PRIMROSE — It was all things Ukrainian at St. Nicholas Grove on Sunday as people came to enjoy and learn about the heritage and culture during the 84th annual Ukrainian Seminary Day.
Visitors enjoyed a new, more open view of the park with old trees and their roots being removed in order to make the ground more level for easier walking. New trees have been planted for future shade.
As is tradition, the ethnic festival began with the importance of the Catholic faith at the forefront with the celebration of a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 11 a.m. with the Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy, apostolic administrator of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. This was Rabiy’s first Divine Liturgy celebrated as administrator after being appointed by Pope Francis to the position following the resignation of Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka, effective April 16.
This year’s Ukrainian Seminary Day commemorated Soroka for his 17 years of episcopal service as the archeparchy’s archbishop and as metropolitan to all Ukrainian Catholics in the United States.
Rabiy was the main celebrant, with priests from the 12 parishes of the South Anthracite Deanery as concelebrants. The deanery (protopresbytery) churches sponsor the event under the leadership of their respective pastors.
As the liturgy began, Rabiy spoke about praying for special intentions: For increased vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and for those who suffered with torrential rains in the area.
During his homily, Rabiy spoke of the resignation of Soroka while he was an auxiliary bishop in Philadelphia, and he was chosen to be apostolic administrator.
“This is how I am actually here and I wanted to introduce myself,” Rabiy said. “My position is apostolic administrator. To understand that, it’s like a substitute teacher basically until someone else comes here to be a permanent metropolitan-archbishop.”
Message in psalm
For Rabiy, this was his first time at the festival and to celebrate the service. The homily focused on Psalm 22, which begins “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” Those are the words spoken by Jesus Christ while on the cross.
Rabiy read the entire psalm and connected what happened on the cross to everyday life.
“When we consider whatever happened in today’s Gospel, and we consider even our own lives and situations, how many times do we or somebody we know that may be pointing to the same thing,” Rabiy said. “Something very drastic happened, such as suddenly a dear one passed away or someone is very ill. And we are praying and asking God to look down and please heal your servant. I’m pleading and believe so much in you that you can heal me. There are times when things just don’t go right in our lives.”
Rabiy said the difficult times cause many to pray, light candles, go to church more frequently and do other things to ask God for help that doesn’t seem to come.
“And it seems the answer is not coming and you start to wonder how come,” the bishop said. “It’s challenging us. It’s challenging the power of prayer and challenges the existence of God, too.”
He said some people become disheartened when the answer is not heard, but there is always a connection with God, especially at a Divine Liturgy when Jesus Christ is received in the Holy Eucharist to assure God does listen and cares about every one.
Picnic and culture
After the liturgy, many left the hall and headed straight to the ticket booth to buy tickets for the many ethnic homemade food items. There was a long line for the ever-popular bleenies. People also enjoyed pyrohy, halupki, haluski, kielbasi and sausage sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs and soups. There was also a lemko platter, which included kielbasi, sauerkraut, rye bread, a halupki and choice of halushki or pyrohy. There were games for children and adults.
Ukrainian arts and crafts, including embroidery and pysanky demonstrations were available.
The outdoor entertainment began with a live outdoor polka broadcast by WPPA-AM, which was followed by a dance program by the Kazka Ukrainian Folk Ensemble in the open air band pavilion. Brand new this year was the vocal group Spiv Zhytta with “Living in Song.” The vocal group is from Washington, D.C., and performed traditional and classic Ukrainian songs. The entertainment continued with the John Stevens’ Doubleshot Polka Band that entertained with polka and dance music from 4 to 8 p.m. to conclude the festival.
There were many vendors with all varieties of crafts, most related to the Ukrainian culture. Georgine Borchick displayed her works with the art of pysanky (decorated eggs) and held workshops during the day. Kim Fritzges demonstrated the art of writing icons.
Beginnings in park
“Ukrainian Catholic Seminary Day” began in 1934 in Lakewood Park, Barnesville, and continued through the 50th anniversary held in July 1983. Seminary Day was a “coming home event” for many Ukrainians who left to work in defense plants in the larger cities. “Seminary Days” at Lakewood Park ended in 1983, the year the park closed.
“Ukrainian Seminary Day” was revived in 1985 and moved to St. Nicholas Picnic Grove, Primrose. From 1985 through 2017, the event has raised $900,000 for St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Washington, D.C., the only such seminary in the United States. As a fundraiser for the seminary, the event is unique in that it is the only one where a group of parishes join forces to raise funds.
The first major immigration of Ukrainians to the United States was between 1870 to 1899, the first of four waves of immigration. In 1884, St. Michael the Archangel Greek Catholic Church, Shenandoah, was the first Eastern Catholic church founded in America. The first Ukrainian American organization in the United States was founded in 1894 in Shamokin as the Ukrainian National Association, which still exist and is based in New Jersey.
This year’s program booklet featured Soroka and his 17 years as metropolitan-archbishop with many photos.
The South Anthracite Deanery includes 12 churches in the counties of Schuylkill (Frackville, Maizeville, McAdoo, Middleport, Minersville, Saint Clair and Shenandoah), Luzerne (Hazleton), Northumberland (Marion Heights, Mount Carmel and Shamokin) and Columbia (Centralia).
Contact the writer; jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023