the official newspaper of the archeparchy of pittsburgh
axios! axios! axios!
GREAT FAST 2016
archbishop william’s message
Inside
Archbishop ordains three men to Holy Diaconate Page 3
vol. 61 no. 2
parish events
Spotlight on six parishes of the Archeparchy Pages 6 & 7
sunday february 7, 2016
great fast
Resources and information for the penitential season Pages 8 & 9
Glory to Jesus Christ!
February 7, 2016
Dear people, religious, and clergy, The journey through the Great Lenten Fast is begun. The six week period of fasting with the Liturgies of Saint Basil the Great, Liturgies for All Souls Saturdays, and the Liturgies of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts opens up our hearts and minds to our spiritual need for growth to be able to celebrate Holy and Great Week. Pope Francis reminds us during the Year of Mercy that we are called through works of mercy to go beyond the minimum of the Lenten prayers and services by serving the needs of our families, neighbors, and the poor and those imprisoned. During the Year of Mercy, we are reminded of Jesus’ words that the Father desires mercy before sacrifices. All our Lenten devotions and fasting are meaningless if our hearts are not filled with love and mercy for others. Lenten prayer, together with being a servant to the needs of others, can lead us to holiness. Jesus’ words were inspired by the prophets of Old Testament and the Book of Psalms. The prophets called the people of God to do more than the minimum required by the law. The prophetic message inspired from the Book of Psalms calls everyone to pray with a humble heart:
“Lord, you will open my lips; and my mouth will proclaim your praise. For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.” (Psalms 51:17-19) The Old Testament prophets proclaimed the need to do works of mercy and to the change the hearts of a stubborn people. It is hard when anyone asks us to do more. It is even harder when you ask someone to change his or her heart or the motivation for doing what is good. Like the people of Israel, each Lent we ask ourselves, “What more can I do?” We can be overwhelmed by people asking us to give our personal time or financial support, to rebuild the church, to feed the hungry, and to visit the sick and imprisoned. There are so many needs, we can be frozen and be prevented from doing anything new. We cannot do everything, but we are called during the Lent to do one thing more. In the older tradition that we choose one thing to give up for Lent, we can choose one extra thing to do for the season of the Great Fast. Depending upon our age, health, and abilities, we can pick at least one good work that we can start during this lenten season during the Year of Mercy. The work we do may not change the entire world by itself, but it can help someone to have hope. The good from even a little act of mercy can change someone’s life. And in turn, your act of mercy during this season of the Great Fast can be a moment to change your heart to become a merciful person. Through our prayers and works of mercy, we pray each Lent the Lord will be merciful to us and create a new heart for us. With our hearts cleansed, our minds and souls can then be opened to the joy of the celebration of the Resurrection. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend William C. Skurla, D.D. Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh
“Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities. A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit. Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:11-14)
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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2016
THIRD NOTICE:
BCW to adopt monthly publication 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 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 Annual Subscription Rates US $12 Canadian $14 International $16 Periodicals Postage Paid at Pittsburgh, PA
Postmaster: send address changes to: The Byzantine Catholic World ATTN: Donna 66 Riverview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15214
In an effort to keep The BCW affordable for both subscribers and the publisher, Archbishop William, President of the Byzantine Catholic Press Associates, has made the decision to adopt a monthly publication schedule for The Byzantine Catholic World newspaper. With a decreased hard copy subscriber base (the number of parish and individual subscriptions has decreased with the advent and popularity of electronic news, and many now prefer to receive The BCW electronically), it now has become critical to either significantly increase the hard-copy subscription rate in order to continue delivering 17 issues of The BCW, or decrease the number of issues produced annually with a modest subscription price increase. The basic per-subscription price necessary to cover the ever-increasing expense of producing, printing, and mailing the newspaper every three weeks (17 issues) would be well over $20, a price which would be a financial burden to both parishes and individual subscribers. Therefore, The BCW now will be published monthly (12 issues) with two special editions for the major holy days of Pascha (Easter) and Nativity (Christmas), for a total of 14 hard-copy issues and electronic updates annually. The new subscription price will be $14, and will take effect with the July 2016 issue, which is the beginning of the new fiscal year, and following the 61st anniversary of the June 1955 establishing of the Archeparchy’s official newspaper. In addition to this published notification, current subscribers, both parish and individual, who wish to continue receiving The BCW via postal mail also will be reminded of this increase and publication schedule change when their annual subscription is up for renewal.
Submission deadlines also will change to the 15th of the month prior to the month of publication. Hence, the submission deadline for all materials will begin June 15, 2016 for the July 2016 issue. The remaining 8 issues on the 17-issues-annually schedule through June 2016 will be: Issue Date Submission Deadline Jan. 17 Jan. 5 Feb. 7 (Great Fast issue) Jan. 26 Feb 28 Feb. 16 Mar 20 (Pascha issue) Mar. 8 April 10 Mar. 29 May 1 Apr. 19 May 22 May 10 June 12 May 31 Then as of July 2016, The BCW will be published monthly: Issue Date Submission Deadline July 2016 June 15 August 2016 July 15 September 2016 Aug. 15 October 2016 Sept. 15 November 2016 Oct. 15 December 2016 Nov. 15 Special Christmas issue Dec. 5 (January 2017)
Dec. 15
This revised schedule results in 15 total issues which will be published in 2016. As of January 2017, the publication will produce 14 issues annually. For GUIDELINES and SUBSCRIPTION information, visit www.archpitt.org/publicationguidelines and www.archpitt.org/subscriptions
Please allow 2-3 weeks for address changes to take effect. Submissions deadline: 2nd Tuesday before publication date (12 days prior).
The Byzantine Catholic World is a member of the Catholic Press Association.
Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril & Methodius FEBRUARY 2016 Schedule of Services 3605 Perrysville Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15214 | www.bcs.edu
Guests are invited to join the Seminary community at liturgical services.
mission The mission of The Byzantine
Catholic World is to spread
To access the Seminary Chapel, please use the chapel doors facing Perrysville Ave.
the Gospel message in the rich tradition of the Byzantine Catholic Church; to encourage faithful to reflect the image of
It is suggested that you call the Seminary Office (412321-8383) a day in advance so we may anticipate your arrival.
Christ in everyday activities of life; to offer spiritual formation through changing times; and to celebrate community among Byzantine Catholics in the Archeparchy
All are welcome!
of Pittsburgh, throughout the Metropolitan Church in America, and around the world.
(R) = Ruthenian Tradition
(M) = Melkite tradition
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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2016
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FROM THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR LENT 2016 “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” (Mt 9:13)
The works of mercy on the road of the Jubilee 1. Mary, the image of a Church which evangelizes because she is evangelized In the Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, I asked that “the season of Lent in this Jubilee Year be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience God’s mercy” (Misericordiae Vultus, 17). By calling for an attentive listening to the word of God and encouraging the initiative “24 Hours for the Lord,” I sought to stress the primacy of prayerful listening to God’s word, especially his prophetic word. The mercy of God is a proclamation made to the world, a proclamation which each Christian is called to experience at first hand. For this reason, during the season of Lent I will send out Missionaries of Mercy as a concrete sign to everyone of God’s closeness and forgiveness. After receiving the Good News told to her by the Archangel Gabriel, Mary, in her Magnificat, prophetically sings of the mercy whereby God chose her. The Virgin of Nazareth, betrothed to Joseph, thus becomes the perfect icon of the Church which evangelizes, for she was, and continues to be, evangelized by the Holy Spirit, who made her virginal womb fruitful. In the prophetic tradition, mercy is strictly related – even on the etymological level – to the maternal womb (rahamim) and to a generous, faithful and compassionate goodness (hesed) shown within marriage and family relationships . . . For all of us, then, the season of Lent in this Jubilee Year is a favourable time to overcome our existential alienation by listening to God’s word and by practising the works of mercy. In the corporal works of mercy we touch the flesh of Christ in our brothers and sisters who need to be fed, clothed, sheltered, visited; in the spiritual works of mercy – counsel, instruction, forgiveness, admonishment and prayer – we touch more directly our own sinfulness. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy must never be separated. By touching the flesh of the crucified Jesus in the suffering, sinners can receive the gift of realizing that they too are poor and in need. By taking this path, the “proud,” the “powerful” and the “wealthy” spoken of in the Magnificat can also be embraced and undeservedly loved by the crucified Lord who died and rose for them. This love alone is the answer to that yearning for infinite happiness and love that we think we can satisfy with the idols of knowledge, power and riches. Yet the danger always remains that by a constant refusal to open the doors of their hearts to Christ who knocks on them in the poor, the proud, rich and powerful will end up condemning themselves and plunging into the eternal abyss of solitude which is Hell. The pointed words of Abraham apply to them and to all of us: “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.”(Lk 16:29) Such attentive listening will best prepare us to celebrate the final victory over sin and death of the Bridegroom, now risen, who desires to purify his Betrothed in expectation of his coming.
Metropolitan William ordains three to diaconate archeparchy’s newest deacons to serve their parishes in pennsylvania, texas Three pious men of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh were ordained to the Holy Diaconate in January by Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla in two separate ceremonies which took place 1,235 miles apart. The three - Subdeacon Jeffrey Mierzejewski, Subdeacon Gary Stafford and Subdeacon Brian Norrell - realized the culmination of their formation and studies at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary, which began in 2010 with application to the Archeparchy’s Deacon Formation Program. Deacon Brian and Deacon
Gary’s ordinations took place Sunday, January 17 at St. Basil the Great Church in Irving, Texas. Along with Archbishop William, concelebrating were Very Reverend Andrew J. Deskevich, parish pastor Father Daniel A. Forsythe and Father Dennis Smith. Deacon Jeffrey’s ordination on Sunday, January 24 was celebrated at St. Elias Church in Munhall, Pa. Joining Archbishop William were parish pastor Very Reverend Andrew J. Deskevich, Archpriest John G. Petro, Archpriest Dennis M. Ordinations continued on page 10
Deacon Brian Norrell and Deacon Gary Stafford (pictured to the left and right of Archbishop William respectively) were ordained to the Holy Diaconate Sunday January 17, 2016 at St. Basil the Great Church in Irving, Texas, where Father Daniel Forsythe (far right, back row) is pastor. photo by Missy Norrell
Let us not waste this season of Lent, so favourable a time for conversion! We ask this through the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, who, encountering the greatness of God’s mercy freely bestowed upon her, was the first to acknowledge her lowliness (cf. Lk 1:48) and to call herself the Lord’s humble servant (cf. Lk 1:38). From the Vatican, 4 October 2015 Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
FRANCIS Read the entire Lenten message of Pope Francis online at https:// w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/lent/documents/papafrancesco_20151004_messaggio-quaresima2016.html
Metropolitan Archbishop William ordained Jeffrey Mierzejewski to the Holy Diaconate Sunday, January 24, 2016. Deacon Jeffrey will serve his home parish, St. Elias in Munhall, Pa. where Very Rev. Andrew Deskevich is pastor. He also serves on the Intereparchial Liturgical Commission (IELC) and is the Director of the Metropolitan Cantor Institute (MCI). photos by Nick Havrilla, Sr.
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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2016
Support U.S. Armed Forces
Serra Club mini-retreat
The Bethany Ministry of St. Gregory Church in Upper St. Clair, Pa. invites the public to join the St. Gregory parish family and pastor Father Valerian Michlik on Sunday, March 13 following the 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy, when the Ministry will have as their guest Father Thomas Dansak. The ministry of Father Thom, a bi-ritual priest assisting our Archeparchy, includes 30 years as a Chaplain in the United States Navy. Ordained for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Father Thom first served as an assistant pastor before receiving a commission as a Navy Chaplain. Before retiring from the Navy in 2007, Father Thom served tours of duty in Japan, the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, Okinawa, and Italy, as well as Naval bases in the United States. For 11 years, he was assigned to U.S. Marines units and also served on the battleship USS Missouri and the aircraft carrier USS Independence.
The Byzantine Catholic Serra Club of Pittsburgh invites the faithful to a mini-retreat (half-day) on the theme “Jesus Christ, the perfect priest: In word and deed.” This day of prayer and meditation will take place on Saturday, March 12 at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary, located at 3605 Perrysville Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15214. For directions, visit the Seminary’s website, www.bcs.edu. We are blessed this year to have with us Father Jason Charron, pastor of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, Pa. The schedule for this miniretreat day is as follows:
usc bethany ministry welcomes former chaplain’s presentation march 13
Acknowledging the parish Bethany Ministry’s current “Work of Mercy” project, Father Thom will speak about the importance of reaching out to and supporting those who serve to safeguard our country. With his vast experience ministering to men and women in uniform, Father Thom is uniquely qualified to share insights on what can make a difference to them. Please join us on Sunday, March 13 as we welcome Father Thom Dansak to St. Gregory’s. n
Day of Prayer for Catechists and Interested Adults “Iconography: No Separation Between Humanity and Divinity”
St. John the Baptist Cathedral
210 Greentree Road – Munhall, PA 15120
Saturday, March 12, 2016 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Presenter: Very Rev. Elias L. Rafaj Father Elias holds a Licentiate in Eastern Christian liturgical studies from the Universita Gregoriana in Rome and has taught the Theology of Icons all over North and South America. He currently is Protopresbyter of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh’s Southern Protopresbyterate and Pastor of St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. Through presentation and reflection Father Elias will help us to: • See the connection between humanity and divinity • Recognize how humanity is charged to care for the world and its creatures • Experience an ongoing restoration of one’s “original image” • Gain an appreciation of the educational potential of icons and how they can be a vehicle for helping us develop a deeper sense of the sacred.
‘jesus christ, the perfect priest: in word and deed’ with father jason charron
9:30 AM: Registration 10:00 AM: Prayer Service Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, followed by the first presentation by Father Jason 12:00 noon: Luncheon 1:30 PM: Penitential Service, followed by the second presentation by Father Jason At the conclusion of the second presentation, the faithful in attendance will have the opportunity to receive the Mystery (Sacrament) of Reconciliation. 2:30 PM: Conclusion To register for this event, please contact Patricia Bovee at 412-462-6385. Cost is $15. n
REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR THE CATECHIST AND INTERESTED ADULTS DAY OF PRAYER IS MARCH 7
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Father Jason Charron is a priest of the Ukrainian GrecoCatholic Church serving at Holy Trinity, Carnegie, Pa. and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Wheeling, W.Va. He is a graduate of Wadhams Hall Seminary-College, University of Ottawa and University of Toronto, with a B.A. double major in Philosophy and Religious Studies, a B.Th. in Eastern Christian Theology, a B.A. in Education and a Master of Arts in Theology (Patristics/ Asceticism). Jewish-English on his maternal side and FrenchCanadian on his paternal side, Father Jason was brought up by a single-parent father in a loving but non-religious home in a rough neighborhood outside of Toronto, Canada. Yet, during high school God opened his eyes and heart through the ProLife movement and brought him into communion with the Church. He has taught children on an American Indian reserve, worked in a factory, done evangelization work in Ukraine, worked for the Papal Press Service during Pope St. John Paul II’s visit to Ukraine, and served as a high school chaplain and theology teacher for four years. Before his current assignment, he assisted as a bi-ritual priest in the Roman rite for a number of years. Father Jason is married to Halyna (2000) and they have been blessed with six daughters ranging in age from three to fourteen. In addition to spending time with his family, his hobbies include reading, chess, Carcassonne (a French board game), and hunting. His conviction is that there is nothing better than being used by Christ to bring people to His kingdom through great prayer, great preaching and great pastoring.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2016
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making a difference
Out of sight, out of mind by Tony Magliano
Due to the blizzard that hit the midAtlantic, my bus never made it to the 43rd March for Life in Washington, D.C. But thousands of others were able to brave the snow and wind to witness to the dignity of unborn human life, and to protest the gravely immoral practice of legal abortion in the United States. The following day, Jan. 23, thousands of people from western states participated in the 12th Annual Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco. And throughout the U.S. various other events to protest abortion and defend preborn life were held on, or shortly after, Jan 22 – the infamous anniversary of the Jan. 22, 1973 Supreme Court dual decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton which effectively legalized abortion on demand for all nine months of pregnancy. As reported by National Right to Life (http://bit.ly/1DqDLKz), “surgical abortions” kill over 1 million unborn babies in the U.S. every year according to the Guttmacher Institute – a former affiliate of the abortion chain Planned Parenthood. And when the widespread use of birth control pills is considered, the number of estimated abortions increases tremendously. This is because birth control pills not only act to keep sperm and egg from uniting, but when that mechanism fails, they also have an abortive capability which produces a “hostile endometrium, which presumably prevents or disrupts implantation of the developing baby,” according Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. William F. Colliton, Jr., M.D. (see http:// bit.ly/1ZTRqPA). The American Life League states, “Using formulas based on the way the birth control pill works, pharmacy experts project that about 14 million chemical abortions occur in the United States each year (http:// www.all.org/learn/abortion/ abortion-statistics). And worldwide, approximately 1.4 billion abortions have occurred since 1980 (see http://www.numberofabortions. com).
I am convinced the intentional killing of any human being is not part of God’s plan. Killing runs contrary to the Gospel portrayals of the nonviolent Jesus, as well as the nonviolent witness of the early church during the first 300 years of Christianity. And the intentional killing of innocent human life – which direct abortion does – is especially evil. Brutally dismembering unborn babies during suction abortions, and fatally burning these smallest members of the human family during saline solution abortions, is nothing short of barbaric. No matter how difficult a pregnancy may indeed be, abortion is never the answer. There are many caring people ready to help both mother and unborn child (e.g. Crisis Pregnancy Centers http://www. care-net.org/find-a-pregnancycenter). And for those who regret their involvement in abortion, Silent No More (www. silentnomoreawareness.org) and Project Rachel http:// hopeafterabortion.com) can help. Years ago, while attending a pro-life conference sponsored by Americans United for Life (http://www.aul.org), I asked the late world-renowned French geneticist Dr. Jerome Lejeune when human life begins. He instantly replied, “At conception of course.” I then asked him if any of his colleagues disagreed with him. He said, “No, we all know when life begins. Where we disagree, is at what stage life should be protected.” For Dr. Lejeune conception – when life begins – was logically and morally where full protection should begin (see http://bit.ly/1JGuPUN). Because for most people the evil of abortion is not something they regularly encounter, it is a classic case of “Out of sight, out of mind.” But a very effective organization to help us keep the dignity of the unborn and the horrors of abortion within eyesight is the Center for BioEthical Reform (http://www. abortionno.org). What is the God of life calling you to do? n
Byzantine Catholics rally at 2016 March for Life
archeparchy’s office of pro life present
Coordinator of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh’s Office of Pro Life, Deacon Paul Boboige, who also serves Nativity of the Mother of God parish in DuBois, Pa. shares the photos below, taken at the 2016 March for Life in Washington, D.C. Jan. 21-22. Most notable among the Byzantine Catholic participants was Bishop Kurt Burnette, head of the Eparchy of Passaic. Despite the grim weather forecasts which called for blizzard conditions for the D.C. area, thousands prepared for the impending adverse conditions to attend the largest pro-life rally in the world. “Tens of thousands of people from across the country have traveled to Washington for this massive event and we ask participants to use their best judgement as to whether they should come in person or watch on TV,” said Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life. “We are very concerned for people’s safety and want everyone to be cautious. However, the pro-life community is also concerned for the safety and well-being of the innocent, unborn in the womb. This movement to end abortion in this country is bigger than us and it is bigger than a weather event. This is a cause that is worth our best efforts and dedication, despite difficult circumstances.” For more information and photos, visit the Office of Pro Life Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eastern-ProLife/112095328825561 and the official March for Life website http:// marchforlife.org/. n
Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist.
the byzantine catholic world
Bishop Kurt Burnette of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic and Bishop Paul Chomnycky of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, Connecticut participate in the Byzantine Night Prayer / Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Jan. 21-22. Father James Ragan (SS. Peter & Paul Church, Punxsutawney and Nativity of the Mother of God Church, DuBois, both in Pa.) distributes the Eucharist at the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Chapel of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
parish news PAGE 6
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2016
95 blessed, happy years
Welcome, Father Joseph!
Happy Birthday to Mr. John Kuklinca, who celebrated his 95th birthday (January 16) recently with an open house hosted by daughters Sue Miklos, Janet Kuklinca, and Marianne Lopata. John is a native of Munhall, Pa. and was a long time resident of West Homestead. He is a member of St. John Cathedral in Munhall and Lodge 2 of the Greek Catholic Union. In recent years John spent time living in Pennsylvania and Florida, but now resides full time in Grove City, Pa. near his daughter, Sue. Mr. Kuklinca celebrated his milestone birthday with family, including his four grandchildren, his old friends from the Steel Valley area and many new friends from Grove City. n
Parishioners of St. George Byzantine Catholic Church in Aliquippa, Pa. were elated to officially welcome their new pastor, Very Rev. Father R. Joseph Raptosh, during Fellowship Time following the Jan. 10 Sunday Divine Liturgy. Youth of the parish made the welcome even more special by their eager presence and assistance. The parishioners of St. George Church pray that Father Joseph will remain pastor of their parish for many blessed and happy years! n
cathedral parishioner’s milestone
May God grant to his servant John Many blessed years in health and happiness!
aliquippa parish celebrates new pastor
Passing tradition to the next generation young parishioners of dubois parish prepare prosphora by Deacon Paul Boboige
One of the historical features of the Divine Liturgy in the great Church of Hagia Sophia in ancient Constantinople was the Presentation of the Gifts (offertory) which later would become the Body and Blood of Christ. This feature was duplicated on Sunday Jan. 17 at Nativity of the Mother of God parish in DuBois, Pa. as Fabian Bartells, accompanied by his father, Zebulon, presented the prosphora (bread) to Father James (Jay) Ragan. They also remained for the Proskomedia, the prayers during the preparation and blessing of the bread and wine which precedes the public part of the Divine Liturgy. The prosphora was prepared and baked during Christmas vacation by five students of the parish, Stefanie and Tyler Hoyt, Adela and Fabian Bartells, and Bartells Bacelli. Adults who helped were Carla Bacelli, Mary Siemucha, Deacon Paul and Pat Boboige. The loaves were respectfully placed in freezer bags so that each child could present one of the loaves which he/she had prepared at a future Liturgy. n
BYZANTINE D I V I N E LITURGY view liturgical services (various times) streamed LIVE online at:
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Munhall, Pa. www. stjohnsbyzantinecathedral. com Holy Ghost Church McKees Rocks, Pa. www.holyghostbyzantinecatholic.org Zebulon Bartells and his son Fabian.
St. John Chrysostom Church - Pittsburgh, Pa. www.sjcbcc.com
BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. WEDO Radio 810 AM McKeesport, Pa. Broadcast live from Holy Ghost Church McKees Rocks, Pa.
OR via Internet: click “Listen Live” link at
Fabian Bartells presenting prosphora to Father James (Jay) Ragan
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www.holyghostbyzantinecatholic.org
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2016
parish news
New library opened
st. gregory church offers opportunity to strengthen, enhance knowledge Following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, Jan. 10, parishioners of St. Gregory Church in Upper St. Clair, Pa. gathered in the parish hall to witness the opening of the new St. Gregory’s Library. For a number of months a group of dedicated parishioners embraced the task of establishing a parish library that would be a place where all have the opportunity to strengthen and enhance their knowledge, faith, and relationship with God. The impressive collection of books, CDs and DVDs focuses primarily on the Eastern Church and its history, culture, beliefs, and practices, along with those of the Christian West and other religions. The library is open on weekends; in the near future the parish will host authors, speakers, and book discussions. For more information, phone the parish rectory at 412-8357800, email stgregoryusc@aol. com or visit the parish web site, www.stgregoryusc.org/. n
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Honoring the first deacon
north huntingdon parish celebrates feast of st. stephen, protomartyr, patron by Kristen Keleschenyi
photos above and below: Children of St. Gregory Church happily browse through books in their parish’s new library. photos by Jennifer T. Kehm
On Sunday, January 10, the parish of St. Stephen Byzantine Church in North Huntingdon, Pa. celebrated the feast of their patron saint. Although the church recognizes Stephen the Protomartyr traditionally on December 27, for the second year in a row, the parish set aside time after the holidays, when the hustle and bustle is over, to come together and commemorate this important feast. The day started with a beautiful morning Divine Liturgy that included quite a few honored guests standing alongside Father John Petro and his team of altar servers. As rays of the sun streamed gorgeously through the church’s stained glass windows, the congregation was treated to an extensive Grand Entrance which included Byzantine Catholic Seminary Rector Father Robert Pipta, Deacon Joseph Wargacki, Deacon Stephen Casmus and Seminarian Bryan Scotton as the gifts were carried through the church and presented to Archbishop William Skurla.
Cantor George Mihalick led the faithful during the liturgical service and Seminarian Bryan lent his voice to the chanting of the morning epistle. Deacon Joseph chanted the Gospel reading from the Evangelist Matthew, which was about giving up our burdens and seeking rest in the Lord. Archbishop William delivered the homily which focused on the current Year of Mercy, as declared by Holy Father Francis, and what it means to be merciful in our daily lives. The archbishop even spoke to devoted Steelers fans who had just the night before, witnessed a contest that seemed void of mercy. Following the liturgy, the faithful and honored guests gathered at Banquets Unlimited in North Huntingdon for a special dinner to celebrate the accomplishments of the year prior and to pray for another year of God’s grace. Guests were treated to a buffet dinner followed by dessert, which included a wedding-style cookie table, filled with homemade delights made by parishioners with love. n
Parishioners of St. Stephen Church in North Huntingdon, Pa. enjoyed a buffet dinner Jan. 10 in celebration of their patron. Seated, from left: Judi and Steve Muchoney, Archbishop William, Carl and Helen Magdic. Standing: Patty and Ron Balta.
A most beloved saint
young windber parishioners enjoy visit from st. nicholas St. Nicholas’ 2015 visit to the children of St. Mary Church of the Dormition in Windber, Pa. is remembered fondly as evidenced in the photo right, shared by parishioners and parish administrator Monsignor Raymond Balta. Following the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St. Nicholas (Sunday Dec. 6) a festive St. Nicholas celebration was held in the church hall. As children awaited the arrival of their special guest, parishioner Marie Schellenburg kept the youngsters spellbound with her account of the life of St. Nicholas. Following his arrival, St. Nicholas began the pleasant work of greeting and meeting the children of the parish. A highlight of the event was the gathering of children for a commemorative photo with their favorite saint. n the byzantine catholic world
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2016
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THE JESUS PRAYER O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner! Make the sign of the cross and bow in humility with great reverence.
The Great Fast 2016 by Sandy Simko
In our Byzantine Catholic Church, we follow a liturgical calendar which focuses on the the life of the Church - the holy days, information on the saints and scripture readings. This calendar tells us that the season of Lent – the Great Fast – is upon us once again! On the Sundays prior to the beginning of the Great Fast (Lent) we heard scriptural readings from the bible - messages and guidance to assist us in preparing for the most important and meaningful holy day on the liturgical calendar
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- the glorious Resurrection. On those Sundays past and now on the Sundays during this time of penance, fasting and almsgiving, be attentive to the messages delivered through the scripture readings and you will find themes on humility, forgiveness, praying and fasting. These messages help us mentally and physically prepare as we work to get closer to God. To help you on your journey through the Great Fast, use the Great Fast Activity Calendar below, which has been prepared especially for Kids Corner readers to follow throughout this time leading up to Easter – Pascha – the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord! n
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2016
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YEAR MERCY
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POPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE FOR THE JUBILEE OF MERCY to YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS “Merciful Like the Father” Dear Young Friends,
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REGULATIONS FOR THE SEASON OF THE GREAT FAST - 2016 The fasts of the liturgical year are to be kept in accordance with the Norms of Particular Law of the Byzantine Metropolitan Church sui iuris of Pittsburgh. simple abstinence
The Church is celebrating the Holy Year of Mercy, a time of grace, peace, conversion and joy. It is meant for everyone: people of every age, from far and near. There are no walls or distances which can prevent the Father’s mercy from reaching and embracing us. The Holy Door is now open in Rome and in all the dioceses of the world. This grace-filled moment also concerns you, dear young people. I encourage you to take an active part in this celebration and to realize that each of you is a child of God (cf. 1 Jn 3:1). I would like to invite you, one by one, calling you by name, as Jesus does each day. For you know that your names are written in heaven (Lk 10:20), in the heart of the Father, that Merciful Heart which is the source of all reconciliation and kindness. The Jubilee is a year-long celebration, in which every moment becomes a chance for us to grow in holiness. It is a time when we can discover that life together as brothers and sisters is like a great party, perhaps the most beautiful party we can imagine, the endless party that Jesus has taught us to celebrate by his Spirit. The Jubilee is the party to which Jesus invites us all, without excluding anyone. That is why I also wanted to have some days of prayer and celebration with you. I am looking forward to seeing many of you in April. “Merciful like the Father.” This is the theme of the Jubilee, but it is also the prayer we make for all of you as we welcome you in the name of Jesus. To be merciful means to grow in a love which is courageous, generous and real. It means to grow physically and spiritually. You are preparing to be Christians capable of making courageous choices and decisions, in order to build daily, even through little things, a world of peace. Yours is a time of life which is full of amazing changes. Everything seems possible and impossible all at once. I repeat what I said to some of your friends: “Remain steadfast in the journey of faith, with firm hope in the Lord. This is the secret of our journey! He gives us the courage to swim against the tide. Pay attention, my young friends: to go against the current; this is good for the heart, but we need courage to swim against the tide. Jesus gives us this courage! … With him we can do great things; he will give us the joy of being his disciples, his witnesses. Commit yourselves to great ideals, to the most important things. We Christians were not chosen by the Lord for little things; push onwards toward the highest principles. Stake your lives on noble ideals” (Homily at the Conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation, 2013). Here I cannot forget those of you who are living in situations of war, extreme poverty, daily troubles and loneliness. Don’t ever lose hope! The Lord has a great dream which, with your help, he wants to come true! Your friends, young people your age living in less trying conditions than your own, have not forgotten you; they are working for peace and justice for everyone everywhere. Don’t be taken in by the messages of hatred or terror all around us. Instead, make new friends. Give of your time and always show concern for those who ask your help. Be brave and go against the tide; be friends of Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace (cf. Is 9:6). “Everything in him speaks of mercy. Nothing in him is devoid of compassion” (Misericordiae Vultus, 8). I realize that not all of you can come to Rome, but the Jubilee is truly for everyone and it is also being celebrated in your local Churches. You are all invited to this moment of joy. Don’t just prepare your rucksacks and your banners, but your hearts and your minds as well. Think carefully about the hope and desires you will hand over to Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and in the Eucharist which we will celebrate together. As you walk through the Holy Door, remember that you are committing yourselves to grow in holiness and to draw nourishment from the Gospel and the Eucharist, the Word and the Bread of life, in order to help build a more just and fraternal world. May the Lord bless your journey towards the Holy Door. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your steps and enlighten you. For you and your families, and for all who help you to grow in goodness and in grace, may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of us all, be true Door of Mercy. From the Vatican, 6 January 2016 Solemnity of the Epiphany [Theophany] of the Lord
•The law of simple abstinence forbids the use of meat, but permits the use of eggs and dairy products. •All faithful of the Archeparchy who receive the Eucharist are obliged to observe simple abstinence when prescribed. Abstinence is obligatory on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the Great Fast.
strict abstinence •The law of strict abstinence (fasting) forbids the use and consumption of all meat, eggs and dairy products. •All faithful of the Archeparchy who receive the Eucharist are obliged to observe strict abstinence when prescribed. •Strict abstinence (fasting) is to be observed in 2016 on Pure Monday, February 8 (the first day of the Great Fast), and on Great and Holy Friday, March 25. SEE IMPORTANT NOTE BELOW.
dispensations •Priests and parents are to ensure that minors are educated in the authentic sense of penance. •Pastors and administrators, with just cause and taking into account acceptable reasons due to personal circumstances, may grant to the individual faithful as well as to individual families, dispensations, transferals, or commutations of abstinence and strict fast into other pious practices. Superiors of religious houses or clerical institutions enjoy these same faculties relative to their constituents.
liturgical services •The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts takes precedence over all other Lenten Devotions. •The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts only is to be celebrated on Wednesdays and/or Friday evenings of the Great Fast and also on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week. •Other services are encouraged during the season of the Great Fast, but only those in keeping with the traditions of the Byzantine Catholic Church, namely: Lenten Vespers, Lenten Hours, Akathist to the Passion, and Lenten Devotions. •On Wednesday of Holy Week, the Office of the Holy Anointing may be incorporated into the Presanctified Divine Liturgy.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR OBSERVANCE OF GREAT AND HOLY FRIDAY AND THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION, MARCH 25 In 2016, the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25) falls on Holy and Great Friday (Good Friday). The strict fast which is customarily observed on this day of the Great Fast still applies. (Special details regarding this simultaneous observance may be viewed in the 2016 Typicon of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church sui juris, pages 26-27). Metropolitan William has directed that the NEW translation/edition (texts and music) of the services for both Holy and Great Thursday and Holy and Great Friday (with the Feast of the Annunciation) be used by all parishes in every eparchy of the Metropolitan Church. Special new booklets for these holy days, prepared by the Intereparchial Commissions for Sacred Liturgy and Music and promulgated by the Council of Hierarchs, are being printed by the Byzantine Seminary Press and will be distributed to all parishes for use during these upcoming Holy Week observances.
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thoughts for our day by Archpriest David M. Petras
ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS O u r profession of faith, proclaimed at every L i t u r g y, begins: “I believe in one God.” From all that we have been writing about God from revelation, from reason, and from experience, we know that there is only one God. This is the foundation of every Abrahamic religion: Jew, Moslem and Christian. There is not a multiplicity of gods, which is paganism and opposed to all reason, because it means making dependent nature into an absolute power. God is the Creator and reason of being of all that is, and to say anything else would be dualism introducing an irrational division into the fabric of being. There have been religions that have professed a dualism between good and evil principles, but these have been rejected by all faiths that believe in one God. The Jewish profession of faith begins, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) St. Paul reflects this: “one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)” The only true Christian is one who believes that there is only one God. Yet sometimes our brother and sister monotheists, Jews and Moslems, sometimes accuse Christianity of tritheism - of belief in three Gods. This is because of our faith that the
Ordinations Bogda, Deacon Timothy J. Corbett, and Deacon Brian Norrell. Frank Wahal served as Reader; responses were led by Cantor Cori Poklembo. In his homily for both cere-
one and only God is also three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In fact, the Trinity is our foundational belief, and in becoming a Christian, we are baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We end nearly all of our prayers with an invocation of the Father, the
The only true Christian is one who believes that there is only one God. Son and the Spirit. One of the stichera (hymns) for Pentecost proclaims, “It is through (the Holy Spirit) that the Father is known and the Son glorified; and all people have come to know the one power, and the one essence, and the same worship of the Holy Trinity.” The Athanasian Creed from the sixth century, expresses this faith most clearly, “We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal.” Even earlier, in the fourth century, St. Gregory the Theologian wrote: “No sooner do I conceive of the One than I am illumined by the splendor of the Three; no sooner do I distinguish Three than I am carried back
into the One. When I think of any of the Three, I think of him as the whole, and my eyes are filled, and the greater part of what I am thinking escapes me. I cannot grasp the greatness of that One so as to attribute a greater greatness to the rest. When I contemplate the Three together, I see but one torch, and cannot divide or measure out the undivided light. (Homily 40.41)” Faith in the Trinity, therefore, does not compromise faith in one God and one God only. The Trinity is a mystery that cannot be fully understood by the human mind, as is the incarnation of our Lord. We believe it because of revelation. Jesus calls God his Father and promises to send the Holy Spirit. At the baptism in the Jordan and in the Transfiguration on the mountain, the Father speaks, calling Jesus his beloved Son and the Spirit appears, at the Jordan as a dove and on the mountain as a bright cloud. On the Cross, Jesus offers himself to the Father, and rises from the dead as God, and sends the Holy Spirit upon his disciples in the form of tongues of fire. The Trinity, however, remains a mystery, for while God reveals himself in this way, and always acts toward his creation as Trinity, for it is the essence of God, we cannot with our human understanding, enter into the inner life of God in Trinity. St. Gregory the Theologian, perhaps the deepest thinker about the Holy Trinity, said that we should not pry into the mystery of God’s inner relationships. (Homily 31.8) “Person” in God, of course, doesn’t mean the same thing as “person” for human beings. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are God and equally
who God is. Each is entirely God and God is not God without being Father, Son and Spirit. We, as persons, do not define the human nature. We share this nature with billions of others, none of whom is the human race. The theologian Fr. Brian Daley explains, “One must bear in mind, of course, that in referring to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as “three persons” who constitute God, we must be careful not to think of them as “persons” in the same sense each of us is a person: the Holy Trinity is not made up of three people, three individuals belonging to the same general species, as would be the case in a small human family; the Holy Trinity is not a committee, or even a community, of three persons with three consciousnesses, three minds, and three wills. “However, God must have revealed himself to us as a Trinity for a reason, and this is to give us understanding that to be in the image of God is to be a community, for God is community. Again, “The person cannot exist in isolation. God is not alone; he is communion .... It is in this that the “reason,” the logos of our being lies: in the relationship of love that makes us unique and irreplaceable for another.” Our personhood and our community is only a dim reflection of the divine community, but it is a way in which we are deified and become like God. This was the goal of Jesus’ salvation, as he prayed in the garden before his arrest, “I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one.” (John 17:22-23) n
reminder that even today, we also are called to discipleship and to give service in various ways for the benefit of God’s people and for the building up of his Church. n
May God grant to his servants Deacon Brian Deacon Gary and Deacon Jeffrey Peace, health and happiness for many blessed years!
continued from page 3 monies, Archbishop William recollected the calling of the first deacons and of the wonderful and necessary service they provided to the early Church. He tendered the
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“. . . but the greatest of these is LOVE” I Cor 13:13
Happy Valentine’s Day
PIROHY • PIROHY • and more!
Feb. 14
National Marriage Week! National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Sunday/ Valentine’s Day (Sunday, Feb. 14) is a great time to support marriage. As Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family and Youth said in his 2016 letter to all U.S. bishops, National Marriage Week and World Marriage Day (the second Sunday in February) “provide an opportunity to celebrate the gift and blessing of marriage and to affirm and support engaged and married couples.” The annual observance of National Marriage Week encourages diverse groups to strengthen individual marriages, reduce the divorce rate, and build a stronger marriage culture, which in turn helps curtail poverty and benefits children. The Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth offers resources to bishops, priests, deacons, married couples, and lay men and women to help celebrate and live the great gift of married life. Visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website, www.usccb.org. n
CARRICK - St. Pius X Byzantine Catholic Church, 2336 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh (Carrick), PA 15210 offers homemade PIROHY and halušky for sale every Friday during the Great Fast (Lent), excluding Good Friday. Sale begins Friday, Feb. 12. Hours of sale are 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. Pirohy varieties are potato/cheese, cabbage, sauerkraut, and cottage cheese. Prices start at $7 per dozen. Eat-in or take-out, cooked or frozen. Questions or advance orders, phone the church at 412-881-8344. MUNHALL - St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church, 4200 Homestead-Duquesne Road, Munhall, PA 15120 will open their popular “Lenten Kitchen” Wednesday, Feb. 10 and every Friday during the Great Fast: Feb. 12, 19 & 26 and Mar. 4, 11, & 18 (sorry, no sales on Good Friday Mar. 25). Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. MENU: Soup, PIROHY, noodle halušky, baked fish dinner or fried fish (sandwiches or dinners), shrimp dinner and a bake sale. Dine in or take out. Please phone 412-461-9271 for takeout.
does your church have
PIROHY FOR SALE? Resources to help couples celebrate National Marriage week can be found on the USCCB’s marriage initiative site www.foryourmarriage.org. If you are on Facebook, you can join the “Virtual Marriage Retreat” event by visiting the For Your Marriage Facebook page www.facebook.com/foryourmarriage.
If your parish or parish group is pinching pirohy for sale during the 2016 Great Fast, submit the following information and it will be printed in the Feb. 28 edition of The BCW and on-line in the Upcoming Events section and Calendar on the Archeparchy’s official web site, www.archpitt.org. All other Lenten sales events such as soup, fish fry, etc. are most welcome as well. Please provide:
2016 Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer
Feb. & March Program Schedule Lenten Day of Prayer Presenter: Rev. John Chirovsky Saturday, February 27 9:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration Due: February 22 Offering: $30, includes lunch Lenten Day of Prayer Presenter: Rev. Thomas Dansak Sunday, February 28 1:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration due: February 22 Offering: $30, includes supper Tuesday Reading Series Presenter: Sr. Barbara Jean Mihalchick March 1, 8, 15, 22 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Registration Due: February 23 Free will offering Spiritual Reflection Morning Presenter: Becky Johnen March 5 - 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration Due: February 29 Offering: $25
The Sisters kindly ask that anyone interested in participating in the House of Prayer programs please register early. Early registrations help to avoid the cancellation of programs. To register to any of the above programs, contact the House of Prayer at 724-438-7149. n
1) Parish Name and Pastor 2) Location 3) Name of food event 4) Day, date, time of event 5) Menu items for sale 6) Contact person 7) Phone number (required) 8) Any additional information.
Remember, all submissions must be approved by the parish pastor or administrator! E-mail your information to bcw@archpitt.org by Tuesday, Feb. 16 for inclusion in the Feb. 28 issue of The BCW.
Submissions for web site calendar inclusion may be e-mailed anytime to web@archpitt.org.
MAKE YOUR OWN DISHES FOR THE GREAT FAST . . . Cooking Traditions is a 130-page cookbook featuring Great Fast (Lenten), Pascha (Easter), and many other holiday recipes according to the Rusyn-Slavonic cultural traditions within the Byzantine Catholic (Ruthenian) Church. This book also showcases many great recipes for other Eastern European foods and contemporary American favorites such as holubky, potato dumpling halushky, soups, casseroles, entrees and baked goods. Cooking Traditions is available from St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church of McKeesport, Pa. for $12 at the church or $15 per mail order. Please remit check or money order for $15 per book payable to St. Nicholas Church, 408 6th St., McKeesport, PA 15132. For more information call 412-664-9131 Mon-Fri from 9 am to 4 pm. Please allow 3 weeks for mail delivery.
RUSYN HERITAGE RADIO PROGRAM Sundays at 2:30 p.m. - WPIT-AM 730 Pittsburgh, PA
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‘Music of the Great Fast’ cathedral hosts seasonal workshop The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Munhall, Pa. will host a workshop on Music of the Great Fast on Thursday, Feb. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. Featuring presentations by Metropolitan Cantor Institute director Deacon Jeff Mierzejewski, the evening will cover the music for the Sunday Divine Liturgy, Sunday evening Vespers, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and Lenten devotions. Select Lenten hymns also will be taught. There is no charge for the workshop, but please register by calling 412-7351676 to ensure that enough materials will be prepared and available to all in attendance. n
around the archeparchy TREAT YOUR VALENTINE to an All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet sponsored by St. Mary’s Youth Group at St. Mary’s Center, Route 981 in Trauger, Pa. Sunday, February 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Adults $6; Children ages 5-10 $ 3; ages 4 & under FREE.
Pittsburgh Protopresbytery Great Fast Vespers schedule of services 4:00 p.m.*
Sunday February 14 | St. John the Baptist Cathedral – Munhall, Pa. Father Thomas Schaefer, homilist | Deacon Timothy Corbett Sunday February 21 | St. John Chrysostom Church – Pittsburgh, Pa. Archpriest Dennis Bogda, homilist | Deacon Paul Simko Sunday February 28 | St. John the Baptist Church – Lyndora, Pa. Father Andrew Deskevich, homilist | Deacon Paul Simko Sunday March 6 | Holy Ghost Church – McKees Rocks, Pa. Abbot Leo Schlosser, homilist | Deacon Sean Petrisko Sunday March 13 | St. Elias Church – Munhall, Pa. Father Frank Firko, homilist | Deacon Michael Meaders * Mystery of Reconciliation (Confession) available at 3:30 p.m. Lenten soup and bread will be served after Vespers in the social hall of each parish.
ICONOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS — Marylyn Barone will conduct two iconography workshops in March for adults at all levels of experience. The first workshop will be held March 4-6 at Servant Song Ministries, Waynesburg, Pa. Participants in this 3-day workshop will write an icon of Christ the Teacher on an 8”x10 “gesso-covered board. The class will take place Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday from noon until finishing. Must be able to attend all three days to have a completed icon. The $115 fee will cover all supplies. The second workshop will be held March 10–13 at St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, Campbell, Ohio. Participants in this 4-day workshop will write an icon of the Nativity of Jesus on a 10”x12” gesso-covered board. Class will be held Thursday evening, Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday, from noon until finishing. Must be able to attend all four days to have a completed icon. The $125 fee will cover all supplies. For both workshops, using a pre-prepared prototype, participants 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 their choice.) The theology of iconography and specifically Jesus Christ also will be presented. There also will be the opportunity to attend services. Snacks as well as coffee and tea will be provided on all days. A deposit of $25 is required and the class for each workshop will be limited to 20 people. For further information, call Marylyn Barone at 412678-9453 or email her at mwbarone@comcast.net. FASHION SHOW — The CAMEO Club of St. John’s Cathedral will host a Spring Fashion Show on Sunday, April 10. Fashions will be by Phyllis’ Fashions of White Oak; cash and carry also will be available. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. A soup and salad luncheon buffet will begin at noon. Additional attractions include a Spring Fling Auction, Lottery Tree and 50/50 drawing. For information regarding reservations/tickets please call Carol Lawson at 412-464-1666. FLEA MARKET & SOUP SALE - On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20-21, Greek Catholic Union Lodge 28 will hold a flea market and homemade chicken noodle soup sale from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 1720 Jane Street, South Side Pittsburgh. This is a matching funds fundraiser; all proceeds benefit the church. Contact Kim at 412-469-0659 for more information.
see PIROHY and other Great Fast food sales on page 11.
dates to remember february 7-14 National Marriage Week february 8 First day of the Great Fast february 11 ‘Music of the Great Fast’ workshop Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - Munhall, Pa. february 14 First Sunday of the Great Fast Valentine’s Day march 12 Day of Prayer for Catechists and Interested Adults Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - Munhall, Pa. See more upcoming events at www.archpitt.org See Pittsburgh Protopresbytery Great Fast Vespers schedule above.
the byzantine catholic world
Official publication of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
Byzantine Catholic Press Associates 66 Riverview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Tel: 412.231.4000 Fax: 412.231.1697 E-mail: bcw@archpitt.org Web site: www.archpitt.org
next issue DATE: FEBRUARY 28
submissions DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 16 See page 2 for important new BCW publication information.