Blessed Christmas 2018

Today, the virgin gives birth to one beyond all created essences, and the earth presents a cave to this God beyond our reach. All heaven’s angels join with the shepherds to sing his praises, and men of learning make their way to him with a star. For God eternal comes for all mankind as a newborn child. (Kondakion)

Merry Christmas!

Theophany Home Blessing 2019

The blessing of homes following the Theophany and Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 6) is a sacred and time-honored tradition of our Ukrainian Christian faith.

Please let Father Iura know if you want him to visit your home by giving him your name, address and phone number. He will schedule a time to visit.

Call Father Iura: 203-865-0388
Email Father Iura: stmichaels@snet.net

Parish announcements this week

Christ is born!

WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS! New parishioners are always welcomed in our parish. If someone wants to register with our parish please contact Father Iura Godenciuc at (203) 865-0388 or our financial secretary Natalia Chermak.

PARISH COFFEE HOUR: Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, coffee and hard rolls are available in the church hall.

VIGIL LIGHT: This week vigil light is offered to God’s greater glory by Luba Kopylec for a special intention.

From the Pastor

With the upcoming Holidays of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany our best wishes to our bishop, His Excellency Bishop Paul Chomnycky our Parishioners, Trustees, Choir Director  and members of the church choir, Altar Boys, Knights of Columbus members, Sestretsi members, all Ukrainian and American Organizations in our parish, all benefactors and  members of our parish that every day donate their time, work and money for good of our Church. May the new born Jesus Christ Bless our Parish.

Fr. Iura Godenciuc and Family

All donations and contributions must be received by Sunday, December 30, 2018 to be recorded on the annual statement for the year 2018.

If someone would like to buy a frozen pierogies (varenyky) during the week please call the rectory at (203) 865-0388.

PHILIP’S FAST, ПИЛИПІВКА, the period of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the Nativity/Theophany continues until Monday evening. Christmas eve is a day of abstinence (meat may not be eaten).

The annual St. Nicholas pageant will be held on TODAY (12/23) after the 2nd Divine Liturgy. All children are invited to meet with St. Nicholas on this joyous occasion.

Schedule for New Year, Holy Theophany and Christmas (Julian Calendar)

~New Year’s Day, January 1: 11:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy
~Holy Theophany, January 6: 9:00 a.m. Great Compline, 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy; 11:15 a.m. Great Sanctification of Water
~Christmas (Julian Calendar), January 7: 9:30 a.m. Great Compline 10:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

The Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Branch 108 New Haven and St. Michael Parish will be preparing a Prosphora —a traditional Ukrainian Christmas meal— on Sunday, January 20, 2019 after the only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30. Tickets are $20.00 for adults, free for students Ridna Shkola and altar boys. Tickets are on sale in the church hall every Sunday after both Divine Liturgies. Please buy tickets in advance.

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

PARISH COFFEE HOUR: Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, coffee and hard rolls are available in the church hall.

VIGIL LIGHT: This week vigil light is offered for God’s greater glory by Chris Komondy for the all deceased of Komondy family.

PHILIP’S FAST, ПИЛИПІВКА: the pre-Christmas fast which began on November 15 – the day after the feast of St. Philip – is a 40 day period of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the Nativity/Theophany cycle of the church year. It was once a period of strict fasting which has now been changed to a period of voluntary fasting and works of penance and charity.

The annual St. Nicholas pageant will be held on Sunday, December 23 after the 2nd Divine Liturgy.  All children are invited to meet with St. Nicholas on this joyous occasion.

From the Ukrainian Heritage Center(New Haven) 2018 Christmas Bazaar: The Ukrainian Heritage Center’s Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday, December 8, Sunday December 9, Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16 in the Heritage Center Gift Shop from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. This offers you an excellent opportunity to purchase, at very reasonable prices, the Ukrainian gifts and cards(for Christmas and other special occasions) that you would like to give to family members, friends, co-workers or teachers of your children. On Sundays only, please enter the Heritage Center through the front door of the building.

Update on parish property repairs: the parking lot between the Heritage Center and the church has been regraded for better drainage of water. The French curtain drain has been expanded an additional six feet and the roof drain in the back of the Heritage Center has been redirected into the expanded French curtain drain. This will help eliminate water in the Heritage Center basement. Finally, the parking lot has been painted with parking lines and no parking signs for everyone’s usage. This parking lot has four handicapped spaces assigned, one space customized for van access. Additional paving on the edge by the fence and new car stops are planned for the next summer. 

The Schedule for Christmas

Christmas, December 25

9:30 a.m. God with Us
(in English and Ukrainian)
10:30 a.m. The Divine Liturgy
(in English and Ukrainian)

New Years Day January 1, 2019

11:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great (in English and Ukrainian)

Holy Theophany, January 6

9:00 a.m. God with Us Lytija and the Blessing of Bread (in English and Ukrainian)
10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (in English and Ukrainian)
With the Great Sanctification of Water (in English and Ukrainian)

Christmas on the Julian Calendar, January 7

9:30 a.m. God with Us (in Ukrainian)
10:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy (in Ukrainian)

2018 Christmas Bazaar opens

The 2018 Christmas Bazaar Ukrainian Heritage Center

The Ukrainian Heritage Center’s Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday December 8, Sunday December 9, Saturday December 15 and Sunday December 16 in the Heritage Center Gift Shop from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. This offers you an excellent opportunity to purchase, at very reasonable prices, the Ukrainian gifts and cards (for Christmas and other special occasions) that you would like to give to family members, friends, co-workers or the teachers of your children.

On Sundays only, please enter the Heritage Center through the front door of the building.

Chrystos Razhdayetsya!

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS! New parishioners are always welcomed in our parish. If someone wants to register with our parish please contact Father Iura Godenciuc at (203) 865-0388 or our financial secretary Natalia Chermak.

PARISH COFFEE HOUR: Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, coffee and hard rolls are available in the church hall.

VIGIL LIGHT: This week vigil light is offered to God’s glory by the Czabala Family for God’s blessing and health for Brandon and Andrue Aponte.

Asleep in the Lord: +Wasyl Jureczko, please remember him in your prayers. Eternal Memory!

PHILIP’S FAST, ПИЛИПІВКА, the pre-Christmas fast which began on November 15 – the day after the feast of St. Philip – is a 40 day period of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the Nativity/Theophany cycle of the church year. It was once a period of strict fasting which has now been changed to a period of voluntary fasting and works of penance and charity.

Pyrohy Project: We will make Pyrohy on Saturday, December 15, 2018. We need your help to peel potatoes on Friday and to make Pyrohy on Saturday. Please come and help. See Walter Ushchak for more information.

If someone would like to buy a frozen pierogies (varenyky) during the week please call the rectory at (203) 865-0388.

STUFFED CABBAGE will be available for Christmas by calling the rectory at 203-865-0388 and placing your order for either buckwheat, meat or mushroom stuffed cabbage. Please see Fr. Iura for details.

Parish Council meeting was held on Monday, December 3, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Updates were given concerning the various ongoing projects in our parish. A round table discussion followed. The next meeting will be held on February 4, 2019. All parishioners are invited.

From the Ukrainian Heritage Center (New Haven) 2018 Christmas Bazaar:

The Ukrainian Heritage Center’s Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday, December 8, Sunday, December 9, Saturday, December 15 and Sunday December 16 in the Heritage Center Gift Shop from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. This offers you an excellent opportunity to purchase, at very reasonable prices, the Ukrainian gifts and cards (for Christmas and other special occasions) that you would like to give to family members, friends, co-workers or teachers of your children. On Sundays only, please enter the Heritage Center through the front door of the building.

Wasyl Jureczko fell asleep in the Lord

On Friday, November 30, 2018, Wasyl Jureczko  fell asleep in the Lord. He was 92 and a longtime and faithful member of the Parish.

The funeral arrangements for Mr. Jureczko:

The Wake at Lupinski Funeral Home, 821 State Street, New Haven, on Monday, 8 – 9:15 a.m.

The Funeral Liturgy will be served at 10:00 a.m. at the Parish. Burial at All Saints Cemetery.

Mr. Jureczko’s obit can be read here.

Please pray for the soul of Mr. Jureczko and his wife Mary who predeceased him, and for the comfort of his family and friends who mourn is passing. May Wasyl Jureczko’s memory be eternal.