Following Pascha it is customary to hold a parish Paschal Meal, called in Ukrainian Sviachene, where parishioners have the opportunity to share their paschal joy and enjoy a lunch of the blessed paschal foods.  This year's Sviachene on April 22nd was marked by a special presentation.  Our parishioners have the custom of making dontations towards a charitable goal during the Great Fast, and this year the parish decided to donate this money towards the needs of Gate 3:16, a Christian ministry located just up the street from us which ministers to the homeless, poverty stricken, etc.  Gate 3:16 is in the process of purchasing a new building to better serve the needs of the marginalized here in Oshawa, and so Natalie Prychitko, Vice-President of our Parish Council, along with Fr. Bohdan were honoured to present on behalf of our parishioners a cheque to Charlie Rolland, Chairman of the Board of Gate 3:16, in the amount of $500.

Following our meal we proceeded to the local cemeteries where memorial services were held at the graves of our dear relatives and reposed parishioners.  It is always a great blessing to see how many of our parishioners, both young and old, attend and prayerfully remember their forebears.  May their memory be eternal!