HOLY GHOST RUSSIAN ORTHODOX GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH 1510 East Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06608 PO Box 55339 Phone: (203) 334-5700 Archpriest Michael Westerberg Parish Administrator Mark Curran, Parish President (203) 526-8863 (Cell Emergency cases, i.e., funerals, hospitalizations, home visitations, etc.) Barbara Dulin, Parish Council (bulletin) (203) 452-0776 moparbarb@gmail.com Website: www.holyghostbpt.org MARCH 11, 2018 Daily Scripture Readings MONDAY, MARCH 12 Genesis 8:21-7:7 Proverbs 11:19-12:6 TUESDAY, MARCH 13 Genesis 9:8-17 Proverbs 12:8-22 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 Genesis 9:18-10:1 Proverbs 12:23-13-9 THURSDAY, MARCH 15 Genesis 10:32-11:9 Proverbs 13:19-14:6 FRIDAY, MARCH 16 Genesis 12:1-7 Proverbs 14:15-26 SATURDAY, MARCH 17 Hebrews 6:9-12 Mark 7:31-37 Services this Week SUNDAY, MARCH 11 Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 Presanctified Liturgy 5:30 p.m. (Fr Steven presiding) FRIDAY, MARCH 16 Presanctified Liturgy 9:00 a.m. FOURTH WEEK OF LENT Confessions this week: Tuesday 10:30 am to 12 noon and Thursday 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. SUNDAY, MARCH 18 Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. VESPER SERVICES DURING LENT: March 11 Third Sunday of Great Lent (Veneration of the Holy Cross) Saint John the Baptist Mill Hill Ave.,.Bridgeport 4:00 p.m. March 18 Fourth Sunday of Great Lent (St. John Climacus) Saint John the Baptist Silver Lane, Stratford 4:00 p.m. Holy Trinity New Britain 4:00 p.m. March 25 Fifth Sunday of Great Lent (St. Mary of Egypt Unction Service) Three Saints Church Ansonia 4:00 p.m. 1
April 1 Sixth Sunday of Great Lent (Bridegroom Matins) All Saints Church Hartford 4:00 p.m. Hebrews 4:14-5:6 (Epistle) 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: You are My Son, today I have begotten You. 6 As He also says in another place: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Mark 8:34-9:1 (Gospel) 34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. 1 And He said to them, Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power. 2
TO THE PARISH MEMBERSHIP OF HOLY GHOST from Fr Michael Westerberg, our Parish Administrator The season of Great Lent has begun on Monday, Feb. 19. As the Parish Administrator, allow me to update you regarding the liturgical services that will be provided and the times for personal confession that will be offered. With the input of Fr John Hopko, our dean, Fr John Kreta, our chancellor, His Eminence Archbishop Nikon, Fr Steven Belonick, your former pastor, and myself, a schedule has been established. Although Fr Steven s condition has not changed, he has stated his willingness to assist in the Lenten schedule as much as he is able. I bring this to your attention because his willingness to extend himself given his condition should be met with your willingness to make every effort to participate in the services of this holy season. His Eminence, along with our chancellor, is very concerned with Fr Steven s health and has instructed him, in no uncertain terms, that he is to be VERY careful, and if he is tired or unwell, even on short notice, he is not to serve, even if that means that the liturgical service in question needs to be cancelled, again, even at the "very last minute." About this caveat, they made themselves very clear. Having said this, here is the proposed schedule: 1. A substitute priest will cover all Sundays during Great Lent through Palm Sunday and Holy Pascha. 2. Following the Liturgy on Sunday, February 18, the substitute priest will serve Forgiveness Vespers and the Rite of Forgiveness. As our church teaches, it is expected that all members of the community will begin the Lenten season together by participating in the Rite of Forgiveness. 3. On Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of the first week of Lent (Feb. 19, 20, 22), Fr Steven will preside at the Canon of St Andrew of Crete. The service will begin at 6:30 pm. 4. On Wednesday of the first week of Lent (Feb.21), Fr Steven will also preside at the Liturgy of the Presanctified beginning with hours at 5:30 pm. On Friday of the first week of Lent (Feb.23), a substitute priest will celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified at 9 am. 5. No personal confessions will be heard during the first week of Lent. 6. Personal confessions will begin to be heard during the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth weeks of Great Lent only on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 am to 12 noon and on Thursday afternoons from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. GIVEN FR STEVEN S CONTINUED WEAKNESS, DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST WEEK OF LENT FOR YOUR CONFESSION, THAT IS THE WEEK OF MARCH 26. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT FR STEVEN WILL NOT HEAR CONFESSIONS DURING HOLY WEEK, THAT IS THE WEEK OF APRIL 2nd. 7. For those who work, Confessions will be available with Fr Steven by appointment on Saturdays, March 3 and 10th. 8. Presanctified Liturgy will be celebrated by Fr Steven throughout Lent on Wednesdays, starting with hours at 5:30 pm. On Friday mornings, Presanctified Liturgies starting at 9 am by a substitute priest. 3
9. A special schedule for Holy Week will be provided in due time. Fr Steven will NOT be serving any Holy Week services or Pascha. A substitute priest will be assigned. Thank you for your attentiveness to these announcements. The diocese is doing all it can to provide the care to Holy Ghost Church during the Lenten season that it so richly deserves. If you should have any questions, you may always contact me through your parish President, Mark Curran. Yours in Christ, Fr Michael Westerberg, Parish Administrator LENTEN MESSAGE FROM FR STEVEN Please go to www.holyghostbpt.org to hear a message given by Fr. Steven Belonick following the Canon of St. Andrew during the first week of Great Lent. It was about the entire purpose of Great Lent: Breaking our hard heartedness in order for us to submit to God s will and find the riches of God s Kingdom." LAMPATKI REFURBISHED Thank you to the Jankura, Kopko, Moyher, Pronechen, and Savisky families for their donation to refurbish the Lampatki in front of the icons of St. John the Baptist on the right side of the church and St. Martha on the left side. Their offering was made in memory of John and Martha Jankura. The Dulin/Zujewski family has also made a donation towards the Lampatki in front of the icons of St. Panteleimon and St. Seraphim in loving memory of Constantine and Eugenia Zaffis. If anyone is interested in contributing to the refurbishing project, please see Mark Curran or Sue Maugeri. Thank you, Fr Steven. CANDLE DESK SCHEDULE March 11 David Lepesko, Audrey Stabler March 18 Diane Laufer, Sophie Rogers * Reminder: There will only be two individuals assigned at the candle desk on Sunday mornings. Please check with the candle desk each week to see if additional help is needed. DONATIONS / CANDLES / FLOWERS Donation was made to the Myrrh Bearers from Betty Kost - $10.00 PARISH PRAYER LIST Jean Clark Barbara Figlar, Lydia Garasimowicz COFFEE FELLOWSHIP March 11 Darlene Kesnick March 18 Bob Denhup, Barb Dulin REMINDER TO PLEASE SIGN UP FOR COFFEE HOUR 4
PUSSY WILLOWS are needed for Palm Sunday. For those of you who can obtain them, please bring them to church as soon as you can. Thank you! LENTEN SOUP FUND RAISER reminder Orders are being accepted for soup and will be taken prior to the sale date, in order to give our cooks an exact amount of how much soup to make. We are still in need of 4 more cooks to complete this fund raiser. Sign-up sheets are available downstairs. Thank you to those who have participated so far. TALENT PROJECT reminder Sue Maugeri will be starting the Talent Project again this year and asks that everyone try to complete their project and hand in their funds before August 18 in order to record it during the current church year. If anyone is looking for ideas, please see Susan. She has a list of previous projects that may help many to choose a project. THE ORTHODOX WOMEN S COUNCIL OF EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCHES would like to know if anyone is interested in seeing the 1970 Rock Opera, Jesus Christ Super Star at the Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport on March 16 th. Please contact Kathy Cisero at (203) 380-8548. Thank you. Membership applications are available in the back of the church as well as on our website for joining the Women s Council. Your energy, talents, and support are needed! For more information, please contact Yvie Klancko at yklancko@gmail.com Thank you! THE NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING is scheduled for March 18th. EASTER FLOWERS Once again flowers will be purchased to beautify our church on Pascha. Please find the attached Easter flower order form. You can either order them in memory of a loved one or for the health of a loved one. Donations in your Easter flower envelopes are also welcomed. Plants will be available for pick up on Thomas Sunday. In addition to purchasing flowers, volunteers are also needed on Good Friday, April 6, between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. to assist with decorating the church for Pascha. Thank you in advance! LOOKING AHEAD TO THE SUMMER ( ) Please be advised that a summer schedule has been put into place for the months of July and August as follows: Liturgy services will begin at 8:00 a.m. vs. 9:00 a.m. to help with the summer heat and humidity. It is extremely hot in the Altar area especially. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. 5
DEPARTED FROM THE PARISH METRICS (March 11 17)) MARCH 11 Walter Shauchuk (59) 1970, Michael Zigmont (40) 1978. MARCH 12 Anne P. Gotta-Jaques (74) 1995, Mary (Tanych) Gaydos (78) 1999, Alexander Lucas (84) 2001. MARCH 13 John Sivetz (35) 1900, Nicholas Dirga (38) 1919, Mary Sivec (96) 1992, Irene (Bobko) Balint (81) 1998, Sophia Zukewski 2012. MARCH 14 Maria Gerak (2 yrs) 1909, Maxim Merezhsky (or Michael Meleshra) (44) 1914, Julia Shenchuk 1942, Mary Alesevich (63) 1956, Dorothy Hubenko (48) 1968, Nicholas Leschik (87) 1979, George Robert Charak (63) 1987, Michael Darak, Jr. 2004, Ekaterina Dynnikova 2012. MARCH 15 John Shomsky (5 yrs.) 1901, Michael Dennis (54) 1945, Mary Babey Jankura (54) 1963, Mary Gardula (85) 1981, Nicholas Breyan (81) 2000. MARCH 16 Maria Tsibul (8 days) 1915, Anna Lantowski Neeley (56) 1971. MARCH 17 Elia Martinuk (64) 1950, Anne Seresin (64) 1972, Mary Fedorko Porianda (81) 1973, Sophia Turko Kasper 1979, Nicholas Konder (75) 1997. BIRTHDAYS Edward Moyher (March 15), Paul Alesevich (March 16). ANNIVERSARIES None listed. 6