Saturday, Jan. 25
4:00 PM Joseph Sawka – John & Mary Ann Kopcho
Sunday, Jan. 26 THIRTY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Thursday, Jan. 30 FEAST OF THE THREE HOLY HIERARCHS
9:00 AM Joseph Sawka – Pete Petrosky
Saturday, Feb. 1 ENCOUNTER OF OUR LORD WITH SIMEON & ANNA
4:00 PM Blessing of Candles – Anointing of Holy Oil – Myrovania
Daniel Bilak – Edward & Lillian Tomko
Sunday, Feb. 2 SUNDAY OF ZACCHAEUS
8:30 AM ENCOUNTER OF OUR LORD WITH SIMEON & ANNA
Anointing of Holy Oil – Myrovania
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Questions are often asked about cremation in our rite. Hopefully this article will be useful to you.
Archdioceses clarify church teaching on cremation, burial of remains
(article originally from Nov. 2010, CNS) WASHINGTON (CNS) — While cremation is not prohibited unless it is chosen for reasons “contrary to Christian teaching,” the Catholic Church prefers that the body of a deceased person be buried in accord with church custom, according to statements issued by two U.S. archdioceses. Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe, N.M., said that even when cremation is chosen, the cremated remains of a deceased individual must be treated with respect and integrity. Cremated remains only may be buried in a cemetery or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium, they said.
The prelates issued their statements recently to clarify church teaching on cremation and proper burial of the dead. Both prelates said scattering cremated remains is not permitted under church teaching. “Especially to be condemned are the practices of scattering the ashes, enclosing them in jewelry, dividing them among relatives as keepsakes or doing other bizarre things with them,” Archbishop Sheehan wrote.
“Such practices do not give honor to the body and, indirectly, are an affront to our belief in the resurrection of the dead.” Keeping ashes at home so that family members “may feel close” to their loved ones “shows a lack of faith in the communion of saints, by which we are spiritually united to the departed, in a way far more marvelous than keeping their remains on a shelf in our house,” Archbishop Sheehan said.
[Editor’s Note: In our Ukrainian Catholic Church, the practice of cremation is not encouraged, but is permitted, however ONLY under the following conditions—the body of the deceased parishioner must first be brought into the church, the body being in whole form and intact and not cremated. Ashes or cremated remains (cremains) may not be brought into the church. The traditional funeral service is celebrated, and only then may the body be taken and cremated. The cremains must be quickly buried in sacred ground (the cemetery), and not kept in any other place for any period of time, nor may they be sprinkled or scattered.]
FEAST OF THE THREE HOLY HIERARCHS
On the 30th of January we celebrate the memory of three great and very outstanding bishops, teachers, preachers, and Father of the Eastern Church: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory and Theologian and St. John Chrysostom. Among our people this feast is known as the feast of the “Three Saints”. These three Hierarchs-bishops were giants of faith, courage, holiness and leaning. The handed down to us the pure faith of the Council of Nicea; they expounded the dogmas of the Holy Trinity, Christ’s divinity and the Holy Eucharist. Because of their great merits, in her liturgy our Eastern Church calls them peers of the Apostles, instruments of the Holy Spirit, pillars of the Church and universal teachers of the whole world. All three lived in the fourth century – the golden age of the Christian faith. St. Basis and St. Gregory were sons of Cappodicia in Asia Minor, intimate friends of approximately the age. St. John Chrysostom, an Antiochian, was younger than the other two by twenty years. Apostolic zeal for the holy faith and salvation of souls united them.
The feast of the three Holy Bishops was introduced in the eleventh century. In that century an argument arose among the Christians of Constantinople, who tried to decide which of these three Saints was the greatest. A great dissension broke out among the people of Constantinople. Thereupon the three Saints appeared to the saintly Bishop John of Euchydia, a suburb of Constantinople, and told him that they were equal in the eyes of God, asking him to institute a feast common to the three of them. John made the vision known to the people. Their spirits were appeased and peace returned to the Christian community.
Having before her eyes their greatness, merits and significance fefore God, holy Church invokes the faithful to give fit praise to the Three Hierarchs: “Having come together with songs of prise, O lovers of feasts, let us praise Christ’s sanctifiers and the glory of the Father, the pillars of the faith, teachers and defenders of the faithful. Let us hail each of them in turn: Hail, luminary of the Chruch, immutable pillar, O wise Basil! Hail, O golden-voiced John, splendid preacher of penance. O spiritually-wealthy fathers, never cease to pray to Christ in behalf of those who with faith and love observe your sacred and sublime feast.
Saint Basil was born in Cappadocia in Asia about 330, and was Bishop of Caesarea. He died in 379.
Saint Gregory Nazianzen, called the Theologian, was born at Nazianzus in Cappadocia about 325. He died in 390.
Saint John Chrysostom, called Golden-tongued because of his eloquence was born at Antioch about 347. He was archbishop of Constantinople. He revised our Liturgy which bears his name. He was the most eloquent preacher of the East. He died in exile in 407.
COUNCIL MEETING: The members of the Parish Council will meet on Thursday, February 6, 2014 in the Church Hall at 6:00 PM. All parishioners are requested to attend.
SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of Jan. 25 – Feb, 1 by Ann Beshada in memory of her Husband Andrew Beshada.
A few weeks are available for the Sanctuary Lights that burn for one week and a donation of $10
Feb.22 – March 1, March 1 – 8, March 8 – 15, March 22 – 29, March 29 – April 5, April 5 – 12.
NATIVITY: Sorry to say that only one man and 6 women came to the church last Sunday to help dismantle the Nativity. This is a lot of work and men are needed to carry heavy items, etc. If help is not provided for the future activities, it will not be possible to have such beautiful scenes.
CALENDAR LOTTERY: Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, Nanticoke, PA is sponsoring its annual calendar lottery sale. Lottery tickets are for the month of February. Tickets are $5.00 and may be purchased by calling Gerry Adamchak
MEATFARE SUNDAY: Transfiguration of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church, in the Hanover Section of Nanticoke, invites you to its Myasopusna dinner celebration on Meatfare Sunday, February 23rd, at the church hall, at Bliss and Center Streets. Dinner will be served at 12:30 p.m., and will include holuptsi, varenyky, kovbasa, green beans, black bread and butter, and dessert. Entertainment will follow at 1:30 pm, featuring the Holy Year Choir, Kazka, Saint Mary’s Dancers, and other entertainment. Dinner tickets are $15, with an advanced ticket price of $12, if ordered by February 10. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 