Assumption parish hosts 21st annual Rosary Societies Communion Breakfast (06/29/03)

Assumption parish hosts 21st annual Rosary Societies Communion Breakfast

by Maryann Kulish

BAYONNE, N.J. - The Rosary Society of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church here hosted the 21st annual Rosary Societies Bayonne City-wide Communion Breakfast on Sunday, April 27. Three hundred Rosary Society members from different church communities within Bayonne participated in the event. Also in attendance was Joseph V. Doria, New Jersey state assemblyman and mayor of Bayonne.

A large number of the Rosary Society members were from Roman rite parishes. For many, this was their first introduction to the celebration of the divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka of Philadelphia celebrated the divine liturgy and was the homilist. Elisabeth Siryj, president of the Ukrainian Rosary Society, Maria Ciko and Luba Berezny, members of the organization, greeted the hierarch at the entrance to the church with the traditional tray of bread and salt. The Rev. Vasyl Putera, pastor, welcomed the metropolitan on behalf of Assumption Parish.

Concelebrating with Metropolitan Soroka at the altar were the Rev. Putera, the Rev. Wasyl Kharuk, former pastor of Assumption Church and now spiritual director at St. Joseph's Seminary in Washington, as well as Msgr. Edward Matash, pastor of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, and the Rev. Lawrence Miller, pastor of St. Mary's Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church.

It was at the altar and through the divine liturgy's gift of prayer to God that clergy from both the Ukrainian and Roman Catholic Churches gathered, and, in the church pews, members of the Rosary Societies from both rites, the parish faithful and honored guests all came together as one. On this day, Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky's often-expressed desire "That they may all be one" was put into practice and witnessed.

Under the able direction of Andriy Yaremiy, cantor the choir enthusiastically sang the responses to the divine liturgy and inspired all with songs of faith from both the Ukrainian and Roman rites.

Following the church service, the members of all the Rosary Societies, clergy from the participating parishes and honored guests met at Hi-Hat Caterers in Bayonne for breakfast and continuation of the day's events. Marianne Savron Cohen, vice-president of the Rosary Society of the Assumption BVM Church, was master of ceremonies.

Metropolitan Soroka delivered the invocation. He congratulated the Ukrainian Rosary Society on its forthcoming 50th anniversary in November and thanked them for their spirit of faith and half-century of assistance to their church.

Marilyn Solan, founder of the annual City-wide Communion Breakfast event, spoke to the attendees of her strong devotion to Mary.

The highlight of the breakfast event was the address by the honored guest speaker, Sister Marina Bochnewich, spiritual director at the Basilian Spirituality Center in Fox Chase Manor, Pa. Sister Marina focused her remarks on the Blessed Virgin. She reminded everyone that Pope John Paul II had proclaimed this as the "Year of the Rosary." To pray the rosary, said Sister Marina, is to hand over your burdens to the merciful hearts of Christ and his mother.

Although there aren't many scripture references to Mary, Sister Marina remarked that when Mary speaks her words are carefully chosen and most meaningful. At the marriage feast at Cana, Mary recognizes that those in charge of refreshments are running out of wine. Mary turns to the servants, points to her son, and simply says: "Do whatever he tells you." Sister Marina urged the attendees to have the same level of confidence in Jesus as did Mary.

The Rosarians were praised for their unwavering dedication to the Blessed Mother. Everyone was asked to continue to pray the rosary, reflect upon the mysteries, and remember that Mary will always lead the faithful to her son, Jesus Christ.

Many of the Rosarians from the Assumption Church are members of Ukrainian National Association Branch 171.

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