40 Days for Life is a Pro-Life initiative with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion. It is “an ecumenical, internationally-coordinated 40-day peaceful Pro–Life campaign to end abortion.”
The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion. Join a 40 Days For Life campaign in CT:
On the sidewalk outside of
Planned Parenthood
1030 New Britain Avenue
West Hartford, Connecticut
The 2022 campaign was held from September 28 through November 6, 2022.
Please contact Coordinator Teresa Wells via Text at 203-745-7300 or email twells@prolifeministry.org.
Today we recall the death of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John, the Beloved Disciple. As a point of comparison, the Latin Catholic Church and other Western Christian ecclesial communities honor John’s death on December 27.
John was one of the “sons of thunder”. This thunder resounds throughout his gospel with an eloquence that sets it apart; It also accounts for his title Theologian, one who spoke the word of God.
The troparion mentions but one of the deeds that distinguish his relationship to Christ. His closeness to the master was matched only by Peter’s at whose side he appears for the major events in the gospel: the transfiguration, the vigil in Gethsemani, the resurrection.
John preached in Jerusalem and Samaria, and was banished to the isle of Patmos. Later, in old age, he returned to Ephesus where he made a home for the Theotokos. An ancient church marked the place until its destruction in World War I.
Tradition holds that John died —in his 90s—during the reign of Trajan, a full century after the birth of Christ. The exact dates of John’s birth and death are unknown.
Artistically, Saint John is represented by the eagle, a symbol of the lofty and beauty of the heights of his theological thought read in his gospel and other biblical writings. We also add to his name the appellation “Theologian” because he is known as the seer of the mysterious judgments of God. (NS edited)
Sunday, 9/25. 16th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Maria Sowa requested by Bohdan Sowa
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11, Tone 7
Monday, 9/26, Repose of Holy Apostle and Evangelist John
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Marybeth Gawron by Sestretsi
Tuesday, 9/27, Holy Martyr Callistratus
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, 9/28, Our Venerable Father Chariton
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Thurs. 9/29, Our Venerable Father Cyriacus
10:00 a.m. +Stefan Jurczak (3rd Anniv., Pan.) requested by Halia Lodynsky
Friday, 9/30, Hieromartyr Gregory and Father Michael of Keiv
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy
Saturday, 10/01, Protection of the Mother of God
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Joanna Oleschuk (birthday) by Sestretsi
Sunday, 10/02, 17th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Barbara Levitzky (58 Anniv.,) requested by Joseph M. Levitzky
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11, Tone 7
This week vigil light is offered by the Kolesnik and Buciak families for a Special Intention
DEAR PARISHIONERS: 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.
St. Michael’s Day will be celebrated on November 6th. On this day we will have only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM. After the Divine Liturgy, we will have a dinner and short program. All parishioners are cordially invited to this celebration. Tickets are available through Miss Luba Dubno and Svitlana Nakonecha. Tickets are $30.00 for adults, $10.00 for youth between 14and 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 donations for dessert. We will not sale tickets at the door.
Sept. 24th Open House for Ukrainian School/Nursery School, 569 George St., New Haven. A Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 for our Children. Refreshments and meeting with parents and teachers to follow in the church hall. Classes will start immediately thereafter. Children aged 8-12 will be accepted to the School. The nursery school has 3 groups as follows: ages 2-3 years of age – the youngest group; ages 3-5 years of age –the middle group; ages 5-6 years of age –preschool/ oldest group. This year we plan to offer Ukrainian dance instruction under the director of Mr. Orlando Pagan for children 7 years and older. Details to follow. For further information please contact School Director Halia Lodynska 203-494-6278 or Nursery School Director Natalia Dankevych 203-901-7168.
CHARITIES APPEAL: Please don’t forget to make a donation to the Eparchies Charity Appeal. Please make check payable to the Byzantine Rite Eparchy of Stamford. DO NOT MAIL THIS FORM OR CHECK TO THE CHANCERY OFFICE BUT TURN IT IN AT THE PARISH. We sincerely ask all parishioners to make a generous contribution.
This week vigil light is offered by Kolesnik and Buciak families for Special Intention
DEAR PARISHIONERS: 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.
PARISH COFFEE HOUR: 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.
We will be making pyrohy (varenyky) for regular orders on September 17th. We need your help on Friday to peel potatoes and Saturday to make pierogis. Please come and help.
Sestretsi will have Corporate Communion on September 18, at the 9:00 am Divine Liturgy and a short meeting to follow in the church hall. For more information see Barbara Schwartz.
CHARITIES APPEAL: Please don’t forget to make a donation to the Eparchy’s Charity Appeal. Please make check payable to the Byzantine Rite Eparchy of Stamford. DO NOT MAIL THIS FORM OR CHECK TO THE CHANCERY OFFICE BUT TURN IT IN AT THE PARISH. We sincerely ask all parishioners to make a generous contribution.
St. Michael’s Day will be celebrated on November 6th 2022. On this day we will have only One Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM. After the Divine Liturgy, we will have a dinner and short program. All parishioners are cordially invited to this celebration. Tickets are available through Miss Luba Dubno and Svitlana Nakonecha. Tickets are $30.00 for adults, $10.00 for youth between 14and 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 donations for dessert. We will not sale tickets at the door.
KIDS HELPING UKRAINE STICKERS: Our New Haven Ridna Shkola is doing a Fundraiser called, KIDS HELPING UKRAINE. The stickers (two styles) are $1:00 per sticker and if you can contribute more it will be appreciated. All donations will go to provide medical supplies and care for those wounded in this terrible war started by Russia. If you any questions contact Halia Lodynsky (203) 494-6278 or Volodymyr Dumalskyy.
Today, 8th September, we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Mary, Our Blessed Mother!
“What then should we offer to the Mother of the Word other than an oration? Let the whole of creation make festival and sing of the most holy birth-giving of the holy Anna. For she bore for the world an inviolable treasury of blessings.” (St John Damascene, On the Nativity of Mary)
The Epistle today is from Philippians, and it is about Christ, “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. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:7-9).
The mystery of Mary, the Theotokos, the Birth-giver of God, is united with the mystery of Jesus our Lord, the Giver of Life to all. Every feast is a celebration of the one Paschal Mystery, how through his death on the Cross (“by death trampling upon death”) the Son of God bestowed life upon the whole world, and how, therefore, in our humiliation, in giving ourselves in love to God and, through him, to each other, we find glory in God. Joachim and Anna were humbled and desolate, barren of children, and yet, “from infertile ground, the fertile ground is born. From her has grown the Gardener (see that Mary Magdalene mistakes the risen Christ for a gardener) of all fruit, the flower bringing life, who by the will of God nourishes the universe” (1st Troparion, Ode 3, Matins of the Pre-feast).
Today, we chant that “Joachim and Anne were freed from the reproach of childlessness.” This mystery must be re-lived in the life of Christ, the child born of Mary, who dies on the Cross in desolation, so that all the universe may be freed from the “despair of death,” and find life in God.
Sr Vassa offers this brief and informative video on Mary and her parents, Ss. Joachim and Anna whose feast we celebrate tomorrow, September 9.
Meditation by Archpriest David Petras and edited by PAZ.
Today, 8th September, we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Mary, Our Blessed Mother!