St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA
Healthcare Day
August 13, 2006
The St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Carmicaels, Pennsylvania held the annual
Healthcare Day in conjunction with the commemoration of St. Panteliemon the Great Healer.
During the Divine Liturgy on August 13 prayers were offered for living and departed
healthcare workers associated with the parish. St. Panteleimon has been taken as the Slava
for the Parish Nurse's Office and a Kolach and Koljivo were blessed.
Prior to the annual dinner and program, a Fayette Emergency Medical Services Ambulance
was blessed. Mr. Rick Adobato, Director of Fayette EMS has consistently been supportive of
and cooperative with the efforts of the St. George Church in recognizing and expressing
appreciation for the important work of emergency medical personnel and individuals employed
in the field of healthcare.
Aaron Trincia and Jimmy Shashura were the emergency medical staff of the ambulance at the
time of the blessing. Mr. Trincia and Mr. Shashura were told directly of the importance of
their work and the appreciation of the St. George Church for their services.
Millicent Mitzie Hunchuck, Parish Nurse Practioner, greeted the parishioners and friends
of the parish in attendance for the dinner and program. Nurse Practioner Hunchuck staffs one
of two Serbian Orthodox Parish Nurse's office in the Diocese. The first Parish Nurse's Office
in the Diocese is part of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in Steubenville, Ohio.
Nurse Practioner Hunchuck is available throughout the year for the benefit of parishioners
at the St. George Church.
Parish Executive Board President Stan Brozik greeted the attendees and spoke of the
importance of Healthcare Day in the parish. Sonia Janson, St. George Choir and Circle of
Serbian Sisters President emphasized the importance and value of praying to St. Panteleimon.
Orthodonist Dr. Dan Pyevich, President of the Serbian National Federation, made a surprise
visit to St. George Church to attend the Divine Liturgy. As a healthcare professional, it was
fitting for Dr. Pyevich to be in attendance at the blessing of the ambulance, the dinner and
the program.
Dr. Pyevich spoke of the prayers offered at the St. George Church for the benefit of
the Serb National Federation and of an enjoyable visit previously for a St. George picnic.
He spoke of his familiarity with Executive Board President Brozik, Mr. Brozik having
participated in SNF activities for many years.
Djelosh Jerry Milosevich, Aaron Carson, George Ben Gapen, Maria Djonovich, Mildred Bezjak,
Linda Porter and Dr. Anatoli Peredera read of the lives of saints relevant to the Healthcare
Day. Readings included the lives of St. Panteleimon (July 27/August 9), St. Luke(October 18/31)
and the three sets of Sts. Cosmas and Damian. (July 1/14, October 17/30, November 1/14).
Father Dimitre Dimitrov of Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Masontown,
Matuska Dimitrova and son Kyril, came to St. George Church for the blessing of the ambulance,
the dinner and program. Father Dimitre joined in the blessing of the ambulance, the blessing
of the dinner and greeted the attendees in behalf of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary
Orthodox Church.
Greetings were received for Healthcare Day from Ashley Newton, Project Coordinator and
Manager, on behalf of The EMMES Corporation, a data and statistical research firm for
biomedical and clinical research, located in Rockville, Maryland; Larisa Demshuk, MSW
Clinical Social Worker, Cedars-Sinai Outpatient Cancer Center at the Samuel Oschin
Comprehensive Cancer Institute; Fayette EMS paramedic Tom Kornick and Forbes Hospital
Ambulance Dispatcher and speech therapist graduate student Jennifer Kornick
and Scott Newton, RN, BSN, CCRN, EMT-P Supervisor, Critical Care Transport
Team,University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
The development of a healthcare library at the St. George Church has been enhanced by
a recent contribution in memory of Sally Bosnic Honsaker.
Parishioners of the St. George Church with a history of work in healthcare in addition
to Mitzie Hunchuck include Paulette Radock, Christiana Sivak, Norma Hickman, Pearl Zivkovich,
Linda Porter, Mildred Bezjak, and Mildred Zorman. Dr. Louis Yanchich, Dr. John Yanchich and
Luann Yancich are two brothers and a sister, all involved in healthcare maintaining a
connection to the St. George Church.
Jennifer Kornick and husband Tom Kornick were married in the St. George Church during
Healthcare Week two years ago. The Kornicks have been consistent supporters of the Healthcare
Day. Dorothy Bozick, Kathryn Sage and recently departed Dolores Zivkovich logged many hours
of volunteer services at Brownsville Hospital.
With the Archpastoral Blessings of Diocesan Bishop, His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN,
each year since 1999 in conjunction with the commemoration of St. Panteleimon, the
St. George Church has paused to express appreciation for the men and women working
in the field emergency medical services and healthcare generally. Throughout the year,
medical services are needed by parishioners and at times on an emergency basis.
We need to regularly thank these men and women for their hard and dedicated work and
for the development of skills that can be life saving. "And one of them, when he saw
that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on
his face at His feet, giving Him thanks." (Lk. 17:15-16)
