Our Newest Deacon
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Official Publication of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia VOL. 73 - No. 12 JUNE 24, 2012 ENGLISH VERSION Our Newest Deacon Father’s Day this year was archdeacon for the a joyous day of ordination; Rev. Wasyl celebration. Not only did Kharuk, Spiritual Director our faithful and families of St. Josaphat Ukrainian come together in prayer Catholic Seminary in and worship to give Washington, D.C.; Very thanks to God for His gift Rev. Archpriest Daniel of our fathers in our lives, Troyan, Chaplain to the the Archeparchy of Sisters of St. Basil the Great Philadelphia welcomed in Fox Chase Manor, P.A.; the newly ordained Very Rev. Roman Dubitsky, Reverend Deacon Roman retired pastor of Sverdan to the ranks of Assumption of the BVM the Minor Orders of Ukrainian Catholic Church Acolyte, Lector, Cantor in Perth Amboy, N.J.; and and Subdeacon, and also Rev. Paul J. Makar, was ordained to the Major Vocations Director of the Order of Deacon. Rev. Archeparchy of . Deacon Roman was Philadelphia. Msgr. Peter ordained to the minor Waslo, Chancellor of the orders and to the Archeparchy of diaconate at the Ukrainian Philadelphia, served as Catholic Church of the Master of Ceremonies, and Nativity of the Blessed Rev. Deacon Michael Virgin Mary in New Waak served as deacon Brunswick, New Jersey, on for the ordination liturgy. Sunday, June 17th, 2012, through the hands of Rev. Deacon Roman has Metropolitan-Archbishop worked very hard over the The newly ordained Stefan Soroka. In past seven years during his Reverend Deacon Roman Sverdan. attendance at the course of seminary study ordination was Rev. in preparation for work. He came to the while in the Ukrainian Army Roman Pitula, pastor of ordination to the minor United States as a migrant during the time of the the Church of the Nativity orders and to the worker, who had worked Soviet Union. He was of the Blessed Virgin Mary diaconate. His story is one in Ukraine as a laborer in New Brunswick and of much sacrifice and hard after serving for a short (continued on next page) Our Newest Deacon (continued from previous page) raised as a pious and prayer life. Rev. Andriy spiritual, and human a priest for the Archeparchy devout man, and his faith Rabiy, his then-pastor, formation for those men of Philadelphia. has never left him – if recognized that he had a who are late vocations anything, his faith and love potential vocation in him and have little background We all know Rev. Deacon for God and Church only to serve God and the in academic study. It Roman to be a very hard increased during his life, Church. Father Rabiy should be noted that worker who is intense in especially when he encouraged Roman to Roman had intense his prayer life and fervent emigrated to the United consider seminary and struggles during this time, in the faith. Let us all pray States of America. He with that, he entered into especially in trying to that Rev. Deacon Roman settled in New Jersey and seminary studies, first at St. master the English continues to work hard in while laboring as a painter, Basil’s Seminary in language, but his faith in humble service to our he became a parishioner Stamford, C.T., followed by God and long suffering Church and to our Lord at Nativity of the Blessed a short period of English patience paid off. God God in Heaven as “one Virgin Mary Ukrainian language study at St. has sent His Holy Spirit who serves.” Let us all raise Catholic Church in New Josaphat’s in Washington, upon Roman, changing our voices with one voice Brunswick, N.J. Roman D.C. Following this, he him from the Ukrainian as we say “AXIOS!”, that was very active in the New was enrolled at Holy painter/contractor that Roman is indeed worthy to Brunswick parish and Apostles Seminary in everyone has known and serve God and Church with helped out the parish (and Cromwell, C.T., a Roman loved into a competent faith, love, and humility! many other people) with Catholic institution that and capable seminarian various projects in addition specializes in providing and deacon, who, God- (Pictures courtesy of Mr. to living a very active academic, pastoral, willing, will soon become Charles Patulak) Photo (l to r): Rev. Paul J. Makar, Rev. Wasyl Kharuk, Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka, Rev. Deacon Roman Sverdan, Rev. Roman Pitula, Very Rev. Roman Dubitsky, Very Rev. Archpriest Daniel Troyan, Seminarian Walter Pasicznyk, Rev. Deacon Michael Waak, and altar servers. June 24, 2012 2 Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka offered the Homily during the Ordination Liturgy for Rev. Deacon Roman Sverdan on June 17, 2012 Ñëàâà ²ñóñó Õðèñòó! full of Spirit – to be filled with wisdom. “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate I believe that you, Roman, one and love the other, are a worthy candidate for or to be devoted to one the deaconate. Our Lord and despise the other. You and Savior, Jesus Christ cannot serve God and will continue to work with mammon” (Mt 6:24) you and to mold you into the image of servant you Your presence today, the are meant to be, hopefully priests, deacons, religious, as a priest. seminarians, and all of the good faithful affirms one I have witnessed your man’s holy commitment to growth in these past seven be entirely devoted to love years of seminary and to serve God. You preparation. You were have come to pray initially very fearful. You together on the occasion doubted yourself and your of the ordination to the capability to learn English Minor Orders and to the for studies for the Major Order of the priesthood. In the process Deaconate of Roman of formation, you have Sverdan. learned to trust the Lord. You learned to listen to His Roman – you stand before will for you. You relied on the altar today to commit the intercession of the Metropolitan Stefan vests Roman Sverdan yourself – your entire being Blessed Mother in your with a cantor's phelon (cape), signifying – to love and serve Our regular prayers to her to that Roman has been ordained and vested Lord, Jesus Christ. We all help you. You received as a Cantor. admire your complete strength to persevere. The freedom and willingness to call to serve God in holy respond to Jesus’ invitation ministry has prevailed. It to serve him in this more has grown and matured. intimate way – as a You have learned to let Deacon in His holy Church. go of your own will and The qualifications for to surrender to God’s will ordination were set in the for you. Your enthusiasm, first century of the early Roman, in learning to let Church. They are no go and to say “yes” to different today. The God’s call gives me great qualifications were three- confidence and hope in fold – to be a man of good reputation – to be (continued on next page) June 24, 2012 3 Homily during the Ordination Liturgy for Rev. Deacon Roman Sverdan on June 17, 2012 (continued from previous page) how God will use you as ought not to serve with an His servant. I am excited attitude that you are in about your potential for charge or in power. Your ministry within our Church. approach must be one of asking others to walk with Roman, you are a you. You exercise genuinely spiritual man. leadership by your own The primary qualifications modeling of sharing and of a deacon are your caring behavior. You call depth of personal others to do the same by commitment to Jesus example. Then it does not Christ, your love for Sacred really matter if you can Scriptures, and the ability handle a challenge. It is to communicate the faith not you in charge. The Metropolitan Stefan Soroka delivers the with others. I have answers and resources will homily. Roman Sverdan, vested as a personally witnessed the always be present with you subdeacon, is seated in front of him with manner in which you in abundance when you the towel used to dry the Metropolitan's encourage others to pray, invite others to join you in hands draped over his head as a sign of especially to our Blessed service. Entrust yourself to humility in service to the Church. Mother. Roman, you are Jesus, asking for His help a man of prayer. You have and guidance. Pray to inspired your peers at the our Blessed Mother for her seminary to greater intercession. You will never prayer. You have inspired feel that you are walking me by your steadfast life alone. No task will be of prayer when you lived impossible. with me at the bishops’ residence one summer. Thank you, Roman, for You are joyful in your your readiness to serve being able to bring the God as a deacon. Thank faith to the patients whom you for your commitment you serve now in the to continue your formation special ten week clinical for the holy priesthood. pastoral training at the You gentle nature, your hospital. You don’t demonstrated care and hesitate to go out of your compassion for people, way, sacrificing your time your open heart to love to pray with others and to and to serve, your bring them the good news readiness to serve for life of Jesus Christ. – these are the beautiful qualities that will grow as Whenever and wherever you serve as Christ’s you are asked to serve, deacon, and God-willing, you are reminded that you as a priest.