Humanitarian aid news and list of current needs

Dear Friends,

We have formed The New Haven CT Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund which is a non-profit organization (pending IRS approval). As we have been since the beginning, we are made up of volunteers who receive absolutely no financial benefit.

The core of our group stems from leadership at St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Ukrainian American Veterans (Bishop John Stock Post 33), and the Knights of Columbus Council 16253, all of New Haven, Connecticut. We work closely with Father Roman Manulak, a priest with a team of people receiving and distributing the aid we send.

We supply humanitarian aid to people in Ukraine impacted by the war and in need, completely free of charge. Every dollar donated goes toward helping people in Ukraine.

Financial donations
NEW online platform for donations: https://app.autobooks.co/pay/nhct-ua-ha-fund

Would you consider making your donation today a recurring monthly donor in any amount?

You may send a check to:

Checks payable: NHCT UA HA Fund, Inc
Memo: Humanitarian Aid

Humanitarian Fund
St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church
569 George Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Thank you very much for supporting our work sending aid to Ukraine.

Items needed

This week an advisory committee spoke with our man in Lviv, Father Roman, who shared some current needs for the soldiers, active and wounded. The following are the current needs:

  1. Dried, high protein souls and breakfast oatmeal. Stuff that you can add hot water, mix and eat. There’s a lot of nutritious foods available that are dried. Look for a good amount of protein.
  2. NEW Mens underwear, tee shirts, and tube socks. NEW Men’s pajamas.
  3. Diapers for children and for adults. Lots of wounded people.
  4. For the wounded: sterile gauze, nitrile gloves, AND stuff that make up a first aid kit.

We cannot accept clothing items except for what is noted above.

New Volunteering hours and collection drop:
Tuesdays from 5-7 pm, working in the church hall.
Saturdays from 8-11 am, working in the church hall.

Three Holy Hierarchs

Happy Feast – Three Holy Hierarchs

To settle a dispute in the 12th century over whether Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzus or John Chrysostom was the preeminent church father, it was decided to show the senselessness of such argument by celebrating all three together. Emperor Alexius Comnenus chose this date.

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 1/29, Sunday of the Publican and Pharesee
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle 2 Timothy 3:10-15
Gospel: Luke 18:10-14, Tone 1

Monday, 1/30, The Three Holy Hierarchs
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and heath for Jaroslaw Paluha

Tuesday, 1/31, Cyrus and John, selfless physicians
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 2/1, Holy Martyr Tryphon
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 2/2, The Presentation of Our Lord
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health of John, Mark Buciak and Cathy requested by Cathy Kolesnik

Friday, 2/3, Synaxis of Simeon & Anna, prophets
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 2/4, Our Venerable Isidore
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 2/5, Sunday of the Prodigal Son
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: 2 Timothy 3:10-15
Gospel: Luke 18:10-14, Tone 1

Parish announcements

Christ is among us!

This week vigil light is offered by Larisa Kerenycna in memory of Hanna Yarmolenko and all the deceased of the Yarmolenko family and Michael Harasymiv and all deceased members of Harasemiv family.

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 203-865-0388.

If you would like to have a Confession, Holy Communion or prayer of the sick at your house or nursing home, please call the rectory at 203-865-0388.

Sorokooutsy (All Souls Saturdays) will be celebrated on Saturdays, February 18, March 4, 11, 18 and May 27. 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!

The Lviv Symphony Orchestra is currently touring in the U.S. On Monday, February 13th this renowned orchestra will perform at the Jorgensen Center at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. The concert begins at 7:30 PM and will feature violinist Solomia Ivakhiv. Artist of Ukraine, and Head of Strings in the music department at UCONN. The program will feature works by Ukrainian composer Evhen Stankovych and Ludwig van Beethoven. Flyers are available in the vestibule.

Tantsi —Ukrainian Folk Dancing for older kids, 6 and up, started on Friday, January 20, with a Parent Meeting 6pm with Stephanie Tomaszewsky, instructor and in partnership with Artistic Director Orlando Pagan. Classes started on January 27th. All parents and students should attend. Any questions will be answered that night. Please contact Halia Lodynsky by text if you have any questions at 203-494-6278.

FOOD DONATIONS: A container is in our church vestibule for non-perishable food. This collection will be taken twice per month. Father Iura will distribute the food to the Little Sisters of the Poor who have offered to help in the Ukrainian crisis. Thank you for your generosity and your support.

Praying for the Unborn

The March for Life in Washington DC for 2023 was observed this past Friday giving thanks to God for the gift of human life, to witness to its ultimate importance and inviolability, and to implore the Divine Assistance for the conversion of the hearts of all people. Today is the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which legalized abortion in all 50 states.

“The right to life is a human right. Our defense of that right is a joyful witness to the beauty and dignity of every human person.”

Prayer for the Unborn

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, in Your love for us, protect against the wickedness of the devil, those helpless little ones to whom You have given the gift of life. Touch with pity the hearts of those women pregnant in our world today who are not thinking of motherhood.

Help them to see that the child they carry is made in Your image – as well as theirs – made for eternal life. Dispel their fear and selfishness and give them true womanly hearts to love their babies and give them birth and all the needed care that a mother can give.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen!

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Christ is Born!

Sunday, 1/22, Sunday of Zachaeus
9:00 a.m. +Stuart Maybury (40 days) requested by Paul Zalonski
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle 1 Timothy 4:9-15
Gospel: Luke 19: 1-10, Tone 8

Monday, 1/23, Holy Hieromartyr Clement
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health of John and Mark Buciak and Cathy requested by Cathy Kolesnik

Tuesday, 1/24, Our Venerable Xenia of Rome
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health of Jaroslaw Paluha

Wednesday, 1/25, Holy Gregory the Theologian
9:00 a.m. +Danylo Begej (29th Anniv. Pan.) requested by Irene Morgan

Thursday, 1/26, Our Venerable Xenophon and Mary
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 1/27, Translation of relics of John Chrysostom
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 1/28, Our Venerable Ephrem the Syrian
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 1/29, Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Epistle: 2 Timothy 3:10-15
Gospel: Luke 18:10-14, Tone 1

Parish announcements

Christ is among us!

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 203-865-0388.

If you would like to have a Confession, Holy Communion or prayer of the sick at your house or nursing home, please call the rectory at 203-865-0388.

Sorokooutsy (All Souls Saturdays) will be celebrated on Saturdays, February 18, March 4, 11, 18 and May 27. 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!

Tantsi —Ukrainian Folk Dancing for older kids, 6 and up, started on Friday, January 20, with a Parent Meeting 6pm with Stephanie Tomaszewsky, instructor and in partnership with Artistic Director Orlando Pagan. Classes will start on January 27. All parents and students should attend. Any questions will be answered that night. Please contact Halia Lodynsky by text if you have any questions at 203-494-6278.

FOOD DONATIONS: A container is in our church vestibule for non-perishable food. This collection will be taken twice per month. Father Iura will distribute the food to the Little Sisters of the Poor who have offered to help in the Ukrainian crisis. Thank you for your generosity and your support.

PYROHY: There will be pyrohy (varenyky, pierogi) for sale in the church hall as long as supplies last.

The Sunday of Zacchaeus

Though there is no special office for this Sunday, it is commonly seen as the beginning of our preparation for the Feast of our Lord’s Resurrection. Today we must be Zacchaeus. When Jesus came to Jericho, “Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.” Today is where we start our search for God, who is coming to take away the sin of the world. Today we must be filled with the desire to see God, as was Zacchaeus. Today we must acknowledge our sins, for Jesus is coming to our church, today he is coming into our homes, more exactly, into the home of our heart. What a contrast between Zacchaeus and the Blind Man of Jericho who could not see and begged Jesus for sight.

Zacchaeus could see and yet climbs the sycamore tree to get the best possible view. What a contrast between Zacchaeus and the rich young man. The rich young man could not let even one penny of his riches escape his grasp, but Zacchaeus says, “Half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” Today, Jesus tells us, “Salvation has come to this home.” It is already Pascha, if we turn to our Lord in his mercy, if we seek him with the zeal of Zacchaeus.

Today St. Paul’s promise is fulfilled, “We have set our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all, especially of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:10)” Today we must be among those who believe.