When life gets busy there’s a way that we can doubt the integrity of our work and prayer — how they work together seamlessly. We can feel fragmented and doubt life’s essential unity, tempted to retreat from its challenge in favor of some sort of disincarnate contemplative ideal. But such an ideal seems foreign to the witness of Jesus, the Wisdom of God, who is the contemplative par excellence, and who teaches us that contemplative wisdom is neither detached from everyday life nor artificial. Being contemplative is being consciously connected to reality, all the while being mindful of the sacred presence that pervades each of our activities. From such a gospel perspective “action” and “contemplation” are not rivals, but facets of one reality. (NS)
Chrysostom on Mary
All the faithful come before you
Mary, look upon us
O Mary, mother of our God
Rejoice, O purest mother
Virgin, we beseech you Promise
We hasten to your patronage
When the angel came
Where our Mother reigns in.
New Britain Ukrainian Festival
Festival at St Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church
Saturday, September 21, 2019, 1:00pm-10:00pm, at Polanka-Falcon Field Farmington Avenue, New Britain, CT
Ukrainian Kitchen: (pierogies, stuffed cabbage, borscht…).
Featuring assorted Ukrainian, American, Polish Beers.
Concert, Dance & Zabava by Ensemble “Cheremosh”.
Ticket donation: Advance Sale $5.00 (12 and over).
Purchased at the Gate $8.00
I-84 to Exit 37 at end of the exit turn to New Britain.
Continue straight on Farmington Avenue for about ¾ mile.
Field is on left after Pulaski School.
For more information please call: (860) 225-7340.
The Sign of the Cross
Every time we sign ourselves with the holy Cross, saying “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” we profess that our salvation, accomplished on the cross by Jesus Christ, is the work of the Holy Trinity.
Christ Our Pascha, 626
(Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church)
Divine Liturgy for the coming week
Glory to Jesus Christ
Sunday, 9/15, 14th Sunday after Pentecost —Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Holy Great-Martyr Nicetas
9:00 a.m. +Michael Waselik (34th Anniversary) requested by the Family
10:30 a.m. For our parishioners
Epistle: Galatians 2:16-20
Gospel: Mark 8:34 – 9:1-26, Tone 5
Monday, 9/16, Post-feast of the Exaltation. The Holy, Great Woman-Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised
9:00 a.m. +Orest Dubno (40 Day Liturgy) requested by the Family
Tuesday, 9/17, Post-feast of the Exaltation. The Holy Martyr Sophia, and Her Three Daughters Faith, Hope and Love
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, 9/18, Post-feast of the Exaltation. Our Venerable Father Eumenes
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Thursday, 9/19, The Holy Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius, and Dorymedontus
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Friday, 9/20, The Holy Great-Martyr Eustathius and Those with Him
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Saturday, 9/21, The Leave-taking of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross; the Holy Apostle Condratus of Magnesia
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Sunday, 9/22, 15th Sunday after Pentecost —The Holy Priest-Martyr Phocas; the Holy Prophet Jonah
9:00 a,m. God’s blessings and health for Sophie DeCarlo (102th Birthday) requested by Judith Ellis
10:30 a.m. For our parishioners
Epistle: Second Corinthians 4:6-15
Gospel: Matthew 22:35-46, Tone 6
Parish announcements this week
Christ is in our midst!
This week’s vigil light is offered by Christopher Komondy in memory of All deceased members of the Komondy Family
September 7th marked the 35th Anniversary of the death of Patriarch Joseph Cardinal Slipyj in 1984. Please pray for the repose of his soul. Eternal memory.
A special Thank you to all the pyrohy workers who donated their time to make pyrohy for the Ukrainian Day Festival, to Luba Dubno for selling the admission and raffle tickets and to Joe Oleschuk for transporting the pyrohy to Stamford. Also thank you to all those who volunteered their time at the festival. Your dedication and hard work contributed to the success of the Ukrainian Day Festival!
The New School Year for Ridna Shkola (2019-2020) will begin on Saturday, September 21. The Divine Liturgy for teachers and students will be at 10:00 am. Please contact Halia Lodynsky at 203-494-6278 for any information. Thank you.
The Immaculate Conception Society (Sestretsi) is cordially inviting all St. Michael’s Parishioners and friends to attend its Lasagna Dinner to be held on Sunday, October 6, 12:00 noon, at our Parish church hall. Come to enjoy good food, deserts and the company of parishioners and friends. Tickets are $20.00 for adults and free admission to those under the age of 12. Tickets sellers will be announced at a later date. For more information see the Treasurer, Maria Sobko
We have for sale frozen pierogies (varenyky) 2 dozen $14.00, borsht $5.00, cabbage and sausage (kapusta and kovbasa) $10.00. You can buy after each Divine Liturgy.
PARISH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS: The Parish is currently seeking bids for the repaving of our parking lots, fence replacements, construction of a handicap ramp for the church hall, re-pointing and repair of the front steps to our church and sidewalk repairs. If you know of a contractor who you would like to bring to the Parish’s attention or if you are a contractor, please contact the rectory for bid information.
SEE SOMETHING – SAY SOMETHING: Dear Parishioners, the physical property of this Parish consists of five separate buildings. These buildings belong to you, take pride in them. If you see something broken or damaged, please pass the information on so that it can be fixed. Tell Father Iura, send an email to the Parish, or drop a note in the collection box at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, so that we can repair/fix what is wrong. Suggestions for improvement are also happily accepted. Thank you.
Bridgeport Parish Annual Picnic 2019
Exaltation of the Holy Cross 2019
Saturday, September 14, is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is a Fast Day with wine and oil permitted, so no meat, fish, eggs or dairy. Just a reminder. The faithful are obliged to attend the Divine Liturgy on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Divine Liturgy will be offered at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Blessed Feast!
Peace!
Introducing the NEW “God With Us Online”
Our parishioner John Burger writes on a NEW institute designed especially for those interested in knowing more about Eastern Christianity. John’s article:
All of the Eastern Catholic eparchies in the USA are supporting “God With Us Online” (http://easterncatholic.org).
The first FREE webinar is Wednesday, September 11, 8pm.
Register for the first webinar, “The Face of God: An Introduction to Byzantine Faith and Spirituality” — http://easterncatholic.org
The Nativity of the Theotokos and Us
“By Your Nativity, O Most Pure Virgin, / Joachim and Anna are freed from the reproach/disgrace of barrenness (ὀνειδισμοῦ ἀτεκνίας); / Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death. / And we, your people, freed from subjection to sin (ἐνοχῆς τῶν πταισμάτων), celebrate and sing to you: / The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life!” (Byzantine Kontakion-hymn of the Nativity of the Theotokos)
The services of the great feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, celebrated this Sunday (NC), are full of difficult theological concepts, like “corruption of death” and “subjection to (liability for) sin,” referring to our human state before Christ. Even more perplexing, perhaps, is the mention of Christ annulling our “curse” in another well-known hymn of the feast: “By annulling the curse (καὶ λύσας τὴν κατάραν) He bestowed a blessing, by destroying death, He gave us eternal life,” it says in the Troparion-hymn. What does it all mean?
I am given to understand the meaning of these terms first and foremost through a story. It is the personal story of Saints Joachim and Anna, and their “disgrace of barrenness” or “childlessness.” And here’s what their story teaches me: Before God intervened and stepped into our picture, they, like me, were unable to “live” to their full potential. Without the Source of Life stepping into our nature, separated from Him through “sin” (a loss of focus), and a “curse” (a loss of “blessing” or “ev-logia,” a “good word”), we are cut off from His creative energies, which allow us to become truly productive and truly human. He becomes human, through His Most-Pure Mother, so that I can become my true self, freed from paralyzing “barrenness” and capable of giving birth to His word in my world.
So today “the barren woman gives birth,” as He bestows His same blessing on an ever God-Bearing Church. Let me embrace this blessing, by the intercessions of the Blessed Among Women, amen!
Meditation by Sr. Vassa