On Sunday, March 10, 2024, Scouts BSA, Sea Scouts and Cub Scout members from Pioneer and Fishawack Districts of Patriot’s Path Council and Plast USA Scouts joined parishioners at Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church, Hillside, Union County, NJ to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and pray for those affected by the war and difficulties in Ukraine.

After singing “God Bless America”, the Scouts carried the following flags in procession: American (Brandon Banko), Ukrainian (Isaiah Mutyanda) and Vatican (Brianna Marecki). Attendees sang the American and Ukrainian National Anthems.

Scouts Nicholas Shatynski read the Troparion and Kondakion, Natalia Arpino read the Prokimenon, Logan Shepherd read the Epistle in English and Paul Hadzewycz read the Epistle in Ukrainian. Father Vasyl Vladyka, pastor of Immaculate Conception, gave a very informative and inspiring sermon that reflected on how the Scouts were truly living the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

During the Lenten Sorokousty Memorial Service, Father Vasyl Vladyka mentioned, name by name, deceased Scouts’ family members, names of the dearly departed that parishioners submitted, those that sacrificed their lives in the current war in Ukraine, as well as deceased long time Hillside resident and NY Yankees shortstop and announcer Phil Rizzuto, Oskar Schindler and the individual names of Hillside, NJ resident family members who were murdered in the Holocaust / Shoah.

Afterwards, in the church hall, Orest Hrycak gave a very informative and captivating presentation entitled “Russo Ukrainian War 2014 – Present” supported by videos, photos and a several maps of Ukraine. Orest recently returned from a 6 month deployment in Europe assisting in the relief effort for Ukraine. The attendees thanked Orest for his dedication and sang “Mnohaya Lita” (i.e. “Many Happy Years”) and dedicated the luncheon to Orest.

Special thank you to Jim Agar (Troop 73 Religious Emblems Coordinator and member of the Newark Latin Archdiocese’s Catholic Committee on Scouting), Orest Hrycak (Troop 75 Scoutmaster) and Joe Shatynski (Troop 173 Committee Member) for organizing this spiritually uplifting and special event.