Українська Католицька Церква Святого Івана Хрестителя
Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church
124 Bridge Street / P.O. Box 206
Salem, Massachusetts 01970
Fr. James F. Morris, Jr., Pastor
3Dewey Dr. Unit D Salem, MA 01970
Email: stjnsalem624@gmail.com
cellular phone: 781-632-5182
Parish Calendar
Слава Ісусу Христу! Слава на віки! Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Sunday, September 18 – Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, September 24 – Funeral Service and Memorial for + George and + Aur Pinecross –
Divine Liturgy and Panakhyda – 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, September 25 – 16th Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, October 1 – Protection of the Mother of God – Divine Liturgy – 9:00 a.m.
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Ukraine – As the media coverage of the War in Ukraine seems to fade into the background, we have actually learned of a renewed attack on the capital city of Kyiv this past week and of continued shelling and attacks on other cities in various regions. The devastating June 27th attack on a Shopping Mall in Kremenchuk was described by President Volodymyr Zelensky as “one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European History.” Initially, 18 people were reported dead, with 40 missing and some 60 injured. There was no threat to the Russian army reported. Rather, this attack was simply an attempt on Russia’s part to sabotage “people’s attempts to live a normal life, which makes the occupiers so angry,” according to President Zelensky. On the day following this attack, His Beatitude, Patriarch Sviatoslav expressed “prayerful closeness to the relatives and friends of the victims and all the wounded.” As he often does in his daily messages, Patriarch Sviatoslav ended with these words: “But Ukraine is standing. Ukraine is fighting. And we thank the Lord God and the armed forces of Ukraine that we have survived to this morning and can see the light of day.”
We continue to pray for our parishioners Nadiya and Evheniy Troyan who have returned from their trip outside of Lviv and continue to reach out to the children living in the “Modular City” in Lviv and to be a support and presence to their son, Volodymyr and other family members. We likewise continue to pray for Ihor and Christine Bilyk’s son, Olesh along with his family and other family members and friends of our parishioners.
Refugee Fund – As a next phase in expressing concern for the Ukrainian People, we have started a parish “Refugee Fund.” It would seem inevitable that there will be arrivals to the north shore who will find their way to our church and be in need of assistance from us. We are already receiving donations to this fund from friends outside the parish and we wish to let everyone know about its establishment. As mentioned, we have partnered with our brothers and sisters at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Salem to support one another in these efforts. Along with accepting monetary donations for this fund, it would be equally as helpful to accept gift cards to Stop and Shop, Market Basket, Walmart or Target. Families with children who are attempting to start a new life after fleeing the War will certainly be able to utilize this kind of assistance. Donations to the Refugee Fund should be labeled accordingly and will be credited to those using the parish envelope system. Thank you.
Painting Project – As indicated at the Parish gathering on July 17, we have received the green light from the Chancery Office for the painting of the church interior. We are pleased with the proposal from the locally based APC Services, which has done a number of church interiors in the area, including that of St. Mary, Star of the Sea in Beverly.
We are most grateful to Mrs. Dorothy Stemniski, formerly of Swampscott and now of McKinney, Texas for her generous pledge of half the proposed cost of the project. Mrs. Stemniski has offered this generous gift in memory of her dear husband, John Stemniski. John was always a generous contributor to parish projects for his many decades of involvement with St. John’s. Likewise, Mrs. Stemniski hoped that this gift would serve as an incentive to others to step forward and do what they are able. We have begun to receive other pledges and donations will gratefully continue to do so. While we all understand that these times are not easy and that prices are increasing in every area of our life, we ask at the very least that you consider how you might be able to assist with this project.
Although not alarming, there has been a slight increase to the bottom line of cost as you might expect. You will soon have an itemized version of the proposal along with some extra touches to highlight the religious art work in the church and to add highlights of color to some key features of the church interior.
Likewise you will see updates on a regular basis reflecting pledges and donations as we go forward.
Passing to Eternal Life – We extend prayerful condolences to Mr. Sergio Pinecross and to Alexandra and Thomas Pinecross Shileds and their children Isabella, Peter and Padraic at the Falling asleep in Christ of their dear parents and grandparents, George and Aur Pinecross, during the past year.
Euskal and George Pinecross came to the United States from Spain with a visa for “individuals with extraordinary artistic abilities,” and were invited to participate in an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Aur Pinecross had a background in Theology and wrote poetry with Mystical and Social Justice Themes. She gave lectures and workshops and also travelled as a missionary.
Mr. George Pinecross had a background in Fine Arts and Iconography, and became an accomplished iconographer having accepted many commissions including churches in the United States and Europe. George and his son, Sergio painted icons as Mrs. Pinecross obtained the many commissions on which they worked.
Mr. and Mrs. Pinecross first became familiar with the Ukrainian Church from their association with the Ukrainian Sisters in New York. We came to know them some ten years ago when they attended services here at St. John the Baptist in Salem shortly after a tragic fire which did damage to their studio in Lowell.
A Memorial Divine Liturgy and Panakhyda Service will be celebrated at St. John’s for George and Aur Pinecross on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. May God grant blessed repose in the company of the saints to his faithful servants George and Aur and may their Memory be Eternal! Vichnaya Pamyat!