Monthly Archives

May 2023

May 26
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Blessing of graves Memorial Day Weekend 2023

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With the weekend of Memorial Day approaching, let us remember all of the departed from this life, their names and their deeds, and let us rededicate ourselves to work for peace and good will and love among all people.

Beginning Saturday, May 27 Father Marko Matic will be blessing graves at Graceland Cemetery and Angel Crest Cemetery in Valparaiso.

Sunday, May 28 Father Marko will be blessing graves at our Holy Cross Cemetery at St. Sava Church.

Monday, May 29 Father Marko will be blessing graves at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville and Oak Hill Cemetery in Gary. The complete list of times is available below.

In these days when so much is said about the high cost of living, it is fitting to pause on Memorial Day and acknowledge the great price that thousands of others have paid that we might live in this land of freedom, the United States of America.

Memorial Day came as a result of Civil War. This was America’s greatest war – in the lives that were lost, in the issues and principles at stake, in the fact that it was fought on American soil, and in the results that have come from it. American Land flowed red with blood in this terrible conflict. It was fitting that a solemn day of memory be set aside for such a conflict as that.

Just as the Jewish people have their feast of Passover to remind them of their freedom from Egyptian bondage, so America has its Memorial Day to remind us of the Salvation and rebirth of the United States as a free nation.

Since that time, Memorial Day has become a national holiday to honor the dead of all wars. Even more, it has become a day in which fitting remembrance is made of all of our relatives, kumovi and friends who rest in peace.

On this Memorial Day Weekend, let us remember all of the departed from this life, their names and their deeds, and let us rededicate ourselves to work for peace and good will and love among all people.

Memorial Day Weekend May 27-29, 2023

Services offered by Saint Sava Church at the following locations:

Saturday, May 27:

  • 9:00 a.m. – Memorial Service and blessing of graves at the Graceland Cemetery in Valparaiso
  • 11:00 a.m. – Memorial Service and blessing of graves at the Angel Crest Cemetery in Valparaiso

Sunday, May 28:

  • Memorial Service and blessing of graves at the Holy Cross Cemetery (at Saint Sava Church) immediately after Holy Liturgy (approximately 12:00 p.m.)

Monday, May 29:

  • 10:00 a.m. – Memorial Service and blessing of graves at the Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville
  • 1:00 p.m. –  Memorial Service and blessing of graves at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Gary
May 17
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Last chance to view the “Celebrating Serbian Women” exhibit at St. Sava Merrillville – Sunday, May 21

By | General Information/News, Historical Society | No Comments

The last day to view the “Celebrating Serbian Women” exhibit in the Historical Society’s “Milan Opacich Cultural Museum” at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana will take place Sunday, May 21, 2023 beginning at Noon.

Special guests at this final showing of the exhibit will be members of the visiting Merrillville Historical Society.

After viewing the exhibit in the “Milan Opacich Cultural Museum” at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana, everyone is invited to visit the Merrillville Historical Society for a tour the same day, Sunday, May 21 beginning at 2:00 p.m.

The exhibit at St. Sava Church will be replaced with a new exhibit that will launch on the first day of the annual Serb Fest taking place Friday, July 28.  The next exhibit will be titled “Immigration” and all parishioners are invited to share their stories, photos, and artifacts for display in this special collection for the next year.

 

May 11
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Share your story and be part of the SerbFest 2023 Historical Exhibit at St. Sava in Merrillville

By | General Information/News, Historical Society, Serb Fest | No Comments

The Historical Society at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana is inviting members and parishioners to participate in the exhibit theme for this year’s 2023 Serb Fest focusing on our collective immigration experiences.

The Historical Society welcomes participation through the sharing of stories of your family or yourself as an immigrant to America.

Tell us about the journey: struggles, hardships, successes, and especially those who may have helped along the way. Finding work, schooling, making new friends, interacting with neighbors, learning the new language, and the role of the church were all part of adjusting to a new life.

Saint Sava’s Vrtikapa and Pujo families have a history of 5 generations in active membership! We have many 4th generation families. Many post WWII Serbian children were born in displaced person camps in Germany or Italy, while others had fathers who were prisoners of war.

Some members came as Chetniks and have fascinating stories of courage and resilience. Ellis Island was the processing and entry point for many immigrants who traveled by ship.

Members of St. Sava Church welcomed immigrants by providing sponsorship with housing and assistance in finding steady jobs. The Serbian National Defense loaned cash to arriving immigrants.

Some came during peaceful times; others immigrated after being driven from their homes in the 1990’s. Every family has a unique experience worth sharing.

We are collecting related artifacts that were brought here by you or a loved one. Examples would be: legal travel documents, photos, keepsakes, cookware, a coat, hat, dress, trunk or suitcase. Original items or copies will be displayed under heavy glass in a locked room. All items are on loan and will be returned at the end of the exhibit the following summer.

Invite your children to write the story to learn about their own family ancestry. Please limit your story to 2 pages plus photos and documents. If you would like assistance, one of our members would be happy to meet with you in person or take a phone interview to write your story.

Please have you stories completed by July 1, 2023. We look forward to showcasing the stories of Serbian immigrants who helped build this country and this beautiful church with hard work, integrity, and pride.

Contact:
Dorothy Paunovich 510-289-9862 dorothyshops@&mail.com
Milica Ruzbasan 219-310-8255 milicatl@comcast.net
Paul & Xenia Jancarich 219-242-0077

May 09
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Paun Stankovich – Memory Eternal ✝ Vjecnaja Pamjat

By | General Information/News, Obituaries & Memorials | No Comments

The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Paun Stankovich. Memory eternal.

Paun Stankovich

Paun Stankovich, age 83 of Crown Point, Lake of the Four Seasons, passed away peacefully, Saturday, May 6, 2023 with his family by his side. Paun is preceded in death by his parents Paun Stankovich preceded in death by parents Sima and Zivka (Stanisavljevic) Stankovich.

Paun is survived by his loving wife Smilja (Jovanovic) Stankovich;  beloved children, son Jovan (Dragana) Stankovich daughter Emily( Michael Buendia) Stankovich; cherished grandchildren, Aleksandar Stankovich, Anastasia Stankovich, Olivia Buendia; his two sisters Dusanka Petkovic and Danica Tufegdzich.

Visitation will be Friday, May 12, 2023 at the Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft St, Merrillville from 12 noon to 4pm. Memorial Service will be held at 3pm, V. Rev. Marko Matic officiating. Final resting place for Paun will be in California with his family. For further information please call Mileva or David at (219) 736-5840.