Monthly Archives: July 2023

(Українська) Центр студій спадщини Патріярха Йосифа Сліпого при Релігійному Товаристві українців католиків «Свята Софія» США оголошує конкурс декламації «АНГЕЛИ МАЙДАНУ». До 10-ої річниці трагічних подій

Sorry, this entry is only available in Українська. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.

(Українська) Релігійне Товариство «Свята Софія» США запрошує на серію викладів та презентацій в рамках осіннього семестру 2023 р.Б. зі серії «ЦЕРКВА-НАУКА-ОСОБИСТОСТІ» за участі Осередку праці Наукового Товариства ім. Шевченка у Філядельфії

Sorry, this entry is only available in Українська. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.

St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics, Inc. Offers ESL Charitable Summer Program for Ukrainian High School Refugees

On July 10-21, 2023, ESL Charitable Summer Program was offered to Ukrainian middle and high school refugees in Philadelphia. This educational endeavor was organized and sponsored by St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics, Inc. The project was originally launched for children from the annexed territories of Crimea and Donbas, families of Ukrainian soldiers, displaced persons, orphans and seminarians of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In 2015-2019, the program took place in the Josyf Slipyj Museum Complex in the village of Zazdrist, Ternopil region. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, classes were held online. More than 140 young men and women have benefitted from the program. This year, St. Sophia Association offered ESL to forcibly displaced teenagers who arrived in the USA as a result of the war in Ukraine.

23 participants, aged 11 to 17, improved their English skills at elementary, basic and intermediate levels. Classes were held at the Basilian Spirituality Center in Jenkintown, PA, and were taught by Dora Vynnytsky, Halyna Kozak, Olha Mykulanynets and Iryna Ivankovych. The program included grammar, conversational English, reading comprehension, pronunciation, and adapted literature. The training consisted of three morning and one afternoon classes which also included watching and discussing movies. To diversify the program, the organizers provided additional classes, such as: a seminar on the basics of budgeting and financial management offered by Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union in Philadelphia; fairytales presentation by Andriy and Lyuba Chornodolsky; bead necklaces workshop and Rosaries-making classes for the armed forces of Ukraine; an tour of the Ukrainian Heritage Center at Manor College; presentations about the English-speaking world, which the participants prepared with the assistance of their American peers: Denys Baranov, Vladyslav Nestor and Juliana Derzhko. The participants of the program had a unique opportunity to be immersed in the English-speaking environment, explore American history, culture and traditions. The ecumenical program included morning and evening prayers.

“This project, originally initiated by St. Sophia Religious Association in Ukraine, today serves middle and high school refugees who fled the war and are now adapting to new circumstances of life and education in the USA,” says Iryna Ivankovych, President of the Association.

The ESL program was supported by: Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union in Philadelphia; Passage Restaurant; Sisters of St. Basil the Great (Christ the Lover of Mankind Province, Jenkintown, PA); UNWLA Philadelphia Regional Council; American Ukrainian Relief Association; Hampton Store; Fletcher-Nasevich Funeral Home; WL Gore&Associates; Oksana Ivanovych; Halyna Malynovych; Dorian Kernytsky; Oksana Terleckyj, as well as volunteers Olha Havryshchuk, Denys Baranov, Juliana Derhzko, Oleksiy Derzhko, Vladyslav Nestor, Viktoria Hudzenko, Tereza Kozyak, Khrystyna Pshenychna and Mariia Myndiuk/

St. Sophia Association Press-Bureau

“Vacation with God. Faith, Hope, Love”: Summer Camp for Children in Philadelphia

On June 26-30, 2023 a Summer Camp for Children “Vacation with God: Faith, Hope, Love” was held at the Basilian Spirituality Center in Jenkintown, PA. The camp was organized by St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics, Inc. in cooperation with the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great. 33 children aged 6-13 from the Greater Philadelphia participated in the event. Among them were refugee children who fled to the USA in the face of the war in Ukraine.

 

The organizers based the curriculum on the foundation of Christian life: faith, hope, and love. The camp’s program was created with the goal of molding the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people. The children enjoyed catechism classes, songs, dances, crafts, stencil pictures, embroidery, yarn robins workshop, beadwork class, encoded embroidery masterclass, games, and talent show. The program was coordinated and directed by Iryna Ivankovych, President of St. Sophia Association, and actively supported by St. Sophia camp councilors: Andriy Singalevych, Denys Baranov, Victoria Hudzenko, Vladyslav Nestor, Pavlo Mazepa, Maksym Tatarchuk, Mariia Steblyna, Diana Kikelia, Emilia Shnitzer, and seminarian Nicholas Sharga. Noteworthy is the fact that camp councilors were properly prepared for their service through several workshops organized by St. Sophia Association. Catechetical classes were prepared by br. Bohdan Vasyliv, Sr. Frantsyska Shabliy, and Hanna Dovhanyuk. Sr. Joann Sosler and Sr. Lydia Sawka coordinated logistics. The Divine Liturgies were celebrated by Fr. Volodymyr Radko and Fr. Wasyl Kharuk.

 

This was the seventh initiative of St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics, Inc, in cooperation with the Sisters of St. Basil the Great in the field of spiritual and cultural upbringing of Ukrainian children and youth in the USA. The event was supported by Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union in Philadelphia.

St. Sophia Association Press Bureau