ademkiv

TO OUR CLERGY, HIEROMONKS AND BROTHERS, RELIGIOUS SISTERS, SEMINARIANS AND BELOVED FAITHFUL

Christ is Born!

“Today Christ is Born of the Virgin in Bethlehem. Today, the eternal One has a beginning, today the Word becomes incarnated. All the heavenly powers rejoice, and all who dwell on earth are happy.  The magi offer the gift to the Master, the shepherds proclaim the marvel; and we cry aloud unceasingly: Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and good will to all.”  

Stichera at the Praises, Matins of the Nativity of Our Lord.

The liturgical texts of the Nativity of Our Lord often repeat a word “Today” and call everyone to respond to God’s invitation. Emmanuel – God with us came to the world over two thousand years ago and was greeted with marvel by shepherds and magi offering him homage and gifts. If we want that joy of Christmas to invade our lives, we must do what the shepherds did so long ago. We must come to our parish churches and bow before the newborn King. Hope is available but only to those who will humble themselves and bow in faith before the Lord Jesus Christ.

We often think about Jesus Christ each year in the Christmas season.  We are deeply touched by the beauty of the nativity scene, and resolve to know Christ personally, follow Jesus in our daily lives and be with Him.  But, then the Christmas season passes and the pressures of a new year lead us away from the manger. There is great danger in coming near to Christ but never making a commitment. Sooner or later, we must make a personal commitment that Jesus Christ will be our Lord and Savior. Every time we put it off, it becomes harder the next time.

May God give us, the grace to make room in our hearts for Jesus Christ! The angel said, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.” “Unto you.” “For you.” He came for us! This is where Christmas becomes intensely personal. It’s not enough to say abstractly that we believe Christ came. Many people say that and are still lost in their search for the living God. It’s not enough to say that Christ came for someone else. We can never be saved until we say, “Christ came for me. He died for me. He rose from the dead for me.”  Two thousand years ago God sent a gift wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Jesus is God’s Christmas gift to us. But we will never experience Christmas joy until we personally receive God’s gift—the Lord Jesus Christ. There is left to each of us a choice. What will we do with the Christ-child this Christmas? Will we run to meet him and make him welcome in our hearts? Will we sing with the angels or will we be too busy to go to see the babe in the manger? Will we open our hearts and our homes to Jesus?

Today, let us come and welcome Emmanuel – God with Us.  Let us with joy welcome Christ among us!  The beauty of this personal encounter with the living God will call us to share this “Good News” with others.  This is the same message the shepherds received from the angels. If we want to experience the real joy that Jesus wants for us, then we must learn to share! By sharing what God has so generously given to us, we will receive an even greater gift – the gift of joy.  This is the true joy.  It is found in a Person – in Jesus Christ our Savior. This joy flows out of a relationship with the One who never changes, the One who never lets us down, the one who never leaves us or forsakes us – the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.

On this Christmas day, let us come to our churches and personally encounter this great joy.  Let us experience the life-giving Christ.  Then, with the deep personal conviction we will be able to share this “Good News” with those whom we encounter in our daily lives, and say to one another “God is among us”!

Christ is Born!

+Paul Chomnycky, OSBM
Eparch of Stamford

+Andriy Rabiy
Apostolic Administrator of Archeparchy of Philadelphia

+Venedict Aleksiychuk
Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago

+ Bohdan J. Danylo (author)
Eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma

+John Bura
Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia…

“O Who Loves Nicholas The Saintly”

More than 80 children and their families met in a church on Sunday for a special visit from St. Nicholas. The children recited poems and sang some songs to adequately greet the favorite saint of children and adults. Eventually, all the children were worthily rewarded with gifts. Thanks to Holy Name Society for sponsoring the event. Thank you all for being part of this celebration that brought us together honoring the Saint of our childhood.

New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance ​in the school hall of Assumption Catholic Church​ at 380 Meredith St, Perth Amboy, NJ​ on Monday, December 31, 2018.​​
A fabulous buffet dinner strarts at 8:00 p.m. and all evening. ​Champagne toast and desserts are included. (BYOB)​​
Dancing to the Music of “The Fourth Wave” Band​
Adults – $ 75.00​
Young Adults ( age 13-18 ) – $ 45.00​
Children (up to 12) – $ 25.00​
For reservations & tickets please call at ​
732-826-0767 or 202-368-2408.​
www.assumptioncatholicchurch.net​

НОВОРІЧНА ЗАБАВА відбудеться у Понеділок 31 Грудня 2018 у залі Української Католицької Церкви за адресою : 380 Meredith St, Perth Amboy, NJ
Танці з Гуртом “Четверта Хвиля”.
Дорослі – $75.00
Молодь ( 13-18) – $ 45.00
Діти ( до 12 ) – $ 25.00
Квиток включає: вечеря-буфет з 8-ої год.
Святковий стіл, європейські салати, десерти, шампанське, весела музика і чудовий настрій на весь вечір.
За квитками дзвоніть 732-826 -0767 або 202-368-2408.…

Over two hundred parishioners and guests attended parish dance on Saturday October 28. The hall, the food, the music and most importantly the company were all superb! The event would not have been such a success without the tremendous efforts of the Society of St. Ann’s members who sponsored the dance. All in all it was another friendly dinner and fun was had by all.

Do you have a hidden talent? Can you tell a good joke? Sing a song? Play a music instrument? Juggle? Well you are in luck! Our parish will be hosting our first Talent Show on Sunday, November  11 at 12:30 p.m.  in our school hall and all parish children are  invited to be a part of the fun! The more the merrier!​

Secure your 4 minute slot by signing up on the registration form located in the church vestibule.  ​

To book your spot in the talent show  you could also email our Master of Ceremonies:

Anna Lawrence at​ missannalawrence@yahoo.com   and Iryna Borsa at irynaborsa@yahoo.com

Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Moleben – Pilgrimage in Fox Chase 2018. Thank you for working together to create a beautifully blended sound and for using your God-given abilities to enhance the Divine Liturgy and encourage the faithful of the pilgrimage to actively participate in the sung prayer of the Church. What a joy – just like being in heaven! God bless you all and may you sing and perform for ever!

The youth of Assumption parish in Perth Amboy, NJ again this year had the opportunity to expand their knowledge in faith and culture by attending a three-day Vacation Bible Discovery Camp on the grounds of the parish. Every year the children look forward to this camp where they form lifelong friendships and experience the joy and beauty of our Catholic faith and Ukrainian culture. It was a joy to see each child arrive with beaming smiles on their faces when they arrived on Monday, August 26 as they anxiously waited for the three days of camp to begin. The camp started with twenty-one happy campers who were eager to learn more about their faith and strengthen relationships with one another. ​

The first day started out at our church hall where campers offered prayer to Almighty God. Then a day was filled with a variety of fun activities that included a lesson and an art project on “With God all Things Are possible,” and a biblical lesson on how sin can be avoided by following “The Ten Commandments.” The students were also introduced to the concept of God’s omnipotence by reading the story of how Jesus Walks on the Water.  In the afternoon, the campers had a very special visitor, Bishop Andriy Rabiy, who attended the camp on his way to the Synod of Bishops in Ukraine. The children were able to get to know His Excellency during the question and answer session with a Bishop. They asked him many questions about his own personal interests and his ministry, all of which he answered. Having answered the children’s questions, he took the opportunity to ask his own questions about the importance of church, prayer and saints in their lives. The students eagerly answered and each received an icon from the Bishop. ​

On the second day of camp, children participated in a memorable day full of fun activities and enriching classes which included lessons about the Holy Dormition Feast, the cross, Moses and the importance of keeping “The Ten Commandments.” After a wonderful lunch at the rectory prepared by Fr. Ivan, the children spent the afternoon forming social bonds over crafts and other educational activities before heading back to church for a special presentation by Fr. Ivan on the iconography and Mrs. Fedynyshyn’s talk on the important Bible characters in our Salvation. ​

The third day of camp got off to a great start as children read about the Good Shepherd, made their own little lamb to remind them that they are a part of "the flock," reviewed how Bishop Andriy and Fr. Ivan are other shepherds who help Jesus to keep "the flock" from getting lost through sin. Throughout the third day of camp the children also took part in many different fun activities like playing in the bounce house and participating in the sack races, where they were fish in the Sea of Galilee waiting to be caught by the Apostles. They said they were "jumping for Jesus." ​

In three days of camp, there were lots of good food, amazing projects and lots of new friendships made. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen and who took time out of their busy schedules and invested it in the future of our parish. We would like to especially acknowledge and thank Mrs. Melanie Fedynyshyn who oversaw and planed the three days of camp. Thanks to John Fedynyshyn, who supplied the food, teachable materials, cleaned the hall each day and ensured the safety of everybody attending. This couple  did an exceptional job and are to be congratulated for all that they have done. Thank you Father Ivan  for guidance, prayers, talks and everyday presence with the campers. Thanks also go to Miss Sofia Wernyj who instructed and watched our campers and to Mrs. Dawn Domingues and Mrs. Maria Derevenska for their assistance in making this endeavor such a success. It is because of caring parents, children and wonderful volunteers that our parish will continue to grow. May God bless you in all that you do.

Last Sunday, 49 pilgrims on the bus and many more  in their own cars returned safely after a wonderful trip to the Holy Dormition Pilgrimage in Sloatsburg, NY. The highlight of the pilgrimage was undoubtedly the Pontifical Divine Liturgy presided by His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk and celebrated by many hierarchs of our Ukrainian Catholic Church in America and thousands of faithful from other parishes praying together. After a nearly an-hour drive filled with prayer and the recitation of the Rosary, our bus arrived at Mary’s House in Sloatsburg, where we were personally greeted with a smile, handshake and even hugs by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, who organized this beautiful pilgrimage. It was a day of peace, prayerful reflection, spiritually uplifting and joy filled.

On Saturday, June 23, 2018  the Assumption Parish in Perth Amoy, NJ held its 6th  Annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival on the grounds of the parish. The Festival was a huge success, thanks to the hard work of our volunteers, the support of our sponsors, and the joy and energy of everyone who attended. We are truly blessed at  Assumption parish to have so many parishioners who give of their time, talent, and treasure to support us. We estimate that well over 1000 parishioners and guests joined us for a fun-filled day that included delicious homemade Ukrainian food and deserts, Ukrainian beer, a church tour, a Beautiful Baskets raffle, money loterey  and more.

This year our parish was honored with the presence of Wilda Diaz, a mayor of the City of Perth Amboy and His Excellency Bishop Andriy Rabiy, the Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, PA who visited the festival for the first time. Thank you again to all that attended and supported the Festival, and we are looking forward to an even bigger and better event next year.