SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

Saturday, January 18 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

Sunday, January 19 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             8:30 AM            ✞Anizia Slobodian- Steven & Gloria Udiski

Saturday, January 25 THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             4:00 PM           ✞Stanley Giza- Stanley & Renee Giza

Sunday, January 26 THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

  Father, I have been listening to the Epistles for years…. Who are the Corinthians, the Colassians, Ephesians, the Phillipians, the Hebrews, the Galatians, the Romans, and the Thessalonians?  Who are Timothy, Philemon, James, Titus, John, Peter and Jude?  Why are they relevant?   

Let us begins with the word “Epistle,” which  is Greek meaning “letter.”  St. Paul wrote letters to the people that were following the teachings of Christ whom he taught and converted (or others) in Corinth, Galatia, to those in Ephesus, Thessalonica, Colossae, and to Romans in various places of the kingdom–but specifically Rome.  That is, these letters  are to the established churches and believers, some of whom were having troubles, some were doing well.  The Epistles of St. Paul pre-date the Gospels.  Timothy was a fellow worker and evangelizer with St. Paul.  In some difficult situations when Timothy was alone, and St. Paul was evangelizing elsewhere, St. Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him.  Titus was a gentile who converted to Christianity and became a disciple.  He also was with St. Paul on one of his missionary journeys.  St. Paul wrote to Titus to help him evangelize others.  Philemon was a man of means of Colosse and because of his situation ONE letter is written to him by St. Paul.  In the Epistles, the next people were Apostles who wrote these letters;  St. James, St. Peter, St. John, St. Jude who wrote letters to faithful people- not to St. Paul or from St. Paul.  Now there were many other letters written among the Apostles and the faithful that were not included in the Holy Scriptures, what you know as the Bible.  The reason these letters are included in the Canon is because we have something to learn from them in our lifes that these same followers of Christ needed to learn in their lives.  In other words, these letters are productive for our edification and the whole Church.  

  PIGGIE DINNER:  “Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Wilkes- Barre will hold a take-out Piggie / Holubtsi Dinner on Saturday, January 25^th, 2025.  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.”

 MYOSOPUSNA 2025:  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church is pleased to announce that dinner tickets are now available for our Annual Myasopusna Festival, held at the church’s banquet hall, 240 Center Street, Nanticoke, on Sunday, February 23, from noon to 4 pm.  The Myasopusna (Meatfare) Festival is the parish’s pre-lenten celebration, preceding the Great Fast.  Dinner (a platter of holuptsi, kobasi, pyrohy, borscht, black bread and butter, and a homemade dessert) will be served from 12:30 to 2:00 pm, followed by live Ukrainian dance performances by Kazka and Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Dancers.  A variety of Ukrainian crafts will be on display and for sale.  Dinner tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance, no tickets will be sold at the door.  Tickets can be purchased by calling Helen (735-4654) and leave a message  or Lisa (574-1016).  Invite your friends and neighbors!

PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCH

O glorious St. Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, come to the assistance of the Church, against which the powers of hell are unchained, guard with especial care her august Head, and obtain that for Him and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive.  O glorious Archangel St. Michael, watch over us during life, defend us against the assaults of the devil, assist us especially at the hour of death; obtain for us a favorable judgement, and the happiness of beholding 

God face to face for endless ages.  Amen.

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.

Dear Lord, We thank You for sending your messenger – John the Baptizer – to introduce the Messiah to us.  Help us to prepare the way for Him as He seeks to enter our lives today.  Let us remove the mountains of pride and prejudice, and make straight our crooked and deceitful ways through repentance.  For He who comes to make His home in us is the Lamb of God.  He comes to take away our sins and make us the tabernacles of His presence in the world.  Amen.

 ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father………… How do you prononounce and what is Sabboath?  Is that the Sabbath-OR different?    Firstly, the “correct” spelling is Sabaoth.  It is pronounced  Greek “Saba’-oath” or “Sab’-a-oth” or “Sab’-a-yoth”.  The prayer we pray on page 30 of the little black book says “Lord of Sabaoth” and this is a name for God.  Sabaoth literally means heavenly hosts, the angels, and the angels are God’s Heavenly Army.    Yes, this is different from the Sabbath.  The Sabbath is the seventh and last day of the week, same as the seventh day of creation when the Lord rested.  This is the Holy Day of prayer that when God tells us to keep Holy the Lord’s day- this is the day.  Both words are transliterated from Hebrew.  Keeping the Sabbath Holy means to put first amongst all things- God.

 ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father………… What does “Amen” mean?  Is it just the end of the prayer?  Like “The End?”  “Amen” is a Hebrew word (אָמֵן) that we do not translate into English because it has a few meanings that are all intended at one time when we say the Hebrew word “Amen.”  Amen is a transliteration of the Hebrew word of the same sound, meaning true, correct, it is certain.  In Strong’s Numbers the word Amen is referred to as meaning “verily” or “truly.”    Strong’s Numbers is an identifier of every Greek word in the Scriptures from Septuagint(the Old Testament translated into Greek) and New Testament.  Each Hebrew word by the Strong’s Number has an etimology around it that helps us to understand the original intended meaning in each of the books of the Bible.

PRAYERS: Please remember in your prayers all who are in need of God’s help.  Remember those in the nursing facilities, hospital and at home, all the sick and the suffering.  Please say a special prayer for all of our nation’s soldiers and their families at home and abroad.

The Altar Candles for the month of January are requested by Helene Sirak IMO her son Michael.

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

*****The next several weeks are available if someone would like to offer a

Sanctuary Light petition.******

CHURCH ENVELOPES:  The 2025 envelopes and calendars are available in the vestibule. If you do not see any with your name, please let David Youells or Michaelene Ostrum know and they will get them for you. 

FORMS:  There are papers on the table in the vestibule for everyone to take and fill out: family name, address, phone, etc.  Please complete the form and return it.  There will be a folder you can put it in on the table. 

BLESSING OF HOMES:  If anyone wishes to have their home blessed, please use the envelope in your collection box or leave a note in the collection basket. Also please let Father know if a visit during daytime hours is possible.  No donation is required-even though the envelope says requested amount.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS:  The Christmas decorations will be taken down Sunday Jan 19th at 12PM.  Your help will be greatly appreciated.

SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

Saturday, January 11 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

             4:00 PM           ✞Ann Beshada- Anna Magill

Sunday, January 12 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

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

Saturday, January 18 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

Sunday, January 19 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

             8:30 AM            ✞Anizia Slobodian- Steven & Gloria Udiski

 Father, what is meant by the “Winter Pascha”?  I read that term online and was confused.     “Pascha” literally means passover, lamb and bread.  The term winter paska is phrase used in modern times, coined by Fr. Alexander Schmemann of the Orthdox Church.  “The liturgical services of Christmas are patterned after the services for the Festival of Pascha of the Lord, the Holy Resurrection.  There is a forty day fast.  There are pre-feast preparations.  There are the special Royal Hours with their prophecies, Epistles, Gospels, and hymns on the eve of the feast.  Followed by the Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.  There is the solemn all-night Vigil, crowned by the Matins, Canon and Hymns.  And finally, after the Eucharistic celebration of St. John Chrysostom on the day of the feast itself, the celebration continues to it’s completion in the MEETING OF THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE forty days later.  At the center of the festal season, remains the original “Festival of Lights,” the Holy Theophany of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.  The liturgical verses and hymns for Christmas and Theophany, the Pascha of Christ’s incarnation and manifestation in the flesh, repeat those of Easter, the Pascha of Christ’s death and resurrection.  The Lord’s birth and Baptism are directly connected to His dying and Rising.  He was born in order to die.  He was baptized in order to be raised.  The Con-Holy Theophany, the harmony between the events is overwhelming.  The beauty of it is almost more that believer can bear.”- excerpt from The Winter Pascha by Thomas Hopko

 Why does the Processional Cross have a seeming star burst or rays of light coming from it?  Simply put you are seeing the Star of Bethlehem announcing Christ’s birth and the Cross which Christ was crucified on both at one time, how Jesus Christ entered and exited this world.  Because God exists outside of time, all the works of salvation are one and the same work, even though we experience them on different days and in different ways.

 

  ASK FATHER A QUESTION?  Father, when you prepare The Gifts in preparation for communion, I was told there is a “particle” or square for the deceased or living person that we have a Liturgy Intention for…….Why?   I thought it was the Body of Christ? Who gets THIS particle?  Yes, there is a particle during the Preparation of “The Gifts” for the person whom the Liturgy is Intended, as there are for all the parishioners, many of the Saints as well as the Theotokos and Jesus Christ.  We pray as we believe and part of our prayer of Holy Communion is that we become “like” Christ.  So that we the Church are the Body of Christ.  This is part of the symbolism of the prayer of Holy Communion.  Because we truly believe and follow Christ’s Word, “that he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I in him.”  Those who partake of Holy Communion truly receive Christ and become like Christ.  The food we partake of changes us.  This is recognized in all of the prayers around Holy Communion.  As to who receives that particle, as those of you who come to the adult discussion group learned, one of the parishioners will receive this particle, because it is co-mingled with all the particles in the chalice.  All the particles originate from the one loaf that IS the Body of Christ.

PIGGIE DINNER:  “Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Wilkes- Barre will hold a take-out Piggie / Holubtsi Dinner on Saturday, January 25^th, 2025.  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.”

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 the month of January are requested by Helene Sirak IMO her son Michael.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Michaelene Ostrum IMO her brother Michael Sirak.

*****The next several weeks are available if someone would like to offer a

Sanctuary Light petition.******

CHURCH ENVELOPES:  The 2025 envelopes and calendars are available in the vestibule. If you do not see any with your name, please let David Youells or Michaelene Ostrum know and they will get them for you. 

THANK YOU:  Thank you to all who generously gave donations to the church this Christmas and throughout the year. God bless everyone with good health and many blessings in the New Year.

BLESSING OF HOMES:  If anyone wishes to have their home blessed, please use the envelope in your collection box or leave a note in the collection basket. Also please let Father know if a visit during daytime hours is possible.  No donation is required-even though the envelope says requested amount.

FESTIVAL OF THE CAROLS:  Festival of Ukrainian Christmas Carols to be held at the Cathedral in Philadelphia on January 12, 2024, at 3:00pm.  

SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY

Saturday, January 4 SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY

             4:00 PM           ✞ Mary Ann Kachinko-Michael & Dolores Sinko

Sunday, January 5 SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY

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

VIGIL OF THEOPHANY

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

****8:00 PM  Transfiguration of Our Lord Church****

Monday, January 6 THEOPHANY (w/Myrovania)- obligation

            8:30AM ✞Geri Kolotelo- Yanoshak Family

Saturday, January 11 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

             4:00 PM           ✞Ann Beshada- Anna Magill

Sunday, January 12 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

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

BLESSING OF HOMES:  If anyone wishes to have Father Walter bless their home, please use the envelope in your collection box or leave a note in the collection basket. Also please let Father know if a visit during daytime hours is possible.  No donation is required-even though the envelope says requested amount.

FESTIVAL OF THE CAROLS:  Festival of Ukrainian Christmas Carols to be held at the Cathedral in Philadelphia on January 12, 2024, at 3:00pm.  

Why did Jesus seemingly abandon John the Baptist to his captors and leave for Galilee?  God’s ways are not man’s ways, God’s ways i.e. Jesus’s ways, are for the salvation of mankind.  He did not abandon John, but rather is heading out to save the lost.  Also, Jesus looking forward to salvation, knows that what must pass is His judgement of the whole world.  What we call Judgement Day.  On that day when John the Baptist is judged for heaven, and everyone who refused John’s preaching of repentance earns for themselves the judgement of hell and they when they complain to Jesus, Jesus will point to John the Baptist and say, “You refused his teaching, which is My teaching, and have earned for yourself hell by not repenting from your sins.”  As we prepare for the Great Fast this is what we are called to do and it is critical that it is to be done well, to honestly look in the mirror at our actions, emotions, and spirit, do we truly follow Jesus’s teaching or do we reject it?

From St. John Chrystostom’s Homily on Theophany…..

First of all therefore, it is necessary to say that there is not one Theophany, but two: the one actual, which already has occurred, and the second in future, which will happen with glory at the end of the world. About this one and about the other you will hear today from Paul, who in conversing with Titus, speaks thus about the present: “The grace of God hath revealed itself, having saved all mankind, decreeing, that we reject iniquity and worldly desires, and dwell in the present age in prudence and in righteousness and piety” — and about the future: “awaiting the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit 2:11-13). And a prophet speaks thus about this latter: “the sun shalt turn to darkness, and the moon to blood at first, then shalt come the great and illuminating Day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31). Why is not that day, on which the Lord was born, considered Theophany — but rather this day on which He was baptised? This present day it is, on which He was baptised and sanctified the nature of water. Because on this day all, having obtained the waters, do carry it home and keep it all year, since today the waters are sanctified; and an obvious phenomenon occurs: these waters in their essence do not spoil with the passage of time, but obtained today, for one whole year and often for two or three years, they remain unharmed and fresh, and afterwards for a long time do not stop being water, just as that obtained from the fountains.

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.

 

 Father I have a question, how long should I fast before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy in order to receive communion?  Let me begin by asking you a question, “How strong do you desire to be spiritually?”  Do you desire to be weak when the devil and demons attack or do you desire to strong enough  to resist on that evil day as St. Paul tells us?  If you desire to be strong you will exercise, just like an athlete exercises- by lifting heavier & heavier weights as you become stronger?  So God gives us three methods of exercising to grow in strength spiritually in the battle against Lucifer and demons-these exercises are prayer, fasting, and alms-giving.  So if you desire to be strong and you are fasting before the Sunday morning Divine Liturgy you would have nothing to eat or drink after dinner time Saturday evening.  If you desire to be weak, you will do nothing-simply eat breakfast before church Sunday morning.  In decades past, you have heard from Bishops that a minimum of three hours before the Liturgy is sufficient, and then a short time after you may have heard that one hour is sufficient.  The Bishops reduced it to this, claiming that fasting for the whole night was too difficult and they had to make it easier for people.    Even God is merciful and desires good things for you, he does not ask you to hurt yourself, He is instructing you how to live well.  If you are aged and need to eat or drink a small breakfast in order to take medicine, insulin, etc. out of necessity, then it is okay to do so.  Now that you are reminded that fasting is a way to grow in self- control and grow in virtue, you can choose for yourself, based on what you are able to do.  Just as a young athlete cannot lift the heaviest weights on the first day, neither can a person who has tried to fast in the past or exercise this practice, they will have difficulty fasting from the evening before, but if they begin to practice this, they would be able to accomplish it.  So I close with my opening question, how strong do you desire to be?

The Altar Candles for the month of January are requested by Helene Sirak IMO her son Michael.

The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Mariya Palashchuk  IMO Evhen Slobodian. 

CHURCH ENVELOPES:  The 2025 envelopes and calendars are available in the vestibule. If you do not see any with your name, please let David Youells or Michaelene Ostrum know and they will get them for you. 

THANK YOU:  Thank you to all who generously gave donations to the church this Christmas and throughout the year. God bless everyone with good health and many blessings in the New Year.

BLESSING OF WATER:   On Sunday, January 5^th at 4:00PM  in the evening, we will have the Vesperal Liturgy with the Blessing of Water in celebration of Theophany Eve. The Feast of Theophany is Monday, January 6th. Please remember to bring your containers in order to bring water home. Please note this is a Holy Day of Obligation.

CHRISTMAS SING-A-LONG:IT’S THIS SUNDAY!  ” YOU ARE INVITED to join Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish (WB) for their 30th Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along in the church at 635 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre,  Sunday, January 5th, 2025 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 welcome the Newborn Son of God into our hearts and homes.”

FEBRUARY 18, 2024

Saturday, February 17 – 4:00 PM – First Sunday of the Great Fast

  ✞ Anna Koprowski – Robert and Theresa Kporowski

Sunday, February 18 – 8:30 AM – First Sunday of the Great Fast

  Wednesday, February 21- 6:30 pm

    Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts – At Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish

    Friday, February 23 – 4:00 PM

    Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts – SS Peter & Paul Parish Plymouth 

All Souls Saturday, February 24  –  8:00 am at Transfiguration of Our Lord

    Saturday, February 24 – 4:00PM – 

   God’s Blessings, Natalia Becker – The Becker Family

  Sunday, February 25 – 8:30 AM – SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT 

   God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners  

The first Sunday of the Great Fast is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy. What do we mean by “orthodoxy”? The word “orthodoxy” stems from the Greek word “orthodoxia” (orthos=right; doksa=thinking) which signifies the True Faith and the true worship of God. The orthodoxy that we celebrate this Sunday is Universal (Catholic) Orthodoxy, professed by the entire Church of Christ of the first centuries in the battle against the heresy of Iconoclasm (Gr – eikon=image; klastes=a breaker; – an image breaking heresy). The Sunday of Orthodoxy is a festival for the whole Church, both Eastern and Western. It is the festive celebration of the decisive victory over Iconoclasm and other heresies.  Because God became man, we can write images of God, Jesus Christ.

The purpose of this feast is to pay solemn public homage and veneration to the holy icons of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Mother of God, and all the Saints. 

The Church of Christ deeply respects and honors the holy icons as it also does holy relics. She places them in church for public veneration and recommends that we venerate them privately in our homes, and wear small icons around our necks in the form of little crosses or medals. 

Remember, icons are story in image and the icon teaches us while also making present the person in the icon.  Icons are also windows into heaven. You literally see heaven when you peer into an icon.

SUNDAY LITURGIES DURING LENT:

WHY DO THEY SEEM LONGER?

Our Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church prescribes that the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is to be celebrated on all of the Sundays of The Great Fast, instead of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which is usually celebrated throughout the rest of the church year.  St. Basil’s Anaphora prayers are older and has longer priestly prayers than that of St. John Chrysostom Liturgy (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 on January 1^st.

When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, 

when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 

The Great Lesson 

A young girl named Sally, relates an experience she had in a catechism class, given by her teacher, who we’ll call Brother Smith. She says Brother Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.
  One particular day, Sally walked into class and knew they were in for another fun day.  On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Brother Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry . . . and he would allow them to throw darts at the person’s picture.
  Sally’s girlfriend (on her right) drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend.  Another friend (on her left) drew a picture of his little brother.  Sally drew a picture of Brother Smith, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing.  Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved.
  The class lined up and began throwing darts at the picture which Brother Smith put on the wall, with much laughter and hilarity. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Brother Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.
  As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn’t have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Brother Smith began removing the targets from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus . . .
  A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced out.
  Brother Smith said only these words, “In as much as you have done it unto the least of these my brothers, you have done it to Me.”
  No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ. The students remained in their seats…
even after the bell rang . . . then slowly left the classroom, tears streaming down their faces.
 

⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘

Turn to God when you become doubtful or discouraged.

Lord, Your love for me is so great that with this knowledge I am able to face my biggest challenges.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: No request for the Sanctuary light this week.

JANUARY 7, 2024

Saturday, January 6 THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD

8:30 AM ✞Mary Ann Youells – Jeanette Casterline

Saturday, January 6 SUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY

4:00 PM ✞Joyce Ultsch – George & Joanna Ultsh and 

        Richard & Kim Ultsh

Sunday, January 7          SUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY

8:30 AM                              ✞Mary Kulyn – the Udiski Family 

Saturday, January 13           SUNDAY OF ZACHEUS

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

Sunday, January14              SUNDAY OF ZACHEUS

8:30 AM                             ✞Vera Hubick – Lousie Hubiak  

 

sanctification of homes

    Among the various petitions mentioned in the blessing of water on the Feast of Theophany is the sanctification of homes. With this we see the exorcism of demons from the family’s dwelling, the “Domestic Church,” and we recognize the priest’s loving act of protection from demons and keeping a safe harbor of peace for all the parishioners in the home blessing.  We then recognize this is an act of profound love and is much greater than a mere duty or obligation upon the priest.  The parishioner’s wellbeing is entrusted to their pastoral care. Theologically speaking, the blessing of homes constitutes an invocative blessing, meaning that by his prayer and by the sprinkling of the Holy Water the priest invokes God’s protection upon the home and those living in it, God is truly present.

    As our souls become tainted by the sin, so also our homes, and those who enter into them, and consequently, lose God’s protective power because we have welcomed in Lucifer and his minions.  Every year, then, at the Feast of the Theophany, the homes should be blessed again to secure for them God’s blessings and protection.  Just as the faithful cleanse their soul of sin AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, and the church is blessed with the newly blessed water every year, so should the homes of the faithful be yearly blessed to invoke God’s blessings and protection on it and its inhabitants.

    As we renew the insurance on our home every year, so we should renew our love of God, and seek His protection and blessing, which is of greater importance and more effective. As we welcome our priest during the holy season of Christmas and Theophany to bless our home, let us be mindful that he is bringing to us the “blessing of Jordan,” and that unless God protect and bless our home, we “labor in vain.” 

   WHY DO UKRAINIANS CELEBRATE Christmas on January 7th rather than December 25th? Many people wonder why the Ukrainian date is thirteen days later and only a few people are aware that it is related to a change from the calendar which was in use two thousand years ago and it is NOT January 7^th but is in reality December 25^th.  This is about the Julian and Gregorian Calendars.

   Tradition (that which is handed forward) plays a great part in the lives of people of Ukrainian origin and it is for this reason that they have continued to celebrate Christmas on the old calendar that would have been observed by all Christians from the time of the Church Fathers. 

   In the late sixteenth century the Church recognized that the equinox have moved and was not occurring on the 21^st of March but on the 31^st, and hence the calendar had somehow shifted.  In order to “correct” this shift, in 1582 AD, Pope Gregory promulgated the rule to fix this shift for the whole Church.  Thursday 4 October 1582 was followed by Friday 15 October 1582.  The non-Catholic world did accept this “fix.”  Different nations accepted this correction many years later and at different times.  The corrected calendar called the Gregorian Calendar and the old, Julian.

SANCTUARY LIGHT:  The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of 

Jan. 6 – 13 by Michaelne Ostrum in memory of her brother Michael B. Sirak.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar Candles are requested to burn at all services for the Month of January by Helen Sirak in memory of her son Michael B. Sirak.

THANKS: Many thanks to all the parishioners who work to keep our parish together. No matter your contribution in helping, large or small, it is greatly appreciated..  May we all continue to work for the betterment of the Parish and have the faith to do so. God’s blessing on all those who served so faithfully.

DECEMBER 31, 2023

Saturday, Dec. 30 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS 

4:00 PM ✞ Michael Sirak – wife Helene Sirak

Sunday, Dec. 31 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS 

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

Monday, Jan. 1       THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD

8:30 AM          ✞ Charles Drazba – Chuck & Terry Pahler

  Anointing with Holy Oil (Myrovania)

Friday, Jan. 5         Eve of Theophany – Compline & Liturgy St. Basil

Blessing with Holy Oil (Myrovinya)

           3:00 PM          God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Saturday, Jan. 6      THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD – DAY OF OBLIGATION

8:30 AM          ✞ Mary Ann Youells – Jeanette Casterline

Blessing with Holy Oil (Myrovinya)

SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

Saturday, Jan. 6      ✞ Joyce Ultsch – George & Joann Ultsh; Richard & Kim Ultsh

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

                                Blessing of Water – Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

Sunday, Jan. 7              SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

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

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec.30 –Jan. 6 by Mariya Palashchuk in memory of Aniziza and Evgen Slobvdiya.

SYMPTHY: We extend our sincere Sympathy to Mariya Palashchuk whose mother was called to her eternal rest recently. May her memory be Eternal.

  SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

SUNDAY OF THE HOLY ANCESTORS

DECEMBER 24, 2023

4:00 PM ✞John Phillips – brother Peter Phillips 

Sunday, Dec. 24 SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS – HOLY ANCESTORS

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

✞Metropolitan Joseph Schmondiuk

CHRISTMAS EVE

3:00 Great Compline – Divine Liturgy Myrovania

Monday, December 25 Christmas Day Divine Liturgy – Myrovania

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

Tuesday, December 26 ~–  SYNOXIS OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

8:30 AM     Divine Liturgy – Myrovania

✞Mildred Kane – Udiski Family

Wednesday, Dec. 26 ST. STEPHEN, PROTOMARTYR

        9:00 AM       ✞Anna Koprowski – Jeanne Brozena

Friday, Dec. 29 The Holy Innocents 

        9:00 AM ✞Mary Ann Youells – Youells Family

Saturday, Dec. 30 

           4:00 PM                ✞Michael Sirak – wife Helene Sirak                    

Sunday, Dec. 31                       SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

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

Schedule for Transfiguration of Our Lord Sunday, December 24 Christmas Eve-Vigil of Christmas-LITURGY @ Ss. Peter & Paul 

Monday, December 25 Christmas Day 

10:30 AM Liturgy with Myrovania 

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 23 – 30 by Rosemarie Kachinko in memory of her parents John & Mildred Starzec.

BUILDING FUND: We received a  donation to the Parish Building Fund in memory of Vera Hubick by Richard & Nancy Wodartvyk. Your donation is greatly appreciated.

ENVELOPES: Your 2024 Church envelopes are available. Please use your envelopes to be credited in the Church Data Base. Your generous contributions is what will make the Church function and continue to progress. As you know the cost of all utilities are rising and rising and it does take money to furnish the parishioners with heat, air conditioning, water and all the necessities for keeping the Church going. If there is any change of address or telephone please put it on your envelopes so the data can be updated. If you can deliver envelopes to your friends, family or neighbors, please help to distribute them. Thank you. Do not use until the New Year. 

THANKS: Our thanks to all those who came out on Sunday afternoon to assemble the Nativity. We are grateful we still have people who can help with this beautiful Christmas Nativity and tree. God’s blessings of joy and happiness to all of you. 

DECEMBER 17, 2023

Saturday, Dec. 16 ~ 4:00 PM  ✞Peter Phillips – son Peter Phillips

Sunday, Dec. 17 ~ 8:30 AM        SUNDAY OF THE FOREFATHERS

God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS – 

                                    SUNDAY OF THE ANCESTORS  

Saturday, Dec. 23 ~ 4:00 PM        ✞ John Phillips – brother Peter Phillips

Sunday, Dec. 24 – 8:30 AM SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS – 

                                    SUNDAY OF THE ANCESTORS  

           God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Many things are possible for the person who has hope.

 Even more is possible for the person who has faith.

 And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. 

But everything is possible for the person who practices all three .

✠✠✠✠✠✠✠✠✠✠

Christmas Peace

In the heart of the Christ Child

Sparks the love we all can share

With the peace the world is yearning 

In its own vast heart to bear.

May the love He designs to give us

Fill our world with peace anew

As that grace sent from the Father

Like a warm refreshing dew.

May the peace brought by the angels

As they sing the glorious refrain

Fill our world and hearts with gladness

As we welcome Christ again.

Sr. Judith Piszyk, OSBM

A Touching Christmas Story

  I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the people to the toy department. Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys. And wondered if the grandkids would even play with them. 

   I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered whom the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt by name and said, “Are you sure I don’t have enough money” She replied a bit impatiently, “You know that you don’t have enough money for it. The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere that she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes. And then she left the aisle. The boy continued to hold the doll. 

  After a bit I asked the boy whom the doll was for. He said, “It is the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it.” I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said “No, Santa can’t go where my sister is…I have to give the doll to my Momma to take to her”. I asked him where his sister was. 

  He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, “She has gone to be with Jesus”. My Daddy says that Momma is going to have to go be with her. My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said, “I told my Daddy to tell Momma not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store”. Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he’d had taken at the front of the store. He said “I want my Momma to take this with her so she don’t ever forget me.” “I love my Momma so very much and I wish she did not have to leave me”. “But Daddy says she will need to be with my sister.” 

  I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very quiet. While he was not looking I reached into my purse and pulled out a handful of bills. I asked the little boy, “Shall we count that money one more time?” He grew excited and said, “Yes, I just know it has to be enough”. So I slipped my money in with his and we began to count it. 

Of course it was plenty for the doll. He softly said, “Thank you Jesus for giving me enough money.” Then the boy said “I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll so Momma can take it with her to give to my sister.” “And he heard my prayer, but he gave me enough to buy the doll and a rose for my Momma.” “She loves white roses so very much”. 

   In a few minutes the aunt came back and I wheeled my cart away. I could not keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl and the Mother was in serious condition. The family was deciding on rather to remove the life support. Now surely this little boy did not belong with that story. 

   Two days later I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later that day, I could not help myself and I went out and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home where the young woman was. And there she was holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll, and the picture of the little boy in the store. 

   I left there in tears, my life changed forever. The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming. And in a split second a drunk driver had ripped the life of that little boy to pieces. “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
  Submitted by:  John London

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week Dec. 16 – 23 in memory of Mary Ann Youells by her husband David Youells.

SYMPATHY: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family of Vera Hubick who was called to her eternal rest. Eternal Memory.  Vichnaya Pamyat!

BUILDING FUND: Our thanks for the donations received from Carole Kosek and M/M John Ostrum to the Parish Building Fund in memory of Vera Hubick. 

Your donations are greatly appreciated. 

NATIVITY SET UP: The men and women will be setting up the Nativity Set on this Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1:00 PM. Help is needed for this project. Please try to lend a hand. 

DECEMBER 3, 2023

Saturday, Dec. 2

       4:00 PM   ✞Ann Phillips – son Peter Phillips          

Sunday, Dec. 3         TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

Wednesday, Dec. 6 ST. NICHOLAS OF MYRA ARCHBISHOP

       0:30 AM      Myrovonia – (Anointing with Holy Oil)

✞Charles Drazba – Mary Oshirak

Saturday, Dec.9 MATERNITY OF HOLY ANNA

8:30 AM Myrovonia – (Anointing with Holy Oil)

✞Olympia Pasicznyk – Ss. Peter & Paul Women’s Society

Saturday, Dec. 9            

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

Sunday, Dec.10                SUNDAY OF THE FOREFATHERS

          8:30 AM               ✞John Phillips – brother Peter Phillips

        ☸☸☸☸☸☸☸

                                                       TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

Saturday 6:00 PM – Sunday 10:30 AM

  Nothing is ever quite as bad as it seems.  Call on God and then practice expectancy and optimism and things will turn out better than you expect.  Lord, thank You for tomorrow.

The Train of Life

Life is like a journey on a train…with its stations… with changes of routes…and with accidents!
At birth we boarded the train and met our parents; and we believed that they would always travel at our side. However, at some station our parents and loved ones will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey with ourselves and the fellow passengers. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant, i.e. our siblings, relatives, friends, children, and even the loves of our life. Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we don’t realize that they vacated their seats! 

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, dreams, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with the other passengers…requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will be called to step down. So, we must live in the best way possible – love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty — we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish yours to be a joyful journey on the train of life and salvation. Reap success and
give lots of love.
More importantly, thank God for the journey!
Lastly, I thank you for being one of the special passengers on my train!

THE FEAST OF THE CONCEPTION OF ST. ANN

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 the Most Holy Mother of God.” The Slavonic Typicons generally refer to it as the “Conception of Blessed Ann” or “The Conception of Holy Ann, when she conceived the Most Holy Mother of God.” 

In our Ukrainian Catholic Church the Synod of Lviv 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 Mother of God.”

The main theme of the liturgy of this feast was the miraculous event when Anna conceived the Most Holy Mother of God. This liturgy describes the grief and distress Joachim and Anna experienced because of their childlessness, and presents the fervent pray of Anna: “O Lord God of the heavenly Powers, “prays St. Ann, “You know the shame of childlessness, therefore, heal the pain of my heart and make this barren one fruitful…In response to her fervent supplication, an angel appears and announces the conception of the Most Pure Virgin Mary. “Your supplication,” says the angel, “has reached the Lord. Do not be sad, and cease weeping, for you shall become a fruitful olive tree, bringing forth a young shoot – a wonderful maiden, who will bring forth a flower – the Christ in the flesh, who will grant great mercy to the world.” 

Her parents rejoice over the wonderful news of this 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 immaculate conception whereas nine months later, minus one day, on the 8^th of September she appears among us in her glorious Nativity. 

SANCTUARY LIGHT: No request.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar Candles are requested to burn for the Month of December by Rose Marie Kachinko in memory of Ron Kachinko,.  

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Saturday, Nov. 18  

 4:00 PM   ✞Charles Drazba – Drazba Family

Sunday, Nov. 19   TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 

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

Tuesday, Nov. 21        ENTRANCE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD 

                                       ANOINTIG WITH HOLY OIL – MYROVANIA

  8:30 AM   ✞Fr. Henrique Fragelli – Fragelli and Becker Families

Thursday, Nov. 23      THANKSGIVING DAY

            9:00 AM       at Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke

Saturday, Nov. 25      

          4:00 PM           ✞Donald Magill –Anna Magill

Sunday, Nov. 26           TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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

✠✠✠✠✠

TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

                                   Saturday 6:00 PM ~ Sunday 10:30 AM

✠✠✠✠✠✠✠

Letting the past invade the present

robs you of the opportunity 

to fully seize upon the present

St. Phillip’s Fast
For Ukrainian Greek Catholics, the Fast in preparation for Jesus’s Birth has begun. It is called the St. Phillips Fast, because it begins the day after the Feast of St. Phillip the Apostle (November 14th). The Western Church’s Advent has as its source the same source as this fast, but instead it is the days of December. To prepare to meet our Lord and Savior on His birth, we are called to fast and do penance. We can Sanctify this time by spending time in His word, fasting, praying and being of service to those that need help (alms giving).  It is a wonderful time to remember the less fortunate, for Jesus Himself came to us in poverty.
I believe it is important whether you be either Western or Eastern Catholic to be mindful to use this time to prayerfully prepare for our Lord’s birth. It is too easy to get lost in all the baking and shopping that is done to prepare for this Holy Day, and loose sight of the “Reason for the Season”. Whether you are an Eastern or Western Catholic, may you have a blessed preparatory period for Our Lord’s birth.

On this Day of Thanksgiving Prayer

On this Day of Thanksgiving, may God rest your heart and mind, may He bless you and your family, and may He continue to extend His blessings upon our nation, guiding us by His Word. May He grant us patience and perseverance in the unexpected turns and tests of our age. May He impress upon us the spirit of our forefathers, their soul-deep craving for salvation, freedom, expressed with courage and wisdom, as we meet the challenges of our day.
Let us pray to Our Heavenly Father with true thankfulness not just today, but every day, not only in our triumphs, but also in our trials by acknowledging our utter dependence on Him to supply our wants and needs, for in Him we live and move and have our being. Even self-reliance is, at its root, reliance on Him.

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You’ve done
Especially for the gift of salvation in Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days

HAPPY & BLESSED

THANKSGIVING

 At Thanksgiving we tend to think of turkey,
With dressing, gravy and other fine food.
We want to watch football and visit friends.
Nothing wrong with that. All of this is good.

But is this what Thanksgiving is about?
Have we ever just looked at the word?
Thanksgiving strongly suggests giving thanks,
Not just celebrating and carving up the bird.

The Lord says, “Give thanks to the Lord”.
He is good. He has blessed us. He is great!
Okay now. Let’s bow in His presence.
Let’s give thanks, not just celebrate the date.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good
For His mercy endures forever Psalm 106:1

A THANKSGIVING PRAYER

Be thankful for family and friends

For all the bounty that God sends

Be thankful for the love and care

That delicious turkey for all to share

Be thankful not just for today 

But for each day God sends our way.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of November 18 – 25 by Becky Molecavage in memory of Dimitri Bencho.

RUMMAGE SALE: The Women’s Society wishes to thank all those who donated sale items, food and baked Desserts, Baskets, etc. for the success of the Rummage Sale. The two dates that the sale ran earned $7,544.56. The Basket Raffle amounted to $865. Bills must be paid.  It is a lot of work and most of it was done by the dedication of the Women’s Society women who worked diligently many hours. Nice job well done. The meeting held this past week reported the income and was voted to have $1000 sent to the Humanitarian Fund in Ukraine and $1000 toward the heating (energy bills) for the church and Hall. All the proceeds of the finances in the Women’s Society are used to purchase items when in need of for the Church and Hall.