Christmas 2009 at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, PA
Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka's Homily Video
Communion Video
Rev. Ivan Demkiv's Greetings (Parish Rector) Video
Myrovanya Video #1
Myrovanya Video #2
Cathedral Choir Video
Video: Teresa Siwak from "The Way"
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
St. Mary Church Religious Education Program - Bristol, PA
Bethlehem Graffiti
As part of the parish St. Nicholas Celebration, four students enrolled in St. Mary Church Religious Education Program participated in a unique lesson. They built a gingerbread inn, decorated it, and “graffiti-ed” it. The sign outside the Bethlehem inn read “NO ROOM.” The students’ homework assignment was to cross out the unhappy message and write their own, “more inviting” message. The students had ample time to ponder the assignment as they were told of it on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and the celebration was four weeks later.
“We were very excited about this project,” admitted Mary a fifth grade student who is home schooled. “Grace and I built the gingerbread house the night before at home, then brought it to the church hall for everyone to decorate.”
Mary’s sister, Grace, a seventh grade home schooled student, added, “most of the class brought the words of their signs to class a week early. I think we wanted to see Pete’s reaction, but he tricked us. Pete was not going to be the judge.”
Religious Education coordinator and Catechist, Pete Letenauchyn enlisted three highly qualified parishioners to judge the contest. Linda Buchannan is a member of the Parish Advisory Council, Scott Saunders, Jr. is public school teacher, as well as one of the first students to go through the religion program fifteen years ago, and Joan Kravchak is the president of the League of the Sacred Heart and a member of the Parish Advisory Council.
“Judging this contest was difficult. Each of the students made clever signs”, said Ms. Buchannan afterward. “Pete gave us a tough job, but provided distinct criteria for judging the contest.”
Ms. Kravchak explained, “We took our judging responsibilities very seriously. This contest was very serious for the participants. The kids tried to do their best work. The prize was the right to take the gingerbread inn home and bragging rights.
“The rules sheet said that entries were to be judged on originality, message, and neatness. Eventually, that meant that my favorite was not as good as the winner,” said Mr. Saunders. “Nick made a great sign. It was certainly original; however, it did not contain the message about welcoming Jesus that the others had.”
Nick is a homeschooled eleventh grade student. He literally put the icing on the cake and never complains when asked by practically everyone to help at St. Mary Church. Nick’s sign added modern, practical information: “Free Continental Breakfast and WIFI.”
Kaitlyn, who is a fifth grade student at St. Martha Catholic Elementary School in Northeast Philadelphia, made the winning sign. It read, “NO ROOM … for Jesus at the inn, … yet he welcomes us inn.”
“Yes, I am happy that I won,” said Kaite. When asked if she thought she would win she replied, “I hoped I would win, but I did not think I would (win). The other students are smart. Nick and Grace are older, too.”
“This contest was not just about skill at writing slogans,” observed the teacher behind the contest. “It’s about the message which is written on our hearts.”
As part of the parish St. Nicholas Celebration, four students enrolled in St. Mary Church Religious Education Program participated in a unique lesson. They built a gingerbread inn, decorated it, and “graffiti-ed” it. The sign outside the Bethlehem inn read “NO ROOM.” The students’ homework assignment was to cross out the unhappy message and write their own, “more inviting” message. The students had ample time to ponder the assignment as they were told of it on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and the celebration was four weeks later.
“We were very excited about this project,” admitted Mary a fifth grade student who is home schooled. “Grace and I built the gingerbread house the night before at home, then brought it to the church hall for everyone to decorate.”
Mary’s sister, Grace, a seventh grade home schooled student, added, “most of the class brought the words of their signs to class a week early. I think we wanted to see Pete’s reaction, but he tricked us. Pete was not going to be the judge.”
Religious Education coordinator and Catechist, Pete Letenauchyn enlisted three highly qualified parishioners to judge the contest. Linda Buchannan is a member of the Parish Advisory Council, Scott Saunders, Jr. is public school teacher, as well as one of the first students to go through the religion program fifteen years ago, and Joan Kravchak is the president of the League of the Sacred Heart and a member of the Parish Advisory Council.
“Judging this contest was difficult. Each of the students made clever signs”, said Ms. Buchannan afterward. “Pete gave us a tough job, but provided distinct criteria for judging the contest.”
Ms. Kravchak explained, “We took our judging responsibilities very seriously. This contest was very serious for the participants. The kids tried to do their best work. The prize was the right to take the gingerbread inn home and bragging rights.
“The rules sheet said that entries were to be judged on originality, message, and neatness. Eventually, that meant that my favorite was not as good as the winner,” said Mr. Saunders. “Nick made a great sign. It was certainly original; however, it did not contain the message about welcoming Jesus that the others had.”
Nick is a homeschooled eleventh grade student. He literally put the icing on the cake and never complains when asked by practically everyone to help at St. Mary Church. Nick’s sign added modern, practical information: “Free Continental Breakfast and WIFI.”
Kaitlyn, who is a fifth grade student at St. Martha Catholic Elementary School in Northeast Philadelphia, made the winning sign. It read, “NO ROOM … for Jesus at the inn, … yet he welcomes us inn.”
“Yes, I am happy that I won,” said Kaite. When asked if she thought she would win she replied, “I hoped I would win, but I did not think I would (win). The other students are smart. Nick and Grace are older, too.”
“This contest was not just about skill at writing slogans,” observed the teacher behind the contest. “It’s about the message which is written on our hearts.”
(click on pictures to enlarge)
Scranton, PA - Christmas Choral Concert January 3, 2010
Christmas Choral Concert
St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of Scranton, located at 430 North Seventh Avenue (between West Linden Street and West Lackawanna Avenue), will welcome "The Byzantine Male Cantors Choir of Northeastern Pennsylvania", on Sunday, January 3, 2010, at 4 p.m., in the church nave.The repertoire will include traditional Slavic Eastern European Christmas Carols. Light refreshments will be served in the Parish Center following the concert. The public is cordially invited. A free-will offering will be gratefully received.
Submitted by Paul Ewasko
St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of Scranton, located at 430 North Seventh Avenue (between West Linden Street and West Lackawanna Avenue), will welcome "The Byzantine Male Cantors Choir of Northeastern Pennsylvania", on Sunday, January 3, 2010, at 4 p.m., in the church nave.The repertoire will include traditional Slavic Eastern European Christmas Carols. Light refreshments will be served in the Parish Center following the concert. The public is cordially invited. A free-will offering will be gratefully received.
Submitted by Paul Ewasko
Lansdale, PA Parish Event January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010: the Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church (1564 Allentown Road, Lansdale, PA) invites you to attend the blessing and dedication of its new iconostas and wall iconography.
The blessing will take place during an 11:00 A.M. Pontifical Divine Liturgy at which Archbishop Metropolitan Stefan Soroka will be the chief celebrant and homilist.
At 1:00 P.M. in the social hall next to the church, the parish will host a banquet.
You will have an opportunity to meet master iconographer, Chrystyna Dochwat, and to view a display of her works in the church and in the hall.
A Ukrainian folk ensemble will entertain you.
Admission to the banquet is only $25 ($10 for children under 12). For tickets or additional information call or email Mike at 215.715.4871 or PresentationUCC@gmail.com. http://www.presentationukrainiancc.com/
The blessing will take place during an 11:00 A.M. Pontifical Divine Liturgy at which Archbishop Metropolitan Stefan Soroka will be the chief celebrant and homilist.
At 1:00 P.M. in the social hall next to the church, the parish will host a banquet.
You will have an opportunity to meet master iconographer, Chrystyna Dochwat, and to view a display of her works in the church and in the hall.A Ukrainian folk ensemble will entertain you.
Admission to the banquet is only $25 ($10 for children under 12). For tickets or additional information call or email Mike at 215.715.4871 or PresentationUCC@gmail.com. http://www.presentationukrainiancc.com/
(click photo to enlarge)
Berwick Parish Celebrates Centennial
Berwick Parish Celebrates its Centennial
(click photo to enlarge)
This year, members of SS Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church in Berwick, Pennsylvania celebrated the centennial anniversary of the founding of their parish, which formally began on September 5, 1909 with His Grace Soter Ortynsky appointing Ilarion Yakymowych as the first resident pastor of the parish. The parish forebears actually commenced fund raising in 1907 and purchased property in 1908.
The centennial committee, under the guidance of pastor Very Rev. John Seniw, organized celebratory events beginning last January with a Divine Liturgy after which the choir of the Patronage of the Mother of God parish of McAdoo, PA led a carol fest in the church hall. In May, the parish held an open house, slide show history of the parish, and concert of liturgical music sung by the renowned Ecumen Choral of Olyphant, PA. In July, the community hosted a very successful and well-attended picnic featuring music and folk dancing at its newly renovated parish park. The Sacred Heart Society under the leadership of Shirley Fowler and Lottie Fedorco provided delicious food for these events.
Recently on October 18, His Grace Metropolitan Stefan Soroka, who offered a thoughtful homily, led the congregation and a church packed with guests in a concelebrated Divine Liturgy. Cantors John Fedorko and Joseph Roll guided the congregation in singing the traditional chant responses.
A centennial banquet at Genetti’s in Hazleton followed the liturgy with archbishop, pastor, invited clergy, parishioners, and 200 guests in attendance. Rev. Archpriest John Fields acted as master of ceremonies, and Ann Zinich, Joseph Roll, and Steven Matash, who represented three different generations of parishioners, provided reflections. Maryann Kovalewski, vice president of the Berwick Area School Board, presented a special proclamation and plaque in recognition of the outstanding educational contributions given by the parish’s parochial school during its existence from the 1940’s through the 1960’s.
Following the banquet, centennial books featuring a power-point history of the parish were distributed, a beautiful centennial quilt was raffled, and a lively dance to the music of The Shoreliners ensued. The centennial committee plans to enrich the landscape of the cemetery with additional trees, to restore and install stained glass windows from the original church building, and to purchase a computer projector for educational DVD’s with the funds raised by the various centennial events of the year.
jr
12/10/09
Thursday, December 17, 2009
St. Nicholas Visits Cathedral and Treasury of Faith Museum
St. Nicholas offered the Homily at the Liturgy on December 6, 2009 at the Ukrainain Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, PA. After the Liturgy, St. Nicholas visited the Treasury of Faith Museum, Philadelphia, PA and gave each child candy and a present. Children also had the opportunity to make a Christmas craft, enjoy milk and cookies, and sing a few Christmas Carols. Watch a video from St. Nicholas' Visit below.
Video: Siwak/Bilyj
Video: Siwak/Bilyj
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Seminarian Video: What is the meaning behind religious traditions?
What is the meaning behind religious traditions? - Eastern Church Music
This is a video that was produced by Seminarian Yevgen Gulenko. It is narrated by Deacon Paul Jason Makar. It is about rituals and traditions and the meaning attached to them with commentary provided by seminarians, priests, and laity.
For information on St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Washington, DC, please visit them online at http://sjucs.org
This is a video that was produced by Seminarian Yevgen Gulenko. It is narrated by Deacon Paul Jason Makar. It is about rituals and traditions and the meaning attached to them with commentary provided by seminarians, priests, and laity.
For information on St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Washington, DC, please visit them online at http://sjucs.org
Friday, December 4, 2009
Ascension Manor Celebrates Thanksgiving
Ascension Manor celebrated Thanksgiving with a Luncheon for Residents. Ascension Manor is located one block from the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and is under the direction of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Below is a short video.
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