| Bishop’s Easter
Message
My
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
From
the preaching of the holy Apostle Peter on that first Pentecost down
through the ages to the present, the message of the passion, death
and resurrection of Christ have been central to the preaching of the
Gospel. It was only after the Resurrection that the whole of Jesus’’
message began to make sense to His followers, and their faith
emerged.
As
some have written, we live in a post Christian age or a neo-pagan
world, where religious values and faith play no role. Our Christian
Community must witness the Resurrection and tell the world that
there is hope! Our Good Friday and Easter processions make a
declaration that Christ is the enlightenment of the world, that
Christ brings salvation, that Christ is the fulfillment of all of
man’s hopes and desires.
During
Holy Week let us believers participate fully in the special
services. We are called at this time to enter into the Paschal
Mystery, to take courage and nourishment from it, to experience it
more deeply so that on Easter morning we can joyously proclaim to
all the world that wonderful message: Christos voskrese! Christ is
risen!
Most
Reverend George M. Kuzma
Bishop
of Van Nuys
O Death, where is
your sting?
O Hades, where is
your victory?
Christ is risen, and
you are abolished!
Christ is risen, and
the demons are cast down!
Christ is risen, and
the angels rejoice.
Christ is risen, and
the Tomb is emptied of the dead!
Excerpt from the
Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom
Divine Liturgy Celebrated
at LA Congress
 |
On
February 12, the Right Reverend Archimandrite Wes Izer, SDB,
representing His Grace, Bishop George, celebrated the Divine
Liturgy at the Archdiocese of LosAngeles Religious Education
Congress held at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Congress
draws 20,000 participants from all over the United States and
many |
many
foreign countries. Over 800 people participated in the Divine
Liturgy that was cantered by the Schola Cantorum of Annunciation
Byzantine Catholic Church in Anaheim.
Concelebrating
the Divine Liturgy were the Very Reverend Archpriest Michael Moran
of St. Mary Cathedral in Van Nuys, the Reverend Monsignor George
Vida of Annunciation Church in Anaheim, the Very Reverend James
Babcock of Holy Cross Melkite Church in Placentia, California, and
the Reverend Alexei Smith of St. Andrew Russian Catholic Church in
El Segundo, California.
Left to
Right: Rev Archpriest Michael Moran, Rev James Babcock, Rev
Alexei Smith, Rev
Msgr George Vida, Rev Archimanrite Wes Izer |
Father
Wes welcomed the participants in his homily and invited them to
enter more fully into the celebration of the Divine Mysteries. The
congregations responded by singing full voice, blessing themselves
and bowing at the appropriate times! The next two days of the
Congress were filled with praise and appreciation from those who
participated in the Divine Liturgy.
Many
thanks go to Sister Barbara Swindells, OSBM, Eparchial Director of
Religious Education, and Father Smith who is the President of the
Southern California Eastern Catholic Pastoral Association, for their
continuous efforts and contacts with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
to make this celebration a reality. Our appreciation is also
extended to the Cantors of Annunciation Church for the leading of
the congregational responses and to all those who helped with the
preparations for this Liturgy.
Portland
Outreach Has Visitor
The
Right Reverend Archimandrite Wesley Izer, SDB made the first
visitation of St. Irene Byzantine Catholic Outreach in Portland,
Oregon on March 6 and 7. Father met with the Reverend Kurt Burnette,
the Administrator, and the parishioners to look at the future of the
mission. At the end of Divine Liturgy, Father Wes spoke to the
congregation about God’’s active presence in their community.
They have a priest and need to grow as a community. Their continued
commitment and desire to maintain a permanent presence in Portland
must continue to grow. This can best be effected by living the
liturgical life and growing in their knowledge of the Faith. Finally
he pointed out the necessity of financial support which will help
them become self-sufficient.
The
Outreach which has had a shaky history had only two committed
families one year ago when Father Kurt arrived. Now it has 17
committed families and is growing. An Eastern Christian Formation
Program, organized by our Seminarian David Fulton, is in place for
the youngsters; while Father Kurt conducts a weekly Bible Study
program for the adults. Vespers and Matins are also celebrated as
part of the Sunday liturgical schedule.
If
you have relatives and friends living in the Portland area, contact
Father Kurt at (503) 777-1814.
Holy Week
and Bright Week
March
28 Palm Sunday
St.
Basil the Great Church
Los
Gatos, California
9:30
AM Blessing of Palms & Divine Liturgy
Conferral
of Subdiaconate
March
30 Holy Tuesday
St.
Stephen Pro-Cathedral
Phoenix,
AZ 7:30 PM
Pre-Sanctified
Liturgy
March
31 Holy Wednesday
St.
Nicholas Church
Fontana,
California
Liturgy
of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts and Anointing of the Sick
April
1 Holy Thursday
Church
of the Annuncia tion
Anaheim,
California
7:30
PM Vespers & Divine Liturgy
April
2 Good Friday
Cathedral
of St. Mary
Van
Nuys, California
12
Noon Royal Hours and the Passion
7:00
PM Vespers & Procession
April
3 Holy Saturday
Cathedral
of St. Mary
Van
Nuys, California
7:00
PM Vesper Divine Liturgy
Feast
of the Resurrection
Cathedral
of St. Mary
8:30
PM Resurrection Matins
Anointing
and Blessing of Baskets
April
4 Cathedral of St. Mary
Van
Nuys, California
10:00
AM Divine Liturgy
Anointing
with the Oil of Gladness, Blessing of Easter Baskets
April
5 Bright Monday
Holy
Resurrection Monastery
Newberry
Springs, California
Sixth
Hour and Lunch
Our
Lady of Wisdom Mission
Las
Vegas, Nevada
7:00
PM Divine Liturgy
Albuquerque
Pastor and Youth See Pope in St. Louis
Teen-agers
from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and the Bishop Romzha Home
School Co Op traveled to Saint Louis, Missouri, for the Papal Visit
in January. This was due to the generosity of
parishioners,
family and friends.
A
total of 15 students traveled from Albuquerque and were joined by
three parishioners studying at Steubenville University in Ohio. In
addition, Fr. Chris Zugger, Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help,
was given plane tickets to Saint Louis for himself and a
helper.
During
the March for Light, the teens made such a good impression by their
dress and behavior that a college professor came up to one of the
adult chaperones and gave them enough tickets for the Youth Rally.
While the venue of a six-hour rock concert was a bit much for all of
the adults (and even the teens!), the Pope’’s homily to youth on
the need for devotion, spiritual training, and commitment to
bringing Christ to others struck home.
Everyone
got to bed by midnight, then was up at 4 am to head out for the
Mass. Again, the Pope was obviously frail and tired, but his homily
was excellent. Comments from the Byzan-Teens included:
“I
had no idea that the Pope was so holy;”
“This
was a real renewal for me;”
“It
affirmed my beliefs and behavior;”
“It
made me think about what I am doing with my life.”
So
despite 24-hour bus trips each way, everyone expressed the sentiment
that they were glad they made the trek.
Eparchial Schedule
March
6-7 St. Irene Outreach
Portland,
Oregon Visitation
March
8 Mount Angel Seminary
St.
Benedict, OR
Seminarian
Evaluations
March
11 Pastoral Center 1:00 PM
Phoenix,
Arizona
Diaconal
Review Board
March
17 Tribunal of Van Nuys
Las
Vegas, Nevada
Tribunal
Review
March
St. Basil the Great Church
27-28
Los Gatos, California
Visitation
April
3-4 Cathedral of St. Mary
Van
Nuys, California
Pastoral
Visitation
April
11 St. Thomas Church
Gilbert,
Arizona
10:00
AM Divine Liturgy
11:00
AM New Hall Blessing
April
22 St. Stephen Pro-Cathedral
Phoenix,
Arizona
7:30
PM Diaconal Ordination
Anthony
Hernandez
May1
St. John Bosco High School
Bellflower,
California
Brave
Night——Alumni Dinner
May
7 & 8 Byzantine Catholic Seminary
Pittsburgh,
PA
Seminary
Advisory Board Meeting
May
29 Tucson Diocesan Liturgical Conference
St.
Elizabeth Seton Church
Tucson,
AZ
9:15
AM Keynote Address
10:45
AM Divine Liturgy
Ensure the Future -
Support the Bishop’s Appeal
 |
Begins February 15, 1999
Ends June 30, 1999
|
Bishop’s
Appeal Goals:
CHURCH
(Pastor) FAMILIES GOAL
Albuquerque
(Zugger) 112 $22,400.00
Anaheim
(Vida) 109 $21,800.00
Anchorage
(Greskowiak) 72 $14,400.00
Denver
(Hutsko) 54 $10,800.00
Fontana
(Bernardi) 60 $12,000.00
Gilbert
(Acquaro) 41 $8,200.00
Italo-Greeks
(Vivona) 32 $6,400.00
Las
Vegas (Pipta) 85 $17,000.00
Los
Gatos (O’’Brien) 34 $6,800.00
Olympia
(Durka) 31 $6,200.00
Phoenix
(Washko) 145 $29,000.00
Portland
(Burnette) 10 $2,000.00
Sacramento
(Izzo) 25 $5,000.00
San
Diego (Rybarczyk) 108 $21,600.00
San
Luis Obispo (Idranyi) 41 $8,200.00
Seattle
(Stanichar) 74 $14,800.00
Spokane
(Logan) 40 $8,000.00
Tucson
(Skurla) 59 $11,800.00
Van
Nuys (Moran) 110 $22,000.00
TOTAL
1242 $248,400.00
Eparchial
Offices Closed
Holy
Thursday, Good Friday and Bright Week: April 1-9
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