrimage) Our Parish Lenten Booklet and Beyond to Spain. Find more resources for the Lenten Journey at: 3. Fr. Mike Schmitz explains how he sees the film, https://stephremparish-brooklyn.org/lent-2021 Pinocchio as a profound message of God’s Love. Then sit with the family and enjoy the treasured tale via DVD or Disney+.

4. Read Pope Francis’ 2021 Lenten Message in its entirety.

5. Have you heard of the devotion to Our Lady Undoer of Knots. Who doesn’t have a few knots in life that we couldn’t turn over to Mary.

News from St. Ephrem Spirituality Center

A Lenten Retreat via Google Meet Tuesday Afternoons at 1:00 p.m. Continues March 9th

Session 4— Becoming the Message

All are invited to join us! Please email your Name, Address, Telephone and email to S. Ann at: [email protected]

13 Our Lenten Journey 2021—A Gift from the Parish

Step 2: Click “Sign Up With Email”

Step 3: Enter Info and “Sign Up”

Step 4: Click “Continue”

The annual, monthly, and family subscription options Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app are not relevant during the signup process that helps users deepen their relationship with as the parish has made Hallow Plus available for free through the start of Easter! God through audio-guided contemplative prayer.

The app has over 1,000 individual prayer sessions Step 5: Click “Unlock Now” and with 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minute options, No payment info is needed to complete Hallow Plus Hallow truly has something for everyone. account creation. Parishioners will have full access to the app through the start of Easter To learn more about this app, copy and paste the with no credit card required. link below to view a preview.

Step 6: “Click Here to Download” https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=TGeg8hnWK4g&feature=youtu.be If you’re on a desktop computer, you’ll need to download the Hallow app Sign-Up today to join and begin the from the app store to start praying. #Pray40 Challenge . Step 7: Start praying!

Click on our FREE Link! Once the app is downloaded, select “Already have an https://hallow.com/stephremny account?” on the log in screen and use the same email and password that you just registered online.

Step 1: Click on the link provided by the parish We’re so grateful to pray with you this Lent! and select “Activate Your Free Hallow Plus If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to Account” reach out to the Hallow team at [email protected]

Another Gift to Enhance Your Lenten Prayer

A copy of “The WORD Among Us Catholic Mass and Daily Meditations

will be available at the doors of the Church