The cultural aspect of the Assembly consisted of presentations by Dr. Paul Magocsi on the history of the founders of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America. His influential book, Our People: Carpatho-Rusyns and Their Descendants in North America, just released in a new and expanded edition. Dr. Magocsi also presented on the art and culture of this community. His book on the artists of the Transcarpathian School will be published shortly.
Fr. Christopher Zugger explored the history of the foundation of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America. 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Basil Takach, the first bishop of the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church in America. Fr. Zugger is the author of The Forgotten: Catholics of the Soviet Empire from Lenin through Stalin and Finding a Hidden Church. His third book, Finding a Hidden Church, which focuses on the history of the Byzantine Ruthenian Church from its founding to the present, was released in November 2023.
The Eparchy of Passaic’s collection of works by artists of the Transcarpathian School was displayed throughout the assembly venue. Maria Silvestri, a renowned promoter of Rusyn history, art, and culture, curated this exhibit featuring works by Adalbert Erdelyi, Josyf Bokshay, Shubo, Andrii Korska, and other artists.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan offered the keynote address at the opening dinner on Friday evening.
As music and dancing play a significant part in the cultural heritage of Carpatho-Rusyns, attendees had an opportunity to enjoy music, food, and fellowship at a gala Saturday evening. Pajtáši – a noted Rusyn/Slovak Band, was the musical entertainment, and the dinner menu featured a variety of ethnic foods.
To discover the best practices utilized in Byzantine Catholic parishes throughout the United States, the assembly committee issued a call for presentation proposals from individuals or teams, clerical, religious, and lay. Presentations were to be based on personal experience or academic research. The ideal was a combination of the two.