Miraculous "Mary, Helper of Mothers" Icon at St Johns
A miraculous Marian icon will be placed at St John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 100 Saint John Drive, Trumbull CT
From November 13–27. Molbean on Tuesdays, November 15th and 22nd at 6:00 PM
It is especially beloved by women who struggle with infertility or difficult pregnancies.
There will be several opportunities for faithful to come and venerate the icon.
For more info: www.stjohntrumbull.org
Our Lady of Mariapocs
The Weeping Icon
Pledge cards will be arriving in your mailbox shortly.
Dear friends,
This year, the whole world is transfixed by the war in Ukraine. Many people who are still alive remember the horrors of the last great war. People in our own churches here remember the long night of the invasion and occupation by the Red Army, and its ruthless suppression of the Christian faith.
Our brothers and sisters in the old country are deeply grateful for the generosity of all the good people of the Eparchy of Passaic and of all our churches in America. In Transcarpathia, there are six hundred thousand refugees in a region with only three hundred thousand residents. Our bishop, Bishop Nil, presides over three or four funerals each week of young men killed in combat, young men often with young wives and children. I don’t think I could go on as a pastor if I had to do that. I can’t tell you how important it is to them that we remember them and pray for them. They never ask for things, they only ask, “Please don’t forget us. Please pray for us.”
This year I am joyful to share with you our miraculous icon from our original home in the Austro-Hungarian empire, the icon of Our Lady from Mariapocs. This icon wept for the first time on November 14, 1696 during the final attempt by the Ottoman Turks to conquer Europe. The emperor took the original icon to Vienna. The journey took five months because of the crowds of people and the many miraculous healings that took place on the journey. Our people made a copy for our own church in Mariapocs, and the original never wept again after it moved to Vienna.
Meanwhile, in our church in Mariapocs, the new icon wept two more times. The next time was in 1715, and so the church authorities built a Basilian monastery to care for the icon and the countless pilgrims who go there to pray. Our own Fathers Basil Rackaczy and Joe Erdei lived at that monastery in recent years until their deaths. When I went to Father Joe’s funeral this summer, I had the opportunity to pray in front of the great icon, and I prayed for all of you with all my heart. It made me happy that Pope Francis asked me to be the bishop of this great eparchy.
The third weeping of the icon in our church in Mariapocs took place in 1905. Just as with the other events, the icon cried during the holy sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy. The year 1905 is one of the most ominous years in history. The massacre at the Winter Palace by the guards of the proud Tsar led to the Revolution of 1917 that spread atheism and terror across the globe. The Mother of God had good cause to weep in 1905. But the icon reminds us that Mary is always present for us in our suffering, our good mother who was given to us by her Divine Son during his own death on the cross. Wherever He is crucified today, she is standing there with him. I am thrilled to send you this photo of the miraculous icon this year. And I ask that you pray fervently for God’s mercy on our world. If you look closely, you can see the stains from the tears.
Do you wish to send money to help refugees? It is difficult to know whom to trust. Our Eparchy of Passaic can send money directly to our bishop in eastern Europe who is helping refugees right now. We know where that money goes, and we trust the people who are using it. You may send a check to our office, made out to "Eparchy of Passaic" with "refugees" in the memo. Mail the check to Eparchy of Passaic--refugees,
445 Lackawanna Ave, Woodland Park, New Jersey, 07424. You will receive a tax letter at the end of the year as for Bishop Appeal.
You may also donate online to Aid To The Church in Need at churchinneed.org
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Bishop Kurt and Bishop Nil visit Greek Catholic gypsy parish in Transcarpathia |
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Bishop Nil looks on as a school house is converted into a refugee dormitory. |
EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD MISSION
GAITHERSBURG, MD
Established in October 1996, Epiphany of Our Lord Mission Community is a group of Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholics of the Eparchy (or Diocese) of Passaic, New Jersey, living in and around upper Montgomery County, Maryland. This mission of Epiphany of Our Lord Church-Annandale serves the spiritual needs of approximately 30 families in the Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Germantown area, located along the I-270 Technology Corridor. Many of these individuals are descendants of second and third generation immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe who worshipped in an Eastern Christian, or Byzantine, style but within the fullness of the worldwide Catholic Church. We welcome all, regardless of ethnic background, to join us in prayer.
JOIN US AT OUR NEW LOCATION: 9301 Warfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD
For Divine Liturgy Schedule see below
Byzantine Outreach in Fort Mill, SC
A Byzantine Catholic community is forming at St. Philip Neri RC Church, 292 Munn Road, Fort Mill, South Carolina (about a half hour drive from Charlotte, North Carolina). Please join us as we grow our community and celebrate together the Byzantine Divine Liturgy.
Father Steven Galuschik of All Saints Byzantine Catholic Church in North Fort Myers, Florida began celebrating the Divine Liturgy with the community at the end of October, 2017. This community will serve the northern part of South Carolina as well as Charlotte, North Carolina.
Please share this information with your friends and family, especially those who have moved "down South." The Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. If you would like to participate in any way, or have questions please contact Ron Somich at 440-477-6389 or at ron.somich@gmail.com or visit the website at https://carolinabyzantine.com for news, upcoming gatherings and service times.
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Packing up meals for refugees |
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Donated supplies for distribution to refugees |
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Converted school house dormitory. |
Living in or near Brooklyn?
The Divine Liturgy is now being celebrated in Brooklyn, New York!
Sundays at 8:00 a.m. at:
Saint Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church
215 Exeter Street
Brooklyn, New York 11235
Come, pray with us and see our growing community!
For more information please contact Father Iaroslav Korostil
570-507-4483
Byzantine Catholic Outreach
The Villages, Florida
Served from Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church,
New Port Richey, Florida.
“A loving, praying community giving Glory to Jesus Christ!”
Divine Liturgy Every Saturday, 11:00 AM.
Served by Father Oleksiy Nebesnyk
***NEW LOCATION***
Christ Lutheran Church, 15699 SE 80th Ave, Summerfield, FL 34491
Outreach Contact /Phone: 727-849-1190
Olexiynebesnyk@gmail.com
COME AND SEE
For a limited time, click above to preview
the Eparchy of Passaic's new Publication "Come and See"
Copies of the book are availlable from you pastor or by
contacting the Director Of Eastern Christian Formation at
direcf@eparchyofpassaic.com