Orthodox League holds 49th conclave (10/06/96)

Orthodox League holds 49th conclave

OAK BROOK, Ill. - The 49th convention of the Ukrainian Orthodox League of the U.S.A. was held on July 10-14 at the Marriott Hotel here and hosted by the Ss. Peter and Paul Senior and Junior UOL chapters of Palos Park, Ill.

Sessions opened on Wednesday evening, July 10, with President Lynn Szafranski presiding. The national executive board was introduced by Miss Szafranski, and Emily Klish, Junior UOL president, introducing the junior board. Two newly formed chapters, St. Mary of Rochester, N.Y., and St. Mary of San Diego, were welcomed into the league.

Greetings from the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. were extended by Archbishop Antony, consistory president. Dr. Harry Oryhon, convention chairman, offered his greetings as did the Rev. Damian Messires, host pastor and spiritual advisor to the convention committee. A telegram was received from Patriarch Bartholomeas of Istanbul congratulating the league on the occasion of its convention and encouraging the members to continue their good works for the glory of God.

In addressing the convention body, Metropolitan Constantine spoke on the convention theme: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord," and said: "Praise is a qualifying acknowledgment of the goodness of others' actions. In giving praise to others, we mirror back to them the goodness of their achievement. Prayer of praise is appropriate whenever the presence of God is discerned."

During Thursday's sessions, Andrew Estocin of Philadelphia spoke of the Teenage Conference held annually at All Saints Camp in Emlenton, Pa., and said the conference introduces teenagers to the teachings of the Church and that "God says 'no' to the things society finds acceptable today, with the attitude that anything goes."

Bohdan Hryshchyshyn of Carnegie, Pa., chairman of the All Saints Camp Committee, spoke of the many accomplishments of the camp, with its swimming pool, tennis court, dining hall, Millennium Building and the proposed chapel.

The guest speaker on Thursday was the Rev. Irinij Dobrijevic, an iconographer and a teacher at Loyola University in Chicago, who selected as his topic of discussion "How to Read an Icon."

Dr. Gayle Woloschak, UOL Education Commission chair, addressed the convention regarding her trip to Cyprus to attend the syndesmos assembly in September of 1995 when the UOL was accepted as an affiliate member. She stated that "syndesmos," which means assembly or gathering in Greek, is an international fellowship of Orthodox Christian youth movements, organizations and theological schools serving the Church and its unity, witness, mission and renewal for the life of the world.

Religious services included daily molebens and evening prayers, with a divine liturgy celebrated on Friday, July 12, the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul. During the hierarchical divine liturgy held on Sunday, July 14, Archbishop Antony spoke on anxiety and said: "To rid ourselves of the destruction of anxiety, we must seek God first and not depend on drugs or other means, for only He can relieve us of our heavy burdens. We can put anxiety into good works and deeds if we trust God, Who can give us the power to deal with the anxieties in life."

Social events included a hospitality reception on Wednesday; a "Venetian" night on Thursday; a tour of Chicago on Friday followed by a concert and reception; a banquet and ball on Saturday, with a farewell picnic on Sunday. Featured at the Friday night concert were the 18-member Dnipro Dance Ensemble of Milwaukee, Wisc.; a male vocal trio from the Palos Park parish; the St. Andrew Ukrainian Church Choir of 27 voices from Bloomington, Ill.; and the 45-member dance group from Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Palos Park. A social hour followed at the hotel.

At the banquet on Saturday, Dr. Stephen Sivulich announced that if $15,000 is raised within a year to benefit the Metropolitan Youth Commission, Wasyl Pysh of Erie, Pa., would donate matching funds in that amount. Dr. Sivulich chairs the commission fund drive committee.

The honored guest during Saturday's session was Dr. Yuri Shcherbak, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., who spoke on the Ukrainian economy and the positive effects of President Bill Clinton's visit to Ukraine.

Elected to the senior board for 1996-1997 were: president, Miss Szafranski, Waretown, N.J.; first vice-president, Dr. Paul Szwez, Hartford, Conn.; second vice-president, Helen Greenleaf, Russell, Ohio; financial secretary, Michelle Bailly, New Britain, Conn.; treasurer, Mark Swindle, Pittsburgh; recording secretary, Ann Moroz, Mt. Laurel, N.J.; corresponding secretary, Marijka Norton, Conn.; auditors: Melissa Sirick, Newington, Conn.; Emil Skocypec, South Bound Brook, N.J., and Dave Sembrot, Bridgeport, Pa.

Elected to the junior board for 1996-1997 were: president, Julie Klish, Johnson City, N.Y.; vice-president, Joshua Oryhon, Johnson City, N.Y.; financial secretary, Greg Misko, Northampton, Pa.; treasurer, Jonathon Kennedy, Philadelphia; recording/corresponding secretary, Karen Meschisen, North Attleboro, Mass.

Ss. Peter and Paul Senior and Junior Chapters of Carnegie will host the 50th anniversary convention on July 16-20, 1997.