Bulletin for Sep 19, 2021 – Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

O Holy Apostle Philip,

Intercede with the merciful God

That He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

************* 

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!

Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The importance of the Cross in our lives is yet shown to us in the final ‘triptych’ of today’s celebration of the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Last Tuesday’s Gospel reading took many snippets from the Passion account of St John. It was as if we were pausing to really take in the image, the icon, of what was going on as Our Lord spoke his final words as he sacrificed Himself for us.

Today’s Gospel helps us to look forward a little, we look forward because now we must apply to our own lives what we have learnt from the Throne of the Cross. “If any man will come after me let him take up his cross and follow me.” The Cross is part of life and a sanctifying part. It is the wonderful instrument wherewith we too may please the Father and bring about the Kingdom as we die to ourselves and live for Christ. Thus the words of the Epistle ring true: “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” This is the royal road of the Cross and this is where we gain our true freedom living like the Master in order to share in his Glory.

Announcements

• Fr Francis: On Wednesday after graciously celebrating his last Divine Liturgy for us on, Fr Francis flew to Slovakia. He of course leaves with our prayers and gratitude for all the good he has accomplished here at St Philip’s.

• Fr Christopher: This past week : I have  moved into an RV as I await the final move to a cottage around November 1st. I am grateful to all who helped unload the Uhaul truck I drove up from San Luis Obispo. On Friday I was received by Bishop James Soto who extended his welcome to me and offered his help in any way he can to help me settle in. As a suggestion he also invited me to priestly events which will permit me to connect with the local clergy and fellow brother priests.

Next week: I will return to San Luis Obispo, where I will pick up my repaired car. On Monday September 20 I plan to sit the written driver’s test for a California License, since there are less people in San Luis Obispo than in Sacramento. I will return for a Liturgy on Friday night and hope to visit some of the faithful in Modesto, as I return.

• Mystery of First Confession:  If you have a child ready to make his or her first confession please see me and I will start by instructing those who need it. This shouldn’t take too long, about 5 weeks and after that I hope that we will be able to relaunch Catechism for the children after Sunday Liturgies. Parents are invited to sit in on the classes, so as to be able to help their children with the homework. Also as part of ‘Safe Environement’ there will be another adult present.

• Prayer requests. Fr. Michael, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Fr. Patrik, Sr. Patricia, Margaret, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Darlene, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Thomas, Carol, Michael, Jennifer, John, Elizabeth, Judy, Ruth, Dimitri, Christie, Viktoria, Emily, Margaret, Patricia. Nadezda, Dan, Doug.

• Tithes and Donations. Last Sunday, we received in tithes $, donations $, gift shop $, hospitality $, candles $ Thank you for your generosity, may God bless you always. The collection amounted to $.

• Golden Jubilee Preparations: Please stay after brunch that we may begin planning for our golden Jubilee.

• Hospitality after Sunday Liturgy. Thank you to Baker family for providing hospitality for us last Sunday. Hospitality signup: Sep 19 – open, Sep 26 – open, Oct 3, open, Oct 10 open.

• From the Eparchial Vocations Office: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the work of the Lord, and a marvel in our eyes.” The unfaithful servants had the kingdom of God taken from them. Today, our Church needs faithful servants who would answer his calling to marriage, holy orders and the monastic life to bring the kingdom of God to all. Are you being called to discern a religious vocation as a faithful servant? If so, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

• House visits: if you would like a visit then please contact me as it is important to connect with all the Faithful. Slowly but surely I will get around to visiting you all. I can be reached via cell phone and email as per my contact details on the newsletter mast head.

Liturgical schedule

Fri	Sep 24th	5.30 PM Divine Liturgy.
Sun	Sep 26th	8:30 AM Confessions. 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.	Sunday after the Holy Cross. Tone 1. Cantor: Oliver Bardin. Reader: Victor Pacheco.

For Confession, please call Fr. Christopher for an appointment, or come 30 minutes before or after scheduled services. If you desire Spiritual Direction then please see Fr Andrews for an appointment during the week so as to allow everyone an opportunity on Sundays for Confessions. Please consider those traveling from long distances.

Fridays in general are days of penance and fasting, we observe abstinence for meat foods. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to the Lord.

Bulletin for 12 Sep 2021 – Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

O Holy Apostle Philip,

Intercede with the merciful God

That He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

*** *** * *** ***

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Byzantine Liturgy really brings before us the importance of the Holy Cross making a triptych, surrounding the feast with commemorations on the Sundays before and after the Feast. As Christians we should be mindful of the Master’s words: “If anyone would follow Me, let him pick up his cross and come after me.” Indeed, the Cross is part of the Christian Life, so that sharing in Christ’s Passion and bearing our own crosses we may share in His glory. The Cross is a noble part of our lives and we see it so often in beautiful Byzantine art. Christ reigns from the Throne of His Cross with arms outstretched to embrace all. Adam our first father, was deceived by the wood of the tree and in a poetic way God deceived the Devil when the Wood of the Cross became the altar of Christ’s sacrifice. Indeed, the horror and shame of the Cross is now the trophy of Christ. Being exalted upon His Cross, Christ reigns gloriously having achieved the ‘Work’ His Father gave Him to do.

Announcements

• Fr Francis: Fr Francis will leave us on Wednesday flying home to Slovakia. He will be making preparations for when Pani Kimberly and their daughters join him in a few weeks’ time. Moves are always stressful, so please keep Fr Francis and his family (and goods and belongings sailing across the Atlantic) in your prayers. Finally, Fr Francis has graciously asked permission to celebrate a final Divine Liturgy which will be on Tuesday, September 14, at 6:30 a.m. for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

• Fr Christopher: Some progress has been made. Fr Christopher will move into a cottage near Presentation Parish around the first of November. Meanwhile a couple from Modesto have most generously lent him their RV. Father will hook up beside a friend he has known for 14 years. Slowly and surely things are coming together. This last week he drove to San Luis Obispo where he was donated furniture from a deceased friend’s estate. Kindly keep Mary Gleason (+) in your prayers.

     This coming week we will have a lighter liturgical schedule as I prepare to move in to the RV. Wednesday and Thursday I will visit families. So sign up and make yourselves known to me. Finally, please pray for my meeting with Bishop Jaime Soto on Friday as this represents a chance to pay my respects to the local Roman Catholic Bishop.

     The following week (Sep 20-24) I will return to San Luis Obispo, where I will pick up my repaired car. On Monday Sep 20 I plan to sit the written driver’s test for a California license, since there are less people in San Luis Obispo than in Sacramento. I will return for a Liturgy on Friday night and hope to visit some of the faithful in Modesto, as I return.

     FINALLY TODAY (Sunday, Sep. 12) volunteers needed (dress accordingly) after Sunday Liturgy to store belongings….

• Prayer requests. Fr. Michael, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Fr. Patrik, Sr. Patricia, Margaret, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Darlene, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Thomas, Carol, Michael, Jennifer, John, Elizabeth, Judy, Ruth, Dimitri, Christie, Viktoria, Emily, Margaret, Patricia. Nadezda, Dan, Doug, Molly.

• Tithes and Donations. Last Sunday, we received in tithes $, donations $, hospitality $, candles $. Thank you for your generosity; may God bless you always. The collection amounted to $.

• Golden Jubilee Preparations:  Please stay after brunch that we may begin planning for our golden Jubilee in November.

• Hospitality after Sunday Liturgy. Thank you to all the families for providing hospitality potluck for us last Sunday at the Murin Fare Well. Hospitality signup: Sep 5 – Baker family, Sep 12 – open, Sep 19 – open, Sep 26 – open.

• From the Eparchial Vocations Office:  “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Tis is the work of the Lord, and a marvel in our eyes.”  The unfaithful servants had the kingdom of God taken away from them. Today our Church needs faithful servants who would answer His calling to marriage, holy orders, and the monastic life to bring the kingdom of God to all. Are you being called to discern a religious vocation as a faithful servant? If so, contact the Vocations Office at (206) 329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Liturgical schedule

Mon	Sep 13	5:30 PM Vesperal Divine Liturgy
Tues	Sep 14	6:30 AM Divine Liturgy	Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Fri	Sep 17	5:30 PM Divine Liturgy
Sun	Sep 19	8:30 AM Confessions. 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.	Sunday After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Tone 8. Cantor: Amy Seyfried. Reader:  Tim Del Castillo

For Confession, please call Fr. Christopher for an appointment, or come 30 minutes before or after scheduled services.

Fridays in general are days of penance and fasting, we observe abstinence for meat foods. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to the Lord.

Bulletin for 5 Sep 2021 – 15th Sunday After Pentecost

O Holy Apostle Philip,  

Intercede with the merciful God  

That He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.   

*** *** * *** ***

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever! + Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!   

Dear Friends, It is not very often that we celebrate in the Church Calendar the temporal birth of a Saint. We celebrate the heavenly birthday of all the Saints when we celebrate their martyrdom or their natural death, because their earthly death is their entrance into eternal life.

This week we celebrate the temporal birth of the Theotokos. She, along with St. John the Baptizer – and of course her son, Jesus Christ, are the only ones whose temporal births we celebrate.

We celebrate the births of the Theotokos and St John the Baptizer because they play an integral part in the coming of Redemption when the Savior is born for us on Christmas Day.

St John the Baptizer stands out as the only Prophet to straddle the two Testaments and to see with his own eyes the One whom he predicted. As Herald and Forerunner, he truly paved the way for that great moment of the Theophany when rising from his own baptism the Trinity would be made known through the presence of the newly baptized Son, the voice of the Father endorsing him and the Dove representing the Holy Spirit hovering above.

The Theotokos played her role in providing our Savior with a Body He would offer up as the New Adam to atone for the Old Adam. Just as Adam had a companion, God the Father so wonderfully prepared the Virgin Mary to be the fitting Mother to so great a Son. We celebrate in her birth that salvation is dawning. The God-Man Jesus Christ, the One Who Is, will soon be born of the Virgin Mary. We rejoice that the curse has been lifted; we rejoice in so great a Mother and model of generosity, humility and joy.

We also rejoice as we begin the new Liturgical Year according to the Greek reckoning of dates. We rejoice and look forward to the many graces that the Good Lord will send us to bring us closer to the Father and to witness to the Son.

New beginnings are always graced moments. So I ask that you rally behind me with your own gifts and talents, so together we may bring about the Kingdom.

As I am new here, it will take me a wee while to get to know you all. I hope that you will all make contact with me, so that I may come and meet you all in person. As a small Church (for the moment!) we have blessings that some of the larger parishes do not enjoy. It is my hope to reach out to all of you and be available. You are welcome to contact me on my cell phone.

Finally, I repeat again, my gratitude to Fr Francis Murin and his wife Kimberly and their children for the great contributions that they have made in the life of this Parish. They are not to be forgotten and our Faith tells us that we are still united in a common calling, that is, that we too, by God’s grace having loved the Lord God with all our hearts, minds, souls and bodies, are to share in the glory to come. Keep them all in your prayers, especially Father Francis, who will go ahead and prepare things for his family. Let us be grateful before God for the many blessings they have brought down on our parish.

Announcements

• SAVE THE DATE: We will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our Parish on November 14, 2021. In addition, it will be our patronal feast and we will be making preparations to invite many. Please stay tuned for updates.

• Meeting with Fr Christopher after Divine Liturgy: I hope t meet you all so that we can look ahead t dates for different programs and also I would like to know your thoughts regarding the scheduling of services. Due to pressing affairs as I settle this week, there will only be services Sep. 7 & 8.

• Prayer Requests. Fr. Michael, Fr. Marcus, Fr. Chris, Fr. Randall, Fr. Michal, Fr. Patrik, Sr. Patricia, Margaret, Gary and Ingrid, Margaret, Slawomir and Oceana, Darlene, Becky, Alexis, Marion, Curtis, Ronald, Jeannine, Taylor, Lorrie, Frances, Alex, Leroy, Michael, Thomas, Carol, Michael, Jennifer, John, Elizabeth, Judy, Ruth, Dimitri, Christie, Viktoria, Emily, Margaret, Patricia. Nadezda, Dan, Doug.

• Hospitality after Sunday Liturgy. Thank you to all the families for providing hospitality potluck for us last Sunday for the Murin Fare Well, as well as this Sunday for welcoming Fr Christopher. Hospitality signup:  Sep 5– open, Sep 12 – open, Sep 19 – open, Sep 26 – open.

• THE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC EPARCHY OF PHOENIX subscribes to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by the United States Catholic Conference of 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 the Charter requirements.  For information regarding the Eparchial Safe Environment Program, please contact: Dcn. Michael Hanafin (Safe Environment Program Coordinator) Cell: (480) 387-5182; Email: dcnhanafin@ephx.org; Sbdcn. Paul F. Kilroy (Asst. Safe Environment Program Coordinator) Office: (602) 861-9778; Cell: (702) 498-5972; Email: sbdcnkilroy@ephx.org; Dr. Caroline Bonham (Victim Assistance Coordinator) Cell: (505) 314-3943; Email: victimassistanceofphoenix@gmail.com.

• Liturgical schedule  

Tues	Sep 7	5:30 pm Akathist.
Wed	Sep 8	5:30 PM Divine Liturgy.	Nativity of the Theotokos
Sun	Sep 5th	8:30 AM Confessions.  9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.	16th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 7. Cantor: Tim Del Castillo Reader: Oliver Bardin.

For Confession, please call Fr. Christopher for an appointment, or come 30 minutes before or after scheduled services.

Fridays in general are days of penance and fasting, we observe abstinence for meat foods. Let us remember one another as we offer our prayers and sacrifices to the Lord.