SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS April 19, 2026 A. D

24 04 2026

Saturday, April 18 SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, April 19 SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS

8:30 AM Michael Hubiak- Louise Hubiak

Saturday, April 25 SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC MAN

4:00 PM Alex Szumskyj – God’s Blessings and Health

Sunday, April 26 SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC MAN

8:30 AM Baptism of Julia Kate Johnson, daughter of Joshua Kieth and Oksana Palashchuk Johnson.

Entering into Solitude for Prayer

Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door. – Matthew (6:6)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught us that during prayer we should “go into our room and shut the door.” The Fathers of the Spiritual Life frequently offered interpretations of these words. They understood them as an injunction to direct our intention deep within ourselves. This is the interior intention to which St. Basil the Great refers in his appeal to “Attend to yourself!” The Liturgical Words “Let us be attentive!” continually reminds us of this. The most important reaction to this call is to increase our attention to what is going on within ourselves. CUCC 699/700

Evil Thoughts

We are constantly under the influence of various thoughts, ideas, and views, and we choose from among them those that we consider important. These thoughts can be either good or evil, and so they affect our spiritual life in different ways. In the book of Genesis, we read how the serpent deceived mankind, saying that they will become like God if they reject God’s commandment. Temptation is a “nudge” or incitement to sin. Confronted by such instigation, mankind can either succumb or resist it. Adam and Eve succumb to the sinful temptation and become, therefore, personally responsible for the sin. The same occurs in our life. If we give our ascent to evil thoughts then we sin. The beginning of every sin is the acceptance of an evil thought coupled with the desire to bring it to life. If a person does not take possession of an evil thought, this thought is not a sin but only a temptation. St. John of Damascus distinguishes various stages in the process by which evil thoughts penetrate the heart. Among these are: suggestion, internal conversion, struggle, ascent, and passion (captivity). *n.b. Demonic forces can influence mankind through thoughts, as can angels guide you through thoughts. Every thought that runs through your mind did not necessarily begin with you. Pray often and pray well so that good thoughts may originate with you and you learn to follow angels and not devils.* CUCC 788/789

PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCH

O glorious St. Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ come to the assistance of the Church, against which the powers of hell are unchained, guard with especial care her august Head, and obtain that for Him and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive. O glorious Archangel St. Michael, watch over us during life, defend us against the assaults of the devil, assist us especially at the hour of death; obtain for us a favorable judgement, and the happiness of beholding God face to face for endless ages. Amen.

The Altar Candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

The Sanctuary Light is requested by Carol Bosack-Kosek IMO The Bosack Family.

SVIACHENNE: IT’S THIS WEEK! The Sviachenne will be this Sunday, April 19, 2026 12:15PM. It is a Covered Dish Sviachenne between Transfiguration of Our Lord Church & Ss. Peter & Paul Church! There is no charge for the Sviachenne Dinner and it will be held at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church basement. Thank you to everyone who signed up!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEATING SYSTEM REPAIR: I express my deepest appreciation to everyone who contributed the repair for the heating system. The total bill was $8,106.50. Parishioner donations were a total of $2,200 and the Women’s Society donated the remainder of the cost, $5906.50. May God grant you many happy years, peace, health and salvation, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

WALKING PILGRIMAGE: Save the date Saturday, June 13. Seven mile trek from St. Mary’s Church, Mocanaqua to St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon. More information is on the flyer in the vestibule.

FLEA MARKET: Transfiguration of Our Lord Church will be having a Flea Market, Bag Day is Sunday, April 19^thfrom noon to 1PM.

Ask Father a question? Father, the following passage is confusing “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people,” could you help me with this? Does this mean that individuals other than Christ have risen from the dead and are in heaven? What does “appeared to many people” refer to, spirits? No, just as Lazarus was raised from the dead, Lazarus died a second time and was buried a second time. So too all those who rose from the dead, died a second time and were buried a second time. This is a reminder to us that at the end of days with the second coming of Christ, all the dead will rise from their tombs, their soul being re-united with their perfect (finished) body. That little passage “returned to life” means that they went back to living as they were before they died and were buried in a tomb. Each of these people lived for a time and died a second natural worldly death. They too will rise at the end of time for judgement with all the dead. I believe your difficulty in understanding this, is the common concept today that salvation is being in heaven with God is your bodiless soul floating around in the sky eternally. This is simply wrong. Everyone will bodily rise from the dead, even the people who were vaporized by the atomic bombs of Japan at their epicenter will receive back their physical bodies with their soul reunited, and then judged for Heaven or Hell. A little side note, did you know that the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima had the highest populations of Catholics in Japan? This is an indication, and a reminder, to us of our end that God has in store for us. Your body and your soul both matter. So let’s go to Revelation Chapter 20:12-15:

“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

We were given a fore taste of the general resurrection with the dead that rose from their tombs with Christ. From Luke Chapter 24:37-41:

“They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

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THOMAS SUNDAY

24 04 2026

April 12, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, April 11 THOMAS SUNDAY

4:00 PM Helene Sirak- Stephen & Gloria Udiski

Distribution of Artos

Sunday, April 12 THOMAS SUNDAY

8:30 AM Divine Liturgy, Distribution of Artos

God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Saturday, April 18 SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, April 19 SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS

8:30 AM Michael Hubiak- Louise Hubiak

CONFESSION: “We can talk about a confession crisis, but the larger issue is that people just don’t believe in sin anymore,” said journalist Russell Shaw, former communications director for the U.S. bishops and author of numerous books, including “Why We Need Confession.” This points to a related fact — many Catholics no longer affirm many ancient teachings of the church, he said. This is especially true when details in the Catholic catechism clash with the doctrines of the sexual revolution. When thinking about “grave” or “mortal” sins, many Catholics have decided this language simply does not apply to their own mistakes and struggles. “The idea is that you don’t need to go to confession unless you’ve done something really, really bad,” said Shaw. “People say, ‘I’m a good person. I haven’t done anything bad, or I haven’t done anything I think is really bad — so I don’t have anything to confess.’ And many Catholics question whether the church should play any role in mediating this sin, repentance and forgiveness process.” Father Moses agreed that “our culture is working hard to get rid of the concept of sin. … But sin is sin because it’s bad for us and lots of people are hurting. That’s reality.” While stressing that “I’ve only been a priest for four years and I’m not an authority on anything,” he said he does believe priests now have a decision to make when preaching and teaching about confession. “We have to ask, ‘Do we believe that the gospel is good news? Do we believe that what we are teaching is true and that the sacraments are real?’ … If we do, then confession is an essential part of our faith.” From: canonlawmadeeasy.com/2023/04/06/is-confession-still-an-easter-duty-repost/

Can a truly Orthodox view and practice of confession be restored? Yes, if we have the courage to deal with the problem at its roots and not with mere externals.

The starting point of this restoration is in preaching and teaching. To some extent all Christian preaching and teaching is a call to repentance, to the metanoia, the change of mind, the reevaluation of all values in the light of Christ. There is no need to preach constantly on “sin,” to judge and to condemn. It is when a man is challenged with the real “contents” of the Gospel, with its Divine depth and wisdom, beauty and all embracing meaning, that he becomes “capable of repentance,” for the true repentance is precisely the discovery by the man of the abyss that separates him from God and from His real offer to man. It is when the man sees the bridal chamber adorned that he realizes that he has no garment for entering it. Too much of our preaching is in the form of abstract imperatives: the Church prescribes to do this and that; but commanding is not preaching. Preaching implies the desire to convey to people the positive, the Divine meaning, for it is only this meaning that makes “prescriptions” significant, life-giving, saving. Christian teaching should also include a deep and constructive criticism of the secularistic philosophy of life, an evaluation of the culture in which we live. Christians must always fight idols – and there are plenty of them today: “success,” “materialism,” “security,” “money-centerdness,” etc. For here again, only within such broad and truly Christian judgment of this world the notion of sin recovers its true meaning, as deviation of love and interest, as worshipping values and norms that are not truly “valuable.” This implies, of course, that the priest himself is free of this identification with the world, puts eternal Truth and not the “practical considerations,” in the very center of his ministry. Confession, then, must be replaced in the perspective of the sacrament of penance [and Holy Communion]. And each sacrament implies at least three equally essential elements: preparation, liturgical order, and fulfillment. If the whole life of the Church, but especially preaching and teaching are, as we have seen, preparation for repentance in a broad sense, there is room and need for special preparation. The Church has set apart special periods of repentance: Lent, Advent, other fasts. Here the liturgy itself becomes a “school of repentance” (cf. for example the inexhaustible riches of the Lenten Triodion), and it is the proper time to center preaching on the sacrament of penance itself. The order of Gospel readings, the Psalter, the hymns and prayers supply us with abundant material, the purpose of preaching being to “apply” all this to men, to their life, to their actual situation. The goal is to provoke in them the penitential mood, to make them examine their life not only in terms of isolated sins and transgressions, but in their deepest motivations. Where is the real treasure of their hearts? What guides them in their life…A man who questions the deep motivations of his life, who has understood, be it just once, that life in its totality can and must be referred to Christ, is on his way to repentance, which is always a conversion, a change of mind, a renewed vision, a decision to return to God (cf. my pamphlet on Great Lent). The preparation must, of necessity, include an explanation of confession, – its order, prayers, meaning.

6. The liturgical order of confession consists of A) prayers before confession, B) exhortation to penitents, C) confession proper, and D) Absolution,[and E) reception of Holy Communion which completes the confession.]

The Altar candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Rebecca Molecavage IMO her mother Frances Bencho.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The monthly meeting of the Women’s Society will be held on Tuesday, April 14th at 6 PM in the church hall. All current members are urged to attend and new members are needed and always welcome.

SVIACHENNE: IT’S NEXT WEEK! The Family Sviachenne will be on Sunday, April 19, 2026 12:15PM. It is a Covered Dish Sviachenne between Transfiguration of Our Lord Church & Ss. Peter & Paul Church! We have hams donated. We will put out a list for other items and attendees. There is no charge for the Sviachenne Dinner and it will be held at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church basement. Please see sign-up sheet at back of church. HELP IS NEEDED ESPECIALLY FOR CLEAN UP. Thank you to everyone who signed up!

WALKING PILGRIMAGE: Save the date Saturday, June 13. Seven mile trek from St. Mary’s Church, Mocanaqua to St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon.

FLEA MARKET: Transfiguration of Our Lord Church will be having a Flea Market on Saturday, April 11 from 9am to 2pm and Saturday, April 18 from 9am to 2pm (1/2 Price Sale). Bag Day is Sunday, April 19 from noon to 2PM.

Prayer for Family

Heavenly Father, please shine Your light upon our families. Give us strength to overcome the attacks of the evil one in all of the difficulties that we are dealing with now and protect us against any and all problems we may encounter in the future. O Lord, please bring us together as we are meant to be. May the love that binds us grow stronger as we fulfill the destiny you have laid out for us. Grant my family repentance from sins we have committed. May we also forgive one another Lord, as it is sometimes difficult to do. Bless us O Lord, In your name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit I pray, Amen.

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CHRISTOS VOSKRESE! VOISTINU VOSKRESE!

6 04 2026

CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

PASCHA-RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD

April 5, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, April 4 HOLY SATURDAY *Abstinence from Meat *

1:00 PM Blessing of Food

Sunday, April 5 PASCHA-EASTER SUNDAY (w/Myrovania)

7:30 AM Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos

God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Myrovania, Blessing of Paschal Food

Monday, April 7 BRIGHT MONDAY (w/Myrovania)

8:30 AM God’s Blessings on Gary & Jacinta Poullard- Poullard Family

Tuesday, April 7 BRIGHT TUESDAY (w/Myrovania)

8:30 AM God’s Blessings on Brent, Allison W., Allison P., Matthew,

Cameron, Blaise & Jayce Alexander – Poullard Family

Saturday, April 11 THOMAS SUNDAY

4:00 PM Helene Sirak- Stephen & Gloria Udiski

Distribution of Artos

Sunday, April 12 THOMAS SUNDAY

8:30 AM Divine Liturgy, Distribution of Artos

God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Ancient Holy Saturday Homily

(REPRINTED WWW.ROYAL DOORS.NET)

Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all”. Christ answered him: “And with your spirit”. He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light”. I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden. See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree. I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you. Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity. Written by an unknown author in Greek in the fourth century (PG 43, 439, 462f).

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners: John Ostrum, Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, Frank Udiski, Paul Hoover & James Bencho. Keep them in your prayers. If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

ASK FATHER A QUESTION? Father, why are the Royal Doors open during Bright Week? The Royal Doors are kept open as a sign to us that Christ came to restore access to the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Eternal Life for us, which we lost access to when we sinned as we read in the First Week of Lent.

Ask Father a question, Father, I noticed that when the “women” return to the grave, there is Mary, the mother of God, and the “other” Mary is with her. Who is the other Mary? It seems to me that there are many Mary’s…. wasn’t there Saint Mary of Egypt that we commemorated on the Fifth Week of Lent? I get confused. Yes, there are many Mary’s. Depending on which Gospel you read, it may be difficult to understand which Mary is being spoken about at times. A few of the Mary’s we know; are Mary the Mother of God, Mary Magdalene, Mary the sister to Lazarus and Martha, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary the mother of James, Joseph and Salome, among others. Mary is the Greek translation from Jewish, Mariam. At the grave, Luke and Mark, specify that Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Joseph are at the grave looking for Jesus on the morning of the first day of the week.

Why did Mary, the Mother of Jesus not go to the sepulcher on first day of the week with the other Mary’s? Church tradition orally passed on from the apostles, and some common sense, tells us that Jesus having risen from the dead, went to visit His mother first.

Yes, there was a Saint Mary of Egypt that we remember the Fifth Week of Lent, who lived in the late fourth to early fifth century. We do not read about Saint Mary of Egypt in the Holy Scriptures.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He Is Risen! ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕСЕ !

May everyone have a most Blessed Easter and Bright Week! Christos Voskes!

The Altar candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

SVIACHENNE: The Family Sviachenne will be on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 12:15PM. Plans are being constructed to have a Covered Dish Sviachenne between Transfiguration of Our Lord Church & Ss. Peter & Paul Church! We have hams donated. We will put out a list for other items and attendees. There is no charge for the Sviachenne Dinner and it will be held at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church basement. Covered dishes and help is needed.

CONFESSION: Reminder, the Church decrees that you make at least one good confession a year before Easter.

FLEA MARKET: Transfiguration of Our Lord Church will be having a Flea Market on Saturday, April 11 from 9am to 2pm and Saturday, April 18 from 9am to 2pm (1/2 Price Sale) due to the contribution of additional new and used merchandise.

Tackle your Fears Head-On

Fear is a childish feeling of the adult but empty soul. Fear is really a lack of faith that becomes obvious when we think of what unforeseen things might happen. It is lack of trust in God. The proud soul is a slave to fear precisely because it trusts in itself and so shudders at any noise or any shadow. Those who are contrite for their sins have no fear. So if there are places where you are normally afraid to go, do not hesitate to frequent them even at dead of night, armed with prayer. Your fear is a childish and ridiculous thing, but if you give way to it only a little, it will take root in your heart and stay with you. So arm yourself with prayer and when you reach the spot lambaste the enemy in the name of Jesus. There is no stronger weapon in earth or heaven than that. And when you are cured of your fear, sing the praises of the One who has freed you. If you thank him, he will always protect you. Sometimes only the body is afraid and the fear has not spread to the soul, then you are nearly cured. The one who serves God, fears his Lord and no other. The one who does not fear his Lord is scared even of his own shadow. – By St. John Climacus Stairway to Paradise 21 (PG88, 945)

GUARDIAN ANGELS: Angels do exist! Besides our visible universe God has created another, invisible, corporeal spiritual world. Though angels are superior to us in dignity, we are created more perfectly in God’s image. The Holy Spirit attests to their creation before the universe to their great numbers, and to their primary ministry, which is to ‘present the prayers of the Saints’ to God, and to behold His glory. The Lord said, “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven” and glorify Him incessantly. The angels are assigned to many ‘orders’ usually grouped in nine, although we know nothing definite about this. God has assigned angels to protect us, from different scriptural passages we are taught the angels are assigned by God to protect entire nations and individuals. Certain angels are assigned to minister to us, by being God’s messengers, and attend to the spiritual progress and perfection of human beings. They are placed in the service of God’s plan of salvation for man. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to salvation? “We pray for the guardian angel, (not that one may be given us), since each of us has one from the moment of his birth, but that he may be active and may fulfill his task, that he may protect us and lead us in the right way, and may not, angered by our sins, desert us.” Several of the Fathers of the Church teach that only baptized Christians have a guardian angel. According to certain Fathers, we are assigned two angels a good one, our guardian angel, and an evil one. Guardian angels guide human beings and steer them in the path of goodness without interfering with their free will or forcing them to follow it. When we fall into serious sin, however, the guardian angel departs. At the hour of death the guardian angel will carry the soul to heaven. In the prayer “You who in all times.” Recited during Hours, we pray, “Surround us with your holy angels, so that guarded and guided by their host, we may attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of Your unapproachable glory.”

Prayer to Our Guardian Angel: O Holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me everything in which I have grieved you all the days of my life, and in which I sinned in the day just past. Protect me during the coming night and keep me from every influence of the enemy, that I may not anger God by any sin. Intercede for me to the Lord that He may strengthen me in His fear and make me worthy to be a servant of His goodness. Amen.

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PALM SUNDAY- THE LORD’S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM

29 03 2026

March 29, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, March 29 PALM SUNDAY (Myrovania)

Blessing of Palms/Pussywillows

4:00 PM UMichael Drazba- Monica Bergin

Sunday, March 30 PALM SUNDAY (Myrovania)

Blessing of Palms/Pussywillows

8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Tuesday, March 31 HOLY TUESDAY

4:00 PM The Presanctified Liturgy (Confessions Before/After)

Thursday, April 2 HOLY THURSDAY

3:00PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord

Friday, April 3 GOOD FRIDAY*Abstinence from Meat & Dairy Products*

1:00 PM Vespers with the Placement of the Holy Shroud

Saturday, April 19 HOLY SATURDAY*Abstinence from Meat *

1:00 PM Blessing of Food

Sunday, April 20 PASCHA-EASTER SUNDAY (w/Myrovania)

7:30 AM Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos

God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Myrovania, Blessing of Paschal Food

Transfiguration of our Lord Church – 2026 A.D.

Holy Monday, March 30

6:30PM The Presanctified Divine Liturgy/Confessions

Holy Tuesday, March 31 – Services at SS. Peter & Paul Church (4:00pm)

Holy Wednesday, April 1

5:30 PMThe Presanctified Divine Liturgy/General Anointing

******Abstinence from Meat ***

Holy Thursday, April 2

6:30PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord/Confessions

Good Friday, April 3

5:30PM Vespers with Placement of the Plastinicha/Confessions

******Abstinence from Meat & Dairy Products***

Holy Saturday, April 4

3:00PM Blessing of Paschal Food

******Abstinence from Meat ***

6:30 PM Resurrectional Vespers/Divine Liturgy Saint Basil the Great(Myrovania)

Pascha (Easter Sunday), April 5

11:00AM Divine Liturgy/Blessing of Artos/Myrovania Blessing of Easter Baskets

ANOINTING OF THE SICK ON HOLY WEDNESDAY

The General Anointing of the Sick is done for all baptized Christians present at the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts on Holy Wednesday. If there are two blessings, the first blessings is done at the end of The Litany of Peace and the second is after the Litany of Supplication. If more than one priest is present the people should be anointed by each of the priests present, up to seven priests in total. The Prayer of Anointing is said first for all present, then each is anointed on the forehead, cheeks and palm of the hands with the formula, “The servant of God is anointed for the healing of soul and body, for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.” This is the one time each year that this Mystery (Sacrament) is provided to all the faithful in attendance and forgives all sins so that even one who has not “gone to confession” is now freed from sin and if the person remains free from sin, is free to receive of the Eucharist, the Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Pick up your Palms as you enter the church. Hold your Palms when Father Walter incenses the church-following that Father will bless the Palms while you hold them.

AFTER……Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim…… DURING THE ENTRANCE OF GIFTS: WELCOMING JESUS WITH PALMS-Now is the time to hold up your palms/willows.

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners: John Ostrum,Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, Frank Udiski, Paul Hoover & James Bencho. Keep them in your prayers. If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

The Altar candles for April are requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO father Michael Sirak.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO Kathy Zoltewicz.

CONFESSION: Let us prepare our souls by making a good Confession and receiving Communion. Holy Confession will be held before Divine Liturgy or after Divine Liturgy, if necessary. Confessions will be held before the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy and by appointment. Reminder, the Church decrees that you make at least one good confession a year before Easter.

SETTING UP GRAVE: We will be setting up the grave immediately following services on Holy Thursday. Everyone is invited and encouraged to help prepare for Good Friday Services.

ADORATION SCHEDULES: Adoration schedules are in the back of the church. Please sign up to spend time with Christ.

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FIFTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT

22 03 2026

March 22, 2026 A. D.

Saturday, March 21 FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM UAnn Beshada – Nieces & Nephews

Sunday, March 22 FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Wednesday, March 25 FEAST OF ANNUNCIATION- Obligation (Myrovania)

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Friday, March 28 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

4:00 PM

Saturday, March 29 PALM SUNDAY (Myrovania)

Blessing of Palms/Pussywillows

4:00 PM UMichael Drazba- Monica Bergin

Sunday, March 30 PALM SUNDAY (Myrovania)

Blessing of Palms/Pussywillows

8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

Pre-Sanctified Liturgy (Wednesday): 6:30PM

ASK FATHER A QUESTION. Father, Lent ends on Lazarus Saturday, now what? Why are we still fasting? We fast because we are in Holy Week, a completely new fast period. Just as the children of Israel fasted before the Passover, we fast during Holy Week. We fast for the Eternal Passover. Passover? What’s Passover? Passover is when the Angel of Death came over the nation of Egypt, the 10^th plague came, because in vengeance Pharaoh swore death on the first born son of every Jewish Family in Egypt. That night the Angel of Death came and took the first-born male of every household in Egypt that did not have the blood of the lamb on the doorpost and lintel (top of the door frame) of their house, but “passed over” those with the lamb’s blood marker. God instructed all the Israelites to slaughter the lamb and to eat the “whole” lamb that night. Nothing was to be left until morning. Because of the speed and the urgency of the Pharaoh’s decree, the Israelites did not have time to bake bread and to allow it to rise, hence the unleavened bread, the bread of haste, was made and eaten with bitter herbs and the lamb that evening. This is the Passover Meal. This is a type of resurrection, passing over from death into life, from slavery to freedom, that the bitter herbs are to remind them of 400 years of bondage in Egypt. Pascha has three meanings that are all intended at one and the same time: 1) Pascha is the Greek from the Jewish word “Pesach,” meaning Passover. 2) Pascha is also translated from the Greek to means “lamb.” 3) Pascha also means “bread.” When we celebrate the Feast of Pascha, we are celebrating: the Passover into Eternal Life, the Lamb of God, and the Bread of Eternal Life.

ASK FATHER A QUESTION……. Father, the betrayal of Jesus was foretold by the prophet Zechariah 11:12-13 ….. it leads one to believe that Judas is just a mechanism to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus. Is this is true? What happens to Judas? In short, the answer to the question is no. The reason for this is that Judas has free will, just like us. He can choose how to respond to God and what he will do. From his free will, desire to obtain more money, Judas betrays Christ. After the crucifixion, Judas recognizes his sin of betraying the Messiah. Perhaps his greater sin is that he falls into despair and kills himself. He does this being tempted by the Devil. This is perhaps the bigger sin. The devil leads him to believe that God would not forgive him of betraying an innocent man. Ultimately, the point is that just because something is foretold does not mean that that person has to act it out like a mechanical robot. God lives outside of time and knows everything everyone will ever do. When God reveals this message to a prophet to lead people to salvation- it does not mean that that person’s actions are “pre-destined”- meaning that that person does not have free will to act as they choose. Imagine if on that morning Judas came to his senses and repented and begged forgiveness to Jesus and the Apostles for his betrayal. We would be telling the great story of the Conversion of Saint Judas The Repenter; however, he chose to follow the deceiving words of the deceiver, fall into despair, thinking he could not be forgiven, so he hung himself. All these are of Judas’ free will choices. God’s saving plan is revealed in salvation history, i.e. time, so that we could know the truth and believe. Once you grasp this you realize that Judas is not mere mechanism to fulfill what is foretold.

“And I said unto them, If you think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of the Lord.” (Zechariah 11:12-13).

The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints, Basil the Great, is celebrated ten times each year: January 1^st (Feast of Saint Basil); December 24^th (Christmas Eve); January 5^th (Theophany Eve); First thru Fifth Sundays of Lent (not Palm Sunday); and Holy Thursday & the Virgil Liturgy of Easter Sunday.

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners: John Ostrum,Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, John Udiski, Paul Hoover & James Bencho. Keep them in your prayers. If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Ann Magill IMO Ann Beshada.

HEATER REPAIR: The Heat Exchange Unit has been replaced and the total cost is $8,106.54. The heater is now working. Thank you to everyone who donated to offset the cost of this repair. Thank you very much.

LENTEN RETREAT: Lenten Retreat is THIS Sunday, March 22 at 4:00PM, beginning with Lenten Vespers/Retreat given by Father Paul Makar at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. A light social will follow.

PSYANKY CLASSES: Thank you to Ali Shappert & David Youells for “teaching” our psyanky class. We had many children who came and enjoyed making Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Thank you!

FLEA MARKET & FOOD SALE

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

240 Center Street, Nanticoke, PA

Friday, March 27, 9am- 2pm

Saturday, March 28, 9am- 2pm &

BAG DAY WILL BE AFTER EASTER

Weather permitting we will be

Selling Potato Pancakes, Pierogi,

Whimpies, Clam Chowder & More!

Tell Your Friends & Neighbors!

The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom

If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.

If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in no wise be deprived therefore. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing.

If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour. And he shows mercy upon the last and cares for the first, and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering.

Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away. Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.

Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death, has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.

He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:

Hell, said he, was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body and met God face to face. It took earth and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave!

For Christ, being risen from the dead has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen. (an excerpt.)

Transfiguration of our Lord Church – 2026 A.D.

Holy Monday, March 30

6:30PM The Presanctified Divine Liturgy/Confessions

Holy Tuesday, March 31 – Services at SS. Peter & Paul Church (4:00pm)

Holy Wednesday, April 1

5:30 PMThe Presanctified Divine Liturgy/General Anointing

******Abstinence from Meat ***

Holy Thursday, April 2

6:30PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord/Confessions

Good Friday, April 3

5:30PM Vespers with Placement of the Plastinicha/Confessions

******Abstinence from Meat & Dairy Products***

Holy Saturday, April 4

3:00PM Blessing of Paschal Food

******Abstinence from Meat ***

6:30 PMResurrectional Vespers/Divine Liturgy Saint Basil the Great(Myrovania)

Pascha (Easter Sunday), April 5

11:00AM Divine Liturgy/Blessing of Artos/Myrovania Blessing of Easter Baskets

ANOINTING OF THE SICK ON HOLY WEDNESDAY

SS. Peter and Paul Church-2026 A.D.

20 Nottingham Street, Plymouth, PA

Holy Tuesday, March 31

4:00 PM The Presanctified Liturgy, Confessions

Holy Thursday, April 2

3:00PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord

Good Friday, April 3

1:00PM Vespers with the Placement of the Holy Shroud

******Abstinence from Meat & Dairy Products***

Holy Saturday, April 4

1:00 Blessing of Food

******Abstinence from Meat ***

Pascha, Sunday, April 5

7:30AM Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos

Blessing of Paschal Food, Myrovania

ASK FATHER A QUESTION…What is the significance of the number 40 in the Bible? Why did God allow Christ to be tempted in the desert in Christ’s 40 days of preparation for His Ministry? In Salvation History between sinning and entering the Kingdom of Heaven is a long life and preparation period. The number 40 repeats in the Holy Scriptures as a “type” of Spiritual journey either preparing to do some special calling of God in the material world or a cleansing before it is acceptable to enter the “holy Land.” Forty years in the desert of the nation of Israel, Moses on Mount Sinai forty days and forty nights, Forty days of rain at the time of Noah, Jesus going out in the desert and preparing forty days among others.

Do not forget Jesus is fully man as well as Holy God. So just as the devil has access to tempt men, so too the devil has access to tempt the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Because, Jesus demonstrates that yes, a man can be successful and does have power over devils.

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FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

21 03 2026

ST. JOHN CLIMACUS

March 15, 2026

Saturday, March 14 FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, March 15 FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings for America – Tom & MaryAnn Potsko

Friday, March 20 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

4:00 PM

Saturday, March 21 FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM UAnn Beshada – Nieces & Nephews

Sunday, March 22 FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

Pre-Sanctified Liturgy (Wednesday): 6:30PM

MAKE PYSANKY FOR FUN!

This Sunday, March 15, 2026 @ Noon (After Liturgy)

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church Basement

Everyone is welcome!

Come & experience the art of creating Ukrainian Easter Eggs just for FUN AND FELLOWSHIP! A light lunch will be provided.

Provided through Parishioners from Transfiguration of Our Lord & Saints Peter & Paul Churches.

Class is free. Please allocate about 2 hours to create an egg. Children are most welcome- but must be supervised by an adult as decorating requires you to use a candle.

PRAYER by St. John Climacus

Prayer is by its very nature a dialogue and a union with God. Its effect is to hold the world together and to achieve a reconciliation with God. Prayer is the mother and daughter of tears. It is expiation of sin, a bridge over temptation, a barrier against affliction. It wipes out conflict, is the work of Angels and the nourishment of all bodiless beings. Prayer is the future gladness, an endless work, a wellspring of virtues, a source of grace, hidden progress, food for the soul, an illumination of the mind, an axe against despair, a proof of hope, sorrow done away with, the wealth of monks, the treasure of hesychasts, the reduction of anger, the mirror of progress, a demonstration of success, evidence of one’s condition, the future revealed, and a sign of glory. For him who truly prays, prayer is the court, the judgment hall and the tribunal of the Lord before the judgment to come. Let us rise and listen to what the holy queen of the virtues cries with a loud voice and says to us: Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and you shall find rest for your souls and healing for your wounds. For my yoke is easy and is sovereign remedy for great sins. Those of us about to stand before our King and God in order to speak with Him should not move into this without preparation, lest, seeing us from afar without weapons and clothing suitable for those who stand before the King, He should order his servants and slaves to bind us, to drive us out of His sight and to tear up our petitions and throw them in our face. When you are going to stand before the Lord. let the garment of your soul be woven throughout with the thread of wrongs suffered but forgotten. Otherwise, prayer will be of no benefit to you. Pray in all simplicity. For both the tax collector and the prodigal son were reconciled to God by a single phrase. The work of prayer is one and the same for all, but there are various and many different kinds of prayer. Some converse with God as with a friend and master, interceding with praise and petition, not for themselves but for others. Some strive for greater [spiritual] treasures and glory and for confidence in prayer. Others ask for complete deliverance from their adversary. Some beg to receive some kind of rank; others for complete forgiveness of debts. Some ask to be released from prison; others for remission from offences. Before all else, let us list sincere thanksgiving first on the scroll of our prayer. On the second line, we should put confession and heartfelt contrition of soul. Then let us present our petition to the King of all. This is the best way of prayer, as it was shown to one of the monks by an angel of the Lord… Do not be over-complicated in the words you use when praying, because the simple and unadorned lisping of the children has often won the heart of their Heavenly Father. Try not to talk excessively when you pray, lest your mind be distracted in searching for words. One word of the tax collector appeased God, and one cry of faith saved the thief. Talkative prayer often distracts the mind and leads to fantasy, whereas brevity makes for concentration. You cannot learn to see just because someone tell you to do so. You require your own natural power of sight. In the same way, you cannot discover from the teachings of others the beauty of prayer. Prayer has its own teacher in God, Who ‘teaches us knowledge’ (Ps 93:10) and grants prayer to those who pray and blesses the years of the just. Amen. from The Ladder of Divine Ascent; Step 28

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

ST. JOHN CLIMACUS

March 15, 2026

The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints, Basil the Great, is celebrated ten times each year: January 1^st (Feast of Saint Basil); December 24^th (Christmas Eve); January 5^th (Theophany Eve); First thru Fifth Sundays of Lent (not Palm Sunday); and Holy Thursday & the Virgil Liturgy of Easter Sunday.

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners: John Ostrum,Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Louise Hubiack, Paul Hoover & James Bencho. Keep them in your prayers. If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by the Udiski Family IMO Michael Kane.

SYMPATHY: Please remember in your prayers the soul of Fr. Gregory Maslak who fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. May our Lord grant him rest in the bosom of Abraham, may he be numbered among the saints, and may his memory be eternal. Vichnaya Pamyat! Our deepest sympathies are extended to the Maslak Family.

LENTEN RETREAT: SAVE THE DATE we will have a Lenten Retreat on Sunday, March 22 at 4:00PM, beginning with Lenten Vespers/Retreat given by Father Paul Makar at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. A light social will follow.

FIRST SATURDAY LITURGY: Twelve Liturgies were given for the first Saturday of each month, the next liturgy is April 4(Holy Saturday) at 6:30PM for any Families experiencing troubles in their lives and seeking God’s help from both Transfiguration of Our Lord & Saints Peter & Paul Churches. If you have such a petition for a family please feel free to share it with Fr. Walter to be included in the Saturday’s liturgy intention. The first Saturday Liturgies are celebrated at Tranfiguration of Our Lord Church at 8:00. No additional donations are required to submit a petition. You can call Father to add a petition to the list at 570-406-5882.

BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH FOR March:

The Lives of the Desert Fathers

Translated By Norman Russell

ISBN: 0879079347

HOLY SATURDAY

Great and Holy Saturday is the day on which Christ reposed in the tomb. The Church calls this day the Blessed Sabbath. “The great Moses mystically foreshadowed this day when he said: God blessed the seventh day. This is the blessed Sabbath, This is the day of rest, on which the only-begotten Son of God rested from all His works….” (Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday) By using this title the Church links Holy Saturday with the creative act of God. In the initial account of creation as found in the Book of Genesis, God made man in His own image and likeness. To be truly himself, man was to live in constant communion with the source and dynamic power of that image: God. Man fell from God. Now Christ, the Son of God through whom all things were created, has come to restore man to communion with God. He thereby completes creation. All things are again as they should be. His mission is consummated. On the Blessed Sabbath He rests from all His works.

Holy Saturday is a neglected day in parish life. Few people attend the Services. Popular piety usually reduces Holy Week to one day—Holy Friday. This day is quickly replaced by another—Easter Sunday. Christ is dead and then suddenly alive. Great sorrow is suddenly replaced by great joy. In such a scheme Holy Saturday is lost. In the understanding of the Church, sorrow is not replaced by joy; it is transformed into joy. This distinction indicates that it is precisely within death that Christ continues to effect triumph. We sing that Christ is “…trampling down death by death” in the troparion of Easter. This phrase gives great meaning to Holy Saturday. Christ’s repose in the tomb is an “active” repose. He comes in search of His fallen friend, Adam, who is all men. Not finding him on earth, he descends to the realm of death, translated Hades* in the Holy Scriptures. There He finds him and brings him life once again. This is the victory: the dead are given life. The tomb is no longer a forsaken, lifeless place. By His death Christ tramples down death by death. The traditional icon used by the Church on the feast of Easter is an icon of Holy Saturday: the descent of Christ into Hades. It is a painting of theology, for no one has ever seen this event. It depicts Christ, radiant in hues of white and blue, standing on the shattered gates of Hades. With arms outstretched He is joining hands with Adam and all the other Old Testament righteous whom He has found there. He leads them from the kingdom of death. By His death He tramples death.

“Today Hades cries out groaning:
I should not have accepted the Man born of Mary.
He came and destroyed my power.
He shattered the gates of brass.
As God, He raised the souls I had held captive.
Glory to Thy cross and resurrection, O Lord!”
(Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday)

**Hades is not “Hell,” but where the souls of the dead wait for judgement.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT

ST. JOHN CLIMACUS

March 15, 2026 A. D.

Slava Isusu Christu! Slava Na Viki!

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.” We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers. May mankind seek reconciliation and peace in this world, as is Your Will. May tranquility be restored to all nations, and especially Ukraine. God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom. May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine, and the whole world. May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

10 03 2026

VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

March 8, 2026

Saturday, March 7 THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, March 8 THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings for America – Tom & MaryAnn Potsko

Friday, March 13 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

4:00 PM

Saturday, March 14 FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, March 15 FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings for America – Tom & MaryAnn Potsko

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

Pre-Sanctified Liturgy (Wednesday): 6:30PM

Saturday, March 7: Sorokousty 8:00 AM

Saturday, March 14: Sorokousty 8:00 AM

Saturday, March 7: First Saturday Liturgy: 9:00 AM

MAKE PSANKY FOR FUN!

Sunday, March 15, 2026

@ Noon (After Liturgy)

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Church Basement

Everyone is welcome!

Come & experience the art of creating Ukrainian Easter Eggs just for FUN AND FELLOWSHIP! A light lunch will be provided.

Provided through Parishioners from Transfiguration of Our Lord & Saints Peter & Paul Churches.

Class is free. Please allocate about 2 hours to create an egg. Children are most welcome- but must be supervised by an adult as decorating requires you to use a candle.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME- Young & Old!

THE FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY)

The Five Saturdays of the Deceased (Sorokousty) The Church Typikon designates the five Sorokousty/ Saturdays of the Deceased for 2026 as February 7th; February 28^th, March 7th and 14^th, and May 23^rd. It is a tradition of our Holy Church to commemorate the memories of our beloved deceased at Matins of the Deceased (Parastas) on these five Saturdays of the year. Sorokousty Services will be celebrated at 8:00am. Services will be held for Saint Vladimir Church also at the same time.

ASK FATHER A QUESTION…….Father, I heard that the Gospel of Luke has a “theme” … What is the theme? The theme of St. Luke’s Gospel, the good news of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, is that of the suffering servant in Isaiah Chapter 53. STOP. Go Read Chapter and then return. This why St. Luke on the Holy Doors is depicted as an angel with a face like that of a bull. Jesus, the suffering servant sacrificed like the bull of the Old Testament sin offering to make atonement for the priests of Israel and their entire households. (This would include the whole nation of Israel.) The bull offering on the Day of Atonement was for the sins of the entire nation of Israel for the past year, in addition to each individual person offering a sacrifice for their personal sins as instructed by the priests. Jesus is this bull, the suffering servant, and at the same time the Lamb of God. The Lamb of God refers to not just a sacrifice for sin, but is the eternal Passover Lamb (Paschal Lamb) just as Moses was instructed to sacrifice the Lamb put the lamb’s blood on the door posts and above the door (lintel) as a sign to the Angel of Death that these were followers of God and that they had consumed the whole lamb that night. Jesus now is the Eternal Paschal Lamb of God and His blood a sign for Passing Over Eternal Life, not merely avoiding Death this one night. So Luke is telling us Jesus Christ, the suffering servant, if we follow Him and do as instructed all of our sins are atoned for and having consumed His body and blood we will Passover to eternal life- only if we do as instructed. Don’t forget Simeon doubted a virgin would give birth, and that would be the Messiah. So the Lord told him because of his doubt, his punishment would be that he would live to see it happen, circa 250 B.C.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

March 8, 2026

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Joe and Teresa Popowycz IMO Mary Kachmarski.

We are grateful for all the donations toward the heating system for the church.

LENT: All Fridays are always a day of fast. Traditionally, Wednesdays are a day of fast during the Great Fast. Anything you can do extra is also indicated. Remember there are no weekday Liturgy during the Great Fast.

HOAGIE & SOUP SALE: St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 153 East Main Street, Glen Lyon is holding a vegetable soup & Hoagie Sale (Turkey, Cheese, & Italian Hoagie) and bake sale on Thursday, March 12^th from 11AM to 4PM in the church hall. The cost of each hoagie is $8.00 and a quart of vegetable soup is $8.00. Orders can be placed by calling Debbie at 570-736-6908 by Sunday, March 8^th. A basket raffle will also be held at this time to benefit Ukraine and the church.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME: Please keep in mind that Daylight Savings time begins Sunday, March 8. Please set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday, March 7^th before you go to bed. Clocks will “spring“ forward.

FIRST SATURDAY LITURGY: Twelve Liturgies were given for the first Saturday of each month, the next liturgy is March 7 for any Families experiencing troubles in their lives and seeking God’s help from both Transfiguration of Our Lord & Saints Peter & Paul Churches. If you have such a petition for a family please feel free to share it with Fr. Walter to be included in the Saturday’s liturgy intention. The first Saturday Liturgies are celebrated at Tranfiguration of Our Lord Church at 8:00 AM. No additional donations are required to submit a petition. You can call Father to add a petition to the list at 570-406-5882.

“Let My Prayer Rise up”

Let my prayer rise up, Like incense before You; The lifting of my hands, As an evening sacrifice.

Lord, I call to You, hear me; attend to the voice of my prayer when I cry to You.

Let my prayer rise up, Like incense before You; The lifting of my hands, As an evening sacrifice.

Set, O Lord, a watch before my mouth and a door of enclosure around my lips.

Let my prayer rise up, Like incense before You; The lifting of my hands, As an evening sacrifice.

Incline not my heart unto words of evil, to make excuses for my sins.

Let my prayer rise up, Like incense before You; The lifting of my hands, As an evening sacrifice.

Veneration of the Holy Cross Third Sunday of Lent

On the Third Sunday of Holy Lent, the Ukrainian Catholic Church commemorates the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week. The commemoration and ceremonies of the Third Sunday of Lent are closely parallel to the feasts of the Veneration of the Cross (September 14) and the Procession of the Cross (August 1). Not only does the Sunday of the Holy Cross prepare us for commemoration of the Crucifixion, but it also reminds us that the whole of Lent is a period when we are crucified with Christ. As we have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24), and will have mortified ourselves during these forty days of the Fast, the precious and life-giving Cross is now placed before us to refresh our souls and encourage us who may be filled with a sense of bitterness, resentment, and depression. The Cross reminds us of the Passion of our Lord, and by presenting to us His example, it encourages us to follow Him in struggle and sacrifice, being refreshed, assured, and comforted. In other words, we must experience what the Lord experienced during His Passion – being humiliated in a shameful manner. The Cross teaches us that through pain and suffering we shall see the fulfillment of our hopes: the heavenly inheritance and eternal glory.

BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH FOR March:

The Lives of the Desert Fathers

Translated By Norman Russell

ISBN: 0879079347

THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

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SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

10 03 2026

ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

March 1, 2026

Saturday, February 28 SECOND SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, March 1 SECOND SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings for the Becker Family- Fragelli Family

Friday, March 6 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

4:00 PM

Saturday, March 7 THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, March 8 THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings for America – Tom & MaryAnn Potsko

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

Pre-Sanctified Liturgy (Wednesday): 6:30PM

Saturday, March 7: Sorokousty 8:00 AM

Saturday, March 7: First Saturday Liturgy: 9:00 AM

MAKE PSANKY FOR FUN!

Sunday, March 15, 2026

@ Noon (After Liturgy)

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Church Basement

Everyone is welcome!

Come & experience the art of creating Ukrainian Easter Eggs just for FUN AND FELLOWSHIP! A light lunch will be provided.

Provided through Parishioners from Transfiguration of Our Lord & Saints Peter & Paul Churches.

Class is free. Please allocate about 2 hours to create an egg. Children are most welcome- but must be supervised by an adult as decorating requires you to use a candle.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME- Young & Old!

LENTEN FOOD (TAKE-OUT ONLY)

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

240 Center Street, Nanticoke, PA , Church Basement

Friday, March 6, 2026 from 3PM-5PM

PIEROGI SALE

Featuring church made potato pierogi $12 a dozen.

THE FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY)

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL: Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

The Sanctuary Light is requested by Mariya Palashchuk IMO Aniza Slabodion.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY RUMMAGE SALE – BAKED GOODS, SOUP & HALUSKI:

The Women’s Society will be hosting a Rummage Sale, Soup, Haluski and Bake Sale on March 6th, 7th and 8th in the church hall. Your help and support is greatly needed, and many have asked how they can assist.

Here are several ways you can help:

1. Pick up a flyer from the back of the church and ask a local business or establishment if they would be willing to display it. (See Back Page of Bulletin.)

2. Bake items to donate to the bake sale.

3. Donate gently used items for the rummage sale.

4. Volunteer your time-workers are needed throughout the sale.

5. Attend the sale and enjoy some delicious food while shopping for great items.

Your generosity and support will be greatly appreciated. Proceeds from the sale will help offset the cost of repairing the church’s heating system.

RUMMAGE SALE

Ss. PETER & PAUL CHURCH HALL

Nottingham Street, Plymouth, PA

Sponsored by the Women’s Society

Friday, March 6 (9AM-4PM)

Saturday, March 7(1/2 price day) (9AM- 2PM)

Sunday, March 8(Bag Day$5)(12PM-2PM)

Haluski, Soup, & Bake Sale.

Proceeds go to support repair of the church heating system.

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FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

24 02 2026

SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY

February 22, 2026

Saturday, February 21 FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, February 22 FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM UJoseph Kane- Udisky Family

Friday, February 27 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

4:00 PM

Saturday, February 28 SECOND SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, March 1 SECOND SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings for the Becker Family- Fragelli Family

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

Pre-Sanctified Liturgy (Wednesday): 6:30PM

Saturday, February 28: Sorokousty 8:00 AM

Saturday, March 7: Sorokousty 8:00 AM

Saturday, March 7: First Saturday Liturgy: 9:00 AM

MAKE PSANKY FOR FUN!

Sunday, March 15, 2026

@ Noon (After Liturgy)

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Church Basement

Everyone is welcome!

Come & experience the art of creating Ukrainian Easter Eggs just for FUN AND FELLOWSHIP! A light lunch will be provided.

Provided through Parishioners from Transfiguration of Our Lord & Saints Peter & Paul Churches.

Class is free. Please allocate about 2 hours to create an egg. Children are most welcome- but must be supervised by an adult as decorating requires you to use a candle.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME- Young & Old!

LENTEN FOOD (TAKE-OUT ONLY)

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

240 Center Street, Nanticoke, PA , Church Basement

Friday, February 20, 2026 from 3PM-5PM

SOUP & PIEROGI SALE

Featuring home-made Pea Soup by the quart and church made potato pierogi $12 a dozen.

THE FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY)

The Five Saturdays of the Deceased (Sorokousty) The Church Typikon designates the five Sorokousty/ Saturdays of the Deceased for 2026 as February 7th; February 28^th, March 7th and 14^th, and May 23^rd. It is a tradition of our Holy Church to commemorate the memories of our beloved deceased at Matins of the Deceased (Parastas) on these five Saturdays of the year. Sorokousty Services will be celebrated at 8:00am.

BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY:

St. John of Damascus; On the Divine Images

By St. John of Damascus/Translated by David Anderson

ISBN: 0-913836-62-1

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY

February 22, 2026

The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints Basil the Great is celebrated ten times per year: January 1(Feast of Saint Basil); December 24(Christmas Eve);January 5 (Theophany Eve); First thru Fifth Sundays of Lent(not Palm Sunday); and Holy Thursday & the Virgil Liturgy of Easter Sunday.}

The Sanctuary Light is requested by Joe and Teresa Popowycz IMO Dennis Kachmarsky.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY RUMMAGE SALE< SOUP & HALUSKI:

Here are several ways you can help:

1. Pick up a flyer from the back of the church and ask a local business or establishment if they would be willing to display it.

2. Bake items to donate to the bake sale.

3. Donate gently used items for the rummage sale.

4. Volunteer your time-workers are needed throughout the sale.

5. Attend the sale and enjoy some delicious food while shopping for great items.

Your generosity and support will be greatly appreciated. Proceeds from the sale will help offset the cost of repairing the church’s heating system.

PSANKY CLASSES: St. Cyril & Methodius are holding Psanky classes. These classes are artistically taught by TAMMY BUDNOVITCH on February 22 & March 1^st. Pick either 12:00 or 3:00 for classes. All supplies are provided. Fee: $25. All proceeds support SS. Cyril & Methodius, Ukrainian Catholic Church. For reservations: Call Tammy 570-766-1919.

ST. VLADIMIR”S CHURCH (SCRANTON) MOLEBEN: St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 430 N. 7th Ave. in Scranton, will host a special Moleben Prayer Service for Ukraine this Tuesday, February 24th, beginning at 6:00pm. This is the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Very Rev. Archpriest Teodor Czabala will be the Guest Speaker and there will be a short film about Ukraine in Church. Please join us to commemorate this sad occasion and pray for our brothers and sisters still suffering in Ukraine.

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

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SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE

14 02 2026

FEBRUARY 15, 2026

Saturday, February 14 SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, February 15 SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE

8:30 AM UJames Dalton- Udiski Family

Friday, February 20 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

4:00 PM

Saturday, February 21 FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Sunday, February 22 FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

8:30 AM UJoseph Kane- Udisky Family

LENTEN FOOD (TAKE-OUT ONLY)

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

240 Center Street, Nanticoke, PA , Church Basement

Friday, February 20, 2026 from 3PM-5PM

SOUP & PIEROGI SALE

Featuring home-made clam chowder $15 a quart and church made potato pierogi $12 a dozen.

THE FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY)

BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY:

St. John of Damascus; On the Divine Images

By St. John of Damascus/Translated by David Anderson

ISBN: 0-913836-62-1

SUNDAY LITURGIES DURING LENT: WHY DO THEY SEEM LONGER?

Our Church prescribes that the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is to be celebrated on all of the Sundays of Great Fast, instead of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which is usually celebrated throughout the rest of the church year. St. Basil’s Liturgy is older and has longer priestly prayers at the Anaphora than the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (which was derived from the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great), and is celebrated ten times during the church year: the five Sundays of Lent (not Palm Sunday), Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday, Christmas Eve, Epiphany Eve, and on the actual Feast of St. Basil which we celebrate January 1.

The Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my Life, keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust of power and idle chatter. Instead, grant to me your servant the spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness, patience, and love. O Lord and King, grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge my brothers; for You are Blessed now and forever and ever. Amen.

Concupiscences: def. Our choosing the easy way of sin.

FROM FASTING TO FEASTING

Fast from judging others;
Feast on seeing the best in people.

Fast from emphasis on differences;
Feast on the unity of life.

Fast from despair;
Feast on hope.

Fast from thoughts of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that destroy;
Feast on phrases that are encouraging.

Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.

Fast from being negative;
Feast on being positive.

Fast from worry;
Feast on trust.

Fast from complaining;
Feast on appreciation.

Fast from hostility;
Feast on peacemaking.

Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from constant activity;
Feast on slowing down.

Fast from disrespect;
Feast on recognizing the sacred in all life.

Fast from self-concern;

Feast on compassion for others. ~Author Unknown

LENT: Remember, the first day of Lent is a fast from Meat and Dairy Products. Lent begins with Forgiveness Vespers, Sunday, February 15^that 3:00PM at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. Confessions will be from at 2:15PM until 2:45PM.The first full day of Lent will begin on Monday, February 16 and is a day of abstinence from Meat and Dairy Products for everyone who is able to do so. All Fridays are always a day of fast. Traditionally, Wednesdays are a day of fast during the Great Fast. Anything you can do extra is also indicated. Remember there are no weekday Liturgy during the Great Fast.

PRE-SANCTIFIED LITURGY: Pre-Sanctified Liturgies will be on Wednesdays at 6:30PM at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church in Nanticoke and on Fridays at 4:00PM at Saints Peter & Paul Church in Plymouth.

Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners: John Ostrum,Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Paul Hoover & James Bencho. Keep them in your prayers. If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.

MYASOPUSNA: Thank you to everyone who bought tickets and supported/helped out at Transfiguration of Our Lord’s Meat-Fare Dinner!

“If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses…” (Mark 6:14-15)

Begin your examination with the time of your last confession. Try to recall whether you omitted anything from fear of embarrassment that needs to be confessed. With the help of the self-examination provided, call to mind all the sins you have committed since your last confession.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. Putting God First: I am the Lord your God; you shall not have other gods before me.

Has God been the source, center and hope of my life? Have I put myself, anyone or anything before God? Have I given to anyone or anything the love, honor and worship that belongs to God alone? Have I made an idol of any person, idea, occupation or thing? Have I failed to trust in God, His love and mercy? Have I failed to pray to God and to worship Him faithfully? Have I been thankful for God’s blessings? Have I doubted the Christian faith? Have I tried to serve God and keep His Commandments faithfully? Have I murmured or complained against God in adversities? Do I give “respect” to gods of other of other religions?

2. Respect for God: You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain.

Do I have a deep and sincere respect for God and His Holy Name? Have I shown disrespect to God, either in word or deed? Have I dishonored God’s Name in any way? Have I sworn a false oath? Have I broken any solemn promise or vow that was done before God? Have I cursed or used foul language? Do I use God’s name uselessly to draw attention to myself or derivatives such as Jeez, Jesus, Gee, or Oh my goodness, etc.?

3. Respect for the Lord’s Day: Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

Have I worshiped God faithfully on Sundays and major holy days? Have I helped others to do the same, or have I discouraged them? Have I worked or shopped unnecessarily on Sundays or major holy days? Have I caused others to do so? Have I spent the Lord’s Day in wholesome and edifying ways? Have I made time for family and friends?

4. Respect for Parents and Authority: Honor your father and mother.

Have I loved and respected my parents as I should? Have I neglected them, or failed to help them? Have l disobeyed them, deceived them or caused them pain by my words and deeds? Have I treated my family members with patience and love? Have I respected my teachers, superiors, employers (those who are in authority) as I should? Have I disobeyed or deceived them by my words or deeds? Have I treated fairly all those who have worked for me?

5. Respect for Human Life: You shall not murder. Have I caused the harm, injury or death of anyone? Have I wished my own or anyone’s harm or death? Have I caused others to sin? Have I abused my health or the health of others by evil and intemperate living (i.e. drugs, alcohol, over-eating, etc.)? Have l given way to vengeance or hatred? Have I failed to forgive anyone or harbored evil thoughts against them? Have I been cruel to anyone? Have I encouraged someone in procuring an abortion? Have I had an abortion? Have I spread news about someone in order to damage their reputation?

6. & 9. Respect for Marriage: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Have I committed any sin of lust, alone or with others (masturbation, fornication, pornography, adultery, cohabitation)? Have I caused others to commit impure acts? Have I sinned by giving way to impure thoughts, words or conversations? Have I read immoral books or magazines, romance novels, or delighted in obscenity of any kind? Have l associated with bad company or frequented placed of ill-repute? Do I maintain modesty and decency in dress? Have I practiced birth control/contraception? Have I repeated obscene/impure jokes?

7. & 10. Respect for Private Property: You shall not steal. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. Have l taken or kept anything that was not mine? Have l cheated anyone? Have I caused others to steal or cheat? Have I tried to find the owners of lost things I have found? Have I damaged or destroyed anything that belonged to another? Have I defrauded anyone of their rightful wages? Have I paid my debts? Have I worked honesty and conscientiously for my wages? Did I spend beyond my means? Do I give alms according to my capacity? Have I looked with envy, jealousy or hatred toward the possessions, talents or achievements of others? Have I desired the downfall or loss of others out of evil intent that I might benefit? Have I grieved that God has bestowed greater blessing on others than on me?

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SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

SUNDAY OF THE OINTMENT BEARERS April 19, 2026 A. D

THOMAS SUNDAY

CHRISTOS VOSKRESE! VOISTINU VOSKRESE!

PALM SUNDAY- THE LORD’S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM

FIFTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE

Related Websites

Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia

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