This Week and Upcoming Events

Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be!

Our services are streamed live on the internet.
at our Saint Catherine website - www.stcatherine-wpb.org

Join us for Orthodox Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 9:45 a.m.

Light a candle and offer a prayer at Saint Catherine (click above). The online form sends the names of your family and friends direct to Father Andrew at the altar; prayers are offered during the Proskomidi in preparation for the Divine Liturgy!

August 7, 2022
8th Sunday of Matthew
Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
The Holy Righteous Martyr Dometius

COVID-19 protocol: Parishioners and guests may wear a mask if they desire in our Church and Hellenic Cultural Center. All are advised not to enter if exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Everyone should also follow the CDC guidelines quarantining if they recently been with someone who is COVID positive or experiencing symptoms.

Links to the service text: Links to the service texts are through the Digital Chant Stand of our Archdiocese. For optimal viewing select the "GR-EN Text/Music" link for Matins (Orthros) and Divine Liturgy. Apps may be downloaded for your phone or tablet. Link to the Digital Chant Stand

Holy Communion: When the faithful approach the Holy Chalice, they should stand with respect before the priest and say their baptismal/chrismation name. After the name is uttered, the faithful should open their mouth to receive Holy Communion. When the spoon goes into the mouth, the faithful should close their mouth and make sure that they swallow the consecrated Bread and Wine. Every person who stands before the Holy Chalice, should not have any contact with the red communion cloth, before, during, or after receiving Holy Communion. The red communion cloth is to be placed under each person’s chin by those who are assisting the clergy. Under no circumstances should the red communion cloth be used as a table napkin to wipe the mouth, nor should one who has received Holy Communion touch it at all.

Coffee and Fellowship: We invite all to join us for coffee and fellowship in our Hellenic Cultural Center after the Divine Liturgy.

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This Week
Sunday, August 7 8th Sunday of Matthew
8:30 am Orthros
9:45 am Divine Liturgy
Youth Ministries Registration after the Liturgy

Monday, August 8
6:30 pm Small Paraklesis

Tuesday, August 9
6:30 pm Great Paraklesis

Wednesday, August 10
10:00 am Small Paraklesis

Thursday, August 11
10:00 am Great Paraklesis

Saturday, August 13
District GOYA Meet and Greet, Boca Raton

Highlights of Upcoming Services and Events
Sunday, August 14 9th Sunday of Matthew
8:30 am Orthros
9:45 am Divine Liturgy
11:15 am Sunday School Classes Begin
Blessing of the Backpacks
5:00 pm Great Vespers for the Dormition of the Theotokos
at Saint Mary Church

Monday, August 15 The Dormition of the Theotokos
9:00 am Orthros
10:00 am Divine Liturgy

Thursday, August 18
7:00 pm Parish Council Meeting

Friday, August 19
5:30 pm Greek School Begins, Agiasmos in the Greek School

2022 Stewardship: We appreciate our stewards – our Saint Catherine family. Your Stewardship gift reflects your appreciation for God's many blessings.

As of August 5th, Stewardship gifts have been received from 219 individual/families totaling $169,512. Many of the donations represent fulfillment of their total pledge for 2022 while many others have begun their weekly, monthly or other scheduled donation. We are so thankful to these stewards.

Have you sent in your 2022 Stewardship Commitment Form? Forms are available in the Narthex of the church, in the Hellenic Cultural Center and online. Click here for the 2022 Stewardship Program and Commitment Form.

The Donate buttons here and on our website lead to our online giving site. Again, thank you for your support!

Youth Safety Resources: We’re committed to connecting young people with Jesus Christ. To do that, we need to create ministry environments that are safe and health. For more on how you can help, please visit our Youth Safety website: goarch.org/safety.

Many of our Divine Liturgies have been recorded and can be viewed at www.youtube.com. Subscribe to our YouTube channel; you will be notified when we begin a live stream.

Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church (Services from 2020 until now)

Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church (Selected services from 2015-2019)

Shop with Amazon, donate to Saint Catherine

Amazon Smile is a program that allows for 0.5% of your eligible Amazon purchase to be donated to our Saint Catherine Church (No Added Cost To You). To sign-up visit Sign up for Amazon Smile and press "Select" next to our church name. Then remember to log in to "smile.amazon.com" when you shop.

Event Flyers

Ukraine Crisis Response - April 2022

IOCC has a long history of humanitarian and development programming in Eastern Europe, beginning in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union. With strong partner relations across the region, particularly within the network of the Orthodox Church, and a portfolio of humanitarian response in Romania, Ukraine, and the western Balkans, IOCC is now helping addressing people’s immediate and long-term needs in both Ukraine and neighboring countries. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- View the April 2022 Report at this link --- https://www.bulletinbuilder.org/system/pdfs/2022FactSheetUkraineCrisisResponse-GeneralAudiences2-0.pdf?1650288933

Ukraine Relief Fund

“We join our spirit to the spirit of His All-Holiness and exhort all our Faithful: offer prayers and tangible support for all the Ukrainian People, those of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and those of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate, those of the Ukrainian Catholic and Jewish communities, and all who find themselves in the dire circumstances of war.”

Forged: An Interactive Book on the Orthodox Faith for Young Men

The writers of Forged understand that our young people require both guidance in their faith and strengthening that faith in a world that is often at odds with Orthodox Christian spirituality. What does it mean to be a man? How do I conduct myself in relationships, and in friendship? What is a healthy perspective concerning technology? Using this workbook our young men will have the opportunity to consider these subjects, within the Orthodox Christian style of life. Forged uses a structure that appeals to a young man’s creative sense of adventure and problem-solving, and these lessons are reinforced through journaling, activities and discussion topics that can be utilized in group settings.

What's New on Engage Orthodoxy

Engage Orthodoxy is a beautiful website created by FLM to provide resources and inspiration for our Orthodox family. EO hosts several blogs written by Orthodox authors on timely topics. In addition to blogs, EO has launched a podcast aimed at Orthodox homeschool families of teens. Check out our newest posts and listen to our podcast at www.engageorthodoxy.net

The Liturgical Arts Academy 2022

The Liturgical Arts Academy August 21-27, 2022 Registration opens March 14 The Liturgical Arts Academy is a one-week, intensive program to teach the skills of Byzantine chant and Iconography in an atmosphere of prayer, study, discussion, and communion. Location: Diakonia Retreat Center in Salem, SC. Instructors: John Michael Boyer / Gabriel Cremeens / Samuel Herron / Fr. Anthony Salzman. For more details, visit www.theliturgicalarts.org.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus has lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and she told them that He had said these things to her.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Tone. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:10-17.

Brethren, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Gospel Reading

8th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:14-22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

Wisdom of the Fathers

And another thing too we learn, the self-restraint of the disciples which they practised in necessary things, and how little they accounted of food.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 49 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

For being twelve, they had five loaves only and two fishes; so secondary to them were the things of the body: so did they cling to the things spiritual only. And not even that little did they hold fast, but gave up even it when asked.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 49 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

Saints and Feasts

August 07

8th Sunday of Matthew

August 07

Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

August 07

The Holy Righteous Martyr Dometius

This Martyr, who lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, was a Persian by race and an idolater by religion. He was catechized by a certain Christian named Abarus. He went to Nisibis, a city of Mesopotamia, where he was baptized and donned the monastic habit in a certain monastery. He afterwards ascended a mountain and there endured in extreme ascetical struggles, working miracles for those that came to him, and converting many unbelievers. Julian the Apostate learned of these things as he was marching against the Persians in 363, and at his command the Saint and his two disciples were stoned to death, as they were chanting the Sixth Hour.

August 07

Our Holy Father Nicanorus the Wonderworker

August 07

Theodosius the New

August 07

Narcissus the Hieromartyr of Jerusalem

August 07

Sozon of Nicomedea

August 07

The Holy Ten Thousand Ascetics of Thebes

August 07

Joseph Gerontogiannis of Lithines Sitia

August 08

Emilian the Confessor & Bishop of Cyzikos

This Saint was one of the illustrious Orthodox Bishops called to Constantinople by the holy Patriarch Nicephorus to defend the veneration of the holy icons against Leo the Armenian (see Mar. 8). Saint Emilian was sent into exile by Leo about the year 815, and gave up his soul to the Lord amidst many afflictions and sufferings for the sake of his confession.

Messages from our Metropolis of Atlanta

Metropolitan Alexios' Message

My Beloved Ones,

This Sunday’s Gospel begins with Christ healing a large crowd, stating that, “…He had compassion on them…” (Matthew 14:14). As the day ends, the Disciples worry about the responsibility of feeding these thousands of people. When they ask Christ to dismiss the multitude, He responds once again with love and concern, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16). Today’s reading presents to us the well-known miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, where our Lord not only transforms nature beyond human understanding but demonstrates true human compassion.

Indeed, St. John Chrysostom asks us to, “Observe the wisdom of the Master; He says not straightway to them, ‘I will give them something to eat;’ for they would not easily have received this…” Nature is only miraculously changed when the ordinary—five loaves and two fish—becomes extraordinary. St John continues, “For five loaves to make so many loaves…is no less a thing than to bring fruits from the earth, reptiles and other living things from the waters, which showed Him to be Lord both of land and sea.” The King of all did not come to heal and feed the crowd because He wished to boast; He came to demonstrate God’s mercy and love, and to teach us to do the same.

“By the example of the disciples, we also ought to be taught, that even though we have only a little, we ought to give to those in need. For when [the Disciples] bring their five loaves, they do not say, ‘When shall we satisfy our own hunger?’ but immediately obey…” Christ’s ability to provide for the needs of many with little demonstrated His true Divinity, but the Disciples also showed patience, charity, and mercy towards their neighbors, by thinking of others before themselves.

In a way it is comforting to know that both this crowd and the Disciples—these first followers of Christ, had human weaknesses: hunger, exhaustion, and irritability. Christ, as Man surely felt tiredness and hunger; but as God, he saw the broken state of His creation, and demonstrated the kind of behavior our Heavenly Father expects from all of us. For while men may turn away from their neighbors, Christ Himself will always be present, gently saying, “They need not go away…” As much as the Feeding of the Five Thousand is a miracle, it should also move us to ask ourselves whether we put the needs of others before our own?

+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta

On Youth Safety Protocols

From Father George Tsahakis, Chancellor: On behalf of His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios and Monica Gjerde, our Metropolis Youth Coordinator, I commend you for working to achieve the ongoing safety and protection of our youth. Please review the following:

In closing, we understand this effort requires 100 percent compliance. The parish I serve, St. Christopher Church is 100 percent compliant with the above protocol. If your parish is at 100 percent, email me so I can add you to the listing for His Eminence's review. He is both supportive and has completed his background check, the 2-part Youth Safety and 1-part youth worker regulations online training. This is an ongoing responsibility for all our clergy and their youth workers... we support your efforts to guide your parish to 100 percent compliance. Thank you.

*If you misplaced your password, contact your Parish Youth Safety Admin to get it.

For information on Policies for the Safety of Youth and Children, please click https://atlmetropolis.org/policies-for-the-safety-of-youth-and-children!

Please remember that all parishes must comply and sign their parish contracts to host any youth ministry programs or events on the parish level (Sunday School) or to participate on a District or Metropolis Level Events (Retreats, WYR & HDF).

Journey of Marriage (Pre-Marital Seminar)

All couples marrying in the Metropolis must attend a Metropolis-sponsored Journey of Marriage seminar prior to their wedding. The couple will present their certificate of completion to their parish priest after the seminar.

To see the full list of seminars in Florida and in our entire Metropolis for 2022 and to register, please visit:
https://atlmetropolis.org/pre-marital-seminars-journey-of-marriage

Registration is online. Materials costs are included in the registration. The seminars are currently being conducted by Zoom meeting.

Archepiscopal Message

Homily by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at the Service of Paraklesis, August 2, 2022

08/03/2022

Tonight, we gather to beseech our Mother – the Mother of the Lord – for healing in our bodies and souls. These Paraklesis Services are a gift to us during this Δεκαπενταύγουστο season. For they are an opportunity for us to open our hearts to the needs of others.

https://www.goarch.org/-/8-2-2022-homily-archbishop-elpidophoros-service-of-paraklesis

Homily by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America On the Seventh Sunday of Matthew, July 31, 2022

07/31/2022

This is the second time in just a matter of days that I am among you. Earlier in the week, I came to preside at the funeral of your dearly departed friend and son of this parish, Paul Melis. May his memory be eternal. Now, I return to pray with you, to worship with you, and to express to you my deep appreciation for this loving and devout community. Especially in times of loss, we must support each other. It is an essential Christian virtue that we recognize our interdependence – that we are all members of the one Body of Christ. When one suffers, all suffer. This is the literal meaning of “compassion,” that we are willing to empathize with one another.

https://www.goarch.org/-/7-31-2022-archbishop-elpidophoros-homily-seventh-sunday-of-matthew

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

GOARCH Centennial Clergy-Laity Congress Concludes But the “Endeavor Has Only Just Begun”

07/08/2022

The 46th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America concluded yesterday, July 7, 2022, after a packed final Plenary Session, during which various institutional organizations shared their progress and their vision for the next 100 years.

https://www.goarch.org/-/goarch-centennial-clergy-laity-congress-concludes-but-the-endeavor-has-only-just-begun-

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America to Participate in Holy and Great Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

07/07/2022

At the close of the 46th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress today, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros announced his invitation by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to participate in the Holy and Great Synod of Constantinople for this upcoming year, beginning in September.

https://www.goarch.org/-/2022-07-07-archbishop-elpidophoros-holy-and-great-synod

New Books Available on Orthodox Marketplace

06/02/2022

Three new valuable guides for the Orthodox faithful are now available on Orthodox Marketplace.

https://www.goarch.org/-/orthodox-marketplace-new-books-2022

2022 Directory Now Available Online

01/28/2022

The 2022 Directory of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is now available online at www.goarch.org/directory. The Directory can also be downloaded from the website as a pdf and used as a digital book on tablets, smart phones and other digital reading devices.

https://www.goarch.org/-/2022-directory-1

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Launches New Orthodox Marketplace

09/09/2021

Orthodox Marketplace of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America launched a new store on Wednesday September 7, 2021. The new platform (still at www.orthodoxmarketplace.com ) has many updated features from the previous platform, improving the user interface and enhancing the marketing capabilities of the store.

https://www.goarch.org/-/orthodox-marketplace-new-site

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Acquires Popular Byzantine Chant Resource “AGES Initiatives”

08/31/2021

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has acquired certain assets of the respected AGES Initiatives organization, which has provided digital music for Byzantine Chant utilizing both Byzantine and Western notations and translations of liturgical texts for Orthodox churches around the world since 2012. In that time, AGES Initiatives has developed a full suite of digital texts designed to facilitate the study of Byzantine chant in a variety of languages for those at church, at home, or in the classroom.

https://www.goarch.org/-/2021-08-31-ages-goa-digital-chant-stand

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

This Week and Upcoming Events

Event Flyers

Ukraine Crisis Response - April 2022

Ukraine Relief Fund

Forged: An Interactive Book on the Orthodox Faith for Young Men

What's New on Engage Orthodoxy

The Liturgical Arts Academy 2022

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Wisdom of the Fathers

Saints and Feasts

8th Sunday of Matthew

Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

The Holy Righteous Martyr Dometius

Our Holy Father Nicanorus the Wonderworker

Theodosius the New

Narcissus the Hieromartyr of Jerusalem

Sozon of Nicomedea

The Holy Ten Thousand Ascetics of Thebes

Joseph Gerontogiannis of Lithines Sitia

Emilian the Confessor & Bishop of Cyzikos

Messages from our Metropolis of Atlanta

Archepiscopal Message

Homily by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at the Service of Paraklesis, August 2, 2022

08/03/2022

Homily by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America On the Seventh Sunday of Matthew, July 31, 2022

07/31/2022

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

GOARCH Centennial Clergy-Laity Congress Concludes But the “Endeavor Has Only Just Begun”

07/08/2022

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America to Participate in Holy and Great Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

07/07/2022

New Books Available on Orthodox Marketplace

06/02/2022

2022 Directory Now Available Online

01/28/2022

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Launches New Orthodox Marketplace

09/09/2021

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Acquires Popular Byzantine Chant Resource “AGES Initiatives”

08/31/2021