Royal Doors

Mar

22

2016

If I Don’t Do It, It Won’t Get Done

Both Lungs, Featured Articles

by Brent Kostyniuk A young lady told me that one of her most poignant memories of her father was watching him make hamburger patties one day. The meat was still partially frozen and it was obvious his hands were suffering from the cold. She asked him why he was doing it if it hurt so much. He replied, “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.” Life is like that. We are often presented with situations which, if given the choice, we would rather avoid. I used to feel that way about Lent, or the Great Fast as it…

Mar

22

2016

By Brent Kostyniuk

A Visit to Our Lady of Good Help Maronite Parish

Both Lungs, Faith, Featured Articles

by Brent Kostyniuk I have just come from a spiritually uplifting, spiritually rewarding experience—Mass at Our Lady of Good Help Maronite church in Edmonton, presided by Msgr. Joseph Salame. The Maronite Church is one of 22 Eastern Catholic churches in full communion with Rome. Its spiritual head is His Beatitude Bechara Boutros A-Rahi Patriarch of Antioch and the Entire East, who resides in Bkerke, Lebanon is BaBea. The Maronite Church follows the Antiochian or West Syrian Rite, along with the Syro-Malankar and Syrian Churches. The Mass was truly moving. For the most part, it gives praise to God in wonderful…

Mar

22

2016

By Fr. Michael Winn

Paschal Pastoral Letter of His Beatitude Sviatoslav

Featured Articles, NewsPascha Pastoral Letter, Sviatoslav

Most Reverend Archbishops and Bishops, Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, Venerable Brothers and Sisters, Dearly Beloved in Christ of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church Christ is Risen! The first-born male from the virginal womb—Christ, who, as a man, has been called Lamb and unblemished, not having the stain of sin. He is our Pasch and, as true God, is called perfect. Paschal Canon, Ode 4, Second Hymn Beloved in Christ! Once again we gather in Ukraine and throughout the world to greet one another on the glorious feast of our Lord’s Resurrection: “Christ is risen!” This joyful greeting for us Christians…

Feb

16

2016

By Fr. Andriy Chirovsky

Called to Unity

Faith, Featured Articles, News

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ike many Ukrainian Greco-Catholics, I am pleased that Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill finally met in Havana February 12, even though the negotiations that preceded this encounter included some unseemly concessions. After all, for the last three decades such an encounter was always described as impossible because of the very existence of the Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church. I note that Pope Francis praised Patriarch Kirill’s humility, but the latter did not return the favor. After all, it was clearly the Pope who humbly agreed to the time and place for the meeting, in order for it to finally happen after decades…

Feb

14

2016

By Fr. Michael Winn

“Two Parallel Worlds” – An Interview with His Beatitude Sviatoslav

Jan

27

2016

By Brent Kostyniuk

Sr. Petronella Dybka, SSMI – A Gift

Both Lungs, Featured Articles, News

by Brent Kostyniuk Sometimes you are given a gift but don’t realize just how special it really is. The gift may be something you received a long time ago, or perhaps it simply blends in so well, you hardly realize it is there. The gift could be an heirloom of unrealized value which has always been in your family, passed down through the generations. Or the gift could be a person, a person who somehow exhibits all of these traits. For nearly five decades, St. Basil Parish in Edmonton has had just such a gift—Sister Petronella Dybka, SSMI. Back in…

Dec

14

2015

By Brent Kostyniuk

Tradition

Both Lungs, Featured Articles

by Brent Kostyniuk In the movie Fiddler on the Roof, the village milkman, Tevye lives his life according to the dictates of Tradition. However, he often does not know the reason for a particular tradition, only that it must be followed. While Tradition plays an important part in Tevye’s life, it is a vital element of Christian theology, especially Eastern theology. In his book, The Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware writes about the significance of tradition for Eastern Christians, notably as it contributes to its changelessness, its loyalty with the past. “This idea of living continuity may be summed up…

Dec

10

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

Pastoral Letter of the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of Canada on the Occasion of the Nativity of Our Lord 2015/2016

Dec

10

2015

By Brent Kostyniuk

Transfiguration

Both Lungs

by Brent Kostyniuk As a writer, some of the most interesting columns to do are the ones which respond to questions from readers. This is one of them. Marie approached me regarding confusion about the Transfiguration. Was Christ’s divinity truly revealed? The question is a timely one. Now, as we prepare for the Nativity, the celebration of Christ entering the world in human form, it is worthwhile to re-examine that moment when He first revealed his divine nature. Celebrated on August 6, The Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is documented in all three synoptic Gospels.…

Dec

07

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

54 Ways to Be Merciful During the Jubilee Year of Mercy

Christian Life, Featured ArticlesYear of Mercy

Practicing mercy in our lives actually does take practice Source: Aleteia The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” —Matthew 9:11-13 God, who is merciful, desires our mercy. Here are 54 ways to keep to mercy during the Jubilee Year. Try randomly selecting one each week and putting…