Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church

Gazing upon Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, one might wonder about the stories it holds. This church, a cornerstone of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community in Carteret, New Jersey, has a history as rich as the traditions it upholds. Saint Mary’s wasn’t the first attempt to establish a Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carteret. An earlier church, St. Demetrius, was built in 1911. It originally served as a Ukrainian Catholic Church. However, it later transitioned to a Ukrainian Orthodox church in 1929. This left some Ukrainian Catholics in Carteret yearning for their own church. The desire for a new Ukrainian Catholic Church grew stronger after World War II. Many Ukrainian refugees and immigrants, some of whom were American citizens raised in Ukraine, arrived in Carteret. They sought the spiritual and cultural solace of a Ukrainian Catholic Church. These newcomers viewed their church as a symbol of resistance against religious and ethnic persecution. They couldn’t imagine abandoning their faith. The dream of a Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carteret was rekindled. It began in the home of John L. Ginda and his wife Anna. In October 1949, a committee, led by Paul Bamburak, contacted Father Jaroslav Gabro of Assumption Church in Perth Amboy. They expressed the desire of over 140 individuals to establish Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. With the support of Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky and Father Antin Lotowych, the committee laid the groundwork for Saint Mary’s. From these humble beginnings, Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church emerged. It stands as a testament to the resilience and faith of the Ukrainian community in Carteret.