Dear Editor:
My grandfather emigrated from the village Verkhnye, close to Turka, in the Lviv region. I was able to visit this village with my children in 2013, when my children were invited to participate in the Boyko Festival in Turka, with their Korinya Ukrainian Folk Band. During a performance break, my children and I took part in the 100-year celebration of the Presentation of Blessed Virgin Mary Church, which was central to my grandfather’s village and family, and in whose cemetery our Shepko ancestors are buried.
Two years later, on Christmas in 2015, the wooden church was completely engulfed in flames and destroyed. Since then, the congregation has held services in the bell tower, because that’s all that was left. Rebuilding of the church has begun, the foundation and first floor are almost completed, but there is still more building needing to be done to finish the structure. The church committee of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is turning to us to help raise funds for the rebuilding of the church before it can be used by the village again.
If there are readers who would like to help with the rebuilding of this church, we have opened an account in Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union specifically for this cause. Presentation of Blessed Virgin Mary Church account number is 0000013768. We are grateful for any amount and all proceeds are going to this cause.
Readers may call Halyna Shepko at 845-255-5936 or e-mail [email protected] for more information. Thank you!
New Paltz, N.Y.