Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey holds grand opening (11/26/06)

Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey holds grand opening

by Roma Hadzewycz

WHIPPANY, N.J. - Three days of celebrations marked the grand opening here of the new Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey - a project years in the making that became reality as the edifice was officially blessed on Saturday, November 11.

The center's dedication was preceded by the blessing a day earlier of the rectory of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, which stands at the entrance to the new Ukrainian American community complex on North Jefferson Road, just up the street from the soon-to-be vacated church and parish hall on Route 10.

Then, on Sunday, November 12, the parish witnessed the consecration of its new temporary church, located inside the cultural center building. The temporary church will serve the community until the new St. John's Church is built on land situated between the rectory and the cultural center.

It was a historic weekend for the growing Ukrainian community of northern New Jersey, which long ago had outgrown the current church and the adjacent hall in Whippany and which Had longed for a center that could accommodate its Ukrainian studies school, youth groups and dance ensembles, as well as various organizations, ranging from sports clubs to women's and professionals' groups.

The Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey (UACCNJ) was jointly blessed by Metropolitan-Archbishop Stepan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. and Bishop Paul Chomnycky of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, Conn.

"What a privilege it is to be here today, together with my brother Bishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Bishop Paul Chomnycky of the Stamford Eparchy, with the many clergy and religious, with the very special government and civic representatives, with the representatives of the many Ukrainian organizations who have committed themselves to be a part of this parish center family, and all the faithful here present," said Metropolitan Soroka, addressing the crowd of hundreds gathered outside the cultural center for its dedication ceremony.

"Today, you and I are celebrating hope and confidence in the future of our Ukrainian American community in the Whippany area of New Jersey. We are making a dramatic statement of hope for our present and future generations of children, youth and adults, and for their formation in our rich Ukrainian American culture," emphasized the leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States.

In turn, Archbishop Antony congratulated the local community for this "new beginning." Commenting that the independence of Ukraine was, in some ways, not good for the Ukrainian community outside its borders, he said that Ukraine's independence had resulted in apathy toward our community life here. Today, Archbishop Antony said, it is obvious "the apathy is fading away."

Next to the hierarchs, beaming, was the Very Rev. Mitred Protopresbyter Roman Mirchuk, pastor of St. John's, who along with building, fund-raising, construction, financial and other committees of volunteers had shepherded the project to completion.

New Jersey State Assemblyman Joseph Pennacchio (26th District) pointed to the achievements of immigrants who arrived in America, where they could live freely and enjoy their God-given rights. "This center," he said, "connects us to God, our creator. This center gives honor and glory to God."

Designed by architect Taras Dobusz, the cultural center encompasses a banquet hall, gymnasium, temporary church, library, meeting rooms, classrooms, offices, kitchen and social club. Mr. Dobusz also designed the parish rectory, as well as the church that is to be built in the coming years.

A historic day

"Welcome to this historic day," stated Michael Koziupa as he and Anna Denysyk, masters of ceremonies, opened the banquet in the new cultural center. The excitement inside the new center was palpable.

"This is a miracle, really a miracle," said Irene Doll of Morris Township, N.J. Her husband, Ron, chimed in: "People are looking forward to coming here."

The leader of the local branch of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, George Shypailo, said of the new center: "Having seen only the drawings and sketches of the center, the completed facility far exceeded my most ambitious expectations."

"It's truly a first-class facility that rivals any of the high-end motel chains in elegance. The color schemes, the quality of materials and the workmanship are all outstanding. I'm proud to be even a small part of this project," he enthused.

Christine Syzonenko, group coordinator of the Iskra Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble, which will be among the new center's tenants, said: "Iskra's membership has grown quite a bit over the last several years. It's very exciting for us to be moving to a venue which not only gives us more room to rehearse, but has a wonderful stage on which our dancers can perform."

In fact, Iskra became the first group to perform in the UACCNJ as it welcomed the capacity crowd to the center's inaugural event and later in the evening danced the ever-popular "Hopak."

A special guest at the banquet was Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Dr. Oleh Shamshur, who noted the significance of the new center in sharing Ukrainian culture, as well as knowledge about Ukraine's history and its people, with the American public. The ambassador pledged that the Embassy of Ukraine and the Consulate General in New York City stand ready and able to help the new center in its activity. New York Consul General Mykola Kyrychenko also was present at the banquet.

Local officials, including the mayor of Hanover Township (of which Whippany is a constituent part), Ronald F. Francioli, and Township Committeeman Howard Olsen, also attended. U.S. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, who was present for the groundbreaking ceremonies of the Ukrainian community complex back on April 25, 2004, could not attend this time due to family obligations, but sent a greeting.

Among the many other VIPs in attendance who were introduced to the banquet guests was Bohdan Watral, president and CEO of Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union, which granted the complex a $3.9 million mortgage and made a sizeable donation to the UACCNJ.

Also present was a group from the Ukrainian National Association, led by President Stefan Kaczaraj and Treasurer Roma Lisovich, whose corporate headquarters is located just a few miles west of the new cultural center.

Belief in a vision

"Congratulations to all of you," said Victor Hatala, chairman of the board of directors of the UACCNJ. "On faith and belief in our vision, we purchased land, we hired an architect, we developed a plan, we raised money, we borrowed additional funds, we cleared the property, and we built this magnificent building."

Mr. Hatala went on to introduce the members of the board of directors who represent each of the UACCNJ's member-organizations and who will work together, he said, "to make this cultural center a beacon to all Ukrainian Americans in northern New Jersey and throughout the United States." He also presented Markian Hamulak, who has been retained as the center's interim manager.

Orest Kucyna, parish trustee and construction chairman, also addressed the banquet, calling the center's grand opening "a milestone for all Ukrainians in northern New Jersey" and thanking the many volunteers who had spent the last few days working to get the cultural center ready for its debut.

However, he said, "this is only the beginning" and the job is not over as the community looks ahead to paying off the mortgage on the cultural center and building a 300-seat church and a bell tower.

"Our hope is that we can raise the required funds to begin Phase 2 of the construction within five years," Mr. Kucyna explained. "Our community has the ability and energy to accomplish much more," and the hope is, he said, that "today's momentous event will help stimulate others to participate" and "the community will pull together to complete the job."

Finally, the Rev. Mirchuk came to the podium. He offered thanks to a long list of people involved in making the UACCNJ a reality: the members of the Building Committee, the Ways and Means Committee, the Women of Whippany, the Fund-Raising Committee, and others. He singled out stalwarts like Mr. Kucyna, Peter Binazesky, Lubodar Olesnycky and Michael Zawadiwsky, who spent countless hours on various projects, tasks and events that led up to the grand opening, as well as the architect, Mr. Dobusz, Bjork Builders and officials of the Township of Hanover. In conclusion, the pastor offered thanks to "all the organizations which worked together to realize this dream."

The capacity crowd of nearly 400 was in a celebratory mood, uplifted in spirit by their community's very visible success. Approximately $200,000 in new donations was collected that evening - funds that will go toward the current "furnish and finish" campaign at the UACCNJ.

At the conclusion of the formal part of the banquet, the popular singer Pavlo Dvorsky of Ukraine took to the cultural center's stage to sing a few selections. Afterwards, the Luna band provided music for dancing.

Blessing of rectory

On the day before the UACCNJ gala, St. John's Rectory was blessed by Bishop Emeritus Michael Kuchmiak and the Rev. Mirchuk, with priests of the New Jersey Deanery of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and clergy from area congregations in attendance. Also present were parishioners and other guests.

Father Mirchuk thanked God "for making this day" and noted that this was just the beginning of the community's celebrations. "Our celebrations will end when our glorious church rises," he said.

The blessing was followed by a small reception inside the rectory and a guided tour of the new cultural center - a beehive of activity where volunteers were putting in place all the finishing touches for the next day's grand opening.

The temporary church

On Sunday, November 12, community members and parishioners returned to their old church to attend a special service in memory of the parish pioneers and trustees, thus beginning that day's celebrations of the parish's 85th anniversary.

Afterwards they walked in a procession to the temporary church housed in the UACCNJ. There, Metropolitan Soroka and Bishop Kuchmiak, assisted by clergy blessed the new house of worship and celebrated a pontifical divine liturgy. Among the priests participating in the services that day was the Rev. John Ciurpita, a native son of the Whippany parish.

In his homily, the metropolitan spoke of the "joyous and successful renewal" of St. John's Parish. "Today, we have blessed and we worship in this new temporary chapel - a few steps away from the planned new church. Let no one here harbor any doubts in their hearts and minds. There will be a new St. John the Baptist Church, and soon," Metropolitan Soroka underscored. "Why am I so confident? Because I believe in God's power in you - His people. Your patron saint is St. John the Baptist. He went into the world to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. He proclaimed this with certainty, with no doubts. He responded to the challenges set before him with hope and conviction. "

85th anniversary banquet

The subsequent anniversary banquet, attended by another capacity crowd, was emceed by the Rt. Rev. Mitred Msgr. John Terlecky of Stamford, Conn. The event paid tribute to all the pastors of St. John's Church, the founders of the parish, parishioners who served in the U.S. armed forces, trustees and parish committee members, and all parishioners through the years. As all in attendance shared "prosfora," the youth of the parish sang "My Ye Rodyna" (We Are Family).

A brief play presented by the youth of the parish recalled the founding of St. John's Church by immigrants from the Lemko region of Ukraine and the early years of parish life. The program also included performances by the younger members of the Iskra dance ensemble, the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM), Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization and the Lesia Ukrainka School of Ukrainian Studies.

Special recognition was given to two longtime activists of St. John's Parish, Don Singalewitch and Peter Binazesky, and the Rev. John Ciurpita, a parishioner who went on to enter the priesthood.

As the afternoon drew to a close, banquet guests viewed a slide show of photographs from the parish's 85 years of activity.

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