Seminary Day Information

75th Annual Ukrainian Seminary Day
Sun., July 26, 2009 in Minersville;

Metropolitan Stefan to be Main Celebrant at 11 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Minersville, Pa.--The 75th Annual Ukrainian Seminary Day will be held Sunday, July 26, 2009 at St. Nicholas Picnic Grove, Route 901 Minersville, Schuylkill County, PA. At 11 a.m., Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka and the clergy of the South Anthracite Deanery will celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

Entertainment includes Paul Konkus of WPPA AM 1360 hosting a Live Polka Broadcast from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. from the picnic grove. “The Kazka Ukrainian Folk Ensemble of Northeast. Pennsylvania” performs at 1:30 p.m., and “The Pennsylvania Villagers” band provides polka and dance music from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Home-made Ukrainian and Slavic foods, including holubtsi-halupki, halushki, pyrohy, kobasa-kielbasi, bleenies, sausage, Lemko platters, and ice cream, bean soup, desserts will be sold throughout the day. Ukrainian arts and crafts will also be on display and for sale. A “Theme Basket Auction” featuring over 30 baskets created by each of the 12 sponsoring parishes, church organizations and individual parishioners will be conducted throughout the day.

Admission and parking are free. Buses are welcome.

St. Nicholas Picnic Grove and Hall are located on Route 901 one mile north of Minersville in the village of Primrose, Schuylkill County, Pa.

In the 1930’s, Ukrainian Seminary Day was started by the clergy to raise funds for the seminary. For decades the social was held on the last Sunday in July at Lakewood Park, Barnesville, Pa. as a celebration of faith and Ukrainian heritage. After Lakewood Park closed in the early 1980’s, the event was moved to its present location St. Nick’s grove in Primrose, Pa.

From 1985 through 2008, Ukrainian Seminary Day has raised more than $500,000.00 for St. Josaphat’s Seminary Fund, which provides financial support for St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary, adjacent to the campus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.