SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME – July 27, 2025

Please, check out the Hungarian section (link at the bottom) as well, as some Hungarian related news or information may be found only there.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTIONS:

9:00 AM: Parishioners of St. Emeric Parish

11:00 AM: Szabadhegyi & Falk Families, by the Families

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: Today’s gospel contains one of the most heartfelt pleas directed to Jesus: “Lord, teach us to pray.” This brought to my mind the famous image of the “Praying Hands” by Albrecht Dürer. You can see the image on the cover of the bulletin. There is a very popular story often told in connection with this image. According to the prevailing narrative, Dürer came from a family of 18 children, and he and his brother made a pact to support each other’s artistic ambitions. They tossed a coin, and Dürer won the right to study art in Nuremberg, while his brother worked in the mines to fund his education. After four years, when Dürer returned home, he saw the damaged hands of his brother, who had been unable to continue his artistic dreams due to the harsh conditions in the mines. Moved by his brother’s sacrifice, Dürer sketched his brother’s hands, which became the “Praying Hands.”

However, this story has been proven to be a myth. Historical records indicate that “Praying Hands” was originally a preparatory study for a larger work, specifically the Heller Altarpiece, which Dürer was commissioned to create in 1507. The drawing was meant to depict the hands of an apostle in the altarpiece, which was later destroyed by fire in 1729. Therefore, the image was not originally intended as a tribute to Dürer’s brother but rather as part of a larger religious composition.

Despite the myth, the “Praying Hands” has become one of the most widely recognized and reproduced images in Western art, appearing on various objects and in pop culture. The drawing itself, created around 1508, is a detailed pen-and-ink sketch that showcases Dürer’s exceptional skill in capturing the textures and contours of the hands. It is currently housed in the Albertina museum in Vienna, Austria.

The “Praying Hands” of Dürer point towards Heaven indicating that a prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God. Praying with and through Christ helps us to nourish our soul and strengthen the personal and ecclesial relationship with the living and true God. Let us pray every day!

PORTIUNCULA INDULGENCE: Anyone who on Aug. 2 visits a basilica minor, a cathedral, or a parish church with the intention of honoring Our Lady of the Angels and recites the Creed, the Our Father, and prays for the Holy Father’s intentions, may receive a plenary indulgence. In addition, to obtain this plenary indulgence, it is required that the individual be in the state of grace by the completion of the acts, and have complete detachment from sin. The person must also sacramentally confess their sins, up to about 20 days before or after the indulgenced act, and receive Communion that day.

LOOKING AHEAD: St. Stephen Day parish picnic will be on Aug. 17.

GENERAL REMINDER ABOUT PARKING: With the soon to be completed building across the street, the cul-de-sac is once again open to traffic. We should not be parking in the circle, as it is meant to be a turning area for emergency vehicles, especially firetrucks. As you are aware, we have the possibility of parking for free at the West Side Market parking lot. To secure this parking, you must register your car by submitting a form. I highly recommend this for those who have not done it yet, since parking on our premises is limited to roughly 30 cars only. The filled-out form (check the Opt Out option, but don’t do the log-in part), should be scanned and emailed to: tiffany@westsidemarket.org. In addition to providing these forms, we can help scan and email the filled out forms.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION: Sunday Collection: $2,099; Flowers: $50; Maintenance: $35; Renovation: $10. ONLINE DONATIONS • JUNE 2025: Sunday Collection: $40; Saint Anthony: $60. May God reward your generosity in supporting the church. Thank you for sending in your donations by mail or using our website https://stemeric.com/donations/.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially for Bev Kimar, Teréz Kalász, Lajos Boday, Márta Takács, Kathy Szabó, Alex Szaday, Virginia Kachmar, Margaret Falk, Mária Hokky, Balázs Bedy, Éva Fricke, Ottó Hunyadi and Sylvia Öszényi.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

THIS SUNDAY the 11:00 AM Mass from St. Emeric church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saintemeric/ and https://stemeric.com/

LET US PRAY THREE HAIL MARYS FOR OUR PARISH EVERY DAY!

Ez a bejegyzés olvasható Magyar (Hungarian) nyelven is.