Welcome to St. Michael's Orthodox Church!
Founded: 1907
Diocese: Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania
Deanery: Frackville Deanery
Saint Michael's Orthodox Church in Mount Carmel, PA strives to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything He has commanded” so that all people may be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth. We do this by witnessing to the fullness of the Gospel of the Kingdom to the peoples of the Coal Region in PA (and by God's grace, beyond the region), and in the power of the Holy Spirit, by revealing Christ’s way of sanctification and eternal salvation to all. We invite anyone interested in authentic Christian worship to come and see, and join us in this labor.
House Blessings 2026
The Great Feast of Theophany, or Baptism, of our Lord Jesus Christ is January 6. Each year this is the time of renewal, as water is blessed and brought to our homes. We dedicate, and re dedicate, ourselves, our homes, and our family to Jesus Christ with this blessing every year.
Fr. Aleksey shared a letter with parishioners about why we get our houses blessed. If you would like to bless your home this year, please talk let him know.
Also, here's a brief guide on preparing for the house blessing.
Nativity Appeal Collection
Due to a second major fire recently in the local area, we will be donating any remaining balance in the Nativity appeal to assist the fire victims in Kulpmont. The nativity appeal will continue for another two weeks, if you are interested in making a donation.
Church envelopes and calendars
The 2026 Church Envelopes and 2026 Church Calendars are now available for pick up in the vestibule.
Our Tribute to St. Nicholas
We started St. Nicholas Day with Divine Liturgy, then we carolled at the Christmas festival at the Mt. Carmel Community Center, and finished up by decorating the church. Father Aleksey gave out gifts at Friday Vespers and Saturday Liturgy, and the church gave Central Susquehanna Opportunities an $800 check from our coat drive. Our donation arrived in time to order more coats since they had just ran out of their supply. What a wonderful day giving to others and sharing the day together!
Special thanks to the carollers: Judith Urick, Olga Thomas, Joe Tosca, Julia Bushick, Richard Amrick, Father Aleksey, Matushka Natallia, Sandy Tosca, Patrick Paranyuk, Michael Langton, Jill & Molly McCabe, Justin and Josh Scott, Ioann Paranyuk, and Helena Paranyuk. The day was a blessing.
Winter Teen Retreat
The Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvannia is hosting a winter teen retreat next year from January 30 - February 1 in Stevens, PA. Interested youth can apply to attend at Youth.Doepa.org. Applications are open to teens in the 7th through 12th grades.
Annual Nativity Cookie Distribution
Each year during Nativity, our Parish has distributed home-baked cookies to parish shut-ins and to residents at Serenity Garden Senior Living Center. We would like to continue with this tradition. However, instead of baking cookies at the church hall, we are asking those who would like to contribute to this worthy cause to bring some of their favorite home-baked cookies to church on or before Sunday, December 21, 2025. Any cookies received will then be packaged and distributed accordingly.
Another Successful Raffle
Thanks to all who donated prizes (Yvonne Bohlander, Michael White, Vera Zbicki, Dolores Chase, Nadine Sten, Joe and Sandy Tosca, Richard Amrick, Nina Bagshaw, M/M James Rebuck, M/M James Buchanan, Pauline Grinaway) and special thanks to all who purchased tickets. Father Aleksey announced each winner while the children of the parish pulled the winning tickets.
Appeal from Archbishop Mark on behalf of seminarians
Archbishop Mark has sent a letter to all parishes requesting assistance for seminarians. A copy of the letter is available here.
Christmas Flower Pledge for 2025
As we approach the Nativity, we think about those we care for, both living and departed. The Christmas Flower Pledge is an opportunity to honor those dear to you.
As in prior years, you can pledge a poinsettia at $25 in memory of, or for the health of, a loved one. If you would like to participate, submit this form by December 14th, 2025 along with your donation. The pledges will be published in a future bulletin.
Letter from Archbishop Mark
Archbishop Mark has sent the parish a letter thanking everyone for the warm hospitality he received during his recent visit to our church. A copy of the letter is available here.
St. Nicholas Day basket raffle
We will have our annual St. Nicholas Day basket raffle drawing on December 7th. Raffle proceeds will be used for church maintenance and in support of local charities. To purchase raffle tickets, fill out the E-Z chance basket raffle form, which is available by clicking the image to the right.
Mail the form and ticket money by November 23rd to:
- St. Michael's Raffle
- 131 North Willow Street
- Mt. Carmel, PA 17851
Please share the form with friends, and consider helping cover the cost of the cash prizes, lottery tickets, and gift cards.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
St. Michael’s Day and Veterans Day
We have a busy November coming up. We are having our usual St. Michael’s Day and Veterans Day celebration to honor our patron saint and those who served our country.
Archbishop Mark will be joining us this year for services from Friday through Sunday as noted on the flyers below. Your attendance at these services is important!
We also need your help in cleaning the hall for the celebration, preparing food, serving, and cleaning up. On November 5th and 6th, we will be cleaning the hall and kitchen; on November 7th, we will be setting up tables and preparing some of the food. Note: A sign-up sheet for items needed is located in the church vestibule. A couple of dishes for the meal on November 9th may also be needed.
Please get the word out for the Veteran’s Day celebration! Brunch will be served at noon, following Divine Liturgy. We'll have bacon, ham, sausage, pancakes, eggs, desserts, and other delicious foods. Invite a friend to participate in the fellowship!
Those who have served in our armed forces will be honored at the event.
Church Musician Sunday
Sunday, October 5th, was marked this year as Church Musician Sunday. This day highlights the essential role of liturgical music in Orthodox Christian worship and the important role of church musicians and readers in the life of the Church. May God grant many years to our singers and readers: Sandy, Joe, Vera, Olga, Julia, Stephanie, Richard, Andrei, and Ioann!
Clergy Appreciation month
October is Clergy Appreciation month! Please remember to express your appreciation of your clergy and their families.
Reflection on Clergy Appreciation Month from the OCA webpage
October is recognized across the Christian world as Clergy Appreciation Month, a time to honor those who serve the Church in pastoral ministry. While not a designated observance within the Orthodox Church in America, it is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the sacrificial ministry of our clergy and their families.
Ways to Show Appreciation
Clergy Appreciation Month is best observed in the parish. Simple gestures can carry deep meaning:
- Prayer – Remember your priest and his family in prayer.
- Gratitude – A card, note, or word of thanks affirms that their ministry is seen and valued.
- Care – Share a meal, offer a gift card, or provide time for rest and renewal.
These small acts do not “repay” the priest for his service, but affirm his humanity, his vocation, and the shared faith that unites clergy and people.
Please read the letter from His Eminence, Archbishop Mark on this topic to learn more.
Coat drive
This year, we are collecting new or gently used coats that have been cleaned for the Mt. Carmel Community Center coat distribution. Please leave coat donations in the vestibule by October 31st.
As in prior years, we will also put out a gold dish to collect monetary donations for the Central Susquehanna Opportunities (CSO) coat project. Please help if you can!
Thank you!
Thanks to all who donated toward the school supply project. We delivered $200 of supplies to Mt. Carmel Elementary School and provided an additional check for $400. They were very appreciative.
New online giving option
At a recent Parish Council meeting, the council recommended and approved a motion to have online giving as an available option for donations. Father Aleksey has graciously developed an online option for our website in order to allow both parishioners and non-parishioners to give/donate/make an offering.
The process is simple and straightforward and is outlined here.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel!
We have started a parish YouTube channel this year in order to live-stream our services for those unable to attend in person: https://www.youtube.com/@SaintMichaelOCA
In order to continue offering the live-streams, YouTube requires that we have at least 50 subscribers. So, please subscribe, and share the link for others to subscribe!
Opportunities and Outreach
While these challenging times are disrupting our lives and causing a lot of stress, please keep a couple of things in mind:
- Call each other – stay connected to our parish family – do wellness checks
- Reach out to our elderly population to see if you can get groceries or prescriptions for them.
- Send cards to each other and share uplifting messages
- Keep your faith
- Pray with great intensity for the well-being of both family and friends
Let's follow our orthodox mission of helping each other!
