LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 60th Anniversary of St. Mary's
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Rochester, New York, to be celebrated on
October 24, 2010

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in commemorating the
60th Anniversary of St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Rochester,
New York, to be celebrated on October 24, 2010; and
WHEREAS, In 1950, a small group of Ukrainian immigrants of the Ortho-
dox faith held an organizational church meeting and established St. Mary
Protectress Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church; the first Holy
Liturgy was celebrated by Reverend Wasyl Umanetz in a small rented
building on Sellinger Street; the first Sisterhood was established in
1952; and
WHEREAS, In 1954, the parish purchased its own church building on
Clinton Avenue and the new pastor was Reverend Mykola Czerniawskyj; and
WHEREAS, One year later, the parish organized the first Ukrainian
Studies Saturday School in Rochester, New York; many children, including
non-parishioners attended classes from kindergarten through eighth
grade; several hundred children attended the school until 1983; and
WHEREAS, Having outgrown its church facilities on Clinton Avenue, the
parish purchased a five acre parcel of land at 3176 St. Paul Boulevard
in 1970; in the fall of 1975, the parish embarked on the great task of
constructing the new parish center with a large and small hall, five
classrooms, office and kitchen; the church hall was completed in 1976
and has been used extensively for weddings, banquets, church and commu-
nity events; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, the parish sold the property on Clinton Avenue and
held church services in the small hall until 1982; the following year,
His Beautitude Metropolitan Mstyslav, blessed the future site of the new
church; and
WHEREAS, On September 11, 1977, the parish priest's residence was
dedicated and blessed by Archbishop Constantine, and the new pastor was
Reverend Anatole Sytnyk; and
WHEREAS, Upon the initiation of Reverend Sytnyk, a Ukrainian Arts and
Crafts Festival was held in 1978; parishioners dedicated many hours of
their time in preparing Ukrainian foods, baked goods and craft items;
the Sisterhood also began participating in the annual Town of Ironde-
quoit fourth of July Celebrations; and
WHEREAS, Throughout 1981, the Sisterhood organized the new Sisterhood
Bingo to help raise funds for the new church construction project; over
the years, the Wednesday night Sisterhood Bingo raised over $400,000 in
proceeds, and in 1991, the Parish and Sisterhood Bingo groups jointly
reached a milestone, $1 million in proceeds and their combined efforts
helped pay off the church mortgage by the parish's 40th Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, On Sunday, October 17, 1982, the Sisterhood celebrated its
30th Anniversary; with the blessings of His Beautitude Metropolitan
Mstyslav, the new St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox
Church was dedicated and consecrated by Archbishop Marko; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, The Holy Liturgy was celebrated by the new
pastor, the Very Reverend Mitred Fedir Kovalenko and the new church's
iconostas were blessed by Archbishop Marko in 1983; and

WHEREAS, Today, St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church parish serves
approximately 200 families of Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian descent and is
part of the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the
United States of America which is in communion with the Ecumenical
Patriarchate; and
WHEREAS, St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, under the leadership of
His Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine with Igor Krekovetsky as pastor,
stands on the threshold of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of
the coming decades while retaining that spiritual resolve which charac-
terizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 60th Anniversary of St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church
to be observed on October 24, 2010, fully confident that this commem-
oration reflects the belief in those values which enhance the dignity
and purpose of life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Rochester, New York.