‘Come and See’ October 14-15-16 at Seminary To be a priest … don’t you have to give up everything – your family, your friends, the things you enjoy? Don’t you have to be super holy, super smart, or somehow different? … Continue reading →

75th, 50th Jubilees celebrated by three nuns by Sister Elaine Kisinko OSBM The Sisters of Saint Basil of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province, Uniontown, Pa. recently honored their sisters who were observing jubilees and significant year anniversaries. On Sunday, … Continue reading →

For our pilgrimages during this Year of Mercy, we receive special blessings by passing through the designated places of the Doors of Mercy. We will have this opportunity both during the Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Uniontown over Labor Day weekend and during the Pilgrimage for the Holy Year of Mercy to Rome in October.

The journey of the pilgrimage is always an adventure. The way of the pilgrim deepens our prayer life. The way is never easy or without cost. Weather or other easier paths can direct us away, but the call to begin the journey continues.

The feast in the Eastern Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, or as it is also known in the Church of the West as the Assumption of Mary, is one of the most ancient Holy Days celebrated. It marks the passing of Mary the Mother of God into heaven. In Eastern European countries, the most important date for the remembrance of a Christian is the day of passing into heaven. It is remembered and celebrated as the birthday into eternal life.

The reading from the gospel of Saint Luke is used for many feasts of Mary in the Byzantine Tradition. In the ending verses 11:27-28, we hear a woman cry out “Blest is the womb that bore you and the breast that nursed you!” “Rather,” Jesus replied, “blest are they who hear the Word of God and keep it.”

Through Mary’s giving birth and raising Jesus, the Lord blessed her in a special way. The Lord revealed to her alone special knowledge and blessings by her contact and relationship with Jesus. It is a role which is shared by all women who have the special role to bring new life into the world. We are all blest by Jesus if we hear the Word of God and keep it. Continue reading →