Watch this informative interview with His Beatitude, the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk, about the situation in Ukraine:
Senator Blumenthal addresses congregation
After the Divine Liturgy Senator Richard Blumenthal addressed the congregation on his work for Ukraine and against V. Putin.
Meat-Fare Sunday
This weekend is meat-fare Sunday, one of our preparation for the season of Lent.
Fr James Graham, writes:
…today’s reading from his first letter to the Christian community in Corinth, St Paul talks about fasting and freedom. But he doesn’t focus on what we should fast from or on when we should fast. Instead, he talks about fasting in terms of our love and responsibility for one another. We don’t fast because we’re ignorant or afraid of God. We don’t fast to punish or hurt ourselves, or because we like suffering. We don’t fast because the rules prescribe fasting and it would be a sin to break the rules. We do fast from certain foods and behaviors so that we don’t tempt or mislead others, who might not be as strong as we are.
In St Paul’s time, the problem was eating meat that had been sacrificed to pagan gods, to idols. By eating the meat, people would be joining in the worship of the false gods—or at least it would look like that. In fact, St Paul says, it wouldn’t matter, because the idols are not real gods and have no power. But people who don’t have strong faith wouldn’t understand that, and they would think it was OK to worship idols even if you claimed to be Christian. So it will be best for all Christians not to eat the meat sacrificed to idols.
In our own time, of course, we don’t have to worry about meat that has been sacrificed to idols. But there are other kinds of false gods that we can be tempted by—our own pride, our own appetites, our own laziness, our own attitudes and desires—the kind of thinking that says, “I like to eat meat, and I know it wasn’t offered to an idol, so I can eat it any time I like.” But does that help us to focus on God’s goodness in our lives? Not really. Our laziness leads us astray; we don’t need anybody else to do it.
Divine Liturgy for the coming week
Glory to Jesus Christ
Sunday, 2/23, Sunday of the Meat Fare
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish —Prayer Service for victims of war in Ukraine
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2
Gospel: Luke 25:31-46, Tone 7
Monday, 2/24, the Commemoration of the First and Second Finding of the Head of St John the Baptist
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Natalie Chermak requested by the Chermak Family
Tuesday, 2/25, the Holy Patriarch Tarasius
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Fr. Stepan Yanovski and family requested by Anna Salemme
Wednesday, 2/26, the Holy Porphyrius, bishop of Gaza
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing & health for Adrian Lodynsky reuested by Anna Salemme
Thursday, 2/27, the Holy Confessor Procopius
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Liubomyr, Natalie, Stephanie & Melania Chermak
Friday, 2/28, the Holy Confessor Basil
9:00 a.m. +Teodor Czabala requested by Mr and Mrs Victor Czumak
Saturday, 3/1, the Holy and Venerable Martyr Eudokia
9:00 a.m. For all deceased of the Parish -Sorokousty
Sunday, 3/2, Sunday of the Cheese Fare
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m. +Teodor Czabala requested by Matejko, Larissa and Ronchuk Rabarsky
Epistle: Romans 13:11-14-4
Gospel: Matthew 6:4-21, Tone 8
Parish news
Christ is among us!
This week vigil light is offered by Anna Matus for God’s blessing and health of family.
Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, a social hour with coffee and hard rolls and assorted snacks are available in the church hall. Please feel free to join us.
A Prayer Service will be held on Sunday, February 23rd to honor the victims of this war and to pray for a just and lasting peace. A Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at the parish. Congressionsal and community leaders will be in attendance. Please join us.
Our local Andrey Sheptytsky Knights of Columbus Council here at St. Michael’s is looking for a few good men. Please join us in our work to support our parish, provide aid to war-torn Ukraine, and work for the betterment of our community. For further information please contact Myron Melnyk: mmelnyk@yahoo.com or 203-397-2087.
SOROKOUSTY will be celebrated in All Souls’ Saturdays, March 1, March 15, March 22, March 29 and June 7. Please take a book found at the entrance of the church, fill it out, place it in envelope, and drop it in the collection basket. Let us remember all our loved ones who have gone to their heavenly reward. Eternal Memory!
For sale: frozen pyrohy $18 -2 dozen packages; stuff cabbage with meat $20.00 per container, stuff cabbage with mushrooms $15.00 per container, borsht $7.00 per container, ceburek $7.00 each by preorder.
FOOD DONATIONS: A container is in our church vestibule for non-perishable food. Please give generously new items within the expiration date. These items will be given out to the poor in our community. Thank you for your generosity and support.
War Dog: A Ukrainian War Documentary
Saturday, March 15th 2pm at the Willoughby Wallace Library,
146 Thimble Island Road, Branford, CT.
Friday, March 21st 7pm at the Ukrainian Heritage Center,
5 Commerce Drive, Cromwell, CT.
Saturday, April 5th 1pm at the James Blackstone Librar,
758 Main Street, Branford, CT.
Hope that you will be able to attend one of these sessions. Please share information (poster attached) with friends who might be interested in attending. Admission is free; donations accepted.
Divine Liturgy for February 23
In observance of the 3rd Anniversary of the Russian Invasion we will have one (1) Divine Liturgy in English and Ukrainian on Sunday, February 23 at 10:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy for the coming week
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Sunday, 2/16, Sunday of the Prodigal Son
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Gospel: Luke 15:11-32, Tone 6
Monday, 2/17, Holy Great Martyr Theodore
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, 2/18, Holy Leo the Great
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, 2/19, Holy Apostle Archippus
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Thursday, 2/20, Our Venerable Father, Leo Bishop of Catania
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Friday, 2/21, Our Venerable Father Timothy
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Saturday, 2/22, Finding of the relics of the Martyr Eugenia
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Sunday, 2/23, Sunday of the Meat Fare – Prayer Service for victims of war in Ukraine
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46, Tone 7
Parish news
Christ is among us!
This week vigil light is offered by Chris Komondy for all people in Ukraine.
Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, a social hour with coffee and hard rolls and assorted snacks are available in the church hall. Please feel free to join us.
A Prayer Service will be held on Sunday, February 23rd to honor the victims of this war and to pray for a just and lasting peace. Only one (1) Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at the parish. Congressional and community leaders will be in attendance. Please join us.
Our local Andrey Sheptytsky Knights of Columbus Council here at St. Michael’s is looking for a few good men. Please join us in our work to support our parish, provide aid to war-torn Ukraine, and work for the betterment of our community. For further information please contact Myron Melnyk: mmelnyk@yahoo.com or 203-397-2087.
SOROKOUSTY will be celebrated in All Souls’ Saturdays, March 1, March 15, March 22, March 29 and June 7. Please take a book found at the entrance of the church, fill it out, place it in envelope, and drop it in the collection basket. Let us remember all our loved ones who have gone to their heavenly reward. Eternal Memory!
For sale: frozen pyrohy $18 -2 dozen packages; stuff cabbage with meat $20.00 per container, stuff cabbage with mushrooms $15.00 per container, borsht $7.00 per container, ceburek $7.00 each by preorder.
FOOD DONATIONS: A container is in our church vestibule for non-perishable food. Please give generously new items within the expiration date. These items will be given out to the poor in our community. Thank you for your generosity and support.
Divine Liturgy for the coming week
Christ is born!
Sunday, 1/26, 36th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Fr. Stepan Yanovski
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 1 Timothy 1:15-17
Gospel: Luke 18:35-43, Tone 3
Monday, 1/27, Our Venerable Father Euthymius the Great
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy scheduled
Tuesday, 1/28, Our Venerable Father Ephrem the Syrian
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy scheduled
Wednesday, 1/29, Translation of the relics of Ignatius
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy scheduled
Thursday, 1/30, The Three Holy Hierarchs
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Olia Markiw and family requested by the Yanovski Family
Friday, 1/31, Holy Cyrus and John
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy scheduled
Saturday, 2/1, Holy Martyr Tryfon
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy scheduled
Sunday, 2/2, Sunday of Zacchaeus—The Presentation of our Lord
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 1 Timothy 4:9-15; Hebrews 7:7-17
Gospel: Luke 19: 22-40, Tone 4