Basilian Order taps activist to serve as fund-raiser (01/12/03)

Basilian Order taps activist to serve as fund-raiser

GLEN COVE, N.Y. - The Order of St. Basil the Great has officially authorized Steve Ircha to conduct fund-raising activities on its behalf. The purpose of this campaign is to support of vocations to the monastic life, which includes the monastic priesthood.

The Order of St. Basil is seeking donations because the expenses involved in the education of seminarians and the upkeep of various educational facilities has depleted the order's resources. Checks for the support of the order's vocational work should be made out to Order of St. Basil the Great and sent to: Steve Ircha, 6 Gramatan Court, Bronxville, NY 10708. His work phone number is: 1 (800) 221-4947 and his home phone number is (914) 395-3777. Donations may also be sent directly to: Order of St. Basil the Great, c/o St. Josaphat Monastery, East Beach Drive, Glen Cove, NY, 11542.

The American Province of the Order of St. Basil the Great ministers to Ukrainian Catholic faithful in the United States. The order administers parishes in New York, Michigan and Illinois. This includes St. George Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Manhattan, along with St. George elementary and high schools; Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Hamtramck, Mich., along with its elementary and high schools; St. Josaphat Residence and Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Warren, Mich.; Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Palos Park, Ill.; Holy Cross Ukrainian Catholic Parish, Long Island City, N.Y.; St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Parish, Bronx, N.Y.; and St. Josaphat Monastery and Novitiate, Glen Cove, N.Y.

In addition to the student seminarians in Glen Cove, the American Province of the Order of St. Basil the Great has seminarians studying in schools in Orchard Lake, Mich.; Edmonton; Rome, Italy; Curitiba, Brazil; and Peremyshl, Poland.

The Order of St. Basil also conducts parish missions (spiritual renewals) in Ukrainian Catholic parishes throughout the United States. The order runs a retreat center in Glen Cove, where couples contemplating marriage are given a weekend of instructions by competent married couples and clergy.

Currently 10 student seminarians are being educated for the American Province of the order. To cover the expenses involved in training these seminarians and to conduct the other religious services mentioned above, the order seeks to raise $3 million. Donations to the order for this purpose are tax-deductible.

Mr. Ircha, along with his wife, Jane, and sister Suzanne have already successfully raised thousands of dollars for the Order of St. Basil the Great. Steve Ircha is the senior managing director of the investment firm McLaughlin, Piven, Vogel Securities Inc. and has been a longtime friend of the order. Mr. Ircha and his three sisters all attended St. George Elementary School in Manhattan.

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