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90-th Anniversary Celebration
DECEMBER 20, 2009 - 20 ГРУДНЯ 2009

December 20, 2009 was a very special occasion for the St. Nicholas Parish Family in Buffalo, NY.  We celebrated the 90th Anniversary (October 26, 1919) of the laying of the church cornerstone.  St. Nicholas Parish has been around for 115 years, but the site of the church on Fillmore Ave. and Oneida Street in Buffalo has seen 90 years of incredible memories.  The parish was visited in 1972 by Patriarch Josyf Slipyj and just a few years ago by our current Patriarch Lubomyr Husar.  The old church on Central Avenue even received a visit from Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky back in 1910.  And among these great men of the church, the parish itself honors and celebrates the family of parishioners that have passed through its doors for generations.

The Jubilee events began with a Pontifical Liturgy presided over by his Excellency Most rev. Paul Patrick Chomnicky, Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, with the participation of His Excellency, Most Rev. Stephen Chmilar, Ukrainian Catholic Bishop of Toronto and Eastern Canada, V. Rev. Marijan Procyk, Pastor, V. Rev. Kiril Angelov, Pastor of St. Josephats, Rochester, NY, the Rev’s. Raymond Palko, Andriy Kasiyan, Stepan Kuklich, Walter Werbicki , Deacon Michael Evans, Auburn, NY and Rev. Henry Orszulak, of the Diocese of Buffalo. The Liturgical Choir of the Buffalo Deanery, conducted by maestro Leo Orynawka sang the responses of the Liturgy.

The Jubilee banquet was held at the Creekside Banquet Facility in Cheektowaga, New York. The Celebration committee included Elaine Nowadly, and Michael Petryshyn, Parish Trusteesa Dolores Baranyckyj, Mary Bodnar, Andrew Diakun, Dora Horbachevsky, Nadia Marc, Anna Melnyk, Michael Michalow, Maria Petryshyn, Ann Marie Serediuk and  Mary Beth Sukmann. Bill Kurlak was in charge of the “St. Nicholas Through the Years” DVD, prodused by Wilhelmina Klimeczko, that played throughout the banquet.

The keynote speaker was Bishop Stephen Chmilar. He lauded the religious and patriotic achievements of the Parish founders. Bishop Chmilar paid tribute to the founders and pioneers of the St. Nicholas Parish community, to current Pastor V. Rev. Marijan Procyk and all those who preceded him. He also reminisced about his own experiences at St. Nicholas Church.

Bishop Paul Chomycky also briefly addressed the guests. He made many eloquent and witty observations, as he discussed the vibrant St. Nicholas Parish community.

An outstanding musical program was presented by Anna Tkalich, her brother Teodor Senkiv, and  Teodozij Pryshlak and a memorial DVD Presentation remembering  many St. Nicholas  parishioners who passed away was put together by Laryssa Petryshyn and her husband Roman Marusiak.

The “Bethlehem Light of Peace” ceremony a “Plast” tradition was presented and narrated by Dora Horbachevsky. This was a new experience for most present, and received enthusiastically.

Following closing remarks by V. Rev. Marijan Procyk and Benediction by Bishop Chmilar, the Jubilee Celebration was concluded by the Deanery Choir singing “Bozhe Velykiy, Yedynyi”

The guests were then invited to enjoy the music of the orchestra “Karpaty” from Niagara Falls, Ontario,Canada directed by Father Viktor Nazarchyk.