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Saints Peter & Paul UOC 8410 West 131st St. Palos Park, IL 60464

V. Rev. Vasyl Sendeha — Rector www.sspeterandpauluoc.net

Rev.vasyl@yahoo.com 708-361-5165

Parish Council President

Sandra Hladky

Sisterhood of St. Anne

Andrea Manson

Church School Director

Pat Wolsko

Ukrainian Saturday School

Director PM Olenka

Church Choir Director

George Cepynsky

Seraphim Group President

Debbie Pierog

50/50 Club President

Michael Gbur

Jr. UOL

President Antony Sendeha

St. Sophia Seminary of the UOC of the USA Holds Commencement Exercises

In the presence of over 150 guests of Saint So-phia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, twelve students of the Seminary Graduated with the Degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Applied Orthodox Theology, Licentiate of Sacred Theology and Youth Ministry Certifi-cate. The 2019 Fall Semester Commencement Cere-mony began with the formal procession of grad-uates and faculty of the Seminary into the main

hall of the Ukrainian Cultural Center of the Na-

St. Sophia Seminary of the UOC

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tional Spiritual Headquarters of the UOC of the USA in South Bound Brook, NJ. Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Hutnick, professor of Sacramental Theolo-gy served as Master of Ceremonies, who together with Dean of Students - Rev. Fr. Vasyl Pasakas introduced the graduates and invited Deacon Michael Abrahamson and Subdeacon Mykola Zomchak to deliver Valedictorian remarks on behalf of the Full and Part-time students. Both graduates reflected on their life’s journey and the accom-plishments of the graduating class. Expressing their gratitude to the clergy and faithful of the Church, Deacon Michael and Sub-deacon Mykola stated that much has been done by the Church’s academic institution in the process of formal training of the future pastors of the Church in the US, Ukraine, Germany and other parts of the world, where the graduates of the Seminary shall serve in the near future. With the sense of profound gratitude to Almighty God for the blessing received, Fr. Vasyl Pasakas called everyone’s attention to the formal ceremony of presentation of the academic degrees to the graduates of St. Sophia Seminary: The Degree of Master of Divinity: Deacon Yurii Bobko Rev. Fr. Oleg Kravchenko Subdeacon David Murphy Subdeacon Ihor Protsak Subdeacon Mykola Zomchak The Degree of Master of Arts in Applied Orthodox Studies Deacon Alexander Smoktunowicz The Degree of License of Sacred Theology: Deacon Michael Abrahamson The Certificate in Youth Ministry: Catherine Bucharew Rachel Losego Rachel Pribish Tracey Sally Ginny Yavorskyi One by one, the graduates approach His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, the Vice-Rector and Academic Dean of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary, in order to ask for the blessing and to receive their graduation certificates. Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Hutnick bestowed upon the graduates Aca-

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Today

27th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone two. Nativity (St. Philip's Fast). Fish Allowed The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos. Prophetess Anna (Hannah) (1100 B.C.), mother of the Prophet Samuel. Saint Sophronios, Archbishop of Cyprus (6th C).Venerable Stephen the "New Light" of Con-stantinople (912). Icon of the Mother of God, named "Unexpected Joy". Martyr Narses of Persia (Greek). St. Valeria of Aquitaine (2nd c.). Martyr Sositheus of Persia (553). Martyr Isaak (Greek).

Ephesians 6:10-17 Luke 17:12-19 Galatians 4:22-31 St. Anna Luke 8:16-21 St. Anna

Reader of the Hours - Sandra Hladky Reader of the Eng. Epist.– Sandra Hladky Reader of the Ukr. Epist.– Vitalii Kulyk

Sunday

December 29

28th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone three. Nativity (St. Philip's Fast). Fish Allowed Week of Holy Forefathers Prophet Haggai (Aggaeus) (500 B.C.). Venerable Sophia, nun (in the world Solomo-nia), wife of Grand Duke Basil III (1542). Martyr Marinus of Rome (283). Blessed Empress Theophania of Byzantium (893). St. Memnon, archbishop of Ephesus (5th c.). St. Nicholas Chrysoberges, patriarch of Constantinople (995).St. Modestus II, arch-bishop of Jerusalem (634) (Greek). Martyrs Promus and Hilarion (Greek).

Colossians 3:4-11 Epistle (29th Sunday) Luke 14:16-24 Gospel (28th Sunday

Reader of the Hours - Karen Jakubczak Reader of the Eng. Epist.– Karen Jakubczak Reader of the Ukr. Epist.– Halyna Kashpar

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Church Humor

Things to ponder

14. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?

15. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?

16. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to

remain silent?

17. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?

18. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow

road signs?

19. What was the best thing before sliced bread?

demic Hoods and Rev. Fr. Vasyl Shak, presented academic pins. In his Charge to the Graduates remarks, Vladyka Daniel stated that it is their turn now to hold these truths and to tell them to a new generation. There is a new story that we are writing with our lives. By the decisions we make, and by the way we treat other people. My prayer for you is that you will write a story that is filled with goodness, love and service; with prayer and giving thanks for simple gifts. I pray that you will always seek to know what is right — and have the courage to do it. People will tell you this vision is naïve; that it doesn’t pay; that we are too far gone for all that. Don’t believe them! The story of our Ukrainian founders and our American founders is not over yet. It continues in you and in me. We can still rely on the protection of Divine Providence. We can still open our door with confidence to people who are yearning to breathe free. We can still practice a politics with malice toward none and charity for all. We are made for greater things. Congratulation, Class of 2019! May God bless you and your families, our Church, our ancestral Ukraine and our great country – the United States of America. The ceremony concluded with the formal reception at the Ukrain-ian Cultural Center of the UOC of the USA, honoring the gradu-ating class of 2019, membership of which presented the Seminary with a liturgical Eucharistic set for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Three Holy hierarchs Chapel of St. Sophia Semi-nary.

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Sunday School Teachers’ Corner

Seraphim Group

There will be NO MEETING IN JANUARY. Our next meeting will be Tuesday February 11, 2020 at Noon. More info to follow. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Blessings, Debbie Pierog, President. Any questions please contact me: Deb12153@aol.com or 708-710-6009 text or call.

Parish Council

Next Monthly Parish Council is Today. Representatives from parish organizations must be present. Meeting is open to the public.

Sisterhood of St. Anne

We have done an amazing job last couple of weeks! Thank you for all your help. We are taking a break from the kitchen work for the month of January. Have a blessed Holydays! God bless you all!

SUNDAY SCHOOL RECAP: We continued our Nativity Lent readings from "Welcoming the Christ Child". We read 'Ruth's Story' and 'The Young Prophet Samuel' and added the ornaments to our Jesse Tree. Thank you again, parents, for continuing to read these short stories with

your children. The students also made homemade ornaments to be delivered to the Consistory. They turned out very well & they were proud to share them. Yours in Christ, Ms. Karen & Ms. Debbie Yours in Christ~ Ms. Debbie & Ms. Karen

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God bless our grandson Corey Cikauskas on his move

to a new job in Alabama. We will miss you. Love, Grandpa &

Grandma John & Leona Jaksich

For the health of my Father Pavlo in Ukraine by Halyna Kash-

par

For the health of my granddaughter Stephania by Halyna

Kashpar

For the health of my son Mykola and God’s blessings on his

birthday by Halyna Kashpar

For the health & God’s blessings of Family members by Al-

vine & Mike Gbur

For the health of Dad & Grandpa Mike Gbur by Tom Gbur,

Jody, Paul, David, Bryan & Dianna Lang

For the health & welfare of the Hubert Family by

John Gbur

For the health of Richard Kimak by PM Olenka

—————————————————————–——— In memory of Mother Hanna on the 40th day of passing into

eternal life by Turiy Family

In memory of my Mother Polina. Memory Eternal by Halyna

Kashpar.

In memory of my husband Volodimer, mother, father, sisters:

Luba, Slava, brother Mykola and his son Michael. In memory

of my paretns Stefurak, Platsok, Marteklas, Yaniv, Jurchik,

family Zerenby Memory eternalby Maria, Anthony Zerebny

Seven Day Vigil Candles

Words of Gratitude

I would like to thank all of the peple who have called, sent me cards, came and visited me during the recovery after my surgery. I am very grateful! God bless all of you! Leona Jaksich. Hope to see you soon!

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We ask all of you to remember in your prayers the following individuals, who are in need of God's healing and grace: Joseph Kapusta, Richard Kimak, Leona Jaksich, Jeanne Maack, Pani Mary Donahue, Frank Palasti, Donna Nevels, Maria, Andrew J, Tony Zerebny, Maria Savoy, Nicole, Tom Macauliffe, Elena, John, Michael P, Christine, Anthony, Catherine Hladky, Andrew Hladky, Dean Manson, Pavlo, Barba-ra Patronik, Elias, Katie Bruce, Patti Faye, Toni Marie Klavin, Michael Kimak, Chloe Mckinney, Yuriy Zmysly, Paul Jr & Dor-othy Seliga, Wolodymer Kashpar, Priest Vasyl Dovhan, Priest David Clooney, Priest Petro, PM Maria, Frankie, Zachary, Orest, Oksana, Alexander, Paul, Olga.

Prayer Corner for the Month of December

Panahyda Today. In memory of Mother Hanna on the 40th day of passing into eternal life. Requested by Turiy Family

Our Ninth Annual Cookie Walk was Unbelievable and I repeat unbelievable Successes thanks to you our talented and generous bakers who baked at home and donated their creation as well as to a hard working team, who baked at the church hall premises in the evenings. We have raised over $2.600.00 for Caregiving Committee. It is all thanks to your generosity. Special thanks to Mary Wisniowski for purchasing and donating 800 containers for cookies. For those who have missed the Cookie Walk on Thursday Today, some of the Cookies are available for purchase. May God bless you and reward you for your generosity and dedi-cation hundredfold.!!! With Gratitude PM Olenka

Ninth Annual Cookie Walk

Monthly Memorial Service

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Today — Turiy Family—thank you for volunteering 12/29/2019 Kulyk Family & Kashpar Family Please remember the dates you are signed up to do the coffee hour. If you would like to volunteer for the Coffee Hour or need to change your scheduled date, please see Olga Piskoun call 708-361-5165 or email opiskoun@yahoo.com

TODAY - St. Nicholas visit — after Divine Liturgy Nativity Dinner — Tuesday January 7, 2020 at Noon Couples Retreat Second Session - Sunday, January 12, 2020 after Coffee hour

Coffee Hour Schedule

Snow Duty

IF UNABLE TO MAKE YOUR SCHEDULED WEEK, PLEASE FIND A REPLACEMENT FOR YOURSELF.

WEEK OF 12/22 THRU 12/28 -- John Grzymski

WEEK OF 12/29 THRU 1/04 -- Elias Gordan

WEEK OF 1/05 THRU 01/11 -- Stan Jakubczak

WEEK OF 01/12 THRU 01/18 -- Brian Ciapinski

There is a CD available for purchase with Carols by Seminarian of Our St. Sophia Seminary. This is a fundraiser event for Semi-narians. If you would like to purchase their CD, pick one up at the table located at the entrance of the church. Place the asked donation of $20.00 into a candle basket, thank you.

CD — Carols by Seminarians of St. Sophia

Save the Date