Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 7/05, 5th Sunday after Pentecost — Moleben to Jesus Christ
9:00 a.m. +Rosemary and Michael Waselik requested by the Family
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Roman 10:1-10
Gospel: Matthew 8:28-9:1, Tone 4

Monday, 7/06, Our Venerable Sisoes the Great
8:00 a.m. +Anna Lupsac (Pan.) requested by Iuliana Godenciuc

Tuesday, 7/07, Our Venerable Father Thomas and Acacius
8:00 a.m. +Maria Godenciuc-Gherman (Pan.) requested by the Godenciuc Family

Wednesday, 7/08, Holy Great Martyr Procopius
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 7/09, Holy Bishop Martyr Pancratius
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 7/10, Our Venerable Father Anthony of the Caves
8:00 a.m. Souls in Purgatory requested by Nataliia Dankevych

Saturday, 7/11, Olha, Princess of Kyiv
8:00 a.m. +Iwan Sowa (Pan.) requested by Bohdan Sowa

Sunday, 7/12, 6th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Rose Mary Deren requested by Cathy E. Kolesnik
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Roman 12:6-14
Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8, Tone 5

Parish announcements

Christ is among us!

This week vigil light is offered to God’s glory by Katia and Andrew Bamber in memory of Wasylyna Yukash.

Every Sunday you can watch the Divine Liturgy live streamed on our parish Facebook page and parish website at 9:00 a.m. in English and 10:30 a.m. in Ukrainian.

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelnewhaven
  • Website: https://stmichaelukrainian.org

Dear Parishioners please close your phones during the Divine Liturgy. Your phones make our stream live difficult. Thank you!

Dear Parishioners: if anyone needs help such as going to the store to buy groceries, going to a doctor’s appointment or the pharmacy, or any other type of special assistance, you may contact the rectory at (203) 865-0388 and arrangements will be made to help you.

We are asking for volunteers to come and paint the front and back entrance to our rental building at 573 George St. If anyone would like to volunteer for this project, please contact Fr. Iura Godenciuc, either in person or you may call the rectory at (203) 865-0388. Thank You.

STAMFORD CHARITIES APPEAL
REMINDER: Please don’t forget to donate for Diocesan Charitable Fund. The forms are designed for each family of our parish. Attached to the form is an envelope into which you can place your contribution. The form along with your contribution, we ask you enclose in the envelope and place it in the collection basket during church services. Please make check payable to the BYZANTINE RITE DIOCESE OF STAMFORD. DO NOT MAIL THIS FORM TO THE CHANCERY OFFICE. We sincerely ask all parishioners to make generous contributions.

Adult Faith Formation

The first Sunday of July is designated for the feast of the Mother of Perpetual Help.

In the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, the Child Jesus is not portrayed with the physical proportions of an infant, but appears almost as an adult in miniature form.  This has been interpreted to indicate that He is God, having infinite knowledge. Yet He is human as well, for He clings to His Mother’s hand in fear, while gazing up toward the angel over His shoulder.  One of His sandals has come loose, indicating the haste with which He has run to her.  Why is the Child Jesus so frightened?  The angels in the picture are holding the instruments of His Passion and death, with the angel on the left bearing the gall, the lance and the reed, while the angel on the right holds the cross and nails.

The face of Our Lady is grave and sorrowful, with her large eyes directed not at Jesus, but at us.  Her gaze makes us a part of the picture and the pain it portrays.  “Will you not love my Son, Who has loved you so much?” she seems to say.  Our Lady is clothed in the colors of royalty; her tunic is of dark red and her mantle is dark blue with a green lining.  The Child Jesus also wears the colors of royalty.  Both Jesus and Mary have golden halos, but Christ’s halo is decorated with a cross as a sign of His Divinity.  The Greek initials next to the head of Our Lady (MP OV) identify her as “Mother of God,” while those next to the Child (IC XC) are the abbreviation for “Jesus Christ.”  The letters over the angel’s heads indicate the one on the left as St. Michael and the one on the right as St. Gabriel.  The 8-pointed star on Our Lady’s veil tells us that she is the Star of the Sea, the Star that leads us to Jesus.  Mary’s mouth is small to indicate her spirit of silence and prayer.  Her eyes are large, for they see all of our troubles and needs, and they are always turned to us.  Christ’s hands, turned palms down into His Mother’s, indicate that He has placed the graces of Redemption in her keeping.  Our Lady’s hand does not clasp those of her Son, but remains open, inviting us to put our hands in hers along with those of Jesus.

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Praying with the Pope

The prayer intention of Pope Francis for the month of July:

We pray that today’s families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance.

May the Holy Family intercede for us.

Father Robert Markovich fell asleep

Early today, Father Robert Markovich fell asleep in the Lord.

Father Robert Markovich, was a priest of the Eparchy of Stamford for 19 years.

Father Markovitch was born on March 3, 1960 in Lorain, OH. Ordained a priest by Most Rev. Basil Losten on January 21, 2001, in Stamford, CT.

Served in the following parishes: St. Josaphat, Rochester, NY; St. Nicholas, Hudson, NY; St. Nicholas, Brooklyn, NY; Bl. M. Charnetskyy Mission, Manhattan Beach, NY; Ss. Peter and Paul, Ludlow, MA; Descent of the Holy Spirit, S. Deerfield, MA.

Details to follow.

May his memory be eternal!

Sts Peter and Paul

“The feast of Peter and Paul and the Birth of John the Baptist are ranked as great feasts, after those of Christ and the Theotokos. Icons of the apostles grouped at the Ascension or at Pentecost always picture Peter and Paul at the head of the assembly, although, historically, Paul was not present at either.

The rapid spread of the early Church is due mainly to these two apostles. Peter was crucified in Rome during the time of Nero in 61 AD. He was married and worked as a fisherman with his brother Andrew in Galilee. When the Twelve were called, Peter took up the role of senior. He openly acknowledged Christ as the Son of God, the Messiah. Although he faltered during Christ’s passion, he still remained first. Peter called for an election to replace Judas. He was the first to preach on Pentecost, and the first to heal and to raise the dead. Peter was, above all, a man of great faith. This earned for him the name Rock, and the assurance from Christ that the Church would be built on such faith.

Paul was born in Tarsus, outside the Jewish homeland. He was a Hellenized Jew, at home in the Graeco-Roman culture. Thus, he was well-qualified by background and personality to be apostle to the Gentiles. Over half of the chapters in the Acts of the Apostles are devoted to Paul’s missionary activity. Thirteen of Paul’s letters, in the New Testament, portray the mettle and stature of his burning zeal for the Word of God. He was beheaded in Rome a few years after Peter met his own death. (NS)

The Birth of St John the Baptist

THE BIRTHDAY OF THE GLORIOUS PROPHET AND FORERUNNER AND BAPTIST OF THE LORD, JOHN.

Pagan antiquity had festivals marking the winter and summer solstices. The Christian calendar absorbed these feasts, observing the birth of Christ in December on the shortest day, and that of John the Baptist in June on the longest day. From this day on, the sun slowly sinks from its zenith for six months, and begins its ascent again at Christmas. In the eyes of the Fathers, this solar rhythm is an expression of John’s words: “He must grow greater, while I grow smaller.”

The role of the prophet and forerunner began with John’s birth which Luke narrates with the same paradoxical circumstances of barrenness bearing fruit as Old Testament figures like Sarah, Hannah, and others. The name, John, with the dramatic details of its imposition, means The Lord has shown favor. Like other heavenly bestowed names in Scripture, it underlines his prophetic role in the history of salvation, which is to prepare for the immediate coming of the Messiah. Zachary’s canticle amplifies the meaning of his son’s name and parallels the canticle of the Theotokos. (NS)

Today is a holy day.

Rose Marie Deren asleep in the Lord

Rose Marie Deren fell asleep in the Lord. She died at 93 and she was a former long time parishioner of our church.

Rose’s full obituary may be read here.

In Christian charity please remember in your prayer Rose’s children and grandchildren.

May the Holy Theotokos, the saints and angels assist Rose to the Beatific Vision.

May Rose’s memory be eternal.