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.

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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:
 
https://aleteia.org/2019/09/09/eastern-catholic-spirituality-featured-in-free-online-courses/?fbclid=IwAR3bGecBGYod7cIusLLFhipi18GsacZApQ8Ai-QdKHJYzdi2Ok4zdokko8Q
 
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

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 9/08, 13th Sunday after Pentecost —Birth of the Holy Theotokos
9:00 a.m. For our parishioners
10:30 a.m. God’s blessings and good health for Fr. Stepan and Orysia Yanovski requested by their children

Epistle: Galatians 6:11-18
Gospel: John 3:13-17, Tone 4

Monday, 9/09, Post-feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God; the Holy and Righteous Forebears of God Joachim and Anna
9:00 a.m. God’s blessings and good health for Vasyl and Nadia Ivantsiv requested by Natalia Chermak and Family

Tuesday, 9/10, Post-feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God; the Holy Martyr Menodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 9/11, Post-feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God; Our Venerable Mother Theodora of Alexandria
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 9/12, Leave-taking of the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God; the Holy Priest-Martyr Autonomus
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 9/13, Commemoration of the Dedication of the Holy Church of the Resurrection of Christ Our God; the Fore-feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 9/14, The Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
9:00 a.m. +Dario Aponte (Pan.) requested by the Family

Sunday, 9/15, Sunday after the Exaltation
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, Tone 5

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

This week’s vigil light is offered to God’s glory by Mary and Michael Muryn in memory of all the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on our country. May their souls rest in peace, Eternal Memory!

CONGRATULATIONS to Fr. Stepan and Orysia Yanovski on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary which was celebrated last week. Congratulations as well to Vasyl and Nadia Ivantsiv on the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary which was also celebrated last week. May God continue to shower them with His choicest blessings for long life, health and happiness. Mnohaya lita!

During my vacation, you can call Fr. Stepan Yanovski 203-468-0367, or Fr. Ivan Mazuryk 203-367-5054. Blessings, Fr. Iura Godenciuc

The next meeting of Knights of Columbus Blessed Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Ukrainian Council will be held on Monday, September 9th, 7:00 p.m. in the Holy Name Room.

The Connecticut State Ukrainian Day Committee wishes to invite all parishioners to attend this year’s Ukrainian Day Festival to be held TODAY. The Festival will be held on the grounds of St. Basil’s Seminary, 161 Glenbrook Rd., Stamford. Advance general admission tickets are $5.00 per person, 12 and over and are available from Luba Dubno. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $10.00 per person. We also have raffle tickets for sale 5 tickets $5.00. This festival can exist only if volunteers sign up during the day to help out. Please make that effort to volunteer.

Our next pyrohy project for regular orders will be September 14th. We need your help on Friday, September 13 to peel potatoes and Saturday September 14 to make pierogies (varenyky). Please come and help. Due to recent legislation, we will no longer be providing plastic bags. Please bring your own shopping bag. Thank you, Walter Ushchak

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

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Volunteers needed for Ukrainian Day

Christ is in our midst!

Volunteers are needed for the Ukrainian Day on Sunday at St. Basil’s Seminary.

The Committee will submit letters for students for Community Hours. Please call Gloria Horbaty to volunteer or for information 203-269-5909/cell 203-508-0306.

The committee is in need of help in the following areas:

Outside Serving Area:  12:30 – 2:30   (need 4)

Cashiers – Outside Kitchen Area:  12:00 – 2:00;   2:00 – 3:30;   3:30 – 5:00,   5:00 – 6:30  (need 2 each hour)

Beer Stand:   11:30 – 2:00;   2:00 – 3:30;   3:30 – 5:00;   5:00 – 6:30  (need 2 each hour)

Raffle Stand:  after 1:00 (one hour shifts)

Moon Walk:  after 1:00   – Middle and High School students

Note:  Advance Admission ($5) and Raffle Tickets ($1 each; $5/book) are still available at the New Haven Ukrainian Credit Union from Larissa Swartwout.

St Moses the Prophet

Today we celebrate St Moses the Prophet, according to tradition was born a Jew in Egypt at a time when the Jewish population was enslaved to the Egyptians. Moses was abandoned by his mother only to be adopted by the Egyptian royal family. Eventually Moses was called by God to be a leader to the Jewish people, interceding for them before Pharaoh, demanding their liberation, “Let my people go!” What followed is one of the earliest recorded campaigns of mass unarmed resistance in history. Trusting not in force of arms, but in the Lord, the Jewish people prayed, and God delivered them. They won their freedom, but it was not given easily. They marched out of Egypt in search of a promised land, but Pharaoh and his army followed, only to be once again routed by the work of God.

Moses then became the great lawgiver and one of the earliest monotheists, carrying down the commandments from the Lord’s mountain: Do not worship other gods. Do not lie. Do not kill. These words, and the example of liberation on which they are borne have forever changed society.

(Hagiography: In Communion)

How to celebrate the New Year in Faith

The previous post (see below) speaks of the new liturgical year. It’s a new year of Grace. Here are some suggestions as to “dig into our new year.”

~Build and/or grow the icon corner in your home

~Make it church frequently as possible

~Pray with Scripture, start with the Gospel of Matthew, reading only a paragraph at a time

~Give yourself an hour of quiet time —without cell phone or TV/radio/computer

~Engage in Byzantine prayer practices

  • pray before and after meals
  • say the Jesus prayer several times a day: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”
  • say thank you to God upon waking and before closing your eyes at bedtime
  • get a Byzantine Hours prayer book and use it

~Do spiritual reading

~Do something charitable for someone in need.