During the first decades of the twentieth century, a number of immigrants of Ukrainian descent founded a small community in New Brunswick, NJ. Plans to establish a Ukrainian Catholic Church that would enable them to retain their religious and national identity could not be realized, since it was not possible to start a Ukrainian parish at that time.
Then, at the end of the Second World War, a large contingent of Ukrainians arrived and settled in the area, along with Reverend Basil Tanczak, who immediately informed Church authorities in Philadelphia of his arrival, requesting to be assigned to a parish in the United States.
He also discussed plans to establish a Ukrainian Catholic parish with acquaintances from Ukraine, among others I. Mykytka, V. Ratycz and P. Grabowych, and submitted the proposal to the Philadelphia Diocese of the Byzantine Rite of the Catholic Church. Authority to proceed was granted on September 6, 1950 under Decree No.1672/50. An intensive search for a suitable place of worship led to a small wooden chapel on 66 Plum Street, New Brunswick, NJ, the “Elizabeth Wray Memorial Sunday School”. The congregation bought the building for $ 6,000. Then on December 14, 1951, the Parish became the official owner of the property.
On Sunday, February 17, 1952, an initial meeting was attended by 52 church members. A committee pro tem was formed and consisted of I. Mykytka, V. Ratycz, M. Yaremus, P. Grabowych, M. Hirniak, D. Kuchevski, and S. Danyliw. T. Vacyk and M. Kmet became trustees.
On January 12, 1951, the congregation was incorporated under the title of “Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church” in New Brunswick, NJ. During the ensuing months, the number of church members increased rapidly. On June 29, 1951, the Nativity of the B.V.M. Ukrainian Catholic Church became a full-fledged church under Decree No. 141/51 issued by the Diocese.
The establishment of the new Parish demanded new dimensions of activity. Guided by regulations from the Diocese, Father Tanczak prepared a roster of candidates for the Parish Council, and on April 7, 1952, the following persons were officially installed: I. Mykytka, M. Hatala (trustees), V. Ratycz, Y. Olijnyk, B. Kotys L. Staranczak, M. Mychalyna, S. Danyliw, V. Ternopilsky, Y. Tarnawsky (members). During the years 1951-1961, the Parish Council added the following persons: V. Debaylo, P. Popiw, T. Kushnir, D. Gecha, L. Ratych, J. Kucak, V. Hron, M. Slobodian, I. Popil, P. Lytwyn, T. Chabrak, S. Chodnowsky, N. Nakonechny, S. Boyko, N. Hutak, M. Kuziw, M. Popil, O. Ratych, Y. Lonyshyn, Y. Paslawsky, N. Rowenko, P. Pankewycz, I. Lawryk, and I. Pawlow.
The steady growth of the Parish brought with it new problems, among them the lack of a church hall, where Parish functions could be held and where sufficient space for the expanding Saturday school would be available. On June 7, 1957, the deed was signed for a building with adjacent grounds at 21 Guilden Street, acquired for $17,500. After extensive renovation, the building was blessed at a solemn Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Dean Mons. Joseph Batza, assisted by Mons. Yaroslaw Gabro, as well as priests and guests from surrounding parishes.
In the following years, the building was used for church functions as well as by secular organizations such as UCCA, UNWLA, the Scout Movement, and others. Increased enrollment in the Saturday school, originally taught by Father Tanczak and his wife Halyna, necessitated additions to the teaching staff. Prof. O. Cisyk started classes for older children, and his wife Eugenia was in charge of choral practice and performances on Feast Days. They were soon joined by S. Kotys, P. Labinsky, and D. Orichowska. This dedicated group of church members gave freely of their time and expertise for the benefit of the Parish’s children.
Soon, the building at 66 Plum Street proved inadequate, and larger premises had to be found. When the Congregation of Baptists put their House of Prayer at 80 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick on the market, the Parish bought it for $65,000 in 1965. Work began immediately to adapt the building to the specifications of a Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite and a Saturday school. When the conversion was completed in 1966, Metropolitan Ambrose Senyshyn came to bless the property. The school moved from its cramped quarters at Guilden Street to an entire floor of classrooms, where courses at various levels were taught by R. Ratych, B. Rakochy, B. Tarnawsky, T. Pankewycz, C. Debaylo, N. Nynka, N. Holowinska, A. Kovalchuk, A. Oshchudlak, O. Hrycak, and S. Slobodian. Instruction in religion was conducted by Father Tanczak. S. Slobodian was in charge of the kindergarten founded and supported by UNWLA Branch 4.
This was a period of growth and development for the Parish. All parishioners actively participated in various religious and social functions such as Christmas and Easter dinners; the commemoration of Shevchenko’s birthday; the 22nd of January (Ukraine’s Independence Day); the November Uprising; dances, picnics, etc., as well as visits by St. Nicholas, eagerly awaited by the children. In 1956, the Sisterhood of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded, and the Sisterhood of St. Anne (for English speaking women in the parish) formed its organization in 1983. Both sisterhoods are still active, contributing immeasurably to the vitality of the Church.
In the life of all human beings, as in the life of their organizations, there must be change. Parishioners moved to other parts of the country; there were fewer enrollments at the Saturday school as the children grew older and had to participate in Saturday activities at their regular schools. Enrollments picked up for a while when students from the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Volodymyr the Great in Marlboro, N.J. joined with their teachers H. Loyko and L. Bilovoshchuk, but in the long run this did not solve the problem. In 1991, the Saturday school was closed. Religious instruction is continued for those children who prepare for their First Holy Communion.
Liturgical singing was under the leadership of P. Grabowych until March 1952, when O. Bilynsky helped out for a few months. Y. Oshchudlak was in charge until 1954, then again from 1959 to 1962. From 1954 to 1959, I. Kobasowsky served as Cantor. P. Labinsky conducted until 1981, when D. Gecha took over the directorship. From the year 2001 to the present, B. Kardash conducts the choir.
On July 22, 1961, the young Parish witnessed two joyous events: Very Reverend Basil Tanczak’s forty years of untiring service in the priesthood co-incided with the tenth anniversary of the parish that he founded. In recognition of his meritorious service to the Church and the Ukrainian nation, Patriarch Joseph Slipyj conferred upon Father Tanczak the title of Kryloshanyn of the Lviv Eparchy.
1988 proved to be a historic year for all Ukrainians when their communities and parishes celebrated the Millennium of Christianity in Ukraine, which was first introduced during the reign of Volodymyr the Great. It was a time of hard work, effort, and commitment. Already in the fall of 1987, a Jubilee Committee was formed to plan the commemorative activities. The first project was to design and complete the upper level of the Iconostas. Some of the parishioners, in the spirit of grateful generosity, offered donations to beautify the sanctuary and church. The family of P. and T. Pankewycz donated the main Altar, Tabernacle, Tetrapod, and icon of Christ the Lord. A cross and ripida were given by the family of P. and O. Paprocky. A. Lytwyn embroidered and donated two feast-day banners. The Side-Altar at the right hand wall was donated by E. Popiw. The Sisterhood of the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary donated an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Sisterhood of St. Anne contributed an icon of their patroness, St. Anne. The icons of Volodymyr the Great and St. Olga were painted and donated by the artist M. Stojko. The general art work around the Iconostasis was carried out by Makarenko Studio of New York.
On Sunday April 24, 1988, the parishioners were happy and proud to greet Metropolitan Stephen Sulyk in their midst. He celebrated the Divine Liturgy in recognition of the Millennium Year, joined by Archimandrite Victor Pospishil and Father P. Labinsky. During the services, the choir “Boyan” from Perth Amboy, directed by R. Levytskyj, sang the responses to the Divine Liturgy. The blessing of the gifts to the Church was followed by a reception and a festive program.
Another important event was the anniversary of Father Labinsky’s 10th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. At the initiative of Parish Advisory Council president M. Hatala, a committee was formed to plan the Parish’s day of celebration. D. Demediuk was elected as the chair of this committee. On Sunday, June 23, 1991 parishioners and friends gathered together, eagerly awaiting the arrival of two prominent guests: Metropolitan Stephen Sulyk who had studied together with Father Labinsky at the Seminary in Hirschberg, and Archimandrite Victor Pospishil. Father Labinsky celebrated the Divine Liturgy, assisted by Altar Server A. Shandor. The Church Choir sang under the direction of D. Gecha.
In September of 1991, a branch of the Ukrainian Patriarchal Society was founded at our Parish to represent New Brunswick and vicinity. The members were T. Pankewycz, M. Slobodian, and O. Ratych, who was active until March, 1995, when D. Demediuk assumed his duties. On March 1, 1992, the 100th anniversary of Patriarch Joseph Slipyj’s birth was commemorated by a series of events. A Divine Liturgy and Requiem Service were celebrated by Father Labinsky. In his homily he characterized the Patriarch as a great son of Ukraine and a martyr for the Ukrainian Catholic Church, who carried his cross in the unshakeable belief that his suffering would not be in vain, and that God would accept his Golgotha as an offering for the good of his Church and his troubled country. The responses to the Liturgy were sung by the combined choirs of Newark, Elizabeth, and Passaic, conducted by S. Bereza; they also sang at the festive gathering that took place later that day. Prof. Ivan Holowinsky delivered the commemorative speech marking this historic occasion. At the end, O. Ratych thanked all participants and invited them to be the Parish’s guests at a reception.
In each community there are certain persons ready to devote a large part of their lives to the well-being and development of their parish. The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is fortunate to have among its parishioners M. Hatala and M. Slobodian. M. Hatala, a long-term member of the Parish, chair of the Church Committee, and since 1952 until today its trustee, has dedicated untold hours to the needs of the Parish. M. Slobodian has been active for decades in her capacity as President of the Sisterhood of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Both were honored for their untiring toil in God’s vineyard by Certificates of Merit issued by the Archbishop and presented to them by Father Labinsky on September 7, 1997.
This short summary traces half a century in the life of our Ukrainian Catholic Church in New Brunswick and its congregation. Due to the constant protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our community has overcome all hardships and predicaments and has grown and gathered strength until this day. And we will continue to pray to our Patroness for Her eternal support, so that our Parish may persevere for the praise of God, for the welfare of the Ukrainian people, and for the salvation of our souls.
