Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 7/09/17 5th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Romans  10:1-10
Gospel: Matthew 8:28-9:3, Tone 4

Monday, 7/10/17 Venerable Father Anthony of the Monastery of the Caves, Kyiv
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 7/11/17 Repose of Blessed Olga (Olha), Princess of Kyiv, named Helen in Holy Baptism
8:00 a.m. +Iwan Sowa (Pan.) requested by Bohdan Sowa

Wednesday, 7/12/17 Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilary
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 7/13/17 Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 7/14/17 Holy Apostle Aquila
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 7/15/17 Holy Grand Prince Vladimir (Volodymyr), Equal to the Apostles, named Basil in Holy Baptism
9:00 a.m. +Fr. Vladimir Levitzky (Pan.) requested by Joseph M. Levitzky

Sunday, 7/16/17 6th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Michael and Anna Lipcan requested by Barbara and Patrick Bagley
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Romans 12:6-14
Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8, Tone 5

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

1. WELCOME ALL NEW PARISHIONERS! New parishioners are always welcome in our parish. If someone wishes to join, please contact Father Iura Godenciuc at 203 865-0388 or our financial secretary Natalie Chermak at 203-468-0367.

2. The vigil light in the sanctuary is burning this week to the Glory of God in memory of Rodion Palazij offered by Dionizia Brochinsky.

3. ROOF REPAIR FUND: Please make a generous contribution to allow us to repair the leaking roof of the Church Hall and other roof structures adjoining the Church and the Hall. These roofs must be repaid to prevent serious water damage to our property and we cannot pay for them from regular weekly collection. Roof Repair Fund envelope are available in the vestibule of our church for your special sacrificial gift. Thank you for helping to keep our physical structures in good condition for our use today and for the next generation tomorrow.

4. K of C: The Knights of Columbus Blessed Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Ukrainian Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, July 10, 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 they do and what you can do with them for your parish.

5. FOOD DRIVE: Judy Ellis leads the mercy project which provides food items to the needy. 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. Thanks for your generous support.

6. Whale Watch Saturday, August 19, in Plymouth, MA: Carl Harvey is organizing this event. It promises to be a nice way to enjoy each other’s friendship and to appreciate nature. For more information, contact Carl at crharv3841@optimum.net OR at 203-389-6076 OR 203-530-8232.

7. UKRAINIAN DAY FESTIVAL: The 50th Anniversary Ukrainian Day Festival will take place on September 10, 2017, on the grounds of St. Basil Seminary, Stamford. The Festival will begin with Divine Liturgy at 11:00 a.m., to be followed by ethnic Ukrainian Foods and traditional BBQ foods. There will be a program of entertainment in the afternoon for all to enjoy. Please come and join us for this milestone event. Advance admission and raffle tickets are available for purchase in the church hall. Please see Luba Dubno if you wish to purchase tickets.

8. ANNUAL STAMFORD CHARITIES APPEAL: In the church vestibule are arranged the forms for the Annual Diocesan Charitable Fund. 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 contribution.

9. St. Michael’s and Social Media

The world of digital communication, with its almost limitless expressive capacity, makes us appreciate all the more Saint Paul’s exclamation: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). – Pope Benedict XVI, 44th World Communications Day message (2010).

St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church is committed to following the Church’s teachings on responsible social media usage, outlined in Social Media Guidelines from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Media Relations.

The purpose of the parish website, Facebook page and email list is to inform members of the community about events, programs, Divine Worship and prayer opportunities, and faith-formation opportunities at the parish and around the Eparchy. Like Saint Paul noted above, we too, are called to preach the Gospel. Succinctly, it is to keep up-to-date and inform readers about news and the work and mission of the Church. The prudent use of social media is to encourage respect, dialogue, and honest relationships, that is, “true Christian friendship.”

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Meeting with Blumenthal postponed

Christ is among us!
 
A meeting with the Honorable Richard Blumenthal, the senior US Senator of CT, oringinally scheduled for this Sunday morning, has been postponed until Sunday, July 16th at 11:45 a.m.
 
The Senator is working to aid severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers by providing advanced treatment for them in U.S. military hospitals.
 
Please join us on July 16th in the church hall.

Slaves of righteousness

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

St. Paul tells us, “Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:18)” Slaves? Slavery is a demeaning word. Are we slaves of God? Didn’t Jesus tell us, “I no longer call you slaves … I have called you my friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. (John 15:15) But listen carefully to what St. Paul says, “I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature. (Romans 6:19)” He is correcting our idea of freedom. We think freedom means freedom of choice – to decide to obey God or to sin. But to sin is to put ourselves into slavery to evil, and the only way to escape is to think of ourselves as slaves of God, for obedience brings life but “the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)”

Therefore, when we receive Holy Communion, the priest says, “The servant of God (name) receives … The Greek word for “slave,” which St. Paul uses is “doulos,” which means “slave” (in Slavonic, rab). The same word is used for both men and women, for we are all “slaves,” of God – in human terms – but “friends” in divine terms. We cannot and must not make ourselves slaves of what is sinful or evil. The centurion in the Gospel this Sunday understood this very well. He knew what it meant to give commands and to be obeyed and then to obey God. The centurion said, “For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it … “only say the word, [Master], and my servant will be healed. (Matthew 8:9)” Jesus marveled at his faith. Only faith in God and faithfulness to his word can bring us real and authentic freedom.

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost — Sunday of All Saints of Rus’ – the Ukraine

9:00 a.m.  For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m. +Emil Wysowskyj requested by Maria Wysowskyj

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

Monday, 7/03/17 Holy Martyr Hyacinth
8:00 a.m. +Ivan & Halyna Lobay requested by Maria Lobay

Tuesday, 7/04/17 Our Father Andrew of Jerusalemite, Archbishop of Crete
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 7/05/17 Venerable Father Athanasius of Athos
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 7/06/17 Venerable Father Sisoes the Great
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 7/07/17 Venerable Father Thomas of Maleum
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 7/08/17 Holy Great Martyr Procopius
9:00 + Maria Godenciuc, Anna Lupsac (Pan.)

Sunday, 7/09/17  5th Sunday after Pentecost, Holy Priest-Martyr Pancratius, Bishop of Tauromenia

9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Romans 10:1-10
Gospel: Matthew 8:28-9:3, Tone 4

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

1. WELCOME ALL NEW PARISHIONERS! New parishioners are always welcome in our parish. If someone wishes to join, please contact Father Iura Godenciuc at 203 865-0388 or our financial secretary Natalie Chermak at 203 468-0367.

2. Fallen Asleep in the Lord: Please remember in your prayers Bessie Pluskwik. May her memory be eternal!

3. FREEDOM PRAYER for the FOURTH OF JULY: O God our Creator, through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome — for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us — this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We ask this through Christ our Lord.

4. ROOF REPAIR FUND: Please make a generous contribution to allow us to repair the leaking roof of the Church Hall and other roof structures adjoining the Church and the Hall. These roofs must be repaid to prevent serious water damage to our property and we cannot pay for them from regular weekly collection. Roof Repair Fund envelope are available in the vestibule of our church for your special sacrificial gift. Thank you for helping to keep our physical structures in good condition for our use today and for the next generation tomorrow.

5. K of C: The Knights of Columbus Blessed Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Ukrainian Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, July 10, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Church Hall. Please note the change in date for July. All men of parish are invited to attend to see what the Knights are all about and what they do and what you can do with them for your parish.

6. FOOD DRIVE: Judy Ellis leads the mercy project which provides food items to the needy. 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.

7. Whale Watch Saturday, August 19, in Plymouth, MA: Carl Harvey is organizing this event. It promises to be a nice way to enjoy each other’s friendship and to appreciate nature. For more information, contact Carl at crharv3841@optimum.net or  at 203-389-6076 or 203-530-8232.

8. The 50th Anniversary Ukrainian Day Festival will take place on September 10, 2017, on the grounds of St. Basil Seminary. The Festival will begin with a Divine Liturgy at 11:00 a.m., to be followed by ethnic Ukrainian Foods and traditional BBQ foods. There will be a program of entertainment in the afternoon for all to enjoy. Please come and join us for this milestone event. Advance admission and raffle tickets are available for purchase in the church hall. Please see Luba Dubno if you wish to purchase tickets.

9. The Parish is seeking the professional services of a wall Plasterer and a Mason. To help with various repairs inside and outside the Church. If you know of anyone that does this kind of work, please bring it to the attention of the trustees. Thank you.

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Saints Peter and Paul

The Holy and Pre-Eminent Apostles Peter and Paul

Gods’ love, mercy and compassion shine forth most clearly in the feast of these two apostles. Peter was enthusiastic in his faith in Christ, “Peter said to him, ‘Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all the disciples spoke likewise. (Matthew 26:35)”

When the trial came, however, Peter did deny Christ three times, and all the apostles, except one, ran out of fear. Yet Peter wept for his weakness, and his weakness turned to strength, though not of his own human power, but by the grace of God. For when he confessed Jesus to be the Messiah, the Lord told him: “Simon Peter said … ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father,’ (Matthew 16:16-17) and it was on this rock of faith that the Church was established. Likewise, Saul closed his eyes to the truth, and persecuted Christians. But even as he was seeking Christians to persecute, the grace of God transformed his life, “On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do. (Acts 9:3-6)” It is the great Apostle Paul who later tells us: “[The Lord] said to me, ‘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)”

This is Christian faith: in weakness there is strength, in foolishness there is wisdom, in death, there is life. This the world does not understand. Today, as we honor these pre-eminent apostles, we, too, pray, “O God of mercy, love and compassion, give me the gift of your Spirit for strength in faith and hope and love, and that I may also show love, forgiveness and compassion to my neighbor.”

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Blessed Hieromartyr Nykyta Budka

Blessed Nykyta Budka is pictured as a bishop in the backyard of his residence-chancery in Winnipeg, Manitoba, circa 1920. Blessed Budka was the first Eastern Catholic bishop with jurisdiction in North America. (CNS photo/courtesy of Archives of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg) See BUDKA-BOOK March 26, 2015.
Blessed Nykyta Budka is pictured as a bishop in the backyard of his residence-chancery in Winnipeg, Manitoba, circa 1920. Blessed Budka was the first Eastern Catholic bishop with jurisdiction in North America. (CNS photo/courtesy of Archives of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg.)

Today, the Ukrainian Catholic Church honors the memory of Blessed Nykyta (Nicetas) Budka (1877-1949) in the Liturgy. He was a priest-martyr (hieromartyr) of the Church and St. John Paul II beatified him in 2001.

The Catholic Church in Canada remembers Blessed Budka on June 27, the day of his beatification along with other Ukrainians beatified. He died on 28 September 1949.

In history, Bishop Budka is an important figure in Ukrainian, Canadian, and Catholic history. His appointment, on 15 July 1912, was the first time the Church of Rome named an Eastern Catholic bishop with full jurisdiction outside of the old continent of Europe.

As such, he had concern, as an educator of the Ukrainian people who supported the aspirations of political and cultural freedom. He understood his mission was to sustain Canadian Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in their faith.

Bishop Budka attained from the government the recognition of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada as a legal entity. Facing the reality of assimilation –which could have meant the dissolution of the Byzantine Ukrainian Catholics– he encouraged his flock to become good Canadians and to be faithful to their Church. He also dedicated himself to preserving Ukrainian religious and cultural identity.

For 17 years the saintly bishop was a moral support and spiritually accompanied the many Ukrainians who suffered under oppressive Polish, Nazi and Soviet regimes. Together with his fellow Ukrainian Catholic bishops, clergy, religious, and laity, he was arrested, tried, and condemned by Soviet authorities. He died in a prison camp in far-away Kazakhstan.

Bishop Budka’s as a life of obedience, work, and love of the Lord Jesus Christ and God’s pilgrim people.

Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Hlib Lonchyna of London said Blessed Nykyta was an effective “silent witness,” despite his life being “a great failure” in human terms. His martyrdom, the ultimate witness, “shows how the cross of Christ is victorious.”

Third Sunday after Pentecost

On this Third Sunday after Pentecost, the Church proclaims the Gospel of Matthew (6:22-34). Let us seek the Kingdom of God –together.

Our Lord today confronts one of the dilemmas of human life: how do we gain control of our lives? A lot of people want maximum control, but Jesus points out the foolishness of this: “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life span? (v. 27) Of course, we should all strive for some control of our lives, as St. Paul tells us: “We boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope. (v. 4)” One of the problems of life, however, is that over-control weakens our faith in God, and trespasses on the welfare of others. One of the most obscene sayings of the present age is Frank Sinatra’s song, “I did it my way.” We don’t have absolute control, St. Paul tells us, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (v. 8) and Christ admonishes us, “Your heavenly Fathers knows that you need” food and drink and clothing. (vv. 31-32)

The resolution to this tension is at the end of the Gospel, in the teaching of our Lord, “Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be given to you besides. (v. 33) But what is the Kingdom of God. At his trial, Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. (John 18:36)” This does not mean it is somewhere up there in outer space, but that it is a voluntary sovereignty over our hearts. Governments must impose the laws by external force, they are not concerned with our souls, but the kingdom of God comes from our hearts and minds and souls. Only God can “control” our lives.

“Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.(Matthew 6:28-29)”

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras