Українська Католицька Парафія Покрова Пресвятої Богородиці

Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Parish

The No. 1 priority for ... the church is evangelization: preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today's world.

04 Березень, 2012 Volume 57 No. 10 March 04, 2012

550 West 14 Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Z 1P6 E-Mail: office@stmarysbc.com

Phone: 604.879.5830 Fax: 604.874.2727

Website: www.stmarysbc.com

Служби Божі / Divine Liturgies В Неділю / Sunday 8:30 am recited – Bilingual 10:30 am sung – Ukrainian У Свята / Holy Day of Obligation 10:00 am and 7:00 pm Щодня / Daily Scheduled 7:30 am Matins/Үтреня in chapel 8:25 am in church First Friday - 8:25 am Divine Liturgy followed by Moleben to the Sacred Heart of Jesus or Mother of God Сповіді починаючи десять хвилин перед Службою Божою Confessions begin ten minutes before the Divine Liturgy or by appointment Baptism by appointment - membership in Parish is required Marriages by appointment made at least six months in advance. Membership in Parish is required Funerals by arrangement in the Parish Office оо. Василіяни/Basilian Fathers serving in this Parish Father Josaphat Tyrkalo, OSBM, Pastor Most Rev. Severian Yakymyshyn, OSBM Bishop Emeritus

Друга Неділя Великого Посту Марка 2:1-12

Second Sunday of Great Lent Mark 2:1-12

SPECIAL NOTICE – Do not park in the RESERVED stalls in front of St. Mary's

Gardens when you come for the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Your car will be towed.

Неділя, 04 Березень, 2012 Друга Неділя Великого Посту

Місячний намір Святішого Отця Папи Римського – на Березень: Загальний намір: "Щоб увесь світ визнав вклад жінок у розвиток суспільства". Miсійний намір: "Щоб Святий Дух наділив витривалістю, тих, що терплять дискримінацію, переслідування, чи загрозу смерти за Христа, особливо в Азії.

- Тропарі і читання в зеленій книжці на стор. 1 i 2. - Кава і солодке Сьогодні після Служби Божої о год 8:30 і 10:30 рано, у вітальні під церквою.

Просимо всіх Парафіян приносити продукти для потребуючих, які не псуються (non-perishable) в першу і трету неділю кожного місяця. Просимо допомагати!

Сьогодні, Неділя, 4 Березень: - Парафіяльна Катехитична програма під час Служби Божої в 10:30 рано і буде продовжуватися кожної неділі.

- Концерт в честь Тараса Шевченка о год. 2 по полудні в нашім Центрі. Вступ - добровільні датки.

Четвер, 8 Березень: - БІБЛІЙНІ СТУДІЇ о год. 7:00 веч: Програма охоплює "Велика Подія" на тему

«Історія Спасіння».

Заупокійні Служби Божі і Сорокоусти за померлих членів Ваших Родин будуть відправлятися кожної п'ятниці о год. 7 вечора під час Великого Посту.

Зробіть відповідні зарядження. Ковертки з пожертвами за відправлення сорокоустних парастасів находяться в притворі церкви. Просимо зложити їх на недільну тацу під час Служб Божих, або передати їх Отцям, чи занести до парафіяльної канцелярії.

П’ятниця, 9 Березень: - 8:25 ранку - Службa Божa a відтак Молебень до Серця Христового. – 7 вечора - Заупокійні Служби Божі і Сорокоусти. Субота, 10 Березень: - 8:25 ранку - Служба Божа - 9:30 ранку - Молебень до Пречистої Діви Марії, а відтак Сходини Л.Ү.К.Ж.К. у вітальні під церквою.

Неділя, 11 Березень: - Парафіяльна Катехитична програма під час Служби Божої в 10:30 рано і буде продовжуватися кожної неділі.

Понеділок, 12 Березень: - 7:00 вечора - Сходини Парафіяльної Ради у Борд Румі. Четвер, 15 Березень: - БІБЛІЙНІ СТУДІЇ о год. 7:00 веч: Програма охоплює "Велика Подія" на тему

«Історія Спасіння». П’ятниця, 8 Березень: – 7 вечора - Заупокійні Служби Божі і Сорокоусти.

Sunday, March 04, 2012 Second Sunday of Great Lent

Papal General Prayer Intention for March: Pray that the whole world may recognize the contribution of women to the development of society.

Mission Intention for March: Pray that the Holy Spirit may grant perseverance to those who suffer discrimination, persecution, or death for the name of Christ, particularly in Asia.

- Tropar, Kondak & readings for today in the green booklet pages: 1 & 2. - Coffee and sweets are available today following the 8:30 am and 10:30 am Divine

Liturgy in the Fellowship Room. All guests and parishioners are invited.

Food Bank Donations: We encourage all parishioners to contribute to the Food Bank on the first and third Sundays of every month. PLEASE ADD YOUR SUPPORT.

TODAY, Sunday, March 4: - Parish Catechism Program for Pre-Schooler’s during the 10:30 am Divine Liturgy. - A Tribute to Taras Shevchenko at 2 pm in our Auditorium. Featuring: Holy

Eucharist Ukrainian School, Holy Trinity Ukrainian School, and Svitanok Chorus. Admission by Donation

Thursday, March 8: - BIBLE STUDIES begin at 7 pm in the Fellowship Room.

Memorial Divine Liturgy and Sorokousty for the deceased of individual family members will be celebrated every Friday during Great Lent at 7 pm.

Arrange to have the deceased members of your family remembered during these Services. Special envelopes are available in the vestibule. Please fill them out and place them in the Sunday collection plate, or give to Father, or bring to the Parish Office.

Friday, March 9: – 8:25 am Divine Liturgy followed by Moleben to the Sacred Heart. - 7 pm Memorial Divine Liturgy and Sorokousty. Saturday, March 10: - 8:25 am - Divine Liturgy - 9:30 am Moleben in Church followed by UCWLC Meeting in the Fellowship Room. Sunday, March 11: - Parish Catechism Program for Pre-Schooler’s during the 10:30 am Divine Liturgy. Monday, March 12: - 7:00 pm Parish Council Meeting in Board Room. Thursday, March 15: - BIBLE STUDIES begin at 7 pm in the Fellowship Room. Friday, March 16: - 7 pm Memorial Divine Liturgy and Sorokousty. Sunday, March 18: - Parish Catechism Program for Pre-Schooler’s during the 10:30 am Divine Liturgy.

PREPARATIONS FOR EASTER BAKE SALE - ATTENTION ALL members of the UCWLC and MEN AND WOMEN of the Parish. You are asked to come on the following days to help with:

- Baking Paska & Babka: Monday, March, 5 @ 9:30 am; Thursday, March 8 @ 9:30 am; Monday, March 12 @ 9:30 am. For information call Marlayne: 604.274.3164

- Making Pyrohy: Wednesday, March 7 @ 8 am. - Making Cabbage Rolls: Wednesday, March 14 @ 8am; Wednesday, March 21 @ 8 am.

For information call Henriette: 604.291.0087 Request for Prayers: to pray for you, your family member, or friend - please submit

the name to the Parish Office by phone 604-879-5830 or by written note on the collection plate.

Пам'ятайте помолитися: за Вашу родину, за членів Парафії, а особливо за тих які знаходяться в лікарнях, або тих що очікують Божої відповіді на їхні молитви, або радіють Божою відповідю, або за тих які відзначують уродини, або роковини, або за тих що покликані до їхньої вічної винагороди, або за родину яку вони залишили.

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR: your family; your fellow parishioners; especially the shut-in or those in the hospital; those seeking God’s answer to their prayers or those rejoicing with God’s answer; those celebrating a birthday or anniversary; those called to their eternal reward and for the family they leave behind; as well as any other need.

Please remember in your prayers especially: Fr. Vincent Prychidko, OSBM; Fr. Josaphat Tyrkalo, OSBM, Fr. Steven Basarab; Joseph Bayduza; Mary Earl,Catherine Hladij, Martha Huzyk, Victoria Kuzik, Bodzie Lawryshyn; Ben Marchinkow; Jason Obuck; Fenia Orysik, William Orysik, Mary Scott, Kaiya Williams, all the Canadian Armed Forces on peacekeeping missions.

PLEASE VISIT our Parishioners who are confined to their hospital beds or their homes. They need our visits as well as our prayers.

If there are Parishioners that you visit and we are not listing them for all to pray for them, please call the Parish office with that information, or for the fathers to visit them.

Please remember to pray daily for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Церковна Звукова Система: Повний кошт нової системи виносить $18,132.00. Просимо Вас допомогти покрити кошта. Просимо зложити Ваші пожертви. Нехай Наша Пресвята Богородиця і Покровителька Благословить Вас усіх за Вашу щедрість!

До цього часу ми одержали $10,047.70. Нехай Найсвятійша Родина - Ісус, Марія і Йосиф благословить за Вашу щедрість! Корейська Місія Св. Павла Чонг пожертвувала $9,065.70. Нехай наша Свята Покровителька Мати Божа благословить за їхню щедрість.

CHURCH SOUND SYSTEM: The total cost of the new system is $18,132.00. You are asked to help with the cost. Please make your donation by marking your envelope or cheque with the words: “Church Sound System”.

To date we have received $10,047.70. May the Holiest of Families - Jesus, Mary and Joseph, bless your generosity! The Korean Mission of St. Paul Chong donated $9,065.70. May our Blessed Protectress, the Mother of God, bless their generosity.

BC is going to Unity - August 16-19, 2012 At Pinawa, MB - Wilderness Edge Retreat Center - just north of Winnipeg

Unity is a gathering of Ukrainian Catholics from across Canada to further understand, embrace and celebrate our faith through prayer, education and fellowship. Unity is open to young adults 18 (1994) to 35 years of age.

Come and pre-register today! Cost: $225 before May 31 includes all meals, accommodation, sessions and social event for the program. Transportation extra.

Some of the program highlights include BBQ, Bonfire, Liturgy, Keynote Speakers, Breakout Sessions, and Zabava,

Fundraising will begin in the coming months to help with transportation costs. Interested? Contact the following names for more information. - Jennifer Sawka: jennsawka@hotmail.com, Ph: 604.876.5691 - Fr. Theo: theomac@lycos.com Ph: 1-250.384.2292 - www.ucyc.ca/unity2012/ Please see the Poster at the front entrance and Registration forms.

MAKE IT YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION - SIGN UP TODAY!

A SPECIAL Request: At the conclusion of each Divine Liturgy, please close all Liturgy and/or hymnbooks and return them to their proper place. Also, please do not leave any church bulletins or any other material in the pews. Let each of us do our part to be true stewards of our parish church by helping to keep the church pews clean and neat. Thank you.

Спеціяльне прохання: після закінчення Служби Божої просимо замкнути молитвенники і співаники і поставити їх на відповідне місце. Рівнож просимо не залишайте бюлетенів і других матеріалів в лавках. Будьмо господарними в нашій церкві і допоможім, щоби наші лавки були чисті й акуратні.

This note is to ALL PARISHIONERS: Please come on time for the Divine Liturgy. Realize that when you come into the Church proper after the Great Entrance, you have missed most of the Divine Liturgy and have not really attended the prescribed service for a Sunday.

Church Etiquette: Be aware that to have attended the entire Divine Liturgy one must receive the Final Blessing before leaving the Church Service. We also ask that you do not visit in the main part of the Church before, during or after the service. Please use the Vestibule or the Fellowship room to conduct your conversations - leave the Church proper (the Nave) for those that want to pray.

Це пригадка для всіх вірних. Просимо приходити вчасно на Службу Божу. Будьмо готові разом заспівати початковий гімн. Зрозумійте, якщо Ви прийдети до Церкви після Великого Входу, Ви пропустили більшу частину Служби Божої, і дійсно не вислухали приписаної Служби Божої на неділю.

Церковна Етика: Будьмо свідомі, що беручи участь у Св. Літургії ми мусимо одержати кінцеве Благословення перед тим як ми залишимо Службу Божу. Ми рівнож просимо не виходити з Церкви перед закінченням Служби Божої. Ми просимо Вас не спілкуватися в Церкві перед, під час і після Служби Божої. Прошу це робити в притворі Церкви або у Вітальні під церквою. Залишім наву (Nave) церкви для вірних які моляться.

ATTENTION ALL PARISHIONERS! We need your help on Tuesday evening during the Bingo, from approximately 6 to 10 pm! Please offer as much as you can of your time and talents: from one hour to the whole evening. We need sellers of special cards, call back persons, paymaster, even office assistance. Come out as often as you can. We will not refuse your help!

Conversion of the Heart - part 3 Salvation

For many Christians, salvation — "being saved" — seems to mean, above all, a promise to be "saved" from our "just desserts": from the consequences of our sins. In other words, salvation is often understood as a means to an end, as a way of escaping hell and getting a 'ticket' to heaven. It is as if going to heaven should be desired primarily because it saves us from going to hell. A wise old priest used to say that most Christians "back themselves into heaven." They are so preoccupied with trying to back away from hell that they eventually "stumble backwards" into heaven!

Yet, the salvation that Christ's death and resurrection has brought us, that the Gospel proclaims and that the Church has taught from the beginning, is not a means to an end — a way of avoiding pain — but the end itself, a treasure beyond price, a pearl for which we are ready to give up all things. It is a gift of life — eternal, glorious, overflowing with love, radiant with joy, open to us now, this very moment, to embrace and to live. It alone fulfills all our desires, answers all our needs.

Salvation restores to us — today — the vision of God, the gift of his presence, that we were meant to enjoy every moment of our existence, and that, through the mystery of free will — of sin — humanity has lost or obscured. It opens to us again the gates of Paradise. It places us where Adam and Eve were when they approached the tree of good and evil, at the point where they had to choose whether to accept the command of God or to listen to the lie of the Adversary and turn away from God. Salvation is simply, miraculously, our "second chance" to participate in the life of God. It is our return to Paradiseч

Seen from that perspective, the sin of which the Spirit "convicts the world" (John 16 8) is much more than any specific wrong we have committed or may commit, or even the sum total of them all. It is more than breaking this or that commandment, for which we might be punished and which, therefore, should be avoided and regretted.

Sin, in the sense that the Tradition of the Church understands it, is the fundamental cause of all our individual sins, the source from which they all spring. As we have already said, sin is our failure to love and trust God. It is the human condition, the state of separation from God. Lost Paradise

According to the biblical tradition, the world was created by love: that is, by bringing together all the scattered elements of the unformed universe — the primeval chaos — and moulding them into a unity. At "the beginning," all created beings were in communion with each other. There was no sense of separateness, greed, fear or shame. This was the primeval state of love the Garden of Eden of the Old Testament, the Paradise where "the Lord walked in the cool of the evening" (Genesis 3:8) and all beings were his friends — fully aware, fully present to him and to each other.

All that changed, however, when our first parents sinned. By eating the forbidden fruit, the first sin of self-assertion and self-love — by choosing one's own will, one's

own apparent good over the will of God — the primeval unity was "scattered" again, and evil, the great tragedy of separation and division, was let loose upon the world. Human beings became closed in, imprisoned within the walls of their own selves, ignorant of their fundamental unity. Their minds were darkened, their hearts filled with mistrust: they became estranged from God and from one another. They lost their vision of God: of God's beauty, perfection and merciful love.

It is hard for us to understand how Adam and Eve could have done that — how, having experienced God's friendship and love, surrounded by the beauty and goodness of creation, they could have listened to the voice of the "Father of Lies" who accused God of jealousy and deception. How they could have believed that God forbade them to reach for the fruit of knowledge of good and evil in order to protect his own power! But they did. In this lies the mystery of human freedom. Because they did, sin entered the world and the unity of all things was broken. Dreadful Choice

Yet Adam and Eve still had a choice. For, as our Tradition allows us to believe, had they even then trusted in God's mercy and love, turned back to him and asked for his forgiveness — had they repented — they, like the prodigal son in Christ's parable, would have been accepted and greeted with joy. (Luke 15: 11-32) Their inheritance would have been restored to them.

They did not repent, however; they were too afraid. Because they had lost trust in God's love, they did not accept the responsibility for their own sin. They did not ask God's forgiveness, but blamed each other.

“When God calls Adam, far from crying out with horror and throwing himself before his creator, he accuses the woman. ... Man, therefore, refuses his responsibility, throws it onto the woman and finally on God Himself. ... Man is not free, he lets it be understood; creation, therefore God, has led him to evil.”

The essence of our parents’ "fall," therefore, was not that they broke a specific commandment, but that they failed to love and trust God. They became "afflicted," weighed down with guilt, and were afraid. They became fragmented in themselves, estranged from God, from each other and from the rest of creation. They hid from God and were banished from Paradise.

We, too, must carry the same burden. We are the inheritors of our first parents' sin — or, rather, of its consequences. All our lives, we must struggle, not only with fear and guilt, but also with a compulsion to justify ourselves, to hide from the world and even from God. Because we are unable to trust anybody, or anything, and above all else we are not able to trust God, we are compelled to rely on our own resources, to attempt to find our own happiness and fulfill our own desires and needs. We are imprisoned, stranded on an island of our own self. We are all exiles from Paradise.

Sometimes we find this concept difficult to accept. We rebel against it. We think it is unfair. We do not understand why evil must still exist, why we all must bear the results of our first parents' sin. Nevertheless, it is surely so. We see the truth of it in our everyday world, in which we all carry the burden of our parents' sins and our children so often must suffer for ours. This is another painful way in which we experience the mystery of evil in our lives and must face it again and again. The Mystery of Evil

It is important to realize that the biblical story of the Fall, contrary to what many Christians believe does not explain the existence of evil in the world. The Bible does

not define the nature of evil or explain to us what its true origin was. The biblical account, whether we understand it in literal or symbolic terms, presents us with a story of how evil first appeared in our earthly reality; how it first entered our world. But it also makes it clear that evil — in the person of the devil, the Evil One — existed even before human beings were created, before they sinned and made their dreadful choice. Our first parents sinned, we are told, because they believed the devil, rather than God.

The notion of personal evil — the devil — is difficult for many modern Christians to accept. It seems too primitive, too mythical, too "esoteric" to our rational minds. Yet, the Tradition of the Church has consistently maintained that the devil does exist. He is the great fallen angel Lucifer, to whom Christ mysteriously referred when he said that he saw "Satan, like lightning falling down from heaven." (Luke 10 18) Thus, evil was not man-made, not "born of the flesh," but a spiritual power so great that we cannot fight it or defeat it by ourselves. We need to be saved from it.

Yet, the devil's power, however great it may be, is never absolute, it cannot act in the world without God's permission, and thus we may trust — or rather, we must trust, for that is the essence of faith — that evil will never be allowed to defeat the good absolutely. It cannot destroy completely the imprint of God's creative act — God's love — on the core of creation. In other words, it can be overcome; it can be defeated. And it can be defeated only by love, because only love can reunite the world.

Sometimes sin — being in a “state of sin” — is also described as the "absence of God." God is said to forsake the sinner and absent himself from those who do not do his will. But this is a wrong notion and cannot ever be true. It is a lie with which the devil — the Father of Lies — tries to obscure our minds and convince us, as he convinced our first parents, that God has rejected and abandoned us.

God cannot ever abandon us. God's love is infinite — it can never be limited by any evil or sin. God can never turn away from us and cease to love us. We, however, can cease to love God. We can turn away from the Divine Love; we can convince ourselves that we are too sinful, too wicked to be loved by God. This is the great sin of disbelief, a failure of trust in the truth of our salvation, the source of all sins and the cause of our separation from God.

Fable of the Porcupine

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together. They were covered and protected, but the quills of each wounded the closest companion. After a while, they decided to distance themselves, and they began to die, alone and frozen.

So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by their close relationships because the most important part was the heat that came from the others. They were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but the one that forms when individuals learn to live with the imperfections and admire the good qualities of others.

The Moral of the story LEARN TO LOVE THE PRICKS IN YOUR LIFE!

THE GARDEN Come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING, PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peace of mind, 2. Peace of heart, 3. Peace of soul PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip, 2. Squash indifference, 3. Squash grumbling, 4. Squash selfishness PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful, 2. Lettuce be kind, 3. Lettuce be patient, 4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS: 1. Turnip for meetings, 2. Turnip for service, 3. Turnip to help one another.

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME: 1. Thyme for each other; 2. Thyme for family; 3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

SHIPWRECK A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were

able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food.

The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land.

On the other side of the island, there was nothing! Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all

of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing!! Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In

the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?" "My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything." "You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?" "He prayed that all YOUR prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us.

My prayer for you today is that all YOUR prayers are answered. Be blessed! "What you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself." This was

shared with me by a friend, I hope you will share with your friends too!

POPE'S LENTEN MESSAGE JESUS' PRAYER BEFORE DYING

Vatican City, (VIS) - The prayer of Jesus at the moment of His death, as narrated by St. Mark and St. Matthew was the theme of Benedict XVI's catechesis during his general audience, held this morning in the Paul VI Hall.

"In the structure of the narrative", the Pope said, "Jesus' cry rises at the end of three hours of darkness, which had descended upon the earth from midday to three o'clock in the afternoon. Those three hours of darkness were, in their turn, the continuation of an earlier period which also lasted three hours and began with the crucifixion. ... In biblical tradition darkness has an ambivalent meaning: it is a sign of the presence and action of evil, but also of the mysterious presence and action of God Who is capable of vanquishing all darkness. ... In the scene of Jesus' crucifixion, darkness envelops the earth, the darkness of death in which the Son of God immerses Himself, in order to bring life with His act of love".

"Insulted by various categories of people, surrounded by a darkness covering everything, at the very moment in which He is facing death Jesus' cry shows that, along with His burden of suffering and death, apparently accompanied by abandonment and the absence of God, He is entirely certain of the closeness of the Father, Who approves this supreme act of love and of total giving of Self, although we do not hear His voice from on high as we did in earlier moments".

Yet, the Holy Father asked, "what is the meaning of Jesus' prayer? The cry addressed to the Father: 'my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" He explained that "the words Jesus addresses to the Father are the beginning of Psalm 22, in which the Psalmist expresses the tension between, on the one hand, being left alone and, on the other, the certain knowledge of God's presence amongst His people. ... The Psalmist speaks of a 'cry' to express all the suffering of his prayer before the apparently absent God. At moments of anguish, prayer becomes a cry.

"This also happens in our own relationship with the Lord", the Pope added. "In the face of difficult and painful situations, when it seems that God does not hear, we must not be afraid to entrust Him with the burden we are carrying in our hearts, we must not be afraid to cry out to Him in our suffering".

"Jesus prays at the moment of ultimate rejection by man, at the moment of abandonment. However, He is aware that God the Father is present even at the instant in which He is experiencing the human drama of death. Yet nonetheless, a question arises in our hearts: how is it possible that such a powerful God does not intervene to save His Son from this terrible trial?"

The Holy Father explained that "it is important to understand that the prayer of Jesus is not the cry of a person who meets death with desperation, nor that of a person who knows he has been abandoned. At that moment Jesus appropriates Psalm 22, the Psalm of the suffering people of Israel, at that moment He takes upon Himself not only the suffering of His people, but also that of all men and women oppressed by evil. ... And He takes all this to the heart of God in the certainty that His cry will be heard in the resurrection. ... His is suffering in communion with us and for us, it derives from love and carries within itself redemption and the victory of love.

"The people at the foot of Jesus' cross were unable to understand, they thought His cry was a supplication to Elijah. ... We likewise find ourselves, ever and anew, facing the 'today' of suffering, the silence of God - many times we say as much in our prayers - but

we also find ourselves facing the 'today' of the Resurrection, of the response of God Who took our sufferings upon Himself, to carry them with us and give us the certain hope that they will be overcome".

"In our prayers", the Holy Father concluded, "let us bring God our daily crosses, in the certainty that He is present and listens to us. The cry of Jesus reminds us that in prayer we must cross the barrier of 'self' and our own problems, and open ourselves to the needs and sufferings of others. May the prayer of the dying Jesus on the cross teach us to pray with love for so many brothers and sisters who feel the burden of daily life, who are experiencing moments of difficulty, who suffer and hear no words of comfort, that they may feel the love of God Who never abandons us. JESUS' PRAYER BEFORE DYING - part 2

Vatican City, 15 February 2012 (VIS) - For the second consecutive week the Holy Father focused his catechesis during his general audience on Jesus' prayer before dying, basing his remarks on three phrases Christ pronounced from the cross, as narrated in the Gospel of St. Luke. The audience was held in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of some 6,000 pilgrims from all over the world.

Jesus' first phrase: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing", was pronounced as soon as He had been crucified and while the soldiers were dividing His garments. "This first prayer to the Father", the Pope explained, "was a request to forgive His executioners". At the same time, however, "it is an interpretation of what is happening. The men who crucified Him 'do not know what they are doing'. In other words, Christ presents ignorance, 'not knowing', as a reason for requesting forgiveness of the Father, because that ignorance opens the way to conversion".

The second phrase: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise", addressed to the "good thief" crucified at Christ's side, is "a word of hope", the Holy Father said. Jesus thereby reaffirmed "that God's goodness can touch us even in the final instant of existence, and that sincere prayer, even after a misspent life, encounters the open arms of the good Father Who awaits the return of His child".

"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit", the last words Christ pronounced, are "a prayer of 'entrustment', full of faith in God's love. Jesus' prayer before dying is as dramatic as it is for all men and women but, at the same time, it is pervaded by that profound calm which arises from faith in the Father and the desire to entrust oneself to Him completely".

"When life was about to leave Him, He sealed His final decision in a prayer. Jesus allowed Himself to be consigned 'into human hands', but it was into the hands of the Father that He placed His spirit. Thus, as John the Evangelist says, all things were accomplished, the supreme act of love was carried to the end".

"Jesus' words on the cross in the final instants of His earthly existence provide binding guidelines for our own prayer, but they also open the way to serene trust and firm hope. By asking the Father to forgive those who are crucifying Him, Jesus invites us to make the difficult gesture of praying for the people who do us wrong, ... that the light of God may illuminate their hearts. In other words, He invites us to adopt, in our prayer, the same attitude of mercy and love which God shows towards us", the Pope said.

"At the same time Jesus, at the extreme moment of death, entrusted Himself entirely into the hands of God the Father, communicating to us the certainty that, however difficult our trials ... or burdensome our suffering, we will never fall out of God’s hands, the hands which created us, and which support and accompany us on life’s journey".

The Beggar’s Rags A beggar lived near the king’s palace. One day he saw a proclamation posted outside

the palace gate. The king was giving a great dinner. Anyone dressed in royal garments was invited to the party.

The beggar went on his way. He looked at the rags he was wearing and sighed. Surely only kings and their families wore royal robes, he thought. Slowly an idea crept into his mind. The audacity of it made him tremble. Would he dare?

He made his way back to the palace. He approached the guard at the gate. “Please, sire, I would like to speak to the king.”

“Wait here,” the guard replied. In a few minutes, he was back. “His majesty will see you,” he said, and led the beggar in.

“You wish to see me?” asked the king. “Yes, your majesty. I want so much to attend the banquet, but I have no royal robes to

wear. Please, sir, if I may be so bold, may I have one of your old garments so that I, too, may come to the banquet?”

The beggar shook so hard that he could not see the faint smile that was on the king’s face. “You have been wise in coming to me,” the king said. He called to his son, the young prince. “Take this man to your room and array him in some of your clothes.”

The prince did as he was told and soon the beggar was standing before a mirror, clothed in garments that he had never dared hope for. “You are now eligible to attend the king’s banquet tomorrow night,’ said the prince. “But even more important, you will never need any other clothes. These garments will last forever.” The beggar dropped to his knees. “Oh, thank you, “ he cried.

But as he started to leave, he looked back at his pile of dirty rags on the floor. He hesitated. What if the prince was wrong? What if he would need his old clothes again. Quickly he gathered them up.

The banquet was far greater than he had ever imagined, but he could not enjoy himself as he should. He had made a small bundle of his old rags and it kept falling off his lap. The food was passed quickly and the beggar missed some of the greatest delicacies.

Time proved that the prince was right. The clothes lasted forever. Still the poor beggar grew fonder and fonder of his old rags. As time passed people seemed to forget the royal robes he was wearing. They saw only the little bundle of filthy rags that he clung to wherever he went. They even spoke of him as the old man with the rags.

One day as he lay dying, the king visited him. The beggar saw the sad look on the king’s face when he looked at the small bundle of rags by the bed. Suddenly the beggar remembered the prince’s words and he realized that his bundle of rags had cost him a lifetime of true royalty. He wept bitterly at his folly.

And the king wept with him… Annonymous We too have been invited to a royal banquet. He invites us to an ever-deepening

relationship with Himself. In love He was willing to give up everything, His very life, for us.

What are the ‘old rags’ of which we are not willing to let go the ‘rags’ that continue to prevent us from entering, more deeply, into the love and friendship that Our Lord offers?

This season of the Great Lenten Fast, allows us an opportunity to identify our ‘rags’. Do we carry sins that we are not willing to acknowledge?

What sins do we continue to carry around withholding forgiveness?

Are there things that distract us from coming before the Lord in prayer, or just in silence?

Do we harbour ill feelings against others or prejudices that stop us from seeing the person who is before us? (the image of our Creator)

Have we developed habits that hurt our health and well-being? Lent provides us with the time to honestly assess whether we carry these ‘rags’ and

ask the Lord to help us to discard them. God Bless You, May the Great (Fast) Lent be a time of renewal and increased love for

you and yours. Sister Natalya, SSMI (printed in the “Sower” page 19, February 26, 2012, Vol 37#2)

God loves us Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She

said: "How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?" The surgeon said, "I am sorry. We did all we could, but your boy did not make it." Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer? Does God not care any more? Where were

you, God, when my son needed you?" The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses

will be out in a few minutes, he will be transported to the university." Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good-bye to her son. She ran her

fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. "Would you like a lock of his hair?" the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and

handed it to Sally. The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the university for study. He said it might help somebody else. "I said no at first, but Jimmy said, "Mom, I would not be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could."

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room. She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed hugging his pillow, and cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

"Dear Mom, I know you are going to miss me; but do not think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I am not around to say I LOVE YOU. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you would not be so lonely, that is okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably would not like the same things us boys do. You will have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Do not be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus does not look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit

on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That is when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good-bye and everything. But I already knew that was not allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him?' God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I have written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Is that not so cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I am, sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I do not hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I am glad because I could not stand that pain anymore and God could not stand to see me hurt so much, either. That is when He sent the Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from: God, Jesus & Me. Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life is not always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (do not spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became entertainment; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you could not defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. Common Sense is survived by his four step-brothers: I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I am a Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized that COMMON SENSE is GONE! Please, do your part to bring it back ...  

Very true! READ VERY SLOWLY... IT IS PRETTY PROFOUND Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they have not

thought about it, do not have it on their schedule, did not know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I have tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband did not suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you?

How often have your children dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television? I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gas up and stammer, "I can not. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, it looks like rain." And my personal favourite: "It is Monday." ... She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because North Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We will go back and visit the grandparents when we get Stevie toilet-trained. We will entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We will go on a second honeymoon when we get two more children out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I am going to," "I plan on," and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit."

When anyone calls me 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you are ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It is just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now ... go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to ... not something your SHOULD DO. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, whom would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched children playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Have you ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Have you ever told your child, "We will do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just called to say "Hi"? When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift ... Thrown away ... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

Life may not be the party we hoped for ... but while we are here we might as well dance!"  

ST. MARY’S UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC PARISH UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE

2012 EASTER FOOD PRE-ORDER FORM We will be holding our Paska Sale on Saturday March 31.2012. Sales start at 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

We are offering you an opportunity to place your (pre-paid only) orders ahead of time for pick-up on Saturday. Doors will NOT open early to anyone.

LAST DAY FOR PRE-PAID ORDERS IS MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012 *PICK-UP TIME: March 31 at 11:30 AM

Mark the quantity of items you would like to order, place the order along with your payment in an envelope with the word “order” on the outside and drop it in the collection basket on Sunday or return to the Parish Office by March 26, 2012.

ITEM SIZE and PRICE QUANTITY TOTAL

PASKA Medium $ 7.00 ________ __________

Large $ 9.00 ________ __________

BABKA Medium $ 5.00 ________ __________

Large $ 7.00 ________ __________

SAUSAGE One size $ 8.00 ________ __________

CABBAGE ROLLS 1 Doz. $ 6.00 ________ __________

PYROHY (frozen) 1 Doz. $ 5.00 ________ __________

BEETS/HORSERADISH Small $ 4.00 ________ __________

Medium $ 5.00 ________ __________

Large $ 6.00 ________ __________

TOTAL ENCLOSED __________

PLEASE PRINT: **Please make cheques payable to: St. Mary’s Parish-UCWLC

NAME: ________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________

PHONE NUMBER: _______________________ Best time to call: __________________

For further information contact: Marlayne Andrijaszyn 604-274-3164 OR Olga Kochan 604-274-9804 ‘THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORDER’

 

 

A TRIBUTE to TARAS SHEVCHENKO

Sunday  March  4th,  2012  at  2:00PM  Ukrainian  Catholic  Center  

3150  Ash  St.,        Vancouver,  BC    

Featuring: Svitanok Chorus, Holy Eucharist Cathedral Ukrainian School, Holy  Trinity  Cathedral  Ukrainian  School  

Admission  by  Donation    

For  more  information  call:  Mr.  M.  Petriw  604-­‐9366177  Mrs.  A.K.  Kozak  604-­‐9292581  

Sponsors:  Ukrainian  Canadian  Congress  Vancouver  Branch      

 SVITANOK  Chorus  

 

 Bishop of New Westminster for Ukrainian Catholics in British Columbia and the Yukon

Епарх Нью-ВестмінстерськийДля українців-католиків у Британській Колумбії та Юконі

502 - 5th Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3L 1S2 tel. 604 524 8824 fax: 604 521 8015 Email: kenbaseline@aol.com www.nweparchy.ca

To the Very Rev. and Rev. Clergy, Religious

and Laity of the Eparchy of New Westminster

9 February 2012

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Each year our Eparchy along with all the other Ukrainian Catholic Eparchies in North America receives requests from our Church in Ukraine for financial assistance for very worthy causes and endeavors in Ukraine. As has been our Eparchial custom for the last few years, during the Great Fast/Lent we take time to remember our sisters and brothers in Ukraine who are in need and though our donations we show that we stand in solidarity with them.

While there are no doubt many worthy causes to donate our funds to in Ukraine, our Eparchy has identified the following beneficiaries for our donations:

1. Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv: This is the only Ukrainian Catholic University in Ukraine. It is pivotal to the future needs of the leaders of Ukrainian society. Today more than ever, we need to support a free and honest educational endeavourer in Ukraine and certainly, the Ukrainian Catholic University is worthy of our support.

2. Caritas Ukraine: Caritas Ukraine continues to be the main charities organization of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ukraine providing social care to the needy of Ukraine in the area of humanitarian aid, clothing distribution, street children’s assistance programs, HIV & AIDS programs, anti-trafficking in people programs, emergency aid, home-care programs and much more.

3. Holy Resurrection Sobor in Kyiv: The building project is near completion and the interior artwork will begin very soon. This Cathedral is meant to be not just for our Ukrainian Catholics in Kyiv, but indeed the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral for all of us.

4. Andrew’s Pence: The Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, our Patriarch has many requests for financial support from our Ukrainian Catholic communities of faithful in the poorest areas of Eastern Europe and in the East, in places like Kazakhstan, Siberia, etc. These communities are often located in areas where the local or national governments are

not at all supportive. They rely heavily on assistance from their sisters and brothers in the other areas where our Church faithful live, like right here in British Columbia. Our donations to Andrew’s Pence assist the Patriarch in providing financial support for these far away and often desolate communities.

5. Synod Administration Fund: Each Eparchy of the Ukrainian Catholic Church throughout our world is asked to assist in the administrative and operational costs of the Synodal Offices in Kyiv. As members of the Ukrainian Catholic Church our Eparchy is assessed a sum of around $3,000.00 annually. Your contributions will assist us in our Synodal Administrative Fund assessment.

In order to assist you in deciding to how much you are able to donate to these worthy causes I have let you know something about them and what your donations will help with. The envelopes provided allow you to indicate the amount as well as to which fund(s) you would like your donation to be given to.

If you would like to receive a tax receipt for your donation, please make the cheque payable to your own parish (ie: Holy Eucharist Cathedral, or St. Nicholas Parish) and a tax receipt will be issued to you directly from your parish. Your parish treasurer will then send a cheque made out to the Eparchy of New Westminster for the total amount collected and indicate the amounts and to whom the collected amount is to be given to. The Eparchy will then add together the amounts collected from each parish and to whom/which organization the donation is to be given to.

I completely endorse and recommend to you dear Sisters and Brothers that the organizations listed in the information sheet. They are truly in need and will use wisely our donations. Along with your donations, I would ask for your prayerful support of those who work in the service of our Church in Ukraine, bringing the Good News of Our Lord’s love and salvation to them. So, Dearly Beloved in Christ, if you can find it in your heart and bank accounts to make a donation, please do so. May the blessing of Our Lord be upon you for your generosities.

I am designating Sundays March 11 & 18, 2012, the THIRD and FOURTH Sundays of the Great Fast (Lent) for our Eparchial Collection in favour of the needs of our Church in Ukraine. I would ask that this letter along with special envelopes be distributed to our Faithful as of Sunday February 26 & March 4 so that they may prepare themselves for the donation. If for good reason they will be absent from the Divine Liturgy on March 11 or 18 so they can make their contribution either prior to 11 or 18 of March or by the end of the Great Fast (Lent).

I am uniting my prayers with those of yours in our journey through the Great Fast (Lent) to the joyful celebration of Our Lord’s Holy Resurrection on Easter Sunday!

Sincerely yours in the Lord,

+Ken

Eparchial Bishop

 

 Bishop of New Westminster for Ukrainian Catholics in British Columbia and the Yukon

Епарх Нью-ВестмінстерськийДля українців-католиків у Британській Колумбії та Юконі

502 - 5th Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3L 1S2 tel. 604 524 8824 fax: 604 521 8015 Email: kenbaseline@aol.com www.nweparchy.ca

1 March 2012

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Beloved in Christ!

RE: His Beatitude Svatoslav's Historic Visit

to the Eparchy of New Westminster

I am pleased to announce that our Patriarch, His Beatitude Sviatoslav will be visiting our Eparchy later this year. His visit will take place during this special year commemorating the centennial of the appointment of Blessed Nykyta Budka, as the first Ukrainian Catholic Bishop for our Country. Below is the general plan of the visit. More details of the visit will be announced in a few months. I would encourage each of you to plan to attend one or more of the events scheduled.

In September of this year for the very first time in the history of our Church in Canada, we will be hosting the annual meeting of the Synod of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Bishops. It will be held in Winnipeg from 9 - 15 September and most of the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops from around the world will be in attendance.

Please keep the visit of our Patriarch and the Synod of Bishops’ meeting in your daily prayers.

August 31st

1. The official blessing of the Bishop Jerome Chimy Eparchial Centre and Bishop Severian Yakymyshyn Eparchial Library in New Westminster. This will be an event open by invitation only due to limited space at the Eparchial Centre. There will be an opportunity for the faithful to come and not only visit but take advantage of the services that will be offered at the Eparchial Centre as of the end of July of this year when it will be open for service to the faithful of our Eparchy.

2. Moleben at 6:30 PM - Holy Eucharist Cathedral, celebrating the Year of Blessed Nykyta Budka and the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Holy Eucharist Parish in New Westminster. The Moleben is open to the public and no advance tickets or passes are required for admission. A special reception with the Patriarch will follow the Moleben in the Parish Hall. Tickets are required in advance for the reception and will be available to be purchased in advance by contacting Fr. Yuriy Vyshnevskyy at Holy Eucharist Cathedral.

September 1st

3. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Mary's parish in Vancouver at 10:00 AM. The Divine Liturgy is open to the public and no tickets or special passes are required for admission. Official celebratory banquet to follow the Divine Liturgy with the Patriarch will be held at the St. Mary’s Cultural Centre. Tickets are required in advance for the banquet and will be available to be purchased in advance by contacting Fr. Josaphat Tyrkalo, OSBM at St. Mary’s Parish.

September 2nd

4. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Holy Dormition parish in Kelowna at 11:00 AM. The Divine Liturgy is open to the public and no tickets or special passes are required for admission. Official celebratory banquet to follow the Divine Liturgy with the Patriarch will be held in the Parish Hall. Tickets are required in advance for the banquet and will be available to be purchased in advance by contacting Fr. Andriy Werbowy at Holy Dormition Parish.

With my blessings I have approved that our parishes in Kamloops, Penticton, Grindrod, and Vernon are to celebrate the September 2nd Sunday Divine Liturgy on Saturday 1st September so that our clergy in those communities can arrive at the parish in Kelowna no later than 10:00 am on Sunday 2nd September. Our parish in Prince George may celebrate Divine Liturgy for Sunday 2nd September on Friday 31 August in order to allow Fr. Dmyterko to drive to Kelowna on Saturday September 1st to be in Kelowna for the Sunday Divine Liturgy.

In order to plan for the visit of our Patriarch we have established two CORE Planning Teams. One planning team is for the Lower Mainland and a second team for the Interior.

For the Lower Mainland I have appointed a CORE Planning Team consisting of Frs. Vyshnevskyy, Ewanko, Tyrkalo, & Chornenkyy as well as Srs. Daria & Ruth and the chairpersons from the four parishes in the Lower Mainland and the Eparchial UCWLC president.

In order to plan for the visit of our Patriarch to Kelowna I have appointed Fr. Andriy Werbowy to head up the CORE Planning Team. For this planning team, I have also appointed Frs. Wasylinko and Myts, and have recommended that three more persons be added to the CORE Planning Team from our parish in Kelowna.

Starting Sunday, March 4th at all Sunday and Weekday Liturgies in the Eparchy through to the Visit of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, I would ask that the following Litany be used in the "special intentions" part of our Liturgies:

Priest: "We also pray that our Lord through the prayers of Blessed Nykyta Budka first Ukrainian Catholic Bishop of Canada bless the upcoming visit of His Beatitude Sviatoslav to our Eparchy and the annual Synod of Ukrainian Catholic Bishops' meeting to take place in Winnipeg in September, Lord hear us and have mercy!"

Faithful: Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

With assurance of my prayerful best wishes and Episcopal Blessings, I remain,

Sincerely yours in the Lord,

+Ken

Eparch of New Westminster

You are cordially invited to attend the  

Tri-­‐Parish  Lower  Mainland  Lenten  Mission    Exaltation  of  the  Holy  Cross,  13753  –  108  Ave.  Surrey  

Holy  Eucharist  Cathedral,  501  –  4th  Ave.,  New  Westminster  Dormition  of  the  Mother  of  God,  8700  Railway  Ave.,  

Richmond  With Father Larre

Wednesday, March 14th to Friday, March 16th

Wednesday, March 14th, at Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Surrey. 6:30 pm: Confessions, 7:00 pm: 9th Hour Prayer Service

Followed by Mission Session, Clinging to Faith in a Godless Society

Followed by Refreshments in Church Hall

Thursday, March 15th, at Holy Eucharist Cathedral, New Westminster.

6:30 pm: Confessions, 7:00 pm: Akafist to the Sufferings of Jesus Christ Followed by Mission Session,

Maintaining Hope in Hopeless Situations Followed by Refreshments in Cathedral Hall

Friday, March 16th, at Dormition of Mother of God, Richmond. 6:30 pm: Confessions, 7:00 pm: Moleben to Christ the Lover of all Mankind

Followed by Mission Session, Bringing Love to a Violent, Hateful Society

Followed by Refreshments in Parish Centre.

Just a few hours that may change your entire life!