Parish announcements

Christ is among us!

This week the vigil light is offered to God by Catherine Kolesnik for a Special Intention.

Dear Parishioners: If you would like to have Confession or Holy Communion please call the rectory at 203-865-0388.

SOROKOUSTY will be celebrated on All Souls’ Saturdays on February 27th , March 6th, March 13th, and May 22nd . Please take your book found in the entrance of the church, fill it out, place it in envelope, and drop it in the collection basket. If you need a new book, ask Father Iura.

Dear Parishioners please close your phones during the Divine Liturgy. Your phones make our live-streaming difficult. Thank you!

We have frozen cabbage with sausage (kapusta & kovbasa) or only cabbage for sale in the church hall.

Every Sunday you can watch the Divine Liturgy streamed live on parish Facebook page at the 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy in English and again at the 10:30 a.m. in Ukrainian language.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelnewhaven

Dear Parishioners: I wish to express a special thanks to all of you. Despite the restrictions placed on your attendance at Divine Liturgy and the various special Liturgical celebrations, your attendance via Facebook, your responses, your thoughts and prayers, your support for parishioners in need as well as the continued financial support that you have mailed in to the Parish is greatly appreciated. Together with the help of God we will survive this National crisis and come out of it stronger than ever spiritually and emotionally. May God bless you all, Fr. Iura Godenciuc

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 2/07, Sunday of the Meat Fare
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46, Tone 3

Monday, 2/08, Holy Great Martyr Theodore
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 2/09, Holy Martyr Nicephor
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 2/10, Holy Martyr Charalampus
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 2/11, Holy Martyr Bishop Blaise
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 2/12, Holy Archbishop Meletius
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 2/13, Our Venerable Father Martinian
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 2/14, Sunday of the Cheese Fare
9:00 a.m. +Anna Lipcan (12th Anniv.) requested Barbara and Patrick Bagley
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Romans 13:11:14-4
Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21, Tone 4

World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly

Earlier today at the Sunday Angelus in Rome, Pope Francis announced World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly to be held on 4th Sunday of July, the Sunday closest to July 26th feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of Blessed Virgin Mary, grandparents of Jesus.

The first world day will be July 25, 2021. Ukrainian Byzantine Catholics liturgically recall St Anne’s memory on July 25th.

Online Bible Study: Gospel of Mark

Father Hryhoriy (Gregory) Lozinskyy, SSD, pastor of St John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, Trumbull, is offering a Lenten Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark.

Tuesdays at 7 p.m.: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6

Prior to each session Father Hryhoriy will send a youtube link to follow the class. This online study has both pastoral and academic goals since it is opened to the wider public. The goal is to present the beauty of the Scripture.

Details and registration: www.stjohntrumbull.org
Email to register and questions: stjohntrumbull@gmail.com OR call 203-377-5967

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 1/31, Sunday of the Prodigal Son — Blessing of candles
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Gospel: Luke 15:11-32, Tone 2

Monday, 2/01 /21 Holy Martyr Tryphon
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 2/02, PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD —Blessing of candles
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Wednesday, 2/03, Synaxis of the Holy Simeon and Anna
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 2/04, Our Venerable Isidore
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 2/05, Holy Martyr Agatha
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 2/06, Holy Father Bucolus
9:00 a.m. All deceased of parish —Sorokousty

Sunday, 2/07, Sunday of the Meat Fare
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46, Tone 3

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

CHRIST IS BORN!

Sunday, 1/24, Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for my children and grandchildren requested by Ihor Walnycky
10:30 a.m. For the parishioners

Epistle: 2 Timothy 3:10-14
Gospel: Luke 18:10-14, Tone 1

Monday, 1/25, Holy Gregory the Theologian
9:00 a.m. +Danylo Begej (Pan.) requested by Irene Morgan

Tuesday, 1/26, Our Venerables Xenophon and Mary
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 1/27, Transfer of the relics of John Chrysostom
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 1/28, Our Venerable Ephrem the Syrian
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 1/29, Transfer of the relics of the Martyr Ignatius
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 1/30, Three Holy Hierarchs
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Sophie DeCarlo requested by the Sestretsi

Sunday, 1/31, Sunday of the Prodigal Son — Blessing of candles
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the parishioners

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Gospel: Luke 15:11-32, Tone 2

Parish announcements

This week vigil light is offered to God by Margaret and Stuart Maybury in memory of Stuart and Adeline Maybury.

Dear Parishioners: If you would like to have Confession or Holy Communion please call the rectory at 203-865-0388.

SOROKOUSTY will be celebrated on All Souls’ Saturdays, February 6th, February 27th , March 6th, March 13th, and May 22nd . Please take your book found in the entrance of the church, fill it out, place it in envelope, and drop it in the collection basket. If you need a new book, ask Father Iura.

Dear Parishioners please close your phones during the Divine Liturgy. Your phones make our live-streaming difficult. Thank you!

We have frozen cabbage with sausage (kapusta & kovbasa) or only cabbage for sale in the church hall.

Every Sunday you can watch the Divine Liturgy streamed live on parish Facebook page at the 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy in English and again at the 10:30 a.m. in Ukrainian language.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelnewhaven

Dear Parishioners: I wish to express a special thanks to all of you. Despite the restrictions placed on your attendance at Divine Liturgy and the various special Liturgical celebrations, your attendance via Facebook, your responses, your thoughts and prayers, your support for parishioners in need as well as the continued financial support that you have mailed in to the Parish is greatly appreciated. Together with the help of God we will survive this National crisis and come out of it stronger than ever spiritually and emotionally. May God bless you all, Fr. Iura Godenciuc

The Jesus Prayer

The Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican is a fitting day for us to familiarize us with the Jesus Prayer. Father Iura spoke of the Jesus Prayer in today’s homily.

The Jesus Prayer
Alice Herro

Prayer, essential to Christian life, is one way we may communicate with God. It is the means by which we experience Jesus. Liturgical prayers conclude with the phrase, “through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” he name, Jesus, is at the heart of faith and prayer. It is through Jesus that heaven’s gates are open. It is in Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, that we ultimately return to the Father.

To early Christians, Jesus was not only a belief, but an experienced reality. Early Christians understood the healing, comforting power of the name, Jesus. From this understanding arose one of the earliest Christian prayers, the Jesus Prayer. It is simple, concise and direct, but rooted in the name of our Lord. It is an insistent prayer that can be said anywhere and anytime.

Jesus emptied Himself as His gift to us. Likewise, we return the gifts and empty ourselves as our gift to Him. How do we empty ourselves? How do we achieve this exchange of gifts?

Repeating the Jesus Prayer continuously is one way. With the Jesus Prayer, heart addresses Heart. Thus, the Jesus Prayer establishes communion between your heart and the Heart of Jesus. With practice, the Jesus Prayer will lead you into the Presence of Christ.

How does one pray continuously? A simple breathing technique will help sustain continuous repetition of the prayer:

~Inhale
~Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, (invocation)
~Exhale
~be merciful to me, a sinner. (petition)

Many people recite the Our Father on the crucifix, the Jesus Prayer on all the beads, and the Glory Be on the crucifix. Although the Jesus Prayer is traditionally recited, you may say any prayer, word or group of words. Whatever leads you into the Presence of Christ is correct. Examples beside the Jesus Prayer: + Glory be to the Father, etc.; + Jesus; + My Lord and my God; + Lover of mankind; + Blessed be God (or any of the Divine Praises).

Begin by reciting the prayer 100 times. That sounds like forever, but it’s just a few minutes. The Jesus Prayer rosary (sometimes called prayer rope) beads enable you to count the prayers “automatically” without thinking about numbers.

Ancient saints stood in an “orans” position: arms bent forward from the elbows, palms up, in a receptive position. However, you may elect to kneel, sit or lie on your back. You may be actively engaged in something as ordinary as washing dishes. Any position or any activity is correct as long as you can remain focussed, thus preparing yourself for the exchange of gifts. Recited repeatedly, the prayer will be naturally synchronized with your breathing. As you breathe and pray, one in concert with the other, you will begin to empty yourself, cultivating an inner stillness that makes room for the Presence of Christ. Continue this practice from time to time throughout the day. Summon the Holy Spirit for guidance and help. Try to increase the number of recitations as your focus permits. Persevere and the Jesus Prayer will not only become habitual and continuous; it will fill your heart.

The power of Christ transcends everything. In seeking Jesus you can receive peace and contentment, even in the midst of darkness and despair. However, when you pray the Jesus Prayer, do not focus on peace, contentment or any other intention. You won’t find them and you won’t find Jesus either. Rather, seek Jesus only and He will bless each person individually and accordingly.

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Resources for the Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican

Sunday, January 24, 2021 is the Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican. Here are the resources for sacred Scripture, Church teaching and reflection, and for the Divine Liturgy.

The reflections on the offering of the gifts (Proskomedia) is quite good as well as the video presentation on the Gospel. Be sure to listen the Resurrectional Troparion.

These resources are offered to you for your formation in the Catholic faith by deepening your appreciation of sacred Scripture and the Liturgy. Let us together pray for the renewal of our parish and Eparchy of Stamford.

Zacchaeus Sunday

”He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’ And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.’” (Lk 19: 1-10)

Zacchaeus, a despised tax-collector, did not feel “entitled” to meet the Lord, let alone receive Him in his house. But he also did not hide in his house, when Jesus was “passing through” Jericho, hoping just to catch a glimpse of the famous teacher from afar. And he didn’t hesitate to scramble up into a tree, to realize this humble ambition. Hence Zacchaeus’s great, life-changing joy at the Lord’s unexpected “Hello,” and politically-incorrect offering of fellowship to him, a despised tax-collector.

Humility does not feel “entitled,” when it comes to fellowship, be it with the Lord Himself, or with others. But humility also does not hide from fellowship in its own “house,” and embraces it joyfully when it is offered. That’s what I’m thinking, as we read this passage about Zacchaeus this upcoming Sunday, one week before the beginning of the “Lenten Triodion.” As Lent approaches, and I might find myself isolated in my “smallness of stature” with respect to the Lord and others in His vicinity, let me venture out of the “house” of my own head, and become a bit more open to Him and others. Let me “come and see,” wherever He happens to be “passing through” my neighborhood, this upcoming Lenten season. Because our Lord is a Lord Who tends to surprise those of us who venture out to catch a glimpse of Him, beyond our humble expectations.

Meditation by Sister Vassa, SEOD

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