News

On Saturday March 26, 2011, the ladies from St. Ann’s Society attended the  Archeparchial Women's Day at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, PA

Assumption  families joined together for Lenten Dinner last Sunday in the school hall.  The menu included tossed salad, borscht, pyrohy, potato pancakes, macaroni and cheese, fish, cabbage and noodles, dessert and coffee or tea.  Thanks go to all who attended, who worked hard and made the event  a huge success! Our special thanks to the Holy Name Society members  for their hard work.

The purpose of the Holy Name Society is to promote spiritual welfare to the men of the parish and perform work requested.  All men of the parish, 18 years of age or have graduated from high school are eligible for membership.  They meet in the Parish Hall 7:30pm on the second Tuesday of each month.  The meeting last about an hour and is followed by a social period. If you are interested in joining the organization, please call the  President Charlie Boyko  at 732-254-3966 or Fr. Ivan

Pastors are incredibly busy people. Still, Fr. Ivan always finds time to be with his students at the Assumption School.  On Thursday, he took the 8th grade class and their teacher Mrs. Pickering to the church and gave them a lesson on the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.  The students had a wonderful opportunity to learn more about what it means to be a Christian and how God enriched  their lives through the Baptism and Confirmation. They also learned that in the waters of Baptism we became children of God and inheritors of eternal life. By water and the Holy Spirit we are made members of the church and ambassadors for Christ.

Bishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, till now the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of the Protection of the Blessed Mary in Buenos Aires, has become the new head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The Election Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which was attended by 40 bishops from Ukraine and abroad (Western Europe, USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Australia), elected him on March 23.  Bishop Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) is the third-youngest of the world's 5,207 Catholic bishops. The Holy See approved the choice of the Synod of Bishops.  Bishop Sviatoslav  was born on May 5th 1970  in the city of Stryj, Western Ukraine. In 2002 he  completed his doctorate in moral theology at the Angelicum University, Rome.  From 2002-2005 he worked as a head of the Secretariat and private Secretary to his beatitude Lubomir Husar, head of the patriarchal Curia in L'viv. Then from June 2007 he was a rector of the Holy Spirit Seminary in Rydno, Ukraine.  Bishop Sviatoslav was ordained as bishop on April 7, 2009, in Lviv On 10 April 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Sviatoslav  Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of the Protection of the Blessed Mary in Buenos Aires.( Argentina). The Inauguration of the new head of UGCC will be held on March 27 at 10 a.m. in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection in Kiev
Axios and May God Grant You Many Vladyko !
 
Главою УГКЦ  обрано Єпископа Святослава Шевчука.

Єпископ Святослав народився 5 травня 1970 року у місті Стрию на Львівщині, а священником став 21 травня 1994 року. Навчався у Папському Університеті св. Томи Аквінського (Рим, Італія).  Де здобув ступінь доктора Богослов’я. З 2002–2005 працював главою секретаріату і особистим секретарем Блаженнійшого Любомира (Гузара), керівником Патріаршої курії у Львові. З Червня 2007 – ректор Львівської духовної семінарії Святого Духа. 14 Січня 2009 року Святіший Отець Венедикт XVI поблагословив рішення Синоду єпископів про призначення отця Святослава Шевчука єпископом-помічником єпархії Покрова Пресвятої Богородиці в Буенос-Айресі (Аргентина).Єпископську хіротонію Владика Святослав прийняв 7 квітня 2009 року у Львові з рук Глави УГКЦ Блаженнішого Любомира. Інтронізація нового глави УГКЦ відбудеться 27 березня о 10.00 у Патріаршому cоборі Воскресіння Христового у Києві.
Найвідповідальніше служіння в УГКЦ випало нести наймолодшому. Ну що ж, хай Бог допомагає а ми Вірні Вітаємо нововибраного Отця і Главу, Блаженнішого Святослава!!! На многая Літа!…

I want to express my most sincere appreciation and gratitude to all the women from St. Ann’s Society for running a successful Gift Auction on Sunday, March 6th, 2011. This fundraiser, held annually during the spring in the  school auditorium  and cafeteria, provides a great prizes for everyone. There are plenty of great items to bid on including basket donation, and there is plenty of delicious food and desserts. Thanks to all parishioners and friends for their participation as sponsors, auctioneers, volunteers, donors, solicitors, auction goers, high bidders, and committee members. Everyone seems to agree that it was a big success. The dedication you all show is inspiring. Thanks also to everyone who came out and supported this year’s Auction. It is a very important fundraiser for the parish and at the same time a tremendously fun event. I hope you enjoyed it; I certainly did, after wining 3 amazing prizes. Fr. Ivan

Concert honoring Taras H. Shevchenko took place at Assumption Parish  on Sunday, March 13, 2011. It was a real celebration of Ukrainian poetry and music.
 
Remarks about Taras Shevchenko
 
The year was 1814.  It was almost 40 years since the destruction of the Zaporozhian Sich.  Ukrainian lands were occupied by foreign powers – Russians, Poles, and Hapsburgs.  The Ukrainian people toiled in serfdom.  Ukrainian language, culture, and traditions were denigrated and suppressed.  The prospects of an independent Ukrainian nation were virtually nonexistent.
There was no vibrant Ukrainian nationalist movement.  There was no Ukrainian voice.
 
Into this bleak situation in 1814 was born a meager soul of no account – no money, no social privilege.  Yet, this soul, born into oppressive serfdom is the man that will give Ukrainian aspirations not only a heart and a soul, but also a magnificent eloquent voice.  That man is Taras Shevchenko
 
He writes in his native language – Ukrainian and only Ukrainian.  His writing educates and inspires an enslaved people.  His words are profoundly articulate and emotionally moving.  They speak of Ukrainian history and Ukrainian dreams.  The richness and depth of his writing elevates the Ukrainian language to the level of world-class literature.
 
Shevchenko’s writing can be melancholy and heartbreaking when he observes the betrayal of the Ukrainian intelligentsia or the anguish of his own experiences.
However, they become proud and passionate when he speaks of the glory of the Cossacks or of his pride in his Ukrainian heritage.  In either case then are always passionate.

Taras Shevchenko was well respected by many people around the world.
 
American President John F. Kennedy on  March 25, 1961 paid tribute to Shevchenko by saynh:
“I am pleased to add my voice to those honoring the great Ukrainian poe Taras Shevchenko We honor him for his rich contributions to the culture not only of Ukraine, which he loved so well and described so eloquently, but also of the world. His work is a noble part of our historical heritage.”
 
The great English novelist and humanist Charles Dickens, admired and respected Shevchenko, and was grieved to hear of Shevchenko’s death. Shevchenko’s obituary in London included Dicken’s comments on the passing of his respected contemporary.
 
It is written that Shevchenko’s casket being carried to Kiev, from St. Petersburg, in an oxen drawn carriage, attracted memorial services and valedictories from many throngs of people along the way. Only in Kiev, all orations were forbidden. However, one gesture of a woman surpassed all eulogies when she placed a wreath of thorns on his casket.
 
The Ukrainian soul is deeper than wearing embroidered shirts, dancing, and singing Ukrainian folk songs. The Ukrainian soul as Shevchenko saw it, consists of liberty, equality, fraternity, and the Ukrainian soul reaches to God with an endearing faith and with humility, with respect for, and fear of God, with respect for humankind and the looking out for one’s neighbor, without expectation of anything in return.
 
Let us always remember Shevchenko for the courage and wisdom that his life exemplifies.  He was a God fearing man who was proud of who he was and where he came from.  Today we salute his memory as a champion of Ukrainian nationalism as well as Ukraine’s history, culture, and heritage.

METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP STEFAN SOROKA WILL HOLD HOLY THURSDAY SERVICE AT ASSUMPTION CHURCH IN PERTH AMBOY
Pontifical Liturgy with Vesper, Chrism Blessing and Washing of Feet of 12 Priests,Thursday, April 21, 2011  at 10:00 a.m.

Archbishop-Metropolitan Stefan Soroka will be a principal celebrant at the Liturgy. This solemn ceremony is the commemoration of Jesus washing the feet of his 12 disciples, just before his betrayal and crucifixion. The congregation is not only intended to be an active witness, but also to relive that memorable experience. Archbishop Stefan will wash the feet of 12 priests, in imitation of Christ and the 12 Apostles. The myrrh (chrism) will be consecrated on this day, made from olive oil (for mercy), wine (for Christ's Blood), and many kinds of herbs for the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit).  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the service that in the past was done only at the cathedral in Philadelphia. All are invited.

Архиєпископ Стефан Сорока, Митрополит  для Українців-Католиків в Америці приїзджає до нашої парафії  на Богослужіння у  Страсний Четвер
Архиєрейська Літургія з Вечірнею, Благословення Мира і Чин миття ніг 12 священикам, Четвер,  21-го квітня, в 10:00 рано.

Це Богослуження нагадує нам Тайну Вечерю, де Ісус Христос омив ноги дванадцятьом апостолам перед муками і смертю на Хресті. Архиєпископ Стефан буде омивати ноги дванадцятьом священикам, імітуючи Христа і 12-ть апостолів. В цей день освячується Миро, приготовлене з оливкової олії ( символ милосердя ) і вина ( символ Крові Хрестової ), а також з різних видів пахучих трав і олійок в знак Дарів Св. Духа.

On Saturday Feb 26, 2011 all bingo workers were invited by Fr. Ivan to attend the dinner at the local restaurant. This was his way of saying “thank you” to all volunteers who support this important fundraiser. Bingo is every Wednesday and Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Bring the family and enjoy a fun evening together. Thank you to our Bingo Workers for their dedication.

Concert honoring Taras Shevchenko
Sunday, March 13th, 2011 after 8:45 a.m. Liturgy

В історії українського народу час-до-часу народжуються великі мужі нації, які підносяться понад усіх інших людей і показують нам правдивий шлях, яким ми повинні йти до остаточної мети – Закріплення Державности України. До цих мужів Великої Ідеї наша історія записала постать Тараса Григоровича Шевченка. Шевченко любив свій народ понад усе, боровся за його кращу долю, жертвував своїм життям, мужньо захищав людську гідність і національну долю українського народу. З метою вшанування Кобзаря Українського народу, наша парафія організовує творчий концерт у Неділю, 13 Березня після першої ранкової Літургії у церковній залі. УВАГА- ранкова літургія у Неділю, 13 Березня розпочнеться о 8:45 зранку замісь 9:00. У програмі буде виступату наш хор «Боян» а також будуть озвучені популярні вірші поета.  Щорічне святкування пам’яті Поета повинно бути для нас не тільки моментом найвищого духовного згуртування, але й іспит нашої совісти: чи ж ми дійсно йдемо тим шляхом, що Тарас нам його вказав.Дороговказ Шевченка вічно нам нагадує, щоб ми: мирилися поміж собою, молилися.…