2010 Events

For Last Year's Events click on link.

Bazaar at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church

Saturday, Oct. 16th, 2010 (8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and Sunday, Oct. 17th, 2010
(9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)  
Homemade Ukrainian Foods
 
Hot Foods will be available at 11:00 a.m. {featuring “pyrohi (boiled dumplings)”,
“kovbassa (sausage)” and sauerkraut, “holubtsee (stuffed cabbage)”, homemade chicken soup, hot sausage, and more} plus Baked Goods Flea Market *** Chinese Auction and a 50/50 Raffle

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010:   ECF CLASSES BEGIN AT OUR PARISH

Our Eastern Christian Formation program of studies will begin on Sunday, September 19.  During the 9:00 am Divine Liturgy, we will be commissioning and blessing our catechists and also blessing our students.  After the Divine Liturgy, there will be a short meeting with parents and students.  To register please call Irene Borodycia at 412-881-4635.  Beginning with October 3, 2010, we will be having two Divine Liturgies on Sundays (9:00 am in Old Church Slavonic and Ukrainian and 11:00 am in English), thus the ECF classes – when they do occur – will be held at 9:30 am-10:45am.  A calendar for the whole year is being prepared and should be ready for distribution within the next few weeks.

Pittsburgh Ukrainian Independence Day Committee

Mr. Alex Konecky

September 20, 2010
 
Слава Ісусу Христу!
 
Fr. John (Ivan) Chirovsky
St John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church
 
The Pittsburgh Ukrainian Independence Day Committee wishes to express its most sincere gratitude for your efforts in promoting the 2010 Ukrainian Independence Day Celebration. Owing greatly to your steadfast and unwavering support, this year's event was a resounding success!
 
August 24, 2011 will mark the 20th anniversary of Ukrainian independence, a most auspicious moment in our beloved Ukraine's illustrious history. Given the gravity and magnitude of this historic event, the Committee has already begun planning the 2011 celebration - a celebration which will reflect the significance and splendor of this momentous occasion. The 20th anniversary celebration will begin with the presentation of a proclamation by city and county officials at the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh on August 24, 2011. The presentation will be attended by members of the Ukrainian clergy, representatives of numerous Ukrainian organizations, and members of the Ukrainian community at-large. The celebration will continue on Sunday, August 28, with festivities at the Alpine Club in Bridgeville.
 
Ukrainian Independence would not have been possible were it not for the sanctifying grace of God. In this regard, the celebration of Ukraine's independence is a celebration of Ukraine's Christian heritage. It is the hope of the Committee that you, as a steward of Ukraine's Christian heritage, will encourage each of your parishioners to join us in celebrating the glorious triumph of our Mother Church. To this end, the Committee respectfully requests that every effort is made to avoid scheduling events which would in any way conflict with or detract from our celebration of the 20th anniversary of Ukrainian Independence.
 
As always, your efforts in securing the enthusiastic support of your parishioners are greatly appreciated.
 
Yours in Christ,
 
The Members of the Pittsburgh Ukrainian Independence Day Committee

SEP 26, OCT 31, NOV 21, MAR 20 - GENERATIONS OF FAITH SUNDAYS

This year the theme of all the sessions of the GENERATIONS OF FAITH PROGRAM at our parish will center upon how Our Lord and His Body-the Church invite us to “growth in life, in faith, and in spiritual understanding” through some of the FEASTS OF THE MOTHER OF GOD.  Our parish “Marian year” will include sessions on: September 26: DORMITION; October 31: PROTECTION; NOVEMBER 21: ENTRANCE; and March 20: ANNUNCIATION.  There will be only one Divine Liturgy on these Sundays, at 11:00 AM.  The GOF Divine Liturgies will be cantored by anyone who chooses to join our very own Fr. Deacon Alexander Wroblicky.  He will lead the congregational-samoilka responses using the 1988 Ukrainian Catholic Synod of Bishops English translation and melodies of the Divine Liturgy, as published in The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology for Worship, Rev. Peter Galadza, Editor-in-Chief, (Ottawa: Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, 2004).

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2010 – NEW SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY SCHEDULE

As the Catholic Church we are called to evangelize “all nations” and all cultures.  The Second Vatican Council in its document on the Liturgy made two very important points.  One, was that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith in Christ.  The Second is the mandate that all the faithful should be enabled to worship with full, active participation.  That means that the heart and mind both need to be formed during our worship.  It has been brought to our attention that with a Divine Liturgy where all three languages are being used, the heart of some can be formed by the beauty of the liturgy, the smells and incense and the sight of gold and icons, but their mind is not able to be formed in the Christian faith because they simply cannot understand the language they are praying in.  A number of years ago, it was requested that a homily and Divine Liturgy be done in Ukrainian for the sake of those who do not understand English and for the sake of those who may belong to the recent “fourth wave” immigration from Ukraine.  On the other hand, there are those families who are not of Ukrainian descent and who do not understand either the Ukrainian or the Old-Church-Slavonic.  This presents difficulties for any parish that has both immigrant and culturally assimilated populations.  It is difficult to try to meet everyone’s needs and still not cause new concerns, but at least we can be sensitive and try.  From the evangelization point of view, we want to grow as a parish, and we need to, because our numbers are declining.  We need to be able to offer the general population something of value when our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, leads them to make St. John’s their spiritual home.  Nevertheless, Love must always begin at home.  Thus, beginning with October 3, 2010, we will be having two Divine Liturgies on Sundays (9:00 am in Old Church Slavonic and Ukrainian and 11:00 am in English).  There will, however, be one bi-lingual choir liturgy on those Sundays that coincide with either one of the 12 major feast days (and on a FEW “Community Sundays” to be designated as such in the near future).  We ask for your prayers and patience as we try to listen to our parishioners as they express their needs.  Fr. John (Ivan) Chirovsky and Fr. Deacon Alexander Wroblicky would like to express their gratitude to the favorable advice and counsel which they received from Fr. Monsignor George Appleyard during his visitation of our parish last May-June, as well as from Mr. Steve Zinski, Director of the Choir, the members of the Pastor’s Advisory Council and the Church Auxiliary.  We will be trying to see if this works, for a trial period of one year. 

SATURDAY and SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2-3, 2010

 Because of the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God on October 1, we will be commissioning and blessing those persons who regularly visit the sick and shut-ins of our parish at the Divine Liturgies during this weekend.

OCTOBER 16-17, 2010 – CHURCH AUXILIARY BAZAAR

 The weekend dates for our parish’s annual Church Auxiliary Bazaar have been chosen.  More info to follow as it becomes available.

SATURDAY and SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6-7, 2010

 Because of the Feast of the Holy Archangel Michael and all the Angels on November 8, we will be commissioning and blessing those persons who regularly care for children, the elderly and the infirm of our parish at the Divine Liturgies during this weekend.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

 New altar servers are usually commissioned at the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God, November 21.  Anyone interested in joining should see Fr. Deacon Alexander or Fr. John (Ivan), AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2010

 During St Philips’ Fast our Church Auxiliary usually conducts a collection for the poor and needy.  These items are usually then blessed during the Great Vespers for the Feast of our Holy Father Nicholas, December 5.  More details to follow as they become available.
SATURDAY and SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11-12, 2010

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11-12, 2010

          Because of the Feast of the HOLY GRANDPARENTS (FOREBEARS) of OUR LORD, Sts. Joachim and Anna, we will be praying for and blessing the grandparents of our parish at the Divine Liturgies during this weekend.  Grandchildren are asked to send out invitations to their grandparents to attend the Divine Liturgy with them; or, if they live far away, to send them a prayer card in celebration of this occasion.
 

October 8th - 10th - Liturgical Music Workshop

Come experience a great opportunity to grow in faith and experience the joy of music.  Open to everyone.  Call Fr. Valerian Michlik to register at 412-788-8801.  Click for additional details.  

MARCH 14-16, 2010 – LENTEN MISSIONS

Our Lenten Missionary will be Fr. Hiero­monk Reginald Russo, OFM-Capuchin.  As was done last year, we will again share our Lenten Missions with St. George’s (Northside) and St John’s (McKees Rocks).  However, this year the lessons will not be stretched out between all three parishes.  Rather one and the same chief lesson (message) will be given in each parish.  Before we look into the schedule of our Lenten Mission and who our missionary father will be, let us answer a simple question: What is a parish mission? A parish mission is a preaching event conducted on consecutive evenings. This preaching centers on the Word of God as well as doctrine and practice of the Church.  The preaching emphasizes on an individual’s personal relationship with the Lord, a deeper sense of the parish community, and a greater consciousness of service within this community.

A parish mission is a preaching event conducted on consecutive evenings. This preaching centers on the Word of God as well as doctrine and practice of the Church.  The preaching emphasizes on an individual’s personal relationship with the Lord, a deeper sense of the parish community, and a greater consciousness of service within this community.  A parish mission allows you to take some time to look at your life, values, and direction.  It encourages you to ask: “What is really important to me?  What am I doing with my life?  What values do I have?  Where does God fit into my life?  What does my faith, my Church, mean to me?”  To accomplish this task we are truly blessed this year to welcome into our community of faithful the Hieromonk Fr. Reginald Russo, OFM-Capuchin.  Father was ordained October 21, 1967 in Pittsburgh.  His Education includes: three Masters Degrees: Theology, Library Science and Franciscan Studies.  He has ministered in the following areas: Faculty in R.C. Pittsburgh Seminary; Spiritual Director for Seminarians; Chaplain for the Poor Clares; Pastor and Associate Pastor and Retreat Director.  His current ministries are Chaplain for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (North Hills), Chaplain at Vincentian Home, Confessor at St. Mary Mercy (Downtown) and Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Franciscans (our parishioner, Steve Sawczak, is in training with the Secular Franciscans and this is how and why Fr. Reggie came to know about our church and parish and to pray with us on Sunday, August 16, 2009, as seen in the picture).  As a parish family let us continue to pray for a successful Lenten Mission that will be a time of physical and spiritual renewal for us all.  AFTERWORD (MARCH 21, 2010):  Many thanks to all of our parishioners who helped make this year’s Lenten Mission the success that it was.  We especially thank our Church Auxiliary members who did much, as usual, to make sure that our parishioners and guests were made to feel welcome, through their customary hospitality and the lenten meals which they provided.  We would appreciate any donations to help defray the costs of the Lenten Mission.  Envelopes are provided in the back of the church.  To capture the essence of the three teachings of Fr. Reggie Russo OFM-Capu­chin, one need only remember the story of Blessed Pope John XXIII of Rome.  Apparently some reporters asked Blessed John, “How many people work at the Vatican?” and the jolly Pope said, “About half of them.”  Likewise, so many Catholics are such in name only, because they choose not to live fully their Life in Christ.  Fr. Reggie pointed out the three major “isms” of our times, which so-called “catholics” accept and embrace in their lives, which in turn choke their Life in Christ and make it certain that all one ever does is to “survive” being a Christ­ian, rather than actually THRIVE being a Christian, the latter being our Lord’s original desire for us.  Using references to the conversion of the holy chief apostle Peter in the Scrip­tures, as an example, Father Reggie specifically targeted three ideas which are inconsistent with a true Life in Christ: individualism (What’s in it for me?), hedonism (If it feels good, do it, if it feels bad, run from it!) and mini­mal­ism (What’s the least I have to do in order to be a member of the Church and to squeeze into heaven?).  For those mature in faith, who made the sacrifice and attended, and listened, this line of preaching was an excellent and refreshing review of what to be vigilant of in oneself and about how to deal with these temptations when they come your way (Fr. Reggie used some very practical examples); but unfortunately, as someone noticed, most of those who are dead set in these three “isms” (and mistakenly still consider themselves to be “catholics in good standing, ac­cord­ing to the letter of the law, rather than not-so-good in the spirit of the law) would have probably felt quite uncomfortable and even resentful of being “forced to listen to” such a vital message, regarding the true nature of the cross, suffering & conversion to Christ in the lives of us all.

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