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 cellular phone: 781-632-5182
Email: stjnsalem624@gmail.com
Parish Calendar
Following Divine Liturgy there will be a Panakhyda for the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-33
Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Christians honor the Holy Apostle Andrew in a special way as he is considered to be the one who brought Christianity to the “Hills of Kyiv.” According to the tradition, St. Andrew preached in the colony-cities near the Black Sea coast, the ruins of which still exist in the south of Ukraine, particularly, Kherson.
The Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, known as the First Called by the Lord is celebrated on November 30.
Tropar: (tone 4)
As the first called of the apostles, and full brother of their leader, implore the Master of all to give peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.
Sunday, December 4 – 26th Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, December 8 – Maternity of St. Ann / Immaculate Conception – Divine Liturgy – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 11 – Sunday of the Forefathers / parish observance of Feast of St. Nicholas –
Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Annual St. Nicholas Dinner and Program
Admission for adults – $12.00
Special invitation is extended to families and children. We anticipate a visit from the Holy Saint himself
Baked ham and catered platters provided. Parishioners asked to bring side dishes and desserts.
Sunday, December 18 – Sunday before Christmas – Holy Ancestors of the Lord –
Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, December 25 – Christmas / Birth of Our Lord / Різдво Христого –
Cannon from Great Compline – 9:45 a.m.
Verses from the Prophet Isaiah with refrain “God is with us” / “З нами Бог”
Divine Liturgy with Kolyadi / Carols – 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, January 1 – Sunday Before Theophany / St. Basil the Great / Naming of the Child Jesus
Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. (The Liturgy of St. Basil is celebrated)
Thursday, January 5 – Vigil of Theophany – Divine Liturgy – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 8 – Sunday After Theophany – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Solemn Blessing of Holy Water
Bottled Holy Water will also be blessed at this time and available for the faithful to bring to their homes.
Sunday, January 15 – 33rd Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Seasonal Christmas and Theophany Dinner
If possible, please consider preparing and bringing a dish to share which corresponds to one of the traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve Meatless dishes.
Special announcement
*****Please note that plans are now in place for the painting of the church interior. Work in the church is scheduled to begin sometime after January 15. The Church hall will be set up to accommodate the celebration of Divine Liturgy in the best way we are able to do so. Thank you for your patience in this matter. Thank you also for the many thoughtful and generous contributions which have been made to help defray this important undertaking.*****
Sunday, January 22 – Sunday of Zaccheus – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, January 29 – Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, February 2 – Presentation of the Lord in the Temple – Divine Liturgy – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 5 – Sunday of the Prodigal Son – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, February 11 – 1st All Souls Saturday – Divine Liturgy – 9:00 a.m. (Sorokousty Devotion) Liturgy will be offered for all the Deceased of the Parish and Deceased Loved Ones.
Sunday, February 12 – Meat-Fare Sunday / Annual Parish Memorial Sunday –
Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Panakhyda for All Deceased Parishioners and recently departed family members.
This annual parish tradition allows us to pray for those who have died by name without having to observe multiple individual memorials.
There will be a buffet luncheon following Services.
Sunday, February 19 – Cheese-Fare Sunday – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Monday, February 20 – First Day of Great Lent – According to Traditional Observance and church directives, this is a day of Strict Fast and abstinence from meat and dairy products for all Byzantine Ukrainian Catholics. The Annual Retreat for the priests of the Stamford Eparchy is held this week in New York.
St. Nicholas Celebration: According to the longstanding tradition observed by Ukrainian Catholics and by our parish, we will have the annual St. Nicholas Dinner on Sunday, December 11. We will provide catered sandwich platters and an antipasto salad. We invite parishioners to bring a favorite side dish, salad, casserole or dessert to share as well. If you will be bringing young people with you, we ask that you also bring a modest gift for them and mark it clearly. You may do the same with any other gift you may wish to offer to anyone present. You may deliver those gifts to the back of the stage before Liturgy or before the dinner begins. It is our sincere hope that the Venerable St. Nicholas himself we once more visit us and offer us a message of encouragement in our spiritual lives as we prepare for Christmas.
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Dear Parishioners,
The Fast of St. Philip began on November 15. This is the forty day period of preparation for the feast of the Birth of Our Lord on Christmas. It is observed by all Byzantine Catholics, including Ukrainian Greek Catholics as well as Orthodox Christians. It is also sometimes called Advent. This is the term used in the Roman Catholic Church referring to the analogous period of preparation beginning four Sundays before Christmas. It is a latin based word that refers to looking toward the arrival of the Promised Savior, and is easily adaptable by the Eastern Church. This Advent period is a time during which we traditionally turn to the practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to the poor or service to neighbor. As we strive to be faithful and loyal disciples of Jesus and commit ourselves more deeply to His teachings, it behooves us to make a deliberate effort to integrate these three practices into our lives at this time of year. We all understand how secularized and commercialized Christmas has become in our world. We all understand the almost frantic emphasis has been placed on shopping and gift buying , not to mention indulging in food and drink to excess.
You and I can be models for others of what the life of a true Christian looks like. Our faithfulness to the church and to attending Liturgy is a good start in which we have perhaps made the best strides. Love for the church, the liturgy and for our parish community are attributes which I have seen and experienced at St. John’s by our faithful for over thirty years. Let us all take some time during these precious days of the Advent season to focus on how we might prepare our hearts to receive God’s great gift of salvation as the Holy Theotokos gives birth to the Eternal God in a humble cave where animals lived in Bethlehem.
In a practical way, we might take the time to read the gospel passage for the day that we find on the church calendar we have in our homes. We might take extra time to pray for our family and friends among the living and the dead. We might take one day per week to fast by simplifying our diet or giving up added treats. This kind of self-denial could be offered as a prayer for our Brothers and Sisters in Ukraine who are already suffering from lack of power, electricity, heat, and, in some cases, even the basic essentials of food and shelter. The North Shore Moving Market is always in need of our assistance. This agency provides food delivery to elderly and others who are unable to do their own shopping. A monetary donation or a gift of some essential non-perishable food items is always appreciated. Donations can be brought to church and left on the table by the entrance to the kitchen. The usual list of needed items includes coffee and tea bags, canned tuna, soups, fruit or vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, packaged macaroni and cheese, and shelf stable milk.
The sacrament of Confession is a true encounter with Christ Himself and with the Compassion, mercy and boundless love for each of us as daughters and sons of God. Even if it has been a long time since you may have last been to Confession, there is no need to hesitate taking advantage of this special opportunity. Confession is available before Liturgy or at other times by arrangement.
May we all remember those time honored Ukrainian Traditions, which remind us that the Christmas season BEGINS with the “Holy Supper” of Christmas Eve as the first star is seen in the sky and continues through the feast of Theophany on January 6 and extends for a forty day period ending with the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple on February 2. May we take every opportunity to insure that Christ Himself is the center of Christmas this year.
A Blessed and fulfilling Advent Season,
Fr. Jim
Пресвятая Богородице, спаси нас! Most Holy Mother of God, Save Us!Покров Покров Пресвятої Богородиці
Protection of the Mother of God
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