Second Sunday of the Great Fast Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

You are Forgiven and Healed

Icon of Healing the Paralytic

Eastern Christian Bulletin Service -- PO Box 3909 -- Fairfax, VA 22038-3909 www.ecbulletin.com Ph: 703-691-8862 Fax: 703-691-0513 - 2 - February 28, 2021: Second Sunday of the Great Fast Epistle: Heb. 1:10 - 2:3 Gospel: Mk. 2: 1-12 Sat., Feb. 27 4:00 pm + Jimmy Maslar (Family) Sun., Feb. 28 10:00 For Our Parishioners Mon., March 1 9:00 + Christine Danylak (Leo Danylak) Tues., March 2 9:00 + Elizabeth & John Havrilchak (Family) Wed., March 3 9:00 + Michael Jordan (Lauren Telep) Thurs. March 4 9:00 + John Yeck, Sr. (Bob & Joan Yeck) Fri., March 5 9:00 + Victor & Ruth Covalesky (Nasevich Family) Sat., March 6 No Morning Divine Liturgy 2:00 pm Confessions 4:00 pm + Msgr. Stephen Hrynuck (Eileen & Roman Kushner) Sun., March 7 10:00 For Our Parishioners

Great Lent Pastoral of the Ukrainian Catholic Hierarchy of the U.S.A. Glory to Jesus Christ! hubris, and the frivolous pursuit of pleasure had to take a back seat to the Dear Brothers and Sisters, reality and mystery of life and death. A year ago, at the beginning In our Metropolia we experienced of Great Lent the world was hit considerable losses. Three weeks into by an unprecedented pandemic. the lockdown, during Holy Week, Unprecedented not so much in Metropolitan-emeritus Stephen ferocity or scope but in global Sulyk succumbed to COVID. As consciousness: we became aware that the year progressed, the virus took we are in this together. In a stroke, from us priests, religious and many the world was humbled. Our sense parishioners—our grandparents, of control, modern technological parents, brothers, sisters, children, - 3 - relatives and friends. We have been in pre-modern centuries in Ukraine humbled. We are subdued. Some and other Christian countries there of us still remain confused, lonely, was a “social hush” during Great Lent. and depressed. However, St. Paul Everything quieted down. Individuals encourages us, telling us to “not grieve and families focused inward, judging as others do who have no hope.” (1 Th themselves in the light of the Gospel, 4:13). rather than judging others. Towns and Indeed, many of us were able to villages as communities, and nations recognize authentic blessings, we as cultures entered together into a experienced a renewed awareness spirit of penance: a recognition of and of family, a peace that comes with remorse for transgressions, violence authentic humility, a peace that comes and greed, deceit and betrayal, with a wakefulness to God’s presence individual and social sin. Indeed, last and guidance in the face of hardship. year we had a Great Lent without This past year we have seen some parties and galivanting. We stayed of the best of humanity: heroic acts home. And while we were unable to of authentic solidarity, examples of receive each other into our homes, we inspiring mutual service, medical were able to welcome the Lord into our care in dangerous circumstances, lives, and remind ourselves that each chaplaincy work in hospitals, the and every household is called to be a service of first responders. We adapted domestic church, a place of growth in in order to make sure that community faith, prayer and caring for others. worship could be safe for the faithful In the end, our home is much more and clergy. We found news ways to than a physical place. It is a spiritual teach and educate, to visit the sick and moral reality. Our home is with and housebound, to provide food and the Lord, who invites us to “come and donations in kind for the poor, to see” and be with Him (see Jn 1:35-39). support those with crisis pregnancies, It is where we work and serve, where and more. There is much to make us we become a blessing to others, where ponder and wonder, be thankful for we are free to be ourselves, have a and give praise. sense of being where we belong, are In a certain sense, last year’s Lent not full of ourselves. We are at home had an old-time quality. It is said that when we fulfill our calling, follow - 4 - God’s will. We are at home when we You are blessed, now and forever and are pure in thought, action and word, ever. Amen. long-suffering, kind, and gentle, as St. Ephraim’s prayer encapsulates God is with us. the striving of the season, one that This Great Lent let us build on leads us to the triumph of Pascha, the the lessons learned this past year. victory of the Savior over our shame, Our journey home is well on its way. fear, and death itself. Let it be our This precious, yet fragile gift of life personal and community prayer as we we share, is one of pilgrimage, of fall down before the Lord of mercy, repentance, of living up to the faith confident of His love and hospitality. that God has in each one of us, in On our Lenten journey let us remember deep humility. Let us be guided by the how the disciples followed Jesus. For ancient Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem: them home was not a place, but a O Lord and Master of my life, drive Person—the same One who calls out from me the spirit of indifference, to us today: “Repent, for the kingdom despair, lust for power, and idle of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17). chatter. We will be praying with you and Instead, bestow on me, Your servant, for you! the spirit of integrity, humility, patience, and love. Yes, O Lord and Christ is in our midst! King, let me see my own sins, and He is and always will be! not judge my brothers and sisters, for

+Borys Gudziak, (Author & Archbishop of Philadelphia)

+Paul Chomnycky, OSBM (Eparch of Stamford)

+Benedict Aleksiychuk (Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago)

+Bohdan J. Danylo (Eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma)

+Andriy Rabiy (Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia) - 5 - My Sincerest Thanks Being sick and winding up in the A special Thank You goes out to Hospital is never easy. It was indeed all the “Angels” who made sure I had very heart-warming to see all the Get enough to eat. Some picked up my Well Cards sent to me and all the groceries for me. Others brought over prayers which were being offered up food on multiple ocassions. I felt like to God for my health. I was eating in a gourmet restaurant! I wish to thank all my Parish Fam- Thank you to Patrick Marcinko ily Members who prayed for me, who who opened up and locked up the sent me Get Well Cards and offered Church so that those who wanted to their support. May God bless all of pray could do so. you for your kindness! Meditation for the Second Sunday of Great Lent A meaningful journey through setting ourselves as more important Great Lent ought to unsettle our com- than others just as the apostles did? fort zones. One of these comfort zones The friends of the paralytic in today’s might be an attitude of living with an Gospel reveal to us how we ought to attitude of entitlement. Recall how witness to Jesus Christ. They were so some of the apostles were arguing motivated that they even made a hole among themselves as to who was the in someone’s roof to get their friend most important. Jesus sat them down to Jesus for healing. Jesus tells them and said, “If anyone wishes to rank that the paralytic is healed because of first, he must remain the last one of the faith of these friends. They vividly all and the servant of all” (Mk. 9:36). reveal what being a servant to one an- How do we approach Jesus? other calls us to do. Others around us Recall how the Gospels tell of us are thirsting to hear the healing words people jeering, insulting and mock- of Jesus Christ, and not demeaning, ing Jesus on the cross. When we judge critical or bullying words. Dare to be others, laugh or bully others for what a servant of others, presenting them to we perceive as different in the way Jesus Christ for healing in our prayers, they do things or present themselves, with our words of love and encourage- are we not like those unpleasant per- ment, and forgiveness. Take the chal- sons at the foot of the cross? Are we lenge! - 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 Lenten Fundraiser Just a reminder that we are now flier regarding this and the Flower entering the third week of our Lenten Fundraiser. Please support our parish Fundraiser. Choose from: Soups by participating. To order or for by Grumpy Crab, pierogy by Little additional information, call: Jule (570) Spuds, and pizza by Roseanna’s. All 357-6171, Michaelene (570)209-2026, parishioners should have received a or Mary Ann (570) 313-1989. Pansky Classes Cancelled this Year Due the pandemic, the Ukrainian Tammy and all her family, friends, Pysanky Classes for Easter 2021 at St. voluteers, and the media, who worked Cyril’s church have been cancelled. to make these classes so popular. The When this is all over, we hope the tradition of the Ukrainian pysanky Pysanky classes will resume. We thank will live on. Pigs in the Blanket Dinner at the VFW, Peckville, PA The Shopa-Davey VFW Post 6082, 2021. Open to the Public and Tickets is sponsoring a fundraiser: “Pigs in the are available at the door or can be Blanket Dinner” at 123 Electric Street, purchased at the Post Home, earlier Peckville, Pa. Sunday, February 28, during the week. “Take out Only” - 7 - Serving starts at 11:00 a.m. until Please wear a mask and keep a 3:00 p.m. or until sold out. The price social distance. Veterans are invited is $11.00 per ticket. (get there early, to join Post 6082, contact Commander before being sold out) Puhulla for information. Spaghetti Dinner The Annual Spaghetti Dinner out only from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Tickets sponsored by Eureka Hose Compant are $10 and can be obtained from any No. 4 will be held Saturday March member or at the door the day of the 6th at the Fire Station 717 East Grant event.Proceeds help offset Compant Street Olyphant. due to Covid-19 building and firefighting equipment. restrictions the Dinner will be take St. Joseph Day Take Out Breakfast The Women’s Society of St. Joseph and children age 6-10 are $4.00. Melkite Catholic Church 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. 9am-1pm. Adults are $8.00 Collection Processing Team... The Collection Processing Team for Jr., Leonard Mitchko, and Michael the month of February 2021 is Team Shumek. #2: Eugene Zinsky, John Turko, Sunday Collection for January 23 & 24, 2021: $3,131.00

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Parish financially in our weekly collections. If you are still staying at home due to the pandemic, and are able to send any amount, it would be a blessing. Second Sunday of the Great Fast Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas - 8 - 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

You are Forgiven and Healed

Icon of Healing the Paralytic

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