Bulletin for 5 May 2024 – Sunday of the Man Born Blind

Christ is Risen! Indeed he is Risen!

Christos voskrese! Voistinnu Voskrese!

Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!

SUNDAY of the MAN BORN BLIND Sunday May 5th 2024.

Dear Friends,

We have many things to motivate and inspire us over the next two weeks.

Today’s Gospel highlights one of the greatest miracles Christ worked. No one EVER healed a man born blind in the Old Testament. We do read of Tobias was cured of this blindness, but, he was not born blind. Therefore, as a miracle never seen before (pun intended), this miracle stands out as one of the greatest any Prophet had worked.

It is also striking that the One who claims to be the Light of the World, is the one who brought light to this man. By Baptism, which we call illumination, we have all been enlightened by Christ. Let us pray that his teachings and miracles truly enlighten our minds and hearts!

St John Chrysostom writes concerning the blind man healed in John Ch. 8 verse.9: “He was not ashamed of his former blindness, nor did he fear the wrath of the people, nor did he decline showing himself that he might proclaim his benefactor.”

Later in the Week we will celebrate the feast of the Ascension. For us, the humanity of Christ being taken up to Heaven is a pledge that we too will follow after Him; and that His glory covers our humanity. What can be for us a burden and a source of sin, can share in His glory. This of course, is the work of grace and God’s love in and for us.

Although the Apostles were (understandably) saddened at the physical loss of Christ, He had after all, at the Mystical Supper, foretold them that sadness would full their hearts; and also told them that eventually joy would fill their hearts when the Holy Spirit would come.

Christ, also, gave them a remedy for when they would be saddened: He commanded them to gather together and to wait and pray for the Paraclete, the Comforter, the Advocate sent to strengthen them in their mission to convert the world.

After the Ascension we see “Mary, the Mother of Jesus, praying with the Apostles in the Cenacle,” as St Luke tells us in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. She shows the power of her intercession which united the Apostles and brought down the fullest blessing of the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

May Mary’s example of prayer inspire us to pray a novena, that is nine days of prayer, so that the Holy Spirit be poured out on us and the parish.

Lastly, next Sunday (May 12th ) we will celebrate the Fathers at the first Ecumenical Council of Nicea. To this day we recite the Nicean Creed at every Divine Liturgy. We celebrate the Holy Spirit aiding the Fathers to define for us who Christ is. Essentially we have our faith defined and over time handed down to us in this Tradition which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in the Church.

News of the parish:

Here is a rundown of this last week: The legal matter being disputed is in the Lawyer’s hands. Please continue to pray for a favorable outcome. Please keep Darlene Jansen in prayer, she may not be able to have the surgery which means a slower healing. I will be absent on Thursday through to Sunday evening. In my absence Fr James will celebrate and preach on Sunday May 12th . At the request of the Chancery, I have been asked to replace Fr Arturo in New Mexico. Fr. Arturo is going to Rome to represent all four Eparchies and profit by the occasion and visit his family in Hungary. As a Ukrainian citizen, Fr Arturo has not been able to visit his family for some years.

• Last Week’s collection amounted to $ with xx in attendance. Many thanks!
• Hospitality: in addition to the hospitality sign up there is a ‘clean up’ column. Please sign on as you can.
• Prayer requests. Darlene Jansen and Gary Stewart. Troy who called during the week asking for prayers. Please pray for Fr Milan Kasperek, a priest of the Eparchy presently serving in the Middle East.
• Please also pray for the following: Fr. Michael, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Fr. Patrik, Fr Christopher, Fr Theodore, Sr. Patricia, Margaret, Gary and Ingrid, Slawomir and Oceana, Darlene, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeanine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Thomas, Michael, Jennifer, John, Elizabeth, Judy, Ruth, Dimitri, Christie, Viktoria, Margaret, Patricia. Nadezda, Doug S, Murin family, Aisha, Faustyna, John, Maia, Najwa, Nadia, Favin, Nazmin, Barbara, Trish, Shalom World, Jesse, Charles, Monica, Matt, Jackie, Tim, Edward, Don S, Monica S, Rachel Pineda and family, John, Kazu, Jacob, Brent. Karen and Raymond Vincent and family. Mark Lopez. Dan and Sherrin. The Lauffer and Attias families in Jerusalem. Jacob Gonzales. Sarah. Theresa V., David. Lilly.

Liturgical Schedule:

Sun, May 5	8:30 am confessions 9:30 am Divine Liturgy	Sunday of the Man Born Blind	Festal Tone. Reader: Victor
Mon, May 6	6:30 am Divine Liturgy	Job the Long Suffering
Tue, May 7	5:30 pm Divine Liturgy	Leave-Taking of Pascha
Wed, May 8	5:30 pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy	Ascension of our Lord
Sun, May 12	8:30 am confessions       9:30 am Divine Liturgy	Sunday of the Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council	Festal Tone.  Reader: Richard
Wed, May 15	5:30 pm Divine Liturgy	Pachomius the Great, Venerable
Fri, May 17	5:30 pm Divine Liturgy	Leave-Taking of the Ascension
Sat, May 18	9:00 am Divine Liturgy	5th All Souls Saturday
Sunday, May 19	8:30 am confessions       9:30 am Divine Liturgy Kneeling Prayers following Hospitality (about 11:30 or12)	Pentecost	Festal Tone.  Reader: Victor

Confessions: are available before all Liturgies or arrange a visit. Phone number (916) 452-1888.