Photo Credits: Vlasta Berry, Olga Kandravy, Olha Sokhan, Miriam Visnovsky, and Jeff Wutkowski
On Friday April 18, Bishop Kurt and Fr. Marek led the parishioners in prayer of Vespers and a burial procession of our Lord around the Cathedral. An all- night vigil guarding the Tomb of Christ followed.
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Bishop Kurt: "Two thousand years ago Jesus was praying for you, He was thinking about you before He got up and went off to be condemned to death and to be sacrificed on the cross, to be humiliated in so many different ways, to suffer all the pains of the world. He thought about each one of us before then, so He was thinking about you on that night. ...Jesus back then was thinking about all the things that'll happen in your life, about all the injuries that you'll have, all the hardship that you'll have, the indignity when people didn't appreciate us, when we did something good and we were never thanked, good things we did for somebody that they never knew about. Jesus thought about all of those things in the future, and I want you all to know that He loves you very much. Everything He thought about that night He said 'I'm going to die on the cross tomorrow for her, or for him, for you!'"
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On holy Wednesday, parioshioners gathered at the Cathedral in the morning for Bridegroom Matins and the Anointing of the sick celebrated by Bishop Kurt and Fr. Marek. In the evening they gathered at the Chapel for the Presanctified Liturgy and Anointing of the sick celebrated by Fr. Marek and Fr. Felix.
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St. Andrew of Crete: It is ourselves that we must spread under Christ's feet, not coats or lifeless branches or shoots of trees, matter which wastes away and delights the eye only for a few brief hours. But we have clothed ourselves with Christ's grace, or with the whole Christ - 'for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ' - so let us spread ourselves like coats under His feet. As those who were formerly scarlet from sin but became white as wool through the purification of saving baptism, let us offer not palm branches but the prizes of victory to the conqueror of death. Today, let us too give voice to that sacred chant, as we wave the spiritual branches of our soul: "Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!"
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On Friday, April 11, we had another memorable evening at St. Michael’s: finger-licking good fish fry and delightful company. Thanks to all you came out and to all the cooks.
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The Iconography students are immensly grateful to Fr. Marek for his helpful and caring teaching. All icons turned out beautiful, each in its own way.
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Like the previous years during the Great Fast our parish gathered together with neighboring Easter rites parishes for prayer and fellowship.
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On Saturday, March the 29th, Theosis in Action young adults converged to St. Michael's Cathedral for a day of Recollection. They listened to Fr. Marek's talk on the icon of Christ the Bridegroom. Among other things, Father stressed Jesus' posture indicating His obedience to the Father. After the talk, there was time for private prayer, confession, and Vespers. The day concluded with fellowship around pizza.
Climacus: Obedience is the tomb of the will and the resurrection of humility.
Twenty brave souls have taken on the challenge and under the expert and patient guidance of Fr. Marek will learn to write the icon of Christ the Bridegroom and hopefully grow closer to Him.
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On Saturday morning, Fr. Marek was in the kitchen making prosphora with the children, to be used for Communion at the following Sunday Liturgies. Thank you all who participated!
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On Saturday, February the 22nd, parishioners and friends came together and had a blast tasting wine, dancing and enjoying band music. A thank you to all the organizers and volunteers who made the evnt possible and enjoyable!
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On January 25 and 26, and February 1 and 2, Archbishop Jonas Maxim, MSU, Metropolitan of the Byzantine Church in Slovakia visited our Cathedral and joined us in prayer at Great Vespers and Matins and celebrated the Divine Liturgy at both the Cathedral and the chapel. Fr. Marek, his family, and parishioners welcomed him with light refreshments and warm fellowship after the Liturgies.
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It all started with a few flurries of snow... As a few inches of snow gently but steadily accumulated outside, faithful quietly and gradually assembled inside St. Michael's Cathedral.
Fr. Marek Visnovsky commenced the afternoon with a talk on hope, reflecting on why this day was different and concluding that the Cross is our Hope. Next, Bishop Kurt Burnette opened the Holy Doors and went on celebrating with Bishop Teodor Matsapula, IVE, Fr. Marek and many clergy from the Eparchy a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, marking the opening of the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025. A reception followed and fellowship was had by all.
Thank you to all who braved the weather coming to Passaic, NJ to celebrate with us from around the Eparchy, and to all the volunteeres who infatigably worked for weeks on end to make this celebration possible.
This is just the beginning of a whole year promising blessings for all those ready to receive them. Make ready!
Glory to Jesus Christ!
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On Saturday, January 18th, Bishop Teodor Matsapula, IVE, of the Eparchy of Mukachevo, Ukraine joined Bishop Kurt Burnette, Fr. Marek Visnovsky and many clergy in the celebraton of a Slavonic Divine Liturgy at the Chapel in Woodland Park, NJ.
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On January 11 and 12, Bp. Milan Lach, SJ, AuxiliaryBishop of Bratislava, Slovakia and Apostolic Visitor of the Slovak faithful in Western Europe visited our Cathedral and joined us in prayer at Great Vespers and Matins and celebrated the Divine Liturgy. He was welcomed by Bishop Kurt, Fr. Marek and his family, and parishioners. Light refreshments and warm fellowship followed the Liturgy, before his departure for Europe.
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On Monday, January the 6th, Bishop Kurt, Fr. Marek, and Fr. Michael celebrated the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan with Festal Matins, Divine Liturgy and the blessing of the Jordan waters.
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