Saint Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church

1 Street Address 676 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032 Office Hours Monday through Friday Saturday and Sunday 9:00 - 8:00 9:00 - 1:30 Mailing Address 141 Washington Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032 Phone: 201-998-3314 FAX: 201-998-4924 Web: E-mail: Saint stephen - Hedges Hall 676 Kearny Avenue Phone: 201-998-3314 ext. 338 Kearny, NJ 07032 Saint stephen s Roman Catholic Church The Archdiocesan Sanctuary of the Four Chaplains Worship & Sacramental Schedule^^^^The Holy Sacrifice of the MassSaturday (Anticipated Mass for Sunday)5:00 :00 , 10:00 and 12:00 Mass at 10:00 will be livestreamed for those who arehomebound and/or confined to through Saturday9:00 note, the above schedule is in effect until further Until further notice, please contact the parish office (201-998-3314) to celebrate this Sacrament with one of the priests.

2 #628 Parish Staff:Very Reverend Joseph A. Mancini, , PastorMonsignor Anthony Kulig, Weekend Assistant Reverend Roberto Ortiz, Weekend AssistantDeacon Earl W. WhiteMrs. Martha Lane, Director of Religious EducationMr. Robert Maidhof, Director of MusicMs. Patricia Sherwen, Youth MinisterMatthew Schirm, Technology & Youth ActivitiesMrs. Theresa Zaccardo, Parish Secretary PARISH INFORMATION WELCOME! We are happy you have chosen to worship with us and hope that you will make Saint stephen s parish your spiritual home. BAPTISM The Church asks that children be baptized soon after birth. Baptisms are celebrated once a month on a Sundayafternoon. Our parish has implemented a three-month preparation period for baptism; the parents of the child should call as soonas they want to schedule the baptism.

3 Godparents must meet the requirements as set forth by Church Law. MARRIAGE The Roman Catholic Church affirms the belief that marriage is defined as the union of one man and one Catholics are bound by Church Law to marry in a Catholic Church and have the marriage witnessed by a validly ordainedpriest or deacon in the presence of two witnesses. The engaged couple is to contact the parish office at least one year prior to theintended marriage date. ANOINTING OF THE SICK Catholics who are advanced in age or seriously ill should make arrangements to contact theparish office to receive the Sacrament. Visits to the homebound can be arranged upon request. When a loved one is near death,please notify one of the priests.

4 Catholics who are in a hospital should first contact the hospital chaplain in the event of anemergency. HOLY ORDERS Any Catholic man who feels the Lord is calling him to the happy and fulfilling life of a priest can speak toone of the priests or contact the Vocations Office at 973-313-6190. You can also visit their website at PARISH REGISTRATION All Catholics who live within the territorial boundaries of Saint stephen s parish are consideredparishioners by virtue of their residence. We encourage all parishioners to fill out a census form so that we might better identify andserve you in our ministries and programs. Census forms can be obtained in the front vestibule of Church or at the parish office.

5 Saint stephen s Roman Catholic Church Text SSKearny to 84576 to receive FREE text notifications about parish eventsSeptember 20, 2020 The Twenty~Fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeTHE SUNDAY READINGS The 25th Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 20, 2020 Isaiah 55: 6-9 Philippians 1: 2-24, 27 Matthew 20: 1-16 The 26th Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 27, 2020 Ezekiel 18: 25-28 Philippians 2: 1-11 Matthew 21: 28-32In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus has already warned his disciples three times that he is to suffer; and he has indicatedthat the chief priests and leaders of the people will be responsible for his death. The brief parable in today s reading, addressed to the chief priests and the elders , reflects the growing confrontation with these authorities that will lead, in the end, to hisdeath.

6 He knows that, in their opposition to him, they see themselves as upholding the traditions of Israel - giving expressionto their faithfulness to the Lord. His parable gently confronts them with their tragic miscalculation. In Matthew s narrative,immediately before Jesus tells this parable, he was challenged by these leaders: what authority did he have for teaching in theTemple precincts? He showed up their hypocrisy, putting them in a dilemma - asking them what authority John the Baptist hadwhen he preached to the simple story of the parable he now addresses to them ends with a question. His parables, we recall, were designedto leave the hearers pondering an unsettling question. Because the answer to the question he put to them is straight forward the son who initially refused, and afterwards thought better of it and went , was the one who did the father s will theopponents of Jesus answered accordingly.

7 But as they do so, they begin to realize what Jesus parable is driving at. As thedefenders of the nation s faith traditions, they see themselves as always saying Yes to God. But now Jesus is inviting them toreflect that their actions may not match their professions of faithfulness. John the Baptist called the people to a conversionwhereby they would be open to what was about to take place in the great plan of God. The very ones these leaders despised,as outside the law tax collectors, sinners, those whose busy lives and slender means made it impossible for them to observeall the rituals and customs they emphasized were listening to the teaching of the one announced by the Baptist, while theythemselves were intent on destroying him, not recognizing that he came from God.

8 The ironic lesson of the parable would havebeen very real to the Jewish converts of Matthew s old proverb, Actions speak louder than words , reminds us of the inconsistencies that can be present in the livesof all of us. The parable of Jesus reminds us that these inconsistencies can be present in our Christian lives when we seeourselves as fervent believers, always faithful to our devotions and religious observances, but with little practical expressionto show of our following of Christ. St Paul s exhortations to the Philippians in today s reading provide simple but tellingexamples of the practical attitudes that true followers of Jesus should have: no competition or petty rivalry, putting the well-beingof others before our own, being genuinely concerned to assist those around us.

9 And, as always, Paul leads us back to the ultimatepattern of our life as disciples of the Lord the Son who said Yes to the Father, came to work in the God s vineyard, settingaside his divine glory and making himself the Servant of us all. In your attitudes you must be the same as Christ .Jesus may well have told the same parable in different forms. As we hear today s brief parable we may well ask whetherit is related to the great parable, in Luke s gospel, of the wayward son who found his way back to his father s love and welcome. #628 Page Three POPE FRANCIS The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions For 2020 FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBERR espect for the Planet s ResourcesWe pray that the planet s resources will not be plundered, butshared in a just and respectful Sexual MisconductSaint stephen s Parish, along with theArchdiocese of Newark, regards the safetyand protection of all God s people in anyChurch service, activity or event as a high priority.

10 Anyperson who wishes to report an incident of sexualmisconduct by a member of the clergy, religious or laystaff of the Archdiocese of Newark should contact theArchdiocese by calling: 201-407-3256. A Prayer for our TroopsAll-powerful and ever-living God, when Abraham lefthis native land and departed from hispeople you kept him safe through all hisjourneys. Protect these soldiers. Be theirconstant companion and their strength inbattle, their refuge in every them, O Lord, that they may return home in safety. To everything there is a season and time for everypurpose under heaven. Ecc. 3:11 ..a time to be The Sacrament of Baptism^ ..a time to be Pray Amadeo, Nancy Appert, Jimmy Balatsos, MaryannCaromil, Esperanza Chavez, Manny Chavez, Kevin Comp,Manny Cunha, Toby DelGiudice, Joseph Dellorco, BabyQuinn Doran, Harold & Jeanette Falk, Alexander Forfar,Daniel Gervasio, Maria Elena Gillespie, Olmar Godinho,Christa Granato, Joanne Gross, Robin Irving, Daniel Lane,Joan Lewis, Megan More, Allie Moroses, Francis O Keefe, stephen Pandolfi, Carol Pavolic, Fr.