Day of Prayer for the Protection of the Environment

Today is the Day of Prayer for the Protection of the Environment, a day we praise God for His creation.

In 1989, the Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrius instituted a Day of Prayer for the Protection of the Environment, establishing it on September 1. Pope Francis has extended that remembrance to the Catholic Church.

In 2016, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said, “Following for many years the catastrophic world developments in environmental matters, the Holy and Great Mother Church of Christ, on its own initiative set the start of every ecclesiastical year as a day dedicated to Creation, to the environment, calling during this day upon the whole Orthodox and Christian world to raise a prayer and supplication to the Creator of all, to give thanks for the great gift of Creation, make supplications for the protection and safeguarding from every visible and invisible attack by man. Therefore also this year during the aforementioned day, from the Ecumenical Patriarchy we recall the need to make EVERYONE aware of the ecological problems faced by our planet.”

The environmental issue has become a polarizing political issue, but since the leaders of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches and all the nations of the world have called for measures to protect the environment, all faithful should pray, at least, that we act to protect clean air and water, so as not “to make America stink again.” Pope Francis wrote, “These include the awareness that each creature reflects something of God and has a message to convey to us, and the security that Christ has taken unto himself this material world and now, risen, is intimately present to each being, surrounding it with his affection and penetrating it with his light.” (Laudato Si, 221)

The Orthodox Church has a liturgical office for this day:

“Lover of Mankind, keep unharmed the environment that clothes the earth, through which, by your will, we who inhabit the earth live and move and have our being, so that we, your unworthy suppliants, may be delivered from destruction and ruin,” (Stichera at Psalm 140).

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Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 8/28, 12th Sunday after Pentecost
10:00 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Gospel: Matthew 19:16-26, Tone 3

Monday, 8/29, The Passion of John the Baptist
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish

Tuesday, 8/30, Holy Fathers Alexander and John
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 8/31, Deposition of the Cincture of the Holy Theotokos
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 9/01, Our Venerable Father Symeon
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 9/02. Holy Martyr Mamas
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 9/03, Holy Hieromartyr Anthimus
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 9/4, 13th Sunday after Pentecost
10:00 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 16:13-24
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-42, Tone 4

Parish announcements

This week vigil light is offered by Kolesnik and Buciak families for Special Intention

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.

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 at 203-494-6278 or Volodymyr Dumalskyy.

Please visit our parish website for daily updates and information. https://stmichaelukrainian.org

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

ST. MICHAEL’S UKRAINIAN SCHOOL TO REOPEN IN SEPTEMBER: The Ukrainian School of New Haven will reopen for The New School Year 2023-2023 on-or-about Sept. 23. Preregistration is open to all children. If you have any questions for students of Elementary School please contact The School Director Halia Lodynsky at 203-494-6278. For students, Middle School call Volodymyr Dumalskyy at 203-988-2923. A nursery school program for children 2-5 years old is also part of the curriculum. Instruction will be primarily in Ukrainian language with accommodations for English. Connecticut Covid guidelines will be followed. For further information also please call Nataliia Dankevych (203) 901-7168

ST. MICHAEL’S HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EMAIL: For all communications, questions and to schedule appointments please contact us at stmichaelchurchgc@gmail.com

ST. MICHAEL’S HERITAGE CENTER GIFT SHOP: We are in the process of revitalizing and restocking our Gift shop as part of our overall effort to generate needed funds. Any Parishioner who has surplus Ukrainian items in their possession that they would like to donate or place on consignment with the shop, please drop them off at the Gift Shop which is open and accessible during Suma Credit Union hours. For further information, please call the rectory or email the Shop at stmichaelsgiftshop@gmail.com

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THE WAY OF THE PILGRIM: Entering Into the Jesus Prayer

Do you struggle to follow the Apostle Paul’s exhortation to “pray always”? For most of us living and working in the world, it can be difficult to let our prayer and participation in the liturgy permeate our entire lives and transform our hearts.

God invites us to persevere, and He has blessed the Church with many holy teachers and spiritual traditions to help us draw closer to Him.

In this Tuesday’s live webinar, discover the meaning and power of a centuries-old traditional prayer that has helped many devout Christians throughout the ages broaden their view of prayer and incorporate it more deeply into their lives.

THE WAY OF THE PILGRIM: Entering Into the Jesus Prayer
Tuesday, August 23
8:00 pm ET / Pre-class discussion 30 minutes prior

Register at: https://instituteofcatholicculture.org

St Matthias, apostle

Today is the feast of the Holy Apostle Matthias, chosen to continue the Mission.

The Church prays in her Liturgy:

Chosen by lot through the grace of the Spirit, you were numbered with the twelve divine Apostles. Proclaiming with them the Word who emptied himself in the flesh for our sake, you were filled by the Lord with wondrous powers. O illustrious Apostle Matthias, entreat him to grant to those who praise your name the remission of sins and great mercy.

Though chosen by lot, as it were, by chance, Matthias still had one supreme qualification for being added to the twelve apostles, he was, in the words of Peter, “one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

Matthias, whose name means “gift of God”, was one of the 72 disciples that Jesus sent out to preach the good news of the Resurrection. There seems to be some early evidence that there was once a Gospel according to Matthias in circulation, but it has since been lost.

Matthias spent three years with the Apostle Andrew, with him at Edessa and Sebaste. Church Tradition indicates he was preaching at Pontine, Ethiopia (presently Western Georgia) and Macedonia.

He was martyred in AD 63.

Grant, O Lord, that we may also be a witness to the resurrection by death to sin by God’s grace, and living in his holiness.