June 22, 2025 A. D.
Saturday, June 21 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
4:00 PM Barnett Kurtz (1yr Anniversary)- Rita Kurtz
Sunday, June 22 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
10:00 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Remember there is no Liturgy at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church on Sunday, June 22.
AFTER LITURGY ANNUAL CHILDREN’S CATECHISM TEA
Tuesday, June 24 NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (w/ Myrovania)
8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Health for Diane Fareid
-Becker Family
Saturday, June 28 FEAST OF SAINTS PETER & PAUL – PRIME APOSTLES
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
4:00 PM Mary Ann Kachinko- John & Theresa Ivan
Sunday, June 29 FEAST OF SAINTS PETER & PAUL – PRIME APOSTLES
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for Andrea Phillips
-Becker Family
Second Sunday After Pentecost
The Lord called Peter and Andrew, and leaving everything behind, they immediately followed Him. He called James and John, and they also immediately left all and followed the Lord. Why did they follow Him so quickly and willingly? Because they saw something better. Such is the law that we have in our own soul, that once it has tasted and known what is better, it is repulsed by what is worse and abandons it. Here is accomplished the same thing that the Lord Later described in His parable about the treasure hid in a field and about the pearl of great price. The treasure and the pearl are faith in the Lord and communion with Him, according to the strength of one’s faith. We have already been named possessors of this in Baptism. Why do we value this treasure so little and thus exchange it for barren ground? Because we were not brought up to cultivate a taste for this treasure, and it becomes foreign to our hearts. Our heart does not know this better thing. It only knows that there is the bad, the very bad, and the not so bad, and bases it’s outlook upon this assessment. Here is the entire reason why the Lord calls some and they come, while we, the chosen ones, run from Him. -St. Theophan the Recluse
BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE:
On the Soul and the Resurrection, by ST. GREGORY OF NYSSA
St. Vladimir’s Press ISBN: 978-881411201
Translated by Catharine P. Roth
PETROVKA (St. Peter & Paul Fast): St. Peter & Paul Fast begins on Sunday evening, June 15 at Vespers with the singing of “O Joyful Light…” after the Sunday of All Saints and continues until Saturday, June 28th. The Apostles’ Fast is not as severe as Lent or the Dormition Fast, but entails fasting from red meat, poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine. Fasting also partners with prayer, almsgiving and confession, readying the whole person like an athlete; body, mind, and soul, for an upcoming feast, similar to the way in which orthodox Catholics would hope to be properly prepared for the Second Coming. For this reason, during fasting seasons, no marriages should take place. Another important part of any fasting period is going to Confession. The Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul is Sunday, June 29th.
The Connection that makes a difference
Someone said to a reformed alcoholic, “ I see you have overcome the mastery of the devil at last.” “No, “ came the quiet answer “but I do have the Master of the devil—the Pantocrator Christ within.” In order to receive power from the All-Powerful Pantocrator we must get attached and stay attached to Him through faith, prayer and the sacraments. As the branch that remains attached to the vine receives nourishment and light, so the one who maintains a living connection with Jesus through prayer, receives power to live, power to overcome. Like the railway tickets we used to see that said, “Not good if detached,” We are not good, we are weak, powerless, ineffective, if we are detached from the Pantocrator. We have to be connected. We were created to be connected . For Jesus, the place where everything connected was prayer. It was where God and man came together in a glorious union. “I and the Father are One, “ He said. Connected! “You will be One with Us too,” He said to the disciples, “If you pray; if you abide in Us.” Prayer is where everything gets connected. Being connected with the Pantocrator Christ puts me in touch with infinite power and opens the way to unbounded possibilities. For, Jesus is not just a great Example; He is also is the Great Enabler, the All- Powerful Pantocrator with whom I connect.-Sacred Symbols that Speak Vol.1 by Anthony M. Coniaris
Psalm 91 NIV- Assurance of God’s Protection
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
The Altar Candles for the month of June were requested by Rosemarie Kachinko IMO Ronald Kachinko.
The Sanctuary Light for this week was requested by Anna Magill IMO Donald Magil.
ANNUAL CHILDREN’S TEA: IT’S THIS SUNDAY! The Annual Children’s Catechism Tea will be held this Sunday, June 22nd after the 10:00 liturgy at SS Peter & Paul church. There will be one Liturgy on Sunday, June 22 for both parishes. Remember, there will be no Sunday Liturgy on Sunday, June 22 at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. All are invited, even if you didn’t sign up to attend.
ADULT DISCUSSION: There will be an Adult Discussion on the book of the month for May – Aquinas, On Human Nature on Saturday, June 21st after 6:00PM Liturgy at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church.. If you have any questions, related to the book or not – bring them to the class.
ASK FATHER A QUESTION? Father……… what does it mean when you “bow” to us? I heard someone say we are supposed to “bow” back to you- is that true? Bowing to each other is a body language way of saying hello, good-bye or a sign of friendship or respect to one another. This is an old world sign of common courtesy. To help put it in perspective, think of what you have seen in the Japanese culture-where two people at a business meeting or sports competition will bow upon meeting one another and simply allowing their mutual courtesy show to one another. So you have been told correctly, when the priest bows to you-you should bow in response. Further, you may notice that several times during the Liturgy that the priest bows towards the altar-he is bowing and paying respect and giving glory to God-even begging for intercessions for the faithful. Lastly, some people have said that they wish the priest would come to the back of the church and say goodbye to them as they are leaving. The bow the priest gives the people when he closes the Holy Doors at the end of Liturgy is that good-bye. Because Jesus is still present in the Gifts, the priest must ablute the chalice before he can do anything else. You might remember from your youth, during this time people should be silently praying in the church, because Jesus is still in the altar area until the chalice is abluted.
ASK FATHER A QUESTION? Father, why don’t we read the Old Testament on Sunday during Liturgy? I noticed we have readings from the Old Testament at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The reason you don’t recognize Old Testament readings on Sunday is because the Old Testament Readings come primarily in the service called Vespers or Evening Prayer. Daily Vespers don’t always have an Old Testament reading associated with it, but the major Holy Days do, most commonly from the Book of Isiah. Also, in the Liturgical Cycle is Matins or Morning Prayer, which is said before the Liturgy; however precious few Parishes celebrate Matins today. The Matins of Lent also have Old Testament readings from the Book of Isiah. The readings from Isiah are chosen because these are the prophecies of Isiah fulfilled by Jesus. In the Presanctified Liturgy we read primarily from the book of Genesis and Proverbs during Lent because we are recounting salvation history and the Proverbs are restating God’s teaching and wisdom to mankind. In the Presanctified Liturgies of Holy Week we read from Exodus because we recount God’s saving plan for the nation of Israel which includes us for eternity, if we live as He teaches us to. Also from those three Presanctified Holy Week Liturgies, we read from the Book of Job because we recognize that just because a person is faithful does not guarantee an easy life in this world. Great and Holy Thursday, Friday and Saturday also have Old Testament readings because they recount salvation history and the prophecies that Christ fulfilled. Lastly, you may have noticed we have been putting the Psalms in the bulletin, I am hoping that you recognize that the Psalms sound like the prayers in the Divine Liturgy. If you grasp that, then you recognize we are praying the Old Testament, specifically from the Book of Psalms on Sunday which is a Book from the Old Testament. The Church recognizes King David as the author of the Book of Psalms.
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.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 