Saturday, March 9
4:00 PM ✞Ihor Pasicznyk – Wife Olympia Pasicznyk
Sunday, March 10 SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
4:00 PM Stations of the Cross – SS Peter & Paul, Wilkes-Barre, PA
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Wednesday, March 13
4:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Saturday, March 16
4:00 PM ✞Anna Dempsey – Dempsey Children
Sunday, March 17 FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
4:00 PM Stations of the Cross – SS Peter & Paul, Plymouth, PA
Lent, The Great Fast in the Eastern Churches What is The Great Fast?
In the Western Church, Lent is the name of the season of the 40 days fast before Easter. However, in the Eastern Church, there are other fast periods. The Eastern Church also observes the 40 day Nativity Fast before the feast of the Nativity, the Apostles Fast between Pentecost and the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, and the Fast of the Theotokos prior to the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Mary). The Great Fast is specifically the period of fasting and penance before the celebration of Pascha. The word Easter is typically only used in the West; Pascha, from the Greek word for the Hebrew Passover, Lamb and bread, is the name used in the Greek Catholic Church for the Feast of fests, Resurrection. The Great Fast is called ‘Great’ because this period is preparing for the most important liturgical feast of the year, Pascha.
The Great Fast (Or the Great Forty Days): The Great Fast actually begins on Clean Monday, 48 calendar days before the feast of Pascha. The name Clean Monday is alluding to the work of washing one’s self clean of past sins and to the preparing work of fasting from foods. The Great Fast then continues for the next five Sundays: Triumph of Orthodoxy, Holy Relics and St. Gregory Palamas, Veneration of Holy Cross, Commemoration of our Holy Father John Climacus, and the Commemoration of our Venerable Mother Mary of Egypt. Unlike in the West, Sundays are included in the 40 days of Lent. Also, in the Eastern Church, Holy Week is not a part of the 40 days but is considered as a separate entity from the rest of The Great Fast which ends at sundown Friday evening at the singing of O Joyful Light during Vespers of Lazarus Saturday.
Great and Holy Week: Holy Week, also called Great and Holy Week begins with Lazarus Saturday, 8 days before Pascha. It then continues with Palm Sunday (the triumphant entry of our blessed Jesus Christ into Jerusalem), Great and Holy Monday which remembers Joseph of the Old Testament, who was sold into slavery, Holy Tuesday (the Parable of the ten virgins), Holy Wednesday, (the anointing of Jesus with myrrh by the woman in the house of Simon the Leper), Great and Holy Thursday (the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper), Great and Holy Friday (the Passion of Christ) and the last day before Pascha, Great and Holy Saturday.
Lenten Fasting
In the West, in the Latin Church, there are days of abstinence from meat and days of fasting when only a certain amount of food is to be taken. However in the Eastern Catholic Church, there are different fasting guidelines for different days and seasons. The Western Church (Latins) typically fast in quantity of food while the Eastern Churches typically fast from qualities of food.
The first Sunday of the Great Fast is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
What do we mean by “orthodoxy”?
The word “orthodoxy” stems from the Greek word “orthodoxia” (orthos = right or straight; doksa = thinking) which signifies the true faith and the true worship of God. We are not speaking of “Orthodoxy” as we understand it today as being opposed to the Catholic Church, but orthodoxy, as applied to the whole Church of Christ until the schism between the Western and Eastern Church which occurred in the eleventh century. The orthodoxy that we celebrate this Sunday is the one apostolic catholic (universal) orthodoxy, professed by the entire Church of Christ of the first millennium in the battle against the heresy of Iconoclasm.
One of the striking features of the Eastern Church is the ancient and special veneration of sacred images (icons) of Jesus Christ, the Theotokos (Birthgiver of God), the Angels, and the Saints. The Church of Christ deeply respects and honors the holy icons as it also does holy relics. She places them in church for public veneration (to bow before) and recommends that we venerate them privately in our homes, and wear small icons around our necks in the form of little crosses or medals to remind we are to live like saints.
PANKY EASTER EGG FUNDRAISER: There will be a Psanky Decorating Class at Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church Hall, 420 Main Road, Hanover Township on Saturday, March 30 @ noon and Sunday, March 31 @ 2:00PM. RSVP for Workshop Seat and by March 11th. The cost is $25.00 per person. All checks made payable to Ladies of Mary. Mail to 17 Maria Drive, Hanover Township, PA 18706. All supplies are provided. Food and Beverages are available for purchase. BYOB.Take Home Kit:$20. Call Nicole Lasecki at 570-574-4453
LUC’s Springtime Bus Trip – North Anthracite Council’s chartered bus to New York City on Saturday, May 18, 2019. A few seats are still available. For additional information and reservations contact Janina Everett at 570 759-2824 or Paul Ewasko at 570 563-2275.
THE LUC is asking if there is interst in a Bus Trip FOR THE INSTALLATION OF mETROPOLITAN BORYS ON TUESDAY JUNE 4TH. LET FR. WALTER KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GOING.
SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light HAS NO REEQUEST THIS WEEK
WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The monthly meeting of the Women’s Society will convene Tuesday, March 12th at 6:30 PM in the church hall. All members are urged to attend. This is the first meeting after the winter recess. Plans will be discussed for the upcoming events.
FELLOWSHIP: Our parish will be the host for fellowship after the Stations of the Cross on Sunday, March 17th. If you would like to supply food, desserts, your time or monetary please inform one of the Women’s Society members. Your help is always appreciated.
BIRTHDAY WISHES: A Belated Happy Birthday to Father Walter who celebrated his Birthday on Thursday, March 7th. Mnohaya Lita! May God Grant you many more Happy, Healthy Years.
FOOD SALE: St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Glen Lyon, PA will sponsor a Turkey & Italian Hoagie & Vegetable Soup Sale on Thursday March 21st, 2019 from 11 am to 5 pm in the church hall. $6 for a hoagie and $6 for a quart of soup. Place your orders by calling Debbie at (570) 736-6908 no later than Sunday 17 March 2019.
REMAINING STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Sunday, March 24, 4:00 PM – St. Nicholas, Glen Lyon, PA
Sunday, March 31, 4:00 PA – Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke, PA
Sunday, April 7, 4:00 PM – St. Vladimir’s, Edwardsville, PA
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 