W
RLD
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH
Inside
reflection from father vasyl
Father Vasyl Symyon meditates on the Third Commandment Page 4
VOL. 66
celebrating 50 years
St. Gregory in Upper St. Clair, Pa. marks 50th anniversary of its first Divine Liturgy Page 6
Tough as steel
deceased steelworkers of braddock, pa. remembered during prayer service
NO. 6
JUNE 2021
partnering up St. Nicholas in Perryopolis, Pa. holds joint fundraiser with Frazier Community Library Page 9
Seminary announces new Director of Spiritual Formation
Press release by the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius
Father Vitalii Stashkevych, pastor, SS. Peter and Paul in Braddock, Pa. attended an April 29 prayer service at U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Braddock Works to remember deceased steelworkers. For more photos, see page 8.
“Helping Hands Day” returns to Mount St. Macrina June 5 sisters of st. basil the great looking forward to hosting volunteers by David Mayernik Jr. Editor
Helping hands will once again be provided at Mount St. Macrina. The annual Greek Catholic Union “Helping Hands Day” at Mt. St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa. to assist the Sisters of St. Basil, will resume after a year’s hiatus. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “The Sisters of St. Basil at Mount St. Macrina are looking forward to hosting their friends and volunteers at Helping Hands Day June 5,” said Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick. “Having to cancel the event last year was a big disappointment for all.
“The Sisters hope dozens of helpers will arrive to give the Mount its annual clean-up that launches summer’s beauty.” Sister Barbara Jean was elected as a council member of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province,during Chapter Elections in April. All volunteer work will be performed following guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Participants will wear masks and practice social distancing. All work will be performed outside and there was no work inside any buildings. Sister Barbara Jean said volunteers will be clearing gardens, raking and trimming, planting
flowers, sweeping out the Shrines and clearing walkways. “They take such pride in their generous, hard work and the Sisters are so grateful!” n
A volunteer helps with gardening at a previous “Helping Hands Day” at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa.
The Byzantine Catholic Seminary is pleased to announce Metropolitan William Skurla has appointed Father Ivan Chirovsky as its new Director of Spiritual Formation, effective June 1. Father Will Rupp is returning to parochial ministry after completing five years of exceptional service in this most important role. No stranger to our Seminary community, serving as a spiritual director, a member of our faculty, and serving on our support staff, Father Ivan Maria Chirovsky was ordained in L’viv, Ukraine in 1990 to the presbyterate by the Metropolitan Volodymyr Sterniuk, Confessor of the Faith. He has served in Ukrainian Catholic churches in Montreal, Parma, Miami, and Pittsburgh, as well as retreat master for retreats for deacons and their wives. His wife of 30 years, Pani Matka, received her Theology degree from B.C.S. in 2010 then finished her C.P.E. in 2011. She has worked as a chaplain the past nine years, currently with the UPMC Family Hospice. Together they are the parents of two children and the grandparents of one grandson. May God grant to his priest servants William and Ivan many years in health and happiness. n
Father Ivan Chirovsky, Father Will Rupp
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eternal memory michael goda jr. UPS 081500 ISSN 07442289 Official publication of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Serving parish communities in central and western Pennsylvania, Louisiana, eastern Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia Published monthly (12 issues) plus two seasonal special issues Byzantine Catholic Press Associates 66 Riverview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Tel: 412.231.4000 Fax: 412.231.1697 E-mail: bcw@archpitt.org Web site: www.archpitt.org Archbishop William C. Skurla President Sister Elaine Kisinko, OSBM Copy Editor David Mayernik Jr. Editor Deacon Robert J. Shalhoub Business Manager Annual Subscription Rates US $14 Canadian $17 International $20 Periodicals Postage PAID at Pittsburgh, PA
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MISSION The mission of The Byzantine
Catholic World is to spread
the Gospel message in the rich tradition of the Byzantine Catholic Church; to encourage faithful to reflect the image of Christ in everyday activities of life; to offer spiritual formation through changing times; and to celebrate community among Byzantine Catholics in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, throughout the Metropolitan Church in America, and around
Bulletin Board Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer 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. Email address required to receive link. n Tuesday Morning Reading Series: A Tree Full of Angels: Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary (By Macrina Wiederkehr), 1011:30 a.m. June 1, 8, 15 and 22. Presented by Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, OSBM. Offering: $5 per session or $15 for all four sessions. n Young Adult Weekend Retreat (men and women ages 18 to 35), 7 p.m. Friday, June 11 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 13. With Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, OSBM and Team. Offering: $50. Register by June 7. n Tuesday Evening Reflection for Men and Women: Introducing the Desert Fathers, 6:30-7:30 p.m. July 13. Presented by Deacon John Evancho. Offering: $10. Register by July 9. n Thursday Evening Reflection for Men and Women: Introducing the Desert Mothers, 6:30-7:30 p.m. July 15. Presented by Helenanne Hochendoner, MAT. Offering: $10. Register by July 12. n
Michael Goda Jr., 92, cantor for 25 years at Ascension of Our Lord in Clairton, Pa., fell asleep in the Lord on March 15. Born July 13, 1928 in Cokeburg, Pa., he was the son of the late Michael Goda Sr. and Maria Kovalchik Goda, and brother of siblings John, George and Mary. During the Depression of 1930, Michael Sr. and his family left the United States and went back to Czechoslovakia, where he owned property. In 1948, Michael returned to the United States and rejoined his father and older brother, John, who had preceded him. Michael enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 31st Infantry “Dixie Division” at Fort Jackson, N.C. When the Korean War began, Michael was sent to Alaska, where he worked at an Army store. He worked at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Works for 31 years and retired in 1994. Michael was an avid singer, as a cantor at Ascension of Our Lord and at home. Michael loved to work on his farm, where he gardened and raised sheep for many years. He also enjoyed going to his grandchildren’s sporting events, where everyone knew him as “Pap.” He never met a person he didn’t like and always enjoyed talking to everyone. Before his death, when asked whether he would have done anything differently in his life, Michael said, if he could have, he
Michael Goda Jr.
would have never left the United States. He believes he would have had a better education and job. He also asserted hard work leads to success. “Don’t be lazy,” he would say. Michael is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Mary Maharovchak Goda; and his two children, Mary Ann and Tom Goda. He was grandfather to Lena (Brian) Knapp, Marquis (Rachel) Johnson and Devin Goda; great-grandfather of Alexa, Ava and Adalyn Knapp and Sienna Johnson; also, many special nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral liturgy was held at Ascension of Our Lord with Rev. Ivan Mina officiating and burial followed in Ascension Cemetery. May the Lord God grant to His departed servant, the cantor, Michael, blessed repose and eternal memory! n
Online Church Singing Classes The Metropolitan Cantor Institute offers an online, twoyear program in church singing for both new and experienced cantors. Tuition is $75 for each eightweek class, which includes feedback to help improve your singing and cantorial skills. Initial classes on liturgy and church singing are free. For details, visit https://mci. archpitt.org/classes or call Deacon Jeffrey Mierzejewski at 412-735-1676. Classes are offered at no charge to qualified students from any parish with no current cantor. n
BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY Sundays 9:00 a.m. • WEDO Radio • 810 AM Broadcast live from Holy Ghost Church, McKees Rocks
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OR via Internet: click “Listen Live” link at www.holyghost-byzantinecatholic.org
JUNE 2021
text messages
Back to the future
by David Mayernik Jr. Editor
This year marks the 50th anniversary of St. Gregory in Upper St. Clair, Pa. Its first liturgy was held May 2, 1971 at the Knights of Columbus in Bethel Park, Pa and a church building was consecrated by Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko on Sept. 14, 1986. The milestone will be marked by a parish celebration later this year and on May 2, Father Valerian Michlik officiated the 50th anniversary liturgy. It was held outside with more than 100 parishioners in attendance. The sun was shining down, which heated up my cranium to a mild sunburn. During his homily, Father Valerian told parishioners a time capsule was found inside the church wall near a plaque — which has since been restored — commemorating the church’s consecration. Its contents included a candle, a program from the dedication and a St. Gregory envelope with an empty space where the addressee should be. Father Valerian said the unaddressed envelope should remind us to invite parishioners we have not seen lately and others to our church. He also said St. Gregory parishioners will put together another time capsule with items from the 50th anniversary celebration in September. It got me thinking: What would I put inside a time capsule to remember the pandemic year of 2020? (Not that anyone would want to remember this horrendous year. But I digress.) Hmm... n A face mask, of course, is Item No. 1. n A bottle of hand sanitizer, a pair of gloves. Two sights which will always remind me of 2020. n The 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle — depicting 1970s cereal boxes — I completed last year. n Take-out containers. Lots of take-out containers. And, hopefully, the first two items on the list will not be needed during St. Gregory’s 50th anniversary celebration in September. n See page 6 for photos of the 50th anniversary Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory.
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Skilled Nursing Care Week Skilled Nursing Care Week was observed May 16 to 22 and Mount Macrina Manor in Uniontown, Pa. celebrated Hawaiian-style! Mt. Macrina Manor is a 133bed, not-for-profit, skilled nursing facility that has served Southwestern Pennsylvania since 1971. The facility offers 24-hour nursing
care, rehabilitative services, memory care, and pastoral care to all denominations. Its mission is based upon the sponsorship of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great. Thanks and many prayers go to the nurses and health care workers especially this year. God bless! n
World Day of Prayer
Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick commemorated World Day of Prayer for Vocations by driving 150 miles to Penn State University’s main campus for Byzantine Divine Liturgy with students.
Pictured with Sister Barbara Jean are Emily Jane Dennison, student organizer; and Father James Ragan, Celebrant, from St. John the Baptist Church in Hawk Run, Pa. n
Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, Father James Ragan and Emily Jane Dennison
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reflection from mount st. macrina
Dynamism of the Holy Spirit 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 June 5. 2020 reflection. Glory to Jesus Christ! Here we are at the Feast of All Saints, celebrated in the Eastern churches on the Sunday after the Giving of the Holy Spirit is celebrated. The saints have always been a very important part of the church and church life. I want to make note of the fact that we have experienced and known saints in our own lifetime. I even had the privilege of meeting one. When I served in Rome for 12 years, about 12 different times, I met with Pope St. John Paul II and even got to say a few words with him each time. What a privilege, indeed. The Holy Spirit is ever-active and seeking to build holiness — build the life of Christ — in us and in the body of the Church. The Holy Spirit pours out gifts for us to do that: “graces.” How do we receive them? We experience them through the Commandments. We experience the strength to live the Commandments, the strength to live virtues, the strength to experience the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Those are the usual outpourings if our hearts are open. In addition to that, the Holy Spirit willingly gives us personalized gifts. I encourage each of us to seek out what those are. Some people have the gift of intercessory prayer. Some people you know as wisdom figures and you would easily turn to them for wisdom or discernment. My mother had a terrific gift of discerning characters of persons and could easily express that in helpful ways and help people to connect with others or to connect with their own personal gifts. I invite us to think of the Holy Spirit as dynamic, at work, seeking always to bring each of us to holiness and to help us discover the amazing possibility that we can bring to this world as we are in union, in synergy, in cooperation with that dynamic work of the Holy Spirit in each life. We pray for the Church, because the dynamism of the Holy Spirit is meant to be in the Whole Body, in grace, in virtue, in love, and in unity. God bless you. n
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reflection from father vasyl
The Third Commandment This is the day which the Lord has made...
By Father Vasyl Symyon Assumption of the Mother of God, Weirton, W.V.; Saint John the Baptist, Avella, Pa.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever! Our meditations on the Ten Commandments continue as we meditate on the Third Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy or as we learned it in Catechism: Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. We find the origin of this commandment in the Book of Exodus 20, 8-11: Remember the sabbath day — keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal or the resident alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. At first look, this commandment is a very familiar one and we should know and recall its meaning: to attend Divine Liturgies on Sundays and holy days of obligation — the Nativity of Our Lord (Dec. 25); Theophany ( Jan. 6); the Ascension of Our Lord (May 13 this year); the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul ( June 29); and the Dormition of the Theotokos (Aug. 15) — and not perform unnecessary work on these solemn days. Yes, it is proper and right to do so. But why? For the answer, let’s closely examine this commandment. First, let us reflect on the Biblical text of this commandment. It refers to the Book of Genesis and the universe’s creation. God created the universe in five days, then man and woman on the sixth day as the crown of His entire creation. Interestingly enough, man and woman lived on earth on the seventh day — the Sabbath. And God called on them to rest even before they began to work. Curious, isn’t it? From the very beginning the Sabbath defines “holy day,” when we recall God’s love for mankind. Literally the Sabbath was a day to celebrate God’s covenant with mankind.
In this light, we also should recognize a dimension of our faith: man should not labor as a slave but rather work with dignity and with trust in God, His love and His grace. Recently we celebrated the greatest feast in all Christianity, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christians everywhere, this holy day and the Third Commandment offer a deep meaning. Jesus Christ was crucified and died on a Friday afternoon, his body was placed in a tomb later that day and on the third day He rose from the dead. That third day was a Sunday. So Christians every Sunday commemorate and celebrate the Resurrection, when we celebrate the victory of life over death, the victory of God’s mercy over the power of sin and God’s new covenant with mankind based on His love. Christians each Sunday also are called to offer their thanksgiving to God for the love He has for us. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I have served the Byzantine Catholic Church in the United States for nearly six years. During this time, I have noticed many people do not obey and respect the Third Commandment as they should. I sadly recognize that our requirement to attend church on Sundays and holy days of obligation has become optional. For example: If some people are in a good mood, they will go to church; if not they will stay home and relax. Is that how they respond to God’s love for them? For everything He does for them? For all the blessings He bestows upon them? We must realize that all of us are truly blessed by God. In return for those blessings, we must give thanks to God, especially by our presence in church on Sundays and holy days. I also have noticed that some people easily exchange their obligation to attend church and worship God on Sundays and on holy days for a variety of secular entertainments such as football games, baseball games, camping (especially during the summer), etc. These forms of amusement do not offer any form of salvation and eternal life. Only God can do that for us! God cannot save us from the sins of these earthly confines without our presence to worship Him, thank Him and pray for His blessings and forgiveness. When
we miss church, especially on Sundays and holy days, we say “No” to God’s love and grace. Christians everywhere should want God to bless them and their families, want their children to grow and become holy and dedicated Christians. But where can they receive God’s blessings? Where can they hear the Word of God? In stadiums? On c a m p g ro u n d s ? When laying in beds on Sunday morning? Finally, there are people who prefer to perform unnecessary work on Sundays and holy days — tasks such as mowing the lawn, remodeling homes, cleaning the laundry, repairing motor vehicles, etc. We have been blessed with six days for these particular duties and with one day — Sunday — reserved by God for us to rest. So please offer each Sunday to God. Do not perform any unnecessary work but instead spend this day with your families by first attending church to pray together and thank God for His blessings during the previous week. Afterward, take time and relax with your family for the remainder of the day. I believe all members of your family need more attention and love than the lawn, house, laundry and car. Additionally, I remind you that if people freely, without any serious reason (illness, the care of an infant or elder, job), miss a Divine Liturgy on Sunday and/ or a holy day of obligation, they commit a mortal sin. Therefore, those people are not permitted to approach and receive the Holy Eucharist next time they attend a liturgy. In this case, to receive Holy Communion, they must go to confession and confess that mortal sin. Every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord, God
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and Savior of Jesus Christ. This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it (Ps 118:24). St. John Paul II wrote in his Apostolic Letter Dies Domini: At Sunday Mass, Christians relive with particular intensity the experience of the Apostles on the evening of Easter when the Risen Lord appeared to them as they were gathered together (cf. Jn 20:19). In a sense, the People of God of all times were present in that small nucleus of disciples, the first fruits of the Church. Through their testimony, every generation of believers hears the greeting of Christ, rich with the messianic gift of peace, won by his blood and offered with his Spirit: "Peace be with you!" Christ's return among them "a week later" ( Jn 20:26) can be seen as a radical prefiguring of the Christian community's practice of coming together every seven days, on "the Lord's Day" or Sunday, in order to profess faith in his Resurrection and to receive the blessing which he had promised: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" ( John 20:29). n
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st. john the baptist cathedral in munhall, pa.
Blessing of the Willows Very Rev. Andrew Deskevich blessed newly nurtured cuttings of Pussy Willow tree seedlings. following the May 22 Divine Liturgy at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall, Pa. The new cuttings came from a tree which started life from a
Celebrating Mother’s Day ss. peter and paul in braddock, pa.
Pussy Willow branch taken from a past Palm Sunday at the old Cathedral Church of St. John. The newly rooted cuttings will be planted about the Cathedral grounds ensuring continuing our rich Eastern traditions in the future are connected to the past. n
Father Vitalii Stashkevych is pastor.
st. nicholas in nanty-glo, pa. by Eugene Ostinowsky St. Nicholas, Nanty-Glo Pa.
On Mother's Day, Rev. Dr. Robert Oravetz, pastor of St. Nicholas in Nanty-Glo, Pa. paid a special tribute to the women of the parish both living and deceased. They were remembered during the Prayers of the Faithful and during the Great Entrance as he took part in an indoor procession with the Eucharist Minister
and altar servers all the while reading the first names of the current women of the parish and first names of deceased women whose names were submitted by members of the parish. At the conclusion of the Liturgy each of the women in attendance received a flower and an individual blessing from Father Robert. Afterward, a coffee and donut social was held in the church hall. n
Carol Patrick (left) and Jacquie Ballow (right) receive blessings from Father Robert Oravetz.
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st. gregory in upper st. clair, pa.
Celebrating 50 years by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Sunday, May 2 , was a special day for our parish family. As part of our celebration a number of projects have been completed in preparation for this day. The memorial plaque commemorating the consecration and blessing of St. Gregory Church that took place on Sunday, Sept. 14, 1986 was restored by Mike’s Bronze Restoration in Finleyville, Pa. It has been 35 years since the consecration of St. Gregory Church. Our plaque required repair and refinishing. Today it is restored to its original appearance and luster. Above the main entrance a mosaic was installed. This mosaic depicts the “Conquerors Cross” or “Christogram Cross”. This mosaic comes from St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Newton Falls that was closed, and now the mosaic has a “new home” at St. Gregory. On this cross IC represents the Greek characters Iota and Sigma — the first and last letters of Jesus. The letters XC represent Chi and Sigma — the first and last letters of Christ. IC XC are often accompanied with the letters NIKA, which is taken from the Greek form of In Hoc Signo Vinces, meaning “to be victorious” or “to conquer”. The Emperor Constantine adopted this motto when he witnessed the sign in the year 312. At the conclusion of the Sunday
Divine Liturgy the blessing of the new memorial plaque celebrating the 50th Anniversary of our parish family took place. At the bottom of this plaque you have the Byzantine Cross with Wheat and Grapes which symbolizes “Food for the People.” For us this is an emblem of the Divine Eucharist. Artistic ingenuity joined with liturgical accuracy finds this symbol used in many forms in ecclesiastical art, going back to early Christian times. As we continue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the celebration of the first Divine Liturgy, let us offer hymns of thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings of the past, and continue to offer our prayerful supplications as we look to future where the “Food for the People” is being offered for future generations to come! n
by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
On Sunday, May 2, parishioners and friends gathered to celebrate the Fifth Paschal Sunday, and the 50th anniversary of the celebration of the first Divine Liturgy that was celebrated on Sunday, May 2, 1971 at the Knights of Columbus hall in
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Bethel Park, Pa. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy the blessing of the memorial plaque took place which will be installed at the Church entrance. Following the Divine Liturgy our outdoor celebration continued with our parish picnic and food trucks. n
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st. gregory in upper st. clair, pa.
Spring clean-up
Sunday surprise
by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
At the conclusion of the May 16 Divine Liturgy, we had a surprise for our Father Deacon Michael George as he celebrates his 65th birthday. Father Deacon Michael was presented with a Hramotacertificate of recognition and appreciation from our Metropolitan Archbishop
William C. Skurla. Our St. Gregory’s Men’s Club also presented him with a card and gift as an appreciation for his diaconal ministry to our parish family. Afterward we all enjoyed birthday cake in our church hall. We ask our Lord to bless Father Deacon Michael and his family for many happy and blessed years! Mnohaja Lita! n
by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Sincere thanks to all who participated in our Spring Cleanup Day. We had a great turnout!
First Reconciliation
by Father Valerian Michlik St. Gregory, Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Pentecost Sunday was celebrated with the First Reconciliation of three wonderful children, Sadie Elizabeth Dunay, Kimberly Ann Krofcheck, and Sloane Huntington Olack. These children have reached what is called “the age of discretion,” that is, they know the difference between right and wrong and are able to take responsibility for their actions. During this academic year, they have undergone special
instructions and preparations to take on that responsibility for their actions and their relationship with Christ through the Mystery of Confession. We thank the parents of our children and our ECF Instructors for teaching and preparing them for this special day in their lives. Let us offer a prayer on this Sunday for all of our children as they return back to active participation in the life of St. Gregory Church. n
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A lot of work was accomplished thanks to your dedication and love for our parish family. May Our Risen Lord reward you with many happy and blessed years! n
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ss. peter and paul in braddock, pa.
Tough as steel U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Braddock Works held a prayer service April 29 to remember the deceased steelworkers. Father Vitalii Stashkevych of SS. Peter and Paul in Braddock,
Pa. and those who attended said a prayer and held a moment of silence: "Let us pray to the Lord for all deceased steelworkers who worked here and across America." n
Clean sweep
Volunteers starting their heavy cleaning for the "Celebration of 125 Years" at SS. Peter and Paul in Braddock, Pa., which will be held on Sept. 26. n
st. mary in weirton w. va.
In the kitchen A thousand “thank you’s” to everyone who came today to help make the delicious sauerkraut and lekvar pirohy and to those who helped with the not-so-muchfun clean up! May our Risen Lord abundantly bless all of you! Christ is Risen! n
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st. john the baptist catehdral in munhall, pa.
Food for the soul St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall, Pa. hosted a Breaded Pork Chop take-out dinner following the May 15 and 16 Divine Liturgies. Along with the served dinner, a bake sale complimented the fund raising activity for the parish. The enterprise, directed by Very Rev. Andrew Deskevich, was a great success! n
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st. michael in campbell, ohio
First Confession by Father Kevin Marks St. Michael, Campbell, Ohio
On Friday, May 7, four young parishioners made their First Confession at St. Michael Byzantine Catholic, Campbell, Ohio.
Then, on Saturday, May 8, at a noon Divine Liturgy, they received their First Solemn Communion. At the Divine Liturgy, they renewed their baptismal promises and each received a prayer book, rosary, bible, and certificate. n
“Byz” kids
by Father Kevin Marks St. Michael, Campbell, Ohio
Our St. Michael parish children concluded this year’s ECF program with a celebration filled with food, games and fun.
Front row: Noah Hicks, Natalie Frosch, Evalina Morales and Jesse Santana. Back row: Christopher Vokish, Father Kevin Marks and ECF Coordinator Keri Vokish
Earlier in the week, the students were treated to Handel’s Ice Cream.
st. michael in hermitage, pa.
Twice as nice by Father Kevin Marks St. Michael, Hermitage, Pa.
Our St. Michael extends congratulations to Andrew Hardman and Aidan Hardman,
twin brothers, on becoming altar servers. They were installed on Saturday, May 22 by receiving a blessing and their cassocks and dalmatics. We are very proud of you. n
Aidan Hardman, Father Kevin Marks and Andrew Hardman.
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A great time was had by all! Thank you to our parents, volunteers, Catechists and most especially our ‘Byz’ kids for an awesome year! n
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st. nicholas in perryopolis, pa.
st. elias in munhall, pa.
Partnering up
Honoring the fallen
by Frances Kranik St. Nicholas, Perryopolis, Pa.
by FatherVitalii Stashkevych St. Elias, Munhall, Pa.
On Saturday. May 1, St. Nicholas in Perryopolis, Pa. held a joint fund raiser with the Frazier Community Library at our pavilion. The library sponsored a vendor event with local vendors, story times for the young visitors, a basket raffle and used book sale. The church held a Chicken BBQ /pulled pork sandwich luncheon. God blessed us with a beautiful day and successful fundraisers for both organizations. Cantor Ed Pohodich (below, left) prepping the chicken and Georgiann Slebodnik (below, right) prepping the cole slaw the night before. The library had a fairy and Tinker Bell among the story tellers for the children. n
Boy Scout Troop 15 and their leaders honored the deceased veterans buried in St. Elias Cemetery in West Mifflin, Pa. May 22 by placing American
holy spirit in oakland, pittsburgh, pa.
Welcome into the Church by Mary Dzurichko Holy Spirit in Pittsburgh, Pa.
With great joy, Holy Spirit Parish in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pa. welcomed Mr. Benjamin Krouse into the Church. On April 24, Ben received the sacraments of Chrismation
and Penance, and during the Sunday, April 25 Divine Liturgy, he received his First Holy Communion. All of the sacraments were bestowed by Monsignor Lawrence A. Dominik who, along with the entire Holy Spirit Church family, wishes Ben many blessed years! n
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flags on their graves. The flags will remain all summer. We thank the Scouts for their hard work. And we thank all those veterans for their service to their country. Eternal Memory! n
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st. elias in munhall, pa.
Hats off to grads! by Mary Caryl Planiczki St. Elias, Munhall, Pa.
n Samantha DeProspo, daughter of Margaret and Tony DeProspo, graduated from South Park High School. While attending, Sam’s musical talents involved her in the marching band, jazz band, and concert band, playing both the flute and trumpet. She was also involved in the drama club both as a tech member, building sets and props, and as a performer. She acted in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “The Sound of Music,” and “Return to the Forbidden Planet.” She also held a leadership role on the drama club student board. Sam plans to continue her education in the fall at The California University of Pennsylvania where she will major in Environmental Science. She is the niece of Father Stephen Wahal. n Kate Elizabeth Sramac, daughter of Roberta and Mike Sramac, graduated from Cornell University. She attended the College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences majoring in Communication, and minoring in both Business and Leadership. Kate was the Captain of the Big Red Women’s Basketball Team. She averaged 7.9 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game during her junior year. She led Cornell in both steals and assists. She also posted the teams highest 3 point shooting percentage, shooting 34 percent from behind the arc. She finished her junior year season ranked second in the Ivy League in steals per game, while also ranking 7th in assists per game. She will be playing a grad year at the College of William and Mary while attending their MBA program. n Sommer Lynn Farber, daughter of Amy and Frank Farber, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania earning a master's degree in Integrated Product Design from the School of Engineering. While at Penn, Sommer maintained a 4.0 grade point average, which earned her the top Academic
Samantha DeProspo
Kate Elizabeth Sramac
Achievement Award for her program. Sommer begins her career with D-Ford (the design and integration division of the Ford Motor Company) later this
Sommer Lynn Farber
summer. Congratulations to all our graduates and may God grant them many years and much more success. n
More the merrier by Mary Caryl Planiczki St. Elias, Munhall, Pa.
After a short break for Pascha, the St. Elias pirohi makers are back at work preparing for upcoming events! St. Elias pirohi sell out fast so check our website and Facebook page to see where you may find them next! n
Photos by Richard Vasil
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parish news
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st. mary church of the dormition in windber, pa,
Easter celebration
Father Ivan Rusyn is pastor.
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thoughts for our day by Archpriest David M. Petras
the anaphora: the mother of god After the priest says the prayers for the transformation of our gifts of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, in the presence of our Lord we pray for the needs of the whole community of the people of God. This is because life and all the gifts of life “[are] from above, coming down from the Father of lights” ( James 1:17). Our intercession for all is an act of worship, of our humble dependence of God, the Giver of every good and perfect gift. The Liturgy likewise is an act done together by the whole community throughout all space and time, those both present in the church, those absent “for honorable reasons” (Anaphora of St. Basil), all the churches throughout the world, and all the gatherings of the faithful past, present and to come. We pray, in fact, first for those “departed in faith,” who “have fallen asleep before us in the hope of resurrection to eternal life.” Together we form that unity that Christ prayed for at the Mystical Supper in the Upper Room, “they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us” ( John 17:21). The Divine Liturgy itself is the act of God, but it is by that very reason the act of all created by God and alive in the Holy Trinity. When we pray for the departed, we pray for the salvation of all in the everlasting life promised by God. We pray first for those who have been certainly saved, remembering by name, first, the Mother of God, then John the Baptist, the holy apostles as a
group and the saint remembered by name on the day the liturgy is being celebrated. In the Anaphora, we pray “for” these saints, and some have found this odd, because they have already been saved and have no need of our further intercession on their behalf. However, the prayer says “we offer you this spiritual
The greatest of all saints, of course, is the mother of Jesus, Mary. sacrifice for those departed in faith.” The Divine Liturgy that we celebrate is one with the sacrifice of our Lord offered on the cross, and it is through this sacrifice in which we are united and in which we are all saved. By his death, the Lord trampled upon death, and brought all to life, both those departed and saved and those who are yet in need of salvation. The sacrifice of our Lord goes beyond all the limits of time, it is eternally present and active, even to the point of bringing us the future kingdom. Therefore it is offered “for” even the saints in heaven, who are saved eternally by this sacrifice and who intercede on our behalf as the Mystical Body of Christ. The Anaphora of St. Basil makes this same point in another way, by praying “may we obtain mercy and grace together with all the saints who have pleased you since time began (eternally).” The greatest of all saints, of
course, is the mother of Jesus, Mary. Her relationship to the incarnation of God is privileged above all other human beings, since she bore the Word of God, the Son of the Father, in her womb which became therefore, “a room more spacious than the heavens” (Anaphora of St. Basil). For this reason, she is kept completely free from sin and is given the title “Theotokos,” Greek for “birthgiver of God,” or “Mother of God,” not that she gave birth to the divine nature, but to the divine person of the Son of God. Clearly, though, she was saved as an individual person by her role in the incarnation, and the purpose of the incarnation was so that Jesus could die in the flesh to give life to the human race. Therefore, his death on the cross was ultimately “for” Mary and in her obedience to the will of God, we all find our salvation. At the end of her life, Mary also shared in the mystery of human death that she would find life in Christ, for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is fulfilled for every one of us. Because of the pre-eminence of Mary, when she is remembered in the Anaphora, the prayer is interrupted by a hymn sung by the faithful in honor of the Mother of God, "It is truly proper to glorify you..." This practice appeared in the tenth century, first before the commemoration of the Virgin, then after it, first silently by the deacon or concelebrating clergy, then aloud by the faithful. The first hymn used was the "Hail, Mary...," in the Byzantine Liturgy, “Rejoice, Virgin Theotokos ...” Since 1380, the hymn "It is truly proper..." or the irmos of the ninth ode of the Matins canon for the feast have been used. "It is truly proper” and "More honorable..."
are actually two separate hymns. "More honorable..." is the irmos of the ninth ode of Good Friday Matins. It is based on an ancient hymn of St. Ephrem the Syrian, "More honorable than the Cherubim, and incomparably [so] than all the heavenly armies." Through her role in the divine incarnation, Mary became greater than the angels. As time went on, this response in honor of the Theotokos became more varied. The Anaphora of St. Basil appropriated the Sessional Hymn Theotokion of Tone 8 from Sunday Matins. This hymn was quite solemn and was sung to an elaborate melody to complete the Sessional Hymns of the eight tones sung at Psalm 118 (“Amomos,” in Greek, “Neporochni,” in Slavonic). This hymn proclaims that in the Virgin, “all creation rejoices,” and that her womb in which she bore God was, for that very reason “more spacious than the heavens.” “More spacious” in Greek is “platytera,” and this became the title for the icon of the Theotokos in the altar. “More honorable than the Cherubim,” is, as mentioned above, the Irmos sung at the Ninth Ode of Good Friday Matins. The ninth canticle is the Hymn of Mary from the Gospel of St. Luke, called the “Magnificat,” in the Latin tradition, and for this reason a further development took place. On the great feasts of our Lord and of the Theotokos, the Irmos of the Ninth Ode for the feast was substituted for the usual “More honorable.” In this way, a full theology of the Mother of God is revealed to us throughout the Church Year in the hymns we sing in the Anaphora. n
Parish Liturgies broadcast via internet Here is the most current list of parishes broadcasting Sunday Divine Liturgies and other services to Faithful via their websites and social media sites such as Facebook. For changes or to be listed, send information to bcw@archpitt.org.
Holy Ghost McKees Rocks, Pa. www.holyghostbyzantinecatholic.org www.youtube.com, then type Holy Ghost Church Live Stream
St. Michael Campbell, Ohio www.facebookcom/ st.michaelbyz.campbell St. Elias Munhall, Pa. www.facebook.com/ StEliasByzantine CatholicChurch/
St. John Chrysostom Pittsburgh, Pa. www.sjcbcc.com SS. Peter and Paul St. John the Baptist Cathedral St. Gregory Braddock, Pa. Munhall, Pa. Upper St. Clair, Pa. https://www.facebook.com/ www.stjohnsbyzantinecathedral.com www.facebook.com/stgregoryusc SSPeterPaulBraddock/ the byzantine catholic world
St. Michael Hermitage, Pa. https://www.facebook.com/ stmichaelbyz.hermitage St. Stephen North Huntingdon, Pa. www.facebook.com/ ststephenbyzantinecatholicchurch
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News from the Vatican
Perseverance is necessary for prayer, pope says
“true progress in spiritual life does not consist of multiplying ecstasies but being able to persevere...” by Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — Those who overcome distractions or obstacles when praying learn the value of perseverance in times of trial, Pope Francis said. “True progress in spiritual life does not consist in multiplying ecstasies, but in being able to persevere in difficult times,” the pope said May 19 during his weekly general audience. “Walk, walk, walk on and if you are tired, stop a little and then start walking again; but with perseverance,” he said. Arriving by car to the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, the pope was given a warm welcome by those in attendance, including a group of pilgrims from Mexico. “Francisco, hermano, ya eres Mexicano” (“Francis, brother, you are already Mexican”), the pilgrims cried out as he made his way to his seat. While the pope greeted the pilgrims from a safe distance, many ignored social distancing rules and crowded near the barricades in the hopes of seeing the pope up close. In his main audience talk, the pope reflected on the difficulties that people may face when trying to pray, including “distractions,
aridity and sloth” as well as the importance of recognizing and overcoming them. Both in prayer and in everyday life, he said, the mind often “wanders all over the place” and some find it “hard to dwell for long on a single thought.” “Distractions are not a fault, but they must be fought,” he said. “In the heritage of our faith, there is a virtue that is often forgotten, but which is very present in the Gospel. It is called ‘vigilance.'” Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the pope said aridity occurs when one’s heart “is separated from God” and leaves him or her “with no taste for thoughts, memories and feelings, even spiritual ones.” While the reasons for that sense of aridity may range from physical ailments to inner turmoil, the pope said that often, “we do not really know the reason.” “Spiritual teachers describe the experience of faith as a continuous alternation of times of consolation and desolation; there are times when everything is easy, while others are marked by great heaviness,” he explained. While life is often filled with “gray days,” the pope said the danger lies in “having a grey heart; when this ‘feeling down’ reaches the heart and sickens it.”
Pope Francis gestures as he leads his general audience in in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican May 19. Catholic News Service photo/Paul Haring.
“This is terrible: one cannot pray, one cannot feel consolation with a gray heart! Or one cannot emerge from spiritual aridity with a gray heart,” he said. “The heart must be open and luminous, so that the light of the Lord can enter. And if it does not enter, wait for it, with hope. But do not close it up in grayness.” Lastly, the pope warned that sloth is not only one of the seven deadly sins, but also “a real temptation against prayer and, more generally, against Christian life” that can “lead to the death of the soul.” Pope Francis said that at some point in their lives, “all the saints
have passed through this ‘dark valley'” and would often recount “evenings of listless prayer, lived without enthusiasm.” Nevertheless, believers, like the biblical figure Job, “never stop praying” even when their prayers may seem like protests to God. “Very often, even protesting before God is a way of praying,” the pope said. “And we, who are far less holy and patient than Job, also know that in the end, at the end of this time of desolation, during which we have raised to heaven silent cries and asked, ‘Why?’ many times, God will answer us.” n
Pope, at audience with public present, talks about power of prayer “i’ll tell you something: it’s not nice to talk in front of nothing, just a camera. it’s not nice.” by Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — Holding a general audience with visitors and pilgrims present for the first time in more than six months, Pope Francis said he was very pleased to see people “face to face.” “I’ll tell you something: it’s not nice to talk in front of nothing, just a camera. It’s not nice,” the pope told about 300 people who attended the audience May 12 in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the last general audience open to the public was Oct. 28. After that, the pope returned to livestreaming the audience from the library of the Apostolic Palace. Greeting Polish speakers at the audience, the pope noted that May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, marked the 40th
anniversary of the attempt to assassinate St. John Paul II. The Polish pope, who was riding in the popemobile at the start of a weekly general audience when he was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca in 1981, was convinced “that he owed his life to Our Lady of Fatima,” Pope Francis said. “This event makes us aware that our lives and the history of the world are in the hands of God.” In his main audience talk, Pope Francis focused on overcoming obstacles to prayer, but also on the power of prayer. Prayer, he told the crowd, is not always “a walk in the park.” While it may be easy to “parrot” prayer, “blah, blah, blah,” he said, real prayer requires effort. Prayer “certainly gives great peace, but through inner struggle, at times hard, which can accompany even long periods of life,” he said. Often when a person wants to pray, he said, “we are immediately
reminded of many other activities, which at that moment seem more important and more urgent. This happens to me, too; ‘I’m going to go pray. But no, I have to do this and that.’ We run from prayer; I don’t know why, but that’s how it is.” But “almost always, after putting off prayer, we realize that those things were not essential at all, and that we may have wasted time” on things that were not as important as prayer, he said. “This is how the Enemy deceives us.” Pope Francis told the story of a man he knew in Buenos Aires, Argentina, “my other diocese,” who was told that his 9-year-old daughter was sick, and the doctors were convinced she was about to die. The man took a train to the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján and prayed outside all night, “fighting for the health of his daughter.” When he got back to the hospital, he found his wife smiling
the byzantine catholic world
Pope Francis greets people during his weekly general audience in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican May 12, 2021. It was the first time in more than six months that visitors and pilgrims have been able to attend the audience. Catholic News Service photo/Paul Haring.
because their daughter suddenly improved, the pope said. “I saw this myself,” Pope Francis said. “Prayer works miracles because prayer goes straight to the center of the tenderness of God who loves us like a father. And when he does not give us the grace” of what was asked for in prayer, “he gives us another, which we will see over time.” n
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around the archeparchy SPRING INTO SUMMER CONCERT — 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 13, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, 210 Greentree Road, Munhall, Pa. All are invited for a free, live outdoor concert of band music in celebration of the coming summer. The concert will be performed by the East Wind Symphonic Band. Please bring a lawn chair. The concert will take place weather permitting. CAR CRUISE — June 15, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, 210 Greentree Road, Munhall, Pa. Join your friends and family this summer in enjoying food, raffles, oldies music and classic cars. Hamburgers, hot dogs, kolbassi, halushki, fresh-cut French fries and a monthly special will be served. Car Cruises will also take place July 27, Aug. 17 and Sept. 21. ST. ELIAS SOCIAL HALL, 4200 HomesteadDuquesne Road, Munhall, Pa. is available to rent for all your gatherings, large or small. Plenty of off-street parking is available. Call 412-461-9271 for availability and information.
Readers of The Byzantine Catholic World
want to know what’s happening in your parish!
BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY Sundays 9:00 a.m. • WEDO Radio • 810 AM Broadcast live from Holy Ghost Church, McKees Rocks
OR via Internet: click “Listen Live” link at www.holyghost-byzantinecatholic.org
dates to remember JUNE 13 to 26 Deacon Program Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Pittsburgh, Pa. JUNE 20 Father’s Day JUNE 24 Feast of the Birth of the Forerunner John the Baptist
Send stories and photos to: bcw@archpitt.org
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