Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church /Assumption B.V.M. Church 131 North Beech Street, Mount Carmel, Pa. 17851 Very Reverend Archpriest Michael Hutsko, Pastor Rectory 570-339-0650 Church Hall 570-339-4333 Web Site- sspeterandpaulmc.org - E-Mail: stsppmc@ptd.net - Fax 570-339-2715 Prayer Line: Louise Cuff 339-3660 Eleanor Stebila 339-2353 Louise Troyan 339-1565 Please notify the rectory office if you or a loved one is hospitalized or admitted to a nursing home Office Hours: Mon. Tues.- 9:00 AM-3:00 PM 1 ST Collection : Candles Wed., Thurs. 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon 2 nd Collection: Regular Offering 10 th Sunday After Pentecost Saturday August 12, 2017 3:15 PM Confessions 4:00 PM - +John & Helen Cheddar req. by son, Joseph Sunday August 13, 2017 10 th Sunday After Pentecost 8:15 AM - Confessions 9:15 AM For All Parishioners 11:00 AM Assumption BVM - +Helen Konopka req. by Abe Pacochi Monday August 14, 2017 Vigil of the Dormition of the Theotokos/Blessing of Flowers 6:00 PM +Jack Kuzo req. by Ron & Debbie Siccardi Tuesday August 15, 2017 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos/Blessing of Flowers 9:00 AM Assumption BVM - +Michael & Anna Merikas req. by Family Wednesday August 16, 2017 No Divine Liturgy Thursday August 17, 2017 No Divine Liturgy Friday August 18, 2017 7:30 AM For God s Blessings Saturday August 19, 2017 8:00 AM For the Souls in Purgatory 3:15 PM Confessions 4:00 PM - +Edward F. Grabowski Anniversary of his Death req. by Wife, Martha & Family Sunday August 20, 2017 11 th Sunday After Pentecost 8:15 AM - Confessions 9:15 AM For the Parishioners 11:00 AM +Michael E. Hashin 40 th Day Liturgy req. by a Friend. August 13, 2017 Welcome: We the people of Ss. Peter & Paul and Assumption Churches, are a catholic community that worships God, spreads the Good News of Christ, and serves those in need. Come into the house. Bring all you are, no need to check your failures at the door. There are no perfect people here. You are invited: come. Come in seeking, come in wondering, come in hurting. Come into this house of companionship and compassion. Come in. You are welcome here. Ss. Peter & Paul/Assumption Churches open their doors to you. Bulletin Requests Any requests or any information to be placed in the bulletin must be in writing and submitted to the church office by 12:00 Noon on Mondays. Thank you for your cooperation. The Vibrant Parish A place to encounter the living Christ through the Word of God, the Holy Mysteries & Prayer, Serving One s Neighbor, Leadership, Fostering & Serving Unity & Missionary Spirit. Please Remember To pray for vocations to the Holy Priesthood & Religious Life. Rosary Intention For the week of August 13, 2017 For the Sick and Infirm of our Parishes Your Stewardship We thank you for your financial support of our parish communities. In Your Prayers Please remember to pray for the sick & infirm of our Parishes.
Upcoming Events Aug 13: Holy Name Society Sunday Aug 13 & 20: Property Clean Up at Assumption BVM following Divine Liturgy Aug 14-15: Holy Day of Obligation Dormition of the Theotokos and Blessing of Flowers Aug 19-20: Blessing of School Children Aug 23: Soup and Sandwich Aug 27: Assumption BVM Pilgrimage Ss. Peter & Paul Replenish Fund Donations as of August 6, 2017 Total To Date: $73,059.54 Replenish Fund: $25 Jean Dowkus & Family Rebuilding Fund: None Weekly Parish Financial Report Ss. Peter & Paul Church Sunday, August 6, 2017 $2,077.00 Expenses: $1,300.00 Sunday, August 7, 2016 $1,815.00 Assumption BVM Church Sunday, August 6, 2017 $2,074.26 Expenses: $1,051.18 Sunday, August 7, 2016 $ 503.60 Ss. Peter & Paul Church Lector Schedule Sat August 12th Ed Cuff 4:00 PM Sun August 13th Chris Bogner 9:15 AM Sat August 19th Ellen Goretsky 4:00 PM Sun August 20th Justina Eisenhart 9:15 AM Assumption BVM Church Lector Schedule Sun August 13th Kianna Rizzo 11:00 AM Sun August 20th Zachary Gee 11:00 AM Sunday Social There will be no Sunday Social at SS Peter & Paul for the summer. Sunday Socials will resume in September. Altar Flowers Altar flowers can be sponsored weekly for $30.00 per arrangement. Parishioners can sponsor these flowers in Memory of a loved one, or for any occasion. Anyone interested in sponsoring flowers may call 570-339-0650. Divine Liturgy Change - Pilgrimage There will be no Divine Liturgy at Ss Peter & Paul on Sunday, August 27 th due to the Pilgrimage at Assumption BVM. The Divine Liturgy at Assumption BVM will be celebrated at Noon with Metropolitan Stefan Soroka. Tweets from His Holiness Pope Francis Other people are gifts to be received with respect, especially if they are weak and frail, because Christ comes to meet us in them. Mystery (Sacrament) of Penance Is available before each Divine Liturgy on Saturday, 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM and on Sunday in Ss. Peter & Paul Church 8:15 AM to 9:00 AM, and at Assumption BVM Church on Sunday before 11:00 AM Divine Liturgy in the confessionals. Replenishment Fund Gifts We are still accepting donations/gifts to our Parish Replenishment Fund established almost three years ago to restore monies that were used for the church renovations and repairs. Please consider making a special donation to this Fund. All donations remain here in our parish and are meant to secure the future financial health of our church. Your gift/donation will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Congratulations Hearty congratulations are extended to Michael and Valerie (nee Dula) Yatsko as they are joined in the Mystery of Crowning Holy Matrimony at Ss. Peter & Paul this weekend. We pray Almighty God bless their union and keep them strong in love for the remainder of their lives. Na Mnohaya Lita! Ss. Peter & Paul Holy Name Society Sunday, August 13, 2017 is Ss. Peter & Paul Holy Name Society Sunday. All members are asked to pray together, receive the Holy Eucharist as a body and attend a short meeting immediately after the Divine Liturgy. New members are always welcome to join this society. Special Clean Up Help is needed at Assumption BVM in cleaning up the property in preparation for the Pilgrimage. We have scheduled two clean up days, Sunday August 13 and Sunday, August 20, following the Divine Liturgy (about 12:30 PM). There is a great deal to do. Please try to attend one or both days to help out. Thank you!
Help Needed for Pilgrimage Planning for our 2 nd Annual Call to Prayer Pilgrimage is progressing according to schedule. Please keep the following important dates in mind: Wednesday and Thursday, August 23 rd and 24 th general cleaning of the church, church hall, and church grounds from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM; Friday, August 25 th tents, tables and chairs will be delivered between 9:00 AM and Noon. From Noon through the evening hours, we will be setting up the tables and chairs as well as finalizing preparations in the church and church hall. Much, much help is needed on those days. Please schedule some time to lend a hand. As plans for food preparation are made, I will keep you informed. Baked Goods Needed Baked goods are needed for the Pilgrimage on August 27th from Ss. Peter & Paul Church and Assumption BVM Church. Donations of baked goods may be dropped off at the office during regular business hours or may be brought to Assumption BVM the morning of the Pilgrimage. Thank you in advance for your support of our 2 nd Annual Pilgrimage. Soup and Sandwich Ministry Our parishes have embarked upon a new and exciting outreach to the community. We serve a humble lunch of a soup and sandwich every second and fourth Wednesday of the month between the hours of 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM. This lunch is open to everyone in our community: the needy, the elderly, and the lonely and is totally free of charge. Our next lunch will be served on August 23rd. Special thanks to everyone who has made a donation in support of this project. We are grateful for your generosity. Keep in mind a special third collection for loose change will be taken the last weekend of every month. If you would like to help serve meals please notify the rectory office, Chris Bogner, Abbie Timmins or Toni Shedleski. Any and all help is appreciated Summer Camp Thanks Many, many thanks to the organizers and volunteers for helping make our 5 th Annual Summer Camp so enjoyable for all the children in attendance. Thanks also to our Holy Name Society for sponsoring the Knoebels night for all the children and their parents. Our camp is just one way in which we give back to the community and seek to share our faith with the youth of our area. Thank you again and God Bless You!!! A Call to Prayer During his visit in November 2015, Patriarch and Major-Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church world-wide, marveled at the continuing presence of Assumption BVM Church in Centralia and the sense of true holiness which pervades the entire property. His desire is for all people of faith to come and experience the same holiness and sanctity he discovered during his visit. In his name, Archbishop Stefan Soroka and the Parishioners of Assumption Church invite you to again pilgrimage to this holy place to gather in prayer Beseeching God s Mercy and Praying for the Intercession of the Mother of God on Sunday, August 27 th. All Divine Services and activities will take place in the Church and on the grounds of Assumption BVM Church on the mountainside above the Borough of Centralia, PA. Prayers begin at Noon with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom lead by Archbishop Soroka and joined by local clergy. There will be a Living Rosary recited in the outdoor chapel beginning at 2:00 PM. At the conclusion of the rosary, there will be a reflection given by Father Martin Kobos of Mother Cabrini Church in Shamokin. At 3:00 PM, the Akafist to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God before the Holy Shroud of the Dormition will be held. Confessions will be heard throughout the day by clergy of the South Anthracite Deanery. Concluding ceremonies will begin at 4:30 PM with a Candlelight Procession from the outdoor chapel to the Church. Archbishop Stefan will lead the singing of the Moleben to the Mother of God. Following the Moleben, oil will be blessed and prayers recited for the healing of body and soul, after which all are invited to come forward to receive the anointing. The Icon of Our Lady of Pochaiv and the Icon and Relics of Blessed Martyr Bishop +Mykola Charnetsky, the Healer of Souls will be available for veneration. There will be light refreshments available and religious items on display for purchase. This is a rain or shine event. ALL FAITHS, ALL CREEDS, ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ARE WELCOME! Spiritual Reading Lending Library We have assembled a library based upon spiritual reading, reflection and meditation for the benefit of our parishioners and friends. It is located in the vestibule of the church. Everyone is invited to browse through and take a book home to read. Once you have finished the book, please return it so others can make use of it. As we strive to live good Christian lives, it is important we fill our minds and hearts with things that are of the Lord. Please take advantage of this opportunity to grow in faith and knowledge.
Blessing of School Students Fr. Michael will bless the school students at all Liturgies on the weekend of August 19th and 20th. As the students return to school it is important they do so with the blessing of Almighty God. All students from elementary level through graduate school are invited to come forward to receive this very special blessing upon them. Dormition of the Theotokos Holy Day of Obligation The Dormition of the Theotokos, a Holy Day of Obligation, will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 9:00 AM at Assumption BVM, Centralia followed by the solemn blessing of flowers. The Holy Day will be celebrated at Ss. Peter & Paul on Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:00 PM. Please attend one of these Liturgies to fulfill your Holy Day obligation. Altar Rosary Society Bus Trip Ss. Peter & Paul's Altar Rosary Society is sponsoring a bus trip to the American Music Theater in Lancaster on November 9th to see "Home for the Holidays." Lunch will be at the Smorgasbord at Shady Maple prior to the show. Cost for the trip is $87. For reservations please call Jeanne Bergal at 570-339-0513 or Christine Bogner at 570 847-4385. Reservations & payment must be received by October 1st. Chicken & Halupki Dinner St. Nicholas Church in Minersville is sponsoring a chicken and halupki dinner on Saturday, August 19, 2017 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at St. Nicholas Hall in Primrose. Dinner includes chicken, halupki, filling, mashed potatoes, vegetable and roll for $10, eat-in or take-out. Advance tickets only. Call 570-544-4581 for more information or to purchase tickets. Jonah at Sight & Sound The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court of Our Lady of Victory #588 is holding a bus trip to Sight & Sound in Lancaster to see Jonah on Monday, October 9, 2017. The cost is $110 and includes the bus, show ticket and dinner at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. Call Mary Snyder at 570-339- 0420 to register. Ukrainian Festival at Ukrainian Homestead The annual Ukrainian Festival will be held Saturday August 19 th and Sunday August 20 th at the Ukrainian Homestead of CEC ODWU, Ince at 1230 Beaver Run Dr., Lehighton, PA. Traditional Ukrainian foods, folk art and exhibitions, entertainment, children s games, gift and craft vendors. Admission: $5/person for one day, $7/person for both days. Ages 14 and under free. Gates open at noon. St. Pauline Society Raffle Designer purse and accessory raffle will be held on Friday, August 25 from 11 AM to 7 PM and Saturday, August 26 from 10 AM to 2 PM at Pauline House 1136 Chestnut St., Kulpmont. Food, beverages, and door prizes available. Need not be present to win. Proceeds benefit the St. Pauline Society. For more info, contact JoAnn at 570-259- 9299. Blessing of Flowers and Fragrant Herbs on the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God Holy Tradition tells us that all the Apostles, with the exception of St. Thomas, were transported mystically to Jerusalem in order to be with the Mother of God the Theotokos as she reposed, and to be present at her burial. When the Apostle Thomas arrived the next day, the Apostles opened the tomb so that he could kiss her farewell. As the tomb was opened, the body of the Most Pure Virgin was missing, and the cave was filled with flowers and the sweet fragrance of Paradise. This was a sure sign of her great purity and holiness to the faithful. Therefore as part of our celebration of Dormition we bless flowers and fragrant herbs and the faithful traditionally keep them in their homes. The herbs, used as natural medicine, are blessed in commemoration of the numerous healings and the extraordinary grace bestowed on the pilgrims at the blessed tomb of the Mother of God. During times of family strife or illness, it is a pious custom to place the flower petals in the house censer, together with the incense, and cense the whole house with it. Praise Concert at Our Lady Church A Praise Concert by The Lift your Spirits Performing Arts Group will be held Sunday, August 13, 2017 at 4:30 PM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 47 S. Market St. Free admission all invited.
10 th Sunday After Pentecost Troparion Though the stone was sealed by the Jews and soldiers guarded Your most pure body, You arose, O Savior, on the third day, and gave life to the world. And so the heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of life: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your kingdom! Glory to Your saving plan, O only Lover of Mankind. Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit: Kontakion You arose in glory from the tomb and with Yourself You raised the world. All humanity acclaims You as God, and death has vanished. Adam exults, O Master, and Eve, redeemed from bondage now, cries out for joy: You are the One, O Christ, Who offer resurrection to all. Now and ever and forever. Amen. Theotokion When Gabriel uttered to you, O Virgin, his Rejoice! at that sound the Master of all became flesh in you, the Holy Ark. As the just David said, you have become wider than the heavens carrying your Creator. Glory to Him Who dwelt in you! Glory to Him Who came forth from you! Glory to Him Who freed us through birth from you! Prokimenon Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in You. V. Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! God gives me vindication, and has subdued peoples under me. V. Making great the salvation of the king, and showing mercy to His anointed, to David, and to His posterity forever. Alleluia (3x) Epistle: 1 Cor 4:9-16 Gospel: Mt 17:14-23 The Icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos On August 15th, Eastern Christians commemorate the Dormition, or falling asleep, of the Virgin Mary. The imagery and narrative of the icon of the Dormition comes from Holy Tradition as there is no scriptural account of her death. The icon is one through which we see gathered into a single frame and presented in a manner transcending time, the physical and spiritual events occurring during the time of the Virgin Mary s death. According to tradition, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary while she was praying at Golgotha. He foretold that in three days she would enter into rest. The Virgin Mary was overjoyed, and she prayed and gave thanks to God that soon she would be with her Son. The Lord heard her prayer and through it, He gathered far and wide all of the apostles and transported them through the clouds to her bedside. After much bewilderment and joy at seeing each other again, the Apostles learned why they were brought together again. Each apostle approached for a blessing from the Virgin Mary while she praised them for their faith and endurance in preaching the Gospel of Christ. In a somber room thereafter, she peacefully gave up her soul. This is the central moment in the icon. The grief stricken Apostles are crowded around the bed of the Virgin Mary. Paul s disciples, Dionysius the Areopagite, Hierotheos, and Timothy can be seen in the background each holding the gospel. Mary s maidservants, Sepphora, Abigail, and Jael are also present. In the foreground, Paul bows reverently on the left while Peter bows and is censing on the right. John, the beloved apostle cared for Mary after Christ s death, bows in mourning near the headrest. At the moment of her passing, as heard in one of the hymns, all gazed fearfully at her body and were overcome with awe; causing Peter to cry out tearfully, Oh Virgin, I see you clearly lying here supine, the life of all and I am struck with wonder, for in you did the delight of the life come to make his dwelling. The Virgin Mary s soul thereafter passed over to the spiritual realm and was reunited with her Son. Christ is seen above her physical body and yet He is invisibly present, surrounded by the uncreated light, and unseen by those physically present. He holds an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, symbolizing the soul of the Virgin Mary being born into eternal life. A six-winged Seraphim hovers above, representing the bodiless host. In other versions of the icon, numerous angels are present and look on in wonder and awe at the entry into heaven of she who gave birth to God. Later, the apostles sang spiritual hymns and followed the funeral procession to the tomb prepared in Gethsemane. By divine providence, the apostle Thomas arrived three days later and asked if he could reverence the Virgin Mary s body once more. To the amazement of the Apostles, her body was nowhere to be seen when they opened her tomb. While this mysterious and miraculous matter has not been formally defined as a doctrine of the Church, it has long been part of Holy Tradition that the Virgin Mary s body had been translated to heaven where she now resides with her Son. The icon is usually being painted above the chief entrance to the nave, on the inner side, helping to remind us of our own death as we exit the sanctuary. But most of all, we are once more able to honor and admire the mother of the everlasting light, for it was she who through which life came into the world.
Archeparchy of Philadelphia Welcomes Father Andriy Rabiy as new Auxiliary Bishop Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka and Auxiliary Bishop John Bura, together with the clergy, religious and faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia joyfully welcome the Holy Father s appointment of Very Rev. Andriy Rabiy, a priest of our archeparchy, as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. He has been assigned the Tutular See of Germaniciana. Pope Francis concurred with the recommendation of the appointment offered by the Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops. Very Andriy Rabiy has studied for the priesthood at our St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary, receiving his philosophical and theological studies at The Catholic University of America and the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood within our archeparchy and has served with enthusiasm and dedication at a number of parish assignments. Very Rev. Andriy Rabiy returned to The Catholic University of America for advanced studies in canon law and has served in our Archieparchial Marriage Tribunal. His care and concern for the souls of faithful living in locations not close to existing parishes resulted in his beginning a successful new mission parish in Lancaster, PA, St. Andrew the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission Parish. Recently, he successfully transferred the location of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church from a downtown location to a more suitable suburb location offering a full range of facilities for the parish. Very Rev. Andriy Rabiy serves as Vicar General and Vice-Chancellor of our Archeparchy, in addition to his ministry at his parishes. Our Archeparchy and our Ukrainian Catholic Church will be well served by the vibrant and dedicated ministry demonstrated by our newly nominated candidate to the episcopacy. We congratulate him. We commit ourselves to support him with our prayers, words of encouragement, and joyful sharing in his episcopal ministry. God bless Very Rev. Andriy Rabiy richly in ways only He can as he undertakes his new ministry as a bishop of the Church. Our heartfelt welcome and Mnohaya Lita!