Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast Sunday of St. John Climacus

Journeying to Pascha

Icon of Healing the Boy with a Demon

Eastern Christian Bulletin Service -- PO Box 3909 -- Fairfax, VA 22038-3909 www.ecbulletin.com Ph: 703-691-8862 Fax: 703-691-0513 - 2 - March 14, 2021: Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast Epistle: Heb. 6: 13-20 Gospel: Mk. 9: 17-31 Mon., March 15 9:00 + Susan Horvath (Roman & Eileen Kushner) Tues., March 16 9:00 + Emmett & Zenia Hooper (Family) Wed., March 17 6:00 pm Presanctified Liturgy Thurs. March 18 9:00 + Fran Sember (Rosemarie Sember) Fri., March 19 6:00 pm Stations of the Cross Sat., March 20 8:00 + Victims of Covid-19 2:00 pm Confessions 4:00 pm + Diann Yuhnick (Robert, Barbara & Hillary Spryn) Sun., March 21 10:00 For Our Parishioners Requiem Prayer Service for the Victims of the Covid-19 Pandemic Akathist Saturday, March 20, 2021 Dear Brothers and Sisters in for the victims of the Covid-19 pan- Christ! demic. We ask our priests to cel- Glory to Jesus Christ! ebrate with the participation of our A year has passed and we con- beloved faithful, the Requiem Divine tinue to struggle with the coronavirus Liturgy for the souls of the victims pandemic. Each and every one of us followed by the Panakhyda Service knows Covid-19 victims, their fami- on Akathistos Saturday, March 20, lies, the sick, health care workers, 2021. Let us pray to the Lord our Sav- volunteers and all those on the front ior that He may place the souls of the line during this perilous time. Coronavirus pandemic victims: “in During the Great Fast, we ask a place of light, a place of verdure, all of our Ukrainian and a place of tranquility, from which communities in the United States of pain, sorrow and mourning have fled” America to gather in liturgical prayer (Panakhyda service). - 3 - Let us remember in our prayers, themselves to those in need. We sup- the bereaved families and all those port them with our words, and above who are still suffering from the virus. all, with our prayers. Let us continue to remember, pray and May the memory of the Covid-19 be thankful to all those who devote victims be eternal! + ( of Philadelphia ) +, OSBM ( Eparch of Stamford) +Benedict Aleksiychuk (Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago) +Bohdan J. Danylo ( Eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma) + ( Auxiliary of Philadelphia) The Sunday of St. John Climacus Though details of the life of St. John Climacus are sketchy, it is known that he was born in the 6th century and entered the monastic life at an early age. After 40 years of living as a , he was elected of the monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai. Because of his reputation for wisdom and piety, pilgrims trav- eled from all over the East to visit him. Many miracles were attributed to St. John during his lifetime. Yet it was above all in the gift of spiri- tual teaching that God manifested His in him. Basing his teach- ing on his personal experience, he generously instructed all those who came to him. This spiritual teach- ing, however, attracted the jealousy - 4 - of some who then spread evil rumors sistence of his repentant detractors that about his character. Although his con- he agreed to receive visitors again. He science was clear, Abba John stopped passed to the Lord on March 30, about teaching for a whole year, convinced 649. Throughout Lent, The Ladder of that it was better to do some slight Divine Ascent, the spiritual classic harm to his friends rather than to ex- authored by St. John is read in mon- acerbate the resentment of the wicked. asteries. The reading of this book is All the inhabitants of the desert were completed on this, the Fourth Sunday edified at his silence and by this proof of Great Lent, and so we honor him on of humility, and it was only at the in- this day. Meditation for the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent Jesus cures a sick boy telling his father, which speak of the Kingdom of God “Everything is possible to one who as a treasure found in a field, or as a has faith” (Mk. 9 23). Jesus observed pearl of great value. Those who find it that this type of cure could only come sell all that they have in order to pos- about through prayer. The disciples sess it. Are we zealous in nurturing the were men of faith but could not cure value of our precious faith? Do we do the boy. Jesus seems to become impa- and give what we can to see that the tient with them when he says, “How faith is valued, taught and shared? The long will I endure you” (Mk. 9:19). journey of Great Fast leads you and me Even Jesus’ closest apostles needed to to nurture our faith in steadfast prayer be reminded of the power of prayer, and with acts of charity with the hope and the need to nurture it. The Great that Jesus Christ will not ask “How Fast invites you and me to nurture the long must I endure you”, but rather power of faith with steadfast and hon- rejoice in the powerfully living of our est prayer with Jesus. It involves our faith. Join with others in the parish to reflecting on our priorities in life as we nurture your faith as a family of God. stand before Jesus. Recall the parables Spiritual Regulations for the Great Fast Although our Church traditionally dairy products in days gone by for the prescribed abstention from meat and entire duration of the Great Fast, the - 5 - following are the minimal Lenten reg- older, the very poor, sick, nursing or ulations today: pregnant women, children below the Abstinence from meat and all dairy age of 14, and those who engage in products on the First Day of the Great physically very hard labor. However, Fast and on Good Friday. all are urged, if able to do so, to ob- Abstinence from meat only on all serve the fasting and abstinence regu- Fridays of the Great Fast as well as lations. Holy Saturday. It is also traditional Such good deeds as almsgiving, to abstain from meat on Wednesdays visitation of the sick, Bible reading and during the Great Fast. praying for vocations to the priesthood The Fasting and Abstinence regula- and religious life are most earnestly tions are not binding on persons 60 or recommended to all the Faithful.

Important Safety Reminders As we remain the Communion open for in-person spoon is sanitized worship, it is very in a vessel important that we containing continue to observe an alcohol recommended product [75% safety measures. alcohol] which In particular, is drinkable, we ask for your to encourage cooperation with the following: participation in the Eucharist. • If you have ANY symptoms, even low • We are profoundly thankful to God risk symptoms (e.g. runny nose, that, despite challenges related to congestion, sore throat, nausea, Covid-19, parish life continues: headache, fatigue), PLEASE stay with , and Liturgies, home. various services, in-person. • If you do attend services, please wear Thank you in advance for helping a mask that covers both your nose us maintain a safe environment for and mouth at all times. our attendees, especially the most • After each person has received, vulnerable. - 6 - 2021 Parish Dues We remind our Parish Family week). In 2007 it was raised to $20.00/ Members that at at a Parish Meeting year/person (39 cents per week). In in February 2020, it was decided that 2011 it was $25.00/ year/person (48 beginning 2021 Parish Dues will cents per week). Now we need to raise increase to $50.00 per adult per year. it to $50.00/year/person (96 cents per This is less than $1 per week. week) in 2021. This is the first increase In 1993, St. Cyril’s Church dues in 10 years. were: $12.00/year/person (.23 cents per Pussy-Willows Flowery (Palm) our pussy-willows. If you have any Sunday is just two bushes, please share them with us. weeks away! Once You can either bring them in or again this year, arrangements can be made to have we turn to our them picked up. Thank you in advance Parishioners for for your generosity. help in procuring Lenten Food Fundraiser Just a reminder that we are now entering the Flower Fundraiser. Please support the fifth week of our Lenten Fundraiser. our parish by participating. To order or Choose from: Soups by Grumpy Crab, for additional information, call: Jule pierogy by Little Spuds, and pizza by (570) 357-6171, Michaelene (570)209- Roseanna’s. All parishioners should 2026, or Mary Ann (570) 313-1989. have received a flier regarding this and Easter Flower Fundraiser Just a reminder that orders for Easter the flowers delivered to the parish hall flowers are due by MONDAY, MARCH at 207 River Street. You will be able to 15th. Choose from hyacinth, tulip, pick up the flowers on Monday, March daffodil, or lily. Each pot is only $10. 29th. Please consider donating flowers For your convenience, we are having to help decorate the church for Easter. - 7 - To order, please call: Jule (570) 357- Mary Ann (570) 313-1989. 6171, Michaelene (570) 209-2026, or Pansky Classes Cancelled this Year Due the pandemic, the Ukrainian thank Tammy and all her family, Pysanky Classes for Easter 2021 at St. friends, voluteers, and the media, Cyril’s church have been cancelled. who worked to make these classes When this is all over, we hope the so popular. The tradition of the Pysanky classes will resume. We Ukrainian pysanky will live on. St. Joseph Day Take Out Breakfast The Women’s Society of St. Joseph and children age 6-10 are $4.00. Melkite on North Tickets at the door. St. Joseph bread St. Frances Cabrini Avenue, West in two loaf packages is $5 until sold Scranton, is sponsoring its annual out. Call ahead/email to preorder Takeout St. Joseph Day Breakfast, 570-343-6092, melkite.scranton@ Sunday, March 21, 2021. Menu: gmail.com. See us on facebook or Eggs, Pancakes, Home Fries, Olives, melkitescranton.org. Breads. 9 am - 1 pm. Adults are $8.00 Collection Processing Team... The Collection Processing Team Zelno, Dorothy Zinsky and Cheryl for the month of March 2021 is Matuszewski. Team #3: Helen Pagnotti, Marlene

Sunday Collections for March 6 - 7, 2021: $7,259.10 N.B. This total also includes all the donations which were mailed to the Rectory during the month of February, 2021. Thank you to everyone who helps to support our Parish! Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast - 8 - Sunday of St. John Climacus Ss. Cyril & Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church

135 River St., Olyphant, PA 18447-1435

Telephone: 570-291-4451 Fax: 570-489-6918

Web Site: stcyrils.weconnect.com

E-Mail: [email protected]

Rev. Nestor Iwasiw, Pastor

Journeying to Pascha

Icon of Healing the Boy with a Demon

Eastern Christian Bulletin Service -- PO Box 3909 -- Fairfax, VA 22038-3909 www.ecbulletin.com Ph: 703-691-8862 Fax: 703-691-0513