LIVESTREAMED LITURGUCAL SCHEDULE
Father Michael (along with livestream liturgy schedule) will be announcing other livestreamed liturgies throughout the week on the parish Facebook page @protocathedralso
Sunday, May 24 - Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Saturday, May 30 - 5th All Souls Saturday Divine Liturgy
8:30 AM Divine Liturgy
7:30 PM Vespers
Sunday, May 31 - Pentecost Sunday
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
11:30 AM Adult Ed. (Zoom)
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender, Ken Bosak, Julie Carlin, Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow, Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Patricia Kurczak, Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike, Shannon O’Neill, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins, Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces
WEEKLY DEPOSIT
Collection: $2305.00; Church Improvements: $410.00; Holy Day: $250.00; Candles: $10.00; Easter: $120.00; Catholic Home Missions: $100.00; Online: $1,250; Insurance: $1,150.10
Total: $5,8954.10
PARISH UPDATES
- We are not yet able to gather in the church for public liturgies, but Eucharist will be available in the shrine after each private liturgy that Father Michael does in the church. The church will also be open for private prayer after the reception of the Eucharist. See parish email, website, or the sign on the doors for more info.
- Eparchial Appeal: St. Mary’s has donated $12,875.00 of our $16,388.20 goal. We still need $3,513.20. Thank you to the following families who have contributed Shewmon, Zimmerman P&M, Golya, Zimmerman W&J, Clemens, Sumandra M, Michnya, Sumandra N&S, Petach, Wiggins, Korcz, Fletes, Koman-Keogh, Cook, Herrera, and Sumandra, S.
Sunday of the First Ecumenical Council
The Church today prayerfully remembers the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council (gathering of all the world’s bishops) in Nicaea, which once met in 325 AD in order to investigate the heresy of Arius. We know that in the first centuries of Christianity, the Church endured severe persecution, but despite the fact that the persecution was bloody, despite the fact that thousands of Christians died under torture for their confession of faith, nonetheless, it was not dangerous for the Church itself.
The Christian of the first centuries remembered well that the Lord Jesus Christ said: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:28). And in the Apocalypse He said: “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev 2:10). In these bloody persecutions, Christians were faithful to the end, went to a martyr’s death, and received from the Lord Savior the crown of eternal life earned by them.
When this era of persecution ended, another began. This was much more dangerous for the Church. The heresy of Arius, which appeared when the persecution had ended, agitated the entire Church. Arius was a scholar and an eloquent priest – a pastor in the city of Alexandria.
Once Bishop Alexander of Alexandria spoke with his clergy about the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, about the equality of its Persons, that the Holy Trinity is a Trinity of Unity, inasmuch as in three Persons there is One Divine Essence, One Divine Nature. Arius boldly stood up, began to contradict him, and began to assert that the Son of God is not equal to God the Father, as Bishop Alexander had said, or not born of Him, but created by Him, as a creature, as creation. Alexander tried to reason with gentle admonitions to reason with Arius, but he persevered. And since he was eloquent, this heresy arose, and because of him it spread and eventually roused the entire Church.
In the end, an Ecumenical Council assembled. The overwhelming majority of bishops (and more than 300 assembled for the Council) stood firmly for the orthodox faith, condemned the heresy of Arius, and excommunicated him from the Church as a persistent and uncorrected heretic.
Today we remember the First Ecumenical Council, which condemned Arius and his heresy. Amen.
Full article at http://ishmaelite.blogspot.com/ (5/15/2010)