Meet Your Sisters

From:  Clarks Summit, PA

Church:  St. Mary's Ruthenian Catholic, Taylor, PA (Passaic Eparchy), I am a cradle Byzantine Catholic.

Obedience:  Education in the Faith

• Wife, mom & grandmother

• Associated with Holy Annunciation Monastery since 2004. 

• Content creator at ByziMom.com, where I share reflections on being a Byzantine Catholic mother and free resources for educating young Eastern Christians in the faith. 

• Creator and executive editor of ByziKids Magazine  Author of The Jesse Tree, The Zacchaeus Tree, and The ByziMom's Guide to Great Fast Meals.  

Other things about me: 

• Former clinical laboratory scientist.  

• Certified in plant-based nutrition, I live a whole-foods, plant-based lifestyle, and offer encouragement to those attempting the Eastern Catholic fasting regimen.

Patron:  St. Veronika
 

Family from Hazim Slovakia 

Born Slatington PA.

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Cradle Byzantine Catholic 

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Church: St Peter and Paul Byzantine Church Palmerton PA

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Married with 4 daughters and 3 grandchildren 

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Live in La Romana Dominican Republic 

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Obediences: Sacristan and learning to write icons 

I love to pray and study.

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Patron: St. Mary of Egypt

From: La Porte, TX 

Church: St. Anne's Byzantine Catholic Community in The Villages, FL (Passaic Eparchy) 

Obediences: Motherhood and Church Cantor

Married since 2014, blessed with 4 girls

Raised in the Latin church since birth, then our family changed our sui iuris church to the Byzantine church in 2023. 

Working full time as a clinical pharmacist since 2012.

Patron: St. Martha

mochalara@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/loretta.rios25?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Sr.Martha#0022

From: Omaha, Nebraska
 

Church:

• Omaha/Lincoln Byzantine Outreach (Eparchy of Parma)

• St. Barnabas Anglican Ordinariate, Omaha, NE
   

Obediences:

•  Grandmother (Busya) to 7 grandchildren (and counting)

• Spiritual and emotional support to children – Lisa, Nick and Jon, and husband, Bob

• Keeper of Eastern Traditions for the above

• Parent Ambassador ITI Catholic University, Trumau, Austria

• Student in Mentorship Program for Lay Leaders, Archdiocese, Omaha

• Volunteer at Methodist Hospital, Omaha

Other things about me:

• Retired Registered Nurse, St. Joseph Kidney Transplant Center, Orange, California.

• Formerly founding family at Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church, Anaheim, California from

• 1968 – 2021. Coordinator of ECF, Advisory Board Member, Member of Choir, Member of Baking Guild

• Learning to appreciate the changes seasons and gardening

• Owned by 2 “empty nest” chihuahuas - Lola and Chetna

Patrons:
Holy Theotokos, St. Anne and St. Monica

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1914 S. 197th St. Omaha, NE 68130

Cell:  949-422-7876

membership information

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Currently Lives: East Peoria, Illinois

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Churches: St. Louis Byzantine Catholic Church and St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church. 

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Obedience: Wife, Mother, and Homemaker

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Other Things About Me:

-Former Mining Engineer

-Three Daughters - Irene, Josephine and Marina

-My husband and I are both cradle Catholics, but switched to the Ruthenian Rite on our wedding day.

-I enjoy growing and learning in faith, especially through reading.

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Patron: St. Lydia 

Discord name - Katherine.Florich 

From:  Nicktown, PA

Church:  Grew up Roman Catholic.  Byzantine Catholic for 31 years.  Still feel like a baby Byzi and eager to learn!

                My church is Immaculate Conception of the BVM (AKA Saint Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church)

Obediences:  Wife to Christian Fisanick.  Met in 1989 on a Knights of Columbus Christmas party!

            Mom to Alec Fisanick, 29 years and

                                     Sara Fisanick, 26 years.

            Mom to two fur babies: 

                            Cat named Juniper and Dog named Binx

            Head Cantor at Saint Mary's.  

            Choir Director

            Regent for Catholic Daughters of the Americas 

            Member of our church's women's group

            Sacristan

Other:  Retired Registered Nurse.  Worked on a Cardiac Critical Care floor with Transplants for 6 years

      31 years as an LPN Instructor, recently retired

      1998-2007 ECF Teacher

      1999-2007 ECF Coordinator

Patrons:  Saint Mary Magdeline, Saint Anne, and Mama Mary!

Address:  PO Box 69 Nicktown, PA

Cell #:  814-934-0381

From:  Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Church:  Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Calgary.
Lifelong Byzantine Catholic, but late in learning about it.

Obediences:  Marriage, Jesus Prayer and chotki mission,

parish flowers and plants person,
semi-sacristan
Turned 62 in February, Wife of 34 years,

mom to a daughter and son,

fur-mom to a Schnoodle dog, a green cheeked conure, and a house bunny,

volunteer with Ukrainian evacuees since March 2022
Active volunteer in the Ukrainian community in Alberta since age 16.

Fluent in Ukrainian.
Current chair of a Ukrainian Women’s League.

Other things about me: 
Former Registered Nurse, love trying new crafts when time allows, love camping and the outdoors, love my quiet time alone at the church doing my duties

Patron: 
Most Holy Theotokos

Contact:
Address: 423 Silver Valley Road NW
Calgary, AB, Canada T3B 4B8
Cell: 403-660-0754
E-mail: shyshkababa@shaw.ca
FB: https://www.facebook.com/maria.shysh/

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From: Azle, Texas

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Church: St. Basil the Great Catholic Church Irving, Texas, my family switched rites on the Feast of the Dormition 2020

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Obedience: Wife, Mother, Homeschooler, Byzikid Co-Op Coordinator for our Parish, Little Flower group leader for young girls

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Other things about me: I am a retired professional photographer and enjoy film photography as a hobby now.  My husband has been accepted to deacon seminary and will start the four year program June 2023.  We live on some land and have a mule, two donkeys, 8 chickens, an ever changing number of rabbits, one cat, and one goose. 

Married for 12 years with four children Annelise, Josephine, Eloise, Leo. 

Patrons: St Therese of Lisieux, Our Lady of Czestochowa

817-937-2839

angwynn@protonmail.com

AngelaMLW

Ancestors from Hungary/Poland/Ukraine and Slovakia immigrated to Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Born Albuquerque, NM - still here
Cradle Catholic, Parents helped establish Our Lady of the Assumption RCC. I was baptized on the parish
feast day shortly after the church was consecrated. Attended 8 yrs at the parish Catholic school.

Churches: Our Lady of the Assumption and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church

Obedience: Still discerning a specific myrrh while remaining attentive to the Holy Spirit. I respond to
requests for help. Also maintain two small flowerbeds at the entrance to the church and a small Marian
shrine my son built as an Eagle Scout; my effort is dedicated to Our Lady.

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About me:
 Divorced when our youngest of three was 18 months old. Majority of parenting fell to me (and
God), all three graduated college (two with Master’s).
 Son and wife are self-proclaimed atheists and raising their two children without faith.
 Oldest daughter is married to Fr. Adam (St Thomas the Apostle, Gilbert AZ), working as a full-time music/fine arts teacher, and raising three daughters.
 Youngest daughter is a professional musician, serving in the military and living in NYC.
 I’m still working from home most of the time, as a contractor for the Department of Energy.
Worked in many various positions over the years. BA in psychology with a minor in vocational
rehabilitation.

Patron: Born on the feast of St Panteleimon. Prayerfully considering St Svetlana as my lay sister patron

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padamsko@hotmail.com
Discord: pam#4991
https://www.facebook.com/pamela.adamsko/

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From: Brucoli, Sicilia

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Church: St. Elias Maronite Church, Roanoke, VA

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Obedience: 
Wife to Jason Farry
Mother 
Homemaker
Graduate Student
Educator
Religious Poet

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Other things about me: 
I am a cradle Latin Catholic and transferred to the Maronite Church in 2022
I married Jason Farry in 2021 (he entered the Church as a Maronite in 2022)
We have one child and hope to have a large family
I am a PhD student at Virginia Tech (Geophysics)
My Master's thesis was about the evolution of the Martian crust (Geochemistry) - also at Virginia Tech
I love creative writing
I am a dancer and choreographer 
I breed Australian Terriers and am an AKC Breeder of Merit

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Patron: St. Joanna the Myrrhbearer 

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Discord: dandelioncrown#5140
Phone: 5404190814 
Email: farrytalefamily@gmail.com

From: originally from Sheffield, PA. I currently call Hampton, VA, my home. I have lived in Virginia since 2009. 

Church: Ascension of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church in Williamsburg, VA (Passiac Eparchy). I am a cradle Byzantine Catholic. I grew up in St. Michael's Greek Catholic Church in Sheffield, PA. My paternal great-grandfather was from Yugoslavia and was one of the founders of the Church. 

Obedience: Jesus Prayer, growing my prayer life, 

Veterinarian - I practice integrative medicine on mostly small animals but some large animals using holistic modalities as well as Western medicine. I am self-employed and also work 1 day/week in a general medicine practice. I am typically engaged in furthering my holistic medicine skill set and am currently studying small animal osteopathy and veterinary rehabilitation. 

Other things about me: I've lived in London, England, and 2 islands in the Caribbean. I enjoy reading and spending time with my beloved dogs to include behavior training. I love relaxing with my cats when time affords. 

I'm divorced and annulled for 15 years. I  live alone with my pets. 

I strive to maintain a whole food plant-based lifestyle to include regular exercise. 

Patrons: Saint Hildegard and Holy Theotokos 

Discord name: SrHildegard/Angela B

From:  Scranton, PA

Church: St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Taylor

Born: Wilkes-Barre, PA - youngest of six
Cradle Roman Catholic
Drawn to the Byzantine Catholic Liturgy and Tradition
Married to Michael for 27 years

Obediences:
Wife and mother
Cantor/choir member
Looking after other family members
Praying for those in need of healing and/or conversion
Blood and platelet donor

Other things about me:
- Mom to our Maria (Ria)
Administrative Assistant at The Scranton School

             for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
Works part-time at a grocery store
Was a newspaper reporter for more than 25 years
Enjoys walks in God’s beautiful creation
Has a dog named Duke

Patrons: St. Mary of Bethany, St. Teresa of Avila

From: Fredericksburg, VA

Church: The Oratory of St. Philip Neri, Pittsburgh, PA

Obedience:

Wife

Homemaker

Educator

Healthcare worker (patient care technician)

Student

Other things about me:

- I am a cradle Roman Catholic, but I have a growing interest in Eastern rites and traditions. I didn't get serious about my faith until my first year of uni; it's been a long and very humbling journey, trying to live out the Christian life.

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- I received my faith tradition from my mother (from the Philippines), whose own dedication and steadfastness led to the conversion of my father (German-American). My husband, like my father, is an engineer; we met as undergrad students in an exosuit research lab. He's definitely the better half. :P

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- I'm right now trying to finish up my master's degree in bio-mechanical engineering. My thesis is long overdue. Eeek! (Please pray for me).

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- I like sewing, clothes-making, needlework, cooking, haiku, and videography, and I'm a fan of all things Jane Austen (my favorite book, possibly of all time, is Mansfield Park, although I can't quite put my finger on why).

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Contact: tmaria98@vt.edu

From: N. Canton, Ohio, currently living in Alliance, Ohio

Church: St. George Romanian Byzantine Cathedral in Canton, Ohio

(Raised Baptist, entered the Roman Catholic Church in 1999, found my home in the Romanian Greek Catholic Church in 2009)

Obedience: Education in the Faith

~Wife, Mother to 2 girls & 2 boys, Catechist

~Starting Byziclassroom in my parish 

About me: 

~Our homeschool/domestic church patrons are Sts. Benedict & Scholastica

~Our family lives a Benedictine spirituality with an Eastern phronema

~I run an Etsy shop (DropDownDew) where I sell my handmade, faith-inspired perfumes

~I love reading, photography, growing herbs & flowers, art, music, running, the Jesus Prayer, and my family

~I am an introvert, but people tell me I have a "huge laugh"

Patrons:

~St. Mary Magdalene (Magdalene is my confirmation name) 

~I have a special devotion to St. Mary of Egypt & St. Anthony of the Desert

~I am praying about/to St. Photina for my lay sister name as I discern 

Contact Me:

Discord: drop.down.dew.jaime#9816

Email: scottandjaime13@gmail.com (please note the spelling of my name so it gets to me) 

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