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Official Publication of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia VOL. 71 - No. 21 DECEMBER 5, 2010 ENGLISH VERSION CHRISTMAS PASTORAL OF THE HIERARCHS OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA To Our Reverend Clergy, manger. The angel also angel of the Reverend Religious, directed the three kings or Lord directed Seminarians, and to the astrologers to search for the astrologers Faithful, the newborn Jesus. Both to take a the simple shepherds and different route Christ is Born! the well studied home to avoid astrologers heeded the revealing to Herod the of Jesus Christ will bring Christmas begins proclamation of Jesus’ birth place of the Child Jesus. you to a closer journey with the joyful in the world. They re- God continually with Jesus in your earthly proclamation of good arranged their lives to intervenes through people life and in eternity. Allow news. An angel of heaven search for Jesus. They in His love and concern yourself to be the bright announces to the made personal sacrifice to for the welfare of all light of Jesus’ love and shepherds that the Savior greet Jesus into the world. peoples. Yet, there are care in the word around has been born. It is good Their hearts were open to those who choose to allow you and with the people news which cannot be the hand of God amidst pride and selfishness to you were given to love contained. It is them. overtake their hearts. They and to nurture in Jesus’ announced and The ruler at the diminish the light of Jesus name. You will come to celebrated in heaven and time, Herod, was also in the world. Reflect on share in the blessedness on earth by glorious choirs blessed to hear of the how you yourself reveal of our Blessed Mother who and lowly shepherds. We newborn King, Jesus. His the light of Jesus Christ in will intercede for your joyfully proclaim in our heart and mind were not your life. Can you say of needs with Her Son, Jesus. beautiful traditional way open to God’s presence. yourself that you are a You will then truly celebrate that “God is among us!” He regarded Jesus’ hopeful person? Do you Christmas! It is constantly repeated authority as a threat to his reflect God’s love in your God grant you a many times during the own authority. Pride does words and actions with most blessed Christmas evening Compline Service. that to any person. The others? Or, do you allow celebration, filled with It is as if we cannot say it self takes on greater selfishness and pride to much joy shared with enough! importance and dominate your choices in others. Know of our love The angel significance than God life? Do you radiate God’s for you and of our announced to the Himself. The person ends love or do you diminish it? remembrance of you in shepherds the birth of Jesus up losing the privilege of Choosing to love and led them to the coming to know God. The God and to share the light (Continued on next page) CHRISTMAS St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, PASTORAL Passaic, New Jersey Celebrates Centennial Jubilee (continued from previous page) October 24, 2010, marked the apex of the year-long celebration our prayers. May of the Centennial you be blessed with Jubilee of St. Nicholas good health, Parish in Passaic. The happiness, and day began with much contentment in hierarchy and clergy all of your processing to the endeavors in the entrance of the church, coming year! led by the Knights of Columbus honor guard, altar servers and a cadre of children in Ukrainian Folk atire strewing rose petals in their path. At the entrance, Christ is Born! Archbishop Metropolitan Stefan Soroka, Archeparch of Philadelphia, was warmly Let us glorify greeted with bread and salt by parishioners, Sofia Capar and Robert J. Hrubec, and Him! the children expressed a joyous welcome in Ukrainian verse. In return Archbishop blessed the crowd with a ceremonial cross. +Stefan Soroka Metropolitan- A Hierarchial Archbishop of Divine Liturgy Philadelphia opened the celebration that +Richard Seminack day, to a church Eparch of St. filled with Nicholas in parishioners, Chicago friends, and benefactors. +Paul Chomnycky, Archbishop OSBM Metropolitan Eparch of Stamford Stefan was the main celebrant; +John Bura concelebrants Apostolic were Most Rev. Administrator Hlib Lonchyna, of St. Josaphat in Studite, Apostolic Exarch of Great Britain, Most Rev. William Skurla, Bishop for the Parma Ruthenian Diocese of Passaic, Most Rev. Paul Chomnycky, OSBM, Bishop of the Eparchy of Stamford, Most Rev. Basil H. Losten, Bishop Emeritus, Eparchy of Stamford, Christmas, 2010 Rev. Jody Baron, assistant pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Byzantine Catholic Church, Rev. George Worschak, parish vocation, Jenkintown, PA, Msgr. Peter Waslo, who served as Deacon and Rev. Andriy Dudkevych, current pastor, and former pastors of St. Nicholas parish, Rev. Joseph Szupa, Protopresbyter for North Jersey , and Rev. Ihor Royik. Also in attendance were many of the clergy from the North Jersey Protopresbyterate, and Sr. Michele Yakymovitch, Provincial Superior, Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, and sixteen Sisters Servants, all of whom had (Continued on next page) December 5, 2010 2 St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Passaic, New Jersey Celebrates Centennial Jubilee (continued from previous page) served at the parish school, as well as representatives of the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church Choir, under the direction of Andriy Legkyy, sang the responses to the Liturgy. The Epistle and Gospel were read in Ukrainian by Anatolii Dolyk and Rev. Royik, and English by Jerome Mykietyn and Rev. Szupa, respectively. In his homily, Archbishop Stefan acknowledged the newly completed iconography that adorns the church. He urged parishioners, as well as all Ukrainian Catholics, to open up our churches to everyone, Ukrainian and non- Ukrainian, so that they may have knowledge of our worship traditions and view the beauty of our iconography, and to share with all the Word of God so richly depicted therein. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop blessed and consecrated the newly renovated church interior, and wished the parish and its parishioners many happy years as it began its new century. Following the consecration, the assembled poured out onto the front plaza and stairs leading up to the church for a commemorative photo. Then it was on to the gala banquet at the Royal Manor. Over 500 guests were in attendance that evening. It was a time to renew old acquaintances and to make new ones; parishioners and former parishioners and guests mingled with parish school alumni, former teachers and Sisters, many who had not seen each other in years. The banquet program opened with The Our Father sung by the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church Choir, and a blessing by Archbishop Stefan. Peter Kosciolek, master of ceremonies, was privileged to introduce the evening’s program. George Yacekewycz, (Continued on next page) December 5, 2010 3 St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Passaic, New Jersey Celebrates Centennial Jubilee (continued from previous page) parishioner and resident poet, read an excerpt from the poem he wrote specifically for the Centennial Jubilee, and Steven Retkwa, second generation parishioner, pronounced the toast. The SUM Dancers, Passaic, welcomed the hierarchy and guests with the traditional Ukrainian greeting dance, Pryvit. After a delicious banquet, the keynote address was presented by Most Rev. Hlib Lonchyna, Studite, Apostolic Exarch of Great Britain and former pastor of St. Nicholas, who had flown in from Great Britain for this special occasion. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church Choir with their director, Andriy Legkyy, and the Choir “New Ukrainian Wave”, directed by Myron Hrytsyk astounded all with their vocal renditions. As the evening drew to a close, Rev. Andriy Dudkevych, the current pastor, spoke warmly of his service here at the parish, the kindness and magnanimousness of the parishioners, and of the bright future ahead for St. Nicholas Parish Closing out the joyous and entertaining evening was Most Rev. Paul Chomnycky, OSBM, Bishop of Stamford Eparchy, who gave the Benediction. Thus, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Passaic, New Jersey, begins its second century. December 5, 2010 4 Centenarian Celebrates Parish Centennial Jubilee Miss Julia Ressetar, at 101 years of age, marked the Centennial Jubilee of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Passaic, New Jersey, with a visit from its pastor, Rev. Andriy Dudkevych. Miss Julia is St. Nicholas’s oldest living parishioner and the middle child in a family of 15. Due to health issues she was unable to participate in all of the jubilee events held on October 24th of this year. During his visit, Rev. Andriy presented Miss Julia with an icon of St. Nicholas, the parish patron saint, specially chosen for the celebration, and a copy of the jubilee commemorative book filled with the history and pictures of parish life. Miss Julia is a first-hand witness to much of the parish history recorded in the book As for many Ukrainian families in the area, Miss Julia’s family roots go back to the coal mining regions of Pennsylvania. Originally emigrating from what was then the Austro- Hungarian Empire, the family settled in the Mount Carmel area, later moving onto New Jersey in search of jobs and security. Miss Julia and her family were always active parishioners. Many will remember her sister, Helen, who lived to age 99, and who for many years taught kindergarten and catechism preparation at the parish. Speaking as one who has already begun her second century, Miss Julia’s advice to the parish as it begins its second is to always keep our faith and prayer foremost in our hearts and minds.

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