Category: Mission

Children United in Prayer

The Stamford Eparchy is hosting an event for children on September 29, “Children United in Prayer.”

This program is being hosted at St Basil’s Seminary, Stamford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Josaphat at 85

On Saturday, 11 November, there was a Divine Liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome) over the tomb of St. Josaphat at the Altar of St. Basil the Great, as part of the festivities at St. Josaphat’s Pontifical Ukrainian College commemorating the 85th anniversary of its establishment and the Feast of St. Josaphat the College’s patron.rday, 11 November, there was a Divine Liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome) over the tomb of St. Josaphat at the Altar of St. Basil the Great, as part of the festivities at St. Josaphat’s Pontifical Ukrainian College commemorating the 85th anniversary of its establishment and the Feast of St. Josaphat the College’s patron.

The Roman Pontiff, Pope Francis, welcomed the bishops, monks, priests and seminarians from St. Josaphat’s Seminary to celebrate the Seminary’s 85th anniversary. The November 9th was covered by Vatican Radio (with an audio of the event).

May Our Lady of Tenderness continue to bless the work of the Seminary!

Mission Days –Ascension to Pentecost 10

Day 10 – Pentecost Sunday

Read: Gospel of John 7:37–52; 8:12

Prayer. Blessed are Your, O Christ our God who revealed the shermen as most wise by sending them the Holy Spirit; through them You caught the entire world. Loving Master, glory to You. (Troparion for Pentecost)

Missionary tasks.

1. Personal/Family. As we close these Mission Days let us look at the list of gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Let us ask ourselves: what gifts do I see in my family, what fruits have I brought over the past year.

2. Parish. Let us open our eyes to the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our parish community. In planning our parish life let us focus on the fruits of the Holy Spirit we would like to bring forth.

3. Beyond the parish. Let us teach ourselves to see our personal behav- ior and our entire life in the Christian community through the lens of mission: as an opportunity to bear witness to God’s love and goodness before others.

Mission Days –Ascension to Pentecost 9

Day 9 – Saturday

Read: Gospel of John 21:15–25

Prayer. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup over ows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 22(23))

Missionary tasks.

1. Personal/Family. This evening let us especially pray for our pastor or parish administrator and all our clergy, thank God for their ministry.

2. Parish. Let us give special attention to those in our Church who work in missionary territory or are engaged in various chaplaincies. Pastors, try to follow the work of the Pastoral-missionary department of the UGCC and inform our faithful about the life of our Church in those areas where we have no formal ecclesial structure.

3. Beyond the parish. Today-tomorrow let us make a donation to sup- port the missionary activity of our Church and our eparchy.

Mission Days –Ascension to Pentecost 8

Day 8 – Friday

Read: Gospel of John 17:18–24

Prayer. For You, Lord, are the help of the helpless, the hope of those without hope, the Savior of the storm-tossed, the haven of those at sea, the physician of the sick. Be all things to all people, O You Who know each one and their request, each household and its needs. Deliver, O Lord, this city (this village, this monastery), and every city, town and village, from famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasion and civil war. (Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great)

Missionary tasks.

1. Personal/Family. Over the past year how have I done good to a neighbor in need? As a family let us resolve to engage in some form of charitable works once a month for the benefit of someone who lives close and is in need.

2. Parish. Let us frequently inform our parishioners about di erent social ministry initiatives in our parish. Let us keep the community informed about parish members who are in need (especially the elderly who live alone). Let us encourage our parish youth to organize and implement some initiative for the bene t of the needy on the territory of our parish.

3. Beyond the parish. Let us look if among my neighbors there isn’t some individual or family that is in dire need. Let us try to help this person, these persons, with a kind word, with some concrete assistance.

Mission Days –Ascension to Pentecost 7

Day 7 – Thursday

Read: Gospel of John 16:23–33

Prayer. Remember, O Lord, the people here present and those who are absent for just causes, and have mercy on them and on us according to the multitude of Your mercy. Fill their store-houses with every good thing; preserve their marriages in peace and concord; nourish the infants, guide the young, strengthen the aged; com- fort the fainthearted; gather the scattered; bring back the wayward, and join them to Your holy, catholic and apostolic Church. (Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great)

Missionary tasks.

1. Personal/Family. Let us make an exam- ination of conscience regarding our personal prayer and our common prayer as a family. Today-tomorrow I will pray for the health and salvation of each family member, neighbor, friend, co-worker.

2. Parish. Let us nd some new way to advertise our parish services (bill-boards, social media, pamphlets…). Let is help parish prayer groups and additional members.

3. Beyond the parish. If we know someone who does not go regularly to church, let us invite them to join us. If they decline, let us ask them if we can pray for any special intention on their behalf.

Mission Days –Ascension to Pentecost 6

Day 6 – Wednesday

Read: Gospel of John 16:15–23

Prayer. In the morning, we were lled with Your mercy, and we rejoiced and were glad in all our days. Let us be glad in return for the days when You humbled us, the years when we saw evils. Look upon Your servants and upon Your work and guide their children. May the radiance of the Lord our God be upon us, and direct the work of our hands for us; direct the work of our hands. (Psalm 90(89):14–17)

Missionary tasks.

1. Personal/Family. Let us ask ourselves as a family, what have we done over the past year to help our parish grow. Let us go to our pastor and tell him what personal responsibility I am ready to take upon myself in the life of the parish.

2. Parish. Let us think about how volunteers are organized in our parish and what we might do better, so that our parishioners recognize their personal responsibility for the life of the parish community.

3. Beyond the parish. I will tell others what my responsibility is in the parish and why I go to my parish (what I like the most about it).

Mission Days –Ascension to Pentecost 5

Day 5 – Tuesday

Read: Gospel of John 16:2–13

Prayer. May our mouths be lled with Your praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Your glory. For You made us worthy to partake of Your holy divine, immortal and life-giving Mysteries. Preserve us in Your holiness that we may meditate all the day upon Your justice. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Missionary tasks.

1. Personal/Family. By ourselves or together as a family let us once again read His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s Pastoral Letter, “The Vibrant Parish: a Place to Encounter the Living Christ” (2011) and ask ourselves if anything has changed in our lives from that time.

2. Parish. Let us make an effort to ensure that our parishioners have access to a variety of good reading material. Let us take care that in our parish everyone can and something for his or her growth in understanding the truths of our faith.

3. Beyond the parish. Let us share His Beatitude’s Pastoral Letter on the “Vibrant Parish” with those who have never heard of it. If I have read some good book or seen a film with a positive religious theme, I will share it with others.