2010 2(37) - UCWLC

Від моря до моря From sea to seaNew Westminster Eparchy15 past presidents honouredThe Vancouver Branch of theUkrainian Catholic Women’sLeague of Canada celebrated its60th anniversary on September27, 2009, at the Protection of theBlessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary’s)Ukrainian Catholic Church.After the Procession withFlags, His Excellency BishopKen Nowakowski and parishpriest Rev. Daniel Wach, OSBM,concelebrated the Divine Liturgy,sung by St. Mary’s choir, followedby a Panakhyda for deceased presidentsof the UCWLC.After the service, membersand guests, including BishopKen, were welcomed to a banquetluncheon in the Ukrainian CatholicCentre by Branch PresidentMrs. Ann Kvitka Kozak.At 93, the Branch’s oldestmember, Mrs. Bessie Lashin, receivedflowers as did memberOlga Kotelko for her athletic pursuitsin track and field at age 90.The keynote speaker for thelunch was Mrs. Barbara Kaminsky,the chief executive officerof the B.C. Cancer Agency, whospoke on the importance of healthyliving and eating, and remindedwomen to take 1,000 mg daily ofcancer-fighting Vitamin D.Mrs. Lil Saranchuk, Presidentof the New Westminster EparchialUCWLC, extended her congratulationson behalf of her executive.“Sixty years of hard work, tirelessefforts, friendships and the22 Íàøà Äîðîãà ëiòî/2010building of a church family is quitethe achievement and is certainly amilestone,” she said.Certificates of merit wereawarded to founding members Mrs.Olga (Tiny) Zarski, Mrs. RoseKuzik and Mrs. Julia Stashuk,and certificates of appreciationwere handed out with gratitude toEdmonton EparchyEdmonton UCWLCEparchial Museum hostsGerdan Workshopwith Maria Rypan from Toronto,sponsored by the Alberta Councilfor the Ukrainian Arts. Maria is aninternational designer, artist andpublisher of beadwork instructionbooks and a recognized expert inthe 15 past presidents who servedbetween 1949 and 2009.The Svitanok Chorus, directedby Mrs. Kozak, entertained theladies after lunch and Father Danieland Bishop Ken also addressed theluncheon and gave a final blessing.The afternoon ended with theladies singing “O Spomahai Nas.”“gerdany,” the Ukrainian style ofbeading.The two-day workshop beganwith a slide and power point presentationson the history of the gerdan,showcasing hundreds of styles fromthe different regions of Ukraine.In two sessions, forty registeredparticipants worked on individualpatterns with instructions and assistancefrom Maria. Everyone leftwith enthusiastic ambitions to completethe numerous in-progress projectsand to start new ones.Reported by Helen Sirman, ND Rep.