71. St. Stephen of Hungary (Now the Parish of St. Monica, St. Stephen of Hungary, St. Elizabeth of Hungary)

NOTE: In 2015 this church closed down and was merged with the church of St. Monica (as well as the church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary) as part of the Archdiocese of New York's great closings & mergers of 2015. St. Monica's will be the main church open for regular Masses and other events, although St. Stephen's is currently open for an 11:30am Sunday Mass (see below). This combined parish is called the Parish of St. Monica, St. Stephen of Hungary, St. Elizabeth of Hungary. 

(mass times & church info last updated 04/04/2016)
Address: 414 E. 82nd St. (between 1st and York)
Phone: 212.861.8500

Weekend Mass Times:

Sunday: 11:30am (English) (Until further notice)

Church Constructed: 1928

Links:
Original Website
New, Official Parish Website
About the Organ
New York City's Hungarian Churches
Little Hungary in NYC
St. Stephen of Hungary
Wikipedia: Stephen of Hungary

St. Stephen of Hungary is a small church located on the upper east side. As soon as you walk in you notice the huge beautiful stained glass behind the altar of St. Stephen of Hungary and his vision of the Lord and Holy Mother Mary - possibly an interpretation of this Hungarian king's call to conversion? This window is in fact, a focal point of the entire building, everywhere you move within you see it, can't seem to look away from it actually.

The second reading explained that all good and perfect gifts come from above, from God. I must not forget this, ever. Must not ever forget.

Must not.

I am fuzzy again today and the church and entire experience at first seemed just...very...slow. The priest's words were slow to get started then suddenly in the middle of the homily I felt myself wrapped up in them. Reflecting on the Gospel he reminded the congregation that we must not simply pay lip-service to God, our faith, or the Church. We must not simply show up each week for Mass without any other actions. These words were for me.

I've been trying to tell people lately that the Catholic church (and Christian faith), at its purest, if practiced correctly and done right is actually a very liberal, open-minded, and GOOD institution - the problem is that having been left in the care of human beings, the (often incapable) hands of humankind has done fucked up a bunch of its basic teachings, social responsibilities, not to mention tons of other things that detract from its very core and existence.

I need to figure out my place in the Church to do what I can to help maintain those good qualities and to even spread this thought I have above; to answer God's call and serve my place, whatever that may be; to perform my duty, fill my role.