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St.
Sophie |
Cathédrale
orthodoxe ukrainienne |
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Home Page Pastor’s Annual Report for the year 2008 The Annual Meeting of the Cathedral Parish of St. Sophie February 15, 2009 Greetings to the Assembly of the Annual General Meeting of our Parish. I will report the most important matters of the past year. Services: I served the Sunday Divine Liturgies & the other 12 major feasts during the week. During the Great Lent, I served the Passia services. I am working to re-establish services at the Villa. Visitations: I visited the ill and infirm in hospitals, chronic care facilities and at home. Funerals: In the past year, 20 of our faithful reposed in the Lord. Memory Eternal! Baptisms: Through the Sacraments of Baptism & Chrismation, 15 children joined Christ’s Church. Weddings: Three couples were united through the Sacrament of Mariage. New members: We greet the five new members who have joined our parish. Sunday School: Things have changed in Sunday school. The children have grown up and graduated to Metr. Ilarion Saturday School where either Fr. Ihor or I present religious lessons to 15 students. We are grateful to Dobr. Popovich and the other teachers for their skilful work. This year, the school organised the Feast of St. Nicholas, Mother’s Day, they performed at the parish Kutia, the Patronal Feast day and at the Easter luncheon. Meanwhile Sunday school remains open and we remain hopeful for its future. Dance Group “Ìè “continues under the direction of Diana Gysiva. Each year, the youngsters perform at the Ukrainian Festival and at parish luncheons. Altar Boys: Ten boys serve as altar boys who, almost every Sunday, serve the Divine Liturgy and take turns reading the Apostle. This gives them the opportunity not only to take part in the Liturgy but also teaches them responsibility and cultivates love for church life. Mission Committee: Anastasia Onyszchuk heads our Mission Committee which last year organized a presentation by Leanna Zozula & Mark Assad. During the coming Great Lent, we are planning another presentation. Bible Study: Almost every Wednesday, Bible study begins at 6:30 p.m. St. Sophie Camp: first of all, it must be noted that from now on our church camp is a part of the Eastern Eparchy and thereby is designated as the official camp for Eastern Canada. Last summer, the camp session lasted two weeks and was attended by 30 children. Everything went well and thanks to God nothing unfortunate happened. Archbishop Yurij had been invited for the closing ceremony but was unable to attend. As Camp director, I express my sincere thanks to the members of the Camp Committee who put in much work to ensure that the camp went well: Zenon & Alice Hryckowian, Adrianna Zerebecky. Victor Sidorenko, and other individuals who helped to ready the facilities for the opening. For designing & implementing the cultural program: Tanya Novolska for organising the concert; Elena & Diana Gysiva for the dance program; and Olha Onyshchenko for the classes & sports program. I was left to provide more beds, furniture & other things & I thank Petro Kowalchuk for helping me to get these things to the camp, and for unloading, I thank Zenon Hryckowian, Adrianna Zerebetsky and Luba Kouchnir. In helping prepare the facilities for the opening, I thank Boris & Zenaida Lysenko, Oleh Byesyedin, Luba Dantch, Halyna Scotts, Charmaine Pushkar, & Paul Dwyhailo. A big thank-you to the organizers of the raflle, Orysia Audimiretz & Alice Hryckowian & to the many others who helped in big and small ways. Chapel at the the Oselia: Our Camp has been serving the Ukrainian Community for more than 50 years. If you examine all the Ukrainian camp in the Montreal area, every one has a chapel. Ours, however, does not. At the Annual General Meeting of the Eastern Eparchy I presented a project to build a chapel. The delegates unanimously accepted the project to the cost O $10,000. This cost is to be divided among all the existing parishes of the Eastern Eparchy. Slowly, the donations are coming in but to date we do not have enough to start building. If we can raise at least $5,000, then we can begin building in the spring. We accept donation both from individuals and organizations. Sunday Bulletin: This bulletin appears every week thanks to the assistance of Olia Kowcz and Adrianna Zerebetsky. Thanks to Lavrenti Lozowy for managing our website. Parents’ Committee: This committee takes care of Sunday School and does other good works in the parish like organise the Feast of St. Nicholas, provide refreshments after Passia services and other occasions. It donated $1000 to the parish. UWAC – Daughters of Ukraine: Thanks to the Womens’s organization for their support & especially to their president, Olga Narepecka for her collaboration. I wish all members good health and prosperity. St. Sophie Choir grows with new members thanks to the efforts of Tanya Novolska who pours heart and soul into the church choir. I wish both the members of the choir and their director much energy and success. Brotherhood Christiana Misericordia: for years this organization has been conscientiously serving our faithful thanks to the unremitting efforts of the president, Olia Kowcz. Jordan Visits with Holy Water: Every year, thanks to the great help of Olia Kowca, I have the opportunity to visit our parishioners and supporters in their homes. Sincere thanks to Mrs Kowcz for her help, support and advice. Expressions of Gratitude Church Elders: to Zenon Hryckowian & Wasyl Borodulia for their timely & unstinting support in the church. Be it Sunday service or one during the week, in all kinds of weather, they are there to open the church and to close it after the service. I also thank Roman Pushkar for help with the sale of candles. Prosphora: to Oksana Radchenko who now for several years in a row has been preparing prosphora for the church services. Parish Executive: to the President, Victor Sidorenko and the rest of the Executive for their collaboration, support and understanding; for the persistent efforts to see the renovations through to the end. As parish priest, I express particular thanks to Victor Sidorenko for the outstanding work he is doing for the good of our parish. Montreal Deanery:I greet my fellow clerics, Very Rev. Eugene Ruditsch, Very Rev. Dr. Ihor Kutash and Rev. Ihor Ochrimchuk & thank them for their collaboration. I thank Rev. Eugene Ruditsch & Very Rev. Dr. Ihor Kutash who substituted for me in my absences. Computer Services: to Lavrenti Lozowy and Walter Wawerchuk who look after the parish computer. Church Committee: Thanks to the church committee for looking after the church vestments and preparing the church for the various church seasons. The Reading of the letters of the Apostles during Liturgy: Thanks to Yoris Gella, Petro Buciora and the various altar boys: Ihor and Andrij Buciora, Andrew Scotts, Stepan and Ihor MMichalik, Volodymyr Duma, Stephan Dantch and Michael Onyshchenko. In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to every one of you for your understanding and moral support. Thanks to the Parents’ committee for preparing a memorial lunch on the anniversary of the repose of my father. I wish you all good health and gblessings. May the work that we do on behalf of our parish bring us spiritual joy that cultivates the growth of our parish. May this coming year bring good fortune and blessings to all of us. May God bless you for many, many years! Very Rev. Fr. Volodymyr Kouchnir Index to the Annual Reports |
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