Prophet Obadiah

We know nothing certain about the life of the Prophet Obadiah. The Synaxarion [the lives of saints] identifies him with the servant of King Ahaz, who left to become a follower of Elijah, but that is not possible, since Obadiah’s prophecy was against Edom, pointing to a time after the exile. He is one of several prophets commemorated in the Phillip’s Fast, and verse 21 can be related to the coming of Jesus into the world: “And deliverers will ascend Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingship shall be the Lord’s. (Obadiah 21)”

When our Lord was born, he was given the name “Jesus,” our Savior or “Deliverer.” The Greek text, however, is “men saved.” Certainly the wicked Herod thought him a king to rival him, and so persecuted the innocents of Bethlehem. Obadiah tells us that the Lord alone is our true king, who told Pilate at his trial, ““My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here. (John 18:36)”

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 11/19/17 24th Sunday after Pentecost —The Holy Prophet Obadiah; the Holy Martyr Barlaam
9:00 a.m. +Emilia Dubno requested by the Family
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Ephesians 2:14:22
Gospel: Luke 12:16-21, Tone 7

Monday, 11/20/17 Forefeast of the Entrance of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple; Commemoration of Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska, First Superior of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate
9:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 11/21/17 The Entrance into the Temple of our Most Holy Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Wednesday, 11/22/17 Post-feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God; The Holy Apostle Philemon and companions
9:00 a.m. +Ivan Sowa (Pan.) requested by Bohdan Sowa

Thursday, 11/23/17 Thanksgiving Day; Post-feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God
9:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 11/24/17 Post-feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God; The Holy Great-Martyr Catherine
9:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 11/25/17 Leave-taking of the Entrance of the Mother of God; Our Holy Father and Priest-martyr Clement, Pope of Rome
9:00 a.m. +Eugenia Kozak Harvey (4th Anniv., Pan.) requested by Carl Harvey

Sunday, 11/26/17 25th Sunday after Pentecost —Our Venerable Father Alypius the Stylite
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Ephesians 4:1:6
Gospel: Luke 13:10-17, Tone 8

Parish announcements this week

Christ is among us!

1. VIGIL LIGHT: This week vigil light is given to God’s glory offered by Mary Ann and Allan Yursha in memory of +Michael Kurylo.

2. AFTER DIVINE LITURGY: Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, coffee and hard rolls are available in the church hall.

3. 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 support.

4. PRE-CHRISTMAS FAST: The Philip’s Fast (Pylypivka), the pre-Christmas fast, begins today. The Church begins the Fast the day after the feast of the Holy and All-Praiseworthy Apostle Philip. The Fast is a period of 40 days of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the Nativity/Theophany cycle of the liturgical (Church) year. Historically, the Philip’s Fast (Pylypivka) was a period of strict fasting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday –days of strict fasting without meat, dairy products or oil (in Slavic countries). Now the bishops have indicated that the Fast is lessened a bit also to include fasting, works of penance and doing charitable work. BUT today we observe the Fast on Wednesdays and Fridays by an abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church teaches her faithful that “Penitential fasting practices, repentance and abstinence that aim to satisfy the sins committed and to achieve the highest level of perfection is the oldest tradition in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church” (CCEO: 882, §1). Recall, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church maintains that “Abstention from meat and meat products is to be observed on all Fridays of the year except for compact weeks, patronal feasts and the twelve major feasts” (CCEO: 882, §4).

Definitions: Abstinence means that we do not eat a certain type of food, for example meat and oil, or any other foods that have that as an ingredient.

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Philip’s Fast (Pylypivka) begins

The Philip’s Fast (Pylypivka), the pre-Christmas fast, begins today. The Church begins the Fast the day after the feast of the Holy and All-Praiseworthy Apostle Philip. The Fast is a period of 40 days of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the Nativity/Theophany cycle of the liturgical (Church) year.

Historically, the Philip’s Fast (Pylypivka) was a period of strict fasting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday –days of strict fasting without meat, dairy products or oil (in Slavic countries).

Now the bishops have indicated that the Fast is lessened a bit also to include fasting, works of penance and doing charitable work. BUT today we observe the Fast on Wednesdays and Fridays by an abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church teaches her faithful that “Penitential fasting practices, repentance and abstinence that aim to satisfy the sins committed and to achieve the highest level of perfection is the oldest tradition in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church” (CCEO: 882, § 1).

Recall, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church maintains that “Abstention from meat and meat products is to be observed on all Fridays of the year except for compact weeks, patronal feasts and the twelve major feasts” (CCEO: 882, § 4).

Definitions

Abstinence means that we do not eat a certain type of food, for example meat and oil, or any other foods that have that as an ingredient.

Fasting means that we eat less food. A general rule is that for a day of fast, the amount of food of the main meal is less than the other two meals combined.

Those exempt from fasting and abstinence are:

  • Children under the age of 14
  • Adults over the age of 60
  • those who are gravely ill
  • pregnant women
  • post-partum mothers
  • breast-feeding mothers
  • travellers (if travel time exceeds 8 hours)
  • those engaged in heavy labour
  • those who eat from the table of others
  • the poor who live from charity

On December 24, the Vigil of the Nativity, there is an abstention from meat, dairy and eggs, and foods that contain these ingredients.

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St Philip the Apostle

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls Phillip, who immediately follows him. He then brings his friend Nathaniel to Jesus, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth. (John 1:45)” This is the feast to begin our Christmas preparation. Phillip leads us to the one true Messiah, the child born of Mary in Bethlehem. The child “who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Phillipians 2:6-8) It was not until he was to be arrested and executed, that Phillip understood the totality of the mystery he discovered. At the Last Supper, Phillip asked Jesus, “Master, show us the Father,” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Phillip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) Every Christmas journey, we should become a more faithful follower of Jesus, especially in these days.

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Ukrainian Women’s League Christmas Bazaar 2017

The Ukrainian Women’s League of New Haven, Branch 108 will be holding their annual Christmas Bazaar on Sunday, December 10, Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17, after each Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. Baked goods and kytia will also be available. Donations of Ukrainian or holiday items would be greatly welcome.

For more information, contact  Anna Salemme (203) 934-6520 or Larissa Swartwout (203) 248-9767.

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 11/12/17 23rd Sunday after Pentecost —The Holy Priest-Martyr Josaphat, Archbishop of Polotsk
10:00 a.m. Lytija and Blessing of Bread with Anointing following the Liturgy
10:30 a.m.  For the people of the parish and for the deceased members of the Ukrainian-American Veterans

Epistle: Ephesians 2:4:10
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37, Tone 6

Monday, 11/13/17 Our Holy Father John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople
9:00 a.m. +Fr. Ivan and Sophia requested by the Walnycky Family

Tuesday, 11/14/17 The Holy and All-Praiseworthy Apostle Philip
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 11/15/17 The Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas and Abibus
9:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 11/16/17 The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 11/17/17 Our Holy Father Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea
9:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 11/18/17 The Holy Martyrs Plato and Roman
9:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 11/19/17 24th Sunday after Pentecost —The Holy Prophet Obadiah, the Holy Martyr Barlaam
9:00 a.m. +Emilia Dubno requested by the Family
10:30 a.m.  For the people of the parish

Epistle: Ephesians  2:14:22
Gospel: Luke 12:16-21, Tone 7

Parish announcements this week

Christ is among us!

1. WELCOME! 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. AFTER DIVINE LITURGY: Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, coffee and hard rolls are available in the church hall.

3. VIGIL LIGHT: This week vigil light is offered to God’s glory by the Bamber Family for the victims of the hurricane in Puerto Rico.

4. 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 support.

5. Helping At-Risk Pregnant Mothers

We are organizing a drive to collect diapers, seats, strollers and gift cards to be given to the St. Gianna Center of New Haven (www.gianna center .org). The Center says the diapers sizes 3, 4, 5, are in greatest demand. Please put a gift card in an envelop marked ”St. Gianna Center” and give it to directly Fr. Iura. Also, NEW car seats/ strollers are needed (sorry, old car seats/strollers can`t be accepted due to legislation). Your donations are greatly appreciated. Items can be placed in the labeled box at the entrance of the Church beginning on Sunday, November 19th. The St. Gianna Center is a ministry of Catholics in New Haven helping at-risk pregnant women and their children. The Generosity of the Center and its ability to operate relies directly upon the generosity of its benefactors. The mission of the Center relies on your kindness and prayers. Thank you!

6. Pyrohy Project: We will be making Pyrohy on Saturday, November 18th. We need your help on Friday to peel potatoes and Saturday to fill our orders. Please come and help. See Walter Ushchak for more information.

7. St. Michael’s Day: St. Michael’s day will be celebrated TODAY. After the Divine Liturgy, we will have a dinner and short program. All parishioners are cordially invited to this celebration. Tickets will be available through Luba Dubno. Tickets are $20.00 for adults, $10.00 for youth between 14-18. Free for students Ridna Shkola, altar boys and for children under 12. We will be running a raffle. If you would like to donate any items to be raffled, please bring them to our church hall on Sundays before our feast day. Also we ask to donate cakes for a desert.

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St. Josaphat at 85

On Saturday, 11 November, there was a Divine Liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome) over the tomb of St. Josaphat at the Altar of St. Basil the Great, as part of the festivities at St. Josaphat’s Pontifical Ukrainian College commemorating the 85th anniversary of its establishment and the Feast of St. Josaphat the College’s patron.rday, 11 November, there was a Divine Liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome) over the tomb of St. Josaphat at the Altar of St. Basil the Great, as part of the festivities at St. Josaphat’s Pontifical Ukrainian College commemorating the 85th anniversary of its establishment and the Feast of St. Josaphat the College’s patron.

The Roman Pontiff, Pope Francis, welcomed the bishops, monks, priests and seminarians from St. Josaphat’s Seminary to celebrate the Seminary’s 85th anniversary. The November 9th was covered by Vatican Radio (with an audio of the event).

May Our Lady of Tenderness continue to bless the work of the Seminary!