UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (11/10/02)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

St. Josaphat students proud of their award-winning teacher and school

PARMA, Ohio - Students at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral School are excited that their teacher Iryna Kulick (Science chair/Grade 7) and their school were selected by the Ohio Academy of Science to receive the Governor's Award for Excellence in Youth Science Opportunities for accomplishments during the 2001-2002 academic year.

The Ohio Department of Education will issue a special Governor's Award certificate to Mrs. Kulick and to St. Josaphat School.

The Governor's Award from Ohio Gov. Bob Taft and the Ohio Department of Education is made possible by an educational partnership program initiated by the Ohio Academy of Science. In cooperation with the Office of the Governor and the Ohio Department of Education, the academy recognizes schools and teachers who stimulate student scientific research and who extend science education opportunities beyond the traditional classroom. St. Josaphat School is the only school in Parma to receive this award.

St. Josaphat School hosts an annual Science Fair for its students in Grades 6 through 8. A large percentage of St. Josaphat students continue in local, regional, state and national science fairs, earning top awards.

Irvington SUM and Hillside parish united by Hurricane Hanna

HILLSIDE, N.J. - Hurricane Hanna added her personal touch to the picnic of Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Parish of Hillside, N.J., and the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) of Irvington, N.J., on Sunday, September 15. Due to threatening skies, it was decided to change the location of the annual picnic from a local Union County Park to the church grounds. Interestingly, no rain fell during the picnic.

The most important part of the day occurred during the 9 a.m. liturgy. During this liturgy, children of the Irvington branch of SUM served as ushers, sang with the choir, and read the Epistle. Several children also stood at attention with the SUM flag which is inscribed with the group's motto "God and Ukraine."

Under the leadership of Toma Pyz, a ceremonial meeting was held on the Church grounds following the Liturgy. Thus, the 2002-2003 season of SUM activities was officially launched.

Participants of the picnic joined numerous activities including: bocci, cycling, football, soccer, bingo, tree-climbing, story-telling - and just enjoying each other's company.

The group was pleased that the Revs. Leonard Ratushniak and Andriy Manko were able to join the festivities. It was also a beautiful homecoming for Father Leonard, since he served as pastor in Hillside in 1972-1975.

Special thanks must be given to Hanna. She forced the group to alter the dynamics of this year's picnic which spurred great creativity and team work between the parish and the SUM branch.

Plast youths recall historic date of November 1, 1918

WHIPPANY, N.J. - The Newark, N.J., branch of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, which also encompasses members in Morris County, held its annual observance of the November 1 Act, known in Ukrainian as "Lystopadovyi Zryv," with a special divine liturgy and commemorative meeting at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany, N.J., on Sunday, November 3.

The Rev. Mitred Roman Mirchuk celebrated the liturgy and delivered a homily on the meaning of heroism, tying it to the everyday lives of his audience of Plast youths age 6-17. Plast youths, their counselors and adult members attended the liturgy in uniform, and "yunaky" and "novaky" served as altar boys.

"Vichnaya Pamiat" (Eternal Memory) was sung for the heroes of November 1, 1918, and all others who gave their lives for Ukraine's independence.

At the brief "appel" (commemorative assembly) that followed in the church hall, Plast youths heard about the historic importance of November 1, 1918, and sang the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen's song "Hey, u Luzi Chervona Kalyna."

Mishanyna

To solve this month's historical Mishanyna, find the words capitalized in the text below.

On November 1 each year our schoolchildren and youth organizations recall the heroic NOVEMBER 1 Act of 1918. Here's what led up to that historic day in LVIV.

In 1918, the lands of WESTERN Ukraine were still under the rule of the AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN Empire. But in OCTOBER of that year, the empire of the HABSBURG royal family began to fall apart. Incidentally, that was about 20 months after the Russian Empire, which controlled most Ukrainian territory, had collapsed.

Western Ukrainians were already preparing to established their own independent state, in what was eastern GALICIA, or Halychyna. The POLES also laid claim to that territory, so there was a conflict between two nations over who should CONTROL Halychyna. While the situation in the eastern Ukrainian lands was marked by ANARCHY, chaos and upheaval, on the western Ukrainian lands there was a conflict carried on in an orderly fashion between regular armies of Poles and Ukrainians.

Just as it became clear the Austro-Hungarian EMPIRE was doomed, western Ukrainian leaders from HALYCHYNA and Bukovyna met on October 18, 1918, and established the Ukrainian NATIONAL COUNCIL, which represented all Ukrainians. They also announced that they intended to unite all western Ukrainian lands into one. Meanwhile, Polish forces were preparing to take control of Lviv and eastern Galicia.

A group of YOUNG Ukrainian OFFICERS, led by Capt. Dmytro VITOVSKY, then seized the initiative. On the night of October 31-November 1, 1918, these officers of the Ukrainian SICH RIFLEMEN gathered all available Ukrainian soldiers serving in Austrian military units in the Lviv area and took control of the city. On November 1, the city's residents awoke to see Ukrainian FLAGS flying from city hall, and all major officers under the control of Ukrainians. PLACARDS posted throughout the city informed them that a Ukrainian STATE had been created.

Fighting continued between Polish and Ukrainian troops, while Ukrainian leaders worked to set up an independent state. On November 9, 1918, after all Ukrainian parties agreed to cooperate in forming a government of their own, they appointed a temporary council of ministers led by KOST Levytsky.

Four days later, a new state was proclaimed: the Western Ukrainian National REPUBLIC. The republic existed for EIGHT months, during which time, on January 22, 1919, it united with eastern Ukrainian lands into the Ukrainian National Republic. Unfortunately, in July 1919 western Ukraine was reoccupied by Polish forces.

Source: "Ukraine: A History" by Orest Subtelny. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, second edition, 1994.

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