Saturday, April 11 Distribution of Artos – Anointing of Holy Oil – Myrovania
4:00 PM ✞ Helen Sawka – Frank & Marian Kulick
Sunday, April 12 SUNDAY OF ST. THOMAS
Distribution of Artos – Anointing of Holy Oil – Myrovania
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Thursday, April 16
9:00 AM ✞Eleanor Kulick – John & Alma Butler
Saturday, April 18
4:00 PM ✞Steve & Pricilla Kowalick – Mike & Helen Kowalick
Sunday, April 19 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
8:30 AM The Myrrh-bearing women
2:00 PM Sviachene – Church Hall
THANKS: Our sincere thanks to all the men who participated in the Easter services. We appreciate your time volunteered to make the procedures possible. We also give thanks to the choir for their lovely voices throughout the services. May God’s blessing be upon all who devoted their time for our beautiful and spiritual services.
The Leading Sunday or
the First Sunday after Easter
Some authors derive this name from the fact that this Sunday is the leading Sunday, i.e., the first Sunday that continues the feast of the Pasch. Among our people there existed an old custom, on the Sunday of St. Thomas, of commemorating the dead with a special memorial repast and praying for their souls at the cemetery.
The celebration of the eighth day after the Pasch as the conclusion of Bright Week, from earliest times, had been regarded as a separate feast. The theme of the services of this feast and of the week that follows is the Gospel event describing the apparition of Christ on the eighth day after His resurrection and the moving scene of St. Thomas’ conversion and profession of faith. Regarding the significance of this feast, St. Gregory the Theologian (+389), in a homily on the Sunday of St. Thomas said: “The old law, which was established for a good purpose, honors the day of renewal, or rather, should we say, that with the day of renewal it honors new blessings. For, was not the first day of the resurrection, which occurred after the holy and glorious night, also a day of renewal? Why, then, do we give this name to today’s feast? That day (i.e. of the Resurrection) was a day of salvation, while this day is the commemoration of salvation. By its very nature, that day separates the burial and the resurrection, while this day is a day of an altogether new birth…Today we celebrate a genuine renewal, going from death to life. Therefore, cast off the old man and renew yourselves and live in newness of life.”
Our Church celebrates the memory of St. Thomas the Apostle on the 6th of October, whereas the Latin Church celebrates it on the 21st of December. About the apostolic work of St. Thomas in a homily delivered on Thomas Sunday, St. John Chrysostom eulogizes St. Thomas thus: “Of all the other Apostles he was, at one time, the weakest in faith but, with God’s grace, he became more courageous and more untiring than the rest. He traversed almost the whole known world, preaching the word of God fearlessly to nations that were fierce, savage and bloodthirsty.” St. Thomas is believed to have died a martyr’s death for the Christian faith in India.
Easter greeting: “Christ is risen! — Indeed He is risen!” Kristos Vosdres – Voistynu Voskres! Is our personal proclamation of Christ’s glorious resurrection, and is the greeting used by the faithful until Ascension Thursday.
SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week April 11 – 18 by Becky Molecavage in memory of her mother Frances Bencho.
SVIACHENE: Our Sviachene (Easter Dinner) is supposed to be held next Sunday, April 19, 2015 in our Church Hall at 2:00 PM, but to date not many tickets are sold. PLEASE, if you are planning to attend, do so this weekend. Preparations will be scheduled for this week and it would be great to know the amount attending. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children, under 12, free. This is a very nice affair to have our Parish Family come together and share with the food and blessings. A Chinese Auction will be available. Donations of gift items will be greatly appreciated.
WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The regular monthly meeting of the Women’s Society will be held Tuesday, April 14th, 6:30 PM in the church hall. All members please try to be present. New members are always welcome.
LUC MEETING: North Anthracite Council – League of Ukrainian Catholics will meet on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 430 North Seventh Avenue, Scranton, PA. Moleben prayer service at 3:00pm, business session at 3:30pm, followed by reception and fellowship.
BUS TRIP – Seats are filling up fast! North Anthracite Council of the League of Ukrainian Catholics is sponsoring a bus trip to the 39th Annual St. George Ukrainian Street Festival, Lower East Side of Manhattan on Saturday, May 16, 2015 with a side trip to Central Park and the famous Fifth Avenue area. Participants are also welcome to do their own thing for all or part of the day if they so wish. The 55 passenger bus will depart from Scranton’s St. Vladim…ir Church, 428 North Seventh Avenue at 8:00am and from Edwardsville’s St. Vladimir Church, 70 Zerby Avenue at 8:45am. Departure from New York City will be at 9:00pm. Cost is $40.00 per person. Full nonrefundable advance payment reserves a seat.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 