UCCA officers confer with UOC-U.S.A. Archbishop Antony (06/29/03)

UCCA officers confer with UOC-U.S.A. Archbishop Antony

by Tamara Gallo
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

NEW YORK - The Executive Board of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) met on June 8 with Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (UOC-U.S.A.).

Having earlier attended a requiem service at St. Andrew's Memorial Church in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Patriarch Mstyslav's passing, the UCCA delegation was greeted by Archbishop Antony and Hieromonk Daniel Zelinsky of the Office of Public Relations, in the Consistory offices of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in South Bound Brook, N.J.

During the meeting issues affecting the Ukrainian American community were discussed, including the commemoration of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide, with the latest immigratnts from Ukraine, and continued cooperative efforts for the development of the Ukrainian community in the United States.

In greeting Archbishop Antony and Hieromonk Daniel, the UCCA delegation, consisting of President Michael Sawkiw Jr., Executive Secretary Marie Duplak and National Board Chairman Ihor Smolij, expressed its sympathies on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the death of Patriarch Mstyslav. (A formal statement was issued for the occasion by the UCCA.)

"We hold dear to our hearts the unselfish work and devotion that Patriarch Mstyslav exhibited in his years as leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - his love for his nation, his heritage and his vision of a unified Church," stated the UCCA president.

The archbishop accepted the warm remarks of the delegation and thanked the UCCA delegation for attending the panakhyda service at the patriarch's crypt.

As the community commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide, the UCCA delegation summarized its yearlong plan of activity, highlighted by the campaign to revoke New York Times correspondent Walter Duranty's Pulitzer Prize and lobbying for of a memorial to the victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide in Washing-ton.

The UCCA president thanked the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States and the Ukrainian Ortho-dox League for their letters of support before a hearing in front of the National Park Service. Archbishop Antony welcomed the initiatives presented by the UCCA and expressed support for their successful completion.

The UCCA delegation proposed several ideas to coordinate with the Ukrainian churches in the United States: a solemn day of remembrance on Sunday, November 16, with a panakhyda service followed by the tolling of church bells for 7 minutes - one minute for each million victims who perished as a result of the Famine-Genocide; and a food drive in local Ukrainian churches with the collected items to be donated to local food banks during the Thanksgiving season in memory of the Famine victims.

Regarding programs to integrate the newest Ukrainian immigrants into the organized Ukrainian American community and into American society, Arch-bishop Antony described observed that a large number of new immigrants attend church services, but remain reserved about joining church or community institutions.

The UCCA delegation mentioned its latest endeavor to create an Informational Center for New Immi-grants, which consists of courses in English as a Second Language (ESL), computer classes, citizenship training, cultural programs, etc.

The UCCA and the UOC-U.S.A. agreed to exchange information about projects aimed at assisting the newest Ukrainian immigrants to become an integral part of the Ukrainian American community.

The unity of the Ukrainian American community also was an important topic of the discussion. The UCCA delegation mentioned its attempts in the past several years, thus far unsuccessful, to unite the various community organizations. "The unity of our community is paramount to our functioning as an active society," commented Archbishop Antony.

At the conclusion of the meeting the UCCA delegation presented Archbishop Antony with a check for $500 to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the building of a Ukrainian Museum in South Bound Brook. The UOC-U.S.A. and the UCCA agreed to remain in contact regarding various programs of interest to the community.

| Home Page |