Dialogue and unity: the mission of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Here is a summary of an article by Andrea Gagliarducci published by Acistampa in Italian on the recent meetings of representatives of the Synod of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome. The article is here. Thanks to Fr. Athanasius McKay for his notes.

“Pope Francis wants the Eastern Catholic Churches to grow, develop and flourish.” The Pope distinguished Eastern Catholic Churches from “Uniatism” as a method. Churches are not methods.

Instead of the old individual ad limina meetings, this represents a new methodology of the Pope and his curia meeting with the Major Archbishop and his synod together.

“It was clear to everybody that the war is a foreign aggression and that Ukraine is the victim.”

“The problem with ecumenism in Ukraine and in the whole territory of the ex-Soviet Union, is that decolonization has not yet happened. The Churches were often servants and instruments of the state authorities.”

“[our goals: the patriarchate, the beatification of Sheptytsky, etc.] are closer than they were three days ago.”

The Latin Church understands the concept of “Ecclesia particularis” as “local Church.” But at the meeting we had metropolitans from Canada, Brazil, USA, Poland. We are not a local Church but an “Ecclesia sui juris”, which is a global reality. This is a Byzantine concept of Catholic universalism.

“Metropolitan Sheptytsky was the first to fully realise the global nature of our Church. When he was metropolitan, our Church only had three eparchies in Western Ukraine. Now we have 34 eparchies throughout the world. It is also thanks to Metropolitan Sheptytsky, who was the first to make pastoral visits to the faithful throughout the world. We are harvesting the fruits that Metropolitan Sheptytsky planted.”

Divine Liturgy for this week

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 7/07, 4th Sunday after Pentecost —All Saints of Rus`-Ukraine
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m. +Maria Godenciuc, Anna Lupsac requested by the Godenciuc Family

Epistle: Romans 6:18-23
Gospel: Matthew 8:5-13, Tone 3

Monday, 7/08, The Holy Great Martyr Procopius
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 7/09, The Holy Priest-Martyr Pancratius
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 7/10, Our Venerable Father Anthony of the Monastery of the Caves in Kyiv
9:00 a.m. +Anna Vitenko Petrucci requested by Mary Stacken

Thursday, 7/11, Repose of Blessed Olga (Olha), Princess of Kyiv, named Helen in Holy Baptism
9:00 a.m. +Ivan Sowa (Pan.) requested by Bohdan Sowa

Friday, 7/12, The Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilary
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 7/13, Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 7/14, 5th Sunday after Pentecost —The Holy Apostle Aquila
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m. +Emil Wysowskyj requested by Maria Wysowskyj

Epistle: Romans 10:1-10
Gospel: Matthew 8:28-9:1, Tone 4

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

This week vigil light is offered to God’s glory by Chris Komondy in memory of all deceased of Komondy family.

For Panachyda service at other cemeteries please call the rectory 203-865-0388.

We have for sale frozen borscht for $5.00; cabbage and sausage (kapusta and kovbasa) for $10.00 and pyrohy (varenyky) in 2 dozen packages for $14.00. You can buy pyrohy after each Divine Liturgy or during the week if you call the rectory.

There are no Sestechi meetings scheduled for July and August, as we will be enjoying our summer vacation. The next meeting will be on September 8th.

LARKSPUR is the flower of the month of July and its meaning denotes Fickleness. Larkspur (Delphinium consolida) belongs to the buttercup family —Ranunculaceae. Larkspur flowers are almost as complex as the Orchids. The colorful Larkspur blooms cover a spectrum from white to blue to violet.

65th ANNUAL HOLY DORMITION PILGRIMAGE will be held on August 10-11 at the motherhouse of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Sloatsburg. This year’s theme is “Responding with the heart as did Mary and Josaphata”. The Sisters invite all our parishioners to attend! For information call: 845-753-2840 or www.ssmi-us.org

STAMFORD CHARITIES APPEAL
REMINDER: Please don’t forget to donate for Charities Appeal. The forms are designed for each family of our parish. Attached to the form is an envelope into which you can place your contribution. The form along with your contribution, we ask you enclose in the envelope and place it in the collection basket during church services. Please make check payable to the Byzantine Rite Eparchy of Stamford. DO NOT MAIL THIS FORM TO THE CHANCERY OFFICE. We sincerely ask all parishioners to make generous contributions.

The newly formed Facilities Maintenance Team of St. Michael’s schedules of work sessions for the entire year so that plans can be developed for doing all the projects and arrangements made for the purchase of required supplies and equipment. The usual time frame for the work sessions will run from 6:30 to about 9:30 p.m. All parishioners are invited to be a part of the team. Call Fr. Iura with your contact information.

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St Athanasius of Athos

On the liturgical calendar the Church gives us a venerable father, Athanasius of Athos.   His biography is interesting and useful (and a brief one follows) as it is hoped that it would assist all of us, clergy and laity alike, in following Christ more closely in the spiritual life. You may like to recall that among the many things about life in the monastery it is a more intense living of the Gospel and the tradition of the Church.

Athanasius was born near the Black Sea in 925. He was orphaned at a young age and taken to Constantinople, where he was exposed to education, imperial bureaucracy, and monasticism. He chose the life of the monk. After four years he was allowed to live in a hermitage. His hegumen appointed him spiritual father to his two nephews, Nicephoras, who was later to become emperor, and Leo. Athanasius knew that this would lead to unpleasant political entanglements, and he managed to escape to Mt Athos. At that time, the Holy Mountain was only sparsely populated by hermits. The emperor, however, discovered his whereabouts and became Athanasius’ patron. The hermit became hegumen with a cenobium chartered as a ruling monastery.

Since the task of leader was now unavoidable, Athanasius organized the lavra, adapting the Studite Typicon to his wilderness situation. In the years that followed, three other monasteries were built on Mt Athos, and Athanasius was made archimandrite over the entire peninsula. This enraged the old hermits who had settled there in hopes of preserving Athos as a desert in the primitive sense, and who wanted the territory free from the encroachments of the imperial establishment which the lavra represented. A few even attempted to murder Athanasius. Eventually, the hermits gave up the fight and took refuge on the ragged tip of Athos, where the stone mountain meets the sea. It is here that most of the Athonite anchorites live today. Athanasius died on July 5, 1003, when a stone cupola which was being built caved in upon him.

Athanasius began an era that made Athos a wellspring of monasticism, one which has lasted over a thousand years. Today there remain twenty monasteries, with numerous sketes and hermitages: an uninterrupted tradition witnessing to the strength, vitality, and variety of Eastern monasticism.

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Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 6/30, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost —The Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious and All-Praiseworthy Twelve Apostles
9:00 a.m. +Rosemary and Michael Waselik requested by the Family
Moleben to Jesus Christ

10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Moleben to Jesus Christ
Panachyda for +Bishop John Stock

Epistle: Romans 5:1-10
Gospel: Matthew 6:22-34, Tone 2

Monday, 7/01, The Holy Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers Cosmas and Damian
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 7/02, The Placing of the Precious Robe of Our Most Holy Lady and the Mother of God in the Church at Blachernae in Constantinople
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 7/03, The Holy Martyr Hyacinth
9:00 a.m. +Ivan and Halyna Lobay requested by Maria Lobay

Thursday, 7/04, Civil Holiday Independence Day –Our Father Andrew of Jerusalemite
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 7/05, Our Venerable Father Athanasius of Athos
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 7/06, Our Venerable Father Sisoes the Great
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 7/07, 4th Sunday after Pentecost —All Saints of Rus`-Ukraine
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m. +Maria Godenciuc, Anna Lupsac requested by the family

Epistle: Romans 6:18-23
Gospel: Matthew 8:5-13, Tone 3

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

This week vigil light is offered to God’s glory by Chris Komondy in memory of all deceased of the Komondy family.

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the celebration of my 25th Anniversary of Ordination.  Thank you to the clergy, who concelebrated the Divine Liturgy, the choir, our Church Societies and my wonderful parishioners. Also, thank you to all those who worked to make the reception a success. You all helped to make the day a truly memorable occasion, one which I will cherish in my heart forever. Fr. Iura Godenciuc

The next meeting of Knights of Columbus Blessed Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Ukrainian Council will be held on Monday, July 1st, 7:00 p.m. in the Holy Name Room. All men of the parish are invited to attend.

PYROHY SCHEDULE CORRECTION: September 7, 2019 will be the rescheduled date for the Stamford Ukrainian Day Festival preparation and September 14th, 2019 will be the rescheduled date for regular parish preparation. There will be many pierogies needed on both dates, so kindly bring a friend. Please mark these dates on your calendar. The pierogi page on the parish website is current. Thank you.

For Panachyda service at other cemeteries please call the rectory 203-865-0388.

We have for sale frozen borscht for $5.00; cabbage and sausage (kapusta and kovbasa) for $10.00 and pyrohy (varenyky) in 2 dozen packages for $14.00. You can buy pyrohy after each Divine Liturgy or during the week if you call the rectory.

STAMFORD CHARITIES APPEAL

REMINDER: Please don’t forget to donate for Charities Appeal. The forms are designed for each family of our parish. Attached to the form is an envelope into which you can place your contribution. The form along with your contribution, we ask you enclose in the envelope and place it in the collection basket during church services. Please make check payable to the Byzantine Rite Eparchy of Stamford. DO NOT MAIL THIS FORM TO THE CHANCERY OFFICE. We sincerely ask all parishioners to make generous contributions.

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Saints Peter and Paul –a holy day

The feast day for the Apostles of Rome and early founders of the Church –Saints Peter and Paul– is on Saturday, June 29.

The Divine Liturgy will be served at 9:00 a.m. in English and Ukrainian.

The Church’s spiritual tradition has us observing the Fast of the Holy Apostles (Petrivka) as a way to deepen our relationship with the Lord and His preaching of Salvation through the ministry of Ss. Peter and Paul. The Fast has been observed from Monday after All Saints Sunday until the feast day on June 29 (or July 12 – Julian Calendar).

As a Church we honor the memory of the chief apostles by attending the Divine Liturgy. The Bishops have designated this day as a holy day of love (obligation).

In our catechism, Christ Our Pascha, we read: “The apostles, Christ’s disciples, received the Word of God and proclaimed the good news about him to the whole world. They witnessed to Christ by the word of their preaching and by the example of their lives. The mission of the apostles was taken up by their successors, the Holy Fathers of the Church, who preserved and safeguarded the unbroken continuity of Apostolic Tradition by means of the episcopal succession down to our times.”

New Martyrs of Ukraine feast

Today is the feast of the New Martyrs of Ukraine

Blessed Bishop and Martyr Vasyl Velychkovsky, and companions, pray for us.

Troparion, Tone 7:
O blessed martyrs of Ukraine! * You did not tear apart the integrity of the Body of Christ, * but handed over your bodies to torment: * you did not submit to the flattery of the enemy, nor did you renounce our unity with Peter. * From your earthly homeland of Ukraine, together with the Universal Church, * receive the gracious gift of this ancient hymn: * “O holy martyrs, * you suffered gloriously and have received your crowns; * on our behalf entreat the Lord, ** to have mercy on our souls.”

(4 of those saints are former pupils of the Pontifical Greek College, Rome)

READ this article by our parishioner, John Burger…

George Weigel speaks at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Philly

Below you will find the link to George Weigel’s presentation on June 2, 2019 at the Hall of the Ukrainian Catholic Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia. The presentation was part of the enthronement ceremonies for Archbishop Borys Gudziak.
 
“The Catholicism of the future, whether it draws its liturgy, spirituality, and polity from the Christian West or the Christian East, will be a Catholicism that is deliberately chosen and embraced, not a Catholicism that is inherited. And Catholicism will only be chosen and embraced when it is offered and proposed. That means that this Archeparchy and its suffragans … must become once again a missionary enterprise: a Church in which everyone understands himself or herself to be a missionary disciple who was given the Great Commission at baptism; a Church in which every one of those missionary disciples understands that he or she is entering ‘mission territory’ every day—at home, at work, in the neighborhood, in our lives as citizens, and in our lives as consumers” (George Weigel).