FRACKVILLE DEANERY REPORT Submitted by V. Rev. Michael Hatrak, Dean

Transcription

1 FRACKVILLE DEANERY REPORT Submitted by V. Rev. Michael Hatrak, Dean CLERGY Archpriest Michael Hatrak, Dean SS. Peter and Paul Church, Minersville Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church, St. Clair Archpriest John Onofrey, Secretary St. Herman s Church, Shillington Archpriest Michael Evans St. Michael Church, Mt. Carmel Holy Ascension Church, Lykens Priest Stephen Vernak Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg Archpriest Paul Ropitsky, retired Attached St. Mary s Church Coaldale Attached to Christ the Savior Church, Harrisburg: Archpriest Michael Kovach, retired Archpriest Daniel Ressetar, retired Priest Timothy Hojnicki Assistant Dean Holy Apostles Mission Mechanicsburg Priest Daniel Mathewson, Treasurer St. Mary s Church, Coaldale Archpriest James Jadick Holy Ascension Church, Frackville Archimandrite Michael Thier Holy Trinity Church, McAdoo Attached St. Herman Church, Shillington Archpriest Stephen Janos, retired Attached to Holy Apostles Mission Deacon Seraphim Reynolds Two Deanery meetings were held this past year. The clergy discussed concerns of the deanery, diocese and national church. Lenten Mission Vespers were held each Sunday during Lent in various parishes. The clergy participated in the Lenten Retreat with His Eminence, Archbishop Tikhon; helped at the annual Monastery Pilgrimage over Memorial Day week end; attended the 17 th All American Council in Parma, Ohio at which Archbishop Tikhon was elected Metropolitan; the Advent Retreat with Bishop Melchizedek and Bishop Mark and also the continuing education programs. A FOCA outing to Knoebel s Amusement Park and a deanery family Christmas gathering and picnic at Minersville were enjoyed. In addition to liturgical services; classes, lectures, food and bake sales, dinner-dances, picnics, Chinese Auctions, raffles, dinners, community and FOCA activities are included in the life of our parishes. 1

2 2012 PARISH HIGHLIGHTS Holy Ascension, Frackville Parish Report Parish worked diligently to pay off the loan for renovating the church hall. The loan was paid in full in June Total amount paid off was $135K in 28 months. - Parish wide program for Great Lent and Advent including children, teens and adults. - Parish outreach to local community via food bank, etc. - Continuing renovations to rectory i.e. remodel bathroom, remodel family room and private office. - Replaced 50 year old electric heat in church with newer efficient baseboard heating. - All projects done with members of the parish donating their time, talents and materials SS. Peter and Paul, Minersville Along with liturgical services our activities include a Pre-Lenten Dinner and a Thanksgiving Dinner along with holiday bake sales and participation in Minersville s Spirit Day. Also, improvements were made to property around the Church. St. Mary s Church, St. Clair Held monthly perogie sales and seasonal bake sales. Christ the Saviour, Harrisburg The following report is offered in thanksgiving to God for all of the blessings He has given our community over the past year. We pray that our labors together have drawn our community closer to Christ, and that participation in the liturgical life our parish home has brought us into a deeper relationship with Him, who loves us and gave Himself up for us! WEEKLY SERVICE SCHEDULE: Vespers and Confession: Saturday s at 6pm Divine Liturgy: Sunday s at 9:30am Daily Vespers: Wednesday s at 6:30pm; Bible Study at 7pm (Sept June) Feast Days (see monthly calendar and bulletin) Vespers at 6:30pm; Divine Liturgy at 9:30am PARISH STATISTICS According to our official Diocesan census our parish consists of 145 Households (+9 change): 193 adults (+14 change); 2 infirm (-1 change); 77 children (+8) = TOTAL of 272 souls 50 TH ANNIVERSARY (2013): Our parish will be commemorating its 50 th Anniversary on Saturday, May 18, His Grace, Bishop MARK, and many other guests will be invited to join us. We look forward to welcoming many of our brothers and sister from throughout the Diocese. Please SAVE THE DATE! 2

3 Holy Apostles Mission, Mechanicsburg We have had 3 baptisms, 3 chrismations, 2 weddings. Our Annual Dinner Dance for our Building Fund in October was a great success. The biggest event of the year has been the acquiring of a 13 acre parcel of land in Mechanicsburg. We should be signing on that in the coming weeks. Full report in the Mission Report section of the Packet St. Michael s Orthodox Church, Mt. Carmel, PA Submitted by: Archpriest Michael Evans, Pastor This past November, 2011, Attorney Hal Albert Smith, a parishioner at St Michael's, gave a talk on the background and current difficult situation of the Orthodox Christians of the Holy Land at Mt Carmel's Senior Center. About 5 parishioners attended, as well as a Roman Catholic priest, Fr. Krawicki and two people who were not parishioners. The talk was advertised in the local paper and on posters around town. Fr. Evans began the talk by describing the Orthodox Church and its services. Then Hal gave a talk describing how the Palestinian Christians generally came from the ancient Israelites based on DNA evidence, but that unfortunately they are living under a harsh military occupation by the Israeli army. Next, Hal showed the movies "Salt of the Earth" and "Sacred Space Denied: Bethlehem and the Wall", which focused on the lives of Orthodox Christian families under the current occupation. Then in the spring of 2012, Hal gave a talk at St Michael's on the Old Testament prophecies of Christ's resurrection. Two parishioners attended as well as Fr. Evans, Matushka, Fr. Vineyard, and a person in the community who saw a poster. The talk was advertised in 2 local papers and posters were put up in all the stores in town. Hal explained that in the Psalms, David's death and resurrection prefigured Christ's resurrection because the Old Testament sees David as a poetic image of the Messiah. Plus, Isaiah 53 sees the Messiah as a suffering Servant and a sacrificial lamb who is slaughtered and resurrects. Hal brought holy bread from the Greek monastery in White Haven, as well as painted Easter eggs that represent a sealed tomb with life inside. The Akathist Hymn of Our Father Among the Saints, Alexis of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in America was celebrated on a monthly basis except during the Winter months. Our monthly Perohie, Potato-Pockets, projects are the main fundraiser at St. Michael s. The project is done on a monthly basis except during July & August. When notified by the Mt. Carmel High School District, the Red Tornadoes, Coaches, Football Team & Cheerleaders, a Moliben is celebrated at St. Michael s Church, Mt. Carmel, PA. 3

4 Trustees from the Coal Township State Correctional facility are gathering for fellowship with Fr. Michael Evans, Pastor & Church clean-up twice annually. Holy Ascension, Lykens Deanery Report (2012) Holy Ascension Church in Lykens, PA, is a small Parish made up of mostly senior citizen parish members. Most are retired. There are (19) parish members made up of (13) households. Two Diocesan clergy, Archpriest Michael Evans, Priest-in-Charge, and Priest James Chuta, are servicing Holy Ascension. Divine Liturgy is celebrated on a monthly basis usually on the fourth Sunday of each month served by Fr. James Chuta, as well as the Nativity of Our Lord. The rest of the Sundays each month, Fr. Michael Evans is serving the Obednitsa/Pro-Liturgy. Both Fr. Michael and Fr. James are servicing Holy Ascension for shut-ins, nursing homes as well as any responsibilities during the week as they arise. Because of the size and age factor of Holy Ascension, (19) people, Parish activities as well as an annual bazaar were discontinued several years ago. Due to the location approximately (45) minutes from Harrisburg, PA, Holy Ascension receives visitors from other parishes related to parish members as well as people passing through interested in attending services. There are (2) people in nursing homes. One is located in Williamstown, and the other in Harrisburg, PA. Fr. Michael, and Fr. James, both spend time discussing, and speaking to parish members as well as visitors during the weekly fellowship hour which are held following Sunday services. Archpriest Michael H. Evans, Priest-in-Charge Nativity Of The Theotokos Coaldale, PA St. Mary s held regular services every Sunday Divine Liturgy and every Saturday Great Vespers. The Parish also held services for each of the 12 major feasts of the Church. In addition we also hold festal services for The Three Holy Hierarchs in January, Procession of the Holy Cross, and the Beheading of St. John in August, the Protection of the Theotokos in October, the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael in November and St. Nicholas in December. His Beatitude Tikhon (then Archbishop) graced us with his presence for our patronal fest in September for Liturgy and a beautiful banquet. 4

5 St. Mary s also holds a full schedule of services during great lent including: The Full Canon of St Andrew of Crete on the first week of lent, Presanctified Liturgy each Wednesday and Akathist to the Lord or the Theotokos on Fridays. We held two Memorial Saturday Liturgies during the fast as well, and the Great Canon with the reading of the Life of St Mary of Egypt on Thursday of the 5 th week. We attended St Tikhon s Monastery for Bridegroom Matins and held a Bridegroom Matins Service on Monday evening of Holy Week, as well as a full week of services during Holy Week, and a Bright Week Liturgy on Monday. We attended the St Tikhon s pilgrimage in May. Throughout the year we held regular Wednesday services including: Daily Vespers, Compline, Akathists to St Alexis Toth (each Month), St Herman of Alaska, the Theotokos, and the Saints of North America. In connection with this service we held a Bible Study for young Adults once a month in the fall. We held Sunday Church School for ages k-2 nd, 3 rd -5 th, and 6 th -11 th grades, with average attendance around 10. In the spring of this year we had an inquirers/catechumens class each Sunday of Lent with 4-5 in attendance. We also had 3 adult Sunday school classes during Lent and a Men s work day one Saturday with a short study. We sent 13 adults and Youth to North Carolina for a summer missions trip with FOCUS from June 24 th -July1st. We held our 4 th Annual Children s Festival on Dormition attracting over 100 visitors. Throughout the Year we held regular youth meetings and outings including: Attendance at Sunday Missions Services in the Diocese and deanery. FOCA Novogodny Ball in January, The FOCA National Basketball Tournament in NJ in May, The Missions Trip to NC in June, The FOCA District Convention in October at St Michaels- St Clair, PA, Bowling outing in December and a Christmas Party/ Game night in Jan. We focused upon young families this year and tried to involve more than just youth but incorporated whole families into the activities. This year we also sponsored a Choir Concert featuring the Choir from Holy Annunciation in Berwick raising over 250$ for Hurricane Sandy relief and 150$ for our Sunday School held on December 9 th with over 75 locals attending from the region. We had 7 funerals this year, 5 baptisms, and 1 wedding. We received 4 new members. Respectfully Submitted by, Rev. Daniel Mathewson 5

6 Holy Trinity Church, McAdoo Holy Trinity Church in McAdoo, Pa. is a small Parish with 38 adults and several small children. The choir director is a music teacher, from Hazleton school district, that gives up her free time, to help out at the church. The choir has about 15 people on Sundays, but no one to sing the services for funerals or any weekday services. Great Compline with Litiya was served for Christmas Eve with many parishioners attending. Christmas Divine Liturgy also was well attended. New Years Eve Services was served with Vespers with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great with only 9 people attending. Divine Liturgy is served every Sunday with a very good attendance and many babies and adults receiving Holy Communion. Confessions are heard before the Divine Liturgy every Sunday. The 12 Great Feast days of the Church are served, but due to the winter weather; many are afraid to leave their homes at night in the Hazleton and McAdoo area, due to the darkness, and the growing crime, so Great Vespers is suspended until spring. Every Sunday a social hour is held, below in the church parlor. Holy Trinity also has a Sunday School with a small group of children, which is held in the Rectory, every Sunday. Holy Trinity's activities consist of making Pirohi and Haluski once a month. In July the parish has a picnic for 3 clays. It is the biggest fund-raiser for the parish, with many from the McAdoo and Hazleton area attending. The parish has 2 parishioners in nursing homes, with one of them being able to come to church on Sundays. Pastoral visits are being made and shortly blessing of homes will start. Archimandrite Michael (Thier) Priest-in-Charge 6