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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.

On Tuesday evening, May 8th, over 120 women responded to the invitation by the St. Ann Society of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption in Perth Amboy to attend a Women’s Evening of Prayer, with a Moleben honoring the Blessed Mother of God. Pastor, Rev. Ivan Turyk, co-celebrated the service, joined by homilist, Rev.Ihor Royik, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church of Phoenixville, PA, and St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church of Pottstown, PA. Father’s homily offered reflections on Mary, Our Example. Parishioners joined in prayer with other Catholic women from the surrounding area, most of whom are of the Latin Rite. The Women’s Evening of Prayer is an outreach effort, now in its fifth year, by Assumption parish to introduce Latin Rite Catholics to the spiritual and cultural richness of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Many guests in attendance had never participated in a service of this kind and admitted to having a very limited knowledge of the Eastern Catholic Churches in general. There were also a number of Protestant women who joined their Catholic sisters in prayer to the Blessed Mother of God. Following the Moleben, those in attendance were welcomed to complete the evening of prayer and fellowship by sharing a complimentary meal in the church hall.

Sunday May 6th, was a very special and joyous day at the Assumption parish in Perth Amboy, NJ as we welcomed twelve of our little parishioners and students of ACS who received their First Solemn Confession and a Solemn Holy Communion. We congratulate them on this very important step in their religious lives. This is indeed a happy occasion for our parish, the school and for the children’s families. A sincere thank you to Sr. Yosaphata, and Mrs. Melanie Lawrence (2nd grade teacher) who have served as their catechists. Special thanks go to our school’s FSA for preparing a delicious breakfast for our children and their families. We ask all parishioners to continue praying for these children, that they remain faithful to God and grow up to be a good members of the community.

We all had a great time and enjoyed the Christian fellowship at our annual Easter Dinner this Sunday. Special thanks to our children, parents and all volunteers who cooked a delicious Easter meal. Following the Liturgy, parishioners and friends enjoyed a beautiful concert in the school hall prepared by our youngest parishioners. All in attendance enjoyed the singing of the gaivky (Ukrainian folk songs) by a parish youth group and all liked the energetic performance of singers Ludmila Fesenko & Sergey Pobedinsk.