Mary Helper of Mothers Icon Tour
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Mary Helper of Mothers Icon Tour of New Jersey Parishes

At the initiative of Bishop Kurt, a miraculous Marian icon will make a tour of all the Byzantine Catholic parishes in New Jersey, including the state active duty military base, and Saint Nicholas Parish in White Plains, NY, throughout 2020. It is especially beloved by women who struggle with infertility or difficult pregnancies. Several miraculous births have been attributed to this icon in the Byzantine Catholic community of Albuquerque, NM, where a copy has been venerated for twenty years.

The icon, known as the Albazinskaya from its place of origin on the borderlands between Russia and China, is also called “Mary, Helper of Mothers.”  The original icon is credited with defending the Russian Orthodox outpost against Chinese invaders on several occasions from the 17th to the early 20th century. It depicts a calm and prayerful Virgin Mother looking directly at the faithful.  She displays for us an image of her Son, newly born or perhaps yet unborn, resting over her torso.

A large, hand painted icon of the Virgin Helper of Mothers will be present in each Byzantine Catholic parish in New Jersey for two weeks or more.  Bishop Kurt will personally preside over a devotional service in each parish.  There will be opportunities for the faithful to venerate the icon, to engage in personal prayer, and to take home holy cards depicting the Virgin Helper of Mothers.

The Albazinskaya icon celebrates how God became Man, and a Virgin became His Mother. It celebrates the mysteries of conception and birth by which God has shared His creative power with married couples. It reminds us that

every human life has its origin directly from God, and it offers hope to the despondent and the oppressed.

The Byzantine Catholic parishes of New Jersey welcome our Latin Rite Catholic and Orthodox neighbors, as well as all Christians who honor the Lord’s Mother, to join in the worship service of Psalms and Scriptural readings that will be offered in each parish.

 

Mary Helper of Mothers will visit the following parishes:

 

 All Services Subject to Change

 

June 4-June 18: Nativity of our Lord, East Brunswick - Service on Jun 16, 7:00 pm 

June 18-July 2: Saint Michael, Perth Amboy - Service on July 1, 7:00 pm

July 2-July 16: Saint Nicholas, Perth Amboy - Service on Jul 15, 7:00 pm

July 16-July 30: Saint George, Linden - Service on Jul 22, 7:00 pm

July 30-August 13: Saint Elias, Carteret - Service on Aug 12, 7:00 pm

August 13-August 27: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Toms River - Service on Aug 14, 7:00 pm

August 27-September 10: Saint Mary, Jersey City - Service on Sep 2, 7:00 pm

September 10-September 24: Saint John the Baptist, Bayonne - Service on Sep 16, 7:00 pm

September 24-October 8: Saint Thomas the Apostle, Rahway - Service on Sep 30, 7:00 pm

October 8-October 22: Holy Spirit, Mahwah - Service on Oct 21, 7:00 pm

October 22-November 5: Saint Nicholas, White Plains NY - Service on Oct 28, 7:00 pm

November 5-November 19: Saint George, Newark - Service on November 11, 7:00 pm 

November 14-December 3: Saint Michael Chapel, Woodland Park - Service on Dec 2, 7:00 pm

 

More specific information about service times can be obtained from the individual parishes.

 

Fr. Ron Barusefski Defends his Doctoral Thesis in Canon Law

On Friday, June 17, 2022, Fr. Ronald Barusefski successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.  Present were Bishop Kurt and several Eparchial priests.

Help for Ukrainian Refugees

Do you wish to send money to help refugees?  It is difficult to know whom to trust.  Our Eparchy of Passaic can send money directly to our bishop in eastern Europe who is helping refugees right now.  We know where that money goes, and we trust the people who are using it.  You may send a check to our office, made out to "Eparchy of Passaic" with "refugees" in the memo.  Mail the check to Eparchy of Passaic--refugees,

445 Lackawanna Ave, Woodland Park, New Jersey, 07424.  You will receive a tax letter at the end of the year as for Bishop Appeal. 

 

 

You may also donate online to Aid To The Church in Need at churchinneed.org

BYZANTINE CATHOLIC EPARCHY OF PASSAIC

445 LACKAWANNA AVENUE 

WOODLAND PARK, NJ  07424

973-890-7777