Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka blesses the foundation of

St. Stephen Parish House in Toms River, NJ

 

 

Toms River, N.J - As if on cue, rain and clouds gave way to a gorgeous sunny day on, April 22 to welcome the Archbishop  Stefan Soroka to the St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Church, when he visited to bless the foundation of its new rectory building. The new parish house, to be completed later this year, will serve as the home for the Rev. Ivan Turyk, the Pastor for the last two years. Rev. Turyk, a relative newcomer from Ukraine, whose youthful energy (he's only 30!) and dedication to service have been the driving force behind this successful building project.

Prior to the Sunday Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan was welcomed at the entrance to the church by the Rev. Turyk and the parish trustees, John Dzera and Wasyl Chech. Little children dressed in Ukrainian attire presented the honored guest with the traditional Ukrainian bread and salt. Then, the anxiously waiting congregation witnessed a unique event where the Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Father Ivan for the first time. Following the Sunday Divine Liturgy, the congregation participated in an outdoor ceremony in which the Metropolitan consecrated the cornerstone of the future home of the Parish Priest .

The Ukrainian Catholic community of the Toms River area had to tread a long and arduous path before arriving at this joyous moment. The St. Stephen parish was founded in March 1986, with the Rev. Roman Dubitsky of the Ukrainian Assumption Church in Perth Amboy as its Pastor. Father Dubitsky held that post until about two years ago, assisted since 1988 by the Rev. Augustine Molodowitz, and later for a short time by the Rev. Petro Semenych. For its first seven years, the fledgling St. Stephen parish was granted permission to celebrate Divine Liturgies at the St. Andrew United Methodist Church of Toms River. Thanks to the efforts of a very active and generous congregation, the present Church Center of St. Stephen was built and opened in 1993, but it comprised no rectory. Thus, all the priests serving this congregation have been commuters.

Following the cornerstone blessing, the congregation and the honored guest re-entered the church hall and sat down to a festive dinner ceremony, which was emceed expertly and with humor by Ostap Jakubowycz. Mr. Jakubowycz first asked His Excellency to bless the food and those assembled, and then proposed a toast, in which he prayed for a successful completion of the rectory and for "Father Ivan to stay with us until we build a new Ukrainian Catholic Church". He then introduced those seated at the head table: Metropolitan Stefan Soroka, Father Ivan Turyk, Walter and Oksana Powzaniuk, John and Anna Dzera, Wasyl and Daria Chech.

During the dinner, the audience was entertained by Anna Dzera, who recited the poem "Dzvoniat Dzvony Velykodni", and by the duo of Anna Dzera and Slava Kochman, who sang three Ukrainian folk songs. Later, two additional songs were performed by the quartet of Anna Dzera, Halyna Jakubowycz, Slava Kochman and Maria Ryha. The high point of the entertainment was the piano rendition of Chopin's Nocturne in E-Minor and Kos-Anatolskyi's Hutsul Toccata by Marta Cybyk, music professor at the Ocean County College, private piano teacher and piano soloist.

There were speeches by Walter Powzaniuk, chairman of the Building Committee, Dolores Dzubaty, president of the Altar Rosary Society, and John Dzera, representing the Ukrainian-American Club and the "pyrohy team".

A moving address, appropriate to the historic occasion, was delivered by Father Ivan Turyk. He first welcomed the Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka and then referred to the history of the St. Stephen parish that culminated in this joyful day. Almost 15 years ago, this same congregation embarked upon the project to build the church where today we are worshipping because of their vision and sacrifice, said Father Ivan. Now we must honor our predecessors by building a rectory to house a full-time Pastor here to serve this community. "God is not calling us to build just a building. He is calling us to build the community of people", emphasized Fr. Ivan.

Father Turyk thanked all the parishioners for their support, prayers and sacrifices in this building project. In particular, he praised the tireless efforts of the Building Committee, reserving special recognition for its chairman, Walter Powzaniuk, whom he referred to as "my right arm". Finally, he thanked John and Anna Dzera, the Holy Name Society, the Altar Rosary Society, and last but not least, Ostap Jakubowycz.

Ostap in turn called his wife Halyna to the podium to present a check for $500 for the rectory building fund. The Jakubowycz's check (another one in a long series) triggered an avalanche of donations and pledges in the amount of $ 30,000 from the congregation at the dinner. To date, the donations for the fund had totaled $130,000, while the cost of the 2,500-square-foot ranch-style building is expected to be $325,000 plus $7,000 for permits. The raised money to build the rectory through donations and fundraisers (pyrohys projects) will go toward a down payment on 20 years mortgage of $ 200, 000 from the Providence Association of Ukrainian Catholics in Philadelphia, PA.

Metropolitan Stefan closed the festive occasion with a prayer as well as words of confidence in a bright future for the St. Stephen parish in Toms River, based on the dedication and energy he had witnessed both from the parishioners and their young Pastor.

 

If you would like to visit our church, our address is:
St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Church
1344 White Oak Bottom Road, Toms River, NJ 08755,
Phone 732-505-6293 or 856-825-4826
Email: aphinagor@hotmail.com
website www. ststephenchurch.us

 

Photo Album

 

Click on pictures to enlarge.

 

Children welcoming Archbishop Stefan Soroka to St. Stephen Parish	Archbishop Stefan Soroka during Divine Liturgy.	The Archbishop Stefan Soroka, joined by Rev. Ivan Turyk and parishioners  of St. Stephen Church, officiated at the blessing of the rectory foundation.
Archbishop Stefan places the brick on the foundation.	Archbishop Stefan blesses the foundation with holy water.	St. Stephen Rectory Building Committee.
Quartet performing during the banquet. Left to right: Anna Dzera, Halyna Jakubowycz, Slava Kochman and Maria Ryha.	Blueprint of the rectory along with fundraiser progress thermometer.	Parishioners and guests enjoying the banquet.
Parishioners and guests enjoying the banquet.	After joyful celebration Archbishop Stefan is ready to go home.