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The Theotokos had her son, Jesus Christ, provide all the bishops, priests, deacons, sisters, pilgrims and workers with great weather (despite some humidity and a short drizzle on Sunday) for the 79th Annual Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The event is held at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, PA. on Labor Day Weekend (Aug 31- Sept 1.) This year’s theme was “Theotokos, Steadfast Foundation of Faith.” It was a prayerful event for those who participated in many of the liturgies and received the Holy Mysteries of Repentance, Holy Anointing and Holy Eucharist.
The Sisters of St. Basil the Great of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province host clergy, grandparents, parents, children, aunts, uncles, nieces & nephews who continue the tradition of gathering together, some from thousands of miles away, to be with one another worshiping God and asking Mary for her intercession. Everyone also experiences the beautiful grounds of Mount Macrina and enjoy one another’s company eating at Light Lunch, the Racetrack or many of the restaurants that have sprung up along Main St. over the past few decades.
In my experience it’s like a religious gymnasium. There’s plenty of prayerful services to participate in and there’s rolling hills to negotiate between each altar, shrine or other venue. It’s also a family reunion. During the weekend I visit immediate family (including lots of cousins & their children) and many others I know from: multiple parishes I’ve visited, clergy from all four eparchies in the USA & one eparchy in Canada and friends I’ve met at past Otpusts. Since I have grandparents, a godparent, aunts & uncles buried in the cemetery there, our family and some friends have our own Panachida for the deceased at the individual grave sites. We say the rosary too.
After Saturday and Sunday evening candle light processions on the Mount we go back to the hotel. Family and friends bring in food and play cards while looking through old & new family pictures, reminiscing and catching up with one another’s lives.
Pilgrims leave the Mount refreshed with uplifted spirits.  Sister Seraphim Olsafsky, provincial of the Sisters of St. Basil, at the end of Sunday’s 4 p.m. Divine Liturgy said, “Your presence lights up this mount, and the shadow casts a peaceful glow over Mount St. Macrina throughout the year.” That sentiment is a 2-way street. Thank you, Sisters of St. Basil.
On the way home, and at the following Sunday’s church social at St. Athanasius the Great parish, I enjoy the medovniki (honey cakes) purchased at the pilgrimage. According to their flyer the medovniki is “shared with those who were not able to attend.” So I bring medovniki back to Indianapolis every year. (Note: our parish bakers also make a version of these honey cookies at the church at other times of the year. It’s not the Sisters’ recipe, which is a highly guarded secret, but ours are really good too. I will concede that the Sisters and their volunteer bakers really know how to decorate the cookies.)
The pilgrimage started in 1935.  Next year will be the 80th. Put this on your to-do list for 2014. I plan to return and hope to see you there.
… John Danovich

2013 Pilgrimage to Mount Macrina Uniontown PA – Labor Day 2013Read More

There will be a memorial Mass for Melvin Loidolt, of blessed memory, on Saturday June 29th at St. Andrew’s the Apostle Catholic Church in Indianapolis at 10:30 AM with luncheon to follow.

Melvin J. Loidolt, 84

Melvin J. Loidolt, a resident of Indianapolis, Ind., formerly of Pierz, MN passed away Monday, June 10, 2013, at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN.
Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, June 14, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, with Father Kenneth Popp officiating. Burial took place in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Melvin J. Loidolt was born Nov. 5, 1928, on a farm near Pierz, to Frank and Josephine (Happke) Loidolt. Mel was the sixth child in the family of nine children. Richard, Dorene, Elmer, Laura and Cora have passed away. Patricia (Dick) Bujalski of Pierz, Ron (Bonnie) Loidolt of Fort Ripley and Sharilyn Busta of Peru, Ind., survive. Mel has two grandchildren: Jordan and Kaleigh. Mel has 32 nieces and nephews.
Mel’s military service was in the United States Army in Germany. He continued his elementary teacher’s education at Bemidji University in Bemidji, graduating in August 1954. In all, he taught 41 years in the states and overseas. In Germany, he taught in the American Dependent School in Mainz and Heidelberg where he met Kathryn Sullivan. They were married Aug. 16, 1958, in Corning, Iowa. The couple returned to Heidelberg, Germany. Their daughter, Mary, was born June 24, 1961, but lived only 11 hours. They transferred to Asmara, Eritrea, East Africa, one year; to Seoul, Korea, one year; Camp Zama, Japan, three years, serving 10 years of teaching American children of military families. Their son, Marcus Jon, was born in the military hospital in Camp Zama, Japan. Mel and Kay returned to the United States and settled in Indianapolis, Ind., where their daughter, Kim, was born. Mel taught in Warren Township at Eastridge Elementary School for 24 years. He received his master’s degree at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. Mel retired from teaching school in 1990. During his retirement, he was active in St. Andrew’s Catholic Church on a variety of projects. He served as president on the St. Vincent de Paul Society for 18 years and was recently honored with their “Top Hat” award for his dedication to the organization. He was a member of the Secular Franciscans, Knights of Columbus #5290 and American Legion and also enjoyed being an usher for Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) for many years.

Mel will long be remembered for the kindness and compassion he bestowed on so many and the abundance of joy he brought to his family and friends.

In blessed repose, grant, O Lord, eternal rest to the soul of Your servant, Melvin Loidolt,  and remember him forever. Vičnaja jemu pamjať.

Melvin Joseph Loidolt memorial Mass – June 29, 2013Read More

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
We thank you Lord that the Holy Spirit has inspired the conclave of cardinals to elect our new pope in such a short time. May the entire Catholic Church, other Christians, religious and the laity welcome Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio) with open arms.
We pray for Pope Francis that he follows the will of God in bringing the Gospel to the entire world. May the peoples of the world seek God’s message and embrace God’s will for all to love Him and love one another. May we work to give dignity to all of God’s creations, strive to live in peace and diligently seek to follow the example of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
May God grant your humble servant, newly-elected Pope Francis, many happy and blessed years. Mnohaya i blahaya lita! (Church Slavonic)

New Holy Father – Pope Francis – March 13, 2013Read More

Weekly Schedule

Sunday, Mar. 3, 2013	3rd Sunday of the Great Fast *   Veneration of the Cross
10 am	Divine Liturgy                             + Florence Lucia
Following liturgy	Fellowship in St. Mary’s Hall – everyone is invited
Noon – 2 pm	Pysanky class – visitors & parishioners are invited
Monday, Mar. 4, 2013
6 pm	Paraklesis
Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2013
	No activities
Wed., Mar. 6, 2013	Mid-Lent
noon	Office of Hours
Thursday, Mar. 7, 2013
9 am – 6 pm	Baking in St. Mary’s Hall
Friday, Mar. 8, 2013
7 pm	Presanctified Liturgy including praying   for 4th All Souls Saturday
Saturday, Mar. 9, 2013	40 Martyrs of Sebaste
5 pm	Vigil Divine Liturgy for Sunday   +Paul Eshleman
Sunday, Mar. 10, 2013	4th Sunday of the Great Fast – John Climacus*
10 am	Divine Liturgy                           +Dorothy DeMaio
Following liturgy	Fellowship in St. Mary’s Hall – everyone is invited
	Note: * designates obligation to attend liturgy

Announcements

Events Calendar

• The first class on decorating pysanky (Easter eggs) is today, March 3^rd from noon until 2 p.m. Come and learn this colorful tradition. A modest fee of $5 will help pay for the supplies.
• This Friday, March 8^th, All Souls Saturday is being celebrated as a vigil following Friday’s Presanctified Liturgy at 7 p.m. Please attend both services with a single trip to church and stay for a dinner. An educational video can be shown with the meal if the attendees wish.
• The 1^st Ancient Healing Service this month is Wednesday, March 13. Please plan to join us.
• The next Knights of Columbus brunch will include hosting members of the Knights from Muncie on Sunday, March 17^th. 

 

 

The Great Fast: Cross-Veneration Week signals the mid-point of our journey into Light. As a child, did you ever run up a see-saw and try walking to the center, struggling to keep your balance? You know that once you reach its mid-point, you need a foot planted on either side of the center to maintain your balance. … You decide to jump off, or you maintain a steady, balanced position and descend the other side of the board.

   Like children eagerly anticipating the challenge of the see-saw, we begin our greatfast journey with joy-filled hearts, determined to find our particular pattern of balance to carry us through this season of repentance. … We have reached the midpoint of our penitential journey to Holy Pascha. Are we ready to give in to the temptation to terminate the journey?

   … The Holy Cross reminds us that if we wish to demonstrate our own love as Jesus did, then we must suffer the pangs of the journey …  The entire article is here.

 

We’re in the news!: James Glass, a historic preservation and heritage consultant, has published an article on our church building and community. The article is inserted in today’s bulletin.

Weekly Bulletin – March 3, 2013Read More

Yes, the first batch of pascha (paska) bread is out of the oven. Today we made our first batch of six breads for Easter baskets. Each one is decorated with a 3-bar Cross and a weaved perimeter along the top edge. The bakers allow the dough to rise 3 times for more flavor. The citrus, sweet, egg-rich breads, in 3 sizes, with and without raisins, will be available at the Carmel Winter Market on Saturday morning and the church in the afternoon. Please call ahead to reserve yours. We will take orders up until Wednesday, March 20th. Not only good for your Easter basket they make a wonderful centerpiece for your Easter dinner table. Impress your family and friends.

This Sunday, March 3, 2013, the parish is offering a pysanky class following Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. and the enjoyable fellowship social in St. Mary’s Hall. The class will start at noon. We will be teaching and assisting egg decorators of all ages for up to 2 hours so you can concentrate on one or more masterpieces – you can choose to decorate up to 3 eggs. There will a nominal fee of $5 for supplies and you get to take home your egg(s) and handouts. We supply all you need (eggs, dyes, candles, writing utensil, design examples, and advice) so just bring your curiosity, talent and a friend.
Since the dyes can stain you may wish to bring clothes that are not your Sunday’s best, especially for children or those accident prone. (We do have disposable gloves but they are not very practical for this craft.) If you have questions or want to reserve your spot call the rectory at 317-632-4157 on Friday, March 1 from 9 a.m until 6 p.m. or Saturday 2 until 4:30 p.m.
See last year’s post.

Baking for Easter has started – February 28, 2013Read More

A mistake was found in last week’s bulletin. The Saturday evening vigil Divine Liturgy for Meat fare Sunday is 5 p.m. We apologize for the error.

Schedule Change – February 2, 2013Read More

By the grace of God we have been providing non-perishable food and personal hygiene goods to the needy in our neighborhood. Currently requests for these items have been much greater than donors to the food pantry. Our supply is woefully low. Currently our cash flow isn’t sufficient for the parish to purchase these supplies.
The next time you come to church (we have 5 days of liturgies in a row this week) please bring some canned or dried goods for the food pantry. If you wish you can use the Donation button above or to the right to send funds and we can purchase some items on your behalf.
See Mat 25:35, Isa 58:10, James 2:14-18, Proverbs 14:31, Hebrews 13:16. Thank you for your generosity.

Food Pantry is Nearly Empty – January 30, 2013Read More

Fr. Innocenti has the flu and has lost his voice. He plans to get rest and his voice back for Sunday’s Liturgy. I apologize for the last minute notice.  See you Sunday at 10 a.m.

Saturday's vigil Divine Liturgy canceled – January 12, 2013Read More

There is so much interest in buying our bake goods for the Christmas season we’ve decided to post signs in the neighborhood to direct our customers to the church. We will be available from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday of the week before Christmas. It would be best for you to call 317-632-4157 to find out if we have your preference in stock. We will only hold an order for 24 hours so get here quick before we run out. We plan to make more kolachy, potica rolls and pumpkin rolls this week. There will be no baking the week of Christmas. Thanks to all our fans that love our baked goods made in the church hall’s kitchen. Thanks also to all the hard work by our volunteers. God grant them many years in peace, health and happiness!

Bake sale at the church – December 18-20, 2012Read More