UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY: Celebrations throughout North America

Toms River, N.J.

by Ostap Jakubowycz

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - The Ukrainian American community in the Toms River, N.J., area celebrated the 10th anniversary of Ukraine's independence on Sunday, August 19, at St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Church, commencing with a holy liturgy officiated by the Rev. Augustine Molodowitz.

Father "Gus," as he is fondly called by parishioners, commenced the event with a sincere and moving sermon about Ukraine and its struggle for its identity in the world.

A concert and dinner followed, with the proceeds going towards the church building fund. The dinner and the concert were almost single-handedly prepared and directed by two of the most loyal parishioners and Ukrainian patriots, Peter and Olga Hrycak (who just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary). Not only did they cook and bake the entire menu, they purchased and paid for all the required produce and supplies.

The concert opened with the choir singing, "God Bless America, and continued with renditions of Ukrainian poems and Ukrainian national and folk songs by a choir comprising parishioners from St. Stephen's parish. Accordion accompaniment was provided by Osyp Fedyna, one of the those who carried the huge Ukrainian flag into the Parliament building in Kyiv in 1991.

The concert participants ranged in age from 7 to 80 plus. Our 7-year-old concert participant, Vira Levchenko, surprised the audience with her graceful and professional dancing. The concert ended with the Ukrainian national anthem sung by the choir and the audience.

The parishioners' dedication and hard work produced a grand concert, a delicious Ukrainian dinner and a profit of $1,100 for St. Stephen's Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, September 23, 2001, No. 38, Vol. LXIX

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