Saturday, Oct. 28 – Paraskevia, Martyr
5:00 PM Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy
Sunday, Oct. 29 – 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Oct. 30 – Anastasia, Venerable Martyr
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:45 PM *Akathist for those suffering Addiction & Mental Illness
5:30 PM Vespers
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy +Ernest & Fachan from Marie O’Loughlin
7:30 PM Firepit Social
Saturday, Nov. 4 – Joannicius, Venerable
5:00 PM Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy
6:30 PM Reader Vespers
Sunday, Nov. 5 – 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
*Add first names to this prayer service by emailing neimirick@gmail.com
St. Mary’s: Sundays 8:45 AM or by appointment
Santa Paula: Saturdays 4:15 PM or by appointment
(Please submit or resubmit names to admin@byzantineLA.com)
Please remember the following people in your prayers: The Carlin Family, Michael Hefferon, Shirely Kunze, Michael Mina, Peter Mina, Fr. John Mina, Mila Mina, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Shannon O’Neill, Fern Bonowicz, All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s
Collection: $1,949.00; Online: $155.00; Candles: $59.00; SP Outreach: $919.00; Parish Social: $114.00
Total: $3,196.00 / Attendance- PSM: 98 SPO: 70
Bishop Theodore G. Romzha was born of humble parentage on April 14, 1911 in Velikij Bychkiv, in the heart of the colorful district of Maramorosh, Subcarpathian Ruthenia. He was a pious and gifted young boy, and he proved himself as an all-around athlete, excelling in soccer. At his graduation, he took everybody by surprise when he announced his intention of becoming a priest; and was sent to Rome for his priestly formation.
He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on Christmas Day, December 25, 1936.
Because of the political turmoil of the time, his bishop appointed him to a forgotten parish, where the young Father Romzha became a poor pastor among poor people.
On June 29, 1945, Subcarpathian Ruthenia was officially incorporated into Soviet Ukraine; and the young and inexperienced Bishop Romzha found himself and his flock under Soviet rule.
He was ordained a bishop September 24, 1944. Intimidation and imprisonment of Byzantine Catholic priests followed; and the official liquidation of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo was underway.
Rather than flee, Bishop Romzha decided to fight. Although the Soviet authorities confiscated his car, he traveled long distances by horse and buggy, just to reassure his faithful and to encourage them to persevere until death, saying, “They are taking from us our own priests and churches, but they will never be able to take away our faith from us.” During these extensive and dangerous visitations, Bishop Romzha tried to sustain the faith of the weak, to reassure the wavering, and to plead with those intimidated: “Faith is our greatest treasure on this earth. To preserve our faith we must even be ready to lay down our life. If we must die, then let us die as true martyrs, defending our faith. One thing is sure: that we never will abandon our faith nor betray our Church.”
Unable to intimidate Bishop Romzha, the Soviets decided to liquidate him, and staged a highway accident. The horse drawn carriage in which the Bishop was riding was rammed by a military truck. Bishop Romzha was badly injured, but survived; and passersby took him to the hospital in Mukachevo.
The director of the hospital and a strange nurse, who had disappeared the next day, were seen entering the Bishop’s room about midnight. The Soviet authorities announced that Bishop Romzha died from injuries suffered in his highway accident; but a later investigation showed that he had, in fact, been poisoned.
Blessed Theodore Romzha was beatified by Pope John Paul II on June 27, 2001. His relics are enshrined in Holy Cross Cathedral in Uzhorod, Transcarpathia.
(Read more at https://www.eparchyofpassaic.com/romzha)
“Return to your house and proclaim what great things God has done for you.” Our healing Lord brings redemption and breaks the chains of sin, demonic possession and anything that may be in our way to grow in holiness. You may have a story of salvation that can be shared with the world by responding to it in the monastic or ordained life! To learn more about this, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
The October issue of the GCU Magazine is now available in the back of the church
Saturday, October 28 –
