Fathers are angels sent from heaven. ~~Author Unknown CCongrattullattionnss, GGradduuattes!! May the Lord bless you as you take Our sincere wish for a Happy Father’s Day to all our May the Lord bless you as you take the next step in the journey of life. fathers. May God bless you for your love and sacrifices. the next step in the journey of life. OF OFFICIALFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC EPARCHY OF STAMFORD ССіівваачч SSoowweerr VOL XXV; No. 5 STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06902 MAY 23, 2010 www.stamforddio.org AXIOS! He is Worthy! On Sunday, May 2nd, Rev. Deacon Roman Badiak was ordained to the priest- hood in St. Basil’s Seminary Chapel. During the ordination the acclamation, Axios! was sung over and over again. Indeed, Fr. Roman, who was ordained to the Diaconate in Feb. 2009, has been deemed ‘worthy’ to continue his ministry in a new cap acity! Многая Літа! (More on page 6.) A Day of New Beginnings for 2 Graduates of St. Basil College Seminary On Saturday May Seminary in the context of world events, and Ioan spoke of the many things that 8th, Celso Belo and beginning in 1939, the opening of the they had learned while at St. Basil’s. Ioan Dubovici College and the rise to power of Hitler, Celso said that the staff at St. received Bachelor of through the 2004 Orange Revolution, and Basil’s taught him “to learn and to dream” Arts Degrees immediately following a beyond to the 2010 elections in Ukraine. He and although he had grown up in a family Baccalaureate Divine Liturgy in St. encouraged all acqainted with St. Basil’s to of poor laborers in Brazil, he was leaving Basil’s Seminary Chapel. let others “know about the gem in St. Basil’s a wealthier man. “My Catholic Concelebrating the Divine Liturgy with Stamford that has made positive contribu- education taught me that the goal of life is Bishop Paul Chomnycky, OSBM, were tions throughout the world in its 71 years” not just to make a lot of money but to Very Rev. Archpriest Bohdan Danylo, of existence and to support the college by build a better world and make God’s pres- Seminary Rector/President; Rev. participating in “future course offerings” ence known to those who will listen...I can Maxim Kobasuk, OSBM, Spiritual which will be open to all. now be poor no longer!” Director; Very Rev. Archpriest Ivan During the dinner which followed Ioan said that the routine of get- Divine Liturgy, and homework has left Kaszczak, Academic Dean; and Rev. the commencement ceremony, both Celso ting up early, hard work, classes, singing the him with “just a piece of paper,”a Deacon Vasyl Behay. Bishop Emeritus diploma, that, “for Celso and me is a Basil Losten was also in attendance. symbol, a symbol of all the wonderful Bishop Paul welcomed the times, and also some difficult times, graduates explaining that a commence- that formed us into the Christian men ment is a day of new beginnings, an we are today . We acknowledge that opening to new and exciting vistas. this is the beginning of a new chapter Mr. Andrew C. Bamber, in our lives . I do not know what life CFRE, Director of Annual Giving, has in store for me in the future, but I Legionnaires of Christ and member of do know that the piece of paper I the St. Basil College Board of Trustees, received from St. Basil’s (that is the gave the Commencement Address. diploma) will always be a reminder Mr. Bambar spoke of the that I have been well prepared for life challenges that accompany change. To and will face it with Commitment, illustrate this, he placed the events in Consistency and Perseverance,” three the history of St. Basil’s College principles taught at St. Basil’s. 2 MAY 23, 22010010 SOWER SOWER The Priest and Pastoral Ministry LLIIGGHHTT OONNEE CCAANNDDLLEE in a Digital World: New Media Gerald M. Costello The Christophers at the Service of the Word AN AAMAZINGMAZING World Communications Day - GRAGR ACE-FILLEDCE-FILLED LIFELIFE May 16 She’s known as Amazing Grace, and if ever a title fit, this one hits the bullseye. “Amazing Grace” is Grace Czarnecki, a The theme of this year's World Communications Day - The Priest and teacher in the Milwaukee school system for the past 36 years, and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word - is meant what she does in her spare time is – well, amazing. to coincide with the Church's celebration of the Year for Priests. It focuses attention on the important and sensitive Anywhere between five and eight times a year, Czarnecki pastoral area of digital communications, in which priests can discover new possibilities for carrying out their ministry loads up a truck jam-packed with donated goods and drives it 580 to and for the Word of God. Church communities have always used the modern media for fostering communication, miles to a remote section of Kentucky, where she gives them away engagement with society, and, increasingly, for encouraging dialogue at a wider level. Yet the recent, explosive growth to families in need. She’s been doing this for 27 years, and shows no and greater social impact of these media make them all the more important for a fruitful priestly ministry. signs of letting up. All priests have as their primary duty the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, and the “The dear Lord uses me this way,” she told Maryangela communication of his saving grace in the sacraments. Gathered and called by the Word, the Church is the sign and Layman Roman of the Catholic Herald, Milwaukee archdiocesan instrument of the communion that God creates with all people, and every priest is called to build up this communion, newspaper. “I like driving. He gave me the love of being behind the in Christ and with Christ. Such is the lofty dignity and beauty of the mission of the priest, which responds in a special wheel, going to new places and meeting people.” way to the challenge raised by the Apostle Paul: "The Scripture says, 'No one who believes in him will be put to shame She’s met a lot of them over the years, and they’ve become ... everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how can they call on him in whom they have not her fast friends. Grace Czarnecki is a woman easy to like, and if believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone there’s any doubt about that think of all the people whose lives she’s to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? (Rom 10:11, 13-15). touched. Responding adequately to this challenge amid today's cultural shifts, to which young people are especial- It all began when she took a friend’s suggestion to drop in ly sensitive, necessarily involves using new communications technologies. The world of digital communication, with at a neighboring parish to hear a visiting missionary, a member of the its almost limitless expressive capacity, makes us appreciate all the more Saint Paul's exclamation: "Woe to me if I School Sisters of St. Francis who described her work in rural do not preach the Gospel" (1 Cor 9:16) The increased availability of the new technologies demands greater respon- Kentucky – where, the speaker said, many families lacked adequate sibility on the part of those called to proclaim the Word, but it also requires them to become more focused, efficient medical care, education, and even indoor plumbing. The missioner and compelling in their efforts. Priests stand at the threshold of a new era: as new technologies create deeper forms pleaded for help, especially for volunteers to transport donations. of relationship across greater distances, they are called to respond pastorally by putting the media ever more effec- Encouraged by her mother, Czarnecki accepted the challenge. That tively at the service of the Word. was in 1983, and she’s been driving back and forth ever since. The spread of multimedia communications and its rich "menu of options" might make us think it sufficient It takes a lot of goods to fill a truck, and Czarnecki never simply to be present on the Web, or to see it only as a space to be filled. Yet priests can rightly be expected to be seems to have much trouble doing it. She hits up everybody: friends, present in the world of digital communications as faithful witnesses to the Gospel, exercising their proper role as lead- neighbors, coworkers, fellow parishioners – and they’re all delight- ers of communities which increasingly express themselves with the different "voices" provided by the digital market- ed to help. They give her all sorts of things, including food, furni- place. Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources ture, books, household goods, holiday items and toys. The contribu- (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new tions keep piling up, so much so that Czarnecki had a shed put up in vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis. her yard to store all the items until it’s time for another trip. Using new communication technologies, priests can introduce people to the life of the Church and help our Once she takes off, always with a friend to serve as copilot, contemporaries to discover the face of Christ.