Parish Feast in Sydney

December 4, 2023

Sunday, December 3, was a special day for the Ukrainian Catholic Parish of Holy Apostle Andrew the First Called in Sydney, because on this day the clergy and the faithful solemnly celebrated the Parish Feast. The parish community gathered in large numbers for the Divine Liturgy, the consecration of water, and the festive program in the parish hall.

Parish Feast in Sydney

Celebrations began on Saturday morning with the End of School Year festivities for St. Andrew’s Ukrainian School. Certificates and awards were presented to over 80 students who attend our Parish School. The hall was full of proud parents and grandparents who came to applaud the achievements of their children. Mrs. Odarka Brecko, long serving principal of St. Andrew’s School, expressed her gratitude to all staff, the parents committee, and above all to the students, who sacrifice their Saturdays by attending the Parish School and working hard to achieve good results.

The Pastor of St. Andrew’s, Very Rev. Simon Ckuj, thanked Mrs. Brecko and all who contribute to the school and underlined the importance that the school plays in the life of St. Andrew’s Parish. “It was the dream of Fr. Shewciw and the pioneers of this school that there be an unbreakable bond between the school and the Church,” Fr. Simon said. “This vision has been at the very heart of the school ever since; the Church and the school are one.”

The Liturgical celebration of the Praznyk began on Saturday evening with Great Vespers with Lytia in honour of the Holy Apostle Andrew. Fr. Oleh Stefanychyn, assistant priest of the parish, celebrated, and Fr. Simon led the Church cantors in singing praises to St. Andrew, whose Holy Relic was placed on the Tetrapod for the veneration of the faithful.

On Sunday morning, the Parish community gathered in great numbers for the Festal Divine Liturgy. The Pastor, Fr. Simon, was assisted by Fr. Oleh. The Krylos sang beautifully, and many servers assisted in the Holy Sanctuary. The church was filled with young and old, many born in Australia and many born in Ukraine, who now call Australia home.

In his homily, Fr. Simon preached on the life and mission of the Holy Apostle Andrew and his association with Ukraine and her people. He particularly reflected on the Epistle Reading of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Ephesians (Eph. 6, 10–17), “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Fr. Simon said that this was reflected in the life of the Holy Apostle and in the lives of all the saints, and that we too must gain strength from the Lord so that we can build up our spiritual life in a world that seems to be against us. Fr. Simon paid particular attention to the “spiritual armour” that St. Paul mentioned in today’s reading. “Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” He said that these “weapons” are our only true defence and that we must build up our lives with truth, righteousness, peace, and faith so as to do more good with sincere love in our hearts.

The Divine Liturgy concludes with the blessing of Holy Water and the sprinkling of the assembled congregation.

Following the Divine Liturgy, many of the faithful gathered in the parish hall. Fr. Simon and Fr. Oleh were joined by Fr. Mitrat Dmytro Seniw, Emeritus, and Very Rev. Archpriest Michael Smolenec from Holy Pokrov Ukrainian Orthodox Parish, as well as many parishioners and, most importantly, children!

The students of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian School performed, firstly on Bandura, then their annual Christmas play. Lunch was provided by the School Parents Committee, and all profits from the lunch will go to purchase a new ultrasound machine for the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Lviv.

The parish of St. Andrew in Sydney is blessed with many people who generously offer their time and their personal gifts so that this may be a vibrant parish glorifying God! For this, we give thanks and praise and ask the Holy Apostle Andrew to intercede for us.

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