624 Park Rd, Ambridge, PA 15003

(412) 266-2030

stmaryambridge@protonmail.com 

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Slava Isusu Christu! Slava Na Viki!

This week's note from Fr. Anthony:

Dear parishioners,

I ask for your patience for the fluctuations in the weekday liturgy schedule. I am trying to better tailor the schedule to maximize attendance to better meet the needs of our communities, as well as to maximize my own ability to serve our communities in all of the various aspects that are required. I will be discussing the schedule with the pastoral council and a more stable schedule will be hopefully be reestablished by the Philip's Fast (November 15th), although there will be adjustments as usual due to Christmas and Theophany.

This upcoming Thursday, we will be having our next Theology on Tap at St. George. We will begin with the Moleben of Thanksgiving at 6:30pm and then a talk exploring what a "Latinization" is and is not at 7:15pm. The goal is to discuss whether practices such as the Rosary, Daily Divine Liturgy, and Eucharistic Adoration have a place or not in the Byzantine Catholic Church.

This upcoming Sunday, November 8th the Solemn Feast day of St. Michael and All the Angels is being celebrated.

I am preaching days of Recollection for our Archeparchy parish in Dallas, TX and our outreach in Waco, TX and will be away Nov 12th to 18th. With as many guest speakers as I bring in, it is important that I reciprocate the favor when asked, particularly by other Byzantine priests.

I had a substitute planned months in advance, however due to the Metropolitan needing him to cover long-term for a sick priest, I was notified this week that he will no longer be available. I was able to secure substitutes for 2 of our 3 weekend liturgies, but there was no other priest available Sunday, November 15th to cover the 8:30am Divine Liturgy at St. George. The Metropolitan has given permission for Deacon Lance Weakland from Canonsburg to celebrate Typika with Holy Communion. This service of psalms, the Sunday readings, and Holy Communion is permitted to attend in place of Divine Liturgy when approved. For our Roman visitors who are not regular members of our parish, please attend either St. Nicholas or St. Mary's as this service does not fulfill Sunday obligation for Roman Catholics. Please pray for vocations, as this situation is indicative of the lack of priests in the Archeparchy. My substitute for St. Mary's needs a stool available as he likely can't stand through liturgy.

On this note, Church attendance has historically been very poor the weeks I am away. I understand the reality that people's schedules can be such that they don't attend Divine Liturgy at the same time/place each Sunday and can fully appreciate the desire to occasionally visit other parishes. However, please recognize that it is important for our parishes to retain their sense of identity and community when I am away. I spend hours finding substitutes who are often driving in from very far away to serve Divine Liturgy in my absence. Please do not take my going away as an opportunity to take a break from our parish life. Our life is centered on the Divine Liturgy and parish community, not which priest celebrates.

In Christ,

Fr. Anthony