COMMUNITY CHRONICLE (03/17/02)

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE

Clifton parish celebrates Valentine's Day

by Silvia Bilobron

CLIFTON, N.J. - Although usually perceived as a mostly secular holiday, the reasons for celebrating Valentine's Day at St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church this year were far from that. The parish sisterhood hosted a family dinner/dance at the Clifton church on February 16 to celebrate its immense love of Ukrainian Orthodox tradition. More remarkably, perhaps, it commemorated a continuum of revival and new interest in this small community.

Established over 40 years ago, St. Mary Church on Washington Avenue was once quite an active, populous place. Founders and their families, remembering all too vividly the horrors of famine, war and displacement, worked to create a spiritual home for themselves; a place to gather to thank God for their new lives and to pray for a better future. Furthermore, the church served not just as a place for worship, but also for social congregation with fellow fervent Ukrainians. As is mostly the norm for other centers, the parish, with its children, commemorated events like "Shev-chenkivske Sviato," Mother's Day, and the feast day of St. Nicholas. There was a Ukrainian school and scheduled events such as picnics and varenyky sales. An impressive church choir meandered with the "koliada" (carolling) each season.

However, as is unfortunately the case for many of our establishments, as the years passed, action and enthusiasm waned. The elderly departed, others relocated, some intermarried and moved on. In fact, by the mid to late 1980s, not only was the church at its pinnacle of inactivity, membership was at an all-time low. Questions arose as to anticipated life expectancy. With insufficient funds and few people, how much longer would St. Mary Church survive?

The Rev. Michael Zemlachenko, pastor of St. Mary Church for over 20 years, was instrumental in providing optimism and guidance at the height of the crisis. His constant encouragement paid off.

Following 1991, with the declaration of Ukrainian independence, came a fourth wave of immigrants searching for a spiritual haven where they could pray in their own language. St. Mary's proved to be such a place.

Over these past few years, the church has witnessed a steady trickle of new parishioners, including children, whose sound and voices had been absent for all too long. Although not voluminous by cathedral standards and still in need of capital structural repairs, there is once again talk of "the future."

Most notably, though, members feel a true sense of family and closeness. This assemblage has bonded in a beautiful way. Joys are celebrated together, sorrows are halved. Traditional rite continues and the church lives on.

This past Valentine's Day weekend, therefore, was a good enough occasion to rejoice. Under the leadership of sisterhood head Maria Wojtiuk, a tasty banquet was prepared. Youngsters helped decorate, and Ukrainian music played for hours. Parish president Mary Yurcheniuk greeted all present and supplicated them to remain energetic in the life of our blessed church.

We once merely existed. Now, we live. For those involved, there could be no better reason to celebrate the holiday of love.

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