Sunday After the Exultation of the Holy Cross
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
Sunday After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 20, 2026
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic
105 Kohler Ave
Lyndora PA 16045
Phone 724-287-5000
www.stiohnbyzlyn.com
athanasius@zoominternet.net
Sat 9/19/26 4:00pm Vigil Divine Liturgy Vigil Divine Liturgy +Michael Dancisin by Bob and Betsy Sychak
Sun 9/20/26 9:30am Divine Liturgy +Wasyl Hoszwa by Rick and Irena Reeder
Wed 9/23/26 7:00pm Liturgy for Healing
Fri 9/25/26 7:00pm Akathist to the Theotokos
Sat 9/26/26 4:00pm Vigil Divine Liturgy Vigil Divine Liturgy +Michael Dancisin by John Baycura
Sun 9/27/26 9:30am Divine Liturgy +Mike Fizer by Fizer Family
Variable Parts: Tone 8 - Pgs 161 — 162; Sunday After Exaltation — Pgs 258 - 260
Epistle: Gal 2 :16-20
Gospel: Mk 8:34-9:1
Memorial Candle Request: No Candle Request
Epistle Readers 19-Sep Mary Troyan 20-Sep Shari Allen 26-Sep John Baycura/Mary Motko 27-Sep Eva Babick
Memorial Candle Request: No Candle Request
Please Pray for: Lucas Benson, Lou Pocchiari, Mike Oshlick, Kathy Moyta, Dorothy Moyta, Brian Buchkovich, Lejen Warner, Sharon King, Liz Moyta, Fr. Michael Huszti, Fr. Laska, Susie Curcio, Teresa Milkovich, Robert Saper, Anna Habil, Diane Sotak, Anna Pocchiari, Larry Hamil, Beverly Jones, Maryann Russin Schyvers, Nick Russin and Ken Konchan
Attendance: 9/12 - 20 9/13 - 81 9/14 - 20
Collection: 9/13 - 9/14: $2,246.00
Polka Follow-up The winner of the 50/50 from the Polka is Jen Wolfe, who won $892.00. Thank you to everyone who helped and donated food. Everyone had a good time. The food was sold out. Next year the Polka will be September 11, 2027.
Student Food Pantry: The school year is beginning. We are collecting food again for the pantry at a local school. If you would donate any type of soup or canned food, baskets will be in the church. Thank you! -Pam Gagen.
Help Us Renew Our Religious Education Building! Please help us fund the flooring for the R.E. building. Details regarding this are in the 8/16/26 and 8/23/26 bulletins.
Religious Education: Sunday, September 27 following social coffee will be the Religious Education Kickoff party at Connoquenessing Park. This will include the rescheduled, annual fishing derby and other games! All are invited! Religious Education Classes for grades 1-12 will officially begin on October 4. Please sign up with Amanda Stavish 724-272-2963 or Katie Koch.
Rummage Sale: The Rummage Sale will take place on October 9th and 10th. Donations for the Rummage Sale may be brought to the church beginning the weekend of September 19/20. No clothing. Please make sure your items are clean, usable, and in working condition. We will be needing help setting up at the following times: Monday and Tuesday October 5 & 6 6:00pm — until finished, Wednesday October 7 10:00am — 1:00pm and Thursday October 8 6:00pm - until finished. We will be selling halushki and kielbasa on Friday only. Saturday most items will be half price.
Parish Council: There will be a Parish Council meeting Monday, September 28 and 6:30 pm.
Boscov Coupons: Our church will be selling Boscov coupons for a 25% off all day October 21. Coupons are $5.00. Please see Elizabeth Pocchiar or Fr. Radko to purchase one.
Operation Christmas Child: Please continue to send in your donations for the Operation Christmas Child program by October 25th. Thank you to those who have already generously donated. The box is in the vestibule. Please check out this website for suggestions on what is helpful to donate or ask Amanda Stavish. https: / /wvvw.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/ what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/ If you would prefer to give a cash donation, this is also very welcome! Amanda will purchase needed items with your donation. Thank you!
A Saint of The Week: St. Padre Pio was an Italian priest known for his miracles, charity as well as the gift of the stigmata (open wounds ofJesus on hands, feet and chest). He was born on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy. His parents were peasant fanners. From his tender age, Padre Pio had a peculiar ability. He could see guardian angels, spoke with Jesus and the Virgin Mary. This was not something taught to him, but occurred so naturally that he assumed other people could see them too. Padre Pio was only 5 years old when he expressed a strong desire to serve God. Although Padre Pio and his family was very religious, they were also very poor, which required that he worked. He spent many years as a child tending to a small flock of sheep owned by his family. Unfortunately, the work meant he was unable to attend school regularly, so he quickly fell behind other kids his age. Padre Pio was sickly as a child. In 1897,he had only three years of schooling, He expressed to his parents that he wanted to become a friar. His parents decided to hire a private tutor. To pay the cost of the tutor, Padre Pio 's father traveled to America to find work, and sent the money home. At the age of 15 Padre Pio entered the novitiate of the Capuchin friars. He took the name of "Pio". At the age of 17 He became extremely ill and could only digest milk and cheese and thus was sent home to die near to his family but through the intersession of Virgin Mary he survived.
Brother Pio became a priest in 1910, but was permitted to remain at home because of his poor health. In 1915, with World War I Padre Pio was summoned for military service.. In March 1916, he was dismissed because of his poor health. He thus returned to the monastery where he dedicated his life to Virgin Mary and suffering people. His desire was to bring Jesus into the suffering souls. Padre Pio heard confessions 12 to 15 hours a day. While listening to confessions, the saint would smell flowers as sins were confessed. Some penitents waited two weeks just to visit him in the confessionial. Padre Pio could also read the hearts of penitents, reminding them of sins that were forgotten or omitted.The saint once said: "Confession is the soul's bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you will see that it needs dusting again!"
On September 20, Padre Pio was hearing confessions when he felt pain in his hands and feet. He noticed the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, appearing on his hands and feet. The experience was painful. Bleeding occurred. The wounds smelled of roses, and although they continued to weep, they never became infected. Doctors who later examined the stigmata were amazed at their perfectly round shape. The miracles soon start to appear that attracted many people. His popularity became a source of concern for the Church and the Vatican began to restrict his activities to minimize public interaction. An investigation into his stigmata concluded that his condition was not faked but was a result of divine intervention.
From a young age, Padre No was blessed with heavenly visions, but he also experienced spiritual warfare, including attacks of the devil. Through God's power Padre Pio was able to read people's souls, bilocate (be at 2 places at the same time), and levitate off the grand; to his intercession many miracles are attributed. He famously advised, "Pray, hope and don't worry."He died on September 23, 1968 and was proclaimed a saint by John Paul II in 2002. He is the patron of civil defense volunteers, adolescents, and those with depression.
