October meeting of the Ukrainian-American Veterans

The October meeting of the Ukrainian-American Veterans Bishop John Stock Post 33 of New Haven will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2018. We will begin the meeting immediately after the second Divine Liturgy. The meeting will be held in Classroom 2. For more information, contact the Post Commander at 203-389-6076 or crharv3841@optimum.net

Ukrainian National Home Oktoberfest

The Board of Directors of the Ukrainian National Home cordially invites Members and Guests to an Oktoberfest-German Food from Eastside Restaurant-New Britain CT

Friday, October 12, 2018 from 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm at the Ukrainian National Home, 961 Wethersfield, Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114

Enjoy October with friends at the club!

phone: (860) 296-5702

website: http://www.ukrainiannationalhome.org

The Holy Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus

The Byzantine Church discerns three apostles named James: James the Greater, the son of Zebedee; James, the Brother of the Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem; and James, the son of Alphaeus. We celebrate the feast of the latter today. He is the James about which we know the least. The only mention of him was in the lists of the Twelve Apostles. Some speculate that he was the James mentioned by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:7, “After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,” but commentators even doubt that was this James, also called “James the Lesser.” However, it does point to the mission of the apostles, which was to proclaim the risen Lord, a message which has resounded throughout the ages to this very day.

For in today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about his apostles, “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me” (Luke 10:16). The apostles, who ran when Jesus was led to crucifixion, nevertheless were courageous in preaching his gospel, and paid a great price, “God has exhibited us apostles as the last of all, like people sentenced to death, since we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and human beings alike. We are fools on Christ’s account, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are held in honor, but we in disrepute” (1 Corinthians 4:9-10).

St. Paul said we must imitate the apostles, for we, too, must be willing to become “fools” for the sake of the resurrection, but the promise is great, as Jesus said, ““I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will” (Luke 10:21).

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Holodomor Remembrance New York City Bus Trip

Holodomor Remembrance New York City Bus Trip
Saturday, November 17, 2018

Bus Itinerary

Pickup —9:30am-Ikea Parking Lot (rear)-Brewery Street, New Haven

Arrival —12noon -Drop off-East Village-2nd Avenue and East 7th Street, New York City

Agenda

12:00 noon-3:00pm —Ukrainian Museum 222 East 6th Street
-Adults-$8.00/Seniors and Students-$6.00

3:00pm —Pick Up and Drop off-East Village to St Patrick Cathedral, Fifth Avenue (Between 50th and 51st Street New York City)

4:00pm —Holodomor Memorial Service at St Patrick Cathedral

6:00pm —Pickup to return to New Haven

Adults $40.00 per person
Students $20.00 per person

To reserve seats, please contact ASAP:

Maria Antonyshyn 203-795-6959

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Our Lord is the Life-giver. The gospels record Jesus’ presence at baptisms and weddings, but never at a funeral, for death cannot remain in the presence of the Giver of Life. Today Jesus comes upon a funeral in the village of Nain, it seems almost accidently and by chance, though nothing ever happens totally by chance. Jesus stops the funeral and raises up the young man, the only son of a grieving widow.

The Gospel continues the theme of last Sunday, “Be merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful, for today Jesus raises the young man, “When the Lord saw (the widow), he was moved with pity for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you, arise!’” (Luke 7:13-14). Here Jesus has compassion on the love of a mother for her child. Today is a prayer for a mother’s love, especially for mothers pregnant with unborn children, that they may bring them to life. Today shows us also the God’s giving of life is not only for the future world but begins here and now.

As we receive Communion, the priest says, “The servant of God receives the precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and life everlasting.” We are in the presence of the Lord, therefore in the presence of life. Jesus teaches, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly  (John 10:10).

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Natalie Fedoriw-Cybriwsky Asleep in the Lord

On Wednesday morning, October 3, 2018, Natalie Fedoriw-Cybriwsky, fell asleep in the Lord. She was 96 years old.

The wake Tuesday, October 9, 2018, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Panachyda will be at 7 p.m.

Lesko and Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, Fairfield, CT.

The Funeral Liturgy will be at the parish on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 10 a.m.

You may read the full obituary here: https://leskopolkefuneralhome.com/tribute/details/321/Natalie-Cybriwsky/obituary.html#tribute-start

Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

May the Holy Theotokos assist Natalie before the Throne of Grace.

May Natalie’s memory be eternal.

Protection of the Theotokos

There is only one God, one Creator, one Savior, one Redeemer. Yet this one God has chosen to be friends with his creation. As St. Paul told us, he humbled himself to become a man, like us in every way except sin. There are many ways he could have become a man, but he chose to be born of a woman who in her human nature, accepted completely the will of God, so that through her God could enter into our time and our story. Then, at Cana, it was his mother, a woman, who by her plea, guided God to make wine out of water, telling the stewards, and through them, saying to all of us, “Do whatever he tells you.” 

Today, we rejoice and celebrate in this human being, who through her will, God intervened in human life to bring us salvation. This is why we can celebrate her protection, why we can sing, “Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us,” and why we can even pray, “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” Glory to God, who has made us partakers in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

October Prayer Intention of Pope Francis

The Intention:

That consecrated religious men and women may bestir themselves, and be present among the poor, the marginalized, and those who have no voice.

In your daily prayer, pray for this intention.

(“The Holy Father has entrusted these intentions in a particular way to the Apostleship of Prayer, an organization that works to encourage Christians to respond to the Pope’s appeal and to deepen their daily prayer.”)

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Read: 2 Corinthians 11:31-12:9; Luke 6:31-36

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus commands us, “Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:47). In Luke’s Gospel, he commands, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Mercy, therefore, is perfection. How, indeed, can we, weak and finite human beings achieve “perfection.” How can we keep God’s command.

St. Gregory of Nyssa pondered that problem and asked that question. His response was, that perhaps consists in this: constant growth in the good. It might seem that God is asking the impossible of us today, “love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back.” This goes against every human instinct, yet this is what God demands, for this is how God is merciful. That God is merciful appears on every page of the Scripture, and we pray constantly, “Lord, have mercy.” We cannot ask God’s mercy unless we are merciful. Perhaps the answer to this problem is the same as perfection: we must constantly grow in mercy. If we do not, then we grow in hate. In we seek revenge and retribution, then pain and hate simply grow and grow in a circle of mutual destruction. God’s command is ultimately the only logic of a God who has created all things and loves all.

Today, we must do the impossible, today we must become a Christian, through God’s help. St. Paul tells us that we need God’s grace: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras