St. Anna Byzantine Catholic Outreach of Wichita

09/09/2026

09/08/2026

The Nativity of the Theotokos
September 8

The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament; however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.

According to the story found in this book, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, were childless for many years. They remained faithful to God, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim came to the temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest who chastised him for his lack of children. To hide his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks. As Joachim was praying, his wife Anna was praying at the same time at their house in Jerusalem. An angel appeared to both of them and announced that Anna would have a child whose name would be known throughout the world. Anna promised to offer her child as a gift to the Lord. Joachim returned home, and in due time Anna bore a daughter, Mary.

The Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, therefore is a glorification of the miracle of Mary’s birth, of Mary herself, and of her righteous parents. It is the celebration as well of the very first preparation of the salvation of the world.

09/08/2026

09/06/2026

Glory to Jesus Christ!

In today’s Gospel (Mt 22:35–46), on this 15th Sunday after Pentecost, the Lord reveals that the whole Law and the Prophets hang on two commandments: to love God with our entire being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Christ then asks the Pharisees a question about the Messiah that they cannot answer, gently exposing that true understanding of God is not merely intellectual but relational—rooted in love, humility, and communion.

This call to love resonates deeply with Bishop Robert’s teaching on Eucharistic Communion and the Parochial Community. He reminds us that the Eucharist forms us into one Body, a people who live missionary discipleship, godly fellowship, authentic worship, and sacrificial stewardship. Our yearning for unity, “to be one with ourselves, one with each other, and one with God”, is fulfilled in Christ, and it is expressed most concretely in the parish family. When we receive the Eucharist, we are not only united to God but also to one another; if we leave church “without kindness, without mutual love, and without mutual forgiveness, something is amiss”.

Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor is not abstract. It becomes flesh in the way we worship, the way we treat one another, and the way we commit ourselves to our parish community. Bishop Robert teaches that healthy parishes grow through fellowship, shared responsibility, and sacrificial giving—mirroring the early Church, which “devoted themselves to the communal life… and to the breaking of the bread”.

Love of God naturally flows into love of neighbor, and love of neighbor draws us back to the Eucharist, where Christ makes us one.

09/05/2026

How do you prepare for Divine Liturgy? This week Fr. Michael breaks down the prayers we're invited to pray before Divine Liturgy.

You can find our episodes on your podcast player of choice, on our website, or our YouTube page.

08/30/2026

In today’s Gospel (Mt 22:1–14), on this 14th Sunday after Pentecost, the Lord offers the sobering parable of the wedding feast—a reminder that God’s invitation to divine life is generous, persistent, and extended to all, yet it requires a real response of the heart. The King prepares a banquet overflowing with joy, but many refuse to come. Others arrive but do not clothe themselves in the “wedding garment,” the life of conversion, communion, and love that makes us recognizable as guests belonging to Christ.

Bishop Robert teaches that Eucharistic communion is more than receiving the Mystical Body—it is becoming a people capable of communion, a parish that reflects the unity, mission, and sacrificial love revealed at the altar. The wedding garment, then, is not an abstract symbol. It is the lived expression of a parish that listens to Christ, loves one another, and embodies the beauty of authentic worship and shared life. To accept the King’s invitation is to allow the Eucharist to shape who we are as a community—transformed, reconciled, and sent.

When we come to the Divine Liturgy, we are not passive attendees. We are guests invited into the very life of God, called to be a people whose communion is visible, welcoming, and missionary. The Gospel asks us: Do we simply show up, or do we arrive clothed in the desire to be changed? Bishop Robert’s teaching echoes this challenge—parish life must be marked by intentional love, reverence, and a readiness to serve.

Living the Gospel as Missionary Disciples

1) Offer one concrete act of hospitality at church—greet someone new, sit with someone alone, or follow up with a parishioner you haven’t seen in a while.

2) Prepare for Sunday by praying for your parish community, asking God to clothe you with humility, patience, and love before approaching the Eucharist.

3) Choose one small act of sacrificial stewardship that strengthens the communion of your parish family.

08/05/2026

St. Anna Byzantine Catholic Outreach in Wichita, Kansas celebrated its patronal feast (July 25), marking the occasion with the Final Gospel procession, prayerful joy, and gratitude for the continued growth of the community.