Here is the daily message of His Beatitude Sviatoslav for April 6, 2022.
In Ukrainian with English subtitles.
Volunteers with the Ukrainian Relief Project New Haven
Some of our volunteers working to help our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.
We are grateful for their time, talent and humor in this great effort.
This is only a portion of our volunteers for the Ukrainian Relief Project New Haven! So many more help in their own communities and come to St Michael’s to deepen the collaboration and coordination.
May God reward them for their good work.
Praying for peace in Ukraine
Today, several of our parishioners –with many others from around CT– made the journey to The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Litchfield to join Bishop Paul and several of the clergy to pray for peace in Ukraine.
Here are some action photos.
We can never underestimate prayer wrapped in community.
Divine Liturgy for the coming week
Glory to Jesus Christ
Sunday, 4/3, 5th Sunday of Lent —Sunday of St Mary of Egypt
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m. God’s blessings and health for Jasek Smigelski requested by Stefania Sadiwsky
Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-14
Gospel: Mark 10:32-45, Tone 4
Monday, 4/4, Our Venerable Fathers Joseph and George
9:00 a.m. No scheduled intention for the Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, 4/5, Holy Martyr Theodulus
9:00 a.m. +Anastasia Sobko (2nd Anniv., Pan.) requested by the family
Wednesday, 4/6, Holy Methodius
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for all members of Kostiuk family
7:00 p.m. Moleben to the Mother of God for peace in Ukraine
Thursday, 4/7, Holy Bishop George
9:00 a.m. All deceased of Kostiuk family
Friday, 4/8, Holy Apostle Herodian and other apostles
7:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts
Saturday, 4/9, Saturday of Lazarus
9:00 a.m. +Sofia Brodycz (20th Anniv. Pan.) requested by Ann and Gary Salamme
Sunday, 4/10, Palm Sunday —Blessing of Pussywillows and anointing
8:45 a.m. Lytija and Blessing of Bread
9:00 a.m. +Menya Stacken requested by Judy Ellis (Parish MISSION)
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: Philippians 4:4-9
Gospel: John 12:1-18, Tone 5
Parish announcements
Christ is among us!
This week vigil light is offered by Katia and Andrew Bamber in memory of Michael Yukash.
Sestretsi will be having Corporate Communion at 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy today, April 3. Meeting in the church hall after the Divine Liturgy.
We will have Fr. Hryhorij (Greg) Lozinskyj for our parish mission today, April 3, for the Ukrainian Divine Liturgy and Fr. Albert Forlano on Sunday, April 10. Both priests will preach and hear confessions.
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.
The traditional Easter parish “SVIACHENE” will be held on May 1, following the Divine Liturgy. We will celebrate only One Divine Liturgy at 10:30 A.M. 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 “Sviachene” on Sunday, May 1. Tickets are $25.00 for adults, $10.00 for youth from 12 to 18. Free for altar boys, and under 12. Also we ask you to donate cakes for desert. We trust that all parishioners will join this parish gathering and through their presence attest to cherishing in our hearts a love for one another which builds our PARISH FAMILY.
A container is in our church vestibule for non-perishable food. This collection will be taken every week or twice per month. Father Iura will distribute the food to those in need. Thank you for your generosity.
CHARITY EVENT “Help Ukraine” Sunday, April 10, from 12:00 to 5:00. The proceeds are supported to help the Ukrainian army and civilians affected by Russian aggression. You can buy jewelry, souvenirs, candles, handmade clothes as well as pastries and homemade food.
The Ukrainian National Women`s League of America Branch 108 will be baking Pasky, Babky on Sunday, April 10. Please place your order by April 4th either with Oryssia Yanovska 203-468-0367 or Christine Melnyk 203-397-2087.
The Ukrainian School of New Haven is open. For elementary school please contact Halia Lodynsky at 203-494-6278. For middle school call Volodymyr Dumalskyy at 203-988-2923. A nursery school program for children 2-5 years old is currently ongoing. Instruction will be primarily in Ukrainian language with accommodations for English. Connecticut Covid 19 guidelines will be followed.ou to pick up as well as the 2022 calendars.
Fifth Tuesday of the Great Fast
Fifth Tuesday of the Great Fast: Isaiah 40:18-31
Our faith begins with creation. We say, “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things both visible and invisible.” The reading from Isaiah today tells us, “The Lord is God from of old, creator of the ends of the earth.” God indeed is the Creator, not only of our physical bodies and the world in which we live, but of our hearts and minds and souls and of all the values that we hold dear.
The journey of the Great Fast brings us to this understanding: all that we are comes not from ourselves, but from God. All that we have, the very qualities that make us who we are come from God, not from ourselves. To believe otherwise is idolatry, as Isaiah reminds us, “To whom can you liken God? With what likeness can you confront him? An idol?” If we do not put our complete trust in God, who is not some far away Creator, who makes everything and leaves it on its own, but the lover of his creation, by our side in everything we do, we become idol-worshippers. Worshippers of ourselves, or worshippers of our money or possessions or worshippers of some other created human beings, or, I think most often, of ourselves. We do not call celebrities “idols” for nothing. Isaiah gives us a physical image of “the one who is enthroned above the vault of the earth, its inhabitants like grasshoppers,” but this is only an image.
We know in faith that God is everywhere, in our inmost being, in the center of our souls, and is guiding us to life and love, but we are sometimes deaf to his voice. The Great Fast tries to make us become less deaf, to hear God, who as Mary said, “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly, (Luke 1:49-52)” and who Isaiah tells us today “brings princes to nought and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.”
Praying the Jesus prayer
The sun is setting in Kyiv. They have started praying the Jesus prayer in the Patriarchal Sobor (Church). His Beatitude Sviatoslav is gathered with some clergy.
As the bombs fall, maybe you’ll pray with them?
The Jesus Prayer is the following sentence repeated: Lord Jesus. Have mercy on us, sinners.
#prayforpeace
Ukrainian Relief Project New Haven for March 27
We are preparing for the great feast of Easter in the coming weeks. Palm Sunday is April 10 and Easter is April 17.
Just prior to that, St Michael’s parishioners are making our famous pierogi (pyrohy) on April 9.
The leadership of the Ukrainian Relief Project New Haven indicated the following schedule for collection dates this week:
Tuesday, March 29, 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, April 2, 10-2 p.m.
Sunday, April 3, Noon -1 p.m.
and, then the collection will be closed until Saturday, April 23rd.
We need to package the medical and humanitarian supplies on April 4 and 5 and to clean the church hall.
A call for volunteers will be made on Sunday, April 3, after we survey the need.
Thank you for your generosity in giving and in time volunteering. ALL is very much appreciated.
May the Lord bless you with eternal life.
Questions, thoughts, concerns, please zap an email: stmichaelchurchgc@gmail.com
Pierogi Saturday is April 9
The Pyrohy Project sells the pierogi (varenyky) in the church hall for $8.00 per dozen. Checks payable to “Pyrohy Project.”
***Pierogi Saturday is April 9 —call by 5pm on Tuesday, April 5. ONLY pre-orders.
***Pick up the pierogi (pyrohy or varenyky) on Saturday between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
- Maria Antonyshn: 203-795-6959 (for English & Ukrainian)
- Anna Smigelski: 860-302-2176 (for English & Ukrainian)
- Alexis Hickerson: 475-221-8399 (for English)
Volunteers are always welcome.
The pierogi (pyrohy or varenyky) is made with potato and three cheeses; they are cooked when you pick them up. All you have to do is freeze the pierogi individually before freezing in a bag. Defrost, brown in butter, chopped onion and serve with sour cream and chives.
Divine Liturgy for the coming week
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Sunday, 3/27, The 4th Sunday of Lent —Sunday of St John Climacus
9:00 a.m. God’s blessings for Joanna Oleschuk requested by the Sestretsi
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish
Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20
Gospel: Mark 9:17-31, Tone 3
Monday, 3/28, Our Venerable Father Hilary
9:00 a.m. No scheduled intention for the Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, 3/29, Holy Priest-Martyrs Mark and Cyril
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for George
Wednesday, 3/30, Our Venerable John Climacus
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Roman
7:00 p.m. Moleben to the Mother of God for peace in Ukraine
Thursday, 3/31, Our Holy Father Hypatius
9:00 a.m. No scheduled intention for the Divine Liturgy
Friday, 4/1, Our Venerable Mary of Egypt
7:00 p.m. The Divine Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts
Saturday, 4/2, Our Venerable Father Titus the Wonderworker
9:00 a.m. +Yaroslava Kalynec (4th Anniv. Pan.) requested by Roman and Nataliya Sokhan
Sunday, 4/3, The 5th Sunday of Lent –Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m. God’s blessings for Jasek Smigelski requested by Stefania Sadiwsky
Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-14
Gospel: Mark 10:32-45, Tone 4