O U R L A D Y o f G R A C E

S O C I E T Y

Western Version Hail Mary, full of grace The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary , Mother of God Pray for us sinners,

Now and at the our of our death, Amen

Eastern Version

Hail, Mother of God

Virgin Mary, full of Grace

the lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women,

And blessed is the fruit of your womb;

for you gave birth to Christ

The savior and Redeemer of our souls.

E s t a b l i s h e d 1 9 4 7 i n M e m o r y o f P a p a s C i r o P i n o l a U n d e r t h e O m o p h o r o f t h e R o m a n C a t h o l i c A r c h b i s h o p o f N e w Y o r k

EASTERN AND WESTERN HAIL MARY

I ns i de t h i s i s s ue :

Editor’s Desk 3

Deacon’s Door

Vice Pres Honored

3

3

Questions &

Answers

4

Papas Vito Borgia 5

Fund Raiser 6

Letters 7

New Bishop of

Passaic

8

N ew s l e t t e r D at e

D e c e mbe r , 2 0 1 3

Vo l u me 3 2 , I s s ue 4

The Nursing Madonna

Official Icon of Our Lady of Grace Italo-Greek Catholic Mission & Society

Buon Natale

E

Auguri per

L’Anno

Nuovo

O U R L A D Y o f G R A C E G R E E K C AT H O L I C M I S S I O N

A N D S O C I E T Y

OFFICERS

Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Paul G. Frechette. Associate

Rt. Rev Archimandrite Joseph Lee

Rev. Deacon Nicholas Daddona

Rev. Deacon Thomas Stadnik, Nomikos, Council

Patrizio Foley, President, Psalati, Choir Director

Salvatore Lagatutta, Vice President

Vincent Romano Secretary, Treasurer

Enola Romano, Clerical Assistant

Ron Montecalvo Editor OLOGS Newsletter

Rt. Rev. Dr. Archimandrite Janarius Izzo, Retired Emeritus

Very Rev. John F. DeMeis, Retired Emeritus

ADVISORY BOARD

Rev. Fr. Joseph Lombardi, S.J.

Rev. Fr. Robert J. Aufieri, Director, Italian Apostolate

Rev. Fr. Augustine Sarafini

Prof. Dr. Richard Baldi, PsyD

Prof. Thomas Bird

Prof. Richard Renoff

Prof.Joseph Varacalli

Quarterly Publication Subscription Rates Per Year

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Address:

51 Redgrave Avenue

Staten Island New York 10306-3620 USA

Tel 718-987-8098

E-mail:ItaloGreek@aol.com or troias@verizon.net

Web-site: http//byzcath.org/ourladyofgrace/

A b o u t Ou r Mis s io n a n d S o c ie ty

Our Lady of Grace Italo-Greek

Catholic Mission and Society is a

Catholic Religious entity. We are

Eastern Catholics in union with

Pope Francis the successor of

Saint Peter the Apostle.

Our purpose is the re-establishment

of the Italo-Greek and Italo-

Albanian rite in the United States.

It is heir to a parish society of the

Italo-Greek to have existed in

North America

Our first pastor was the late Papas

Ciro Pinnola who arrived in New

York in 1903. Our Lady of Grace

Chapel was begun on Pascha Sun-

day, 1904. The society formed in

1947 a year after Papas Pinnola’s

passing. “Memory Eternal.”

The patronal icon of our Mission &

Society is Madonna delle Gratzie,

the Nursing Madonna chosen by

Papas Pinnola.

We are now under the omophor

of the Archdioceses of New

York. Bishops are in Italy and

Greece

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter V o l . 3 2 / N o 4 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 P a g e 2

EDITOR’S DESK Ron Monteca lvo

Buon Natale e Auguri per l’Anno Nuovo

Many thanks to all for your best wishes and comments on my first issue of this publication. As with

the beginning of any new venture I was apprehensive but your kind comments have made me feel at

home.

Peace for Christians begins with Christmas. Christ’s birth becomes less joyful when we think of the

suffering that our Christian brothers-Eastern and Latin- are experiencing. This is especially in Syria-the land of my Melkite Church–

and in Egypt ,Lebanon, and Africa. Hopefully our prayers, material and financial aid will lessen their suffering and lead to future

peaceful Christmas’.

In the previous issue I asked for you suggestions, stories and comments. I neglected’ however, to include an address . I am continu-

ing to look forward to these and would especially appreciate articles and stories concerning Society members or events. My E-mail

address is Troias@verizon.net. It is also listed below. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

DEACON’S DOOR

I have received a number of e-mails and phone calls regarding the Q & A in the last issue on the matter of

Ariel Tolls after death.

First let me say the question of Purgatory is never mentioned among Eastern Catholics and Orthodox. We

tend to leave that in the realm of the Roman Church. Recall when babies who died without baptism were

relegated to eternity in Limbo. After Vatican II Limbo was eliminated from the cannons.

The Old Testament book of Maccabees states, “It is a good and wholesome thing to pray for the dead to

lose them from their sins,” We believe that. However not to spend a long or limited time in Purgatory.

Death is a path to God Who sits in Judgment The last four things are Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell.

There is no room here for Limbo or Purgatory. Most Eastern Christian Clergy would rather leave this sub-

ject dormant. I am only adding more information to the first question All this is religious history and can be found on the internet.

Rev..Archdeacon John Unworthy Sinner

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter P a g e 3 V o l . 3 2 / N o 4 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3

SOCIETY VICE-PRESIDENT TO BE HONORED a Brief Bio

Hi, my name is Salvatore Lagattuta, and I have been a member of Our Lady of Grace Society since the mid-1980s. I was born in the early 1950s in Mezzojuso, Sicily: my family came to live in New Jersey in 1955. Mezzojuso is also the birthplace of Papas Ciro Pin-nola, the Italo-Albanian Byzantine-rite Catholic priest who was the pastor (from 1904 to 1945) of the little store-front chapel in the Bowery section of lower Manhattan, called Most Holy Mary of All Graces, which was named after the Basilian church and monas-tery with the same name (Maria Santissima di Tutte le Grazie) in Mezzojuso, to which Albanian soldiers and settlers and their fami-lies migrated during the late 1400s and early 1500s, escaping the religious persecution of the invading Moslem Turks. Historically, since around 1500, about half of the population of Mezzojuso has been of the Italo-Albanian Byzantine rite, and the other half of the Latin rite: both rites are within the Roman Catholic church. In the main piazza (town square) of Mezzojuso are located, side by side, the two matriarchal churches – Maria Annunziata (of the Latin rite), and San Nicola di Mira (of the Italo-Albanian Byzantine rite): both of these landmark churches were expanded and renovated during the early 1500s and thereafter many other times. Arberesh (the language of medieval Albanians) has been spoken continuously in Mezzojuso, even into our modern times. In recent decades, some Albanians have settled in Mezzojuso. My mother’s ancestry was Italo-Albanian, and she called her grandmother “nene” (like nanna or grandma in English): my mother received her confirmation at the Basilian monastery-church of Maria Santis-

sima di Tutte le Grazie, in Mezzojuso. My father’s first cousin was Suor Nila Chetta (1926-2012): Sister Nila (born as Nicolina Chetta) was a religious nun of the Basilian Sisters of Mezzojuso: she served as a teacher and school principal for many of this institute’s educational facilities – in Sicily: at Mezzojuso and Piana degli Albanesi and Palazzo Adriano – and in southern Italy: at Frascineto and San Costantino Albanese and Santa Sofia and Badia – and even at the famous monas-tery of Grottaferrata (near Rome). My parents and Suor Nila have all died within these past few years: I miss them very much: they were my family connections with the beautiful liturgies and traditions of the Italo-Albanian Byzantine rite, directly from Mezzojuso, but also with the wider Arberesh communities in Sicily and in southern Italy, as well as with the Italo-Albanians who have migrated to the United States (which does have scattered Arberesh-American communi-ties). For Further Information See Page 4

OUESTIONS & ANSWERS Dear Archdeacon John, I have a fiend who is a vegetarian. She

believes eating meat is a sin. Betty D, Brooklyn.

Betty, Because of my health condition, my doctors advise that I

should refrain from Red Meat and Cold Cuts. I do cheat some

time. You should use your own judgment in our eating habits.

See below...

Orthodox Christianity

Monks in the Orthodox Church do not eat meat for reasons that

apparently go back to 4th C Egypt but have since been forgot-

ten. Yet from the beginning, the Church insisted vegetarianism

is not its dogmatic tenet but a personal choice for lay members.

Nevertheless meat eating is subject to dictates that are similar to

Jewish Kashruth and Islamic Halal in that they forbid eating

blood. Not just in blood sausages. Scriptures (Acts 15) condemn

anyone who eats an animal not immediately bled at slaughter, or

an animal that has been strangled. This also means: think twice

about eating your meat rare. The French word for that is sang-

lant that means “bloody.”

Roman Catholicism

Jesus and the Gospels are silent on this subject, but the Church

recognizes that eating meat breaks the First Commandment to

not kill, and this sin requires repentance. The prescribed atone-

ment is to stop, at least from time to time. This is the origin of

meatless Fridays, meatless Ash Wednesday and meat’s absence

during Lent. Abstaining, at least at these times, is thought to

propel the soul toward what is truly important: not dinner but

divinity. This reminds us how easily we ignore the Holy Spirit.

It has been said the Church chooses to focus on meat eating

because people feel giving it up is a terrible inconvenience, and

the annoyance of this sacrifice serves to emphasize the priority

of the demands that God and his Commandments make.

Formal Address. Deacons in the Orthodox and Eastern

Catholic Church's are addressed as "The Reverend Father

Deacon," if they are married Deacons. If they are Deacons

who are also monks, they are addressed as "The Reverend

Father Hierodeacon." If a Deacon holds the honor of Arch-

deacon or Protodeacon, he is addressed as "The Reverend

Father Archdeacon" or "The Reverend Father Protodeacon."

Deacons hold a rank in the Priesthood and are, therefore, not

laymen. This is an important point to remember, since so

many Orthodox and Eastern Catholic's here in America have

come to think of the Deacon as a kind of "quasi—Priest."

This is the result of Latin influence and poor teaching. As

members of the Priesthood, Deacons must be addressed, as

we noted above, as "Father" (or Father "Deacon ").

Dear Archdeacon,

What is the proper way to address an archdeacon? Robert W. Ct. Answered this some time ago. Here it is again. See official cannon below.

Dear Rev. DeMeis,

What are the four marks of the Church?

Rich H. Bronx

Rich, Don't you remember your catechism.

Every time we recite the Nicene Creed, proclaimed in Nicea in the Eastern Church we are proclaiming belief in the “Four Marks of the Church.” We join with all other believers and professes our faith which says, “I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church…”

These “four marks” are called “indelible” in that they cannot be changed or removed. They are the same as when Christ founded the church and will remain the same until his return. As indicated in the Nicene Creed, they bind together the believers in a unique and signifi-cant way.

"Let none despise because he cannot see that Hand with which God takes our own on earth.

No path too steep unto our feet

but that an angel goes before!" Paul Claudel

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 4 V o l . 3 2 / N o 4 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3

We will be honoring our Vice :President Sal Lagattuta at the Febru-ary 2014 Staten Island Conference of Churches Annual Dinner at The Old Bermuda Inn - Arthur Kill Road. We have a table for 10 members. Those wishing to attend. Send a $40 dollar check made out to OLOGS 51 Redgrave Ave Staten Island NY 10306 Sal was born in Mezzojoso Sicily. Birthplace of Our Founder Papas Ciro Pinolla. We can have a second table for 10 if necessary. Awards Dinner will be fist week of February around the 5th or 6th

Please book Early.

Contact Rev. John. 718-987-8098 - Cell: 917-774-2064

SAL LAGATUTTA TO BE HONORED

PAPAS VITO BORGIA

50 YEARS IN MALTA

From Jemi,it

A few days earlier it was my pleasure to receive this e-mail from Martin Zammit of the Maltese Greek Byzantine Community.

This Maltese Community resides today in the church of Our Lady of Damascus or “di Damasco” in which is one of the most im-

portant Icons of the XII Centaury.

The parish priest of this important institution has been for the past 50 years Papas Vito Borgia of Piana degli Albenese

From Martin Zammit

After over 50 years as parish priest of the Greek Catholic Church, I would like to thank and wish Papas Vito Borgia a very

happy retirement back in Palermo. He will be lovingly remembered by many as a scholar, a man of culture and, above all, a man

of God. Surely, the restoration of the unique and priceless icon of Our Lady of Damascus remains his most valid contribution to

the cultural patrimony of these islands.

By nature being of a very humble and quiet disposition, Papas Vito was always very pleased to welcome people and show them

around the Greek church. He will be missed by many

In September 2012 Prof. Martin R. Zammit and his wife Gertrude visited

the retired Parish priest, Papas Vito Borgia, in his native village of Piana

degli Albanesi, about 25 kilometers southeast of Palermo. They found

Papas Vito in very good health, considering his venerable age. Although

away from Malta, Papas Vito keeps showing unabated interest in the

affairs of the Greek Catholic Parish of Malta. He often receives visits

from various members and friends of the Greek Catholic community in

Malta, with whom he keeps regular telephone contact. Papas Vito left

Malta for good in January 2010, after 50 years of service in the Valletta

Parish.

OUR LADY of DAMASCUS CHURCH

Vletta (Malta)

The church as built between 1576 and 1587. During World War II it was destroyed by shelling

.but was rebuilt and re consecrated in 1951. The treasure of this church is the icon of Our Lady of

Damascus which was crowned in 1931.. The icon was brought over by some Greeks who accom-

panied the Knights of St. John when they were expelled from Rhodes in 1532.. During the war

more than 30 icons of various sizes where lost in the ruins of the church. These have been re-

placed by 30 new icons written mostly by Russian Iconographers.

http://greekcatholicmalta.com/

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 5 V o l . 3 2 / N o 4 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3

FUND RAISER

Armenian Chalice and Paten Covers $50.00

Latin Altar Stone with Relics $100.00

Russian Chalice & Paten Red Glass $800.00

Russian Music Boxes St, Basils Large $35.00 Small $25.00

Greek Myrrh Container $50.00 Armenian Gospel Holder $75.00

Priest’s Vestments $250.00 Latin Alb $100.00

Wood & Bronze Icon $100.00

Ethiopian Blessing Cross $50.00

Ethiopian Blessing Cross With painted icons $50.00 ea

Ethiopian Bishop's Rug $50.00

Large Armenian Paten Cover $75.00

Wood Frame Bron Icon Old Testament Trinity $50.00

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 6 V o l . 3 2 / N o 4 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3

P raye r Req ue s t s

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and

supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to

God. (Phillippians 4:6)

Please remember in your prayers:

Archdeacon John - Being treated for chest pain, More Meds

Deaconeisa Rita - Hospital Stay operation Rev.Fr. Emil Kapaun, Special Intention, Ron Montecalvo

Please pray for all members who are sick Send in requests for prayers

LETTERS

Archdeacon John,

What a blessing to know that the angels an saints are so near to

us so that hey manifest their prophetic role so tangibly! Espe-

cially this month of the Communion of Saints, [the one Church

in heaven, and on Earth], the nearness and the active participa-

tion of the Saints-once a very vivid daily reality for Catholics

and Orthodox-an awareness that must be cultivated less the true

faith continue its plummet into obscurity in godless secular

society. This certainly seems to be the message that the local

Greeks have gleaned by St. Michael’s tears in this very brief

video.

The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, Eastern Ortho-

dox and Western Latin, is no stranger to these prophetic mani-

festations; the weeping icons of so many Mediterranean lands,

the myrrh/oil gushing tombs of saints, the miraculous annual

liquefaction of the vacuum sealed blood of St. Janarious, the

weeping statue of Rosa Mystical, all authenticated by non-

church scientific rigors. . {The Western Church's officialdom

usually ignores these "private revelations", even when they go

viral, so as not to distract from the central focus on the essen-

tials of Word and Sacrament in the Church. This known as

"Roman Sobriety

The Holy Archangel Michael is mentioned as old Israel's

mighty protector [Daniel chapter10], and in the New Testament

[Letter of Jude, Revelation] as Vindicator of the Lamb and His

Church.... kind of a "bridge saint" between the Old and New

Covenant and patron of soldiers, Police and law-enforcement,

monks and a hundred countries and towns. {BTW, he is even

mentioned in the Koran.] Viva San Michele!

In his famous book "The Fratricides", Nikos Kazanakis {also

penned "Zorba the Greek", "Brother Francis", et al.} written at

the time of the great [and bloody] Socialist vs. Republic Civil

War in Greece, the icon of the Blessed Virgin in a small village

church begins to weep profusely. To the people's cries of

"Miracle! Miracle!" the sober parish priest says

"Miracle? With daily atrocities and murders on both sides all

around us, it would be a miracle if the Holy Virgin were not

weeping bitter tears!"

Is St. Michael making much the same statement to us?

I commend you all to the care of our Holy Mother, Sovereign

of the Angels, Queen of All Saints, and to that "great cloud of

witnesses" in heaven who are our intimate family. Know

them! Love them! Ask for their help in loving God and in

your everyday needs!

Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints!

love

Fr. Antonio

Received via Snail Mail and E-mail

HOLY SPIRT BYZANTINE CHAPEL

Garrison, NY

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 7 V o l . 3 2 / N o 4 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3

Archdeacon John,

Keep up the good work.

God bless you and your staff.

+Bishop Basil Losten

LETTERS Cont.

WOODLAND PARK, New Jer-

sey (Tuesday, October 29, 2013)

– The Apostolic Nuncio,

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganó

announced today from Washing-

ton, D.C. that the Holy Father

Pope Francis has appointed the

Very Reverend Kurt Burnette, Rector of the Byzantine

Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Pitts-

burgh, Pennsylvania as fifth Bishop of the Eparchy of

Passaic.

Bishop-elect Kurt will be enthroned in Passaic on Wednes-

day, December 4, 2013.

REMEMBER WHEN

L. to R. Fr. Deacon Tom Stadnik, Fr, Archimandrite Jan Izzo,

Fr, Archdeacon John DeMeis June 1998

My Dear Archdeacon John,

Thank you for remembering me as we celebrate 40 years in the

service of Almighty God and his people. May God grant you

and your loved ones with peace, good health, happiness and

many years. I look forward to receiving the OLOGs Newsletter

Rev. Archdeacon George and Violet Yany

Greek from Thesolonika

Dear Archdeacon John DeMeis,

On behalf of the Staten Island Conference of Catholic Charis-

matic Prayer groups . We want to sincerely thank you for ask-

ing your fellow deacons to attend in celebrating at the 33rd An-

nual Unity Night Mass at Saint Rita’s Church. Lord, thank you

for the love and care that Archdeacon John ministers and shares

with all the people of Staten Island. We appreciate all your help

in making this a beautiful evening. Lord, Please continue to

guide him and shower him with your love all the days of his life.

Sincerely,

Committee

The Very Reverend Kurt Burnette

Named Bishop of Passaic

AXIOS, AXIOS

Bishop...cont.

The Bishop-elect was ordained a priest at St. Mary Cathedral in

Sherman Oaks, California, for the Eparchy of the Holy Protection

of Mary in Phoenix on April 26, 1989 by the late Bishop John M.

Bilock. He served as pastor in several parishes including Saint

Nicholas of Myra, Fontana, California; Saint Irene the Virgin and

Great Martyr, Portland, Oregon; Saint Gabriel the Archangel, Las

Vegas, Nevada; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Albuquerque,

New Mexico. He also served as Chaplain for the Fontana (CA)

Police Department and regularly visited jails and prisons in Califor-

nia, Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico. He served his eparchy

as Economos and Consultor from 1991 till 1994. He served as tri-

bunal official for his own eparchy, and also for the Archdiocese of

Santa Fe, the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Diocese of Gallup. His

appointment as Rector of Saints Cyril and Methodius Seminary was

made in October, 2012. The Passaic eparchy has 77 priests at 84

parishes, and serves Ruthenian Catholics along the Atlantic coast of

the U.S. It will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its establishment

Nov. 10 with Divine Liturgy at its cathedral.

The Ruthenian Catholic Church is and Eastern Catholic Church and

so is in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. Ruthenian

Catholics use the Byzantine rite, and are led by the Ruthenian

Archbishop of Pittsburgh.

The Passaic eparchy had been vacant since Jan., 2012, when its

bishop, William Skurla, was appointed head of the Ruthenian Ar-

cheparchy of Pittsburgh.

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 8 V o l . 3 2 / N o 4 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3

RENEWAL NOTICE

It is not necessary to cut the renewal form if you keep the newsletters on file.

Just send a check to Our Lady of Grace Society

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 9 V o l . 3 2 / N o 4 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3

Eastern Christian Stamp Album

VIRGIN AND CHILD

ENTHRONED

BETWEEN ST. NICHO-

LAS AND ST. GEORGE

CHURCH OF ST.

GEORGE,

VATYLI, CYPRUS

Today He who holds the whole creation in his hand was born of a

virgin.

He whose essence who none can touch is bound in swaddling-

clothes as a mortal man.

God who in the beginning fashioned the heavens, lies in a man-

ger.

He who rained manna on His people in the wilderness is fed on

milk from His mother’s breast.

We worship thy birth, O Christ.

Prayer from the Ninth Hour of Christmas Eve

TODAY ’ S SCRIPTURE

James 2:1-13

Warning against Partiality

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism

really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a per-

son with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assem-

bly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if

you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say,

“Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you

say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made

distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil

thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not

God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be

heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love

him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who

oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not

they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over

you?

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the

scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if

you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the

law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but

fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the

one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said,

“You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery

but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law

of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who

has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

From Vincent Romano

Special needs child Dominic Gondreau was photo-

graphed hugging Pope Francis as he passed through

during a Papal Audience. Dominic’s father Dr. Paul

Gondreau was on sabbatical in Rome and is a Profes-

sor of Theology at Providence College, Providence,

RI