Catholic mission parish is established in Brighton Beach to serve new immigrants (06/05/05)

Catholic mission parish is established in Brighton Beach to serve new immigrants

by Danylo Peleschuk

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - In Brighton Beach, N.Y., sits a small Roman Catholic church, St. Margaret Mary's, which has recently opened it doors to the neighboring Ukrainians.

The need for a Ukrainian Catholic church in the Brooklyn area arose when the number of Ukrainian immigrants began to grow significantly. The tide of immigration that has so noticeably affected much of the northeastern U.S is becoming increasingly evident in the Brighton Beach community. Of the 37,000 Ukrainians who now live in the area, up to 15,000 remain "churchless," according to the Very Rev. Bernard Panczuk, OSBM, who is credited with providing these Ukrainians with a new center for spirituality.

The proposal for the newly organized parish was introduced by Father Panczuk, superior and head pastor of the St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York City. With the help of Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Brooklyn diocese and Bishop Basil Losten of the Stamford Eparchy of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Father Panczuk succeeded in establishing a parish for those Ukrainians who sought a proper place of worship.

The establishment is meant to be a mission parish - a small church that draws a crowd of faithful, hoping to attract them to the mother parish, which is, in this case, St. George's. Father Panczuk said he hopes to attract as many of the faithful as possible, as well as provide liturgical services for those unable to make the trip from Brooklyn into Manhattan.

The church - situated at 215 Exeter St. in Manhattan Beach - is the property of the Brooklyn diocese, yet its Ukrainian members are claimed by St. George's. St. Margaret Mary's hosted its first Ukrainian Catholic liturgy on May 8, and has offered a weekly, 3 p.m. Sunday service since then.

Father Panczuk's plans for the future of the parish include offering weekly catechism lessons for children preparing to receive their First Holy Communion, as well as summer Bible study courses held on weekdays for students who are on their summer break.

At the moment, Father Panczuk has gathered several nuns from St. George's to assist him, and hopes to have up to five full-time staff members serving the needs of the faithful at the mission parish. Those aiding Father Panczuk in establishing the parish include Sister Theodozia, Principal of St. George's elementary school, Sister Julia, Sister Luba and Sister Cornelia, superior of the staff.

The sisters, however, are not leaving St. George's by any means. During the summer months, while the elementary school is on break, the staff will commute to St. Margaret Mary's and spend several days of the week at the church, running the summer study courses Father Panczuk plans to offer.

Father Panczuk encourages all Ukrainians in the immediate and surrounding area to help support the newly established parish, and if possible, to assist him in providing a beneficial and vital summer study program for those youngsters who seek further education in the traditions of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

For further information, Father Panczuk may be reached at his office at St. George's, at (212) 674-1615.

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