News

John Baginsky a lifelong parishioner and ACS Graduate (ACS'02) has received the honor of being inducted into Upsilon Pi Epsilon, Gamma Chapter of New Jersey William Paterson University. Upsilon Pi Epsilon is the Honor Society for the Computing Sciences. Induction into UPE is conferred only upon those who meet it's rigorous academic requirements and accordingly membership is very limited. Congratulations John!

On the picture: John entering his name in the UPE Chapter Book at the induction ceremony.
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Theatrical Play – "Evening of Kozak Glory" was presented in church on December 12, 2010 at 5:00 PM.  All proceeds from the play went  to St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church of Whippany Building Fund.

Pictures from the performance can be viewed here .

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The Ukrainian Assumption Seniors' Christmas Party was held on Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 12 noon at the Reo Diner, Woodbridge, New Jersey.  A delicious luncheon was served with two special Merry Christmas cakes baked by the Reo Diner staff.  In the spirit of the season each member was given a gift for Christmas in appreciation of their support throughout the year.

The Ukrainian Assumption Seniors donated a Christmas gift to the Church of a holy water sprinkler and bucket which will be used for blessings.  The gift was given in honor of the deceased and present members. Rev. Ivan Turyk accepted the gift.  A pleasant time was had by all who attended.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Ukrainian Assumption Seniors!

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Sixty-five children (and about one hundred of their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends) were visited by Saint Nicholas the Wonder Worker on Sunday, December 5, 2010.  The celebration event was planned by the Holy Name Society men with the hope and belief that Saint Nicholas would visit and not disappoint his believers.  All guests were treated to a buffet breakfast of fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, and cake prepared by the men.  While the crowd anxiously awaited the arrival of Saint Nicholas they were treated to the piano playing of Anna Lawrence.  

Finally, Saint Nicholas did arrive to distribute gifts to all children.  As the stage was revealed, the scene of a lit Christmas tree, fireplace, and dozens of wrapped gifts just added to the excitement.  From the youngest, five-month-old Olesia Horbatyuk, to the two oldest, sixteen-year-old Michael Grausam and Andriy Tabaka, all received a gift from this patron saint of children.  Some were hesitant and cautious as they approached Saint Nicholas while others showed no signs of bashfulness.  All were delighted.

The men of the Holy Name Society are to be commended for their commitment to the children of the parish.  From the holiday tablecloths to the delicious food to the generous offerings, their Christmas spirit is shining through.   

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On Wednesday, November 24, 2010 a tradition at Assumption Catholic School continued. What begin several years ago as a simple gathering to give thanks to God together as a school, has grown into a real Thanksgiving Feast.  The day started with Divine Liturgy, continued with entertainment related to Thanksgiving, and finally dinner was served!

This year students in the Senior Drama Club took classes on a pilgrimage around the school to learn how the original Pilgrims left the life they knew to take their chances in the New World. Pilgrim Guides led groups from room to room where they met pilgrims to find out about why they left with their families. The heard of what life was like on the Mayflower and what the first government was after their arrival. The last stop of their pilgrimage took them to the auditorium where they learned of how the Pilgrims and Native Americans prepared for the first Thanksgiving as well as how Thanksgiving came to be a national holiday today.

Once all groups had the opportunity to go on the pilgrimage it was time to eat. ACS faculty and students were joined by invited members of Saint Ann Society, Holy Name, Bingo workers and the Senior Citizens Club. Many parents, including the FSA board, under the direction of Mrs. Derevenska, our kindergarten teacher, prepared and served a full Thanksgiving dinner. Cornbread was prepared by grade four. Sister Maria and the second grade prepared fresh cranberry sauce.  Homemade pies were prepared by student in grade six, seven, and eight.

At the end of the day the seventh and eighth graders helped to clean the cafeteria and auditorium. Extra plates were prepared by the kitchen workers and delivered by Father Ivan and a few eighth graders to nearby parish members.

Thank you to everyone involved in making the day such a special day!

In August and October of 1932 and January of 1933, Joseph Stalin, ruler of the Soviet Union, ordered increased mandatory quotas of foodstuffs to be shipped out of Ukraine and to other states of the Soviet Union.  This was done until there was no food remaining in Ukraine, known as the breadbasket of Europe.  Though the number has been estimated to be anywhere from 2.6 million to 10 million, most scholars agree that approximately 7 million people died as a direct result of this forced famine.  

This Ukrainian tragedy was recognized by the Joint Statement of the 58th Plenary Session of the United Nations General Assembly.  Sixty-three countries supported this document.  In 1985, a United States Commission on the Ukraine Famine was established.  They interviewed survivors and published several volumes of eyewitness testimony.  The 1932-1933 famine was found, by this Commission, to be an act of genocide.  In April, 1988, Commission director and historian James E. Mace presented their findings to Congress.

In Ukraine, November 26 is the day set aside each year as The Day of Victims of Famine.  On Sunday, November 28, 2010, parishioners of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary were in communion with their brethren throughout the world as they prayed for those who perished in the famine.  Father Ivan Turyk, pastor, spoke to those in attendance of the need to remember the millions that died.  It was a stirring and touching eulogy.

A memorial wreath of predominantly yellow flowers with black ribbons was carried into church by Khrystyna Hrebeshenko and Taras Horbatyuk and placed before the iconostas.  Seven children each carried one votive candle; each candle represented one million deaths.  Father Ivan led the congregation in a memorial service called  “Panahyda” which ends with the words “veechnaya pamyat” meaning, eternal memory.

Immediately afterward, instead of the coffee and rolls that usually accompany the fellowship parishioners enjoy between liturgies in the church hall, everyone was offered only bread and water.  It was a symbolic and meaningful gesture that united  the congregation with those who have passed.

Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption, established in 1908, has been part of the Perth Amboy community for 102 years.  A church, rectory, school, and convent occupy a block between Alta Vista Place and Jacques Street.  For more information, please call 732-826-0767

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On Saturday, November 27, 2010, seven Holy Name Society men braved the cold, windy weather to continue a parish tradition.  The first sign of the Christmas holiday season appeared on the block!  Armed with strings of lights, large wreaths, boughs of greenery and plenty of extension cords, the men adorned the church, the Blessed Mother mosaic icon, and the rectory.  Hot coffee and dozens of doughnuts kept the men going strong during the four hour joyful task.

The Ukrainian Assumption Seniors offer social gatherings for the elderly of Ukrainian Assumption Church.  At our meetings we address senior issues with guest speakers from the community.  We offer prayers at our meetings for sick and shut-in members.  We also send birthday cards and visit our members in nursing homes.  At our November meeting we celebrated Thanksgiving together with a traditional holiday luncheon arranged by Eleanor Kataryniak.  The elderly in our parish are not forgotten.

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On November 12, Roman Catholics and  Eastern Catholics remembered St. Josaphat Kuntsevych, a bishop and monk whose example of faith inspired many Eastern Orthodox Christians to return to full communion with the Holy See.  St. Josaphat,  worked faithfully for the unity of the Church until he suffered martyrdom. He died defending the truths expressed in the Creed, “I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic church.” St. Josaphat is the first Ukrainian saint canonized by the Catholic Church. Pope Pius IX proclaimed him a Saint of the Church Universal on June 29, 1867 and he is  buried in a glass fronted altar in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. On the feast day of St. Josaphat, the students of Assumption Church participated at the Liturgy and meditated on the life and heroic holiness of the great saint. After the Liturgy, Sr. Yosaphata, the  Vice Principal and Financial Administrator of the school, received a beautiful bouquet of flowers on her feast day.