Yesterday, Sunday, 19 February 2017, Senator Richard Blumenthal of the U.S. Senate, spoke with parishioners and others at St Michael’s regarding political and humanitarian crisis faced in the Ukraine viz. the aggression of Russia. The Senator has visited St. Michael’s Church before to speak on these matters.
You may read the New Haven Register’s article on the meeting.
In our preparation for the Great Fast, we must notice a theme emerging. In the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, the Pharisee was not justified because he failed to see the image of God in the tax collector. (“I thank you that I am not like this tax collector,” Luke 18:11). In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the older son was not justified because he failed to see the image of God in the prodigal returned home. (“But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him,” Luke 15:20). Today, in the final judgment, the Lord says to the condemned goats, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it (show charitable works of mercy) to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” (Matthew 25:45)” In the popular mind, Lent is a time for self-denial. Stop, that’s it. But why? Because if we do not deny ourselves, we cannot see the image of God in the other, in each and every other human being that he has created.
Possibly the Last Judgment was commemorated on this Sunday, because it is the conclusion of a “Church Year.” Next Sunday, Cheesefare Sunday, we begin again with the story of Adam and Eve and the Fall. The Great Fast is our journey through the Old Testament, which is concluded with the New Covenant: the Mystical Supper, the Crucifixion and the Glorious and Life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. We then see through the lens of the Resurrection how God’s plan is fulfilled in Christ in the Gospel of John the Theologian (until Pentecost), in the Gospel of Matthew (from Pentecost to the Exaltation of the Cross), and in the Gospel of Luke (from the Exaltation of the Cross until the Sunday of the Prodigal Son). Then tomorrow, we celebrate the last and final and eschatological mystery of the Final Judgment, in which God brings to completion and perfection the whole human story. That may be why, on the day before the Sunday of the Last Judgment, we remember the death of each human being, which is the completion and perfection of our own individual story and our inclusion in God’s ultimate divine plan. Interestingly, the Roman Church read the Gospel of the Final Judgment on the last Sunday before Advent, which began their liturgical year.
It was 125 years ago today that Patriarch Josef Slipyi was born in Zazdrist. Many understandably see him as a St John the Baptist figure: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness.” There is also the centenary of his priestly ordination at the hands of his mentor, Metropolitan Andrey Count Sheptytsky.
It is the hope that one day soon Slipyi is named a Confessor of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He spent 18 years in Soviet imprisonment (re-edcation) and was consecrated to the episcopacy by Venerable Servant of God Andrey Sheptytsky.
Senator Richard Blumenthal will address our Ukrainian Community on Sunday, February 19th, at 12 noon in St. Michael’s church hall in New Haven. He will provide an update on important legislation that he is sponsoring in the U.S. Senate in support of Ukraine.
The Senator will also discuss the current administration’s as well as Congress’s changing positions on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. All are invited to participate in the discussion.
Our KofC Grand Knight Hank Lindgren sent this picture of the renewed parish kitchen with this note:Please take a book found in the entrance of the church, fill it out. Place it in envelope, and drop it in the collection basket. Let us remember all our loved ones who have gone to their heavenly reward. Eternal Memory!
Note Well: The word Ukrainian word “Sorokousty” means “forty mouths” (sorok = forty; ust = mouth). Originally, this was a prayer service offered by forty mouths or by forty priests. Historically, families would honor their deceased by holding services for them in the cathedrals on the 3rd, 9th and 40th day after their death —with 40 priests celebrating the services. Today, Sorokousty is the service that honors the deceased and is offered during Lent.
4. All new announcements for upcoming events should be submitted to rectory office before Tuesday of the week prior to when the event is to be posted in the bulletin.
5. We have for sale stuffed cabbage with meat ($18 per dozen) cabbage with sausage ($6.00 per container).
6. SUMA Federal Credit Union, New Haven Branch, 555 George St., New Haven, CT. Business hours: From October 1,2007 Tues. 3:00pm to 7:00 pm., Sat. 9:00am to 12:30 pm . Phone (203) 785-8805; Fax: (203) 785-8677.
7. A parish work of mercy headed by Judy Ellis is to feed those in need. A container is in our church vestibule for non-perishable food. This collection is taken every week. Father Iura will distribute the food. Thank you for your generosity.
8. The Knights of Columbus Blessed Andrey Sheptysky will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, March 6, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. in the church hall. All men of parish are invited to attend to see what the Knights are all about and what can do for our parish.
This interview (2 February 2017) with His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav is required reading…
Robert Louis Wilken, former professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, will deliver a lecture on Monday, January 30th at 7:00 pm at St. Mary’s Church (5 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven) entitled, “Liberty in the Things of God: Christian Origins of Religious Freedom.”
THIS WEEKEND
1. The Ukrainian Ridna Shkola invites everyone to our annual Community Ukrainian Christmas Carol which will be held in St. Michael’s Church hall on Sunday, January 22 at 12:00 noon. All are welcome to participate in this wonderful tradition
2. The Ukrainian American Veterans Bishop John Stock Post 33 will hold its first meeting of the New Year on Sunday, January 22, 2017 beginning at 9:45 A.M. and ending 10:30 A.M. This time frame is between 1st and 2nd Divine Liturgy.
The meeting will be held in Classroom 2 and it will last no more than 40 minutes. Current members are asked to submit agenda items to the post Commander by the Sunday before the scheduled meeting. If you are a Ukrainian American that has served or are currently serving in the U.S. military, you cordially invited to attend this meeting and to consider joining the organization . For more information, e-mail the Post Commander, Carl R. Harvey: crharv3841@optimum.net.
THIS WEEK
3. All new announcements for upcoming events should be submitted to rectory office before Tuesday of the week prior to when the event is to be posted in the bulletin.
4. Ukrainian food items for sale
We have for sale stuff cabbage with meat ($18 per dozen) cabbage with sausage ($6 per container).
We will have frozen pyrohy for sale for as long as our supply lasts. See Walter Ushchak for the food after the 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy in the Church Hall.
5. St. Michael’s parish invites you to a Valentine’s Day lunch-dance on February 12, 2017 at 12:30 p.m. Live music and full dinner will be served. Tickets are $ 30.00 for adults, $20.00 for students and free for children under 12 years old.
6. SUMA Federal Credit Union, New Haven Branch, 555 George St., New Haven, CT. Business hours: Tues. 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Sat. 9:00am to 12:30 p.m.
Phone (203) 785-8805; Fax: (203) 785-8677.
7. A container is in our church vestibule for non-perishable food. This collection will be taken every week. Father Iura will distribute the food to those in need.
Thank you for your generosity. Judy Ellis is spearheading this parish initiative.
8. The Knights of Columbus Blessed Andrey Sheptytsky will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the church hall. All men of parish are invited to attend to see what the Knights are all about and what can do for our parish.