Benedictine sisters of Warren Ohio

The Benedictine Sisters of Queen of Heaven Monastery held a Spirituality Day for teens and young adults on Sunday, September 9, from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Father Thomas Wesdock, Pastor of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, was the presenter.

The topic for Father Tom’s talks was, "Icons: Doorways to the Presence of God." There was time for silent reflection, questions, and an opportunity to receive the Mystery (Sacrament) of Reconciliation. During the break, the young people enjoyed pizza and refreshments. The evening culminated with a hymn and confessions.

In his presentation entitled, "Icons: Doorways to the Presence of God," Father Tom Wesdock will explore the spirituality of icons in the Byzantine Christian tradition. He will show how icons in combination with prayer are meant to lead the beholder of an icon to a deeper awareness of the presence of God in our midst. He will illustrate how icons are meant to be much more then simply "windows" into Heaven in which we see Divinity from afar, but rather they are meant to be "doorways" through which we pass into the very Divine Life of God.

Father Thomas Wesdock is currently the pastor of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He was ordained a priest for the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh in the year 2000 by the late Metropolitan Judson Procyk. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University (1996) and a Master of Arts Degree in Theology (2004) from Duquesne University. Father Tom was recently appointed by Metropolitan Archbishop Basil Schott to the steering committee for accrediting our Byzantine Catholic Seminary with the Association of Theological Schools in North America.

Spirituality Day
Saturday, September 22, 2007

The Benedictine Sisters of the Byzantine Church at Queen of Heaven Monastery will hold a Spirituality Day on Saturday, September 22, 2007 from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.

The presenter will be Monsignor George Appleyard, pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. His topic for the day is "The Holy Trinity: The Mystery That Explains Everything!"

There will be time for reflection, questions, and coffee. The Mystery (Sacrament) of Reconciliation will be available. The afternoon will culminate with the celebration of Vespers at 4:10 P.M. To register, please call (330) 856-1813 or e-mail qohm@netdotcom.com before Tuesday, September 18, 2007. There is no charge for the afternoon.

"The Holy Trinity: The Mystery That Explains Everything!"

This is an exploration of the basic doctrine of Three Divine Persons yet One God, beginning with Saint Augustine’s model, but then exploring the Byzantine preference.

What is the mystery? Three persons each with their own work (kenosis), yet one God: each perfectly individual, yet one accomplishment. This makes the Holy Trinity the model for all human life, and therefore for all spirituality.

Msgr. George Appleyard

Monsignor George Appleyard was ordained to the priesthood in 1968 by the late Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko. He is currently the pastor of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. He is also Vicar for Religious for the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio.

An author and lecturer, he is currently involved with new on-line programs in Byzantine Theology for Manor College in suburban Philadelphia, PA, and will be the keynote speaker at Notre Dame of Ohio's Eastern Churches Seminar in October 2007.

Spirituality Days