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

Road to Emmaus: Christ’s Favorite Easter Story

Sunday is the Third Sunday of Easter. We are now in the Easter Season, which will continue until Pentecost—May 24 this year. Sunday’s readings are inspiring and uplifting. We shall focus on the Gospel and relate the other readings to this great Gospel message. This is my favorite Easter story.

In the Gospel, we meet two dejected, sad, mournful, and disillusioned disciples leaving Jerusalem. They are discussing all that happened to Jesus as they walk. In the midst of their discussion, Jesus approaches but is not recognized by the sad disciples. He inquires about the topic of their discussion. The two, surprised that he does not know about all that happened to Jesus, fill him in. Jesus then addresses some questions to the disciples. Ascertaining their answers, he begins to teach them, explaining the scriptures regarding the Messiah.

Lessons from the Road

They reach an inn and invite Jesus to stay. He does, and while they are eating, he takes bread, blesses it, and gives it to them. With this gesture, they recognize the stranger, whereupon Jesus vanishes.

There are many lessons we can take from this story. First, the disciples perhaps had a narrow understanding of the term Messiah. Jesus explains the redemptive role of the Messiah. He uses the sacred text, known to the two men, to reveal his identity. Is this not similar to the first part of the liturgy in the Catholic Church? We read the Word. We seek to understand the text so that we may find meaning in our own lives here and now.

Jesus draws near as they are discussing. When we study sacred scripture from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter is explaining the sacred text to his own people. It is most important that we understand the scripture. Understanding the text helps our faith to grow.

Recognizing Christ in the Breaking of the Bread

Second, as the three are walking, they come to an inn and seat themselves at a table. Jesus takes bread, blesses it, and gives it to them. In this action, they recognize Jesus. (The term “breaking of the bread” is an ancient term referring to the Eucharist.) Upon recognizing Jesus, with burning hearts they get up and return to Jerusalem to share the good news of having encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Is this not similar to our experience of Mass? After hearing the Word, we celebrate the Eucharist. It is during the celebration of the Eucharist that Jesus becomes visibly and really present under the appearances of bread and wine. We Catholics believe that Jesus is really present, not symbolically present. In the Eucharist, we celebrate, receive, and adore Christ present. In the Eucharist, we encounter the Risen Christ.

So when the two recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread, it emphasizes the real presence of Christ. We meet the Risen Christ in the Sacraments, in the Word, in the gathering of the people, and most especially in the Eucharist

Prayers from Emmaus

Third, the Emmaus Gospel gives us two prayers. The first is said by the disciples, who think their traveling companion is going on further. They say, “Stay with us.” We can say the same prayer when evening approaches, when some darkness is surrounding us, when we are confused, when we are sad. This prayer inspired the Italian hymn “Resta Con Noi.”

Second, the Gospel teaches us to be open to the lessons of scripture. The disciples confess that their hearts were burning within them. When we are moved by the sacred text, we know it. This happens when the text seems to speak directly to you.

Lastly, when the disciples recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread, Jesus vanishes from their sight. While they may not see him, he has vanished into them. They are on fire with the Good News of the Resurrection. This is a big change. When we met them, they were running away. Jesus found them, healed them, and changed them for the better. He can do the same for you if we allow him.

Now they are running to Jerusalem to share the Good News. When was the last time your faith made you excited enough to share it? In the end, one never knows who one will meet on our life journey. Some we meet can fill our lives with joy and hope. Some we meet can teach us how to attain that joy and hope. Perhaps one day we will meet the one who is joy and hope.

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
April 19, 2026
Sunday Readings

Divine Mercy Sunday: Healing Through Christ’s Wounds

Divine Mercy Sunday: Healing Through Christ’s Wounds

The Sunday after Easter has been designated by St. John Paul II as Divine Mercy Sunday. In today’s Gospel, Thomas is healed by touching the wounds of Christ. Christ redeems us through his passion.

It is in facing our wounded nature—both as a community and as individuals—that we can find healing. Seeing our wounded nature can be painful. Healing that nature can be difficult, yet Christ is our hope and strength. Even the worst of sins can be forgiven and healed.

The Heart of Mercy

Mercy is a word that comes from Latin: misericordia. This word means to suffer pain in one’s heart for another. In asking God for mercy, we are asking God to have suffering in his heart for us.

Likewise, we are asked by God to have pain in our hearts for the pain of others. Mercy is active—it does what it can to relieve the suffering of others through prayer and actions (the corporal and spiritual works of mercy).

Mercy for the Broken

There are people who feel that their lives are so mixed up, or that they have sinned most grievously, that forgiveness or reconciliation for them is impossible. Today the readings remind us that this is not true. Mercy is available. Lives can change for the better.

We as individuals, and we as the Body of Christ, are always in need of mercy. No one is so perfect as not to need mercy—either from God or from each other.

A Call to Share Mercy

Today, on Divine Mercy Sunday, forgive someone with whom you are angry. Mercy is given to us to be shared among us. Think about what really is important.

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
April 12, 2026

The Resurrection: Hope That Conquers All

The Cornerstone of Our Faith

Easter’s joyful message is the key and cornerstone of our faith. It is because of this great, glorious event that Christians of every denomination gather for worship on the first day of the week, Sunday, and not the seventh day, Saturday.

It is on Sunday that Christ rose. It is on this first day of the week that God created light from darkness. It is on the first day of the week, Sunday, that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles at Pentecost. Sunday is our weekly Holy Day, and the Risen Christ is the reason for our existence. Jesus risen is the joy and hope of all who long for the good, seek truth, live love, and mercy.

Easter Reveals the Incarnation

Easter defines more clearly the great mystery of the incarnation. The incarnation means God becoming human in the person of Jesus. The Resurrection tells us clearly who Jesus is. He is God and man. Easter is a great reason for our hope.

In the Gospel, we see that Jesus addresses such topics as the truth; he speaks of compassion, peace, joy, mercy, judgment, redemption, and eternity. Jesus speaks about the fatherland of God, the supremacy of love (that is, willing the good for the other) over religious law. We see in the behavior of Jesus his deep and personal relationships with people. We also recognize that Jesus faces great opposition from many in the religious establishments of his time. In the Gospel, we are invited to live life now and in eternity. We learn through Jesus that with God there is no death, for God is life and life in the fullest.

Opposition and Faithfulness

The message of Jesus gave many hope, yet we see that Jesus was greatly opposed. He was opposed by many of the religious authorities of his time. Jesus was seen as a threat to the Romans who were occupying the land of Israel at the time of Jesus. Ultimately, Jesus is crushed. He dies a terrible death at the hands of the Romans; he is rejected by many of the religious authorities of his time.

Throughout his life and even his sufferings, Jesus remains faithful to his message, to his Father, and he does not give in to the temptations of hatred or retaliation. Jesus not only preached but practiced the message he preached. His faithfulness stands in sharp contrast to the unfaithfulness of Adam and Eve.

Story or parable that it may be, the Genesis story seeks to address the problems of evil and questions of sin. While humanity in the characters of Adam (everyman) and Eve (every woman) may have been unfaithful, Jesus is faithful to God. Thus, he redeems all humanity.

Victory of Love Over Darkness

Jesus is also the symbol of every person who seeks to do the good and live in harmony with God, as spoken of in the first psalm, and are persecuted for their efforts. Jesus represents all those who seek the good and whom the world does not understand. Jesus represents all those who seek peace, reconciliation, justice, kindness, compassion, and mercy, and who seem defeated, cast out, and who are marginalized in our society.

Easter is a victory celebration that love does win out over hatred, that truth ultimately is victorious over lies, that mercy and compassion make life worth living, that peace in the end wins out over war and personal distress, that giving and living for others gives true meaning, and in the end LIFE TRIUMPHS OVER DEATH. Even if the good is sometimes eclipsed by darkness and evil, even if we see the good sometimes defeated, the Resurrection of Christ tells us that the good will win out. For every cross we face and suffer will be a resurrection as sure as day follows night and spring follows winter.

IT IS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS THAT GIVES US HOPE AND ENERGY TO LIVE A LIFE OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE.

HAPPY EASTER!
Msgr. Guy A. Massie
April 5, 2026
Easter Readings