The 36 boxes of medical supplies have been delivered to the Ukrainian Main Military Medical Center in Kyiv, Ukraine today, June 28.
Father Roman sent … the attached picture through Viber. This is the facility that our UAV Team visited back in August, 2018.
Today we are given as a model of holiness and witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ the venerable father, Samson, called the hospitable, priest and physician. Samson is numbered among a few who are ordained priests and physicians, so we ought to make it a point to ask for his intercession as we all face medical concerns personally or with family and friends.
The Church teaches us the place St Samson has among the great Cloud of Witnesses in the Troparion for the Divine Liturgy. We have a clear expectation for our own Christian life in seeing St Samson extolled:
“Patience reaped you your reward, O holy father, for you persevered in constant prayer and devotion. In your great love for the poor and the afflicted, you attended to their needs of body and soul. So now we entreat you in our need, O holy father, Samson, beg Christ, our God, so save our souls.”
Samson is known for his patience, perseverance in troubled times, constant prayer and devotion, care for the poor and weakened of body and soul. Here we see what Christ wants for us and how He (the Lord) wants us to reflect to the world. These virtues of life will lead us to our union with Christ in heaven.
We are convinced that St Samson is given to us today as we face the tragedy of the war in Ukraine. We need his intercession before the Lord.
His biographers speak of St. Samson this way:
Samson was born to a patrician family in Rome in the sixth century, when the city had fallen on hard times. He was a physician, and inspired by his faith in the healing Christ, he devoted all his time, wealth, and skill to others. He turned his estate into a clinic to treat the poor. After he trained a staff to care for the large numbers coming to seek both medical and spiritual attention, Samson left, as a virtual beggar, to make a pilgrimage to Constantinople. His reputation soon followed him, and once again he was busy fighting disease and despair. He was so respected that he was summoned to treat the emperor Justinian. In gratitude for both his medical and spiritual counsel, Justinian endowed him with funds to establish a medical clinic much larger than the one he had left in Rome. Samson worked until his death on this day in 598. (NS)
Glory to Jesus Christ
Sunday, 6/26, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost — Moleben to Jesus Christ
9:00 God’s blessing & health for Irene Hladkyj requested by Luba Dubno
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: Romans 5:1-10
Gospel: Matthew 6:22-33, Tone 2
Monday, 6/27, Blessed Nicholas Charnytsky, bishop and martyr
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, 6/28, Translation of the relics of Saints Cyrus and John
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, 6/29, Saints Peter and Paul –a holy day
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
Thursday, 6/30, Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Friday, 7/01, Saints Cosmas and Damian, un-mercenaries
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Saturday, 7/02, The Placing of the Garment of the Mother of God
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Sunday, 7/03, 4th Sunday after Pentecost —Feast of the Mother of Perpetual Help
10:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: Romans 6:18-23
Gospel: Mathew 8:5-13, Tone 3
Christ is among us!
This week vigil light is offered by Vasyl Ivantsiv in memory of Vasyl.
The 68th ANNUAL HOLY DORMITION PILGRIMAGE will be held on August 13-14 at the motherhouse of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Sloatsburg. This year’s theme is “Our Loving Mother, Under Your Patronage, Welcome Your Children, We beseech You!”. The Sisters invite all our parishioners to attend! For information call:845-753-2840 or www.ssmi-us.org
From July 3 until September 11 we will celebrate only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. in BOTH the Ukrainian and English languages.
CHARITIES APPEAL: Please don’t forget to donate for Charities Appeal. 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 contributions.
Ukrainian American Veterans Post 33 in New Haven, CT is seeking your support for the war effort in Ukraine. We are collecting medical equipment and supplies for the Lviv Regional Hospital for soldiers and war veterans in Vynnykiy (Lviv Region) to be used for the treatment of soldiers and civilians injured during war in Ukraine. We also need funds to purchase boxes packaging materials, cover transportation expenses, etc. We are working with UUARC (United Ukrainian American Relief Committee based in Philadelphia-UUARC.org) to transport all donated items to Warsaw for transport by truck to the hospital in Vinniki. All donated items can be dropped off at St. Michael`s Ukrainian Catholic Church hall at 569 George St. New Haven, CT. The collection center will be open on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Checks are to be made out to: UAV POST 33. In the memo section write in: Ukrainian soldiers welfare fund. Checks can be mailed to: Ukrainian American Veterans Post 33, Post Office Box 972, Orange, CT 06477. If you have any questions about this project, please call (203) 530-8232 or send e-mail to carlrharvey79@gmail.com.
This feast is the story of the fidelity of God, and of his servants. The first reading at Vespers compares the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah to Abraham and Sarah. Abraham and Sarah were barren until their old age and had lost hope of being able to pass on life to a new generation. But beyond the bounds of all hope, God told Abraham that he and Sarah would have a child, and, indeed, not just any child but the founder of Israel, of the people of God, and of all who believe in his name. Elizabeth and Zechariah also had lost all hope of new life, and for them it was a shame before the people.
Yet the angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah in the holy place and told him that Elizabeth would give birth to a son, and again, not just any son, but the forerunner of the Messiah, who would give life to all by his resurrection. We see the fidelity of God – he will bless us with life, he loves us beyond all limits, beyond our despair, beyond all hopes.
However, these stories also tell us of what it means to be faithful, for Abraham and Sarah, and Zechariah and Elizabeth had to live most of their lives in barrenness and discouragement. God blesses us when we think no blessing is possible.
Meditation by Archpriest David Petras
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Sunday, 6/19, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost
10:00 a.m. Moleben to Jesus Christ
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: Romans 2:10-16
Gospel: Matthew4:18-23, Tone 1
Monday, 6/20, Holy Priest Martyr Methodius
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, 6/21, Holy Martyr Julian
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, 6/22, Holy Priest Martyr Eusebius
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Thursday, 6/23, Holy Martyr Agripina
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Friday, 6/24, Nativity of the St John the Baptist
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
Saturday, 6/25, Holy Venerable Martyr Febronia
10:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy
Sunday, 6/26, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost and the Moleben to Jesus Christ
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Irene Hladkyj requested by Luba Dubno
10:30 a.m. For people of the parish
Epistle: Romans 5:1-10
Gospel: Mathew 6:22-33, Tone 2
Christ is in our midst!
This week vigil light is offered by Vasyl Ivantsiv in memory of Vasyl. Memory eternal.
From July 3 until September 11 we will celebrate only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. in both the Ukrainian and English languages.
Today, June 19th, there will be one (1) bi-lingual Divine Liturgy served at 10:30 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., we will pray the Moleben to Jesus Christ (a June devotional prayer of petition to Our Lord).
The Ladies of our Parish will host a Father’s Day Celebration tomorrow, Sunday, June 19. The luncheon will take place immediately after the Liturgy. ALL ARE INVITED. The plan calls for a barbeque picnic in the backyard. In case of rain it will be held in the church hall.
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.
STAMFORD CHARITIES APPEAL : Please don’t forget to donate for Charities Appeal. 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 contributions.
Ukrainian American Veterans Post 33 in New Haven, CT is seeking your support for the war effort in Ukraine. We are collecting medical equipment and supplies for the Lviv Regional Hospital for soldiers and war veterans in Vynnykiy (Lviv Region) to be used for the treatment of soldiers and civilians injured during war in Ukraine. We also need funds to purchase boxes packaging materials, cover transportation expenses, etc. We are working with UUARC (United Ukrainian American Relief Committee based in Philadelphia-UUARC.org) to transport all donated items to Warsaw for transport by truck to the hospital in Vinniki. All donated items can be dropped off at St. Michael`s Ukrainian Catholic Church hall at 569 George St. New Haven, CT. The collection center will be open on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.mm. and Sundays from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Tomorrow, June 19th, there will be one (1) bi-lingual Divine Liturgy served at 10:30 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., we will pray the Moleben to Jesus Christ (a June devotional prayer of petition to Our Lord).
The Ladies of our Parish will host a Father’s Day Celebration tomorrow, Sunday, June 19. The luncheon will take place immediately after the Liturgy. ALL ARE INVITED. The plan calls for a barbeque picnic in the backyard. In case of rain it will be held in the church hall.
The Holy Prophet Amos is known as the prophet of doom, the third of the Twelve Minor Prophets who lived during the eighth century before Jesus Christ. Amos accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel due to the unfaithfulness of the Israelites. That is, the tribes of Israel were governed by an idol-worshipper and the people joined in that worship of a golden calf (a false god) instead of the One, Living God. Thus, they rejected the God of Israel.
Biographically, little is known about his life and what we known comes from his book in the Bible, the first to be named after a Hebrew prophet.
The faith of the Church is seen in the liturgical hymns of the Divine Liturgy. In the Kontakion, therefore, for today’s Liturgy commemorates the Holy Prophet in this way:
Having purified your heart spiritually, O glorious Prophet Amos, you received the gift of prophecy from on high and proclaimed to all: “This is our God and beside Him there is no other.”
As point of comparison, today Amos is remembered liturgically by the Byzantine Catholics and Orthodox; the Armenians recall his memory on July 31 and the Latin Church has his feast on March 31.
Why is the Holy Prophet important for us today in the 21st century? The prophets remind us, like they did when they lived, to be faithful to the God who made us and continues to give us his gifts. Perhaps Amos’ own words are helpful to answer the question when he delivers God’s message:
“The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and for this I will certainly punish them. They sell into slavery honest people who cannot pay their debts, the poor who cannot repay even the price of a pair of sandals. They trample down the weak and helpless and push the poor out of the way’’ (Amos 2:6).
Holy Prophet Amos, keep us faithful to God and not false gods, pray for us.
The Apostles’ or Peter and Paul Fast begins TODAY, June 13 (new calendar).
