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
Pentecost Sunday / Неділя Пятидесятниці June 5, 2022
Parish Calendar
Sunday, July 3 – 4th Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
*****Please note: Sunday, July 10 – 5th Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Liturgy will not be celebrated
On this day at St. John’s in Salem.
Please note that we will be away from the area from July 5 – 13. In the event of a pastoral emergency, please use Father’s cell phone number to contact us.
Sunday, July 17 – Fathers of the Six Ecumenical Councils – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, July 20 – Holy Prophet Elijah – Divine Liturgy – 4:30 p.m.
Special Intention
Requested by Antin and Julie Galonzka
Sunday, July 24 – 7th Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, July 31 – 8th Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Dear Parishioners,
On the feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, we read the final verses of the Gospel of St. Luke:
In them, Jesus addresses the apostles for the last time:
“And he said to them, ‘Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise
from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my
Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed from on high.” (Luke 24:46-49)
It is the promised gift of the Holy Spirit which would clothe the apostles from on high which we celebrate today. For the Jewish People, Pentecost is fifty days after Passover. For us, who are people of the “New Covenant,” Pentecost is fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus. The ten days between Jesus Ascension into heaven and the Sending down of the Holy Spirit are the ten days of waiting. As the Apostles awaited the fulfillment of God’s Promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so we too wait and prepare with the Liturgy, prayers and Scripture readings of the church as our sustenance. The Easter Season and the ten days of waiting are intended to remind us that we, like the apostles, are called to be “Missionaries.” As Peter was empowered by the Lord with the words “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep,” (John 21 15-17) so we, too, are called to care for others following the example of Jesus, “lover of humankind.” The apostles were commissioned by Jesus to “Make disciples of all the nations…. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) This commission is also for us. The reading of this very gospel passage at every Baptism service in our Byzantine Ukrainian Ritual, reminds us of the fact that by Baptism, we share in the priesthood of Jesus. We are all called to follow Christ and be the light of Christ to others. The mission is given to all disciples. Another way of saying this is to say that we are all called to be saints!
Pentecost is often referred to as the Birthday of the Church. The icon of the feast depicts the moment which was experienced by the Holy Apostles and the Mother of Jesus as the Holy Spirit coming down upon them as if in the form of “tongues of fire.” As the Tropar of the feast narrates, the fishermen have been filled with wisdom by that sending down of the Holy Spirit. Through the apostles, the “Lover of Humankind” has now caught “the whole world” in the nets of the apostles! The mission of those fishermen is no less given to us today, just as gift of the Holy Spirit has also empowered us today once more that which we need to accept and live out our call, to cast out our nets, and to teach others by showing them the light of Christ.
Friday, June 3 marked the 100th day of the War in Ukraine. Patriarch Sviatoslav spoke as Spiritual Leader and Chief Shepherd of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. His message was sent out to the world, as it has been on many days since February 24th. I highly recommend His Beatitude’s message of June 3 as an inspiring and uplifting one for all of us as faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as we celebrate Pentecost. The English translation is offered in subtitles. Whether or not you understand Ukrainian, I think you will see in the presence and demeanor and delivery of Patriarch Sviatoslav, the message of Hope and the inner strength that can only come from unwavering Faith in God and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2PqO_gLp9U
Blessed feast,
Fr. Jim
Blessed are You, O Christ our God. You filled the fishermen with wisdom, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. Through them You have caught the whole world in Your net. O Lover of mankind, glory be to You!
Tropar of Pentecost