The Blessing of the first Ukrainian Catholic high school for boys, September 4, 1933

Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky was deeply committed to the education of his faithful. He consistently encouraged parishes to establish schools and prioritize a good Christian and Ukrainian education for children. By 1933, several full-day and evening schools, organized by the Basilian Sisters, were already operating. Philadelphia, PA, also hosted an orphanage and a small seminary. Additionally, the Basilian Sisters founded a girls' academy in Fox Chase in 1931. The next step was creating a high school for boys, which would also prepare candidates for the priesthood. 

In 1933, Bishop Bohachevsky purchased an estate in Stamford, where a mansion built by Edward A. Quintard in 1867 was located on Clark’s Hill. Over the years, this house changed owners several times. In the latter half of the 1920s, the chateau also served as the Private School for Girls, Glen Eden. 

On September 4, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was led by Bishop Vasyl Ladyka from Canada, with Bishop Constantine preaching and Bishop Vasyl Takach as the guest of honor. Despite the rain, which persisted all day, thousands of people from various parts of the exarchate attended. The liturgy featured a choir of 300 members from parish choirs in Newark, Jersey City, Bayonne, Elizabeth (NJ), New York, Yonkers, and Brooklyn (NY), under the direction of Mr. Andrij Gela. The choir performed works by Bortnyanskyj, Koshyts’, Verbytskyj, and Hajvoronskyj, captivating both Ukrainian and American attendees. 

After the liturgy, a celebratory lunch was held in the school cafeteria. Later in the afternoon, the festive academy began, featuring speeches from guests and performances by various choirs and bands from the Exarchate's parishes. The program was prepared by Mr. Theodosius Kaskiw, the conductor of the choir from Newark, NJ, who also led the united choir during the concert. 

The next day, studies began in the newly established school. During the first year, 22 young men were enrolled. Some lived at the school and prepared for the priesthood, while others lived at home and received only a school education. Later, the school was renamed St. Basil Preparatory School. 

This event marked the beginning of a large Ukrainian center in Stamford and was a significant moment for Ukrainian education and the Ukrainian Church in America. If you have any family stories about this event or the school, please share them in the comments.