THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH
becoming a “name brand”
Inside
Father Christiaan Kappes discusses the Byzantine Catholic Seminary Page 3
VOL. 64
getting crafty Parishioners at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munall, Pa. present its annual Spring Craft Show Page 7
Ordination to Minor Orders
NO. 7
JUNE 2019
“the god of mercy” Deacons, wives paticipate in annual retreat at Antiochian Village Page 13
Prayerful preparation couples participate in pre-cana program by Sister Marion Dobos Director, Office of Religious Education
Kyprian Wojciechowski and Robert Jones, both of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, were ordained to the Order of Reader by Archbishop William Skurla May 2 at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall, Pa. For more photos, see page 6. Photo by Nick Havrilla Sr.
“Disney Week” on the Mount mt. macrina manor celebrates national skilled nursing care week By David Mayernik Jr. Editor
Employees and residents of Mt. Macrina Manor in Uniontown, Pa. took a tumble down the rabbit hole to Wonderland last month. They celebrated National Skilled Nursing Care Week May 12 to 18 with "Disney Week,” filled with food, entertainment and fun of a decidedly animated variety. Angie Slaughter, activities director at Mt. Macrina Manor, said residents on their 19-member council chose the theme and a committee of employees worked out the logistics to make it a reality.
“It all works together. The residents have input and so do employees,” she said. "Every day (of National Skilled Nursing Care Week) is something for residents and our employees to show appreciation. We make it a weeklong, fun celebration for our residents." National Skilled Nursing Care Week was established by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) in 1967 to recognize the roles of skilled nursing centers' staff and volunteers who care for seniors and residents with disabilities. Mt. Macrina Manor is a 130-bed, not-for-profit, skilled
nursing facility which offers 24-hour nursing care, rehabilitative services, memory care, and pastoral care to all denominations. Its mission is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Basil the Great. The week's events begins on Mother's Day each year. Angie outlined some of this year's festivities: n May 13 was "Magic Kingdom Day," as 40 three and four-year-old children from Head Start Fayette County visited and a Laurel Highlands High School student dressed up as Elsa from "Frozen" and sang Story continued on page 15
The Church is constantly working to enable us to understand more deeply the Sacramentality of marriage and to achieve it. In our Byzantine Catholic Tradition, we refer to marriage as a “Mystery” and crown couples to remind them of the sacrificial love they must have for each other. A heavenly marriage requires earthly work. To help couples prepare for this life commitment, the Office of Religious Education has been sponsoring a Pre-Cana Program since 1999 at various locations. This year the program took place March 30 and April 6 at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa. This new location offered an opportunity for the seminarians to attend the presentations along with the 12 couples registered and experience a demonstration of the Crowning Ceremony. Topics were presented were: “Communication, Forgiveness & Intimacy” by Father Thom Dansak; “Finances & Budgeting” by Sandee and Mark Collins; “The Crowning Ceremony” by Father Will Rupp; “Elements of a Healthy Marriage” by Chris and Amanda Singel; “Why a Church Wedding” and “Theology of Marriage” by Deacon Dennis Prestash; and “Marriage & Sexuality” by Dr. Matthew Minerd. Father Thom’s presentations were thought-provoking, insightful and humorous. Being a Navy chaplain for 3o years, his experiences shared with the couples were applicable, funStory continued on page 5
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eternal memory
father john j. cuccaro 1950-2019
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.
Father John Joseph Cuccaro fell asleep in the Lord after a short illness on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Father John, the only child of the late Angelo and Anna Kochik Cuccaro, was born on June 23, 1950 in Irwin, Pennsylvania. His early education was at Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Irwin, and he was then graduated from Central Catholic High School in nearby Greensburg in 1968. He attended Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, Pa. where in 1972 he earned a BA in Slavic linguistics with a major in both Russian and Polish. Father John Cuccaro While at Alliance he was a member of the college’s Folk Ensemble, the Kujawiaki with whom he toured and performed all over the United States. Following college, Father John did graduate work at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. He then worked as a technical interpreter for the Swindell- Dressler International Company in Pittsburgh. From 1975 to 1979 he pursued theological studies at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Pittsburgh. He was ordained to the priesthood by Metropolitan Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko on May 27, 1979. During his forty years as a Byzantine Catholic priest of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, Father John served parishes in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. At the time of his death, he was pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church, Duquesne, Pa. and administrator of Holy Ascension Church, Clairton Pa. He was also a member of the Priests’ Pension Board. Father John was well known for his great love and appreciation for anything Slav, and especially for Slovakia: its people, culture, traditions and language. He was a special friend and a help to many people of Slav backgrounds and to the Sunday afternoon Slovak radio program conducted by Rudy and Sue Ondrejco. Surviving him are his aunts Margaret Krue of Scottsdale, Arizona, Dorothy Steck of Santa Barbara, California and cousins. Father John lay in state at his church, SS. Peter and Paul in Duquesne, Pa. on Sunday, May 12, 2019. The funeral service for a priest was celebrated that evening by Very Reverend Andrew J. Deskevich. Most Reverend John M. Kudrick presided. Concelebrants were area priests of the Archeparchy, and Reverend Father James A. Ragan and Will Rupp served as cantors. Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla celebrated the funeral Liturgy the next morning, Monday, May 13. Concelebrants were Very Reverends Richard I. Lambert, Frank A. Firko, and Vasyl Polyak, and Reverend Fathers Father Simeon B. Sibenik, Mykhaylo Farynets, and Vitalii Stashkevych. Very Reverend Andrew J. Deskevich was the Master of Ceremonies, and Deacon Sean Petrisko served as Deacon. Sub-Deacon Paul West and Seminarian Kyprian Wojciechowski assisted. The congregational singing was led by Reverend Fathers James A. Ragan and Will Rupp. The epistle was chanted by the parish cantor Daniel Evans. In his homily Archbishop William spoke of Father John’s great generosity. He always had time for people, and he responded with care and concern for any needs or wants he perceived that they might have. With gentle good humor, he was a true friend to priests, parishioners and to almost everyone he ever met. Interment followed in Irwin Union Cemetery, North Huntingdon, Pa. May God Grant to His servant the Priest John Eternal memory and Blessed repose! n the byzantine catholic world
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Mark Your Calendar
BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY
dates to remember Young Adult Retreat
Sundays at 9 a.m.
Gather with other young adults seeking God’s way along life’s journey 7 p.m. June 21 to 11 a.m. June 23. Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer, 510 W. Main St., Uniontown, Pa. Hosted by Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, OSBM and the Young Adult Team. Registration due June 14. Offering is $110. Open to Christian men and women ages 18 to 35 years old. Register at 724-438-7149 or hpmsm@verizon.net. n
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
Becoming a “name brand” byzantine catholic seminary expands its mission By Father Christiaan Kappes Academic Dean, Director of Intelelctual Formation, Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius
In recent years, the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa. has expanded its mission to serve Ruthenian, Melkite, Romanian, and Ukrainian eparchies, in addition to the majority of its students who are lay and obtaining a Master degree. The Seminary is becoming a “name brand” in Eastern Christianity. This felicitous occurrence deserves more notoriety among Byzantine Catholics. Some examples of success can be drawn from veteran faculty, recent hires, and adjunct professors. The Seminary employs 20 faculty members, often leading specialists in their fields. To begin, veteran faculty members have long enjoyed a reputation for excellence in scholarship. For example, Rev. Dr. Stelyios Muksuris, professor of Liturgical Theology, has received past endorsements for his scholarly work by none other than the late Right Rev. Dr. Robert Taft, SJ, working on the Byzantine proskomidia or rite of prothesis. He continues to research and publish to the benefit of his readers and students. His Eastern Orthodox pedigree highlights the ecumenical mission of the seminary, employing Orthodox teachers and granting degrees to Eastern Orthodox students, while open to any number of students from all traditions and backgrounds. Another full-time faculty member, relatively new, is Dr. Matthew Minerd. Having successfully completed his PhD
in 2017 from the impressive program at The Catholic University of America, he joined the Seminary and continues his work in logic and metaphysics (in figures quite germane and important to Late-Byzantine Orthodox writers). His work earned him prizes by both the American Catholic Philosophical Society and American Maritain Association on topics that are now avant-garde in Byzantine publications (viz., sexual differentiation and the status of logical “beings” known as second intentions). This expertise has aided him in teaching the more subtle Byzantine surrounding between Gregory Palamas and Barlaam the Calabrian, a very contemporary interest in Byzantine studies. He is a welcome Ruthenian addition to the philosophical life of the seminary. In a final example, among adjuncts, is Rev. Dr. Bogdan whose expertise in early patristic texts is fundamental to the patristic focus of Eastern Christianity. His numerous publications in pre-Nicene or preAD 325 theologians and their methods of biblical interpretation have not only enriched the scholarly world but have
inspired the seminarians to sing the hymnody of the Byzantine Divine Praises with greater attention and understanding. Perhaps the leading scholar in the world on patristic interpretation of the appearances of angels and the theology of the appearances of God in the Old and New Testaments, Rev. Dr. Bogdan constitutes the first step in seminarian and student understanding the images and metaphors preserved especially in the sung liturgical texts of the Byzantine rite, which often presuppose one is initiated into these pre-philosophical and more Jewish modes of interpreting God’s saving work on earth. While it is impossible in such a short article to laud all the merits and to refer to all the accomplishments of the seminary core and adjunct faculty, this sampling of the specialists who are teaching at the seminary should engage the curiosity of the reader to check out the seminary website www.bcs. edu and look at faculty profiles, Curricula Vitae, and the publications of its many experts on any range of philosophical, historical, and theological topics. n
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Bulletin Board
Work begun at Assembly 2018 continues in June by Christopher Russo St. Nicholas, Danbury, Conn. Eparchy of Passaic
In response to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh’s Assembly held in Sept. 2018, parishes throughout the Archeparchy developed individual action plans to ensure growth and strengthen ministry for the future. After implementing these plans, parishes were asked to give feedback on individual successes and concerns regarding spiritual formation, media communication, and outreach in their communities. This work to renew the Byzantine Catholic Church continues during the Assembly 2019 meetings to be held at St. John the Baptist Cathedral June 23 to 24. By identifying areas of growth, the upcoming assembly will allow clergy and laity to collaborate in working towards continued success and sustainability in parish ministry. In organizing this assembly, The Commission for Renewal and Revitalization, under the direction of Archbishop William Skurla, also seeks to provide support and direction to help parishes flourish. Discussions about the next steps towards revitalization will culminate in a keynote presentation by Christopher Russo entitled “Thy Will be Done.” In his presentation, Christopher will speak on the future of ministry within the Byzantine Catholic Church and provide ideas on how to work together to ultimately achieve the will of God in our communities. By using the theme of The Lord’s Prayer, this presentation will further challenge Assembly participants to be servants of God and of one another in their work to renew the church. n
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text messages
Silence is golden by David Mayernik Jr. Editor
The fifth Sunday of Holy Pascha is the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman. During the reading of the Gospel of Saint John 4:5-42, we hear of Jesus Christ’s encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. During Father Valerian Michlik’s May 19 homily at St. Gregory in Upper St. Clair, Pa., he stated the conversation transcribed by Saint John changed the woman’s life. “Conversations with Jesus are conversations that can change you forever,” Father Valerian said. It certainly did in this woman’s case, as she subsequently became a saint known as Saint Photina or St. Svetlana. Saint John writes: “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samari-
tans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” I am not a theologian so it wouldn’t be correct for me to discuss the theological aspect of their conversation. But I was struck by Father Valerian’s remark that this dialogue between Jesus Christ and the woman is the longest conversation between Him and another person recorded in the Bible. To a lay person like myself, it’s quite an astounding fact, considering all of the conversations Christ had with His Apostles and others, such as
icon of Christ with the Samaritan Woman
the man born blind and the paralytic man. Of course, prayer or “spiritual communication between you and God” is also known as a “dialogue of silence” with God, said Father Valerian.
While the Samaritan woman’s life was changed through a vocal conversation with Christ, it’s amazing how our lives can be changed in silence. n
metropolitan cantor institute
Cantor Institute offers online classes, Summer School by Deacon Jeffrey Mierzejewski Director, Metropolitan Cantor Institute
The Byzantine Catholic Church has a unique place among the Catholic and Orthodox churches in the United States: it is the only place where all liturgical services are routinely sung, from beginning to end, by the entire congregation. To do this, the church needs cantors: men and women who know our liturgy and plain chant, and can begin the singing of the faithful and guide it as each service progresses. The range of skills needed by a cantor is broad. Based on the experience of 15 years teaching cantors in the classroom, in 2015 the Metropolitan Cantor Institute in Pittsburgh launched an Internet-based program to teach the liturgical and musical knowledge that a cantor needs. These classes can be accessed at http://mci.archpitt.org/classes.The initial classes in the program are at no charge and can
be taken at any time. Each class consists of guided lessons, listening assignments, and easy quizzes and reviews. In the church singing course, students record the chants they have learned, at home, and instructors help each student improve his or her singing. Classes can be taken on any Internet-connected computer, tablet, or smartphone, and are open to all members of the Byzantine Catholic Church. (Because the Church Singing course involves significant instructor time for feedback, there is a registration fee for non-members.) Further courses cover reading in church, the Divine Liturgy and Vespers, and singing in the Eight Tones, as well as special services throughout the church year. They also include material on leadership skills for cantors, as well as integrating the liturgy and church singing into one's own prayer life. The entire program can be completed in two years, for less than $35 per month per student. Of course, some things can only be learned and prac-
ticed through actual singing in church! So the Cantor Institute also provides an annual summer school and occasional regional classes. This year, the Summer Cantor School will be held July 19 to 20 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Hillsborough, N.J. It is open to both new and experienced cantors, and is being offered on a Thursday and Friday to allow serving cantors to return to their home parishes for weekend services. We also hope that older teens and young adults will consider attending as well, to investigate a potential vocation as cantor. Note that new or prospective cantors should take the free online class, Introduction to Church Singing, before attending the summer school. For details, see the MCI website. Renewing our parish singing has to focus on the music of the liturgical services — but our church also has a strong tradition of singing so-called "paraliturgical hymns" and spiritual songs outside of the Liturgy, especially in honor of the Mother of God and the saints.
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At the request of the Inter-Eparchial Music Commission, the Metropolitan Cantor institute is currently preparing a new and expanded hymnal for our church. All discussion for this project is conducted online, and cantors and others are warmly encouraged to participate. Future projects being planned include a basic set of harmonized plain chant, a "core repertoire" in Church Slavonic for parishes which still sing occasionally in this language, and materials to teach the skill of singing plain chant in harmony "by ear", as has been done in our church for many years. We are also looking for opportunities to give more regional classes, and to help parishes document and celebrate their own local history of church singing. n For more information, check out the Metropolitan Cantor Institute website, http://mci. archpitt.org. You can also contact the MCI director, Deacon Jeffrey Mierzejewski, at (412) 735-1676 or mci@archpitt.org.
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Prayerful preparation couples prepare for marriage during pre-cana program at byzantine catholic seminary continued from page 1 damental and revealing. He ended his presentation saying, “Falling in love is a wonderful blessing. Staying in love is a choice we make every day and it takes a lot of hard work. Keep God at the center of your marriage and you will make the right choices and don’t forget the family that prays together, stays together.” In almost every marriage, at some point there is conflict over money and its proper management. Sandee and Mark talked about their personal experiences in money management and emphasized a common commitment to this basic principle: What you have is given to you by God, not to serve yourself but to serve others. An on-going component to the Pre-Cana Program is an explanation and demonstration of the Crowning Ceremony. Father Will, Director of Spiritual Formation at the Seminary, explained the theology of the Crowning Ceremony and the prayers that accompany the ritual. Chris and Amanda presented their ideas for ways to keep your marriage strong. They emphasized there is a difference between simply growing old together versus maturing together. Using various quotes and examples, they shared their own experiences and challenges they have overcome as a married couple, demonstrating you need to work as a team. Deacon Dennis has given presentations at the Pre-Cana Program since 1999. He has the gift of engaging the couples to interact with each other and process the material presented. Through media clips and a PowerPoint presentation he helps the couples recognize the importance of being connected to a parish community where their faith can be nourished. He tells the couples: “The decision to be married in Church is a continuation of your Baptismal commitment. The Church is there for you in times of joy and in times of trouble. You have an entire faith community that wants your marriage to succeed and is committed to helping you in any way it can. Count your blessings and they will flow.” The Church’s teaching on marriage and sexuality was presented Professor Minerd,
Father Will Rupp, Director of Spiritual Formation, Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa.
who teaches a course at the Seminary entitled, “Marriage, Sexuality and Contemporary Issues.” He told the couples the Catholic Church has been extremely clear on what it considers an essential element of the expressions of sexual marital love. That is, a couple is to be open to the creation of new
life. The use of Natural Family Planning respects the Church’s teaching on marital love. The couples were encouraged to learn more about this method and information containing scheduled planning sessions was included in the couple’s packet of information. Evaluations submitted by the
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couples expressed deep appreciation for the experience and a few suggestions for future planning. After coordinating the PreCana Program for two decades, I have to say, the 12 couples who attended the 2019 program were a joy to work with and an exceptional group. n
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st. john the baptist cathedral in munhall, pa.
Ordination to Minor Orders Four ordinations to minor orders were celebrated May 2 at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall, Pa Timothy Fariss and Paul West (Passaic) were ordained to the Order of Subdeacon and Robert Jones and Kyprian Wojciechowski (Pittsburgh) were ordained to the to the Order of Reader. n
Photos by Nick Havrilla Sr.
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st. john the baptist cathedral in munhall, pa.
Getting crafty St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall, Pa. held its Spring Craft Show May 18. Proceeds benefit the Cathedral. n
Photos by Nick Havrilla Sr.
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st. gregory in upper st. clair, pa.
Sunday of St. Thomas by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
On the Sunday of St. Thomas, April 28, a number of events took place at St. Gregory. The homily during the Divine Liturgy was given by Father Deacon Nathan S. Adams, who spoke about his personal journey of faith with reference to the appearance of our Risen Lord to the holy apostle Thomas. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Deacon Nathan and his family were presented with gifts from our parish family as he completes his studies towards the priesthood.
Even though it was a cold Sunday morning, our children were ready for this year’s Easter Egg hunt that took place on the parish grounds. Afterward, we continued in our Church hall with our Thomas Sunday parish potluck. Sincere thanks to all who participated in this happy event as we continue to celebrate our Lord’s resurrection. n Editor’s note: Father Nathan Adams was ordained to the priesthood May 5 in Parma, Ohio.
Celebrating Mother’s Day Pastoral Care Conference by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
The Sunday of the Paralytic and Mother’s Day was celebrated in a special way at St. Gregory. We were overjoyed to witness the newly ordained Father Nathan S. Adams at the Holy Table. During his formation and studies, Father Nathan and his lovely family had St. Gregory as their second spiritual home. As it is a custom, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Father Nathan bestowed his priestly blessing to the faithful. As part of our Mother’s Day
celebration, prayerful supplications were offered during the Divine Liturgy for all our living and departed mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, spiritual mothers, and faithful women of our parish family. During our fellowship hour, we all had the opportunity to view the Mother’s Day display in our Church hall sponsored by our Library Ministry. We enjoyed this display that showcased photographs and mementos of our loving mothers and grandmothers. It was a special Sunday for our parish family. n
by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Representatives from St. Gregory’s Bethany Ministry participated in the May 10 Pittsburgh Pastoral Care Conference. Over the years, this conference has provided an opportunity for local treatment centers and social service agencies to network and create meaningful relationships with area clergy and pastoral care leaders as well as with each other. During the morning sessions our team offered the presentation “Building a Visitation Min-
istry in the Faith Community”. Our task was to inform how to build an outreach ministry from the ground up, including the role and importance of Bethany Ministry in a parish family, the relationship between the parish priest and members of the Bethany Ministry, and other important aspects. Participants in our session were very engaged and interested. At the end we had lively discussion and answered any questions about our ministry. n
Dorothy Mayernik, Jennifer Kehm and Father Valerian Michlik
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First Reconciliation st. gregory in upper st. clair, pa. by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
The Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women was celebrated with the First Reconciliation of six wonderful children: Sophia Regina Bartz, Anna Francesca D'Angelo, Gavin Douglas Hughes, Lindsay Elizabeth Krofcheck, Vid Maxim Mares, and Isaac James Wroblicky. These children have reached what is called “the age of discretion,” that is, they know the difference between right and wrong and are able to take re-
sponsibility for their actions. During this academic year, they have undergone special instructions and preparations to take on that responsibility for their actions and their relationship with Christ through the Mystery of Confession. We thank the parents of our children and our ECF Instructors for teaching and preparing them for this special day in their lives. As a parish family, we offer our prayers for all our children who are very active in the life of St. Gregory. n
Front row: Anna Francesca D’Angelo, Sophia Regina Bartz, Lindsay Elizabeth Krofcheck, Gavin Douglas Hughes Isaac James Wroblicky and Vid Maxim Mares, Back row: Deacon Michael George, Father Valerian Michlik, Father Alex Wroblicky.
holy ghost in mckees rocks, pa. by Lori Rippole Holy Ghost, McKees Rocks, Pa.
Two young members of Holy Ghost in McKees Rocks, Pa. participated in their First Reconciliation May 4. At the Divine Liturgy that afternoon, they were led in renewing their baptismal promises and received their First Solemn Communion from Father Frank Firko, pastor.
Olivia Rene Leasure and Madilyn Rose Usouski received several gifts including a blessed Liturgy book, rosary, icon of the Theotokos and candle to commemorate this special event. May God grant them many years as they add the Mystery of Confession to their spiritual lives. n
Front row: Madilyn Rose Usouski and Olivia Rene Leasure. Back row: Altar server Nicholas Rippole, Father Frank Firko, altar server Ray Rippole, second grade teacher Lori Rippole.
The hunt is on by Lori Rippole Holy Ghost, McKees Rocks, Pa.
On a rainy Palm Sunday morning, the ECF students of Holy Ghost in McKees Rocks, Pa. had fun hunting for eggs in the school basement. The students of our Youth Group did the hiding and the younger
Photos by Jennifer Kehm
students in Pre-K through fifth grade raced around to find the treat-filled eggs. The egg hunt is a long-time annual tradition for the children of Holy Ghost teaching them that Easter eggs symbolize new life and remind us of Jesus emerging from the tomb and His Resurrection. n
Front Row: Carmella Rippole, Eliana Trapl, Olivia Harsh, Madilyn Usouski, Katie Leasure, Olivia Leasure and Lainy Usouski Back row: Nicholas Rippole, Ray Rippole, Paul Rubish, Tommy Rubish, Matthew Harsh, Olivia Stebbins, Madelyn Nazak and Laura Saber.
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holy trinity in sykesville, pa.
Great and Holy Pascha by Michele Yamrick Holy Trinity, Sykesville, Pa.
Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen! Greetings from Holy Trinity in Sykesville, Pa.! Great and Holy Pascha is the time of the church year that just about any Byzantine Catholic will say is their favorite. This year at Holy Trinity, it was no different, and always beautiful, but even moreso with the church’s newly revitalized interior. Over the past few years, Holy Trinity underwent a total repair and painting of the interior, new lighting installed, new icons by the hand of Father Mark Meholick put on the side walls of the church, and the return of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel behind the Holy Altar, also by the hand of Father Mark. The last addition, or rather revitalization, involved the lower walls of the entire church. For many years, the lower walls of the church were finished in what was known as “marble lite” paneling. It looked like marble, but wasn’t. It was old, dated, and gave the church an ‘off’ look. With approval from the Archparchy, new and beautiful oak wainscoting was installed, just before Great Lent began. It brought a warmth and beauty that perfectly finished the interior of the church in a way that many have said is the most beautiful they’ve ever seen. Many hands and hearts went into this project. Holy Trinity expresses thanks to parishioners; the Morgan and Maurachian families; Ed Kosko; Seneca Hardwoods of Emlenton, Pa.; and Hallstrom Construction of DuBois, Pa. The Vespers of Great and Holy Saturday, followed by Divine Liturgy, Mirovanje, and Blessing of Paschal Foods, was well attended by parishioners. Everyone raised their hearts and voices in joyous song at the Resurrection of Christ. During the 40 days of the Easter season, Holy Trinity’s parishioners will continue to raise hearts and voices in song for Christ is Risen! Holy Trinity is located at 104 Shaffer St., Sykesville and is the sister parish to Nativity of The Mother Of God in DuBois. Should any of our Byzantine brothers and sisters find themselves in our “neck of the woods,” please feel free to join us for Divine Liturgy! n
Photos by Michele Yamrick
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st. michael in campbell, ohio
st. nicholas of myra in greensburg, pa.
Bright Monday
St. Thomas Sunday
by Father Kevin Marks St. Michael, Campbell, Ohio
Christ is risen! On Bright Monday, April 22, the Resurrectional Gospels were pro-
claimed from the four corners of the church representing that the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection was heard from the four corners of the world! n
by Jay Gomolak St. Nicholas, Greensburg, Pa.
This year, in conjunction with our St. Thomas Brunch, we also celebrated the First Holy Communion for two of our children. Congratulations to Dominic Pandullo and Maddox Permuko.
They received the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist for the first time. God grant them many years! The Rev. Regis Dusecina is pastor. After the liturgy a catered brunch was served in the social hall. n
First Solemn Communion st. michael in campbell, ohio
Teacher Mysty Krisiak, Dominic Pandullo, Rev. Regis Dusecina, Maddox Permuko and teacher Donna Gilpin
Aubrey Vokish, Alivia Miranda and Isabella Oliver made their First Confession and First Solemn Communion May 12 at St. Michael in Campbell, Ohio. Father Kevin Marks is pastor.
st. michael in hermitage, pa. st. mary in new salem, pa.
Easter blessings
Timothy Sieracki, Xavier Gibbons, Calixtus Gibbons and Sophia Sieracki made their First Confession and First Solemn Communion May 19 at St. Michael in Hermitage, Pa. Father Kevin Marks is pastor. Photo by M.J.Vasil.
Father Christopher Burke (second from left) blesses baskets April 20 following Resurrection Matins at St. Mary in New Salem, Pa. He was assisted by cantor Rick Gaydos and altar server Richard Kormanik. At right is parishioner Bill Dufala.
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st. john the baptist in scottdale, pa.
ss. peter and paul in erie, pa.
First Holy Communion
ECF year concludes
Ashlyn Pandullo, Grayson Bohna and Kyleigh Fedorka received First Solemn Communion May 5 at St.
John the Baptist in Scottdale, Pa. Father Oleh Seremchuk is pastor. n
by Dr. Andrew J. Pushchak Second grade Catechist, SS. Peter and Paul, Erie, Pa.
Students from the Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program at SS. Peter and Paul in Erie, Pa. held a one-day collection on the last day of classes
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for the ECF program year. As part of the parish Lenten Collection for the Erie City Mission, the students collected nearly 300 individual items to put the parish well over their goal of 700 items collected. n
Students in the second grade ECF class gather around the empty tomb May 4 with Father
John Mihalco after receiving the Mystery of Reconciliation.
Students in the second grade ECF class aparticipate during the Divine Liturgy held on May 5 to celebrate their First Reconciliation and Solemn
Communion. Students recited the Nicene Creed and lead the parish in saying the Prayer Before Communion as part of the Divine Liturgy celebration. n
n
Mother of the Year Debbie Harrold was honored as Mother of the Year last month at St. John the Baptist in
Scottdale, Pa. Her granddaughter Kaitlyn Harrold presented her with a bouquet. n
May crowning Students in CCD classes at St. John the Baptist in Scottdale,
Pa. participated in the annual May crowning last month. n
Cordelia Cerula and Lorelai Cerula, daughters of Mark and Andrea Cerula; Helena Groenendaal, daughter of Gene and Jule Groenendaal; Emma Hinkler, daughter of Frederick and Celly Hinkler; Kolton Komisarski, son of Brian and Kristin Komisarski; Anna Lupichuk, daughter of Michael and Kimberly Lupichuk; Avery Pushchak, son of Andy and Laura Pushchak; and, Generoso Troncone, son of John and Jennifer Troncone.
Students in the second grade ECF class are joined by Catechist Andy Pushchak, Concelebrant Very Rev. Andrew Deskevich, pastor Father John Mihalco, and altar servers at the conclusion of the May 5
Divine Liturgy to celebrate their First Reconciliation and Solemn Communion. Father Andrew is a former pastor of the Erie parish and godfather to student Anna Lupichuk. n
Photos by Thomas A. Pushchak
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parish news
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ss. peter and paul in braddock, pa.
Taking time to smell the roses The tradition continued on Mother’s Day at SS. Peter and Paul in Braddock, Pa, as Father
Vitalii Stashkevych handed out roses May 12 to all mothers. n
“The God of Mercy” deacons, wives gather for annual retreat at antiochian village by Deacon Steven White SS. Peter and Paul, Punxsutawney, Pa.
On a cool, and sometimes drizzly Thomas Sunday weekend April 26 to 28, the deacons of our Archeparchy, along with many of their wives and two deacon couples from the Parma Eparchy, met for their annual retreat at Antiochian Village in Bolivar, Pa. Though the weather was cool, the fellowship, worship and spiritual uplift was warm. And as always, the food and accommodations were excellent. Our retreat master was Father Ivan Chirovsky, along with his wife Maria, who presented one of the conferences. Father Ivan’s topic was “The God of Mercy.” Father began by pointing out that we Byzantines use the word mercy more than 80 times in the Divine Liturgy, and that the truest thing we can say about God is that he is mercy. Therefore, an authentic approach to God is simply to do as we do in the Liturgy and ask that he be to us that which he is--mercy. At the same time, we must come before him in honesty, and be what we are before him. This led to a discussion of the sacrament of penance.
Father also pointed out that our Thomas Sunday is celebrated in the Roman Church as the Sunday of Divine Mercy, and that there are many parallels between the two seemingly different emphases. Thomas Sun-
day has much to do with mercy, and Fr. Ivan showed us why. He also demonstrated that the depiction of Christ in the icon of Thomas’ meeting with the Lord is very similar to Christ in the Image of Divine Mercy in
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the Roman Church. We all were appreciative of the insights and spiritual resources shared with us by Father Ivan and Maria. n
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thoughts for our day by Archpriest David M. Petras
the anaphora: god loves the world In the Anaphora, the first part of the prayer — we might say the first strophe — is to direct our prayer to the Father, and to proclaim God as the Creator, Redeemer and Ruler of all. The people respond to this strophe with the hymn of victory. The second part of the Anaphora, which is read between the Hymn of Victory (“Holy, holy, holy ... “) and the words of institution (“Take, eat, this is my body ... “) recounts the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God and Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ. It tells us of God’s loving plan for our salvation, which is to “come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire” (2 Peter 1:4). By God’s power and grace we are able to become what he has created us to be — his children made in the image of God We pray the Anaphora to fulfill the command of God: “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). The Liturgy, therefore, is a commemoration of God’s saving acts in our behalf. However, it is more than a human memory. Human beings can only reminisce about the past, and what they remember is only nostalgia. Our worship, though, is a “Divine” Liturgy. We are not remembering alone, but we are remembering together with God. Since God is eternal, what he has done for us, and what we “remember” becomes present for us, because God breaks through the
limitations of time. This does not mean that the crucifixion takes place again, but that what happened in the crucifixion, the outpouring of God’s saving power and his victory over death, becomes present for us now. Our Lord incarnated this reality in a meal. At the last supper he proclaimed the bread and wine to be his body and blood, and so made them present everytime we share in the meal of the Divine Liturgy.
We pray the Anaphora to fulfill the command of God: “Do this in memory of me.” There are two Anaphoras in use in the Byzantine Church: that of St. Basil and Great and that of St. John Chrysostom. That of St. John Chrysostom is used much more frequently. In this anaphora, the mission of our Lord is summed up as the celebrant verbally recites a passage from the Gospel of St. John the Theologian: “You so loved your world that you gave your only-begotten Son so that everyone who believes in him should not perish, but have life everlasting” (John 3:16). In today’s piety, the world is often labeled as evil without compromise, but the world is evil only insofar as it opposes God’s plan. God created the world,
and God is acting to redeem and sanctify the world. When we read aloud this verse from the Gospels as a part of our “commemoration,” God’s love for us today and here and now becomes the ultimate reality. In the Liturgy, our whole lives are sanctified and made eternal. The origins of the Anaphora of St. John Chrysostom are in the Church of Antioch, and St. John possibly brought this anaphora with him when he was elected Archbishop of Constantinople in 398. The Eastern Church has always seen the Gospel of the Holy Apostle John as the primary good news of the salvation announced by our Lord Jesus Christ. St. John clearly taught that God sent his only-begotten Son to give us life, as Jesus said, “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture ... I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd” (John 10:9-11). Because of his Gospel, St. John was given the title “the Theologian,” for he taught us truly of God’s Son. Since Christ came to give us life, he is the very image of God’s love. As the Epistle to the Hebrews tells us: “[The Son] is the refulgence of [God’s] glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word” (Hebrews 1:3). St. John, in his letters tells us, “God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him” (1 John 4:8-9). It is this love, then, which we proclaim in our Divine Liturgy. Through our
celebration in worship, “We... come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him” (1 John 4:16). Of course, when we speak of God’s love, we are not speaking of carnal emotional love, but of God’s intense and infinite spiritual love that is the model of every human love. In this love God sent his only-begotten Son, who revealed his love by dying for us on the Cross and rising from the dead to give us a new and eternal life. This begins to happen in every Liturgy. When we proclaim the love of God for us in the Anaphora, therefore, we are not simply recalling a past event, but the truth that God loves us always. St. John then teaches us that this love must be a model for the community of believers in faith. The letter of John reads: “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him” (1 John 4:11), and then, a little later, “In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). We must imitate the life of Jesus not in the same details, but in this pattern of love of God with our whole heart and mind and soul, and of our neighbor as ourselves. Therefore, when we celebrate the Divine Liturgy, we make our unity with Christ a reality, and we transform the way we live, as Christ remains in us. n
BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY View Liturgical Services (various times) streamed LIVE online at:
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Munhall, Pa. www.stjohnsbyzantinecathedral.com
St. John Chrysostom Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. www.sjcbcc.com
Holy Ghost, McKees Rocks, Pa. www.holyghost-byzantinecatholic.org
St. Elias, Munhall, Pa. www.facebook.com/ St-Elias-Byzantine-Catholic-Church-157868411675213
St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa. www.facebook.com/stgregoryusc St. Michael, Campbell, Ohio www.facebook.com/st.michaelsbyz.campbell
SS. Peter and Paul, Braddock, Pa. https://www.facebook.com/SSPeterPaulBraddock/
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national skilled nursing care week at mt. macrina manor
Definitely Disney continued from page 1 Disney songs for residents. n May 14 was "Disney Friendship Day," as employees dressed up as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Snow White and Prince Charming, the Seven Dwarfs, and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger for a character parade. An Elvis impersonator also performed for residents. n May 15 was "Epcot Day," as international foods were served courtesy of invited food vendors. n May 16 was "Animal Kingdom Day," as the dining room was decorated in a jungle theme and residents enjoyed a petting zoo with live barnyard animals. n May 17 was dedicated to celebrating Mickey Mouse's 90th Birthday with a party and birthday cake. Angie said, in past years, themes have included a "FiveDay Cruise," Hawaii and "Road Trip U.S.A." highlighting different stops from California to Pennsylvania. "Everything you can think of, I think we've done." She said residents of Mt. Macrina Manor enjoy participating in the week's events. "Oh, they love it. Because we decorate really, really big for this event. We have some residents helping with coloring pictures and making stuff to hang on the walls. Family members enjoy it. They're always welcome to attend activities, too,” she said. “The residents always thank the staff and they are appreciative of our hard work, too.” Mt. Macrina Manor employs about 210 full and part-time employees. Angie said it's important to recognize these unsung heroes during National Skilled Nursing Care Week. "It's because of all the hard work they do. It's a hard job. You deal with residents with all different types of cognitive issues and behaviors. It's hard work but it's very appreciated, too. "We like to show that appreciation to our staff and all the employees." n
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Faith and Fun Day Altar servers in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh are invited to this year’s Faith and Fun Day on Tuesday, July 2. The day will include a visit to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and PNC Park to see the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. the Chicago Cubs. For more information, see your church’s pastor. Deadline to register is Monday, June 17. n
around the archeparchy ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST BUFFET — 9 a.m.1 p.m. June 9, St. Mary’s Center, Route 981, Trauger, Pa. Cost: $6, adults; $3, ages 5 to 10. No charge for ages 4 and under. Sponsored by St. Mary’s Youth Group. FLEA MARKET — 8 a.m.-3 p.m. June 8, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, 210 Greentree Road, Munhall, Pa. Rental spaces available for $25 includes 8-foot table. Rain or shine. CAR CRUISE — 5-9 p.m. June 18, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, 210 Greentree Road, Munhall, Pa. Enjoy classic cars, raffles, oldies music and food, including hot dogs, kolbassi, halushki, perogies and fresh-cut fries. Car cruises are also scheduled for July 16 and Aug. 20. PARISH FESTIVAL — 4-9 p.m. June 22, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. June 23. SS. Peter and Paul, Punxsutawney, Pa. will holds its annual event at the festival grounds in Delancey (Adrian), Pa. Festival will begin with Divine Liturgy on Saturday in the pavilion at 4 p.m. Ethnic foods and small games of chance (bingo, ticket drawings, etc.). Raffles and basket drawing. Sunday dinner from 11:00 AM until sold out. Fun for the whole family!
Last year’s Faith and Fun Day included a visit to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.
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dates to remember JUNE 10 to 14 Archbishop William attends United States Conference of Catholic Bishops General Assembly in Baltimore, Md. JUNE 16 Father’s Day JUNE 16 to 29 Deacon Formation Program at Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius Pittsburgh, Pa. JUNE 23 to 24 50th Anniversary of the Creation of the Archeparchy/Assembly St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Munhall, Pa.
Official publication of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
Byzantine Catholic Press Associates 66 Riverview Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Tel: 412.231.4000 Fax: 412.231.1697 E-mail: bcw@archpitt.org Web site: www.archpitt.org
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JUNE 24 Feast of the Birth of the Forerunner John the Baptist
JULY 2019
JUNE 29 Feast of the Preeminent Apostles Peter and Paul
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JULY 4 Independence Day — National Observance CHANCERY CLOSED See more upcoming events at www.archpitt.org the byzantine catholic world
JUNE 19