Looking Ahead, June 7

➤ All Saints of Rus’-Ukraine

Tomorrow—the week after All Saints’ Day—is celebrated as the Feast of All Saints of Rus’-Ukraine, a joyful day for us to honor the thousands of saints that have graced the Church in Ukraine since its establishment in Kyiv over a thousand years ago, and to ask their intercession for the Ukrainian people today, both at home in the midst of the Russian invasion, and all over the world, including our own parish.

To celebrate this feast, we will be using somewhat more Ukrainian than usual. We’ll sing “Only-begotten Son,” the Cherubic Hymn, “It is Truly Right,” and “Let our mouths be filled” in Ukrainian, and Brian is graciously providing transliterations, so you can sing along even if you don’t read Cyrillic.

In addition to modern Ukrainian, the priests will also take a few litanies and exclamations in Slavonic.

 Slavonic is the liturgical language that was developed by Sts. Cyril and Methodius as a fitting vessel for translating our original Greek scriptural and liturgical texts. It still remains the official liturgical language of the UGCC, even though it’s now much more common to use modern Ukrainian. Since it’s the language used for prayer and worship by the vast majority of the saints we’ll celebrate tomorrow, it’s good and appropriate for us to use at least a little of it ourselves.

One other thing for tomorrow: the 1st and 3rd Antiphons (towards the beginning of Liturgy) will be different than usual. During the Apostles’ Fast and other Fasts of the liturgical year, we will be using what are called the “Typical Psalms” and Beatitudes. This means that at the first antiphon, we’ll sing Psalm 102 (103), a psalm about God’s mercy and love for sinful and weak humanity. And for the 3rd antiphon, we’ll sing the Beatitudes – Christ’s words from the Sermon on Mount in Matthew 5 listing the virtues and qualities that we strive to cultivate as children of the Kingdom.

➤ Thursday, Moleben to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lover of Mankind

We will offer this Moleben on Thursday evening at 6:15, the eve of the Feast of our Lord, the Lover of Mankind (i.e., Sacred Heart). If you have names of the living you would like us to pray for at this service, please email them to me, or write them on a slip of paper before the service.

➤ Summer Opportunities for You and Your Kids!

• 1. Every summer, the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat hosts the All-American Youth Conference – Всеамериканська Молодіжна Проща, in Parma, Ohio, June 11–14. Це особливо гарна можливість для україномовної молоді!

“Друзі, раді анонсувати програму прощі! На вас чекають 3 незабутні дні в колі прочан —час молитви, радості та глибокої зустрічі з Богом і один з одним.” — “Friends, we are excited to announce the pilgrimage program! You can look forward to 3 unforgettable days among fellow pilgrims — a time of prayer, joy, and a deep encounter with God and one another.”  

More details are here and (Українською мовою) on Facebook here.

• 2. The Metr. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute, in Toronto, Canada, is hosting its annual Study Days, June 19–21, on the theme “The Gift of Monasticism.” I will be there and speaking on the theme: “Revealing of Thoughts, ‘Mental Hygiene,’ and Being Vulnerable with God”. More information and registration is here.

• 3. The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma is hosting its Annual Family Liturgy & Life Camp, August 9–14, at Cedar Lake, Indiana – a week of liturgical prayer, catechesis, and recreation.

“Bring your family for a joyful week of prayer, play, and community at our Family Liturgy & Life Camp! This year’s program is built around the four ‘ships’ from Bishop Robert’s Christ God Our Hope: Discipleship, Worship, Fellowship, and Stewardship. With age‑specific morning sessions, afternoons full of recreation, and evenings gathered in prayer and fellowship, it’s the perfect blend of faith and family fun.” 

This is a great opportunity to get to know other Greek Catholic families (of various traditions, Melkite, Ukrainian, Ruthenian…). Our good friend Fr. Andrew Summerson is the chaplain. It’s possible that I may be there as well — yet to be determined. More info here and on Facebook here.