SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE SAINTS OF RUS-UKRAINE

JULY 3, 2022

Saturday, July 2

4:00 PM VEugene Joseph, given by Nancy Marshall

Sunday, July 3 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

Saturday, July 9 

                     4:00 PM ✞Albert Ferkel – the Benjamin Evans Family

        Sunday, July10 FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECO

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

  “I 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.”

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL 

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain America! America! God shed your grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.
O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities glean Undimmed by human tears America! America! God shed your grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.
– (Author Unknown)

 

TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

       Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM ~ Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM  

 haveu 

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, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

OUR NATION IN HISTORY 

Although July 4th is celebrated as America’s official split from Britain’s rule and the beginning of the American Revolution, the actual series of events show that the process took far longer than a single day. The original resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7, 1776, and called for the Continental Congress to declare the United States free from British rule. Three days later a committee headed by Thomas Jefferson was appointed to prepare an appropriate writing for the occasion.
Congress adopted the document that we know as the Declaration of Independence on July 4th although the resolution that led to the writing of the Declaration was actually approved two days earlier.
All of this had occurred with some of the delegates to the Congress not even present; New York, for example, did not even vote on the resolution until July 9th.
Even more interesting is the fact that not a single signature was appended to the Declaration on July 4th. While most of the fifty-six names were in place by early August, one signer, Thomas McKean, did not actually sign the Declaration until 1781.
Nevertheless, July 4th was the day singled out to mark the event of the United States establishing itself as a nation.

Only four American holidays are still celebrated on their proper calendar days: Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s and Independence Day. Of all the secular holidays, the Fourth of July is the only one whose celebration date resists change. Even in more provincial times, suggestions to alter the day of the festival to the preceding Saturday or the following Monday when July 4th fell on Sunday were protested.
The feeling about the sanctity of America’s Independence Day was best expressed in a quotation from the Virginia Gazette on July 18th, 1777:

“Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious and ever memorable day, be celebrated through America, by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more. Amen and Amen.”

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is not requested this week.

ALTAR CANDLES: The candles on the Altar will burn during all services in the month of July in memory of Jule & Richard Purvis and Richard M. Purvis requested by Don & Donna Winsock.

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ST. VLADIMIR’S UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY: An account has been opened at the W-B Federal Credit Union –The Corner Post – So. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA in the name of St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Fund. This is a savings and checking account amounting to $25,000 from the sale of the Rectory.

If the parishioners from St Vladimir’s wish to make donations to this account, please make checks payable to St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Fund.

CHURCH CLEANING: Many thanks to the women and men who volunteered to come out to clean our church this past week. After the Holy Day services, they stayed and did a great job to clean and polish the church. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated and may God Bless you all!

CHICKEN DINNER: Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church will hold a Chicken Dinner as their Why Cook Wednesday Dinner for July.  The dinner will be on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 in their school hall on the corner of North River and West Chestnut Streets, near the General Hospital Parkade in Wilkes-Barre.  This dinner will be Take-Out Only and Pre-Orders are strongly encouraged.  Dinners will be $15 and will include; a brined and roasted half-chicken, baked potato, corn, macaroni salad, roll and dessert.  Place your order by calling the School Hall Kitchen (570) 829-3051.  Pick-Ups will be from 4:00 to 7:00pm.  Tickets will also be sold for a Basket Raffle.  Remember…When Baba Cooks, Everybody’s Happy!

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

JUNE 26, 2022

Saturday, June 25

4;00 PM Kathy Zoltewicz – Michaelene Ostrum

Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sunday, June 26 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

  Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Wednesday, June 29 FEAST OF APOSTLES SS PETER AND PAUL

8:00 AM Myrovia Anointing with Oil

Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Patricia Kondyra – John Cienki

Saturday, July 2

4:00 PM ✞Eugene Joesph – Nancy Marshall

Sunday, July 3 OURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week June 25 -July 2 in memory of Joseph Pstrak by his wife Irene Pstrak and sons. 

BUILDING FUND: A donation to the Parish Building Fund was given by Irene Pstrak & sons in memory of Joseph Pstrak. Your donation is greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY:  The Rummage Sale will be in October. As you clean out your closets, basements and attics, put the stuff you want to discard and bring them to the parish center. All good items are acceptable. Plans were discussed to have a Basket Raffle, Bake Sale and Soup & Haluski sale in conjunction with the Rummage Sale.

PRAYERS: Please remember in your prayers all who are in need of God’s graces.

We heard about the Birthday celebration of Joh Dubik. He will celebrated his 100^th birthday this past Monday.  John is in the Meadows Nursing Facilities as much as we know. He is the oldest Parishioner of our parish. Mnohya Lita to John.

Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people,

A heart that forgives the worst,

A mind that forgets the bad,

And a soul that never loses faith in God.

THE FEAST OF THE APOSTLES SS PETER AND PAUL

We owe to the Holy Apostles the priceless treasure of the Christian faith. They handed Christ’s teachings down to us. From them, we received the Holy Gospels and the letters of the Apostles. They built on the firm foundation which is Christ. 

On the 29^th of June our Eastern Church celebrates with great solemnity the feast which is called: “The Holy Illustrious and Ever-praised Major Apostles, Peter and Paul.” Both Apostles are distinguished for their character, their zealous apostolic labors and their great example of following Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ, having great plans for St. Peter at the beginning of his calling, changed the name Simon to the name of Peter (Cephas, Gr.) which means rock, for he was to be the rock that will form part of the foundation of Jesus’s Church. St. Peter witnessed the glory of Christ on Mt. Tabor; he professed the divinity of Christ, he was sent with St. John to prepare the Paschal Supper; He witnessed Christ’s agony in the Garden of Olives; the temple tax was paid by Christ for Himself and for Peter. 

After the Ascension of Christ, St. Peter became the head of the Apostles and the leader of the first Christian community in Jerusalem. 

The love of Christ was the chief motive of Peter’s apostolic activity, labors and sacrifices. That love finally led him to suffer and die for the sake of his beloved Teacher. A pious tradition relates that he considered himself unworthy to die on the cross as Christ did, and therefore asked to be crucified upside down. St. Peter was martyred in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero between the years 64 and 67 A.D.

St. Paul did not belong to the original group of the twelve apostles, but through his apostolic labors, his dedication, his great sacrifices, and his sufferings in the service of Christ, he received the title ‘Apostle’, along with Peter, of the First Apostle. He is the only one of the Apostles who was highly educated and was by birth a Roman citizen. While Paul was on his way to Damascus, Christ Himself called him to repentance and Paul became a zealous follower of Jesus Christ.

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

FATHER’S DAY

 Saturday, June 18         SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for all Living Fathers and Eternal Rest to all Deceased Fathers of our Parish

        Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus                          

        Sunday, June 19 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 

Father’s Day

      8:30 AM         God’s Blessings & Good Health for all Living Fathers

and Eternal Rest to all Deceased Fathers of our Parish 

             Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Saturday, June 25 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

4:00 PM Kathy Zoltewicz – Michaelene Ostrum

Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sunday, June 26 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 

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

 Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O God, who hast commanded us to honor our father and mother; 

in Thy mercy have pity on the soul of my father, 

and forgive him his trespasses; and make me to see him again in the joy of everlasting brightness. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week June 18 – 25 by Anna Magill in memory of Donald Magill.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY:  The Women’s Society held the last meeting until September. The discussion was presented to sponsor their annual Rummage Sale in October. As you clean out your closets, basements and attics, put the stuff you want to discard and bring them to the parish center. All good items are acceptable. Plans were discussed to have a Basket Raffle, Bake Sale and Soup & Haluski sale in conjunction with the Rummage Sale. We are happy to have 2 new member join the organization, Mariya Palashchuk, Teresa Popowycz. We welcome new members always. Plans to clean the church is set for Wednesday, June 29 at 10 AM. If you care to join in the cleaning, please come and give a hand.

TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD: The Rummage sale at Transfiguration will be opened on Saturday, June 18 and June 25 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Basket Raffle being conducted is also available for you to buy some tickets for the raffle as all proceeds from the raffle will be sent to the Ukraine. They have 29 baskets of which 6 were donated by our parish, Women’s Society and parishioners. If you like, try your luck by purchasing a few chances.

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

    St. Jude, apostle of Christ, the Church honors and prays to you universally as the patron of hopeless and difficult cases.

    Pray for us in our needs. Make use, we implore you, of this powerful privilege given to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is needed. Pray that we humbly accept the trials and disappointments and mistakes that are a part of our human nature. 

   Let us see the reflection of the sufferings of Christ in our daily trials and tribulations. Let us see in a spirits of great faith and hope the part we even now share in the joy of Christ’s Resurrection and which we long to share fully in heaven. Intercede that we may again experience this joy in answer to our present needs if it God’s desire for us.  (Here make your request).

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS

June 12, 2022

Saturday, June 11

4:00 PM                      ✞Joseph Onerko – Wife Ann Marie Onderko                             Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sunday, June 12 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners  Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

     Saturday, June 18 

4:00 PM       God’s Blessings & Good Health for all Living Fathers and Eternal Rest to all Deceased Fathers of our Parish

        Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus                          

        Sunday, June 19 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

        8:30 AM FATHER’S DAY 

God’s Blessings & Good Health for all Living Fathers

and Eternal Rest to all Deceased Fathers of our Parish Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

PRAYERS:Please remember in your prayers all the sick of the parish – at home, in Nursing Facilities and Hospitals. 

Do not be discouraged if it seems that there is no response to your prayers at this time. God always responds. Lord, Your wisdom always responds to my needs with unceasing peace and love and when I listen and give thanks I am blessed with results that bring goodness to me in better ways than I expect.

SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS

The Sunday after Pentecost Sunday is called the Feast Day of All Saints. Every day in the Church calendar has a list of Saints, some famous and great, and some not so famous. In the eyes of God all Saints are great, some we know more about and have become more popular than others. For example, many men and women struggled during the American Revolution, but we are aware of only certain ones, like George Washington and some of his officers, the same is true for the roll call of Saints in the Christian Church.

Each man, woman and child in the great history of the Church who witnessed for Christ is regarded a Saint by the Church. Since we have no way of knowing all of them and since the list of Saints has increased many times over and continues to do so, our Church sets aside the Sunday after Pentecost as the Feast Day for All Saints.

We are obliged, not only to venerate the saints and to seek the assistance of the saints, but also to imitate their life and holiness. All Christians are called to holiness by virtue of the sacrament of Baptism. Every person, regardless of status and condition of life, can become a Saint and is duty-bound to Jesus Christ without exception when He said: “Therefore, be perfect as your heavenly Father in Heaven is perfect.” St. Paul also reminds us of our duty to pursue holiness: “This is the will of God – your sanctification.”

What is holiness? Holiness is living according to the commandments of God and the Church; it is the daily fulfillment of God’s will, constant fidelity to the duties of one’s state, or more briefly – holiness is the Gospel translated into action, i.e. lived.

All the saints are very close to us for they, like us, were once citizens of our earth and are of our own flesh and bone. They are members of the same Church as we are, although they belong to the Church Triumphant while we still struggle as members of the Church Militant, the Church on earth. They are not indifferent to our welfare and salvation. Hence, there exists no doubt that they readily hear all our petitions and prayers and gladly present them before the throne of God.

The saints in heaven, then, are God’s beloved and intimate friends; and our protectors, intercessors and benefactors; our guides and models on the path to virtue and sanctity.

Tomorrow is not promised

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose; teach you a lesson, or help figure out who you are, and who you want to become. You never know who these people may be: your neighbor, child, long lost friend, or even a stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life, in some profound way. 

And sometimes things happen to you, and at the time they seem painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize, that without overcoming those obstacles, you would have never realized your potential strength, or your hearts desire. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, as well as experiencing sheer stupidity; all occur to test your soul. Without these small tests, whether they are events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a paved straight flat road to nowhere, safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. 

The people you meet who affect your life, and the successes and downfalls you experience, create who you are, and even the bad experiences can be learned from; in fact, they are probably the poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them; for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart… If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love, and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them. 

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment, and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again… Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually hear. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high… Hold your head up, because you have every right too. Tell yourself God created you with love and believe in yourself… for if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either. Live your life! “Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last… Tomorrow is Not Promised.”

Author Unknown

SANCTUARY LIGHT: 

The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week June 11- 18 by Rosemarie Kachinko in memory of Ronald Kachinko. 

WOMEN’S SOCIETY:The Parish Women’s Society will hold their last meeting until September in the parish hall on Tuesday June, 14, 2022 at 6:30 pm. All members please try to attend and new members are always welcome. The future fundraiser will be discussed and any new business to proceed. Come join you parish organization.

LASAGNA DINNER: Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church will hold a Lasagna Dinner on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 in their school hall on the corner of North River and West Chestnut Streets, near the General Hospital Parkade in Wilkes-Barre.  This dinner will be Take-Out Only and Pre-Orders are strongly encouraged.  Dinners will be $15 and will include; a generous portion of meat lasagna, garden salad, bread and dessert.  Place your order by calling the School Hall Kitchen (570) 829-3051.  Pick-Ups will be from 4:00 to 7:00pm.  Tickets will also be sold for a Basket Raffle.  Remember…When Baba Cooks, Everybody’s Happy!

 PENTECOST SUNDAY

JUNE 5, 2022

 Saturday, June 4 All Deceased Parishioners of our Parish

4:00 PM Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sunday, June 5 Descent of the Holy Spirit – Pentecost Sunday

8:30 AM            Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovonia 

All Deceased Parishioners of our Parish

Petitions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sunday, 2:30 PM    Panakhyda at Parish Cemetery

  3:45 PM Panakhyda at St. Vladimir’s Cemetery

Saturday, June 11

4:00 PM Joseph Onderko – Wife Ann Marie Onderko

Sunday, June 12 ALL SAINTS SUNDAY

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

GREEN SUNDAY: The Feast of the Pentecost is the day to pay our respects to our deceased. Father Walter will celebrate the Panakhyda Services at our Cemetery on this day, June 5^th at 2:30 PM and afterward to St. Vladimir’s, ETA 3:45 pm. Try to be in attendance to pray for your family or friends who have fallen asleep to their eternal rest. 

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT BY ST. ANTIOCHUS

O Holy Spirit, most merciful Comforter: You proceed from the

Father in a manner beyond our understanding. 

Come, I beseech You, and take up your abode in my heart. 

Purify and cleanse me from all sin, and sanctify my soul.

Cleanse it from every impurity, water its dryness, melt

its coldness, and save it from sinful ways. 

Make me truly humble and resigned, that I may be pleasing to

You, and that You abide with me forever. 

Most blessed Light, most amiable Light, enlighten me. 

O rapturous Joy of Paradise, Fount of Purest Delight, my God, give

Yourself to me, and kindle in my innermost soul the fire of your love. 

My Lord, instruct, direct, and defend me in all things. 

Give me strength against all immoderate fears and against despondency. 

Bestow upon me a true faith, a firm hope, and a sincere and perfect love. 

Grant that I always do your most gracious will. Amen.

        

Sanctuary Light: No Request this week.

Transfiguration Of Our Lord Church will hold a fund-raiser to support Humanitarian Aid in Ukrainian.  SS PETER & PAUL (OUR PARISH) WILL BE PARTICIPANTS TO THIS Humanitarian Aid. There will be a Basket Raffle in conjunction with Transfiguration Church Fund-Raiser Flea Market on the anticipated dates of June 11, 18, & 25. The proceeds from the Basket Raffle will be for the Humanitarian Aid. Anyone interested in donating items SUCH AS lottery tickets, paper produces, nonperishable food, lotions, etc. or monetary will be greatly appreciated.  The Women’s Society will have a basket and one from the parish, so if a parishioner would like to contribute please inform one of the members. 

LASAGNA DINNER: Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church W-B will hold a Lasagna Dinner on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 in their school hall on the corner of North River and West Chestnut Streets, near the General Hospital Parkade in Wilkes-Barre.  This dinner will be Take-Out Only and Pre-Orders are strongly encouraged.  Dinners will be $15 and will include; a generous portion of meat lasagna, garden salad, bread and dessert.  Place your order by calling the School Hall Kitchen (570) 829-3051.  Pick-Ups will be from 4:00 to 7:00pm.  Tickets will also be sold for a Basket Raffle.  Remember…When Baba Cooks, Everybody’s Happy!