Christ is among us!
Note: There is no fasting in the week following the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee.
1. VIGIL LIGHT: This week vigil light is offered by Luba Romaniw for Special Intention.
2. AFTER DIVINE LITURGY: Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, coffee and hard rolls are available in the church hall.
3. PRAYING FOR ALL SOULS: Let us pray for our brethren that are at rest in Christ, that God, the lover of mankind, who has received his soul, may forgive him every sin, voluntary and involuntary, and may be merciful and gracious to him, and give him his lot in the land of the pious that are sent into the bosom of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, with all those that have pleased Him and done His will from the beginning of the world, whence all sorrow, grief and lamentation are banished.
The church sets aside certain days as “Saturday of the Souls”. In the Slav tradition we remember the Souls of our beloved dead beginning on the Saturday of Meat fare, and then on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of the Great Fast, and finally on the Saturday before Pentecost.
This year, in order to allow a great number of people pray to attend the Memorial Service for the Dead, we will offer our prayers at the conclusion of the Sunday Divine Liturgies.
If You wish to join in this prayer, please provide a list of names before the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, February 3. The other dates for Sorokousty are February 24, March 3 and 10 and May 19. Please take your book of names found at the entrance of the church (or ask Fr. Iura for a new book), fill it out, place it in envelope and drop it in the collection basket. The Holy Fathers were convinced that the commemoration of the departed by alms and sacrifices (Divine Liturgies) brings great comfort and benefit to them. Eternal Memory.
4. BLESSINGS OF HOMES: If you would like to bless your house please fill the form that are in the vestibule or call the rectory office.
5. KOLIADA: Dear parishioners, in the vestibule you will find special Koliada envelopes. If you would like to make a donation to the Koliada (Ukrainian Christmas Carols), please enclose your donation, write your name on the envelope and drop the envelope into the collection basket during the Divine Liturgies. Thank You!
St. Anthony the Great, also called St. Anthony the Abbot (though he was a hermit) and St. Anthony of Egypt is commemorated on January 17. He is identified as the founder of desert monasticism, though the story of his life, particularly how he met St. Paul of Thebes, who preceded him into the desert, is a study of the search for Christian perfection. This story tells how he heard the gospel about the rich young man, to whom Jesus said, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21). When Anthony heard this gospel, he immediately divested himself of all his possessions and went into the desert to seek Christian perfection. This is really the calling of all Christians, as Jesus commanded, “Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:47). For this we are baptized, that we might seek Godly perfection. St. Anthony imitated Christ when he heard this gospel, and just as Jesus went out into the desert after his baptism by John, in order to foil the wiles of Satan, so, too, does Anthony go to the desert to conquer the evil passions exploited by the temptation of the devil.
1 Timothy 4:9-16; Luke 19:1-10
Holy See Press Office Director Greg Burke issued a statement today, January 12, stating that Pope Francis has accepted an invitation from His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Archbishop Major of Kyiv-Halyč of the Ukrainians and, on Sunday, January 28 at 4 pm, will visit the Basilica of Santa Sophia in Rome and meet with the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic community.
On the weekly liturgical calendar for this week you may have noticed that today’s saints is Theodosius, the Venerable Father and founder of monastic life lived in community.
Remember us, O God; from age to age be our comforter. You have given us the wonder of time, blessings in days and nights, seasons and years. Bless your children at the turning of the year and fill the months ahead with the bright hope that is ours in the coming of Christ. You are our God, living and reigning, forever and ever. Amen.
Info for those attending the