Welcome!
Administrator: Fr Marcel Szabo
Served by: Fr. James F. Spera
197 Emmans Road
Flanders, NJ 07836
Divine Liturgy
Vigil of Sunday on Saturday evenings at 5pm
Church of the Holy Wisdom
During the winter of 1970, three men from the Morris County area - Michael Babyak of Randolph, Paul Horchek of Denville, and Michael Vavrek of Succasunna - met with the members of the bishop's office, Diocese of Passaic (Byzantine Catholic).
The purpose of these meetings was to begin a movement to have a Byzantine Catholic parish in western Morris County. In February 1970, a Divine Liturgy was held at Franklin School in Succasunna. There were ten families present. A publicity campaign was begun in the local newspapers and soon families, plus some single members, had joined in worshipping each Sunday in the public school.
Rev. Michael Yurista was assigned to the parish and a search was begun to find a permanent residence for the parish. While this was being done, the First Communion class of eight children was held. There were also two baptisms.
Early in 1971, eight acres at the corner of Emmans Road and Carey Road in Roxbury Township was purchased by the Diocese for the parish. In June 1971, Rev. Yurista moved into the residence on the property and the recreation room in the basement became a chapel for the parish.
The first baptism on church property was held in November 1971. It was that of Mary Veronica Vavrek, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Vavrek of Succasunna. During this period, three trustees served the parish: Michael Babyak, Paul Horchak, and George Evans of Lake Hopatcong. A CCD school (religious classes were started in the Franklin School under the direction of Michael Vavrek. During the first year, Byzantine Catholic seminarians at St. Paul's Abbey in Newton acted as helping teachers.
Due to various health problems, Rev. Yurista was transferred from the parish in 1974. Several priests filled in until December, 1975 when the present pastor, Rev. David N. Kraynak, was assigned.
Trustees for the parish have included Joseph Thompson of Mt. Hope, Joseph Mascenik of Succasunna, Neil Arnold of Succasunna, and Ronald Kapusta of White Meadow Lake.
A hall was erected on the property and is used for a church and also for affairs. Religious classes continue to be held in the rectory. Each Sunday two Divine Liturgies are held with the CCD classes between them. Classes cover ages three through high school. At the last census, 35 families were listed, along with some single members. Some families have moved while others have come in. There are 30 children in the CCD classes in 1976. There have been First Communion classes each year, varying in size.
Byzantine Catholics are members of the Catholic Church, recognizing the Pope in Rome as head of the church. They are mainly of Slavic descent, their families coming from Eastern Europe, including Slovaks, Ukrainians, Yugoslavs, some Hungarians and Serbs, and other Slavic groups. The church service has always been in the language of the people. Because Holy Wisdom parish is made up of descendents of several groups, the basic service is in English.
The parish is becoming a part of the Roxbury Township community, holding affairs attended by non-parishioners. Each year a booth featuring foods of Slavic origin is part of the Arts and Crafts Fair.
Joy Vavrek