My name is Father Vasyl Symyon, originally from the Byzantine Cathol i c Eparchy of Mukachevo, Ukraine, and currently a Byzantine Catholic priest within the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.

I have served as pastor of two wonderful parishes in the Archeparchy for nearly five years. And during my time here, I have been asked by many of my parishioners about the need to confess their sins. Questions such as: “What must I say when I come to confession?,” “What do I have to confess?,” “Of what I believe I do wrong, are some
of them really sins?,” “What is the definition of a grave sin?,” “What is a venial sin?,” and “When and how often do I have to go to confession?”

With those questions in mind, this article is the first in a series through which I will provide important answers to important questions in the field of moral theology and bioethics based on the teaching of the Catholic Church. Therefore, I hope to enlighten all readers to grow their spiritual lives, enhance their holiness and help them reach the Kingdom of God.

As significant material for this article, I referenced a very important document of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States. On Nov. 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a document, “Guidelines on the Reception of Communion,” which teaches us:

“As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.” Continue reading →

Deacon Thomas Wells was ordained a priest forever by Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla during the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, Jan. 18 at his home parish of St. John Chrysostom in Houston, Texas.

Concelebrating with the Metropolitan were Very Rev.Elias L. Rafaj, administrator of St. John; Very Rev. Robert M. Pipta; Rev. Father Janucz A. Ihnatowicz of the Latin Archdiocese of Kraków, Poland; and the Rev. Father Fadi Al Mimass of the Melkite Mission of St. Barbara in Houston.

The parish Deacon Andrew Veres; Deacon Brian Norrell of St. Basil in Irving, Texas; Sub-deacon Bryan Scotton of the Passaic Eparchy; and Subdeacon Jamil Daaboul of the Melkite Mission assisted.
Deacon Jeffrey Mierzejewski served as cantor. Also serving at the altar were Father Tom’s son, Michael; his son in law William Peacock; and parishioners Ryan Black, Will Colbert, Phillip Kaye, David Dominguez and Angelo Luna.

In his homily, Archbishop William noted that “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired hand, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
Continue reading →