Vespers now available at St. Sophia in DFW, TX

[CDB1718]

All are welcome to join us for Vespers and fellowship! If you or any you know are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, come on out.

We’re starting with the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesday of each month at 7PM. Food and fellowship follows. As attendance and support grows, more will be added.

St. Sophia Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
5600 N Colony Blvd The Colony, TX 75056
StSophiaUkrainian.cc

Please direct questions to
Phone/Fax: 972-370-4700
Webmaster@StSophiaUkrainian.cc
FrPavlo@StSophiaUkrainian.cc
FrDcnJohn@StSophiaUkrainian.cc

 

[UncleBill]

Sad that Vespers is not available in all parishes everyday…one of the nicest things about my year living in Ukraine was being able to attend the Divine Services in almost any church Catholic or Orthodox on a daily basis…I now plan on moving near a Byzantine Monastery in order to do the same.

 

[UncleBill]

Sad that Vespers is not available in all parishes everyday…one of the nicest things about my year living in Ukraine was being able to attend the Divine Services in almost any church Catholic or Orthodox on a daily basis…I now plan on moving near a Byzantine Monastery in order to do the same.

But I should say on a positive note…Thank God for a beginning!

 

[jman227]

All are welcome to join us for Vespers and fellowship! If you or any you know are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, come on out.

Hi CDB. I’m glad I caught your post. My wife and I were confirmed at Easter this year and we’ve been looking at going to our first Eastern Catholic Church soon. We’'ve been eyeing St. Sophia in the Colony as our entry into Eastern Catholicism. So far, we’ve only attended St. Mark in Plano, so all we are used to is the Novus Ordo Mass.

First, can you give me some tips on the Eastern Catholic Mass and also can you explain what Vespers is?

Thanks for your time. May God bless and keep you always.

-JMan

 

[jman227]

Also, I’m not Ukranian or Greek thus I don’t know any of the language. Is there anything in the Mass or Vespers that requires knowing these languages?

 

[CDB1718]

You don’t have to be Ukrainian or Greek to attend our parish any more than you need to be Roman to attend a Roman Catholic parish. We welcome visitors and newcomers!

What should I expect when visiting St. Sophia parish?
What do I need to know about visiting St. Sophia parish?
May I receive Communion at St. Sophia parish?
May I go to Confession at St. Sophia parish?
Driving Directions to St. Sophia parish

St. Sophia is a mission church that is growing. In the last couple years, we added children’s and adult catechesis, a new evangelization ministry, a parish council, and several programs through the year. We are so excited to be expanding to offer more of the liturgical cycle, too.

The liturgical day starts with Vespers, which is the evening prayer. Like Vespers in the West, Byzantine Vespers are heavy on the Psalms which we chant back and forth antiphonally. We sing O Tranquil Light as we transition from daylight to candlelight. Our evening prayers focus on repentance, on spiritual warfare, and on going through the night in peace. Like Vespers in the West, we pray the Canticle of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32). The saint and readings for the upcoming liturgical day are also introduced, giving us a fuller understanding and grounding in the liturgical year and in our faith.

At St. Sophia, Vespers are usually offered in English. All you have to do is show up. Dress is more casual than Sundays as most are coming straight from work and children are going from church straight to bed.

Our Sunday Liturgy is bilingual. English is used for the readings, homily, several of the litanies, and many of the priest’s parts. There are books for those who want to follow along. If you want someone to sit with you during Liturgy, drop us a line and we’ll arrange it. If you have specific questions I didn’t answer, please ask.

The most important thing to know before attending Liturgy is that we don’t expect you to know what to do before you ever show up. You don’t need to study rubrics or practice saying, “Hospody Pomyloy!” (Lord, have mercy!) before you walk in our doors. Whatever is needed will be supplied. You can just come and see!

And hopefully you’ll stay for the coffee and sweets after Liturgy, too.

 

[babochka]

All are welcome to join us for Vespers and fellowship! If you or any you know are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, come on out.

We’re starting with the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesday of each month at 7PM. Food and fellowship follows. As attendance and support grows, more will be added.

This is fantastic! My parish has been praying Vespers once a week now for a little over a year. Attendance is small, but so is our parish. We’re finally getting to the point that we know what we’re doing. I hope this works out well for your parish.

 

[tamara555]

hi , That looks great . I 'm from Toronto’s Ukrainian Catholic Church Holy Protection . We attend vespers at St Elias nearby.

 

[tamara555]

Hi CDB. I’m glad I caught your post. My wife and I were confirmed at Easter this year and we’ve been looking at going to our first Eastern Catholic Church soon. We’'ve been eyeing St. Sophia in the Colony as our entry into Eastern Catholicism. So far, we’ve only attended St. Mark in Plano, so all we are used to is the Novus Ordo Mass.

First, can you give me some tips on the Eastern Catholic Mass and also can you explain what Vespers is?

Thanks for your time. May God bless and keep you always.

-JMan

Just google vespers online , actually wikipedia has an amazing summary

 

[jman227]

Hi CDB,
Thanks for answering my question so thoroughly and quickly. We are definitely looking forward to coming. If not tomorrow we will come the following Sunday. We will stay for drinks and sweets afterward as well.

I have a 3 year old and a 7 week so old so we are a bit apprehensive about that. We’re not worried about the infant but our 3 year old is quite a handful. Do you have a nursery and if not, what are the parishioners usually like when children are present?

We drov by the church today and peeked threw the windows hoping to catch a glimpse. We are excited, to say the least.

 

[CDB1718]

Hi CDB,
Thanks for answering my question so thoroughly and quickly. We are definitely looking forward to coming. If not tomorrow we will come the following Sunday. We will stay for drinks and sweets afterward as well.

I have a 3 year old and a 7 week so old so we are a bit apprehensive about that. We’re not worried about the infant but our 3 year old is quite a handful. Do you have a nursery and if not, what are the parishioners usually like when children are present?

We drov by the church today and peeked threw the windows hoping to catch a glimpse. We are excited, to say the least.

There are many children their ages. They’re all a handful!

We do not have a nursery. The kids are in church with us as the children are communing members. If they get really disruptive, their parents take them out into the hallway, the play room, or the church hall. These are all adjoining so you aren’t going to get lost, but if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to tap whoever is closest to you and ask. The church hall has a speaker in it where you can hear the Liturgy. Most of your kids’ babbles and fidgets will be covered up by the singing. You’ll find it a positive, welcoming, and engaging place for the kids.

We have another family visiting for the first time tomorrow, too! Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

 

[CDB1718]

This is fantastic! My parish has been praying Vespers once a week now for a little over a year. Attendance is small, but so is our parish. We’re finally getting to the point that we know what we’re doing. I hope this works out well for your parish.

Please pray for us as we follow in your footsteps!

hi , That looks great . I 'm from Toronto’s Ukrainian Catholic Church Holy Protection . We attend vespers at St Elias nearby.

Would you please ask them to film a regular daily vespers? All the Vespers videos on their youtube feed are festal and it would be nice to have a daily vespers available.

 

[jman227]

Thanks for your kind words CDB. We have decided to come and visit tomorrow.

My name is Justin and my wife is Heather. I’d like to introduce myself tomorrow if you’re there.

 

[CDB1718]

Thanks for your kind words CDB. We have decided to come and visit tomorrow.

My name is Justin and my wife is Heather. I’d like to introduce myself tomorrow if you’re there.

Lord willing, I’ll be there! I look forward to meeting your family!