News

The Annual Easter dinner at Assumption Parish in Perth Amboy, NJ started right after the Divine Liturgy in our school hall. Tables covered with festive colors were filled with over two hundred people enjoying a delicious dinner and fellowship. A sincere thank you to the kitchen volunteers for preparing the delicious Sviachene meal and to our parish Sisters for a very entertaining music program. Homemade desserts were also available, so many participants could  indulge in the sweets they gave up for Lent.

The crowds of faithful this year for both Easter Services at Assumption Church in Perth Amboy, NJ were exceptional. All our services were beautiful, inspiring and uplifting. Either last or this Sunday,  you come to our church on Easter morning and encounter hundreds of believers, so many of them celebrating their first Easter in America. People were standing in the vestibule and spilling out into the church sidwalk, all here because they needed to say on the most joyful day of our calendar, “I believe.”

In response to the tragic humanitarian crisis in Ukraine,  the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Perth Amboy, NJ  of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia recently purchased an ambulance to help save the lives of Ukrainians.  With the assistance of Bishop Hryhoriy Komar, Auxiliary Bishop of Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy in Ukraine, an ambulance has been purchased in Italy with the donation from the  Medical Career Institute, NY and proceeds from the New Year’s Dance (Zabava) fundraiser that took place in the parish on December 31, 2022. An ambulance for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion was purchased for 13,000 euros ($14,500) and was delivered to the city of  Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine for the A7015  Tank Brigade.  God Bless America and God Protect Ukraine!  

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When we think of the church ministries, the things that most readily come to mind are things like Bible studies, Liturgical and Catechetical ministries and the Outreach programs. A game like Bingo, on the other hand, seems far removed from the concept of ministry and religion. Yet, though it might be purely social, Assumption Bingo Ministry in Perth Amboy, NJ continues to play an important role in our church-wide call to evangelization by radiating Christ’s love to each and every one of its weekly guests. Our Bingo provides a welcoming atmosphere for a large group of people who come our parish hall to play and have fun. For over fifty years, bingo players from all over NJ come to us, a for very little money they have a complete evening of entertainment in a safe and fun environment.
The goal of the Bingo Ministry is to not only to raise funds for the parish school and promote Catholic Education, but also so that our special guests can positively experience Christ’s Church. In our church, we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we want people who come to our Bingo know that the Lord loves and cares about them, and we care about them too.
Our Bingo brings the parish and a priest into a greater relationship with the larger community. When players come to our Bingo, we become very knowledgeable of who they are – who their parents or children are, the things going on in their lives, such as the loss of a loved one due the Covid-19 pandemic. We mourn with them in time of tragedy and we celebrate with them when something happy occurs in their lives as well.
This Wednesday, after a 29 month hiatus due the Covid-19 pandemic, the famous Assumption BINGO reopened the doors for over 120 exiting players. The players were excited to return and see old friends again, many who have not seen each other in over two years.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the volunteers and players who made our bingo game a success.
To Father Ivan: Thank you for your leadership, vision and trust.
To all the workers: Thank you, without you we could not put on this bingo. Your commitment is very much appreciated and admired.
To the Mrs. Shumney and the teachers of Assumption Catholic School: Thank you for setting a new standard for the bingo kitchen. The menu was delicious and well received.
To Colette K Baginsky and John Baginsky for a great job of getting Bingo back up and running it so well and smooth.
Hope to see all of you again next Wednesday September 14th.

This Sunday was a glorious day at Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, NJ,   as our Sr. Maria Veronica of Jesus professed her solemn vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and Marian consecration.
The vows were taken after reading of the Holy Gospel during the Divine Liturgy and in front of Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy, Auxiliary Bishop for Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and the Mother Mary of the Immaculate Conception Ambrogio,  the  Provincial Superior of the Sisters Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará.  Present at the Liturgy were Fr. Alberto Barattero, IVE, the Provincial Superior of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, Fr. Ivan Turyk, Pastor of Assumption Church, alongside many religious sisters, guests and parishioners. Sister Veronica was especially grateful for the presence and support of Major Superiors of Women’s Ukrainian Religious Congregations in the USA, Sr. Eliane Ilnitski, SSMI, the Provincial of the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Conception and Mother Maria Kelly M.S.M.G, Superior of the Missionary Sisters of the Mother of God.
At the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, the beautiful symbols – the ring of espousal with Jesus, the white crown of flowers, the lighted candle and the Constitution of the Sisters Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará were presented to the newly professed. The rite of perpetual profession also included the prostration of Sister during the Litany, the pronouncement of the handwritten formula of vows into the hands of the Provincial Mother Superior, the signing of the document of the vows, and greeting by other perpetually professed members of the community. The final profession of Sr. Veronica was like a wedding day, because consecrating her life entirely to God through life-long vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, Sister accepted a vocational call to become a bride of Jesus Christ. 
The solemn ceremony was followed by a beautiful reception at our school hall.

Photos by John Baginsky and some by our parishioners.

Congratulations to 17 parish and 14 school children who received their First Penance and Solemn Holy Communion today! Our parish offers its most sincere congratulations and prayerful best wishes to them on this most important event in their lives. Thanks to Sr. Veronica and Sr. Maria for preparing parish children, and Mrs. Kukuruza, 2nd grade, for preparing ACS school students for this joyful day. May God grant them many happy and blessed years because CHRIST IS RISEN! 

On Good Friday morning, April 15, 2022 ACS students along with the parishioners of Ukrainian Assumption Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, NJ participated at the moving service called solemn Vespers with the burial procession bearing the Holy Shroud or Plashchanitsa. The “plashchanitsa” is a winding sheet with the picture of Christ’s body lying dead in the tomb. After the procession inside the Church, the shroud was laid out for veneration on a replica of the sepulcher. Fr. Ivan in his homily remarked that the world is haunted by Calvaries. Today, Calvary is found in Ukraine, where the innocent blood is poured from the bodies of men, women, and children who are defending their homeland. He invited everyone to enter into the mystery of the Calvary and the tomb of Christ, putting our hopes and prayers into the great news that the Lord has Risen.  

This year, the service was also attended by members of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Perth Amboy, NJ. The Rev. E. F. Michael Morgan, Ph.D., Interim Priest of the congregation, offered brief remarks about the tender love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior who through his death on the cross invites us to walk in the way of his suffering, and share in his Resurrection. 

A big thank you goes to our parishioners Vasyl Kichula and Ganna Kichula for packing all supplies.    Thanks also to Meest-America who shipped over 60 boxes of our humanitarian aid packages for Ukraine at a discounted price. Thank you to our many parishioners and friends who so generously contributed to the Humanitarian Aid Fund for Ukraine. Together to Victory!