SUNDAY OF ZACCHAEUS
January 18, 2026 A. D.
Saturday, January 17 SUNDAY OF ZACCHEUS
4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Sunday, January 18 SUNDAY OF ZACCHEUS
8:30 AM UFrank Udiski Sr.- Udiski Family
Saturday, January 17 SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE
4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Sunday, January 18 SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE
8:30 AM UYaroslava Piyonakjo – Mariya Palashchuk
FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY)
The Five Saturdays of the Deceased (Sorokousty) The Church Typikon designates the five Sorokousty/ Saturdays of the Deceased for 2026 as February 21st; February 28th, March 7th and 14th, and May 23rd.. 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. Sorokousty Services will be celebrated at 8:00am at Transfiguration of Our Lord.
ANSWERS TO PRAYER: If God is slow to grant your request and you do not receive what you ask for promptly, do not be grieved, for you are not wiser than God. When this happens to you, it is either because your way of life does not accord with your request, or because the pathways of your heart are at odds with the intention of your prayer. Or it may be because you inner state is too childish by comparison with the magnitude of the thing you have asked for. It is not appropriate that great things should fall easily into our hands, otherwise God’s gift will be held in dishonour, because of the ease with which we obtain it. For anything that is readily obtained is also easily lost, whereas everything which is found with toil is preserved with care.- St. Isaac of Syria
Woe to those who are rich, who are full, who laugh, and who are praised. But good shall come to those who endure every wrongful accusation, beating, robbery, or compulsory difficulty. This is completely opposite to what people usually think and feel! The thoughts of God are as far from human thoughts as heaven is from the earth. How else could it be? We are in exile; and it is not remarkable for those in exile to be offended and insulted. We are under a penance; the penance consists of deprivations and labors. We are sick; and most useful for the sick are bitter medicines. The Savior Himself all of His life did not have a place to lay His head, and He finished his life on the cross — why should his followers have a better lot? The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of preparedness to suffer and bear good-naturedly all that is sorrowful. Comfort, arrogance, splendor, and ease are all foreign to its searching and tastes. Its path lies in the fruitless, dreary desert. The model is the forty-year wandering of the Israelites in the desert. Who follows this path? Everyone who sees Canaan beyond the desert, boiling over with milk and honey. During his wandering he too receives manna, however not from the earth, but from heaven; not bodily, but spiritually. All the glory is within. – St. Theophan the Recluse
PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
THIRTY SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUNDAY OF ZACCHAEUS
LENT: Remember, the first day of Lent is a fast from Meat and Dairy Products. Lent begins with Forgiveness Vespers, Sunday, February 15th at 3:00PM at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. The first full day of Lent will begin on Monday, February 16 and is a day of abstinence from Meat and Dairy Products for everyone who is able to do so. All Fridays are always a day of fast. Traditionally, Wednesdays are a day of fast during the Great Fast. Anything you can do extra is also indicated. Remember there are no weekday Liturgy during the Great Fast.
The Altar Candles for the month of January are given by Michaelene Ostrum IMO her brother, Michael B Sir
CHURCH CALENDARS: The church calendars are here and in the church vestibule.
BLESSING OF HOUSES: If you would like your house blessed, please put a note in the basket or contact the rectory.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS: The Christmas decorations will be taken down on Saturday, January 24th at 10AM. Help is needed to complete this task.
FIRST SATURDAY LITURGY: Twelve Liturgies were given for the first Saturday of each month starting February 7 for any Families experiencing troubles in their lives and seeking God’s help from both Transfiguration of Our Lord & Saints Peter & Paulk Churches. If you have such a petition for a family please feel free to share it with Fr. Walter to be included in the Saturday’s liturgy intention. The first Saturday Liturgies are celebrated at Tranfiguration of Our Lord Church at 8:00 AM. No additional donations are required to submit a petition.
MYASOPUSNA 2026
Myasopusna Dinner Celebration is fast approaching! The Myasopusna Celebration is scheduled for February 8th, 2026, the date of our Meat-fare Sunday. This event combines a delicious ethnic meal (Ham, kobasi, Halupki, pyrohy, kapusta, bosch, & dessert) with cultural dance, singing and art. This year will feature the St. Mary’s Ukrainian Dancers. Ukrainian Beer and wine will be available. Ticket price is $25 and kids are $12. Doors open at noon. Cocktail 1/2 hour is noon-12:30. Serving starts at 12:30PM and stops at 2:00PM. Tables are not reserved ahead of time. Program will start approximately 1:30PM. For tickets call 570-735-4654 or 570-574-1016 (leave message) to order advance tickets. No Tickets Will Be Sold At the Door. Take-outs are available. Lisa will be selling tickets prior to Saturday & Sunday Liturgies at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church and Saints Peter & Paul Church.
PIGGIE DINNER: “Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Wilkes- Barre will hold a take-out Piggie / Holubtsi Dinner on Saturday, January 31st, 2026. Dinners may be picked up between 12:00 (noon) and 4:00 pm in our school hall, corner of North River and West Chestnut Streets, Wilkes-Barre. Dinners include; Piggies (meat & rice stuffed cabbage), mashed potatoes, vegetable, bread and butter and dessert. Dinners will be $15.00 for adults and $9.00 for children (12 and under). Walk-in customers will be welcomed, but reservations are Strongly Encouraged, (570) 829-3051.”
VISITING THE SICK: Do you know a homebound Parishioner who can’t make it to church and would like a visit? Please contact Father Walter at the rectory at 570-735-2262.
ST.VLADIMIR’S CHURCH PRESENTATION: The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy is hosting a screening of Making NEPA Home, an original documentary from WVIA Public Media, highlighting the immigrant communities of Northeastern PA on Sunday, January 18th at 2pm at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church, 430 N. 7th Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. The screening is followed by a question & answer period with Kara Washigton, Promotions Coordinator, WVIA. All are welcome.
LITURGY INTENTIONS: If you are offering a Divine Liturgy for a specific day for your beloved or other intentions for 2026, please make sure you turn it into the rectory in order to make sure that you get the exact time that you would like.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 