SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

Saturday, Dec. 31
4:00 PM ✞John Finley Jr.– Mother Ann Finley

Sunday, Jan. 1 THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD
SUNDAY BEFORE THE THEOPHANY
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Anointing with Holy Oil (Myrovania)

Friday, Jan. 6 THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD
Blessing of Water – Anointing with Holy Oil (Myrovania)
9:00 AM ✞Andrew Beshada – Ann Beshada
Saturday, Jan. 7
4:00 PM ✞Michael Sirak – Mr. & Mrs. John Ostrum

Sunday, Jan. 8 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

FEAST OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT
On the first of January, the beginning of the civil year, our Church celebrates the memory of the death of one of the greatest and most outstanding Fathers of the Church and doctors of the faith and of monastic legislators – St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea, Cappodocia, of Asia Minor. His person is in every respect extraordinary, noble, illustrious and worthy of praise. He was not only an aristocrat by birth, but also an aristocrat in spirit, character, learning and holiness. The mark of his deep faith, heroic love of God and neighbor, learning and holiness is stamped on the entire Church of Christ, on the monastic life in the East and on our people.
The holy Church justifiably gave him the title “the Great”. He is truly “Great” especially in three areas of his life; as a great archbishop of the Church, as a great legislator of monastic life, and as a man of great holiness.
His holiness, virtues and greatness are extolled by our Church in her services in honor of his feast. Here he is praised as “the holy tongue of Christ”, “the shepherd of Christ’s Church”, “the divine and holy bee of Christ’s Church”, “royal ornament of the Church”, “a rich treasure of learning”, and “invincible defender of the Trinity”. Addressing him, the liturgy proclaims, “You walked the rough road of the virtues”, “your word is angelic bread”, “you are a chalice of innocence”, “for monks a model of virtue”, “a light of piety”, and a “trumpet of theology”.
Immediately after Basil’s death, Holy Church began to venerate him as a Saint and to celebrate the day of death on the first of January.
Because the feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord is celebrated on January 1, the Latin Church honors his memory on the 14th of June, on which day he was consecrated bishop in the year 370. The church service in honor of St. Basil was composed by Anatolus of Constantinople (5c), St. John Damascene and Germanus of Constantinople (8c).
Briefly outlined are a silhouette of the immortal figure of St. Basil the Great and his everlasting significance for our Church and Ukrainian monasticism. With the words of St. Paul, “Brethren, be imitators of me as I am of Christ”. St. Basil summons us all also to imitate his deep faith, his sacrificial and all embracing love of God and neighbor, and his great holiness.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
    Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.  And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.  When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.  After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”  He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  But they did not understand what he said to them.  Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.  And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

UKRAINIAN CHRISTMAS – Plans for having our Ukrainian Holy Supper is for Sunday, January 8th. at 1:30 PM. This affair will be celebrated if we have enough people interested in attending. A sign-up sheet is in the vestibule if you plan to attend. If we do not have enough people interested the affair will be cancelled. So please sign the sheet in the vestibule and the dish you wish to bring as this is a cover dish and the church will supply the Fish and Pyrohys. This supper is all meatless.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec.31 –Jan. 7 by Michael Kane in memory of Mary Kulyn.
ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar candles will burn during all services in the month of January in memory of Anna & Thomas Jones requested by daughter Arlene Jones.

CHRISTMAS EVE: We would like to thank Ayla Schappert for helping our parish make a beautiful presentation of Baby Jesus to the manger. May God bless you Ayla.

THANKS: Our thanks to Irene Pstrak and Family for the Christmas Donation of $200 in memory of the Pstrak Family – Maksym, Julia, John, Michael, Joseph, Peter, Ann, Mary and Stephanie. Your donation is certainly appreciated.

THANKS: Through the year, many of the parishioners have volunteered for various projects. The services that you so willingly provide is greatly appreciated – whether it be the cleaning of the Church, snow removal on the sidewalks, ground maintenance, being there for funerals to open and arrange the necessary bells etc., working at our fund-raising projects, choir singing and any other service that is connected to the Church duties. Your volunteer hours keep us in good running – Keep up the good work with God’s Blessings. We cannot forget to also thank the few non-parishioners who come in to help with our Pyrohy Projects. Thanks to all for all you do. May God grant you a wonderful year 2017

Choir To Perform At Scranton’s St. Vladimir Church – The Dzvin Ukrainian Folk Choir of Philadelphia will appear at Scranton’s St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 430 North Seventh Avenue on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 3:00pm. The eighteen-member all male group will offer a program of Ukrainian and English Christmas carols. The group is known for its rendering of traditional and contemporary Ukrainian songs with a unique and lively interpretation. They have appeared extensively in Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland as well as in Canada. The event is open to the public and no tickets are required. Attendees can make a free will offering if they so desire.