diocesan clergy meet at camp nazareth - acrod.org 2010/cm - 4... · hierotheos vlachos writes in...
TRANSCRIPT
Volume LXVI (USPS 099–120) ISSN: 0734–0036 Portage, Penna. April 25, 2010 Number 4
MERCER, PENNSYLVANIA – A DiocesanClergy Convocation was held at Camp Nazareth inMercer, Pennsylvania during Bright Week—April7 to April 9. Some 40 clergy from all parts of theDiocese came to the Conference, which was con-vened by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas toexplore the theme: “Finding the Priesthood in theBrightness of the Empty Tomb.”
Wednesday Evening Session
After a warm welcome extended to the clergy byFather Stephen Loposky, Camp Administra-
tor, the Convocation began with a presentation bythe Diocesan Pension Board. The session waschaired by Protopresbyter Ronald Hazuda, Direc-tor of the Priests Pension Plan. Discussions cen-tered on proposals to strengthen the fund that willbe offered at the upcoming reconvened DiocesanSobor in June.
Bright Thursday Liturgy
On Thursday morning, A Hierarchical DivineLiturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan
Nicholas in the Camp’s Saints Cyril and MethodiosChurch. He was assisted by His Grace, BishopDaniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of theUSA. The highlight of the Liturgy was the ordina-tion to the Diaconate of Sub-deacon John Ander-son, a vocation of St. John the Baptist Church inSharon, Pennsylvania. At the conclusion of the Di-vine Liturgy, the Hierarchs and clergy processedaround the exterior of the church, pausing to readthe Paschal Gospels at each corner of the edifice.
Afternoon Presentations
Following brunch in the Main Lodge of CampNazareth, the clergy listened to an inspiring
presentation by Bishop Daniel, who spoke on thetopic, “Humility and Leadership.” He pointed outthat humility is a sign of strength rather than an in-dication of weakness, and that only a humble priestcan effectively lead his flock along the path of sac-rifice established by our Lord for us to follow. Aftera brief break, Protopresbyter Michael Rosco, Chair-man of the newly-formed Diocesan Missions andEvangelization Commission, updated the clergy onthe work of this new Diocesan Apostolate. Hespoke of a clearly defined “time line” that will befollowed by those hoping to form mission
churches, offering possible ways the Diocese maymore actively support such endeavors. Pastors ofseveral mission parishes were asked to speak brieflyon recent developments in their particular com-munities. The afternoon concluded with a discus-sion led by Protopresbyter James Dutko on“Orthodox-Catholic Relations.” Father Dutko hasrepresented our Diocese for years on the Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue.
Evening Activities
The clergy were treated to a delightful and deli-cious Paschal Dinner, prepared and served by
the Camp Nazareth Staff. After the meal, Proto-presbyter Frank P Miloro, Diocesan Chancellor,spoke to the clergy on the revised DDD GivingProgram that is set to go into effect. A final pres-entation was offered by Father Frederick Watson,Chairman of the newly-formed Diocesan Steward-ship Commission. Father Watson explained a threeyear plan developed by the Commission that willeffectively teach and educate our faithful about thenecessity of implementing a stewardship programthroughout the Diocese, focusing on giving will-ingly from the heart rather than from a sense of ob-ligation.
Convocation Conclusion
The Clergy Convocation was brought to a closeon Friday morning. Resurrection Matins was
celebrated in the Saints Cyril and MethodiosChurch, followed by a concluding breakfast in theMain Lodge. Metropolitan Nicholas expressed hisappreciation to Father and Pani Loposky for theirhospitality, and urged the clergy to be in attendanceat the reconvened Sobor in Johnstown in June sothat further discussions on the new Diocesan Apos-tolates can continue in a fruitful manner.
Diocesan Clergy Meet at Camp Nazareth
His Grace, Bishop Daniel, reads a Paschal Gospel during the pro-cession at the conclusion of the Bright Thursday Divine Liturgy.
Page 2 THE CHURCH MESSENGER April 25, 2010
Published by the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the U.S.A. 312 Garfield Street, Johnstown, Penna. 15906
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople His Eminence, Metropolitan NICHOLAS
Issued Monthly Periodicals Postage Paid at Johnstown, PA.
Yearly Subscription: $20.00 ($30.00 Canada)EDITOR–Very Rev. Protopresbyter Michael S. Rosco 145 Broad Street, Perth Amboy, New Jersey 08861 e-mail: [email protected] fax: 732.826.5383
EDITORIAL STAFF
Assistant to the Editor–Very Rev. Protopresbyter Mark Leasure e-mail: [email protected]
Associate Editor–Very Rev. Protopresbyter Lawrence R. Barriger e-mail: [email protected]
Chancery Editor–Very Rev. Protopresbyter Frank P. Miloro e-mail: [email protected]
Circulation Manager–Pani Betty Jean Baranik e-mail: [email protected]
Diocesan News Editor–Very Rev. Protopresbyter Luke Mihaly e-mail: [email protected]
Change of Address:POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to The Church Messenger, Pani Betty Jean Baranik
([email protected]) 814-539-9143 312 Garfield Street, Johnstown, Penna. 15906
Please allow two or three weeks for changes of address.(USPS 099-120) ISSN: 0734-0036 Diocesan Web Site: www.acrod.org
Learning a Real-Life Lesson from a Legend
Asure sign of growing old is turn-ing to the obituaries as soon as
you start reading the morning news-paper! In late March, I not only feltold, but I sensed that one of the lastremnants of my youth was taken awayfrom me when I read of the death ofDavy Crockett. Well…not the realDavy Crockett—our history bookstell us he lost his life at the Alamoback in 1836 helping the Texans wintheir independence from Mexico. No,the “Davy Crockett” to which I’m re-ferring was Fess Parker, the actor whoplayed the “King of the Wild Fron-tier” in three television episodes di-rected by the late Walt Disney in1954-1955. It was the role of a life-time for Mr. Parker, and for the restof his life of 84 years, he would be as-sociated with that legendary Ameri-can Folk Hero who, as every little boywho grew up during the “DavyCrockett Craze” could tell you, was“born on a mountaintop in Ten-nessee” and who allegedly “killed hima b’ar when he was only three!” And
what a “craze” it was! The popularityof Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Star Warsand even Hannah Montana pale incomparison to the legion of fans thatwere part of the phenomenon createdby Mr. Parker’s portrayal of Crockett.Indeed, everyone in my neighbor-hood could sing from memory “TheBallad of Davy Crockett” which wasthe number one song on the hit pa-rade for 13 weeks. I am not embar-rassed in the least to admit that I stillcan! And who among us “babyboomers” didn’t walk around in acoonskin cap—some 10 million weresold in a little over a year—as we wentto school clutching our Davy Crock-ett lunch box and toting a replica of“Old Betsy,” Davy’s trusty rifle?
It wasn’t until later in life that I fullyunderstood that there was much moreto this colorful frontiersman than ini-tially met the eye. He was a true pub-lic servant, involved in local politicsbefore being elected to the UnitedStates Congress, where he served in
God as Community
Sometimes the hardest thing to seeis how we influence other people.
The Greek word “koinonia”, meaningsharing, fellowship, community isused to describe the Church. In factit is no accident that whether we wishto admit it or not, our thoughts, ac-tions, and behaviors have an affect onthose around us, those far from us,and the entire cosmos. Our freedomstoday give us ample opportunity tocome closer to God, but also an equalopportunity to pull away from thisunity of God (Trinity) and His pre-scribed community. St. Paul wrote tothe Ephesians “….walk worthy of thecalling with which you were called,with all lowliness and gentleness, withlongsuffering, bearing with one anotherin love.” This bearing one another inlove happens in community.
The other day at dinner my youngestdaughter announced that she did nothave to listen to me because I was nother boss. I clearly stated that sheneeded to listen to me and do what Ihad asked. She then stated “You arenot my boss, today”. To which Istated in a calm voice, “I will alwaysbe your boss.” Although my responsewas blunt, my message was more oftrying to say “No matter when, I willalways love you and attempt to guideyou in the right direction.” ThankGod I am not tempted with thesechallenges too often in our familycommunity. My wife certainly does amuch better job at being patient withthe kids than me, yet it is in commu-nity where we struggle and grow.
This interaction with my daughter ledme to think about a Christian com-mentator who had asked the questionof his listeners if God was “a perfectparent”. All of the participants agreedthat indeed God was a perfect parent.He then asked why Christians com-mit terrible acts. Did God get some-thing wrong in how He parents Hischildren? No, God did not get itwrong. It is that God invites us to beperfect as He is perfect and He invitesus through community. Sometimeswe think our salvation is just that: our“individual” salvation. St. Paul againwriting to the Ephesians 4:4-6 tells us,“There is one body and one Spirit,
just as you were called in one hope ofyour calling; one Lord, one faith, onebaptism; one God and Father of all,who is above all, and through all, andin you all.”
John Zizioulas writes in CommonGround by Gordon Bajis “….theHoly Spirit is the bond of love andwherever he ‘blows’ he does not creategood individual Christians but personsin communion with God and with oneanother, i.e., he creates a community.”Our confessions, fasting and prayersare meant to strengthen the bonds ofcommunity. Our struggles to comecloser to God and to imitate the per-fect relationship which God haswithin the Trinity, is our purpose withour fellow man. We remember Godbeing perfect has no need of ourpraise, our worship, to hear our con-fessions. He gains nothing by ourfasting or our prayers. “Jesus Christ isthe same yesterday, today, and for-ever.” Heb. 13:8.
God is eternally the same, withoutchange without want, without need.On the same note God is not harmedby our misdeeds. Hierotheos Vlachoswrites in his book, The Mind of theOrthodox Church, “In any case, ac-cording to the holy Fathers no one canharm God. St. John Chrysostom pointsout: ‘No one will be able either to in-jure God with insults or make Himshine more brightly by praise, but Healways remains in His appropriate glory,neither increased by praise nor decreasedby blasphemy’.” God is not changed byour actions, but we can certainly par-ticipate in His love by imitating Hisgiving to His community. Our fast-ing, prayers, almsgiving strengthenthe fabric of the community as JesusChrist has shown us.
Does it not astound us and humble us
that God who is eternally perfect and
has need of nothing, in His infinite
love, seeks out His creation to love,
nurture, and cure of the fall, to offer
us eternal love and salvation. “….forYou are God, ineffable, inconceivable,invisible, incomprehensible, ever exist-ing yet ever the same. You brought us outof non-existence into being and, whenwe had fallen, You raised us up again,
-cont’d on page 12-cont’d on page 3
April 25, 2010 THE CHURCH MESSENGER Page 3
April 18 Ambridge, PA
St. John Church
25th anniversary of diaconal ordination of
Protodeacon John S. Youhas
April 25 Price, Utah
Dormition Greek Orthodox Church
50th anniversary of priestly ordination of
Archimandrite Athanasios Emmert
May 9 Cheektowaga, NY
St. Mary’s Church
Blessing of Icons
May 23 Johnstown, PA
Christ the Saviour Cathedral
Pentecost
May 28-30 Potomac, Maryland
Holy Resurrection Church
National ACRY Bowling Tournament
June 6 Mercer, PA
Camp Nazareth
Annual Family Day Celebration
June 14-15 Johnstown, PA
Christ the Saviour Cathedral
Re-convening of Diocesan Council-Sobor XXI
June 27 Homestead, PA
St. Nicholas Church
50th anniversary of priestly ordination of Pro-
topresbyter Paul Herbert, and Golden Wed-
ding Anniversary of Father Paul and Pani
Eleanor Herbert
Schedule of Metropolitan Nicholas
Assignments
FATHER KEVIN L. GREENWOOD, received into the Diocese from theOrthodox Church in America, and assigned as Administrator of HolyCross Mission in Columbus, Ohio, effective April 5.
Ordinations
DEACON JOHN ANDERSON, ordained to the Diaconate at SS. Cyril andMethodios Church at Camp Nazareth on April 8, and attached to St.John the Baptist Church in Sharon, PA.
OfficialNotice
the House of Representatives. In today’s political arena, commentators wouldhave loved him, for he was very “quotable”—always spouting off his homespunphilosophy of life—a philosophy that expressed some very profound and spir-itual thoughts. He repeatedly said that he lived by this simple motto: “Be sureyou’re right…then go ahead.” In other words, as the writings of St. James in theNew Testament tell us: listen carefully and take your time in reacting in anysituation, but when you do react, do so decisively. When we know we aredoing the right thing, we can never back down and compromise our position.Every Orthodox Christian is called upon by our Lord to live exactly accord-ing to that philosophy! The teachings of Christ and His Church are clear andconcise on all matters. Furthermore, they represent Divine Truth—and truthnever changes. Jesus Himself said that when we choose to follow Him, wemust constantly look forward and leave behind our “old self.” Not only are weasked to serve Him, but, if necessary, to defend Him as well. Christ never wa-vered when preaching the Gospel, and neither can we.
Even after the death of Fess Parker, I imagine the “Legend of Davy Crockett”will live on. More importantly, I pray his famous words live on as well, fortruly the world needs men and women committed to doing what is right. “Besure you’re right…then go ahead.” Pretty timeless advice, I’d say.
Protopresbyter Michael Rosco
Editor
The Church Messenger
Orthodox Parish in FarmvilleOur Diocese is exploring the possibility of establishing a mission parish inFarmville, Virginia. Farmville is located a little over an hour south of Rich-mond, and is the home to Hampden-Sydney and Longwood Colleges. If youknow of any Orthodox families living in that area, kindly pass their namesand addresses on to:
Diocesan Missions Commission
c/o Father Michael Rosco, Chairman
145 Broad Street
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Phone: (732) 826-4442
Email: [email protected]
-Editorial, cont’d from page 2
Page 4 THE CHURCH MESSENGER April 25, 2010
2009 Donors Listed by ParishHomestead, Pennsylvania, St. Nicholas Church .......................................$12,468.47Binghamton, New York, St. Michael’s Church ............................................5,672.00Endicott, New York, St. Mary’s Church ....................................................6,200.00Perth Amboy, New Jersey, St. John the Baptist Church ...............................3,975.00Freeland, Pennsylvania, St. Michael’s Church .............................................3,800.00Scranton, Pennsylvania, St. Nicholas Church .............................................3,000.00Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Holy Ghost Church ..........................................2,907.00East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, St. John the Baptist Church .........................2,300.00Potomac, Maryland, Holy Resurrection Church .........................................2,300.00St. Clair, Pennsylvania, St. Michael’s Church .............................................1,950.00Bridgeport, Connecticut, St. John the Baptist Church ................................1,820.00Rockaway, New Jersey, SS. Peter & Paul Church .........................................1,750.00Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Christ the Saviour Cathedral ..............................1,650.00Niles, Illinois, St. Michael’s Church ...........................................................1,635.00Sharon, Pennsylvania, St. John the Baptist Church .....................................1,600.00Taylor, Pennsylvania, St. George’s Church ...................................................1,570.00Warren, Ohio, St. Nicholas Church .............................................................1,500.00Allentown, Pennsylvania, Protection of the B.V.M. Church ........................1,425.00Windber, Pennsylvania, SS. Peter & Paul Church .......................................1,350.00Ambridge, Pennsylvania, St. John the Baptist Church ................................1,200.00Manville, New Jersey, Holy Ghost Church ................................................1,075.00Rahway, New Jersey, St. John the Baptist Church .......................................1,050.00 Cheektowaga, New York, St. Mary’s Church .................................................950.00Danbury, Connecticut, Holy Trinity Church .................................................985.00Waldorf, Maryland, St. Thomas the Apostle Mission ....................................900.00Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, St. John the Baptist Church ...........................800.00Corning, New York, St. Mary’s Church .........................................................700.00
2009 Donors Listed by Deanery
Pittsburgh Deanery ...........................................................$17,068.47Southern Tier Deanery ......................................................13,522.00Pocono Deanery ................................................................10,270.00New Jersey Deanery ............................................................8,650.00Mid Atlantic Deanery .........................................................6,782.00Johnstown Deanery ...............................................................5,100.00Youngstown Deanery ...........................................................4,850.00Washington Deanery .............................................................3,400.00Chicago Deanery ................................................................3,335.00New England Deanery ........................................................3,205.00New York Deanery ..............................................................1,200.00Tri State Deanery ....................................................................700.00Florida Deanery ....................................................................600.00Canada Deanery ......................................................................00.00
Erie, Pennsylvania, St. Nicholas Church .......................................................700.00Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, St. John the Baptist Church ..................................700.00Wilpen, Pennsylvania, St. John the Baptist Church .......................................700.00New York, New York, St. Nicholas Church ...................................................600.00Homer City, Pennsylvania, SS. Peter & Paul Church .....................................600.00Lansford, Pennsylvania, St. Nicholas Church ..................................................600.00Schererville, Indiana, Descent of the Holy Spirit Church .............................600.00Dickson City, Pennsylvania, St. Mary’s Church .............................................500.00Hawk Run, Pennsylvania, St. John the Baptist Church ................................500.00Levittown, Pennsylvania, SS. Peter & Paul Church .......................................500.00Rockford, Illinois, Christ the Saviour Church ..............................................500.00Yonkers, New York, St. Mary’s Church ........................................................500.00Elizabeth, New Jersey, St. Nicholas Church ...................................................400.00Freehold TWP., New Jersey, St. Paul the Apostle ...........................................400.00Lakeland, Florida, St. Nectarios Orthodox Mission Church ..........................400.00Monongahela, Pennsylvania, St. Nicholas Church ........................................400.00Rankin, Pennsylvania, St. Michael’s Church ..................................................400.00New Castle, Pennsylvania, St. Nicholas Church .............................................350.00Lafayette, Indiana, St. Alexis Orthodox Church .............................................300.00Stratford, Connecticut [Broadbridge]-St. John the Baptist Church ...............300.00Youngstown, Ohio, St. Michael’s Church .......................................................300.00Akron, Ohio, St. Mary’s Church ...................................................................200.00Barton, Ohio, St. Nicholas Church ...............................................................200.00Hobart, Indiana, St. Nicholas Church ..........................................................200.00Manassas, Virginia, Nativity of Our Lord Church ........................................200.00North Royalton, Ohio, Christ the Saviour Church .......................................200.00Central City, Pennsylvania, SS. Peter & Paul Church ...................................100.00Clymer, Pennsylvania, St. Michael’s Church .................................................100.00Crawfordsville, Indiana, Holy Transfiguration Church ..................................100.00Hollywood, Florida, Church of the Presentation of Our Lord .......................100.00Morgantown, West Virginia, Nativity of the B.V.M. Church .........................100.00Seaford, New York, St. Gregory of Nyssa Church ..........................................100.00Spring Hill, Florida, Holy Trinity Church .....................................................100.00Stratford, Connecticut [Silver Lane]-St. John the Baptist Church .................100.00Wood, Pennsylvania, St. Michael’s Church ....................................................100.00Bayonne, New Jersey, St. Mary’s Church ...........................................................00.00Bluefield West, Virginia, Assumption of the B.V.M. Church ..........................00.00 Candler, North Carolina, St. Joseph’s Mission ..................................................00.00Chicago, Illinois, St. George Belarusian Orthodox Church ............................00.00Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, Epiphany of Our Lord Church .............................00.00Jacobs Creek, Pennsylvania, St. Nicholas Church .............................................00.00Jenners, Pennsylvania, St. Mary’s Church ..........................................................00.00Latrobe, Pennsylvania, St. Stephen’s Church ...................................................00.00Mercer, Pennsylvania, SS. Cryil & Methodios-Camp Nazareth ........................00.00McKeesport, Pennsylvania, St. Michael’s Church ...........................................00.00Mount Union, Pennsylvania, SS. Peter & Paul Church ..................................00.00Nepean, Ontario-Canada, Christ the Saviour Church .....................................00.00New York, New York, St. Mary’s Church .........................................................00.00South River, N. J., St. Euphrosynia Belarusian Orthodox Church ..................00.00Toronto,O.Canada, St. Euphrosynia Belarusian Orthodox Church ................00.00Toronto, Ontario, Canada, St. John the Compassionate Mission ...................00.00Toronto, Ontario, Canada, St. Silouan the Athonite Mission ...........................00.00Woodstock, Georgia, St. Elizabeth Orthodox Mission ......................................00.00
JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Diocesan Chancery has released a detailed reportlisting the results of the 2009 Diocesan Appeal for the “Distinguished Dioce-san Donors’ Fund.”
A combined total of 453 persons and organizations participated in the fund-raising program which was originated and formulated some thirty five yearsago by Bishop John R. Martin of thrice-blessed memory. Sixty two DiocesanParishes contributed to this special fund and contributed a grand total of$78,782.47.
The Distinguished Diocesan Donors’ Fund comes under the direct manage-ment of the Diocesan Board of Trustees. Currently, the monies generatedfrom this fund are used for the maintenance and development of CampNazareth in Mercer, PA., and for the maintenance of Saints Cyril and Metho-dios Church which is patterned after the wooden edifices that are still foundtoday in the Carpathian Mountains.
The contributions to the year 2009 are listed in several categories in this issueof The Church Messenger. A comprehensive honor roll lists the names of allDistinguished Diocesan Donors who have contributed $100.00 or more. Aspecial listing of donors highlights the names of those whose donations ex-ceeded the amount of $100.00 with their offering. There is also a compositelisting according to both parishes and deaneries.
2009 D.D.D. Contributions Total $78,782.47
April 25, 2010 THE CHURCH MESSENGER Page 5
Larger ContributionsJOHNSTOWN, PA – Among those listed as Distinguished Diocesan Donors’ are thefollowing individuals and organizations whose donations exceeded the regular contri-butions of $100.00 for the year 2009.
Mr. & Mrs. Edward M. Bereznak, Wyoming, PA .............................................2,000.00(In loving memory of parents, Helen & George Bereznak & George & Ruth Philipp)
Mr. & Mrs. Michael B. Beres, Munhall, PA ........................................................1,000.00St. John the Baptist Church, East Pittsburgh, PA ..............................................1,000.00St. Nicholas Church, Homestead, PA .................................................................1,000.00
(Special Collection with matching funds) St. Nicholas Church, Homestead, PA ................................................................1,000.00
(in memory of Martha Slepak)Metropolitan NICHOLAS, Johnstown, PA ........................................................1,000.00
(In loving memory of Parents, Andrew & Anna Smisko)Cantor/Reader/Choir Director, Andrew S. Talarovich, Jr., Homestead, PA .........602.47St. John the Baptist Church, Bridgeport, CT ......................................................550.00American Carpatho-Russian Citizen’s Club, Endicott, N.Y. ..................................500.00Mr. & Mrs. David Bryant, Ipswich, MA ............................................................500.00Archon & Mrs. John C. Hrapchak, Columbia, MD ..............................................500.00Dr. Michael Krak, Munhall, PA ...........................................................................500.00Mr. & Mrs. J. Richard Mirilovich, Cranberry Twp., PA ........................................500.00Brian & Diane Peachey, Coopersburg, PA ...........................................................500.00Colonel & Mrs. John Pipta, Alexandria, Virginia ..............................................500.00St. Nicholas Church, Scranton, PA ........................................................................500.00St. Nicholas Men’s Club, Homestead, PA ............................................................500.00Miss Susan M. Semancik, Munhall, PA ...............................................................500.00Mrs. Aline Swentko, Hammon, Indiana .............................................................500.00
(In loving memory of my departed Husband, Paul Swentko)Archon & Mrs. Nicholas Yakubik, Cary, North Carolina .....................................500.00Archon & Mrs. Michael Ristvey, Esquire ............................................................400.00Mrs. Eleanor Sanger, Pittsburgh, PA .....................................................................400.00St. Nicholas Church, Homestead, PA ...................................................................341.00
(special projects)St. John’s Sr. R Club, Bridgeport, CT ..................................................................320.00Mr. & Mrs. Richard Adzima, Stratford, CT ........................................................300.00Very Rev. & Pani Robert A. Buczak, Homestead, PA ............................................300.00Archon & Mrs. Robert D. Cosgrove, Monongahela, PA .....................................300.00Holy Ghost Altar Society, Phoenixville, PA ...........................................................300.00Archon & Mrs. Orestes J. Mihaly, Armonk, N. Y. ...............................................300.00Stefan & Jennifer Popescu, Port Tobacco, MD ....................................................300.00Anna Sabo, Dianna (Butler) & Bill Boyes, Whiting, N.J. ...................................300.00Mr. Frank J. Slivka & Family, Emmaus, PA ........................................................300.00St. Nicholas Senior A.C.R.Y., Chapter #11, Homestead, PA ..............................300.00St. Nicholas Mothers & Daughters Guild, West Mifflin, PA .................................300.00William & Kathryn Stocoski, Gouldsboro, PA ....................................................300.00Mr. & Mrs. Paul Toaso, Danbury, CT ...................................................................275.00Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Grimes, Pittsburgh, PA ......................................................250.00Mr. William Hyduchak, Taylor, PA ......................................................................250.00Mary Ann Vojtek, Sstratford, CT ...........................................................................250.00Filip & Vida Bundra, Danbury, CT .....................................................................210.00Rev. & Pani Basil Arden, Roscoe, Illlinois ...........................................................200.00Very Rev. Protopresbyter & Pani Kenneth M. Bachofsky, Warren, Ohio ..............200.00 Very Rev. Protopresbyter & Pani Lawrence R. Barriger, Freeland, PA ...................200.00Mr. & Mrs. John Bilanin, Gilbersville, PA ...........................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Boback, Johnson City, New York ...................................200.00Archon & Mrs. William Boykas, Coopersburg, PA .............................................200.00Very Rev. & Pani John Brancho, Pittsburgh, PA ..................................................200.00Archon & Mrs. Alex Breno, Aston, PA ...............................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Breno, Mt. Airy, MD ...........................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. John Brizinski, Throop, PA ...............................................................200.00 Louise Brudnak, Johnstown, PA ...........................................................................200.00Jeff & Kristi Burke, Culpeper, VA .......................................................................200.00Edward & Marilyn Chuprinko, Trafford, PA ........................................................200.00 Mr. & Mrs. Charles Coons, Painted Post, N.Y. ...................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Delcher, Mahwah, New Jersey .................................................200.00Julianna Dranichak, Endwell, N.Y. .....................................................................200.00
(in memory of Reader Archon George Husar)Very Rev. Protopresbyter & Pani James S. Dutko, Binghamton, N.Y. ..................200.00Mrs. Irene Dzubak, Highland, MD ....................................................................200.00Rev. & Pani Joseph Edgington, McLean, VA ......................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. John Falibota, Youngstown, Ohio ....................................................200.00Very Rev. Protopresbyter & Pani John R. Fedornock, Phoenixville, PA ................200.00Mrs. Irene Foster, West Mifflin, PA .....................................................................200.00
(In loving memory of husband, John)+Mrs. Margaret Furda, Colonia, New Jersey .......................................................200.00David & Michaeleen Gdovin, Vestal, New York .................................................200.00
(Health, mother Maria Holovka, +Father, Michael Holovka, +George & Dorothy Gdovin)Mr. & Mrs. John Gidicsin, New York, New York ................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Roger Goedtel, Georgetown, SC ........................................................200.00Richard & Barbara Gribbon, Hilo, Hawaii ..........................................................200.00Archon & Mrs. Gary Grysiak, Monroeville, PA ...................................................200.00Archon & Mrs. Stephen Hall, Upper Marlboro, MD ...........................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Hannen, Linden, N.J. ........................................................200.00Miss Mary Barbara Hardy, Farrell, PA .................................................................200.00John and Rosemary Hrywnak, Moscow, PA .........................................................200.00Rev. Deacon Robert A. Hubiak, Ridgefield, CT ................................................200.00Very Rev. & Pani Stephen N. Jula, Rocky River, Ohio ........................................200.00Very Rev. & Pani Michael C. Kabel, Clairsville, Ohio .........................................200.00 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Kacaba, Clarks Summit, PA ...................................................200.00Rev. & Pani Thomas James Kadlec, Cheektowaga, New York ..............................200.00Mr. Theodore Koast, Johnson City, N.Y...............................................................200.00
Rev. Deacon & Mrs. Donald Koch, East Amherst, New York ............................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Peter Komisar, Johnstown, PA .........................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Koss, Pottstown, PA .........................................................200.00Rev. Deacon Michael Kozar, Dickson City, PA ....................................................200.00Archon & Mrs. Michael Kundrat, Binghamton, New York ...................................200.00
(in loving memory of Very Rev. Protopresbyter Stephen Dutko)Fr. Deacon & Mrs. Anthony Kruge, Southbury, CT ............................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. John Lakatos, West Mifflin, PA .......................................................200.00Rev. & Pani Charles A. Lehman, Cathedral City, CA ............................................200.00R. Kevin Lindsay, Rockville, MD ........................................................................200.00Mary Matrician , Lansford, PA ...........................................................................200.00Kenneth & Susan Mesko, Johnstown, PA ............................................................200.00Michael & Colleen Mochnoc, St. Clair, PA ..........................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Moyer, Boyertown, PA ............................................................200.00Dr. & Mrs. Edward Mularz, Perth Amboy, N. J. .................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. George Murnin, Pittsburgh, PA .......................................................200.00Patricia Obrizok, Yonkers, New York ....................................................................200.00Archon & Mrs. William Oldham, Windber, PA ...................................................200.00Margaret Paroby, Clarks Summit, PA ..................................................................200.00Wally and Karen Perkins, Irwin, PA ......................................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Petersen, Fords, New Jersey ..................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Jim Phifer, Norristown, PA ................................................................200.00Edward & Violet Pogera, St. Clair, PA .................................................................200.00 Mrs. Helen Porembka, & Frank Porembka, Jr. , Ligonier, PA.................................200.00
(In memory of Frank S. Porembka, Sr. by Mrs. Frank Porembka, Sr. and Frank Porem-bka, Jr.)
Very Rev. Robert J. Prepelka, Ambridge, PA ........................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Revak, Jr., W. Mifflin, PA ....................................................200.00
(In memory of Drew & Jolene)Mr. & Mrs. Gene Riesebeck, Denville, New Jersey ..............................................200.00Stephanie Ristvey, Park Ridge, Illinois ................................................................200.00
(In loving memory of my beloved husband, Archon, Dr. John Ristvey, Jr.)Mr. & Mrs. Steven Roberts, Dunmore, PA ...........................................................200.00Very Rev. Protopresbyter & Pani Michael S. Rosco ..............................................200.00St. John the Baptist Church, Wilpen, PA ..............................................................200.00St. John’s Mother’s & Daughters Club, Sharon, PA .............................................200.00St. Michael’s Senior A.C.R.Y. Chapter 40, Binghamton, N.Y. .............................200.00St. Michael’s American Russian Citizens Club, St. Clair, PA ................................200.00St. Michael’s Church, St. Clair, PA ......................................................................200.00 St. Nicholas Orthodox Choir, Homestead, PA .....................................................200.00SS. Peter & Paul Women’s Club, Windber, PA ......................................................200.00Rose M. Sage, Allentown, PA .............................................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. James Sarno, South Amboy, N.J. .....................................................200.00Archon & Mrs. John Schwika, White Haven, PA ..................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Michael Serak, Fords, New Jersey .......................................................200.00Archon & Mrs. Michael Serko, Jr., Endicott, New York .......................................200.00Mrs. Susan Shevchenko, Perth Amboy, New Jersey ..............................................200.00Archon & Mrs. George Smisko, Perth Amboy, N.J. ............................................200.00Archon & Mrs. Michael Smisko, Brant Beach, N.J. .............................................200.00Archon & Mrs. Ray Speicher, Warren, Ohio .......................................................200.00Arthur D. Stienstra, Jr. & Anna M. Pyshnik, Wesford, PA ....................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Theron Strenk, Wayne, PA ................................................................200.00William & Carol Sutzko, St. Clair, PA .................................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Thear, Brookville, MD .......................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. William Thomas, Scranton, PA ........................................................200.00Very Rev. & Pani Johnathan Tobias, East Pittsburgh, PA ....................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Trumpower & Samantha, Pittsburgh, PA ...........................200.00John & Cathy Turcmanovich, Lansford, PA ........................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. David Urban, Whitker, PA ...............................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Walko, Sharpsville, PA ..........................................................200.00Anne Wanca, S. Plainfield, New Jersey ................................................................200.00Mr. & Mrs. William Wassel, Madison Twp, PA .................................................200.00Rev. & Pani Nicholas Wyborski, Lakeland, Florida ..............................................200.00Very Rev. Protopresbyter & Pani Myron Zuder, Arkon, Ohio ..............................200.00Homestead ACRY Members & Friends, Homestead, PA .....................................175.00(In memory of Beatrice Yarina)
Rev. Protodeacon & Mrs. Gregory Benc, Watchung, New Jersey ...........................150.00Anonymous .........................................................................................................150.00Mr. & Mrs. John Buzek, Andover, N. J. ..............................................................150.00Rev. & Pani Michael Chendorain, Rockaway, New Jersey ...................................150.00Peter & Elizabeth Drenchko, Hillsborough, New Jersey ........................................150.00Kathleen Hallad, Manville, New Jersey ...............................................................150.00Elena V. Kostenko & Matt S. Anderson ..............................................................150.00Elaine Leer, Sinking Spring, PA ............................................................................150.00Mrs. Helen I Lucas, New Castle, PA ...................................................................150.00Mr. & Mrs. Peter Lyasko, Rockaway, New Jersey .................................................150.00St. Mary’s Church, Buffalo, New York .................................................................150.00Mr. Andrew Pribish, Windber, PA .......................................................................150.00Rev. Deacon Michael Rustick, Hillside, New Jersey .............................................150.00Jane and Walter Schartz, Chicago, Illinois ...........................................................150.00Sheila Smart, Hillsborough, New Jersey ..............................................................150.00Mr. Gerald S. Charnota, Chicago, Illinois ...........................................................135.00Alexandra, Anastasia & Nicholas Benc, Watchung, New Jersey .............................125.00Helen Angle, Rockaway, New Jersey ....................................................................125.00Rose Greenawald, Macungie, PA ..........................................................................125.00Mr. & Mrs. Stan Griff, Rockaway, New Jersey .....................................................125.00Barbara Kmech, Succasunna, New Jersey ..............................................................125.00Mr. & Mrs. Emil Janosec, Wharton, New Jersey ................................................125.00Mr. & Mrs. Charles Matola, Wharton, New Jersey .............................................125.00Michael & Lynn Nagel, Allentown, PA ...............................................................125.00Mrs. Alyce Polyak, Wharton, New Jersey .............................................................125.00Miss Ann Smith, Rockaway, New Jersey ...............................................................125.00Diane Staples, Danville, New Jersey .....................................................................125.00Mr. & Mrs.Stephen Wythe, Green Brook, New Jersey ...........................................125.00
Page 6 THE CHURCH MESSENGER April 25, 2010
Metropolitan Nicholas ordains John Anderson of St. John the Baptist Churchin Sharon, PA, to the Diaconate.
Protopresbyter Frank Miloro incenses during the celebration of ResurrectionMatins.
Protopresbyter Michael Rosco, Chairman of the Diocesan Missions and Evan-gelization Commission, updates clergy on the progress of several missions inthe Diocese. Protopresbyter James Dutko speaks on “Orthodox-Catholic Relations.”
Clergy listen intently to a presentation on stewardship by Fr. Frederick Wat-son.
Protopresbyter Lawrence Barriger addresses issues concerning the DiocesanPriests Pension Fund.
2010 Clergy Convocation
April 25, 2010 THE CHURCH MESSENGER Page 7
The Newly Ordained Subdeacon Christopher Gombos of St. John the Bap-tist Church in Bridgeport, CT, washes the hands of Metropolitan Nicholasprior to the Great Entrance.
Metropolitan Nicholas is greeted by Parish President, Dorothy Dymek andgrandson, Derek Donnelly, on his recent visit to St. Mary’s Church, Yonkers,New York.
Archpastoral Visitations and Activities
Metropolitan Nicholas tonsures Kristofer Carlisle of St. John the BaptistChurch in East Pittsburgh, PA, a Reader of the Holy Church.
New England Deanery Clergy concelebrated the Liturgy of PresanctifiedGifts with His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas at St. John the BaptistChurch, Bridgeport, CT, Friday, March 12, 2010.
His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas prepares new Antimension Cloths dur-ing the Holy Thursday Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
Metropolitan Nicholas washes the feet of seminarians and Cathedral faithfulin imitation of the Lord during the ritual of the Washing of the Feet.
“Christ is risen form the dead, trampling down death by death, and to thosein the tombs, bestowing life.”
Children from Christ the Saviour Cathedral enjoy the annual egg hunt fol-lowing the Paschal Divine Liturgy.
Page 8 THE CHURCH MESSENGER April 25, 2010
AKRON, OHIO
St. Mary’s Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniMyron Zuder
ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
Protection of the Blessed VirginMary Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter Robert J.Rebeck
Archon & Mrs. William BoykasMichael & Lynn NagelBrian & Diane PeacheyMrs. Rose M. SageMr. Frank J. Slivka
AMBRIDGE, PENNSYLVANIA
St. John the Baptist Church
Very Rev. Robert PrepelkaNorman & Laurie BushMr. Michael J. FedorkoSonia GaluschakVery Rev. Protopresbyter John P.
GidoMr. & Mrs. J. Richard MirilovichMr. & Mrs. John Youhas & Pro-
todeacon John
BARTON, OHIO
St. Nicholas Church
Very Rev. & Pani Michael Kabel
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK
St. Michael’s Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniJames S. Dutko
St. Michael’s Senior A.C.R.Y.AnonymousAnonymousAnonymousMichael & Rita BalandaMr. & Mrs. Gilbert BeachThomas & Helen BobackMrs. Helen BranickMarta Chudacik (in loving memory
of Very Rev. ProtopresbyterStephen Dutko)
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph DervayHelen DemetrJulianna DranichakMr. Richard DutkoSub-deacon & Mrs. Charles E.
Ellis Mr. Timothy FabianDavid & Michaeleen Gdovin Mr. & Mrs. Milton Hickling Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Hovancik Mr. & Mrs. Robert Jones+Mrs. Margaret KadlecMrs. Anna KahanickMr. Theodore Koast Mr. & Mrs. Michael Korchak (In
loving memory of Very Rev. Pro-topresbyter Stephen Dutko)
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Kucer June Kulik (in loving memory of
Very Rev. ProtopresbyterStephen Dutko)
Mr. Joseph Kundrat (in lovingmemory of Very Rev. Protopres-byter Stephen Dutko)
Archon & Mrs. Michael Kundrat(in loving memory of Very Rev.Protopresbyter Stephen Dutko)
Mr. Frank Lucik, Jr.Irene LucikMr. & Mrs. Joseph Macko Mr. & Mrs. Frank Malinich, Jr. William and Mary Malinich Mrs. Lillian Nezelek Mrs. Mary NiderMrs. Katherine Prytherch (in
memory of Dorothy Russin) Mr. & Mrs. George Puzakulics (In
loving memory of Very Rev. Pro-topresbyter Stephen Dutko)
Mrs. Mildred C. Scheider
Mr. Paul M. Sedor Dr. Nicholas Seketa (In loving
memory of Very Rev. Protopres-byter Stephen Dutko)
Mr. & Mrs. John Srnka Mrs. Rose SuerMr. Michael SuvakMr. & Mrs. David Tidick (In lov-
ing memory of Very Rev. Proto-presbyter Stephen Dutko)
Archon & Mrs. Ernest Tidick (Inloving memory of Very Rev.Protopresbyter Stephen Dutko)
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Tidick, Ty &Lorin (In loving memory ofVery Rev. ProtopresbyterStephen Dutko)
Michele Tidick (In loving memoryof Very Rev. ProtopresbyterStephen Dutko)
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne TidickMr. Steven Timko (In loving mem-
ory of +Michael, Anna, Mar-garet and Helen Timko)
Mrs. Helen Urdanick
BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT
St. John the Baptist Church
St. John the Baptist ChurchSt. John’s Sr. R ClubMr. & Mrs. Richard AdzimaTheresa CunninghamHenry & Helen JankowskiMary A. LeskoWilliam T. SoltisMary Ann Vojtek
CENTRAL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA
SS. Peter & Paul Church
Mr. & Mrs. Charles R. Chappell
CHEEKTOWAGA, NEW YORK
St. Mary’s Church
Very Rev. & Pani Thomas JamesKadlec
St. Mary’s ChurchSt. Mary’s Ladies GuildMr. & Mrs. John ArenMr. & Mrs. Jeremy KadlecRev. Deacon & Mrs. Donald
KochMr. & Mrs. Walter Kowal, Jr.
CLYMER, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Michael’s Church
Very Rev. & Pani R. Michael Zak
CORNING, NEW YORK
St. Mary’s Church
Rev. & Pani Stephen M. LoposkyMrs. Anna ChudanicMr. & Mrs. Charles CoonsGloria EwsukCarole M. HerrlichHelen Molson
CRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA
Holy Transfiguration Church
Rev. & Pani Alexis Miller
DANBURY, CONNECTICUT
Holy Trinity Church
Filip & Vida BundraRev. Deacon Robert A. HubiakRev. Deacon Anthony & Jennifer
KrugeMr. James J. RushMr. & Mrs. Paul Toaso
DICKSON CITY, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Mary’s Church
Very Rev. Ronald KovacHelene Gershey
Father Deacon Michael KozarCarol L. Pugh
EAST PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
St. John the Baptist Church
Very Rev. & Pani Jonathan TobiasSt. John the Baptist ChurchSt. John’s Ladies Altar SocietyAlice BiresHelen BiresEdward A. & Marilyn ChuprinkoBenjamin, Luke, & Irene GrysiakArchon & Mrs. Gary GrysiakWally & Karen PerkinsMarisa & Alexis Tobias
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY
St. Nicholas Church
Ms. Elaine M. Furda+Mrs. Margaret C. FurdaSonyia Woloshyn
ENDICOTT, NEW YORK
St. Mary’s Church
Very Rev. Michael A. KlebanAmerican Carpatho-Russian Citi-
zen’s ClubSt. Mary’s Ladies GuildSt. Mary’s Sunday SchoolMr. & Mrs. Robert BeehmMr. & Mrs. John Blishak, Jr.Mrs. Ann BrownMr. & Mrs. David BryantMr. & Mrs. Edward BundgaMr. & Mrs. Gerald CheselkaMr. George ChipperMr. & Mrs. Edward DzupinkaMr. & Mrs. John EgglestonMr. & Mrs. Edward EvanchoFran Exely & Marilyn ValdonMiss Andrea GreskoMr. & Mrs. Merle GrossMr. & Mrs. Edward GyidikMr. & Mrs. Charles HennemanMary HiznayMrs. Anita KaschakMr. Gary KaschakMr. Alex KlebanMr. Michael KlebanMr. & Mrs. Andrew Komar Mr. & Mrs. Charles KomarMr. & Mrs. John KomarMr. Joseph LoposkyDr. & Mrs. Edward MagurMr. & Mrs. George Magur, Jr.Mr. Nicholas MaguraMr. & Mrs. Ben ManninoMrs. Catherine MarincelMr. Greg MarincelMr. & Mrs. Michael Miklos, Jr.Mr. Robert PatzCol. and Mrs. John PiptaMr. & Mrs. John PlutaMr. & Mrs. Herbert SchleiningArchon & Mrs. Michael Serko, Jr.Archon & Mrs. Robert SerkoMr. Mark SwackhammerMr. & Mrs. Joseph Taluba, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Michael TatichMr. Dale ThomasMr. & Mrs. Keith ThompsonMr. Gary TupyMr. & Mrs. Randy WeeksArchon & Mrs. Michael Wesko
ERIE PENNSYLVANIA
St. Nicholas Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniRonald A. Hazuda
St. Nicholas A.C.R.Y. Chapter#49
St. Nicholas Altar SocietyMrs. Ann DiMarcoMrs. Ann SolinkoReader & Mrs. David TarasovichMrs. Phyllis Tarasovich
FREELAND, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Michael’s Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniLawrence Barriger
St. Michael’s ChurchSt. Michael’s Junior A.C.R.Y. #6St. Michael’s Senior A.C.R.Y. #6St. Michael’s Recreation CenterMr. & Mrs. Edward M. Bereznak
(In loving memory of parentsHelen & George Bereznak &George & Ruth Philipp)
Archon Emil & Suzie BzdilMr. John KitlanArchon & Mrs. John KostMarie LazoMr. Paul D. LesserArchon & Mrs. John SchwikaMr. Harry SheadsEmma StaskoMrs. Helena WidisProtodeacon & Mrs. Theodore
WorobeyMary Kay Wroblewsky
FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY
St. Paul the Apostle
Diane Butler BoyesAnna Sabo, Diana (Butler) & Bill
Boyes
HAWK RUN, PENNSYLVANIA
St. John the Baptist Church
St. John the Baptist ChurchSt. John’s Altar SocietySt. John the Baptist Sr. ACRY #41Carpathian ClubMiss Verna Cazp
HOBART, INDIANA
St. Nicholas Church
Rev. & Pani Sergii AlekseevVery Rev. Protopresbyter & Pani
William Conjelko
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA
Church of the Presentation of ourLord
Mrs. Mary Fedak
HOMER CITY, PENNSYLVANIA
SS. Peter & Paul Church
Rev. & Pani Matthew ConjelkoSS. Peter & Paul ChurchSS. Peter & Paul Ladies Altar Soci-etyMr. & Mrs. Michael CharnegoMiss Lillian RebovichMr. Arthur E. Williams, Jr.
HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Nicholas Church
Very Rev. & Pani Robert A.Buczak
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (Inmemory of Martha Slepak)
St. Nicholas Church (Special col-lection with matching funds)
St. Nicholas Church (Proceeds ofSpecial Projects)
St. Nicholas Junior ACRYSt. Nicholas Sr. A.C.R.Y. Chapter
#11St. Nicholas Orthodox ChoirSt. Nicholas Mothers & Daugh-
ters ClubSt. Nicholas Men’s ClubHomestead ACRY (in memory of
Beatrice Yarina)Alison H. ArcherRichard, Andrea & Lauren BabbieAlice M. Bakaysza Andrew M. Bakaysza (in memory
of Godmother /Beatrice Yarina)Mrs. Margaret Banyas (In blessed
memory of parents, Suzanna& Michael Janosko)
Robert & Danielle BartkoMr. & Mrs. Michael B. BeresMr. Donald F. BodnarMary L. BonachMr. Edward J. BrugosJean M. ColantoniMr. & Mrs. Lawrence W. DunnCynthia Dzvonik & Timothy
Kane (in memory of JohnDzvonik)
Mr. & Mrs. John Fedornock, Jr. Mrs. Irene Foster (In loving mem-
ory of husband, John & sonDavid)
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Fucsko, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Raymond A. GanzyMr. & Mrs. Joseph P. GrimesMary Ann GrossettSub-deacon Andrew J. Halapin &
Lynn Deborah L. Harris (in memory of
John, Margaret & Johnny Har-ris)
Mary M. Janicko (In loving mem-ory of parents)
Rosemary JordanoffMary C. Kalansky (in memory of
husband, Ed & Godish Family)Mrs. Eleanor KonarMr. Elmer KonarDr. Michael KrakDr. Andrea M. Labik (in memory
of deceased members of Labik &Beres Family)
Mr. George A. Ladick (In memoryof Margaret Ladick & MatildaFedoris)
John & Gerry LakatosMr. Michael C. LakatosMrs. Dorothy LasobikMr. William LasobikMr. & Mrs. John MateyMrs. Jocelyn Miller (In memory of
parents, Michael & AnnOlynik)
Virginia J. MorganMr. & Mrs. George MurninCathy Ann ObringerMrs. Ann Opsitos & FamilyTrona PaganicoCathy PawlikThomas M. Pingor, Jr.Audrey Rajakovich & FamilyMr. & Mrs. Andrew Revak, Jr. (in
memory of Drew & Jolene)Miss Susan M. SemancikDeacon Arthur D. Stienstra and
Anna M. PyshnikMr. George Sukal Cantor, Reader, Choir Director,
Professor Andrew S. Ta-larovich, Jr.
Miss Cheryl L. Tomko Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Trumpower
& SamanthaMr. & Mrs. David UrbanMr. & Mrs. Ernest VasilKevin M. WuchevichMr. & Mrs. Andrew Zatorsky, Jr.
JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
Christ the Saviour Cathedral
Metropolitan Nicholas Smisko(In blessed memory of parents,Andrew and Anna Smisko)
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniFrank P. Miloro
Christ the Saviour CathedralCathedral Senior A.C.R.Y. Chap-ter #20Miss Louise BrudnakMr. Michael Dutko, Jr. Miss S. Elaine DutkoAnn Evanisko Elaine LeerMr. Edward Margetta
Distinguished Diocesan Donors 2009
-cont’d on page 9
April 25, 2010 THE CHURCH MESSENGER Page 9
Kenneth & Susan MeskoMr. & Mrs. John R. Mirilovich Mary Ann MucheskoMrs. Irene Popp
LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
St. Alexis Orthodox Church
Rev. & Pani Gregory AllardReader Roger W. BennettRev. Deacon & Mrs. Alex G.Boutselis
LAKELAND, FLORIDA
St. Nectarios Orthodox Mission
Rev. & Pani Nicholas WyborskiNatalie & Jackson PopeArlene Tonjes
LANSFORD, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Nicholas Church
Cantor Raymond J. MastroberteMary Matrician Georgene C. RabadaJohn & Cathy Turcmanovich
LEVITTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
SS. Peter & Paul Church
Very Rev. Theodore Z. MozesMrs. Shirley GlassieMr. & Mrs. Richard GribbonMr. Nicholas Lazeration
MANASSAS, VIRGINIA
Nativity of Our Lord Church
Jeff & Kristi Burke
MANVILLE, NEW JERSEY
Holy Ghost Church
Rev. & Pani Matthew D. MoriakMrs. Elaine L. ChachStella CooperElizabeth & Peter DrenchkoLeah FerkoKathleen HalladSheila SmartVera TalpashMr. & Mrs. Stephen Wythe
MONONGAHELA, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Nicholas Church
Very Rev. & Pani Edward Pe-hanich, Jr.
Archon & Mrs. Robert D. Cos-grove
MORGANTOIWN, WEST VIRGINIA
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin MaryChurch
St. Mary’s Orthodox Church
NESQUEHONING, PENNSYLVANIA
St. John the Baptist Church
Rev. & Pani Robert J. TeklinskiSt. John the Baptist ChurchSt. John the Baptist ChurchACRY #33St. John’s Sunday SchoolSt. John’s Women’s ClubMr. Michael HallahanMr. George Lazorchick (in mem-
ory of all deceased Members ofthe Lazorchick family)
Mrs. Ilona M. Zubek
NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Nicholas Church
St. Nicholas Ladies Altar SocietyMrs. Helen I. LucasMrs. Ann Rossa
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
St. Nicholas Church
Very Rev. John Beskid J.Michaele J. BoberMary MedveckyArchon & Mrs. John GidicsinMr. Albert Stegun
NILES, ILLINOIS
St. Michael’s Church
Very Rev. & Pani Samuel J. SherryMr. & Mrs. Gerald BlacklawGerald S. CharnotaMr. & Mrs. William DiclementiHelen ElliottMr. Geary FoltmanBess KapetanMr. & Mrs. George V. KaravitisAngelo MonteleoneMrs. Nancy MoranMrs. Stephanie Ristvey (Offered in
loving memory of husband Ar-chon, Dr. John Ristvey, Jr.)
Jane & Walter SchwarzMr. Steve Smandra, Jr. Archon & Mrs. Wesley StinichMary Rose Walker
NORTH ROYALTON, OHIO
Christ the Saviour Church
Very Rev. & Pani Stephen N. Jula
PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY
St. John the Baptist Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniMichael S. Rosco
Protodeacon & Mrs. GregoryBenc
Alexandra, Anastasia, & NicholasBenc
Mary BendasMark BendasPatricia BilligMr. & Mrs. Ernest DelcherHelen DunhamHelen Dutko Margaret ElloMr. & Mrs. Roger GoedtelMr. & Mrs. George GrayMr. & Mrs. Arnold R. HouserEileen LuongoMr. Michael MellesDr. & Mrs. Edward MularzAnna PappMr. & Mrs. Wayne PetersenMr. Richard PratscherMr. & Mrs. James SarnoCindy SchaeferAnna SerakMr. & Mrs. Michael SerakMrs. Susan ShevchenkoArchon & Mrs. George SmiskoArchon & Mrs. Michael SmiskoAnne WancaMrs. Patricia YurcisinMrs. Irene Zakutansky
PHOENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
Holy Ghost Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniJohn R. Fedornock
Holy Ghost ChurchHoly Ghost Altar SocietyHoly Ghost Jr. ACRYHoly Ghost Sr. ACRYJeanne BassMr. & Mrs. John BilaninArchon & Mrs. Alex BrenoDolly FerkoMarge GibsonRose GreenawaldMr. & Mrs. Nicholas HalladayMr. & Mrs. Timothy KossMr. & Mrs. Daniel MoyerMr. Jack Pastrick
Mr. & Mrs. Jim PhiferMr. Harry SingletonMrs. Joan SnyderMr. & Mrs. Theron StrenkAnn Yergey
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
St. John the Baptist Church
Very Rev. & Pani John S. Bran-cho
ANONYMOUS
Mrs. Eleanor Sanger
POTOMAC, MARYLAND
Holy Resurrection Church
Rev. & Pani Peter ZarynowMr. & Mrs. Daniel BrenoMrs. Irene DzubakArchon & Mrs. John C. HrapchakR. Kevin LindsayMr. Stephen PaczoltArchon & Mrs. Joseph ParimuchaMiss Rose PlowchinMr. & Mrs. Thomas ThearMargaret TomasevichArchon & Mrs. Nicholas Yakubik
RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY
St. John the Baptist Church
Rev. & Pani Andrew B. FetchinaJohn & Julia HalajkoMrs. Eva HannenElena V. Kostenko and Matt S.AndersonRev. & Pani Charles A. LehmanLudmila & Michael Lin RozumRev. Deacon Michael RustickMrs. Irene M. Sverada
RANKIN, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Michael’s Church
Very Rev. & Pani John D. LazarekMs. Barbara Ann Banosky Barbara M. SimonoffMr. & Mrs. Peter Simonoff
ROCKAWAY, NEW JERSEY
SS. Peter & Paul Church
Rev. & Pani Michael ChendorainHelen AngleMr. John BuzekMr. & Mrs. Stan GriffMr. & Mrs. Emil JanosecBarbara KmeckMr. & Mrs. Peter LyaskoMr. & Mrs. Charles MatolaMr. Alexander MilitskyMrs. Alyce PolyakMr. & Mrs. Gene RiesebeckMiss Ann SmithDiane Staples
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS
Christ the Saviour Church
Rev. & Pani Basil Ross ArdenMr. Russ NafranowiczWladimir & Lidia RakucMichael & Marie Strapko
ST. CLAIR, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Michael’s Church
Rev. & Pani Jeffrey L. ZiasSt. Michael’s ChurchSt. Michael’s American RussianCitizens ClubSt. Michael’s SisterhoodANONYMOUSGeorgine KrisaRev. Deacon Robert & Marie
KuchtaMr. Bernard C. LiptockJames & Anna Manzick Michael & Colleen MochnocEdward & Violet Pogera
Paul & Jean SemancoArchon William & Carol SutzkoMichael Udit
SCHERERVILLE, INDIANA
Descent of the Holy Spirit Church
Julia DeasyMrs. Aline Swentko
(In loving memory of my hus-band, Paul Swentko)
SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Nicholas Church
St. Nicholas ChurchSt. Nicholas Altar SocietySt. Nicholas Men’s ClubMr. Edward Bonk, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. John BrizinskiStephen & Sonja FueshkoMiss Madilyn HodanichJohn & Rosemary HrywnakMr. & Mrs. Joseph KacabaMr. Frank T. PucherCarol L. PughMr. & Mrs. Stephen RobertsJohn & Donna ShimoMargaret SkotlewskiWilliam and Kathryn StocoskiMr. & Mrs. William ThomasMr. & Mrs. William WasselMrs. Jule Worobey
SEAFORD, NEW YORK
St. Gregory of Nyssa
William & Ann Korchak
SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA
St. John the Baptist Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniMichael Polanichka
St. John’s Mothers & DaughtersClub
Karen & Ronald BichMiss Mary Barbara HardyMr. & Mrs. Richard HartleyProfessor & Mrs. Joseph JaegerMr. & Mrs. Steve LukacMiss Mary Jane RepaskyArchon & Mrs. Michael RistveyMr. & Mrs. Joseph Walko
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA
Holy Trinity Church
Gregory Orloff
STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT
(Broadbridge)St. John the Baptist Church
Archon & Mrs. Orestes J. Mihaly
STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT
(Silver Lane)St. John the Baptist Church
Very Rev. Edward MichaelMacura
TAYLOR, PENNSYLVANIA
St. George’s Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniMark Leasure
St. George’s ChurchPhileshia Ann DombroskiMr. William HyduchakTheresa KendziorKrya & Adam LeasureElaine & John OrleskiMargaret ParobyMichael Pehonich, Jr.Recedes PehonichMs. Mary M. RachkoTheodore & Kathlee WorobeyMr. & Mrs. James ZeleniakMr. Michael S. Zeleniak
WALDORF, MARYLAND
St. Thomas Mission
Rev. & Pani Joseph EdgingtonLuke CooperArchon & Mrs. Stephen HallSally LoefflerStefan & Jennifer Popescu
WARREN, OHIO
St. Nicholas Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniKenneth M. Bachofsky
St. Nicholas ChurchSt. Nicholas SocietyRev. Deacon & Mrs. Edward A.Brisbine, Jr.Mrs. Sophia Brozier & AnnaStaviskyMr. & Mrs. John FalibotaMr. Andrew GrahamWilliam & Linda KeritoisKathy & Al PondilioMr. & Mrs. Michael SemancoArchon & Mrs. Ray Speicher
WILPEN, PENNSYLVANIA
St. John the Baptist Church
Rev. & Pani Tony Joseph, Jr.St. John the Baptist ChurchRuth A. KnissGeorge KvochkoMrs. Helen Porembka & Frank
Porembka, Jr. (In lovingmemory of Frank S. Porem-bka, Sr. by Mrs. Frank S.Porembka, Sr. & FrankPorembka, Jr.)
WINDBER, PENNSYLVANIA
SS. Peter & Paul Church
Very Rev. & Pani Miles ZdinakSS. Peter & Paul Women’s ClubDeacon & Mrs. Robert S. Con-
jelkoMr. & Mrs. Peter KomisarTheresa KrizmanReader & Mrs. Michael MakuchMr. & Mrs. George MikitkaMr. & Mrs. David MorelliArchon & Mrs. William J. Old-
hamMr. Andrew PribishMr. John M. Strenski
WOOD, PENNSYLVANIA
St. Michael’s Church
Reader Ronald Pawuk
YONKERS, NEW YORK
St. Mary’s Church
Mildred BartkoMarian KorchakVery Rev. Protopresbyter & Pani
Elias KozarPatricia Obrizok
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
St. Michael’s Church
Very Rev. Protopresbyter & PaniGeorge Hutnyan
St. Michael’s ChurchRev. Deacon William Friedel
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL CONTRIBU-TIONS
Atlantic District Fellowship of Or-thodox Christians in America
-DDD, cont’d from page 8
Distinguished Diocesan Donors 2009
Page 10 THE CHURCH MESSENGER April 25, 2010
MURPHY, NORTH CAROLINA--There are screens, projectors and cam-eras. Stages, lights and sound systems.
Churches that seem to double as concert halls. It’s an increasingly commonsight.
In an age of technological enhancement, St Nicholas Orthodox Church mayseem a bit untraditional, but only because it’s so deeply rooted in… tradition.
Incense. Saints. More candles than seats. And chanting… verses and prayers.
“It’s connected to the historical stream of Christianity, theology, belief andpractice that has changed very little,” Fr. James Blomeley explained. “It’s en-tirely consistent now with what it was 1,000 or even 2,000 years ago.”
Before St Nicholas opened in Peachtree last August, the few Orthodox be-lievers in the mountains would have to travel to Marietta or Chattanooga toattend services, Blairsville resident Van Crikis said.
Blomeley, the church’s priest, served as a deacon in an Atlanta parish for sev-eral years before being ordained last May. During the week he practices law inMurphy.
“I didn’t really know if there were Orthodox up here,” he said. “The first Sun-day I didn’t know if anyone would show up.”
He said he was surprised to see 20 locals attend the opening service.
“They all thought they were the only Orthodox in the area,” Blomeley ex-plained. “They had no idea there was anybody else.”
For Holy Week the church held eight different services, actually fewer than thetraditional full range, Blomeley said.
“It is a lot of work, but for us Holy Week and Easter is just complete emer-sion,” he said. “When we actually get to Easter it really is the greatest of allfeasts.”
Concluding a selective fast, the congregation gathered for bar-b-que at 2 a.m.Sunday morning.
“It was your usual church potluck,” Blomeley said… except for the time.
About eight people attend on an average Sunday, Blomeley said, noting thatit ranges to 20 on occasion. While most of the congregation is older, one fam-ily and some locals in their thirties attend.
“Yes, there is an emphasis nowdays on technology and immediacy and cul-tural relevence…but what I find is that for a lot of people there is a search notfor the surface, but for the depth,” Blomeley said. “The candles, the incense…it speaks to a lot of people.”
Blomeley said that he hopes the parish could one day leave behind the quaintcompartment it currently occupies at Peachtree Place and construct a stand-alone church.
Before that happens, however, the parish has to become financially sustain-able. At this point contributions cover the basics and utilities, but Blomeley isserving without a salary.
“We have more people now than we really thought we would at this point,”he said. Fifty to one-hundred families is what you shoot for to become a realparish… If we could get to that point over five to ten years I’d be tickled.”
But no matter how much it grows, the services will stay the same.
“We’re not for everybody,” Blomeley said. “Some find their fullfillment in thetechnological aspect of services, but others find it in the timelessness.”
(Taken from the WNC Sentinal)
Orthodox Church brings TraditionalEaster Celebrations to the Mountains
HOMESTEAD, PA--Metropolitan Nicholas arrived at St. Nicholas OrthodoxChurch in Homestead to a full schedule of events Sunday, March 21st 2010for the celebration of the 60th consecutive year of the A.C.R.Y. CommunionBreakfast. Church Council President, George Murin welcomed MetropolitanNicholas with a traditional “bread and salt” greeting and the Very ReverendRobert Buczak asked for the Hierarch’s blessing upon the congregation. Inrecent times, the term Communion Breakfast has taken on a new meaning;community with one another and union with our Lord Jesus Christ. Before theDivine Liturgy began, Metropolitan Nicholas consecrated the 10 newly in-stalled icons of the life of St. Nicholas which are beautifully written on theback wall of the church nave. Protodeacon John Youhas made the Great In-censation of the Church and the celebration of the Hierarchal Divine Liturgyproceeded.
There was a pause during the Small Entrance when Kristopher Carlisle, fromSt. John the Baptist Church in East Pittsburgh, was tonsured as a Reader; af-terward, the Divine Liturgy continued. Metropolitan Nicholas presented asthe homily an exhortation to the soon-to-be-ordained Sub -Deacon MatthewStagon about the responsibilities of the Holy Diaconate. MetropolitanNicholas assured him that he would be keeping a watchful eye over hisprogress.
After the Anaphora, at the proper time during the Divine Liturgy for diaconalordination, Sub-Deacon Matthew Sagon was presented by the ProtodeaconJohn Youhas and, by the “Laying on of Hands,” Metropolitan Nicholas or-dained Matthew Stagon to the Holy Diaconate. Priests in attendance wereVery Reverend Jonathan Tobias, Very Reverend Protopresbyter John Gido,Very Reverend Protopresbyter John Touloumes, Reverend George Callos, VeryReverend Robert Buczak, and numerous sub-deacons and seminarians fromChrist the Saviour Seminary.
A Grand banquet followed where Anna Pyshnik and her crew of ACRY mem-bers presented a buffet of fasting and strict fasting foods. Deacon ArtemiusStienstra was toastmaster for the program. Michele Tomko presented flowersto Metropolitan Nicholas, and Susan Semancik shared her thoughts and mem-ories of her many years associated with the Homestead ACRY.
Metropolitan Nicholas made the concluding remarks and gave the final bless-ing. Everyone in attendance received a commemorative certificate speciallydesigned for the occasion.
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Celebrates 60 Years of the A.C.R.Y.
Communion Breakfast
Newly ordained Deacon Matthew Stagon receives Holy Communion from the hands of His Eminence,Metropolitan Nicholas.
Michele Tomko Greets His Eminence at the Annual ACRY Communion Breakfast which Followed DivineLiturgy.
April 25, 2010 THE CHURCH MESSENGER Page 11
BALTIMORE, MD--Pictured above are the members of our Diocesan Mis-sions and Evangelization Commission, which met recently in Baltimore,Maryland at the offices of International Orthodox Christian Charities(IOCC). Shown from left to right are: Donald Lauffler, Father James Blome-ley, Pani Connie Miloro, Protopresbyter Frank Miloro, Protopresbyter MichaelRosco, Father Andrew Fetchina and Deacon Michael Rustick.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in themidst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA - In what was likely the last Paschal DivineLiturgy celebrated in the Diocese this past Sunday, the faithful of HolyMyrrhbearers Orthodox Mission gathered together for a 1:00 PM start to the“Feast of all Feasts.” Holy Myrrhbearers is a Diocesan mission and many of youhave contributed both material and non-material support to ensure our suc-cessful start. Because of this, we thought you might be interested to know thatour Paschal Service was the culminating event of so many wonderful blessingssince our first Divine Liturgy this past September. Below are just a few won-derful blessings that God has so graciously bestowed on Holy Myrrhbearersand our Diocese.
In our small mission we have more than one person who was raised Orthodox,but lapsed from the Church. Despite this, God reached out to them, re-kin-dling their “spiritual spark.” In the words of one parishioner, Christ “…madethem remember and long for the beauty of our Divine Liturgy.” Your effortsand the faith of our Ruling Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas,are enabling our Orthodox faithful to return to what they once had, and theyare doing so with such a sincere desire to love and serve God.
We are also bringing children into the fold. In fact, two baby girls were re-cently baptized into the Church. They and their parents now come every weekfor Divine Liturgy. Several adults – four to be exact – have joined the fullnessof Christ’s Church through the Sacrament of Chrismation. We also have a fewcatechists who are contemplating whether to join the Church. With time, in-struction and, most importantly, with love and prayer, I believe they also willbe brought into the fold.
For our Pascha Service we had 25 souls present! I am sure there were also many,many, more saints and angels gathered around the Chapel during the Service,a point that I often like to remind our faithful (and myself ) about. Althoughwe were not many in “human” numbers, I do like to think that the many an-gels and saints filled any of the empty pews.
By now you must be asking yourself: “What does this have to do me?” I be-lieve the answer is this: “everything.” As a mission church, Holy Myrrhbear-ers – and all the missions of the Diocese – depend on the continued prayersand support of all you faithful. Serving the Diocese as a mission priest is thehardest – yet most rewarding – thing I have ever done! It is because I feel thecontinued love and support of Metropolitan Nicholas, my fellow priests, dea-cons, all other clergy, and all the people of our God loving Diocese that makethis task doable and rewarding.
I would ask that each person and parish consider taking a special interest in thesuccess of at least one of the mission churches of our Diocese. It does not takemuch to make a really big impact. For example, just the other day a womanwhom I have never met sent me three beautiful white altar candles for use onPascha. Her thoughtful act of kindness made the people of our mission reallyfeel connected to the rest of the Diocese. It also meant so much to me per-sonally. There have been other times like this over the previous months and foreach one of them, I am very thankful.
In a time when so many souls have drifted from – or have never even known– the beauty of the Orthodox Faith, our Diocesan mission churches are doingall they can to bring the Light of Christ into an otherwise dark corner of theirrespective communities. Reaching out to these missions can go a long way to-wards reinvigorating their spiritual strength and making them feel connectedto the larger parishes/communities within the Diocese. I believe that as timegoes on, and as these missions mature, they, in turn, will be better positionedto also help future missions, thus reaching even more souls. After all, isn’tspreading the Light of Christ what the Church is all about?
To all the faithful of the Diocese who made Holy Myrrhbearers OrthodoxMission’s first Pascha possible, thank you! I pray each of you has a blessed re-mainder of the Paschal Season!
Fr. Maximus Tatum is the pastor of Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Mission inHampton Roads, Virginia. He can be reached at [email protected] (757)270-2160.
Holy Myrrhbearers Mission CelebratesFirst Pascha
NEW YORK, NY--St. Nicholas Church (10th St, NYC), recently sponsoreda cruise on the Oasis of the Seas - the world’s largest ship. A total of 85 peo-ple travelled to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Nassau, Bahamas. Along withparishioners from the Diocese (NYC, Manville, Binghamton), our friendsfrom the Greek Catholic Church, St. John’s Slovak Roman Catholic Churchin NYC, and even from Presov, Slovakia joined us. A great time was had byall. We are already planning our next cruise in 2012 to Scandinavia and Rus-sia.
Page 12 THE CHURCH MESSENGER April 25, 2010
PE
RIO
DIC
AL
and left nothing undone to lead us to heaven and to bestow upon us your futurekingdom” (Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom). Why after such difficulty
with His creation does God still give so much? After such loss of community
at the time of Noah, God remains committed to us with the cure of our fall-
eness. He engages us and seeks that communal relationship. He invites
mankind to be co-creators of life every time a child is conceived. He comes
to us and seeks our cooperation.
“Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward
Him, He said to Philip, where shall we buy bread that these may eat?” John
6:5 “Notice that little pronoun we! Jesus could have fed the multitudes alone, with-out the assistance of the disciples. But He calls them into fellowship with Him. Hetells them, in effect, ‘The needs of the world are not a matter for Me alone, or foryou alone, but for us together! I am the Vine, you are the branches.’ We shall feedthem” (Fr. Anthony Conairis Philokalia – The Bible of Orthodox Spiritual-
ity).
This fellowship with God is the Church and only in this fellowship do the
branches (we) survive. God in His love guides us to the church and to con-
tinue our nourishment there. He clearly notes this in Eph 3:9-12 “ …and tomake all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of theages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the ex-tent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the churchto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternalpurpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord….” God has chosen the
community of the church to make the manifest wisdom of Himself known to
the angels in heaven. Is this not a great gift of love? Is this not a uniting of
the Church and the heavenly powers in community. This is why St. Paul says
in 1Cor. 12:13-14 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whetherJews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into oneSpirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” Or we read in 1 Peter
2:9-10 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, holy nation, His ownspecial people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out ofdarkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the peo-ple of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” This
calling out of darkness into the light of the church is thus for our healing, be-
coming “like God”, becoming deified.
Hierotheos Vlachos states, “…the Church is the Body of Christ. It is not ahuman organism, but the Divine-human Body of Christ. We also said that theChurch is a communion of deification, which means that its aim is to guide itsmembers to deification, which is the basic objective of man’s creation.” The Mind
of the Orthodox Church. Here we see that because of the Fall, God is calling
us back, not forcing us but calling us back as community, a loving community.
This calling to communion is done with care, and not with force. “Certainlyas love cannot be ‘commanded’, neither can communion come about through laws;…participation in it is free and distinctive” (Christos Yannaras, The Freedom
of Morality).
Our love for God then must include a love for His community and it cannot
be separate from our love for our fellow man. When we express this love, for
others, in freedom, we in turn imitate the love of God as Trinity. “Greater
love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John
15:13. God leads by example of His voluntary death and His glorious Res-
urrection. We transform society by following Christ, by living in community,
the Church, koinonia. Hierotheos Vlachos notes, “It is utopian for us to wantto transform society by trying to find the suitable social system. It is not a questionof a system, but of a way of life.” Jesus said “ I am the way the truth and the life.”
John 14:6 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another….
if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.” 1
John 4:11-12.
Sometimes the hardest thing to see is how we influence other people. Love
them. Love them all. Love them all from the blueprint God has given us,
His Divine-human Body of Christ, His community, His Church.
Father Matthew Conjelko
JOHNSTOWN, PA -- With the Blessing of His Eminence, MetropolitanNicholas, the National Junior ACRY has taken it upon itself to help aid the or-phanage of Saint Nicholas in Slovakia. This decision was made by the Na-tional Jr. ACRY at the National ACRY Convention held Labor Day Weekend2009
Saint Nicholas orphanage located in Medzilaborce, Slovakia offers a home,safety, education and so much more to over 90 children. We, the National Jr.ACRY, would like to aid the orphanage in its tasks to safeguard the lives ofthese orphaned children. As God does not abandon us, so too, we must notneglect those who are in need in our communities and around the world.
The National Junior ACRY is inviting all parishes, Church School classes andother parish organizations to aid in this endeavor of providing for the needsof others through this Diocesan mission during this Paschal season and Sum-mer. This appeal is a great opportunity to teach the lesson of our Lord that Henever leaves us orphaned. Let us take the opportunity to join in the ministryto offer ourselves in meeting the needs of others.
How can you help? You can also hold an event or fund-raiser to provide fund-ing for the mission. You can also have a collection box in the parish hall for useduring your social time following the service. Special collection containers canbe given out to families to have in their homes. Funds will be coordinatedthrough Saints Peter & Paul ACRY in Windber Pennsylvania. Checks can bemade out to SS Peter & Paul ACRY Chapter 13 with Jr. ACRY Project in thememo and sent to 141 Hoffman Farm Road, Windber, PA 15963. Please callFr. Miles Zdinak, National JR ACRA Spiritual Advisor at 814.467.7444 ifyou have any questions.
(Material assistance is not practical at this time, as sending things through cus-toms is expensive and slow.) Please send all donations by July 31, 2010.
JR ACRY Sponsors Paschal YouthProject 2010
2010 NATIONAL ACRYMETROPOLITAN ORESTES
BOWLING TOURNAMENT
Host: A.C.R.Y. Chapter #25 -Potomac, Maryland
Dates: May 28th, 29th, 30th &31st, 2010
Contacts: [email protected] [email protected]
Ads for Booklet Due: April15th, 2010
Hotel Reservation Deadline:May 3rd, 2010
-Guest Sermon, cont’d from page 2
ANNUAL CAMP CLEAN-UP DAY
Saturday, May 22ndAll Day
Help us kick-off the Summer Season with a clean and beautiful CampNazareth.
Looking for cleaners as well as skilled personnel (Carpenters, Painters,Electricians, Plumbers). We’ll put you to good use as we prepare forour kids at Camp.
Plenty of work to do for everyone.
Overnight Lodging at the Camp is Available
Meals are providedPlease call the Camp at 724-662-4840 to let us know you are comingor are planning on staying overnight. We will be planning out meals andaccommodations.
Come help us prepare the Camp for our children, enjoy good food andfellowship with one another, stay overnight, attend Liturgy and knowthat you have helped our kids and one of our vital Diocesan apostolates.