W
RLD
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH
Inside
diaconate studies in a changed world Seminarian Michael Sivulich shares reflections on Seminary life Page 4
VOL. 65 NO. 10
take-home dinners Stuffed cabbage, chicken on menu at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall, Pa. Pages 7 to 8
Food for the soul
OCTOBER 2020
financial reports Archeparchy financial statements for 2018 and 2019 Pages 14 to 15
“Come and See”
“weekend of dioscovery” at seminary will be held online in november Press release by the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius
The annual parish picnic at St. Gregory in Upper St. Clair, Pa. was held Sept. 13 following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Food trucks selling barbecue, tacos and ice cream set up in the church’s parking lot. For moire photos, see page 10. Photo by David Mayernik Jr.
“A grand symphony” of prayers
sister ruth plante, osbm provincial, welomes pilgrims to virtual pilgrimage
The following is a transcript of a welcome message by Sister Ruth Plante, OSBM Provincial to this year’s 86th annual Pilgrimage in Honor of the Mother of Perpetual Help. It may be viewed on YouTube.com. Search for “Basilians - Uniontown PA.” Sister Ruth’s “Thank You” message appears on Page 5. Glory to Jesus Christ! Slava Isusu Christu! In the name of all of the Sisters of St. Basil, I want to welcome you to this very different type of Pilgrimage this year. We had hoped to have all of you present with us as we celebrate our 100th anniversary of a century of service to the Byzantine Catholic Church in America because you are all a part — a beloved part — of our family. It’s through you and
your prayers and support that we have reached this wonderful event in our history. So that part is very, very disappointing. However, in God’s plan it was meant to be this way. In my letter inviting you to this virtual Pilgrimage, I recounted an experience that I had that I’d like to go back to today because it really struck me quite deeply. I was driving to the post office and I had to stop at a red light. In front of me there was a car that had a bumper sticker. And the bumper sticker said: “Humankind.” And I thought to myself, “Hmm… ’humankind.’ I wonder what that’s all about?” So, I looked a little closer and beneath the main word was two little words which said, “Be both.” I thought, “Well, how profound that is!” Just those few little words: “Be both.” Be human. Be kind.
Think about that. Be human. Be kind. When you think about all of the challenges that we’re facing today, how many of them could really be resolved so peacefully if everyone would simply be human and be kind. And they are challenges that call us to look deeply into our hearts and souls and ask some serious questions: How welcoming am I to people regardless of their ethnicity, their race, their gender, their religion? When we think about COVID-19, how much do I participate in following the guidelines that are given to us? Because it’s not just about me and my safety, it’s about all those around me and perhaps some who are a lot more vulnerable
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The Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius is pleased to host the “Come and See” Weekend of Discovery on Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7. This year’s retreat will be given virtually online. Invited to register for this online retreat are men, ages 18 to 35, single or married, who may be considering a vocation to the priesthood in the Byzantine Catholic Church. In the interests of facilitating the necessary disconnection from the world, this year’s challenge of a virtual weekend includes creating as much as possible an atmosphere that is prayerful, positive, and fraternal. A selection of pre-recorded talks introducing the Seminary formation program will be offered as well as a recorded witness talk with the seminarians. A panel discussion will be livestreamed along with at least one liturgical service. One of last year’s participants summed up his experience, saying: “Discerning God’s will is important for me; I have been personally praying in front of my icon corner at home and at the Divine Liturgy asking for a clearer understanding of God’s will for me for a long time, and attending this weekend was a significant part of my continued discernment.” There is no tuition for this “Come and See” Retreat of Discovery. The application deadline is Oct. 28. To register, please visit the Seminary website at www.bcs. edu or go to: https://www.bcs. edu/2020/09/03/come-and-seevirtual-retreat-of-discovery/. n
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OCTOBER 2020
UPS 081500 ISSN 07442289 Official publication of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
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Serving parish communities in central and western Pennsylvania, Louisiana, eastern Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia Published monthly (12 issues) plus two seasonal special issues
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the Gospel message in the rich tradition of the Byzantine Catholic Church; to encourage faithful to reflect the image of Christ in everyday activities of life; to offer spiritual formation through changing times; and to celebrate community among Byzantine Catholics in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, throughout the Metropolitan Church in America, and around the world. the byzantine catholic world
OCTOBER 2020
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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE METROPOLITAN
Each wedding is a revelation Glory to Jesus Christ!
Welcome to the 2020 Virtual Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Wedding Celebration! It was historic because it was the first and hopefully the only time the celebration and prayers were offered online. We hope to return to the in person celebration next year. For decades, we have lifted up in prayer the couples who have been faithful to their marriage vows to love one another for life. Their commitment shows that it is possible to defy the outside forces which attempt to pull them apart. However, their union shows their children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren that marriage is still alive today. Faithful marriage is the strongest support of young growing into healthy and holy adults. The family is the strongest support of the church and our nation. Without families, it is difficult to raise children to become the future leaders of our churches, businesses, and government. Last September on the Byzantine Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, we visited and celebrated the Wedding Church in Cana which is about ten miles from where we stayed in Nazareth. The married couples on the trip renewed their marriage vows near the spot of Wedding of Cana which is the traditional scripture read at weddings. The church was built on or near the first century Synagogue where Jesus performed his first miracle of changing the water into wine. As with most churches In the Holy Land, the present Cana Wedding Church built in 1881 was built upon the ruins of previous structures. After the celebration, we were able to climb down from the current church through the Byzantine mosaics and tombs to the layer dating back to first Christian centuries. At that lower level, we saw a large water container from that period. At the Mother of God’s instruction, Jesus changed not one but six containers of the size you can see in the picture (bottom, right). Six containers would have been enough for 770 bottles of wine. Considering they had already drunk all the wine in the town of Cana, the additional six huge containers would have made the celebration a wedding worth remembering. They may have sung, “In heaven there is no wine that is why we drink it here.”
Archbishop William with pilgrims who renewed their wedding vows at the Wedding Church in Cana in Sept. 2019.
Whether large or small, joyous or somber, each wedding and marriage is worth remembering and receiving honor. For each wedding is revelation of divine and sacramental mysteries. Through the marriage of a husband and wife, new life is comes into the world through the couples love for each other. The two become one with the hope of children to continue the life of the family, the church, and our world. We give thanks to God for our Wedding Jubilarians.
Container on dislplay in Cana.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend William C. Skurla, D.D. Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh
Wedding Church in Cana, located near Nazareth.
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OCTOBER 2020
Diaconate studies in a changed world
seminarian says first year of studies “a fantastic academic spiritual journey” By Michael Sivulich Deacon student of the Eparchy of Parma, St. Nicholas of Myra, White Plains, N.Y.
We are currently attending the School of Diaconate studies of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa. Our class size is 17 men representing the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, the Eparchies of Passaic, Phoenix, and the Ukrainian Eparchy of Stamford. Our first year was a fantastic academic and spiritual journey with deacon candidates of different backgrounds. There were policemen, college professors, nurses, members of the Air Force, a security specialist guarding religious artifacts in New York City, mechanics, firefighters, and an EWTN theology advisor. There was an immediate brotherhood among us. The academic atmosphere was supportive. We could not imagine how much would change in the next few months. The coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed the world, perhaps forever. The Diaconate program was not immune. We were notified that the second year would be 100 percent online. Not getting together was met with a sense of loss, even though our commute
Bulletin Board Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer announces online programs Mount Saint Macrina House of Prayer, 510 W. Main St., Uniontown Pa. has announced upcoming virtual online programs on Zoom. For more information or to register, call 724-438-7149 or email hpmsm@verizon.net. n 10-11:30 a.m. Oct. 10, Saturday Morning of Reflection: “Prophetesses of the Old Testament.” Presented by Helenanne Hochendoner Offering: $10. Register by Oct. 3. n 10-11 a.m. Oct. 17, Saturday Morning Grief Support: “To Grieve Is To Have Loved.”
Pittsburgh deacon candidates Joseph Hancharick, Douglas King, Barry Smith, Michael Yewcic, Robert Klesko, David Dominguez and John Cencich.
would be a bit shorter. We were all thinking, "What will that be like?" Our class was grateful to God that we were all safe. We kept in touch with emails and texting, praying for one and other, our families, and the world. We all met one Friday night in a Zoom chat before classes started on June 15. It was a welcomed virtual reunion. Our courses are conducted through the Seminary’s online learning management system. It was amazingly easy to use. Our first two classes were Canon Law and Old Testament I. Then, on Aug. 10, we started our Dogmatics course. Our professors are doing everything possible to keep us connected. We had access to phone numbers, email
addresses, YouTube, and Zoom. Files were downloaded for our easy use. Being one of the oldest candidates, the thought of all this technology was a bit intimidating. Besides the lessons taught, I am learning new technology, and it is not that bad. I know my fellow candidates are rolling their eyes. As the Diaconate class of 2022 moves on in our discernment and advancement of the academic pillar of our formation at SS. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary, we will continue to pray for all those affected by the coronavirus. We pray for everyone's safety and health. We humbly ask you for your prayers as we continue with our journey. n
Presented by Patricia Clemmer, Hospice Nurse. Offering: $10. Register by Oct. 10 n 11 a.m.-noon Oct. 28. Wednesday Morning SelfHelp Program: “Coping With COVID.” Presented by Christine Freeman, MDiv LSW Psychotherapist. Offering: $10. Register by Oct. 21. n 10-11:20 a.m. Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24, Tuesday Morning Reading Series: “Fly While You Still Have Wings: And Other Lessons My Resilient Mother Taught Me” by Sister Joyce Rupp. Presented by Sister Barbara Jean, OSBM. Offering: $5 per session or $15 for all four sessions. Register by Oct. 27 n 10-11:30 a.m. Nov. 7, Saturday Morning of Reflection: “Parables in the Gospel of Matthew.” Presented by Helenanne Hochendoner. Offering: $10. Register by Oct. 31. n 1:30-2:30 p.m. Dec. 13, Sunday Christmas Preparation Afternoon of Reflection: Conference, Q & A Session, Reflection. Presented by Deacon Stephen Russo Offering: $10. Register by Dec. 6. n
Looking ahead to Pilgrimage 2021
Hilton Garden Inn Uniontown will again provide a special rate package for those attending the 2021 annual Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa. The special group rate is available from Sept. 2 to 6, 2021. The special rate is $129 per night (before taxes) for all rooms except the King Suite, which is $159 per night before taxes. To make your reservations, use the Hilton Garden Inn Uniontown web site: http:// hiltongardeninn3.hilton. com/en/hotels/pennsylvania/ hilton-garden-inn-uniontownMGWUNGI/index.html. When booking, please select the option to “Add Special Rate Codes” and enter Group Code ANN21. Contact the hotel at 724-4347200 to make reservation Tell them that you want the 2021 Annual Pilgrimage Group Rate (Group Code ANN21). A limited number of rooms are available. n
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“A grand symphony” of prayers continued from page 1
than I am. Again, be human, be kind. When it comes to people who are struggling, am I supportive? Do I go out of my way to support especially those struggling to try and also participate in the blessings that are part of the American promise? Where do I stand on that? And, fourthly, we’ve been bombarded with so many advertisements that will only get worse in the next couple of months by candidates who trying to get our attention to be voted into office. Do we think seriously about each of these candidates and ask ourselves: What are their values? What about their integrity? How do they stand with regard to the rights of other people? What about their moral character? These are important things that we need to think about. As you take time this weekend on this virtual Pilgrimage, those are some questions that we all need to ask ourselves. In the midst of this journey into our hearts, Jesus is going to ask us face-to-face: Are you human? Are you kind? Have you been helpful? And we will have to answer in all sincerity of heart to those questions. Since we can’t get together in person as we had hoped, we have put together a series of prayers and services that hopefully can enable you in some small way to join together as we would if you were on the holy grounds of Mount St. Macrina. By your participating — wherever you are — and with our praying here at the Mount, all of those prayers will go up in “a grand symphony” to reach the ear of God. Hopefully, by doing that, we will be able to then give honor to our Lord and also honor to His Most Holy Mother whom we are devoted to as Our Mother of Perpetual Help. We invite you to participate in all of those services to the extent that you can and it’s our small part to try and bring Pilgrimage no. 86 into reality for everyone. Again, be safe, be human, be kind. Really, it’s all summed up in the Great Commandments Jesus gave us: Love God; love others. All the theology books in the world can be noted but it all comes down to those two Commandments: Love God, love others. Please know that we here at Mount St. Macrina — all of the Sisters — will continue to hold you in our prayers. We offer you our love and our gratitude. Glory to Jesus Christ! n
OCTOBER 2020
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the office of safe environment
Promise to protect Child abuse is a horrific experience with potential lasting effects. Unfortunately it is a common experience in America and has become a societal issue not just a clergy issue. The National Children’s Alliance tells us that an estimated 678,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in 2018. In 2002, the bishops of the United States adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Charter is a plan of action to address the clergy sexual abuse scandal. The wording of the Charter is very clear that the bishops place great importance on their responsibility to help victims find healing and reconciliation. The Charter addresses outreach to aid victims, and it guarantees an effective response to allegations of child abuse. It includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, and prevention of future acts of abuse. Standards of behavior and appropriate boundaries for all clergy, employees and volunteers of the Church are stated. Guidelines for reporting allegations of sexual abuse to public authorities are given as well as those for the removal of clergy from ministry. Accountability of the procedures is ensured by safe environment training and background checks for all Church personnel. This training helps recognition of the behavior of offenders and of what to do about it and of how to report it. The more people who are trained to recognize the warning signs of an offender, the safer our children will be. The Charter is a promise to protect, and a commitment to accountability. Each year an
audit report is sent to the National Office of Child Protection and every three years there is an on-site audit. These audits are conducted by an outside auditor. This year the Archeparchy is having its on-site three-year audit virtually on Oct. 22, 2020. Since the inception of the audits, the Archeparchy has been in compliance with the terms of the Charter every year. You can help to prevent the abuse of children. You can help to make our Church a safe environment. Know the warning signs of offenders. n They prefer to be with children. n They go overboard touching, wrestling, or tickling. n They may give minors alcohol or drugs or show them pornography. n They allow children to break the rules. n Offenders act as if the rules do not apply to them. If you observe an adult who is not behaving appropriately with children, speak up. Let someone know what you saw. You are not accusing anyone of anything. You are letting someone know you care, are watching and are concerned that no harm is done to a child. Remember the proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”. • For more information about the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh’s Office of Safe Environment, go to www.archpitt. org and click on the icon of Jesus and the children. • All dioceses and eparchies have Victim Assistance Coordinators, assuring that victims of abuse will be heard. The Archieparchial Victim Assistance Coordinator is Courtney Minerd. She can be reached at 724504-9588.n
FYI n For more information about the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh's Office of Safe Environment, go to www.archpitt.org/protection-of-children/, n The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was established by the USCCB in June 2002. It is a comprehensive set of procedures for addressing allegations of abuse of minors. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. n The Charter calls for annual audits of dioceses and eparchies to ascertain compliance with USCCB guidelines. Annual Audits have been conducted since 2003. Results of the audits are published online in May for the public. n All dioceses and eparchies have Victim Assistance Coordinators, assuring that victims of abuse will be heard. In 2016, dioceses and eparchies provided outreach and support to 250 victims/survivors and their families who came forward to report abuse. Continued support was also provided to 1,510 victims/ survivors and their families who reported abuse in prior years.
Safe Environment “Hotline” Phone Numebrs If you suspect sexual or any other kind of abuse of a minor child by anyone, please contact immediately: Pennsylvania Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline at 1-800-932-0313 and the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Confidential Hotline at 412-231-4000 Ext. 22. The contacts for other states are: Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Confidential Hotline: 412-231-4000. Ext 22 National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 Louisiana Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline 1-855-452-5437 Ohio Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 1-855-642-4453 Oklahoma Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 1-800-522-3511 Tennessee Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 1-877-237-0004 Texas Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 1-800-252-5400 West Virginia Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 1-800-352-6513
Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops the byzantine catholic world
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OCTOBER 2020
letter from the byzantine catholic seminary
letter from mount st. macrina
Seminarians safely return to campus
Thank you
Glory to Jesus Christ! Dear friends and benefactors, We are overjoyed to share with you that our 70th Anniversary Late-summer Appeal has already reached nearly half its goal: $17, 709.02. This time of viral disturbance is challenging us in many ways. We've been forced into new ways of being together, new ways of serving others, of teaching and learning, and new ways of praying. While some are eager for the loosening of restrictions, others feel far less safe, and there is a danger of complacency. Please know of our continuing thoughts and prayers for you as we at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary also navigate this difficult reality and continue to seek your assistance. Our 12 seminarians are safely on campus for this new year. Their good will and care for one another has them comfortably and confidently embracing our Infection Prevention and Control Program as they begin a new year of priestly formation and discernment. We're thrilled that they are back and willing to move forward because our Master of Divinity program for seminarians must be primarily conducted in person. Our Master of Arts in Theology program for other students is primarily conducted online. This program currently has a roster of 25 students. With the present neediness in
Glory to Jesus Christ!
our world relying on the care of people like you, our needs remain as well, and so we reach out to you with this Appeal with the goals of providing new vestments for our seminarians serving in the chapel, new library computer equipment, grant-monies for eligible nonseminarian Master of Arts in Theology students, and funds for continuing property restoration. We thank God for the Seminary's 70 years and look forward to many, many more. As A.T.S. has confidence in the Seminary's future shown by their reaccreditation of our programs, we ask that you show your confidence in our future by making a donation of $70, $700, $7,000, or whatever you can afford at this time. Your contribution will help us reach our summer goal of $38,000. You need not specify a particular need as we'll simply see to the completion of our goals as funds are received according to the "thermometer" which shows our progress below. We are grateful to the many of you who have already contributed. You may have received our new appeal mailer. We hope you like it. We'd be more than happy to read your comments about the mailer if you'd drop us a line. You can email our development office at development@bcs.edu. Please know how greatly your generosity is appreciated, especially during this critical time. Sincerely yours in Christ, (Very Rev.) Robert M. Pipta Rector
Dear Friends, Every year, for several weeks before our annual Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, we petition Our Lord to grant us good weather for the weekend. Sometimes He responds favorably, and sometimes we face the challenge of rain and storms. This year, the year of our first virtual Pilgrimage, the weather was absolutely perfect. Doesn’t Our Lord have quite the sense of humor! Although we were disappointed that we were unable to welcome you in person (every year brings so many happy reunions!!), we were encouraged and touched by the number of pilgrims who joined us in prayer via our YouTube videos. We had about 5,000 people who had watched one or more presentations. Likewise, we are in the process of lighting over 500 candles to fulfill the prayerful requests that were made. I believe that our dear Mother of Perpetual Help must have been very pleased by the honor given to her and her
divine Son. We extend our thanks to Archbishop William, to each of our Bishops and clergy, and to each Eparchy for the publicity given through their publications. Likewise, the Greek Catholic Union continues to support us as they have since our first days and our collaboration in caring for orphans at St. Nicholas Orphanage in Elmhurst, Pa. We are also grateful to Sister Marion Dobos, OSB of the Archieparchial Office of Religious Education for the Children and Teen programs. Finally, we thank each and every one of you for your words of loving support, your continued prayers, and your ongoing financial donations. It touches our hearts to experience such a caring response. Please know that we, in turn, will always remember you in our prayers each day. We bring your intentions to our dear Mother of Perpetual Help and are confident that she will watch over you and keep you under her loving protection as we continue to face the challenges of these days. With love, prayers, and gratitude,
Sister Ruth Plante, OSBM, Provincial, and the Sisters of St. Basil
reflection from mount st. macrina
We have the gift of grace
by Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, OSBM Sisters of St. Basil the Great Mount St. Macrina, Uniontown, Pa.
Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick posts videos of her reflections each week at the Facebook of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great. View them at: https://www.facebook.com/ sistersofstbasil.uniontown/. This is a transcript of her Oct. 4, 2019 reflection. Glory to Jesus Christ! Have you discovered that there are some people you naturally like and some people you naturally don’t like? What happens in a chance encounter? Well, the Gospel story this Sunday is Jesus in a chance encounter. He’s with the widow of Nain, whose son is being taken away to burial. Jesus immediately goes to her. Yes, these are moments when we normally feel compassion and Jesus did. In fact, if we could read the Greek version of the Gospel, we would see that Jesus — whenever He met misery of any kind — He had a gut reaction and He wanted to relieve that misery. He does in this particular instance, restoring the son to his mother.
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So this raises the question for us. I talked last time about encounter and overflow; the “encounter” being with the Lord Himself and learning to encounter the Lord in other people. This is something we can only do by grace, God’s grace. I began to wonder, when we think of encountering the Lord, do we immediately see His beautiful side, His joyful side, His compassion toward us? Do we picture Him as generous, loving, forgiving? One Who always wants to strengthen us? The one law He has given all of us is love one another, without exception. The greatest challenge, really, of a lifetime. But His grace is in us to do that and His examples throughout the Gospels are there. Each day, I suggest we ask ourselves: “Was I loving and compassionate today? When I thought of the Lord, did I picture a loving and compassionate source of life and love? And did I overflow that, like Him?” My friends, we have the gift of grace. We have the Eucharist; we take in the One who is all love. Let’s ask that grace flow. Ask for that ability, and be strengthened in it, as we strive to put on the mind and heart of Christ. God bless you. n
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st. john the baptist cathedral in munhall, pa.
Take-home dinners
St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall, Pa. had a two-day stuffed cabbage takeout dinner event Aug. 29 to 30. A Chicken Supreme dinner was held Sept. 19 to 20 (page 8). Both endeavors were quite successful and well-supported. n
Photos by Nick Havrilla Sr. the byzantine catholic world
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parish news
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OCTOBER 2020
st. john the baptist cathedral in munhall, pa.
Photos by Nick Havrilla Sr. the byzantine catholic world
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st. basil the great in irving, texas
O the wonder! by Carolyn Ellis St. Basil the Great, Irving, Texas
Six months into COVID-19, sheltering at home continues to limit my daily life to little more than grocery shopping and walking the dogs. Happily, I'm not alone. I have my wonderful husband here with me. As it turns out, with no place to go my attention and focus have gone inside, which, as an abstract artist, has my creative energy at an all time high! Tonight I happened to look at some pics of the desert online. (Reading about John the Baptist got me started!) My first thought was that a lot of my paperfolds remind me of those desert shapes! I have been drawn to the idea of the desert on many levels for decades. Is it possible that the majesty, power, and austerity of the desert are what undergird the beguiling simplicity of my paperfolds? (See my Instagram account — papered2020 — for more pics!) Wow! Starting to paint at 62 in
Artist Carolyn Ellis of St. Basil the Great in Irving, Texas says creating paper folds are inspiring by the “majesty” and “power” of deserts.
2012, by 2014 I intuited that the seed bed for my artwork was my subconscious. By 2016, I speculated that my work wasn't random but rather came from some nameless, unified perspective. In 2019 I landed on the concept that my work has a consistent spiritual basis rooted in my search for truth, for God. (See my blog at carolynellisart.com to read more about this idea.) Here in 2020, I find yet another mind-blowing aspect of how God is in and behind all my creative endeavors! For years I thought perhaps it was my childhood that was serving up the primal material for my creativity. Discovering a deep spiritual basis running through all my work, even my paperfolds, is a spectacular find for me. O the wonder! *The desert is both fascinating and terrifying...In those desert combats you will have no support worth having except God. THE HERMITAGE WITHIN is full of time honored insights about "desert spirituality." n
st. nicholas in perryopolis, pa.
st. elias in munhall, pa.
Traditions continue
Memorial Liturgy
by Frances Kranik St. Nicholas, Perryopolis, Pa.
Tradition during our Holy Days continue through COVID-19. Father Oleg Seremchuk blesed
both fruits and flowers for Transfiguration and Dormition of the Theotokos at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Perryopolis, Pa. n
by Mary Caryl Planiczki St. Elias, Munhall, Pa.
A 40th Day Memorial Liturgy and Panahida for +Rev. Msgr. George N. Vida was held Sept. 12 at St. Elias in Munhall, Pa. Father George was the beloved pastor of St. Elias for 27 years and was instrumental in acquiring the property and building the new church in Munhall. The Liturgy was concelebrated by Rev. Robert Pipta, rector of SS. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine
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Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, and the Rev. Vitalii Stashkevych, current pastor of St. Elias. Father Robert Karl, a longtime friend of Father George, and many other parishioners and friends were in attendance. Father Robert used Father George’s ordination chalice which he bequeathed to him at the Liturgy. Father George fell asleep in the Lord on Aug. 4. May his memory be eternal and may he rest in the bosom of Abraham. n
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OCTOBER 2020
st. gregory in upper st. clair, pa.
Food for the soul by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
On Sunday, Sept. 13, we commemorated the 34th anniversary of the consecration/ blessing of St. Gregory Church in Upper St. Clair, Pa. Traditionally, our parish picnic takes place this time of the year to celebrate the opening of the new school year. Due to the Pennsylvania restrictions from
COVID-19, our parish picnic took on a different format. Following the Divine Liturgy, in our church parking lot the following food trucks were ready to serve their delicious food: Southside BBQ, Edgar’s Best Tacos, and Graeter’s Ice Cream. This was a “socially distant” fun event that brought together our parishioners and Upper St. Clair neighbors. n
Honoring grandparents by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
The weekend of September 5 to 6 was special in our parish family as we honored all our St. Gregory’s grandparents and
seniors. As part of this celebration, prayerful supplications were offered, followed by a special blessing bestowed upon them at the end of the Divine Liturgy. n
Feast of the Exhaltation of the Holy Cross
by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross originated in Jerusalem in the year 355 to commemorate the dedication of the Basilica of the Resurrection. When the true Cross of Jesus was found shortly afterwards, this event was commemorated on the same day. In time, the Feast of the Exaltation replaced the feast of the dedication. In 395, St. John Chrysostom wrote of three crosses which were discovered beneath Golgotha by the Empress Helena. Many other writers speak of miracles which occurred through contact with the true Cross. It was through one of these miracles that the true Cross was recognized by St. Helena and St. Macarius, the Bishop of Jerusalem. The Holy Cross was kept in the Basilica of the Resurrection in Jerusalem until 614, when the Persians conquered the city
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and burned the Church. In 628, Emperor Heraclius III defeated the Persians and returned the Holy Cross to Jerusalem. A portion of the Cross was taken to Rome in the seventh century by Sergius I, a Pope of Byzantine origin. As we celebrate this Major Feast let us remind ourselves that the power of the Cross is given to each and every Christian. But just as a soldier must learn to properly wield his weapons in battle, so a warrior of Christ must learn how correctly to make the sign of the Cross. A shield has no effect if carelessly waved about in the air. Likewise, there are many who receive no benefit from the sign of the Cross because they make it mechanically or haphazardly. The Cross, once a tool of death, has become a means to life, an instrument of our salvation; it gives strength to resist temptation, to refrain from gossip or harsh words and it dispels fear. Amen. n
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News from the Vatican
Pope: Coronavirus vaccine must be for all, not only wealthy “we know the danger of the globalization of indifference”
by Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — As countries around the world scramble to find a vaccine for COVID-19, Pope Francis again called for an ethical distribution of the vaccine to everyone, especially those who are struggling financially. Addressing members of the Italian Pharmaceutical Bank, a charitable organization that provides medicine to the poor, the pope said that the economic crisis generated by the pandemic has shed a light on poverty in the world, including “pharmaceutical poverty.” “I repeat that it would be sad if, in providing the vaccine, priority was given to the wealthiest, or if this vaccine became the property of this or that country, and was no longer for everyone. It must be universal, for all,” he said Sept. 19. According to its website, the Pharmaceutical Bank was founded in 2000 by a group of young pharmacists who were convinced
the lack of medicine for poor people was an “underestimated” problem. Adopting a similar approach to food banks, the Pharmaceutical Bank opened locations throughout Italy to provide medicine to the poor. The organization also opened locations in Spain, Portugal and Argentina. In his address, the pope reflected on the vulnerable health of those who live in poverty and are unable to obtain medicine or treatment not only due to lack of money, but also because of a “pharmaceutical marginality” that “creates a further gap between nations and between peoples.” “Too many people, too many children are still dying in the world because they are denied access to a drug that is available in other regions, or to a vaccine,” he said. “We know the danger of the globalization of indifference.” Pope Francis proposed “to globalize treatment” and said all
Pope prays for young people as school year begins amid pandemic
Sergio Daniotti, of the Italian Pharmaceutical Bank, a charitable organization that provides medicine to the poor, presents Pope Francis with a painting depicting Jesus being crowned with thorns during a Sept. 19, 2020, meeting with members of the organization in the Paul VI audience hall at the Vatican. Catholic News Service photo/Vatican Media.
people should be given access to life-saving medicine. He also called on pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies and governments to work toward the goal of a “more equitable distribution of medicines.”
“Through their legislative and financial choices, governments are also called upon to build a fairer world in which the poor are not abandoned or, worse still, discarded,” the pope said. n
Gossip is tool of the devil to divide the church, pope says
pope expresses hope the “reopening of school year will
“the great gossiper is the devil, who always goes
be lived by all with a great sense of responsibility”
around recounting bad things about others”
by Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
by Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — In a letter to people participating in a virtual Marian pilgrimage, Pope Francis offered words of encouragement to families struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The pope’s message, which was signed on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, was sent to Bishop Stefano Russo, secretary general of the Italian bishops’ conference, and to participants in the 13th Annual National Pilgrimage for Families to Pompei and Loreto. The Vatican published the message Sept. 13. In it, Cardinal Parolin conveyed the pope’s gratitude to the promoters of the pilgrimage for organizing the event “in this time in which families are suffering particularly from the hardships due to the pandemic,” and he encouraged them to “draw hope and strength from prayer and fraternal communion in order to move forward.” Around the world, including in Italy, children and teens were returning to school for the first time in months. An estimated 5.6 million Italian students returned to classrooms Sept. 14 amid questions over
VATICAN CITY — Gossip is “a plague worse than COVID,” Pope Francis said, asserting that while speaking ill of others comes almost naturally, it is a tool of the devil to divide the church. Commenting Sept. 6 on the Sunday Gospel reading about Jesus telling his disciples what to do when a member of the community errs and requires correction, Pope Francis said that rather than helping the other mend his or her ways, “when we see a mistake, a fault, a slip, in that brother or sister, usually the first thing we do is to go and recount it to others — to gossip.” Gossiping sows division, he told people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the midday recitation of the Angelus prayer. “The great gossiper is the devil, who always goes around recounting bad things about others, because he is the liar who seeks to divide the church, to distance brothers and sisters and not create community,” the pope said. “Please, brothers and sisters, let us make an effort not to gossip,” he said. “Let’s try: no gossip.” The day’s Gospel reading (Mt 18:15-20) is often cited as a lesson in “fraternal correction,” urging
A student wearing a protective mask and maintaining social distancing with other students is pictured taking her final exams in late June at J.F. Kennedy High School in Rome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Catholic News Service/Yara Nardi, Reuters.
whether there were enough teachers, sufficient desks and face masks to keep everyone safe. Acknowledging the challenges facing students today, the pope expressed his hope that the “reopening of the school year will be lived by all with a great sense of responsibility.” He also repeated his call for “a renewed educational pact” that places first and foremost “the healthy growth” of young people, which “is a condition for a peaceful and prosperous future” for all. Concluding the letter, Cardinal Parolin said Pope Francis was praying for families in Italy, Europe and around the world so that they “may continue to form that great river that spreads life, faith, hope and love in God’s people and in all of society.” n
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Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in this file photo. Catholic News Service photo/Vatican Media.
people to speak directly and privately to a person they believe is in the wrong. If that doesn’t work, Jesus tells the disciples to take “one or two others along with you” and try again. If that, too, is unsuccessful, then the community of the church should be informed. The goal, the pope said, is not to embarrass or punish, but to rehabilitate. In the Gospel, Jesus said that if even the love and support of the community are not enough to correct the person, then the community should treat him “as a Gentile and a tax collector.” “This expression, seemingly so scornful,” the pope said, “in reality invites us to put the brother or sister in God’s hands: only the Father will be able to show a greater love than that of all brothers and sisters put together.” n
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OCTOBER 2020
ABOUT US The Eparchial Directors of Religious Education (ECED) is a catechetical committee of Eastern Catholic directors of religious education appointed by the USCCB Eastern Catholic Association of Bishops (ECA). A bishop representatives, currently Bishop Nicholas Samra, is chosen by ECA to serve as liaison to ECED.
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thoughts for our day by Archpriest David M. Petras
the anaphora: the commemoration The first part of the Anaphora is the telling of a story, a narration of the love of God for his people. This story is much more detailed in the Anaphora of St. Basil, but both of our Anaphoras end with the story of the Mystical (Last) Supper of our Lord with his disciples at which he revealed that he would be present with us always in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. The way in which this would happen is that our created gifts of bread and wine would become the Body of Blood of our Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is why the words of revelation, “This is my body,” and “This is my blood of the new covenant,” are so important in the recitation of the Anaphora, and the people seal these words with their “Amen.” The Last Supper, then is “remembered” — or better, “commemorated” — at each Liturgy. The "remembering" follows immediately upon the command of our Lord at the mystical supper: Jesus commands us to eat this sacred meal in his memory, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19, cf. I Corinthians 11:24). This command is explicitly stated in the anaphora of St. Basil, but it is missing in the anaphora of John Chrysostom. The Basil command is that taken from 1 Corinthians, which then continues, "for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes." St. Basil adds, "and profess my resurrection.”
In the Anaphora, then, immediately after the story of salvation, we fulfill this command and remember solemnly and by name all the deeds that God has done. Here the events of our salvation are remembered as a list. By mentioning them, we remember but since this is the Divine Liturgy, God remembers
The commemoration, then, is an explicit expression of what the whole anaphora is: the remembrance of God’s salvation in his eternity, making these events a present reality. The list is almost the same in the two Anaphoras. In the Anaphora of St. John Chrysostom, we commemorate the cross, the tomb, the resurrection on the third day, the ascension into heaven, the sitting at the right hand, and the second coming in glory. In the Anaphora of St. Basil the Great, we commemorate the saving passion, the life-creating cross, the three-day burial, the resurrection from the dead, the ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand of the Father, and the glorious and fearsome second coming. St. Basil, then, adds a specific remembrance of the passion, and also modifies all the holy mysteries with an adjective, “saving,” “life-creating,” “glorious and fearsome.” The mention of the
ascension and the enthronement is significant, because it is at the right hand of the Father that Jesus is now praying with us, and it is in him that the earthly church and the heavenly assembly is joined together. Our prayer on earth is offered directly to the Father in Heaven. It is also very interesting that the “second and glorious second coming,” is “remembered” as something that in God’s eternity has already come to pass, for God’s promises are faithful. We may not know how and when, but it is certain to come. We profess in the Creed that it is even a present event, “he is coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” This commemoration, then, is an explicit expression of what the whole anaphora is: the remembrance of God's salvation, which is real because God remembers as we also remember. It is a quite literal "calling to mind," a solemn "commemoration rite," and thus is called anamnesis, a Greek word pronounced “an‑am‑nee‑sis,” which is a technical term for a commemorative act. The scriptural anamnesis was only of the death of our Lord, but in the course of history, it became more and more elaborate. The Roman Anaphora remembers the passion, resurrection and ascension. All anaphoras contain an anamnesis, except the anaphora of Serapion from Egypt, though certainly even here, the idea of commemoration is present. The anamnesis is a remembering, but not in the sense of a simple "calling to mind," it is a sacrificial memorial, in the Christian sense of a "sacrifice of praise," in which the bloody sacrifice of the cross is really
present in an unbloody praise or glorification. St. John Chrysostom explains the commemoration: "Do we not offer daily? Certainly we offer thus, making an anamnesis of his death. How is it one and not many? Because it was offered once, like that which was carried into the holy of holies....For we ever offer the same person, not today one sheep and next time a different one, but ever the same offering. Therefore the sacrifice is one. By this argument, then, since the offering is made in many places, does it follow that there are many Christs? Not at all, for Christ is everywhere one, complete here and complete there, a single Body. Thus, as when offered in many places he is one body and not many bodies, so also there is one sacrifice. One High-Priest is he who offered the sacrifice which cleanses us. We offer even now that which was then offered, which cannot be exhausted. This is done for an anamnesis of that which was then done, for 'do this' he said “for the anamnesis of me. We do not offer a different sacrifice like the high-priest of old, but we ever offer the same. Or rather we offer the anamnesis of the sacrifice." In this way the works of God in our behalf have been presented in our words of praise. God is glorious because he has done, is doing, and will do this or that for us. The climax of these works in our behalf is exactly what we are doing now, commemorating his passion-resurrection, which then immediately becomes what is happening now. This liturgy becomes the work of God in our behalf. n
BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY View Liturgical Services (various times) streamed LIVE online at:
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Munhall, Pa. St. John Chrysostom, Pittsburgh, Pa. www.stjohnsbyzantinecathedral.com ww.sjcbcc.com
Holy Ghost, McKees Rocks, Pa. www.youtube.com then type Holy Ghost Church Live Stream
SS. Peter and Paul, Braddock, Pa. https://www.facebook.com/SSPeterPaulBraddock/
St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa. www.facebook.com/stgregoryusc St. Michael, Campbell, Ohio www.facebook.com/st.michaelsbyz.campbell
St. Elias, Munhall, Pa. www.facebook.com/StEliasByzantineCatholicChurch/ St. Michael, Hermitage, Pa. https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelbyz.hermitage St. Stephen, North Huntingdon, Pa. www.facebook.com/ststephenbyzantinecatholicchurch
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OCTOBER 2020
THE FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH
2018-2019
A special section of T he Byzantine Catholic World
BYZANTINE CATHOLIC METROPOLITAN ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION FUND
PARISH SAVINGS AND SHARE — FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2019
finance council of the archeparchy of pittsburgh 66 Riverview Ave. | Pittsburgh, Pa. 15214
Archbishop William C. Skurla President
Deacon Robert J. Shalhoub Finance Officer
Very Reverend Andrew J. Deskevich Cathy A. Chromulak, Esq. Daniel M. Mattingly, CPA
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OCTOBER 2020
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BYZANTINE CATHOLIC METROPOLITAN ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION FUND STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES — FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2019
byzantine catholic seminary of saints cyril and methodius STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES — FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2019
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OCTOBER 2020
around the archeparchy CASH BASH — 6 p.m. Oct. 24, Holy Trinity, 217 Fourth St., Conemaugh, Pa. Rescheduled from March.
dates to remember OCT. 1 Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos NOV. 1 Standard Time (“fall back”) resumes at 2 a.m. NOV. 11 Veterans Day National Observance NOV. 15 to DEC. 24 Philippian Fast
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NOVEMBER 2020
OCTOBER 21