The Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation and the Ukrainian Institute of America cordially invite you to attend a Silent Art Auction, Saturday evening, March 24, 2012, at the Ukrainian Institute of America, 2 East 79th St. New York, NY. Admission is $75.00 per person. Proceeds to benefit the Ukrainian Catholic University.

7:00-8:00 p.m. cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
8:00 p.m. art and program
9:30 p.m. bidding closes

For more information, please call: Marta Kolomayets (773) 235-8462 or Sofika Zielyk (212) 533-6419.

“Josyf Slipyj was a confessor of the faith,” said historian Dr. Oleh Turiy, UCU’s vice rector of research. “He bravely endured incredible persecution, and did this with dignity. He can be an example for others to follow. So he is a serious candidate for beatification. The Ukrainian [Greek] Catholic Church has already created a preparatory commission, headed by Fr. Andriy Mykhaleyko, director of UCU’s Institute of Church History, to collect materials for the patriarch’s future beatification.”

The photo (ABOVE) shows Dr. Turiy (far right); Bishop Yosafat Hovera, exarch of Lutsk (far left); Iryna Kolomyiets, director of UCU’s Josyf Slipyj Museum (second from left); and (second from right) Fr. Mykhailo Shevchyshyn.

UCU graduate Mariya Makovetska (’05) is now team manager of the Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization Department of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for the Development of Ukraine in Kyiv. Previously she was executive director of the International HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Institute.

“The Ukrainian Catholic University [UCU] is an institution that does not simply teach philosophy. At UCU they always taught us to think, to analyze the facts, to look for similarities, different accents, to correlate them.

“UCU gave me all the instruments to realize my dreams: an education that was so multifaceted and of such high quality that in my work now I feel no lack of knowledge or experience. As a student, I looked for answers, I looked for my calling. I took part in social projects and now, working in the social sphere, I can help a great number of people. In this way I am realizing myself as a theologian.”

Born in Kolomyia, Ukraine, in 1922, Dr. Fischer-Slysh lived in Lviv with her parents until World War II. Then she moved to Munich, Germany, where she finished medical school. In 1950 she earned her medical degree and immigrated to the US with her family. There she worked as a pediatrician.

May she rest in peace.

A panakhyda will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 7:30 p.m., at Cardinal Funeral Home on Annette Street in Toronto.

Burial services will be held in South Bound Brook, NJ, at the end of the month.

The family says that donations in her memory can be made to the UCEF on behalf of the Ukrainian Catholic University.

The interviewer asked: “Can you name some institution in Ukraine whose thoughts it would be worthwhile for young people to listen to?”

Ms. Zabuzhko mentioned the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Patriarch Emeritus Lubomyr Husar, and Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk.

And she added: “I also have a very high opinion of UCU’s rector, Borys Gudziak, who does many good things and is building a truly fine Europe university. He is working for the future of the country.”

Link to Ukrainian-language interview: http://www.unian.net/ukr/news/news-485623.html

“But,” he continued, “there is a temptation to assess the work of our theologians based on what others say about them. I want to sincerely thank those people who were bold and dedicated their lives to theological studies. I also want to emphasize the importance of the existence of this university, and its theological school, for our Church. I encourage you with all the power of God’s Word to re-build our Church and our society to the extent that the Lord calls us to this.”

Patriarch Sviatoslav also greeted guests from southern, central and eastern Ukraine who are now studying at UCU’s Institute of Leadership and Management. He also thanked the students “who have entrusted their lives and future to this university. You are a precious pearl on the crown of our Church. And may this pearl reach out through all Ukraine and the whole world.”

UCU’s senior vice-rector, Dr. Taras Dobko, thanked the patriarch for leading the community in prayer, and he noted “the many tasks before us this year,” mentioning the opening of the new student collegium (housing) and plans to open a doctoral program in theology and new master’s programs.

Cari and Chris Manns, owners of Traders Group, Inc., had met with UCU’s vice rector for planning, Volodymyr Turchynovskyy, for dinner the previous week and extended the invitation to visit the CBOT.

“Chris provided a historical perspective of trade floor operations coupled with his keen sense of business humor,” said Solimini. “We also had a crash course in trading hand signals – buy – sell – amount. Our photo taken in the main courtyard shows our attempt to demonstrate our trading position. “

Thanks Cari and Chris for your hospitality and willingness to learn more about the mission of UCEF and the Ukrainian Catholic University.

“We sang traditional Ukrainian Christmas carols at the festival,” explained choir director Mariana Korchynska, including one by Bohdan-Ihor Antonych, who was from that area of Poland. “In the carol he recalls the Lemkos [Ukrainians who live in the area] and the city of Dukla, which is near where the festival was held.”

For more photos, click here

For a Ukrainian-language video covering the event, click here

Khomyn is an engineer by training who works at the Ukrtelekom company. In her dissertation she explored issues of church unity in the 17th century and the thought of Catholic and Orthodox hierarchs and the pastoral activities of Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, patriarch emeritus of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The head of the commission, Dr. Oleh Turij, UCU’s vice rector for research, said: “Inasmuch as the student mastered the basics of theology, ecclesiology, and historical studies without a basic humanities education, we had an additional argument for giving the work an assessment of ‘outstanding.’”