SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE SAINTS OF RUS’-UKRAINE

JUNE 28, 2020

Saturday, June 27        

4:00 PM       ✞Mary Ambrose – Don & Donna Winsock 

Sunday, June 28                  FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

8:30 AM                    God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioner

Monday, June 29 FEAST OF SS PETER AND PAUL – HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION

9:00 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Anointing with Holy Oil Myrovania 

Tania Blanco God’s Blessing and Good Health by Ulana Campbell

Saturday, July 4              

           4:00 PM     ✞Eugene Slabinski – Irene Pstrak and sons

Sunday, July 5                  FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

8:30 AM                God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

   ☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸

The Lives of Saints Peter and Paul

THE HOLY APOSTLE PETER

    The son of Jonah and brother of Andrew the First-Called, of the tribe of Simeon and the town of Bethsaida, he was a fisherman and was at first called Simon Peter, but the Lord was pleased to call him Peter, or Cephas (Jn 1:42). He was the first of the disciples to give clear expression to the faith, saying: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Mt 16:16). His love for the Lord was very strong, and his faith in Him went from strength to strength. 

    When the Lord was put on trial, Peter denied him three times, but it needed only one look into the face of the Lord, and Peter’s soul was filled with shame and repentance. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter became a fearless and powerful preacher of the Gospel. After his sermon in Jerusalem, about 3,000 souls were converted to the Faith. He preached the Gospel throughout Palestine and Asia Minor, in Italy and Illyria. He performed many wonders, healing the sick and raising the dead, and even when only his shadow fell on the sick. He had a major struggle with Simon the Magician, who declared himself to be from God but was actually a servant of the devil. Peter finally put him to shame and overcame him. 

    Peter was condemned to death on the order of the wicked Emperor Nero, a friend of Simon’s. After installing Linus as Bishop of Rome and exhorting and encouraging the flock of Christ there, Peter went to his death with joy. When he saw the cross before him, he asked the executioner to crucify him upside-down, because he felt himself unworthy to die in the same way as his Lord. And so this great servant of the greatest Master went to his rest and received a crown of eternal glory. 

THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL 

   Born in Tarsus and of the tribe of Benjamin, he was formerly called Saulus Paulus and studied under Gamaliel. He was a Pharisee and a persecutor of Christians. He was wondrously converted to the Christian faith by the Lord Himself, who appeared to him on the road to Damascus and Jesus said to him, “Why do you persecute Me?”  . He was baptized by the Apostle Ananias, named Paul and enrolled in the work of an Apostle. 

    He preached the Gospel everywhere with burning zeal, from the borders of Arabia to the land of Spain, among both the Jews and Gentiles, and receiving the title of “The Apostle to the Gentiles.” His fearful sufferings were matched only by his fortitude and temperance. Through most of the years of his preaching, he hung from day to day like a thread between life and death. 

    Filling his days and nights with toil and sufferings for Christ, organizing the Church in many places and receiving a high level of perfection, he was able to say: “I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). He was beheaded in Rome in the reign of Nero, at the same time as St. Peter

Trust Me

“Trust me”, says the Lord,
“I will take care of you
Just as I take care of the little sparrow.
Believe in ME and live this day for it self.
If you do this, you’ll not worry about tomorrow.”

“I hurt when you hurt and cry when you cry
And when you are lonely outstretched is my hand.”

“Only myself and the Father know the number of your days
As well as the number of each grain of sand”.

“Dearly love, just as I love each of you;
Always, Doing so, you express your true love for ME.
Begin each day as if it were a new Life
And when you can no longer bear your burdens;
Let Me!”



Teach Us to Love

O God, perfect us in love, that we may conquer all selfishness and hatred of others; fill our hearts with Thy joy, and shed abroad in them Thy peace which passeth understanding; that so those murmurings and disputing to which we are too prone may be overcome. Make us long-suffering and gentle, and thus subdue our hastiness and angry tempers, and grant that we may bring forth the blessed fruits of the Spirit, to Thy praise and glory, in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirt.   Amen.

God’s Alphabet

Always be faithful.
Be the best you can be.
Care for all people.
Don’t just say it; do it.
Each day could be your last – make it count.
Forgive.
Give of yourself.
Help those in need.
Invite God into your life.
Joy is meant for you.
Kindness counts.
Love yourself.
Mean what you say.
Never say things, which are mean.

Open your heart to God’s will.
Pray every day.
Quiet your mind for the answers.
Reach for your dreams.
Say what’s in your heart.
Today is a gift – that’s why it’s called the ‘present’.
Understanding goes a long way.
Vanity doesn’t get you far.
Walk with me.
Xenophobia is fear and hatred of strangers and foreigners – think about it.
You are loved for all time.
Zestfully live each day in My name.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week 

June 27 – July 4 by Irene Pstrak & sons in loving memory of Joseph Pstak.

Donations: We wish to thank Irene Pstrak & Sons for the donations made to our Building Fund in memory of Eugene Slabinsi and to the Cemetery Fund in loving memory of her husband Joseph Pstrak. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. 

PRAYERS: Our prayer list is published for you to pray for the requests of those in need of Prayers. Place your requests in the collection and the names will be remembered. A request from Rose Mytch to pray for –  Rosemary Morran, Bob Henry, and Alison Mytych. Please say a prayer to day for those in need of God’s blessings. 

FATHER’S DAY

JUNE 21, 2020

Saturday, June 20               God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Living Fathers

4:00 PM of SS Peter & Paul U.C.C.  and

                 ✞Everlasting Life for all Deceased Fathers of the Parish  

Sunday, June 21                  THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 

8:30 AM               God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners



Wednesday, June 24 THE BIRTH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Anointing with Myrovania 

9:00 AM ✞Stephen H. Piston – Stephen & Cathy Piston  

Saturday, June 27              

           4:00 PM           ✞Mary Ambrose – Don & Donna Winsock

Sunday, June 28            FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

8:30 AM            God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

let him show you the way

Take Jesus with you

Where ever you may travel.

Take His hand faithfully

And don’t let go.

Let His love lead you,

Guiding you along.

Let His comfort embrace you

And carry you on.

Let His light protect you,

Safely showing the way.

Let His message fill your heart

And encourage you each day.

Let His hand touch you,

Healing all suffering.

Let His forgiveness fill you

And promise recovery.

Let Him walk beside you.

His path will never stray.

He will never forsake you,

Let Him bless your life each day.

Always remember

He Loves You!

FEASTDAY OF THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

June 24th

Saint John the Baptist, son of Zachary and Elizabeth, is the greatest and last of the prophets. He prepared Israel for the arrival of the Messiah, and therefore is called the Precursor of Christ. He is also known as “Baptist” because he baptized Jesus Christ in the waters of the river Jordan.

This feast dates back to the third century, for Saint Augustine (354-430) said that it was based upon a tradition of the Fathers.

Taken from the Way

Archeparchy News

Father’s Day Greeting Sunday, June 21, 2020

On this joyous day of celebration, the Staff of The Way wishes all the fathers of our readership good health, long life, the Lord’s choicest blessings and salvation of souls. May the Holy Spirit guide them throughout their lives. May the Holy Mother of God and Her Son guard and protect them from all evil. 

Many happy and blessed years!

We also remember all the deceased fathers of our Faithful. We pray for the blessed repose of their souls and that the Lord God forgive all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary. May the Merciful Lord grant them entry into Heaven, the eternal Kingdom of God.  May their memory be eternal.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY 

A Dad is a person, who is loving and kind,

And often he knows what you have on your mind.

He’s someone who listens, suggests, and defends.

A dad can be one of your very best friends!

He’s proud of your triumphs, but when things go wrong,

A dad can be patient and helpful and strong

In all that you do, a dad’s love plays a part.

There’s always a place for him deep in your heart.

And each year that passes, you’re even more  glad,

More grateful and proud just to call him your dad!

Thank you, Dad…

For listening and caring,

For giving and sharing, but especially, for just being you!

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

JUNE 21, 2020 

SS PETER AND PAUL UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

PLYMOUTH, PA

(Matthew 6, 22-33)

The Lord said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is clear, your whole body shall be illuminated: but if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be in darkness. If, Therefore, the light which you have in thee is itself darkness, how great is the darkness!” 

I say to you do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; nor about your body, what you shall wear. Is not life itself a greater gift than food, and the body than the clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, and how 

they neither sow nor reap nor gather grains into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much more value that they? 

Do not therefore worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat’ or ‘What shall we drink’, or, ‘How shall we find clothing?” it is for the heathens to busy themselves over such things; you have a Father in heaven Who knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His holiness, and all things shall be yours without the asking.”

HISTORY OF FATHER’S DAY

About 4,000 years ago a young boy named Elmusu wished his Babylonian father good health and a long life by carving a Father’s Day message on a card made out of clay. No one knows what happened to Elmesu or his father, but the tradition of having a special day honoring fathers has continued through the years in countries across the world.

The Countries, where the Catholic Church were of significant influence on the culture of the society, Father’s Day is celebrated on St. Joseph’s Day (March 19). However, a more secular celebration which is not associated with any religion is followed in recent times to highlight the increased among people from all over the globe coexisting together in one place.

Father’s Day is celebrated popularly on 3rd Sunday in June in many parts of the world. The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. President Nixon, in 1972, established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father’s Day was born as a token of love and gratitude that a daughter cherishes for her beloved father. Roses are the Father’s Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week June 20 – 27 by Albert Piston in memory of Harry Piston.

CEMETERY: We wish to thank Joan Baury’s for her donation to our parish cemetery.  Her generous donation is greatly appreciated. 

SYMPATHY: We extend our sincere Sympathy to the family Ann Marie Onderko in of her husband Joseph Ondrko who was called to his eternal rest. May his memory be eternal. 

MAY LOTTERY: Mike Sinko report on the May Lottery is as follows:

582 tickets sold = $2910, plus $100 was donated back to the fund which leave a deposit of $3,010. Expenses: Paid out to winners $950, printing of tickets $80 

The profit for this fund raiser is $1,980. Thanks Mike.         

CEMETERY PLOTS: If you have a plot in the parish cemetery or a plot reserved for you or a family member, you should consult the office and with the care taker make sure you know the location and to discuss the amount of burials that can be placed in the existing plot, as sizes of the burial contents have a little different space since the early purchase of the plots. Do not wait until the time of the deceased to locate the burial space. Be prepared.

JUNE 14, 2020

Saturday, June 13  

4:00 PM            Conversion of souls under Demonic influence

Sunday, June 14           SECOND  SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

8:30AM            God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners       

Saturday, June 20 God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Living Fathers of  SS Peter & Paul U.C.C.  and

4:00 PM ✞Everlasting Life for all Deceased Fathers of the Parish

Sunday, June 21 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Love and trust are the solutions for the worries and frets of life.

Lord, I pray for Your gift of Faith which is all that I need for

Your power to work within me.

WHY THE AMERICAN FLAG IS FOLDED 13 TIMES

Have you ever noticed on TV or at military funerals that the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times?
I’ve known how the 21 gun salute was determined (adding the individual digits of 1776), but only recently learned why the flag was folded 13 times when it is lowered or when it is folded and handed to the widow at the burial of a veteran.
   Here it is:

The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace

throughout the world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.
The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”
The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands,  one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother for whom it flies on Mother’s Day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.
The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.
When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nation’s motto, “In God We Trust.”
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.
   There are some traditions and ways of doing things, which have deep meaning.

OUR UNITED STATES FLAG

FLY IT WITH PRIDE

On 14 June 1777, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act in Philadelphia.  Stars have been added to the flag as new states join the union.  Currently, the flag has 50 stars.  There are thirteen stripes, one for each of the original colonies.  In 1782, the Congress of the Confederation chose these same colors for the Great Seal of the United States and listed the meanings of the colors.

Colors of the Flag

Red = valor, bravery and hardiness
White = purity and innocence
Blue = Vigilance, perseverance, loyalty and justice

Birth of a Holiday

Flag Day became a holiday in New York State in 1897 on June14th.  Gradually, other states joined New York.   In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day by national proclamation. 

The Spirit of Christ

When we come to Church we come in common-union. We pray and express our common needs and hopes which are eternal. Thus we have the Litanies for peace and well being, for our leaders in Church, government, and in general for all those in need. As these litanies are being chanted and the prayers read, we “fill them up” with meaning by including our specific intentions. In this way, our worship is not an isolated experience, but presents eternal life, Heaven. When we gather in worship, we commend ourselves and our whole life to Christ our God. Our whole life is offered to God.

In worship, God accepts the offering of ourselves, and blesses this offering and returns the offering to us changed to His Body and Blood, the Eternal Medicine that cures all illness and even death.  He does not leave us there. Much like the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, we return to our daily lives. We have a new vision, a new insight and new strength. We are sent back with the mission to share this and to baptize the world, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Each week has a rhythm built into it. For the most part, we go about our individual lives for six days. Then we are gathered as a community in worship where we experience our oneness in Christ. Finally, after being renewed, we are sent out to our daily life, now filled with the Spirit of Christ.

The Feasts of the Church also have an inner harmony. We have fasting periods as preparation times, and these are followed by the celebration of feasts. Each feast singles out one aspect of God’s plan of salvation upon which to concentrate.

We live as Christians with all our senses and we pray with all our senses, especially in our worship. For example, the foods that we eat at Easter time are first blessed in Church. At other times, water, fruits, and flowers are blessed on various feasts. Whenever we are in ill health, or starting an important project, we can seek a special blessing from our Church. In this way there is a steady expression of the need of God and His blessings in our daily lives.  By drawing these special moments or events into our Church, we are offering our whole life to be blessed by God. By making these special events holy times, we are sanctifying or making our whole life holy.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: 

The Sanctuary light is not requested this week June 13-20 

A new Sanctuary Light and the monthly candle charts are available for your requests. The Light will burn for the full week from Saturday to Saturday and the donation is $15. The Monthly Altar Candles burns during all services in the month requested, donation $40. Remember a loved one or a special occasion by having the lights shine for them in Church. 

SYMPATHY: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family of Eugene Slabinski who was called to his eternal rest.  May his memory be eternal.