the official newspaper of the archeparchy of pittsburgh
Inside
vol. 60 no. 13
sunday september 27, 2015
coming soon . . .
thank you, pilgrims!
snug as a bug
The 2015 St. Nicholas Event is just around the corner. Preview series explains this year’s theme. Page 5
Sister Ruth and the Basilian community say thanks; photos tell story of 81st Pilgrimage. Pages 3, 6 & 7
Creepy, crawly, delicious! Kids Corner goes buggy with a bevy of biblical insects. Page 8
MARY look upon us and favor with your grace; We your faithful children are safe in your embrace.
Feast of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos - October 1
Archbishop William travels to Washington, Philadelphia, Rome metropolitan among u.s. hierarchs welcoming pope francis, attending synod of bishops xiv general assembly Archbishop Stefan Soroka (Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia) and Archbishop William await the arrival of Pope Francis at St. Matthew Cathedral Sept. 23 in Washington, D.C. photo courtesy of Archbishop William Skurla
As of the time that this issue of The BCW went to print, following is Metropolitan Archbishop William’s fulfilled and expected itinerary and participation in the events during His Holiness Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to the U.S.:
A celebration of devotion 38 couples attend annual marriage event
Wednesday Sept. 23 - Washington, D.C. Archbishop William participated in the 11:15 a.m. meeting of the Holy Father with the bishops of the United States at St. Matthew Cathedral. Archbishop William participated in the Mass of the Canonization of Father Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, 4:15 p.m. Thursday Sept. 24 - Archbishop William and a number of other bishops traveled by train to Philadelphia. He will not travel to the New York papal activities. By special invitation, Father Thomas Schaefer, pastor and administrator of St. John Chrysostom Church, Greenfield/Pittsburgh and St. John the Baptist Church, South Side/Pittsburgh will participate in both the Vespers Prayer Service Thursday Sept. 24 at St. Patrick Cathedral and the Sept. 25 evening Mass at Madison Square Garden with the Holy Father in New York.
The Archeparchy’s annual “Celebration of Marriage” was held Sunday, Sept. 13 at St. Elias Church and Social Hall in Munhall, Pa. The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop William C. Skurla. A celebratory dinner was held in the parish hall following the Divine Liturgy, attended by 38 couples from 22 parishes within the Archeparchy. Pictured with Archbishop William are Stephen and Margaret Fleck, who celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2015. The Flecks are members of SS. Peter and Paul Church in Portage, Pa. where Very Rev. James Spontak is pastor.
Saturday/Sunday Sept. 26/27 - Philadelphia, Pa. Among other activities associated with the World Meeting of Families, Archbishop William will meet again with the Holy Father and brother bishops at St. Martin Chapel of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary on Sunday morning, and later that afternoon will participate in the Mass for the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Archbishop William will return to Pittsburgh on Monday Sept. 28 and leave Wednesday Sept. 30 for the Synod of Bishops XIV Ordinary General Assembly - The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World - in Rome.
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
official appointments
UPS 081500 ISSN 07442289
by metropolitan archbishop william
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 every third Sunday (17 issues) by: 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 Sister Elaine Kisinko, OSBM Copy Editor Darlene Fejka Layout / Graphics Donna Obsincs Subscription/Circulation Manager Gregory S. Popivchak Business Manager
Effective September 17, 2015 • Deacon Timothy J. Corbett, Deacon Daniel F. Perich and Patrick S. Ditko appointed members of the Building Commission for the Archeparchy. • Monsignor Raymond A. Balta relieved as Protopresbyter of the Johnstown Protopresbyterate. • Father Vasyl Polyak appointed Protopresbyter of the Johnstown Protopresbyterate. • Father R. Joseph Raptosh appointed Protopresbyter of the Tri-State Protopresbyterate. • Father Frank A. Firko appointed Protopresbyter of the Greater Pittsburgh Protopresbyterate.
Effective October 22, 2015 • Very Reverend Archpriest Eugene P. Yackanich request for resignation from active ministry accepted; relieved as pastor of St. Elias Church, Munhall, Pa. and relieved as Protopresbyter of the Greater Pittsburgh Protopresbyterate. • Very Reverend Andrew J. Deskevich at his request relieved as pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church, Warren, Ohio and as administrator of St. Michael Church, Newton Falls, Ohio and appointed pastor of St. Elias Church, Munhall, Pa. while continuing to fulfill his duties as Protosyncellus for the Archeparchy. • Very Reverend Simeon B. Sibenik relieved as pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church, Punxsutawney, Pa. and relieved as administrator of Nativity of the Mother of God Church, Du Bois, Pa.; also relieved as Protopresbyter of the North Central Protopresbyterate; appointed pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church, Warren, Ohio and administrator of St. Michael Church, Newton Falls, Ohio.
• Father James A. Ragan relieved as administrator of Holy Ghost Charleroi, Pa. and appointed administrator
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• Father David M. Bosnich appointed Protopresbyter of the North Central Protopresbyterate.
• Father Stephen J. Wahal appointed administrator of Holy Ghost Church, Charleroi, Pa. while continuing as administrator of St. Michael Church, Donora and St. Mary Church, Monessen, both in Pa.
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Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril & Methodius OCTOBER 2015 Schedule of Services Guests are invited to join the Seminary community at liturgical services. To access the Seminary Chapel, please use the chapel doors facing Perrysville Ave. It is suggested that you call the Seminary Office (412-321-8383) a day in advance so we may anticipate your arrival. All are welcome!
OCTOBER 1
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of life; to offer spiritual
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formation through changing
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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
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SERVICE Festal Matins Divine Liturgy Divine Liturgy Vespers Divine Liturgy Great Vespers Festal Matins Matins Orthros Divine Liturgy Compline Divine Liturgy Vespers
TIME 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 8:00 AM 5:00 PM 9:00 AM 5:00 PM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 7:00 AM 7:00 AM 7:00 PM 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
RITE (R) (R) (M) (R) (R) (M) (R) (R) (M) (R) (R) (M) (M)
Festal Matins Matins Psalm Service 11th K Divine Liturgy Hour of Silence Divine Liturgy Compline Divine Liturgy Great Vespers Festal Matins 9th Hour Matins Psalm Service 12th K Divine Liturgy 3rd Hour Divine Liturgy Vespers Divine Liturgy Great Vespers Festal Matins Divine Liturgy Orthros Divine Liturgy Akathist of Christ Divine Liturgy Vespers Divine Liturgy Great Vespers
7:00 AM 8:00 AM 7:00 AM 7:00 AM 7:00 PM 8:00 AM 8:00 PM 9:00 AM 4:00 PM 7:00 AM 3:00 PM 8:00 AM 7:00 AM 7:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 5:00 PM 9:00 AM 5:00 PM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 7:00 AM 7:00 AM 7:00 PM 8:00 AM 5:00 PM 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
(R) (R) (M) (R) (R) (M) (R) (R) (R) (R) (R) (R) (M) (R) (R) (M) (R) (R) (M) (R) (M) (M) (R) (R) (M) (M) (R) (R)
(R) = Ruthenian tradition
(M) = Melkite tradition
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
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Welcome to the USA, Your Holiness! first leg of pope’s visit through lens of archbishop william
Address of the Holy Father MEETING WITH THE BISHOPS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Cathedral of Saint Matthew, Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 23 September 2015 [excerpts]
Pope Francis waves enroute to events in Washington, D.C. as members of press focus from their enclosure.
The Holy Father delivers his welcome address to the assembly of U.S. bishops at St. Matthew Cathedral September 23.
Pope Francis and concelebrants at the Mass of Canonization of Father Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. the afternoon of September 23.
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I am pleased that we can meet at this point in the apostolic mission which has brought me to your country . . . As I look out with affection at you, their pastors, I would like to embrace all the local Churches over which you exercise loving responsibility. I would ask you to share my affection and spiritual closeness with the People of God throughout this vast land. The heart of the Pope expands to include everyone. To testify to the immensity of God’s love is the heart of the mission entrusted to the Successor of Peter, the Vicar of the One who on the cross embraced the whole of mankind. May no member of Christ’s Body and the American people feel excluded from the Pope’s embrace. Wherever the name of Jesus is spoken, may the Pope’s voice also be heard to affirm that: “He is the Savior”! From your great coastal cities to the plains of the Midwest, from the deep South to the far reaches of the West, wherever your people gather in the Eucharistic assembly, may the Pope be not simply a name but a felt presence, sustaining the fervent plea of the Bride: “Come, Lord!” May the forthcoming Holy Year of Mercy, by drawing us into the fathomless depths of God’s heart in which no division dwells, be for all of you a privileged moment for strengthening communion, perfecting unity, reconciling differences, forgiving one another and healing every rift, that your light may shine forth like “a city built on a hill” (Mt 5:14).
Read the pope’s entire address: http://w2.vatican.va/content/ francesco/en/speeches/2015/ september/documents/papafrancesco_20150923_usavescovi.html
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
2015 Byzantine Spirituality Conference
NOTE: Parish registrations for a table of 5 or more are available at $25 per person, but all registrations must be submitted and prepaid together.
NO REFUNDS. Mail check and make payable to: OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 3605 Perrysville Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15214
Office of Religious Education EVENTS For Great Fast 2016 Adult Faith Formation Sessions - Pope Francis’ Encyclical On Care For Our Common Home (Laudato Si’) Dates / Locations TBA Catechist Day of Reflection March 12, 2016 SS Cyril & Methodius Seminary “Looking at ‘Laudato Si’ (On Care For Our Common Home) Through Iconography” Presenter: Father Elias Rafaj Pre Cana Sessions March 5 & 19, 2016 Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - Munhall, Pa. Women’s Spirituality Day April 9, 2016 St. Elias Church - Munhall, Pa.
For information regarding any of the programs or services offered by the Office of Religious Education, phone ORE Director Sister Marion Dobos, OSB at 412-322-8773.
Join Sisters of St. Basil for ‘A Morning of Spiritual Reflection’
Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer announces A Morning of Spiritual Reflection on Saturday, October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Becky Johnen will lead the group using the theme “Lessons That I Learned from a Crayon Box.” Offering for the mini-retreat is $25 and includes lunch. The registration deadline is Saturday, October 17. To register, call the House of Prayer directly at 724-4387149 or write to Sister Carol, Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer, 510 W. Main St. Box 878, Uniontown, PA 15401. The Sisters ask that anyone interested to please register early. Early registrations help to avoid the cancellation of programs.
National Bible Week celebrating 50th anniversary of dei verbum, role of bible in the family from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
WASHINGTON — Families, parishes, schools and other Catholic groups can participate in National Bible Week, November 15-21, with resources provided in English and Spanish and available on the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The theme of the observance is “The Bible: A Book for the Family.” The Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum will celebrate its 50th anniversary on November 18, 2015. National Bible Week logos and a variety of resources that highlight the Bible in Catholic life are available online: www.usccb.org/bible/ national-bible-week/index.cfm.
the byzantine catholic world
Resources for families include “Enthroning the Bible in the Family,” “Making the Word of God a Part of Your Home,” “Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina” and “Sharing the Word of God at Home.” Resources for parishes include a faith formation session on reading and understanding the Bible, a guide for starting and maintaining a parish Bible study, a family retreat, tips for using the Bible in catechesis and prayer, and a Scripture vigil on the themes of Catholic Social Teaching.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
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59th Annual St. Nicholas Celebration ‘family: the foundation of consecrated life’
What Laity can learn from Consecrated Lives (Part 1 of 4) The theme for this year’s St. Nicholas Event is “Family: The Foundation of Consecrated Life.” This theme highlights two major overlapping events: the Year of Consecrated Life (celebrated from the First Sunday of Advent - the weekend of November 29, 2014 - until February 2, 2016, the World Day of Consecrated Life) and the World Meeting of Families, which takes place this September in Philadelphia and includes an historic visit from Pope Francis. The following four-part series reflects upon what laity can learn from those living consecrated lives. by Chris Singel, M.A.T.
Lay families can learn much from religious communities because these communities take the natural family as a model. To start with, they use family relationship-type words to refer to each other: “Father,” “Mother,” “Sister,” and “Brother.” Secondly, there is no shortage of scriptural verses from both the Old and New Testament referring to the idea of family as a model for consecrated life. For example, Psalm 133:1 is a benediction over a peaceful community, “How good it is, how pleasant where the people dwell as one!” And while Mark shows how all members of consecrated life are united, “[For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (3:35); the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of the love between those members in terms of a family, “keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.” (13:1) Lastly, the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Saint John Paul II, Vita Consecrata, shows in detail how consecrated persons take the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - as their model for living (see sections 17-22). The sense of community lived by consecrated persons help families to understand the many strengths of their own family “community.” Perfectae Caritatis, the Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life, highlights this truth, “As members of Christ living together as brothers, religious should give pride of place in esteem to each other (cf. Rom. 12:10) and bear each other’s burdens” (cf. Gal. 6:2) (cf. 15). In our most difficult times, we naturally turn to family since it is they who willingly share each other’s
burdens and build up one another, in their own unique way. And how does the family remain strong, resilient in our society? Again, consecrated life provides the answers, beautifully stated in Vita Consecrata, “Following in the footsteps of Mary, the New Eve, consecrated persons express their spiritual fruitfulness by becoming receptive to the Word, in order to contribute to the growth of a new humanity by their unconditional dedication and their living witness” (cf. 34). Christian families, following the examples of religious communities, can witness to how loving God is translated into loving one another. Once again, from Perfectae Caritatis, “Let those who make profession of the evangelical counsels seek and love above all else God who has first loved us (cf. 1 John 4:10) and let them strive to foster in all circumstances a life hidden with Christ in God” (cf. Col. 3:3). This love of God both excites and energizes that love of one’s neighbor which contributes to the salvation of the world and the building up of the Church” (cf. 6). When love of God is first and foremost, it not only energizes all other love and enables us to accept love received from others, it opens the door for mutual forgiveness when family members hurt one another. In Part II [BCW Oct. 18 issue], we will consider what consecrated lives have to teach us about living the fundamental values of the Gospel.
Parish offers ‘Issues Facing the Modern Family’ part 2 st. gregory church partners with health professionals oct. 6 & 20 As a faith community, the Bethany Ministry of St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church in Upper St. Clair, Pa. is reaching out and offering an opportunity to learn about problems that exist in today’s world as well as in our local communities. Do you really know “What’s cooking” in your neighborhood? Could there actually be a “meth” lab on your street? Find out the latest information on drug and alcohol uses and addiction at this informative program. What do you know about “process addition” a behavioral addiction which usually does not involve an addictive chemical? Do you know someone who has a compulsive behavior or addiction to activities such as gambling, eating, shopping, working, sex, or social media? Process addictions are often an
overlooked addiction. They too can cause suffering, loss of life and family, or other debilitating consequences. If these topics interest or even concern you, please join St. Gregory’s Bethany Ministry and the experts from Allegheny Medical / Integrated Health Services to discuss: Addictions Part 1 Tuesday Oct. 6 at 7:00pm Part 2 Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7:00pm There is no cost to attend these sessions, which will be held at St. Gregory Church Hall, 2005 Mohawk Road (Brookside Farms), Upper St. Clair, PA 15241. For more information, call 412-494-4550. For directions call 412-835-7800 or visit www.stgregoryusc.org.
BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY First of a four-part series. Chris Singel is a parishioner of Holy Ghost Church, McKees Rocks, Pa. and Emcee for the 2015 St. Nicholas Event.
Sundays 9:00 a.m. • WEDO Radio • 810 AM Broadcast live from Holy Ghost Church, McKees Rocks
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OR via Internet: click “Listen Live” link at www.holyghost-byzantinecatholic.org
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
Thank You, Pilgrims!
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
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81ST Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help mount st. macrina • uniontown, pa • september 5 - 6, 2015
PHOTOS BY SISTER MONICA HUSOVICH OSBM, SUSAN MCCARTHY, DARLENE FEJKA (BCW)
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
Corner
DID YOU KNOW . . . ANT. . . some ants can lift and carry up to 50 times their weight BEE
. . . when it flies, its wings move in a figure-8 pattern allowing it to fly in any direction
FLY
. . . a housefly can live only 2-3 days without food
GNAT . . . flies in circles because its right and left wings are different
GRASSHOPPER . . . can jump 20 times the length of its
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!
own body!
by Sandy Simko
Moses, to strike the ground with his walking stick. He obeyed God’s words and the dust of Egypt was covered with gnats. This invasion of these tiny biting insects did not persuade the Pharaoh to free the Hebrew people. Next came the plague of flies upon the Pharaoh and his people. The sky was black with flies and the land of Egypt was brought to ruin by the millions of flies. This insect is not scary in appearance but is a scavenger that eats anything sugary or in a rotting stage. Spongy mouth pads absorbed the food. The tongue is used like a straw that sucks up the liquid food. There are over 120,000 kinds of flies found all over the world. The Egyptian Pharaoh wasn’t going to be told what to do by Moses and his God - he was not going to free the Hebrew slaves! So another plague was sent to Egypt. Plague number 8 was a swarm of locusts. (Sometimes the Bible symbolized large, mighty armies with the phrase - “more numerous than locusts.”) A locust is similar to a cricket and is considered by Jewish law to be a “clean animal” so the people were allowed to eat them. John the Baptist spent time in the wilderness preparing to preach to the people about Jesus. During this time, John the Baptist lived on locusts and wild honey.
Speaking of honey - there is only one insect that makes food for us to eat - the honeybee. This insect makes a sweet honey and pollinates the plants that supply us with veggies, fruits and grains. Bees are social insects that live in a colony formation. This colony includes the queen, the drones, and the workers. Fifty thousand bees can live in a colony. In the book of Judges, honey is mentioned in the story of Samson finding honeybees swarming in the carcass of a dead lion. Samson ate some of that honey. Another mention of honey is found in the book of Samuel. After winning a major battle fighting the Philistines, Jonathan, son of King Saul, and his army entered a wooded area. There they saw honey dripping from a honeycomb. The soldiers were told by the king to fast from food until nightfall. Jonathan was not aware of this message and ate some of the honey. Ants are also social insects living in large families and are divided into a social order - a queen ant, male and worker ants. They depend on each other and have specific jobs to perform for their survival. Mentioned in the book of Proverbs, the ant is praised for its wisdom in caring and providing for itself. The survival depends on each ant
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doing its individual job. The ant is small but the people should look at the behavior of this insect and imitate its ambitious habits. Proverbs 6:6-11 says “You lazy people can learn by watching an anthill. Ants don’t have leaders, but they store up food during the harvest season. How long will you lie there doing nothing at all?” Wow, did you see how high that insect jumped? If you go into an expensive candy store, you may find this insect covered with chocolate and for sale. Would you eat a chocolate grasshopper? The grasshopper feeds on plants and has the reputation of being an eating machine. It has a slender body, powerful hind legs, a short antennae and two pairs of well-developed wings. The grasshopper can fly but usually moves by hopping. The Bible reference is in the book of Leviticus. “All winged animals are unclean except those who hop. You may eat grasshoppers, crickets and locusts.” The same bugs and insects are here, there and everywhere today as they were in Biblical times.
http://meadowsweetbees.com/
Genesis - the first book of the Bible - tells us that God created the world and everything in it. On the sixth day, God commanded that earth produce all kinds of land animals. Among the land animals are bugs and insects. All around the world you will find countless numbers of bugs and insects. Bugs and insects are everywhere - in the air, in the grass, in your house and perhaps on your pet. Some of these creatures are beautiful with many shades of colors and shapes. And some of these creatures are scary and weirdlooking in their appearances. A bug is an invertebrate – meaning with no backbone. To be called an insect, the animal must have 3 body parts: a head (with 2 antennae used to sense, touch and feel), a thorax (with 6 jointed legs attached), and an abdomen. Wrapped around the body of the insect is a protective hard skin covering (exoskeleton). Very early in the Bible (Exodus) we read of insects and bugs and their interactions with the people. Often sending swarms of insects upon a land was a sign of divine wrath – when God was angry! Moses was sent to the Egyptian Pharaoh with a message from God: “If you don’t let the people go, I will send a swarm of gnats upon your land, your people, and your animals.” (The word Pharaoh is a title, not a name.) God told Aaron, brother to
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
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9
making a difference
Millions of refugees have no place to call home
RECOGNIZING EVERYDAY MIRACLES
by Tony Magliano
The heartbreaking photo of the little Syrian refugee boy washed up dead on the shore of Bodrum, Turkey (view image at http://bit.ly/1PZHvDV) strikingly illustrates the tragic plight of desperate refugees – mostly Syrian – fleeing for their lives from the Islamic State and other violent groups in the Middle East and Africa. The 3-year-old boy, named Aylan, along with his 5-yearold brother, Galip, and their mother, Rehan, drowned after the raft carrying them capsized near the Turkish coast. Millions of refugees are scrambling to escape from the life-threatening civil wars plaguing several countries from Nigeria to Pakistan. According to the British newspaper The Independent, half of Syria’s population – approximately 11 million people – have been forced to flee; with four million living as refugees in foreign nations. And approximately 2.6 million Iraqis have been displaced, both due to civil wars and the barbarism of the Islamic State. Matt Wilch, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) refugee policy advisor for Migration and Refugee Service, told me that of the four million Syrian refugees, 1.8 million are being hosted by Turkey, Jordan has 1 million, Egypt has 200,000, tiny Lebanon is hosting over 1 million, and ironically even war-torn Iraq has opened its doors to 200,000 Syrians. But according to U.S. State Department figures, since March of 2011 – when the Syrian conflict started – only 1,554 Syrians have been admitted through the U.S. refugee resettlement program. This is shameful. Wealthy Europe and the U.S. have a moral obligation to offer far more help. Germany is providing an excellent example here. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that any Syrian arriving in Germany would be granted asylum. With 800,000 refugees expected to arrive in Germany before year’s end, Merkel has been urging Germans to rise to
book review
the challenge. She said, “There can be no tolerance of those who question the dignity of other people.” Wilch said if the U.S. and other wealthy nations would provide much more aid to Syria’s neighboring nations, not only would refugees be able to benefit from improved services, but most would not feel compelled to take the long dangerous journey to Europe. Wilch said only 37 percent of the needs of refugees are being funded in these neighboring host countries. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, approximately 2,500 people have perished en route to Europe since the beginning of this year alone. The USCCB is urging Congress to increase the number of refugees allowed in the U.S. to 200,000 annually – 100,000 from Syria and 100,000 from other nations. Please contact your congressional delegation urging them to honor the bishops’ plea. And urge them to greatly increase aid to the Middle East nations hosting millions of refugees. The resources of these generous nations are stretched to the limit. Also, to be of further help please go to this link http:// bit.ly/1LZxENG at the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA to easily submit (click submit twice) a letter to your senators and congressperson on behalf of our suffering refugee brothers and sisters. And to go the extra mile, kindly consider making a donation to Catholic Relief Services by going to this link www.crs.org/stories/europeanmigrant/crisis/grows, and clicking “European Migrant Crisis Grows.” Then click “Donate Now.” Pope Francis has strong words for those who would turn away refugees: [It is] “violence to erect walls and barriers to block those seeking a place of peace. It is violence to push back those fleeing from inhuman conditions in the hope of a better future.” Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist. Most of the approximately million Christians in Syria Eastern Orthodox, followed Eastern Catholics, including Chaldean Catholic Church.
2.5 are by the
Tony Magliano Cracks in the Sidewalk. 28 pages, softcover. Eastern Christian Publications (Fairfax, Va., 2015) Available from www.ecpubs. com. $9.95. by Loretta Nemeth
Tony Magliano, best known as an internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist, enters the children’s book genre with “Cracks in the Sidewalk.” In it, Magliano stays true to his vocation by instilling the seeds of social justice, “sharing, fairness and love for life,” into the minds and hearts of young readers, inviting them to “deepen their awareness of the many wonders that surround them.” Magliano says the book will “help young children better appreciate the goodness of God, who showers us with wonderful blessings everyday!” The book leads the child from recognizing the work of God in nature to recognizing it in the caring people in the child’s life. A great gift book, when shared between adult and child, “Cracks in the Sidewalk” can be a reminder to the adult to stop and see God’s everyday miracles around us, too. The delightful childlike crayon illustrations by Lynn Armstrong give young readers a sense of familiarity and comfort. The book can be ordered under the ‘New’ tab, or the ‘Children’ category of the online catalog of Eastern Christian Publications, www.ecpubs.com (703) 691-8862 for $9.95 plus $5 shipping and handling. Loretta Nemeth is Director of Communications for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma and editor of Horizons, the eparchy’s official newspaper.
Free Byzantine mobile app st. nicholas church barberton, ohio by James Senderak
Always seeking an effective way to evangelize in which people will respond, St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Barberton, Ohio (Eparchy of Parma) is taking yet another step in utilizing today’s technology for the greater glory of God. In addition to their www. stnickbyz.com website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Channel presence and weekly broadcast of the Sunday Divine Liturgy on television, St. Nicholas Church now has a mobile application ready for use on most any hand-held device. This generous application is filled with information, not only about the parish, but also with a wealth of general information about the Byzantine Catholic faith. This app provides access to many links, including the church’s Facebook page, an interactive blog, bible information and an excellent variety of talks by various presenters who have spoken at the church. Never forgetting that we are all called to pray unceasingly, there also is a prayer wall where petitions may be submitted, allowing visitors to lift up their need before our heavenly Father. This free application may be downloaded by simply typing “St. Nicholas Church” in the search box at either the iTunes or Google Play app store. Look for the blue icon with the white Byzantine cross. With this app, you’ll always be just a tap away from expanding your spiritual horizons.
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
thoughts for our day by Archpriest David M. Petras
knowing god our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Paul explained that we “at present ... see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) All the concepts we have of God when we are limited by space and time are inadequate, we can know God fully only
“random chance.” This, then, is the Creator of all, whom we call “God,” whom we glorify as “present everywhere and filling all things,” and whom we profess, “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of everything both visible and invisible.” It is clear that today in the secular world, there is a debate about God, and it is in our conceptions of God that the debate goes wrong. Usually the arguments that the new atheists bring up are not about the God that most faiths believe in, but in a childish concept of God as just one being among others with superhuman powers. If we look at the secular media, we see the image of God as an old man with a long white beard, somewhere in the sky, looking down and zapping people as he wishes. In short, he looks like the old pagan Zeus, whom Christians also rejected. Certainly, most atheists would not give expression to such a crass concept of God, but the point is that they do make God out to be just one other independent being among creatures. David Bentley Hart also makes that same point, “God ‘is ... not one more object in the inventory of things that are, or any sort
In short, we cannot know God fully in this present life. when we are free from the constraints of space and time. The “pseudo”-Dionysius states, “Just as the senses can neither grasp nor perceive the things of the mind ... by the same standard of truth beings are surpassed by the infinity beyond being, intelligences by that oneness which is beyond intelligence.”(The Divine Names 1,1) In short, we cannot know God fully in this present life. It is actually pretty easy to prove that there is a God, if we say that God is not simply one being among others, but the ground, principle and foundation of all being. David Bentley Hart defined God as “one infinite source of all that is: eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, uncreated, uncaused, perfectly transcendent of all things and for that very reason absolutely immanent to all things.” (The Experience of God) To put it more simply, if there are thing that exist, there must be a principle by which they exist. However, even atheists admit as much, and most often will claim that the “principle” of being is random chance. However, this just doesn’t make sense. If consciousness, cause and effect and intentionality, that is, the will to have or do some things exist, and no sane person would live their life otherwise, then it is entirely reasonable to suppose that the “ground, foundation and principle” of all is also knowledgeable, aware and willing, otherwise our human nature would come out of purely nothing, not even
Holy Trinity - Rublev 15th c.
A question that should be important for every believer is: how do we come to know God? In an ancient encounter with God, the Great Prophet Moses asked the question: “‘But,’ said Moses to God, ‘if I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?’ what do I tell them?” (Exodus 3 :13)” God then said his name, often translated as “I am who I am.” On Mount Sinai, Moses again asked to see God, and God responded, “No one can see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20)In the New Testament, in the mystery of the Transfiguration, God’s glory shone through our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter, James and John saw this glory, which was also witnesses by Elijah and Moses, who had longed to see the glory of God. Jesus explained to his disciple Phillip, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. (John 14:9)” Yet St. John later wrote, “No one has ever seen God. (1 John 4:12)” and “No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.” (John 1:18) What this means is that in this life we do not see the divine nature of God with our physical, human eyes, but we do see God revealed to us in his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The sixth-century Syrian theologian, who wrote under the name “Dionysius,” made this point: “This is why we must not dare to resort to words or conceptions concerning that hidden divinity which transcends being, apart from what the sacred scriptures have divinely revealed.” (The Divine Names 1,1) What he means is that any concept we form of God whatsoever is wrong. We are limited creatures who cannot grasp the Creator, as we pray in every Liturgy, for he is “God ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, ever-existing, yet ever the same.” (Anaphora of St. John Chrysostom), but in reality we can know much about God insofar as he has revealed himself to us through his Word,
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of discrete object at all. ... ‘God is beyond all mere finite beings.’” (The Experience of God) Unfortunately, even some Christian believers have this childish concept of God, not heeding Pseudo-Dionysius’ advice that any concept we have of God must be inadequate, and that our only real knowledge of God is what he has revealed to us. St. Paul said that God is the one “who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:25) When we say that God is infinite and eternal, we do not mean that is is huge and old in the way we imagine it, because we are limited by space and time, but God is the Creator of space and time and is beyond them (transcendent). He is present everywhere and at all times. The whole universe is his concern as well as the smallest sparrow (Matthew 10:29). He can deal with the problems of the whole human race as well as our tiniest problems because, for God, everything that is limited is the same. In reality, he is closer to us than we are to ourselves, as the spiritual fathers often emphasized. This article has been more about how we know that there is a God, but we must now ask how we experience God in our lives.
parish news SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
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End-of-summer activities keep St. Gregory faithful involved in community by Father Valerian Michlik
st. gregory’s back at ‘the table’ September 1st is, in the Byzantine Catholic Church, the beginning of the New Liturgical Year - called the Indiction. It was on this day that faithful from St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church in Upper St. Clair, Pa. were once again at the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in Pittsburgh’s Southside neighborhood. On a regular basis, our parish family provides a hot meal at the community kitchen called the Table. As we continue this new liturgical year, it is our hope and intent to continue our outreach ministry where we demonstrate our love for one another in this world. photo: Rosemary Tomko
honoring our grandparents It has become a tradition to honor all of our St. Gregory’s grandparents at the beginning of September. The 2015 observance took place the weekend of September 5-6. As part of this celebration, prayerful supplications were offered, followed by a special blessing bestowed upon all of the grandparents at the end of the Divine Liturgy. Following the Divine Liturgy, we continued the celebration in our Church hall with refreshments and fellowship. photo: Anja Michlik
st. gregory’s parish picnic Sunday, September 13 was dedicated to the children of St. Gregory’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Upper St. Clair. Being that this was the official start of our Eastern Christian Formation classes, the blessing of all children was conducted at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. We then continued the festivities in our church hall with our annual parish picnic. Even though favorable picnic weather was not visited upon us, the children were not discouraged from having fun, as they all participated in the games which awaited them both outdoors and indoors. The final activity of the day was Candy Bingo, played by both young and young-at-heart parishioners hoping to win the big candy jackpot. photos: Jennifer Kehm
Directory Assistance To find information on-line for churches in the Archeparchy, go to www.archpitt.org and click on “Directories” on the drop-down the byzantine catholic world
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
around the archeparchy
october 16-17-18 The Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa. will hold a “Come and See” retreat Friday evening Oct. 16 through Sunday afternoon Oct. 18. Invited to enjoy this weekend are men ages 18 to 35 - single or married - who may be considering a vocation to the priesthood within the Byzantine Catholic Church. The “no-pressure” atmosphere will be prayerful, positive, and fraternal. The “Come and See” retreat includes sharing liturgical services and meals with the Seminary community and an introduction to the Seminary formation program. It also will include a tour of the Seminary, gatherings with the seminarians, witness talks, and guided reflections on discernment – how to listen to God’s plans for your future and your happiness. There is no charge for the retreat, meals, and lodging. More information about the retreat and registration can be found on the Seminary’s website www.bcs.edu, by calling the office 412-321-8383 or e-mail office@bcs.edu.
PARISH FESTIVAL - St. Nicholas Church, 302 Third Avenue in Brownsville, Pa. and Father Christopher Burke invite the public to their Parish Festival Sunday October 4 from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. Serving homemade ethnic foods, chicken or cabbage roll dinners, homemade pirohy an halušky; à la carte menu available. Bake sale, raffles, games, “Chinese” auction, fun and fellowship! Plan to spend the day and taste “The best cooking this side of heaven!” Take-outs are welcome. Watch for directional signs around the church. For info, call Melody Yeardie 724-785-2801. ANNUAL ‘CHINESE’ AUCTION - Sunday, Oct. 4 in the Social Center of St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, Hermitage, Pa. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. Drawings begin at 2:15 p.m. Admission is $5 and includes lunch plus one free Tear Sheet. Over 100 prizes including flat screen TV, Keurig, iPad, new appliances, and much more. #1 “Chinese” Auction in the Shenango Valley! For more information, call the parish office at 724-981-6680. ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST BUFFET – sponsored by St. Mary’s Youth Group at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Center, Route 981 in Trauger, Pa. Sunday, Oct. 11 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Adults $6; Children (5-10 yrs.) $3; 4 and under FREE. SPAGHETTI DINNER - The Altar Society of St. John the Baptist Church at 525 Porter Avenue, Scottdale, Pa. will hold a Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, Oct.18 in the parish social hall from 11:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, roll, dessert and beverage. Requested donation, Adult: $8 Children under 12: $5. Take-outs available. There also will be a basket raffle. Questions, call 724-547-4875. A TASTEFUL NIGHT – St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church, Upper St. Clair, Pa. will host a restaurant food-tasting fundraiser, “A Tasteful Night.” Held Friday, Oct. 30, 6:30–11:30 p.m. at Crowne Plaza-Pittsburgh South (164 Fort Couch Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241), enjoy live entertainment featuring Songstress Antoinette and keyboardist David Crisci while tasting delicious samples from nine area restaurants. Take a chance on “Chinese,” silent and live auctions throughout the evening featuring a terrific assortment of items courtesy of fine local businesses. Plus, try your luck with a “Beer for a Year” raffle, sponsored by St. Gregory Men’s Club. Cash bar too! Tickets: $45. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact St. Gregory’s parish Office at 412-835-7800 or Barbara Stasiuk at 412-835-7484. [NOTE: this information has been UPDATED from the announcement previously printed in the Sept. 6 BCW.] ICONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP - A class for adults at all levels of experience will be conducted Nov. 5-8 at St. Mary Romanian Catholic Church in McKeesport, Pa. by Marylyn Barone, Thursday and Friday evening, Saturday all day and Sunday, noon until finishing (must attend all four days to have a completed icon). Each participant will write an icon of Our Lady of Kykkos on an 8x10 gesso-covered board, and using a pre-prepared prototype, will learn techniques for faces, garments, 23-karat gold gilding and background. Participants from three or more of the instructor’s previous workshops may elect to write an icon of his or her choice. The theology of iconography and specifically the Theotokos also will be presented. The $115 participation fee covers all supplies. Snacks, coffee and tea will be provided on all days. Deposit of $25 required; class limited to 20. For further info, call Marylyn Barone at 412-678-9453 or e-mail mwbarone@comcast.net. CHRISTMAS MARKET – Sunday Nov. 15. at St. Elias Church, Munhall, Pa. Event begins at noon until 7:00 p.m. Live Christmas music by local choirs and musicians, various vendors, St. Nicholas for the kids, homemade stuffed cabbage and chicken paprikas lunches and dinners. For additional info call 412-461-5847. PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY & AMALFI - Eleven days: Oct. 31 – Nov. 10, 2016. Hosted by Fr. Charles Yastishock, Fr. Edward Cimbala and Fr. James F. Spera. $2999 per person from New York (air/land tour price is $2369 from New York plus $630 govt. taxes/airline imposed surcharges). Tour price includes: roundtrip air from New York, First Class/ select hotels, most meals, services of a professional tour director and comprehensive sightseeing, all hotel service charges, porterage and entrance fees. Visit Florence, Assisi, Sorrento, Pompeii, Monte Cassino and Rome! For a brochure and information contact Father Yastishock: tel: (732) 255-6272; e-mail: czarcmy@comcast.net.
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 date: OCTOBER 18
submissions deadline: OCTOBER 6
dates to remember october 1 Feast of the Protection of the Holy Theotokos CHANCERY CLOSED october 9 Vocations Awareness Day Franciscan University of Steubenville - Steubenville, Ohio october 16-17-18 ‘Come and See’ Weekend of Discovery Byzantine Catholic Seminary - Pittsburgh, Pa. october 24 Morning of Spiritual Reflection Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer - Uniontown, Pa. november 7 Byzantine Spirituality Conference St. John the Baptist Cathedral - Munhall, Pa. november 15-21 National Bible Week See more upcoming events at www.archpitt.org
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