St. Stephen’s game of chance!

 

 

Bright sunshine and the aroma of pyrohy, holubci, kovbasa and other treats drew Ukrainians, American Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians to our Church on Saturday, August 23rd , 2008 for the 1st Annual Ukrainian Festival. Throughout the day the festival featured live music, Ukrainian crafts, Ukrainian foods and beverages, attractions for children and much more. In spite of back pains, bad knees and feet, and arthritic pain, volunteer’s dedication made the Festival in our parish the overwhelming success it was.

Pastor Ivan Turyk called the very first meeting of the festival organizing committee to order in May of 2008. Our mission was clear. St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Parish was relatively new; therefore it was time to make ourselves more visible in the neighboring communities. By doing so, we would reach out to new members, especially the newly arrived Ukrainians settling in Ocean County, Nj

The idea of holding a church festival was grand, but venturing into the unknown was daunting. Following Fr. Turyk’s courageous lead, we started playing a game of chance. How many pyrohy, how many holubci, how much borsch, kovbasa and kapusta should our dedicated ladies prepare? How much Ukrainian beer should we buy (not that that would go to waste)? How many vendors do we invite? Do we hold the festival indoors or out on the grounds? How about entertainment? Should we plan activities for children? How to get the word out?

Our best estimate was that maybe 500 to 700 guests would attend our 1st Annual Church Festival. Based on that assumption, we proceeded with our plans, chose Fr. Turyk and John Bortnyk as Co-Chairman and decided not to charge admission.

As Saturday, August 23, 2008 dawned, it was clear that Our Lord blessed our efforts by gracing us with blue topaz skies and golden sunshine. And how they complemented the many blue and yellow decorations dispersed throughout the great green lawns of the parish!

One of the first to arrive on the festival grounds were the many vendors, being welcomed by Jessie Kaciuba and Zenia Brozyna. While both Ukrainian and American crafters were setting up their wares of great variety, wafting from the large church kitchens were familiar and welcome aromas of Ukrainian cuisine. Above the excitement, which was now evident everywhere, we heard Irene Bortnyk kindly commandeering the troops in the mess hall. And what a job that was! Kudos to the army of volunteers who had been cooking for days.

The “Ukibara” with its many varieties of Ukrainian Beer, was fully stocked by Eugene Brozyna, and was now ready to be introduced to our guests by Ostap and Halyna Jakubowycz and Peter Yurkowsky. A few hours later, one of the first to step up to the Bara and taste test Obolon was the good friend of the parish, former Mayor of Toms River, Paul C Brush. The new discovery thrilled him, as well as all of our guests for whom Ukrainian Beer was a first.

Luba Bonczek had her hands full setting up a bounce machine and was hoping some children, of any age, showed up so that she didn’t have to eat all of the ice cream on hand and then bounce around by her lonesome.

At 12 o’clock sharp, a live band “The Fourth Wave” started playing, and as per our hopes and bemusement, cars started pulling up to the front gate of the church, manned by the church trustee Wolodymyr Powzaniuk. As the cars kept coming, Gerald Tchir ushered friends, parishioners and guests alike through a veritable collage of colors. Hanging from the entrance foyer was a huge, stunning Ukrainian “vinok” which led to the gaily festooned auditorium where Olga Tchir and Oksana Powzaniuk were open for business, selling food tickets to what very quickly became a long line of hungry revelers.

Beyond our expectations, the church grounds swelled with neighbors and those who traveled quite a distance, primarily Ukrainian-Americans, but mostly non-Ukrainians, to appreciate Ukrainian culture, crafts, foods and entertainment. Yes, there were children bouncing in the moonwalk. Yes, children registered for the Ukrainian Saturday schools at the parish. Yes, the vendors were happily selling their crafts. Yes, the food was selling out fast – the kovbasa went first. Yes, people were dancing and yes, our prayers were answered. Instead of 500, there were at least 1800 people viewing and being introduced to our very lovely Ukrainian church with gleaming cupolas.

A very special thanks to the many tireless volunteers who baked cakes, hung posters, donated money and their time. Without them the 1st Annual Church Festival wouldn’t have been such a triumphant success. Our game of chance paid off, proving once again, that nothing ventured, nothing gained.

My husband and I, are fairly new to this parish, having transferred from Passaic, NJ. What we found at St. Stephen’s Church in Toms River is a parish with caring and welcoming parishioners true to their Ukrainian traditions and faith.

We cordially invite everyone to next year’s festival on August 22nd, which is sure to be even bigger and better and have more kovbasa!

Laskavo Prosymo!

Zenia Brozyna
Sept. 15, 2008