The Parish of St. Joseph the Betrothed in Chicago gathered the Ukrainian community for a special occasion—the celebration of the Parish Prosphora. The event served as a vivid testament to the unity of the community through spirituality, charity, and art.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Parish of St. Joseph the Betrothed.
"The Parish of St. Joseph the Betrothed, led by Pastor Fr. Mykola Buryadnyk, has once again proven to be a vibrant center of faith, spiritual growth, community unity, and selfless service to others. This year's parish feast became a celebration of gratitude for numerous achievements and a shining example of how faith is intertwined with action," the parish stated.
The festive program was led by Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk, who celebrated a solemn Liturgy, emphasizing in his homily the importance of unity and service. Father Dean Yaroslav Mendyuk also expressed gratitude to the parishioners, highlighting the community's selflessness, especially in organizing support for military personnel and the wounded. Representatives of various organizations, including the Selfreliance Association, the Heritage Foundation, the Cyril and Methodius Community, the Galilee Community, and the Youth PRO Community, delivered speeches during the event.
As part of the celebration, honorary awards and recognitions were presented. The Parish Sisterhood of St. Joseph, led by Halyna Maslova, received special acknowledgment for their charitable work. Their efforts have helped raise funds to support orphans, internally displaced persons, and students. Notably, they received letters of gratitude from young individuals who had lost their parents and were awarded scholarships thanks to the sisterhood's support. Specifically, the sisterhood funds scholarships for students at the Ukrainian Catholic University. A special moment was the presentation of an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help to Professor Tetiana Nahorniak of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, who expressed gratitude to the sisterhood for their scholarships supporting Ukrainian students.
The parish also honored the Nicholas Charnetsky Brotherhood for its active support of Ukrainian soldiers. Brotherhood leader Serhiy Syutyk was awarded the “Volunteer Heart” recognition. Additionally, acknowledgments were given to the Vyshyvanka Dance School and the Andrei Sheptytsky Ukrainian Studies School—a learning institution helping youth explore Ukraine’s history, language, and culture. Special attention was given to the seniors who were among the founders of St. Joseph's Parish.
The festive event began with carols performed by the children of the “Angelyatko” kindergarten. The celebration’s highlight was a performance by the Homin Theater and a nativity play featuring the Irmos Choir, members of the sisterhood, the Brotherhood of Cyril and Methodius, and the parish youth.
The festive day concluded with a heartfelt message of gratitude from Fr. Mykola Buryadnyk, who urged the community to continue their service and unity.
Photos: Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Parish of St. Joseph the Betrothed
Prepared by: Inna Mikhno