Weekly Liturgical/Service Schedule

Transcription

1 Weekly Liturgical/Service Schedule 24 th Sunday after Pentecost November 26-27, 2011 Sat. Nov. 26 5:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy (+Deceased Members of the Dragosh, Ribarchek, and Guilla Families, req. by Robert Checque) Sun. Nov. 27 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy (+John Smochko, req. by Nancy Romza & Family) 25 th Sunday after Pentecost December 3-4, 2011 Sat. Dec. 3 5:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy (+Frank Burke, req. by Fr. Tom) Sun. Dec. 4 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy (+Anna & George Guzo, req. by Stephen Guzo) Upcoming Retreats & Programs at Mt. St. Macrina House of Prayer Grief and the Holidays Dec. 3, 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m., Presenter: Ed Horvat, Offering: $20 (includes lunch), registration due: Nov. 30; Pre-Christmas Day Dec. 10, 9:15 a.m. 12:30 p.m., Presenter: Msgr. George Appleyard, Offering: $25 (includes lunch), registration due: Dec. 5. Pre-Christmas Day Dec. 11, 1:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m., Presenter: Sandra Collins, Ph.D., Offering: $25 (includes supper), registration due: Dec. 6. Mark Your Calendars Please mark your calendars for future upcoming events at our parish: Comedy Night Feb. 17, 2012; Super Bowl Pool last two weeks of January Church Christmas Decorating & Clean-Up Day Come join us to help decorate our church for Christmas (setting up and decorating Christmas trees and decorations in the church and hall, cleaning our church and making everything clean and shiny for the holiday season ahead). We will be decorating and cleaning on Sat., Dec. 3 beginning at 10 a.m. in our church hall. Let s make our church beautiful for the visitors who will be attending our church this holiday season. Bethany Ministry Meetings There will be an upcoming meeting of our parish Bethany Ministry members on Sun., Dec. 4. The meeting will take place immediately following the morning Divine Liturgy and will be held in the church hall. All Bethany Ministry members are encouraged to attend. Donations for the Poor Collection Container During the four fasting seasons of the Byzantine Catholic Church Year, a blue specially marked container will be located in the narthex (vestibule) of the church to collect donations (non-perishable food items, winter clothing, especially infant clothing, or monetary donations) for the Pittsburgh-area poor. Items and monetary donations collected will be forwarded to the South Hills Interfaith Ministry for distribution in the South Hills and Greater Pittsburgh area. Your help in this endeavor is greatly appreciated! 13 th Annual Heat for the Needy Program TUDI Mechanical Systems and Standard Air & Lite are once again sponsoring this year s Heat for the Needy Program that provides new heating systems to low-income individuals and families. This year s goal is to provide 12 new heating systems to local needy residents. If you know a needy family, please nominate them by writing their name an address on a piece of paper and sending it to Heat for the Needy, 343 Munson Ave., McKees Rocks, PA or ing the information to heatfortheneedy@tudi.com. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MINI-RETREAT AT ST. LOUISE DeMARILLAC CHURCH The Guild will have a mini-retreat on Thursday, Dec. 8 th, The Immaculate Conception Holy Day, To Honor Mary. Father Angelus Shaughanessy O.F.M. will open the retreat at: 9:15 AM in the Bishop Leonard Room Sign-in between 9:00-9:15 AM Mass will be at noon, followed by a luncheon. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MINI-RETREAT RESERVATION FORM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 NAME PHONE # Cost: $20.00 ( includes lunch) Please mail to: Suzanne McNally 105 Windover C Canonsburg, PA Deadline is December 1, 2011

2 WEEKLY COLLECTION 2011 November 20 Category Amount 1. Envelopes $ 1, Debt Loose Candles Icon Candle Donation Special Donation Yanak Memorial Donation TOTAL Deposited $ 1, Envelopes 1@ $100 =$ @50 = @40 = @35 = @30 = @25 = @20 = @15 = @10 = @5 = Total 56 envelopes $ 1, Average = $ Average needed per week to meet expenses prior to fund-raising (based on last year s total expenses including debt reduction expenses) = $ Russian Christmas Food Festival Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church, 214 Mansfield Blvd., Carnegie will be hosting a Russian Christmas Food Festival on Sat., Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. 6 p.m. featuring homemade pierogies, kolbassi, soups, vodka roasted chicken, and more. Eat in or take home. For more information, call Slavjane Folk Ensemble Recruiting Youth Dancers Do you like to sing and dance and perform for people? Are you interested in learning the songs, dances, and traditions of your relatives that reside in Eastern Europe? Do you want to make friends that will last a lifetime? If you are between the ages of 5-18 then you can do so. The Slavjane Folk Ensemble, which is the official cultural representative of the Rusyn culture for the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is accepting applications for the 2012 season. Learn traditional Rusyn song and dance as well as those of other Slavic and non-slavic cultures. For more information about Slavjane, please call Dean Poloka, Program Director at or rusyn31@verizon.net. GCU District #1 Enjoy & Entertainment Books Available GCU District #1 is again offering Enjoy & Entertainment Books for purchase. To order books, please call John Tomko ( ) or Mike Pillar ( ). St Gregory Christmas Kolbasa Sale Once again our parish is selling kolbasa during the Chrismas and New Year Season. We ve enjoyed exceptional cooperation from the members of St Gregory during past sales and are again asking that parishioners buy kolbasa personally and also sell some of this fine product to friends, neighbors, and colleagues. The price is $5.00 per pound and signup sheets are available in the Church vestibule for placing orders. Alternatively, the kolbasa can also be ordered by accessing the St Gregory home page at and then clicking the order link on the page. The kolbasa will be available for pickup during the weekend of December 17 & 18. Thanks to all St Gregory parishioners for the continued support of this important parish fundraiser. Sponsor a Pro-Life Billboard To help sponsor Pregnancy HELP hotline billboards around Pittsburgh and on the Pennsylvania turnpike, please contact or make a donation to Pennsylvania Foundation for Life at P.O. Box 12741, Pittsburgh, PA Free Christmas Concerts St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church, 506 Saline St., Pittsburgh, PA (Greenfield) will be hosting a Christmas concert by local Pittsburgh artist Cathasaigh (voted best artist in Pittsburgh six times by the City Paper) on Tues., Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. There will also be a Christmas performance of the University of Pittsburgh Men s Glee Club on Thurs., Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. (Divine Liturgy will precede the concert at 6 p.m.) Admission is free. A reception will follow both concerts in the church hall. All are welcome to attend.

3 This Week s Reflection St. Andrew the Apostle Saint Andrew (Greek: Ἀνδρέας, Andreas; early 1st century mid to late 1st century AD), called in the Orthodox tradition Prōtoklētos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. The name "Andrew" (Greek: manly, brave, from ἀνδρεία, Andreia, "manhood, valour"), like other Greek names, appears to have been common among the Jews from the 3rd or 2nd century BC. No Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him. He is considered the founder and first bishop of the Church of Byzantium and is consequently the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Life The New Testament states that Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter, by which it is inferred that he was likewise a son of John, or Jonah. [ Mt. 16:17 ] [ Jn. 1:42 ] He was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. [ Jn. 1:44 ] Both he and his brother Peter were fishermen by trade, hence the tradition that Jesus called them to be his disciples by saying that he will make them "fishers of men" (Greek: ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων, halieĩs anthrōpōn).[1] At the beginning of Jesus' public life, they were said to have occupied the same house at Capernaum. [ Mk. 1:21-29 ] The Gospel of John states that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, whose testimony first led him and John the Evangelist to follow Jesus. [ Jn. 1:35-40 ] Andrew at once recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and hastened to introduce him to his brother. [ Jn. 1:41 ] Thenceforth, the two brothers were disciples of Christ. On a subsequent occasion, prior to the final call to the Apostolate, they were called to a closer companionship, and then they left all things to follow Jesus.[2] In the gospels Andrew is referred to as being present on some important occasions as one of the disciples more closely attached to Jesus,[3] Eusebius quotes Origen as saying Andrew preached along the Black Sea as far as the Volga, Kiev and Novgorod. Hence he became a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia. According to tradition, he founded the See of Byzantium (Constantinople)[4] in AD 38, installing Stachys as bishop. According to Hippolytus of Rome, he preached in Thrace, and his presence in Byzantium is also mentioned in the apocryphal Acts of Andrew, written in the 2nd century. This diocese would later develop into the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Andrew is recognized as its patron saint. Andrew is said to have been martyred by crucifixion at the city of Patras (Patræ) in Achaea, on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. Early texts, such as the Acts of Andrew known to Gregory of Tours,[5] describe Andrew as bound, not nailed, to a Latin cross of the kind on which Jesus is said to have been crucified; yet a tradition developed that Andrew had been crucified on a cross of the form called Crux decussata (X-shaped cross, or "saltire"), now commonly known as a "Saint Andrew's Cross" supposedly at his own request, as he deemed himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus had been (though of course, the privilege of choosing one's own method of execution is a rare privilege, indeed).[6] "The familiar iconography of his martyrdom, showing the apostle bound to an X-shaped cross, does not seem to have been standardized before the later Middle Ages," Judith Calvert concluded after re-examining the materials studied by Louis Réau.[7] Basilica of St. Andrew at Patras, where Andrew's relics are kept, said to be erected over the place of his martyrdom Andrew is the patron saint of the city of Patras. (Excerpt from the Wikipedia article, Saint Andrew) Christmas Cookie Sale Please mark your calendars, on Sat., Dec. 10 from 12 noon to 4 p.m., our parish will be hosting a Christmas cookie sale in our church hall. We are asking that each parish family bake three dozen cookies to sell at the cookie sale. In addition, if each person could donate at least a $1 scratch off lottery ticket (or equivalent donation), we will be able to raffle off a lottery tree at the cookie sale. This fundraiser with everyone s participation has the potential to raise up to $2,500 for our parish (including a $1,000 matching funds donation from the GCU). There is a sign-up sheet in the back of church to list what type of cookies you will be making to donate (you can also Jennifer Kehm with this information at nkehm@aol.com), as well as a sign-up sheet to volunteer to work the day of the sale. Your support of this important fundraiser for our parish is greatly appreciated! Christmas Blessings Concert The Bible Chapel South Hills Campus (300 Gallery Drive, McMurray, PA) presents in concert, Laura Story, Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The theme of her concert is Christmas Blessings. Tickets are available at the Chapter 2 Bookstore or at Holiday Pirohy & Bake Sale St. John Orthodox Church, 5 th & Elm Rd., Ambridge, PA is hosting a holiday pirohy and bake sale on Fri., Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Featured items include pirohy, halushky, holiday cookie trays, nutrolls, and more. Order by Dec. 13 by calling Single, 21 & Over (or know someone who is) Looking for a new way to meet people, make friends, and share good times with others? Check out the Catholic Alumni Club. The group offers activities including parties, picnics, hiking, sports leagues, dinners, trips, community service, and many other great events. For more information, visit our website: check out our Facebook page or call Join before January 1 st and receive a $5 discount on your membership. Day of Reflection The Sisters of the Divine Redeemer, 999 Rock Run Rd., Elizabeth, PA, will be hosting a day of reflection this Sat., Dec. 10 beginning at 9:30 a.m. Fr. Donald Calloway, M.I.C., will be offering the reflection, Mary and Advent. Suggested offering is $30. To register, please call or by sisrosemarysdr@aol.com.

4 St. Gregory of Nazianzus Byzantine Catholic Church 2005 Mohawk Road Upper St Clair, PA (cell) Pastor: FATHER THOMAS J. WESDOCK Website: or ECF Classes: Sundays 10:45-11:45a.m. Confession: By appointment & Saturday at 3-4 p.m. Marriage: at least six months notice; Pre-Cana classes from the Archeparchy Cantors: George Tichi, Michael Pillar, Sylvia Bender, Jeremy Mayernik ECF Coordinator: Carol Planitzer at or Youth Ministry: Michael Kiss at or Church Founding & Historical Committee: Barb Stasiuk ( ) Bethany Ministry: Jennifer Kehm at or Parish Nurse: Dorothy Mayernik at or Fr. Tom s Communion Visitation List If you know of any parishioners who are sick and unable to come to church for an extended period of time, please inform Fr. Tom, so he can call them up and see about putting them on his home communion visitation schedule. Thank you. St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church Choir Recordings St. Nicholas B. C. Church choir in Barberton, OH is selling recordings of Byzantine Catholic liturgies and hymns. CD s for sale include seasonal chants of the Eastern church, Church Slavonic Divine Liturgies, and ecumenical presentations featuring Byzantine Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant choirs. For more info: or by rbenya@neo.rr.com a wide variety of Eastern Christian spiritual, liturgical, and historical books, CD s, and DVD s available for purchase. They have an online catalog available at their website: ecpubs.com. To request a catalog by mail, please call or write to Eastern Christian Publications, P.O. Box 3909, Fairfax, VA Afterschool Volunteers Needed South Hills Interfaith Ministries is looking for volunteers for an after school program in Baldwin-Whitehall that works with a multi-cultural population grades K-5. Shifts are available M-F 4:30-7:00 p.m. All volunters must have Act 33/34 clearances. Call SHIM program director - Doris Nagel at ext. 20. Extra Help for People with Medicare Insurance Do you know someone on Medicare, and who has a low income and limited assets? If so, it is possible that they may qualify for financial assistance with their Medicare expenses.there are two programs that help: The Medicare Savings Program, which helps with Part B premiums for individuals with monthly income that is below $1,226 (for a married couple, $1,655); and The Low Income Subsidy, which helps with the Part D premiums and prescription drug copayments for individuals with monthly income below $1,361 (for a married couple, $1,839). To find out more, to obtain an application, or for assistance in completing an application, please call the Allegheny County Department of Human Services at or kburk@alleghenycounty.us St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church Did you know? (financial) St. Gregory s financial board has recently released the 2010 financial report and set financial goals for It is important that our Parishioners understand the facts and goals set forth. Please Take Care of Pew Books Just a reminder to take care of our church s pew books. Please do not allow children to rip pages and pull and fray ribbons. These books are expensive, so please take care of them! Eastern Christian Publications Eastern Christian Publications, the company that produces our weekly bulletin covers, has Weekly and Holiday Offerings Weekly offering (white envelopes) are able to sustain regular monthly debts. Average envelopes offered each week 65

5 If you only use a white envelope from the offering box and are contributing all you can please continue to do so in that manner since we are making projections from the amounts you offered in the 2010 white and holiday envelopes. Air Conditioner: Debt Reduction Offering Monthly offering needed for payment on the two outstanding mortgages is $ Monthly offering needed for the Air Conditioning loan is $ for a term of five years Monthly average offered from 2010 was $ Average envelopes offered in 2010 was 45 Shortfall in 2011 debt payments can be made up in several ways and will be published in the Debt Reduction 5 year plan document Terms of the debt payments are determined by the Archeparchy Original Mortgages FIVE YEAR DEBT REDUCTION PLAN (1 st Mortgage balance of 5.5% and 2nd Mortgage of 0%) Mortgage payments are $ a month and applied to the 1 st mortgage until completed. Then applied to the interest free mortgage when the balance in completed Current 1 st mortgage balance $240,000 but after 5 years $68,603. In 80 months the entire first mortgage will be paid in full 21 months later the $75,000 second mortgage will be paid in full The terms of this loan are estimated at $ a month for 60 months How we bridge the GAP: Increase the average debt envelopes collected but not at the expense of the weekly envelopes offering reducing in any way. A blend of an increase in debt reduction offerings and fund raising 2010 debt offering equaled $22,700 ($ a month) 2011 projected debt payments $58,800 ($ a month) GAP $36,100 or ( $3008 a month) Fundraising goal $36,100 (without any new debt offerings) Fundraising through Easter is projected to be $16,500 and nearly half way to our goal and it s only April See Annual fundraising ideas and goals for the closing of the GAP potential to be published in a future bulletin Parish Website Under Construction Our parish of St. Gregory Nazianzus has a website currently under construction. To view the parish website go to Thanks to Nick Kiss for getting our parish website online and for updating it with the latest information (including the most recent bulletin editions). This website will help our parish to continue to reach out to our local community and to the world with the Light of Christ shining through our Byzantine Catholic Faith and Tradition. Foreclosure Help for those in Need If you re worried about foreclosure, there s a place to turn for help. If you re worried

6 about losing your house, you may be eligible for financial assistance, including new emergency federal loans. In fact, a whole host of programs may help you avoid foreclosure and stay in your home. The first step is to call today, because funding is available for a limited time. Call now to learn more. St. Vincent de Paul Seeking Household Items and Usable Clothes The St. Vincent de Paul Society Pittsburgh Council is seeking all types and sizes of clothes, shoes, boots, housewares, appliances, etc. To donate call Clothing Collections Taken Year Round at SHIM Families who use SHIM s Food Pantry also are able to shop in the Community Clothing Room, selecting donated clothing items for members of their household. Donated clothing must be clean and free of rips, holes, etc. All sizes are welcome, though there is a particular need now for boys clothing (infant and youth). Clothing donations are accepted seasonally, as follows: Spring/Summer April 1- August 31, Fall/Winter September 1- March 31. Drop off your clothing at the SHIM offices (5301 Park Ave., Bethel Park) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.