THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION'S NEW HEADQUARTERS IN PARSIPPANY
UNA blesses new headquarters in Parsippany
by Roma Hadzewycz
PARSIPPANY, N.J. - More than 160 persons helped the Ukrainian National Association celebrate the blessing of its new headquarters building in this Morris County town on Sunday, November 9.
The rite was conducted by clergy of the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches: the Rev. Marian Struc, pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Jersey City, N.J. (home to the UNA's former headquarters); the Rev. Oleh Hucul, pastor of Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Maplewood, N.J.; and the Rev. Myron Stasiw, a UNA advisor who is pastor of Holy Protectress Ukrainian Catholic Church in Toronto.
The blessing took place in the two-story building's spacious atrium, with the guests gathered in the atrium and on a balcony overlooking the ground floor.
After blessing the atrium, the priests headed upstairs, where they blessed the offices of the Ukrainian National Association, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly.
Among the guests were representatives of many Ukrainian community organizations, as well as district and branch officers from the tri-state New York, New Jersey and Connecticut region, including the chairpersons of the New York, Northern New Jersey and New Haven district committees, respectively, Barbara Bachynsky, Eugene Oscislawski and Ihor Hayda. Also present were the two honorary chairmen of the Northern New Jersey District Committee, Walter Bilyk and John Chomko, and the vice-chairman of the New York District, Yuri Kostiw.
The organizations represented included the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, Coordinating Committee to Aid Ukraine, Ukrainian Medical Association of North America, The Ukrainian Museum, Ukrainian Free University, Organization for the Democratic Rebirth of Ukraine, Ukrainian American Bar Association, Americans for Human Rights in Ukraine, Plast Ukrainian Youth Organization (Newark, N.J., Branch), Ukrainian American Youth Association (Whippany, N.J., Branch), Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (Morris County Chapter), Ukrainian American Professionals and Businesspersons Association of New York and New Jersey, Self Reliance credit unions of New York, Jersey City, Newark and Passaic-Clifton-Whippany, N.J., St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church of Whippany and others.
Almost all the members of the UNA General Assembly - UNA executive officers, auditors, advisors and honorary members - who had just completed their annual deliberations at the Soyuzivka resort the previous day attended the ceremonies. Also present were many employees of the UNA and its two official publications, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, and their families.
The event began with welcoming remarks by President Ulana Diachuk, who then turned the proceedings over to the masters of ceremonies, Vice-President Nestor Olesnycky and Vice-Presidentess Anya Dydyk-Petrenko. Brief congratulatory messages were delivered by several representatives of Ukrainian organizations and institutions.
A concert program featuring the Lviviany vocal-instrumental ensemble, with soloist Volodymyr Tsimura, and bandurist Alla Kutsevych of Lviv.
Afterwards guests proceeded to the second floor, where the offices of the UNA and its publications are located, for a reception. Guests toasted the UNA's new home with champagne, and sampled chocolate-flavored vodka, hors d'oeuvres and a hot buffet prepared by the nearby Ramada Hotel of East Hanover, N.J., whose general manager is Orest Fedash. The reception was sponsored by the Self Reliance Federal Credit Union of Newark, N.J. According to President /CEO Ihor Laszok, the credit union plans to open a branch office in the UNA headquarters building in spring 1998.
The UNA's new home office is located at 2200 Route 10 (westbound); the building was formerly known as Executive 10.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, November 16, 1997, No. 46, Vol. LXV
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