During this period of the Philip’s Fast, in preparation for the Nativity of our Lord Jesus, we are challenged to change our lives, to let go of our comforts and of what we consider to be “a good life.” Many people do not want to let go of these comforts or they become upset if someone tries to suggest that they leave behind the things that bring them comfort, but this is often what discipleship in Christ calls us to do. This is both a challenge and a goal of discipleship. To be a disciple of Jesus means to sit at his feet, just as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus did in the Gospel. READ MORE.

Eastern Christian Publications is announcing Clean-Out-the-Warehouse Christmas Sale, as well as publication of a new book and ByziKids Magazine subscription.

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To all pastors and administrators: Glory to Jesus Christ! It is your responsibility to ensure that all parish staff and volunteers are safe environment trained in accordance with the requirements that can be found online at www.parma.org under the “Safe Environment” page. In the near future, the eparchy will be changing the training requirements to a Virtus-based system. Pastors and administrators will be notified when this occurs. READ MORE.

BURTON, Ohio — Christ the Bridegroom Monastery reached its final step of canonical establishment Sept. 27, when it was established as a sui iuris, or self-governing, monastery of eparchial right by Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma. The establishment was publicly announced by the reading of a decree at the conclusion of a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the monastery chapel Sept. 30, the vigil of the feast of the Protection of the Mother of God. A decree approving the monastery’s typikon, or rule of life, was also read. READ MORE.

In theory, we know love. In theory, we know how we need to be as Christians. But life is a little bit complicated, and this basic challenge of Jesus is not easy for us. When we need inspiration to love, to be good, to do good, and to help others without wanting anything in return, we turn to the source of love, which is the love of God, our heavenly Father. Jesus Christ, who has seen the Father, shows us how we need to love each other. READ MORE.

EUCLID, Ohio — Father Robert Jager remembers a time before 1989. "The whole world just surrendered to the red hordes and sacrificed the Christians behind the Iron Curtain to be forgotten,” he said of the years of communist oppression in Central Europe, where he grew up in the Greek Catholic Church. “However, it was the Byzantine Catholic Church in North America that spoke up for us,” he said. Father Jager recalled serving as an altar boy during communism in present-day Slovakia, then Czechoslovakia. READ MORE.

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — Two parishes, at either end of the eparchy, hosted special events to promote the message of Our Lady of Fatima from an Eastern Catholic perspective. St. Joseph Parish in Brecksville, Ohio, hosted the pilgrim icon of Our Lady of Fatima Sept. 7. A pilgrim statue has been traveling throughout the world since the early years of the Blue Army, now called the World Apostolate of Fatima. The apostolate, founded to promote the message of peace, repentance and conversion that the Mother of God shared at Fatima, is recognized by the Vatican as a Public Association of the Faithful. READ MORE.

MEDINA, Ohio — What started off as a gloomy morning ended as a gorgeous, sunny day, as 40 golfers enjoyed a fall golf tournament, delicious barbecue, fellowship and fun at the 13th Annual Father John Keblesh Memorial Golf Outing at the Bunker Hill Golf Club Sept. 7, organized by St. Emilian Parish in Brunswick, Ohio, where Father Keblesh had served. READ MORE.

ST. NAZIANZ, Wis. — Father Anthony Romens was tonsured a stavrophore monk for Holy Resurrection Monastery in St. Nazianz Sept. 8. Father Anthony was born in Milwaukee. He was baptized and raised Roman Catholic, but his spiritual search led him to the Romanian Catholic monastery, located about 85 miles north of Milwaukee. “The monastic tonsure (or solemn vows) is essentially a definitive marriage between a monastic’s soul and God,” said Father Anthony. READ MORE.

NEW YORK — The first national Byzantine Catholic Young Adult Convocation was held Aug. 1-4 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in New York. About 50 young adults and 20 clergy attended the event, organized by the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic and its young adult ministry, Theosis in Action. Some traveled from as far away as Michigan and Indiana. Bishop Kurt Burnette of Passaic opened the weekend with Vespers and set the theme: “Together we are called to discipleship, transfigured through a new life in Christ, sent to proclaim the Gospel to the world.” READ MORE.

Everybody knows what it means to be a slave. Everyone has some form of slavery in their lives. It could be smoking, watching too much football, eating too much candy. The Gospel proposes a wonderful solution for our Christian life: how to live, how to proceed, in the United States in our current conditions. Today, the Gospel proposes to us the young man who wants to be perfect (Luke 18:18-30). He tells Jesus that he keeps all of the commandments. READ MORE.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — St. Nicholas Parish hosted its second Saints in the Summer children’s program July 20 for youth ages 4-13. The program focused on St. George, who was a soldier of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and martyred for refusing to reject his Christian faith. After a light lunch, organized by Subdeacon Phil Dinsmore and his wife, Cindy, the children engaged in a series of activities coordinated by parishioner Anne Nagrant, including a short talk by Subdeacon Dinsmore. READ MORE.

PARMA, Ohio — About 20 children attended Vacation Bible School, held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist for Cleveland-area parishes, July 15-19. Children came from the cathedral, St. Mary, Holy Spirit and St. Joseph parishes. The theme was “Week of Celebration,” and the students learned about the daily liturgical cycle of the Byzantine Catholic Church. Each day began with the General Moleben except for Friday, when Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma celebrated Divine Liturgy with the children. READ MORE.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis announced he will create 13 new cardinals Oct. 5, choosing prelates from 13 different nations as a sign of “the missionary vocation of the church that continues to proclaim the merciful love of God to all men and women of the earth.” After the consistory to create the new cardinals in October, Pope Francis will have chosen more than half of the men who will enter the Sistine Chapel to elect his successor. READ MORE.

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — Family, tradition and friendship were strong themes among the hundreds of pilgrims at the 85th annual pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Bishop Gregory Mansour of the Maronite Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, New York, was the guest preacher at the closing Divine Liturgy of the pilgrimage, organized by the Sisters of St. Basil the Great. “There is a big difference between a pilgrim and tourist,” Bishop Mansour told the pilgrims. “People are going on a tour to get their money’s worth, that things go right for them. A pilgrim could have the most awful thing happen to them and then offer it up. They recognize that life isn’t only about them. READ MORE.

BURTON, Ohio — About 300 people attended the annual eparchial pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch, Aug. 17-18. The theme for this year’s pilgrimage was, “Rejoice, hope of all.” The pilgrimage began on Saturday afternoon with the lesser blessing of water, followed by Great Vespers with litija and blessing of pilgrims. At the blessing of water, Father Marek Visnovsky, the protosyncellus of the eparchy, said “quenching the spiritual thirst” is what’s important. He encouraged the pilgrims to drink the water and to bless themselves with it. Containers were available for people to take the water home. Vespers were celebrated by Father Visnovsky, with Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma presiding, retired Bishop John Kudrick of Parma in attendance, and Deacon Joseph Hnat serving. Subdeacon Miron Kerul-Kmec Jr., and seminarian Michael Kunitz assisted. READ MORE.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,   The celebration of the golden anniversary of the founding of our Eparchy of Parma is slowly winding down. Throughout this anniversary year, with our spiritual programs and festivities, we have expressed gratitude to God for His many blessings and graces in the past fifty years. At the same time, our great anniversary also motivates us to ponder our future — how do we want to move forward? Growing and advancing is not about starting from scratch, but about taking our cues from who we are and what we have at our disposal, and having the courage to see the future with hope. With this letter, I wish to present to you my vision for our future. READ MORE

PARMA, Ohio — Soon after the start of the new pastoral year Sept. 1, the Catholic Church in the United States will observe Catechetical Sunday Sept. 15. The national council of Eastern Catholic Eparchial Directors of Religious Education (ECED) has issued resource materials to Eastern Catholic parishes across the country in preparation for the launch of their respective Eastern Christian Formation programs this fall. The catechetical theme for all Eastern Catholic Churches in the United States this year is “The Journey to Emmaus,” from the Gospel of Luke (24:13-35). READ MORE.

CLEVELAND — The property of Holy Ghost Parish in Cleveland was sold by the eparchy this summer. Holy Ghost was one of the first Ruthenian parishes to be founded in Cleveland in 1909. It was suppressed in 2009, due to low membership. That same year, Bishop John Kudrick of Parma, now retired, founded the Byzantine Catholic Cultural Center, originally housed in the cathedral complex. He then moved the Cultural Center to Holy Ghost Church and rectory, located in the increasingly trendy Tremont neighborhood, in 2012. However, the church was found to have structural problems and the Cultural Center was re-situated in the cathedral complex and chancery offices in 2015. READ MORE.

DAVISBURG, Mich. — Sacred Heart parishioner Marissa Gross won first place in the Special Needs Class Equestrian Competition at the Oakland County Fair, held in Davisburg, Michigan, July 13. Gross, 26, who has Down Syndrome, began horseback riding eight years ago. READ MORE.