[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF FATHER TARAS CHUBENKO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2005

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Father Taras 
Chubenko on his 25th anniversary as pastor of St. Demetrius Ukrainian 
Orthodox Cathedral. Father Chubenko celebrated the event at the Dinner 
and Dance on March 12, 2005, in Carteret, New Jersey.
  During his time with the Cathedral, Father Chubenko has worked 
diligently to help improve St. Demetrius and its services. Under his 
strong leadership, St. Demetrius has successfully completed various 
restructuring and renovation projects. Additionally, Father Chubenko is 
a member of the Diocese's Metropolitan Council and has served as Dean 
of the New Jersey Deanery. In the past, he held the positions of 
Consistory Business Administrator and Treasurer of the Diocese for more 
than seven years.
  Father Chubenko is active in many organizations and plays an integral 
role in the community. For 25 years, he has been the Chaplain to 
various groups in Carteret, including the Office of Emergency 
Management, the volunteer fire department, and the police department. 
At one time the president of the Carteret School Board of Education, he 
spent a total of nine years as a member of the board. In the past, 
Father Taras served as the chairperson of the mayor's Children's Relief 
Fund and 9/11 World Trade Center Scholarship Fund Committee. He has 
also lent his wisdom and time as the mentor of two mayors of Carteret.
  Born in Germany, Father Chubenko and his family immigrated to the 
United States when he was a child. He studied at St. Sophia's Seminary 
and became an ordained priest in 1980. That same year, he began his 
service at St. Demetrius, where he has remained ever since. For his 
outstanding service, Father Chubenko was promoted to the rank of Proto-
Priest in 1982 and later achieved the highest rank of Protopresbyter in 
1990.
  He and his wife are the proud parents of four sons.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Father Taras 
Chubenko for his many years of dedicated service to St. Demetrius 
Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and the people of Carteret. His strong 
leadership and active involvement in the community has helped 
revitalize the Cathedral and improve the lives of many.




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