Ukrainian Catholic Church

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1 No. 977 (609) Ukrainian Catholic Church Parish of St. John the Baptist - Perth Parish Priest: Fr. Wolodymyr Kalinecki 20 Ferguson St, Maylands WA 6051 T/F (08) M: E: w.kalinecki@oz .com.au Fr Deacon Richard mbl Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate: Sr Nicodema Zemliak - 16 Ferguson St, Maylands WA 6051 T: (08) PARISH WEEKLY NEWS 27th Sept 4th Oct 2015 Parish Postal Address: PO Box 230, Dianella WA 6059 Editor: Luba Valega T: (08) M: E: luba_valega@hotmail.com This is a weekly Parish newsletter for all to read, to inform you of what is happening in our Parish and share with you some interesting readings. Please feel free to share it around! This Week s Readings Epistle: 1Cor 1: Gospel: John 19:6-11,13-20,25-28, th Sun after PENTECOST & Exaltation of Cross Tone 8 Epistle 1Cor 1: :18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God. 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing. 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 1:21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn t know God, it was God s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. 1:22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Gospel John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, :6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, s Crucify him! Crucify him! Pilate said to them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him, for I find no case against him. 19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he has claimed to be the Son of God. 19:8 Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever 19:9 He entered his headquarters again, and asked Jesus, Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer. 19:10 Pilate therefore said to him, do you refuse to speak to me? Don t you know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you? 19:11 Jesus answered him, You would have no power over me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin. 19:13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside, and sat on the judge s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 19:14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, at about noon. He said to the Jews, Here is your King! 19:15 They cried out, Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him! Pilate asked them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but the emperor! 19:16 So then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and carrying the cross, he went out to what is called The Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha, 19:18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19:19 Pilate also had an inscription written, and put it on the cross. It read,, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 19:20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 19:25 Meanwhile standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 19:26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, Woman, here is your son! 19:27 Then he said to the disciple, Here is your mother! From that hour, the disciple took her into his own home. 19:28 After this, Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, I am thirsty. When Jesus had received the wine he said, It is finished. Then He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. 19:31 Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have their legs of the crucified men broken, and the bodies removed.. 19:32 Then the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with Jesus; 19:33 but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they didn t break his legs. 19:34 Page 1

2 Instead one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 19:35 He who saw this has testified, so his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe =============================================================================== Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sept 27th We celebrate this Feast on 27th Sept (Julian Calendar) a tradition well established in the 6th century and it relates that Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, discovered near Golgotha, the three crosses on which Christ and the two thieves had been crucified. Bishop Macarios identified the true Cross of Christ as the one whose touch immediately returned a dying woman to perfect health. The Holy Cross was preserved in the Basilica of the Resurrection in Jerusalem until May 4, 614, when the Persians conquered the city and burned down the basilica. In 628, Emperor Heraclius defeated Chosroes, King of Persia, and returned the Holy Cross to Jerusalem. It is reported that the head of the mighty Byzantine empire, arrayed with precious jewels and in formal imperial attire, carried the Cross to the door of the Church where an invisible hand stopped him. Zachary, Bishop of Jerusalem, said to him: Beware, your Majesty! These precious vestments and priceless jewels are the marks of human pride: this does not conform with the poverty of Jesus Christ nor with his humility in bearing the Cross. The Emperor immediately stripped himself of all his adornments, borrowed a simple cloak and walked barefoot to Golgotha where he planted the Cross. The faithful bowed their heads to the ground, saying: We bow profoundly to your Cross. O Christ! And we sing a hymn of glory to your resurrection. A part of the wood of the Holy Cross was brought to Rome in the seventh century by Pope Sergius 1 who was of Byzantine origin. He ordered it to be exposed to the veneration of the faithful in the Church of the Saviour. The Feast of the Holy Cross has a great importance in the Byzantine as well as in the Latin Churches. It is, in a sense, a renewal of Holy Friday, with the difference that on Holy Friday Redemption by the blood and death of Christ is commemorated, while here the Cross is seen as a sign of glory and victory: the glory of Christ and Christianity, and our own victory over evil and sin. The Office of the day recalls various prefigurations of the Cross in the Old Testament: the Tree of Paradise which caused our fall, while the Tree of the Cross is the instrument of our salvation; the Ark of Noah which saved the just, while the Cross embraces both just and sinner; Jacob who stretched out his arms to bless Joseph s children; Moses who did the same to open a road through the Red Sea so that the people of Israel could be saved, and who sweetened the bitter waters of Marah with his rod; Moses again who made water gush from the rock with his staff, and who sustained Israel in battle against Amalek by extending his arms in prayer; the flowering rod of Aaron; the brazen serpent he placed in the midst of the camp to save those dying from poison. With the Cross, suffering appears no longer as the work of blind Destiny that crushes us and leads us to revolt: it becomes a proof of love, the close imitation of Christ, the cleansing of sin, a sharing in the redemption of mankind and a ladder to the summit of Heavenly glory. taken from the Byzantine Daily workshop ====================================================================================== Sept 30th - Feast day of Saints Sofia and her 3 daughters Faith, Hope and Love We are told that long ago in the city of Rome, when Adrian was Emperor, there lived a good woman named Sophia. She was a Christian and a widow. She had a reputation of living a devout life according to the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Sophie, whose name means wisdom, had 3 lovely daughter. Their names were Vera - meaning Faith, Nadiya - meaning Hope, and Lubow - meaning Love. Sophia loved her daughters more than anything. She taught them about God, how to pray and how to read sacred writings. They were a happy family, even though their father was dead. In the year 137AD there was much persecution of Christians by the pagans. It was dangerous to be a Christian and to live the good life of a follower of Christ. Many Christians were put to death simply because they believed that there was one true God. Word reached the leaders of the government about Sophia and her three daughters. They were arrested and brought to the court of the emperor Adrian who demanded that Sophia and her daughters stop being Christians. He appointed a woman named Palladia to talk to them and convince them to do the emperor s bidding. For 3 days the family was urged to give in but they refused. After the 3rd day Emperor Adrian became angry and ordered Vera, who was 12, be beaten and burned. He hoped that she would finally give in and that her sisters and mother would be frightened into denying God. But Vera refused and at last she was killed by a sword. 10 year old Nadiya and and Lubow - 7 were threatened in the same way. Both were killed by the sword. Because they suffered and died for their belief in one true God, they are called martyrs. Sophia, who had to watch her three daughters suffer and die was allowed to bury them. She prayed for 3 days at their graves. Her heart was sad because her children were dead, but she was proud that they loved God so much that they died rather than deny Him. On the third day Saint Sophia died also. Let us be grateful that we have freedom of religion and we can pray without being persecuted for our belief. Page 2

3 Golgotha completed and installed in our Church A Golgotha is a large iconic representation depicting the crucified Jesus, with the Mother of God and John the Beloved Disciple standing to either side of Him. During the year, the icon is placed off to one side in the front of the nave of the church. During Holy Week the Golgotha may be repositioned, especially during Matins of Great and Holy Friday. While Patriarch Sviatoslav was visiting Perth last year, he blessed the cross, which had just been completed. Our deacon, Richard, has now finished painting the rest of the Golgotha. Donations are already being given in memory of the Departed. A plaque will be installed commemorating the visit of His Beatitude, along with a list of the names of the Departed. If you would like to make a donation, please see Father Wolodymyr or our deacon, Richard, with the names of those you would like to be commemorated. ======================================================================================== The Second Vatican Council s Decree on the Sacred Liturgy (par.14) declares that all the faithful are to participate in worship fully, consciously, and effectively. For many decades, a hallmark of liturgical practice in Western Ukraine whether Galicia or the Carpathian region was vibrant congregational singing. This Anthology aims to restore that practice not only by providing music for the Liturgy, but also, as it were, enabling each worshipper to become a cantor. The core of this book is the English translation of the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom published in 1988 by the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church. The Ukrainian version is also included. There are the prayers of thanksgiving after Communion, the eight resurrectional troparia-kontakia, as well as the propers of the weekday cycle, common of saints, votive propers, and Panakhyda, in both Ukrainian and English. The present volume also contains additional material, helpful for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, which until now has not been easily accessible to Ukrainian Catholic worshippers at large. These materials include the preparatory prayers, the propers for the Church Year, chorales and blessings. Preparation for the Divine Liturgy has been highlighted in this book. Without repentance and reflection, Liturgy soon becomes a heavy formality. Consequently, the traditional prayers of preparation for Communion are found here along with materials for the Mystery of Repentance. The examination of conscience, incidentally, can be done even when one is not preparing for Confession. Note also, that while it may not always be possible to recite all of these preparatory prayers for Communion, at least some of them should be prayed. May the use of this book bring abundant blessings to all of us, so that we might indeed experience more intensely the Lord s future kingdom, and with one voice and one heart sing the praises of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. (Excerpts from the Introduction by Fr. Peter Galadza, Editor-in-Chief) Please see our Deacon Richard if you would like to buy a copy. They are $30 each pages

4 If you want to donate to Fr. Bohdan Prach for the Ukrainian University in Lviv From: Zina Rudnytska To: Ukrainian Catholic Church We have opened a new Everyday Access account under the Rim For you reference description of account is Ukr. Cath. Uni. For people to deposit please provide the following: BSB: Account No: Account Title: Trustee of Ukr. Catholic Church in Australia Reference name of person depositing Regards, Zina Rudnytska Member Services Supervisor Dnister Ukrainian Credit Co-operative Ltd P F zinar@dnister.com.au ======================================================================================== Prasnyk and Anniversary in Northam On Sunday 20th Sept, 2015, we celebrated the Prasnyk of the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Northam. It was also an opportunity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Church there. More than 60 people travelled the 100 km from Perth to Northam to attend the Divine Liturgy at 11am. The congregational singing was especially strong on this beautiful, sunny day! After the Liturgy we had a group photo outside and then moved to the Riverside Hotel for a country style baked lunch. Folders of photos and memorabilia were passed around. People caught up with friends they hadn t seen for some time. After a few words from Mykola Mowczan, President of Ukrainian Assoc in WA, (Fr Wolodymyr had already spoken in church), flowers were presented to the last Ukrainian Pioneer still living in Northam, Mrs Anna Pidhirnyj. We also sang Mnohaya Lita for Fr Wolodymyr who had just celebrated 21 years of ordination to Holy Priesthood. These 2 Photos taken by B Warchomij

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6 Day Date Time Feast Special Feast Days - Julian Calendar Sun Tone 8 27th Sept, 2015 STRICT FASTING 9:30am 17th Sun after Pentecost and Sun of Exaltation of the Cross Mon 28th Sept, 2015 No Tues 29th Sept :30am Wed 30th Sept :30am Sophia, Faith Hope and Love Thurs 1st Oct :30am Fri 2nd Oct, :30am Acafist to Our Saviour Jesus Sat 3rd Oct, pm 7pm Vespers Both in English Sun Tone 1 4th Oct, :30 am 11am >>> 18th Sun after Pentecost. Sun after Exaltation of the Cross >>>Church fete Cleaning Church Roster Sat 26th Sept Irene Grynychyn ========================================================= next in NORTHAM Sun, 18th Oct, pm ================================= Please pray for sick people in our parish and visit them if you can. If you need Fr Wolodymyr to visit, please ring him to book a time. 08) ================================================= Sunday 4th Oct, 2015 our church of St John the Baptist, Maylands, will be having their annual fete after in church hall Delicious lunch of varenyky and cabbage rolls, raffle prizes, cakes to buy and other homemade foods If you can bake or donate prizes for lucky wheel, we will appreciate the donations. Bring on Sat 3rd to hall between 9am til 11am And bring your family and friends on Sun. Hope to see you there Parish Council A RESTORATION (Maintenance) fund has being organised for our Church renovations. This is separate to the yearly upkeep (podatok) fund. If you wish to donate, please see Luba Valega. The Church building is in need of repairs and so the Parish Council is asking for your support. Total so far collected was $13,350. Please see anyone on Parish Council if you would like to make a donation for the lift outside the hall. The cost of the lift was $42,000 Total now $ Church donation anon donation of $10 for flowers and $10 for newsletter every week. May Jesus bless you always ===============================