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We, bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the United States, gathered in prayer and dialogue at our annual assembly in St. Louis, express solidarity with our longsuffering brothers and sisters representing different confessions in countries where our communities originate. We are anguished by the passion they are enduring on account of war, persecution, assault against human dignity, and violation of personal and religious liberty.
On March 25 we, as a Church, celebrate the feast of the Annunciation. This feast
is the fountainhead of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery that was planned from all eternity: the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin and Gabriel announces this grace” (Tropar of the Feast — March 25). This feast of the Annunciation manifests the great plan God has for our salvation and the willingness of God to wait upon the response of Mary, the handmaid of the Lord. Tomorrow we begin the Season of the Great Fast. During each Sunday of the past four weeks, the Church has been preparing us to begin our Lenten journey with a specific Gospel lesson and spiritual food for thought. Let us make every deliberate effort to be more prayerful, humble, merciful and forgiving, abstaining from both food and sin during the next forty days “for now is the season of repentance. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (from Forgiveness Vespers Stichera). May our journey through the Great Fast be a true experience of spiritual growth and communion with our God who anxiously awaits our response to his love and forgiveness. Although our Church traditionally prescribed abstention from meat and dairy products in days gone by for the entire duration of Lent, the following minimal Lenten regulations are in force in our Eparchy:
1. Abstinence from meat and all dairy products for the First Day of The Great Fast, February 16, 2026 and on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. 2. Abstinence from meat only on all Wednesdays & Fridays of Lent as well as Holy Saturday, April 4, 2026. 3. Reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist during the Pascal season (from the onset of Lent to the Wednesday before Ascension Thursday). Fasting and Abstinence regulations are not binding on persons 60 or older, the very poor, sick, nursing or pregnant women, children before the age of 14, and those who engage in physically very hard labor. Prayer and almsgiving oblige all! FOR THE BEGINNING OF SAINT PHILIP’S FAST 2025
He heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds. —Ps. 147:3 Glory to Jesus Christ! As many of you know, my son attends Chesterton Academy of Akron. As a recipient of the Chesterton Scholarship, we've been blessed with a high quality Catholic education and engaging community. Please consider supporting other students like my son by donating to the scholarship fund by clicking the button below. I also encourage you to watch the Chesterton Academy video below to learn more about the school and it's place in our local community. On September 7, Pope Leo XIV will canonize two new saints! These two young
Italian lay men will be the first saints he canonizes as a new pope. These canonizations were originally scheduled for April 27, but due to the death of Pope Francis, were postponed to September. On Sunday, January 12, 2025, we will celebrate SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD throughout the Eparchy of St. Josaphat. The Sunday of the Word of God was instituted by Pope Francis to be held every year to remind pastors and faithful alike, of the importance and value of Sacred Scripture for the Christian life, as well as the relationship between the Word of God and the liturgy.
On Monday, January 6, the Church will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Theophany of Our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ. The word “Theophany” means “Manifestation of God” and it refers to the fact that the Lord has manifested Himself to all of creation in three Persons.
Jesus chose to become man to show us that he doesn’t just want to save us, but that he loves us. And he knew that in the incarnation and the crucifixion, there would be no greater way to show us that he loves us, than to become man and then go to the cross and die for us. “For greater love hath no one than this, that he lay down his life for someone else / for his friends” (see John 15:13). So God wanted to show us that he loves us, and he does that through the incarnation and the cross. Jesus also becomes one of us to teach us how to love him back! How to be holy and to give ourselves totally to God.
Congratulations to our newly ordained deacon Tom Lehner! Tom Lehner is a lifelong member of Holy Ghost Church.
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