St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church
FR. ANTON’S WEEKLY WORDS OF WISDOM:
Fall is truly here now; the temperatures are cooler and more seasonal. There is the
scent of autumn in the air and I can hear the leaves rustling in the breeze. As I walk I
can hear the leaves crunch beneath my feat. In this beauty all I can think is: “How
awesome is our world. “ How generous a God we worship who gifts us with all this
beauty just because we are loved. The election is over and governing will resume
regardless of whether we like it or not. Called to be stewards of our planet we need
to be more active when it comes to our environment and the health of our world. Gifted indeed
we are with God’s creation but we are stewards of the earth and we are its caretakers. How
many of us make an honest attempt to conserve energy? How many of us gladly participate in
the recycling programs in our community? How conscious are we, and how conscious do we
make our children about the importance of being environmentally active? What kind of world
will we leave for future generations? Our faith calls us to be active, not passive in all areas of
our lives, and challenges us to care for the needy and the oppressed. Indeed our planet is in need,
and it is oppressed by so many. For the sake of the dollar we pollute our air and our lakes. For
the sake of the dollar we rape our forests. For the sake of the dollar we add every kind of
chemical to our food. For the sake of the dollar we are willing to sacrifice lives so that our
economy will thrive. Jesus in his teachings warns us sternly: “You cannot serve God and money.
You will either love one and hate the other, or despise one and serve the other.” What is Jesus
trying to tell us? I think that he is trying to help us realize that money is here to serve us and we
are not here to serve it. I think he is trying to tell us that the more we are caught up in
materialism and destroying our world; the farther we feel from God. God is so close to us when
we are able to be quiet. When we can experience stillness God is able to speak. I think as we
slowly begin to prepare for the Advent Season, this is a good time to ask ourselves many of the
questions posed above. Now is a good time to ask ourselves: “How would Jesus teach us in
these troubled economic times? What would he have to say about our materialism, and how
would he teach us to care for our world? Too often we complicate our faith buy different ideals
and theologies, yet I think that the message of Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
His message is about balancing the human and divine. We must embrace our humanity in order
to experience the divine. We must embrace the divine in order to truly appreciate our humanity.
We must embrace our planet in order to understand the miracle of creation. In coming to this
understanding we can then truly appreciate life in balance with our world. We can come to
respect and appreciate the world in which we live and become better custodians of creation. We
can become “co-creators” with the creator. We can start now, and leave a better place for future
generations.
Let us pray: Creator, God, forgive us for the way in with we have ravaged our world.
Forgive us for our indifference to the beauty you gift to us. May we become better
stewards of your creation that we may one day enjoy paradise with you. Amen
91 Lakeshore Road, St. Catharines, Ontario. L2N 2T6
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St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church
TODAY’S LITURGY:
October 19th, 2008
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
EPISTLE: Eph. 2: 4-10
GOSPEL:
Lk. 8: 26-39
Readers:
Today:
V. Vlasikov (Ukr.)
Next Sunday:
E. Pelletier (Eng.)
SERVICE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
MONDAY:
NO MASS
TUESDAY:
NO MASS
WEDNESDAY:
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy Jean Laba
req. Anne Yachuk
THURSDAY:
10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Mrs. Justyna Chodoriwsky
req. Joe & Yolande Kozela
FRIDAY:
SATURDAY:
SUNDAY:
NO MASS
4:15 p.m. Divine Liturgy
10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE NO
LONGER ABLE TO JOIN US FOR DIVINE SERVICES: Wasyl Dacko (Mississauga),
Anne Pidwinski (Stoney Creek) Alexandra Matychuk, Roman Sloik (Henley House),
Becky Mussat, Nick Kozachenko, Fr. Basil, John Lewicki, Fran Chayka, Evelyn Gandza,
Tanya Makaruk, Olga Smook, Lesia Melnyk, Dmetro Buzanko , Bill Hominchuk, Barb
&. Terry Hrankowski, Michael & Anne Nazar.
Lord, Jesus Christ, You who traveled throughout Galilee healing the sick, enabling the
blind to see and the lame to walk, bring healing to your people who need it this day. Grant relief
to the ones who suffer pain and physical torment. Give peace to those whose minds are tortured
by mental illness and anxiety. Comfort those who are alone in their suffering; may your people
reach out to them and to all the needy this day. Send your grace to the caregivers that they
might be gentle and effective agents of your loving mercy. May our suffering be joined with
yours to bring healing throughout the world? Amen
91 Lakeshore Road, St. Catharines, Ontario. L2N 2T6
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St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church
OUR PARISH EVENTS CALENDAR
October 25th
MONTE CARLO NITE
November 14th & 15th
CRAFT SHOW
November 23rd
CHRISTMAS TEA
November 29th
SNOWFLAKE DANCE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 Parish Council Meeting: Mon. Oct. 20th at 7p.m.
 Choir Practice: Tuesday on Oct. 21st at 7 p.m.
 Donations of new items for the Monte Carlo Nite are needed. Please bring items
into the parish office during the week and income tax receipts will be issued for the
value of the item.
 Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Fundraiser will begin in a few weeks. Last
year 661,530 gift filled boxes from Canada were sent to Latin America, South America
and Africa. This is a wonderful way to bring joy and hope to less fortunate children.
Please check future bulletins for further information.
 NEW--- St. John’s Kitchen now has gift certificates available. What a
great Christmas gift idea!
91 Lakeshore Road, St. Catharines, Ontario. L2N 2T6
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St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church
COMMUNITY NEWS:
Svitanok Ukrainian Women’s Choir will be celebrating their
Silver Anniversary on Saturday October 25th at the Ukrainian Culture Centre
239 Kenilworth Ave North, Hamilton. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. with a performance
begins at 6:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. with a dance featuring “Karpaty” to follow.
Tickets are $40.00 for adults, $20.00 for students and children at $10.00.
Please call 905-547-2581 for tickets.
Order of Consecration of the Exaltation of the
Holy Cross Parish will take place on Sunday
October 26th at 10:30 a.m. at 19 Parkside Dr. Barrie.
His Excellency Bishop Stephen will conduct the service.
All are invited to participate.
Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the
Holodomor-Genocied of Ukraine 1932-33.
The Ecumenical Memorial Service and program will take place on
Sunday November 9th at 2:30 p.m. at the Ukrainian Black Sea Hall.
All parishioners are urged to attend and participate.
A bus trip to visit the Mysteries of the Ancient Ukraine
The Remarkable Trypillian Culture exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum
is scheduled for Nov. 30th with the UCSS. If you are interested in viewing this exhibit,
please call 905- 934-5751 to reserve your spot. Bus transportation is free, you will only
be responsible for the cost of admission to the museum and food.
MASQUERADE & MONTE CARLO NITE
SATURDAY OCTOBER 25TH
COCKTAILS 5:00 P.M.
DINNER 6:00 P.M.
TICKETS ARE $20.00 IN ADVANCE $25.00 AT THE DOOR
INCLUDES DINNER AND PLAYMONEY
PRIZE FOR BEST COSTUME
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!!!
91 Lakeshore Road, St. Catharines, Ontario. L2N 2T6
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St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church
THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE
Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times
when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I’m going to celebrate!
Today, I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments,
the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.
I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart.
I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees,
the flowers, and the birds. Today none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.
Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I’ll make someone smile. I’ll go
out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don’t even know.
Today, I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I’ll tell a child how special he
is, and I’ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.
Today, it the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for all the
wonderful things God has already given men. I’ll remember that to worry is just a waste of time
because my faith is in God and His Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.
And tonight, before I go to bed, I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in
awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent
treasures.
As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day
of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I
know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!
DON’T FORGET TO DROP OFF YOUR OLD NEWSPAPERS,
MAGAZINES, JUNK MAIL, SCHOOL PAPERS ETC. INTO
OUR GREEN BIN IN THE PARKING LOT.
NOT ONLY ARE WE HELPING THE ENVIORNMENT BY RECYCLING,
BUT WE ALSO ARE RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR PARISH.
91 Lakeshore Road, St. Catharines, Ontario. L2N 2T6
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