On September 20, St. Andrew the First-Called Parish in Sacramento experienced a special day of spiritual renewal and prayer. At the invitation and initiative of the parish administrator, Father Vasyl Miziuk, Father Roman Bobesiuk visited the parish and brought the relics of Saint Charbel for prayer and veneration.
Father Vasyl Miziuk, who serves as the pastor of St. Andrew the First-Called Parish, organized this day as an opportunity for parishioners to renew their spiritual lives, receive the Sacrament of Confession, participate in the Divine Liturgy, and pray for God’s blessing upon themselves and their families.
Throughout the day, parishioners had the opportunity to pray before the relics of Saint Charbel and bring their personal intentions to him. The veneration of the relics was also an opportunity to reflect on the power of prayer and the intercession of the saints in our lives.
Father Roman Bobesiuk, pastor of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Church in Santa Clara, celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Father Vasyl Miziuk concelebrated, and Deacon Bohdan Monastyrsky served at the Liturgy.
In his homily, Father Roman spoke about the cross as an important part of Christian life. He reminded the faithful that every person, family, parish, and country has its own struggles, difficulties, and crosses. Yet our Christian faith helps us see them in the light of Christ’s Resurrection. The cross is not the final word — after the cross comes the Resurrection.
After the Divine Liturgy, a special blessing was given to married couples celebrating 25 years of marriage. The community prayed for these families, thanking God for the gift of married life, love, and faithfulness, and asking for His continued blessing on their journey together.
After the prayers, the parish community continued the celebration around a festive meal. Following Ukrainian tradition, everyone shared korovai, borscht, other homemade dishes, and sweets. The spiritual gathering continued in a joyful atmosphere of fellowship and parish family life.
The Day of Spiritual Renewal, organized at the initiative of Father Vasyl Miziuk, was an opportunity for the parish community of St. Andrew the First-Called to grow stronger in faith, prayer, and unity. Through prayer, the Sacraments, the veneration of the relics of Saint Charbel, and fellowship, the faithful were able to experience God’s presence in a special way and continue their journey with Christ with renewed faith and hope.
