THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH
supporting seminarians
Inside
Michael Mazur’s endowment funds honors loved ones, helps students Page 5
VOL. 63 NO. 3
mamma mia!
Parishioners’ meatball cook-off at St. Gregory in Upper St. Clair, Pa. Page 7
MARCH 2018
blustery day Storms down trees at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa. Page 11
From Boston to Rome
Spring forward
christopher russo prepares to attend pre-synod meeting By David Mayernik Jr. Editor
and moral theology as part of the core faculty at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa. "Providence had His hand in that. I did not look for this position nor was I really aware of it. We met Sister Barbara Jean...and she met my husband Matthew, who teaches at the Seminary. Then she found out I was a psychologist...and called us out of the blue asking if I would be interested." Courtney, who succeeded Sister Barbara Jean in January, and Matthew live in Uniontown, Pa. and attend St. John the Baptist. From an early age, Courtney
Christopher Russo met Father Will Rupp, Director of Spiritual Formation at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa., as a student at Penn State University. He said it was "amazing" to talk to Father Will, who was serving as Eastern Catholic chaplain in Happy Valley, and see how his spiritual mentorship benefited young people. "During that time, I greatly benefited from the spiritual and Catholic ministries they had there. Just how the chaplains were able to talk to (young adults) and inspire them and be close to them in different challenges they had, both spiritual and personal. "That really benefits people to have that type of mentorship for that type of pivotal points in their lives." It's a message Christopher, 23, of Boston, Mass., hopes to deliver as a delegate to a Pre-Synod meeting in Rome from March 19 to 24. He is one of only four young adults — and the only Byzantine Catholic — from the United States who will join about 300 others ranging from age 18 to 29 from around the world in a series of meetings prior to the Syond of Bishops' “Synod 2018 on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment” in October. Christopher and the other young people will conclude the Pre-Synod session with a Eucharistic celebration with the Holy Father Pope Francis on
Story continued on page 2
Story continued on page 2
The Byzantine Catholic Serra Club celebrated the beginning of the Spring term at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa. with a pizza party for students and families on Jan. 31. Serran Marylyn Barone (center) presented Deacons George Wendt and James Davidson with icons created by her hand. Deacon Oliver Black (photo on page 12) also received an icon. Photo by Kathe Kress.
First responder
courtney minerd named victims’ assistance coordinator by David Mayernik Jr. Editor
Courtney Minerd compared her new role as Victims’ Assistance Coordinator for the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh as being a “first responder of sorts.” As a licensed psychologist for almost four years, she has helped promote healing in multiple inpatient and outpatient settings to individuals who have experienced sexual trauma, from children to adults confronting childhood or adolescent memories. As Victims’ Assistance Coordinator, she will aid in the immediate pastoral care and healing of the victims and their families in matters of sexual misconduct by members of the
clergy, religious or lay staff. Originally from Beaver County, Courtney graduated from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. as a psychology and anthropology major and earned a Ph.D. at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Va. She works in a private practice in Greensburg, Pa. and teaches psychology as an adjunct professor at Saint Vincent. Courtney said she became aware of her new position when she and her husband Matthew met Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, OSBM, former Victims’ Assistance Coordinator, during last year’s St. Nicholas Charity Dinner at St. John the Baptist Cathedral Center in Munhall, Pa. Matthew teaches philosophy
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From Boston to Rome christopher russo prepares to attend pre-synod meeting
UPS 081500 ISSN 07442289 Official publication of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Serving parish communities in central and western Pennsylvania, Louisiana, eastern Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia Published monthly (12 issues) plus two seasonal special issues Byzantine Catholic Press Associates 66 Riverview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Tel: 412.231.4000 Fax: 412.231.1697 E-mail: Bcw@archpitt.org Web site: www.archpitt.org Archbishop William C. Skurla President David Mayernik Jr. Editor Sister Elaine Kisinko, OSBM Copy Editor Donna Obsincs Subscription/Circulation Manager Gregory S. Popivchak Business Manager Annual Subscription Rates US $14 Canadian $17 International $20 Periodicals Postage PAID at Pittsburgh, PA
Postmaster: send address changes to: The Byzantine Catholic World ATTN: Donna 66 Riverview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for address changes to take effect. Submissions deadline: 15th of the month prior to the month of publication.
The Byzantine Catholic World is a member of the Catholic Press Association.
mission The mission of The Byzantine
Catholic World is to spread the Gospel message in the rich tradition of the Byzantine Catholic Church; to encourage faithful to reflect the image of Christ in everyday activities of life; to offer spiritual formation through changing times; and to celebrate community among Byzantine Catholics in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, throughout the Metropolitan Church in America, and around the world.
continued from page 1 Palm Sunday, March 25. Christopher, who graduated from Penn State in 2016 and works as a research technologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, was selected to attend the Pre-Synod by Archbishop William Skurla. He is the son of Deacon Stephen and Heather Russo of Southbury, Conn. They are members of St. Nicholas in Danbury, Conn. "It was kind of unexpected... Archbishop got in contact with me and asked me if I was interested in going. I've had a lot of experience dealing with different youth ministries, both with the Eparchy of Passaic and the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Venturing a guess, I think my involvement was one of the deciding factors," he said. "When Archbishop was telling me about this, I was completely moved. I'm both excited and honestly a little nervous. But it's a good nervous." The three other U.S. delegates are Roman Catholics from Louisiana, California and Texas. Starting last year, Archbishop William invited young people of the Metropolitan Church to complete an online questionnaire. He received almost 1,000 responses with opinions, ideas, hopes and challenges regarding the topic. A summary of their work was sent to Rome with all other responses from around the world
Christopher Russo
being compiled into a document for the bishops to consider at the Synod. Christopher will be flying from Boston to Rome and meetings will be held at a Pontifical University close to the Vatican. "Pope Francis really saw the need to have another Synod where all the bishops of the world come to meet together to talk about how the church can better minister to youth and young adults, " he said. This includes how to help them better navigate milestones in their lives, such as jobs, marriage and their religious life. "I see this opportunity to go to Rome and be able to participate and not only represent the United States but the Byzantine Catholic Metropolia. I'll hopefully be able to come back
from this with a lot of insight on what we can do as Eastern Catholics in the U.S." Christopher said he's excited to meet Catholics from all over the world. "I still can't wrap my head around it. And, honestly, I was thinking about this other day, It's going to be very interesting to hopefully have the chance to meet with some other people from different countries. Different things that might be challenges (in the) U.S. will be completely different for people coming from areas like Syria, Lebanon; areas of the world we see in the news that are not the best place for Christianity at the moment. It will be really interesting to get deeper insight to the faith of these people and how they're able to endure through all of this. And proudly say, at the end of the day: 'I believe'." Christopher has given much thought to the message he wants to convey. This includes the need for the church to be part of the lives of young people beyond the initial Sacraments of Initiation, he said. "On a large scale, that's what the Synod is really trying to do; to make sure young people have a voice within the church. And have a guiding hand and very good mentorship during these different milestones in their lives." n
First responder Story continued from page 1 knew she wanted to help people. “I was always interested in working with people. I knew I was headed in that direction. I did an internship at Adelphoi Village (in Latrobe, Pa), which is for juvenile delinquents and that sold it for me. That’s when I was sure that’s what I wanted to do,” she said. “I think the biggest thing that attracted me to working (at Adelphoi) is figuring out where families really struggle...It was very interesting how important the family was in forming them and how much having a little
bit of a family life when they came to live in a group home could really shift them back in the right direction.” n For confidential assistance, contact Courtney Minerd, Victims’ Assistance Coordinator, at 724-504-9588 or courtneym.ryan@gmail.com. The Victims’ Assistance Coordinator also keeps the person making an allegation informed of the progress of the review and its outcome. For more information, go to www.archpitt.org/victims-assistance.
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Patrick Ryan (Courtney’s brother), Courtney Minerd (holding daughter Josephine) and her husband Matthew.
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The Byzantine Catholic Serra Club of Pittsburgh invites the faithful to a Lenten Bishop John Kudrick Retreat on Saturday, March 17. The theme for this year’s retreat is: “Seek the Lord – He will be Found.” We are blessed this year to have as our retreat master His Grace, Bishop John Kudrick, Bishop Emeritus of Parma, Ohio. The presentations given by Bishop John consider answers to the questions: "Where should we seek the Lord?," "Why do we need to seek Him?," and "Why doesn't He just show Himself?" This day of prayer and meditation will take place at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius, 3605 Perrysville Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. For directions, visit: www.bcs. edu. This year’s schedule: n 9:30 a.m.: Registration n 10 a.m.: Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos; First Presentation by Bishop John n Noon: Lunch The Byzantine Seminary Press
Pittsburgh Protopresbytery Penitential Vespers The Sundays of the Great Fast schedule of services at 4 p.m. Mystery of reconciliation precedes vespers
March 4 SS. Peter and Paul Braddock, Pa. Homilist: Father Wesley Mash March 11 Holy Spirit Pittsburgh (Oakland), Pa. Homilist: Father Frank Firko March 18 St. John Cathedral Munhall, Pa. Homilist: Father Thomas Schaefer
will be open from 12:30-1:30 p.m. n 1:30 p.m.: Penitential Service; Second Presentation by Bishop John Following this presentation, the faithful will have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. n 2:30 p.m.: Conclusion To register, contact Richard Trankocy at 412-672-4665. Offering of $20 requested. n
Pre-Cana Program A Pre-Cana Program for engaged couples will take place March 10 and 17 at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, 210 Greentree Road, Munhall, Pa. Topics covered include: communication, forgiveness and intimacy; finances and budgeting; marriage and sexuality; “Why a church wedding?”; elements of a healthy marriage; and theology of marriage/ Crowning Ceremony. For information about registration and fees, go to archpitt.org and click on the Office of Religious Education link. n
Day of Spirituality The Benedictine Sisters of the Byzantine Church at Queen of Heaven Monastery, Warren,
ByzanTEEN Youth Rally 2018 ByzanTEEN Youth Rally 2018 will be held July 5 to 8 at St. Vincent College, Latrobe. For information, see www.byzanteen.com. n
Lenten Noontime Reflection and Prayers A Lenten Noontime Reflection and Prayers with Sister Carol Petrasovich, OSBM, will take place noon to 1 p.m. March 6, 13 and 20 at Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer, 510 W. Main St., Uniontown, Pa. Register at 724-438-7149. Join us for a short reflection followed by communal and private prayer. Free-will offering. n
eternal memory
elizabeth “betty ann” molnar Elizabeth “Betty Ann” Molnar, 76, Homer City, Pa. passed away Jan. 27 at Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana, Pa. She was the daughter of the late Alex and Anna (Vargo) Molnar and was born May 16, 1941 in Indiana, Pa. Betty Ann was a parishioner at St. Mary’s Holy Protection in Homer City, Pa. She was a member of the Holy Theotokos Group and at one time taught in the ECF program. She was the volunteer bookkeeper/secretary of the church for the last 15 years. She worked for 42 years as Secretary of Superintendent of Schools for the Homer Center School District and was a member of Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR). Betty Ann is survived by her brother, Robert Molnar, Homer City; her cousin, Darlene Vargo, New Jersey; niece, Alexis (Travis) Harmon, Indiana; nephew, Nicholas (Kristin) Esposito, Jr., Homer City; and great-niece, Annelise. She
Retreat for Boy Scouts The Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa. will host a retreat for Boy Scouts on April 21. Any Scout is welcome and Scouts working on or who have completed requirements for the Light is Life religious emblem are strongly encouraged to attend. The day will begin with the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archbishop William Skurla at 9 a.m. and will continue with reflections from the seminarians and liturgical services. Brunch and dinner will be provided. Register with Deacon Lance Weakland, Archeparchial Scout Chaplain, at 576weakland@comcast.net. n
Call for Easter submissions! Let readers know what’s happrening in your parish! Send Lenten and Easter stories and photos to: bcw@archpitt.org Thank you!
Elizabeth “Betty Ann” Molnar
is also survived by many cousins and her dear friend, Kathy Daskivich, Homer City. Friends were received at the C. Frederick Bowser Funeral Home, Homer City where a Panachida was held. A Divine Liturgy was held at Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Homer City. Interment followed in the Oakland Cemetery, Indiana. May God grant to His servant Elizabeth, eternal memory and blessed repose! n
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ANSWERS from Kids Corner page 15:
Lenten Retreat Day
The 13th Egg EGGstravaganza will be held noon-5 p.m. March 18 at St. John, 201 E. Main St., Uniontown. Pa. The afternoon will include egg artists display, demonstrations, decorated eggs and crafts for purchase, Easter items (embroidered basket covers, lamb butter molds, decorated candles), children’s Easter theme activities, explanation of traditional Easter foods, Lenten lunch menu, baked goods, pysanky workshop, raffles, and door prizes. Free admission. Handicapped accessible. For information, call 724-438-6027 Monday to Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Leave message. n
Word Activity: LIFE, SPIRIT, CHATTER, SERVANT, BEING, LOVE, KING, SINS,
dates to remember
Egg EGGstravaganza
JUDGE, AMEN.
Mark Your Calendar
Ohio, wil host a Day of Spirituality 1:30-4:30 p.m. March 18 at SS. Peter and Paul Parish Center, 180 Belvedere Ave. NE, Warren, Ohio, in preparation for the Resurrection of Christ Rev. Thomas Dansak will present “Repentance: Asking Forgiveness for Sin.” There will be time for reflection, questions, refreshments, and an opportunity to receive the Mystery (Sacrament) of Reconciliation. Register at 330-856-1813 or qohm@netdotcom.com by March 11. n
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text messages
Start a chain reaction columbine high school student’s words of faith continue to resonate by David Mayernik Jr. Editor
I've been a professional writer since 2001 and have always viewed my job primarily as informing or entertaining. Sometimes both. I’ve interviewed hundreds of people over those years. Some hold a permanent place in my heart. As I watched news reports of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. where 17 people were killed, I immediately recalled meeting Dana Scott in Oct. 2001. Dana is the sister of Rachel Scott, one of the 12 victims of the shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. on April 20, 1999. I met Dana when I covered her presentation at a suburban Pittsburgh high school for the newspaper I was working for
at the time. Dana was traveling across the country sharing her sister's message of understanding and compassion. It was quite the experience hearing Dana tell her sister’s story. Rachel, a Christian, made headlines when it was learned her killer asked if she still believed in God. "You know I do," Rachel replied. Following Rachel's death, her family found diaries in which she wrote down her life's dreams and passions and an English paper titled "My Ethics, My Codes of Life," where she wrote: "Compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer." In the essay, Rachel wrote if one person went out of their way to show compassion, it would start a "chain reaction" of making a positive difference in many people's lives. Dana told a story about Amber, a new girl at Columbine Rachel befriended.
www.racheljoyscott.org
Amber was sitting by herself one day in the school cafeteria when Rachel introduced herself and invited her friends to join them at the table. Dana said after Rachel’s death, her family received an email from Amber saying Rachel taught her to not be afraid to step out of her comfort zone and see where it leads. “It produced a chain reaction in her life,” Dana told students in 2001. “Rachel has been able to have that influence, though it came
in a totally unexpected way.” She implored students to follow in Rachel’s footsteps and be part of her legacy. “Make a choice to make a positive difference in someone else’s life.” I first wrote about Rachel and Dana almost 17 years ago but I think it’s a story of faith that demands to be retold. n For more information about the life of Rachel Scott, go to www.racheljoyscott.org.
making a difference
What would Jesus do? by Tony Magliano
As countless fellow human beings suffer terribly in a myriad of ways, and much of our planet groans from gaping human-induced wounds, our government, other governments, and many welloff people, seem to hardly care. It is what Pope Francis calls a “globalization of indifference.” Urgently needed is a creative new paradigm — a fresh life-giving, life-protecting, life-enhancing model to guide us out of the selfish, violent, sinful darkness of religious intolerance, nationalism, isolationism, materialism, consumerism, racism, secularism and militarism. But we don’t need to keep stumbling around in the darkness trying to find our way out of all this muck. Instead, the new paradigm we desperately need to fully embrace is the ever-fresh ancient Gospel of Jesus. For in the Gospel we encounter the living Christ and his ever-relevant teachings of compassionate, just, peaceful,
nonviolent, merciful, unconditional love for all. An honest, open-hearted, open-minded prayerful reflection on Jesus’ words and actions will give us sure guidance on how to morally respond to the life and death issues facing our nation and world. And as we do this, we should ask ourselves WWJD, that is, “What would Jesus do?” While some will surely say this is overly simplistic; I beg to differ. And so does the Pontifical Biblical Commission. In their book, “The Bible and Morality” they state that in judging the Christian morality of an action, the fundamental question is: To what extent is this action “inspired by the example of Jesus?” What would Jesus — through whom all things were made, and who was so at one with the natural world — do regarding our poisoning of the air, water and land with toxic waste, and the profit-driven burning of oil, coal and gas that is causing global warming? Surely he would speak out against it. And surely he is telling us to stop polluting
and dangerously warming the earth, to clean it up, and be good stewards of his creation. What would Jesus — who was an unborn baby — do regarding the annual 900,000plus babies brutally aborted in the U.S., and the more than 55 million-plus abortions worldwide? Surely he would condemn it. And surely he is commanding us to end it. What would Jesus — who said, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” — do regarding our fascination for making, possessing, buying, selling, and using high-tech swords? He would surely tell us to stop warring and preparing for war. And would add, “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. What would Jesus — who said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me” — do regarding the suffering of poor, hungry, thirsty and migrant
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persons? He would condemn the tremendous inequality between the haves and have-nots. He would insist upon the establishment of fair and just corporate policies, laws, and budgets to ensure that the basic needs of all human beings are met. He would tell us to build bridges of welcome, not walls of exclusion. And he would ask of us to faithfully put into action the words enshrined on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” That’s what Jesus would do! n
Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist. He is available to speak at diocesan or parish gatherings about Catholic social teaching. His keynote address, “Advancing the Kingdom of God in the 21st Century,” has been well received by diocesan and parish gatherings from Santa Clara, Calif. to Baltimore, Md. Tony can be reached at tmag@zoominternet.net.
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The Angel of Great Counsel journey through salvation history to understand the pre-lenten seasons by Father Christiaan Kappes, Director of Intellectual Formation/ Academic Dean, Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius
For Judeo-Christians of the first centuries, all salvation history hinged upon Jesus’s identity as “Angel of Great Counsel” (LXX Isaiah 9:6). The Emmanuel Moleben celebrated in Byzantine churches takes its biblical inspiration from readings in the Byzantine lectionary (i.e. “the Apostlic reading” and Gospel). Byzantine Christians have an advantage of using the ancient Greek translation of Old Testament called “the Septuagint” (abbreviated LXX). This text is essential for understanding nearly every New Testament citation from the Jewish Bible. Even Jesus’s Nativity is the fulfillment of the terms of prophecy from the Greek Bible. To start, LXX Gen 3:15 mentioned the relatively strange prophecy that one day a woman would produce from her own seed (not Adam’s!) a child who would crush the head of the serpent: “[o Satan,] I will put enmity between ‘the woman’ and her seed; He (the fruit of her loins) will watch [to strike] your head and you his
heel.” Otherwise, both Testaments are generally concerned with “male seed” or children of patriarchs’ loins. In preparation for the Great Fast, I would like to journey with you through salvation history to understand the Pre-Lenten seasons as a dramatic anticipation of the Great and Holy Week and Pascha. I warmly challenge my readers to pick up the Bible to accompany me down the prophetic journey that the Byzantine lectionary and hymns of the Divine Praises, preserving authentic interpretations of the olden prophecies of Jesus’s coming. Firstly, I recount the role of “the Angel of Lord” in the Old Testament. Before the Incarnation, Jesus was not yet flesh. However, after he had already come, he instructed the people that he’d already been around for eternity. Recall that “Angel of the Lord” is almost always ‘code’ for saying God-appearing-in-disguise. At creation, in Genesis 1:2–3, the Word of the Lord and his Spirit descended into a vault filled with water. By touching water, life came out. Note the Father “sending” out his Word and his Spirit cooperating with the Father’s Word. This vault is strangely like a womb. In fact, Mary’s womb
admits two divine beings similarly to descend there to bring about a miraculous kind of life never before seen. Additionally, the Word of the Lord came to Noah (Genesis, chapters 5 to 6) in a command to him, like Yahweh commanding that creation be made earlier in Genesis. At God’s word, Noah was inspired to send out a dove over water to confirm the beginning of a new creation. Once we see Yahweh’s pattern is to send his Word, which in turns sends his Spirit, then we see the entire pattern of God’s action in the universe and in the sacraments, especially as noticed by the holy Fathers. For today, this pattern allows us to arrive at Abraham’s anticipation of a miraculous birth of some kind of angelic or heavenly being to save God’s people. We begin at Genesis chapter 18. Abraham, as in Rublev’s famous icon of the Trinity, encounters three humanlike angels, or are they? The sacred writer switches from referring to the angels in the singular, as Yahweh, then in the plural. Here, God hints at his incomprehensibility. Abraham sees three beings, Father, Son, and Spirit, anticipating the Story of St. Paul’s Christian initiation, or process of baptism in
Acts chapters 8 to 9. When Abraham saw the Lord (three angels), he fell down prostrate, just like the conversion of Paul at the divine light of Jesus on the road to Damascus. Next, like the ceremony of Jesus at the Last Supper — signifying the baptism of the Apostles — Abraham washes the feet of the angels, for Jesus was himself baptized and ate the Last Supper. Finally, Abraham brings the angels three loaves of bread. So, too, Paul’s conversion includes ritual washing and eating immediately following. We should notice that Jesus actually claimed that Abraham had actually seen Jesus “and was glad” (John 8:56). Jesus was quite serious. Recall, Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to Abraham’s Sarah who made three loaves (for the Father, Son, and Spirit): “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened” (Matthew 13:33). However, to understand Sarah’s prefiguring of Mary and the Angel of Good Counsel born of her, we’ll have to pick up on Genesis chapter 18 in the next installment! n
Supporting seminarians, remembering loved ones endowment funds named in memory of family Press release
When Michael Mazur’s wife Alice died in Feb. 2016, his life changed as well as his outlook. “After my wife passed, money didn’t mean too much anymore. I wanted to give away everything and put it to good use. That’s the way I want to live my life now,” he said. Mazur, a parishioner at SS. Peter and Paul in Portage, Pa. turned to the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies in Johnstown for help in making his philanthropic wish a reality. CFA manages a wide variety of charitable funds that distribute grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to students. Mazur has created two endowment funds through the CFA to support students: The Alice McGivney Mazur Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Ann Mazur Memorial Scholarship Fund, named after his sister.
Mazur’s latest fund is named in memory of his parents and his wife’s parents: the Anna and Michael Mazur Sr. and Margaret and Chester McGivney Sr. Memorial Fund, which will support students at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh. Distributions from the fund will be made annually to the seminary, beginning in Jan. 2019. “I wanted to get some young men interested in the priesthood to build the church up. I’d like to see the church prosper and continue into the future,” Mazur said. “The Byzantine Catholic Seminary is blessed by the support of many thoughtful benefactors,” said Very Rev. Robert M. Pipta, Seminary Rector. “I like to see (my family’s) memory preserved — maybe I’m sentimental that way,” Mazur said. n
ABOVE: Anna and Michael Mazur Sr. celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. RIGHT: Margaret and Chester McGivney Sr.’s wedding photo. Michael Mazur, a parishioner at SS. Peter and Paul in Portage, Pa. created endowment funds in his relatives’ names supporting students and seminarians and at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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parish news PAGE 6
MARCH 2018
holy trinity in wall, pa.
Viva Las Vegas! by Phyllis Lewis Holy Trinity, Wall, Pa.
Parishioners and friends of Holy Trinity in Wall, Pa. enjoyed an evening of fellowship, games and fine food at the annual Las Vegas Night in the parish social hall on Jan. 27.
In addition to casino-type games, there was also bingo, Byzantine auction and a 50/50 drawing. A good time was had by all who attended. Plan to join us next January for a fun-filled evening. n
Parishioners Paula Laverdierre and Carol Ribnicky, in charge of the bake sale booth.
Tom Oslick, parishioner and member of Parish Council; and Father Donald Bolls, parish administrator.
st. john the baptist in lyndora, pa.
Exercising body, mind by Deacon Paul Simko St. John the Baptist, Lyndora, Pa.
Once each week, the ladies of St. John the Baptist in Lyndora, Pa. meet to socialize and exercise. Terrie Molczan, a member of St. John and a local Butler County dance instructor, has designed an exercise program especially for people over age 50. All levels of fitness are served by exercis-
es that are done while sitting, standing and moving around the room. The movements required by many of the exercises are also meant to challenge the mind. The program offers not just a chance to stress the importance of exercise for all ages but also offers an opportunity for members of the parish family to interact in a relaxed and informal setting. n
Photos by Sandra Simko
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st. gregory in upper st. clair, pa.
Mamma Mia! Meatball Cook-Off by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Following the Divine Liturgy on Jan. 21, parishioners gathered in our Church hall for the Mamma Mia Meatball CookOff. We appreciate the participation of our parishioners who prepared different types of meatballs, which were enjoyed by all. All participants in this cook-off received a special trophy for this event. At the end, we announced three winners in the following categories: unique meatballs, traditional meatballs and favorite meatballs. n
Group study by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
During the Nativity-Theophany Season, St. Gregory’s faithful gathered with Seminarian Nathan Adams for intensive studies of the Protoevangelium of James. We honored her who is second only to the Son of God, the Ever-Virgin Mary, and the Theotokos. As part of our studies we learned about our Lady’s nativity, childhood, and birthing of the Christ child. By studying both the nativity accounts of the Gospels along with the Protoevangelium of James, we were able to piece together our churches’ theological and liturgical tradition. We even got to sing and pray some of the liturgical texts related to our study. We are very grateful to Seminarian
Nathan for leading us in these studies as part of our celebration of the Nativity of Christ and Holy Theophany. n the byzantine catholic world
Photos by Jennifer Kehm
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st. gregory in upper st. clair, pa.
Procession with Icons by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
The First Sunday of the Great Fast was celebrated in a special way at St. Gregory. Since the year 843, the dominant theme of this Sunday has been that of the victory of the icons that commemorates the ending of the Iconoclast (icon-smashers) heresy which had troubled the Church for about 120 years. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, our ECF students witnessed the Blessing of Icons that they prepared in preparation for this day. Following
that, they participated in the procession around the Church holding Holy Icons depicting Christ, the Theotokos, and all of those saints who have walked the Christian life before us. This Sunday of Orthodoxy is a reminder for all of us, that we are called during this Lenten season to recover-restore within us the image of what it means to be an authentic human being, a genuine person created in the image and likeness of God. n
Evening of laughter by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
On Feb. 9, our Church hall filled up for this year’s 9th annual St. Gregory’s Comedy Night. As a parish community we always look forward to this pre-Lenten event that welcomes many guests from the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Once again, this was a great success as we enjoyed the evening with comedians David Kaye, Collin Chamberlin and Tom Briscoe. A big “thank you” to our faithful who worked very hard preparing this fundraiser event, selling the tickets, preparing and serving our ethnic food, set-up and clean-up of the Church hall. We also express our sincere thanks to all who attended this fun event, and we look forward to our next 10th anniversary special Comedy Night 2019. n
Photos by Jennifer Kehm
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st. michael in campbell, ohio
Bowling for a cause by Father Kevin Marks St. Michael, Campbell, Ohio
St. Michael's parish kids held a Bowl-A-Thon on Jan. 26 with all proceeds donated to Akron Children's Hospital. The kids sought out pledge per pin do-
nations from family, friends, and parishioners. On Feb. 21, they presented the check in the amount of $650 to the hospital. n
Blessing of candles by Father Kevin Marks St. Michael, Campbell, Ohio
The Solemn Blessing of Candles took place during the Feast of the Encounter (Presentation) of Our Lord on Feb. 2. The
blessed candles remind us that we have seen the True Light, Jesus Christ. The visible flame dispels darkness as the invisible flame of the Holy Spirit dwells within us. n
Pure Wednesday by Father Kevin Marks St. Michael, Campbell, Ohio
On Pure Wednesday, Feb. 14, parishioners were anointed with the "Oil Of Gladness" at the Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy. The holy oil reminds us of
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the joy and humility we must have on our journey through the days of Lent. It also gives us strength to perform the works of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. n
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st. stephen in north huntingdon, pa.
Celebrating the birth of Jesus through community outreach by Kristen Keleschenyi ECF coordinator, St. Stephen, North Huntingdon, Pa.
In honor of the birth of Jesus, St. Stephen in North Huntingdon, Pa. collected items for Beverly’s Birthdays, a nonprofit organization based in Irwin, Pa. They provide birthday cheer for children experiencing homelessness and families in need. The parish collection took place throughout the month of December. Items the agency
distributes are gift cards, clothing, toys, and books. Beverly's Birthdays works with their agency partners, schools and food banks to make sure no one goes without celebrating their special day. The parishioners at St. Stephens collected more than 100 items. Teens who help with the Sunday ECF program assisted in organizing all the donations, which were dropped off at the nonprofit's Irwin office on Jan. 26. n
Nora Keleschenyi and Anya Shilobod help organize donations.
holy ghost in mckees rocks, pa.
Prayer, food and fun On Feb. 17, Holy Ghost’s Youth Group held its annual prayer, food and fun day. The Youth Group, along with alumni and families, joined together for the 4 p.m. Divine Liturgy.
Following Divine Liturgy the group, along with pastor Father Frank Firko, joined together for dinner at a local restaurant and then had fun ice skating. n
Procession with Icons st. basil the great in irving, texas
church of the resurrection in monroeville, pa.
Father Joseph Wargacki is pastor at St. Basil the Great.
Father Don Bolls is pastor at Church of the Resurrection.
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mount st. macrina in uniontown, pa.
Blustery day From The Sisters of St. Basil the Great’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sistersofstbasil.uniontown, posted on Feb. 17: “Thanks to everyone who asked about how we fared during the storm on (Feb. 15). With the exception of a few downed trees, we are all fine. And, we continue to pray for the Uniontown, Connellsville and Fayette County residents affected by the storm.” “An official tornado passed through Mt. St. Macrina on Thurs. eve. Trees are down, but no building damage. We’re thankful no one was hurt in it all. Praise the Lord!” n
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report from the
MARCH 2018
Byzantine Catholic Serra Club
Pizza party is standing room only seminarians, serrans celebrate start of spring semester by Kathe Kress Serra Club communications liaison
The Byzantine Catholic Serra Club rang in the Seminary’s Spring term with a Pizza Party on Jan. 31. This event is usually well-attended, but this year’s crowd exceeded all expectations and the number of chairs in the seminary dining room. Seminarians, their families and Serrans mingled, and everyone enjoyed the cameraderie, as well as salads, desserts and pizza! Our Serra resident iconographer Marylyn Barone chose this occasion to present Deacons Oliver Black, George Wendt and James Davidson with icons created by her hand. This is the deacons’ final semester at the Seminary. n
FYI The Byzantine Catholic Serra Club welcomes new members. For information, contact: Bill Kress, President 412-761-1499 kb.kress@gmail.com Sam Barone, Vice President Membership 412-678-9453 mwbarone@comcast.net Serra Club membership is open to all Byzantine Catholics and any Catholics. Members make a commitment to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life and to support all seminarians, priests, deacons and monastics in prayer as well as practical ways. n Deacon Oliver Black, Marylyn Barone
Photos by Kathe Kress
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News from the Vatican Lent is time to notice God’s work, receive God’s mercy, pope says “pause for a little while, refrain from the deafening noise that...confuses our hearing” by Cindy Woden Catholic News Service
ROME — Lent is a time for Christians to get their hearts in sync with the heart of Jesus, Pope Francis said. "Let the Lord heal the wounds of sin and fulfill the prophecy made to our fathers: 'A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh,'" the pope said Feb. 14, celebrating Mass and distributing ashes at the beginning of Lent. After a brief prayer at the Benedictine's Monastery of St. Anselm, Pope Francis made the traditional Ash Wednesday procession to the Dominican-run Basilica of Santa Sabina on Rome's Aventine Hill for the Mass. He received ashes on his head from 93-year-old Cardinal Jozef Tomko, titular cardinal of the basilica, and he distributed ashes to the cardinals present, three Benedictines, three Dominicans, an Italian couple with two children and members of the Pontifical Academy for Martyrs, which promotes the traditional Lenten "station church" pilgrimage
in Rome. In his homily, he said the church gives Christians the 40 days of Lent as a time to reflect on "anything that could dampen or even corrode our believing heart." Everyone experiences temptation, the pope said. Lent is a time to pause and step back from situations that lead to sin, a time to see how God is at work in others and in the world and, especially, a time to return to the Lord, knowing that his mercy is boundless. Lent, he said, is a time "to allow our hearts to beat once more in tune with the vibrant heart of Jesus." Hitting the reset button, the pope said, requires taking a pause from "bitter feelings, which never get us anywhere" and from a frantic pace of life that leaves too little time for family, friends, children, grandparents and God. People need to pause from striving to be noticed, from snooty comments and "haughty looks," he said; instead, they need to show tenderness, compassion and even reverence for others. "Pause for a little while, refrain from the deafening noise
that weakens and confuses our hearing, that makes us forget the fruitful and creative power of silence," the pope said. Use the pauses of Lent "to look and contemplate," he suggested. Christians can learn from seeing the gestures others make that "keep the flame of faith and hope alive." "Look at faces alive with God's tenderness and goodness working in our midst," the pope said, pointing to the faces of families who struggle to survive yet continue to love, the wrinkled faces of the elderly "that reflect God's wisdom at work" and the faces of the sick and their caregivers who "remind us that the value of each person can never be reduced to a question of calculation or utility." "See the remorseful faces of so many who try to repair their errors and mistakes, and who from their misfortune and suffering, fight to transform their situations and move forward," Pope Francis said. But most of all, he said, "see and contemplate the real face of Christ crucified out of love for everyone, without exception. For everyone? Yes, for everyone. To see his face is an in-
Pope Francis places ashes on the head of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, during Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome Feb. 14. Photo by Catholic News Service/Paul Haring.
vitation filled with hope for this Lenten time, in order to defeat the demons of distrust, apathy and resignation. The invitation, he said, is to "return without fear to those outstretched, eager arms of your Father, who is rich in mercy, who awaits you." "Return without fear to join in the celebration of those who are forgiven," the pope said. "Return without fear to experience the healing and reconciling tenderness of God." n
Pilgrim pope: Benedict says he’s journeying toward God “it is a great grace...to be surrounded by a love and kindness that i never could have imagined” by Cindy Woden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — "I am on a pilgrimage toward Home," retired Pope Benedict XVI wrote, capitalizing the Italian word "casa" or "home." Almost exactly five years after announcing his intention to be the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign, Pope Benedict wrote the letter to a journalist from the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. "I am touched to know how many of the readers of your newspaper want to know how I am experiencing this last period of my life," the 90-yearold retired pope wrote. "In that regard, I can only say that, with the slow diminishing of my physical strength, inwardly I am on a pilgrimage toward Home." "It is a great grace in this last, sometimes tiring stage of my journey, to be surrounded by a love and kindness that I never could have imagined," said
the letter, written on stationery with the heading "Benedictus XVI, Papa emeritus." Massimo Franco, the journalist, said the letter, dated Feb. 5, was hand-delivered; the newspaper posted it online Feb. 6 and published it on the front page of the print edition Feb. 7. During a meeting with cardinals Feb. 11, 2013, Pope Benedict stunned the cardinals and the world by saying, in Latin, "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry." He set the date for his retirement as Feb. 28, 2013. And, seen off by dozens of weeping Vatican employees, he flew by helicopter to the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo, where he remained until after Pope Francis was elected. The day before he left was a Wednesday and the overflow-
ing crowd in St. Peter's Square made it clear that it was anything but a normal Wednesday general audience. He told an estimated 150,000 people that his pontificate, which had lasted almost eight years, was a time of "joy and light, but also difficult moments." "The Lord has given us so many days of sun and light breeze, days in which the catch of fish has been abundant," he said, likening himself to St. Peter on the Sea of Galilee. "There have also been moments in which the waters were turbulent and the wind contrary, as throughout the history of the church, and the Lord seemed to be asleep," he said. "But I have always known that the Lord is in that boat and that the boat of the church is not mine, it is not ours, but it is his and he does not let it sink." A monastery in the Vatican Gardens was remodeled for Pope Benedict, and that
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Pope Benedict waves as he leaves his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in this Feb. 23, 2013 photo. In a Feb. 5, 2018 letter to a journalist from an Italian newspaper, the retired pope said he has diminished physical strength and inwardly is on a “pilgrimage to Home.” Photo by Catholic News Service/Paul Haring.
is where he has lived for five years, reading, praying, listening to music and welcoming visitors. Until 2016, the retired pope occasionally would join Pope Francis at important public liturgies, including the Mass for the canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II in 2014 and for the opening of the 2015-2016 Year of Mercy. Pope Benedict also attended Story continued on page 14
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thoughts for our day by Archpriest David M. Petras
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST We learn of our Lord Jesus the Messiah (Christ) through our faith. Our faith comes through hearing the preaching of the Apostles. St. Paul describes the process: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved .... But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!”(Romans 10:9.1415). We come to faith through hearing the word of God proclaimed in the church, from reading the words of the apostles inspired by God in the Scriptures, and by the grace of God in our hearts, as Jesus taught, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day” (John 6:44). The question for us now is: “Who is this Jesus, and what does he mean for me?” The traditional answer is that he is our Lord, our Savior and our Redeemer. When Adam was disobedient in Eden, he brought sin and death into the world, but when our Lord was obedient to the Father even to death on the cross, He brought justification and life. The sin of Adam was a parable of how we all sin. The commandment of God was that we should not eat of the trees of
the knowledge of good and evil and of life. We must understand this in faith — it was not that God was depriving us of life, but that we could not have true life in God by our own human powers but only through the grace of God. That is why the serpent was able to deceive Eve and Adam by saying, “God knows well that when you eat
of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Having been disobedient and having rejected the grace of God, the offense against the infinite Good could only be healed by the Good Himself, by God, who took our human nature so that in one person obedience to God’s plan for life might be restored, as again St. Paul teaches: “For if by that one person’s transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one person Jesus Christ overflow for the many” (Romans 5:15). This is all very true, but one problem is that this can be interpreted in a very legalistic way, that is, that there has to be a propitiation equal to the crime, and this propitiation could only be suffered by God himself, offered
as a sacrifice to the Father. Therefore, nothing that we do or don’t do makes any difference, only that we accept Jesus as our Savior. Again, in many ways this is very true. St. Maximus the Confessor wrote that all the good we do is done through the grace of God. Our only contribution is our free will, choosing life in Christ. Our lives can be transformed only by God through the mystery of the incarnation, just as the bread and wine of the Liturgy become the Body and Blood of Christ by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, and not by our human power, as the priest in the Liturgy of St. Basil prays: “Not because of our righteousness, for we have done nothing good on earth.” This is a model of salvation, but there is one dimension missing: the value of our liberation from sin. The Son of God did indeed take on our human nature to free it from sin through his cross and resurrection. At the same time, he is our Teacher, our rabbi, and not simply by words. By the way he lived his human life, he gave us a model of how our lives can be deified, achieving the desire of Adam and Eve. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, our Lord tells us: “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). We can do this by renouncing all that is evil and committing ourselves to Christ in the grace of baptism. Jesus tells us that we must imitate his way of life: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). This may mean subordinating our
Pilgrim pope
and greeted crowds there before the very dramatic, globally televised scene of Swiss Guards closing the massive doors to the villa and hanging up their halberds. "I am a simple pilgrim who begins the last stage of his pilgrimage on this earth," he told the people. "But with all my heart, with all my love, with my prayers, with my reflection, with all my interior strength, I still want to work for the common good and the good of the church and humanity." In "Last Testament," a booklength interview with journal-
ist Peter Seewald published in 2016, Pope Benedict insisted he was not pressured by anyone or any particular event to resign, and he did not feel he was running away from any problem. However, he acknowledged "practical governance was not my forte, and this certainly was a weakness." Insisting "my hour had passed and I had given all I could," Pope Benedict said he never regretted resigning, but he did regret hurting friends and faithful who were "really distressed and felt forsaken" by his stepping down. n
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the ceremonies for the creation of new cardinals in 2014 and 2015. But as it became more and more difficult for Pope Benedict to walk, Pope Francis and the new cardinals would get in vans and drive the short distance to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery to pay their respects. The retired pope's letter to Corriere della Sera echoed remarks he had made the afternoon of his retirement when he arrived in Castel Gandolfo
The Son of God did indeed take on our human nature to free it from sin through his cross and resurrection.
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life for the love of our neighbor, again as Jesus observes: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13). This is why we venerate saints. Through them, life in Christ shines forth, and their lives become a part of God’s salvation. St. Paul explains: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24). We are all called to be saints, we are all called to live as he did, possible through his grace and only in his grace, as St. Paul reveals: “Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). This, then, becomes the basic moral principle of living a life in the grace of Christ, again St. Paul: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Our salvation is more than simply a legal exoneration through the suffering and death of Jesus, but a transforming experience by which we are really freed from sin and come to share in the divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4). How this happens is different for every one of us, for we do not imitate the life of Christ in its historical details, but in the circumstances in which we are born and live and die, contributing to the reality of the Body of Christ and the image of Christ in every person. n
BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. WEDO Radio 810 AM McKeesport, Pa. Broadcast live from Holy Ghost Church McKees Rocks, Pa.
OR via Internet: click “Listen Live” link at www.holyghostbyzantinecatholic.org
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The Icon of Extreme Humility
is often associated with the Prayer of St. Ephrem and is a deeply moving image to focus and reflect on during the Great Fast. It portrays Christ after his passion and death. The Cross stands behind him, the tomb in front. The major wounds on his hands and side are exposed. His head is bowed, eyes closed. As St. Paul tells us, although Christ is God, he emptied himself and took the form of a servant, a Suffering Servant, who embodies perfect humility. We often are humbled by circumstances usually of our own making, having to face the consequences of our own misguided actions, thoughts or experiences. But Christ shows us the Divine way of humility by willingly submitting to suffering, insults, torture and a painful, humiliating death out of love for the Father and for us. This is what the Eastern Church venerates in this icon with great wonder and love.
The Oldest Liturgy by Sandy Simko St. John the Baptist, Lyndora, Pa.
Our Byzantine C h u r c h celebrates three beautiful liturgies – the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS, an evening service celebrated only on weekdays during the Great Fast, is thought to be the oldest of the three. The authorship of this ancient liturgy celebrated for many years in the Eastern Church can be traced back to St. Gregory Dialogus who simply may have written down on paper what he had heard at a Presanctified Liturgy. You may be questioning the name of this liturgy. What are Presanctified Gifts? To help explain, for a moment let’s think of the DIVINE LITURGY. Since we are celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus and receiving Holy Communion, the DIVINE LITURGY is a glorious and joyful church service. The consecration of the bread occurs only at a Divine Liturgy. Since a Divine Liturgy is not to be celebrated on weekdays during the Great Fast, the priest
saves some of the consecrated bread – the presanctified gifts – from a Sunday Liturgy, to be used during a weekday PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY. There is a joyous sadness that exists at a PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY. The sadness comes in remembering the sufferings and death of Jesus, but there is also a joyous feeling as we prepare for his glorious Resurrection. This liturgy is celebrated ONLY during the Great Fast. The LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS is composed of a broad selection of psalms, hymns, Old Testament readings, litanies of peace and thanksgiving, and familiar prayers such as the Our Father and the prayer at Communion. We not only recite the important Prayer of St. Ephrem, but also offer deep prostrations as a way of showing our repentance to Jesus. This short and simple prayer asks God for guidance as we try to show patience and love to other people and to remain free from sin. The music of the PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY has a hint of sadness. However, the dimly lit church brightly shines with additional lighting when people sing the Hymn of the Evening, “O joyful light, light
Liturgical Activity
Attend and participate in the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts during the Great Fast.
Word Activity Unscramble and fill in the missing words in the Prayer of St. Ephrem below: O Lord and Master of my ______________ FELI keep from me the _______________ of indifference and discouragement,
ITPSRI
ERTTHCA Instead grant to me, Your _________________ VSERTNA the spirit of wholeness of ______________ BGNEI humble-mindedness, patience, and ___________. ELVO O Lord and _____________, GNKI grant me the grace to be aware of my ___________ NSSI and not to ______________ my brother; UEJDG lust of power and idle _________________.
for you are blessed now and ever and forever. _____________. ANME SEE ANSWER KEY ON PAGE 3
and holy glory…” The period of The Great Fast can help to strengthen our need for spiritual nourishment. This beautiful LITURGY
Saint Paul: Saul, the man
Tradition notes that this tiny stone chapel, known as the Church of Ananias, is build on the site of the home where Saul/St. Paul regained his sight in a neighborhood of Damascus, Syria called Bab Touma.
Activities
OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS provides us with the opportunities to receive Jesus often during the season of the Great Fast. n
As an adult, Saul, a Jewish Pharisee, deeply despised anyone who believed that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah. Evilly filled with intense hatred, he would drag believers of Jesus out of their homes and into prisons. He stood by and watched as his kinsman St. Stephen was stoned to death. The man Saul was a fierce persecutor of the early church. Then Scriptures tell us that Saul was on the road to Damascus with a few friends when a blinding light forced him to the ground. Saul heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4) Saul was astonished that the voice was Jesus speaking to him. “Arise and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:6) Saul, blinded by the bright light, was taken to Damascus as directed by Jesus. After three days, the man Ananias was instructed in a vision to find Saul and cure his blindness. With his eyesight restored and filled with the Holy Spirit, Saul was ready to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. From this moment on, Saul’s life dramatically changes from one of the evilest of men to a passionate believer in Jesus Christ. He will be called Paul! the byzantine catholic world
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liturgical schedule at the Seminary Join the Byzantine Catholic Seminary community for liturgical services at 3605 Perrysville Ave, Pittsburgh, Pa. Enter through the chapel door that faces Perrysville Avenue. It’s recommended visitors call 412-321-8383 in advance so that we may be awaiting your arrival. For more information about the Seminary, go to www.bcs.edu. Schedule of Services for March 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17,18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
(M) Melkite (R) Ruthenian
8 a.m. Matins (R) 7 a.m. Akathist (M), Part 3 5 p.m. Presanctified Divine Liturgy (M) 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy with Panachida (R), 3rd All Souls 5 p.m. Great Vespers (R) 7 a.m. Festal Matins (R) 5 p.m. Vespers (R) 8 a.m. Midday Office (R) 7 a.m. Psalter Service (M), 3rd Kathisma 7 a.m. Midday Office (R) 5 p.m. Presanctified Divine Liturgy (R) 8 a.m. 6th Hour (R) 7 a.m. Orthros (M) 5 p.m. Presanctified Divine Liturgy (M) 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy with Panachida (R), 4th All Souls 5 p.m. Great Vespers (M) 7 a.m. Festal Matins (R) 5 p.m. Vespers (R) 8 a.m. Midday Office (R) 7 a.m. Psalter Service (M), 4th Kathisma 5 p.m. Presanctified Divine Liturgy (R) 7 a.m. Matins with Great Canon (R), Andrew of Crete 7 a.m. 1st Hour (R) No services 8 a.m. Midday Office (R) 7 a.m. Psalter Service (M), 5th Kathisma 7 a.m. Midday Office (R) 5 p.m. Presanctified Divine Liturgy (R) 8 a.m. 3rd Hour (R) 7 a.m. Orthros (M) 5 p.m. Presanctified Divine Liturgy (M) 8 a.m. Festal Matins with Divine Liturgy (R), Lazarus Saturday 5 p.m. All-Night Vigil with Blessings of Palms and Willows (R) 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy (R), Palm Sunday/Anunciation 5 p.m. Vespers 8 a.m. Bridegroom Matins (R) 4 p.m. Presanctified Divine Liturgy (R) 8 p.m. Great Compline (R) 8 a.m. Bridegroom Matins (M) 4 p.m. Presanctified Divine Liturgy (M) 8 p.m. Great Compline (M) 8 a.m. Anointing of the Sick (R) 5 p.m. Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (R) 8 a.m. Betrayal Matins (R) 8 a.m. Orthros (M) Noon Office of Readings (R) 5 p.m. Entombment Vespers (R) 8 a.m. Orthros (M) 3 p.m. Paschal Vigil (M) 8 p.m. Resurrection Matins with Divine Liturgy (R)
around the archeparchy PIROHI SALE — 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during Lent, St. Nicholas, 302 Third Ave., Brownsville, Pa. Potato/cheese, sweet cabbage and prune; frozen and must be cooked. Cost: $7 per dozen. Place orders at 724-785-5552. Walk-ins welcome. Watch for signs around the church. LENTEN FISH DINNERS — 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. every Friday during Lent (excluding Good Friday), St. Elias, 4200 Homestead-Duquesne Road, Munhall, Pa. Fried or baked fish dinner, $9; one dozen levkar pirohi, $10. Soup, haluski, macaroni and cheese, French fries and cole slaw also available. Bake sale and homemade csoroge. For prices, see steliasmunhallpa.weebly. com/lenten-kitchen.html. For information, call 412-461-1712. PIROHI SALE — Noon-4 p.m. every Friday during Lent (excluding Good Friday), St. Pius X, 2336 Brownsville Road, Carrick. Five varieties of pirohi, frozen or cooked, and haluski will be sold. Prices start at $7. Eat in or take out. For information or to place an advance order, call 412-881-8344. PIROHI SALE — Noon-6 p.m. every Friday during Lent (excluding Good Friday), St. Mary, 4480 Route 981, Trauger, Pa. Potato cheese only; frozen and must be cooked. Walk-ins welcome. Cost: $8 per dozen. Cash only. Advance orders may be placed by leaving a message or sending a text to 412-526-0285; include quantity being ordered, approximate pick-up time and contact number. FISH FRY — 4-7 p.m. every Friday during Lent (excluding Good Friday), Church of the Resurrection, 455 Center Road, Monroeville, Pa. Fried and baked cod, pirohi, haluski shrimp, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, clam chowder and baked goods. For information, call 412-372-8650. PIROHI SALE — Place orders 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 8, 7 a.m.-noon March 9 at 724-375-6652. Pick-up noon-2 p.m. March 9. St. George, 1001 Clinton St., Aliquippa, Pa. Potato, kraut, cheese and lekvar. Cost: $9 per dozen. ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST BUFFET — 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 11, St. Mary’s Center, Route 981, Trauger. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for ages 5 to 10. No cost for age 4 and under. Sponsored by St. Mary’s Youth Group. ICONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP — April 13 to 15, Church of the Resurrection, 455 Center Road, Monroeville, Pa. Write an icon of Saint Nicholas with or without a miter on an 8-by-10 gesso-covered board. Using a pre-prepared prototype, you will learn techniques for faces, garments, gilding and background. Theology of iconography and Saint Nicholas will be presented. Class will be 6-9:30 p.m. April 13 to April 15 after Liturgy until finishing. Participants must be able to attend all three days to have a completed icon. Cost: $120 to cover all supplies. Deposit of $20 required. Pastries, coffee, and tea will be provided Saturday and Sunday morning. Lunch will not be sprovided. For adults of all levels of experience. Class limited to 20 people. For information, contact Marylyn Barone at 412-678-9453 or mwbarone@comcast.net. A TASTE OF HEAVEN COOKIES & TREATS COOKBOOK — Published by parishioners of St. Gregory in Upper St. Clair, Pa. Features 108 recipes for cookies, treats and ethnic favorites. Cost: $12 plus $3 postage. Send a check made out to “St. Gregory Church” to: St. Gregory, 2005 Mohawk Road, Upper St. Clair, Pa. 15241. For information, call the Rectory at 412-835-7800.
dates to remember MARCH 4 Third Sunday of the Great Fast Veneration of the Holy Cross MARCH 20 First Day of Spring MARCH 25 Palm Sunday — Entrance of our Lord into Jersusalem MARCH 26 TO 31 Holy Week CHANCERY CLOSED MARCH 29 TO 30 MARCH 30 Great and Holy Friday APRIL 1 Pascha —The Glorious Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord
See more upcoming events at www.archpitt.org the byzantine catholic world
Official publication of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
Byzantine Catholic Press Associates 66 Riverview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Tel: 412.231.4000 Fax: 412.231.1697 E-mail: bcw@archpitt.org Web site: www.archpitt.org
next issue: PASCHA 2018
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