Pastor gets a lift as he blesses Toms River church's new cupolas (07/04/04)

Pastor gets a lift as he blesses Toms River church's new cupolas

by Stan Jak

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - Sunday, June 6, will be remembered by the parishioners of St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Church as a very unique event celebrating the blessing of the church's newly installed cupolas. The uniqueness is due to the way the blessing was performed by Father Roman Dubitsky, who got a surprising "airlift" by three young volunteers of Silverton Fire Co. No. 1.

The joyous event commenced with a solemn liturgy with the participation of two choirs, St. Stephen's choir and the Boyan Choir from the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption in Perth Amboy, N.J. Both choirs were directed by George Shevchuk.

Several dedicated parishioners founded St. Stephen's in 1986 with the assistance of Father Dubitsky. In 1992 the church was built on the current site at 1544 White Oak Bottom Road, Toms River. The emphasis at that time was to build an all-purpose facility that would enable parishioners to pray and to raise funds to pay for the church.

Cupolas were not in the planning at that time because of the cost. As the parish grew, the parishioners began working even harder to pay off the huge debt. All the while there was always a question: "When will we install the cupolas that will properly identify the church with Ukrainian architecture and the Ukrainian Catholic Rite?

As Father Gus Molodowitz, associate pastor, would frequently mention: "It takes a lot of dough and an enormous amount of labor to make a lot of pyrohy (or varennyky) to pay for our church and for the cupolas." Thanks to this hard work, and some generous donations, the parish finally has its Ukrainian identity.

The parish extended its heartiest thanks to Mayor Paul Brush and Silverton Fire Co. No. 1 for making the celebration of its new cupolas unique.

For more information about the church, readers may call Father Dubitsky at (732) 826-0767.

| Home Page |