https://www.olphbyzpa.org/contact-us daily 0.75 2022-07-16 https://www.olphbyzpa.org/home daily 1.0 2026-01-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/874d8642-8755-4999-a6a4-54462b6a5527/analojclose.jpg Home - Spirituality of the Byzantine Tradition As Byzantine Catholics, we retain many ancient liturgical and spiritual practices of the Christian East dating to the earliest days of the Church. We are often asked, “Are you Catholic?” Well… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/aa09d9bd-971c-4770-9a3d-cd72513272f5/candle+room.jpg Home - What does OLPH have to offer? In addition to a rich liturgical life rooted in the Sacraments, OLPH provides a spiritual refuge, a loving and nurturing learning environment, and a growing, vibrant community of faith. https://www.olphbyzpa.org/support-volunteer daily 0.75 2022-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/771261f0-afae-44a3-8d65-2cb94adf16ad/tithe.jpg Support & Volunteer - Support. In Luke’s Gospel we read that after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph “brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord…and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’" [2:22.24] The One who gave the Law deigned to submit Himself to the Law in order to fulfill the Law through His voluntary sacrifice. The concept of sacrifice (tithing) is as ancient as the Faith itself. Fortunately, because of Christ’s sacrifice, we no longer have to pay the Temple priests for animals used in ritual sacrifice to support the Temple. Rather, we donate monitarily to help support the Temple, additionally offering the bread, wine, wheat, and oil for services, as is the ancient Christian custom. Help to support the mission of OLPH to make available the Sacraments and to spread the Gosepel of Jesus Christ by offering via Tithley today! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/624406ad-4209-4b9d-9b99-b90e4f0a7a87/helping.jpg Support & Volunteer - Lend a helping hand. The first covenant God made with humanity was to “be fruitful, multiple, and have dominion over the earth” [Gen 1:28]. To have “dominion” is to be a faithful and wise steward of Creation. In order for a parish to be “fruitful and multiple,” stewardship is a MUST! The donating of one’s time and God-given talents is just as important as monetary contributions. Find YOUR place at OLPH! https://www.olphbyzpa.org/learn-more daily 0.75 2022-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Learn More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Learn More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Learn More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/22240bbd-9271-4e69-9cba-9dad21f40741/skurla.jpg Learn More - The Ruthenian Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, USA Under the auspices of Met. Archbishop WIlliam Skurla, the Eparchy of Passaic is part of the Byzantin Ruthenian Metropolitan Church Sui Juris of Pittsburgh, USA. As a self-governing Church, the Pittsburgh Metropolia is in Full Communion with the Roman Pontiff while retaining its own identity and hierarchy as an independent Eastern Christian Church. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/71636909-8c21-4d08-a6bd-994cfe67ed0f/display_image+Come-and-See.jpeg Learn More - What Makes OLPH “Byzantine”? “I saw the priest give that baby Communion…I thought you said you were Catholic?” “Wait…Byzantine Catholics…you’re Orthodox…right?” “Oh, yeah I know the Byzantines… aren’t they just those Roman Catholics with a “different Mass”???“ There is often much confusion, rumor, speculation, and misinformation regarding Byzantine Catholics. Thankfully, the Eparchy of Passaic has gone to great lengths to clear up any and all misconceptions as to who Byzantine Catholics truly are. https://www.olphbyzpa.org/discover daily 0.75 2022-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Discover https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Discover https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Discover https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/3882cbc2-8f4b-4a8a-bfc8-a7dd502b7f88/musicmin.jpg Discover - Music Ministry Music is at the heart of the Byzantine Tradition! A purely vocal tradition, the Prostopinije, or Plainchant, of the Carpatho-Ruthenian Recension carries with it an ethereal beauty and a reverent solemnity befitting Divine Worship. From gorgeous hymns, to chanted prayers and blessings, every word of services is sung to melodies steeped in a tradition reaching back into our litrugical and ancestral roots, prayerfully uniting with our forebears. Whether you are a seasoned musician or just starting out, young or old, the Plainchant of the services has a place for you! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/885ddca2-fed7-4e86-9278-e4215526758d/serving.jpg Discover - Serving the Holy Table Service to the Lord by ministering at the Holy Table is without a doubt an honor and a privilege. Encouraging the youth of the parish to serve in such a manner helps to instill reverence, discipline, piety, and a love for the litrugy and for Jesus Christ. This also helps to encourage, foster and support future priestly vocations and a dedication to the Church through lay ministry as well. Serving at the Holy Table is not limited to young boys, but includes males of any age. While the Byzantine Tradition lacks female altar servers per se, there are still MANY ways in which females can actively participate in service during the litrugy. If you have any questions about these ancient traditions and practices, or feel that you or your child are feeling called to serve the litrugy, please contact us today! https://www.olphbyzpa.org/bulletin daily 0.75 2026-03-28 https://www.olphbyzpa.org/about daily 0.75 2025-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/2711f6c6-c0df-49b0-bc1e-3553127228d9/outside.jpg About Founded in 1954 by a devout group of Byzantine Catholic Faithful primarily from the Coal Region of Northeast PA who moved to the Philadelphia area for work, the parish quickly found a lovely parcel on Woodbourne Rd. in Levittown, PA. An original building was constructed in 1955 to serve as a worship space and the current Temple erected in 1964. At the core of its founders’ intent, Our Lady of Perpetual Help provides a loving and welcoming environment in which the faithful are able to practice their traditional Byzantine Catholic Faith while serving the greater Levittown community and providing a safe and nurturing environment in which to raise a family in the Faith and to instill in all a love for Jesus Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/0a60efb9-53ee-4a1f-b915-57c1d8d4f99c/bishop.jpg About - Make it stand out Most Rev. Kurt R. Burnette Fifth Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic https://www.olphbyzpa.org/office-hours daily 0.75 2025-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/c948d279-b267-483b-b2cb-835389240a49/mary.jpg Office Hours - Office Hours Monday: CLOSED Tuesday & Wednesday: 9:30am - 4:30pm Confession: Before/After Divine Services or by Appointment Spiritual Direction: By Appointment https://www.olphbyzpa.org/service-schedule daily 0.75 2025-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/545bef33-2950-4f0f-a76b-6414b838f3db/tabernacle.jpg Service Schedule - Service Schedule Saturday: 5pm Vespers Sunday: 9:00am Third Hour & Divine Liturgy Weekdays: Tues - Fri: 8am Typica w/ Holy Communion Consult Bulletin for changes!!! Feast Days: Consult Bulletin Confession: Sunday 8am After Typica & Vespers By appointment https://www.olphbyzpa.org/archive daily 0.75 2025-06-01 https://www.olphbyzpa.org/parish-organizations daily 0.75 2022-06-16 https://www.olphbyzpa.org/pagec daily 0.75 2025-06-01 https://www.olphbyzpa.org/cantor daily 0.75 2022-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/2917b119-8929-43f3-9abc-8e5584bcd0c4/IMG_0327.jpg Cantor - Pan’i Alissa West Cantoring at Our Lady of Perpetual Help is Pan’i Alissa’s first foray into Byzantine liturgical music. A cradle Roman Catholic, she was introduced to the Byzantine Catholic faith while dating a young Paul West. Her future mother-in-law brought her to her first Divine Liturgy (all in church Slavonic) on Pentecost Sunday. Needless to say, she did not sing at all that day. Though she was not introduced to the Byzantine tradition until adulthood, Alissa is no stranger to music ministry. The daughter of the Directors of Music at her home church, she grew up in the choir loft of St. Mary Magdalen Church in Millville, NJ singing in several choirs, cantoring, and playing her flute in accompaniment ensembles. Making the transition from the RC music tradition to the tradition of Byzantine chant was made easier by Alissa’s formal music training. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy with a concentration in flute performance from Elizabethtown College, PA, and practiced Music Therapy for more than a decade before rerouting life while Fr. Paul attended Seminary. Over the years, Alissa has performed in many vocal and instrumental ensembles at both small and large venues, her favorite being Carnegie Hall. Pan’i Alissa is happy to share her love of music with the congregation at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Pan’i Alissa enjoys spending time with her husband, Father Paul, and their two children, cooking, baking, crafting, laughing, playing games, making music, and engaging in general hilarity and good-natured mischief. https://www.olphbyzpa.org/director-of-altar-servers daily 0.75 2022-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/c6a6d371-3a0b-4f84-a73d-ae7521704441/serving.jpg Director of Altar Servers - Mr. Steven Pustay Our Director of Altar Servers and Head Sacristan Steve Pustay is a dedicated member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help who finds great joy and spiritual fulfilment in serving at the Holy Table. Equally comfortable with a broom as he is with the Rapidia, Steve can often be found around Our Lady of Perpetual Help caring for the Temple Sanctuary and Holy Place from top to bottom, never hesitating to do the “dirty work” and exemplifying what the word “service” truly means. A wonderful rolemodel for the youth of the parish, Steve’s kindness and dedication make for an excellent combination to inspire future generations to continue to care for the Temple that houses Body of Christ. https://www.olphbyzpa.org/clergy daily 0.75 2022-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/ee13beb4-4b13-43f3-bb8d-32ce4e22fa77/frpaul.JPG Clergy - Rev. Paul R. Varchola West, MFA, M.Div. A lifelong Byzantine Catholic, Fr. Paul was baptized at the tender age of two weeks old at St. Michael the Archangel Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Passaic, NJ, where he spent his formative years and where his family still calls home. In May of 2020, Fr. Paul received his Master of Divinity degree from the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, PA. He was ordained by His Grace, the Most Rev. Kurt R. Burnett, Bishop of Passaic, on July 18th, 2020 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Hillsborough, NJ - his second parish home after he moved out of his childhood home. Subsequently, Fr. Paul was named Administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Levittown, PA, on July 27, 2020 as his first parochial assignment. Prior to entering seminary, Fr. Paul enjoyed a vibrant music career, performing throughout North America and even earning a 2013 Grammy Award Nomination. Holding a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory (Montclair State University, 2007) and a Master of Fine Arts in Music Composition (CalArts, 2010), Fr. Paul’s compositions have been premiered in both the United States and the Czech Republic. His theoretical writings have been published with Oxford University Press, University of Rochester Press, and the Easter Christian Journal, among others. A limited pressing of his M.Div. thesis “Cheating the Interval: A Philosophical and Harmonic Investigation of Prostopinije and its Speculative Function within Divine Worship” is forthcoming. An active and engaging speaker, Fr. Paul has been invited to give presentations on the national level at prestigious institutions such as the University of Washington - Seattle and the California Institute of the Arts (Los Angeles) as well as events including the East/West Litrugical Symposium and the National Byzantine Catholic Youth Rally in addition to being invited by Met. Wiliam Skurla to be a guest homlist at the Archeparchial Cathedral in Munhall, PA. In August of 2022, Fr. Paul was named Parochial Administrator of Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church (Philadelphia) in addition to his current responsibility at OLPH. A true blessing, Fr. Paul is overjoyed to expand his ministry and to serve TWO vibrant communities in the Philly Metro area. Fr. Paul enjoys spending time with his wife, Pan’i Alissa, and their two children, fishing, laughing, playing games, making music, and engaging in general hilarity and good-natured mischief. https://www.olphbyzpa.org/main-gallery daily 0.75 2022-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/097c877b-97cd-4ca2-bb20-10f465be1b0b/vestibule.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/5afcec20-1d70-4e72-80fe-eb66cd2d0fb4/cool.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/d08256f5-9ddd-4a94-9cfd-a8f5b3e4160a/OLPH-Palm-Sunday_2022_E.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/954beb4a-77af-424f-a50e-bb015f796d33/prep.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/d042ba83-c9d4-499e-a139-33d5a867cd8c/20220522_100831_b.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/2066803f-4d42-4b9c-a71a-ff65e02381e0/OLPH_Res-Matins_Baskets_2022_I.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/20cc309b-53cd-4373-a60c-0a74f0bdb37e/OLPH_Res-Matins_Baskets_2022_A.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/5a992c53-6701-44dc-bb11-fed05d37cebe/baptismfam.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/2eaab182-a8fd-4d99-93e1-e2de52d0d47f/OLPH-Great-Friday_2022_O.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/cd1bbef7-d2b1-4801-9ac0-7d960c1018e7/shrine.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/21582ae0-efdc-46aa-a0a6-c7127e97a3cd/279713619_5129446623789411_8915989232895420214_n.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/225eb035-8990-4260-baae-6f2140330612/library2.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/63a8cdde-ea05-4108-837e-2efcc526a5cc/OLPH_Res-Matins_Baskets_2022_N.jpg Main Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/8d3e2903-e9ee-4221-9089-a07fb338af21/279508972_5129464627120944_1920269038910953143_n.jpg Main Gallery https://www.olphbyzpa.org/community-guidelines daily 0.75 2025-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/12596b42-f325-4060-ab38-33fd4e353680/pokemon+go.jpg Visiting the Grounds - Pokemon GO Players We’ve come to learn that our Temple, a place of worship, is designated as a Gym in Pokemon GO. We continue to permit players to enter our private property to play Pokemon GO, but kindly ask that in addition to the OLPH Community Guidelines, players must also follow all aspects of the Pokemon GO Terms of Service, especially sections 3.2 & 3.3 to ensure the safety of parishioners and players. https://www.olphbyzpa.org/holy-trinity daily 0.75 2025-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/56675cb3-f8ee-4b65-b543-c5a1cd065b73/HT+St+Nick.jpg Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/00b4f669-949f-4412-8656-6956625779e0/HT+Basket+Blessing.jpg Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/209fc191-eeec-46dc-9519-b2ac02c7e05f/HT+Family.jpg Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/a8437fab-4eb1-4972-a288-a37183ec616e/HT+1st+Confession.jpg Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/f078ac57-430c-4f89-ab74-cc75f2f41bf9/Resized_20170409_131947_204170222020134.JPG Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/5e5e5c8e-dbfb-4abc-a0a5-d445d87d70a8/Resized_20220416_173240_203729332157854.JPG Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/3c34ecf4-f0ed-48d3-aea6-3e84281cf252/Resized_20170409_131958_204169841665915.JPG Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/9ea31174-3859-486b-afbc-431cf0fe45c7/Resized_20220906_151305.JPG Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/04929c93-43e2-4f13-a615-bd34b6bd40f4/Resized_20170409_125417_204214784907669.JPEG Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/6508e1f8-42ad-42ab-8f53-01b8d476c373/Resized_20220906_150714.JPG Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/7ce82d54-ce60-4fcb-9458-744d274be3d3/Resized_DSC02045_hq.JPEG Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/e966d094-db21-48fb-9fdf-4440922f3f1b/Resized_20220906_154414.JPEG Holy Trinity Parish - North Philadelphia PA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/797a3b4a-a846-4987-95a7-b728c36e080c/Holy+Trinity+Street+View.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a54557e2df27538b76091b/0ad99b99-fe1e-4938-ac21-894d9bc91d12/HT+closeup.jpg