“The Best Gift”

Diane Zelenak | February 3, 2020

The Byzantine Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Monroeville, Pa. celebrated their annual Holy Supper Dec. 22. The day began with Divine Liturgy. Father Don Bolls, pastor, began his homily with a greeting in Slovak — which he
did very well, noting he is still learning the language.

After the service, the congregation moved to the church hall. The kitchen staff put together a lovely table with baked cod as the main course and a variety of dishes prepared by the participants. Included in the spread were
potato and rice casseroles, salads and several desserts — all made with neither meat nor dairy products.

Of course, no celebration would be complete without a visit by St. Nicholas! The dear patron arrived dressed in full regalia and spoke to a group of listening children. He told the kids that, although they may receive many presents for Christmas, “the best gift is Jesus.” Afterward, he handed out “brown bag” treats to each child.

Throughout the event, Christmas carols were sung and parishioners and guests caught up with each other with well wishes. All left in good spirits, ready to celebrate the birth of our Lord. Continue reading →

Reaching new milestones

Kathe Kress | February 3, 2020

Archbishop William Skurla presents vocation report to Serra Club Archbishop William Skurla graciously accepted the Byzantine Serra Club’s invitation to speak at the Jan. 15 dinner meeting and give an update on Seminary developments. Archbishop William opened with the announcement … Continue reading →

Take a moment to be grateful

Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick | February 3, 2020

Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick posts videos of her reflections each week at the Facebook of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great. View them at : https://www.facebook.com/sistersofstbasil.uniontown/. This is a transcript of her July 26, 2019 reflection and is Part … Continue reading →

Sing with understanding

Deacon Jeffrey Mierzejewski Director Metropolitan Cantor Institute | February 3, 2020

St. John the baptist cathedral to host church music day On Cheesefare Saturday, Feb. 22, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, will host the inaugural Church Music Day for the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. From 9 a.m. to noon, there … Continue reading →

Calling all young writers!

David Mayernik Jr. | February 3, 2020

Near the beginning of the film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” writer and reporter Lloyd Viogel (Matthew Rhys) is accepting an award for one of his stories. Lloyd begins his remarks by saying someone once asked him why he … Continue reading →

WORLD NEWS (Catholic News Service)

Read the latest world news as reported by Catholic News Service. With headquarters in Washington, offices in New York and Rome, and correspondents around the world, CNS provides the most comprehensive coverage of the church today.

Worn marble steps of Holy Stairs to be uncovered for public to climb
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-15
At memorial Mass, CRS remembers four employees who died in plane crash
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-15
Update: After attacks, New Zealand bishops tell Muslims: 'We hold you in prayer'
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-15
Researcher: Difference between 'considering leaving' and 'leaving' church
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-14
Head of African youth network: Listen to young people on ecology
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-14
Update: Amid call for boycott of Lenten appeals, some see harm to poor, needy
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-14
South Carolina Catholic school given national award for 'full inclusion'
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-13
For Lent, Irish Catholics urged to abandon 'weapons of mass distraction'
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-13
Update: Judge sentences Cardinal Pell to six years in prison on abuse charges
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-13
CLINIC says South Sudan TPS extension should have included new arrivals
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-11
Encore: USCCB publishes revised translation of rite for blessing holy oils
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-11
Actress calls her deafness 'a gift'; remembers Catholic school as 'family'
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-11
Update: Four CRS staffers, humanitarian workers aboard Ethiopian jet that crashed
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-11
Benedictine abbot leads pope, curial officials in Lenten retreat
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-11
Pope meets top leaders of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-11
Group's immigrant solidarity project 'not about politics,' organizers say
Source: CNS Published on 2019-03-08

THE GREAT LENT A TRADITIONAL CUSTOM OF THE BYZANTINE RITE

We have various days and seasons of Fast in the Byzantine Rite but, in this pamphlet, we will limit our presentation to the pre-Paschal Fast known as the Great Fast. It is called the Great Fast not only on account of its duration (seven weeks) but mainly on account of its importance for the spiritual renewal of the faithful. In the Old Slavonic, the Great Fast is called ” Svjata Chetyredesjatnicja,” meaning the Holy Forty Days while in English, it is called Lent from the Anglo-Saxon Lencten, meaning spring. The Great Fast can be described as a forty-day period of prayer, penance, and spiritual exercises in preparation for the proper celebration of Easter. Continue reading →

	February 2020
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						1 St. Tryphon Martyr St. Tryphon Martyr February 1, 2020 St. Tryphon, Martyr, put to death A.D. 250 by Aklinus, during the reign of the persecutor Emperor Decius. See more details •
2 Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee February 2, 2020 St.Agatha, Martyr, suffered death in prison A.D 250 under the leadership of Quintinianus, during the reign of Emperor Decius. See more details •	3 Synaxis of the Holy Prophets Simeon & Anna Synaxis of the Holy Prophets Simeon & Anna February 3, 2020 St. Simeon, the Venerable - Senex and "God-Bearer", lived to see and hold the Infant Jesus, the consolation of Israel, in his arms. - St. Anna, Prophetess, prophesied concerning Christ. She remained in widowhood consecrated to the service for 54 years, not leaving the Temple, she perservered night and day in prayer and fasting. At the age of 84 she beheld the Infant Jesus at the Presentation. (Confer Aug.28.) See more details •	4 St. Isidore Venerable St. Isidore Venerable February 4, 2020 Our Venerable Father, Isidore of Pelusium, founded a monastery at Pelusium, and was held in great esteem as a theologian and guide of souls. Died about A.D 450. - St. Jador, Martyr, was put to death by Numerius, during the reign of the Emperor Decius. See more details •	5 St. Agatha St. Agatha February 5, 2020 Martyr, suffered death in prison, A.D. 250 under the leadership of Quintinianus, during the reign of Emperor Decius. See more details •	6 St.Bucolus Bishop St.Bucolus Bishop February 6, 2020 See more details •	7 St. Parthenius Bishop St. Parthenius Bishop February 7, 2020 Bishop of Lampsachia, died A.D. 318, during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great. See more details •	8 St.Theodore Great- Martyr St.Theodore Great- Martyr February 8, 2020 St. Theodore, the great Martyr, was a general in the army of the Emperor Licinius. He suffered death at Heraclea in Thrace A.D 318. See more details •
9 Sunday of the Prodigal Son Sunday of the Prodigal Son February 9, 2020 1 Cor 6:12-20 Lk 15:11-32 See more details •	10 St. Charalampus Martyr St. Charalampus Martyr February 10, 2020 St. Charalampus, Martyr, endured death by the sword A.D 203 at Magnesia in Asia Minor, in the hegemony of Lucinianus, in the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus. See more details •	11 St.Blase Bishop-Martyr St.Blase Bishop-Martyr February 11, 2020 St.Blase Bishop-Martyr, suffered martyrdom A.D. 316 at Sebaste, by beheading, during the hegemony of Lucinius, in the reign of Constantine the Great, Emperor. See more details •	12 St. Meletius St. Meletius February 12, 2020 Archbishop of Great Antioch, he was elected to the Patriarchal See in A.D. 360 but within a month he was sent into exile by the Emperor Constantius. Reinstated in 378, he held a council of 150 Bishops and took prominant part in the Council of Constantinople A.D. 381, in the reign of Theodosius the Great. See more details •	13 St. Martinian Venerable St. Martinian Venerable February 13, 2020 Our venerable father,Martinian, Hugemen, died in the year A.D. 415 in the reign of Theodosius the Younger. - St.Zoe and St. Photina, Venerable Women. See more details •	14 Death of Cyril Apostle to the Slavs Death of Cyril Apostle to the Slavs February 14, 2020 The death of our venerable father, Cyril, Bishop of Catania, the brother of St. Methodius. Apostle of the Slavs and Bulgarians. The old Slavic alphabet is ascribed to him, who, with his brother, translated many Church books from the Greek into the Slavonic language. He died A.D 869 in Rome. Our venerable father, Auxentius, Hegumen, was a soldier in the bodyguard of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger. He defended the Catholic Faith at the time of the Council of Chalcedon A.D 451. He died soon after. See more details •	15 1st All Souls Saturday 1st All Souls Saturday February 15, 2020 Our holy father, Leo the Great, Pope of Rome, opposed the Nestorians and taught, like St. Cyril of Alexandria, the unity of person in Christ. He saved Rome from the invasion of Attila and died A.D 461 during the reign of Emperor Leo the Great. See more details •
16 Sunday of Meat Fare Sunday of Meat Fare February 16, 2020 1 Cor 8:8-9:2 Mt 25:31-46 See more details •	17 St. Theodore the Recruit Great-Martyr St. Theodore the Recruit Great-Martyr February 17, 2020 St. Theodore of Tyre, the Great Martyr, was burned to death A.D 306, during the reign of Emperor Maximian Herculeus. - Memory of St. Mariamna, sister of Philip, the Apostle. See more details •	18 St. Leo the Great St. Leo the Great February 18, 2020 Our holy father, Leo the Great, Pope of Rome, opposed the Nestorians and taught, like St. Cyril of Alexandria, the unity of person in Christ. He saved Rome from the invasion of Attila and died A.D. 461 during the reign of Emperor Leo the Great. See more details •	19 St. Archippus St. Archippus February 19, 2020 Apostle, he was a co-worker with St. Paul, first bishop of the Colossians. Tradition says he was stoned to death during the reign of Emperor Nero. See more details •	20 St.Leo of Catania Bishop St.Leo of Catania Bishop February 20, 2020 Our venerable father, Leo, Bishop of Catania, in Sicily. By his miracles he acquired the name "wonder-worker." He lived near Mt.Etna, the fire of which consumed Iliodorus, the sorcerer. He died about A.D 780, during the reign of Leo IV and Constantine. See more details •	21 St.Timothy Venerable St.Timothy Venerable February 21, 2020 Our venerable father, Timothy, Hermit. - Our holy father, Eustacius, Archbishop of Antioch, assisted at the Ecumenical Council of Nicea. He contended against the Arians by word and pen. He died about A.D 337, during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great. See more details •	22 All Holy Ascetical Fathers and Mothers All Holy Ascetical Fathers and Mothers February 22, 2020 The First Finding was by two monks in the home of Herod, King. They brought the Head to the city Emmesia. The second finding was much later, during the reign of Emperor Marcianus, A.D 431. See more details •
23 FORGIVENESS SUNDAY - Sunday of Cheesefare FORGIVENESS SUNDAY - Sunday of Cheesefare February 23, 2020 The powerful service of Forgiveness Vespers will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (210 Greentree Road, Munhall, PA 15120) by Archbishop William Skurla and concelebrated by Cathedral Rector Father Dennis Bogda. Service begins at 4:00 p.m. and will be followed by a meager meal of Lenten soup and bread in the lower level of the Cathedral. All are welcome! Many parishes throughout the Archeparchy also will celebrate Forgiveness Vespers today. Chreck your local parish/pastor/administrator for times and details. See more details •	24 First Day of the Great Fast First Day of the Great Fast February 24, 2020 Our venerable father, Procopius, venerable confessor and monk of Decapolis, died about A.D 740 during the reign of Emperor Leo III, the Isaurian. See more details •	25 Tarasius Patriarch Tarasius Patriarch February 25, 2020 First and Second Finding of the Venerable Head of St. John, the Precursor. The First Finding was by two monks in the home of Herod,King. See more details •	26 Porphry of Gaza Bishop Porphry of Gaza Bishop February 26, 2020 Our Holy Father, Porphry, Bishop of Gaza, sold his goods and distributed the proceeds to the poor. He died A.D 420 during the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Younger. See more details •	27 Procopius Venerable - Confessor Procopius Venerable - Confessor February 27, 2020 Venerable confessor and monk of Decapolia, he died about A.D. 740 during the reign of Emperor Leo III, the Isaurian. See more details •	28 St. Basil Venerable-Confessor St. Basil Venerable-Confessor February 28, 2020 Our venerable father, Basil, confessor and co-faster with St. Procopius. Famous for their resistance at constantinople to the Decree of Leo III, the Isaurian, ordering the destruction of holy pictures. They died about 740. - Marina Cyra and Domnicia, Venerable-Women. See more details •	29 Commemoration of the Miracle of the Great-Martyr Theodore Commemoration of the Miracle of the Great-Martyr Theodore February 29, 2020 See more details •