NOVEMBER 2018
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Byzantine Spirituality Conference continued from page 1
Glen, Ill. Deacon John has been a cantor, choir director and catechist for many years. Currently, he serves as the Chief Compliance Officer for the insurer, OSF HealthPlans which is owned and operated by the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis in Peoria.
Christopher Russo, Deacon John Evancho
Christopher Russo was selected by Archbishop William Skurla to represent the United States Byzantine Catholic Metropolia at the Pre-Synod for Youth in Rome, March 2018. He graduated from Penn State University in 2016 and works as a research technolo-
gist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Christopher helped create a program for young adults entitled “Theosis in Action”. He is the son of Deacon Stephen and Heather Russo of Southbury, Conn. They are members of St. Nicholas in Danbury, Conn. n
Send Name, Phone number, Parish and $35 per person by Nov. 5 Check payable to: Office of Religious Education, 3605 Perrysville Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. 15214 Parish table of 5 or more is $25 per person. Submit together. Information at: www.archpitt.org, link ORE. 412-322-8773
Mark your calendar The following events will take place at Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer, 510 W. Main St, Uniontown, Pa. To register for programs or more information, call 724-4387149.
Morning Retreat n Christine Freeman presents "Life's Transitions" 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 3. Offering of $35 includes lunch. Christine, a practicing psychotherapist for 18 years with a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hill, a Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh; will guide attendees through difficult changes in lives. Her area of interest is the intersect of Psychology and Spirituality.
Helenanne Hochendoner presents "Prophetesses of Scripture" 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 10. Offering of $35 includes lunch. Register by Nov. 6. n
Iconography Retreat An Iconography Retreat, presented by Marylyn Barone, will be held 6 p.m. Nov 16 to 4 p.m. Nov. 18. For adults and requires no previous icon-writing experience. Participants write an icon of the Archangel Uriel, known as the angel of wisdom, on an 8-by-10 gesso-covered board. Using a pre-prepared prototype, learn techniques for faces, garments, background and gilding with 23-karat gold leaf. Offering of $225; Commuters: $200. Supplies included. Register by Nov. 9. n
Christmas Preparation Retreat Father Cyprian Constantine, OSB, will pressent “The Time of Salvation is Near: Prepare by Prayer, Fasting, Repentance and Almsgiving” 1:15-5:30 p.m. Dec. 16. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered along with a conference and a prayer service. Offering of $35 includes dinner. Register by Dec. 12.
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Open House n An Open House will be held 1:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 13, 2019. Come and spend some time with the Sisters in the warmth of the House of Prayer!
Winter Respite n A Winter Respite will be presented by Sister Carol Petrasovich, OSBM, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 2, 2019. Registration due by Jan. 30, 2019. Offering of $35 includes lunch. The stillness and unhurried days of Winter are an ideal time to experience “Rest in the Lord.”
Learn about Marriage Annulments Divorced Catholics and others who may be interested in learning about the annulment process are welcome to attend a free workshop with Jay Conzemius, JCL, judge and moderator; and Diane Kass, Tribunal Notary, of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Tribunal and Diocese of Pittsburgh Tribunal. Topics will include: theology of marriage; ministry of the tribunal; marriage annulment types; why, when and how to start the petition for annulment
process; and a process overview. Afterward participants can ask questions and/or start the process. This important presentation will take place at St. John Byzantine Catholic Cathedral, 210 Greentree Road, Munhall, Pa. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. No reservations are required but if you do plan to attend email archpitt@aol.com, or call Diane Kass at 412-456-3033 so seating arrangements can be made. n
Abuse crisis discussed at synod continued from page 3
discern," the cardinal said. "We want to do something that will help intensify our commitment to change." For any real change to take place, he said, the bishops must collaborate with each other and with lay experts. Cardinal DiNardo said the bishops would begin their meeting Nov. 12 with some introductory business, but then would go directly into a day of prayer and fasting focused on the abuse crisis. Many of the items that the bishops were due to consider at the November meeting, he said, will be postponed to devote more time to considering concrete steps to take in response to the abuse crisis. However, he said, they will vote on the proposed statement, "Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love -- A Pastoral Letter Against Racism." Cardinal DiNardo is a veteran of the Synod of Bishops. The gathering Oct. 3-28 on young people, the faith and vocational discernment was his third synod. "One of the best parts of this synod is obvious: the young people," he said. The 34 synod observers under the age of 30 "are lively, they applaud sometimes. They take a great interest in the speakers. They have been a very, very important part of the language groups," where synod members, observers and experts make recommendations for the gathering's final document. The young adults are serious about the church "listening to them, the church being attentive to them," he said. "They also are not opposed to the church's teaching necessarily at all. They want to be heard and
the byzantine catholic world
listened to, but they also want to draw on the vast beauty and tradition of the church and do some listening of their own." In his speech to the synod, Cardinal DiNardo asked that the final synod document include a reference to how following Jesus includes a willingness to embrace his life-giving cross. Young people are not afraid of a challenge, the cardinal said. "They may not always 'get' things of the church, but they know who Jesus is and Jesus is not mediocre; he doesn't want you and me to be mediocre. He wants us to follow him to the cross and only then to glory." Cardinal DiNardo said he was struck at the synod by the variety of young people and especially the variety of their experiences, including experiences of being persecuted for their Christian faith or the challenges of being part of a Christian minority. "Young people are much more serious than I think we give them credit for," he said. And, hearing a young person's story of faith probably is the most effective way to evangelize other young people. As for the Catholic Church's outreach to young people struggling with church teaching on sexuality or who are homosexual, Cardinal DiNardo said it is not a marginal issue in the lives of young people and it was not a marginal issue at the synod. "A lot of us wanted to mention it and say, 'Yes, it's a real issue; we have to accompany people,'" he said, "but we can't forget the words of the Lord, 'Follow me,' and that requires sometimes for all of us a conversion of hearts." n