First Penance ( Reconciliation)

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned …” Today, our children were blessed to have their first Confessions heard and this Sunday they will be welcomed around the Eucharistic table for the first time. The girls will be dressed in white dresses and the boys in their Sunday best with their hair combed and shirts tucked in. The purity and innocence of the children will be on full display. Congratulation children and their parents. The day will truly be full of faith, hope and love.

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Thank you for the first 10 years, Your Beatitude Sviatoslav.

Happy 10th Anniversary of the Enthronement as Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In 2015, His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk visited our Parish and Assumption Catholic School in Perth Amboy, NJ. Thank your Beatitude for all that You do for our church worldwide. We are so blessed and honored to have a spiritual father like You.
Сердечно Вітаємо Вас, Блаженніший Святославе з 10-річчям введення Вас на престіл Глави
нашої Церкви. Ми дуже вдячні Богу і дуже радіємо, що ВИ БЛАЖЕННІШИЙ є у нас !!! Дякуємо за відвідування з пастирським візитом у 2015 році нашої Парафії і Української Католицької Школи Успіння Богородиці, м. Перт Амбой, Нью Джерсі, США.

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Teaching young students about the Birth of Christ.

Pastors are incredibly busy people, especially during this Christmas season.  Still, Fr. Ivan always finds time to be with his students at the Assumption Catholic school. Today, he  took lower grades students and their teachers  to the church and explained the story of Christ’s birth by observing the icon of Nativity. The students had a wonderful opportunity to learn more about main characters in the icon: Mary (the Theotokos), baby Christ, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, the Magi. He pointed to the scene of Christ’s bath and explained why it is important (it shows that Christ was a real baby). He  explained why Joseph is sitting away from the Theotokos and Child (he was not Christ’s father). He also identified the devil in the icon and explained that devil  is tempting Joseph not to believe in the Incarnation of God. All students learned that through his birth, Christ has healed a wounded humanity and restored our harmony and friendship with God.

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Feed the Hungry in Our Community.

In preparation for the Christmas Holiday, Saturday, Nov. 14 until Sunday Dec. 22, our parish will have a special collection of nonperishable goods and children’s new toys for the needy people in Perth Amboy, NJ. Please leave your donation in the Church foyer or downstairs on the bench next to the bulletin board. You may also donate a gift card that will be given only to our parish or school families in need. “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?…” And the King will answer and say to them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even to the least of them, YOU DID IT TO ME.” – Matthew 25:35-40

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Tribute to my friend a brother priest.

Sometimes in life we get lucky, and whether layperson or priest, no matter, we get to meet someone special in whom we can see a glimpse of the living Lord. For me that person was Very Reverend Archpriest David F. Clooney, a dear friend, my spiritual father and a great priest. I first met with Fr. David almost twenty years ago at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Washington DC, where he was the rector, mentoring young men as they worked toward the priesthood.
On a hot day in September, just as I arrived from Ukraine to study for the priesthood, Fr. David greeted three fearful students at the door of the seminary with a very strange greeting: “Huey, Dewey, and Louie welcome to America.” I don’t know what the two other students were thinking at that moment, but I thought to myself “Oh my God” this new rector of the seminary is giving me a new name that I don’t like and it scared the hell out of me. Funny, it took me a while to learn about the triplet cartoon characters that Father often referred to in his conversations and the sense of humor of “batya” – Ukrainian for “dad,” the name we seminarians gave him.
And what a great dad he was for all his American and Ukrainian students. Even when seminarians weren’t able to move forward with their studies, struggled and were not responding to the rigorous seminary academic program, he continued to love and support them. Fr. David had a depth of compassion and love that would keep him working with a student as long as he could to help the young man find his way in life, either in the priesthood like in my case or being a good lay Christian man. He supported and cared for us with sensitivity and warmth, with a sense of deep concern for our physical and spiritual well-being.
I’ll always remember his deep love for the Liturgy, fostering our growth in prayer and a love of study.
I’ll remember memorable rides to stores in his small white Volkswagen Passat, my first trip to the hospital after I broke my hand playing soccer and Father giving me a pomegranate to cheer me up on the way back home. What great memories.
After completing seminary and becoming a priest myself, I also observed firsthand what an extraordinary parish priest Fr. David was and how much he was respected among his parishioners and brother priests. In my estimation, he was a deeply spiritual man, a very holy man, a very prayerful man, and he loved being a priest.
As Fr. David’s strength and energy diminished over these past few years of sickness, he remained a presence of humility and gentleness. He was not afraid of death. He continued to draw strength from the Lord whom he served so generously and well for all his life and the words of Jesus “I am the Resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live.”
I’m saddened by your death my good friend David, but I am grateful for that one day you touched my life by greeting me “Huey, Dewey, and Louie welcome to America.” You have done your best to make me feel very welcomed and at home in America. Thank You.
In English, the language that you taught me, when we say goodbye it seems so final. Today I don’t say goodbye to you in English, I say to you in my native Ukrainian ‘Dopobachennia,” which means ‘until we meet again.’
‘Dopobachennia,’ good friend Fr. David, until we meet again on the other side.
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Celebrating First Penance ( Reconciliation) and Holy Eucharist.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration of First Sacrament of Reconciliation and Solemn Holy Communion was delayed throughout parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Not wanting our students to think they have been forgotten, last Saturday eight students participated in these special sacraments, following all liturgical precautions and keeping with social distancing requirements. It was a blessed day, truly a day the Lord had chosen, and we rejoiced in it.

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Повідомлення про відновлення Богослужінь.

Дорогі парафіяни нашого храму.
 
У зв’язку з послабленням карантину у Америці і завдяки Божій ласці, сьогодні  ми  відновляємо Божественні Літургії для парафіян та приятелів у нашій церкві.
 
Ми намагатимемося робити все можливе, щоб розмістити всіх у храмі, але ми ЗОБОВ’ЯЗАНІ дотримуватися адміністративних вказівок уряду і медичних рекомендацій, які теж є затверджені нашим Архиєпископом.
 
1. Усі присутні в церкві ПОВИННІ мати маску, яку потрібно взяти з собою з дому.
 
2. Також присутні на богослужіннях повинні дотримуватися соціальної дистанції між собою. Прошу займати тільки зазначені місця у лавках,  які є позначені і відкриті, та дотриматись соціальної дистанції у 1,5-2 метри.
 
3. Усі вірні повинні використовувати засоби для дезінфікування рук, які є при вході до церкви.
 
4. Богослужіння буде відбуватися  без хору і книжок у лавках.  Буде співати тільки дяк  а вірні можуть допомагати.
 
5. Святе Причастя . о. Іван  використовуватиме дві ложечки для Св. Причастя, які будуть дезінфікуватися спиртом з відповідною концентрацією  після кожного причасника. Священик  буде мати захисну маску. Уділяючи Святе Причастя, вірні мають широко відкривати вуста і не торкатися вустами ложечки.  
 
6. Після Богослужень не скупчуйтесь у притворі чи на вулиці. Пам’ятайте про заборону контактувати з іншими людьми.
 
7. Посвячені вербні галузки можна буде отримати на вулиці. Кошик з галузками  знаходиться на центральних сходах.
 
8. Вірним, які мають застереження щодо відвідування церкви, особливо людям, віком від 65 років і старшим, або тим, які мають проблеми зі здоров’ям, ми рекомендуємо  залишатись дома.
 
9. Відновляється сповідь. Якщо вам потрібно поговорити чи навідати священика, зверніться до парафіяльної канцелярії або зателефонуйте священику безпосередньо 2023682408.
 
Прошу з розумінням ставитись до  всіх  вимог ситуації пандемії. Нехай береже нас усіх  Господь.
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Welcome Back Home!

Beloved in Christ,

​Jesus, You teach us to “fear no one,” but we are afraid, body and soul. There is so much fear in our world these days, from pandemic to civil unrest. It is time to cling to Christ, the Rock of ages, and His Church built upon Peter, a man transformed by the Holy Spirit. Are you clinging yet? I hope so. It’s been a challenging time but today I WELCOME you back to your spiritual home.

​In order to protect everyone, and to accommodate the needs of our Parishioners while meeting the social distancing guidelines and other guidance of health officials, we will be implementing the following steps at every Liturgy:

1. While in Church, face masks or coverings MUST be used at ALL TIMES except when receiving Communion.  Please bring your own mask.

2.     Social distancing must be observed between all present at the services. No handshakes, hugs or kissing when greeting one another. No touching or kissing of icons, venerate them with a simple bow.

3.     Some pews have been cordoned off and the pews that are open have been marked with blue tape indicating where people may sit.  Please note that family groups may sit together and are not bound by social distancing. All  should remain in place once  seated.  The church and pews are sanitized and  cleaned regularly.

4.     Hand sanitizer is available at the entrance of the church.  You are also encouraged to bring your own small sanitizer.

5.     Collection Plate Location: Two Baskets for both collections (2) are located at each side of the church back wall; no baskets will be passed at this time. You can place your gracious contribution into a basket before or after Liturgies.

6.     All Hymn Books and Liturgy Books have been temporarily removed from church. You are welcome to bring your own prayer book.

7.     The cantor will assist the priest by leading the faithful in worship.  There will be limited use of singing by congregation.

8.     Communion will be given as usual out of the chalice, but once you approach the chalice, lower your mask, tilt your head back and open your mouth so that Fr. Ivan can pour the gifts in your mouth without touching. Father will use two spoons in rotation. Each spoon will be sanitized immediately after each communicant by pure alcohol (at least 60-50%). People will process to receive communion while maintaining social distance following marks on the floor. 

9.     The floor is  taped to reflect appropriate social-distancing of 6 ft. for the Communion line. We ask communicants from the center pews of the church to be first in line for Holy Communion. Then communicants from the side pews to follow. Please, no cutting through center aisle pews.

 10.   Dismissal will be permitted out the front and side doors; The main and side  doors will be open for exit after the Liturgy.

11.   There will be no in-person coffee hour fellowships.

12. Parishioners  who are  sick or symptomatic must stay at home.

All these procedures were established for your protection. Thank you for your cooperation and please pray for each other.

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Many Thanks to All!

Dearly beloved parishioners of Assumption church, in my sixteen years as a priest, this is the first time I have celebrated Holy Lent, Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services without the people of God in God’s house. Regardless of the restrictions of this time due to the Covid-19 coronavirus,  I continue to pray and offer services for you every day. Please remember, that while we cannot be filling our beautiful church together,  we can still worship together, by you  joining  our live streaming  services on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ivan.turyk
Our Archbishop Borys and bishop Andriy encourage everyone to take time for prayer on Sundays and to take advantage of the live-streamed Liturgies in our parish or the cathedral in Philadelphia.
To make your online worship experience an expression of our “Church of the Home,” please consider the following:
• Watch the services in a special place of your home.
• Prepare yourself as if you were coming to the church, perhaps even dressing as you usually do for service at the church.
• Turn off distractions such as other media and your phone.
• Most importantly, tune in spiritually as participants, not just observers. This is still your church!

The responses to our streaming Lenten services and Sunday’s Liturgies have been overwhelmingly positive and grows each week.  At this time, I want to thank Deacon Paul Makar, Thomas Dochych, Anna Lawrence, Sub deacon Alex Bricki and his mother Terri for helping with cantering all our services.  Thanks to our secretary Anna for her work at the parish office, to  Maria Alvarez for changing altar linens and Colette Baginsky for baking the Artos bread.  I am grateful to you for remembering me in your prayers  and for enthusiastically responding to my phone calls. I also want to thank all of you who have continued your financial support of our parish. Your labors, time, and offerings did not go unnoticed but instead are greatly appreciated!  May the Risen Lord bless you all!

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