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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.

On September 1, 2010, a new feature, popular with bingo  patrons, started.  Power Ball was added!  Starting with that Wednesday’s games the night’s caller pulled a number prior to the start of the regular games.  This would be known as the Power Ball. A $100 “pot” would be won by a player if their winning number for a game (other than the 50/50 games) was the Power Ball number of the night.  Excitement grows when no one wins on the Power Ball for the night as $50 would be added to the pot for the next bingo night.   

As luck is unpredictable, no one won on a Power Ball number and the pot grew to be $500, which is the limit.  It stayed at $500 for twelve evenings of bingo until Wednesday, November 3, 2010.  That evening a regular patron of our bingo games won on I 20, the Power Ball number of the evening.  Congratulations to the winner and good luck to all players as the Power Ball pot will again start at $100 and grow until there is another winner.

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This year, October 31st, was more than just Halloween.  It was also the date of the Holy Name Society’s latest event – a buffet breakfast.  Welcoming patrons at the door was a big bowl of candy and the smell of bacon, sausage, and pancakes.  

The ambitious men of the Holy Name prepared a buffet that included fresh fruit, pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon, sausage, and the Boyko family recipe soufflé. If that was not enough, one could order an omelet made to your liking.  Fresh rolls and home-made baked goods were there for the taking, if you still had room. 

On this busy autumn morning, one-hundred-fifty participants were cooked for and served by fourteen Holy Name men.  Though it was Halloween, it was really Saint Nicholas Day that the Holy Name members had in mind.  The profit from this breakfast will fund their next big event – a Saint Nicholas celebration for parish children and their parents on Sunday, December 5th.…

The annual Calendar Dance sponsored by the St. Ann's Society was sucessfully held on October 23, 2010.
 
Music was provided by New Jersey’s most “Wanted” rock-n-roll party band. A night of dining and dancing was enjoyed by all.
 
Pictures from this event are now posted for viewing in the Images gallery or by clicking here:  Calendar Dance 2010

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Our parish  Dinner-Dance party was a great success. Close to 200 people attended, and all seemed to have lots of fun. The hall, the food, the music, the games, 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 and the many volunteers, family and friends that lent a helping hand. All in all it was another fun filled and friendly dinner and dance. Hope to see you next year!…

The Holy Name Society will sponsor an all-you-can-eat  Halloween Breakfast Buffet on Sunday, October 31, 2010 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM in the school cafeteria.
 
The menu will consist of the usual delicious items including: omelets made-to-order, scrambled eggs, egg soufflé, pancakes, sausage, bacon, hash browns and fruit.
 
Donation is $10 per adult, $5 per child age 13-17, and children 12 and under are free.
 
For tickets, see any Holy Name member or call Charlie Boyko, 732-254-3966.

 
Хелуін Сніданок
 
Братство Пресвятого Імені буде мати сніданок "Все, що ви можете з'їсти" для усіх парафіян у Неділю, 31 жовтня 2010 з 9:00 до 12:30 у шкільній кафетерії.
 
Меню включає в себе яєчню, омлети на замовлення, млинці, бекон, ковбаса, оладки, яйя суфле, фрукти, сік, кава, чай і багато іншого.
 
Пожертвування $ 10 на дорослого, $ 5 для підлітків 12-17. Діти до 12 років безкоштовно.
 
Квитки можна придбати після Літургії, або за телефоном Чарльз Бойко на 732-254-3966.…