Monsignor Hrynuck to note 101st birthday

Monsignor Stephen Hrynuck, who served for 58 years as pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, Olyphant, will be celebrating his 101st birthday on Dec. 27. He served the church from 1950 until Dec. 2008. He was the oldest serving Catholic pastor in the United States at the age of 97, when he retired, and has been a priest for more than 74 years. He still attends the Divine Liturgy every day and does adoration in front of the Holy Eucharist in the afternoon, every weekday. This past October, Hrynuck ended the 60 years of Wednesday night Novenas to the Mother of Perpetual Help. In his honor, a Divine Liturgy celebration will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday at Ss. and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church in Olyphant. Hrynuck resides with Eileen and Roman Kushner, Peckville. Birthday greetings can be sent to him at 806 Myers Ave, Peckville, Pa. 18452. Hrynuck, left, is shown with the Rev. Nestor Iwasiw, pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church.