Thank you to Pan Mr. Peter Zmewsky and Austin O’Brien Catholic High School grade 10 students for visiting us today at St. Nicholas Church
We encourage all students and teacher to take time and do the same.
Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world on Friday, October 27.
The text of his appeal follows.
God bless
Bishop David
Appeal of the Holy Father
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20231018-udienza-generale.html
Today too, dear brothers and sisters, our thoughts turn to Palestine and Israel. The number of victims is rising and the situation in Gaza is desperate. Please, let everything possible be done to avoid a humanitarian disaster. The possible widening of the conflict is disturbing, while so many war fronts are already open in the world. May weapons fall silent! Let us heed the cry for peace of populations, of the people, of the children! Brothers and sisters, war does not solve any problem: it sows only death and destruction, foments hate and proliferates revenge. War cancels out the future. I urge believers to take just one side in this conflict: that of peace. But not with words — with prayer, with total dedication. With this in mind, I have decided to call for a day of fasting and prayer, of penance, on Friday 27 October, to which I invite sisters and brothers of the various Christian denominations, those belonging to other religions and all those who have at heart the cause of peace in the world, to join in as they see fit. That evening, at 6 p.m., at Saint Peter’s, we will spend an hour of prayer, in a spirit of penance, to implore peace in our time, peace in this world. I ask all the particular Churches to participate by arranging similar activities involving the People of God.
Fourteenth Annual Bishop’s Gala Thursday, December 7, 2023 supporting the new “Image to Likeness: Our Life in Christ” Ukrainian Catholic Religious Education Curriculum/Program for use in Ukrainian Bilingual Schools, parishes, the home and beyond! Chateau Louis Hotel and Conference Centre, cocktail reception and silent auction at 6:00 pm, dinner at 7:00 pm, followed by an exciting live auction. Tickets $200 each ($1600 per table of eight) with tax receipt for $100 per ticket. Contact the Pastoral Centre for tickets or to make a monetary or auction donation: 780 424 5496 or chancery@edmontoneparchy.com. Go to www.eeparchy.com/gala for more information and to view on-line auction. All proceeds of the Gala will support the development of Image to Likeness: Our Life in Christ, Ukrainian Catholic Religious Education Program.
On October 19, Saint Nicolas parish hosted the Ukrainian bilingual teachers from both Edmonton Catholic and Elk Island Catholic schools for a professional learning afternoon. The teachers were presented with the new Ukrainian Catholic curriculum that was developed by the Edmonton Eparchy. This curriculum which is a specifically Ukrainian Catholic religion program will be implemented in all of the Ukrainian bilingual schools in Edmonton and Sherwood Park. The professional learning afternoon was a chance for the teachers to learn more about the new curriculum and work together on plans for teaching it to their students.
After many years of break, we rejuvenated our altar boys. Thank you, boys, we are proud of you.
We invite all boys to take an active part in serving around the altar.
Hope to see the “Children of Mary” once more time revitalized and many other groups serving in our church.
For over a century, ECSD has been dedicated to providing an exceptional Catholic education to families in Edmonton. In 1888, three sisters from the order of the Faithful Companions of Jesus began teaching 23 students in the very first Catholic school in Edmonton. Since then, our Division has grown to 95 schools and more than 47,000 students.
DIVINE LITURGY PROPERS FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2023
Troparion, Tone 3: Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice,* for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm.* He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead;* He saved us from the abyss of Hades* and granted great mercy to the world.
Troparion, Tone 8: Christ our God, You are glorified above all,* You established our fathers as beacons on earth* and through them guided all of us to the true faith.* Glory to You, most compassionate Lord.
Kontakion, Tone 3: You rose from the tomb, O compassionate Lord,* and led us out from the gates of death.* Today Adam exults and Eve rejoices,* and the prophets together with the patriarchs* unceasingly acclaim the divine might of Your power.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 6: The Son who ineffably shone from the Father* was born two-fold of nature from a woman.* Beholding Him, we do not reject the image of His form;* but depicting it, we revere it faithfully.* Therefore the Church, holding the true faith,* kisses the icon of Christ’s becoming man.
Now and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone 6: Undaunted patroness of Christians,* O steadfast intermediary with the Creator,* turn not away from the suppliant voices of sinners,* but in your kindness come to help us who cry out to you in faith.* Be quick to intercede, make haste to plead,* for you are ever the patroness of those who honour you, O Mother of God.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4: Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your Name forever.
verse: For You are righteous in everything that You have done to us. (Daniel 3:26-27)
A reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews.
Brothers and Sisters, remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:7-16
До Євреїв послання святого апостола Павла читання
Браття і Сестри, пам’ятайте про наставників ваших, які звіщали вам слово Боже, і дивлячись уважно на кінець їхнього життя, наслідуйте їхню віру. Ісус Христос учора й сьогодні – той самий навіки. Не піддавайтеся різним та чужим наукам: воно бо добре укріпити серце благодаттю, не стравами, які не принесли ніякої користи тим, що віддавалися їм. Є у нас жертовник, з якого не мають права їсти ті, що при наметі служать. Бо котрих звірят кров архиєрей заносить у святиню за гріхи, тих м’ясо палиться за табором. Тому й Ісус, щоб освятити народ власною своєю кров’ю, страждав поза містом. Тож виходьмо до нього за табір, несучи наругу його, бо ми не маємо тут постійного міста, а майбутнього шукаєм. Через нього принесім завжди Богові жертву хвали, тобто плід уст, які визнають його ім’я. Добродійства та взаємної допомоги не забувайте: такі бо жертви Богові приємні. (Євр 13,7-16)
Alleluia, Tone 1: The God of gods, the Lord, spoke and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
verse: Gather to Him His devout ones, who with sacrifice make covenant with Him. (Psalm 49:1,5)
Gospel John 17:1-13
At that time, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.”
Євангеліє: (Ів 17,1-13):
У той час Ісус, підвівши очі свої до неба, проказав: «Отче, прийшла година! Прослав свого Сина, щоб Син твій тебе прославив, згідно з владою, що її ти дав йому над усяким тілом: дарувати життя вічне тим, яких ти передав йому. А вічне життя у тому, щоб вони спізнали тебе, єдиного, істинного Бога, і тобою посланого – Ісуса Христа. Я тебе на землі прославив, виконавши те діло, яке ти дав мені до виконання. Тепер же прослав мене, Отче, у себе – славою тією, що її я мав у тебе перед тим, як постав світ! Я об’явив твоє ім’я людям, яких ти від світу передав мені. Вони були твої, ти ж передав мені їх, і зберегли вони слово твоє. Нині збагнули вони, що все, тобою дане мені – від тебе; слова бо, тобою мені дані, я їм дав, і сприйняли вони їх, і справді збагнули, що від тебе я вийшов, і увірували, що ти мене послав. Молю ж за них: не за світ молю, лише за тих, яких ти передав мені, бо вони – твої. І все моє – твоє, твоє ж – моє, і в них я прославився. Я вже більш не у світі, а вони у світі, і я до тебе йду. Отче Святий! Заради імени твого бережи їх, тих, що їх ти мені передав, щоб були одно, як ми! Бувши з ними у світі, я беріг їх у твоє ім’я; тих, яких ти передав мені, я їх стеріг, і ніхто з них не пропав, лише син загибелі, щоб збулося Писання. Тепер же іду до тебе, і кажу те, у світі бувши, щоб вони радощів моїх мали у собі вщерть.»
Communion Hymn: Praise the Lord from the heavens,* praise Him in the highest.* Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalms 184:1; 32:1)
COMMEMORATION OF THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE SEVENTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (787). THE HOLY ICONS.
On the Sunday of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, the Church remembers the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, Nicea II, under the holy Patriarch Tarasius.
The Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils are honored by the Church because, based upon the preaching of the Apostles, they have established one faith for the Church. Guided by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and accepted by the Church, the Ecumenical Councils are the highest authority in the Church, infallible.
The Seventh Ecumenical Council, convoked by the Empress Irene and met at Nicaea from September 24 to October 13, 787. Patriarch Tarasios (commemorated February 25) presided. The council ended almost fifty years of iconoclast persecution and established the veneration of the holy icons as basic to the belief and spirituality of Christ’s Church. As the Synaxarion says, “It was not simply the veneration of the holy images that the Fathers defended in these terms but, in fact, the very reality of the Incarnation of the Son of God.”
“The second Council of Nicaea is the seventh and last Ecumenical Council recognized by the Orthodox Church. This does not mean that there may not be ecumenical Councils in the future although, in holding the seventh place, the Council of Nicaea has taken to itself the symbol of perfection and completion represented by this number in Holy Scripture (e.g. Gen. 2:1-3). It closes the era of the great dogmatic disputes which enabled the Church to describe, in definitions excluding all ambiguity, the bounds of the holy Orthodox Faith. From that time, every heresy that appears can be related to one or other of the errors that the Church, assembled in universal Councils, has anathematized from the first until the seventh Council of Nicaea.” Synaxarion
