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 4, 2018 Daily Scripture Readings MONDAY, MARCH 5 Genesis 6:9-22 Proverbs 8:1-21 TUESDAY, MARCH 6 Genesis 7:1-15 Proverbs 8:32-9:11 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7 Genesis 7:6-9 Proverbs 9:12-18 THURSDAY, MARCH 8 Genesis 7:11-8:3 Proverbs 10:1-22 FRIDAY, MARCH 9 Hebrews 12:1-10 Matthew 20:1-16 SATURDAY, MARCH 10 Hebrews 10:32-38 Mark 2:14-17 Services this Week SUNDAY, MARCH 4 Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7 Presanctified Liturgy 5:30 p.m. (Fr Steven presiding) FRIDAY, MARCH 9 Presanctified Liturgy 9:00 a.m. THIRD WEEK OF LENT Confessions this week: Tuesday 10:30 am to 12 noon and Thursday 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. SUNDAY, MARCH 11 Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. VESPER SERVICES DURING LENT: March 4 Second Sunday of Great Lent (St. Gregory Palamas) Saint George Main St. Trumbull, CT 4:00 p.m. Saint Cyril & Methodius Terryville 4:00 p.m. 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. 1
March 25 Fifth Sunday of Great Lent (St. Mary of Egypt Unction Service) Three Saints Church Ansonia 4:00 p.m. April 1 Sixth Sunday of Great Lent (Bridegroom Matins) All Saints Church Hartford 4:00 p.m. Hebrews 1:10-2:3 (Epistle) 10 And: You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; 12 like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail. 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? 1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. Mark 2:1-12 (Gospel) 1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven you. 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 2
Mark 2:1-12 (Gospel Cont d.) 7 Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? 8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Arise, take up your bed and walk? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins He said to the paralytic, 11 I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, We never saw anything like this! 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. 3
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. 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 AN IMPORTANT REMINDER from our Parish President It is Flu (Influenza) Season, and we extend our prayerful best wishes to those who have contracted influenza and are suffering through it. May God bless your prompt and full recovery! However, we do make this request: IF YOU ARE SICK, OR ARE ONLY JUST NOW FEELING BETTER, PLEASE, DO NOT COME TO CHURCH. Also, if the flu has afflicted those closely around you, and you have been exposed to the flu virus, please, also, consider not attending Church. Also, please inform those you know who might not have access to this bulletin or computer. Thank you! With Love in Christ, Mark Curran 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." 4
CANDLE DESK SCHEDULE March 4 Vera Alesevich, Bridget Alesevich March 11 David Lepesko, Audrey Stabler * 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 to the Myrrh Bearers from Daria Ploski and Carol Kirkman - $50.00 Lampatki over Royal Doors in loving memory of Michael Kasper from his family. Table of Oblation For health & happiness of Nancy Savisky from her loving family. PARISH PRAYER LIST Helen Andzrejewski, Myra Babina COFFEE FELLOWSHIP March 4 LoveAnn Curran March 11 - Open - REMINDER TO PLEASE SIGN UP FOR COFFEE HOUR 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. 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 4 March 10) MARCH 4 Stephen Saranacky (64) 1949, Porfiry Sinuke (79) 1953, Nicholas Komarovsky (86) 1991, Mary Vogel 2006, Michael Babina (84) 2012. MARCH 5 Nicholas Osedach (1 mo.) 1918, John Jankura, Sr., (70) 1958, Vasily (William) Messick (42) 1958, Mary Tarasuk (60) 1961, Leon Jamlik (75) 1964, Michael Shostak (85) 1971, Mary Kraynak (86) 1983, Milizia Drobashevsky (92) 1993, Antonia Pistey (90) 1994, Michael Ezepchik (81) 1998, Iren B. Jablonsky (83) 1998, Helen Shusko 1999, Helen K. Fitzgerald (87) 2003. MARCH 6 Joseph Liba (22) 1899, Martha Chervenak (83) 1956, Andrew Sepiuk (99) 1991, Olga Paul (84) 2000. MARCH 7 Elias Papach (3 days) 1912, Anton Ribachonok 1912, Anna Baktura (24) 1918, Mary (Karaffa) Labash (77) 1984. MARCH 8 Joanna Sivec Choun (39) 1940, Lena Leson Sivec (92) 1990, Helen Zedick (86) 1991. MARCH 9 Adam George Bochnak (2 days) 1967, Michael Tabak (94) 1968, Olga Sosik (101) 1993, Sergel Ledovsky (90) 2003. MARCH 10 Alexei Timoshevsky (18 wks) 1922, Zinaida Scherback (2 yrs.) 1922, Michael Kasper (67) 1967, Sophia Karpowich Scherbach (81) 1977. BIRTHDAYS David Lepesko (March 5), Nancy Savisky (March 6), Stephen Pronechen, Jr. (March 7), Darlene Kesnick (March 9), Susan Maugeri (March10). ANNIVERSARIES None listed. 6