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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.

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!

Today, our PreK, Kindergarten, and First Grade students had an exciting field trip to VonThun’s County Farm Market! The children were bubbling with excitement as they hopped on the bus, ready to explore life on the farm.

 

Upon arrival, they were warmly greeted by friendly farmers who guided them on a tour. The students met a variety of animals — pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, and even a donkey! They learned about how these animals are cared for and had the chance to see them up close.

 

But the fun didn’t stop there! The children enjoyed a tractor-pulled hayride through the fields, picked strawberries, and each selected a flower to plant and take home.

 

They also played in different activity areas, including bumper tricycles, a bouncy ball race, and a water rubber duck race!

 

After a picnic lunch, the students had time to play in the barn-themed playground, wrapping up a day full of learning, laughter, and hands-on experiences.

 

Our little farmers returned home tired but happy, with stories to tell and memories to treasure!

 

#prek3 #perthamboynj

#prek4 #acsstrong

Congratulations to the 21 parish children and 22 schoolchildren who received their First Penance and Solemn Holy Communion today! Our parish offers its heartfelt congratulations and prayerful best wishes to them on this most important occasion in their lives. This is truly a joyful day for our parish community, our school, and especially for the children’s families. Special thanks to Sr. Veronica, Sr. Trijtsi, and Sr. Svitanku for preparing our parish children, and to Ms. Suarez, 2nd grade teacher, for preparing the ACS students for this blessed celebration.May God grant them many happy and grace-filled years—for Christ is Risen! We look forward to growing in faith together!

Today, our graduating Class of 2025 embarked on a meaningful journey to Liberty State Park, retracing the footsteps of immigrants from over a century ago. Students took an audio tour that guided them through the very same process that immigrants experienced in the early 1900s—from intelligence tests to medical and legal examinations. Through these stories, they gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and hopes that shaped the immigrant experience at Ellis Island.

After a light lunch on Ellis Island, we took another ferry to the iconic Statue of Liberty, where we enjoyed breathtaking views of Manhattan across New York Harbor.

To cap off the day, our seniors were treated to a hibachi dinner filled with laughter, fun, and lasting memories.

Way to go, Class of 2025!

Today was a day of celebration and deep significance, as our school Principal Mrs. Lissette D Shumny stood before her students, colleagues, friends, and family during the morning Divine Liturgy—not only to mark a milestone 50 birthday but to embrace a profound spiritual journey.

Having been raised in a different faith tradition, Mrs. Shumny has long felt a calling to the Catholic Church. On this special day, during the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope, she responded to that call with courage and grace. After months of preparation, she publicly professed the Creed and was officially received into the Catholic Church.

We are incredibly proud of your faith journey, Mrs. Shumny, and the joyful “yes” you have given to Christ and His Church. Your witness is an inspiration to us all.

Welcome home—and happy birthday!

Yesterday, students at Assumption Catholic School witnessed a historic moment—the election of the first American Pope, Leo XIV. Today, they prayed for him during the morning liturgy. In this pivotal moment in the life of the Church, they found great hope in Pope Leo XIV’s first words to the world: “Peace be with you.”  They were inspired by his commitment to building bridges among all people and his powerful reminder that God loves everyone. In prayerful solidarity with our new pope, all eighth-grade students and ACS teachers wore their Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope shirts, made by the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

We are proud to celebrate our newest inductees into the National Junior Honor Society! These exceptional students have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character—values that reflect not only their hard work but also the heart of our school’s mission: to know, to love, and to serve God.

Being selected for NJHS is more than an academic honor—it is a call to lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and strive for greatness in all areas of life.

Our ceremony was held at the church today, where Father Ivan blessed the pins, and Mrs. Shumny presented students with their certificates. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Pickering for serving as the chapter mentor, and to the committee who worked diligently during the selection process.

After the Liturgy, NJHS members and their families gathered for a breakfast reception to celebrate this meaningful achievement.

 

This morning, Assumption Catholic School students, faculty, and parishioners of the Ukrainian Assumption Catholic Church gathered in deep reverence for one of the most solemn and moving services of the Church year—Good Friday Vespers with the burial procession of the Holy Shroud, or Plashchanitsa.

As the choir, clergy, Sisters, and students joined voices in prayer and reflection, the image of Christ’s lifeless body—portrayed on the winding sheet—was carried in solemn procession around the church. Three times we walked in silence and awe, remembering the weight of that holy moment when our Lord was laid in the tomb. The Plashchanitsa was then placed for veneration on a replica of the Holy Sepulchre.

To all who came—to pray, to sing, to weep, to witness—thank you.

The Church remains open for veneration of the Holy Shroud 12 pm today.