IN THE NEWS: Pennsylvania, Kansas, Minnesota, NY, DC

Frackville, PA: Holy Ascension Church celebrates centennial

Frackville

His Eminence, Archbishop Mark joined Archpriest James Jadick and the faithful of Holy Ascension Church, Frackville, PA on Sunday, September 6, 2015 for the celebration of the parish’s century of blessings.

The church filled up well before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy with some 200 souls joining three “sons of the parish”—Archpriests Joseph Martin and Gregory Dudash and Priest James Weremedic—and Archpriests Paul Ropitsky, Pastor from 1968 until 2003, Daniel Ressetar and Michael Hatrak and Deacon Gregory Hatrak for the celebration.

An area landmark, easily seen from its position atop a huge rock—literally!—the church’s three golden cupolas shine brightly as a “light of the world,” referred to in the Gospels. But it is what takes place under those cupolas that has brought about an increase in parish membership in recent years, demonstrating that the community’s mission in Frackville and beyond well into the future.

In his homily, Archbishop Mark noted that the parable proclaimed in the day’s Gospel—Matthew 22:1-14—provides “a warning to us that God expects His people to bear fruit, and if we don’t bear fruit, when Jesus comes at the Second Coming, we will not be received to the heavenly kingdom.

“Our baptism is the equivalent of the passing through the Red Sea,” he continued. “Yes, we pass through the Red Sea as God’s People, but baptism is not the end. It is the beginning. And unless we bear fruit, we may hear on the last and great day, ‘Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I do not know you.’”

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Archbishop Mark congratulated the faithful on reaching their 100-year milestone.

It was in 1914 that 21 individuals gathered at the home of Michael Halenda to organize the parish. Services were initially held in what today is Annunciation Catholic Church. Priest Andrew Vanyush was appointed as the parish’s first pastor, and under his guidance, the prominent plot of land on which the church still stands was purchased. After finishing their daily work in the mines, the community’s men would gather to excavate the ground to lay the church’s foundation. Some parish pioneers even mortgaged their homes to finance the construction effort. His Eminence, Archbishop Evdokim presided at the laying of the cornerstone, and by the end of 1915, the present church was completed.

Lawrence, KS: St. Nicholas parish celebrates first annual vineyard blessing

Lawrence, KS

On Saturday, September 5, 2015, members of Saint Nicholas Church, Lawrence, KS, gathered at the small, family-owned Bluejacket Crossing Vineyard and Winery for the celebration of their first annual vineyard blessing and harvest day.

“Bluejacket Crossing Vineyard and Winery is a small, family owned winery just a few miles east of our parish,” said Priest Joshua Lollar, Rector. “Our parish purchases all of its Communion wine there — a semisweet wine made of native and hybrid grapes appropriately named ‘Prairie Red.’”

Upon their arrival at the vineyard, Father Joshua and eight members of the parish were offered an orientation to the vineyard and an explanation of the grape picking process.

“Soon we — along with several other volunteers from the community — were hard at work, harvesting countless pounds of several different varieties of grapes,” said Ryan, a realtor in the parish. “It’s so great that we can just come here and be a part of this. You know, so much about this process hasn’t changed in thousands of years. I can come here to help with the harvest and know that I’m doing the same type of work that people did in Old Testament times.”

After several hours of productive labor, the vineyard staff treated everyone to sandwiches, fellowship, and plenty of ice cold homemade sangria. Following this welcomed break, the group headed back to the fields, this time in procession as Father Joshua blessed the vines as well as the harvest.

“We are grateful for the winery’s hospitality, and are very happy to be of help at this busy time of year,” said Father Joshua. “Everyone enjoyed both the experience and the chance to see where our Communion wine comes from and how it is made. We are excited to return next year!”

Minneapolis, MN: Cathedral choir to participate in Byzantine Choral Festival

Minneapolis

Under the direction of Deacon Gregory Ealy, the choir of Saint Mary Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN, will participate in the sixth annual Byzantine Choral Festival October 24-25, 2015.

“The festival is a unique event that brings together volunteer singers from Orthodox Christian and Eastern Rite Catholic parishes to sing choral works by notable composers,” Deacon Gregory said. “This year will mark the fifth time that Saint Mary’s choir will be participating, and each year we look forward to the festival as a means to share our liturgical music heritage with other like-minded singers.”

Organized by Saint Constantine Ukrainian Catholic Church, the festival offers an opportunity for performance and provides a forum to learn, sing and share liturgical music common to the Byzantine liturgical tradition.

“The festival’s free public concert, to be held at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, follows a six-hour choral workshop on Saturday that features exercises, vocal coaching, and discussions on the technical and artistic aspects of choral singing,” Deacon Gregory added. “The rest of the rehearsal time will focus on practicing pieces by Bortniansky, Chesnokov, Herkov, and Pärt that will be performed at the concert by the combined festival choir.”

The workshop will be led by guest conductors Michael McGaphie (Macalester College), Timothy Sawyer (University of Northwestern) and Saint Constantine’s Yuri Ivan, the festival’s founder.

Obtain more information or register for Saturday’s workshop—it’s free and includes lunch—or contact Deacon Gregory Ealy at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Cambridge, NY:  “Silence: Learning to Listen to Life” theme of New Skete’s fall retreat

New Skete, Cambridge, NY, will hold its fall retreat on Saturday, October 17, 2015. The theme of the retreat is based on Deuteronomy 27:9: “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God.”

The day will open with the celebration of Matins at 8:00 a.m. in Holy Wisdom Church, followed by registration and a continental breakfast. Brother David will deliver the first presentation, “The Value of Silence,” followed by a presentation by Brother Stavros titled “Gateways to Silence.” Following lunch in the monks’ refectory, Brother David will offer a practicum, “Being Silent and How to Still the Mind for Listening.” A concert by noted pianist and composer Haskell Small will be held before the closing celebration of Vespers and a Healing Service.

Space is limited, so early registration is recommended.

Washington, DC: Doxacon Conference registration now open

The Protection of the Holy Mother of God Church, Falls Church, VA, in partnership with Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, DC, will present a conference exploring Christian faith and its response to the science-fiction and fantasy genre of books, film and television November 13-14, 2015. A similar event held in 2013 attracted over 120 participants who heard speakers that included His Eminence, Metropolitan Savas [Zembillas], Matushka Donna Farley, author Thomas Bertonneau, and others. Similar conferences have been held in Seattle during the past two summers.

The conference, titled “Doxacon Prime,” will be held at Saint Sophia Cathedral.

A vast array of presentations will be offered. On the opening night, Priest Ernesto Obregon will speak on using discernment when engaging with the sci-fi genre. John Granger, an Orthodox Christian who has been dubbed by Time Magazine as the “Dean of Harry Potter Scholars,” will be the first of two keynote speakers, together with Priest Ted Paraskevopoulos, an Ancient Faith Radio podcaster, who will speak on ascetic themes from TV’s Angel series. Details on these and other presenters and topics is available on-line.

The conference also will feature topical sessions by clergy and lay speakers, including panel discussions featuring Hugo and Nebula award nominees John C. Wright and Brenda W. Clough, and Patheos blogger on religion Leah Libresco, author of Arriving at Amen. Presentations for teen participants will be offered by Christian young adult authors L. Jagi Lamplighter and Ben Anderson, who will address topics that include “Magic, Adventure and Christ too!” and “Navigating Fantasy, Fiction, and Faith.” Priest David G. Subu, Rector of Protection Church, will speak on themes found in popular dystopian fiction books such as The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner and The Giver.

Registration is now open at an “early bird” cost of $75.00, available through September 30; after that date the cost will be $100.00. Other pricing options are noted on the web site. Registration closes October 31, so early registration is recommended.