Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church

November 17, 2019

23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Our Holy Father Gregory the Wonderworker, of Neocaesarea Passing into Eternal Life (1947) of Blessed Josaphat Kotsylovsky, Bishop of Peremyshl and Martyr November 17, 2019 Schedule of services for the week of November 18 - November 24 Wednesday, November 20 7PM – Great Vespers with Lytia Thursday, November 21 The Entrance into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos 9AM – Divine Liturgy For all parishioners Saturday, November 23 The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew 9AM – Divine Liturgy Heath and Blessing for Health & blessing for Alla, Yuriy, Yuriy, Antonina, Tetyana, Yuriy, Svetlana, Magdaliina, Nadya, Valya 5PM – Great Vespers Sunday, November 24 24th Postfeast of Entrance into the Temple;The Holy Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria; The Holy Great Martyr Mercurius 8:40 AM – Third Hour 9AM – Divine Liturgy For all parishioners We welcome all visitors and guests. Please join us in our hall for refreshments and fellowship after the Divine Liturgy! “Deported” into eternity Bishop and Martyr “I came to Protection Monastery and the Josaphat Kotsylovsky hegumena [prioress] told me the story. When they was born on 3 March arrested Bishop Kotsylovsky they arrested their 1876 in the village of Orthodox bishop of at the same time. When Pakoshivka, Lemkiv they brought a package to Chapaivka, that District. He graduated Orthodox bishop said: ‘Uniate Bishop Josaphat with a degree in Theology Kotsylovsky is confined in the same camp with me.’ from in 1907, and And he asked those nuns, if they could, to bring a later on October 9 of that package to Bishop Josaphat as well. So they year he was ordained to brought a package for the one bishop and for the the priesthood. Not long other … Once when she brought a package, the after that he was bishop said that Kotsylovsky had died. And he appointed vice-rector and asked her, because the dead were all thrown into professor of Theology at one hole, if they could borrow some money or get the Ivano-Frankivsk seminary. In 1911 he entered the some money somewhere. He asked her ‘to bury novitiate of the Basilian order. He was ordained a him in a separate grave, because this was a holy bishop on 23 September 1917 in Przemysl upon the man.” return of Metropolitan Andrey (Sheptytsky) from captivity in Russia. In September of 1945 the Polish –From the testimony of Father Josaphat Kavatsivo communist authorities arrested him and on 26 June 1946, after his next arrest, they forcibly took him to the USSR and placed him in a prison in Kyiv. Throughout his life he showed his perseverance of service, to make the Christian faith firm and to grow in human souls. He died a martyr for the faith on 17 November 1947 in the Chapaivka concentration camp near Kyiv. Vocation Icon Program “I Have Chosen You” The icon ” I Have Chosen You ” portrays many Prayer for Vocations aspects of discerning a spiritual vocation. The title O Lord our God, older than all creation, you comes from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of have made us in your image and likeness. John: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and You have given us the gift of the Holy Spirit appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and through your servants who proclaim the good that your fruit should abide” (John 15:16 ). news of your Church all that is necessary for our In the icon, Christ is shown in dialogue with sanctification. a man and a woman, representatives of all who We humbly beg you, do not leave your people are invited to serve through or deprived of spiritual gifts, but grant us an religious life. abundance of vocations to your holy priesthood, Both individuals are moving out of the world, the diaconate and consecrated life, and to lives symbolized by the woman partially in the border, dedicated to your service. towards Christ. The scroll in Open the hearts of men and Our Lord’s hand represents His women to hear your words, teachings. An angel, holding a “Come, follow me!” scroll that reads “discernment,” Indeed, do not leave us guides and protects those orphans, but be with us contemplating the request of through your Holy Spirit, who the Lord. The entire scene takes is present everywhere and place on desolate ground. A fills all things, and who raises single tree, symbolic of vitality, up mere mortals to divine breaks the barren landscape. service by the mystery of his This setting reveals several grace. more characteristics of Truly you will never forget discerning a vocation: your promise to be with us First, it takes place always, until the end of the outdoors, in a place without world, but forgive us if we walls, symbolic of the Church have, in our weakness, failed not being an earthly to follow you as we should. institution of buildings and For you alone are holy now structures but a new life in and ever and forever. Christ. Second, as Jesus saw Nathaniel under Amen. the fig tree and called him to discipleship (John 1:48 ), Jesus intimately knows those whom He calls. Third, the tree’s lower branch connects the man and woman to the trunk, representing the Parishioners are encouraged to take vocations as the branches of Christ’s vine the icon home and pray daily for (John 15:5). An individual does not choose to serve vocations to the priesthood, diaconate Christ, but rather is chosen by Him specifically and monastic life. A sign-up sheet is for His service. One is called to blossom and available in the Narthex, and families bear fruit through the grace received in can sign up for more than one week in a ordination or religious life, and not to be fruitless and cut off by the Divine Gardner row if desired. (John 15:2). Forty Shopping (And Fasting) Days Until Christmas From OCA.org / By Fr. Steven Kostoff On November 15, we observed the first day of become rather overwhelming. the 40-day Nativity/Advent Fast, meant to prepare Certainly, these are some of the joys of family us for the advent of the Son of God in the flesh. life, and we feel a deep satisfaction when we For some/many of us, this might very well catch us surround our children with the warmth and security unaware and unprepared. However, as the saying that the sharing of gifts brings to our domestic goes, “it is what it is,” and so the Church calendar lives. Perhaps, though, we can be vigilant about directs us to enter into this sacred season on that knowing when “enough is enough”—or even day. This indicates an intensification of the better, when “enough is a feast.” An awareness— perennial “battle of the calendars” in which every combined with sharing—of those who have next to Orthodox Christian is engaged—consciously or nothing is also a way of overcoming our own self- unconsciously. The two calendars – the ecclesial absorption and expanding our notion of the and the secular – represent the Church and “the “neighbor.” world” respectively. Therefore, to be both an ascetic and a Often, there is an underlying tension between consumer is indicative of the challenges facing us these two spheres. Because of that tension, I as Christians in a world that clearly favors and believe that we find ourselves in the rather peculiar “caters” to our consumerist tendencies. To speak situation of being ascetical and consumerist honestly, this is a difficult and uneasy balance to simultaneously. To fast, pray and be charitable is maintain. How can it possibly be otherwise, when to lead a simplified life that is based around to live ascetically is to restrain those very restraint—a certain discipline and a primary choice consumerist tendencies? I believe that what we to live according to the principles of the Gospel in are essentially trying to maintain is our identity as a highly secularized and increasingly hedonistic Orthodox Christians within the confines of a world. That is what it means to be ascetical. It culture either indifferent or hostile to Christianity. If further means to focus upon Christ amidst an ever- the Church remains an essential part of the increasing number of distractions and diversions. buildup toward Christmas, then we can go a long Even with the best of intentions and a firm resolve, way in maintaining that balance. that is not easy! Although I do not particularly like putting it this From our historical perspective of being alive in way, I would contend that if the Church is a place the 21st century, and leading the “good life” where of choice that at least “competes” with the mall, everything is readily available, practicing any form then that again may be one of the modest victories of voluntary self-restraint is tantamount to bearing in the underlying battle for our ultimate loyalty to a cross. Perhaps fulfilling some modest goals which a consumerist Christmas season awakens based on the Gospel in today’s world, such as it is, us. The Church directs us to fast before we feast. amounts to a Christian witness, unspectacular as Does that make any sense? Do we understand the those goals may be. Yet, as our society counts theological/spiritual principles that are behind such down the remaining shopping days until an approach? Can we develop some domestic Christmas; and as our spending is seen as almost strategies that will give us the opportunity to put a patriotic act of contributing to the buildup of our that into practice to, at least some extent? Do we failing economy; and as we want to “fit in” – care enough? The final question always returns us especially for the sake of our children – we also to the question that Jesus asked of his disciples: are prone (or just waiting) to unleashing the “Who do you say that I am?” If we, together with “consumer within,” always alert to the joys of St. Peter, confess that Jesus is “the Christ, the shopping, spending and accumulating. When one Son of the Living God,” then we know where we adds in the unending “entertainment” designed to stand as the “battle of the calendars” intensifies for create a holiday season atmosphere, it can all the next 40 days. Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann - On Children and Church As a general rule, children like attending is full of the blare of radio and TV, the parents are Church, and this instinctive attraction to and smoking and reading the papers, and there reigns a interest in Church services is the foundation on generally profane atmosphere? Church attendance which we must build our religious education. should be preceded by a sense of being gathered in, When parents worry that children will get tired a quiet, a certain solemnity. The lighting of vigil because services are long and are sorry for them, lights before the icons, the reading of the Scripture they usually subconsciously express their concern lessons, clean and fresh clothes, the festively not for their children but for themselves. Children tidied-up rooms – so frequently parents do not penetrate more easily than do adults into the world realize how all these things shape the religious of ritual, of liturgical symbolism. They feel and consciousness of the child, make an imprint which appreciate the atmosphere of our Church services. no later tribulations will ever efface. On the eve The experience of Holiness, the sense of encounter and on the day of Sundays and Church feasts, with Someone Who is beyond daily life, that during Lent, on the days when we prepare mysterium tremendum that is at the root of all ourselves for Confession and Communion, the religion and is the core of our services is more home must reflect the Church, must be illuminated accessible to our children than it is to us. by the light that we bring back from worship. "Except ye become as little children," these And now let us speak of the school. It seems self- words apply to the evident to me that to receptivity, the open- organize so-called "Sunday mindedness, the School" lessons during naturalness, which we lose Divine Liturgy is in deep when we grow out of contradiction with the childhood. How many men spirit of Orthodoxy. The have devoted their lives to Sunday Liturgy is a joyful the service of God and gathering of the Church consecrated themselves to community, and the child the Church because from must know and experience childhood they have kept this long before he is able their love for the house of to understand the deep worship and the joy of meaning of this gathering. liturgical experience! It seems to me that the Therefore, the first duty of choice of Sunday for parents and educators is to "suffer little children church school is not a very good one. Sunday is and forbid them not" (Matt. 19:14) to attend primarily a liturgical day; therefore, it should be Church. It is in Church before every place else that Church-centered and Liturgy-centered. It would be children must hear the word of God. In a classroom far better to have church school on Saturdays the word is difficult to understand, it remains before the Vigil or Vespers service. The argument abstract, but in church it is in its own element. In that parents cannot and will not bring children to childhood we have the capacity to understand, not church twice a week is merely admitting indolence intellectually, but with our whole being, that there and sinful negligence of what is important to our is no greater joy on earth than to be in Church, to children. Saturday evening is the beginning of participate in Church services, to breathe the Sunday and should be liturgically sanctified just as fragrance of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is "the much as Sunday morning. Why, in all Orthodox joy and peace of the Holy Spirit." churches the world over Vespers or the Vigil is Church attendance should be complemented served on the eve of Feasts and Sundays. There is from the earliest days of childhood by the home no reason why we too cannot arrange our church atmosphere, which precedes and prolongs the life according to principle: School—Vespers— mood of the Church. Let us take Sunday morning. Liturgy, where School would be for children the How can a child sense the holiness of that morning essential preparation and introduction to the Day and of that which he will see in Church if the home of the Lord, His resurrection. SPORTICISM:THE TRUE AMERICAN RELIGION I want to clarify something before I even go a single Michael, as well as the very palpable effect it had upon letter further as I know how passionate Americans are for the team, proved to me, beyond a shadow of doubt, how their sports. As a youngster, I was a massive basketball illusory this world—a world I had become so thoroughly and Bulls fan. It became a common occurrence for my engrossed in that it rivaled the “real” world beyond—was. family and I (sic) to rearrange events based on the Bulls It didn’t matter how much I yelled at the screen, rooting for schedule—a schedule that was proudly attached to the the Bulls to continue with their in-game streak; it never front of the refrigerator so as to be viewed and reviewed affected the outcome. It didn’t matter how many stats I easily. And my participation within this mass-media-driven memorized; it didn’t affect the sub-par players/coaches culture extended far beyond the television screen. I they chose. It didn’t matter what card set I had completed; owned/wore various baseball caps with the Bulls it became considered worthless, arbitrarily, in the next logo/colors on them; slept on a bed with sheets and pillow month’s trade magazine for any number of reasons. coverings from the movie SPACE JAM (starring Michael And these jaundiced set of eyes has watched in horror “His Airness” Jordan); practiced and disgust at the twisted dunking and shooting on a New American Religions... marriage of “state” and small Orlando Magic wall- #1 Sporticism “enterprise”; “commercialism” mounted hoop and ball set (a and “patriotism” that has Bulls version was simply Sunday Liturgy:SundayGame become indicative at many impossible to find) that hung Saints & Apostles: Coaches & mainstream sport events. over my bed; and so on. players However, in an effort to extend However, no avenue of Scriptures: Team Statistics an olive-branch (of sorts) to my merchandising showed my Vestments: Team colors & athletic brothers and sisters; I dedication to the sport as gear do understand the importance prominently or magnificently Holy day: Opening game day sports may play in your than trading card collecting. Relics: Signed memorabilia respective lives. I am more Once or twice a week you Pilgrimage: Super Bowl than well-aware that many could find me at the trading Mardi Gras: Half-time pivotal moments in a person’s card shop—the one that Devotional Statues: life might revolve, directly or existed on Milwaukee Ave.— mascot toys & player indirectly, around sports; either buying new packs of action figures whether as mere spectators or cards in the hopes of getting Liturgical chant: active participants. But I some that I desperately needed Team anthem implore you to study, to complete a set and/or Jihad: Street riots momentarily but earnestly, why picking up the newest issue of you associate yourself and/or a trading-card value magazine. When men stop your family with a sport/team. I Furthermore, as someone worshipping God, they encourage you to explore with a weakened immune substitute something whether the sport world you system, mostly due to limited else in His place. find yourself bowing in mobility and what have you supplication to is, truly, worth rather than a direct result of my – G.K. Chesterton your blessed time or if it could disease itself, I often found be better utilized. I ask you if myself in the hospital dealing with a case of pneumonia. that sport game is truly worth rushing out of Church On one such occasion, a doctor/pediatrician came to service, as if your house is on fire, simply for a fleeting check-in on me, and the conversation quickly leaped onto moment or two of joy instead of thanking Christ for the sports. To make a long story short, he ended up giving me knowledge that you could go quench your thirst for base several basketball cards from his private collection delight but instead choose Him over other enticements. despite barely knowing me. The reason I bring up such a As I write and review this post, I realize that, like others, I caveat is to show that in spite of all my real troubles, I am, essentially, preaching a message of moderation. We could still make the effort to (enthusiastically) discuss live in such a world that likes to force us into extremes sports. And, yet, this idyllic world came to an abrupt and that I merely want people to find a true source of troubling end when Jordan, officially and finally, left “the happiness rather than ones pre-packaged and sold to us sport he loved”. Although I tried sticking with the team with false promises and vacant smiles. afterwards; this was an effort in futility given the depths to –MichaelWojciechowski which their game-playing suffered. The dramatic exit of THE ALTAR OF A Byzantine CHURCH The altar, sanctuary, or the Holy of Holies is the eastern part of the church building, separated from the nave (the main body of the church) by the iconostas (a wall with icons). The altar contains the Holy Table and the Table of Oblation and has an adjoining sacristy and vestry for the storage of sacred vessels and vestments. Entry into the altar is through the Royal Doors in the middle of the iconostas and the deacon’s doors to the north and the south. Only ordained clergy (, deacons, and ) are allowed through the Royal Doors, and only men or boys who are appointed to serve are allowed through the deacon’s doors during the services. The altar area is elevated above the rest of the church to remind the faithful that just as the Lord descended from heaven to earth, so too in like manner are they to make an ascent from earth to heaven. Non-Perishable Food Drive Begins Now to Dec. 22: (All items distributed by Catholic Charities) Non-opened, Non-expired dates or recently expired is OK

1. Canned goods of all types, but especially proteins or whole meal like chili, ravioli, beefaroni, etc. 2. Jar items like peanut butter, jelly or jam, pasta sauce. 3. Dry items like rice, beans, pasta, cereal, oatmeal, noodles. 4. Staples like sugar, flour, oil, coffee, pancake mix. 5. Seasonal items like cake mix, cookies, candy, cocoa 6. Other foods like cereal, crackers, dry mixes for gravy, etc. 7. Canned tuna, ham, chicken, any other canned meats.

They also love to get baby food, diapers, and formula. Partial packages of diapers in zip lock bags will be taken. Baby toiletries as well are needed. Hygiene Kit Supply Drive on now through Dec. 22nd! Your help is needed to hit our goal of 50 baskets.

Needed are toiletry items (full size): • Shampoo • Deodorant • Conditioner • Soap or Body Wash • Lotion • Razors • Toothbrushes • Sanitary Pads or Tampons (wrapped) • Toothpaste • Also great: wet wipes, combs, brushes, lip balm

Travel sizes are okay as these are not used in kits, but given out individually. There is also a great need for packs of socks and cotton underwear in the larger sizes.

Please, only packaged items (including underwear) will be accepted.

Questions? Call or Text Brandi Mulvey 858-353-1369 or Janet Greenwell at 619-251-3007

Prefer to give money to purchase items? Put an envelope in the collection basket with cash or check made out to “Holy Angels Church” and specify how you would like your money spent.

May God bless your generosity! HYGIENE KIT SUPPLY DRIVE to benefit homeless women and men at Rachel’s Night Shelter and La Posada de Guadalupe run by Catholic Charities

DONATIONS ACCEPTED NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 22ND

Women’s kit ($13)* Men’s Kit ($11)*

*This is the cost of the example kits shown…all items bought at the Dollar Tree. You may assemble a kit and bring it in, donate individual items or donate money and we will purchase items and assemble for you. Goal is to assemble 50 kits! Please text or call Brandi Mulvey at (858) 353-1369 with any questions.

Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church 2235 Galahad Road San Diego, CA 92123-3931 Fr. James Bankston, Administrator Deacon Jonathan A. Deane Rectory/Office: 858-277-2511 Social Hall/Ethnic Foods: 858-268-3458 Email: [email protected] Website: www.HolyAngelsSanDiego.com Facebook: Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church

Bless, O Lord, the worship and Stewardship of your faithful servants: October 27 – attendance: 78; Adult Tithes: $800.00; For Freezers: $500.00; Loose change: $140.39; Church use donation: $26.00; Total: $1466.39

Vocation Icon: This week (November 17): Michael Havens Next week (November 24): The Deane Family Please sign up in the narthex to host the vocation icon.

All those requesting Holy Mysteries must be parishioners for at least six months.

Mysteries of Initiation: Requires Pre-Baptismal instruction. The Mysteries of Initiation are celebrated on Saturdays or Sundays within the Divine Liturgy. At least one sponsor must be a Catholic and the other a practicing Christian. Both sponsors must present documentation that they are in good standing with their church.

Mystery of Crowning: Requires Pre-Marriage instruction. Consult Fr. James at least six months prior to making wedding plans. Marriages cannot be celebrated during the fasting seasons of the Church.

Funerals: Contact Fr. James.

Liturgy, Panachyda and Eternal Lamp Intentions: Schedule with Fr. James. It is “holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead” (2 Maccabees 12:46) especially on the 9th and 40th days, and on the anniversary of their falling asleep in the Lord.

Holy Mystery of Confession: First Wednesday of the month from 7PM - 8PM. Also available before all services or by appointment. Confessions end 15 minutes prior to services.

Sick calls / Holy Anointing / Hospital Visits: Requested by parishioner, friend, or family.

Please submit all Bulletin announcements to Fr. James for approval by Wednesday of each week.

Last Sunday’s bulletin is available in the Narthex or on our website.

Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 10:AM - 5PM. Please call ahead to make sure Fr. James is on-site. Call anytime in case of an emergency.