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Official Publication of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia VOL. 75 - No. 23 DECEMBER 21, 2014 ENGLISH VERSION PASTORAL MESSAGE OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC HIERARCHY OF THE U.S.A. TO OUR CLERGY, HIEROMONKS AND BROTHERS, RELIGIOUS SISTERS, SEMINARIANS AND BELOVED FAITHFUL no bounds, thugs for CHRIST IS BORN! whom people are merely tools to be used and discarded, for whom life “Glory to God in the is of no value. highest, and peace [to men of good will/to The ancient song was first those on whom His favor heard in a world which, rests].” (Luke 2: 14) although separated from us by two millennia and by a wide technological Our preparations for the chasm, was really not great feast of the Nativity so different in terms of of Our Lord, God, and human nature. What was Savior Jesus Christ bring that world? Saint Paul to mind the song of the tells the Galatians “When angels at Bethlehem. It is the fullness of time had good for us to meditate come, God sent His Son, upon them during this born of a woman, born season, and perhaps under the law, to ransom even to let this meditation those under the law, so influence our New Year’s that we might receive resolution as we prepare there seems to be so man”, God’s plan for us adoption. (4: 4-5)” Does also for the arrival of little peace these days: is different from the one this mean that everything 2015. It is especially we need to be reminded inflicted upon the world was perfect? Far from important to remember that, despite the by leaders whose cold, it! Some romantics like the angelic promise of headlines which scream calculating ambition and peace this year since of “man’s inhumanity to insatiable greed know (continued on next page) Highlights inside this issue: New Mosaics for Cathedral - pg. 11 Christmas Service Schedules - pg. 20 PASTORAL MESSAGE OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC HIERARCHY OF THE U.S.A. TO OUR CLERGY, HIEROMONKS AND BROTHERS, RELIGIOUS SISTERS, SEMINARIANS AND BELOVED FAITHFUL (continued from previous page) to point out that Jesus step paradigm, people contempt from the come and say: was born during what with addictions are often arrogant. was referred to as the not ready to change “Come, let us go up to Pax Romana – that is, their lives until they have It is to such people, the LORD’s mountain, the “Roman Peace”. “hit bottom” - in other seeking to be ransomed to the house of the Outwardly, it may have words, until their life has from the violence and God of Jacob, looked as though peace gotten so bad that there disorder of their world, reigned throughout is no way to go but up. that the angels sang of That he may instruct the Roman world, but Perhaps this was the peace. us in his ways, and that peace was only realization which was we may walk in his maintained by Roman dawning on the people Nothing much has paths.” state-sponsored terror at that time. Can’t you changed in two thousand tactics – tactics like hear them moaning as years: if anything, our For from Zion shall go the crucifixion to which they pray to God for technology has made forth instruction, and Jesus would eventually relief in the words of us more effective at the word of the LORD be sentenced since he Psalm 123? inflicting murder and from Jerusalem. was considered a threat mayhem. Nonetheless, to that very same Pax we dare bravely to join He shall judge Romana. Not to be To you I raise my eyes, our voices in the angels’ between the nations, outdone by the cruelty to you enthroned in song, stubbornly refusing and set terms for of the Romans, the petty heaven. to give up on the promise many peoples. monarch Herod resorted of peace. As we do so, to infanticide when faced Yes, like the eyes of we must remember that They shall beat their servants on the hand with the same newborn peace is not a gift which, swords into plowshares of their masters, threat to his power, like the snow, comes and their spears into ordering the murder of down from heaven to pruning hooks; every male child under Like the eyes of a refresh the earth and maid on the hand of the age of two. Such hide the scars we have One nation shall her mistress, was the Pax Romana; inflicted. Rather, it is our not raise the sword it is no wonder that the task, our vocation. As So our eyes are on the against another, nor people seethed under Pope Paul VI reminds us, LORD our God, till we shall they train for war the conqueror’s boot! “If you want peace, work are shown favor. again. The Romans and their for justice.” The prophet puppets had reason to Isaiah (2: 3-5; 11: 6- Show us favor, LORD, House of Jacob, fear rebellion. 9) provides just such a show us favor, for come, let us walk in glorious vision of people we have our fill of the light of the LORD! striving together for the So what about “the contempt. fullness of time”? A peace which God intends ... possible answer can be Our souls are more for the world, and then found in any of the twelve- than sated with enjoying the fruits of their Then the wolf shall be step programs such as mockery from the labors: a guest of the lamb, Alcoholics Anonymous. insolent, with According to the twelve- Many peoples shall (continued on next page) DECEMBER 21, 2014 2 PASTORAL MESSAGE OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC HIERARCHY OF THE U.S.A. TO OUR CLERGY, HIEROMONKS AND BROTHERS, RELIGIOUS SISTERS, SEMINARIANS AND BELOVED FAITHFUL (continued from previous page) and the leopard shall shall graze, together They shall not harm the newborn Prince of lie down with the their young shall lie or destroy on all my Peace. May His peace young goat; down; the lion shall holy mountain; for the be with all of us, and with eat hay like the ox. earth shall be filled our world, in this holy The calf and the young with knowledge of season and throughout lion shall browse The baby shall play the LORD, as water the year to come. together, with a little by the viper’s den, covers the sea. child to guide them. and the child lay his hand on the adder’s “With a little child to The cow and the bear lair. Guide them” - ah, yes, +Stefan Soroka Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States +Richard Seminack (author) Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago +Paul Chomnycky, OSBM Eparch of Stamford + Bohdan Danylo Eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma +John Bura Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia Christmas 2014 “The Way” Holiday Schedule The first 2015 issue of “The Way” will be the January 11, 2015 Issue. Visit our website, blog, or Facebook page for any news or updates. http://www.ukrarcheparchy.us DECEMBER 21, 2014 3 Sunday before Christmas – Sunday of Holy Fathers December 21, 2014 This is the genealogyof Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim,Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.