New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-09-18
|UKRALNlAN CHURCH
HAS new LEADER
Rev. Basil HdHB,k Becomes
Pastor ID This CITY

Fer the first time since the sudden
and somewhat mysterious disappear.
ance OF Rev. Dennis Kuln6atycky
early last spring. when he left the
Ukraipian Greek Catholic church Of
st. Mary's immaculate Conception
on Winter street without notice,
parishioners of that church have ~
cured tho services Of 4 priest.
Rev. Basil Hrivnak. arrived Sat
urday. and celebrated his first mass
as an independent priest on Sunday
in the Ukrainian church on Winter
street. being the hrst priest to hold
services in tho now Independent
church since Rev. Father Kulmaty-
cky's departure.
Rev. Father Hrivnak comes to his
new parish from the far of plains
OF North Dakota, where for five
years he performed his duty a.
spiritual leader to q large onngrega-
ton ON the western farmlands,
where his nearest church neiEhbor
was nearly 500 miles away. Some
time ago he asked the bishop for
transfer because of his failing
health-the raw climate of the
plains not agreeing with him. He
waited. but never received an answer
until finally he decided to 90 to
Philadelphia and make q personal
plea. Upon his arrival. the bishop
advised him to wait few days un-
til he could make study of the diff
ferent parishes In need of a priest.
Rev. Father Hrivnak moved to q
hotel and for three weeks he re-
ceived no word from the biship.
Then he saw a notice in "a news
paper stating that the New Britain
parish was seeking the services OF an
independent priest and without CIV
ing the matter a second thought
with the corporation,
with the result that his services were
engaged.
Rev. Father Hrivnak is about s.
years old and prior to his engage
ment in North Dakota. held pastor
ates in Minneapolis and in Pennsyl-
vania. He was educated in Rome,
Italy. In explaining the word I'm
Rev. Father Hrivnak
stated that the church of which he
is now pastor is not independent of
Rome and that it broke away only
from the head of the church IN
America only as protest against
the bishops alleged unconcerned at
tttude towards the Ukrainian people.
In other words it is independent OF
all jrisdiction of Bishop Bochachev-
sky, but the Church of Rome still
retains its rights as far as governing
the affairs OF the Catholic religion u
concerned.
The church recently went into the
hands of new corporation VI
whose head is Nikofon Nostin, after
the bishop failed to redeem the
property which was foreclosed by
the Commercial Trust Co.. which
held a mortgage note for $4,000
against it. After the date of redemp.
ton passed. the parishioners with
the cooperation of the bank heads,
came into possession OF the prop
erty.
The congregation IS coInpara-
lively large one in this part CT the
country and the parish conducts
&c hool for its children every day'tn
the week after the regular sessions
In the public schools. The school 10
located in the basement OF the
church and is conducted by Profess
sor C. Petroleum.. who teaches the
children the Ukrainian language
and the history of their country.
Rev. Father Hrivnak will conduct
classes in religion.
The new priest Is engaged IN
out the affairs Of the
parish with the help of Mr.. Nost1n
and the trustees. who are greatly
pleased with their new leader.