Meetings, parties, bazaar and St. Andrew’s holiday

The monthly membership meeting of Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, was held Wednesday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious & Cultural Center — the Oseredok.
After a brief business meeting, members and many guests were treated to an extraordinary speaker, Global Investigative Group President Walter Zalisko, retired chief of police, who spoke about human trafficking worldwide with an emphasis on our country’s human trafficking problem.
Zalisko’s presentation, which included many specific case descriptions he encountered during his many investigations, was of great interest to all.
The next membership meeting will be Jan. 25, 2017 at the Oseredok. The guest speaker will be the Honorable Bohdan A. Futey, judge of the U.S.Court of Federal Claims, now serving in senior status for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C.

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The very successful Christmas Party of the Ukrainian American Club was held Saturday at the Oseredok. After an introduction by club President Daria Tomashosky and an invocation by Rev. Vasyl Petriv, pastor of the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church, the well over 100 members and guests enjoyed a sumptuous delicious buffet of home prepared goodies and pastries, with background holiday tunes played by accordionist Vlad Szpiczka.
The impromptu organized antlered male choir gathered outside the hall and marched in singing Christmas carols, both Ukrainian and American, accompanied by accordionist Szpiczka. They concluded their concert by singing “Silent Night” in English, Ukrainian and German, with a new member of our community, Oksana Kyva, with a beautiful voice sang it in Portuguese. Party guests joined in singing of most of the carols.

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A festive sumptuous and delicious dinner was enjoyed by many parishioners and guests at the celebration of parish feast day of the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church on Sunday, following the Divine Liturgy (Mass) celebrated by Rev. Vasyl Petriv, pastor, and Right Rev. Mitrate Archpriest Wolodymyr Woloszczuk, pastor-emeritus.
The guests included Ukrainian Orthodox priests Rt. Rev. John Fatenko, Rev. Oleh Saciuk, both of North Port, and Rev. Volodymyr of Utica, New York, their families and many Ukrainian Orthodox faithful.
The dinner was professionally organized, prepared and served by a team of volunteers under the direction of Christyna Bodnar-Sheldon of Englewood.
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The traditional Christmas Bazaar-Festival of the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God parish is planned for Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ukrainian food and baked goods for onsite consumption or for takeout will be available, as well as many sales tables featuring Ukrainian crafts, Easter eggs and other items.

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St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center — the Oseredok — at 4100 S. Biscayne Dr., North Port, will celebrate the Feast of its Patron Saint, Apostle St. Andrew, at noon, Sunday.
Dinner tickets at $20 can be ordered from Maria Nikitin at 941-423-1092. All are invited.
 

Email: atanask@aol.com 
Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians
by Atanas Kobryn