May Devotions

The month of May is devoted to our heavenly Mother, Mary.
 
Moleben service will be offered on every Tuesday during the month of May, at 7:00 p.m.
 
Come to church, join us in honoring her, who God first honored, by choosing her to be the Mother of His Son.…

Cemetery Maintenance Duties

Parishioner Mark Boyko has taken over the maintenance duties at the parish cemetery.  He is responsible for cutting the grass, edging, removing trash, and leveling the soil over new graves.  Mark has taken on a special project to fill the many wet swales with soil.

Conscientious and hard-working, Mark runs MCB Landscaping; which is fully insured.  MCB handles grass cutting, fall cleanup, power-washing, power-raking, seeding and fertilization, planting, weeding, mulching, and hedge trimming.

MCB does snow removal and salting and offers delivered hardwood firewood. Read More    …

Another Parishioner Youth Performs

To perform on stage in a high school musical in front of hundreds of people in the audience requires poise, confidence, and a great deal of dedication.  Several of our parishioners – former parish school students – have had major roles, including lead roles, in area high school musical and play productions.  
 
Recently, former parish school student Paul R., performed in the role of "Kenickie" in the Bishop McCarrick High School performance of the musical "Grease."
 
Congratulations to Paul!…

Earth Day

Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22.  Respecting and caring for our earth and environment is part of our Christian teaching. Grades 1 through 8 will attend a premier of the Disney movie “Earth” on this day.
 
We need this reminder to take better care of the beautiful earth that God gave us.
 
Students can find and participate in activities that are related to this day.
 
Read More

Spring Dance – ВЕСНЯНА ЗАБАВА

A Spring Dance – "Zabava" sponsored by the church will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2009 in the school auditorium.  There will be a buffet dinner at 8 PM and the band “Anna-Maria” will play from 9 PM to 2 AM.   Tickets are $40 per adult if purchased by May 3.  After May 3, tickets are $45 per adult.  
 
Tickets are on sale from committee members or at the rectory (732-826-0767).  Tickets will also be sold during Coffee Hour.…

Spring Breakfast Buffet

An “all you can eat” breakfast, sponsored by the parish Holy Name Society, will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2009 from 8 AM to 12 PM in the school cafeteria.  The menu includes omelets made-to-order, scrambled eggs, egg soufflé, pancakes, hash browns, bacon, sausage, fruit, and more.  
 
Donation is $8 per adult and only $2 for children under 12.  Tickets are available in advance after liturgies, at the door, or by calling Charlie Boyko at 732-254-3966.…

Happy Easter to All

“This is the day which the Lord hath made.  Let us rejoice and be glad therein.”  

Easter commemorates the victory of Christ over every worldly evil including sin and death.  His resurrection from the dead placed the seal of divinity upon His teachings.  That is why at Easter time the Church sings with joy and gladness.

How proud you should be to profess your faith; to live it; to generously support it and help bring it to others.

May the glory of our Risen Savior bring to you and yours peace, happiness and spiritual contentment!
 
Christ is Risen!  Indeed He is Risen!…

Holy Week Services and Meditation

This week, we prepare for two great truths that shed light on everything we believe in as Christians: The Death of our Lord Jesus Christ, followed by His glorious Resurrection.
 
Check the Weekly Bulletin section of this site for both the Holy Week and the Adoration and Veneration schedules.
 
There are special services every day from Wednesday to Sunday.  Consider attending as many Holy Week services as you are able to.  Find peace as you "lay aside all earthly cares" while quietly meditating at the Lord's grave on Good Friday or Holy Saturday.
 
May the Risen Christ fill your hearts and entire being with His love.…

Palm Sunday

In the Eastern Catholic Church, Palm Sunday is often called the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. It is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the liturgical year, and is the beginning of Holy Week.  The day before Palm Sunday is known as Lazarus Saturday, and commemorates the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead.

Unlike in the Western Church, Palm Sunday is not considered to be a part of Lent and the Eastern Catholic Great Fast ends on the Friday before. So, Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and Holy Week are considered to be a separate fasting period.

On Lazarus Saturday, the faithful in some churches prepare palm fronds by knotting them into crosses in preparation for the procession on Sunday.  There is no canonical requirement as to what type of brnches must be used. In the Ukrainian Catholic Church the custom developed of using pussy willow instead of palm fronds because the latter cannot be grown in the climate of Ukraine.

Whatever the kind, these branches are blessed and distributed together with candles either during the All-Night Vigil on the Eve of the Feast (Saturday night), or before the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning.
In parts of the Ukraine, now, the practice is for each family to bring its own bunch of pussy willows to church. For those families who have no access to pussy willow branches, there are bouquets of willows available at the entrance to the church.

The hangings and vestments in the church are changed to a festive color—in the Slavic tradition this is usually green.  
The Troparion of the Feast indicates that the resurrection of Lazarus is a prefiguration of Jesus' own resurrection.  The Great Entrance of the Divine Liturgy commemorates the "Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem," and so the meaningfulness of this moment is punctuated on Palm Sunday in some churches as everyone stands holding their branches and lit candles throughout the Liturgy.  The faithful take these branches and candles home with them after the service, and keep them in their icon corner as a blessing.