St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, Saint Paul, MN 854 Woodbridge Street, St. Paul, MN 55117

www.saintmarymn.org

Hristos a

Inviat !

Parish priest :

Mircea

Vasi u

of f ice (651)488-5669

cel l (734) 497-4544

Emai l :

frmirceavasiu

@yahoo.com

C ALEA CRUCII SPRE

INVIERE

"Iată a venit prin Cruce bucu-

rie la toată lumea" (din Cântările

Învierii)

Hristos a înviat!

Cu sufletele si inimile pline

de bucurie vom prăznuim Învi-

erea Domnului curând, cea mai

mare sărbătoare din calendarul

bisericesc, care înseamnă pentru

noi creştinii "omorârea morţii,

sfărâmarea iadului şi începătura

altei vieţi veşnice"

În fiecare an, Sânta Biserică

care ne-a renăscut şi ne susţine în

călătoria spre veşnicie, ne poartă

pe urmele Mântuitorului. Astfel,

ea ne ajută nu doar să retrăim

învăţături şi minuni, ci să ne

identificăm cu adevărat cu “calea”

sau modul de viaţă al Domnului.

Şi ne întrebăm: De ce trebuie să

trecem prin aceste exerciţii duhov-

niceşti in fiecare an? Mai întâi

trebuie să întelegem că prin

APRIL 2019

The bulletin

T HE SUNDAY OF

GREAT LENT

On the fourth Sunday in Lent,

we commemorate the memory of

Saint John Climacus, author of

“The Ladder of Divine Ascent”.

The “Ladder of Divine Ascent” is

the sum total of all the virtues

which lead us to heaven. Saint

John writes that this composition

cannot be made of one virtue

alone, just as “the diadem of the

King is not made of only one pre-

cious stone.” At the top of his lad-

der of thirty-rungs, Saint John

places three noble virtues Faith,

Hope and Love. (count. page2)

Sfântul Botez noi am intrat într-

un nou mod de viaţă: cel duhov-

nicesc, adică cel al lui Hristos.

Acest mod de trăire sau “cale” es-

te modalitatea prin care ne lăsăm

transformaţi din omul cel vechi,

plin de păcate în cel nou, care es-

te înnoit de Duhul Sfânt datorită

pocăinţei.

Într-adevar, pentru omul

credincios Paştile ca şi toate du-

minicile şi sărbătorile de peste an

sunt momente de înnoire su-

fletească, de întărire cu

putere dumnezeiască în lupta

cu ispitele şi greutăţile vieţii.

Apoi, de fiecare dată când

retrăim praznicele sau posturile,

noi ne indentificăm nu numai cu

învăţăturile Domnului, ci şi cu

Însuşi Hristos, deoarece în trăi-

rea practică El vine la noi şi ne

întăreşte. Postind facem lo cunei

trăiri dependente de Cuvântul lui

Dumnezeu, mai mult decât de

cele biologice. (continuare pag. 3)

Click here for

APRIL CALENDAR

Programul Slujbelor

din Săptămâna Mare

page7

Fish Dinner

page4

Summer

Camps page 2 & 4

Lenten Retreat

page 4

SPOVEDANII

in Postul Mare

CONFESSIONS In fiecare

Vineri la 6:30pm (sau

după slujbă)

Sâmbătă după Vecernie

- 5:00pm

Duminică de la 9:00am

- 9:40am

Saint John was born in 525 AD and went

to Mount Sinai at 16 years of age to live a

spiritual life. At 19 he traveled to the desert

of “Tholas” where he spent 40 years in pray-

er and meditation. It was there he wrote the

“Ladder of the Divine Ascent” which is the

“rule” of the monastic communities. The

book contains three basic segments: Break

with the World, Practice of Virtues, and the

Struggle with Passions through a Contem-

plative Life. The spiritual struggle of the

Christian life is a real one, “not against flesh

and blood, but against . . . the rulers of the

present darkness . . . the hosts of wickedness

in heavenly places . . .” (Eph. 6.12).

The fifth Sunday in Lent, we commemo-

rate Saint Mary of Egypt, whose life story is

one of the most moving in the chronicles of

Christianity. Her story shows us God’s grace,

love, mercy and forgiveness. Forgiveness of

the Lord is giving through genuine repent-

ances and sincere change in our life. It is

God’s answer to us at times when we are

burdened with guilt, fear and despondency

because of wrongdoings. Satan makes us feel

like we have been thrown into a trash pile by

God, being forgotten and unworthy to enter

God’s Holy Church and receive His love.

God’s love redeems and restores us constant-

ly. Saint Mary of Egypt lived on 4th century

and she was the repentant harlot. Mary tells

us, first of all, that no amount of sin and

wickedness can keep a person from God if

he truly repents. Christ himself has come

“to call sinners to repentance” and to save

them from their sins (Lk 5.32).

Saturday of Lazarus; Lazarus was

born in Bethany the son of Simon the Phar-

isee. Christ was a close friend to Simon and

visited his home frequently thus the chil-

dren of Simon, Lazarus, Martha and Mary,

became close friends with Jesus. As the Ho-

ly Passion of Christ approached the mys-

tery of the Resurrection had to be foreseen.

Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from

the dead and then the son of the widow of

Nain on the way to the cemetery. Christ

knew that Lazarus had died and was al-

ready four days in the tomb. The Lord came

to Bethany to raise his dear friend from the

dead and to solidify, to the people, that He

is the Son of God. The miracle of the raising

of Lazarus provoked the hatred of the

Scribes and the Pharisees, thus they decid-

ed to kill them both. After the Resurrection,

Lazarus traveled to Cyprus and became the

Bishop of Kitium. He lived there for 30

years until his second and final death.

I pray that your Lenten Journey be

Blessed with peaceful and serene days.

May the Holy Theotokos protect you from

the subtle attack of Satan during the Holy

Season and may we all be worthy to cele-

brate His Holy and Glorious Resurrection.

PAGE 2 THE BULLETIN WWW.SAINTMARYMN.ORG

The CAMPING PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX

EPISCOPATE of America are an extension of the Church's sacred ministry to her young

people. Students are given both the knowledge and encouragement necessary to build a

strong spiritual life which will be of great benefit to them throughout the years to come.

The camps programs (at “Vatra Românească” Great Lakes, MI) are:

CAMP VATRA for seniors - age 14-17, JUNE 30-13

for juniors - age 11-13, July 21 – Aug. 3 For more information please go at http://www.roea.org/summercamps.html or contact Fr.

Mircea.

Postind (cu rugăciune si fapte bune) vreme

de 40 de zile, noi nu mai suntem singuri ci cu

Dumnezeu. Îl urmăm pe Hristos, care a postit, s

-a rugat şi a înfruntat pe diavolul, birundu-i

ispitirile. Astfel cu ajutorul Domnului, calea

crucii, este preschimbată în bucurie.

Pentru noi, creştinii ortodocşi, Postul Mare

(11Martie-28Aprilie) este perioada de pregătire

pentru Învierea Domnului, dar şi pentru învi-

erea noastră (schimbarea noastră) din patimi si

păcate, pentru asemănarea cu Dumnezeu. Pos-

tul este o perioadă complexă şi necesită nevoiţă

si luptă duhovnicescă personală, lupta cea bună

contra păcatului (si trebuie să ştim care sunt

păcate – nu doar cee ace dorim noi să credem că

sunt). Postul include participarea la slujbele

speciale de peste săptămână care se fac in Sf.

Biserică, citiri sfinte, fapte de milostenie şi jerfe

reale pentru întreţinerea Bisericii. Suntem

chemaţi să ne lepădăm de păcate prin Spoveda-

vie sinceră. Iar încununarea postului este

unirea cu Hristos, prin Împărtăşirea cu Lui

Sf. Trup si Sânge, şi desigur intrarea cu

vrednicie în lumina şi bucuria Învierii.

Pocainta, unită cu credinţa şi cu

răbdarea, ne conduce treptat nu numai la

maturitate duhovnicească ci si la curăţia şi

sfinţirea vieţii. Crucea însemnă jertfă, iar

jertfa “asumarea crucii” presupune

suferinţă izvorâtă din dragoste… de aceea

avem nevoie de cruce, jerfă şi suferinţă – iar

imitarea lui Hristos presupune aceste lucruri

Dorindu-vă tuturor să petreceţi Sfintele

Sărbători ale Învierii Domnului cu pace şi cu

sănătate, mă rog Mântuitorului Iisus Hris-

tos, Biruitorul morţii, să vă binecuvinteze pe

toţi, să vă dăruiască putere şi curaj în pur-

tarea crucii de fiecare zi şi să reverse în su-

fletele voastre bucuria Învierii Sale.

PAGE 3 THE BULLETIN WWW.SAINTMARYMN.ORG

Parking Lot Project

DONATIONS

Ron Bongard $ 1,000 parking lot

IMO his mother Ann

Irinel & Ovidiu Ardelean $ 500 Parking

lot

Dear parishioners, friends and supporters,

we reached the final stage of our parking lot

project. After the city’s approval we finally

found a company to build it. In February at

the General Meeting (Synod), we decided

to go forward with this project. The total

price for it is around $80,000 .

We need your financial help to finalize

this project. Please make donations toward

it (please mention on “memo” - parking lot

project. We will come with more details

soon, but we are counting on your support.

PAGE 4 THE BULLETIN WWW.SAINTMARYMN.ORG

Palm Sunday Fish Dinner

Masa de Peste de Florii

Donated by Georgia & John Omorean IMO Ann Marinkov

Sunday, April 21,

2019 - 12:30pm

Din Menu:

Baked fish with

mamaliga &

garlic sauce

Caviar salad

Pommes nature (boiled

potatoes) with gravy /

Cartofi natur cu sos

Green salad, bread & fruits

ORTHODOX SUMMER CAMP

Is by God’s grace the crown jewel of our Youth

Ministry program. Our schedule includes worship,

swimming, sports, horseback riding, high and low

ropes courses, religion groups, campfires, candle

making, crafts, presentations on missions, boating,

and more! We rent Camp Wapogasset in

Amery, Wisconsin. The camp is located just 75

minutes Northeast of St. Mary’s.

Summer Camp Dates:

June 29-July 5, 2019

For 3rd through 12th graders in fall. Early bird discount $430 (4/17-5/4) /

Standard fee $ 480 (5/5-5/24)

Please visit our Camp website for more information

and registration: www.stmaryscamp.com

Camper Registration runs from April 17 and

closes in the final workdays of May 24.

LENTEN RETREAT

(for adults & children) -

Rugăciune si convorbiri

duhovniceşti în Postul Mare -

Saturday, April 06, 2019 from

11:30am "Redeeming the

Time: the Church Calendar

as a Practical Tool for Per-

sonal and Family Spiritual

Growth."

With Rev. Fr. Andrew Morbey

from OCA Cathedral in

Minneapolis

2019 MEMBERSHIP

Elena Simian $ 150

Serban Simian $ 150

Olga Kabulia $ 75 (retired)

Prascovia & Alexandru Bortnov $ 300

Anca & Dan Sima $ 300

Anonymous $ 400

Liliana Badea $ 25

Ron Bongard $ 1,000 parking lot

Irinel & Ovidiu Ardelean $ 500 Parking lot

Tudor Elena $ 20

Speranta Teisanu $15

Juliann Larson $ 100

Leonard Mihai $ 150

Virginia Cornea $ 30

Nicholas Manciu $ 80 Pledge donation

PAGE 5 THE BULLETIN WWW.SAINTMARYMN

.ORG

MONTHLY OFFERINGS

WWW.SAINTMARYMN.ORG

Repentance is reconciliation

with the Lord by the practice

of good deeds contrary to the

sins.

NEWLY BAPTIZED

Welcome to the Orthodox Christian

World! Congratulations to Raluca Sima & Thomas

Zimmermann on the Baptism of their son

Christopher Danut Rolf. Naşi Ana Laura

Corina Sima – La mulţi ani!

FLORI PENTRU SF. MORMANT SI SF. PASTI

EASTER FLOWERS OFFERINGS

We are looking for donators for flowers for the Tomb of our Lord and

Easter Sunday ($25/$30) each pot). Please contact the epitrops and

give your offering in time. Flowers may be taken home on Easter Sun-

day following the Divine Liturgy.

Căutăm sponsori pentru florile pentru Sfântul Mormânt al Domnului şi

Sfintele Paşti. Pretul este de $25/$30 un ghiveci. Florile pot fi luate

acasă după Sfânta Liturghie din Duminica Învierii.

THE SCHEDULE FOR DUNAREA CHIL-

DREN’S DANCE GROUP for F.O.N.

Next practices at 1pm:

April 7, 14

FUTURE EVENTS :

May 5, 2018 at 11:00 AM: Festival

of Nations at River Center Roy Wil-

kins Auditorium

PAGE 6 THE BULLETIN WWW.SAINTMARYMN.ORG

We would like to thank to Ardeleanu family for flow-

ers decoration on the Sunday of the Holy Cross .

CANDLES IN THE FRONT AND INSIDE THE ALTAR

1. Pomenirea Morţilor /Great Lent MEMORIAL SERVICES - SATURDAY, April 6 &

20 at 9:30am

2. PALM SUNDAY FISH DINNER – April 21, 2019 – after Divine Liturgy

3. April 22– 27 - HOLY WEEK – Special Ser-

vices in Church (see Calendar…)

4. Blessing of the Water – Sunday, MAY 5

5. MOTHER’S DAY DINNER – May 12, 2019 –

after Divine Liturgy

6. Spring Fest/PICNIC - SUNDAY, June 16, 2019

On 02/24, 2019 – donate de Larisa Iurcu pentru

sănătatea familiei şi ziua de nastere a sotului Alexandru si a

mamei Elena - La mulţi ani!

On 03/10, 2019 – donated by Ardeleanu family for Emanuel 39th birth-

day - La multi ani! And for help from above;

On 03/17, 2019 – donated by Gabriela Jancik IMO Vir-

gil Ristea - Dumnezeu să-l ierte!

On 03/24, 2019 – donate de Cristian Westervelt pentru

sănătate

A DONATION FOR

ALTAR CANDLES IS

$ 50

COMING EVENTS

Sluja de PASTI

Holy PASCHA Service APRIL

28, 2019 12:00 am (midnight) &

10:00 am Divine Liturgy

(si binecuvantarea cosurilor

FESTIVAL OF NATIONS 2019

DUNAREA: Saturday May 4 - show time is 11 am sharp.

IZVORASUL: Saturday May 5 - at 1:00PM & 4:00 PM additional time at World Stage

PLAI DE DOR: Sunday May 4 - at 2:00PMat Roy Atrium Stage & 3:00PM at World Stage

Please, all dancers requested to report to designated performing areas 1 hour to ½ hour before the show times.

PAGE 7 THE BULLETIN WWW.SAINTMARYMN.ORG

Holy Wednesday, April 24 - at 7:00 pm - Holy Unction / Sf. Maslu (Spovedanii)

Holy Thursday, April 25 - at 6:00 pm - Pavecerniţa Mare & Spovedanii

- at 7:00 pm - 12 Gospel reading

- Denia celor 12 Evanghelii

Holy Friday, April 26 - at 9:30 am - Royal Hours /Ceasurilor Împărăteşti

- at 6:00 pm - Vespers / Vecernia

- at 7:00 pm - Lamentation of Our Lord /

- Denia Prohodului

RESURRECTION SERVICE - Sunday, APRIL 28 at midnight ( 12:00 am) &

Blessing of the baskets / binecuvantarea cosurilor

RESURRECTION LITURGY - Sunday, APRIL 28 at 10:00am &

Blessing of the baskets / binecuvantarea cosurilor

2nd Day of Pascha - Monday, APRIL 29 at 10:00am - Divine Liturgy

We would like to THANK to ladies who helped us at

Lenten Dinner Sunday, March 31, 2019 to all who

prepared the food and to all the priests and faithful who

came.

HOLY WEEK & PASCHA SCHEDULE

PROGRAMUL DIN SAPTAMANA MARE SI SF. PASTI

L enten Vesper

& Dinner

SPOVEDANIILE ÎN POSTUL MARE - În perioda Postului, Spovedanii se pot

face Vineri seara la 6:30pm sau după slujbă, Sâmbătă seara dupa Vecernie,

sau Duminica dimineaţa de la 9:00 am - 9:40am.

În acestă perioadă, când ne aducem aminte de preţul plătit de Domnul pe Cruce,

pentru fiecare dintre noi, să ne arătăm şi noi dragostea pentru El, sprijinind Sfânta Sa

Biserică. Vă rugăm să trimiteţi darul dragostei pentru una sau mai multe dintre

următoarele:

At this time of Holy Pascha, when we remember the price that our Lord has paid for

each of us on the Cross; let us show our love for Him, by supporting His Holy Church.

You may send your gift of love for one or more of the following:

Name

Enclose find my donation to Saint Mary Romanian Orthodox Church:

Pascha (Easter) Donation …..……….………… $

Parking lot project Donation …..……….…….. $

Parish Dues (membria $150)………...…..…... .. $

Altar Needs (see below*) …..……………..…… $

PALM SUNDAY BRANCHES $70 ……………….. $

SFINTELE PASTI (paine & vin).……………….….. $

*Altar bread and candles, communion wine, oil for candles (olive oil only),

charcoals, Incense - PLEASE talked with Fr. Mircea for details (The Church us-

es special wine & bread for Holy Communion & Sf Pasti, candles etc…)

Thank you for your kind expression of love and faith! May God repay your family

with His Heavenly gifts! HRISTOS A INVIAT!

PLEASE CLIP THIS COUPON and bring it personally to the church or mail it (with the en-

velope enclose) along with your donation.

VĂ RUGĂM SĂ TĂIAŢI ACEST CUPON şi să-l aduceţi personal sau să-l trimiteţi alături de

donaţia Dvs. (cu plicul inclus)

PRAYER LIST / POMELNIC

For the living (Vii): For the Deceased (Morţi)

PAGE 8 THE BULLETIN WWW.SAINTMARYMN.ORG

DARUL MEU DE SF PAŞTI - MY GIFT FOR THE HOLY PASCHA