SAINT JOHN’S ORTHODOX CHURCH

3180 Morefield Road • Hermitage, PA 16148 Office: 724-981-0571 • Rectory: 724-346-4457

Fax: 724-308-6615 • Website: www.stjohnacroc.org

Clergy: Rev. Father David Mastroberte

Very Rev. Protopresbyter Michael Polanichka Rev. Deacon John Anderson

A Parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese—Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

CALENDAR FOR MARCH 15-21, 2020

SUN 3/15/2020 SECOND SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST—ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

9:00 AM Divine Liturgy

Panachida: ++Palahunik Family (Perpetual)

+John and +Mary Spondike (Perpetual)

+Andrew and +Agnes Karas (Perpetual)

MON 3/16/2020

6:00 PM Board Meeting

WED 3/18/2020

6:00 PM Confession

6:30 PM Lenten Service: Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

FRI 3/20/2020

6:00 PM Confession

6:30 PM "Moleben to the Passion of Christ."

SAT 3/21/2020 THIRD SOUL SATURDAY

8:30 AM Divine Liturgy (Chapel)

Panachida with Reading of Lists of Names of Departed (Hramoty)

CALENDAR FOR MARCH 22-29, 2020

*SUN 3/22/2020 THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST — CROSS VENERATION

9:00 AM Divine Liturgy

Panachida: +Vasil & +Melania Hercha (Perpetual)

+John Belous (Perpetual)

+Paul, +Ruth, +Paul D Pavlick (Perpetual)

WED 3/25/2020 ANNUNCIATION TO THE MOTHER OF GOD (HOLYDAY)

9:00 AM Divine Liturgy

6:00 PM Confession

6:30 PM Lenten Service: Paraklis to the Mother of God

FRI 3/27/2020

6:00 PM Confession

6:30 PM Lenten Service: Moleben to the Holy Cross

Panachida with Reading of Lists of Names of Departed (Hramoty)

In Observance of the Fourth Soul Saturday

SAT 3/28/2020 OUR LENTEN MISSION

2:30 PM Confession

4:00 PM Vespers with Homily by Fr. Nicholas Mihaly

Followed by Lenten Fish Dinner

*SUN 3/29/2020 FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST — ST. JOHN OF THE LADDER

9:00 AM Divine Liturgy Followed by Lenten Communion Breakfast

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wednesday, March 25 is the holyday of the Annunciation to the Mother of God—the day on which the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to announce to Mary that she would conceive Christ. We read about this glorious event in Luke 1:26-28. As the day of the Incarnation, it is celebrated by the Church as a great feast, even during this solemn season of Lent. The festal Divine Liturgy will be served on March 25th at 9:00 AM. That evening—since do not offer the Presanc-tified Liturgy on this day—we will have a Paraklis Service to the Mother of God as our Wednesday evening service at 6:30 PM. (Remember: Holy Communion is not distributed at a Paraklis service.) Confessions will be heard before most evening services; before Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings, starting at 8:25 AM; at our Lenten Mission on March 28th; and by appointment. All Orthodox Christians are expected to approach this sacra-ment during Lent! Reminder About the Eucharistic Fast: Those receiving Communion at an even-ing Liturgy are to fast for a minimum of 3 hours prior to the service. (Ideally, we should not eat after lunch.) Fasting from midnight is still observed before receiv-ing Communion at any morning Liturgy. (Also, remember that only services called “Liturgy” have the distribution of Holy Communion. Other services—Vespers, Canon, Moleben, Akathist, Paraklis, Parastas—do not have Communion.) “Willow Watch”: Please keep an eye out for pussywillows. Cut them as soon as they are ready and bring them to the church. We do have ONE request: do not put them in plastic bags. Please use paper bags. We are accepting donations of candy for the Easter Egg Hunt on April 19th. They must be individually wrapped and small enough to fit inside the plastic eggs.

Stewardship

By Dan Hromyak "Everyone who drinks the water will be thirsty again." - John 4:13 Jesus reminds us that material things, even something a basic as water, can never satisfy us for long. When we build our lives around material possessions we always want more. True Joy and Peace only comes when we follow Jesus; when we become more "God-centered" and less "self-centered". Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appear-ance but the Lord looks into the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7 How often do we invest our time, talent and treasure in creating the appearance that does not matter at all to God? We strive to impress with our clothing, home, career, possessions, car and oth-er marks of distinction. But none of these illusions of greatness will impress God. Instead, He will look into our hearts to see how much we loved Him, how much we loved others and how we showed that love by the way we used our time, talent and treasure here on earth.

Communique from the Ecumenical Patriarchate

About COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The Holy and Great Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, convened under the presidency of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and among other issues, thoroughly deliberated upon the events of the COVID-19 (Corona) virus and with a feeling of pastoral responsibility, points out the following:

1) Despite the seriousness of the situation, prudence, patience, and the avoidance of panic are advised.

2) The Church has and continues to respect medical science. Thus, the Church rec-ommends that all the faithful adhere to the official directives of both the World Health Organization and the pertinent pronouncements and legal regulations is-sued by the civil authorities of their respective countries.

3) The Ecumenical Patriarchate expresses its gratitude to all those working self-sacrificially within all health, medical, nursing, and research fields in order that this new pandemic be confronted and treated.

4) The Mother Church of Constantinople knows empirically from its two-thousand-year existence that Holy Communion is “the antidote to mortality” and remains firm in its Orthodox teaching regarding the Holy Eucharist.

5) It is considered self-evident that faith in God, as transcendence and not as the abolition of human reason, along with prayer strengthen the spiritual battle of eve-ry Christian. Therefore, the Mother Church of Constantinople urges its spiritual children throughout the world to intensify their petitions so that, strengthened and illumined by God, this contemporary tribulation may be overcome.

11 March 2020

From the Chief Secretariat

of the Holy and Sacred Synod

Sick Calls can be made at any time. Please phone the rectory (724-346-4457) when a family member is admitted to the hospi-tal, or to request a home visit. Hospitals do not call to alert the parish when someone is admitted.

Marriages are solemnized on Saturdays or Sundays. Circumstanc-es may require a dispensation from the diocesan bishop. Consult the pastor at least six months in advance and before any plans have been made for the wedding reception. Marriages cannot be celebrated during the fasting seasons of the church, or on Fridays.

Baptisms are usually scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays. Consult the pastor. Two godparents (godfather and godmother) are re-quired, at least one of whom must be a practicing Orthodox Chris-tian in good standing at an Orthodox parish, and the other (at least) a practicing, baptized Christian.

Church Funerals are, under ordinary circumstances, provided for practicing Orthodox Christians who are current in their spiritual and material obligations to the parish; otherwise, the funeral service is conducted at the funeral home. The Church does not permit cremation.

Parishioners in “good standing” are those Orthodox Christians who, as members of Saint John’s Orthodox Church, strive to live according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church; participate in the life of the parish through regular church attendance, regular reception of Holy Communion and periodic Holy Confession (and receive these sacraments no less than once a year); if married, having been married in the Orthodox Church; and financially sup-port the parish (especially through an annual “pledge”). Prospective members and returning members are asked to fill out an application form, copies of which are available in the church office.

Sacramental and Membership Information

April 2020 Pirohi Order Form Order Deadline: Sunday, March 29, 2020

(724) 981-0571 Name: ______________________________ Phone Number: ______________________ ____ Potato-Cheese Pirohi @ $8.00/dozen

____ Butter Only ____ Butter and Onions (on the side) Total Amount Due: $_______

Pick-Up on Friday, April 3, 2020 12:00 Noon—2:00 PM

Doors Open at Noon.

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Please add your name

to the sign-up sheet in the Hall!

Wed., April 1

at 1:00 PM (Hall setup; Potato prep)

Thurs., April 2

at 6:00 PM (Filling prep)

Friday, April 3

at 8:00 AM (Pirohi Making and Sale)

Thank you in advance

for your help!

Get Your Orders in by March 29th!

We express our deepest condolences upon the passing of Debby Doyle who fell asleep in the Lord on March 2nd. May God grant her blessed repose.

Eternal Memory! Vi�naja jej pamjat!

Happy Birthday!

March 15 Mary Barbara Hardy March 15 Michael Ristvey March 16 Joseph Jaeger March 16 Michael Yonchak March 17 Father David March 18 Marge Holmes March 21 Karen Hynes March 23 Karen Bair March 23 Jessica Nameth March 24 Michael Saluga March 25 Mary Hynes March 28 Stephanie Shumkaroff

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March 15

In honor of Mother

Marge Holmes on her birthday, March 18th

By: Sue & Rich Preston

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March 15

In honor of our Baba

Marge Holmes on her birthday, March 18th

By: Laruen, Alex & Megan Holmes & Richie Preston

March 22

In loving memory of the

Repasky Family

By: Katie Hartley

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March 15

In honor of Aunt

Marge Holmes on her birthday, March 18th

By: Debbie & Greg Cross

March 8

In loving memory of Father, Joseph Pavlick and Uncles, Godfather Paul Pavlick and

Andrew Pavlick on their birthdays

By: Debbie & Greg Cross

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March 22

Dave Beight Dennis Burprich Jerry Chupak Tom Doyle Ed Fabian

March 29

Matt Fabian Dave Firster Mike Holmes Jim Hynes Bob Kapusta

March 22

Wreath of flowers for the Holy Cross Sponsored by: Nancy & Mike Ristvey