SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS

DECEMBER 19, 2021

 Saturday, Dec. 18

4:00 PM ✞Leo Woss – his sister Audree Dubinsky

Sunday, Dec. 19 SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS – HOLY FATHERS

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

Friday, December 24 ~ Christmas Eve – VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS – 4:00 PM

Compline Litia “Znamy Boh”– Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil (Myrovania) God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Saturday, December 25 ~ Christmas Day – NATIVITY OF OUR LORD 

8:30 AM Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil (Myrovania) 

God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Saturday, December 25

4:00 PM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, Dec. 26                  SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

             8:30 AM                ✞Peter Phillips – son Peter Phillips

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Friday, Dec. 24^th 8:00 PM

This Christmas and always,

 may your heart rejoice as you celebrate 

the miracle of our Savior’s holy birth.

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD

AN UNFATHOMABLE MYSTERY

The greatest and most profound mystery of the Christian faith is the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God. The eternal God becomes a little infant and does not cease to be God. “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us” – says St. John the Evangelist. Christ’s nativity is the cradle of our faith. With hope we are able to accept this unfathomable mystery, understand it and adore it. 

In the first centuries, the holy Fathers of the Eastern Church accepted the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God with profound faith and great piety. Enraptured by this mystery, they have nothing but words of wonder for the most wonderful love of God, the sacrifice, humility, and poverty of the newly born Messiah and Savior. Like the holy Fathers, in her Christmas celebrations our Church also joyfully praises and glorifies the mystery of the birth of the divine Infant.

Today, he who is invisible by nature became visible in the flesh for man’s sake; hence, glorifying him, we cry: “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will…”

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 18 – 25 by Ann Beshada in memory of her parents Mary & John Conniff.

ENVELOPES: Many boxes of the 2021 Church envelopes still remain.  If you can deliver envelopes to your friends, family or neighbors, please help to distribute them. Please use your initial envelopes to help with the cost of the envelopes and delivery. If you do not see your name on any of the boxes please inform the office. Your contributions are important for the Church to function through the year.   Do not use until the New Year. 

BUILDING/IMPROVEMENT FUND: Our thanks for the donations of $100 from Gabe Metric toward the expense of the glass etched inner church door.  If you wish to donate to this cause, please submit your donation in the collection. All help for this expense is greatly appreciated. 

     Also a donation to the Building Fund was received from Joe Warakomski in memory of his mother Helen Warakomski. Your generous gift if certainly appreciated.

NATIVITY SET UP: The schedule for setting up the Nativity is this 

Sunday, De. 18^th at 12:00 noon. If you are available to partake of this project please come and help.  

SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FOREFATHER

DECEMBER 12, 2021

Saturday, Dec. 11  

4:00 PM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, Dec. 12 SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FOREFATHERS

8:30 AM ✞Father Alex Burak – Mike Kane

Monday, Dec. 13

9:00 AM ✞John Phillips – Peter Phillips

Saturday, Dec. 18

4:00 PM ✞Leo Woss – his sister Audree Dubinsky 

Sunday, Dec, 19 SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS – OF THE HOLY FATHERS 

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

Transfiguration of Our Lord  Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

Schedule for Christmas

Friday, December 24, Vigil of Christmas – 4:00 PM

Compline Litia “Znamy Boh” – Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil and Myravania

God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners 

Saturday, December 25, Christmas Day – 8:30 AM

Divine Liturgy – Anointing with Holy Oil and Myravania 

God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 11 – 18 by Albert Piston in memory of Arlene Jones.

MANY Thanks TO: The men and women who volunteered their services to clean the church and decorate the beautiful tree the past week.  May God bless you with many happy years, peace, health and salvation.

NATIVITY SET UP: Sunday, December 19^th is been planned to have the Nativity set up. We are asking for all the help we can get to do this beautiful scene. The more help the faster it will be accomplished. Please try to be at the church at 1:00 PM next Sunday.  

BUILDING FUND: A donation was received from Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Zeroka              for the Building Fund in memory of Robert Zeroka. Thank you for your generous gift and greatly appreciation.

SING ALONG; YOU: ARE INVITED to join Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish for their 27^th Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church on North River Street in Wilkes-Barre, this Sunday, December 12^th, 2021 starting at 2 p.m.  Join in the singing of some very sacred, joyful and inspiring Christmas Carols.  Afterwards, please join us in the lower church hall for a Christmas Fellowship Social.  Please bring a friend or family member, and share the joy of Christmas with them, as we all prepare to welcome the Newborn Son of God into our hearts and homes.

TWENTY EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

DECEMBER 5, 2021

Saturday, Dec. 4

            4:00 PM             ✞John Phillips – brother Peter Phillips 

Sunday, Dec. 5       TWENTY EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

Monday, Dec. 6 Nicholas of Myra Archbishop

Anointing with Holy Oil – Myravania

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

Thursday, Dec. 9 CONCEPTION OF ST. ANNA

9:00 AM Anointing with Holy Oil Myravania

 ✞ Robert Zeroka – Andrea, Maranda & Grace Osman        

Saturday, Dec. 11

           4:00 PM       God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, Dec. 12                  SUNDAY OF THE HOLY ANCESTORS  

8:30 AM               ✞Father Alex Burak – Mike Kane

THE FEAST OF THE CONCEPTION OF ST. ANNA

December 9

The feast of the Conception of St. Ann in ancient times was known by several different names. One of the oldest is “The Annunciation of the Conception of the Holy Mother of God”. In the constitution of feasts, Emperor Manuel Comnen calls this feast the “Conception of our Most Holy Theotokos (Birthgiver of God).” The Slavonic Typicons generally refer to it as the “Conception of Blessed Anna” or “The Conception of Holy Anna, when she conceived the Most Holy Theotokos (Birthgiver of God).” 

In our Ukrainian Catholic Church the Synod of Lviv, 1891, gave this feast the official title “The Immaculate Conception of the Most Pure Virgin Mary”. However, the Roman revision of our liturgical books restored the pristine title of the feast – “The Conception of Holy Anna, when she conceived the Most Holy Theotokos.”

Her parents rejoice over the wonderful conception of the Most Holy Mother of God; the prophets rejoice; heaven and earth rejoice. The Church calls upon the Old and New Testaments to join in the rejoicing: “Come, people of all classes and ages, let us celebrate with the Angels the all-glorious conception of the Mother of God; patriarchs sing praises to the Mother of the King of all; you, prophets, praise her whom you preached; you, forefathers, praise your descendant – the Mother of God; you aged, praise the ancestor of God; you, faithful, praise the root of your faith; you, priests, praise the all-holy temple of God; you, choirs of saints, praise the cause of your assembly; you, armies of angels, praise the Mother of the Lord of all creation, and Savior of our souls.

Today we celebrate her conception whereas nine months later, minus one day, on the 8^th of September she appears among us in her glorious Nativity. 

PRAYER TO ST. ANNA

O Glorious Saint Ann, filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present affair which I recommend to you under your special protection [here mention silently your intentions] Please recommend it to your daughter the Blessed Virgin Mary and lay it before the Throne of Jesus so that He may bring it to a happy issue.

Please continue to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face and with you and Mary and all the Saints praising and blessing Him for all eternity. Amen.

Three Times

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of Dec.4 – 12 by Norberta Garbor in memory of her Mother Lucey Garbor.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar Candles are requested to burn for the month of December by Albert Piston in memory of his parents Michael & Jennie Piston.

SING ALONG: YOU: ARE INVITED to join Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish for their 27^th Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church on North River Street in Wilkes-Barre, Sunday, December 12^th, 2021 starting at 2 p.m.  Join in the singing of some very sacred, joyful and inspiring Christmas Carols.  Afterwards, please join us in the lower church hall for a Christmas Fellowship Social.  Please bring a friend or family member, and share the joy of Christmas with them, as we all prepare to welcome the Newborn Son of God into our hearts and homes.

Church Cleaning: The volunteers will be cleaning the church and doing some decorating for the Christmas season. You are welcome to participate in this project to help if you are available on Wednesday, Dec. 8^th at 10:00 AM. 

SAINT NICHOLAS, THE WONDERMAKER

FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS

December 6

          Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, is one of the most popular Saints, especially among Eastern Christians. He won great esteem through his numerous works of mercy during his life and through great zeal in defending the divinity of Christ against the heretic Arius of the Council of Nicaea in 325. He is regarded as the Patron Saint of children, sailors and travelers. He was popularized in America by the Dutch puritans who disguised the “popish” Saint as a Nordic magician, called “Santa Claus.”

In 1087 Italian merchants brought St. Nicholas’ body to Bari in Italy from Asia to protect his remains from Muslims. A perfumed oil is still flowing out of his holy relics.

Our prince Vsevolod Yaroslavych introduced his feast into Ukraine under Pope Urban II (1088-99). Saint Nicholas is very popular among the Ukrainian people, both Catholic and Orthodox.

TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

NOVEMBER 28, 2021

Saturday, Nov. 27     TWENTY SEVENTH  SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

            4:00 PM             God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, Nov. 28       TWENTY SEVENTH  SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

8:30 AM                Wasyl Ketcha – Mike Kane

Monday, 29

           9:00 AM ✞Helen Youells – The Parish Family 

Saturday, Dec. 4

           4:00 PM ✞John Phillips – brother Peter Phillips

Sunday, Dec. 5                   TWENTY EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST  

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

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of Nov. 27 – Dec.4 by Anna Magill in memory of Donald Magill.

GLASS DOOR: The inner etched glass door of St. Vladimir is being processed at Baut Studios. This is the result of the vandalism. The expense of this project was quoted to us as $3520. The insurance will cover only that part that exceeds $3,000, i.e. we pay the first $3,000.  If you would like to make a donation toward fixing this door your generosity will be greatly appreciated. The Women’s Society will pick up part of the expense

TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

ENTRANCE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN THE TEMPLE

NOVEMBER 21, 2021

Saturday, Nov. 20     ENTRANCE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN THE TEMPLE

            4:00 PM Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

Lorene Wozniak God’s blessings, health and salvation

Ulana Campbell

Sunday, Nov. 21 TWENTY SIXTH SUDAY AFTER PENTECOST

ENTRANCE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN THE TEMPLE

Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

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

Saturday, Nov. 27

4:00 PM Allison W. Poullard given by the Poullard Family.

    Sunday, Nov. 28 TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

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

Nov. 20-27 by Anna Magill in memory of Donald Magill.

THANKS: The women and 1 man contributed their time to clean the Parish Hall.

A job is well done and sparkling clean, thanks to those who came out to do the chore. Next on the agenda is the plan to clean the Church, which will be December 8^th at 10:00 AM. If you could find time and lend a hand, it will be greatly appreciated.

ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  I have a question Phillip’s Fast begins Monday, November 15^th.  Father, didn’t the Church mitigate Phillips fast, is still obligatory? 

Let me begin with a question back to you.  Suppose you are an athlete, a marathon runner, is it obligatory that you train?  I could answer, no, it is not obligatory that you train.  You could lie around eating, watching television, going to parties, reading or whatever else your heart desires and then on the day of the marathon show up and run.  What do you think will happen on that day?  You will very likely lose to someone else who did train.  So now let us apply this to fasting.  Why do we fast?  We fast to grow stronger spiritually.  Why do I need to be spiritually strong?  It is because the devil, Lucifer, who was the highest ranking angel in heaven before his sin, is strong than any man.  Lucifer uses all his power to lead mankind that is each of us, into sin so that we will fail to succeed to inherit heaven and as a result we would inherit hell and be forced to worship Lucifer, not God.  If you desire heaven, and not hell, then you need to be strong enough to thwart the attacks of Lucifer when they come.  If you are weak you will fail.  How then do you grow in strength?  You grow in strength by apply the gifts Jesus left us which do not make sense to a fallen world that does not believe God.  The primary gifts are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  The highest form of prayer is the Divine Liturgy every Sunday.  Fasting is critical too so that we can learn to become stronger in controlling our human desires and not letting Lucifer lead us astray through bodily desires.  Fasting from food is one of those ways, to learn to be in control of all my appetites.  So yes, the fast is obligatory if you desire heaven.

The Presentation of the Most Holy Mother Of God in the Temple

 We learn that the parents of the Blessed Virgin 

Mary, SS. Joachim and Anna being childless, had made

 a promise that, if they were blessed with a child,

they would offer that child up to the service of the Lord

 in the temple in Jerusalem.

The Lord God heard their prayers and blessed them 

with a daughter. When the little one was three years old, 

her parents brought her to the temple and placed her

 under the care of the high priest Zachary,the father of

 St. John the Baptist. Here the Most Holy Mother of God spent many years until, as a mature maiden, she was betrothed to St. Joseph.

What does the feast of the Entrance convey to us? What spiritual lesson does it offer us? First of all, it speaks to us of the joyful sacrifice of Joachim and Anna. They themselves bring their daughter to the Temple and offer her to the service of God. But not only do the parents joyfully bring their child to offer her to the service of God; Mary also gladly obeys the voice of God and of her parents. Like Joachim and Anna, Mary too is a very beautiful example for us of joyful sacrifice and service to God.

A sign of deep piety of a nation is not only its magnificent and numerous churches and monasteries but, above all, its numerous vocations – its priests, missionaries and nuns. The most beautiful churches and gilded altars will be of no help to us if we do not have priests to offer the Unbloody Sacrifice, administer the Holy Sacraments, and preach the word of God in those churches. The lack of religious vocations among a people must lead to a gradual dying of the Church and of the spiritual life of its faithful, for the religious state is the heart and soul of the Church. 

To a very great degree, the future of our Church and nation depends upon how our Ukrainian parents educate their children. We need parents who, following the example of SS Joachim and Anna, would gladly offer their children as a “burnt” offering to God, their Church and their nation. We need youth with ideals, who like the model of the Most Pure Virgin Mary, would gladly follow the voice of God and dedicate themselves to the service of God, the Church and the nation. Only then will we be able to look forward to a brighter and happier future for our Church and our nation

 HAPPY

THANKSGIVING

May your stuffing be tasty, May your turkey be plump.

May your potatoes and gravy \ have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious And your pies take the prize,

And may your thanksgiving dinner Stay off your thighs.

THANKSGIVING IS….
Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude to God, our Creator and Provider,
whose guidance and care go before us…and whose love is with us forever.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the changes, to remember that we, too, grow and change from one season of life to another.
Thanksgiving is a time of changing seasons, when leaves turn golden
in Autumn’s wake and apples are crisp in the first chill breezes of fall.
Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving. As we see the beauty of Autumn,
let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours…let us think of our families and friends  and let us give thanks in our hearts.

Thanksgiving Prayer

This Thanksgiving let those of us who have much and those who have little gather at the welcoming table of the Lord. At this blessed feast, may rich and poor alike remember that we are called to serve one another and to walk 

TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

THE HOLY AND MOST PRAISEWORTHY APOSTLE PHILIP

NOVEMBER 14, 2021

Saturday, Nov. 13

4:00 PM ✞ Rosalie Laszok – Mike Kane

Sunday, Nov. 14 TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

Saturday, Nov. 20           ENTRANCE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD 

                                            Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

            4:00 PM Lorene Wozniak God’s blessings, health and salvation

– Ulana Campbell

Sunday, Nov. 21                   TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

8:30 AM                  ENTRANCE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

                                        God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

        Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of Nov. 13 – 20 by Michaelene Ostrum in memory of Olga Uhas.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The regular monthly meeting of the Parish Women’s Society was held on Tuesday, November 9^th in the Church Hall. A report for the Rummage Sale was given. Anna Magill thanked all her helpers for a job well done. Those who contributed items, baked goods, monetary, etc., were given thanks for their generosity. The success was great and the profit to date is $4,380.00             

    The work that went into this sale is hard and long hours. The money earned will be used for the need of things in the Church. God bless the man and women who made this profitable fund raiser.  

TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

Saturday, Nov. 6

            4:00 PM             ✞Bernard Kachinko – Wife Mary Ann Kachinko & Family

Sunday, Nov. 7         TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

Saturday, Nov. 13

           4:00 PM     ✞Rosalie Laszok – Mike Kane 

Sunday, Nov. 14                   TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

  8:30 AM                  

God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week Nov. 6 – 13 in memory of Bernard Kachinko by his wife Mary Ann Kachinko & Family.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Alter candles are requested to  burn during all services in the month of November by Becky Molecavage in memory of her father Dimitri Bencho.

Women’s Society: The regular monthly meeting for the Parish Women’s Society will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 9^th at 2:00 PM. Please, members and anyone interested in the Parish functions, be present and keep the organization afloat.

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL 

NOVEMBER 8^TH

The Feast of the Archangel Michael and the holy Angels indicates to us the significant role the Angels play in our salvation. This feast also reminds up of our duties towards the Angels, especially toward our Guardian Angel. Throughout our entire life, at every moment and in every place our guardian angel watches over us, protects us, inspires us with good thoughts, warns us against sin, and intercedes for us before God. Our Guardian Angel is our guide to heaven, our helper against temptation, our companion at the hour of death. He is the constant witness of our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Only in heaven will we one day see how much we owe to our Guardian Angel. From this comes our duty to venerate the holy Angels, to praise them and to thank them every day for their assistance and protection. 

Devotion to our own Guardian Angel is pleasing to him, not only when we venerate and pray to him, but above all, when we imitate him. He gives us a beautiful example of holiness. He teaches us by his example how to love God, how to serve him and glorify him. Therefore let us strive to love God as our Angel loves him, with greater fervor, and zealously carry out God’s will, as he does and as do all the other Angels in heaven

St. Michael was the protector and defender of God’s chosen people. Now he is the defender of the Church and of all the Faithful, whom he defends against the constant assaults of the devil.

He is invoked in sickness and most especially at the hour of death, when his all-powerful help is so much needed, for then it is that Satan makes his last and fiercest attack on the Christian soul, seeking with craft and cunning, with fears and despair, to drag it down to Hell. In the prayers traditionally said there is a special and beautiful prayer to St. Michael, imploring his help for the Church. It is as follows: