News

St. Anne's Society began the new 2012 with the new officers that were installed a couple weeks before Christmas. After the Liturgy, Fr. Ivan installed Mrs. Melanie Lawrence as a New President and thanked the retiring officers for their time and dedication to the society. Our parish extends our congratulations to the new officers and pledge them our support.

A Christmas party was held Tuesday December 6, 2011 in church hall by the Ukrainian Assumption Seniors. Good food, singing of carols and fun was had by all. Our home bound members were also not forgotten. Father Ivan thanked the members for there support of the Generation Of Faith Program that was held in November. Officers for 2012 are as follows President Joan Zaleski, Vice President Frances Stek, Secretary Barbara Grausam and Treasurer Eleanor Katarynaik. The Ukrainian Assumptions Seniors would like to wish all parishioners a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The administration and faculty of Assumption Catholic School in Perth Amboy, NJ gathered together on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 for a religious education seminar, presented by the Rev. Archpriest Daniel Troyan, Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Father Ivan Turyk, pastor of Ukrainian Assumption Catholic Church, arranged for the first half of the presentation to take place in the Church.  He warmly greeted everyone and introduced the day’s topic:  “The Western and Eastern Rites, Different – Yet the Same, Two Traditions, But One Catholic Church.”

Fr. Dan began his talk by explaining the how the physical design, artistic arrangements, and all other elements of the Byzantine church have a purpose and profound meaning, specifically aimed at raising one’s heart and mind to the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. His talk was highly informative and covered many areas including wonderful explanations about the different Diving Liturgies we celebrate throughout the year, the emphasis placed on Mary as the Most Pure Mother of God, the significance of the royal doors, the order of the icons on the iconostas, the sanctuary as the “Holy of Holies,” and the Divine Reception of the Sacraments or Holy Mysteries.  The participants were especially intrigued by the beauty of Matrimony in the Byzantine Rite, with its betrothal ceremony, exchange of vows, crowning, and dance of Isaiah. 

Fr. Dan also brought to light the basic differences and similarities between the Latin and the Byzantine Rites, emphasizing how both belong to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, yet witness to and express their shared faith in distinct ways.  The historical fact that Catholicism originated in Jerusalem, was founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, and now has a multitude of particular churches throughout the world, is a glorious testimony of the embodiment of the fullness of the one Catholic Church.

Everyone came away with an increased knowledge of our church roots and how various devotional practices were adapted over the centuries by the faithful. As one teacher stated: “Today’s presentation was a wonderful, down to earth explanation, of the “one-ness” of our Catholicism and the uniqueness of our Ukrainian Catholic traditions.”  Also in attendance, as a special guest, was Ms. Irene Sena, Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Metuchen, who expressed her deep gratitude to our principal, Mr. Szpyhulsky, for his invitation to such an enlightening and uplifting conference.

On Sunday December 4th, St. Nicholas made his annual visit to the children of the Assumption Parish. The event was held at the School Hall, which was filled 67 excited youngsters with their families and friends. Prior to the St. Nicholas arrival, the children  and the parishioners enjoyed the free breakfast prepared by the Holy Name Society.  The  youngest members of the parish “Veselka”  dancing group  greeted him with charming dances. Before distributing his gifts, St. Nicholas encouraged all the children to be good, to obey their parents, to remember to say their prayers and to come to church on Sundays.

I would like to extend my thanks to the planning committee for helping to organize the Generations  of Faith Program  our parish last Sunday. Almost 60 parishioners and guests of all ages attended the event. Our parishioner Mrs.  Melanie Fedynyshyn gave an inspirational presentation on Thanksgiving: Faith, Hope and Love in our life. She emphasized the virtue of Faith as a means of expressing gratitude for God's blessings and as a way to lift the spirits of others. Mr. Andrew Wowk was very helpful in  leading a spirited questions and answers session in Ukrainian and English languages. Following the program, many parishioners commented that they appreciated the program because it helped them to be even more grateful to the Lord for all the blessings they have.
The following questions were presented for the group discussion.

• Can you describe an act of kindness that you  (or another)  did  that  had  lasting effects?
• If you were   to express thankfulness for some things that are happening in your life right now, what would be the first thing that comes to your mind?
• If you were stranded on a desert island with someone, who would you want that person to be? Why would you be grateful to God for that person?
• Have you ever witnessed a manifestation of Faith or Gratitude out in the secular world?
• What is the Eucharist? Please explain how important it is to you, and what role does it play in the salvation plan.

On Sunday November 13, 2011, Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk)  has started a pastoral visit to the USA with celebration of the Pontifical Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral in Philadelphia.  Over 1500 faithful had gathered in the Cathedral on that day to pray and listen their spiritual father and a leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. During his short visit, Patriarch Sviatoslav will meet with representatives of the Ukrainian community, clergy and will conduct services in each of the cities.

On November 16, in Washington, the head of UGCC will meet with Ambassador Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to USA, Oleksandr Motsyk and visit the White House to meet senators and congressmen.   On November 19, Patriarch Sviatoslav will lead the annual memorial service for the victims of the genocidal Holodomor and make a speech in the Cathedral of St. Patrick in New York.

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BALTIMORE (CNS)/ November 14, 2011 — The new primate for the world's 8 million Ukrainian Catholics lauded the work of the U.S. bishops' annual national collection to aid the church in Central and Eastern Europe. The collection "has provided financial support for the development of basic church structures which had been destroyed by the communist regime," said Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, who had overseen as apostolic administrator a Ukrainian eparchy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before his election as primate earlier this year. "We will always remember" the help given by the U.S. church, Archbishop Shevchuk said Nov. 14, the first day of the U.S. bishops' fall general assembly in Baltimore. The church in Ukraine — the largest Eastern church by numbers — has benefited from the financial assistance, he added. "Today the church is undergoing a period of rebirth and resurrection," Archbishop Shevchuk said. "We are blessed with many vocations. Our seminaries now have three applicants for every available space." The archbishop suggested the church could aid Ukrainian society. "Our society is just emerging from the post-communist ideology," according to Archbishop Shevchuk. "Ukraine is undergoing tremendous social and economic changes today," he continued. "We are marked by a lack of credibility in government and our social and political institutions."…

Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka will celebrate his 60th Birthday on  November 13th, which is the same day that His Beatitude, Major-Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk visits the Cathedral in Philadelphia.  On behalf of all the parishioners of the Assumption of B.V.M  Parish in Perth Amboy, NJ  we wish you  a very Happy 60th  Birthday.  Your Grace,  as you step into the 61st year of your life, we wish you all the best in your service through the coming years.  May God always bless you, protect you and keep you in good health.  May He shower his choicest blessings on you on this special day and always.…