Festival volunteers at Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, N.J.
PERTH AMBOY, N.J. – On Saturday, June 22, the church grounds of Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, N.J., swelled with neighbors and those who traveled quite a distance to appreciate Ukrainian culture, crafts, foods and entertainment at the seventh annual parish festival.
Throughout the sun-filled day, more than 3,000 guests enjoyed themselves, eating the delicious Ukrainian food, listening to lively Ukrainian music, taking tours of the beautiful church, socializing with friends and neighbors, and enjoying incredible Ukrainian dance performances.
Father Ivan Turyk, pastor, with Bishop Andriy Rabiy, auxiliary bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.
Father Ivan Turyk, the pastor of the church, said that “The festival always creates an atmosphere of hospitality,” as people can come and have fun, and at the same time, “it becomes an expression of our faith.”
“God blessed the festival with perfect weather, which helped to bring many people to the festival. The reviews were wonderful; a lot of people told us that it sure is a big crowd this year and said they had a great time,” Father Turyk noted.
The festival was honored by the presence of U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone (D- N.J.), Mayor Wilda Diaz of Perth Amboy and Bishop Andriy Rabiy, auxiliary bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, who opened the celebration with his blessing and a prayer. A great time and great food was enjoyed by all those who attended.
The Barvinok Ukrainian dance troupe performs at the parish festival.
The parish served 6,000 varenyky, 1,550 stuffed cabbage (holubtsi), 250 pounds of kovbasa, 80 cases of Ukrainian beer and hundreds of pieces of homemade desserts. Some 415 pounds of meat were used to prepare shish kebab.
The pastor said it was wonderful to know that the church has so many hard-working parishioners and school parents who are doing their best to help keep the church and a parish school financially stable. “This was yet more proof that the Assumption Parish community shines when we all work together as one family,” he noted.
Preparing the shish kebab.