Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church /Assumption B.V.M. Church
131 North Beech Street, Mount Carmel, Pa. 17851
Very Reverend Archpriest Michael Hutsko, Pastor
Rectory 570-339-0650 Church Hall 570- 339-4333
Web Site- sspeterandpaulmc.org - E-Mail: stsppmc@ptd.net - Fax 570-339-2715
Prayer Line: Louise Cuff 339-3660 – Eleanor Stebila 339-2353 – Louise Troyan 339-1565
Please notify the rectory office if you or a loved one is hospitalized or admitted to a nursing home.
Office Hours: Mon. Tues. Fri. - 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Wed. Thurs. 9:00 AM -12:00 Noon
1st Collection: Candles 2nd Collection: Regular Offering
29th Sunday After Pentecost
Saturday 12-07-13
3:15 PM Confessions
4:00 PM + John & Helen Cheddar req. by
Son, Joseph
Sunday 12-08-13
29th Sunday After Pentecost
8:15 AM Confessions
9:15 AM For the Parishioners
11:00 AM at Assumption B.V.M. Church
+Anthony Budraitis req. by Wife, Anna
Monday 12-09-13
Conception of St. Anne (Immaculate
Conception) – Holy Day of Obligation
9:00 AM at Assumption B.V.M. Church
+ Wesley & Helen Mekosh req. by Anna Budraitis
6:00 PM at Ss. Peter & Paul Church
+ Edward Coveleski req. by Wife, Evalyn
Tuesday 12-10-13
No Divine Liturgy
Wednesday 12-11-13
No Divine Liturgy
Thursday 12-12-13
8:00 AM at Assumption B.V.M. Church
+ Charles Kent req. by Margie & Dot Shamonski
Friday 12-13-13
8:00 AM at Assumption B.V.M. Church
+ John Plachko req. by Pearl Hutsko & Family
Saturday 12-14-13
8:00 AM + John Broda req. by Wife & Children
3:15 PM Confessions
4:00 PM For the Parishioners
Sunday 12-15-13
Sunday of the Forefathers
8:15 AM Confessions
9:15 AM + Leo, Sr. & Anna Berzinski –
Anniversary of Death - req. by Leo Berzinski, Jr.
11:00 AM at Assumption B.V.M. Church
+ Nicholas Balandovich req. by Theresa Mattu &
Family
8:00 AM weekday liturgies are at Assumption
B.V.M. Church until further notice
December 8, 2013
Welcome: We the people of Ss. Peter &
Paul/Assumption Churches, are a Catholic
community that worships God, spreads the Good
News of Christ, and serves those in need. Come
into the house. Bring all you are, no need to check
your failures at the door. There are no perfect
people here. You are invited: come. Come in
seeking, come in wondering, come in hurting.
Come into this house of companionship and
compassion. Come in. You are welcome here. Ss.
Peter & Paul/Assumption Churches open their
doors to you.
Upcoming Events: Mark your calendars and plan
to support the following events…….
December 8 – Holy Name Society Sunday
December 9 – Conception of St. Anne – Holy Day
of Obligation- Divine Liturgy- 9:00 AM at
Assumption B.V.M. Church – 6:00 PM at Ss. Peter
& Paul Church
Choir practice 7:00 PM
December 11 & 12 – December Pyrohy Sale
December 15 – Annual Christmas Pageant and St.
Nicholas Party – Christmas Pageant begins at 4:00
PM - Hot Buffet meal at 5:00 PM
Holiday Cookie Sale – Orders are due today
Drawing of I Pad & Kindle Fire Raffle Tickets –
Last day for Baby Item Donations - Items will be
taken to the Pregnancy Center
Sunday Social: Sunday Social is held every
Sunday after the 9:15 AM Divine Liturgy at Ss.
Peter & Paul Church. All are welcome. Donations
are greatly appreciated
In Your Prayers: Please remember to pray for the
sick and the infirm of our Parishes.
Please Remember: To pray for vocations to the
Holy Priesthood and religious life.
Rosary Intention: For the week of December 8,
2013, for the sick and the infirm of our parishes.
Ss. Peter & Paul Replenish Fund Donations as
of December 1, 2013 are:
$ 250.00 – Louise Pochikilo
$ 250.00 – Rebecca Amaris Scott
$ 25.00 – Robert Colahan
$ 10.00 - Anonymous
Non- Parishioner Replenishing Fund Donations:
$ 2, 000.00 – In Memory of our Grandparents –
+ Andrew (Peggy) & Eva Karlak and our Parents
+ Frank & Vera (Karlack) Anuszewski – donated
by Father Damian Anuszewski, O.S.S.T. and
Diane E. Bittman
$ 100.00 – Michael & Lorraine Kandra
Total To Date Replenishing Fund Donations:
$ 35, 098.73
Ss. Peter & Paul Church Rebuilding Fund:
$ 100.00 – In Memory of + Nicholas & Mary
Pochakilo donated by Louise Pochakilo
$ 20.00 – In Memory of + Bernice Sulick donated
by Nicole & Thomas Onuschak
Holy Name Society: Sunday, December 8, 2013 is
Holy Name Society Sunday. All members are
asked to pray together, receive the Holy Eucharist
as a group and attend a short meeting immediately
after liturgy. New members are always welcome to
join this society.
Altar Flowers: Altar flowers can be sponsored
weekly for $30.00 per arrangement. Parishioners
can sponsor these flowers in Memory of a loved
one, or for any occasion. Anyone interested in
sponsoring flowers may call 570 - 339-0650.
Altar Flowers: Altar Flowers at Ss. Peter & Paul
Church for the week of December 8, 2013 are
In Loving Memory of + John J. Bailoni –
50th Birthday - request by Wife, Evelyn.
Feast of Conception of St. Anne:
The Feast of Conception of St. Anne Divine
Liturgy will be celebrated on Monday, December
9, 2013 at 9:00 AM at Assumption B.V.M.
Church. The Feast of Conception of St. Anne
Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Monday,
December 9, 2013 at 6:00 PM at Ss. Peter & Paul
Church.
I Pad & Kindle Fire Raffle: SS. Peter & Paul
Church Holy Name Society will be selling tickets
for an I Pad, and a Kindle Fire. Drawing will be
December 15th, 2013. You need not be present to
win. Tickets are $2.00 ea. / 3 for $ 5.00. Please
contact any Holy Name Member for tickets. Thank
you for your support of this raffle.
Bulletin Requests: Any requests or any
information to be placed in the bulletin must be in
writing and submitted to the church office by 12:00
Noon on Mondays.
Ss. Peter & Paul Church Collecting Donations:
SS. Peter & Paul Church Altar Rosary Society will
be collecting donations for the Pregnancy Center in
Shamokin. Items needed are as follows: diapers,
wipes, formula, baby cereal, baby food, clothing
sizes newborn to 4t, bottles, and toys. New items
please. You may place the donations in the
bassinette in the front of the church. Donations
will be accepted until December 15, 2013.
Collected items will then be taken to the Pregnancy
center in time for Christmas. Thank you so much
in advance for your donations.
Divine Liturgy Intentions: All the Divine Liturgy
Intentions requested to date will be celebrated or
scheduled to the end of calendar year 2013. There
are Not any open dates available for the weekend
Divine Liturgy; but there are weekday dates
opened. Divine Liturgy Intention requests for
Calendar Year 2014 are now being accepted. Note:
Weekend requests are limited to two per person,
but weekday intentions are available. Please Note:
All Divine Liturgy Intentions are subject to
change only by Father Michael. Thank you for
your consideration requesting Divine Liturgy
Intentions. In addition, please remember that
although there are usually three (3) Divine
Liturgies on the weekend that one Liturgy
Intention must be for all parishioners.
Special Thank You: A very special thank you to
everyone who came out this past week to decorate
SS. Peter & Paul and Assumption B.V.M. churches
for Christmas. The churches look beautiful. May
God Bless each of you for donating your time to
decorate our parishes for the birth of Our Savior
Jesus Christ. It was greatly appreciated.
MNOHAYA I BLAHAYA LITA!
Ss. Peter & Paul Church Lector Schedule:
Sat. December 7 4:00 PM
Ed Cuff
Sun. December 8 9:15 AM
Justina Eisenhart
Sat. December 14 4:00 PM
Ellen Goretsky
Sun. December 15 9:15 AM
Christine Bogner
Assumption B.V.M. Church Lector Schedule
Sun. December 8 11:00 AM
Bryce Fiamoncini
Sun. December 1511:00 AM
Bryce Fiamoncini
Next Pyrohy Sale: The SS. Peter &
Paul/Assumption Pyrohy Sale will be held on
Wednesday, December 11th, starting at 9:00 AM,
and on Thursday, December12th, starting at 8:00
AM. We are still in need of help in all aspects of
this project please try to devote some of your time
and talents to this project. All are welcome. Thank
you
Christmas Offering: Please begin now putting
aside a couple of dollars a week so that you can
make an extra special offering to our church on
Christmas Day. We ask each parishioner to
consider making a Christmas donation of at least
$25.00. Gifts of $50.00, $75.00, $100.00 or more
would be greatly appreciated. When we stop to
consider the great gift of Jesus himself, The Son of
God, given to us at the first Christmas it is easy for
us to respond generously as we celebrate His
birthday.
2014 Calendars: The 2014 Calendars are in the
vestibules of our Churches.
A very special thank you to C. J. Lucas Funeral
Home, Mount Carmel for sponsoring the 2014
Calendars for SS. Peter & Paul Church, Mount
Carmel, and to Joseph J. Stutz Funeral Home, Inc
for sponsoring the 2014 calendars for Assumption
B.V.M., Centralia.
May God Bless You!
Religion Classes: Religion classes at SS. Peter &
Paul Church have resumed. Classes are held
Monday evenings from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM. All
children from pre-school age to 8th grade are
encouraged to attend. Children receiving the
Sacrament of Penance/Holy Communion in
Calendar Year 2013-2014 must attend these
classes. Registration forms are available. Please
bring along a copy of your child’s (children’s)
baptismal certificate if they have not been baptized
in either Mt. Carmel or Centralia. Instructors will
be available to register your child, and answer any
questions you may have. Children receiving
Penance and First Solemn Eucharist must be
ACTIVE members of our parishes and complete 2
years of instruction. It is expected that all children
of our parishes, along with any other interested
children from the area, will faithfully attend these
very important classes to learn more about Jesus
Christ and our faith-tradition.
If you have any questions please contact Christine
Bogner at 570 -847-4385.
Fund Raising Donations Request from Church
Office: Please! When you are donating to the
new Fund Raising (Replenishing) Donation Fund,
the $250.00 fundraising donation request, please
enclose your donation in a plain white envelope,
mark it Fund Raising Donation. Also please
include your name and amount you are donating to
the fund. The green envelope which is in your
envelope box is the Church Renovation envelope
and is a separate fund raising project. Thank you
for your cooperation.
Advent Season: During the time of “Christmas
Fast” the Psalm of Typica/Beatitudes found on
page 6 and page 10 respectively of the white
Divine Liturgy booklet will be responded instead
of the Regular Sunday or Weekday Antiphons.
This will last until the Sunday before Christmas.
Ss. Peter & Paul/Assumption B.V.M. Churches
Collecting Food Donations: Ss. Peter &
Paul/Assumption B.V.M. Churches are continuing
to collect food items to be donated to the Mount
Carmel Area Food Bank. With the holidays fast
approaching please continue to donate to the less
fortunate in our community. Thank You!
29th Sunday after Pentecost
Troparion:
When the disciples of the Lord learned from the
angel the glorious news of the resurrection and cast
off the ancestral condemnation, they proudly told
the apostles: “Death has been plundered! Christ
our God is risen, granting to the world great
mercy.”
Kontakion:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Spirit:
My Savior and Deliverer from the grave as God
has raised out of bondage the children of earth and
shattered the gates of Hades; and as Master, He
rose on the third day.
Theotokion: Now and ever and forever: Amen.
By your birth, O Immaculate One, Joachim and
Anna were freed from the reproach of
childlessness, and Adam and Eve from the
corruption of death. And your people, redeemed
from the guilt of their sins, celebrate as they cry
out to you: “The barren one gives birth to the
Mother of God and nourisher of our Life.”
Prokimenon:
How great are Your works, O Lord; You have
made all things in wisdom.
V. Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God,
You are exceedingly great.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Poise yourself and advance in triumph and reign in
the cause of truth, and meekness, and justice.
V. You have loved justice and hated iniquity.
Alleluia (3x)
Communion Hymn:
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in
the highest Alleluia! (3x)
Epistle: Col 3:12-16; Gal. 4:22-31
Gospel: Lk 17:12-19; Lk 8:16-21
Thoughts to Ponder…………………….
Happiness is enhanced by others but does not
depend upon others.
Do what you can, for who you can, with what you
have, and where you are.
A Prayer for Renewal
Almighty Lord, we bow our heads in prayer
And beseech You to rebuild our House of God.
The psalmist reminds us,
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Dear Lord, rebuild this house and guide the hands
of the architects, the contractors, the laborers;
May they perfect the imperfections, as they
recreate and renew this church, our Heaven on
earth, where we gather to lay aside all cares of life.
Almighty Lord, we are also reminded that we too
are temples, living temples of the Holy Spirit.
During this time of re-creation and renewal
May our imperfections also be perfected.
May the gifts of the Holy Spirit renew in each of
us our faith and our love of God and each other.
May we spiritually become the children of God we
are called to be Christian faithful who are forgiving
and caring, and welcoming. And may our patrons,
Saints Peter and Paul, always inspire us through
their courage and example to faithfully hear the
Word of God and live it.
2014 Church Envelopes: 2014 Church
Envelopes are in the vestibules of our parishes.
Every married couple or single person 18 years or
over is to be registered and receive envelopes. To
be considered a member of our parishes, SS. Peter
& Paul or Assumption B.V.M. Churches, regular
attendance and use of church envelopes is required.
If you are ill and/or aged let Father Michael know.
The neglect of regular church attendance and
regular use of church envelopes can lead to
difficulties at the time of baptisms, weddings,
funerals, etc. If you have used your 2013 envelopes
faithfully, no action is needed. If you did not
receive church envelopes for 2014 and would like
to receive offering envelopes, please call the
church office at 339-0650 during regular office
hours.
Holiday Cookie Sale: The Holidays are a busy
time for all of us. Why not save some time and let
us do the baking for you? This year we’re taking
orders for cookie trays. Orders are due by
December 15, 2013 and may be picked up on
December 21, 2013. Cookie trays include an
assortment of different types of cookies and are
$13.00 a tray. To place an order call Amy Lapointe
570-205-9923 or Abbie Timmins at 570-339-3375,
or the church office at 570-339-0650. All proceeds
benefit the parish.
Choir Rehearsal: With the Christmas Season fast
approaching we will soon be starting choir practice
for the upcoming Christmas Season. We would
like to have as many people as possible join our
choir so we will be able to make our Christmas
Season a festive and joyous one. Please mark your
calendars.
Choir rehearsal will be held on:
Monday, December 9, 2013 at 7:00 PM
at SS. Peter & Paul Church.
Anyone interested in joining our choir please call
Ed Cuff at 339-3660. Please come and share your
God given gift of talent. All are welcome.
Annual Christmas Pageant and St. Nicholas
Party: All members of our parish are cordially
invited to attend and participate in our Annual
Christmas Pageant and St. Nicholas Party which
will be held on Sunday, December 15, 2013.
Festivities will begin at 4:00 PM with the
Christmas Pageant which includes our parish
children and adult choir. At 5:00 PM a hot buffet
meal will be served in the social hall for all
present. During dinner we will have a very special
visit from St. Nicholas who will distribute gifts to
all our children. We hope you will plan to join us
as we begin our Christmas celebrations. For more
information please call the rectory office during
normal business hours.
Closing of Books for Calendar Year 2013: The
closing of the Church Books will be on Sunday,
January 12, 2014. Any donations received after
that date will be credited to calendar year 2014. In
the beginning of the year 2014, anyone wanting a
print out of their 2013 donations may contact the
church office at 339-0650 during normal office
hours, and one will be sent to you.
Ss. Peter & Paul Christmas Tree: This year, we
are planning to decorate a Christmas Tree to honor
all of our parish families. Any family wishing to
participate is asked to bring in an ornament to
decorate our family tree. The tree will be set up in
the vestibule with lights only. Bring in your
ornament and place it on the tree. After the
holidays are over, feel free to take your ornament
home or leave it for next year.
Altar Rosary Society Preparing Traditional
Christmas Dinner:
The Altar Rosary Society will be preparing the
Traditional Christmas Dinner for our parishioners
who are homebound. The dinners will be prepared
and delivered on December 22, 2013. The Holy
Name Society will be delivering the dinners late
morning.
Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance:
Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance is
available before each Divine Liturgy on
Saturday, 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM and on Sunday
in SS. Peter & Paul Church, 8:15 AM to 9:15
AM, and at Assumption B.V.M. Church on
Sunday at 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM in the
confessionals.
Prayer Intention Line: SS. Peter & Paul Parish
has established a Prayer Intention Line sponsored
by the Altar Rosary Society. On the top page of the
bulletin you will see several numbers, you are free
to call to request prayers for you or a loved one.
Your intention will be remembered in prayer by
the members of the Altar Rosary Society and also
written in a special book which will be placed in
the vestibule of the church so that all members of
our parish can remember your prayer needs. You
can request to remain anonymous if you like. It is
my hope we can all pray for each other in time of
need and be lifted-up through the prayers of our
parish.
Daily Liturgy: Come to Me, all you who labor and
are heavy laden and I will give you rest! Take my
yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle
and humble of heart, and you will find rest of your
souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden light.
“Mt. 11, 28-29”. All are invited to be refreshed by
the Lord on a daily basis by attending Divine
Liturgy and receiving the Holy Eucharist! What a
beautiful way to start the day! Your participation
on a daily basis allows Jesus to refresh and renew
your life as only he can.
DECEMBER 9
The Feast of the Conception of St. Anne
The feast of the “Conception of St Anne, when she conceived Mary, the Mother of God” is not a so-called “Holy Day of Obligation.” It
technically never has been—except that the Roman Catholic Church in the United States designated the feast they know as the
“Immaculate Conception” as the patronal feast of the country. In most other places—except for Ireland and The Philippines—even the
Latin Church does not consider it a “holy day of precept.”
A feast called the Conception of Mary arose in the Eastern Church in the seventh century (prior to the Great Schism of 1054). It spread
to the West in the eighth century. In the eleventh century it received the name Immaculate Conception in the West. In the eighteenth
century it became a feast of the Roman Catholic Church—the only Marian feast that came to the Western Church not by way of Rome,
but from the Byzantine area to Naples; thence to Normandy during their period of dominance over southern Italy. From there it spread
into England, France, Germany, and eventually, Rome.
Prior to Pope Pius IX’s definition of the Immaculate Conception as Church dogma, missals referred to it as the Feast of the Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The festal texts of this period focused more upon the action of her conception rather than a theological
question of her preservation from original sin. A missal published in England in 1806 indicates the same set of prayers for the feast of
the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was used for this feast as well.
In 1854, Pius IX gave the statement Ineffabilis Deus: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a
singular grace and privilege granted by almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved
free from all stain of original sin.”
Eastern liturgical texts do not express the later-defined Roman Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception. They do note December
9 as the Feast of the Conception by St. Anne of the Most Holy Theotokos. They stress that Mary was, from her conception, filled with
every grace of the Holy Spirit, in view of her calling as the Mother of God; they do not explicitly say she was conceived without
original sin as the understanding of this doctrine differs from the Roman Catholic articulation. All prayers affirm that Mary is “allholy” and in eloquently poetic terms call her “completely sinless”.
The Eastern feast is not exactly nine months before the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8) as it is in the West, but a
day later. This feast is not ranked among the Great Feasts of the church year, but is a lesser-ranking feast (Polyeleos).
Historically it appears that belief in Mary’s immunity from sin in her conception was prevalent among the Fathers, especially those of
the Greek Church. The rhetorical character, however, of many of the passages prevents laying too much stress on them, and
interpreting them in a strictly literal sense. However, the Greek Fathers never formally or explicitly discussed the question of the
Immaculate Conception, about which an implicit reference may be found in the angel’s greeting to Mary. The angel Gabriel said,
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). The phrase “full of grace” is a translation of the Greek word kecharitomene. It
therefore expresses a characteristic quality of Mary.
The U. S. Ukrainian Catholic hierarchy issued the following letter dated November 30, 2006:
To the Clergy, Sisters, and the Faithful of the Metropolitan Province of Philadelphia for Ukrainians:
As long as anyone can remember, we have celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the United States on December 8th as
a Holy Day of Obligation. This was done so we may be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the Latin Church as this title of the
Mother of God is the patron of our great country. In accordance with the decree (1.4) of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian
Catholic Church during the Synod of 1997 (September 14th-20th), the holy days of obligation were promulgated and the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception was not included as a day of obligation.
As the feast of the Conception of St. Anne is celebrated on December 9th in all of the Eastern Churches (Gregorian Calendar) and
specifically in the Ukrainian Church, we, the undersigned, promulgate that the Feast of the Conception of St. Anne is to be celebrated
on December 9th in the United States of America. This will enable our Church sui iuris to be of one accord in its celebration of the
Liturgical life of our Church. This is to take effect immediately. Given on the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30) 2006.
+Stefan Soroka +Robert M. Moskal +Richard S. Seminack +Paul Chomnycky, O.S.B.M.
METROPOLITAN ARCHEPARCHY OF PHILADELPHIA
Ukrainian Catholic
827 North Franklin Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19123-2097
Phone (215) 627-0143 Fax (215) 627-0377
ukrmet@catholic.org
No. 785/2013 O
This Number Should be Prefixed to Your Reply
Office of the
Metropolitan
November 25, 2013
My Brother Clergy, Reverend Sisters and Faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of
Philadelphia,
Слава Ісусу Христу!
Recently, all Catholic bishops in the world received a lengthy and detailed questionnaire in
preparation for an Extraordinary Synod on Pastoral Challenges for the Family. Each bishop is asked
to submit a response before the end of this year on a number of questions. I ask your thoughtful
contribution to the areas of interest for that Synod. Your opinions and suggestions are valued and are
needed in assisting me to prepare the responses to this questionnaire.
Eleven pages of material are presented. It can be a difficult challenge to digest and respond in
the short period of time being offered to all of us. I have elected to offer the full questionnaire on our
archieparchial website for you to read (www.ukrarcheparchy.us) You may wish to respond to all or
any part of the questionnaire. To assist in bringing together the material, I ask that you specify which
specific question you are responding to.
I am also offering the following brief outline or summary of some of the major points being
presented in the document to be considered. You may wish to respond or comment on all or any of
the following. Please specify which question you are addressing.
Please respond by December 13, 2013, allowing me sufficient time to consider all the
responses and prepare my response. My heartfelt and prayerful gratitude is offered to all who are
able to assist me in this endeavor. God bless you!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Stefan Soroka
Metropolitan-Archbishop of
Philadelphia for Ukrainians
METROPOLITAN STEFAN’S SUMMARY QUESTIONNAIRE
1) Sacred Understanding and Church Teaching on the Family
Your perception of the clergy’s and faithful’s knowledge and understanding of Family as
revealed through Sacred Scripture and Church Teaching. Is it known? Is it practical?
2) Marriage According to the Natural Law
Is the understanding of natural law in the union between a man and a woman commonly
accepted by all of us? What may be some pastoral challenges for us?
3) The Pastoral Care of the Family in Evangelization
Is marriage preparation being offered effectively? What have we learned from our experience
in enhancing family spirituality? How do we help couples in crisis?
4) Pastoral Care in Certain Different Marital Situations
Is living together a reality amidst our faithful? How do we relate and minister to divorced and
remarried people? Do some feel marginalized or suffer from not being able to receive the
sacraments?
5) On Unions of Persons of the Same Sex
What is our attitude to societal recognition of civil unions and marriages between persons of
the same sex? What pastoral attention ought we to give?
6) The Education of Children in Irregular Marriages
What do parents in these situations ask? Do they express interest in catechesis? How do we
minister to these parents and children?
7) The Openness of the Married Couple to Life
Are faithful aware of the Teachings of the Church on responsible parenthood? What insight
can you offer? Are there moral teachings not accepted or which pose difficulty for a couple?
How can we foster a more open attitude to having children?
8) The Relationship between the Family and the Person
How can the family be a privileged place for a person to encounter Jesus Christ?
9) Other Challenges and Proposals
Are there other challenges or proposals which you consider urgent and useful to consider?
Thank you.
Christmas - 2013
Christmas – New Year Schedule – 2013 - 2014
My Dear Parishioners and Friends,
During the Christmas Season, all of us will be receiving a second DVD from our beloved
Archbishop Stefan entitled “Come home for Christmas.” What a fitting title and theme
for us to ponder as we prepare to celebrate the most wondrous time of the year, the
Birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Indeed, our culture is filled with songs and references to coming home for Christmas.
We love to sing the beautiful carol, “I’ll be home for Christmas”, or the song “Oh,
there’s no place like home for the holidays”. It seems our every thought, every dream,
and every plan is to join family and friends “at home”. Home is a place of love, warmth,
peace, joy and safety for all of us. To be home is to be surrounded with those whom we
love and who love us.
This Christmas, I join Archbishop Stefan in extending an invitation to all of you, along
with your family and friends, to come home to our parish church. Our parish is our
spiritual home. Our parish provides a place where we can experience the same love
and peace as we do in our own homes. Even more, our parish provides the unique
opportunity to gather with our brothers and sisters in Christ, in the presence of our
loving Father to share in HIS LOVE and HIS MERCY.
Our church, our spiritual home will be ready to welcome the coming of GOD WITH US
this Christmas. Please join us in celebrating the Birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. Please, join us around the manger this year. Please, Come Home for Christmas!
Wishing you and your family a very Blessed and Joy-filled Christmas, I am
Fr. Michael Hutsko
SS. Peter & Paul/Assumption Churches
Tuesday, December 24th – Christmas Eve
8:00 AM - Divine Liturgy – Mount Carmel
4:00 PM - Great Compline – Centralia
5:00 PM – Christmas Liturgy - Centralia
7:30 PM – Great Compline followed by Traditional Caroling – Mount Carmel
8:00 PM – Christmas Liturgy – Mount Carmel
Wednesday, December 25th – Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord
8:00 AM - Christmas Divine Liturgy – Mount Carmel
10:00 AM - Christmas Divine Liturgy – Centralia
Thursday, December 26th – Feast of the Mother of God
9:00 AM – Divine Liturgy – Centralia
6:00 PM - Divine Liturgy – Mount Carmel
Friday, December 27th – Feast of St. Stephen
9:00 AM - Divine Liturgy - Centralia
6:00 PM - Divine Liturgy – Mount Carmel
Saturday, December 28th – Saturday after Christmas
4:00 PM – Divine Liturgy – Mount Carmel
Sunday, December 29th - Sunday after Christmas – David, Joseph and James
9:15 AM – Divine Liturgy – Mount Carmel
11:00 AM – Divine Liturgy - Centralia
Monday, December 30th –
8:00 AM Divine Liturgy – Centralia
Tuesday, December 31st - New Years Eve
Feast of St. Basil the Great/ Circumcision of our Lord
4:00 PM – Divine Liturgy – Mount Carmel
Tuesday, January 1st 2014 – New Years Day
Feast of St. Basil the Great/Circumcision of our Lord
9:00 AM – Divine Liturgy - Centralia