All Are Welcome

All Are Welcome

Interested in being more involved?

We welcome your deeper involvement in the life of the parish through our ministry programs. If you are willing to do more at the parish, please email us today at Info@SacredHearts-StStephen.com with the ministry you may be interested in or let us know a little about who you are and we can pair you with a need we currently have…I am the Church, You are the Church…We are the Church together!

Ministry Day

Throughout our Ministry Drive, we as volunteers and ministers have shared the value of our efforts with our fellow parishioners, witnessing to them and encouraging them to join more actively in the vital work of spreading God’s kingdom here at Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen.

We will conclude this endeavor by giving thanks to God for the fruits our efforts will bear, and by acknowledging the gifts He has given us.  We encourage you to join in this celebration at the Noon Mass on Sunday, November 18th.

Following the Mass those who are part of a parish ministry are invited to a luncheon with other volunteers, new and old, in Cabrini Hall.  Our gathering will include a reflection on the saint for which our hall is named, St. Frances Cabrini, whose inspiration guides us in the work we do.

Please RSVP If you are, or are not, able to attend the Mass and/or the lunch by November 15th at info@sacredhearts‐ststephen.com

Thanksgiving Eve Mass

Prepare to join your family around the dinner table for Thanksgiving by joining the parish family of Sacred Hearts – St. Stephen around the Altar Table in thanksgiving on the eve of Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 6PM Mass

Annual Star Lighting

Saturday, December 8th at 6:30 PM on the steps of the church. This year featuring music by Charlie Romo and the Sacred Hearts – St. Stephen Choirs. Sponsorship opportunities available by contacting the Parish Office at 718-9596-7750 or info@SacredHearts-StStephen.com

 

 

Feel free to E-mail us at info@sacredhearts-ststephen.com

Wedding Music

A Parish Guide to Planning Your Music

This information is for all couples planning weddings at Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen, to help you plan your music:

Catholic weddings contain both vocal and instrumental music. You may already be familiar with much of the vocal music from attending church on Sundays. For instrumental music, we provide here some recordings to help you imagine the possibilities.

Instrumental Music

Preludes (during the Gathering and Seating of the Assembly):  The time before the ceremony sets the tone for the liturgy. Generally cheerful music played as people gather in the church is best. See the recordings list below for some sample preludes.

The Processional:  An inspirational highlight of the ceremony! This is the time for grand, festive instrumental music. The procession is commonly made up of two pieces of music – one for the entrance of the bridal party, and a second piece for the bride (or couple). The lists of suggestions and recordings below have pieces for both parts of the procession.
The Recessional:  The music should be joyful; it’s time to celebrate! Some people like the traditional Mendelssohn Wedding March; others prefer Ode to Joy, or maybe one of the upbeat & bubbly marches by Clarke, Purcell, or Handel. Check the recordings below.

Vocal Music

All wedding liturgies include a Responsorial Psalm, (so-called because it responds to your 1st reading), just like regular Sunday Mass. Your choice of Psalm should be based on the text, not the music. The texts can be found in your pre-Cana materials (where you choose your scripture readings). The psalms are also listed in the suggestions below.

Special Music at a ceremony follows the exchange of rings. At this time you may have a candle-lighting, a flower presentation, and/or the signing of the marriage license. This music can be instrumental or vocal. When Mass is celebrated there is music during communion. Suggestions for these parts of the wedding are listed below, and the words and music to most vocal selections can be found in the church songbooks, “Today’s Missal.”

Additional Musicians are Available!

Vocal and instrumental soloists are encouraged and can add great beauty to your wedding. The Music Director is the coordinator for hiring these additional musicians, and will be happy to be in contact with you as you choose your favorites.

While the parish organist is a good singer, an additional professional vocalist can greatly enhance the wedding liturgy. Available vocalists include St Stephen’s own professional Cantors (you may hear them on Sundays) Jennifer Wu, Allegra Durante, and Shaleah Adkisson, our Choir Director Emerita Evelyn Troester DeGraf (heard on the recordings below) and the professional vocal ensemble, Ghostlight Chorus. Instruments that sound great in our church and have proved to be popular with couples include trumpets, flute, violin, cello, harp, string quartet or brass quartet. If you’re choosing trumpet or a brass quartet, a nice addition to that is timpani/percussion.

The cost for extra musicians is little compared with most wedding expenses, and your ceremony will benefit greatly from this relatively small investment (see below for fee list). At your request, additional musicians are hired for you by the parish music director. Your payments are made directly to the musicians, and are to be submitted via the music director no later than 2 weeks prior to the wedding. Fees for 2026 bookings are listed below. Guest organists are generally not permitted.

Important Note

Musicians serving at your wedding are from within the parish music ministry of Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen. The parish employs an organist who sings, and maintains a roster of professional singers and instrumentalists who are available for your wedding. The musicians recommended by the church perform here regularly, and their wealth of experience here results in the best performances. Outside musicians consistently have not measured up, and this is why they are no longer permitted. This has been especially true of wedding entertainment companies that market at catering halls & “bridal shows,” and of family & friends who “like to sing” but may have little real experience singing as soloists at important events, or who may find themselves too overcome with emotion to perform well. GUEST MUSICIANS – those not specifically recommended by our parish – ARE NOT PERMITTED. If a performer would like to be added to our parish roster of professional musicians, he or she should contact the music director to schedule an audition.

2026 Musician Fees at Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Church

  • Solo Instrument (Trumpet or Violin or Flute, etc):  $300
  • Harp – $500
  • String Quartet, Brass Quartet, or Vocal Quartet: $1,500
  • Vocalist (in addition to the music director): $300
  • Professional Choir (subject to availability): to-be-determined, please inquire

To book any of the above for your wedding, contact James Lake, the parish Music Director:

Recordings

Processions:
  1. Te Deum
  2. Canon in D
  3. Trumpet Voluntary
  4. Bridal Chorus

Vocal Music During the Ceremony:

  1. Ave Maria (solo)
  2. The Gift of Love (duet)
  3. Aurora (Italian devotional song)

Instrumental Music During the Ceremony:

  1. Laudate Dominum
  2. Ave Maria (by Gounod)
  3. La Grace
  4. One Hand, One Heart (string quartet)

Recessionals:

  1. Wedding March
  2. Hornpipe
  3. Spring (string quartet & classical guitar)
  4. Rondeau, by Mouret (brass quartet)
  5. Trumpet Tune (string quartet & guitar)

Sample Preludes:

  1. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (brass quartet – with opening fanfare)
  2. Canzona, by Gabrieli (brass quartet)
  3. Air, by JS Bach (string quartet & guitar)
  4. Suite in D, by J Clarke – Minuet, Sybelle, Bourree, Ecossaisse, Gigue
  5. Serenade, by J Clarke – (trumpet & string quartet)

Your Selections

If you have any selections in mind that aren’t listed here, be sure to let us know!  Your personalized music ideas are welcome!  Once you’ve reviewed this online guide and recordings, and collected your ideas, please submit your selections & requests, along with some other key information the organist needs, using this easy online form:

Click here to submit your music selections.

The Music Director will confirm your submission within 24 hours.  If you have questions or issues not covered on this site or in the form, feel free to call or email if you wish to discuss your choices.  This is a special liturgy, and the music should be both appropriate and meaningful to you, your families, and your guests.  See Contact Info below.

About the Music Director

James Lake, Parish Organist & Director of Music
–  Jim has been the organist and music director at Sacred Hearts & St Stephen since 2003. He earned his Master of Music degree as a scholarship student at Manhattan School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music at Rice University’s prestigious Shepherd School of Music. Jim’s continuing organ studies were at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, NJ, and at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. A frequent performer with symphony orchestras, Jim has performed at all of New York City’s major concert venues, including Carnegie & David Geffen Halls, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera, Madison Square Garden, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Barclays Center. As a recording artist, Jim has performed for television and radio, and was heard on Broadway as a soloist in the soundtrack to Lincoln Center’s Tony-Award-winning production of War Horse.  He has performed at over 1,000 wedding ceremonies over the past 25 years.

Contact

150th Anniversary Celebra​tion

Join us in Carroll Gardens located at 125 Summit St. at Hicks St.
Join Us for the Opening Mass of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of Saint Stephen Catholic Church

On Sunday, January 17th at the 10AM Mass

Celebrated by Bishop James Massa
Followed by a Cake Reception in Cabrini Hall

 

SHSS_150th_Facebook_Profile_Assets-04

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

Image of Monsignor Massie sipping tea in brownstone brooklyn

A Story With Many Meanings

There are many ways to understand this story. Jesus Himself, perhaps in His humanity, may have been startled that His message was being accepted by the non-Jewish world. He may also have been coming to realize that His message would have a universal appeal earlier than expected.

The non-Jewish world comes to know Christ through the preaching of Paul and others. Jesus is compassionate, yet this woman is a pagan.

Did she understand that He was more than a miracle worker? Did she understand that faith in Him was necessary? Did she understand that His mission was one of service? Why did Jesus delay in His response to her?

The Lesson of the Nameless Woman

The lesson of the day rests with the nameless woman. She teaches us several aspects of prayer.

She seems to have great faith. Notice that her faith grew during the conversation with Jesus. At first, she calls Him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy.” This is a messianic title that recognizes Jesus as a leader and a wonder worker. At the end of the Gospel, she addresses Him as “Lord.” Her faith grew.

She had hope even when He would not speak with her. Her prayer was motivated by love. She was asking for healing for her daughter.

Prayer From the Heart

Prayer must be real. Prayer must reflect who we are and what we are feeling. It must be radical, going to the root of our heart.

Prayer need not have the right words; it has to have the right heart. Prayer must express who we really are.

She even braved His rebuke for the sake of her daughter. She loved much. She was persistent. She had courage, and she received her miracle.

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
August 16, 2026
Sunday Readings

The Generosity of God’s Love

Sunday is the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings present us with the generosity God has toward us. In the first reading, from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, we hear the invitation of God to all who are thirsty to come to the water. Water is a symbol of life. In the sacred text, water is also a sign of the life of God. In a desert climate, water is seen as a precious commodity.

In the second reading, from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Paul addresses God’s love for us as shown in Christ Jesus. Do you believe that God loves you and wills the best for you? Do you believe that God wills your salvation and your eternal life? The Gospel speaks about the multiplication of loaves and fishes, again illustrating God’s love and generosity toward us.

Nothing Can Separate Us

I would like to address the second reading today. In this reading, Paul states that nothing will separate us from the love of Christ. I have some questions. Do you believe that God loves you? Do you believe God loves you because you have done everything right? Do you believe that you must earn God’s love? How many believe that because many things have gone wrong in your life, God is punishing you? How many believe that God wills our good, not our destruction?

Paul addresses persecuted Christians and all suffering Christians. Notice how Paul breaks up his writing: his first list is of things which impact our personal existence. The second list tells us that even unseen forces in the cosmos cannot separate us from the love of Christ.

God’s Love and Our Response

So, does Christ love us only when we are good? Do our sins stop the love of Christ for us? Do we need to convince God to love us? When we truly realize the love that God has for us, then we will improve our behavior because we do not want to offend the Lord. When we truly realize the love that Christ has for us, we will be impelled to live the life that brings about the Kingdom of God where we are.

Suffering, disappointment, sickness, and difficulties which we may be enduring are not signs that God’s love is wanting. So, what is your greatest worry? Not even that worry or that sin can separate you from Christ.

However, what is the difference between love and approval? God loves us, and God loves you. God may not approve of some of our actions; however, God’s love is everlasting. Parents love us, but parents do not approve of our behavior.

Do you believe God wills our good? Remember, sometimes we do not accept what is for our good. In fact, sometimes we reject it. So where have we rejected the good? God is most generous. He gives his very self even when we say no.

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
August 2, 2026

The Kingdom of God: Hidden Treasure and Precious Pearls

Sunday is the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel continues to speak to us about the Kingdom of God. The Gospel text is Matthew 13:44-52. As we have been hearing for the last three weeks, we are presented with parables that Jesus used to illustrate the Kingdom of God.

A parable is a story Jesus uses to explain a theological point. In this case, Jesus is using parables to explain the Kingdom of God.

What the Kingdom Means

What is meant by the term Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God is what God wishes for the world. We pray for the coming of this Kingdom every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, when we say, “Your Kingdom come.”

The Kingdom of God is what God wants for the world. God wants peace, love, kindness, justice, compassion, mercy, empathy, joy, faithfulness, patience, chastity, generosity, gentleness, and self-control. The Kingdom of God is when God’s reign becomes our way of life.

The Kingdom of God comes when we realize that small acts of kindness have the power to change. We must have faith that the will of God for the world is for our good.

Hidden Treasure and Precious Pearls

This week the Gospel presents us with the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Parable of the Fine Pearls. In both parables, we have a similar lesson: when you find a treasure that calls you forth to give of yourself in love and mercy, forgetting yourself and losing yourself for the good of others, then you will begin to understand the Kingdom of God, as well as the surprising wisdom of God, which says that it is in losing yourself that you find yourself.

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
July 26, 2026