June 2018 Issue Of

Eastern Catholic Life Official Publication of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic

VOL. LIV, NO. 6 JUNE 2018 Fifty Years After Release, ‘Humanae Vitae’

ByPraised Kelly Sankowski Catholic as NewsProphetic Service, Washington—article Encyclical and photo used with permission

urrounding the 1968 release of “Humanae Vitae” (“Of Human Life”) was the cultural context of theS sexual revolution and a widespread fear about overpopulation following World War II, said Donald Critchlow, a professor of history at Arizona State University.

At the time, there were movements in support of eugenics, abortion rights, and sterilizations in an attempt to curb popula- tion growth, Critchlow told an audience at The Catholic University of America April 5.

Those who thought voluntary family planning was not enough proposed other, more coercive ideas, such as requiring cou- ples to get a license to have a child or requir- ing sterilization for couples with more than five children, he added.

Critchlow was one of several speakers at a 50th anniversary symposium on Blessed Paul VI’s encyclical “Humanae Vitae” April 4-6 hosted by Catholic University. Key- Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, with concelebrants notes and a number of workshop sessions The majority of the people on the com- “It was immediately met with wide- sonalization of sexual acts we see today in mission recommended that the use of the spread dissent and vocal opposition,” he America,” Critchlow added. birth control pill should be accepted and said. “I was surprised to see such vehement church teaching on the subject should be rejection.” Noting Pope Francis’s call to be in touch changed. with realities people are facing in their daily Cardinal Wuerl also recalled the quick lives, Mary Eberstadt, an author and speak- Blessed Paul rejected the commission’s action on the part of what was then the er on issues of American culture, spoke report and in “Humanae Vitae” affirmed National Conference of Catholic Bishops about how the sexual revolution and the the church’s teaching on the sanctity of in writing a pastoral letter to support and teachings of “Humanae Vitae” fit into that human life and its opposition to artificial explain the encyclical after it had been is- reality. contraception. In the document, the pope sued. The NCCB had as its president then- warned of the harm that widespread use of Pittsburgh Bishop John J. Wright, for whom “The promise for sex on demand without contraception would cause in society, such the future Cardinal Wuerl was serving as restraint may be the biggest temptation hu- as lowering of moral standards, marital infi- priest-secretary. manity has been faced with,” she said. delity, less respect for women, and the gov- In the face of that temptation, the teach- ernment’s ability to use different methods During that time, Cardinal Wuerl said he ings of “Humanae Vitae” are difficult, “but to regulate life and death. learned about the importance of the teach- ing role of the pope as the successor of Pe- to confuse hard (teachings) with wrong is Critchlow said many priests and lay- ter. an elementary error,” said Eberstadt. people, particularly in the United States, “If we are truly to lean into reality as Pope dissented from this teaching. Students and “We accept and follow the teaching of the Francis has asked us to do ... there is only faculty went on strike at The Catholic Uni- Roman pontiff because it is true,” said Car- An Eastern Catholic priest gives the homily one conclusion ... the most globally reviled versity of America after the board of trust- dinal Wuerl. “We know it is true because of and widely misunderstood document ... is ees denied the tenure of a professor, Father the authority with which he teaches it.” also the most explanatory and prophetic of Charles E. Curran, who publicly disagreed examined the teaching and legacy of the While historians note that “Humanae Vi- our era,” she added. with the encyclical’s teaching. Cardinal document on the regulation of birth issued tae” “constitutes a high-water mark in silent Patrick O’Boyle disciplined 39 priests in July 25, 1968. lack of reception on the part of the faithful,” While many proponents of contracep- the Archdiocese of Washington for their Cardinal Wuerl said, “we take confidence in tion support it as a way to reduce the num- dissent from the document. Thousands of The symposium was titled “Embracing the reminder that a lack of reception of the ber of abortions, Eberstadt said it is now scientists wrote a petition published in The God’s Vision for Marriage, Love and Life,” teaching does not negate its truth.” “clear beyond a reasonable doubt that con- and brought together experts on a variety New York Times that criticized the encycli- traception also led to an increase in abor- of topics related to the encyclical’s teach- cal. Indeed, throughout the anniversary tion,” as rates of out-of-wedlock births ex- ings on human sexuality and family life. symposium, people continually praised the ploded at the same time that people were In his homily for the symposium’s clos- prophetic message of the document, which increasingly using modern contraceptive ing Mass at the Basilica of the National In a session exploring the historical con- still “stands as a profound and affirmative” methods. Shrine of the Immaculate Conception April text of the times when the encyclical was defense of traditional values and family life, 6, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washing- released, Critchlow noted that prior to the said Critchlow. When the availability of abortion made drafting of “Humanae Vitae,” a commission ton recalled that he had been given his first the birth of a child “a physical choice of the was appointed to give suggestions for the assignment as a priest just a year before the “In the end, what ‘Humanae Vitae’ mother,” it also made fatherhood a social Catholic Church’s response to new forms encyclical’s release. proved was to be prophetic in its warnings choice for the father, who no longer felt of contraception. of the breakdown of family and the deper- equally responsible for the out-of-wedlock continued on page 7

Clergy Appointments—p3 Obituaries—p4-5 Parish News—p6 Trip to the Holy Land—p9 Page 2 Eastern Catholic Life JUNE 2018 I Lift Up My Eyes... Pastoral Reflections of Bishop Kurt Pilgrimage to Máriapócs

come a monk of Máriapócs 70 years ago, one knew why lime juice prevented scurvy. other scientist who worked on vitamin C. and finally, God has made me a monk of As you may know, the sailors in the British Máriapócs. Before, I didn’t understand Actually, there is an Egyptian papyrus navy used to be called “limeys” because of why Father Abel came to America, but now from over 35 centuries ago that describes their citrus ration, a nickname sometimes I realize that he came to take me home.” the disease of scurvy, and recommends on- used for all Englishmen as well. If things Father Basil is also resident in the town, ions as a cure. In fact, raw onions do have had gone differently, they might have been but he had a bad fall recently and is in a some vitamin C in them. In 1535, French called “peppies” or “paprika boys.” nursing home and doesn’t recognize most explorers in the Saint Lawrence River people anymore. I had the wonderful ex- area had an outbreak of scurvy from poor Whenever you visit Máriapócs, there will n the past few years, the Pope has perience of celebrating the Divine Liturgy diet. The local Indians recommended a be plenty of miracle stories to inspire you. Igreatly expanded the structure of our in the monks’ chapel at the monastery of tea made from a certain tree bark—and it One evening we walked down a lane to visit church in Eastern Europe. Although we Máriapócs along with Father Joseph and cured them. The only animal (besides us) a field where Pope Saint John Paul II cele- are called the Byzantine Catholic Church Metropolitan Archbishop William Skurla. that must ingest vitamin C is the guinea pig. brated an outdoor mass in 1991. Reported- here in the United States, we are called Archbishop Skurla then spent some time All the other animals make their own. As a ly, the pope was disappointed in the crowds the Greek Catholic Church in Eastern Eu- photographing the beautiful paintings in result, researches began to use guinea pigs in Budapest, and believed that the faith had rope, and our closest relatives are the Greek the chapel with his new camera. to test diets, trying to discover what the es- been badly destroyed under communism in Catholics in the former Austro-Hungarian sential chemical was. Hungary, but as his helicopter approached Empire. It’s been one hundred years since In the summertime in Eastern Europe, Máriapócs and he saw the vast crowds wait- the western powers of England, France, and the food is always fresh. Whatever is in sea- Albert Szent-Györgyi was a third genera- ing for him in east Hungary (which is the the United States dismantled the Austrian son is what the people eat. The first time tion scientist and enrolled in the University Greek Catholic part of Hungary) he was Empire, and the forces of nationalism have I visited it was cherry season, and we ate of Budapest before World War I. He was overcome with emotion. Today there is a divided our church, but our clergy still try cherries three time a day. We had plates of fervently anti-war, and wounded himself monument in the field and a tower you can to maintain some unity in these strong cherries at every meal, and at least once a in order to get out of the army and return climb to get a better view of the country- currents, often swimming upstream to do day we had cherry soup—a famous Hun- to research. During the 1920’s, he studied side. The pastor told us a number of stories so. Our mother church is still the church garian dish. It is a sweet cream soup served the chemistry of human physiology, and of faith and God’s grace. He told us that the of Mukachevo-Užgorod, a single eparchy cold. We would consider it a dessert in our isolated a chemical in the adrenal glands icon from the shrine was taken a few years (diocese) with a single bishop. But in Slo- country. As summer advanced, different that could gain and lose hydrogen atoms. ago to all the major cities of Hungary for vakia, the Pope has created three eparchies fruits came into season, ending with the Because it had six carbon atoms, and had public veneration. It traveled by armored with a Metropolitan Archbishop in the tra- peach season, which is why peaches are the properties of both a sugar and an acid, car with a heavy security detail. The clergy ditional eparchy of Prešov, and, in Hungary, called “fall apricots.” All summer long, the he named it “hexuronic acid”. He experi- from the shrine were trying to explain the the Pope has created three eparchies with a cuisine revolves around the pepper, called mented with browning fruit, and discov- icon to the police of western Hungary by Metropolitan Archbishop in the traditional paprikas. It is a light green pepper, some- ered (as we do today) that browning could saying it is an important part of the cultural eparchy of Hajdúdorog. Here in the Unit- thing like a bell pepper, but longer and be delayed with citrus juice. Around 1930, heritage of the East. One of the policemen ed States, we have had four eparchies and pointed and lighter. Sometimes they are Szent-Györgyi worked with an Ameri- said, “You don’t have to explain what it is a Metropolitan Archbishop for many de- mild, and sometimes they are searingly hot; can chemist of Hungarian descent named to us. My wife and I were unable to have cades, but these are recent developments in you never know till you bite into one. They Svirbely. Together they were able to show children. I made a pilgrimage to Máriapócs Eastern Europe. The Holy Father finished are served raw and cooked, and also they that his new chemical “hexuronic acid,” to pray for blessings from the holy Virgin, his work by recently appointing the very are ripened to red, then dried and pow- found in citrus juice, could indeed prevent and now we have a son.” first bishop of Nyíregyháza. Many of you dered—what we call paprika in America. scurvy in guinea pigs. Not long afterwards, remember Father Abel who came to the a British scientist confirmed the studies, Another story was about a man who monastery at Matawan to help Father Basil Like most people, I have always heard of but renamed the chemical “ascorbic acid,” was so discouraged at life and the world Rakacky and Father Joseph Erdei close the Vitamin C, but I learned on this trip that it which means “no-scurvy acid.” The next after World War II, that he was contem- monastery and return to Hungary. He was has an interesting connection to the Hun- task was to find a good source of vitamin plating suicide, and was ready to carry out a real worker, doing the yard work on their garian peppers. A Hungarian scientist by C. Although it was known to be found in his action. Just before he killed himself, he enormous property himself, and repairing the name of Albert Szent-Györgyi (which citrus juice, the chemical was difficult to heard the bells of a church ringing, and was the roof, etc. Bishop Abel has been the means Saint George), discovered Vitamin remove because of the sugars. In that part delivered by grace. To this day, he loves the administrator of the new diocese for some- C. The navies of the world had known for of Hungary, there is a paprika shaker on sound of church bells, and donates bells time now, and was consecrated the new centuries of the importance of eating fruit. every table along with the salt shaker. One when they are needed. This man donated bishop on Thursday, May 10, professing the Even in the 1400’s, the age of the Spanish night, his wife was trying to get him to eat the bells that are currently ringing in the creeds the night before in a Vespers service and Portuguese explorers, scurvy was cited some paprika. He said, “I did not feel like great shrine of Máriapócs. People are often at Máriapócs. Eastern bishops from the United States and Europe gathered at the shrine of our Lady to accept his profession of faith, as the successors of the apostles have done for almost two thousand years.

I flew into Budapest Tuesday evening, and was taken to the Shrine of Máriapócs to stay for the events. What a joy it was to be at this holy place of pilgrimage, a desti- nation of our church for centuries, a warm fire that the communists were unable to quench. When I visited there under com- munism, the people had traveled hundreds of miles on foot from around Eastern Eu- rope, braving harassment by border guards and sleeping in fields and barns, to pray at the miraculous icon on the Feast of the Dormition. I remember singing a Parastas in the cemetery there with the clergy and Metropolitan William Skurla photograph- The Basilica at Máriapócs Metropolitan Fülöp on a Segway servers in their red vestments, while carni- ing the monks’ chapel at Máriapócs val rides were whirling above the trees. The communists ran a big carnival at the same as the main cause of sickness and death eating it, so I thought of a way out. I took bringing gifts to the shrine in appreciation time to detract from the pilgrimage, since on long sea voyages. Danish sailors began it to my laboratory, and by midnight I had of favors. Just the week before I visited, a out right persecution had failed to dampen taking oranges and lemons on their longer discovered a treasure chest of vitamin C.” young lady gave the pastor a gold ring for the people’s faith. voyages. In the 1700’s, the Scottish physi- Using the paprika pepper, he was able to the madonna. cian James Lind, who was an experienced manufacture three pounds of pure ascorbic I was able to visit with our own Father Jo- ship’s surgeon, wrote about the preventa- acid. Using it to cure scurvy in guinea pigs, In 2009, the shrine was completely re- seph Erdei at the monastery. Father Joseph tive effects of citrus fruit, and, by 1795, he completed his proofs. paired and renovated, and the icon was to is the healthiest and happiest that I have the British navy was using lime juice to be moved to Hajdúdorog for protection. ever seen him. At first he was unhappy at prevent scurvy. However, chemistry was In 1937, the Nobel Prize for Physiology Metropolitan Fülöp sent out a circular leaving the United States after spending so in its infancy, Lavoisier had only recently and Medicine was awarded solely to Szent- letter and said that the men of the region many decades with this beloved flock at been decapitated by the enlightened and Györgyi for his work. That same year, a would carry the icon “on our own shoul- Matawan. But now he says, “I tried to be- progressive French revolutionaries, and no Nobel Prize in Chemistry was given to an- ders” the 32 miles to Hajdúdorog on Feb- JUNE 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 3 ued and built a very successful “bi-ritual” screen. The Orthodox priest was a gra- church. We each have a beautiful chapel of cious host. I attended a concert to benefit our own, and the main church is used for the people of Syria. The singing of the chil- the big Sunday services of both traditions. dren was ethereal. I also was able to travel across the border to interview three fine The father of Father David Grunda, young priests who are eager to come help Father János Grunda, is a priest and was us here in our country. When my visit to an assistant at the main parish in Miskolc. Transcarpathia was arranged, I was told (As a matter of fact, young Father David is that they would drop me off at the border, very proud that his family is a priestly fam- I would then walk across the border, and a ily with an enormous number of priests and (mysterious) person would pick me up on Bishop Kurt and Bishop Irynej Bilyk Father David Grunda distributes Commu- priest wives stretching back three hundred concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with nion with his father, Father János Grunda the other side. Pretty exciting—just like a Father Joseph Erdei years.) He began a mission to the people spy movie! It was planned this way because Father David Grunda, the young priest in the vast socialist housing project and it is so long and difficult to cross the border ruary 5. The priest who told us the story who drove me from Budapest airport, was began having Divine Liturgy for them as with a car. However, when the day arrived, thought the Archbishop was making a fool- only ordained three weeks and was married well. Like a good shepherd, he knocked on a priest took me who has a diplomatic pass- ish mistake. As an experienced pastor he last July. On Sunday, he took me to a very every door in the project and introduced port and was able to bypass the lines. We was already envisioning all the things that special church for his first solemn Divine himself to all the people. It was very dif- drove to Ukraine, interviewed the priests, could go wrong on a 32 mile trip in the Liturgy after ordination. It was quite an ficult and discouraging work. The people and were back in Máriapócs by lunchtime. depths of the central European winter. He honor to be included. What is so special were socially stunted by the communists Honestly, I think the other way would have was surprised after he read the letter in his about this church? Miskolc was an indus- who worshipped work and despised all made a better a story! parish that six men from the parish collared trial center at one time with a steel factory. social or family relations. Even today, the him after Divine Liturgy and said, “We are The communists, of course, built one of neighborhood has a reputation as “rough.” going to help, Father, are you coming with their massive housing projects. It had no As you can imagine with such a joyless life, us?” As a matter of fact, 3,000 men arrived public meeting places and no church. Peo- drugs and violence are common among the on the morning of February 5. It turned ple were expected to work one-third of the youth. With patience, faith in God, and the out to be a sunny day, with no snow on the time, rest one-third of the time, and sleep joy of the Gospel, he slowly built up a small ground, and the priest said, “You didn’t one-third of the time. There were no areas community, and was the founder of the need a jacket or socks.” With so many men, where people could gather to socialize. As new “bi-ritual” parish. He wanted to get a they traded places every hundred yards or if life were not bad enough, the communists Benedictine school for the parish, but was so. She arrived in Hajdúdorog without in- never reinvested in the steel mill and even- turned down, and the Jesuits instead now jury, and waited there until the reconstruc- tually it was obsolete and unable to compete run an excellent school for the children and tion was finished in October. That day, a with other sources and went out of business youth of this area, and also staff the parish van carried the icon. It was sunny and calm causing massive unemployment. Towards which has five Roman rite masses every when the icon entered the van in Hajdú- the end of the communist era, a believer in Sunday. So on Sunday, Father David cele- dorog. From that moment on, there were the legislature fought to build a church in brated his first solemn Divine Liturgy, con- storms and high winds throughout the this dreary, materialist desert. After years, celebrating with his own father. The hero journey. In fact, they had to stop several he was able to get a church approved only of his life is his father, a model priest and times to clear branches, and take alternate with the condition that it be interdenomi- shepherd! His father now has a village as- routes because trees fell across the road. national. It was to be shared by the Roman signment, and is overjoyed to have his own Then when the van finally arrived at Mári- Catholics, the Greek Catholics, and the two garden after so many years in the concrete apócs, it was sunny and calm again as they large protestant denominations. While the wasteland of the socialist housing project. carried the icon back into the church. The church was being built, communism col- Well, I had many other beautiful ad- priest said that a satellite picture from that lapsed in 1989. The protestant churches ventures that I don’t have time to relate. I The original home of day showed violent weather all over cen- withdrew from the project, but the Roman the weeping icon of Máriapócs was able to visit the old Orthodox church tral Europe, with only two clear spots over Catholics and Greek Catholics contin- Hajdúdorog and Máriapócs. in Miskolc with its famous baroque icon From the Office of the Bishop Clergy Appointments

Effective June 11, 2018 Reverend Robert Lozinski, CSC, has been relieved as Administrator of Holy Effective May 4, 2018 Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church in Jessup, PA, and Saint John the Baptist Byz- antine Catholic Church in Forest City, PA, while remaining in his assignment as Reverend Michael Yurista has been relieved as Administrator of Saint Nicholas Pastor of Saint Michael Byzantine Catholic Church in Dunmore, PA. Byzantine Catholic Church in Dunellen, NJ. Reverend John Cigan has been relieved as Pastor of Saint Michael Byzantine Reverend James Badeaux has been appointed Administrator of Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Mont Clare, PA, and Administrator of Blessed Virgin Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Dunellen, NJ, while remaining in his assignment as Byzantine Catholic Church in Coatesville, PA, and has been appointed Pastor of Pastor of Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Hillsborough, NJ. Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church in Jessup, PA, and Administrator of Saint Effective June 1, 2018 John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Forest City, PA. Very Reverend Robert Hospodar has been relieved as Protopresbyter of the Very Reverend Edward Higgins has been appointed Administrator of Saint Mi- New York and New England Protopresbyterate and as Syncellus of the New York chael Byzantine Catholic Church in Mont Clare, PA, and Administrator of Blessed and New England Syncellate. Virgin Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Coatesville, PA, while remaining in his assignments as Pastor of Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Very Reverend Ronald Hatton has been appointed Protopresbyter of the New PA, and Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church in Philadelphia, PA, and Proto- York/New England Protopresbyterate, in addition to his duties as pastor of Saint presbyter for the Southern Pennsylvania Protopresbyerate. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Danbury, CT. Reverend Andrij Kovach has been appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Michael Very Reverend Nicholas Daddona has been appointed Syncellus of the New Byzantine Catholic Church in Mont Clare, PA, and Blessed Virgin Mary Byzan- York and New England Syncellate, in addition to his duties as Chancellor of the tine Catholic Church in Coatesville, PA, with residence at Saint Michael Byzan- Eparchy of Passaic and Administrator of Saint Andrew Byzantine Catholic Church tine Catholic Church in Mont Clare, PA. in Westbury, Long Island, NY.

EASTERN CATHOLIC LIFE 445 Lackawanna Avenue Father James Badeaux, Editor Woodland Park, NJ 07424 Father Ronald Hatton, Associate Editor (USPS 165-600) (ISSN 0894-9786) Phone: 973-890-7777 Fax: 973-890-7175 Father Lewis Rabayda, Layout Editor Official Publication of the Postage paid at Little Falls, NJ, and additional Mrs. Diane Rabiej, Copy Editor Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic office at Bellmawr, NJ. Mrs. Maureen French, Circulation Editor Subscription Rate: $15.00 per year. ([email protected]) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: News and Photo Services: Eastern Catholic Life E-Mail us at: Member of the Catholic Press Association of 445 Lackawanna Avenue [email protected] America. Woodland Park, NJ 07424 Eparchial Website: Published monthly by the Most Reverend Bishop Kurt Burnette Eastern Catholic Press Association President and Publisher www.EparchyofPassaic.com Page 4 Eastern Catholic Life JUNE 2018 +Sister Paula Dzurisin, OSBM, Enters into the Eternal Embrace Uniontown, PA Sister Paula made her Final Profession of In her vocation story, Sister wrote that Concluding his remarks, Archbishop Vows on August 28, 1953, in the presence her response to God’s call came only after William mentioned that the Dzurisin name of the late Bishop Daniel Ivancho. she repeatedly would say, “No, this isn’t for was well-known in the Passaic Eparchy. me, but the call continued to haunt me.” Both Sister Paula’s sister, Sister Philip, and As with many of those who entered at the Having finally said “Yes” to her call, she her brother, Monsignor George, served time, Sister Paula spent a good number of wrote, “The lived experience of my call be- there. Her brothers were cantors with ex- years as a teacher and principal in the par- came like a precious container filled with cellent voices, and their ministry has been ish schools of the Metropolitan Province of love that increased the desire within me to continued into the second generation. Pittsburgh. She also taught business cours- share this love with others. This wonder- es at Mount Macrina Academy. There for ful gift, my Vocation, has been, is, and will Sister Paula was preceded in death by her only one year, the impression she made was continue to be an exciting challenge for me parents; her brothers, Monsignor George, such that her students were sure to visit her to live my life to the fullest.” Joseph, Michael, and John; and her sisters, during the Alumnae reunions. Sister M. Philip, and Mary Wascavage. In Archbishop William began his homily by addition to her Sisters in community, she After almost a half century in the teach- noting that Sister Paula had hoped to enter is survived by her brother Paul (Dorothy) he wonderful gift of her vocation ing ministry, Sister Paula returned to the eternity during the Paschal Season, and this and many devoted nieces and nephews. Twas an exciting challenge for her to Monastery where she spent a year volun- hope was fulfilled. Though we are sad at live life to the fullest. teering in pastoral visiting at the Manor. her parting, we rejoice that she has entered The Parastas Service was concelebrat- She was a great conversationalist, and her heaven, and we now have another person ed on Wed., May 2, by Fathers Andrew In the early days of the community, Sister interest in people was mutually enriching there to pray for us. Deskevich and Peter Leigh, Monastery Paula would awake from sleep to prepare in this ministry. Chaplain. Father James Ragan was in at- for morning prayer in the Monastery. On In continuing, Archbishop noted the tendance. The Funeral Divine Liturgy was the morning of April 28, she awoke instead Her background in business education, similarities between her life and that of celebrated on Thurs., May 3, in the Mon- to a new life, a life where she was welcomed however, led to her next assignment, that Saint Theodosius, the saint of the day. The astery Chapel by Archbishop William C. into the embrace of the Lord she served so of managing the Card Department at the saint was a monk who initiated reforms for Skurla. Concelebrants were Fathers Ron- faithfully for over 70 years. monastery for the next eight years. When it his Studite monastery, and these reforms ald P. Larko and Peter Leigh. In attendance was necessary to lessen her responsibilities, eventually went beyond his monastery to were Archpriest John G. Petro, and Fathers Sister Paula (Anna) Dzurisin was born Sister Paula continued to assist in that same many communities which came after. Like- James A. Spontak and Stephen J. Wahal. in Pittston, PA, the daughter of the late ministry for another eight years, graciously wise, though Sister Paula’s life went from George and Mary (Kizlin) Dzurisin. A handing over the management to another active days of teaching to a quieter time of May God grant to His handmaiden, Sister member of Saint Michael Byzantine Catho- Sister. It was only after this full life in active communication and solitude, her influence Paula, eternal memory and peaceful repose. lic Parish in Pittston, she entered the Sisters ministry that Sister Paula was admitted to always spread from her monastery to the of Saint Basil the Great on June 23, 1947. the Manor due to declining health. people in the places where she served.

Is God Calling You to be a Deacon? —new class forming June, 2019—

Deacons represent a great and visible sign of the working of the Holy Spirit through a life of service in the Church.

If you or others perceive that God is calling you to serve the Church as a deacon and you would like to further explore the possibility of this vocation, please contact:

Father Nicholas Daddona 516-457-5617 [email protected] JUNE 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 5 +Dorothy Mae Lozinak Hayer, RN, Mother of Right Reverend Archpriest James G. Hayer, Reposes in the Lord Wilkes-Barre, PA

orothy Mae Lozinak Hayer, Holy Assumption of Saint Mary Byzantine prior to the Parastas and expressed the RN, formerly from Eckley and Catholic Church, Wilkes-Barre. She was a condolences of his bishop, Bishop Philip. Freeland,D PA, and until recently a resident faithful member of and active volunteer in Funeral services for Mrs. Hayer were held of Wilkes-Barre, PA, fell asleep in the Lord both parishes. at 10 AM Saturday, May 19, with the Of- on Saturday morning, May 12, 2018, in fice of Christian Burial with Divine Liturgy Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, following Over the years, she served as a in Holy Assumption of Saint Mary Byz- a brief illness. chaperone for parish youth group field antine Catholic Church, 695 N. Main St., trips; was a volunteer for parish summer Wilkes-Barre. Born July 11, 1937, in Hazleton, PA, festivals; and, for several years, she served she was a daughter to the late Michael and as camp nurse at the Eparchial Altar Server With Bishop Kurt presiding and Metro- Catherine Kushner Lozinak. Retreat Camp held annually in Canadensis, politan Archbishop William in attendance, PA. Mrs. Hayer’s priest son, Right Rev. Arch- She was educated in the Freeland-area priest James Hayer, was the main celebrant. schools, and later furthered her education In addition to her parents, she was pre- Concelebrating were Father Michael Ker- toward her vocation by graduating from ceded in death by her former spouse, Mr. estes, host pastor; Father Nicholas Dad- the former Philadelphia General Hospital James J. Hayer, and by brothers and sis- dona, Chancellor of the Eparchy; Father School of Nursing. Mrs. Hayer worked as a ters, including John, Michael and Daniel Edward Cimbala, pastor of Our Lady of registered nurse for her entire professional Lozinak; Col. Mary M. Lozinak, U.S. Perpetual Help Parish, Levittown, PA, and career. Her employment included work in Army, Retired; Mrs. Helen Parsons; Miss homilist; Father Scott Boghossian, pastor pediatric nursing in the maternity ward of Catherine Lozinak; Mrs. Anna Fifick; of Mrs. Hayer’s home parish of Saint Mary Interment with the Rite of Committal the former Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Hazle- Mrs. Margaret Lawrence; and Miss Agnes in Freeland, PA; Deacon Tom Shubeck and was celebrated privately in the parish cem- ton, PA; psychiatric nursing at the White Lozinak. Deacon Charles Laskowski, from Saint etery, Lake Street, Dallas, PA. Haven Center, White Haven, PA; and, until Thomas Parish in Rahway, NJ; and Deacon Left to mourn her passing are her be- In lieu of floral tributes, Father Jim and her retirement, she was employed by the Basil Soroka of Saint Mary Parish in Wilkes- loved son, the Right Rev. Archpriest James his family would be humbled if those con- Weatherwood-Carbon County Nursing Barre. Father Edward Higgins, pastor of G. Hayer, Protosyncellus (vicar general) of templating a monetary donation in his Home and Rehabilitation Center as both Holy Ghost Parish in Philadelphia, served the Eparchy of Passaic; sister, Mrs. Elsie Pa- mother’s memory kindly consider the Sis- a registered nurse and as a registered nurse as Master of Ceremonies. In addition, local linko, West Haven, Conn.; and numerous ters of St. Basil the Great, 500 W. Main St., assessment coordinator (RNAC). Follow- and eparchial clergy were present, as well as nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-neph- Uniontown, PA 15401, or Holy Annuncia- ing her formal retirement from duties, Mrs. Sister Regina and Sister Theodosia, of the ews, fellow parishioners, and dear friends. tion Monastery, 403 W. County Road, Sug- Hayer continued in her ministry and main- Sisters of Saint Basil the Great, and Mother tained working per diem in nursing until a arloaf Twp., PA 18249. A Parastas service was celebrated the Marija of Holy Annunciation Monastery in few years ago at the age of 75. evening before by Archpriest James Hayer Sugarloaf, PA. Responses were led by Can- To send Father Jim words of com- tor Raymond Mastroberte, assisted by Can- Mrs. Hayer was a member of Saint and local and eparchial clergy, with Bishop fort, a fond remembrance of his mom, tor Patricia Dietz and Cantor Doreen Pla- Mary of the Dormition Byzantine Catho- Kurt presiding. Msgr. Peter Kochery of the or for further in-formation, please visit hovinsak, both of Saint Thomas in Rahway, lic Church, Freeland, for most of her life. Syro-Malankarese Eparchy of Saint Thom- www.JohnVMorrisFuneralHomes.com. NJ, as well as local cantors. The epistle was In recent years, she held membership in as celebrated a traditional requiem service chanted by Sue Bonick, Dorothy’s niece. May her memory be eternal!

New Byzantine Catholic Community Forming in Greater Charlotte, NC, Area Divine Liturgy on Saturdays at 4 PM: June 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30

Byzantine Catholic community is form- is now offering weekly Divine Liturgy in the area. like to participate in any way, or have questions ing at Saint Philip Neri Church, 292 Munn This community will serve the northern part of please contact Ron Somich at 440.477.6389 or Rd.,A Fort Mill, SC. Please join us as we grow our South Carolina as well as Charlotte, NC. Please [email protected]. The website https:// community and celebrate the Byzantine Divine share this information with your friends and fam- carolinabyzantine.com/ will be coming soon Liturgy. Father Steven Galuschik of All Saints ily – especially those who have moved “down – please check that out for news, upcoming  Byzantine Catholic Church in North Fort Myers, South.” We will be celebrating the Byzantine Divine gatherings, and service times.  FL, celebrated Liturgy at the end of October and Liturgy on Saturdays at 4 PM. If you would   ^ƚŶŶLJnjĂŶƚŝŶĞĂƚŚŽůŝĐŚƵƌĐŚ  ,ĂƌƌŝƐďƵŐ͕W  WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂůĞŶĚĂƌ^ƉƌŝŶŐϮϬϭϴ          ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭϳ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϬDͲϯWD͗WLJƐĂŶŬLJtŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƚĂƵŐŚƚďLJDĂƌŝĂŝĐĂƌĞůůŝĂŶĚĂƐƐŝƐƚĞĚďLJ<ĞŝƚŚ   <ŽƐŚƵƚĞ͘&ĞĞ͗ΨϱƉĞƌĨĂŵŝůLJ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ͘   tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ&ĞďƌƵĂƌLJϮϭ͕ϮϬϭϴ^ĂŵĞƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŐŝǀĞŶĂƚEŽŽŶEϲWDĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJƉƌĂLJĞƌ͗WĂƌŝƐŚ>ĞŶƚĞŶ   ĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶƐĞƐƐŝŽŶǁŝƚŚ&ƌ͘:ŝŵ^ƉĞƌĂ“Living As Missionary Disciples” ;ƐŶŽǁĚĂƚĞtĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ &ĞďϮϴͿ   ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJDĂƌĐŚϯ͕ϮϬϭϴSaint AnnĨƌŽŵϭϭ͗ϯϬD Byzantine^ƚŶŶLJnjĂŶƚŝŶĞĂƚŚŽůŝĐŚƵƌĐŚͲϯWD͗WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂLJŽŶŶĚ CatholicͲŽĨͲ>ŝĨĞ Church /ƐƐƵĞƐĂŶĚƚŚŝĐƐǁŝƚŚDƌ͘   ŽŵŝŶŝĐ>ŽŵďĂƌĚŝ Harrisburg,,ĂƌƌŝƐďƵŐ͕W PA   ^ƵŶĚĂLJDĂƌĐŚϮϱ͕ϮϬϭϴĂƚϵD͗WĂůŵ^ƵŶĚĂLJΘdŚĞ&ĞĂƐƚŽĨƚŚĞŶŶƵŶĐŝĂƚŝŽŶ>ŝƚƵƌŐLJĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJWĂƌŝƐŚƌƵŶĐŚ  WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂůĞŶĚĂƌ^ƉƌŝŶŐϮϬϭϴ  ĂŶĚĂƐƚĞƌŐŐ,ƵŶƚParish Education Calendar: Spring 2018        ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ:ƵŶĞϮ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϬD–ϯWD͗WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂLJǁŝƚŚ&ƌ͘ůĞdžĞŝDŝĐŚĂůĞŶŬŽǁŝƚŚ^ƌ͘sŝĐƚŽƌŝĂĂŶĚ  ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ^ƌ͘DĂƌLJŶŶŽĨƚŚĞŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞDŽƚŚĞƌŽĨ'ŽĚŽĨdĞŶĚĞƌŶĞƐƐ;D'dͿ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭϳ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϬDͲϯWD͗WLJƐĂŶŬLJtŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƚĂƵŐŚƚďLJDĂƌŝĂŝĐĂƌĞůůŝĂŶĚĂƐƐŝƐƚĞĚďLJ<ĞŝƚŚ, “Living As Missionary Disciples”  <ŽƐŚƵƚĞ͘&ĞĞ͗ΨϱƉĞƌĨĂŵŝůLJ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ͘   ůůƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐƚĂŬĞƉůĂĐĞĂƚ^ƚ͘ŶŶLJnjĂŶƚŝŶĞĂƚŚŽůŝĐŚƵƌĐŚ͕ϱϰϬϴ>ŽĐƵƐƚ>ĂŶĞ͕,ĂƌƌŝƐďƵƌŐ͕WϭϳϭϬϵ͘&ŽƌŵŽƌĞ  tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ&ĞďƌƵĂƌLJϮϭ͕ϮϬϭϴĚĞƚĂŝůƐŽŶĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ůŽĐĂƚŝŽŶ͕ŽƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ͕^ĂŵĞƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŐŝǀĞŶĂƚƉůĞĂƐĞĐŽŶƚĂĐƚŶŐĞůĂ^ĞĚƵŶĂƚ^ƚŶŶLJnjǀĞŶƚƐΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵŽƌĂƚϳϭϳEŽŽŶEϲWDĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJƉƌĂLJĞƌ͗WĂƌŝƐŚ>ĞŶƚĞŶ ͲϰϵϬͲ  Danube River Cruise ĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶƐĞƐƐŝŽŶǁŝƚŚ&ƌ͘:ŝŵ^ƉĞƌĂϭϮϴϰ͘ “Living As Missionary Disciples” ;ƐŶŽǁĚĂƚĞtĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ &ĞďϮϴͿ   ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJDĂƌĐŚϯ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϭ͗ϯϬDͲϯWD͗WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂLJŽŶŶĚͲŽĨͲ>ŝĨĞ /ƐƐƵĞƐĂŶĚƚŚŝĐƐǁŝƚŚDƌ͘  14 DAY CRUISE and LAND  ŽŵŝŶŝĐ>ŽŵďĂƌĚŝ  Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland ^ƵŶĚĂLJDĂƌĐŚϮϱ͕ϮϬϭϴĂƚϵD͗WĂůŵ^ƵŶĚĂLJΘdŚĞ&ĞĂƐƚŽĨƚŚĞŶŶƵŶĐŝĂƚŝŽŶ>ŝƚƵƌŐLJĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJWĂƌŝƐŚƌƵŶĐŚ  ĂŶĚĂƐƚĞƌŐŐ,ƵŶƚ Hosted by Fr. Ed Cimbala  ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ:ƵŶĞϮ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϬD–ϯWD͗WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂLJǁŝƚŚ&ƌ͘ůĞdžĞŝDŝĐŚĂůĞŶŬŽǁŝƚŚ^ƌ͘sŝĐƚŽƌŝĂĂŶĚ  ^ƌ͘DĂƌLJŶŶŽĨƚŚĞŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞDŽƚŚĞƌŽĨ'ŽĚŽĨdĞŶĚĞƌŶĞƐƐ;D'dͿByzanTEEN, “Living As Missionary Disciples” October 31 – November 13, 2018  ůůƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐƚĂŬĞƉůĂĐĞĂƚ^ƚ͘ŶŶLJnjĂŶƚŝŶĞĂƚŚŽůŝĐŚƵƌĐŚ͕ϱϰϬϴ>ŽĐƵƐƚ>ĂŶĞ͕,ĂƌƌŝƐďƵƌŐ͕WϭϳϭϬϵ͘&ŽƌŵŽƌĞ For more information, please contact  ĚĞƚĂŝůƐŽŶĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ůŽĐĂƚŝŽŶ͕ŽƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ͕ƉůĞĂƐĞĐŽŶƚĂĐƚŶŐĞůĂ^ĞĚƵŶĂƚ^ƚŶŶLJnjǀĞŶƚƐΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵŽƌĂƚϳϭϳͲϰϵϬͲ ϭϮϴϰ͘ Fr. Ed Cimbala at 908-872-2928  Youth Rally 2018 [email protected]  Susan Prendergast July 5-8, 2018 Select International Tours - 800-842-4842 [email protected] “Who is My Neighbor?” See Trip Web-page For More Details & Brochure http://www.olphbyz.com/Pg/DanubeCruise.html St. Vincent College Additional Cabins Now Available! Latrobe, PA

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Page 6 Eastern Catholic Life JUNE 2018 People You Know Around the Eparchy In Kingston and Wilkes-Barre Township... Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen receives donations

aint Mary’s Protection Byzantine Catholic Church in Kingston, PA, and Saint John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre Township, PA, recently madeS donations to the Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen. Saint Mary Parish made a $1,155 donation and Saint John Parish made a $1,200 donation. The donations came as a result of the “Great Lent” collection held at each church. Shown from left: Joseph Simcik, Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church; Father Mykhaylo Prodanets, pastor, Saint Mary Byz- antine Catholic Church and administrator, Saint John Byzantine Catholic Church; Mike Cianciotta, program director, Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen; Richard Wodarczyk, Saint John Byzantine Catholic Church.

In New Port Richey... In Trumbull... Iconography Class visits Byzantine Parish pril Showers was the title of the 2018 Annual Saint John the Baptist Church, Trumbull, CT, Ladies’ Guild fundraiser. The Afternoon Tea featured a presentation n Friday, May 4, 2018, Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church, New Port Richey, onA bees and honey making given by James Oravetz. Father Joseph Bertha, Ph.D, is the pas- FL, hosted Virginia Crippen and her iconography class from Saint Leo Abbey, tor of Saint John Parish. SaintO Leo, FL. Accompanying them were Benedictine brothers, Brother Stanislaus Sulli- van, O.S.B. and Brother Timothy Gagnon, O.S.B. While studying about and writing icons, the class wanted to experience the art and spirituality of the icon within the setting of the church and the Divine Liturgy. For most, it was their first time attending worship in the Eastern tradition of the Catholic Church. Following the service, the visitors remarked about how beautiful and spiritually-uplifting the Liturgy was, and how they truly experi- enced a sense of the sacred, and heaven on earth. Father Olexiy Nebesnyk is Administrator of Saint Anne Parish.

2018 A lta r S erv er C o n g r e ss August 4—8 2018 Ages 6-17 Carpathian Village Canadensis, PA Come and experience a wonderful fun filled Event with fel- low altar servers from across the Eparchy of Passaic. Have fun while learning more about your important role as an Altar Server! This Event is underwritten by the Eparchy Register by July 20th http://www.eparchyofpassaic.com For questions and details contact Deacon Stephen Russo: [email protected] JUNE 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 7 A Conversation About ‘Humanae Vitae’ May Finally be Possible By Charlie Camosy Catholic News Service, New York, article and photo used with permission

an one imagine a more difficult year to remain respectable in cultural circles of needs to have 2.1 children per woman to able fertility industry in the Unites States, is for “Humanae Vitae” (“Of Human power. The narrative that only backward- replace its population, but every European another example of the use and throwaway Life”)C to be heard than 1968? thinking dogmatists could take it seriously country is well below this threshold: Ger- culture -- with thousands and thousands became the received wisdom. many is 1.47; Great Britain, 1.8; Italy, 1.37; of embryos discarded as so much trash. Blessed Paul VI’s encyclical came out Poland, 1.32; and so on. Tax incentives to This practice also has created a situation in just as the sexual revolution was picking up But now, on the verge of the document’s have more children aren’t working. The which women are used for their eggs and steam, well on its way to becoming a domi- 50th anniversary, a new cultural moment problem was so bad in Russia they came uteruses -- a marketplace which abuses nant force in Western culture. has arrived. Blessed Paul warned that the up with a “Day of Conception” in which poor women such that countries like India separation of sex from procreation and everyone is given the afternoon off of work have banned commercial surrogacy. Contraception was part of a basic right committed relationships would have disas- to privacy and on a path from normaliza- trous effects, and there is now strong evi- tion to celebration. Playboy and other por- dence to show that he predicted better than nographic magazines and films were on he knew. the ascendant. Casual sexual encounters, along with no fault divorce, were becom- Consider these cultural trends: ing much more prevalent. Sex manuals and erotic novels were on the living room book- -- The #MeToo movement has demon- shelves of respectable people. Movies and strated that our sexual culture is fundamen- music pushed the revolution at every turn. tally broken and often violent. Far from liberating, “hookup culture” is a particular This revolution, it should be said, made a instance of what Pope Francis calls the “use lot of people quite a lot of money. But it was and throwaway” culture. People are dehu- portrayed in cultural circles of power (me- manized and mutually used as mere objects dia, academia, government, etc.), not as the of desire in a sexual marketplace -- a mar- latest iteration of consumer culture, but as ketplace now widely expanded and facili- part of a broader social justice movement. tated by smartphone applications. A movement which pushed back against the outdated and oppressive views of the -- Pornography dominates the internet past. and the script for Western sexual encoun- ters. But it has done so in ways which nor- The replacement culture was liberating. malize hookups, violence against women, The natural direction of social progress. and even sex between family members. As a Only backward-thinking, religious dogma- result, even liberal countries like the United tists rejected it. Smart and open-minded Kingdom and Iceland have recently tried to people embraced it. ban porn. Lurking right behind porn in sep- arating sex from genuine relationships are Swimming against this powerful cultural sex robots. Many are already worried that, tide, in the short run at least, “Humanae Vi- given current assumptions and practices, tae” never had a chance. Few of its critics ac- there will be little to stop them from radi- tually read the text, and even fewer could al- cally disconnecting sex from unification low themselves to be genuinely challenged with another person. by its arguments. It fit neatly in the revolu- tion’s cultural narrative: an out-of-touch -- Hookup culture is impossible to imag- celibate hierarchy using power to enforce a ine without widespread access to contra- superstitious and harmful view of sex onto ception as an enabling technology. And the people who, given their better education riskier sex created by this culture, perhaps and actual experience, simply knew better. counterintuitively for some, has actually led to more sexually-transmitted infections, This consensus against “Humanae Vitae” not fewer. For evidence-based approaches, would come to be strictly enforced. Though contraception no longer appears to be the many Catholics have the “Charles Curran solution to our epidemic of STIs, sexually affair” at the center of their narrative in this transmitted infections. Blessed Paul VI regard, his case would prove to be the ex- ception. (The Catholic University of Amer- -- More and more progressive and even to go home and have sex. Japans’ fertility These cultural trends are so different ica’s board of trustees denied the tenure of secular women are starting to react nega- crisis has resulted in trillions in lost GDP from where they were 50 years ago that Father Curran, after the professor publicly tively to the health problems created by the and a population decline of 1 million peo- “Humanae Vitae” many finally get a genu- disagreed with the encyclical’s teaching.) large doses of hormones in the pill and long- ple, all within just the past five years. This ine hearing. The obvious surrender of our acting contraception. Dubbed by some the is happening in the United States as well. In sexual culture to consumerist market forc- In recent decades the consensus against “Pro-Kale, Anti-Hormone” movement, 2008 and 2009, the U.S. had replacement- es, particularly after #MeToo, has led many “Human Vitae” has been so strong that many women with the means to do so are rate fertility, but since then, we’ve fallen to different kinds of people to look for alterna- theologians and even Catholic priests can avoiding the pill’s substantial side effects about 0.3 kids below replacement level. tives. feel quite safe in their dissent. The occa- by using versions of natural family plan- sional finger-wagging or bad book review ning. In a related story, some secular social -- The move from procreation to repro- If 1968 was one of the worst years pos- from the institutional church serves to do justice advocates are challenging the grow- duction has accepted the logic of consumer sible for “Humanae Vitae” to be heard, then little beyond increasing the prominence of ing movement (pushed in part by pharma culture. Given the perceived need for a cul- 2018 may be one of the best. Let the con- the thinker and increasing their book sales. companies who stand to profit) to put poor turally determined income and lifestyle, versation begin. people of color on long-acting contracep- the market decides if and when one should But those who’ve been sympathetic to Charlie Camosy is an associate professor tion with high levels of hormones. have a child. Child-bearing is therefore of- the document have, for their most part, in the theology department at Jesuit-run ten delayed until it is much more dangerous been forced to keep their mouths shut -- Most countries who had a sexual revo- Fordham University. for both mother and child. In vitro fertiliza- and their pens dry -- at least if they want lution now have a fertility crisis. A culture tion, at least as practiced by the uber-profit-

Fifty Years After Release, ‘Humanae Vitae’ Praised as Prophetic Encyclical Continued from page 1 birth, said Eberstadt. traception licensed predation,” she said. child from the parents, said McCarthy. nowhere else.”

Many women believe contraception will Margaret McCarthy, an assistant pro- In this worldview, relationships with oth- Marking the end of the conference, Car- make them happier and freer than they fessor of theological anthropology at the ers are seen as constraining arrangements dinal Wuerl recognized that a large part of were before, Eberstadt said, noting that to Pontifical Pope John Paul II Institute for that “we didn’t’ sign up for,” she noted. the anniversary celebration for “Humanae the contrary, studies have shown that fe- Studies on Marriage and the Family, spoke Through artificial reproductive technology, Vitae” is “a call to the continued accompa- male happiness has declined. about another contemporary challenge that these relationships are then brought back niment of those to whom we go out, an- resulted from the sexual revolution: “the into the picture on different terms, as choic- nounce, engage and walk with as we try to As an example of how the sexual revolu- un-gendering of gender.” es within an individual’s control rather than help them grasp and appropriate the teach- tion and widespread use of contraception a natural occurrence, she added. ing of this encyclical.” benefited men more than women, Eber- Today’s view of gender as a social con- stadt pointed to the recent “Me Too” move- struct without any natural difference has With these realities in mind, Eberstadt “We, evangelizing disciples of the Lord ment where women have been sharing sto- resulted in the “forced separation of insepa- noted that the consistency in the teaching Jesus, bring so much to the appreciation of ries of sexual harassment in the workplace. rable things,” such as a woman from her of “Humanae Vitae” continues to draw in the value of life and the integrity of its trans- These stories show how “widespread con- child, the man from the woman, and the “people who seek the truth and can find it mission,” said Cardinal Wuerl. Page 8 Eastern Catholic Life JUNE 2018 Ecumenical Conference to Discuss “Sister Churches” The 22nd Annual Orientale Lumen Conference Fairfax, VA

he 22nd Annual Orientale Lumen • Father John Ford, CSC, professor The conference fee is $395 per person Conference will be held on June emeritus of ecumenism of The Catholic and includes all meals and other conference 18-21,T 2018 in Washington, DC on the University of America in Washington, expenses. Early registration is available theme: “Sister Churches: Fact or Fiction?” DC until May 1st for $350 per person. Over- The conference is open to the public but night accommodations at the Washington advanced reservations are required. The • Father Robert Kaslyn, SJ, professor of Retreat House, location of all events and agenda will include six plenary sessions of canon law at The Catholic University of meals, can be reserved through the confer- lectures and discussion of the conference America in Washington, DC ence office for $80/night per person. Space theme, ecumenical prayer services from the is limited for the conference, so reserva- • Dr. Will Cohen from the University of Byzantine Christian tradition, and fellow- tions should be made early. Scranton and author of “The Concept of ship at meals and evening receptions. ‘Sister Churches’ in Catholic-Orthodox The Orientale Lumen Conferences have Plenary speakers for this conference will Relations since Vatican II” been meeting annually in Washington include: since 1997 and have included patriarchs, • Mr. Michael Haldas, author, educator, cardinals, archbishop, bishops, theolo- and lecturer from Bethesda, MD • Patriarch Emeritus Gregorios III, re- gians, ecumenists, and lay persons from the tired primate of the Melkite Greek Cath- • Father Ron Roberson, CSP, will be the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and olic Church of Antioch, Alexandria and moderator Eastern Catholic traditions. More informa- Jerusalem tion about past conferences can be found A pre-recorded video by Metropolitan at: http://olfoundation.net/conferences/. • Father Hyacinthe Destivelle, OP, from Icon of Saints Peter and Andrew, the official Kallistos (Ware), professor emeritus from More details and online registration is icon of the Orientale Lumen Foundation the Pontifical Council for Promoting Oxford University, on the conference available at http://olfoundation.net/con- Christian Unity in the Vatican theme will be shown at the opening ses- ferences/ol-xxii-june-18-21-2018/ or by sion. calling 703-691-8862.

Byzantine Catholic Prayer App now Available from Eastern Christian Publications

Fairfax, VA – A new and unique daily Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours ECP has published over 200 titles since prayer app is now available from Eastern starting in 1993 including 20 volumes of Christian Publications for iOS and An- • Daily Vespers – prayer texts with the Eastern Churches Journal, 6 years of droid devices. The app is titled “ECPubs” changeable parts for a Reader Service Theosis magazine (a full-color monthly and is available for free download from ei- and for Clergy publication of spiritual essays and the Byz- ther the Apple Store or Google Play. This antine calendar), and color Sunday bulle- • Sunday Bulletin – image and com- is the only Byzantine Catholic app avail- tin covers for over 250 parishes across the mentary from the Sunday of the week able in English with all the changeable US and Canada. Book subjects cover the prayer texts included for the Daily Office. • Theosis Magazine – monthly spiritual history, theology, spirituality, ecumenism, essays in full color as an ebook biographies, and liturgy of the Eastern The app is updated daily with full texts Christian Churches, both Catholic and of The Hours and Daily Vespers, and with • Book of the Month – short excerpt Orthodox. all changeable parts included according to from a featured book from ECP the Byzantine Typicon, or liturgical calen- To download and install the app, visit dar. The main options in the app are: • Intro to Prayer – an educational expla- the Apple Store or Google Play and search nation of the Byzantine Daily Office for ECPubs. More details and online or- • Prayer of the Day – icon and troparia dering for the email service and other (hymns) for the saint of the day • Websites – links to various Eastern books is available at http://ecpubs.com/ Christian websites product-category/subscription_electron- • Java with Jesus – daily reflections to ic/ or by calling 703-691-8862. read while you have your morning cof- A free-will offering or monthly stipend fee is requested from those users who find the app useful and can afford to help support • Living Our Faith – thoughts for the it financially. day from several international writers

• The Hours – prayer text of the First,

Cantor Institute Announces Comprehensive Singing Program Deacon Jeffrey Mierzejewski

ver the past two years, the Metropolitan Cantor Pittsburgh. All classes are taught each year (some twice student work and provide feedback. Institute has been experimenting with ways to per year), allowing students to complete the work at provideO cantor education throughout the United States. their own pace. New students can enter the program in We recommend that ALL cantors consider taking Based on our experiences, we are inaugurating a com- January or July, and complete the entire program in as the initial class, Introduction to Church Singing, which prehensive program beginning in 2018, aimed at ensur- little as two years. starts in July. This class covers the essentials of vocal ing that every parish in the Byzantine Catholic Church production, the basics of music theory for cantors, and has a cantor who can lead the liturgical singing of the Two classes are free, open to the public, and can be the fundamentals of reading music, and also provides parish well, to the glory of God, and in support of the taken at any time: Introduction to Liturgy and Introduc- an essential introduction to rhythm and duch (spirit) of prayer of the faithful. tion to the Typikon. Students can register for further our plain chant. courses by submitting a registration form and the course The new program consists of online classes using the tuition (usually $75.00 for each eight week course, with Details and registration: Internet combined with local mentoring where avail- discounts available). Course tuition allows us to engage http://mci.archpitt.org/classes able, and an optional week-long summer program in trained voice teachers who are also cantors to review JUNE 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 9 Vatican Commissions Eastern Christian Publications to Reprint Greek Liturgical Texts Fairfax, VA

he Congregation for Eastern • Volume III: Pascha through June 30 valuable books, and has entrusted us with covers for over 250 parishes across the US Churches in the Vatican recently (1032 pages) this important project.” Previously, ECP re- and Canada. Book subjects cover the histo- authorizedT Eastern Christian Publications printed the 1639 Liturgiarion of Saint Peter ry, theology, spirituality, ecumenism, biog- (ECP) to scan and reprint a four-volume • Volume IV: All Saints’ Sunday through Mohyla in Kiev, the 1894 Divine Liturgies raphies, and liturgy of the Eastern Christian series of liturgical texts in Greek known August 31 (1224 pages) in Greek and English edited by J. N. W. B. Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox. as the Anthologion. The original books, Robertson published in London, and seven ECP also provides a daily email prayer ser- An original copy has been provided to published from 1967 to 1980, are now out- volumes (re-organized into twelve volumes vice for The Hours and Daily Vespers of the ECP by the Congregation from their ar- of-print and unavailable. They contain the for the reprint) of the Ruthenian Recen- Byzantine Daily Office, and a smartphone chives for high-resolution scanning and complete texts for Matins, Vespers, Com- sion, the scripture and liturgical texts in app called ECPubs available in the Apple cleaning. The final printed editions will be pline and other daily services along with Church Slavonic published by the Vatican Store and Google Play. enhanced and slightly enlarged. The books all the changeable parts for the four major from 1944 to 1973 for the Ukrainian and will be offered on a “print-on-demand” ba- seasons of the liturgical year and the saint- Ruthenian Catholic Churches. sis in either unbound folios or with hard- of-day for those same periods. They are: back binding. Orders will take 6-8 weeks to ECP has published over 200 titles since • Volume I: September 1 through the manufacture and deliver. starting in 1993 including 20 volumes of beginning of Lent (1688 pages) the Eastern Churches Journal, 6 years of Jack Figel, publisher, said, “we are very Theosis magazine (a full-color monthly honored that the Holy See has recognized • Volume II: January 15 through Lent publication of spiritual essays and the Byz- our ability to make historical reprints of and Holy Week (1624 pages) antine calendar), and color Sunday bulletin Page 10 Eastern Catholic Life JUNE 2018

Ask a Priest a QuestionFather Vasyl Chepelskyy Intimacy in Marriage (Continued from last issue)

Dear Father, “holy people.” Prayer is a personal encoun- the successful completion of earlier stages. ter with God. Letting your spouse peek The outcome of one stage is not perma- Thank You for the opportunity to ask into a sliver of that relationship by saying nent and can be modified by later experi- a question. I think it’s a great idea heartfelt prayers of petition or thanks to- ences. During those different stages of life and will ask a question myself. My gether is the beginning of becoming soul- our intimacy goes through changes as well. husband and I are married almost mates. Depending on the age of a couple, life cir- 50 years and are both Byzantine cumstances and many other factors, which Catholics. We are in our mid 60’s and And of course, there is sexual intimacy. come into play, one form of intimacy listed early 70’s. At this stage of our lives This physical intimacy is so special and above may be preferred and chosen over what are the Church’s teachings on profound because it lays bare our bodies in the other or can become more dominant intimacy in our marriage. their beauty and imperfection for the plea- either for a while and then change or re- sure of our spouse. Such a private moment, main stable. (Continued from last issue) such a momentous act of total self-giving and trust that we don’t share with anyone It should never be a decision of one per- eart-to-heart conversations might else. It celebrates our joy and stirs us out son; both spouses have to decide together be the way that you develop emo- of apathy. The possibility of new life being which form of intimacy would be proper at tionalH or intellectual intimacy, but some- born from this loving act is a miracle almost a certain point of their lives. Spouses need times the conversations might not be about beyond comprehension. to keep in mind the words of Saint Paul in anything that momentous. It might just be 1 Cor. 7:4-5: “The wife does not have au- sharing the stuff of everyday life. What con- Icon of the Holy Family Being human, we are not perfect. At thority over her own body but yields it to cerns are you carrying about your child? Is times we’ll fall short of the ideal of never her husband. In the same way, the husband will appear and we will fulfill our vocation there a decision to make about a job or a hurting our spouse. There may be times does not have authority over his own body (to love) to the best of our abilities. The move? Is there a joke that you know your when trust between spouses is broken. At but yields it to his wife…” Usually this de- growth in love is the very core of Christian- spouse will understand even though it’s not times like this a couple must reach deeply cision comes naturally as it is dictated by ity and of Christian Marriage, as we mature, laugh out loud funny? into their reserve of love, change what our life circumstances. There is no specific get older, get closer to God. needs to be changed, and ask forgiveness. teaching of the Church which would strict- Sometimes deep intimacy can come This article was prepared based on the That too, is an intimate act. ly regulate the form of intimacy proper to without words. It may be a knowing glance material and ideas from Sex and Intimacy each couple at a certain age. The Church as you drive along the highway, and you In our life and development as individu- (http://www.foryourmarriage.org/every- always encourages couples to grow in love, appreciate the view together, or a long con- als we go through many stages, and these marriage/enrichment/sex-and-intimacy/), and this growth is achieved individually for soling hug when a tragedy strikes your fam- stages begin to unfold based on our age, which is a project and initiative of the US- each family and takes on different forms at ily. It can also be the feeling of satisfaction life situations, specific needs of each per- CCB. different times. when doing yard work, household repairs, son/couple, the ways we deal with the joys or working on a social cause together. and sorrows of life, etc. In each stage, the We are the architects of our own life, and person confronts, and hopefully masters, Spiritual intimacy should not be dis- if we cooperate with God on the project of new challenges. Each stage builds upon missed as too esoteric or something just for our life, a beautiful and unique masterpiece

Life, Love, and the Human Person By Ann M. Koshute, MTS Chastity Means Yes

he auditorium was filled to capacity. question took them by surprise (“Is this waiting to see if the “church lady” would Chastity is a unique aspect of who are Fifty couples attending the Arch- the sex talk?”). Some fidgeted in their seats show any sign of offense. The spell was bro- as “body-persons.” It’s a virtue – a habit of dioceseT of Philadelphia’s marriage prepara- or looked at the floor, while the rest stared ken and the crowd joined in when I laughed behavior that corresponds to our authentic tion program looked tired after a long day blankly ahead as I repeated the question. and said, “That’s a great answer! Totally God-given selves, achieved through our of work. The room fell silent as I opened One brave soul in the front of the room wrong – but, great answer!” effort and God’s grace. Chastity reminds the presentation with a question: “What raised his ball cap above his eyes and said, us that we’re intentionally created male or is chastity?” This second night of the pro- “It’s what you want for your daughter, but Chastity is an often misunderstood female, and given the ultimate purpose of gram focused on communication, so the not your wife.” Everyone sat breathlessly theological term that’s vital to the Chris- being in relationship with God and others. tian life. Like the man at marriage prep, Chastity acknowledges that we’re unique we think chastity simply means not being among all created things, having been given sexually active; in other words, it means a soul and a body. An ancient heresy in the “No.” Most assume that the Church applies Church, still cropping up in various forms, it only to unmarried priests, religious, and says that the body is inferior to the soul single people. If a married couple is chaste, and must be “escaped.” The body causes either they’re postponing having children, us trouble because its insatiable appetites or there’s something wrong in their rela- make it a “vehicle” for sin, inhibiting spiri- tionship. This understanding limits it to tual practices through its weakness. We sexual activity, an important but not singu- must tolerate and “tame” our bodies in this lar aspect of chastity. Every one of us is called world, until our souls are liberated and per- to chastity – regardless of our age or marital fected by God. The flip side of this heresy is status. Chastity is the common Christian that our bodies are a way for our souls (or, vocation, and the furthest thing from a “no” for some Eastern religions, our conscious- to life, love, and human sexuality. We can’t ness) to “get around” in the world. As such, have a true sense of self, our sexuality, or a the body is a blank canvas on which we can healthy “sex life” without properly under- “paint” any picture we choose. What we do standing and practicing chastity. Chaste with our bodies isn’t important, as long as love is the best love we can give and receive we feel OK. Both of these false understand- because it allows God to help us more fully ings discount the body’s essential good- express His image and likeness in us. ness. They deny that Godintentionally cre- Icon of Christ Washing the Disciples’ Feet ated us as “body-persons,” and that in this unity of soul and body we image Him and JUNE 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 11 are like Him, by being in relationships that tached.” disguised as a form of “love.” A chaste dis- are generous and loving. position toward another doesn’t allow the Chastity is a resounding YES to the good powerful to overwhelm the vulnerable, or Chastity affirms the goodness of the hu- of all human beings, and a respect that pre- our personal insecurities to justify bullying man person (created male and female), cludes any use of a person as a means to an those who are weak or different. never allowing for us to treat ourselves or end. Slavery, pornography, forced labor, others as things to be used. The only proper unjust employment practices are just some “Do you not know that your body is a – chaste – disposition toward a human per- examples of how human persons may be temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom son is love. This doesn’t mean we mustlike treated as “things” or property. There are you have from God...Therefore, glorify God in every person we meet, or approve of their many ways we can treat others (and our- your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). Saint actions, but we must see them through selves) “unchastely”: when we use others Paul urges us to neither flaunt our bodies, God’s eyes, as His sons/daughters, desiring (or allow ourselves to be used) to get what nor to hide them inW shame,ord of butLif toe I knownstit uthatte’ s (and praying) for their good. Chastity af- we want – sexually, financially, socially, or we’re wonderfully created, a home for the firms the exclusivity of spouses, the privi- otherwise. We must consider how chastely Spirit of God, and reflections of His love leged place of the sexual union in marriage, we love others, and if there are instances in the world. ChastityE is afoundst ine glorifyrn- Catholic and their mutual honor for each other’s where we take others for granted or look ing God by clothing ourselves in Christ (cf. bodies and care for their souls. It prizes at them merely as obstacles (or means) to Galatians 3:27) and settling for nothing less the dignity of those who are unmarried by our personal fulfillment. We must consid- than giving (and receiving)Bi theb lkinde ofC self-onference protecting against the possibility of the use er how well we take care of ourselves, and giving, generous love with which He loves or abuse of the body, and the emotional whether we are involved in relationships us. damage from intimacy with “no strings at- where abuse of our bodies (and souls) is November 9-10, 2018 Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church – San Diego, CA 2235 Galahad Road, San Diego, CA 92123 Ph: (858) 277- 2511 www.holyangelssandiego.org

Sponsored by: Byzantine Catholic Christ the Light & Life Eparchy of Passaic A Walk Through the Word of Life Institute’s Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Word of Life Institute’s Eparchy of Parma Gospel of St. John The Fourth Gospel announces the coming of Eparchy of Phoenix Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and the Eastern Catholic Prophets for the children of God who believe in Eastern Catholic Melkite Greek Catholic Him. Come learn about the Eastern Catholic Eparchy of Newton approach to this text and the implications for Speakers the Church’s faith, worship and spirituality as ECED we walk through each section of the Gospel of Eastern Catholic Father Hezekias Carnazzo St John the Theologian! Bible Conference Eparchial Directors of Bible Conference Father Sebastian Carnazzo Religious Education Father Deacon Daniel Dozier Student and Clergy Discounts Available!

“I think that John’s Gospel…is the firstfruits of the Gospels...We might dare say that the Gospels are the firstfruits of all Scripture but that the firstfruits of the Gospels is that November 9-10, 2018 according to John whose meaning no one can understand who has not leaned on Jesus’ November 9-10, 2018 breast or received Mary from Jesus to be his mother also.” Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church – San Diego, CA – Origen of Alexandria, 184-253, A.D. 2235 Galahad Road, San Diego, CA 92123 Ph: (858) 277- 2511 www.holyangelssandiego.org Friday 6:30-9pm and Saturday 10am-4:30pm ($30 per participant) 2235 Galahad Road, San Diego, CA 92123 Ph: (858) 277- 2511 www.holyangelssandiego.org A Ministry of the Eparchy of Passaic REGISTER at ECBIBLEFALL2018.eventbrite.com

Sponsored by: Sponsored by: Byzantine Catholic Byzantine Catholic Christ the Light & Life Eparchy of Passaic Christ the Light & Life Eparchy of Passaic A Walk Through the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh A Walk Through the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Gospel of St. John Eparchy of Parma SearchingGospel of S t.the John Scriptures Eparchy of Parma Father Jack Custer, S.S.L., S.T.D. The Fourth Gospel announces the coming of The Fourth Gospel announces the coming of Eparchy of Phoenix Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and the Eparchy of Phoenix Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets for the children of God who believe in Melkite Greek Catholic Three WaysProphets f orof the chi ldConfessionren of God who believe in Melkite Greek Catholic Him. Come learn about the Eastern Catholic Eparchy of Newton Him. Come learn about the Eastern Catholic Eparcfh yyou of Ne wtconfesson with your mouth Romansapproac 10:9.h to th i sIn te xEnglish,t and the weimp lgeticat i“confess”,ons for under Communism. Our public worship, tahpep Crohauchrc tho’s t fhaiist hte, xwt oarnsdh itph ae nimd pspliicraittuioanlist yfo ars EtheCE DLord Jesus andS pbelieveeakers in “profess”,the Chur candh’s fa ieventh, wo r“shout.”ship and sp iInrit uafact,lity a sthe our way of life, even our speech and our your“I heartEC EthatD God raised HimSpe afromkers the Liturgywe wa lkgives thro uusgh etheach sperfectection o f interpretationthe Gospel of dress, can profess our faith in Jesus Christ. Eastern Catholic Father Hezekias Carnazzo we walk through each section of the Gospel of dead,E ayoustern Cwillatho libec saved.” These words of of SRomanst John the T10:9heol obygia noffering! us three ways Christmas cards that actually mention Je- Eparchial Directors of FFaatthheerr SHeebzaesktians Caarrnnaazzzzoo St John the Theologian! SaintEpa rPaulchial D (Romansirectors of 10:9) are among the to “confess” with our mouth. sus Christ are a way to profess our faith. Religious Education FFaathtehre rD Seeabcaosnt iDana nCiaelr nDaozzzioer Student and Clergy Discounts Available! mostRe ligquotedious Educ atand,ion sinceFa ththeer D eaprotestantcon Daniel Do zier Student and Clergy Discounts Available! So is saying grace even in restaurants and reformation, the most misunderstood Confession means, first of all, admitting cafeterias. A cross or a holy icon displayed “I think that John’s Gospel…is the firstfruits of the Gospels...We might dare say that the verses in the Bible. We can clear up a lot of that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Saint prominently in our home professes our Gospels“I think thatare the John’s firstfruits Gospel…isof all the Scripture firstfruits butof that the Gospels...Wethe firstfruits mightof the dare Gospels say thatis that the confusion by trying to hear these words the Paul wrote: “Christ came to save sinners, faith. accordingGospels are to the John firstfruits whose meaningof all Scripture no one can but understand that the firstfruits who hasof not the leaned Gospels on isJesus’ that way our ancestors in the faith heard them. of whom I am the first” (1 Timothy 1:15) breastaccording or received to John whoseMary frommeaning Jesus no to one be hiscan mother understand also.” who has not leaned on Jesus’ Or, put another way, whatbreast would or received Baba Marydo? from andJesus towe be repeathis mother it also.” in the Communion Prayer. The third meaning of confession is simi- I confess my sins– Origen out ofloud Alexandria, to put 184 them-253, A.D. out lar. When Psalm 66 says “shout joyfully to – Origen of Alexandria, 184-253, A.D. Baba would go to confession (spov’id’) of my life. I confess them to Christ because the Lord” we are being invited to celebrate Friday 6:30-9pm and Saturday 10am-4:30pm ($30 per participant) on Saturday afternoon. SheFr idwoulday 6 :start30-9 pbym anHed S aloneaturd canay 1save0am me-4: 3from0pm them. ($30 per p aIr tconfessicipant) our salvation, the forgiveness of our sins, saying,A M“Jainist ryhrišna of the ispov’idajusja” (I, a sin- them to a priest because that’s what Jesus and our new relationship with Jesus Christ ner, confessEAp aMrcinhiys torfy P o…).afs tshaei c Then, on Sunday,REGIS TpreparER -at EcommandedCBIBLEFAL (MatthewL2018.eve n18:18;tbrite John.com 20:23; and, through Him, with the Father by the Eparchy of Passaic REGISTER at ECBIBLEFALL2018.eventbrite.com ing for Holy Communion, she would pray, James 5:16) and because it’s what human power of the Holy Spirit. This is what the “Viruju Hospodi i ispov’iduju …” (O Lord, I beings need. Saying it out loud is different Epistle to the Hebrews (13:15) calls “a believe and profess that you are truly Christ, from saying it to myself. And I need to hear, continual sacrifice of praise, the fruit of the Son of the Living God … and I also “I forgive you” from another human voice. lips that confess His name.” His name is believe and profess that this, which I am “Father.” Our praise expresses our about to receive, is truly your most precious Confession means, next, publicly gratitude to have been adopted as His Body and your life-giving Blood, which, expressing my faith in Jesus as the Son of sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. I pray, make me worthy to receive for the God and Savior. That’s what we “profess” in That relationship begins for each of us at Saint Maximos the Confessor remission of sins and for life everlasting.) the Communion prayer. It’s what countless Baptism and is healed and renewed with And she would have begun the Liturgy by saints professed in hostile circumstances every sacramental confession we make sometimes difficult and sometimes even enthusiastically singing the First Antiphon: throughout the history of the Church. throughout our lives. When we confess dangerous but is always a public act and the “Ispov’idajtesja Hospodevi” (Shout joyfully The Church gives the title “confessor” to (admit out loud) our sins, we also confess work of a lifetime. to the Lord; Psalm 66:1). men and women who suffer (sometimes (profess and claim for ourselves) that Je- terribly) for their Christian faith without sus Christ is the only Savior who can grant Did you notice how those lettersspov’id dying a martyr’s death. Saint Maximus the forgiveness of those sins. This sort of keep appearing in the Slavonic? Some Confessor (+662) lost his right hand and confession and belief can’t be accomplished things get lost in translation. In Greek tongue for defending the Holy Icons. Blessed in a moment and it can’t be confined to and Slavonic, one basic word appears in all Basil Hopko of Prešov (+1976) is called a a word we say or a faith we “feel in our three of these liturgical expressions and in confessor for his years of imprisonment heart.” Confession—in all three senses—is Page 12 Eastern Catholic Life JUNE 2018

FatherUnderstanding Joseph Bertha, Ph.D. Icons The Origin of the Crimson Chiton of Our Lord Found in the Ascension Icon A seemingly minor detail with major implications

he earliest Ascension icon dates In Isaiah we read: 63:2: “Why is Your ap- Theologically this underlines the signifi- In an interesting parallel with the blood from 586 and is an illustration for parel red, And Your garments like the one cant meaning of the Ascension, which is the of the lamb smeared on the lintels of the theT Rabbula Gospels. (see illustration) who treads in the wine press?” fact that Our Lord ascends both as God and doorways of the Hebrews in Egypt as they Monks placed this page in the codex as an man, i.e. physically into heaven. celebrated the first Passover, our Lord’s sac- illustration of the Gospel of Luke’s descrip- In Zechariah we read: “And if one asks rifice as the Lamb of God passes over the tion of the event. Our Lord ascends in a him What are these wounds on your back? It is only several centuries later that we lintel/gates of heaven at His Ascension in body halo (mandorla) in the upper half He will say, the wounds I received in the begin to see the Lord’s chiton depicted as the flesh. Coincidentally this also paral- of the icon. He is seated on a rainbow arc house of my friends.” (v. 13:6) crimson. For example, this color change lels His journey through the doorway on amidst the clouds. Two angels escort Him can be viewed in the 15th century icon pan- Thomas Sunday. Both scripture readings utilized in the heavenward, He wears a white chiton, the el at Saint Cyril Belozersk Monastery. Byzantines used centuries after the Rabbu-

Rabbula Gospels Folio of the Ascension Icon of the Ascension

la Gospel [a 6th-century illuminated Syriac Perhaps one of the best known and read- alb, covered by a white himation (over gar- Significantly, the blood-red crimson gospel book: ed.] further articulate the ily recognized American depictions of the ment). Both garments denote with their robes (himation/chiton) of our Lord are spiritual significance of the wounded and Ascension of Our Lord is found in Ameri- white color that Our Lord is the “light of also worn by His Mother, which denote her crimson grape stained clothing of the Son ca’s cathedral, the Basilica of the Immacu- the world,” as He refers to Himself in the maphorion stained with the atoning tram- of God, the Messiah in relation to His jour- late Conception, located in Washington, Gospel of John. The white garments, which pling of the grapes. ney back to the Father at His Ascension. DC. In the northern apse of this Byzantine iconographers learn of from the Transfigu- church the icon of Our Lord’s Ascension Ultimately, the depiction of our Lord’s ration, are shown white as snow, also denot- Furthermore, the Vespers verses con- dominates the sanctuary. This mosaic, de- Ascension into heaven wearing the crimson ing, by extension, the Resurrection. tinue in their emphasis on the incarnational signed by the renown Polish iconographer chiton, prophesies the vision of His return role of the Theotokos. Particular reference Through the ensuing centuries however, Jan Henryk de Rosen, merits our attention. at the end of the world. His garments are is made repeatedly to her birth giving or as the Byzantine Church’s liturgical servic- Our Lord is depicted wearing only His chi- crimson, blood stained because He has flesh and blood rendering to the Son of es developed, the chiton changed color to ton, crimson colored, wrapped over His trampled the grapes of the harvest, and God. Even the Sunday following the As- crimson red. This is due to the Old Testa- right shoulder exposing His left side with shedding His precious blood in the atone- cension is dedicated to the Fathers of the ment prophecies of Isaiah and Zechariah, the wound visible. His upraised hands also ment of sins. The way of repentance affords First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which both of which are proclaimed during the show the wounds of crucifixion. He is the us repentant sinners reconciliation with the defended and upheld and proclaimed her Vesper services for the feast. Passover victim ascending to and through abundant mercy of God the Father. role as giving birth to the Son of God. the lintels, or gates of paradise.

The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic subscribes to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

adopted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Eparchy, within all its parishes, institutions and programs, is committed to assuring a safe environment in ministry for its children and young people that conforms to Charter requirements.

For further information regarding the Eparchial Safe Environment Program please contact:

Father David J. Baratelli, Ed.S., M.Div. • Safe Environment Program Coordinator • 973.890.7777 Dr. Maureen Daddona, Ph.D. • Victim’s Assistance Coordinator • 516.623.6456 JUNE 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 13 London’s Westminster Cathedral Hosts Historic Byzantine Liturgy Historic Ukrainian Catholic Liturgies now Available in DVD from OLTV

Fairfax, Virginia – In October, 2017, Nichols welcomed everyone and was the Orientale Lumen Foundation and Con- two historic celebrations of the Divine homilist. This was the first time in history ferences, which promotes ecumenical Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom in the that such a large celebration of the Byzan- dialogue among Eastern Catholic, Ro- Ukrainian language took place in London, tine Divine Liturgy occurred in Westmin- man Catholic and Eastern Orthodox England. The first was in Westminster -Ca ster, and the first time that special permis- Churches. Annual conferences have been thedral, the central Catholic Cathedral of sion was given for video recording in the meeting in Washington for over 20 years, all of Great Britain and Wales, hosted by cathedral. and OLTV has produced over 300 hours Cardinal Vincent Nichols. The second of lectures, liturgies, audio and video was in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral For the Liturgy in Holy Family Cathe- books, conference plenary sessions, and of the Holy Family near Grosvenor Square dral, Archbishop Cyril Vasyl, Secretary of special events. Streaming video of a selec- and Oxford Street. the Congregation for Oriental Churches tion of these videos can be found at www. in the Vatican, was the main celebrant and oltv.tv or on our YouTube channel titled tails and online ordering of the DVDs is For the Liturgy in Westminster Cathe- Archbishop Sviatoslav delivered the hom- “OLTeleVision.” available at http://olfoundation.net/new- dral, Major-Archbishop Sviatoslav, head ily. The occasion was the 60th anniversary products/ or by calling 703-691-8862. of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kyiv, of the founding of the Eparchy (Diocese) Discount advance orders are being was the main celebrant with 30 other East- of the Holy Family for Ukrainian Catho- taken through May 15, 2018 with deliv- ern Catholic bishops from all of Europe lics in all of Great Britain. ery scheduled for early June. Discount and 20 Roman Catholic bishops of Great pricing for bulk orders from parishes or Britain. Over 1,000 people attended and a Orientale Lumen TeleVision (OLTV) other groups is also available. Each DVD 100-voice choir led the singing. Cardinal is the media production ministry of the is approximately 2 hours long. More de-

School of Prayer Father G. Scott Boghossian Lead Us Not Into Temptation

he sixth petition of the Our Father when he has been approved, he shall receive will also provide the way of escape, that you prayers and verses from the Holy Bible to is, “lead us not into temptation.” the crown of life, which the Lord promised may be able to endure it” (I Cor. 10:13). use in the moment of temptation. In the AnotherT way of asking for the same thing to them that love Him” (James. 1:12). Through prayer, Holy Communion, and Eastern Church, the Jesus prayer, “Lord Je- would be, “do not allow us to enter into frequent confession, we are empowered to sus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, temptation,” or “do not let us yield to temp- Temptation in itself is not a sin. As long live a holy life. a sinner,” became the prayer of choice to tation.” Temptation is an incitement to sin, as there is no consent of the will to the combat temptation. In the West, the verse, so here we are praying, “Father, don’t let me temptation, there is no sin. But because This sixth petition also includes a request “O God come to my assistance; O Lord fall into sin.” The Catechism of the Catholic we are frail and fallen sinners, without di- for the spiritual wisdom to recognize and make haste to help me” (Ps. 70:1), became Church says: “When we say, ‘lead us not vine aid, we will most certainly succumb. avoid the near occasions of sin. The near the common prayer against temptation, as into temptation’ we are asking God not to “Watch and pray that you may not enter occasions of sin are the people, places, and taught by the desert monks to Saint John allow us to take the path that leads to sin” into temptation. The spirit indeed is will- things that are likely to cause us to stumble. Cassian. When tempted, don’t wait, but (CCC 2863). ing, but the flesh is weak” (Mk. 13:48). We We will not overcome temptation if we do pray immediately and without delay, in will never triumph over temptation with- not avoid the near occasions of sin. Some EASTERN CATHyourOL IownC D words,EACO orN inC OoneN GofR theES powerS - A new believer might say, “I have so many out God’s help, won through fervent prayer. Catholics are surprised when they fall into ful prayers mentioned above, or in the very terrible temptations. I must be a horrible Prayer unites us to Christ who says, “I am grave sin even though they pray faithfully words of the Our Father, “lead us not into person.” That is not a valid conclusion. Our the vine; you are the branches... apart from and receive the sacraments frequently, but temptation,” and God will give you victory Lord Jesus Christ Himself was tempted in Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). are not careful to avoid the near occasions over sin. the wilderness by the devil, yet He never of sin. “He that loves danger shall perish in sinned. All of the great saints suffered Despite our weakness and frailty, we are it” (Sir. 3:26). The sixth petition of the Our Father through terrible temptations. As followers without excuse when we sin because God’s teaches us that we are all tempted to sin, of Christ, temptation is our lot. The Chris- grace is always available to assist us. No As soon as we realize we are experienc- but that God will enable us to overcome tian life in this world is a constant struggle temptation is too implacable or too dif- ing a temptation, we need to pray. Some of temptation if we pray, frequent the sacra- against sin, and if we endure temptation ficult. “No temptation has overtaken you the medieval theologians taught that it is a ments, avoid the near occasions of sin, and without faltering, God will reward us both that is not common to man. God is faithful, sin to neglect to pray and cry out to God cry out to God for help in the very moment in this life and in the life to come. “Blessed and He will not let you be tempted beyond in the moment of temptation. The Fathers of temptation. is the man that endures temptation; for your ability, but with the temptation, He of the Desert armed themselves with short

For Eastern Catholic: Deacons of EASTERN CATHOLIC DEACON CONGRESS Deacons’ Wives LIVING ICONS Minor Clerics Deacon Candidates The Discerning CHRIST t h e SERVANT Deacon Directors The Diaconate in the Eastern Catholic Churches September 20-22, 2018 Scranton, PA St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church 310 Mifflin Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 This three-day Congress on the Diaconate in the Eastern Catholic Churches will be an opportunity for those serving in, preparing for and supporting diaconal ministry in our churches to come together for a time of fellowship and formation across the jurisdictions! Cost: $200 per person ($250 per couple) Local Accommodations available. Sponsored by: All meals and materials included. EASTERN THIS EVENT IS IN HONOR OF THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF CATHOLIC THE PERMANENT DIACONATE IN THE UNITED STATES ASSOCIATES WWW.EASTERNDEACONCONGRESS.COM

For Eastern Catholic: Deacons of Deacons’ Wives LIVING ICONS Minor Clerics Deacon Candidates The Discerning CHRIST t h e SERVANT Deacon Directors The Diaconate in the Eastern Catholic Churches September 20-22, 2018 Scranton, PA St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church 310 Mifflin Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 This three-day Congress on the Diaconate in the Eastern Catholic Churches will be an opportunity for those serving in, preparing for and supporting diaconal ministry in our churches to come together for a time of fellowship and formation across the jurisdictions! Cost: $200 per person ($250 per couple) Local Accommodations available. Sponsored by: All meals and materials included. EASTERN THIS EVENT IS IN HONOR OF THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF CATHOLIC THE PERMANENT DIACONATE IN THE UNITED STATES ASSOCIATES WWW.EASTERNDEACONCONGRESS.COM Page 14 Eastern Catholic Life JUNE 2018

The Byzantine Liturgy By Archpriest David Petras, SEOD Love n his first letter to the Corinthians, the gry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and “O Passover, save us from sorrow, for today Holy Apostle Paul links together three you gave Me drink, a stranger and you wel- Christ has shown from the tomb as from a virtues,I which may be called powers of the comed Me, naked and you clothed Me, ill bridal chamber” (Paschal Stichera). The soul: “faith, hope, love remain, these three; and you cared for Me, in prison and you vis- resurrection means this: that we are to love but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corin- ited Me” (Matthew 25:34-36). Here we see Christ as our Bridegroom (John 3:29), thians 13:13). What, indeed, is love? Be- what love is in action: it means attending Who has commanded us, “Remain in My fore He was arrested and led to the Cross, in to the needs of others. This is the second love .... This is My commandment: love one His final words to His disciples, Jesus said, commandment of Christian life: “‘You shall another as I love you” (John 15:9.12). “I pray not only for them, but also for those love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no who will believe in Me through their word, other commandment greater than these” From a certain logical viewpoint, faith so that they may all be one, as You, Father, (Mark 12:31). The Gospel of John takes would precede love, because we have to are in Me and I in You, that they also may this love up a notch, as Jesus teaches: “This know whom we love. Thus, the famous Bal- be in us, that the world may believe that is my commandment: love one another as I timore Catechism answer that so many of You sent Me” (John 17:20-21). Love is love you” (John 15:12). Returning to Mat- us were brought up on, states: “God made such a complete openness to another that thew’s Gospel, when Jesus describes love, me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve our desire is to be one with them. There is the righteous are stunned and so they ask, Him in this world, and to be happy with no greater unity than the Trinity, one God “Lord, when did we see You hungry and Him forever in heaven.” In I Corinthians in three persons. This love is beyond our feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?” 13:13, Saint Paul says that the greatest of ability to grasp, for it belongs to the very be- (Matthew 25:37). Jesus answers, “Amen, the three virtues is love. Love, then, has a ing of God, as Saint John was to say, “God I say to you, whatever you did for one of kind of priority. If we truly know God, we is love” (1 John 4:8). That is why the Lord these least brothers of Mine, you did for will love Him, but also if we love Him, we wants to bring us together in the unity of Me” (Matthew 25:38). Here we see what love. Love, of course, is greater than sexual will know Him, the God of mercy, love, and the Trinity: “If you keep My command- love truly means, the union in identity of union, which can become sinful when it compassion. This automatically applies ments, you will remain in My love, just as I God and His creature. Saint Maximus the becomes only the seizing of pleasure self- also to our neighbor. Saint John follows up have kept My Father’s commandments and Confessor writes, “Love, the divine gift, ishly for ourselves. Our relationship with on this logic: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ remain in His love” (John 15:10). This is perfects human nature until it makes it ap- God, and with our neighbors has nothing but hates his brother, he is a liar; for who- why Christ was sent into the world: “For pear in unity and identity by grace with the to do with physical sex, but it is the desire ever does not love a brother whom he has God so loved the world that He gave His divine nature. (Ambigua, P.G. XCL, 1308)” for unity, as the Liturgy says, so “that with seen cannot love God whom he has not only Son, so that everyone who believes in one voice and one heart we may glorify” seen” (I John 4:20). That is why the Divine Him might not perish but might have eter- As Saint Paul wrote, the greatest virtue God’s name, for “God is love.” Yet, the love Liturgy is an act of love, for it brings God nal life” (John 3:16). is love. It is the foundation of our whole of marriage was a model for God’s love for and us and our neighbor into the unity de- life – a life that is lived in Christ. Howev- us. In creation itself, we are told that mar- manded by love. Here love precedes faith, We see love as unity in Jesus’ teaching er, when I was a pastor, I once preached a riage is unity: “That is why a man leaves his and the deacon commands us, “Let us love about the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31- homily about God’s love and was cautioned father and mother and clings to his wife, one another, that with one mind we may 46). He gathers all the peoples on His right by one of my parishioners, “You can’t talk and the two of them become one body” profess,” and we complete, “The Father, and and left, and to those on the right He says, about love, because in the world today love (Genesis 2:24). Likewise, Christ’s death the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one in essence “Come, you who are blessed by My Father. means only sexual intercourse.” I heard on the cross and His resurrection is glori- and undivided.” Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from him, but I could not accept this, because as fied in the hymns of the Church as a mys- the foundation of the world. For I was hun- Christians, we must live in God, and God is tical marriage of Christ with the Church:

Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate 64th Holy Dormition Pilgrimage August 11-12, 2018 His Beatitude Sviatoslav presiding MARY, OUR MODEL OF PRAYER “Do Whatever He Tells You…” e Sisters Servants joyfully announce that along with His Beatitude Svia- toslav Shevchuk, Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, His Eminence Most Reverend William C. Skurla, Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh and Most Reverend Kurt Burnette, Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic, will also preside at this year’s pilgrimage. Archbishop William will be the main celebrant and homilist at the 5:00 pm Pontical Divine Liturgy on Satur- day, August 11th, and Bishop Kurt will be the celebrant and homilist for the 8:00 pm. Moleben to the Mother of God on Saturday night. PARISH BANNERS - We ask that parishes bring their banners and have a representative carry them in the procession to the Ponti cal Divine Liturgies on Saturday and Sunday. PRESENTATION: V. Rev. John Custer, Rector of the Cathedral of St Michael the Archangel, Passaic NJ and Syncellus for New Jersey will speak on the topic “Mary, Mother of the Word of God” on Saturday, August 11th. HOTEL RESERVATIONS - Sr. Michele has acquired the following great rate, and you must book through her for this rate: [email protected] , 845-753-2555 HOTEL: Fair eld Inn & Suites ADDRESS: 225 Ramapo Valley Rd. Mahwah, NJ 07430 PRICE: $115.00 per night (all inclusive room with breakfast) King / Queen / 2 Doubles room size JUNE 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 15

Spiritual Reflections Father Lewis Rabayda Spiritual Determination

here are many motivations which of salvation so richly poured out upon us. through social programs, it does not hap- refreshing sacrifices of prayer. In light of drive us to achieve, conquer, sat- Jesus offered salvation to all, but only those pen by the path of least resistance. No. The knowing that we will be assaulted for our isfy,T and protect people and elements of who are willing to come towards Him will only way for us to succeed on this path to- efforts to worship God and to mimic the ac- our lives. As children we are told to work be worthy of it. A great effort must be made wards Christ is to be fully determined with tions and virtuous behavior of His Son, Je- hard in order to earn good grades and to at- by each of us to turn away from our lives of our whole being to trudge through the sus Christ, we must not be discouraged by tain healthy study habits. As we grow older sin, and away from the mediocrity of ne- mess of our lives and the mess of this world. minor setbacks. Rather, we must continue and enter the work force, we then strive to glecting to put effort into the spiritual life. with bold determination to win the most work well and efficiently so that we will be We need this extreme determination be- glorious prize that has ever been won, and an asset to the company and secure our em- But putting some effort into the spiritual cause we are being assaulted by the enemy that ever could be won, which is to become ployment. There are others still, who take life and being truly determined to move to- at every turn. We are always being persuad- one with Christ and experience everlasting up the entrepreneurial gauntlet and work wards Christ are not exactly the same. The ed to relax our efforts of practicing virtue in life in the Kingdom of Heaven. hard for the satisfaction of owning their motivations that drive us to achieve earthly our lives and so that we abandon our most own successful business. We also work hard success and stability can be rewarded with at building good relationships with family, temporal goods or benefits. This can con- friends, coworkers, spouses-to-be, and then tribute to our undivided determination in our spouses after 40-plus years of marriage. doing all that we can to achieve these de- The truth is, we work hard at all of these sired outcomes. But when we utilize this aspects of our lives because we know that same level of energy for achieving greater when we put in a sizable effort, we will be spiritual growth, we will see that the ben- doing the right thing, and our lives and the efits and gifts far surpass all the fleeting lives of others will be better and more full earthly comforts and rewards. because of it. Our true goal in the Life in Christ is to These healthy motivations and principles become like Him, to be one with Him, and of determination are also necessary for our with the Father, and with the Holy Spirit. spiritual life. We know that we cannot attain This union with the Divine Trinity is the great achievement with little or no effort. most perfect state of being that anyone or Now, this does not mean that we are saved anything can hope to achieve. Being one by our own actions, because we are not. Je- with God is to be one with absolute love, sus Christ once and for all has achieved our absolute charity, and absolute justice. But eternal salvation. But the lives we live will our becoming one with God does not determine if we have fully accepted this gift happen accidentally, it does not happen

Seasonal Reflections Father Ronald Hatton “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”

recently celebrated the Rites of Initia- command to “[baptize] them in the name that marriage is “a great foreshadowing… by God to be His ministers to the world. tion for two little brothers. This was of the Father, and of the Son, and of the it refers to Christ and the Church” (Eph. 5: We are called to live the Gospel in our sin- followedI by a marriage, and then the Sun- Holy Spirit,” but also that, as a result of our 32). The joining of a man and woman in gle life, in our married life. We are called to day celebration of the Feast of the Pente- initiation into the Body of Christ (baptism, Holy Matrimony is a sign of the relation- pass the Gospel on to our children and our cost. As a result, the final words of Jesus to sealing of the Holy Spirit, and receiving the ship between Christ and the Church. The children’s children. His disciples in the Gospel according to the Body and Blood of Christ), we have been Gospel reading, John 2: 1-11, is appointed Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew had given, by Jesus Christ, the mandate to do for the marriage ceremony. Not only does Also, during the month of June, we cel- a profound meaning to me. In these two so! As Christians, as the Church, it is our the Church see this as Christ blessing Holy ebrate the birth of the great prophet, fore- Matrimony, but it is also a sign of His power runner, and Baptist of the Lord, John, and in our life. During what we call the Dance the pre-eminent apostles Peter and Paul. of Isaiah, we sing a troparion to the holy Again, we are reminded of three great wit- martyrs. Unless we understand that the ness of Christ to the world, three great mar- primary meaning of the word “martyr” is tyrs to the Faith. So, even though the great not someone who has died for a cause–in feasts–the Nativity, the Theophany, the our case, died for the Faith–but means wit- Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension ness. A martyr is a witness to the Faith. Be- of our Lord, and the Descent of the Holy cause of this, we invoke the holy martyrs to Spirit–are now behind us for a season, it is bless the man and woman as they become not a time to relax. In fact, it is a time for us witnesses to the world of the relationship to be witnesses to the world, to be martyrs. between God and Mankind. We also in- It is the time for the Church–you, me, and voke the holy Apostles, “who proclaimed all of us baptized into Christ–to “go there- the consubstantial Trinity.” This makes no fore and make disciples of all the nations, sense unless we see in marriage a witness baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Catholic Faith to the world. That is and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teach- why marriage is one of the Holy Mysteries. ing them to observe all things that I have Marriage is not a civil ceremony or a social commanded you….” And as you do this, formality, but it is consecrating the union to remember His final words to us: “and, lo, I God, and giving marriage a new and higher am with you always, even to the end of the purpose. In Holy Matrimony the couple is age.” Icon of the Calling of the Disciples given the vocation to preach the Gospel! With the coming of the Descent of the Holy Mysteries, we have concrete affirma- vocation to “go therefore and make dis- Holy Spirit, human beings are given the tion that this is the vocation to which we ciples….” In our baptism, we are given the mandate to spread the Gospel, to live the are called, each and every one of us. vocation to preach the Gospel. Gospel, every day of our lives! Each of us has a new reason for living, a new reason This reading, Matthew 28: 16-20, is the In our marriage ceremony, we read a por- for getting up in the morning, a new reason Gospel reading appointed for the Baptis- tion of the letter of the Holy Apostle Paul to for interacting with family, friends, and co- mal service. It is not only to show us His the church at Ephesus, where he points out workers. Each of us have been consecrated Page 16 Eastern Catholic Life JUNE 2018

Gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection. How can we share the Gospel? It can start Seminarian Reflections by a commitment to read one of the Gospel Seminarian Timothy Farris accounts from cover to cover. It can start by setting up a bible study night with a few friends in your parish. It could look like Faith after Pentecost St. Paul’s Street Evangelization, an inviting n the May edition of the ECL, Paul ter going between Easter and the Ascen- fering of the Jewish Passover. At the Chris- fallen away Catholics to return to Commu- West offered a great reflection on the sion, I offered a reflection on our hindsight tian Pentecost, Christ calls for a harvesting I nion or inviting people into a faith-based necessary choice to let go of the things that compared to the apostles. The apostles of all peoples to the Christian faith through discussion to explore Catholicism. The prevent us from reaching for holy things. had to struggle through their understand- the power of the Holy Spirit after Christ of- last tasks are not easy tasks, but as God said Two years ago, we made the difficult choice ing of Christ who was crucified, but now fered Himself as the Passover meal. There to all those taking on God’s will, “I will be in discerning our vocations that called us stood in front of them. Christ warned the were Jews of all places, Parthians, Medes, with you” is our comfort. And “if God is for closer to Christ by fulfilling His will for us, apostles that he would one day leave. The and Elamites; from Mesopotamia, Judea, us, who can be against us” (Rom 8:31). We a life given to service of the church. Both Troparia sung in our liturgy depicted the and Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia; Phrygia and have the power of the Holy Spirit to guide of us have been grateful that you too have apostles pleading with Christ, that He not Pamphylia, Egypt and Libya as well as Jews us in the harvest. joined us in our call, praying for us and leave them. The apostles were told that from Rome, Cretans and Arabs. The power supporting us. Many of our churches have Christ would send an Advocate to them. of the Holy Spirit gave the apostles the abil- Icons have a beautiful ability to bring us taken to the devotion of the Pilgrim Voca- When and how would this Advocate assist ity to speak in the native tongues of each of to the occasion of prayer. Our churches tion Icon and many have reached out to us them? If we take the approach of remov- these peoples. are filled will all the liturgical seasons that encouraging us to continue on the path that ing our hindsight we can journey through call us to enter into the presence of God. I We can see this as a fulfilment of the -fi God has called us to discern. Our seminary the Paschal season as the apostles did and got the opportunity to share the Byzantine asco of the Tower of Babel where the build- has grown greatly with this kind of support contemplate Jesus’ resurrection. We can Liturgy of the Hours with a few Roman ers were given many languages so that they from all our eparchies and parishioners. understand why the angel sent the myrrh- Catholic friends. May this outpouring of support continue bearing women away or why Christ would could no longer depend on human achieve- to encourage more men and women to let come before Thomas with the wounds of ment to strive for the heavens. The apostles While I can’t share everything that Paul go of the comforts of home to seek God’s the Cross. were building a tower on the stone that the and I have experienced in the last two years will for them through the discernment of builder rejected, on Christ the Word, with and what we hope to experience in the the priesthood and religious life. In the “weeks after Pentecost” we can be- the language of all nations. next two, I’d like to share a few snapshots gin using our hindsight again and contem- of seminary life. Our Byzantine Catholic The Harvest is Great but the Labor- Post-Pentecost plate how God would become a child to be Seminary, is a unique re- ers are Few During Bright Week, I had the opportu- born of a young Virgin. We can contem- source that not all Eastern Churches have With Pentecost, comes the great com- nity to give a reflection at my alma mater. plate Christ’s Baptism to His temptation the luxury to enjoy. It offers a 4yr M.Div. for mission by Christ. While Christ was per- The topic they gave me was, “how to keep by the devil and how He remained perfect those discerning the priesthood, a 2yr on- forming his ministry, proclaiming the good Easter going.” I think it is fitting that the through to His Death on a Cross so that we line M.A.T. degree, and an 8-course certifi- news and healing people of illnesses, He Byzantine Church refers to the Sunday’s may be saved of our sins. Or how Christ cate program in Eastern Christian Studies. following Pentecost simply as the weeks af- descended into hades to lead the souls from had compassion on the people. “They were ter Pentecost. The Roman Catholic Church there. We can think of each of the Resurrec- harassed and helpless, like sheep without a Entering our 3rd year, we will be begin- enters the season of “Ordinary Time” to tion appearances and reflect on how Christ shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ning the last of our introductory courses: describe the weeks between festal periods. makes himself appear to us in our lives. We ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers • Apologetics How we refer to our weeks adds to our un- also get this time to reflect on how the Holy are few; therefore ask the Lord of the har- Spirit works in our lives. vest to send out laborers into his harvest.” derstanding of the time-period that we are • Entering into the Mysteries of in. The Church does not cease to celebrate (Mt 9:35-38) The reading of Pentecost is a Readers’ Christ the resurrection or focus on a completely nightmare: go ahead and read all the pro- While priests serve sacramentally, we separate theme from the Ascension of • Ruthenian Monasticism nouns while keeping a cadence. But focus- are all called to be laborers of the harvest in Christ or Pentecost. building the Body of Christ. Christ called ing on the text, the Jews of the region had • A Toolbox of Gifts During this time, the “weeks after Pen- assembled in Jerusalem. Pentecost was not us all to share the Gospel both literally and tecost,” we remember all three of these just a Christian event but a Jewish one. Pen- in how we live our lives. There are many • Counter Intuitiveness of dropping a events. In my talk about how to keep Eas- tecost marked a day of harvest after the of- “weeks after Pentecost” for us to share the project to seek God When traveling to the south this summer please visit our churches All Saints Epiphany of Our Lord Holy Dormition Our Lady of the Sign Saint Therese 10291 Bayshore Road 2030 Old Alabama Road 17 Buckskin Lane 7311 Lyons Road 4265 13th Avenue North North Fort Myers, FL 33917 Roswell, GA 30076 Ormond Beach, FL 32174 Coconut Creek, FL 33073 Saint Petersburg, FL 33713 1-239-599-4023 1-770-993-0973 1-386-677-8704 1-954-429-0056 1-727-323-4022 Saint Anne Saint Basil the Great Saints Cyril and Methodius Saint Nicholas of Myra 7120 Massachusetts Ave. 1475 N.E. 199th Street 1002 Bahama Avenue 5135 Sand Lake Road New Port Richey, FL 34653 Miami, FL 33179-5162 Fort Pierce, FL 34982 Orlando, FL 32819 1-727-849-1190 1-305-651-0991 1-772-595-1021 1-407-351-0133 Upcoming Eparchial and Parish Events June August Eastern Catholic Life 14 Flag Day 4-8 Altar Server Camp Civic holiday Carpathian Village, Canadensis, PA Circulation Department 445 Lackawanna Avenue 24 Nativity of the Holy Forerunner and 5 Annual Saint Nicholas Pilgrimage Woodland Park, NJ 07424 Baptist of the Lord, John Carpathian Village, Canadensis, PA Solemn Holy Day 11-12 Annual Holy Dormition Pilgrimage Next Issue: 29 Holy, Glorious, Illustrious and Prime Sloatsburg, NY July, 2018 Apostles, Peter and Paul Holy Day of Obligation*Chancery closed Copy Deadline: September June 22 1-2 Annual Pilgrimage in Honor of Our The current issue of the ECL Lady of Perpetual Help was printed at Evergreen July Uniontown, PA Printing, Bellmawr, NJ, and 5-8 Byzantine Youth Rally was distributed from the Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA U.S. Post Office via second class mailing in Bellmawr, NJ.