News

On Tuesday, May 26 the Kindergarten and Grade 1 classes took a field trip to Fernbrook Farms Education Center. They had a great day learning about animals and the workings of a farm. The students tasted vegetables fresh from the fields, visited the animals, and took an exciting wagon ride around the farm.This trip helped them connect to our planet earth and the true meaning of life on earth.

Assumption Catholic School in Perth Amboy, NJ, held their annual May Marian Veneration Ceremony on Friday, May 22, 2015 at 1:30 PM. The program consisted of presentation of flowers to the Blessed Mother Icon by the Sodalists, and the singing of the Moleben (Prayer Service) to the Blessed Virgin Mary sung by the student body. The Prayer Service was lead by Father Ivan Turyk and the responses were sung by student body. In attendance were also parents and parishioners of Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.After the Prayer Service, Father spoke to the Sodalists and encouraged them to imitate the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary in their daily lives. He challenged the young ladies to be like Mary, models of Christian Living. After the recitation of the Act of Consecration, and the promises made, thirty-six Sodalists, under the direction of lay teachers Mrs. Halyna Lojko and Mrs. Patricia Bernstein, received their Sodality Medals. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Sodalists led the student body in singing ACS’ favorite hymn, Always Protect Us Dear Mother Mary. “O Most Holy Mother of God, save us.”

On Thursday, May 14, 2015 the Senior Drama Club of ACS turned the school’s auditorium into the magical city of Neverland. Parents, students and teachers were enchanted by the outstanding performance of the classic childhood fairytale Peter Pan. The senior drama teachers, Mrs. Pickering and Miss Makar, skillfully directed the play and our students look like seasoned actors in the school's performance of the classic tale.

On Thursday, May 7th, 2015 the “Broadway Idol” show  was presented by Jr. Drama and Glee Club. Thanks to Mrs. Melanie Lawrence for directing it.

Assumption Catholic Church located at 684 Alta Vista Place, Perth Amboy, NJ will hold its Annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival on the parish grounds on Saturday, June 27, 2015  from 12 noon until 9 p.m.  Based on last year’s very successful 2000+ attendance by people from the local communities, we expect an even greater turnout this year. The festival will feature dazzling performances at 1:00 p.m. and at 3:00 p.m. in the school hall showcasing traditional Ukrainian dances. There will also be delicious homemade Ukrainian food, Ukrainian beer, delicious desserts, vendors, a church tour, live music throughout the event, a Beautiful Baskets raffle and 50/50 Money Ruffle. Admission to the festival is free. No Outside Food or Drink Allowed.  For vendors or more information call 732-826-0767 or visit us at www.assumptioncatholicchurch.net

Thirty one children of the Assumption School and Parish had First Confession on Friday, May 1, and received First Solemn Holy Communion on Sunday, May 5, 2015. Congratulations to the following, who confessed their sins for the first time and received Jesus in the Holy Eucharist our Church: Ruby Alba, Alla Babiy, Volodymyr Babiy, Daliana Barletto, Solomia Halyna Bezpalko, Sophia Ivanna Bezpalko, Maksim Bydyk, Brian Robert Daly, Maksym Deyneka, Emily Rose Ferrer, Olha Fok, Anastasiya Korkh, Marika Lazuka, Juliya Lazuka, Yean Paul Magyar, Nicholas Donovan Makar, Diana Ruth Mendez, Isaiah Nieves Jr, Angelina Oleksiv, Jeremy Antonio Olivare, Yamari Elizabeth Pacheco, Jaryd Isaias Saez, Haily Lynn Scocc, Robert Slavik, Denys Stefaniv, Ostap Tzap, Derek Henry Portacarrero Vasquez, Jason Vasquez, Ayden Justin Villamar, Lawrence Alton Waldon, Liana Olha Wowk. We are grateful to all who have assisted these children on their journey of faith. The list includes but is not limited to, their parents, godparents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, school principal, Fr. Ivan Turyk, teachers and this year's catechists Sr. Yosaphata, MSMG, Sr. Thomas, MSMG, and Miss Victoria Giordano. Thank you for helping to prepare our children for the greatest gift they will ever receive. We can only hope and pray that their parents will provide the opportunities for their children to continue to receive the Holy Eucharist at weekly Liturgy (Mass) in our church. Special thanks go to our school’s FSA for preparing a delicious breakfast for our children and their families.

The faculty and staff of Assumption Catholic School in Perth Amboy, NJ headed down the shore Friday for a retreat at San Alfonso Retreat House. Located in Long Branch, NJ, the retreat house is situated on eight acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The day began with refreshments followed by a Chapel Prayer Service. Following the Prayer Service, Sister Geraldine Muller, SSJ lead a discussion on Resurrection Joy: How to Sustain the Joy of Celebrating the Season of Easter. Sister read from the Gospel of Luke. The stories of the women who found the empty tomb and the two people on the road to Emaus were shared and reflected upon. Sister challenged us to ponder how the scriptures touch on our life experiences. Our session ended with time to reflect on the day and scripture readings. Everyone took the opportunity to walk the beautiful grounds and pose for some pictures. After enjoying a meal together, everyone left for the weekend feeling refreshed and renewed.

The weather did not damper the excitement at ACS this morning as 2nd and 3rd grade students boarded the bus in route to Meadowlands Environmental Center. The two classes combined and took part in a session entitled Marsh Explorers. First, students were able to use their sense of taste to determine if water was Fresh Water (found in rivers), Salt Water (found in oceans) or Brackish (found in salt marshes). Next, students used their keen observation skills to identify the weather and tides. Finally, students identified the various stages of life cycle by creating their very only cycles using sun->phragmites->grass shrimp->killifish->blue crabs->Diamondback terrapin.

Sunday, April 19 was a special day of thanks for the Assumption of the BVM Ukrainian Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, NJ as we celebrated the Liturgy honoring the 50th Anniversary of the ordination of our former Pastor Father Roman Dubitsky. The Principal Celebrant of the Liturgy was Fr. Roman and concelebrants were our current Pastor Fr. Ivan Turyk and homilist Very Rev. Andriy Rabiy, Protosyncellus of Philadelphia Archeparchy and Pastor of Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Reading, PA. In addition to hundreds of parishioners from the Assumption Parish, the Liturgy was attended by many former parishioners of Fr. Roman from St. Stephen Church in Toms River, NJ and St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Wilmington Delaware. The reception and a concert following the Liturgy in the school hall was attended by three hundred fifty well-wishers who enjoyed a great program prepared by the school and parish kids and a variety of refreshments at the parish annual Easter Dinner-Sviachene. The capacity crowd in attendance for his Jubilee Liturgy and the hundreds of guests at the reception were witness to the love and admiration that the community has for Fr. Roman. Although Fr. Roman has accomplished so much over the years, he said that the spotlight shouldn’t be on him, “It’s a day for me to thank all of you for allowing me to answer the call to service to God and His Church on earth.” Among the letters and testimonials read in connection with that occasion was a very special greeting for Fr. Roman from His Grace Archbishop-Metropolitan Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Once again sincere thanks to all who helped organize this wonderful celebration for a very devoted priest and to share that Easter joy with one another!

Recently, ACS hosted a very special visitor at our school. Last Tuesday, Bishop Hryhoriy Komar, Auxiliary Bishop of Sambir-Drohobych  Eparchy (Ukraine) visited our school. His Excellency graciously met with Mr. S and Fr. Ivan  to discuss the status of our school. Later, the Bishop toured some  classrooms and was very pleased with the impressive intelligence and  behavior of our students. The children, as always, represented our school very well.