Springtime Event Aims to Help Women Grow in their Spirituality The 15th annual Women’s Day of Reflection will be held 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 5 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 210 Greentree Road, Munhall, Pa. … Continue reading
BCW Stories
A “Wonderful” Miracle
Part 3: Journey Through Salvation History to Understand the Pre-Lenten Seasons So far we have been exploring the Genesis 3:15 prophecy where Yahweh explained to Eve that a woman’s seed (not a man’s) would be responsible for crushing the power … Continue reading
A wave hello to begin the day
Notes to self: Every day when I come to work, I always pay attention to a school crossing guard stationed at one of the intersections on the North Side of Pittsburgh, Pa. She definitely looks like any other crossing guard … Continue reading
“40 Days for Life”
An informal pan-Eastern Catholic prayer vigil took place at a location where many prayers are needed. Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, Pa. took the initiative to schedule a four hour vigil at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, where over 3,000 babies are mercilessly aborted annually.
Deacon Paul Boboige, of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh ProLife Office, and his wife Patricia joined cantor George Hanchar and his wife Svetlana, and Deacon Myron Spak. Sunday evenings are generally quiet but on this day there was considerable pedestrian traffic going to the Pittsburgh Penguins game.
Pittsburgh’s “40 Days for Life” is conducted strictly by volunteers who humbly pray for God’s intercession to close by Deacon Paul Boboige Pro-Life Office, Byzantine Catholic Arceparchy of Pittsburgh the facility and change the hearts of those who encourage mothers to deny life to the living persons within them. There are semi-annual vigils, the first during the Great Fast and one in the Fall. Continue reading
“Our aim is growth in the Church”
Preparations Continue For Assembly 2018 Deacon Dennis Prestash believes the mission for the Byzantine Catholic Church in the 21st Century is clear. “Our aim is growth in the church,” he said. How this growth and vitality is achieved will be … Continue reading
Mission of mercy
St. Gregory Parishioners Provide Medical Care in Honduras. When Anne Hast and her daughter, Rachel, traveled to Honduras last summer to assist in a medical mission, they woke up at 4 a.m. each day. From June 17 to 24, … Continue reading
Forgiveness comes from forgiving others, Pope says
“God’s forgiveness is felt strongly within us as long as we forgive others” VATICAN CITY — Christians must let go of resentments and forgive those who have wronged them so that they may experience God’s forgiveness, Pope Francis said. This … Continue reading
Cross procession
St. Gregory in Upper St. Clair, PA. As part of our Lenten journey, the Third Sunday of the Great Fast is dedicated to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord. Following the Divine Liturgy on March 4, blessed with … Continue reading
Mark Your Calendar Pascha 2018
Dates to Remember Retreat for Boy Scouts The Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa. will host a retreat for Boy Scouts on April 21. Any Scout is welcome and Scouts working on or who have … Continue reading
Pascha 2018
Christos Voskrese! Voistinnu Voskrese!
As we celebrate the Easter Season, we bring Easter lilies and other flowers and plants into our churches. The pussy willows and palms from Palm Sunday are joined with explosions of colors and scents of flowers and Easter baskets which announce that the Lenten fast has come to a close and the celebration honoring our Risen Lord is upon us!
Our Easter traditions are supported by the natural cycle of the transition from the cold and darkness of winter to the warmth and new growth of springtime. Despite the severity of this winter and flu season, the return of spring gives the hope of summer and the return of blossoms and flowers which we bring into our churches.
Today, we take plants and the food they provide for granted. Unlike the past when our grandparents and almost everyone grew their own food, we can go to the supermarket and purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, spices and flowers any time or season of the year. Our grandchildren may wonder how people could exist without online delivery of prepared dinners.
To understand Jesus’ words, we must return to a time when people were closer to nature. Jesus often used stories and parables about the growing of food from seeds, the harvesting of crops, and the preparation of food to explain His Resurrection and the kingdom of heaven. Continue reading
