Weeklong Candle Intentions - Annunciation Byzantine Catholic

Sunday of the Forefathers
Welcome to our Visitors: We are
honored to have you come to
worship with us. You may find
the worship of the Ancient
Church rather different. If you
are unfamiliar with the worship
of the Byzantine Church, simply
listen to the Liturgy and allow the
rest of the congregation to carry
you in worship. We understand
Communion to be an act of the
unity of our Faith; however,
while we work towards it, this
unity regrettably does not now
exist. Therefore, only baptized
Catholics in the State of Grace are permitted to participate in Holy
Communion.
DIVINE LITURGY AND PARISH CALENDAR
14 December, 2014
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE IN OUR MILITARY: Dennis Lloyd, Scott Nale, Michael Perko,
Matt Reynolds, Robert Skopeck Jr.
OUR ALTAR SERVERS
Erik Cline, Anthony Gath, Greg Gath, Marcus Cabrera, Jonny
Weil & Andrew Sarsam
EPISTLE READER / CANTOR REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
12/14/2014
12/14/2014
12/21/2014
12/21/2014
12/28/2014
REHEARSAL 9:00 - 9:45 am
Marc Brown
Colossians 3:4-11
REHEARSAL 9:00 - 9:45 am
Kester Bailey Hebrews 11:9-10,32-40
REHEARSAL 9:00 - 9:45 am
Mike Petyo Galatians 1:11-19
Sun. 14th
SUNDAY OF THE FOREFATHERS
10 am Living & Deceased Parishioners
Mon. 15th 6 pm Blessings to & Carol Pasmant (Ron Pasmant)
Tues. 16th No Liturgy
Wed. 17th 6 pm Blessed Repose to + August Maggio
(Jean Berardi)
Thurs. 18th No Liturgy
Fri. 19th 6 pm Blessed Repose + Ruby Villarin
(Angelica Villarin)
Sat. 20th 6 pm Vespers
Sun. 21st 24th SUNDAY OF THE FATHERS
10 am Living & Deceased Parishioners
Weeklong Candle Intentions
ETERNAL LIGHT: Special Intentions of Fr. James
CHRIST: Chuck & Marilou Krofchik (Kay Terry)
CHRIST:
THEOTOKOS: Special Intention (Helen Bruce)
THEOTOKOS:
CHRIST ENTHRONED:
Candle Intentions can be requested by filling out an envelope found in
the Narthex. Donation is $4.00
Please remember in your prayers: David (brother of Marilyn Cooper),
Mons. Vida and Mons. Moran, Richard Sesma, Deanna Keefe, Jean
Mayo (Rita’s Mother), Rita and Robert Pipta, Ron Lowery & Family,
Libby Distefano, Alex Vida, Susan Dovin, Evdokiya Obushko, Robert
M. Weil and Kay Weil, Janet Lambert, Dolores Demko, and Ron &
Carol and Gilbert & Sally Pasmant, Ethan McArthur. That the Lord have
mercy and save His people undergoing persecution in Pakistan, Iraq,
Iran, Syria, Egypt and other lands.
THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR
DECEMBER: Christmas, hope for humanity. That
the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope
to all people of good will.
Parents. That parents may be true evangelizers,
passing on to their children the precious gift of faith.
Tithes, Gifts & Finances: 7 December, 2014
Tithes
Youth
Candles
Gift Shop
T-Mobile
Eparchy reimbursement
Jelly
Religious Retirement
Mortgage Reduction
Principal Reduction
Total
$2,913.00
5.22
194.77
155.00
2,300.00
35.00
54.00
900.00
455.00
335.00
$ 7,346.99
As you review your 2014 tax
planning, please consider a
year-end gift to support the
Byzantine Catholic Church.
Your charitable gift may be given to our parish of
Annunciation, the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix (Eparchy of Phoenix) for use to support seminarians or mission development, or the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Sts
Cyril and Methodius. Feel free to call me or Fr.Wes
Izer (602-861-9778), or David H. Dix, Seminary Development Consultant, at (412) 321-8383 x28 for
more information.
Reminder: Gifts must be postmarked or received
on or before Wednesday, Dec. 31st, 2014, in order
to qualify for a charitable deduction on your
2014 tax return.
Sunday of the Forefathers
14 December, 2014
THE VOCATION TRAVELING
ICON is at the home of Ingrid Spisak
through Dec. 28th. Please join your
prayers with hers that the Lord will
bless His Holy Church with more
priests, monks and religious.
CHRISTMAS EVE: Spiritual Preparation at Home
The eve of Christmas brings the Forty Day Christmas
fast to a close. A strict fast is prescribed for this entire day. The
whole family feels that on that day a very important heavenly
guest will arrive in the evening, and therefore, a deeply festal and
spiritual mood pervades the home. Our ancestors highly respected and zealously observed the fast of this day until the appearance of the evening star. Kievan Metropolitan, Maxim
(1283-1305), in his rules on fasting says, that even if it be Saturday or Sunday on which the Eve of the Nativity falls, on that day
a strict fast must be kept. It was only after the Vespers service
was one allowed to strengthen oneself with bread and wine. He
orders that the same kind of fast be observed also on the Eve of
the Theophany.
From earliest times, besides fasting, our ancestors prepared themselves for the feast of the Nativity of our Lord with
Holy Confession and Holy Communion. This very beautiful and
holy tradition comes from the first centuries of Christianity in
Ukraine and Kievian Rus; it began with the Kievan Metropolitan
George (1072). This holy practice was prescribed by Metropolitan Peter Mohyla, in his Euchologion, and also by the Synods of
Zamost and Lviv.
An old Slavonic Prologue for the 24th of December contains the following spiritual exhortation to the faithful in reference to greeting the feast of the Nativity of Christ:' ' Take note
brethren, that there is a fast on the day before this feast of the
Nativity of Christ. Therefore, on this day, at the Sixth Hour (12
o'clock noon), we gather together for prayer, with love and purity,
overcoming anger, purifying carnal desires, and renouncing all
evil deeds so that we may be made worthy with pure lips and an
undefiled heart to partake of the Body of the Lord, that same
Body which the Lord took upon Himself and willingly became
poor.”
The Holy Supper offers invaluable spiritual riches for
the soul when we take the time to learn and practice this holy
tradition.
PHILLIPIAN FAST HOLY DAY SCHEDULE :
Dec. 21st 5 pm Christmas Choral Concert by St. Cecilia
Dec. 24th 10 am Royal Hours
7 pm Great Compline with Matins
Dec. 25th 10 am Divine Liturgy
Dec. 26th 7 pm Divine Liturgy Bob Pipta
Dec. 27th 9 am Divine Litugy Steve Kopko
27th 6 pm Vespers Bob Pipta
Join us after Di
vine Liturgy to
day for our
Christmas Bake
goods. You will
find delicious
Nut, Poppy Seed
and Apricot
Rolls, Pierogi,
cookies, and cakes! Save yourself time, shop here!
"THE
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" is an English
Christmas carol. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England
were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that
era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has
two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning
known only to members of the Church. Each element in the carol has a
code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
The "True Love" one hears in the song is not a smitten boy or
girlfriend but Jesus Christ, because truly Love was born on Christmas
Day. The partridge in the pear tree also represents Him because that
bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by
feigning injury to draw away predators.
According to Ann Ball in her book, HANDBOOK OF
CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS: The two turtle doves were the
Old and New Testaments. The three French hens stood for faith,
hope, and love. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The five golden rings represented the
first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into
sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior. The six geese alaying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming
represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. The
eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience
[Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency
[Chastity]. The ten lords a-leaping were
the Ten Commandments. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful
Apostles. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief
in The Apostles' Creed.
Sunday of the Forefathers
14 December, 2014
December 6, 2014
Feast of St Nicholas
The Most Reverend Gerald N. Dino, Eparchial Bishop of the
Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix,
has made the following appointments:
Effective Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Reverend James Lane is released as the Pastor of St. George
Byzantine Catholic Church and as Director of the Eparchial
Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Olympia, WA so that he
can join the bi-ritual community of the Contemplatives of St.
Joseph in South San Francisco, CA.
Reverend Vasyl Mutka is appointed Administrator of St.
George Byzantine Catholic Church in Olympia, WA and the Director of the Eparchial Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help,
which is located on the property of St. George Parish.
Effective Friday, January 9, 2015
Very Reverend Joseph Hutsko is released as the Pastor of St.
Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church in Fontana, CA and
is assigned to the Pastoral Center with residence in the Cathedral
Apartment Complex, in Phoenix, AZ.
BYZANTINE CATHOLIC
METROPOLITAN ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH
CHANCERY
66 Riverview Avenue * Pittsburgh PA 15214
(412)231-4000
November 19,2014
Dear Clergy, Religious, and Faithful of Pittsburgh,
Since the 1880 migration of Eastern Catholics to the United States
there have been both married and celibate validly ordained: priests
serving the pastoral needs, of our people. The restrictions on the transfer of clergy from Europe to the United States and the ordination of
married men to the priesthood have caused many serious problems
until the present moment.
Our 1999 Metropolitan particular law granted permission for married priests serving within the United States on a case by case basis.
Some permissions were granted. However, this restriction on married
clergy was an unnecessary burden and contrary to our original 1646
Union of Uzhhorod.
Our prayers and efforts to return the ancient tradition of allowing
Byzantine Catholic men to choose to between celibate or married
priesthood have finally succeeded.
The return to the ancient tradition of married and celibate priests
has allowed the people to receive the sacraments, to hear the gospel,
and to carry out the mission of the church.
We pray that men married and single will listen to the call from
God to be priests in the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church. All are
called to encourage both single .and married men to consider the
priesthood. Together we can restore what was lost and rebuild for the
future.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend William C Skurla, D.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh
Reverend Matthew Alejo is released as Temporary Administrator of Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church in San Diego, CA
and appointed Administrator of St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine
Catholic Church in Fontana, CA.
Reverend Brian Escobedo is released as the Administrator of
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church in Albuquerque, NM and appointed Pastor of Holy Angels Byzantine
Catholic Church in San Diego, CA.
Reverand Artur Bubnevych is appointed Pastor of Our Lady of
Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church in Albuquerque, NM.
Please remember our priests and parishes in these
transitions. May God grant Our Bishop and His people of the Eparchy of Phoenix peace, health and
happiness!
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