Our parish family welcomes you to the Church of Saint Mary Pokrova (Protection). Our church is here to serve all people in hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and in discovering His presence in our lives.

The church of Saint Mary is a Catholic Church of the Byantine-Ruthenian Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey. It is a Byzantine Church in communion with the Pope of Rome.

The patroness of our Church is Mary, the Mother of God, under the title of her Holy Protection (Pokrov). As a living parish it provides all the services of the Church. The Divine Liturgy (the Eucharist) is regularly celebrated weekly on Sunday mornings, and Vigil Liturgy on Saturday evenings. Baptisms and marriages are celebrated by appointment. Confesions are heard on Saturday before liturgy, or upon request.

Special services are held in different seasons of the Church year, particularly Great Lent. Sick and shut-ins are visited regularly with the Sacrement of Holy Unction and Holy Communion. All services are celebrated in English with a very small amount of Church Slavonic for the sake of tradition.

Our Church seeks to have an active, living conscious faith that is expressed in worship and nurtured through cathechetical ministry. Saint Mary's is proud of its complete, professional program of of religious education for people of all ages.

Congregational singing, led by a cantor, enhances all our worship services. Music ministry is an important part of the life of our Church.

The pastor is assisted in the administration and direction of the Church by a twelve member advisory council, which meets monthly to discuss the activities and needs of the parish. Our other societies: School of Religious Education, Cantors, Byzantine Catholic Youth Group, Rosary Society, Pirohi Makers, and parish family round out the active social life of our parish.

All parishioners are asked to take an active part in the activities of our Church. Worship and prayer are essential to Christian life and community. Each member is asked to contribute to the church a portion of his or her income to support the life and growth of our community.

Before Visiting an Eastern Catholic Church

What to expect? What will be different?

The Byzantine-Ruthenian Church embodies a rich liturgical and theological tradition that has its origins in Constantinople. The best way to experience this tradition is to attend a Divine Liturgy, but here are a few basic things every visitor should know.

Your first Divine Liturgy may be overwhelming. The liturgy is usually sung, and combined with the iconography and incense, it can be quite the feast for the senses! Participate as much as you can, and open your eyes, ears, and heart to the prayers, and experience one of the ancient liturgies of the Catholic Church. It is a wonderful window into the spiritual life of the Eastern Christian.

Amidst the excitement, curiosity, and disorientation, it might be difficult to remember that the end goal of the Divine Liturgy, and the Christian way of life, is communion with God.

If it helps you be attentive, there is a book in our pews with IC XC / NIKA on the cover (Greek for “Jesus Christ Conquers”), which you can use to follow along.

Our liturgies are in English. Sometimes, especially at Pascha (Easter), you'll hear some prayers and hymns in Church Slavonic, the mother tongue of our church.

Standing before the Lord

In our tradition, standing is the primary posture for worship, symbolizing respect for God's presence, alertness in prayer, and the Resurrection. While standing throughout the entire service is the ideal, it is understood that people may sit when needed. There are times when it is proper to sit, and times when it is most important to stand.

We keep the ancient tradition of standing during the Divine liturgy from Canon 20 of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea which states that on Sundays and during the Paschal season prayer should be said standing. Since Sundays are not penitential days, we rarely kneel during Divine Liturgy on these days.

What kind of music will I hear?

We use no musical instruments other than our voice. We have a cantor who guides the congregation. Most of the liturgy is sung and relies on our voices!

Eucharist (Holy Communion)

Holy Communion may be received by any baptized Catholic who is properly disposed, meaning they are in a state of grace (free from mortal sin) and have kept the prescribed fast. Non-Catholics are welcome to attend the Divine Liturgy, but are not permitted to receive Communion.

The priest will present the Eucharist as the (leavened) consecrated bread dipped in the consecrated wine. When you approach to receive Communion, tilt your head back, open your mouth wide, do not stick out your tongue, and do not say anything. The priest is the only one who speaks the prayer, and then he will place the Eucharist in your mouth by spoon without touching your lips or tongue. Keep your tongue back in your mouth, and do not close your mouth over the spoon.

It is also common, especially on major feast days, to have something known as the antidoron following liturgy. This is blessed bread left over from the prosphora (bread from which the Eucharist is cut) from which everyone may partake. This bread is meant to impart blessing and maintain community among all those who are in attendance, even those who cannot receive the Eucharist.

Joining Our Parish

Our Church is faithful to Jesus’ call to bring His Gospel to all peoples…(Matthew 28: 16-20)

All who seek to know and love God are welcome in our Church. Byzantine Catholics who are transferring into the area are most welcome and can join by application to the pastor.

We do not proselytize members of other churches, but will welcome those who do wish to join our Church for reasons recognized by Church law, particularly spiritual welfare.

Those who have been baptised in a Church that is not Catholic can join by taking a series of instructions and by making a profession of faith… and by receiving the Sacrement of Chrismation if it has not previously been received.

We especially welcome back those who have been members of the Catholic Church and wish to renew their faith… and those who have never been a member of a Church but now wish to seek God through faith. Those who have not been baptised can join the church by a series of instructions, called the Catechuminate, and by baptism “in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”