Weekly Bulletin – February 10, 2013

Weekly Schedule

Sunday, Feb. 10, 2012	Cheese Fare Sunday *
10 am	Divine Liturgy           +William & Gasprina Enciso
Following liturgy	Pitch-in meal in St. Mary’s Hall – everyone is invited
Monday, Feb. 11, 2012	First day of the Great Fast – strict abstinence
6 pm	Paraklisis
Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2012
7 pm	Wellness Class
Wed., Feb. 13, 2012
7 pm	Ancient Healing Service followed by Panachida for +Rev. Father Sidney Sidor
Following services	Fellowship & spaghetti in St. Mary’s Hall – everyone is invited
Thursday, Feb. 14, 2012
9 am – 6 pm	Baking in St. Mary’s Hall
Friday, Feb. 15, 2012
7 pm	Vespers – no Presanctified Liturgy this week
Saturday, Feb. 16, 2012
5 pm	Vigil Divine Liturgy for Sunday     +Margaret Sidor
Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013	1st Sunday of the Great Fast – Sunday of Orthodoxy *
10 am	Divine Liturgy                             + John Lucia
Following liturgy	Fellowship, Parish Council Meeting in St. Mary’s Hall – everyone is invited
	Note: * designates obligation to attend liturgy

Announcements
Events Calendar

• The Great Fast begins Monday February 11 – a day of strict abstinence (see below.)
• The first healing service during the Great Fast is this Wednesday. On the same evening we will be commemorating the half year anniversary of +Fr. Sid Sidor passing with the Panachida service. A spaghetti dinner will follow in St. Mary’s Hall. Please invite all those who knew Fr. Sid.

2013 Fasting Regulations
Abstinence – The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat or meat by-products, per­mitting the use of eggs and dairy products. Abstinence is to be observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays during the Holy Season of the Great Fast and on Holy Saturday. Optional: you could practice this on more than Wednesdays and Fridays.
Strict Abstinence – The law of strict abstinence (fast) forbids the use of meat, eggs and dairy products or any of their by-products. Strict Fast and Abstinence is to be observed on the First Day of the Great Fast, Monday, February 11^th and on Great and Holy Friday, March 29^th
Dispensation – Pastors may, for a just cause, grant to the individual faithful and to individual families, dispensations or commutations of abstinence and strict abstinence into other pious practices.
The Great Fast
The Great Fast period is a preparation for the greatest feast of the year – Pascha. The forty days symbolize the forty years the Israelites wandered in the desert. The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will be celebrated on Fridays at our parish. We will continue to have the Ancient Healing Service on the 2^nd & 4^th Wednesdays during the Great Fast. We’re the only nearby Catholic Church that celebrates the ancient and beautiful Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts for 6 weeks in a row. It’s up to you to choose to take advantage of these services. Encourage others to immerse themselves in this special gift of the Eastern Catholic Church.
“A Prayer Journey through the Great Lenten Fast and Great and Holy Week” is available in the hall. Please use your copy each day during the Great Fast for your private prayer.