St. John the Baptist Parish in Northampton Celebrates 125 Years of Faith

In his homily, Archbishop Borys reflected on the parish’s long and vibrant history, describing it as a celebration of “six generations of grace.” He recalled the parish founders who came from the “old land” at the end of the 19th century:

“They worked hard, and they had a trust that God loves them, and they knew that there was heaven, and there was great hope. Because, when you believe in the eternity, you live differently.”

He invited parishioners to be grateful to God and to remember in prayer “all the people of those generations—those that gave us this church, those that passed down, priests and sisters who led us on this journey.” He also encouraged the faithful to read the Holy Bible and remain close to the Word of God.

At the celebratory dinner, Pastor Fr. Vasyl Bunik—the first married priest from Ukraine to serve in the Archeparchy—offered brief remarks:

“Today, celebrating the 125th anniversary, we say ‘We did it!’ In 25 years, I hope that we will say ‘You did it!’” he said, pointing to the younger parishioners.

Former pastor Fr. John Seniw expressed thanks for the ongoing support and fellowship of the parish community. While the parish is well known for its pierogi factory, many noted that the work of making pierogi is about more than financial support—it is also about building and strengthening community.

Vicar General, Mitred Archpriest Peter Waslo, referred to the feast of the Third Finding of the Head of Saint John the Baptist, which had been celebrated the previous week:

“But the body of John the Baptist was never discovered. Where is it? And today I’ve experienced—you are the body.”

Andrea Kochan Neagle, a fourth-generation member of St. John the Baptist Parish, delivered heartfelt remarks about her Ukrainian-American identity and the responsibility of preserving cultural and religious traditions:

“For by God’s abundant grace and wisdom, you and I were given the gift of true faith, expressed specifically in the beauty, ritual, and theology of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, faithfully passed along to us by our ancestors, and nurtured by our parish family over time. It’s now our responsibility to share it with others, especially our families.”

She encouraged parishioners to bring their children and grandchildren to Divine Liturgy so they could experience the icons, incense, bells, chants, and the Word of God:

“Encourage participation in the sacraments—they are the wellspring of grace. Bring them to religious education classes… Teach us your prayers in Ukrainian. Patiently help us learn (or re-learn) to sing the traditional hymns.” 

Read her full remarks