SAVE THE DATE!
September 19, 2009

St. Stephen of Hungary Street Fair and Block Party

Help Needed!
Dear Friends
OK, I guess it’s time for me to be specific about what help we need in the coming year.

We are getting calls left and right for parents who want to enroll their children in our religious formation program. (You called it CCD when you were young!) I need a teacher for 5 year olds and a teacher for middle school youth. Would you please consider volunteering your time to help our youngest parishioners learn about our faith. It’s not THAT hard, really!! We meet one hour a week, Wednesdays from 4-5pm. I will give you all the help and training you need. But I need more adults to help or I am going to have a serious challenge before me come September!

Secondly, for our Adult RCIA process we are in need of a few team members who would be willing to be parish sponsors for adults as they present themselves for membership in RCIA and in our parish. Truly, you are all potential wonderful sponsors for the role of a sponsor is to welcome a new member and help them feel comfortable in our parish. If you are interested in walking this very exciting faith journey and making a new friend, please be in touch.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Jayne Porcelli

St. Stephen of Hungary Parish Food Bank
One in every five New York City children relies on a soup kitchen or food pantry. Your continued support to St. Stephen of Hungary’s food pantry is very important for close to 400 families! Thank you for your generosity!

Our pantry is very low in supplies at this time. We are out of pasta, tomato sauces, white rice, cups of noodles, tuna, peanut butter and jelly, cereals, fruit cups or cans, soups, crackers and cookies, and all kinds of baby food, diapers, formula, etc.

Donations may be dropped off at the Friary and/or drop pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars in our CASH FOR FOOD BOX at the top of the stairs in the back of the Church. Give as little or as much as you can afford.

Thank you for your generosity and support for this much needed ministry.

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Bereavement Group
Our next Bereavement Group resumes on Tuesday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference room of the Friary and will continue on the Second and Fourth Tuesday of the month. All are welcome. For information please call 212-861-8500.

ESL Volunteers Immediately Needed
ESL volunteers at St. Stephen of Hungary School. Our school has recently welcomed two new students from Togo, Africa. Denis is 13 years old and his sister Roberta is 9 years old. The Bavon Family’s main language is French. Consequently, the school is presently seeking volunteers, for a few hours each day, from Monday thru Friday to tutor Denis and Roberta, in English. Anyone interested may reach Fr. Jacques LaPointe, ofm at St. Stephen’s friary or phone 212-861-8500.

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You Can Help Feed NYC's Hungry
Yorkville Common Pantry welcomes donations of of pasta, rice, canned fruit and 100% juice boxes. All donations are greatly appreciated. Please leave your donations in the box in the back of the church. Thank you for your continued generosity.

St. Stephen of Hungary Parish Clothing Closet
Dear Parishioners, friends and Neighbors,

Thank you for your contributions to our parish clothing closet ministry. In the past month alone, we gave 531 winter coats to need brothers and sisters. We also were able to offer scarves, gloves, blouses, pants and baby clothes to hundreds of people.
If you have any more clothes to donate, please drop them off at the parish office, at 414 East 82nd Street, NYC.
Again thank you and be assured of my continued prayers for all of you.

Fr. Jacques LaPointe, OFM

Interested in Becoming a Catholic?
Each year it is a privilege and an honor to welcome into our parish new members who have come to know the church through the Rite of Christian Initiation. If you feel attracted to the Catholic faith, if you have wondered about being Catholic, if you have questions about our faith, we invite you to consider joining a parish process to become more familiar with aspects of our life of faith as Catholics, as followers of Jesus Christ.

We are looking to create a new group and hope you or someone you know may be interested. This is also an opportunity for baptized Catholics adults who may be looking to receive the sacraments of First Communion or Confirmation to complete their initiation. Please call the parish office (212-861-8500) and leave a message for Jayne or email her.

Set Up an Online Account for your Weekly Offering
You can now set up an account to make your weekly donations to St. Stephen of Hungary Church. To participate in the Parish Pay system, call 1-866-PARISH1 or register online at www.parishpay.com.

St. Stephen's Emergency Relief
In the event of an emergency (i.e., a blackout) our Church doors will be opened for parishioners and neighbors for your safety and comfort. If you are on the street and cannot make it home or climb the stairs you are welcomed to come over. If you'd like to join our Emergency Relief team of volunteers, send us an volunteer@saintstephenofhungary.org or call the Rectory at 212-861-8500.

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Charitable Gifts to St. Stephen of Hungary Parish
In appropriate circumstances, charitable gifts of appreciated securities that have been held long-term may completely avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation in the securities while allowing the donor to receive a tax deduction of the full market value of the gift. Consult your tax advisor to find out whether this tax strategy is right for you. Contact Fr. Angelo at 212-861-8500 to learn how to make such a gift to St. Stephen's.

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Counseling & Psychotherapy Now Available at St. Stephen's
We are pleased to announce that St. Stephen of Hungary Parish is now offering counseling and psychotherapy. Fr. Eric T. Carpine, O.F.M., M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a former director of St. Francis Counseling Center in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a certified grief and bereavement counselor, with experience in individual and group therapy. For more information, click here.

Rectory's Schedule
Our rectory's office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. On Saturday, the rectory is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, the rectory is open from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Announced Masses
Announced masses are available in our 2009 Mass book. The donation is $15.

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Click here for Parish Council Meeting Notes.