Saint Stephen of Hungary

ROMAN CATHOLI C PARI SH

5
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& Uni on
Al l ent own, Penns yl vani a

Sunday, January 1
st
, 2012 Weekly Bulletin Volume 5, Issue 1
www.SaintStephenChurch.us
510 West Union Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101
phone 610.439.0111
fax 610.439.6048
ststephenofhun@aol.com
Parish offices are closed Mondays
Rev. William N. Seifert, M.Div., Pastor
Coordinator, Diocesan Office of Prison Ministry
Julius Kovacs, Organist

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Ordinary Form (English)
Saturday Vigil .......................................................... 4:30pm
Sunday ........................................................................... 8am
Monday ........................................................ No public mass
Tuesday .......................................................................... 8am
Wednesday..................................................................... 8am
Thursday ........................................................................ 8am
Friday ............................................................................. 8am
Extraordinary Form (Latin)
Sunday .................................................................... 10:15am
Monday ........................................................ No public mass
Tuesday .................................................................. 12:10pm
Wednesday............................................................. 12:10pm
Thursday ................................................................ 12:10pm
Friday ..............................................................No latin mass
Saturday ..........................................................No latin mass
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Saturday ...............................................................3:30 - 4pm
Sunday ............................................................... 9:30 - 10am
(Kindly observe the listed finish times)
Confession & spiritual direction is available by appointment
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Ordinary Form .............................................................. 8am
Extraordinary Form ....................................................... 7pm
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Extraordinary Form .................................................. 9:15am
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Tuesday .......................................................................... 6pm
OCTAVE
DAY OF THE
NATIVITY
OF
OUR LORD
SOLEMNITY
OF MARY,
THE HOLY
MOTHER OF
GOD

he solemnity of the Mother of God, which now coincides with the
octave-day of Christmas and the beginning of the new year, was
probably assigned this day because of the influence of the Byzantine
Church. The octave day of Christmas was celebrated in Rome in honor of
the Maternity of Mary. Later, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the
feast of the Circumcision was added, although it had been introduced into
Spain and France at the end of the sixth century and was later included in
the Missal of Pope St. Pius V. The recent liturgical reform has restored the
original Roman practice, which replaced the pagan feast of the New Year,
dedicated to the god Janus, with this feast honoring the Mother of God.
The Opening Prayer of the Mass is addressed to "God, who has given to
mankind the blessings of salvation through the fruitful virginity of Mary"
and it asks that we may "experience the intercession of her through whom
we have received the Author of life." The faith of the Church is already
expressed in the Apostles' Creed with the assertion that Christ "was
conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary." The
Council of Ephesus (431) used this statement to defend Mary's title as
"Theotokos," not in the sense that the nature of the Word and his divinity
had their origin in the Virgin Mary, but that the Word, the second Person of
the Trinity, was born of her according to the flesh. What was born of her
was the humanity to which the Word is united hypostatically.
The mystery of Mary's maternity is expressed in the Entrance Antiphon of
the Mass: "Hail, holy Mother! The child to whom you gave birth is the King
of heaven and earth for ever." This implies God's choice of her who is "full
of grace" (Lk 1:28) as well as her voluntary consent: "Let it be done to me as
you say" (Lk 1:38).
continued on back page
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When eight days were completed for his
circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given
him by the angel before he was conceived in the
womb.
Sai nt Stephen of Hungary
www.SaintStephenChurch.us

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
ANNO DOMINI
Collection Tally
A thank you is in order to those who gave so
generously to the Christmas collection last week. The
funds received totaled $6,507.00.
SPECIAL MASS TIMES THIS WEEK
No Mass Thursday There will be No Public Mass
offered at Saint Stephens on this Thursday, January
5
th
. We apologize for any inconvenience.
First Friday & First Saturday
On Friday, January 6
th
there will be an 8am mass in
the Ordinary Form.
Epiphany Mass A 7pm mass for the Epiphany of
the Lord in the Extraordinary Form will also be
offered on First Friday, January 6
th
.
On Saturday, January 7
th
there will be a 9:15am mass
offered in the Extraordinary Form.

M\ . :. W. . \x | x:. x: x
Saturday,
December
31
st

Vigil
4:30pm
Octave Day of Christmas
Mary the Mother of God
Thanksgiving for
Blessings of 2011
Sunday,
January
1
st

8am
Octave Day of Christmas
Mary the Mother of God
John Toth, Jr.
r/b Margaret R. Toth
10:15am Octave Day of Christmas
Ane Finn
r/b James Finn
Monday,
January
2
nd

NO
PUBLIC
MASS
St. Basil the Great
&
St. Gregory Nazianzen
n/a
Tuesday,
January
3
rd

8am
The Most Holy Name
of Jesus
James McMullen, Sr.
r/b Family
12:10pm Feria of Christmastide Daughters of Charity, USA
Wednesday,
January
4
th

8am St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Living & Deceased Members of
St. Stephen of Hungary Parish
12:10pm St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Fr. Francis J. Schuster
r/b Leon Buffington
Thursday,
January
5
th

NO
PUBLIC
MASS
St. John Neumann n/a
Friday,
January
6
th

8am St. Andre Bessette
Rosvanis & Errico Families
r/b Nicholas Rosvanis
7pm Epiphany of the Lord
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Michonski
r/b Michonski Family
Saturday,
January
7
th

9:15am Saturday of Our Lady
Jean H. Spence
r/b Hess Family
Vigil
4:30pm
The Epiphany of the Lord
Living & Deceased Members of
St. Stephen of Hungary Parish
Sunday,
January
8
th

8am The Epiphany of the Lord
Deceased Members of
Hagadus Family
r/b Margaret R. Toth
10:15am Holy Family
Deceased Members of
Schnalzer Family
THE HI GHEST FORM OF CHRI STI AN PRAYER I S THE MASS.
Having a mass offered for loved ones, living or deceased, or for a special intention
can be done by filling out the White Mass Intention envelopes, which can be found
in the vestibules of the Church, and dropping them in the collection basket. The
requested donation is $10 per Mass. We cannot promise a specific date will be
available, so booking a few weeks, or even months, ahead of time is a good idea.
Beatus vir qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vit, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
S. Jacobus c. i, v. xii
ststephenofhun@aol.com
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INTROIT
Isaias 9:6
child is born to us, and a son is
given to us: Whose government is
upon His shoulder: and His name
shall be called the angel of great counsel.
Ps. 97: 1 Sing ye to the Lord a new
canticle: because He hath done wonderful
things.

COLLECT
God, who by the fruitful virginity
of blessed Mary, hast bestowed
upon mankind the rewards of
eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee,
that we may evermore experience the
intercession in our behalf of her through
whom we have been found worthy to
receive the author of life, Our Lord Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
God, world without end. Amen.

EPISTLE
Titus 2: 11-15
early beloved, The grace of God our
Savior hath appeared to all men,
instructing us, that, denying
ungodliness and worldly desires, we should
live soberly and justly and godly in this
world, looking for the blessed hope and
coming of the glory of the great God and
our Savior Jesus Christ: Who gave Himself
for us, that He might redeem us from all
iniquity, and might cleanse to Himself a
people acceptable, a pursuer of good
works. These things speak and exhort: in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
GRADUAL
Psalms. 97: 3, 4, 2
ll the ends of the earth have
seen the salvation of our God:
sing joyfully to God all the
earth. V. The Lord hath made known
his salvation: He hath revealed His
justice in the sight of the gentiles.
Alleluia, alleluia. V. Heb. 1: 1-2:
God, Who diversely spoke in times
past to the fathers by the prophets,
last of all in these days hath spoken
to us by His Son. Alleluia

GOSPEL
Luke 2: 21
t that time, after eight days
were accomplished that the child
should be circumcised, His name
was called Jesus, which was called by the
angel, before He was conceived in the
womb.

OFFERTORY
Psalm 88: 12, 15
hine are the heavens and Thine is
the earth: the world and the fullness
thereof Thou hast founded; justice
and judgment are the preparation of Thy
throne.

SECRET
rant, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
that having accepted our prayers
and offerings, Thou wouldst
cleanse us by the heavenly mysteries and
harken unto us in Thy mercy. Through
Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, God, world without
end. Amen.
PREFACE
Preface of the Nativity
t it truly meet and just, right and for
our salvation, that we should at all
times, and in all places, give thanks
unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty,
everlasting God, for through the Mystery
of the Word made flesh, the new light of
Thy glory hath shone upon the eyes of our
mind, so that while we acknowledge God
in visible form, we may through Him be
drawn to the love of things invisible. And
therefore with Angels and Archangels,
with Throne and Dominations, and with
all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing
the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

COMMUNION
Psalm 97:3
ll the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

POST COMMUNION
ay this communion, O Lord, purge
away our guilt and, by the
intercession of blessed Mary the
Mother of God, make us companions of
Him, Who is our heavenly healing.
A
O
D
A
A
T
G
I
A
M
The Sanctuary Lamp, the votive lamps on the Marian Altar and the
votive lamps by the Pieta; each can be lit as a memorial for a deceased
loved one or for a special intention.
Sai nt Stephen of Hungary
ststephenofhun@aol.com
The Lord said to Moses: Speak to Aaron and his sons
and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you! The
Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!
continued from front page
he word "conceive" applies not only to the body but also to the spirit, as was stated
by the Second Vatican Council: "The Virgin Mary, who at the message of the angel
received the word of God in her heart and in her body . . . is acknowledged and
honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the Redeemer.... Rightly, therefore, the
Fathers see Mary not merely as passively engaged by God, but as freely cooperating in the
work of man's salvation through faith and obedience" (<Lumen Gentium>, nos. 53 and 56).
The theme of motherhood
should be associated with
that of "fruitful virginity,"
which is preferable today
because it is one of the
proofs of the divinity of
Christ and because it is an
example of the way in which
God uses lowly and weak
means for our salvation.
The Prayer over the Gifts
reminds us that in this
Christmas season we celebrate
"the beginning of our
salvation." Hence this feast
fits in very well with the
beginning of the new year.
"On this feast of Mary, the
Mother of God, we ask that
our salvation will be brought
to its fulfillment."
The Preface of the Mass states the reason for this solemn feast: "Through the power of the
Holy Spirit, she became the virgin mother of your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is
for ever the light of the world. "Mary represents, as it were, the maternal aspect of God, not
only because her Son is also the Son of the Father, but because the Holy Spirit, through
whose power she conceived, took up his dwelling in the Word made flesh. This mysterious
relationship between Mary and the Holy Spirit, who made her virginity fruitful, manifests
another maternal aspect of the Father, namely, his merciful love. The maternity of Mary is
not therefore something purely functional; she is an authentic icon of the mystery of the
Trinity. As the Father from all eternity generates the Son in the love of the Holy Spirit, so
Mary, in the flesh, generated the same eternal Word by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The antiphon for the Canticle of Zechariah beautifully summarizes the dogma of the
Incarnation: "Marvelous is the mystery proclaimed today: human nature is made new as
God becomes man; he remains what he was and becomes what he was not. Yet each nature
stays distinct and for ever undivided." The significance of this feast is found especially in the
Prayer after Communion: "We proclaim the Virgin Mary to be the mother of Christ and
the mother of the Church."
Prayer after Communion: Father, as we proclaim the Virgin Mary to be the
Mother of Christ and the Mother of the Church, may our communion with
her Son bring us to salvation.
Article credit: Saints of the Roman Calendar, by Enzo Lodi
PARISH INTERESTS
Christmas Decorators
The parish extends a warm expression of
gratitude to those who contributed to the
beautiful outcome of this years Christmas
decorations.

Saint Stephen of Hungary Parish needs and
appreciates your generosity. We suggest a
sacrificial weekly tithe to help us meet our
demands.

Membership Drive
If you like our church, then make a New
Years resolution and join with us in the
unique mission of St. Stephen of Hungary
Parish.
Because of the HIPAA regulations, the
area hospitals and nursing homes do not
automatically inform us that parishioners
have been admitted to their care. Please
call the parish office and let us know
when a member of your family has been
admitted to any health care facility.
Please identify them as parishioners of St.
Stephen of Hungary Parish (There is St.
Stephen Episcopal Church in Whitehall;
so one must be clear).


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