SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

Veneration of the Holy Cross

March 22, 2025 A. D.

March 22, 2025 A. D.

Saturday, March 22 3^rd SUNDAY OF LENT

             4:00 PM           God’s Blessings for Lawrence & Janice Lee- Rita & Diane

Sunday, March 23 3^rd SUNDAY OF LENT

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Tuesday, March 25 ANNUNCIATION OF THE THEOTOKOS(Obligation)

              8:30 AM Ann Beshada- Louise Hubiack (Myrovania)

 Friday, March 28 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

      5:00 PM

Saturday, March 29 4^th SUNDAY OF LENT

             4:00 PM           Ann Beshada- Judy Lucchino

Sunday, March 30 4^th SUNDAY OF LENT

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠

 Transfiguration of Our Lord:

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS Wednesday at 6:30PM

Sorokousty is 8:00AM, Saturday, March 29

Please come and pray for YOUR family.

MAKE PSANKY FOR FUN!

Sunday, March 30, 2025 

@ 1:00 PM

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Church Basement

 (Immediately following Coffee & Theology)

Everyone is welcome! 

Come & experience the art of creating Ukrainian Easter Eggs just for  FUN AND FELLOWSHIP!

Class is free.  Please allocate about 2 hours to create an egg.  Children are most welcome- but must be supervised by an adult as decorating requires you to use a candle. 

EVERYONE IS WELCOME- Young & Old!

PSANKY SUPPLIES:  If anyone has supplies that they are not using please consider donating them to the egg decorating class, most specifically we could use additional stylus/kistkas.  Call Lisa at 570-574-1016.  (Non-Consumable supplies can be returned when we are done using them.)

Pysanky (or pysanka in the singular form) is rooted in the Ukrainian verb “to write.” Ukrainian Easter eggs often feature intricate designs and symbols, such as flowers, animals, and geometric shapes, each with its own significance.  

One of the most popular; and oldest, pysanky legends tells of a young woman who was on her way home from the market in town. She had with her a jug of fresh water for her journey and a basket of eggs. On her way she met a stranger sitting on a rock. Thinking he must be a tired traveler, she offered him a drink of her water. When he handed the water back to her, she was surprised to see that he had wounds on his hands. The stranger said nothing, but got up and went in the opposite direction of the young woman. When she arrived home, she uncovered her basket and discovered her eggs had been turned into beautiful pysanky  The stranger, of course, had been Jesus Christ, and that was the first Easter morning

COFFEE AND THEOLOGY:  On Sunday, March 30, immediately following Divine Liturgy (@Transfiguration of Our Lord Church following 10:30AM Liturgy) we will have an Adult Discussion.  The topic will be LENTEN THEOLOGY.  WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE CROSS?  A 15 Minute Presentation & Questions.  EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

SPRING YARD SALE & ETHNIC FOOD:  On Saturday, March 29 and April 5th from 9:00 to 2:00 pm we will have a Yard Sale and Ethnic Food at Transfiguration of Our Lord Hall.  We will be serving potato pancakes, pyrohy, and more.  Come out and invite your friends and neighbors!!

THE FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY):  The Church Typikon designates the five Sorokousty/ Saturdays of the Deceased for 2025.  It is a tradition of our Holy Church to commemorate the memories of our beloved deceased at Matins of the Deceased (Parastas) on these five Saturdays of the year.  The next Sorokousty is 8:00am on Saturday, March 29 at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church.

If we wish to understand the power of Christ’s blood, we should go back to the ancient account of its prefiguration in Egypt. Sacrifice a lamb without blemish, commanded Moses, and sprinkle its blood on your doors. If we were to ask him what he meant, and how the blood of an irrational beast could possibly save men endowed with reason, his answer would be that the saving power lies not in the blood itself, but in the fact that it is a sign of the Lord’s blood. In those days, when the destroying angel saw the blood on the doors he did not dare to enter, so how much less will the devil approach now when he sees, not that figurative blood on the doors, but the true blood on the lips of believers, the doors of the temple of Christ.  If you desire further proof of the power of this blood, remember where it came from, how it ran down from the cross, flowing from the Master’s side. The gospel records that when Christ was dead, but still hung on the cross, a soldier came and pierced his side with a lance and immediately there poured out water and blood. Now the water was a symbol of baptism and the blood, of the holy eucharist. The soldier pierced the Lord’s side, he breached the wall of the sacred temple, and I have found the treasure and made it my own. So also with the lamb: the Jews sacrificed the victim and I have been saved by it.  There flowed from his side water and blood. Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that water and blood symbolized baptism and the holy eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit, and from the holy eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Moses gives a hint of this when he tells the story of the first man and makes him exclaim: Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh! As God then took a rib from Adam’s side to fashion a woman, so Christ has given us blood and water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the blood and the water after his own death. – St. John Chrysostom

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”  We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers.  May mankind seek reconciliation and peace as is Your Will in this world.  May tranquility be restored to all nations and especially Ukraine.  God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom.  May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine and the whole world.  May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The Altar Candles for March are requested by the by The Udiski Family IMO Michael Kane.

There was no request for the Sanctuary Light this week.

SANCTUARY LIGHT:   The sanctuary light sign-up sheets are located on the table in the vestibule. A $15 donation enables the light to burn for your intention throughout the week. Many weeks are still available.

 CONFESSION:   Let us prepare our souls by making good Confession and receiving Communion.  Holy Confession will be held before Divine Liturgy or after Divine Liturgy, if necessary.  Confessions will be held before the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy and by appointment.  Reminder, the Church decrees that you make at least one good confession a year before Easter.

WOMAN’S SOCIETY THANK YOU:  We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all those who participated in the women’s society rummage sale, making it a huge success.

MENS WORK GROUP THANK YOU:  A heartfelt thank you to expressed to the Men’s Work Group  for their efforts in changing and replacing (to LED) the bulbs inside of the church.  It was a huge job that needed scaffolding & ladders!  Thank you!

ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

March 15, 2025

 Saturday, March 15 2^nd SUNDAY OF LENT

             4:00 PM           ✞Mary Kachmarsky- Teresa Popowycz

Sunday, March 16 2^nd SUNDAY OF LENT

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings for America- Tom & MaryAnn Potsko

Friday, March 21 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

      5:00 PM

Saturday, March 22 3^rd SUNDAY OF LENT

             4:00 PM           God’s Blessings for Lawrence & Janice Lee- Rita & Diane

Sunday, March 23 3^rd SUNDAY OF LENT

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners

Remember, there are no weekday Liturgies during the

Great Fast.  Communion is distributed as part of the

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠

Transfiguration of Our Lord:

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS Wednesday at 6:30PM

Sorokousty is 8:00AM, Saturday, March 22

Sorokousty Prayers are for the deceased of Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, St. Nicholas Church, St. Peter & Paul Church (Plymouth) & St. Vladimir’s Church.

Come Pray for the Your Family.

Adam and Eve ate from the tree that had the fruit of Eternal Life, which was next to the tree of the fruit of knowledge of Good and Evil – of which they were commanded NOT to eat.  Having eaten the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which God commanded them NOT to eat, God chased Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden.  Jesus Christ shows us that tree, it is the CROSS.  The fruit of the Cross is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ – Holy Communion.  Mankind commanded NOT to eat- ate.  Mankind now commanded to eat, refuses.  At the “eating” when we were commanded NOT to, sin, pain and death enter the world.  Now sin, pain and death are conquered through the fruit from the tree of Eternal Life.  Through Holy Communion death has been conquered, Jesus Christ risen from the dead.

Do you want to understand more of this? Watch this:

YouTube Video:  Search The Holy Eucharist:  God’s Lamb

This is the video to watch, without Holy Communion there is no Christian.

 ASK FATHER A QUESTION……. Father, the betrayal of Jesus was foretold by the prophet Zechariah 11:12-13 ….. it leads one to believe that Judas is just a mechanism to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus.  Is this is true?  What happens to Judas?  In short, the answer to the question is no.  The reason for this is that Judas has free will, just like us.  He can choose how to respond to God and what he will do.  From his free will, desire to obtain more money, Judas betrays Christ.  After the crucifixion, Judas recognizes his sin of betraying the Messiah.  Perhaps his greater sin is that he falls into despair and kills himself.  He does this being tempted by the Devil.  This is perhaps the bigger sin.  The devil leads him to believe that God would not forgive him of betraying an innocent man.  Ultimately, the point is that just because something is foretold does not mean that that person has to act it out like a mechanical robot.  God lives outside of time and knows everything everyone will ever do.  When God reveals this message to a prophet to lead people to salvation- it does not mean that that person’s actions are “pre-destined”- meaning that that person does not have free will to act as they choose.  Imagine if on that morning Judas came to his senses and repented and begged forgiveness to Jesus and the Apostles for his betrayal.  We would be telling the great story of the Conversion of Saint Judas The Repenter; however, he chose to follow the deceiving words of the deceiver, fall into despair, thinking he could not be forgiven, so he hung himself,  All these are of Judas’ free will choices.  God’s saving plan is revealed in salvation history, i.e. time, so that we could know the truth and believe.  Once you grasp this you realize that Judas is not mere mechanism to fulfill what is foretold.  

“And I said unto them, If you think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:12-13).

BOOK(S)  OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH:

GREAT LENT- Journey to Pascha

Alexander Schmemann ISBN:  0-913836-04-4

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: On The Road To Pascha

Marianne C. Sailus Eastern Christian Publications http://www.ecpubs.com

THE FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY):  The Church Typikon designates the five Sorokousty/ Saturdays of the Deceased for 2025 as February 22nd; March 15th, March 22^nd, March 29^th and June 7th. It is a tradition of our Holy Church to commemorate the memories of our beloved deceased at Matins of the Deceased (Parastas) on these five Saturdays of the year.  There is an envelope in your box for Sorokousty.  Or write a note and put it in the basket.

SING-CON 2025: Save the date if interested. The date for SING-CON 2025 is October 23-26, 2025, at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, NJ.  SING-CON is seminar on learning and practicing our Church’s Chants, i.e. hymns and liturgies in song. 

SUNDAY LITURGIES DURING LENT: WHY DO THEY SEEM LONGER?

Our Church prescribes that the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is to be celebrated on all of the Sundays of Great Fast, instead of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which is usually celebrated throughout the rest of the church year.  St. Basil’s Liturgy is older and has longer priestly prayers at the Anaphora than the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (which was derived from the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great), and is celebrated ten times during the church year:  the five Sundays of Lent (not Palm Sunday), Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday, Christmas Eve, Epiphany Eve, and on the actual Feast of St. Basil which we celebrate January 1 .  

 “Let My Prayer Rise up”

Let my prayer rise up, Like incense before You; The lifting of my hands, As an evening sacrifice. Lord, I call to You, hear me; attend to the voice of my prayer when I cry to You. Let my prayer rise up, Like incense before You; The lifting of my hands, As an evening sacrifice. Set, O Lord, a watch before my mouth and a door of enclosure around my lips. Let my prayer rise up, Like incense before You; The lifting of my hands, As an evening sacrifice.  Incline not my heart unto words of evil, to make excuses for my sins.  Let my prayer rise up, Like incense before You; The lifting of my hands, As an evening sacrifice.

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”  We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers.  May mankind seek reconciliation and peace as is Your Will in this world.  May tranquility be restored to all nations and especially Ukraine.  God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom.  May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine and the whole world.  May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 SAINT GREGORY PALAMAS (1296-4357)

     On this, the Second Sunday of Lent, Our Ukrainian Catholic Church commemorates the saintly monk, Gregory Palamas. He is venerated not only by the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches, but also by the Anglicans. Gregory was a monk who resided on Mount Athos, located today in Greece. Gregory was born in Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul, located in Turkey. He died in Thessaloniki, Macedonia.   St. Gregory Palamas is noted for his defense of “hesychast spirituality.” Hesychasm is a contemplative monastic tradition, which is practiced by both Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches, even to the present day. Stillness is sought through the uninterrupted recitation of the “Jesus Prayer.” The prayer reads: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” The prayer is recited holding a “chotky” (prayer beads on a rope) in your hand. The usual number of prayer beads would be 100. The chotky prayer rope is available to order and purchase at Byzantine Church Supplies, located in the basement of our Chancery building. (Address: 810 N. Franklin Street, Philadelphia, PA. 19123).  They also have a website:  Byzantinechurchsupplies.com.

Transfiguration of Our Lord Activities:  

PYROHY FOR SALE:   Transfiguration of Our Lord Church has potato pyrohy for sale (frozen) in the church basement for $12.00 a dozen.  If you are interested, please call Lisa at 570-574-1016.

Looking for some additional Lenten Activities?

COFFEE AND THEOLOGY:  On Sunday, March 30, immediately following Divine Liturgy (@Holy Transfiguration Church following 10:30AM Liturgy) we will have an Adult Discussion.  The topic will be LENTEN THEOLOGY.  WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE CROSS?  A 15 Minute Presentation & Questions.  EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

The Altar Candles for March are requested by the by The Udiski Family IMO Michael Kane.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by by Michaelene Ostrum IMO Juliann O’Brien.

SANCTUARY LIGHT:   The sanctuary light sign-up sheets are located on the table in the vestibule. A $15 donation enables the light to burn for your intention throughout the week. Many weeks are still available.

RUMMAGE SALE:  Today is the final day of the women’s society’s rummage sale (bag day). For $5 you can fill a bag with many treasures that were donated.  

SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY

March 9, 2025

Saturday, March 8 1^st SUNDAY OF LENT

             4:00 PM           ✞Juliann O’Brien- Helene Sirak

 Sunday, March 9 1^st SUNDAY OF LENT

             8:30 AM            ✞Mary Kulyn- Gloria & Stephen Udiski

Friday, March 7 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

      5:00 PM

Saturday, March 15 2^nd SUNDAY OF LENT

             4:00 PM           ✞Mary Kachmarsky- Teresa Popowycz

Sunday, March 16 2^nd SUNDAY OF LENT

             8:30 AM            God’s Blessings for America- Tom & MaryAnn Potsko

Remember, there are no weekday Liturgies during the

Great Fast.  Communion is distributed as part of the

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠

Transfiguration of Our Lord:

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS Wednesday at 6:30PM

Sorokousty is 8:00AM, Saturday, March 15

The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints Basil the Great is celebrated ten times per year: January 1(Feast of Saint Basil); December 24(Christmas Eve);January 5 (Theophany Eve); First thru Fifth Sundays of Lent(not Palm Sunday); and Holy Thursday & the Virgil Liturgy of Easter Sunday.}

HOAGIE & SOUP SALE:  St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church is holding a Vegetable Soup, Turkey Hoagie, Ham & Cheese Hoagie, Italian Hoagie and Bake Sale on Thursday, March 13th from 11AM to 4PM. The cost of the hoagie and quart of soup is $8.00.  Orders can be placed by calling Debbie at 570-736-6908 by THIS Sunday, March 9th.  A Basket Raffle to benefit Ukraine and the Church will be held at the same time.

THE FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY):  The Church Typikon designates the five Sorokousty/ Saturdays of the Deceased for 2025 as February 22nd; March 15th, March 22^nd, March 29^th and June 7th. It is a tradition of our Holy Church to commemorate the memories of our beloved deceased at Matins of the Deceased (Parastas) on these five Saturdays of the year.  There is an envelope in your box for Sorokousty.  Or write a note and put it in the basket.

 UKRAINIAN PYSANKY CLASSES:  Classes are being offered by St. Cyril’s Church in Olyphant.  March 2nd and March 16th, with two classes each day:  12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m.  Students will learn about this beautiful Ukrainian tradition.  The cost is $25 per person, with supplies included.  Class size is limited, and registration is required.  Contact:  Tammy Budnovitch 570-766-1919 to register for this parish fundraiser held at St. Cyril’s Parish Hall, 207 River St., Olyphant.

SING-CON 2025: Save the date if interested. The date for SING-CON 2025 is October 23-26, 2025, at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, NJ.  SING-CON is seminar on learning and practicing our Church’s Chants, i.e. hymns and liturgies in song. 

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”  We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers.  May mankind seek reconciliation and peace as is Your Will in this world.  May tranquility be restored to all nations and especially Ukraine.  God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom.  May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine and the whole world.  May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

 WOMEN’S SOCIETY FLEA MARKET & PARISH SALE:  The Women’s Society will host the Rummage, Soup & Bake Sale this coming weekend:  March 14th,15th, & 16th. Volunteers are needed to promote the event, contribute to the bake sale and assist with the sale.   Please come out and help and/or donate to our Bake Sale.

Saturday, March 1 SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE

             4:00 PM           Joseph Wyatt Evans, who is Baptized today.

Sunday, March 2 SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE

             8:30 AM            ✞Dennis Kachmarsky- Teresa Popowycz

             3:00 PM Forgiveness Vespers @ Transfiguration of Our Lord Church

Friday, March 7 LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

      5:00 PM

Saturday, March 8 1^st SUNDAY OF LENT

             4:00 PM           ✞Juliann O’Brien- Helene Sirak

Sunday, March 9 1^st SUNDAY OF LENT

             8:30 AM            ✞Mary Kulyn- Gloria & Stephen Udiski

Remember, there are no weekday Liturgies during the

Great Fast.  Communion is distributed as part of the

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠☼✠

Transfiguration of Our Lord:

Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM

Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS Wednesday at 6:30PM

 ASK FATHER A QUESTION…….Father, if the focus of our Eastern faith is “Resurrection” and not the “Agony of the Cross” why have Lent at all?  The Feast of Resurrection does not come without the journey that precedes it.  Lent is a forty day period to remind us that the journey to salvation begins with preparation (i.e. prayer, fasting, alms giving, contemplation).  If you notice the calendar in the back of the church, placed by Father Walter, this provides all the readings for Matins (morning prayer) and Vespers (evening prayer) throughout all of Lent and Holy Week.  You will see that we read the following books almost in completion; Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, Proverbs and Isaiah.  Just as you being a long journey in this life by first looking at a map and charting the path you will take and perhaps write out your directions, Lent is likewise our spiritual preparation for the journey to heaven.  You will notice that in Genesis and Exodus there is part of the history of the salvation of mankind.  In Isaiah, you will notice that the history of salvation is told in completion, what has been done, what is being done, and what will be done.  If we follow these directions, in humility, we will end up in heaven.  If we ignore these directions, in human arrogance, we will end in hell.  Lent in preparing for our resurrection is a surrendering of our will to the will of God.  We especially prepare for the Feast of all Feasts, Resurrection of Our Blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, just as we are preparing for Judgement Day, our Eternal Feast of Resurrection which is our planned last step of our life’s journey.

PLEASE HELP………………………………………

WOMEN’S SOCIETY FLEA MARKET & PARISH SALE:  The Women’s Society is holding a rummage, soup and bake sale March 14, 15 & 16.   Please pass the word about our rummage, soup and bake sale. The sale will be March 14th, 15th (half price day) and 16th (bag day). If you know of a business that will display a flyer please get one to them, they are on the table in the vestibule. 

WOMEN’S SOCIETY MEETING:  The Women’s Society will hold their March meeting on Tuesday, March 4th at 6PM in the church hall, NEW MEMBERS WELCOME.  Plans for the upcoming March 14, 15 & 16 rummage sale will be discussed.  If you are unable to attend the meeting, and are able to help with the sale, please contact Anna Magill, 570-239-9263.  Fliers for the rummage sale are in the vestibule.  If you have a place of business that will display it, please take one.  

BAKE SALE HELP:  We are seeking your donations of baked goods for our bake sale. Our organization is known for offering exceptional baked treats.

BOOK(S)  OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH:

GREAT LENT- Journey to Pascha

Alexander Schmemann ISBN:  0-913836-04-4

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: On The Road To Pascha

Marianne C. Sailus Eastern Christian Publications http://www.ecpubs.com

MYOSOPUSNA 2025:  Thank you to everyone who supported Transfiguration of Our Lord’s Myasopusna Dinner.

HOAGIE & SOUP SALE:  St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church is holding a Vegetable Soup, Turkey Hoagie, Ham & Cheese Hoagie, Italian Hoagie and Bake Sale on Thursday, March 13th from 11AM to 4PM. The cost of the hoagie and quart of soup is $8.00.  Orders can be placed by calling Debbie at 570-736-6908 by Sunday, March 9th.  A Basket Raffle to benefit Ukraine and the Church will be held at the same time.

LENT:  Remember, the first day of Lent is a day of fast from Meat and Dairy Products.  Lent begins with Forgiveness Vespers, Sunday, March 2nd at 3:00 PM at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church.  The first full day of Lent will begin on Monday, March 3rd.  The Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts at Ss. Peter & Paul Church will be on Fridays at 5:00pm and at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church on Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

THE FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY):  The Church Typikon designates the five Sorokousty/ Saturdays of the Deceased for 2025 as February 22nd; March 15th, March 22^nd, March 29^th and June 7th. It is a tradition of our Holy Church to commemorate the memories of our beloved deceased at Matins of the Deceased (Parastas) on these five Saturdays of the year.  There is an envelope in your box for Sorokousty.  Or write a note and put it in the basket.

 UKRAINIAN PYSANKY CLASSES:  Classes are being offered by St. Cyril’s Church in Olyphant.  March 2nd and March 16th, with two classes each day:  12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m.  Students will learn about this beautiful Ukrainian tradition.  The cost is $25 per person, with supplies included.  Class size is limited, and registration is required.  Contact:  Tammy Budnovitch 570-766-1919 to register for this parish fundraiser held at St. Cyril’s Parish Hall, 207 River St., Olyphant.

SING-CON 2025: Save the date if interested. The date for SING-CON 2025 is October 23-26, 2025, at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, NJ.  SING-CON is seminar on learning and practicing our Church’s Chants, i.e. hymns and liturgies in song. 

Prayer For Peace in Ukraine

Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”  We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers.  May mankind seek reconciliation and peace as is Your Will in this world.  May tranquility be restored to all nations and especially Ukraine.  God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom.  May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine and the whole world.  May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 Last week’s homily you pointed out that the four Sundays before Lent and that through Lent we relive our own journey like Moses, through this life and it got me to thinking what this Journey is all about.   I don’t know what this Journey is about, can you explain some more?  Our Journey through this life has a final destination, if you desire to be eternally with God in heaven then follow Jesus in everything that you do.  That is the point of Lent that just as Jesus recapitulates the journey of Israel from Egypt to the promised land as a “type” of journey of mankind through this life to the Resurrection.  You may feel as some people do, that you are just repeating the same steps year after year, but I assure you that it is not the same – if you put an honest effort into making a holy lent.  The big picture, journey, and the path that Christ shows us to be successful is that of all mankind from Genesis Chapter 1 verse 1 through to the Resurrection of Christ and the final judgement and the triumphant entry of all the holy ones into heaven as found in the Book of Revelation.  For example, in the beginning God created everything and then finally God creates man.  Through man whom the devil tempts to sin successfully, sickness, suffering and death enter God’s creation.  As we journey through our life as the nation of Israel journeyed through the desert, we are changed by this experience.  

The Great Fast is our penitential preparation for the great feast of Pascha (Passover).  As such, it is one of the most ancient parts of liturgical year.  It’s forty days symbolizes the forty years the Israelites wandered in the desert, while the Divine Liturgy of the PreSanctified Gifts is the fulfillment of the promise of the mana as St. John wrote, “So Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.’(John 6:32)”  I the Great Fast, we imitate Jesus our Lord, who fasted 40 days in the desert following His Baptism.  The feast of Pascha was also the time for baptisms, and so the Great Fast was a time of preparation for baptism.  Our observance of the Great Fast, therefore, is our renewal of our baptismal fervor when we first came to Christ.  

The Altar Candles for March are requested by the by The Udiski Family IMO Michael Kane.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Carol Kosek IMO the Bosack Family.

 BAPTISM:   Joseph Wyatt Evans will be Baptized, Christened, and receive First Holy Communion on Saturday, March 1^st at the 4:00PM Divine Liturgy.  Joseph is the son of Joseph and Colleen Evans.