Welcome!

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Whether you are visiting us for a brief time, looking for a new parish community, are returning to the practice of your Catholic faith, or are interested in finding out more about the Eastern Catholic Church, we’re happy to have you here.

St. Michael’s is a faith-filled people of the Ukrainian Catholic tradition. We strive to make the Divine Liturgy the heartbeat of our faith community and we stand ready to bear witness to the Lord with our life. Saint Michael’s is a parish rooted in Jesus Christ, active in our love of neighbor, on the path toward salvation in the Holy Trinity.

Join us today in supporting the St. Michael’s Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief Fund!

Your gift today will provide food, medical supplies, clothing, and items for children. These items will all be immediately distributed, and 100% of your gift will go directly to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. No amount is too small.

Eastern Christianity at the papal funeral

The Eastern Catholic patriarchs sing the Panikhida prayers at Pope Francis’s funeral. The heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches were also present at Pope Benedict’s, St John Paul II’s and St John XXIII’s funeral.

The presence of Eastern Christianity –Catholic and Orthodox– demonstrates eloquently the universality and diversity of the Universal Church, a church breathing with both lungs.

The youngest cardinals

The youngest cardinals at the Funeral of Pope Francis:

Left is Cardinal Américo Aguiar, Portugal, 51; Cardinal Mykola Bychok CSsR, Melbourne, 45; on the right is Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, IMC, Mongolia, 50.

Cardinal Mykola Bychok is the Eparch of the Ukrainian eparchy, Melbourne, Australia.

Photo courtesy of Cardinal Mykola Bychok.

Easter’s 8 weeks

The Pentecostarion lasts 8 weeks from Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord to the First Sunday after the Pentecost or Sunday of All Saints.

Pope Francis dies at 88

Statement of Kevin Cardinal Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on the death of Pope Francis:

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

Adrian Walter Lodynsky fell asleep in the Lord

Adrian Walter Lodynsky fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

He was born on May 16, 1957 to Vlodko (Walter) and Nadia Lodynsky.

Adrian was christened at St Michael’s where he spent his life.

Halia, his wife of many years survives Adrian.

The arrangements are noted here.

In Christian charity please remember Adrian and his family in prayer.

May Adrian’s memory be eternal.

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Christ is risen!

Sunday, 4/20, Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ
—Blessing of Artos, Anointing (Myrovann) and Blessing of Easter Foods
9:15 a.m. Procession and Paschal Matins
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts 1:1-8
Gospel: John 1:1-17, Tone 8

Monday, 4/21, Bright Monday
10:00 a.m. Special Intention

Tuesday, 4/22, Bright Tuesday
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Jacek Smigelski requested by Maria Wysowskuj

Wednesday, 4/23, Bright Wednesday and Holy Glorious Martyr George
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Thursday, 4/24, Bright Thursday and Holy Martyr Sabbas Stratelates
9:00 a.m. +Sofia Brodycz (Pan.) requested by Hanya Salemme

Friday, 4/25, Bright Friday and Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark
9:00 a.m. +Vladimir Stadnicki (Pan.) requested by the Stadniski and Altrui Families

Saturday, 4/26, Bright Saturday and Holy Hiero-martyr Basil
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Iuliana Godenciuc

Sunday, 4/27, Thomas Sunday
—Distribution of Artos and Anointing
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts 5:12-20
Gospel: John 20:19-31, Tone 1

Parish news

Christ is risen!

This week vigil light is offered by the children in memory of Roman and Joanna Oleschuk.

Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, a social hour with coffee and hard rolls and assorted snacks are available in the church hall. Please feel free to join us.

The traditional Easter parish “SVIACHENE” will be held on May 4, following the Divine Liturgy. We will celebrate only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. We will be running a raffle. If you would like to donate any items to be raffled, please bring them to our church hall on Sunday, May 4. Tickets are $35.00 for adults, $15.00 for youth from 12 to 18. Free for altar boys, and under 12. Also, we ask you to donate cakes for desert. We trust that all parishioners will join this parish gathering and through their presence attest to cherishing in our hearts a love for one another which builds our PARISH FAMILY. We will not sell tickets at the door. All profit is to cover the expenses of church hall renovation.

The Panakhyda Service at the gravesites will take place on Saturday, June 7, at 11:00 a.m. at All Saints Cemetery and Sunday, June 8, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Lawrence Cemetery. Please call the rectory office for appointment.

On Sunday, May 11, Mother’s Day, we will celebrate only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. in English and Ukrainian languages and after the Divine Liturgy the Knights of Columbus members and male from our Parish invites all women in the church hall for luncheon and celebration Mother’s Day.

Our local Andrey Sheptytsky Knights of Columbus Council here at St. Michael’s is looking for a few good men. Please join us in our work to support our parish, provide aid to war-torn Ukraine, and work for the betterment of our community. For further information please contact Myron Melnyk: mmelnyk@yahoo.com or (203) 397-2087.

The Lord’s Decent into Hell

From An Ancient Homily on Holy Saturday: The Lord’s Decent Into Hell

Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.

Great and Holy Saturday

In the tomb with the body and in Hades with the soul, in Paradise with the thief and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit, were You, O boundless Christ filling all things.

— Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom