2009 Events
Click on the title of the event you wish to view. Click on the thumbnail
photos to see larger images.
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Concert of Ukrainian Christmas Carols
Celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, our parish family welcomed
in our midst the Ukrainian Cultural
Trust Choir of Western Pennsylvania on
Sunday afternoon, December 28, 2008.
This choir, composed of Ukrainian
Catholic and Orthodox faithful under the
direction of our own parishioner Mrs.
Dorothy Waslo, performs each year
concerts in many different parishes of
Western PA. It was a joy for us to hear
the old traditional Ukrainian Christmas
Carols, “kolyadi” and “shchedrivky”,
being sung. Following the concert we all
enjoyed a time of Christian fellowship
in our Church hall.
As we entered the new civil year 2009,
our parish family gathered on Sunday ,
January 11, 2009, to celebrate our
annual Christmas-Theophany Dinner
traditionally called Prosphora. At the
end of the Divine Liturgy the children
of our Church School presented a
wonderful Nativity Play entitled “The
Christmas Box”. As part of this play the
children presented to us the true
meaning of Christmas and the joy of
receiving the greatest gift to all – Our
Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ born in
Bethlehem.
On Saturday, January 31st, we welcomed into our parish family Eire Catherine Darney, the daughter of Daryl and Becky Darney who received the Holy Mysteries of Christian Initiations (Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Eucharist). As parish family we ask Almighty God bless Eire Catherine and her family for many happy and blessed years: Многая Літа!
The joy continued on Sunday, February 1st, when we welcomed into our parish family Emmalee Grace Parham who together with her father Edward Charles Parham received the Holy Mysteries of Christian Initiations (Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Eucharist). Congratulations also to the mother Debbie Parham who was received into our Holy Church through Holy Chrismation. May Almighty God bless the Parham Family for many happy and blessed years: Многая Літа!
Lenten Class 2009: Theology in Color-Holy Icons
As part of our journey of the Great Fast-Lent, our parish family this year had the opportunity to to learn more about Holy Icons, being a theology in color, which represents a unique art form based on the Scriptures and Holy Tradition exclusively. We welcomed in our midst Leeann Lunak who has been a student of Iconography for 14 years. She has studied the egg tempera technique with Ann Capdeville and Very Rev. Archpriest Georges Drobot from Strasbourg, France. Everyone who attended this six week class had a wonderful and spiritual uplifting time as they learned step-by-step the techniques of Byzantine iconography.
Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast: St. John Climacus
On the Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast, March 22nd, the children of our Church School presented to us the “LADDER” of our venerable father John Climacus, whom we honor every year on this Sunday during the Great Fast. The children did a wonderful job as they presented this spiritual writing which has been used by the Church as far as guiding the faithful to a God-centered life, second only to the Holy Scripture.
The Pittsburgh Lenten Mission 2009
That Sunday afternoon, March 22nd, we began the Pittsburgh Lenten Mission 2009, which took place this year in four different parishes! The faithful gathered at St. George’s for two evenings on Wednesday & Thursday, March 25-26. We were blessed this year to have with us the Hieromonk Fr. Taras (Kraychuk) from the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, Canada. Father Taras is well known as a retreat master, giving presentations on the Eastern Church at different conferences and academic institutions in the United States and Canada.
On Saturday, March 28th, classes concluded in our parish for those who were interested in learning the Ukrainian language. The instructor of Ukrainian language for these classes was our own Pani Dorothy Waslo who did a wonderful job teaching the Ukrainian language to our faithful. Providing there is enough interest, we will resume these classes in autumn starting the month of October. Дякую!
The celebration of Holy Week, and the Great Feast of Holy Pascha is at the very center of the year for our Holy Church. We gathered at St. George’s throughout the Great and Holy Week to remember and celebrate the Salvific events of Our Lord. And then…Pascha, the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As a community of faithful we sing that triumphant hymn that: “Christ is Risen!-Христос Воскрес!”
On the Sunday of St. Thomas, April 19th, we
welcomed into our parish family Joseph Connor Kaltreider,
who received the Holy Mysteries of Christian Initiations
(Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Eucharist). As a parish
family we ask Almighty God bless Joseph and his family for
many happy and blessed years: Многая Літа!
Our Parish Easter Dinner-Svyachene 2009
The Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, April 26th, had a special significance this year as we gathered to share that Paschal joy with one another during our annual Easter Dinner-Svyachene. At the end of the Divine Liturgy the children of our St. George’s Church School presented the Easter Play: “The Day of the Resurrection”. Following that a joyful Easter egg hunt took place on the parish grounds. We all had a wonderful time during our Easter Dinner that brought us together as a parish family to share that joyful message that Christ is Risen- Христос Воскрес!
On Sunday, May 24th, as we commemorated the Holy Fathers of
the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea, the parish family of
St. George’s, gathered following the Divine Liturgy for the
first “St. George’s has Talent” Show. Performances and
presentations were given in singing, musical recitals,
dancing, art, tricks and construction toys by the children
of our Church School. The parents of our children prepared
many wonderful dishes of food which were enjoyed by all.
This event took place to help sponsor a field trip for our
Church School children to Kennywood Park. We are grateful to
all who participated in this parish event which was a great
success and we admire the talents/gifts of our children who
are the future of our parish family
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The Video of the talent show is now available on our video page.
During the month of June our parish priest, Fr. Valerian,
participated in the Episcopal Consecration of his former
professor Fr. Cyril Vasil, SJ. On May 7, 2009, Fr. Cyril was
nominated by the His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to be the
new Secretary for the Congregation for the Eastern Churches.
The Chirotonia of Archbishop Cyril took place on Sunday,
June 14 at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, across
the street from where he resided, and taught Eastern Canon
Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute. It was a great joy
for Fr. Valerian to be back in his Alma Mater, and to meet
up with many bishops, former professors, and
priests-classmates.
Following his return, Fr. Valerian presented a slide show on
Sunday, July 5th, about his pilgrimage and the parishioners
had the opportunity to learn more about the strong presence
of the Eastern Church in this so called “Eternal City”.
Below are some pictures from this event:
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Children: Vacation Church School
This year children from our parish participated in the
Vacation Church School which was sponsored by the North Side
Deanery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. From
Monday, June 22nd until Friday, June 26th the children would
gather at the Risen Lord Parish Education Center to
participate in mornings full of fun, activities and
learning. Each day the children explored the Divine Word,
met the Saint of the day, made Scriptural connection, etc.
This was a fun event that brought children together from
different parishes to have fun and learn a lot during this
summer season. Below are some pictures from this week:
The Holy Glorious Prophet Elijah
It has been a wonderful tradition in our parish family to
bless vehicles in commemoration of the prophet Elijah who
was taken into heaven on a fiery chariot. He is therefore
known as the patron saint of vehicles, reminding us that we
must struggle to manifest holiness in our lives, even when
we travel. This year the blessing of vehicles (cars,
bicycles, etc.) took place on Sunday, July 19th, following
Divine Liturgy.
We welcome His Grace Bishop John!
On Wednesday, July 29th, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
accepted
the resignation of His Grace Bishop Robert Mikhail (Moskal)
from the pastoral governance of the Ukrainian Catholic
Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma (Ohio). The Holy Father
appointed His Grace Bishop John (Bura), Auxiliary Bishop of
the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, as
Apostolic Administrator “Sede Vacante” of the Ukrainian
Catholic Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma. As a parish
family we ask Our Lord to grant to His servants, His Grace
Bishop Robert and His Grace Bishop John, peace, health and
happiness for many years! Многая Літа! Εις Πολλά έτη Δέσποτα!
The Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God
On Friday evening, August 14th, for the Eve of the Dormition
of the Mother of God, our parish family welcomed His
Excellency Bishop David A. Zubik, the twelfth Roman Catholic
Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Bishop David A. Zubik
presided, was the homilist and also led the faithful in the
Procession with the Dormition Shroud. We were blessed to
have clergy and beloved faithful from numerous parishes who
gathered that evening for the Celebration of Great Vespers
with Litiya and the Procession with the Dormition Shroud.
The celebration continued afterwards in our Church hall with
time for Christian fellowship and summer refreshments. Below
are pictured from the event that brought us together to
celebrate the Holy Dormition in faith:
Be sure to watch videos of this blessed event on our video page.
St. George’s Kids at Kennywood
On Saturday, August 22nd, the children of our St. George’s
Church School embarked on a journey to “conquer” the rides
at Kennywood Park. This was a day full of fun as the
children went on the Racer, Swing Shot, Music Express, not
to forget those really-really wet rides like the Log Jammer,
Pittsburgh Plunge and Raging Rapids, and many more thrilling
rides.
Below are some pictures from this field trip that brought
our wonderful children together at the end of the summer
season, before they begin the new school year. The official
beginning for our St. George’s Church School will take place
on Sunday, September 13th.
On Sunday, September 13, 2009, our parish family gathered for our annual parish picnic. This joyful parish event marks the beginning of the New Church Year that coincides with the opening of the new school year for our St. George’s Church School. On Sundays, during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy our children participate by singing the Antiphones, reading the Epistle and they all look forward to holding the candles during the Small Entrance, Gospel reading and Great Entrance. Following the Ambon Prayer all of the children came forward to receive a special blessing. As a parish family we were truly blessed on this Sunday with beautiful weather and great participation. The games, bouncy castle and the famous “Baba Yaga” race were a hit as always. It was a joy to see the smiling faces of all our children. We ask Our Lord to bless our children for many happy and blessed years!
Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Pittsburgh
On Sunday, September 27th, our parish family welcomed the
Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. This year marks the
75th Anniversary of their ministry to the faithful of our
Holy Church in the United States. Part of this wonderful
ministry was here in our parish family as they managed our
senior citizen high-rise, Sheptytsky Arms and St. George’s
Close. The presence of the religious sisters was for us a
great blessing throughout those years. We still truly miss
them in our midst. Joining us in Pittsburgh was the
Provincial Superior, Sister Michele, accompanied by Sister
Bernardine, Sister Consolata, and Sister Cecelia. Following
the Gospel reading and introduction by Fr. Valerian, the
congregation listened carefully to Sister Michele who spoke
about the ministry of the Sisters and in particular about
the years of their ministry at St. George’s. At the end of
the Divine Liturgy all the faithful came forward for the
veneration of the Cross during which the Sisters gave out a
Holy Card, medallion and gift pen commemorating this
anniversary. The celebration continued in our Church hall
during which a DVD presentation was presented by the Sisters
which we all enjoyed together with delicious food prepared
by our parishioners and different cakes offered by the
Sisters Servants.
71st Convention of the League of Ukrainian Catholics
On Saturday, October 10th, our parish family welcomed the members of the League of Ukrainian Catholics who gathered in Pittsburgh for their 71st National Convention. We were honored to have with us His Grace Bishop Nicholas (Samra), of the Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church in America who celebrated the Divine Liturgy that morning with concelebrating priests attending this wonderful event. The Convention brought together delegates from the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Following the Divine Liturgy the children of the parish presented a religious play depicting the “Great Catch” at the Sea of Galilee, which was enjoyed by all. Afterwards a brunch was served during which His Grace Bishop Nicholas presented a wonderful presentation on “Leadership” that reflected the theme of this years’ Convention which was “CHRIST LIVES IN ME” from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 2:20.
Pastoral Visit of His Grace Bishop John
On Sunday, October 25, our parish family welcomed His Grace Bishop John. This was Vladyka John’s first pastoral visit since becoming, in July 2009, the Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat. On this beautiful Sunday morning His Grace Bishop John was welcomed at the entrance of our Church by parish representatives with bread and salt, then the children of our parish welcomed him with flowers and at the end our parish priest presented the Cross to His Grace Bishop John. After the Gospel reading for that Sunday about the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31), Vladyka John in his homily reminded us of the fact that there is a Lazarus in each family, parish congregation, before the doors of our homes, in our immediate neighborhoods, in our schools, and that we are called to serve them with our love, kindness and compassion. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy the faithful came forward to receive Festal Anointing from His Grace Bishop John during which a collection was taken for the training of our seminarians at our Saint Josaphat Seminary in Washington, DC. Following the Divine Liturgy we all gathered in our Church hall for refreshments during which our faithful had the opportunity to welcome and meet His Grace Bishop John on his first pastoral visit to our parish family of St. George’s.
St. Nicholas visits the children of St. George’s
Sunday, December 6th, was a special day in the life of our parish family. We celebrated the life of the Saint of our childhood, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia. At the end of the Divine Liturgy the children and faithful welcomed Saint Nicholas with that beautiful hymn: “O khto, khto Nikolaya lyubit-Those who love Nicholas the Saintly”.
Following that, we continued with the celebration in our Church hall where the parents of our children offered different food items and hosted a Cookie walk for this holiday season. All the children had an opportunity to be with St. Nicholas and receive a gift from him. Below are some pictures from this happy event:
