Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church /Assumption B.V.M. Ukrainian Catholic Church 131 North Beech Street, Mount Carmel, Pa. 17851 Very Reverend Archpriest Michael Hutsko, Pastor

Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church /Assumption B.V.M. Ukrainian Catholic Church 131 North Beech Street, Mount Carmel, Pa. 17851 Very Reverend Archpriest Michael Hutsko, Pastor Rectory 570-339-0650 Church Hall 570- 339-4333 Web Site- sspeterandpaulmc.org - E-Mail: [email protected] - Fax 570-339-2715 Prayer Line: Louise Cuff 339-3660 – Eleanor Stebila 339-2353 – Louise Troyan 339-1565 Please notify the rectory office if you or a loved one is hospitalized or admitted to a nursing home Office Hours: Mon. Tues.- 9:00 AM-3:00 PM 1ST Collection : Candles Wed., Thurs. 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon 2nd Collection: Regular Offering

December 24, 2017 Sunday Before Sunday of the Holy Fathers Saturday – December 30, 2017 8:00 AM - +Bill Condron req. by Ed & Louise Cuff Saturday – December 23, 2017 3:15 PM – Confessions 3:15 PM – Confessions 4:00 PM – For the Parishioners 4:00 PM – For the Parishioners Sunday – December 31, 2017 Sunday – December 24, 2017 Sunday After Christmas Sunday Before Christmas – 8:30 AM - Confessions 8:30 AM - Confessions 9:15 AM – +Krista Mazurkevich req. by Mom & Dad 9:15 AM – God’s Blessings for Irene Novak req. by 11:00 AM – Assumption BVM - +John Mayernick, Pearl Hutsko Sr., req. by Barbara, John, & Michael 11:00 AM – Assumption BVM - +Boris Maksymuk and +Mary Tracey req. by Family Vigil of the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Welcome: We the people of Ss. Peter & Paul and 6:30 PM – Ss. Peter & Paul – Great Compline and Assumption Churches, are a catholic community that Traditional Caroling worships God, spreads the Good News of Christ, and 7:00 PM – Christmas Liturgy for God’s Blessings on serves those in need. Come into the house. Bring all our Parish you are, no need to check your failures at the door. Monday – December 25, 2017 There are no perfect people here. You are invited: Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord come. Come in seeking, come in wondering, come in 8:00 AM – Ss. Peter & Paul – For God’s Blessing on hurting. Come into this house of companionship and Our Parish compassion. Come in. You are welcome here. Ss. 10:00 AM – Assumption BVM – For God’s Peter & Paul/Assumption Churches open their doors Blessings on our Parish to you. Tuesday –December 26, 2017 Feast of the Mother of God Bulletin Requests 9:00 AM – Assumption BVM - +Boris Maksymuk Any requests for any information to be placed in the and +Mary Tracey req. by Family bulletin must be in writing and submitted to the 6:00 PM – Ss. Peter & Paul - +Carol Bogush req. by church office by 12:00 Noon on Mondays. Thank Ann Demczko & Matt you for your cooperation. Wednesday – December 27, 2017 Feast of St. Stephen – First Martyr The Vibrant Parish 9:00 AM – Ss. Peter & Paul - +Anna Drozd req. by A place to encounter the living Christ through the Rev. Michael Hutsko Word of God, the Holy Mysteries & Prayer, Serving Thursday – December 28, 2017 One’s Neighbor, Leadership, Fostering & Serving No Divine Liturgy Unity & Missionary Spirit. Friday – December 29, 2017 No Divine Liturgy Please Remember To pray for vocations to the Holy Priesthood & Religious Life.

Upcoming Events Your Stewardship Dec 24: Christmas Eve We thank you for your financial support of our parish Dec 25: Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord (Holy Day communities. Your weekly offerings are a visible of Obligation) sign of your love for our parish and your commitment Dec 25-26: Church Office Closed to its mission. Dec 26: Feast of the Mother of God (Solemn Holy Day) In Your Prayers Dec 27: Feast of St. Stephen – First Martyr (Simple Please remember to pray for the sick & infirm of our Holy Day) Parishes. Dec 27: Soup and Sandwich Dec 30-31: Third Collection for Soup & Sandwich Rosary Intention Jan 1: Circumcision of Our Lord (Solemn Holy For the week of December 24, 2017 – For the Sick Day) and Infirm of our Parishes Jan 1: Church Office Closed Jan 6: Theophany of Our Lord (Holy Day of Tweets from His Holiness Pope Francis Obligation) “May the Lord grant us the wisdom to seek that which is worthwhile and to love, not with our words Ss. Peter & Paul Replenish Fund Donations as of but with our actions.” December 17, 2017 Total To Date: $75,409.54 Replenishment Fund Gifts Replenish Fund: $250 – In Honor of our Aunt, Ellen We are still accepting donations/gifts to our Parish Goretsky by Andrew & Patricia Woolworth Replenishment Fund established almost three years Rebuilding Fund: ago to restore monies that were used for the church $200 – In Memory of +Karen Wozney from renovations and repairs. Please consider making a Daughter, Jocelyn Wozney; special donation to this Fund. All donations remain $101 - In honor, thanksgiving and celebration of the here in our parish and are meant to secure the future 100th birthday of Irene Novak from Thomas Pivarnik financial health of our church. Your gift/donation and Family; will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Weekly Parish Financial Report Mystery (Sacrament) of Penance Ss. Peter & Paul Church Is available before each Divine Liturgy on Saturday, Sunday, December 17, 2017 $2,168.85 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM and on Sunday in Ss. Peter & Expenses: $2,238.31 Paul Church 8:15 AM to 9:00 AM, and at Sunday, December 18, 2016 $1,438.00 Assumption BVM Church on Sunday before 11:00 AM Divine Liturgy in the confessionals. Assumption BVM Church Sunday, December 17, 2017 $ 785.50 Christmas Greetings Expenses: $ 260.43 I wish to extend joyous and heartfelt greeting to all of Sunday, December 18, 2016 $ 812.00 you, my dear parishioners and friends, as we gather to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord-- Ss. Peter & Paul Church Lector Schedule Christmas Day. It is a privilege for me to share these Sat– December 23rd Holy Days with you as your pastor and to greet you Ed Cuff 4:00 PM in the traditional words of our Church: Christ is Sun – December 24th Born! Glorify Him! It is my prayers and wish for Chris Bogner 9:15 AM you that the Infant Lord grant you and your Sat– December 30th entire family much health and happiness. Merry Ellen Goretsky 4:00 PM Christmas! Fr. Michael Sun – December 31st George Ann Katchick 9:15 AM Please Remember The traditional greeting during the Christmas season Assumption BVM Church Lector Schedule is: Christos Razhdayetsya! Slaveete Yeho! Sun – December 24th Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Kianna Rizzo 11:00 AM Sun – December 31st Sunday Social Zachary Gee 11:00 AM Sunday Social is held at Ss. Peter & Paul immediately after 9:15 AM Divine Liturgy. All are welcome. Donations are accepted and appreciated.

Very Special Thank You Pyrohy Sale My sincere thanks are extended to all who so Thank you to everyone who came out this past week generously shared the Christmas Spirit with me to help with our pyrohy sale! Our next sale is during these holidays. Your kind words, generous Wednesday, January 17 and Thursday, January 18th. gifts and friendship all have made my Christmas very Work starts each day at 8 AM. Orders for January special. Thank you all very much and may the Infant must be received in the office by Noon on Lord Jesus bless you with an abundance of His Thursday, January 11th. Orders received after that heavenly blessings. time will be placed on a waiting list if we have extras. We are always in need of helping hands in all More Thanks aspects of this project. Anyone interested in helping, Our parish extends heartfelt thanks to our Altar please come to the church hall on the above dates and Rosary Society for preparing the traditional Holy give us as much time of your time as you can. Many Supper Meals and to our Holy Name Society for hands make the job easier for everyone! delivering those meals to the home-bound and shut- ins of our parish. More than 25 meals were prepared Soup and Sandwich Ministry and delivered so that those who can no longer come Our parishes have embarked upon a new and exciting to church because of age or infirmity could still enjoy outreach to the community. We serve a humble lunch this beautiful Christmas Eve tradition with our of a soup and sandwich every second and fourth prayers and blessings. Also, thank you to the Wednesday of the month between the hours of 11:30 members of our Altar Rosary Society for delivering AM and 1:00 PM. This lunch is open to everyone in to our parishioners who are in nursing our community: the needy, the elderly, and the lonely homes throughout the area. God Bless You for and is totally free of charge. Our next lunch will be bringing Christmas cheer to our served on December 27th. Special thanks to parishioners. Nursing home patients, home-bound everyone who has made a donation in support of this and shut-ins from both our parishes were project. We are grateful for your generosity. Keep in remembered. mind a special third collection for “loose change” will be taken the last weekend of every month. If House Blessing you would like to help serve meals please notify the Father Michael will continue the tradition of House rectory office, Chris Bogner, Abbie Timmins or Toni Blessings immediately after the Feast of the Shedleski. Any and all help is appreciated. , January 6th. If you would like to have your home blessed, please return the blessing card in Icon of the Holy Family your envelope box as soon as possible. Thank you! A Vatican authorized icon of the Holy Family, blessed by Pope Francis, is on loan to our parish Registration Cards through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus Please complete and submit the registration card in and Mr. James Bailoni. While here, we hope it your envelope box as soon as possible. Kindly also serves as a visible symbol of true familial love and include your email address as well. We use this inspire that same kind of love in our parish families. information ONLY for parish purposes and do not There are prayer books available as well as holy share with anyone. We need your forms returned in cards. Please feel free to make use of them as you order to keep our records accurate and up to pray for your family, for our parish family and for date. Thank you! families throughout our nation. Let us all strive to reflect among ourselves, the same love found Schedule of Services between Jesus, Mary and Joseph - the true Holy Please make note of the times and places Christmas Family. Services are scheduled and plan to participate fully in this great Feast along with your family and Loose Change Collection friends. Also, keep in mind the two days after We will have the monthly special third collection for Christmas are holy days as well. We hope to see you support of our Soup & Sandwich Ministry at all in church for those days as well. Liturgies next weekend, December 30th & 31st. We again ask for any loose change you may be carrying, Pregnancy Center Donations as well as any special offering you may wish to Ss. Peter & Paul Church Altar Rosary Society would make. Your generosity and support is greatly like to thank everyone for their donation to the appreciated. pregnancy center. Your donations were greatly appreciated.

Religious Education Spiritual Reading Lending Library Our Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) is We have assembled a library based upon spiritual held Monday evenings from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM in reading, reflection and meditation for the benefit of the church social hall. Again this year, we will have our parishioners and friends. It is located in the classes for all youth of our parishes, both Ss. Peter vestibule of the church. Everyone is invited to browse and Paul and Assumption BVM, from Pre-K through through and take a book home to read. Once you 8th grade. Parents, I wish to remind you of your have finished the book, please return it so others can serious obligation before the Lord to bring up your make use of it. As we strive to live good Christian children in the faith. Please be sure they are lives, it is important we fill our minds and hearts with registered for classes and attend faithfully each things that are “of the Lord”. Please take advantage Monday evening throughout the school year. In order of this opportunity to grow in faith and knowledge. to complete the registration forms, we will need a copy of the student’s baptismal certificate if they Holy Name Society Lottery Tree Winner were not baptized in our parish. Registration forms The winner of the Holy Name Society Lottery Tree are located in the vestibule of each parish. Please was Bobby Adzema. Congratulations! Thank you to note the following requirements for First Penance everyone who donated lottery tickets and who helped (First Communion): *Child and parents must be make this fundraiser a success. registered and active members of Ss. Peter & Paul/Assumption BVM and * the child must have Church Office Closed diligently completed 2 years of instruction. No The Church Office will be closed Monday and exceptions will be made. Tuesday, December 25th and 26th for Christmas. The Church office will re-open Wednesday, December 2018 Offering Envelopes 27th at 9:00 AM. The office will be closed again on Church envelopes for 2018 are available in the Monday, January 1st for New Years and will reopen vestibules of both churches. Every married couple or Tuesday, January 2nd at 9:00 AM. single person 18 years or over is to be registered and receive envelopes. To be considered a member of our Divine Liturgy Intentions parishes, Ss. Peter & Paul or Assumption BVM Divine Liturgy Intention requests for Calendar Year Churches, regular attendance and use of Church 2018 are now being accepted. Weekend requests are envelopes is required. If you are ill and/or aged let Fr. limited to two per person, but weekday intentions are Michael know. The neglect of regular church available. Please Note: All Divine Liturgy attendance and regular use of church envelopes can requests are subject to change only by Father lead to difficulties at the time of baptisms, weddings, Michael. Thank you for your consideration funerals, etc. If you did not receive Church envelopes requesting Divine Liturgy Intentions. In addition, in for 2018 and would like to receive offering please remember that although there are usually three envelopes, please call the Church office at 339-0650 (3) Divine Liturgies on the weekend that one Liturgy during regular office hours. intention must be for All Parishioners.

Prayers for Healing for Father Mark Fesniak Pyrohy and Halupki Available We ask that you please remember Father Mark There are additional frozen Pyrohy and frozen, Fesniak in your prayers. Father Mark is still coping unbaked Halupki available for sale. If interested, with some serious medical issues. During this season, please contact the office during regular business as we celebrate Thanksgiving and look forward to the hours. joyous celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, you may wish to send Father The New Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Mark a get well card to let him know you are Church thinking of him. May Christ, the Supreme Physician You can now access and read the online English of our bodies and souls, send His healing grace upon language version of the Catechism of the Ukrainian Father Mark and restore him to good health. Thank Catholic Church, Christ Our Pascha at: you for remembering Father Mark in your prayers. http://catechism.royaldoors.net/catechism/ Cards may be dropped off at the office, placed in the Every household should use this online text as a collection basket or mailed to: resource for family members to grow in knowledge and understanding of their faith and their church. Father Mark Fesniak c/o Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Parents should especially use this text to share and Catholic Church, 131 North Beech Street, Mt. teach the faith with their children. Carmel, Pa. 17851 Sunday Before Christmas around the table, which is then covered with a white Sunday of the Holy Fathers embroidered tablecloth. All this is symbolic of the manger in which Christ the Savior was born. At the Troparion center of the table, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, are Great are the deeds performed with faith: three three round “kolachi” (braided loaves of bread). In youths rejoiced in the flaming furnace as if they stood the center of the loaves is candle which symbolizes in refreshing waters; as if they stood in refreshing Jesus Christ as the Light of the World. The entire waters; and Daniel the Prophet faced lions as though family gathers by the table and the head of the family they were sheep. Through their prayers, O Christ our leads in prayer – usually the singing of the Nativity God, save our souls. theme. After this he greets the family with the traditional Christmas salutation: “Christ is Born!” Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the The family responds, “Let us glorify Him!” Holy Spirit, Now and ever and forever. Amen. Everyone then sits down to partake of the Holy Supper, which consists of twelve meatless dishes. Kontakion After all the preparations have been completed, the You did not worship a man-made image, O thrice- father offers each member of the family a piece of blessed Youths, but were glorified in the test of fire, bread dipped in honey, which had been previously protected by a power beyond description. From the blessed in church. He then leads the family in prayer. searing flames you cried out to God, saying: “Hasten After the prayer the father extends his best wishes to to help us, O Merciful Lord, for in Your greatness everyone with the greeting “Khrystos Razhdayetsia!” You can do whatever You will.” “Christ is born!” The twelve dishes honor the Twelve Apostles as they gathered for the Last Supper. The Prokimenon first of the twelve courses is “Kutia.” The ingredients Blessed are You, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of which are wheat, honey, poppy seeds and nuts of our Fathers, and glorious forever is Your Name. which symbolize the fertility of God’s nature. Kutia V. In all that You have done, Your justice is is assumed to symbolize prosperity, peace, and good apparent. health. The order of courses, and even the courses themselves, are not uniform everywhere, for each Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! region in Ukraine had its own traditions and were V. We heard with our own ears, O God, and our subject to the ingredients available to it. However, fathers have told us (of the things You did in their the following are commonly served: borsch, fish time.) (served in different ways), holubtsi, pyrohy, V. You saved us from our foes; you put our mushrooms with sauce, stewed dried fruit; pastries enemies to shame. Alleluia (3x) and the like. After the Holy Supper the family joins in singing of Christmas carols. Later in the evening Epistle: Heb 11:9-10 & 32-40 the whole family goes to church for the service of Gospel: Mt 1:1-25 Great Compline with Litiya. This is the very moving and unforgettable service where one hears sung Ukrainian Christmas majestically, “God is with us.” The solemn Divine Christmas is one of the most cherished celebrations Liturgy forms the kernel and crown of the entire that the Ukrainian people celebrate. Christmas Christmas celebration. At the conclusion of the celebrations begin on Christmas Eve, December 24 Divine Liturgy, the faithful approach the altar for (as per the Gregorian calendar), which is a day of myrovania (a blessing with Holy Oils). vigilance, prayer and fasting. The entire family is involved in the preparation of the traditional Christmas Eve Supper (or Sviata Vechera – literally “Holy Supper”). When the first star in the eastern sky appears, it marks the beginning of the ancient and memorable rituals. The father of the home may bring in the “Didukh” (Grandfather Spirit) – a sheaf of wheat wrapped with an embroidered towel – which is placed under an Icon in a place of honor in the home. The decorated sheaf of wheat – a symbol of the harvest – symbolizes the ancestors of the family. There may be spread a thin layer of hay on and