Saint Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church

METROPOLITAN WILLIAM INVITES TEENS TO BYZANTEENS YOUTH RALLY 2022 These days, July 1st to July 4th, were to be all about Byzanteens Youth Rally 2021. Unfortunat...ely, it was cancelled due to the pandemic restrictions and uncertainty about the progression of COVID-19. However, members of the Intereparchial Youth Committee decided to share a few thoughts with our teens and to express great hope that we will meet after two years in Emmitsburg, MD in 2022. Let's begin with the short message by our Metropolitan William.

We had a wonderful time this evening celebrating the feast day of our Patron Saints Peter and Paul!!!

Calling all pierogi lovers! We are currently selling them by the dozen for $9. The pierogies are currently frozen. Fresh can be picked up on Thursdays between 11-12 at our social hall. Please call Joan Phillips 938-8796 to arrange a pick up time. Thank you in advance.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mou...rning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Glory to Jesus Christ! On this Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Milan Lach, SJ speaks about trusting in Jesus no matter how hopeless a situation might seem.

Glory to Jesus Christ! On this Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Milan Lach, SJ speaks about the upcoming election and how Catholics are required to vote according to the principles of their faith.

FEAST OF BLESSED THEODORE ROMZHA - OCTOBER 31 Bishop Theodore G. Romzha was born of humble parentage on April 14, 1911 in Velikij Bychkiv, in the heart of the c...olorful district of Maramorosh, Subcarpathian Ruthenia. He was a pious and gifted young boy, and his only ambition was to become a priest. He received his secondary education at the gymnasium (high school) in Chust. Due to his friendly disposition and scholastic achievements he became one of the most popular students. His popularity increased even more when he proved himself as an all-around athlete, excelling in soccer. At his graduation, he took everybody by surprise when he announced his intention of becoming a priest. He was sent to Rome for his priestly formation. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on Christmas Day, December 25, 1936. In the summer of the following year he came home to celebrate his first Liturgy with the intention of returning to finish his doctoral dissertation. But instead of returning to Rome, he was drafted into military service and sent to protect his country against the German invasions. To his friend in Rome he confided: I am going to the front with a deep conviction of doing the will of God. Therefore, I do not fear what will happen to me. The young priest Romzha became a poor pastor among poor people. There were times when he could afford only one meal a day while trying to help his needy parishioners. But he did not complain. On the contrary, he was always ready to help. To his curious friend in Rome he wrote: I live here as a pauper and yet I feel happy and satisfied. On May 31, 1943, during the critical time of the war, Bishop Alexander Stojka suddenly died. In view of the uncertainties of the time, the Holy See appointed Bishop Nicholas Dudash, OSBM of Hajdudorog, as the temporary administrator of Mukachevo Eparchy. While the Soviet army was rapidly approaching the Carpathian Mountains, the Holy See promptly appointed Msgr. Theodore G. Romzha to succeed Bishop Dudash as the Apostolic Administrator of Mukachevo. His episcopal ordination took place in Uzhorod, September 24, 1944. At the beginning, Bishop Romzha tried not to antagonize the Soviet authorities, although some abusive and violent actions committed by the Soviet soldiers against the clergy were reported to him. But when the Soviet authorities started to expel the priests from their parishes at random and confiscate the church property, he was forced to protest against such abuses. The Soviets had a ready answer: Since the attitude of the Vatican is hostile toward the Soviet Union, the Soviet government cannot tolerate within its borders the Greek Catholic Church, loyal to the Vatican. Therefore, there is only one solution for you. You must recognize and submit to the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Moscow. Bishop Romzha immediately replied: I will rather die than betray my Church. This signaled the open persecution of the Greek Catholic Church in Subcarpathia. The Soviets were unable to intimidate Bishop Romzha. Therefore, they decided to liquidate him. First they staged a highway accident. The horse drawn carriage in which Bishop was returning home from the rededication of the church in Lavki, near Mukachevo, was rammed by a military truck. Bishop Romzha was badly injured, but he survived the attempted murder. The passersby took him to the hospital in Mukachevo. In a few days he began to regain his strength. Then suddenly, early on the morning of November 1, 1947, he was found dead. The night before Bishop Romzha’s death, the director of the hospital and a strange nurse, who promptly disappeared the next day, were seen entering Bishop’s room about midnight. They poisoned him! The Soviet authorities announced the Bishop Romzha died from injuries suffered in his highway accident, but the people knew better. They knew that their intrepid Shepherd was mercilessly killed for refusing to join the Orthodox Church. Bishop Theodore Romzha was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on June 27, 2001 in Lviv, Ukraine. - Byzantine Leaflet Series No. 39, Byzantine Seminary Press, May 1987

Glory to Jesus Christ! On this Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Milan Lach, SJ speaks about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus and encourages us to open our eyes to recognize those who are in need.

This weeks bulletin.