Assumption Parish Welcomes Cardinal’s Visit
September 19, 2025, was a truly special day for Assumption Parish and School, as we had the great honor of welcoming Cardinal Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul in Melbourne, Australia. Cardinal Bychok, the youngest cardinal in the universal Church, recently participated in the historic 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo.
The arrival of His Eminence was marked by deep emotion and heartfelt celebration. Pastor Fr. Ivan Turyk, Principal Mrs. Lisette Shumny, and the students of Assumption Catholic School greeted the Cardinal with traditional gifts of bread and salt, beautiful bouquets of flowers, and a special welcome poem prepared by the children.
The Divine Liturgy that followed was celebrated with reverence, joy, and a profound sense of unity. In his homily, Cardinal Bychok reaffirmed Assumption Catholic School’s enduring commitment to faith and learning. A particularly moving moment occurred when the Cardinal lit a candle—handmade by one of our parishioners—and offered a heartfelt prayer for peace in Ukraine:
“We ask You to send Your holy angels to watch over the land of Ukraine. Let this flame be a symbol of hope, a prayer rising toward heaven, and a reminder that light will always overcome darkness.”
To conclude the Liturgy, the congregation and students joined their voices in singing Ukraine’s spiritual anthem, Bozhe Velykyi Yedynyi (O Great and Only God), filling the church with a powerful spirit of prayer and unity.
After the Liturgy, Cardinal Bychok visited the Sisters Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, praying with them and offering words of encouragement. He reassured the Sisters of his continued prayers for their vocation and for all consecrated life.
Following his visit with the Sisters, the Cardinal toured the school, met with faculty and staff, and took time to speak personally with many students. He encouraged them to embrace their faith and to recognize the God-given potential within each of them. He also offered a special blessing to the entire school community.
During his visit, the Cardinal shared insights about Australia, the country he currently serves—speaking about its unique wildlife (including spiders!), its weather, and what it’s like to lead a church there.
Additionally, he spoke about his vocation to the priesthood, the process of electing a pope in a conclave, offering students a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Catholic Church.
This visit marked the first-ever visit of a cardinal to our parish and school—a historic and unforgettable occasion that filled our hearts with joy, hope, and deep gratitude. Cardinal Bychok’s presence was a true blessing, and his message of faith, peace, and purpose will remain in our hearts for years to come.
The First Day of School Is Almost Here – Are You Ready? WE Are!
We are thrilled to welcome everyone back as we begin the 2025–2026 school year at Assumption Catholic School! The energy, excitement, and faith-filled spirit that has filled our halls this week have been nothing short of inspiring.
Wednesday: United in Faith to Begin the Year
This week, our dedicated staff had the honor of participating in the Mass for the Opening of the School Year for Catholic Schools, celebrated by Bishop James F. Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen. It was a joyful gathering of prayer, thanksgiving, and encouragement for all who guide and inspire our young people in faith and learning.
We were especially moved by the words of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who reminds us:
“All people are born as originals, but many die as photocopies.”
This powerful quote echoed throughout our day, reminding us of the unique and vital role our teachers play in helping students become the originals God created them to be. What a wonderful and meaningful way to kick off the school year!
Thursday: A Terrific Start
Our teachers returned with open hearts and eager minds, ready to dive into the work of the new school year. We began the day with connection-before-content activities—opportunities for both new and returning staff members to build relationships and community. These moments of connection are the foundation of a nurturing learning environment.
Staff also took part in CPR training, equipping themselves with life-saving skills. This is more than a precaution—it’s a reflection of our deep commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of every child entrusted to our care.
As a Catholic school, we are deeply rooted in our mission: to know, to love, and to serve God. Everything we do—whether it’s professional development, classroom preparation, or community-building—flows from this mission and our calling to form disciples of Christ.
We’re almost ready to welcome our students—and we couldn’t be more excited!
Friday: Inspired and Prepared
Today, our team continued their incredible work. Teachers collaborated on curriculum mapping, evaluation strategies, and project planning—and the ideas were flowing! It’s inspiring to witness the passion and creativity our educators bring to the table.
We also reviewed emergency procedures and safety protocols to ensure that we are fully prepared to protect and support our students in any circumstance.
A heartfelt thank you to consultant Lora Gandolfo, who led a powerful session on differentiated instruction and shared practical strategies to keep every student engaged, supported, and growing.
And because a little laughter is always welcome, here’s today’s Catholic school teacher joke:
Teacher: “Can anyone tell me what procrastinate means?”
Student: “Not today, Sister… maybe tomorrow.”
Student: “Not today, Sister… maybe tomorrow.”
We are so grateful to have such an enthusiastic, faith-filled, and dedicated team at ACS. Thank you for being part of the Assumption Catholic School family—the countdown to the first day is on, and we are ready to welcome our students with open arms and joyful hearts!
Let the 2025–2026 school year begin! 
🎓✨ We Did It! ACS Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony 🎉🌟
Congratulations to the incredible ACS Class of 2025 on their graduation! 
This morning, we celebrated the achievements, resilience, and bright futures of our graduating eighth graders! It was a heartwarming day filled with joy, laughter, and tears of pride.
This morning, we celebrated the achievements, resilience, and bright futures of our graduating eighth graders! It was a heartwarming day filled with joy, laughter, and tears of pride.The day started with a beautiful liturgy that set a reflective and inspiring tone for the celebrations. Surrounded by loved ones, our graduates gathered in unity to give thanks, celebrate their journey, and look ahead with hope and purpose. The awards ceremony that followed in the auditorium was a vibrant tribute to their accomplishments—with powerful speeches, joyful cheers, and the proud turning of tassels that marked the official beginning of their next adventure.
To our graduates: Always remember the lessons learned, friendships forged, and memories created during your time at ACS. You are capable of achieving greatness, and we can’t wait to see all that you will accomplish in the years ahead. Stay curious, stay kind, and never stop chasing your dreams. The world is yours for the taking! 
A heartfelt thank you to all parents, teachers, staff, and supporters who have played a role in shaping the lives of our graduates. Your love, guidance, and unwavering support have helped them reach this incredible milestone. 
To the ACS Class of 2025: Go forth and conquer the world! God has a plan! We are immensely proud of each and every one of you. 
#ACSClassOf2025 #perthamboynj
#acsstrong
Sodality at Assumption Catholic School.
On Friday, June 6, 2025 Sodalists from Assumption Catholic School (ACS) in Perth Amboy, NJ participated in a special Liturgy and a consecration ceremony of 26 new members. Fr. Ivan Turyk delivered a homily about Mary’s journey to Elizabeth and gave a special blessing to each of the girls.
ACS Sodality is a sisterhood comprised of young ladies and women (grade 3 and beyond) who practice the ideals set forth by Our Blessed Virgin Mary. Sodality has been part of ACS’ history for over 50 years and our young ladies are committed to growing in personal holiness and serving their school community through their consecration to Jesus through Mary. The young women of this Sodality, under a spiritual guidance of our school sisters Sr. Veronica, Sr. Trijtsi and Sr. Svitanku were preparing for this day for the whole year. They attended meetings, learned songs and deepened their knowledge about the Blessed Mother of God.
Our Sisters, who belong to the order of Sisters Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, also decorated a church, personally have sew all caps and prepare a very moving ceremony for our sodalists and their parents, who were in the attendance.
During the consecration ceremony, the candidates made their Marian pledge and received from Fr. Ivan and Sisters a medal and a blue blessed garment as an outward sign of their consecration with the Sodality.
Choir Performance
After months of hard work, our Show Choir singers had the amazing opportunity to perform at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ! We joined over 5,000 other students from around New Jersey who came together to perform an hour and a half concert to a packed house.
The program included pop favorites like “Try Everything,” “Birdhouse in your Soul,” and “Little Blue,” “Arirang” a Korean folk song, original works “Oceania” and “Get Loud” and medleys of songs from the musical Hairspray, songs that all mention dancing, and songs by Bob Marley. All the songs were fun and upbeat, and expressed themes of perseverance, loyalty, friendship and standing up for yourself.
We left school at 1:00 and made good time to the Prudential Center. We were one of the first schools to arrive, and the students excitedly watched as the arena filled up with other groups. (Some of the students were *not* excited about how high up our seats were!) We rehearsed the program along with the other schools, the live band, solo singers and our amazing conductor, Francisco Nuñez. We had a dinner break at 5:00, doors opened to the general public at 6:00, and we started our program at 7:00! When the lights dimmed in the arena and came up brightly on just the massive choir, it was a thrilling moment the students will not soon forget!
While it might have been a long day filled with a lot of walking and a lot of singing, the students were already asking if we could do this again next year! We will certainly get it on the calendar and welcome any students who may want to join us for the next amazing concert! There’s always room for more in the choir!
Thanks so much to our chaperones, who didn’t just keep an eye on our singers, but also sang and danced along with us all night! Thanks also to the American Young Voices staff and Prudential Center security who helped dismiss all 5,000 of us in an incredibly orderly and calm fashion after the show. It may have taken a little extra time, but their dedication to our children’s safety is appreciated!
