CHRISTMAS GREETING OF HIS BEATITUDE LUBOMYR

by | Jan 2, 2011 | For Soul and Body

CHRISTMAS GREETING OF HIS BEATITUDE LUBOMYR TO THE FAITHFUL OF THE UKRAINIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH Dearly Beloved in Christ! Today, on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers, the Gospel recounted the genealogy of Jesus Christ, from Abraham to the birth of our Saviour....
Christmas “Main Course” Served in Church

Christmas “Main Course” Served in Church

by | Dec 16, 2010 | For Soul and Body

“Sviata Vecherya.” Just the mention of the traditional, 12-course, meatless Christmas Eve meal enjoyed by Ukrainian Catholics and Orthodox worldwide, evokes warm memories of familial gatherings. For many, this culturally rich Holy Supper is the central highlight of...

The Feast of St. Josaphat at the Vatican

by | Nov 17, 2010 | For Soul and Body

The Feast of St. Josaphat at the Vatican BY GREGORY DIPIPPO Friday, November 12th, was the feast of St. Josaphat, martyred in the year 1623 for his ardent championship of union with Rome among theByzantine- rite Christians of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. A...
Why Do We Need The Church?

Why Do We Need The Church?

by | Oct 27, 2010 | For Soul and Body

“When we stay within the embrace of our mother the Church, we can know that we are with our Lord.”

A frequent question we hear is “Why do we need the Church?” People want to know why they must go to a particular church, attend services they may not understand, obey rules that feel constricting to their lifestyle, and spend time with others they do not know or want to know. They say it is enough to talk to God in their own way, where and when they are in the mood to do so. They have lost the vision that our Lord’s purpose for incarnating as a human being was not simply to establish places to gather for rituals and coffee hour. “Church” is far more than buildings, rites and rules.

Why do we need church?so that we can know, experience and live within God, here on earth as well as in eternity. How can we possibly make such an incredible claim? On the one hand this life with God is difficult to describe in words, in the same way it is difficult to explain failing in love. On the other hand, Scripture is very clear that knowing God is precisely what He has in mind and to know God is to live in Him. He created each and every one of us deliberately, on purpose, for the sole aim of living with us and in us throughout all of eternity.