June 29, 2020
Matthew 16:15-29 - [Jesus] said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (RSV - Gospel for June 29th)

Who is Jesus to you? -  Peter did not say “you are a Christ” or “a son of God” but “the Christ, the Son of God.” For there are many christs by grace, who have attained the rank of adoption [as sons], but [there is] only one who is by nature the Son of God. Thus, using the definite article, he said, the Christ, the Son of God. And in calling him Son of the living God, Peter indicates that Christ himself is life and that death has no authority over Him. And even if the flesh, for a short while, was weak and died, nevertheless it rose again, since the Word, who indwelled it, could not be held under the bonds of death. (St. Cyril of Alexandria)

Scripture Readings:

• Vespers: 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 1:13-19, 1 Peter 2:11-24
• Matins: John 21:15-25
• Divine Liturgy: 2 Corinthians 11:21-12:9, Matthew 16:13-19

The icon is of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul, whose feast we celebrate on June 29th.

Sloatsbug, NY - Due to the Coronavirus, the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate Announce that the 66th Holy Dormition Pilgrimage August 8 -9, 2020 will be a Virtual Pilgrimage (via internet) this year. We had hoped that this year’s pilgrimage would have been a place of sanctuary where all of us could gather to replenish our souls after the devastating effects of this pandemic. However, there is still uncertainty as to when travel and gathering in large groups will be safe.We plan to live-stream Divine Liturgy for that weekend as well as offer other opportunities for the faithful to receivespiritual graces.We will try to have the Divine Liturgy also broadcast on television.We hope to provide opportunities for those who do not have internet access. Please watch for details in the near future at ssmi-us.org .

Monasteries uphold the domestic church, and the domestic church is illuminated by the monasteries.

Robert Klesko | ncregister.com

It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a particularly trying year, especially for people of faith. We’ve been separated from our churches, from the sacraments, and from the spiritual nourishment of kinship and community. This year, especially through Lent and the Easter season, life felt especially dry and arid for many. It was within this desert of isolation that a stream of living water was opened up by my favorite Eastern Catholic nuns — the nuns of Christ the Bridegroom Monastery in Burton, Ohio.

The Monastery of Christ the Bridegroom is about a 45-minute ride southeast of Cleveland. It was founded in 2009 and was recently raised to a sui iuris monastery of eparchial right in 2019 by Bishop Milan Lach of the Eparchy of Parma (Ruthenian). The monastery is headed by Mother Theodora, who serves as hegumena (abbess) and currently has three “life-professed” members (also called stavrophore or “cross-bearer”) and two rasophore (“robe-bearer”) members. I was privileged to meet and spend time with Mother Theodora when she appeared on EWTN Live in July 2019. It was clear from my time with Mother that she is a woman who is in love with her vocation and deeply in love with Christ the Bridegroom.

It’s fairly uncommon, among Eastern Catholic monasteries, to identify the community ethos through the image and theology of Christ the Bridegroom. But when you spend time with the nuns, it becomes clear that it is a perfect fit! The striving for union with God, which is the singular occupation of monastic life — and indeed, all Christian life — is well encapsulated by marital imagery. Sister Petra, one of the rasophore nuns, explains:

The Bridegroom is the One Who pursues our souls and beckons us as His Bride, the Church into union with Him, “Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!” (SOS 2:13) He calls us to union, yearning to penetrate every recess of our hearts with His life-giving Spirit, to bring forth in us spiritual fruit that will last for all eternity. To encounter Christ as Bridegroom is to know yourself sought and desired by God, purchased by a Love “stern as death” (SOS 8:6) It is to respond with the total gift of yourself to the God-Man, Jesus Christ; to know yourself claimed in love. Of course, this union becomes reality in prayer (we call our cell rule the hour of private prayer we each offer each day in our own cells our “spousal prayers”), through which we learn to hear His Voice and reveal ourselves to Him. The Bridegroom is the Fulfillment of all desire, but we in this world we are as yet only espoused to Him: the consummation will only be realized in Heaven. Thus, to turn to Christ as Bridegroom is to live in hope, with faith that “hope does not disappoint us” (Rom. 5:5).

This love of Christ the Bridegroom has produced spiritual fruit for several thousand recently through the monastery’s outreach during Lent and Holy Week. When the churches closed, the nuns (by way of a providential penance) took to building a guide for the domestic Church for Lent and Holy Week (now expanded beyond the Paschal season). Mother Cecilia, who spearheaded the monastery’s efforts, explains:

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McLean, VA - Photos from Holy Transfiguration Parish celebrating the Sunday of Orthodoxy. During Matins the Seventh Ecumencial Council was remembered wih the traditional procession with icons was held together with the pronouncement of the anathamas.

Fr. Gary Mensinger's organ donations benefit three recipients

by: Mark Hiller | pahomepage.com

FREELAND, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) — The number of patients waiting for a life-saving organ transplant is staggering.

Gift of Life Donor Program reports 112,000 people nationally are on the waiting list including many who’ve been waiting for several years.

The need for what many say is the ultimate act of human kindness is as great as ever. As Eyewitness News Reporter Mark Hiller explains, a Luzerne County priest who was considered generous in life is among those who in death gave the greatest gift of all.

“He was just a very good, genuine, spiritual person,” said Janet Drumn.

Cal Herring added, “He always wanted to make sure that everyone was taken care of.”

Joe Stepansky said, “Even when he was a kid he had that giving nature.”

They all spoke of 50-year-old Gary Mensinger — a man whose titles included priest, councilman and animal advocate.

“It’s amazing how many people he actually touched in his life,” said Mr. Stepansky who is Chief of Freeland Fire Department.

Growing up in the same town, Chief Joe Stepansky’s friendship with Fr. Gary became cemented when they rose through the fire department’s ranks as junior firefighters.

Washington, DC - His Grace, Kurt Burnettte, Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic led those participating in the Vigil for the March for Life in Compline (Night Prayer) in the Crypt Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on January 23, 2020 at 9:30 PM. The homilist was His Excellency, Joseph Kopaz, the Bishop of Jackson (Mississippi). The Vigil incuded an Opening Mass, with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activites as the principal celebrant and homilist, the National Rosary for Life, Confessions, Compline (Night Prayer), and Holy Hours for Life.

Bishop Kurt (Burnette) of Passaic leads the participants in Compline.

Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Diocese of Jackson (Mississippi) preaches the homily.

The Slava Men's Chorus under the direction of Don Springer and the Cantors from Ephipnany of Our Lord Parish in Annandale, Virginia lead the singing.

In this time of suffering, crises and anxiety, we need the message of Christmas, today as 2,000 years ago. Every year anew! We all need the comforting word of the angels, "Fear not!" Do not be afraid! The Saviour is born to you: Jesus in Bethlehem (house of bread) as bread for the world. We need the glad tidings of the angelic hosts now as then in the Shepherds’ Field in Bethlehem. We need them again today for all of us, for the whole world, "Gloria in excelsis Deo! - Glory to God in the highest!" And peace on earth, joy and goodwill to the people in this world!

Do not be afraid! We all need that! Emmanuel, God is with us! Jesus reminded the apostles of this meaning of his name on the day of his ascension. I am Emmanuel! “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world!” Do not be afraid! Walk and follow this Christmas message!

The Christmas angels’ song is that programme, is heaven’s plan for the earth, is the programme of the Gospel, the programme of Jesus, is the law for our world, which is so threatened by wars, hate, selfish interests, terror and fanaticism.

Mclean, VA - Bishop Nicholas (Samra) of Newton visited Holy Transfiguration Parish this past weekend to ordain two new lectors (Riley and Michael), three sub-deacons (Frank, Joseph and Anson) (all ordained during Saturday Evening Vespers) and one new deacon (Elias) (ordained at the Sunday Divine Liturgy).

The parish also morns the passing of their pastor for 49 years, Archimandrite Joseph Francavilla, who fell asleep in the Lord last Wednsday, November 13th. Eternal Memory! Several photos below:

Proclaiming the Gospel
Newly Ordained Deacon Elias is vested by Bishop Nicholas.
Deacon Elias with family.

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